[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 75 (Wednesday, June 2, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E977]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO MR. MICHAEL ROCCIA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DONALD M. PAYNE

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 1, 2004

  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today to recognize an 
outstanding member of my community, Mr. Michael Roccia. For 63 years, 
he has been fighting to improve the working conditions and lives of 
American workers. He has spent 32 years with Local 262 in New Jersey, 
and has served our community well.
  He was Shop Chairman for Local 305, CIO from 1940-1969. During that 
time he organized 500 employees of the L.S. Branch Co. for Playthings, 
Jewelry, and Novelty Workers, CIO Local 305. When Local 305 became 
Local 301, he became General Organizer, and when that merged with Local 
262, he continued to work, serving as Business Agent for as many as 
twenty shops. He would go on to serve as Local 262's General Organizer, 
and eventually became their President. He has been Vice President of 
both the IUC and the RWDSU, and has served on the Advisory Committee of 
the UFCW.
  Mr. Roccia has lived the life of a worker and an activist. He has 
labored on an assembly line, organized workers, walked the picket line, 
negotiated contracts, handled grievances, argued arbitrations, and 
fought for health and welfare plans. He has led and inspired the men 
and women of Local 262 in New Jersey to commit to activism, working 
early in the morning and late at night to improve labor conditions for 
all workers.
  In his own words, ``The work of a good trade unionist can never be a 
9 to 5 job--never an 8 hour day.''
  I salute Mr. Roccia, the oldest officer in his Union, for his 
lifelong commitment to serving others. I am proud to have him in my 
district, and I am honored to call him my neighbor.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in extending my thanks to Michael Roccia, 
and I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing him health and 
happiness throughout his well-deserved retirement.

                          ____________________