By: Mike Wiser, Iowa Professional Staff Union
Catherine Alexander looked skeptical.
Here she was, sitting at a conference table in St. Louis listening to National Staff Organization members from New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Iowa, Alabama, and California go round-and-round about whether this new NSO committee would – or should – have access to the regional president calls.
Would having a non-president on the line be a chilling effect? What if it’s okay with one president but not the others? Or vice versa? What’s fair game to report out? Everything? What if there’s drama? What if it’s boring? What’s the recourse if there’s a complaint?
Alexander commanded the attention of the group with a shake of her head and a smile. This committee serves the organization, she said. This organization is best served when its members know what’s going on. Yes, some people might be put out, but they’ll live with it.
“Let me take care of that,” she said.
And she did. Ever since, communications committee members have staffed regional meetings.
The anecdote exemplifies Alexander, a longtime UniServ director from Oregon, WAR trainer, former NSO Executive Committee member and, overall, unionist who sought to empower the dues-paying member.
The award goes to an NSO member who demonstrates the ideals and union values, service, vision, pragmatism, and tenacity in advocating for the members of the National Staff Organization. It is named after former NSO President John Warms.
“Catherine Alexander embodies the heart and soul of the John Warms Legend Award. Her dedication to the NSO, her visionary leadership, and her relentless pursuit of justice for our members inspire us all,” said NSO president Brad Darjean. “Catherine doesn’t just serve our union; she breathes life into it, making it stronger and more united with every step. Her work has not only empowered countless members but has set a legacy of courage and integrity. She is more than a colleague—she is a guiding light and a treasured friend.”
A trainer’s trainer
“At the jump, she makes sure she’ll be successful at it,” said Tom Greene. “She has tenacity.”
Greene was the longtime president of the Michigan staff union and served with Alexander when he was vice president of program on the NSO executive committee for several years. Alexander later suceeded Green as the vice president of program. That position is responsible for creating training opportunities for members at the Winter Advocacy Retreat, among other duties.
Much of Alexander’s influence can be seen in the types of classes that were offered during her time as vice president. Greene said Alexander made sure courses on issues such as race and gender found a spot alongside more standard fare like new treasurer’s training and contract basics.
A graduate of Stanford University, Alexander became a UniServ director for the Oregon Education Association in 2000. She also got involved in NSO and the National Black Staff Network, which is where she met Michael Monroe, former president of the Florida staff union.
“We were both kind of new around the same time,” Monroe said. “We just hit it off.”
Floyd Cox, a WAR trainer and member of the Association of Field Service Employees working for the National Education Association, said what attracted him to Alexander was her great energy.
“She tells it like it is,” Cox said. “This job is really hard and people don’t always tell you that. She does. That is one of the reasons she is so respected in this field.”
NSO leadership continued to call upon Alexander for her skill and pragmatism to help lead newly-formed NSO Communications Committee in 2021.
“Catherine took a chance on me and my WAR training proposal on internal union communications. Her trust and vision has led to this committee’s success,” said Tom Hayden, a UniServ director from New Jersey and committee co-chair. “It’s an honor to call Catherine a union sibling, a mentor, and most importantly, a friend.”
“Being a union member is not a passive activity,” Catherine Alexander said in accepting the award. “I was raised with the value that union membership required participation and a willingness to work to keep the union strong. I hope I did my part.”