Susan Resch Elevated to Administrative Committee

As TWU prepares for a variety of challenges in the new year, International President James C. Little announced a number of changes in the union’s Executive Council and staff positions.

Michael Bakalo, who continues as Administrative Assistant to the President, vacated his elected position as International Administrative Vice President. On the recommendation of President Little, the International Executive Council unanimously chose Susan Resch as Administrative VP, the first woman to hold that post in the organization.

Resch, an International Vice President and Transit Division representative, was a longtime officer of Local 225-Branch 4 in southern New Jersey.

To fill Resch’s VP spot, the IEC chose Local 100 President Roger Toussaint, who had been a Council Member. President Little also named Toussaint as Director of Strategic Planning at the International. He will continue to be involved with Local 100 duties, most notably the contract renewal covering some 35,000 members.

In the Railroad Division, John Feltz of Local 2001 came on staff as an International Representative, replacing Tim Grandfield,who retired in August.

The Legislative and Political Department in Washington will also have a new line-up. International Vice President Roger Tauss, who has been Director for a number of years, will assume the role of International VP/Legislative & Governmental Affairs on January 1.

On that date, Assistant Director Portia Reddick White will become the new Director of the Department. On December 1, Local 234 President Jeff Brooks was assigned a staff position in the Legislative and Political Department. Brooks, an International Vice President, will also provide staff assistance to Local 234.

The union’s Health and Safety Department has been without a Director since the retirement of George McDonald a few years ago. Effective December 1, President Little appointed Local 100 Secretary- Treasurer Ed Watt as Director of the Department. Watt, who has been involved over the years in transit ergonomics and occupational health issues, will also chair a three-member taskforce to evaluate and revamp the health and safety program. The assignment is in addition to his duties at Local 100.