CWA Newsmakers

Larkie Gildersleeve, a pioneer in the fight for workplace ergonomics, has retired as director of research, information and technology for The Newspaper Guild-CWA. Long before repetitive stress and carpal tunnel syndrome became widely known, Gildersleeve was working on solutions to the problems caused by poor work area design and repetitive motion. In the late 1980s she challenged the Fresno Bee, where several newsroom reporters and editors had been afflicted with carpal tunnel. As a result of National Labor Relations Board action, the Fresno Bee and its sister papers in Modesto and Sacramento all adopted stronger education and enforcement policies to reduce workers' risk of injury. Gildersleeve joined the Guild staff at the end of 1995 after an already distinguished career that began in teaching. She came to union work as an organizer for the American Federation of Teachers, and then moved on in the mid-1980s to what is now the Northern California Newspaper Guild. Gildersleeve has moved to Knoxville, Tenn., to be near her daughter and grandchildren.

Leslie Jackson, CWA representative for civil rights and fair practices, has been appointed to the Montgomery County, Md., Partnership Board for Victims of Hate/Violence. The board considers requests by hate and gender crime victims who seek money for counseling or repairs to damaged property. The seven-member board meets monthly to allocate funds, which come from private contributions. Jackson said it's rewarding, and she hopes it will lead her to serve as a county human rights commissioner.

Liz Feitl, past president of CWA Local 4730, has been hired as the AFL-CIO community services liaison in Bloomington, Ind. Feitl has a long record of union and community work, including a leading role in organizing her local, representing Indiana University technical and clerical staff. She's also been a United Way board member, co-founder of Bloomington's Jobs with Justice coalition and vice president of the White River Central Labor Council. Her new job's responsibilities include helping active and retired workers and their families in need of human services and recruiting and training volunteers. Feitl said she loves the work. "I think it's very good for workers, union or nonunion, to have the proper resources in times of need, in times of transitions in their lives, whether that's work related or personal," she said.