Retiring Council Leaders Dr. Ralph Edelbach & Sarah-Ann Harnick Commended

College Council delegates, officers and staff bid a fond farewell to two longstanding Council and Local union leaders at the April 24, 2015 Council meeting. TCNJ Local 2364 President and Council Executive Officer Dr. Ralph Edelbach and NJCU Local 1839 Corresponding Secretary and Council Legislative Representative Sarah-Ann Harnick announced their respective retirements to an audience of union friends.

Dr. Ralph Edelbach – Remembering Solidarity Throughout the Years

Ralph has taught at The College of New Jersey, originally known as Trenton State College, since 1966. He has been an active AFT member since the local’s founding.

“I was raised in a home where my father was a long-time member of the IBEW and my mother was a member of the ILGWU. They often spoke of the important role those unions played in improving our lives,” Ralph said.

In the Spring of 1987, Ralph became a Council Delegate and in the Fall of 1991, became President of the local. “I was honored to have been chosen by my colleagues to provide leadership of Local 2364, AFT. Interactions between the Local and administration were strained in the past because we felt the College was not acting in the best interests of the public and our students. In recent years the situation has improved and we have had a very collegial and productive relationship, even though we didn't always agree,” he added.

Concerned over the future of workers and educators, Ralph stressed that “the rights of workers have always been foremost in my mind and today, with the decline in union membership, it is even more critical that those of us who recognize the importance of workers having a voice being a force for the common good, to speak out and get involved.”

“The threat of out-sourcing and automation has put more power than ever in the hands of corporations, who are mistakenly supported by many working-class voters who do not see the danger associated with a reduced role for unions and the diminished power of workers. Only unions can do what is required to address the growing rich-poor gap in our country and around the world. History demonstrates that if we don’t do it, no one else will.”

Ralph also stated that he’ll miss his “sisters and brothers and will think often of the solidarity we shared.” Though, Ralph was also happy to mention he will not be missing New Jersey’s cold, icy winters. He and his wife will soon be moving to the Houston, Texas area to be closer to their son, his wife and their new 7-month old grandson.

Council Executive Director Steve Young wished Ralph great success in his future endeavors to overturn Texas’ right-to-work statutes and to transform Texas into a blue state. “Texans like to say ‘Don’t Mess with Texas.’ but at the Council we like to say ‘Don’t Mess with Ralph!’” Young added.

Sarah-Ann Harnick – Many Hats, One Mission: Serving the Membership

Sarah-Ann Harnick has been a member of the NJCU community and AFT family since 1988, and retires officially from her position as the University’s Campus Life Assistant Director for Operations in June.

After having become active in Local 1839 as VP for Professional Staff, Sarah noted that a previous Professional Staff Rep. had once told her “If you really want to have fun, you should become a Council Delegate.”

Sarah did just that and became more involved at the Council level just over a decade ago as a Council Delegate and Council Professional Staff Representative.

She also became more involved at the local level, becoming Local 1839’s President in the Summer of 2005. While serving in her second term as President, Sarah became the Council’s Legislative Representative and shortly thereafter became the local COPE chair. Speaking on the importance of membership contribution to the Committee on Political Education (COPE), Sarah stressed that COPE “isn't about partisanship. COPE is about sharing our story.”

“I’ve met so many dedicated and passionate unionists over the years,“ Sarah also mentioned, reflecting on her decades spent with her sisters and brothers working for the higher ed. labor movement. “I have really enjoyed the back room wrangling and contract interpretation,” she added. Sarah has been involved with the Council during some of its more difficult statewide contract negotiations.

A True Thanks to Both

The Council commends both Ralph and Sarah for their decades of unwavering commitment to the cause of labor, for their years of devotion spent advocating for higher ed. workers and their families and wishes them both, and their families, the best of luck, good health and many happy days in the years ahead.