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Kathleen King, a CWA staff representative in District 1 since December 1981, has retired. King worked as a social worker and supervisor at New Jersey's Division of Youth and Family Services before being hired as a local organizer in 1980, leading to her staff job the next year. She was a steward, chief steward and chair of the women's committee for Local 1037 and in 1981 was elected to the bargaining team for New Jersey state workers. "She'll be sorely missed," District 1 Vice President Larry Mancino said. "Whatever job we gave her she always did it enthusiastically. She was a great staff rep." King aided public worker locals in New Jersey, negotiating "very good contracts," Mancino said and skillfully dealing with grievances. "She was able to handle grievances to the extent where a lot of them might have gone to arbitration had it not been for her ability to resolve them."
Kenneth Rains, who served 25 years as president of Local 7114, has retired after 12 years as a CWA staff representative in Iowa. Rains worked as a central office technician for US West in Atlantic, Iowa, from 1957 until being hired by CWA in July 1992. He had served as an officer in Locals 7113 and 7114, both of which are now part of Local 7103. Rains has long been politically active, from chairing the Cass County Democrats to working on Senate and presidential campaigns. He is presently one of the 440 members of the Democratic National Committee. "He's been a power in Iowa politics for years and years," District 7 Vice President John Thompson said. As a staff rep, Thompson said Rains, "did everything, public sector, small telcos, just about everything that one could ask."
Ruth Stevens, a CWA staff representative in District 7 since January 1992, has retired. Stevens, who was a journeyman printer at the Denver Post, came to CWA after serving as president of Local 14705. She'd also worked part time as an ITU and CWA organizer. "She was our district expert on typographical matters, and we used her expertise on that. She was our pro," District 7 Vice President John Thompson said. Stevens primarily worked in Colorado and Wyoming, handling a wide range of bargaining, arbitrations and grievances. "I can never thank you and CWA enough for the last 12 years of my employment life," she told Thompson in a retirement letter. "The world that CWA opened through its many educational and work-related opportunities has been a wonderful experience."
Glen Matthews, Local 3212 area vice president, left, and Decatur County Sheriff Wiley Griffin, right, pose with winners of seventh annual Sheriff Youth Homes Golf Tournament, held at the Bainbridge Country Club. Matthews and the sheriff co-chair the tournament, which is one of several community service projects the local conducts throughout the year to provide a home for youngsters who are not delinquents but have no one to care for them. "Glen has been very supportive of our efforts in this area," said Local 3212 President Larry Wofford. "Just he and a handful of people put this on, and each year they raise more money." Wofford said the local only has about 20 members in the Bainbridge area, who work for Bell South. The local has co-sponsored the tournament for seven years. This year, it raised $7,700.
Jay Egan, president of Local 4034, has been honored by both the Michigan State AFL-CIO and CWA President Morton Bahr for his leadership in fund raising for the Heart of West Michigan United Way and the Labor and United Way partnership. In the state AFL-CIO's registry, not only is Egan listed as a "gold" donor for contributing $1,000 or more in 2004, but because of his outreach through the stewards of the local, five other Local 4034 members are listed for the same distinction, two are listed as "silver" donors for contributing $750 or more, and 17 are cited as "bronze" contributors of $500 or more - that's a total of at least $16,000 raised by the local to help community members in need. Said Debbie Knooihuisen, AFL-CIO state labor liaison, "As a member of Local 4034 for almost 30 years, I have been witness to the support other labor leaders give. Not a one compares with Jay." To that high praise, Bahr added, "Jay's support for the United Way is in the finest tradition of our union. Jay has, with his dedication to helping others, demonstrated that (CWA Founding President) Joe Beirne's characterization of CWA as 'The Community-Minded Union' is alive and well."
Kenneth Rains, who served 25 years as president of Local 7114, has retired after 12 years as a CWA staff representative in Iowa. Rains worked as a central office technician for US West in Atlantic, Iowa, from 1957 until being hired by CWA in July 1992. He had served as an officer in Locals 7113 and 7114, both of which are now part of Local 7103. Rains has long been politically active, from chairing the Cass County Democrats to working on Senate and presidential campaigns. He is presently one of the 440 members of the Democratic National Committee. "He's been a power in Iowa politics for years and years," District 7 Vice President John Thompson said. As a staff rep, Thompson said Rains, "did everything, public sector, small telcos, just about everything that one could ask."
Ruth Stevens, a CWA staff representative in District 7 since January 1992, has retired. Stevens, who was a journeyman printer at the Denver Post, came to CWA after serving as president of Local 14705. She'd also worked part time as an ITU and CWA organizer. "She was our district expert on typographical matters, and we used her expertise on that. She was our pro," District 7 Vice President John Thompson said. Stevens primarily worked in Colorado and Wyoming, handling a wide range of bargaining, arbitrations and grievances. "I can never thank you and CWA enough for the last 12 years of my employment life," she told Thompson in a retirement letter. "The world that CWA opened through its many educational and work-related opportunities has been a wonderful experience."
Glen Matthews, Local 3212 area vice president, left, and Decatur County Sheriff Wiley Griffin, right, pose with winners of seventh annual Sheriff Youth Homes Golf Tournament, held at the Bainbridge Country Club. Matthews and the sheriff co-chair the tournament, which is one of several community service projects the local conducts throughout the year to provide a home for youngsters who are not delinquents but have no one to care for them. "Glen has been very supportive of our efforts in this area," said Local 3212 President Larry Wofford. "Just he and a handful of people put this on, and each year they raise more money." Wofford said the local only has about 20 members in the Bainbridge area, who work for Bell South. The local has co-sponsored the tournament for seven years. This year, it raised $7,700.
Jay Egan, president of Local 4034, has been honored by both the Michigan State AFL-CIO and CWA President Morton Bahr for his leadership in fund raising for the Heart of West Michigan United Way and the Labor and United Way partnership. In the state AFL-CIO's registry, not only is Egan listed as a "gold" donor for contributing $1,000 or more in 2004, but because of his outreach through the stewards of the local, five other Local 4034 members are listed for the same distinction, two are listed as "silver" donors for contributing $750 or more, and 17 are cited as "bronze" contributors of $500 or more - that's a total of at least $16,000 raised by the local to help community members in need. Said Debbie Knooihuisen, AFL-CIO state labor liaison, "As a member of Local 4034 for almost 30 years, I have been witness to the support other labor leaders give. Not a one compares with Jay." To that high praise, Bahr added, "Jay's support for the United Way is in the finest tradition of our union. Jay has, with his dedication to helping others, demonstrated that (CWA Founding President) Joe Beirne's characterization of CWA as 'The Community-Minded Union' is alive and well."