All,

It’s that time of year again, where we wind down the summer and start heading into the fall season… with some cooler temperatures (hopefully), and the time where the leaves will start to change colors and we’ll be headed into yet another change of seasons. Before you know it – we’ll be winding down another year; I guess I shouldn’t rush it…

“Hard work spotlights the character of people. Some turn up their sleeves. Some turn up their noses, and some… don’t turn up at all.” – Sam Ewing

I share this quote because I am proud to be leading this organization where I believe that each and every day, we all turn up our sleeves and work hard on behalf of our members; I believe we have a strong and dedicated team whose focus is to help those who need an advocate – for whatever the reason. For some, it’s because they are too afraid to take on the fight themselves, or because they have been mistreated and taken advantage of by employers who don’t value their hard work and contributions to making their workplaces successful. As a UNION, we fight-that-fight on behalf of our members and try to help them to grow and be part of the fight to stand together and find strength in their SOLIDARITY. I believe we are all working to live up to the challenges that each day brings, and it exemplifies our core values, and that work fuels our goals and objectives to the mission of REPRESNETING OUR MEMEBRS to the best of our ability.

Thank you for that commitment to our organization and for helping to build a culture of dignity & respect and working hard each & every day on behalf of our nearly 15,000 members because it takes all of us to accomplish that goal!

And please don’t forget all the hard-working men & women who came before us and gave so much to pave the way for the various things and conditions we enjoy today in our work-lives, like living wages with good benefits, *paid holidays, paid sick-time, safe workplaces free of harassment and violence… the list of achievements and gains in the workplace goes on-and-on, but – it all came at the sacrifice of other dedicated workers and we should always appreciate the path others have fought for us to enjoy what we have today – as we continue that fight for the generations to come.

I want to wish you all a Happy Labor Day and hope you & your families stay safe over the extended Holiday weekend.

President Louis Mark Carotenuto