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CWA was 'Life's Work' for Late Staff Rep Dick Jordan
Richard T. "Dick" Jordan, a retired CWA representative in District 4 who literally made the CWA family his own, died at his home in Royal Oak, Mich., at age 68.
Shortly after joining the CWA staff, Jordan, a former president of Local 4009 in Southfield, Mich., married another CWA local leader, Sarah Brown, then president of operator services Local 4016 in Troy, Mich. Local 4016 later merged into 4009. Today, one of their sons, Tom Jordan, is an SBC technician in Royal Oak and a Local 4009 member. Their daughter Judy worked about 10 years as an operator and secretary for Ameritech and was also a 4009 member.
"We both had our heart and soul in the union, and we both enjoyed what we did" Sarah Jordan said.
"Dick was a dedicated trade unionist," Vice President Jeff Rechenbach said. "CWA was his life's work. He was always working to make things better for CWA members."
Jordan, a veteran of the 1968, 1971, 1974 and 1983 Michigan Bell strikes, worked for the company from February 1957 as an installer, cable assigner, testman and service technician.
Active in Local 4009 as a steward, chief steward and vice president, before becoming president, he served on the Michigan Bell Oakland County Labor-Management Committee and occupational safety and health advisory board. He lobbied successfully for legislation to make it safer for technicians to work in underground confined spaces.
After joining the staff in March 1988, he worked about four years each in District 4's Livonia, Mich., and Bingham Farms, Mich., offices, servicing Ameritech locals. He retired in August 1997 because of poor health.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons, Thomas, Steve and Patrick; two daughters Judy Kurkowski and Sandra Plante; 11 grandchildren and two brothers.
Shortly after joining the CWA staff, Jordan, a former president of Local 4009 in Southfield, Mich., married another CWA local leader, Sarah Brown, then president of operator services Local 4016 in Troy, Mich. Local 4016 later merged into 4009. Today, one of their sons, Tom Jordan, is an SBC technician in Royal Oak and a Local 4009 member. Their daughter Judy worked about 10 years as an operator and secretary for Ameritech and was also a 4009 member.
"We both had our heart and soul in the union, and we both enjoyed what we did" Sarah Jordan said.
"Dick was a dedicated trade unionist," Vice President Jeff Rechenbach said. "CWA was his life's work. He was always working to make things better for CWA members."
Jordan, a veteran of the 1968, 1971, 1974 and 1983 Michigan Bell strikes, worked for the company from February 1957 as an installer, cable assigner, testman and service technician.
Active in Local 4009 as a steward, chief steward and vice president, before becoming president, he served on the Michigan Bell Oakland County Labor-Management Committee and occupational safety and health advisory board. He lobbied successfully for legislation to make it safer for technicians to work in underground confined spaces.
After joining the staff in March 1988, he worked about four years each in District 4's Livonia, Mich., and Bingham Farms, Mich., offices, servicing Ameritech locals. He retired in August 1997 because of poor health.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons, Thomas, Steve and Patrick; two daughters Judy Kurkowski and Sandra Plante; 11 grandchildren and two brothers.