The TWU Veteran’s Committee (TWUVC) convened their quarterly meeting in Chicago this week, hosted by Locals 512 and 572, with attendees from 15 other locals around the country. As part of TWU’s promise to invest in our veterans and strengthen the committee structure, the Veteran’s Committee has been hard at work pursuing an ambitious agenda aimed at broadening member communications, increasing legislative activity and continuing to support important charitable causes.

One issue facing the committee is employer compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a critical issue for a number of wounded warriors returning to work and requiring accommodations at their work sites. Members devised an action plan that locals can implement to hold management accountable for notifying employees of ADA procedures. The committee also coordinated final preparations for the Hank Trujillo Memorial Operation Free PX drive, an annual charity event recently renamed in honor of the late TWUVC chair. Finally, they developed a plan to organize additional fundraising and construction support for Building Homes for Heroes, a national organization that helps construct homes for service members returning from overseas.

The TWUVC believes strongly in the concept of members coming together across divisions, industries and braches to help veterans, and is guided by the TWU United Invincible motto: standing committed to serve those who need us most. As Brother Jesus Zamarron from Local 571 put it, “It was great to see the committee continue to grow, and I was personally inspired by what the members are doing back at their locals to carry out this mission.”