Ten local labor leaders were sworn in as the newly elected officers of the 120,000 member Westchester/ Putnam Central Labor Body, AFL-CIO at the monthly delegate meeting December 14th in White Plains. The ten will fill out the expired terms of President, Secretary/Treasurer and eight Vice Presidents.

Re-installed as President was Paul Ryan, Business Representative of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local # 3 the former secretary/treasurer of the organization. Paul is also a charter member of the Westchester Human Rights Commission; a labor representative and Executive Board member of the Board of Directors of the Westchester-Putnam United Way; representative to the Yonkers Chamber of Commerce; labor representative to the Yonkers Private Industry Council and Workforce Investment Board; and delegate to the Westchester Putnam Building Trades Council. Mr. Ryan served eight years (1995-2003) as a member of the Buchanan Planning Board including 1 ½ years as its Chairman. He is a veteran of the United States Army with service in Germany and Vietnam and a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and the Vietnam Veterans of America.

Also re-installed as Secretary/Treasurer was Karen Magee, President of the Harrison Association of Teachers, AFT # 2713. Before becoming Secretary/Treasurer in December 2004, Karen served as a Vice President of the labor body from 1999 to 2003. Karen is a graduate of the Cornell Leadership Institute and has been her union’s chief negotiator, a labor representative on the Westchester/Putnam United Way Board of Directors; a member of the NYSUT Committee of 100 and COPE Committee and has been delegate to the New York State Retirement System, NYSUT and AFT Conventions for a number of years. She teaches in the Harrison Central School System. Karen is also chairperson of the very active Westchester/Putnam Central Labor Body Community Service Committee.

Installed as vice presidents were:

John T. Ahern (Jack) is the Business Manager and Financial Secretary of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 30 with its offices in Richmond Hill, Queens and is a Trustee of the International Union of Operating Engineers (Washington D.C.). Born in Brooklyn, Jack is a product of the parochial and public school system of New York City. Jack was initiated to Local 30 as an apprentice in 1974 and graduated from the Apprentice Program with licenses as a High Pressure Stationary Engineer and Refrigeration Engineer. In 1979, he became a Local 30 Business Agent and in 1995 the Assistant Business Manager. Jack was elected President in 1996. He was elected Business Manager and Financial Secretary in 1999. In 2004, Jack was appointed a Trustee of the International Union of Operating Engineers.

Jack serves the Labor Movement as an officer and delegate to many labor affiliates and councils. He serves as Vice-Chairperson to the NYC Municipal Labor Committee and on the U.S. Dept. of Labor Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship. In addition, he serves as Vice-President to the following: Westchester Putnam Central Labor Council, Long Island Federation of Labor, New York City Central Labor Council and the Nassau Suffolk Building Trades Council. Jack also serves on the Stationary Engineers Committee, I.U.O.E., the Executive Board of the Northeastern States Conference of Operating Engineers, and as a Trustee of the National Association of Power Engineers, Chapter 11 and the Irish American Labor Coalition.

The Ahern Family emigrated from Ireland in 1912. The Ahern's for three generations have been leaders in the American Labor Movement and the Irish American Community. Jack serves on the Board of Directors of the Emerald Isle Immigration Society.

Harold Aken III, Secretary/Treasurer of the Rye Professional Fire Fighters, IAFF # 2029. Hal is a member of the Westchester County Fire Advisory Board; and the steering committee of the Westchester Working Families Party. He was the former Secretary/Treasurer of the Westchester Coalition of Professional Fire Fighters.

Michael Carriere, is a representative of the International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades District Council # 9. He joined the Glaziers Union in 1988 and was subsequently elected to: Examining Board, Union Trustee, Executive Board, and finally Vice President. After the merger of the two unions, he was appointed an organizer for IUPAT District Council # 9. Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion recently appointed Mike to a two year term on Bronx Community Board # 11 and he currently serves as chairperson of the Sanitation and Environmental Protection Committee of the Board. Michael is also on the Executive Board of the Consortium for Workers Education which encourages and prepares people to join the building trades. At the Central Labor Body he has been active on many of the committees and serves as Chairman of the Organizing Committee.

