Read Tony's full story
My Story
I began my career with the Postal Service in 2018 as a PSE. In 2019, when Steve Duckworth became President of our Local, many of the existing shop stewards stepped away. Our members needed representation, and I volunteered to become a shop steward to help protect the rights and benefits of my coworkers.
At the time, I never had aspirations of becoming anything more than a shop steward. I simply wanted to represent the people I worked beside every day. But whenever our Union faced a challenge or needed someone to step forward, I have always been willing to offer my time and service.
Learning Through Experience
Becoming a steward on Tour 3 was a challenge I took head-on. During my first year, I jumped straight in and filed hundreds of grievances. Through hard work, dedication, and, importantly, learning from my mistakes, I continued to hone my contract knowledge and develop my ability to effectively represent our members.
Steve Duckworth played an important role in my development. He answered my calls, provided guidance whenever I needed it, and helped give me the foundation to grow as a representative. I knew, however, that there was no substitute for experience. Every grievance, meeting, and difficult situation became another opportunity to learn and become a better advocate for our members.
My commitment eventually extended far beyond the walls of the Trenton P&DC. I took advantage of nearly every opportunity available to further my union education and become a more knowledgeable representative. I attended Human Relations training covering OWCP, Excessing Protection training, Step 2 training, grievance Summer School, Safety and OSHA training, and countless other courses covering nearly every aspect of union representation.
I also attended state conventions, Tri-State conventions, national conventions, and rallies both locally and nationally in Washington, D.C. I made it a priority to learn wherever and whenever the opportunity presented itself, because I believe our members deserve representatives who are willing to put in the work to understand the issues they are asked to handle.
The Union has invested a tremendous amount in my education and development, and I am grateful for every opportunity it has given me. I have always tried to return that investment through my service to our members and by proudly representing Trenton Metro Area Local 1020.
Stepping Into Leadership
When our Local needed someone to serve as Director of Industrial Relations, I stepped forward. That position required me to expand my knowledge beyond the Clerk Craft and develop an understanding of grievances, contractual issues, and representation involving the Clerk, Maintenance, and Motor Vehicle Crafts.
After serving three years as Director of Industrial Relations, I was asked to fill the vacant position of Clerk Craft Director when the previous director left for a position in Labor Relations. Once again, I stepped forward because the Local needed someone to do the job.
As Clerk Craft Director, I focused heavily on improving my knowledge, negotiating skills, and ability to resolve disputes. I assumed responsibility for handling grievances at Step 2 and working directly with management to resolve cases.
During my first year, I settled nearly 75% of the cases I handled. During my second year, that number increased to approximately 85%, along with nearly $100,000 in grievance settlements and payouts for members of the Clerk Craft.
Those numbers are accomplishments I am proud of, but they are not what I consider my greatest achievement.
The Accomplishment That Matters Most
My greatest accomplishment has been the relationships I have built with the people on the workroom floor. For seven years, I have worked alongside the same people I represent. We have developed camaraderie because we have experienced many of the same struggles together.
That experience has also taught me one of the most important lessons of leadership:
A union cannot be a one-man show.
A strong union requires officers, stewards, and members working together. I have worked hard to make sure my fellow officers and stewards receive the help, information, and support they need to represent our membership effectively.
Leadership should not be about making yourself indispensable. It should be about making the people around you stronger.
Representing Trenton Beyond Our Local
My union education and responsibilities have continued to grow. I attended Arbitration Advocacy School and became a certified arbitration advocate, allowing me to handle arbitrations for our Local and throughout the State of New Jersey. I also serve as a Business Agent for New Jersey State Local 130 and have represented members from our Local and South Jersey as an arbitration advocate.
My work and contributions have also received recognition beyond our Local. I was selected by the National APWU as the only candidate from the State of New Jersey for Leadership Institute Class 2.
That experience expanded my education beyond grievances and arbitration. I gained greater knowledge of leadership, organizing, grassroots involvement, labor history, and what it takes to build and sustain a strong union.
Why I Am Running
I never began this journey intending to become President. Every position I have taken came because there was a need, and I believed I could help.
Today, I believe our Local needs leadership that can rebuild our foundation, bring people together, educate our representatives, and prepare the next generation to lead.
My goal is not to make the presidency a lifelong career. My goal is to strengthen this Local and develop the people around me so that someday someone even better prepared can step forward and continue what we built together.
At 36 years old, I bring seven years of union representation, extensive training, experience at multiple levels of the grievance procedure, arbitration advocacy, contract knowledge across multiple crafts, and years of working directly beside the members I represent.
But more importantly, I have never forgotten where I started: on the workroom floor, as a shop steward who simply wanted to help his coworkers. That same purpose continues to guide me today.
I am asking for your vote for President so that together we can repair what needs to be repaired, strengthen the foundation of our Local, develop the next generation of leaders, and show everyone what Trenton Metro Area Local 1020 is capable of accomplishing when we work together.
A New Direction. A Stronger Local.
