Local 1102 - RWDSU

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Leadership

Frank S. Bail

President

Frank S. Bail began his career in the RWDSU in 1973 as an Organizer and Union Representative. In 1977, he was elected to the Local 1102 RWDSU Executive Board and in 1984, was elected President.

One of Frank's earliest goals was to increase the Union's strength and size and he was determined to do just that. Over the past ten years, Local 1102's membership has more than doubled to 12,000 members strong!

Above all else, Frank's professional belief is that the foundation of the labor movement begins with the integrity of the local Union. Through his leadership and direction, the Union strives to provide the best service and representation available to union members. Throughout his career, Frank has fought for and achieved improvements in wages, health coverage and pension benefits for Local 1102 members. In 1989, Frank negotiated the first comprehensive healthcare program for Local 1102 members, creating the Union's first PPO program for medical, hospital, prescription drug and dental coverage.

Understanding the need for innovation, Frank instituted the technology to make Local 1102 an early success story in union, health and pension fund administration. He also developed the Union's Organizing Program, which resulted in the successful organization of over 1,200 new members in its first two years alone.

Frank serves on the Executive Board of United Food and Commercial Worker's International Union as a Vice President, and on the Executive Board of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union as Vice President. He is also Vice President of the Long Island Federation of Labor and is Chairman of Local 1102's affiliated Health and Pension Funds.

Tim Pranschke

Secretary-Treasurer

Tim Pranschke has been active in the field of labor relations since his graduation from Cornell University in 1970. He began his career at Local 1102 as a Union Representative in 1994. In 1999, he was elected Secretary Treasurer. He serves as Trustee on the Union's affiliated Health and Pension funds.

During his term, Tim has steadfastly fought to improve and strengthen the Union's position through aggressive collective bargaining. Tim has brought his bold vision and leadership to overseeing some of Local 1102's largest contracts.

Tim's philosophy is that a Union's diversity and adaptability are its greatest strengths. His leadership has fostered a Union that is more ethnically diverse, responsive to the changing needs of its members, and stronger for it.

Gemma de Leon

Executive Vice President/Recorder

Gemma de Leon has been involved in the labor movement for over 15 years as Plan Administrator and more recently, as Executive Vice President of Local 1102. As Executive Vice President, Gemma is primarily responsible for the direction and management of the internal operations of the Union and its related Taft-Hartley welfare and pension funds. Gemma is also, an elected officer of Local 1102. As Recorder, she is a member of the Union's Executive Board and member of the Audit Committee. She is Editor-in-Chief of the Union's newsletter, "The Local 1102 Voice".

An "activist" at heart, Gemma believes that a stronger, more effective labor movement is achieved through member involvement. She implemented the Local 1102 Empowerment Program-expanding member education and training, health and safety, political action, leadership building, contract campaigning, and community involvement programs.

Gemma holds a B.A. in Public Administration and an M.B.A. in Marketing Management from St. John's University.

Dennis J. Romano

Director of Collective Bargaining

With over 25 years of experience in collective bargaining, Dennis Romano has negotiated over 500 contracts across many different industries in both the public and private sectors. He joined Local 1102 in 1999 as Director of Collective Bargaining.

Over the years, Dennis has made significant gains in wages, health and pension benefits, and working conditions for the members he represents. Dennis' personal ethics and strong motivation to improve the relationship between both parties has won him the respect of not only of his peers but also his adversaries. He focuses on equity, practicability, and creating solutions - contributing further to his numerous successes at the bargaining table.

Dennis was elected as Trustee of the Local 1102 Executive Board and serves as Trustee on the Local 1102 Health and Benefit Fund and Retirement Savings Plans. He is also a delegate for the Long Island Federation of Labor and Jewish Labor Committee.

Paulette Fialkoff-Amodeo

Chair of the UFCW Women's Network

UFCW - Women's Network Paulette Fialkoff-Amodeo first became a member of Local 1102 as a cashier at Lerner New York, Inc. In 1979, she was recruited by the Union at an administrative level. In 1992, she was promoted to Union Representative and became a member of the Local 1102 Executive Board as Trustee. From 1999 to 2004, she served as Director of Field Services. In 2004, she was elected Chair of the UFCW's Women Network, where she works to motivate and encourage women to become active in their local union so they can contribute toward building and strengthening the UFCW. More than half of the UFCW's 1.4 million members are women.

Paulette has long been a fierce advocate for working families, addressing issues of special concern to working women such as affordable child care, quality education, domestic abuse, violence at the workplace, discrimination and harassment. She is a member of the RWDSU Advisory Council and the UFCW Advisory Board.

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1587 Stewart Ave | Westbury, NY 11590 | Tel: (516) 683-1102