I’m very proud to be the President of Branch 3, one of only three charter members of the NALC, formed in 1889 with Milwaukee and Detroit.  Branch 3 has a great tradition of strong leadership to uphold over the past 116 years.  Since I’ve been a full-time Union Officer, the Post Office has gone through a tremendous amount of change that has drastically affected the working lives of our membership.  My officers and I have dealt with many different controversial issues, from the introduction of DPS mail to the TE workforce, to numerous route adjustments, to the scanners, to many other concerns that have changed the workplace.  And that transition of the Postal Service will continue, as we expect to achieve Postal Reform to save our jobs for many decades to come.  However, that reform will also bring fresh change that we will have to mold in our favor, to protect the interests of the membership of this great Union.

    I started with the Postal Service in October of 1980 as a Letter Carrier at the Depew Post Office, which has since merged with Lancaster.  I attended my first Union meeting as soon as I became a member of Branch 3 and attended meetings regularly.  One of the reasons I became a Steward in the late ‘80s was that this proud career of being one of the nation’s Letter Carriers is too important to be left in the hands of management alone.  As a very aggressive Steward, I held managements’ feet to the fire and also became very involved in Branch 3 and AFL-CIO activities.  I was elected Branch 3’s first full time Vice President in April 1991 and President three years later in April 1994. I was just re-elected to my 5th term as President in April 2006.

    Throughout my Union career, I’ve continued to learn and expand on my abilities as a Union leader and I’ve gained wide-ranging experience in many different areas, including dealing with various media coverage and forming relationships with Congressional representatives.  I’ve attended classes at Cornell University and Branch Leadership Training at national headquarters.  I’ve also served on several national committees, the Election Committee, the Route Evaluation committee and an International Safety and Health Committee, which met with Union leaders from Canada and Great Britain.  Currently, I am also on the Executive Boards of both the Buffalo AFL-CIO Council and the Western New York Area Labor Federation and several other Labor Advisory boards.

    I have three sons, Ian-34, Conor-28 and Corey-24.  I also have two granddaughters, Cailyn-16 and Kiley-6.  Ian is also Federal employee.  He has served in Iraq and is currently managing a maintenance wing at the Niagara Falls Air Base.  Conor  received his doctorate in Psychology from the University of Buffalo and on August 1st he started as an Assistant Professor at Cleveland State University.  Corey will complete school at Hilbert College in December 2006.  I just turned 53 years old and I live in Tonawanda, with my wife Rose.

    I’ve always believed in the power of Unions to transform the lives of working people, as my father and grandfather were both Union organizers and presidents.  I believe that unless you are one of the lucky few that own large segments of this country, the most important things you have to protect yourself and your family is your vote and your Union.  By sticking together and exercising our rights to fully utilize both avenues of freedom, we can continue to be a force for what is best about being an American.