Harry Lombardo was elected by acclamation by the TWU 24th Constitutional Convention delegates as International President of the Transport Workers Union Tuesday afternoon along with John Samuelson as Executive Vice President, Alex Garcia as Secretary-Treasurer, John Bland and Gary Maslanka as Administrative Vice Presidents.
“I feel energized and I pledge every ounce of energy I have to bring our union to a point that everyone in this union will stand up, stand strong and say to their families, their co-workers, their bosses, the whole dam world, ‘I am a member of TWU and proud of it,’ ” said Lombardo in his acceptance speech.
Moving forward, Lombardo and the other elected officials will work closely with TWU’s Locals to restore their power in a grassroots effort by uniting them and the Divisions into one effective force. They will also work to expand the State Conferences in an effort to allow the TWU to harness the strength of its Locals in TWU’s common cause.
“We can take on special interest groups,” said Alex Garcia, the newly elected Secretary- Treasurer. “We must show them we are united and no matter what they throw at us, we are standing together.”
Executive Vice President John Samuelson, who also serves as Local 100 President, and Administrative Vice Presidents John Bland and Gary Maslanka also shared the same sentiment about moving forward in their acceptance speeches.
Others elected on Tuesday were the 13 International Vice Presidents and 40 members to the International Executive Board.
The 13 International Vice Presidents elected are: Pat Bowden, Charles Cerf, Mike Conigliaro, Dale Danker, Sean Doyle, Garry Drummond, Jerome Lafragola, Tom Lenane, Carl Martin, Thom McDaniel, Curtis Tate, Tony Utano and James Whalen.
The 40 members elected to the International Executive Board are: Matthew Ahern, Bedennia Barnes, Richard Boehm, Jon Bradford, Dellissa Brown, Joe Carbon, John Chiarello, Brian Clarke, Latonya Crisp-Sauray, Ralph Darnell, Richard Davis, Derrick Echevarria, John Feltz, Fred Fink, Todd Gage, Angel Giboyeaux, Amy Griffin, Jim Guido, Kevin Harrington, Maurice Jenkins, Horace Marves, Don May, Mike Mayes, John Menshon, Vincent Modaferi, Ben Morgan, Tom Murray, J.P. Patafio, John Plowman, Dan Rivera, Richard Rocco, Gary Shults, Kevin Smith, Audrey Stone, Dane Strickoff, Robert Taylor, Luis Ventura, David Virella, Clarence Washington and Eric Williams.
Resolutions that passed today are: Resolution 8, Protecting the Airline Industry’s Maintenance Craft; Resolution 12, Ending Assaults on Transit Workers; Resolution 21, Support Federal Transit Operating Assistance; Resolution 24, Stop Privatization.
Lombardo has been with the TWU for 40 years starting at Local 234 as a car cleaner for SEPTA. He held the Executive Vice President position since 2006.
“We will empower our locals and reunify our union, and bring back our fighting spirit,” said Lombardo.