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Two CWA members who took extraordinary action to save lives last year after a fatal traffic accident and a potentially deadly car fire have been awarded the prestigious Vail Award by Verizon, their employer. Mark Campbell of Local 2003, a cable splicing technician in Parkersburg, W. Va., helped save a couple whose minivan was struck by a car that crossed the median in November 2000. The car's occupants were killed. Campbell and his wife were the first passersby on the scene. Campbell gave first aid to the badly hurt, trapped victims in the van and directed other onlookers to call 911 and direct traffic. Police told Verizon that Campbell put his own life at risk and worked in below-freezing weather to help rescuers remove the injured couple. In February 2000, Todd Keyser of Local 13000, a service technician in Greensburg, Pa., helped two senior citizens narrowly escape injury after their car caught fire. Keyser was en route to a service call when he saw sparks flying from a sedan in front of him, and then saw flames. He called 911 and honked his horn to get the driver, unaware of the fire, to pull over. When the man pulled into a parking lot, Keyser grabbed a fire extinguisher from his truck and ran to the car. He pulled the driver and his wife to safety then doused the fire repeatedly until police and firefighters arrived. The fire department credited him with saving the couple's life and preventing others from being injured. Both Campbell and Keyser received bronze Vail medals and checks from Verizon for $2,000. The Vail Award was created in 1920 in memory of Theodore Vail, president of AT&T from 1907 to 1919.
CWA President Morton Bahr was honored by the Jewish Labor Committee this summer as he ended his term as its president at the organization's convention in New York City. "Morty Bahr's career in the trade union movement and community life, as well as his service as president of the Jewish Labor Committee, epitomizes the pursuit of the shared dreams and shared hopes of the many diverse elements of our great city, state and country," the convention chairperson said. Incoming JLC President Stuart Applebaum said Bahr's "intellect, commitment and moral strength have served all of us and I am grateful." The JLC was founded by labor leaders in 1934. In a convention speech, Bahr said the JLC "serves to remind us that the United States is a more vibrant and healthier society because of the diverse people who live here. Through the JLC and our unions, let us hold our brothers and sisters to the highest ideals of a true community, where economic prosperity is shared by all, where diversity is celebrated and where the spirit of tolerance moves within us all."
Cindy Hedge, secretary-treasurer of Local 7603 since 1993, has been elected secretary-treasurer of the Idaho State AFL-CIO. Hedge, who works in Qwest's loop assignment center, was appointed to the state federation position early last year and ran unopposed for election this summer. She said she loves working for labor and enjoys attending to the details of being a secretary-treasurer. "I think I have a flair for it," she said. "Working for labor is exciting to me. I enjoy meeting people and turning them around to what labor is about - that we're here to make sure you get treated fairly by your employer."
A St. Louis senior citizens charity is thanking CWA for contributing thousands of bottles of hotel shampoo and bars of soap over the last 14 years. The project was started by CWA Local 14616 President John Ebeling, who each year asks CWA convention delegates and other attendees to donate their hotel toiletries to seniors served by the Mary Ryder Home in St. Louis. "It is organizations like CWA that have made it possible for the Mary Ryder Home to provide services to our community's forgotten senior citizens for over 70 years," the administrator and board president said in a letter. "Many of our residents come to the Mary Ryder Home scared, hungry and wearing all they own. It is a tribute to CWA when our resident council members can knock on that senior's door with a welcome basket filled with items your members collected. Thank you for your continued support in making our residents' lives brighter."
CWA President Morton Bahr was honored by the Jewish Labor Committee this summer as he ended his term as its president at the organization's convention in New York City. "Morty Bahr's career in the trade union movement and community life, as well as his service as president of the Jewish Labor Committee, epitomizes the pursuit of the shared dreams and shared hopes of the many diverse elements of our great city, state and country," the convention chairperson said. Incoming JLC President Stuart Applebaum said Bahr's "intellect, commitment and moral strength have served all of us and I am grateful." The JLC was founded by labor leaders in 1934. In a convention speech, Bahr said the JLC "serves to remind us that the United States is a more vibrant and healthier society because of the diverse people who live here. Through the JLC and our unions, let us hold our brothers and sisters to the highest ideals of a true community, where economic prosperity is shared by all, where diversity is celebrated and where the spirit of tolerance moves within us all."
Cindy Hedge, secretary-treasurer of Local 7603 since 1993, has been elected secretary-treasurer of the Idaho State AFL-CIO. Hedge, who works in Qwest's loop assignment center, was appointed to the state federation position early last year and ran unopposed for election this summer. She said she loves working for labor and enjoys attending to the details of being a secretary-treasurer. "I think I have a flair for it," she said. "Working for labor is exciting to me. I enjoy meeting people and turning them around to what labor is about - that we're here to make sure you get treated fairly by your employer."
A St. Louis senior citizens charity is thanking CWA for contributing thousands of bottles of hotel shampoo and bars of soap over the last 14 years. The project was started by CWA Local 14616 President John Ebeling, who each year asks CWA convention delegates and other attendees to donate their hotel toiletries to seniors served by the Mary Ryder Home in St. Louis. "It is organizations like CWA that have made it possible for the Mary Ryder Home to provide services to our community's forgotten senior citizens for over 70 years," the administrator and board president said in a letter. "Many of our residents come to the Mary Ryder Home scared, hungry and wearing all they own. It is a tribute to CWA when our resident council members can knock on that senior's door with a welcome basket filled with items your members collected. Thank you for your continued support in making our residents' lives brighter."