TWU local 225 branch 4 scores big victory TWU Local 225 Branch 4 mobilized its membership to trounce a raid of TWU's Brick Township New Jersey schools unit in the middle of delicate contract negotiations. Members turned back this attempt by a renegade group to disrupt negotiations by an overwhelming 85% vote with nearly all members voting.

Transit Director and Administrative Vice President Susan Resch, a former Brick municipal employee, complimented Local 225 Branch 4's President Chris Mikkelson and his teams quick response in mobilizing his membership and Local activists to beat back the hostile takeover.

A number of rallies and meetings were held in Brick where various TWU and labor representatives spoke. "We have been here for almost 40 years negotiating strong contracts, said Resch, and clearly our members understand that the TWU provides the best representation." TWU International President Jim Little added, "The TWU appreciates the loyalty and support that the Local 225 membership vote spoke to; as well as their mandate entrusting us with the ability to continue to provide them with strong contracts in the future."

President Mikkelson thanked the volunteer core of members and retirees who made the landslide victory possible: "It couldn't happen without the tireless work of our volunteers who went door-to-door and made phone calls."

That volunteer group included Sec'y Treas. Joyce Kramer, Rec. Secretary Margaret Reddan, VP Scott Sargent, Brick Chair and E-Board Member Lisa Hand, Sue Carbone, Kathy Bennett, Bobbie O'Brien, Maureen Bresee, Diana DesJardins, Pete DeRosa, Ann Morgan, Claire Gianettino, Hank Sneyers, Tom and Ann Fiorentino, Ann Morgan, Gloria Dykes, Dale Cali, Celina Suckiel, Holly Miller, Joe Ernst, Kenneth Estelle, Robert Gianettino, John Gianettino, Annmarie Hubert, Arthur Johnson John Mills and Diane Nase. TWU's State Conferences continue to spread across the nation, with three recent successful Conferences in Nevada/Arizona in late October, Ohio in late November and Georgia in early December.

The Ohio State Conference was held at Local 208's Union Hall in Columbus, Ohio with participation from all TWU Locals located in the area, and largely addressed the issue of how high-speed rail stimulus money was going to be allocated in the area. Along with Ohio State Rep. Robert Hagan, COPE Director Hubert Snead, COPE Political Field Assistant Terry Daniels and Acting President of Local 208 Kenny Rawls attended the Ohio Rail Development Commission and met with the Ohio Department of Transportation. Sec. Treasurer of Local 2019 Greg Petkosh represented his Local and President of the Local Fred Fink. Also during the Conference Snead presented Carol Perkins (photo above), President of the Columbus County Board of Education with a check for $1,000 to support her campaign.

Daniels, who is the Chairman of the Ohio State Conference, explained, "The state conferences really give us a great opportunity to make ties to communities and to go into states and cities and lobby on behalf of members and work with legislators to make decisions that favor Labor and working families."

The first Nevada-Arizona State Conference was held in Las Vegas at the Gaming Division Office on Oct. 27, hosted by Director of the TWU Gaming Division Joe Carbon and Int'l Organizer Steve Roberts. Locals 502, 555, 556 and 721 were represented and COPE Political Field Assistant Gwen Dunivent and Legislative and Political Rep. Alex Garcia chaired the meeting and explained the State Conference program vision to build relationships with local legislators and the community in order to promote legislation that is favorable for working families. All participants were very enthusiastic and discussions focused on the up-coming elections in 2010 and each Local's particular political challenges.

See the next issue of the Express for information on the Georgia State Conference held in mid-December.