WHEREAS, the Reverend Dennis J. Comey, S.J. (1897-1988), the son of Irish immigrant workers witnessed the struggle of labor unions to establish decent living standards in the Philadelphia community where he lived as a boy; and
WHEREAS, Father Comey, found his vocation to serve oppressed workers through the social justice teachings of the Jesuit Order; and
WHEREAS, Father Comey’s life as a labor relations teacher, an arbitrator and as a pastoral minister inspired him to bring peace, understanding and justice to damaging labor – management conflicts; and
WHEREAS, Father Comey established an institute in Philadelphia for workers and managers to receive affordable education regarding the labor laws and policies that impact the quality of their lives; and
WHEREAS, The curriculum that Father Comey developed at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia remains a vibrant resource for working people wishing to advance their knowledge of the economic, historical and legal issues all of which frame their rights and responsibilities as employees; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we recognize the Comey Institute of Industrial Relations as a source for advancing the justice of workers in an environment that persistently challenges the ability of workers to achieve equity and equality guaranteed to them by state and federal laws and policies; and
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the City Council of Philadelphia join with the Jesuit Order in its moral advocacy of dignified treatment of employees, respectful dialogue for the sake of ethical relations and the foundational commitment to the encouraging of workers to embrace the student life in the interest of well informed, deeply humane labor unions and a better society at large; and
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to representatives of the Comey Institute as evidence of the sincere respect and admiration of this legislative body.
End