CWA LOCAL 1033 MEMBERS FOR CHANGE
PO Box 1604 Trenton, New Jersey 08607 email: members@cwalocal1033membersforchange.org
A Change for the Better!
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of this Local. Why am I running again? Well, a little history:
When I became an active member in this Local 11 years ago I believed in Rae Roeder---as
her there was two things she needed to know about me: 1. I would tell her what she needed
to hear and not what she wanted to hear, and; 2. If she didn’t put the interest of the
members first we would have a problem. For seven years---1 year as a staff representative
and 6 years as the Executive Vice President---I worked with Rae.
Rae changed, but I didn’t. I kept my word and at the end of my term in 2005 as Executive
V.P., I advised her that we had a problem with the direction this Local was going and that
I would run against her for the Presidency. Rae pleaded with me to allow her to finish the
job she had started and offered raises and perks. I declined these offers with a simple, No.
I didn’t tell her at the time, but I was appalled, thinking this was the exact reason I was
running against her, to stop the wheeling and dealing with members hard earned dues
monies.
I lost by a huge margin, 1400+ to 400+, a 1000 vote difference. To this day I believe, based
upon the facts, that the results were fixed. I returned to my state job with my integrity
intact, satisfied that I did the right thing. I have declined offers of higher paying positions
with other Locals in order to remain in Local 1033 to right this wrong.
Since the day of the ballot count, I have ceased to call her Rae. I refer to her by her
surname, Roeder, because we ain’t friends any longer. Some members will learn, what
Roeder, other members and the State already know, that I am a formidable opponent--- I
can foam at the mouth and get mad dog mean. I prefer not too, rather I’d prefer to reach
an accord or some common ground, but you can’t with Roeder.
The reason I am running for President is not because I’m bitter I lost the previous
election. I am running because I have children, just like most of you. I foresee what we
have worked for all our lives and opportunities for our children just disappearing into
thin air, if things continue as they are.
When I started to be proactive in the union in 1997, unionized workers made up 16% of
the American workforce. Today it is estimated at only 9% of the workforce and shrinking.
This crisis the unions are facing today is the result of the failure of union leaders to inspire
member union spirit---because of broken promises after broken promises of change,
members have become so disheartened that they just don’t care anymore because of all
the mind-boggling corruption in the unions.
http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/olms/enforc_actions.htm
http://www.nrtw.org/free-tagging/union-corruption
http://www.nlpc.org/artindx.asp
Notwithstanding, unions are the reason that working-class families are/were enjoying the
American Dream. The unions was the little guys voice at the government table when the
pie was being sliced up, making sure we got our cut. But because of all the corruption,
union leaders are lining their own pockets and stroking their egos, instead of keeping an
eye on corporate America. Since not enough eyes are watching, corporate special interest
has made profit the priority in this country---buying off the majority of our elected
officials to create laws with legal loopholes to: to rob the lower middle-class; evade paying
their fair share of taxes; permit outsourcing of American jobs to developing countries all
in the name of profit and ridiculous corporate salaries. The rich get richer the poor gets
poorer.
This trend has to be reversed where there is urgent need to restore the health of this
economy and strengthen the American dollar. Inflation has robbed families of the ability
to plan for the future. The lack of real growth in the economy justifies the fear in my
mind and all working men and women---knowing we are already overextended, jobs are
dwindling and prices outpacing our salaries where it is hard enough just buying the basic
necessities to live comfortably. Ironically, as the cost of living keeps going up, our
standard of living keeps going down. Our children’s standard of living will be us taking
care of them and our grandchildren for the rest of our lives, if we don’t wake up and do
something about it. I don’t know about you, but I want to ride off into the sunset in my
twilight years alone, without the kids.
If elected as President of this Local, it will be a privilege and honor to lead this awakening
of the union spirit on a decided change. A change of taking back our Local and directing
it as a union for the betterment of the present and future lives of our families. We might
not get it done in our lifetime, but we must make the sacrifice to get it started for the
future.