Christopher Cutter has served CWA, Local # 1103 in many various capacities. He has been one of their organizers, has negotiated several contracts, writes and teaches in the union's political action program and has served as the Assistant to the President for over 20 years. Currently Chris writes and edits their newspaper, lobbies in both Albany and Washington and is responsible for all legislative and political matters. Chris is a veteran, serving in Vietnam for almost two tours of duty and is also a graduate of Westchester Community College, taught Labor Studies Courses for Cornell's ILR program and has been a guest lecturer at Pace College, Mercy College, New York University and various local high schools. He has been actively involved as a labor coordinator in numerous gubernatorial races, Senate/Congressional, State Senate and Assembly elections.

James Edmiston is a Labor Representative and Organizer for the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Moving Picture Technicians Local One. At the Westchester/Putnam Central Labor Body he has been instrumental in advocating for the updating of office technology. In 26 years he has worked as a Scenic Carpenter, Lighting Technician and Rigger on Broadway Shows and other special events. Jim is also a member of the IATSE Film Technicians Local # 52 where he was Best boy Grip on many big budget feature films shot here in Westchester. Not only is Jim an advocate for workers in his industry but he actively supports the unionization of all workers. You will see him walking picket lines; at union rallies or wherever workers need support.

Florence McCue is a longtime union activist. She currently serves as Grievance/ Arbitration Chairman and a member of the PAC and contract negotiating team of the Yonkers Federation of Teachers, AFT # 860. On the state level Florence is New York State United Teachers PAC Coordinator for the 35th Senatorial District. As a young teacher, she became building representative of her school and she has been active in YFT ever since in all kinds of capacities from committees to Executive Board. She was admitted to the Bar of the State of New York in 1992 and continues to be active in the State and County Bar Association. Florence is also an active member of the Pace Law School Alumni Board and was a former Vice President of the Pocantico Hills Board of Education. At the WPCLB she has been an integral part of the interviewing committee of the political action committee and can always be seen actively participating in all rallies, picketing and supporting labor causes.

John McPhillips (better known as Jack) is President of Civil Service Employees Association Local # 860 of AFSCME. Jack, who has been a member of CSEA for 30 years, is also President of the Westchester County Unit of CSEA #860/9200 and a member of the statewide CSEA Board of Directors. Jack received his education at the University of Hartford majoring in Public Administration and has served as the Assistant Director of Administrative Services for the County Department of Public Works. Jack became active in CSEA to combat some of the inequities he has seen over the years and has applied his knowledge fighting for the members of his unit. As the president of CSEA # 860 he will now be supporting members on a larger scale.

Along his way to achieving the highest office in CSEA # 860, Jack served in many capacities at the unit, local, region and state level. He has been a member of the PAC Committee at the unit, local and region levels as well as at the WPCLB. His interest in finance has put him on the budget and audit committees of both the unit and local. At the unit level he has been a key member of the contract negotiating team. In the past he has been a delegate to the Statewide CSEA Convention, and the AFSCME Convention. Currently he is a delegate to the Westchester/Putnam Central Labor Body, AFL-CIO; a member of the Mt. Sinai Westchester Advisory Board; and the CSEA Statewide Standing Committee on Education and the People Committee.

Ilene Sussman has been fighting for people's rights since she was a 16 year old high school student. She is a registered nurse and is has been a nursing representative for the New York State Nurses Association for seventeen and a half years. She brings with her a dearth of nursing experience having worked as a general staff nurse at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx, as a home care nurse, as a nurse in a doctor's office and as a nurse in the intensive care unit at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. Her union activities range from serving as a shop steward, working with striking nurses at Nyack Hospital to negotiating initial contracts in places such as Staten Island and Jersey City, New Jersey. She presently represents nurses in the Westchester area. In her free time she serves as a volunteer in the Ossining Ambulance Corps.

Anthony Ucci, Business Manager and Financial Secretary of the United Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters, Local # 21. Tony who serves as the Secretary/Treasurer of the Building and Construction Trade Council of Westchester and Putnam County is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Mount Sinai-Irving J. Selikoff Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

WESTCHESTER/ PUTNAM CENTRAL LABOR BODY AFL- CIO OFFICE 

595 WEST HARTSDALE AVENUE

WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK      10607

TELEPHONE: (914) 328-7988                  FAX: (914) 328-7993