Thank You for the Honor of Serving You as President

June 28, 2019

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

Effective July 1, 2019, I am resigning as president of CWA Local 1014. In accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws of Local 1014, Vice President Amber Pallante will assume the position as president on that date.

It has been an honor and privilege to serve you as president of Council #10 and CWA Local 1014 since October 2001. I cannot fully convey my feelings and my appreciation for all those who have helped move this organization forward during these years. I want to thank all the officers, trustees, shop stewards and members who provided their assistance.

Of special importance has been the assistance of legal counsel Jim Katz. My admiration for his skill as an attorney and his compassion for our members, especially during their times of trouble, continued to grow throughout my term. And I gratefully acknowledge the guidance provided to me by former legal counsel Mary Crangle who ably steered me in my initial years as president.

I also want to express my deep gratitude for the assistance provided to me by my longtime partner, former Vice President Leah Hicks, without whose complete support my job would have been many times more difficult.

Additionally, I want to thank the Local 1014 staff Angie Hickman and Caroline Taylor and all former staff members who worked with me on a daily basis in serving members. I appreciated every day the assistance they provided and their loyalty to Local 1014.

Our affiliation with the Communications Workers of America was the high point of my presidency. I feel certain it will continue to pay dividends to both Local 1014 and CWA for many years. I cannot imagine where we would be without it. I am truly grateful for their assistance and support, especially in assigning National Representative Jim McAsey to help us build a stronger local.

The job of Local 1014 president is extremely rewarding but it can also be overwhelming—even for someone with 18 years of experience. I am certain Amber has the ability to be a great president. However, she will surely hit bumps in the road as she grows into the role. She will need your understanding as well as your support and assistance during these times. I ask that you give her what she needs to keep us unified and make Local 1014 grow stronger. Her willingness to serve as your president is sincerely appreciated by me and will surely be appreciated by you as you see her commitment to workers and the labor movement. I look forward to seeing Amber and Local 1014 take on future challenges and opportunities and anticipate your success.

Thank you again for allowing me to serve as your president and for all the experiences that came with that role.

Best wishes to you all.

Karl R. Walko

CWA Local 1014 President