UE National Black Caucus

We the undersigned members of the National UE Black Caucus are excited to announce our endorsement of Tara McCauley for UE General President and George Waksmunski for UE Director of Organizing.

We have had the pleasure of meeting with both George & Tara and feel confident that they are they best choice for UE General President & Director of Organizing based on their years of experience, dedication and commitment to UE Principles and the belief that the members run the Union.

We believe that Tara & George would be an excellent addition to UE Leadership and would make a valuable contribution to the growth, progress, and revitalization of UE.

Tara and George have our full support and endorsement, we have no doubt they will be a great asset to UE.

If you have any questions or require additional information, please email UE.NationalBlackCaucus@gmail.com

In Solidarity,
UE National Black Caucus

Jim Borowski, Local 106 Member and General Executive Board Member

Tara McCauley and George Waksmunski are two of the hardest working, most dedicated individuals that I have ever met in my 43 years as a Union member and nearly 20 years of being involved with UE. I have served as shop steward, local president, Eastern region E-board member, and also I am currently on the GEB. I have met and observed many officers and staff. The passion, honesty, and guidance that Tara and George have provided over the years have been invaluable. Tara has proven herself to be a keen negotiator, when the opportunity is given to her. Some of the contractual provisions she wrestled from Johns Hopkins have become the standard that other locals attempt to achieve. Recently, at Local 106 negotiations, she and the negotiating team were able to get the company to move on issues they steadfastly remained firm on in three previous negotiations. Tara and George did not seek National office positions. They were asked to become candidates by members of UE.  Members who wanted to make certain that the future of UE would be consistent with what the founding members envisioned:  A members run union that leads from the bottom up. Please join me in supporting the candidacy of these two sincere and dedicated individuals. Like me, their goal is to make UE the biggest and brightest star in the Labor movement by adhering to our creed: 

“The members run this union!”

Althea Bock-Hughes, Former Local 1103 General Secretary

When I joined GSU during the early months of our card campaign—launched in large part thanks to Chris—he was formally serving as our financial secretary and running our voluntary dues program. However, it quickly became clear that Chris was central to every aspect of the union. If I had a question about organizing strategy, legal issues, member lists, or finances, Chris was always the first person I turned to. He had a hand in everything, with an unmatched combination of energy, insight, and commitment. Over the years, he has been an indispensable resource and guiding mentor to so many leaders in our union.

When I became General Secretary of Local 1103, Chris was the one who encouraged me to pick up the work he had started and gave me the confidence to build on it. His early work, fundraising for the local and setting up our member database, laid the groundwork for what became a massively successful, largely self-funded strike campaign. Meanwhile, on the bargaining committee, Chris played a key role in bargaining a historic grad worker contract.

Chris approaches every challenge with humility and a deep commitment to the overall success of our union. He blends sharp political instinct with deep organizing experience and genuinely understands what it means to build a democratic, rank-and-file union.

Beyond that, Chris is a technical powerhouse. He reads dense legalese for fun, managed our finances excellently, was constantly helping to improve our member databases long after his role required it, and would dive into almost any technical question brought to him at every stage of our union’s evolution – all while completing a PhD in Math!

I can say without hesitation that Chris Wilson is the strongest possible candidate for Secretary-Treasurer of UE. His dedication, strategic mind, and technical capabilities make him uniquely qualified for the job. I know Tara and George will love working with him, just as we have at Local 1103. I can’t wait to see how this slate will guide UE into the next season of labor organizing in this country and wouldn’t want anyone else at the helm!

Antwon Gibson, Local 610 Member, Eastern Region Vice President, and General Executive Board Member

I stand in Solidarity and support George Waksmunski for Director of Organization and Tara McCauley for General President of our great Members Run Union of the United Electrical Radio And Machine Workers Of America also known as UE, the Union for everyone.
George and Tara both understand that nothing can be done by ourselves but everything can be done when the members are United together on One Accord. They know when members are United, we Win!
George and Tara will focus on the needs of our members while providing support for our staff. As National Officers, they will also focus on uniting our members across sectors through effective interactions amongst the entire rank n file. 
I believe George and Tara are the only candidates that will unify our organization once again. With their experience and leadership skills, they will bring our Union closer together through effective communication and will take the time to listen to the needs of the rank n file. 
They will focus on educating and training our members while also promoting qualified and experienced members from the rank n file who have dedicated themselves to the betterment of UE!
We don't need leaders who act like the bosses we face everyday, we need leaders who will help us fight them. George and Tara are the ones who will help us do that.

In Solidarity, 
Antwon Gibson
Swanny G
Proud member of UE Local 610
V.P. UE Eastern Region
GEB Member

Andy Archer, Local 1103 Former Bargaining Committee and Executive Board Member

I can’t say that I’ve known another organizer more committed to building a truly democratic union than Chris Wilson. Few people in this work have both the conviction to fight tirelessly for their beliefs and the willingness to really listen to their comrades and have their minds changed. Chris is as receptive to feedback as he is steadfast in his commitment to UE. At the bargaining table, Chris was our numbers wiz. There were many times we relied on him to do the math for us. It would be easy for him to use his gifts for complex reasoning to advance his own agenda — but he never did. Instead, Chris works to make things easier for others to understand because he believes this fight belongs to all of us. There’s no one I’d trust more with our books. It’s a comfort to know that UE’s future is secure in his capable hands. 

