The TWU International concluded its annual meeting of the International Executive Council and International Executive Board last week. This critical meeting brings together the TWU International Administrative Council, our union’s Executive Council Vice Presidents, the Executive Council and Board, and our International staff for a wide-ranging discussion of all areas of TWU business. In a break from the past, this year’s meeting was extended to three days in order to accommodate full discussion of a number of pressing union concerns.
Held for 2015 in New Orleans from February 10-12, this meeting sets the tone and agenda for the coming year. It also allows TWU leadership to speak openly about the past year’s victories and setbacks, and where our union needs to invest its energy and resources.
The IEC&B meeting also serves as a forum for local officers and International leadership to educate, inform and coordinate across the TWU, building strong support networks at all levels of the union and throughout our Divisions.
International President Harry Lombardo and International Secretary-Treasurer Alex Garcia delivered frank and in-depth reports on the union’s financial health and stability, our political power, our organizing strength, and TWU’s aggressive fights for members.
“We need every TWU member to know that when they’re at work, on the clock, their union has their back,” said President Lombardo. “We are with them and fighting for them on the shop floor, in negotiations with their employers, and in the offices of their elected representatives. One union, one voice. We move America, we need to move these issues.”
Each International department, Division, and committee presented a complete report on its progress on initiatives, projects and campaigns over the course of 2014. The departments — Government Affairs, Organizing, Communications, and IT — responded to feedback and open discussion, and engaged with local officers in refining goals for 2015.
“What the TWU International does in terms of servicing members needs to be much broader,” said President Lombardo. “We need to focus on communicating with members directly to educate and engage them. It’s not just about one side of the house — on Division, one local; it’s about one entire house where we share the fight on all of our issues and work together to make good on our promises.”
As former Executive Council Vice President & Local 252 President Patricia Bowden has retired after many decades of service to TWU members, the IEC and IEB voted to approve a recommendation from the IAC that Local 171 President Delisa Brown fill her seat as our newest TWU Executive Council Vice President. Local 556 President Audrey Stone, formerly a member of TWU’s International Executive Board, has been appointed to the International Executive Council. And Local 252 President Debra Hagan has been appointed to the Executive Board.
For more information on how your union is mobilizing, engaging, and fighting for TWU members, check out the latest issue of the TWU Express magazine here.
Members of the TWU International Executive Council and Board:
- Executive Council Vice Presidents: Delisa Brown, Charles Cerf, Michael Conigliaro, Dale Danker, Sean Doyle, Garry Drummond, Jerome Lafragola, Tom Lenane, Thom McDaniel, Curtis Tate, Tony Utano, and James Whalen.
- Council Members: Joe Carbon, John Chiarello, Brian Clarke, LaTonya Crisp-Sauray, John Feltz, Horace Marves, Gary Shults, Kevin Smith, and Audrey Stone.
- Executive Board: Matthew Ahern, Bedennia Barnes, Richard Boehm, Jon Bradford, Willie Brown, Ralph Darnell, Richard Davis, Derick Echevarria, Fred Fink, Todd Gage, Angel Giboyeaux, Amy Griffin, Jim Guido, Debra Hagan, Kevin Harrington, Maurice Jenkins, Don May, John Menshon, Benyoel Morgan, Thomas Murray, J.P. Patafio, Daniel Rivera, Dane Stricoff, Robert Taylor, Luis Ventura, David Virella, Clarence Washington, and Eric Williams.