LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending George Bloom upon the occasion of 40
years of distinguished service to Local 1104, Communication Workers of
America (CWA) as he is honored by the Long Island Federation of Labor on
March 4, 2010

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend the efforts of those individuals who distinguish themselves in
service to the cause of working men and women in the State of New York;
and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
George Bloom upon the occasion of 40 years of distinguished service to
Local 1104, Communication Workers of America (CWA) as he is honored by
the Long Island Federation of Labor at its Annual Reception on Thursday,
March 4, 2010, at the Crest Hollow Country Club, Woodbury, New York; and
WHEREAS, George Bloom has risen through the ranks of CWA and has
emerged as one of Long Island's most respected labor leaders; as Presi-
dent of Local 1104, CWA, he is now in his fourth decade of service and
is a member of the Long Island Federation of Labor's Executive Board;
and
WHEREAS, Beginning at the age of 16, George Bloom has devoted a life-
time to the labor movement; his first job was making bagels, and he
became a member of the Bakery and Confectionary Workers Union; at the
same time, he took a job with McDonald's and started a petition drive to
get the employees the premium pay they deserved; when he threatened a
walkout, the employer started treating people fairly; and
WHEREAS, Then, in March of 1970, George Bloom went to work for New
York Telephone as an installer; three months later, he was a cable spli-
cer working outside in all kinds of weather; his fellow employees
thought so highly of him, they asked him to be the steward after less
than a year on the job; and
WHEREAS, In July of 1971, the union went on strike for seven months,
and George Bloom was asked to be the Picket Captain; it was a major
victory for the union because they were able to get $1 added to their
pay during the Nixon Wage Freeze; in addition, his local union was the
first to win dues check-off from the giant telephone company; and
WHEREAS, In 1989, George Bloom was the Picket Captain during an
historic 32-week strike against NYNEX; the issue was health care, and
the union prevailed with no givebacks; although 100 people were fired
during the strike, the union was successful in getting each and everyone
of them back to work; and
WHEREAS, Through all the changes in ownership and technology in the
following years, George Bloom stood by his members; over the years, he
has arbitrated hundreds of cases and has won hundreds of thousands of
dollars in back pay; and
WHEREAS, George Bloom skillfully guides a diverse membership in Local
1104; with Verizon, the union represents the Plant Department in Nassau,
operators Upstate, and accounting clerks Downstate; it also represents a
number of telephone interconnect companies; and
WHEREAS, The local also consists of Registered Nurses at New York
Downtown Hospital; Librarians in the North Babylon Public Library; and
the Graduate Student Teachers, Teaching Assistants, and Research Assist-
ants in SUNY Colleges and Universities all across New York State; and
WHEREAS, In addition to his responsibilities with Local 1104, George
Bloom has been a leader in the fight for a safe and healthy workplace;
for CWA, he has served as Chair of the Health and Safety Committee, the
Lead Abatement Committee, and the Asbestos Abatement Committee; further-

more, he has served on the Advisory Board of the Long Island Occupa-
tional and Environmental Health Clinic at Stony Brook since its incep-
tion in 1987; and
WHEREAS, Currently, George Bloom serves as the Chair of the Advisory
Board for the World Trade Center Treatment and Monitoring Program which
monitors some 5,000 responders to the 9/11 disaster; he has been a lead-
er in community services work for his union, organizing blood drives,
relief work for the victims of Katrina, and fundraising for the United
Way; and
WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his wife of 36 years, Donna,
and their two sons, George (Chrissa) and Brian (Stefanie), as well as
one grandson, Brandon Brian Bloom, all of whom feel privileged to be a
part of his life and rejoice in his achievements; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the quality of life in their community and have shown a long and
sustained commitment to the maintenance of high standards in their
profession, certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all
the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend George Bloom upon the occasion of 40 years of distinguished
service to Local 1104, Communication Workers of America (CWA) as he is
honored by the Long Island Federation of Labor; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to George Bloom, Setauket, New York.