“A True Trade Unionist and Teamster,” Local 769 Business Agent Retires after 31 Years of Service
On April 18, 1983, when nineteen year old Daisy Gonzalez-Conti began working as an insurance processor for Local 769; gas was $1.24 a gallon, you could buy a new home for less than $90,000 and no one had yet heard of a couple of guys named Crockett and Tubbs chasing bad guys on a TV show called “Miami Vice.”
This Wednesday, thirty one years and twelve days since that day she was hired as an insurance processor; Local 769 will mark the retirement of Business Agent Daisy Gonzalez-Colli, and a career of dedication to her brother and sister Teamsters will come to an end.
After her tenure as insurance processor, Daisy moved up the ranks to the Dues Department and later Bookkeeping before being promoted to Office Manager and Administrative Assistant to then Local 769 President Tony Cannestro.
Her position gave her a keen insight about the inner workings of how the Union operates, and this led to her promotion to Assistant Business Representative where she trained under subsequent Local 769 President Bob Belans and Business Representative Joyce Hardy. Working with them, she was involved in hands on negotiations and enforcement of the contracts for the next several years.
That experience led to her promotion to Business Representative assigned to represent various shops and she remained in the Airline Division, where she has been a Business Representative for the past 12 years. Seven years ago she was assigned to manage the Airline Division of Local 769, where I continue to negotiate for and represent airline and government employees.
Throughout her tenure, she has worked to remain abreast of the critical issues of labor relations and continued her education by taking various courses in continuing education relating to the Railway Labor Act, the Service Contract Act, contract negotiations, and conflict resolution. She was appointed by the IBT to serve as the Committee Chairperson for the Air Canada System Board and the Interim Chairperson for the Continental Airlines Contract Negotiations Committee. In addition, she negotiated dozens of collective bargaining agreements for her members over the years, including Amerijet, after a strike over the most basic of human needs for their pilots.
“Daisy is the truest definition of a trade unionist and a Teamster,” said Local 769 Secretary-Treasurer Josh Zivilich. “While some people dedicate their career to just showing up, Daisy was always there, rolling up her sleeves and fighting for the rights of her members. She has left a tremendous legacy of service to our Local and she will be long remembered and missed. We’re looking forward to a celebration of Local 769’s 50th anniversary and Daisy’s retirement later this year,” he concluded.
Commenting on Daisy’s retirement, Airline Division Director David Bourne said, “Since becoming Director, I have had many opportunities to work with Daisy on behalf of the members of Local 769. There was never ‘good enough’ as far as Daisy was concerned. She always looked for ways to make things better for her members. We all know that’s not always possible when dealing with management and especially some of the managements Daisy dealt with, but she never gave up. It’s been an honor working with her and I wish her every happiness in her retirement. We’re going to miss her.”
While Daisy may be retiring from her job with the Local, she won’t be looking for things to fill her time. She and husband Tom are expecting the arrival of another grandchild in the coming months and she has many plans for the coming days.
Congratulations on your retirement Daisy. May you always have blue skies, tailwinds and warm sand to greet you!
SWA Material Specialists Update
SWA Material Specialist Contract Negotiations continued this past week in Dallas. The Negotiations Committee, along with Local Union Business Agents and Airline Division Representatives met outside of negotiations on April 21st to work on Articles 23 (General and Miscellaneous) and 27 (Shift and Day Trades).
Direct negotiations with the Company continued on April 22nd, 23rd and 24th. The Union and the Company traded proposals on Articles 8 (Field Service), 9 (Seniority), 10 (Filling of Vacancies), 18 (Severance), 23 (General and Miscellaneous) and 27 (Shift and Trade Days). The parties were able to reach Tentative Agreements on Articles 10, 18 and 23.
Dates for the next round of talks are under discussion.
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