Eight Locals Stand Strong for Justice

Urging members throughout New Jersey to "Stand Up for Justice in '99," CWA's statewide Committee of 1,000 unveiled plans to intensify its ongoing mobilization in support of bargaining for fair pay raises, job security and improved benefits, with a shock wave hitting all state agencies March 25. Officers and stewards of all eight public worker locals addressed the March 6 rally.

Abby Demel-Brown, president of Local 1031, representing employees of New Jersey state colleges, called for "unity and victory," with Kean University Steward Ron Palazzo describing plans on various campuses to "mobilize while you exercise," walking and chanting while wearing union paraphernalia, holding potluck lunches promoting solidarity and tying yellow ribbons to a tree, symbolizing bargaining demands.

Local 1032 President Jim Marketti introduced to the rally Woodbridge, N.J. Mayor James McGreevey, who affirmed his support for the workers' bargaining demands. McGreevey, with CWA backing, came within 27,000 votes of unseating Whitman in the last gubernatorial campaign. Treasurer Jimmy Tarlau announced plans for the local to picket at six key worksites on March 25, with IFPTE honoring their picket lines.

Local 1033 President Rae Roeder brought to the rally a "colonial" honor guard - flags, fife and drum - which recently led Local 1033 and 1034 members in informational picketing played as a reenactment of the "Battle of Trenton." Steward Roberto Rodriquez, president of the Hispanic Council of New Jersey, announced plans to keep pressure on the state's Merit System Board, which will decide whether Whitman's performance assessment review plan can go forward.

With Local 1034 Executive Vice President Carla Katz helping lay out the eight locals' combined mobilization plan, Local 1034 Steward Megan Hnath-Brown announced plans by President Jim Mulholland and the local to wear stickers and bandanas on Tuesdays as a sign of solidarity. She also said members would extend their lunch hour an extra 15 minutes on March 25, at departments like Labor and Health and the Judiciary in Trenton.

Local 1037 Executive Vice President Hetty Rosenstein exhorted mobilizers to hold the line: "You are the folks who are going to fight until we get a great contract." Steward Terrence Baine announced Local 1037's goal to hold informational picket lines at all 250 Youth and Family Services worksites in the state, starting with 15 minutes on March 25 and increasing in duration.

Local 1038 represents child care and social workers in seven counties of South Jersey and employees of state agencies. Said President Paul Alexander, "We will not permit the Whitman administration to ratchet down our standard of living one more notch." Steward Mark Chiappini urged members to call legislators every Tuesday to protest Whitman's plans to destroy layoff protection through seniority and to let them know, "we will take it out of their hides if they don't stop her before June 30."

Local 1039 President Susanne Dyer challenged colleagues. "We're going to be on the line," she said, "Are you with us?" Steward Lusk Robinson revealed plans for four March 25 actions and for signing up 300,000 unregistered voters. He called for letters to legislators in support of bills S.1626 and A.2840, protecting job security. "They need to know if they don't make our bill happen, we won't re-elect them."

Local 1040 President Carolyn Wade, whose members work in corrections, mental health and a variety of state institutions, pledged participation in a range of mobilization activities. She said continuing solidarity among all eight locals "is key to anything we can put on the table." Steward Michelle Longvickers said the local would also concentrate on COPE political fundraising to amass a war chest for use against Whitman and her allies.

Whole Union's Fight Eight New Jersey local presidents have been meeting every two weeks, planning bargaining and mobilization strategy, and are enjoying an unprecedented level of support from all levels of CWA.

While District 1 Research Economist Bob Master, New Jersey Public Sector Director Bob Pursell and CWA Representative Alan Kaufman worked on staging the rally, Gwend Johnson, assistant to the CWA executive vice president, has helped build coalitions with other unions, state legislators and community groups including the NAACP and Citizen Action. Jobs with Justice staffer MaryBeth Maxwell has taken the lead to organize a Workers' Rights Board to look into discriminatory personnel policies. Activists from the locals have regularly attended hearings of the state's Merit Systems Board.

Pursell gave the locals tremendous credit for getting their members out to the rally. But he also issued a challenge, noting that the battle for a fair contact is far from over. "It's going to be a fight in the street," he warned. "Are you ready?"