Jess Sims, Local 123 Chief Steward

I've known Tara for as long as I've been a part of UE Local 123, which is 8 years. I've been in meetings with her, negotiations with her, arbitrations, rallies in front of my job, the list goes on. One thing I can say is that she's loyal, and she's a fighter. She has a strong mindset with ambition to fight for what's right and fair. We have been blessed here at Local 123 to have her support throughout the years.  She's faithful in coming down every month to our monthly meetings, which means a lot and shows true dedication! If anyone deserves this, she does!!
George is a man of hard work and dedication. There have been many times when he has just been passing through our area and stopped in to check on our local, simply because he cares and wants his locals to know they are not alone. George used to service the plant I work at years ago,  so he is well known there, and many people speak very highly of him. From what I know, seen and heard,  George keeps the fight alive, and he shows up. He keeps us informed and gives his best. He's passionate about what he does for this union, and that's what we need!

Margaret Dabrowski, Local 222 Member and General Executive Board Member

Hi, my name is Margaret Dabrowski. I'm from UE 222, an amalgamated public sector local from Connecticut. I am currently on the Eastern region executive board and the national general executive board for several years. In that time, I have watched as the founding principles of UE slowly started to erode on the national level. It is like there is a hidden agenda of sorts, and we are only given a certain amount of that info. It has been disheartening because, at least to me, one of the most fundamental and important principles of UE has always been the members running the union. That no matter where we work, what industries we come from, together we work to make us stronger. Sadly, that is becoming not the case. There are divisions being fomented now, much like in our country and government. I have known most of the parties involved in running for national office for some time now, with the exception of Valentina since she is very new to UE and hasn't had the benefit of experience with our union.  George and Tara have always shown that they have the best interests of our members at heart and have always been honest and aboveboard, never failing to take responsibility when needed. George has been fighting for our members throughout his whole career. Tara, though she hasn't been a part of UE as long as George, has shown that her sole focus is on helping our members succeed. The rumors that are flying around in an effort to discredit both of these amazing people is shameful and patently untrue. As a long standing militant union, a union of workers across the nation, we need to do and be better. To do less and engage in such smear tactics is to taint the legacy that the founding fathers created all those years ago, a union for all.

Marie Pearce, Local 197 Treasurer

Tara and George embody the core values of UE, and I trust them to maintain the rank-and-file structure of our union. George is always checking in on locals to make sure they are receiving the support needed. Tara has been an incredible asset for our local and has encouraged us to fight for more than we think might be possible. At times, when we want to default to Tara for guidance or answers, she reminds us that everything is up to our members, truly upholding the rank-and-file structure of UE. I want to know that the people leading UE care about each member and will push for what we all deserve, and Tara and George are certainly those people.

Rachel Scrandis, Former Local 1103 Area Chief Steward

Chris is a fierce organizer, steward, and leader. The bedrock of our union was built on his commitment to his fellow workers and the belief that when united, our membership is unshakeable. He is committed, extremely sharp, and has an unfailing work ethic. 

Jeff Kohler, Local 625, former Local 610 VP, former Eastern Region Exec. Board Member

In today’s turbulent times, we are going to need strong, proven UE leadership.
Leaders that understand the UE way and will make certain we will remain a MEMBERS RUN UNION.
Strong individuals that understand the working class and their everyday struggles.
Warriors that have been in the trenches with our membership and will always fight like hell against corporate greed and fight even harder for our brothers and sisters to have good family-sustaining jobs, benefits, and wages.
Tara and George have all of these traits. They are two of the hardest working individuals that have ever worn the UE patch. Every time I have reached out to either of them for assistance, they have always answered the call.  Tara and George are obsessed with strengthening our union, and like most of us, they bleed UE.  
I proudly endorse Tara for General President and George for Director of Organization. Strong and Proven!

Jeff Kohler
Current Local 625 member
Former Local 610 VP
Former Eastern Region Executive Board member

UE Local 150, North Carolina Public Service Workers

Tara McCauley and George Waksmunski:

UE 150 is proud to endorse your candidacies for UE National President and UE National Director of Organizing. We are grateful for the meeting we had last month and look forward to continued communication as you move forward. Local 150 trusts your commitment to rank-and-file unionism, and we know you are aware and aligned with the needs of Southern workers.

Please let us know of ways we can support you. Do not hesitate to contact me or our President Willie Brown at [email].

Our union needs your experience, wisdom, and openness now more than ever, and UE 150 is proud to stand with you.

Sincerely,

Alexandra Fox, on behalf of UE 150 Executive Board