Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Jerry Lonergan and I am the new District 2 Chairperson. I have the unenviable position of replacing Sister JoAnne Cannon who passed away in July. I met JoAnne at my first National Convention in 1988 in Portland, OR and over the years worked with her as part of the AFL-CIO’s Working Families Lobby Corps in Tallahassee as well as in Washington, DC. We also worked as part of NALC’s release staff, phone banking and knocking doors during election cycles to get out the labor vote. JoAnne was a strong, dedicated union person who served in any and every capacity asked of her, and she will be sorely missed. Honoring her memory, I intend to do this job to the very best of my ability.
A little bit about me: I grew up in a union household. My dad was a teamster, driving a truck for a New York-based supermarket chain. My mom was a member of Local 372, NYC public school employees as a lunch cook. I began my postal career in 1980 as a LSM clerk at Kennedy Airport and was a member of the APWU. One year later, my name was reached on the carrier list and I became a member of Branch 562 Jamaica, where I served as a shop steward from 1983-1986 until I transferred to Port Richey, becoming a member of Branch 4681 New Port Richey. I held the positions of shop steward, secretary, vice president, and executive vice president. Branch 4681 merged with Branch 2008 Clearwater where I currently serve as branch editor and Letter Carrier Congressional Liaison (LCCL) District 11. I retired in June 2020 with 40 years of service and was appointed by NBA Lynne Pendleton to be the retirement instructor for Region 9, covering Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina.
My wife is a retired but still involved member of the Hernando Classroom Teachers’ Association. Together we raised three children and put them through college on the salaries of a letter carrier and a teacher. We have four grandkids who bring us joy and keep us busy when we’re not doing union work.
I’m looking forward to making my way around the district, attending branch meetings, and working with the LCCLs to move forward legislation that improves the quality of life for letter carriers and their families.
