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Feedback: Local 1032: Thank You CWA
Dear President Bahr,
On behalf of Local 1032 members, the executive board, staff, and myself, I would like to express our great gratitude for the assistance given by the national union and district staff in response to the crisis we faced in the aftermath of the World Trade Center attack. As you are aware, two days after the attack, we had eight members reported missing and 181 unaccounted for but not declared missing. Today, all of our members are accounted for with two confirmed missing and presumed dead, and four with serious injuries.
Your offer of assistance was immediate. With help from the district office, and in particular Vice President Mancino, Pete Maher, Chris Shelton, and John Feaster, we were able to mount a search for the reported missing and unaccounted for but not declared missing. Other district staff participated in this search. When I expressed our local union’s determination to account for every member since the Port Authority was not forthcoming nor cooperative with us, the district staff did not flinch from the task. Together with Local 1032’s staff, the search was completed.
As you are also aware, 59 World Trade Center visitor desk operators recently organized by Local 1032 face the prospect of long-term unemployment. When I informed you of our Local’s plan to put $500 in the hand of each of them within a week, you also responded immediately. With the assistance of Hugh Walsh, the checks from the CWA Relief Committee arrived within a few days and were immediately distributed. The gratitude of this group is nearly unbounded. I have received calls from several who said they cried when the checks and our letter of condolence reached them.
We continue to assess the needs of the families of the missing and of the injured. The contribution of $1,000 from the CWA Disaster Relief Fund for the family of Deborah Merrick, a Port Authority member who was critically burned, was matched by Local 1032 and the proceeds forwarded today to her family. Those contributions will enable her sister, Mandy, to take an unpaid leave of absence from her employment to be with Deborah and to manage her affairs.
Throughout this crisis, I have been stunned by the level of resources we could call on within the Communications Workers of America to assist our members. From the national union, district office and other local unions, offers to help have poured in. At a time when federal, state and local government officials had their hands full and management was dysfunctional, we found we could rely on the CWA family for “money, marbles and chalk.” More important than money and staff time, the spirit of unity expressed by all was invaluable in helping us to deal with the grim realities of the dead, wounded and missing.
Our staff, our officers and our members are extremely proud to be a part of the Communications Workers of America. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Jim Marketti, President
CWA Local 1032
On behalf of Local 1032 members, the executive board, staff, and myself, I would like to express our great gratitude for the assistance given by the national union and district staff in response to the crisis we faced in the aftermath of the World Trade Center attack. As you are aware, two days after the attack, we had eight members reported missing and 181 unaccounted for but not declared missing. Today, all of our members are accounted for with two confirmed missing and presumed dead, and four with serious injuries.
Your offer of assistance was immediate. With help from the district office, and in particular Vice President Mancino, Pete Maher, Chris Shelton, and John Feaster, we were able to mount a search for the reported missing and unaccounted for but not declared missing. Other district staff participated in this search. When I expressed our local union’s determination to account for every member since the Port Authority was not forthcoming nor cooperative with us, the district staff did not flinch from the task. Together with Local 1032’s staff, the search was completed.
As you are also aware, 59 World Trade Center visitor desk operators recently organized by Local 1032 face the prospect of long-term unemployment. When I informed you of our Local’s plan to put $500 in the hand of each of them within a week, you also responded immediately. With the assistance of Hugh Walsh, the checks from the CWA Relief Committee arrived within a few days and were immediately distributed. The gratitude of this group is nearly unbounded. I have received calls from several who said they cried when the checks and our letter of condolence reached them.
We continue to assess the needs of the families of the missing and of the injured. The contribution of $1,000 from the CWA Disaster Relief Fund for the family of Deborah Merrick, a Port Authority member who was critically burned, was matched by Local 1032 and the proceeds forwarded today to her family. Those contributions will enable her sister, Mandy, to take an unpaid leave of absence from her employment to be with Deborah and to manage her affairs.
Throughout this crisis, I have been stunned by the level of resources we could call on within the Communications Workers of America to assist our members. From the national union, district office and other local unions, offers to help have poured in. At a time when federal, state and local government officials had their hands full and management was dysfunctional, we found we could rely on the CWA family for “money, marbles and chalk.” More important than money and staff time, the spirit of unity expressed by all was invaluable in helping us to deal with the grim realities of the dead, wounded and missing.
Our staff, our officers and our members are extremely proud to be a part of the Communications Workers of America. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Jim Marketti, President
CWA Local 1032