A LOCAL 1600 CAUCUS
David Richmond, President
(Harper College Faculty)
I was born into a Union family and have been involved in organized
labor almost my entire life. I began teaching History at Harper College in 2000 and assumed a leadership role in the faculty strike of
2002, even though I was not tenured at the time. Since 2002 I have
held a number of offices in the Union, including Faculty Senator (3
years), Grievance Officer (8 years) and Vice-President for Suburban
Faculty (3 years). As Vice-President, I organized and helped teach
training workshops on Union Leadership, Contract Negotiations,
Communications, Contract Campaigns and Chapter Leadership. I
was on my first contract negotiations team in 2006, and since then I
have negotiated three more successful contracts, all as Lead Negotiator. I have spent years acquiring the experience and training which has prepared me to be CCCTU president.
In March 2013, I sent a letter to the 150 members of the CCCTU House of Representatives outlining a plan for
needed structural changes to our Union. That letter attracted many of the brightest and most experienced union
leaders in our Local. From these conversations, Educators for a Democratic Union was born, a party of ideas and
union reform. Please check out our full platform at EDU1600.org. We are running a full slate of officers and delegates in the March 2014 elections. I am proud to introduce you to our candidates. No other caucus can match
the EDU1600 team’s experience, commitment and integrity. Please vote EDU1600 this March! And have a great
New Year!
Educators for a Democratic Union is endorsed by:
Stu Sikora, Triton Mike Ruggeri, Harold Washington
Berdy Kuiken, South Suburban
Mike Van Landingham, Harper
Myra Cox, Harold Washington
Maria Kossakowski, Malcom X
Jennifer Alexander, Daley
Kathleen DeCourcey, Oakton
Tom Dowd, Harper Sue Braasch, Prairie State
John Cadero, Triton
Ruben Ruiz, Morton
Missy Cabrera, Triton
Maggie Hahn Wade, Triton
Matt Ciavarella, Truman
Irene Ramirez, South Suburban
Andrew Cutcher, Harold Washington
Tim Visk, Morton
Eric Porod, Morton
Lynn Doulas, Moraine Valley
Jan Hill, Moraine Valley
Janette Gayle, Harold Washington
Elena Couto, Oakton
Sean Noonan, Harper
…. And many, many more! Join us at EDU1600.org.
Todd Lakin, Vice-President of City Colleges
(Daley College Faculty)
As VP of the City Colleges, I intend to lead the same way that I led the Faculty Council:
with honesty and integrity and always putting members’ interests ahead of personal politics that divide the union. Now, more than ever, communication between the chapters
is essential for our collective response against constant administrative attacks. We can
disagree without being disagreeable and I will manage differing opinions with grace
and composure. As editor of The Voice for eight years, I helped transform our newsletter
into an award-winning publication. I’ve photographed and written on all City College
chapters, observing well-run chapters that I have emulated as Daley Chapter Chair: open,
responsive and democratic leadership.
Rose Marie Sakanis, Vice-President of Classified Staff
(Moraine Valley Support Staff)
I currently serve as Local 1600’s Vice President for the Classified/Support Staff division. Prior to this I was the Chapter Chair of the Moraine Valley Support Staff. During
my thirteen-year tenure, our chapter won several awards from the AFT, including the
AFT Saturn Award, an award given to chapters who are able to build good working
relationships with their administration to resolve issues for their members amicably. I
take my Union role very seriously, having earned a certificate in Labor Leadership from
DePaul University. I have attended numerous AFT and IFT conferences and conventions
where I have strongly advocated for classified members. As a strong leader who believes in a democratic union, I strive to ensure that the classified members’ voices are
heard at all levels. My record stands for itself; I will be proud to represent you again.
