Senate Resolution No. 2056
BY: Senator MATTERA
HONORING John R. Durso upon the occasion of his
designation for special recognition by the New York
Conference of Italian-American State Legislators on
May 18, 2026
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and
pay tribute to individuals of distinguished purpose whose lifework and
civic engagement have profoundly contributed to the advancement of
cultural heritage and the enrichment of society; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
John R. Durso upon the occasion of his designation for special
recognition by the New York Conference of Italian-American State
Legislators on Monday, May 18, 2026; and
WHEREAS, Since 1999. John Durso has served as President of Local 338
RWDSU/UFCW, a labor union that represents more than 13,000 working men
and women across New York State and parts of New Jersey; and
WHEREAS, Additionally, since 2005, John Durso has served as
President of the Long Island Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, the fourth
largest central labor council in the United States, representing 250,000
union members in Nassau and Suffolk Counties; and
WHEREAS, John Durso also serves as International Vice President of
the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), Vice President of the
Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union (RWDSU), a Council within
the UFCW, and Vice President of the New York City Central Labor Council;
and
WHEREAS, Active in his community, John Durso holds positions on the
Town of Hempstead Labor Advisory Board and the Nassau County Living Wage
Advisory Board and serves on the Governor's Long Island Regional
Economic Development Council and Governor's "New" New York Advisory
panel; and
WHEREAS, John Durso is a lifetime member of the New York branch of
the NAACP, board member of the Long Island Association, Board Chair of
the EAC Network, and board member of the Nassau Community College
Foundation and the Nassau Community College Board of Trustees; also, he
has served as Chair of the Board of the United Way of Long Island two
times; and
WHEREAS, Additionally, John Durso serves on the advisory boards of
various organizations, including the ENERGEIA Partnership, the Cornell
Industrial Labor Relations School, the Long Island Community Development
Corporation, and John Thiessen Children's Foundation; and
WHEREAS, For just a few of his many accomplishments, John Durso is a
recipient of Networking Magazine's David Award and is a member of the
LIBN/Hofstra University Long Island Hall of Fame; he was also awarded
the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor from the National Ethnic
Coalition of Organizations, an international organization that
celebrates the diversity, achievements, and progress of all ethnic
backgrounds and promotes tolerance and cultural awareness; and
WHEREAS, John Durso believes that his greatest accomplishments are
his four grown children, John, Jr., Michael, Jessica, and Jim; he is
also a proud grandfather of seven whom he shares with his wife, Peggy,
who was herself a 27-year member of Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW; and
WHEREAS, John Durso's enduring legacy is one of intellectual rigor,
public service, cultural preservation, and an unyielding commitment to
community empowerment and the Italian-American experience; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor John R. Durso upon the occasion of his designation for special
recognition by the New York Conference of Italian-American State
Legislators on May 18, 2026, and to commend him for his unparalleled
contributions to education and Italian-American culture; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to John R. Durso.