Please sign up as a full-member and vote for the beginning of this new day for Local 1033.
When I became an active member in this Local 11 years ago I believed in Rae Roeder---as
her there was two things she needed to know about me: 1. I would tell her what she needed
to hear and not what she wanted to hear, and; 2. If she didn’t put the interest of the
members first we would have a problem. For seven years---1 year as a staff representative
and 6 years as the Executive Vice President---I worked with Rae.
Rae changed, but I didn’t. I kept my word and at the end of my term in 2005 as Executive
V.P., I advised her that we had a problem with the direction this Local was going and that
I would run against her for the Presidency. Rae pleaded with me to allow her to finish the
job she had started and offered raises and perks. I declined these offers with a simple, No.
I didn’t tell her at the time, but I was appalled, thinking this was the exact reason I was
running against her, to stop the wheeling and dealing with members hard earned dues
monies.
I lost by a huge margin, 1400+ to 400+, a 1000 vote difference. To this day I believe, based
upon the facts, that the results were fixed. I returned to my state job with my integrity
intact, satisfied that I did the right thing. I have declined offers of higher paying positions
with other Locals in order to remain in Local 1033 to right this wrong.
Since the day of the ballot count, I have ceased to call her Rae. I refer to her by her
surname, Roeder, because we ain’t friends any longer. Some members will learn, what
Roeder, other members and the State already know, that I am a formidable opponent--- I
can foam at the mouth and get mad dog mean. I prefer not too, rather I’d prefer to reach
an accord or some common ground, but you can’t with Roeder.
The reason I am running for President is not because I’m bitter I lost the previous
election. I am running because I have children, just like most of you. I foresee what we
have worked for all our lives and opportunities for our children just disappearing into
thin air, if things continue as they are.
When I started to be proactive in the union in 1997, unionized workers made up 16% of
the American workforce. Today it is estimated at only 9% of the workforce and shrinking.
This crisis the unions are facing today is the result of the failure of union leaders to inspire
member union spirit---because of broken promises after broken promises of change,
members have become so disheartened that they just don’t care anymore because of all
the mind-boggling corruption in the unions.
http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/olms/enforc_actions.htm
http://www.nrtw.org/free-tagging/union-corruption
http://www.nlpc.org/artindx.asp
Notwithstanding, unions are the reason that working-class families are/were enjoying the
American Dream. The unions was the little guys voice at the government table when the
pie was being sliced up, making sure we got our cut. But because of all the corruption,
union leaders are lining their own pockets and stroking their egos, instead of keeping an
eye on corporate America. Since not enough eyes are watching, corporate special interest
has made profit the priority in this country---buying off the majority of our elected
officials to create laws with legal loopholes to: to rob the lower middle-class; evade paying
their fair share of taxes; permit outsourcing of American jobs to developing countries all
in the name of profit and ridiculous corporate salaries. The rich get richer the poor gets
poorer.
This trend has to be reversed where there is urgent need to restore the health of this
economy and strengthen the American dollar. Inflation has robbed families of the ability
to plan for the future. The lack of real growth in the economy justifies the fear in my
mind and all working men and women---knowing we are already overextended, jobs are
dwindling and prices outpacing our salaries where it is hard enough just buying the basic
necessities to live comfortably. Ironically, as the cost of living keeps going up, our
standard of living keeps going down. Our children’s standard of living will be us taking
care of them and our grandchildren for the rest of our lives, if we don’t wake up and do
something about it. I don’t know about you, but I want to ride off into the sunset in my
twilight years alone, without the kids.
If elected as President of this Local, it will be a privilege and honor to lead this awakening
of the union spirit on a decided change. A change of taking back our Local and directing
it as a union for the betterment of the present and future lives of our families. We might
not get it done in our lifetime, but we must make the sacrifice to get it started for the
future.
Please sign up as a full-member and vote for the beginning of this new day for Local 1033.
