Candidate Post: Some Years Ago...or Why The Union Is Important, Part II - Steve Nakrosis

It’s important for the members of our union to know why I made the decision to run for president of IAPE. 

In my opinion, a strong union exists to protect the interests of all employees, to make the company stronger and to create a better place to work. During my years with Dow Jones and my 12-plus years a union steward and officer, I have seen many examples of the good things our union can do. 

Some years ago, a co-worker and union member fell afoul of their manager. I don’t know why they had a falling out, nor whether the reasons were personal of professional.

What I do know is our member was singled out and forced to endure a series of unnecessary and humiliating meetings with management. I participated in many of these sessions as union steward and representative, and heard our member chided for such infractions as using too many commas in a sentence or putting a colon where a semi-colon would have been more appropriate.

These meetings were becoming weekly occurrences. Other managers couldn’t or wouldn’t intervene to help our member. But the union was there to lend its support during these times.

In the end, our union was able to negotiate an exit package and our member went on to better things. But without the union, this member could have been kicked to the curb, or given two-weeks’ severance and shown the door.

IAPE was there to stand with this worker, and we are there to stand with every member. I’m proud that I was able, in some small way, to assist our member through these trying times. I want to continue to stand with our membership and serve the workers who make up IAPE 1096.

The union makes all our lives better.

I ask again that you please vote for me, Stephen Nakrosis, to serve as our union president.

Reach out with questions, comments or suggestions to votesteveiape@gmail.com.