The Transport Workers Union would like to thank and honor all veterans for their service and dedication to our country on this special holiday, Veterans Day. Generations of TWU members have fought for their country and many current union members are active military members as well. We celebrate their bravery, honor their sacrifice and grieve for and send our deepest condolences to families that they have left behind.
At the 23rd Constitutional Convention delegates accepted Resolution 18, “Support Our Troops, Honor Our Veterans, the Dead and the Wounded.” This resolution encourages locals and divisions to create their own Veterans Committees, similar to that of the Air Transport Division. Veterans Committees serve our brave soldiers in a plethora of ways, from sending them care packages and messages of support, to helping provide for them when they return home, to aiding families during the painful process of grieving. The Committee is “veterans helping veterans,” said Jose Galarza, International Representative for the ATD, International liaison to veteran’s affairs and an active military member.
The video above is a special profile of the Veterans Committee first shown at this year’s Convention. It includes a list of the names and photos of brave TWU veterans and soldiers compiled from submissions members sent in to the International over the summer.
“It is such an important part of our Institution,” says International President James C. Little, a veteran himself. “I believe it is tremendously important that we offer our humble services to those who have served and sacrificed for our country and our lives. Veterans Committees help soldiers obtain the benefits and services they may not be aware exist and provide general support for those who deserve compassionate attention and care.” President Little strongly encourages members to help build and maintain Veterans Committees.
At the Convention, Local 514 member Jenni Proctor-Timms, a current military member in the Air National Guard, spoke briefly and emotionally on Resolution 18. She listed several situations similar to those that the ATD veterans committee has helped veterans with and compassionately implored all locals to create such a committee to help support members in this special way. Watch Timms’ comments here.