Today, the ATU New York State Legislative Conference Board and the ATU New Jersey State Council held a joint meeting in Atlantic City, NJ bringing together Locals from across the region to talk about issues affecting our members, our Union, and our communities.
International President John Costa opened the meeting, thanking the Locals for their leadership and welcoming them to his home state of New Jersey. Talking about the importance of the upcoming U.S. election, political action, and the support of the International for our Locals in their fights, Costa sent a message to the delegates that the ATU will always be stronger together.
Charlie Wowkanech, President of the New Jersey AFL-CIO and a good friend of the ATU, also talked about solidarity from unions across the Garden State and legislative victories including the work we did on the NJ Corporate Transit Fee and microtransit to protect our members.
After the kick-off by Costa, longtime ATU friend and ally NJ Governor Phil Murphy addressed the conference praising our Locals and members for keeping the Garden State moving. He also spoke about the critical role our Union played in getting the Corporate Transit Fee passed to provide critical funding for NJ Transit.
Attendees also heard from NY State lobbyist Amy Kellogg about the upcoming key NY state elections, critical state legislation, and issues impacting our NY members.
Next up was ATU Director of Apprenticeships and Workforce Development Jamaine Gibson, who spoke about our innovative apprenticeship and mentorship programs that have set the standard for the industry under IP Costa’s leadership.
More than a hundred members attended, representing Local 282-Rochester, NY, Local 443-Stamford, CT, Local 580-Syracuse, NY, Local 714-Portland, ME, Local 726-Staten Island, NY, Local 819-Newark, NJ, Local 820-Union City, NJ, Local 822-Paterson, NJ, Local 823-Elizabeth, NJ, Local 825-Ordell, NJ, Local 880-Camden, NJ, Local 1056-Queens, NY, Local 1145-Binghamton, NY, Local 1179-Queens, NY, Local 1181-New York, NY, Local 1209-New London, CT, Local 1321-Albany, NY, Local 1342-Buffalo, NY, as well as a delegation from 689-Washington, DC, Local 1300-Baltimore, MD and 85-Pittsburgh, PA, Local 1603-Bethlahem, PA and Local 589-Boston, MA.
Joining Costa at the meeting and addressing the members were International Executive Vice President Yvette Trujillo, International Vice Presidents Ray Greaves, Steve MacDougall, Mark Henry, Jacques Chapman, along with Conference Board Chair Danny Cassella from Local 726-Staten Island, NY and NJ State Council Chair Orlando Riley. #ATUStrongerTogether