Union’s monthly magazine wins two international awards

UUP’s monthly magazine — The Voice — has earned two awards in an international competition of labor-union communications.

The union picked up a first-place award from the International Labor Communications Association (ILCA) for best original cartoon, as well as second-place honors for best front page/cover. Both awards are for the same original illustration by freelance artist Jason Yungbluth, the son of UUPer Patricia Donovan of SUNY Buffalo.

The illustration — of a “road scholar” faculty member, right — underscored the exploitation of part-timers on the nation’s college and university campuses. It ran on the cover of the October 2001 issue.

Describing the illustration, the judges said: “With humor, cartoonist Jason Yungbluth captures the predicament of an exploited segment of the academic workforce. ... The cartoon is pleasing to the eye and funny bone. At the same time, it pointedly shows the need for a voice on the job for these workers.”

Meanwhile, the Yungbluth illustration also won first-place honors for best artwork in the AFT Communications Association’s (AFTCA) national communications contest.

This year’s ILCA judges included international newspaper editors, communications directors, public relations professionals, photographers and graphic designers.

UUP adds these awards to a long list of ILCA and AFTCA honors for outstanding writing, design, photography and original artwork.

— Karen L. Mattison