Delwyn Jones, Vice-President of Suburban Faculty
(Moraine Valley Faculty)
I have taught Public Speaking and Interpersonal Communication at Moraine Valley for
20 years. I was nominated Professor of the Year at Moraine four times, winning the
award in 2006. My union leadership career began when I was elected chapter Grievance Officer in 2003. In 2011, I was elected President of the Moraine Valley Faculty
Association. I have served on two very successful negotiation teams that yielded advantageous contracts for the faculty, the most recent one as Lead Negotiator in 2013. I
have attended many Union training workshops taught by the CCCTU, the AFT and the
IFT. I am looking forward to bringing my skills to the local level.
CM! Winters Palacio, Grievance Officer
(Malcolm X College Faculty Librarian)
As a faculty Librarian, Faculty Council college representative, and Chapter Grievance
Officer, I understand and value empowerment through information. Through my work
as TV Host of The Professors (WYCC PBS-TV 20), I aim to raise awareness of social
and political issues that impact higher education. The results of these experiences, combined with my studies of leadership and labor and employment relations, have helped
me become an honest broker who fearlessly helps members diplomatically. My goal
as Grievance Officer is to address all our members’ concerns as well as enhance our
culture of knowledge and understanding to engender TRUE democracy. To do so, I
will lead the inaugural development of a searchable grievance database to eliminate
needless redundancies; establish relationships with government watchdog agencies to address and forecast problematic
working conditions; and improve coordination of educational outreach programs that teach chapter officers and members
how to defend our union rights forcefully.
Debra Baker, Secretary
(Triton College Faculty)
I am an experienced union leader with more than a decade of service at the chapter
and local level. Our leadership team has successfully resolved every grievance filed,
advocated for faculty retraining during program closures, successfully fought off challenges to college wide seniority, and won thousands of dollars in compensation for
faculty being incorrectly paid. Salary for faculty at Triton College has increased 22.1%
over the past six years, and now has overload, summer, and Coordinator stipend pay
linked to the annual raise. As CCCTU Secretary I have maintained an impartial and
unbiased position by ensuring that the official record of the Executive Board and House
of Representatives meetings be accurate and non-partisan. I believe that relationship
building in a collaborative, professional manner is critical for the ongoing health of our union.
Tony Johnston, Legislative Chair
(Truman College Professional)
I’ve worked at Truman College for 18 years and began my union activities as Grievance Chair and later became Chapter Chair, an elected position that I’ve held for 11
years. In 2004, I served as Truman’s strike captain in the successful City Colleges strike.
I am a coordinator of more than fifty tutors as well as an adjunct professor of U.S. History, Latin American History and College Success Seminars. I am on the Local 1600
security negotiating team and I lend support to the CCCLOC adjunct negotiating team.
To have a strong voice that is needed to cut through the loud din of politics, we must be
more proactive than reactive in creating alliances in the labor movement, in education
and in the community. My experiences with community-based organizations and other
unions will make Local 1600 more powerful at the state and local levels.
Rashid Carter, Treasurer
(Harold Washington College Faculty)
Not only am I an economic theory and business professor at Harold Washington College, I also teach small business owners on growth and fundability through the “10,000
Small Businesses Program.” As a consultant during the last decade, I have provided cogent financial analyses and forecasting to various local businesses to help them achieve
their economic goals. I’ve been active in the Union since I began teaching at OliveHarvey College, proudly walking the picket line during my very first semester. In 20082009 I was Vice President Sonia Jean Powell’s assistant, helping her organize and
coordinate numerous union events and training sessions. In this role, as well as OHC
Faculty Council President and other leadership positions within the CCC, I’ve always
led with integrity, passion and vision. When elected Treasurer of Local 1600, I promise to do the same.
EDU1600 CORE VALUES
Effective and transparent leadership
Accountability to the membership
A LOCAL 1600 CAUCUS
Collective decision making
Defending quality public education
Educators for a Democratic Union
4203 N. Kedvale Ave, Unit 3S
Chicago, IL 60641
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H A P P Y H O L I D AY S F R O M
Educators for a Democratic Union (EDU1600) is a politically and socially
progressive caucus within Cook County College Teachers Union, AFT Local
1600. We wish all CCCTU Union Members and their families a happy and
peaceful holiday season. Join the conversation at EDU1600.org!