Local 105 Membership,
It is with mixed emotions that I write this email, so I’ll get right to it. When my wife Cynthia expressed her strong desire to leave Denver and move back to our large network of friends and family in Portland, Oregon, I immediately told her we would figure it out. After almost 9 years away, I could not ask her to wait any longer. In meetings and phone calls on March 25 and 26th, I informed our Officers and Executive Board members of my planned resignation. On Thursday, I officially resigned from the Presidency of SEIU 105 at our Executive Board meeting, and Cynthia and I are moving back to Oregon. Under our Local’s Constitution and Bylaws, the Executive Board has up to 60 days to appoint an Acting President to fill this vacancy.
I am deeply proud of the work we have all done together in the almost nine years that I was honored to serve as your President. Our members, member leaders, and staff have risen to every single challenge placed before us and we shared a strong track record of success:
- Grew the Local from just over 5,000 members to almost 8,000 members;
- Won big and ground-breaking contract wins across our union;
- Raised the minimum wage at the State and Local level, raising wages for millions of workers;
- Pushing politicians to serve the people and support unions.
In short, we never shied away from a fight, and we won them when others told us they were “impossible” battles to win. But, this is what the labor movement does: it allows ordinary people to do extraordinary things! I will miss all of you and the struggles we fought together. I am extremely grateful for my time at SEIU 105 and my 28 years working with SEIU in various capacities. It has indeed allowed this working-class kid who grew up in rural northern California to work with incredible people in different parts of the country, be a part of some amazing struggles and win many big victories for working people!
I have no doubt that SEIU 105 will continue to grow, thrive, and win across the state of Colorado in the months and I have no doubt that SEIU 105 will continue to grow, thrive, and win across the state of Colorado in the months and years to come. Farewell SEIU 105. I will miss you all and please reach out to me on Facebook if you want to stay in touch!
In Solidarity and Appreciation,
Ron Ruggiero
