Victor Zilinskas (MDW) v.zilinskas@twu555.org
Antwain Strickland (ATL) a.strickland@twu555.org
Veteran’s Crisis Hot Line: 1(800)273-8255
Click to find your Veterans’ Employment and Training Service regional office
Our goals: To show our support and appreciation for our past, present, and future veterans by first of all saying “Thank You!” We will be providing useful information and resources in regards to benefits and the health care systems of the VA. We want to provide assistance/support to the families of those who are in active status. We would like your help in showing appreciation to our fellow employees as well as our passengers. We are collaborating with the International TWU Veteran’s Committee and other locals to also reach out and provide assistance with programs such as “building homes for heroes.” We ask that you pass along to our fellow TWU Local 555 members that we now have this committee. For those of you who are veterans we ask that you fill out the registration form. For those of you who are spouses, parents, children, or family members of a veteran, some of the information we plan on providing may be useful to you or your veteran so please feel free to pass it along. If you are interested in helping with the veterans committee in any way or if you have any ideas, questions, or input please contact one of us at the emails listed above, with your name, contact information and message. We would like to see the veterans committee be able to provide as much support and help for our veterans as well as to give back to all veterans in any way possible. We thank each and everyone of you for your support! We look forward in growing this committee and making something TWU555 and our members can be proud of! Don’t forget to thank a vet!
The TWU Veterans Committee met recently in Denver, CO hosted by Local 556. They are working hard on legislative issues to benefit veterans. They are also working on getting all TWU veterans registered. Please register with us to receive your pin, patch, and coin. Thank you!
In February the International Veterans Committee met in Miami, FL for a quarterly meeting. We welcomed new members and discussed topics in regards to legislation and issues within our individual locals to help all our military members (active, reserve, and veterans). We will be asking for your help in the near future with some of the legislative issues. Local 555 Veterans Committee would like your suggestions for future negotiations. If you have one send it to Twu555vc@yahoo.com so we can compile a list of ideas to submit to the negotiations committee when the time comes. Thank you.
Charlana Bilodeau
TWU International Veterans Committee Recording Secretary
TWU 555 Veterans Committee Chairperson
Upcoming Events
As of now no further meetings are scheduled. Once the International feels it is safe to move forward, dates will be updated.
Information Regarding Past Activities:
In August, the International Veterans Committee met in Columbus, Ohio. Progress is being made with regards to some locals and companies working together when it comes to the betterment of the veteran. We continue to strive to build these relationships in all locals but understand the road blocks many have encountered. These are things we are actively brainstorming to overcome and push through. We still have many “hot topics” we are lobbying for such as the FMLA issue(see the latest release of Triple Nickel). If you have any questions, concerns, or ideas that can help us with as a Local or the international, we would like for you to share them! The meetings are posted and if you are in the area during one of the meetings, you are always encouraged to join us!
In July of 2019, Local 555 had the opportunity to serve with the International Veterans Committee alongside the Long Beach Waterfront Warriors. The event allows for wounded military members to take a vacation from the hospital scene and enjoy a week on the beach. Joe Dempsey served our Local proud. Shirley Duff, who is with Local 555 but currently released to the international, also served. This was a humbling experience had by all. If you ever get the opportunity to serve in a special way, try to take the chance to do so. Your service changes the lives of many and I guarantee it will change yours as well!
07/24/17
The TWU Veterans Committee met in New York from July 18th to July 20th, 2017. As part of our meeting, we gathered to volunteer with the Long Island Beach Waterfront Warriors. We love helping our fellow veterans and are honored the group allowed us to help with such a wonderful event.
02/10/17
Active military members,
With the announced profit-sharing contributions, according to the USERRA and military leave, when an employee is rehired by an employer maintaining a defined contribution plan that does not require employee contributions(such as a money purchase or profit sharing plan) the employer is required to make the contributions that would have been made on the employee’s behalf, had he been employed by the employer during the period of military service.
02/04/17
We would like to thank all of those who supported the 2016 Operation Free PX. As a direct result of this support, TWU was able to raise $224,790.10 between cash and in-kind goods, in addition to helping many soldiers and putting smiles on their faces during the holidays. The recipients were very grateful for all they received. Thank you, Local 555 for your contributions.
09/28/16
We are supporting Operation Military Embrace and request that you view the links below and consider donating.
Monetary donations can be sent online by going to http:/www.operationmilitaryembrace.com and noting “TWU Veterans Committee” on page 2 “instructions to seller”.
Operation-Military-Embrace-Robert-Maxon
OME-donation-request-list-091714
08/20/16
PHX members showing the utmost respect for our brave men and women who serve this country around the clock. Thank you for keeping our Military HR Cart clean and presentable. For those unaware of this cart, the Hansen family (Ron, Chris, and Will) conceived the idea for the Military HR Cart and saw the process through to completion. We really appreciate the efforts of Joe Garner and Zeke Zankich for taking the time to care for our cart. It means a lot to us gentlemen. Thank you.
08/01/16
The TWU Veterans Committee met in TUL for the third quarter meeting. While there, we all were honored to have the Spartan Sword displayed, and we came together as a group to say the Spartan Pledge. To find out what the Spartan Pledge is, or to take the pledge, visit http://www.spartanweekend.org.
We have completed the May Day Raffle and were able to raise a total of $6,692.54, for Building Homes for Heroes. Thank you to all members who purchased tickets to assist such an amazing cause. Please continue to reach out to your local elected representatives with issues you feel should be addressed.
Upcoming Events:
We are now collecting goods for the 2016 Operation Free PX to be held on December 5th in San Antonio, TX. If you would like to assist the Veterans Committee with the collection of goods, we encourage you to place a drop box at your station to collect items. Items we are looking for must be in new condition (or nearly new for some things). We are accepting toiletries, clothes (baby to adult), toys, decorations, tools, stationary, etc. Last year, TWU as a whole collected $76,245 in cash and in-kind goods. We are looking forward to breaking that record this year.
