The first woman to hold the position of Business Representative in District 70 was honored recently by the Wichita branch of the NAACP with their Ronald A. Walters Civic Leadership Award.
A long-time member of Local 733 in Wichita, Rita Rogers currently serves as the Assistant Directing Business Rep for District 70, with responsibilities that include contract negotiations, grievance and arbitration hearings, unemployment compensation hearings, NLRB hearings and FMLA cases.
The Ronald A. Walters achievement award is presented each year to an individual who promotes and develops leaders with the skills needed to tackle the challenges of the 21st century. The award also acknowledges efforts to improve the overall quality of life and civic engagement of African Americans.
In addition to her full time duties as a union representative, Rogers is also a member of CLUW (Coalition of Labor Union Women), CBTU (Coalition of Black Trade Unionists) and LCLAA (Labor Council for Latin American Advancement). She was appointed by former governor Kathleen Sebelius to the Kansas State Worker’s Compensation Advisory Board and serves on the United Way of the Plains Labor Participation Board and the American Heart Association Board.
“There are so many good people in this union who deserve to have their efforts recognized,” said Southern Territory GVP Bob Martinez. “Rita’s work as an ambassador for the IAM and a tireless advocate for social justice places her in a special category of dedicated individuals who serve as an inspiration for the rest of us. On behalf of the entire IAM, I want to extend our thanks and congratulations to Rita on receiving this most deserved award.”