[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 30 (Wednesday, March 2, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E393-E394]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               IN HONOR AND REMEMBRANCE OF LINDA ROMANIK

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 2, 2011

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to remember Linda Romanik. She was 
a labor leader who was dedicated to her fellow workers, her family, and 
her community, and a former member of my Congressional Staff. I am 
saddened to report that Linda passed away recently after a short 
illness.
  Linda was born on July 31, 1949, in Cleveland, Ohio. Early in her 
childhood she moved to Wickliffe, Ohio, and graduated from Wickliffe 
High School in 1967. Soon afterward, she began her employment with 
Bailey Controls in Wickliffe.
  At the time, the workers at Bailey had no labor representation. In 
1971, Linda helped form an organizing committee. As a result of her 
efforts, the workers at Bailey Controls organized Local 1741 of the 
United Auto Workers (UAW). She served on the Local 1741 committee from 
1985 until 1996 and was the committee's Vice President from 1990 
through 1993. Linda was also active on the UAW's Community Action 
Program (CAP) for the Ashtabula-Geauga-Lake region from 1976 until 1981 
and was its chair from 1981 through 1988.
  In 1996, Linda worked tirelessly on my Congressional campaign. When 
we won the election that year, I asked Linda to join my staff as a 
caseworker and labor liaison. She served the people of Ohio's 10th 
Congressional District with enthusiasm and distinction. She helped me 
set up my District offices and worked closely with constituents who 
needed personal help and with local labor leaders who needed my 
attention on many issues.
  Linda resigned from my staff in 1998 to take on greater challenges in 
the labor movement. She became the UAW's CAP coordinator in 1998 and 
International Representative for the UAW's Regions 2 and 2B in 2004. 
She retired in 2010 after more than 35 years of service with the UAW. 
She served on the board of the United Labor Agency and was its 
Recording Secretary. She stayed active with Local 1741 and its 
successor, Local 70 after the merger of the two locals in 2005. Linda 
was also a long-time member of the Lake County Democratic Women's Club.
  Linda was also a caring mother and wife. She spent 30 loving years 
married to her husband John, for whom she cared dearly. She

[[Page E394]]

also raised her two children, John and Andrea, with warmth and kindness 
and was the proud grandmother of Carter.
  Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in remembering Linda 
Romanik, an advocate for the public good who served this House with 
distinction, who made the workplace a better place for workers, and who 
was dedicated to her community and family.

                          ____________________