JOIN US AS WE ANALYZE, EXPLORE, AND CELEBRATE THE DIFFERENT FACETS OF ORGANIZED LABOR.

SIMPLY PUT: THIS IS THE SITE FOR ALL THINGS UNION.

IN THE SPIRIT OF EUGENE DEBS, (an American union leader and one of the founding members of the Industrial Workers of the World) WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US AS WE CHAMPION THE CAUSE FOR A SAFE, EQUITABLE, AND UNIONIZED WORKPLACE. SADLY, LIKE MANY MODERN UNIONS, WE ARE OFTEN FORCED INTO A DEFENSIVE POSTURE AS WE FIGHT TO RETAIN OUR HARD-EARNED BENEFITS AND SECURITY. CORPORATE CUTBACKS ARE FOREVER NIPPING AT OUR HEELS. THE PANDORA’S BOX HEARTLESSLY OPENED BY RONALD REAGAN IN THE EARLY 1980S – REMEMBER THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS? – SERVES AS AN AMPLE WARNING THAT ORGANIZED LABOR MUST AND WILL REMAIN ON ITS GUARD. PLEASE USE OUR “BLOG PAGE” AS A PLACE FOR THE FREE EXCHANGE OF UNION-RELATED VIEWPOINTS. PLEASE INFORM US ABOUT ISSUES YOU ARE DEALING WITH IN YOUR LOCAL. THROUGH THE UNIFIED EFFORT, WE CAN SAFEGUARD THE RECOGNITION, GOOD PAY, AND HUMANE BENEFITS THAT ALL WORKERS DESERVE.
ORGANIZED LABOR HAS MADE TITANIC LEAPS IN THE 20TH CENTURY. HISTORY BUFFS MIGHT WANT TO ACQUAINT THEMSELVES WITH THE TRIANGLE SHIRT WAIST FACTORY FIRE , A 1911 DISASTER THAT HORRIFIED NEW YORK CITY AND THE NATION, AND BECAME A SPRINGBOARD FOR SAFER WORKING CONDITIONS AND BETTER COMMUNICATION BETWEEN MANAGEMENT AND LABOR. WE’VE COME A LONG WAY SINCE THE DEPLORABLE AND PREVENTABLE TRAGEDY OF 1911. THE SWEATSHOP ERA IS A DIM MEMORY. AND AS PROUD UNION MEMBERS, WE OWE IT TO OUR PREDECESSORS IN THE LABOR MOVEMENT TO REMAIN BOTH VIGILANT AND UNITED AS WE CONTINUE TO PROTECT THE CONCERNS OF AMERICA’S HONEST, STRONG, AND ADMIRABLE WORKING CLASS. IN A WORD, IT ALL COMES DOWN TO DECENCY.
SITE LAST UPDATED ON 2/8/2022
Panel 1

About

Local 424 is located throughout New Jersey. We are employed by the Elizabethtown Gas Company, a subsidiary of South Jersey Industries (SJI) of New Jersey. Our job descriptions include Emergency Response (gas leak & carbon monoxide), distribution system maintenance, fleet and building maintenance, meter reading, meter changing, and parts distribution.

For many years we were an independent Local who handled issues with our company on our own and with the help of lawyers. Those were the days when fairness and respect on both sides were still a part of the Union/Company relationship. However, with the increase in disrespect that Corporate America shows towards Unions and the constant push to reduce our hard-earned benefits, we were forced to look for additional help.  In 1982 we found and merged with The Utility Workers Union of America to gain strength in numbers and add to our resources. The vote to do so was unanimous amongst our membership.

Panel 2

Union Officials

Executive Board
President – JOHN GORDON • Vice-President – MIKE POWELL
 Secretary – CHRIS MATISAK •  Treasurer – Mike Kelly
Divisional Vice Presidents 
Union Division – dAN PALUMBO • ED PIER
Northwest Division – JIM NORTON
Union Division Shop Stewards
Construction & Maintenance – RYAN HELFRICH • LENNY NIRO
Erie Street – Glenn Csordos
Garage & Warehouse – Al Catananzi
Responders – Chris Juliano • CODY BRENN
Meter Reading – Mike Noble • jOEL GONZALEZ
Northwest Division Shop Stewards
 Andover – Eric Tompkins
Flemington – Zach Januse
New Village – PAUL IGNOSCIA
Trustees
JIMMY KELLEHER JR • Hank Bauer • Larry Burns
Sergeant-at-Arms
Jeff WERNES • Mike Blendon
Safety Committee Green Lane Division
Erie Street – Glenn Csordos
Garage/Warehouse – Tony Calcado
Meter Reading – Mario Lugo
Responder – George Kearney
Street Dept. – Hank Bauer
Safety Committee Northwest Division
New Village – Scott Pierson • Ed GibKI
Andover – Joe Bonavita
Flemington – Lonnie Snyder
Retirement Party Committee
Committee Chair – Mike Powell
Cody Brenn • Chris Demaio • Mike Doran • Chris Matisak
Web Site Design and Contributions
Larry Mruskovic for his years of ongoing service
Ray “Robo” Castillo • Rick Donovan • Chris Matisak
Panel 4

Member Links

Contact Info for benefit vendors:

Vault Covid Testing

Vault Health Help Page

Caremark (prescriptions by mail)

http://www.rxbenefits.com 1-800-815-3023

Vision Savings Plan

http://www.vsp.com 1-800-877-7195

CBIZ FLEX

(Flexible spending account) 1-800-815-3023 opt 4

Colonial Life

http://www.coloniallife.com 1-800-325-4368

FAX: 1-800-880-9325

UWUA 424 Rep: Charlene 917-749-8867

Health Advocate

http://www.healthadvocate.com/sji 1-855-424-6400

Answers@healthadvocate.com/sji

Horizon BCBS NJ

http://www.horizonblue.com 1-800-355-2583

Hotline Safety Issues

http://www.mysafeworkplace.com 1-800-461-9330

Merrill Lynch 401K

http://www.benefits.ml.com 1-800-229-9040

529 Plan

1-866-529-8582

Mutual of Omaha

http://www.absencepro.absencemgmt.com 1-877-365-2666

Contact Mutual of Omaha to request FMLA and/or Short Term Disability (Employees responsibility to ensure that all appropriate paperwork is submitted to Mutual of Omaha