FROM: John O’Donnell, Chief of Staff
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Since the new International administration took office in September, we have been working on all fronts to strengthen our Union. To this end, we have brought onto the International staff a number of our most seasoned TWU members from across the Divisions.
Many of you have already begun to work very closely out in the field with the new members of our International team. As a means of more formal introduction, please see below brief bios for International Vice President and Transit Division Staff Representative Curtis Tate, Government Affairs Representative Brendan Danaher, Int’l Representative — Government Affairs Andrew Rangolan, and Communications Editor Samantha Saly. (New Hires 05142014 in PDF)
Curtis Tate
Curtis Tate
International Vice President International Representative — Transit, Universities, Utilities & Services Division NY/NJ State Conference Chair
Office: (202) 719-3977
Email: ctate@twu.org
Curtis Tate was appointed to the International Executive Board in 2008. He was elected as an International Vice President in 2009. Tate also serves as the Chairman for the TWU New York/New Jersey State Conference.
Tate has been an active TWU Member in Local 100 since joining the New York City Transit Authority in 1986. He began his career as a Car Cleaner in the Car Maintenance Department. In 1988, he was promoted to Train Operator in the Rapid Transit Division.
Through his activism and constant battles to defend the safety and rights of his coworkers, Tate rose through the ranks of Local 100. He has held positions including Shop Steward, Safety Rep, Vice Chair, Acting Chairman and Vice President. In 2009, he was appointed Acting President of Local 100.
Tate has studied labor relations at Cornell University, the Murphy Institute at CUNY, Rutgers University as well as the George Meany National Labor College. He believes at the end of the day, it’s about representing the members, practicing good trade unionism and fighting for all workers’ rights.
Brendan Danaher
Brendan Danaher
Government Affairs Representative
Office: (202) 719-3865
Email: bdanaher@twu.org
Brendan Danaher joined the TWU International staff in January 2014. For the past 15 years, he has represented the interests of organized labor on Capitol Hill in varying capacities.
Prior to coming to the TWU, Danaher served as the Senior Legislative Representative for the AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department (TTD), where he advocated for the interests of over 30 affiliated unions representing workers across America’s transportation industries. At the TTD, Danaher’s efforts centered on transit, railroad, maritime and labor rights legislation and policy.
Prior to his career at the TTD, Danaher worked for the American Federation of Government Employees, AFL- CIO, in the public policy, political and grassroots organizing departments. He is a former Assistant Chief Steward for OPEIU Local 2.
Andrew Rangolan
Andrew Rangolan
International Representative — Government Affairs TWU Local 570 Vice President
Office: (202) 719-3970
Email: arangolan@twu.org
Andrew Rangolan is the Vice President of Local 570, Chair of TWU’s Florida State Conference, and an International Representative working with our locals to strengthen the State Conferences.
Rangolan joined the TWU in 1998 as a Fleet Service Clerk at American Eagle. He became a Shop Steward in 1999, then Base Chairman, and in 2005 was elected to the Local 570 Executive Board as Recording Secretary. He has served as Vice President of the Local since 2008.
In 2008, Rangolan organized the first meeting of the Florida State Conference. Before becoming Conference Chair, he served as its Secretary-Treasurer. In 2011, Rangolan spearheaded the Florida State Conference’s work as part of the bipartisan coalition that overcame a supermajority in the State Senate and successfully blocked SB 830 — a bill that would have silenced the voice of organized labor in Florida by compromising dues checkoff.
Rangolan’s mission in building our TWU State Conferences is to generate greater membership involvement in Conference actions, develop strategic relationships with elected officials, educate the rank and file about COPE, and support members in taking the lead in political and community involvement.
Samantha Saly
Samantha Saly
Communications Editor
Office: (202) 719-3834
Email: ssaly@twu.org
Samantha Saly joined TWU International staff as the head of our Communications Department in October of 2013. Prior to coming to the International, she worked as a writer, videographer, media and graphics designer, photographer, social media coordinator, and website developer for TWU Local 101, Local 106, and Local 100.
In New York, Saly worked as a communications consultant for AFSCME DC 37 Local 375, the Civil Service Technical Guild; DC 37 Local 983; and IAMAW District 15. Saly holds a B.A. in Political Science from Columbia University. She was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York.