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Newsmakers
Dave Hojem, a member of CWA Local 7810 in Olympia, Wash., and a Qwest network technician, came to the rescue of a 79-year-old man while on the job recently. As Hojem worked in his aerial lift, he noticed the man going out to check his mail and "all of a sudden I saw mail fly into the air and the man lying on the ground," he said. He immediately lowered the lift and ran to help, finding the man confused and unable to get up. He carried him 300 feet to the house, where the man's wife gave her diabetic husband the morning snack he'd neglected to eat on schedule. The man had suffered a diabetic seizure, which could have resulted in a diabetic coma without Hojem's aid. Local 7810 officers said, "We are proud of Dave and the quick and caring actions he took that day."
Carol Gay Fantini, a CWA representative in District 1 who joined the union's staff in 1981, has retired. Fantini spent the first two years of her career as an elementary school teacher in Georgia. In 1972, she became a social worker in New Jersey, where she was active in CWA Local 1084 and rose to be vice president. During her years in District 1, she worked alternately in the Crawford and Trenton offices. She was promoted to staff representative in 1982 where her assignments included organizing, bargaining and serving on the CWA Public Employees Bargaining Council. A member of the Coalition of Labor Union Women and NOW, Gay-Fantini has long been active in political campaigns and in lobbying at the state and federal level.
The art world is taking notice of CWA Legislative Representative T Santora. Paintings by the former fine arts student are being featured through November at Gallery A in Washington, D.C., Santora's second show there this fall. Earlier this year, he was written up in Labor's Heritage magazine, in a column titled "The Paintings of T Santora." The article said his "abstract expressionist paintings use bold geometric shapes and a minimalist palette that evoke moods and emotions ranging from subtle to profound." Santora, who sells prints of his work, said he wants people to "experience the feelings and movement that color and shape can provide," while keeping his art accessible. Some newer pieces have subtle political references. "If the intellectual aspects of my paintings are recognized, it's satisfying, but if viewers find my work to be visually and emotionally stimulating, that's success," he told the magazine.
Jeremiah "Jerry" Hayes, assistant to the vice president in District 1, has retired after a 22-year career with CWA. Hayes worked for Motorola in Chicago in the early 1960s, then for New York Telephone in Buffalo beginning in 1965. He rose to be executive vice president of CWA Local 1122, where he was involved in many rounds of bargaining and chaired the organizing committee. He was hired as a CWA representative in July 1981. CWA President Morton Bahr, then the vice president of District 1, described Hayes as an "extremely hard worker and dedicated trade unionist." Hayes transferred to District 3, the Orlando office, in March 1995, but returned to upstate New York as the area director in November 1996. In March 2000, he was named assistant to Vice President Larry Mancino. He has retired to Kissimmee, Fla.
St. Bonaventure University in western New York has added NABET-CWA Network Coordinator John Krieger to the "Wall of Fame" at the university's Russell J. Jandoli School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Krieger, a veteran TV reporter, was named the university's "Alumnus of the Year," in 2002. His picture now hangs next to one of famed broadcaster Charles Kuralt on the school's wall, which honors journalistic excellence.
The AT&T Family Care Development Fund a joint project of AT&T, CWA and IBEW was recognized last month for its support of childcare programs and providers in St. Louis, Mo. Missy Lefmann, Executive Vice President Local 6350 accepted the award at an Oct. 9 symposium hosted by St. Louis For Kids. The fund, a negotiated benefit, provides grants to child and elder care providers and programs that serve the needs of AT&T employees and their families. For more information see the Communications and Technologies website at www.cwa-comtech.org.
Carol Gay Fantini, a CWA representative in District 1 who joined the union's staff in 1981, has retired. Fantini spent the first two years of her career as an elementary school teacher in Georgia. In 1972, she became a social worker in New Jersey, where she was active in CWA Local 1084 and rose to be vice president. During her years in District 1, she worked alternately in the Crawford and Trenton offices. She was promoted to staff representative in 1982 where her assignments included organizing, bargaining and serving on the CWA Public Employees Bargaining Council. A member of the Coalition of Labor Union Women and NOW, Gay-Fantini has long been active in political campaigns and in lobbying at the state and federal level.
The art world is taking notice of CWA Legislative Representative T Santora. Paintings by the former fine arts student are being featured through November at Gallery A in Washington, D.C., Santora's second show there this fall. Earlier this year, he was written up in Labor's Heritage magazine, in a column titled "The Paintings of T Santora." The article said his "abstract expressionist paintings use bold geometric shapes and a minimalist palette that evoke moods and emotions ranging from subtle to profound." Santora, who sells prints of his work, said he wants people to "experience the feelings and movement that color and shape can provide," while keeping his art accessible. Some newer pieces have subtle political references. "If the intellectual aspects of my paintings are recognized, it's satisfying, but if viewers find my work to be visually and emotionally stimulating, that's success," he told the magazine.
Jeremiah "Jerry" Hayes, assistant to the vice president in District 1, has retired after a 22-year career with CWA. Hayes worked for Motorola in Chicago in the early 1960s, then for New York Telephone in Buffalo beginning in 1965. He rose to be executive vice president of CWA Local 1122, where he was involved in many rounds of bargaining and chaired the organizing committee. He was hired as a CWA representative in July 1981. CWA President Morton Bahr, then the vice president of District 1, described Hayes as an "extremely hard worker and dedicated trade unionist." Hayes transferred to District 3, the Orlando office, in March 1995, but returned to upstate New York as the area director in November 1996. In March 2000, he was named assistant to Vice President Larry Mancino. He has retired to Kissimmee, Fla.
St. Bonaventure University in western New York has added NABET-CWA Network Coordinator John Krieger to the "Wall of Fame" at the university's Russell J. Jandoli School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Krieger, a veteran TV reporter, was named the university's "Alumnus of the Year," in 2002. His picture now hangs next to one of famed broadcaster Charles Kuralt on the school's wall, which honors journalistic excellence.
The AT&T Family Care Development Fund a joint project of AT&T, CWA and IBEW was recognized last month for its support of childcare programs and providers in St. Louis, Mo. Missy Lefmann, Executive Vice President Local 6350 accepted the award at an Oct. 9 symposium hosted by St. Louis For Kids. The fund, a negotiated benefit, provides grants to child and elder care providers and programs that serve the needs of AT&T employees and their families. For more information see the Communications and Technologies website at www.cwa-comtech.org.