Union leader Durso honored at annual LIA Golf Classic

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The Long Island Association honored union leader John Durso at its fourth annual Golf Classic on Monday. 

The golf-and-networking event was held at two courses, the Glen Head Country Club and Nassau Country Club, and featured an evening reception that recognized the “significant impact” that Durso, who serves as president of Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW and the Long Island Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, has had on Long Island’s workforce and economic growth. 

“It couldn’t be more fitting that the inaugural Golf Classic honoree is John Durso, who is a champion for Long Island’s working families and has advocated for economic development in Nassau and Suffolk counties that resulted in the creation of countless jobs,” Matt Cohen, LIA president and CEO, said in a written statement. “I am deeply grateful for his guidance and support throughout my career and thank him for his service to Long Island.” 

Since 1999, Durso has led Local 338, a labor union that represents over 13,000 people across New York State and parts of New Jersey who are employed in grocery and food retail, drug stores and retail pharmacy chains, healthcare and human services, and the cannabis industry, amongst others. As president of the Long Island Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, since 2005, Durso heads the fourth largest central labor council in the United States, representing 250,000 union members in Nassau and Suffolk counties. 

“I am proud to have played a part in what LIA has accomplished for Long Island’s working families,” Durso said in the statement. “To have those efforts recognized by my colleagues and fellow board members at the Long Island Association is a great honor, and I look forward to continuing our work to improve the lives of working people across Long Island. Thank you.” 

Larry Waldman, chair of the LIA board of directors, said, Durso is most deserving of the honor. “John knows how to get things done, and I commend him for his commitment to ensuring Long Island is a superior place to live and work.” 

Besides his other roles, Durso serves as an international vice president of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), vice president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), and is a vice president of the New York City Central Labor Council. He holds many other board positions with organizations on Long Island and in state, including the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council, and has been recognized by regional, national and global organizations for his accomplishments. 

“The Long Island Association is essential to ensuring Long Island remains a leader in economic growth by working on behalf of and advocating for the thousands of businesses that are critical to Long Island’s prosperity,” New York Lieutenant Gov. Antonio Delgado, who was a guest speaker at the LIA event, said in the statement. “I was honored to attend this year’s Golf Classic evening reception to further strengthen our administration’s partnership with the association, and to honor my friend and a true champion for the folks of organized labor, John Durso.” 

Sponsors of this year’s LIA Golf Classic included Bethpage Federal Credit Union; Sands New York; Citizens Bank; Farrell Fritz; Lessing’s Hospitality Group; Molloy University; M&T Bank; PSEG Long Island; Ruskin Moscou Faltischek; Ryder Cup; Vineyard Offshore; Meyer Suozzi; New York Institute of Technology; The Finance Department; Optimum Business; Heatherwood Luxury Rentals; Catholic Health; RXR and many others.