(AMHERST, NEW YORK) – For years, Jacqui Berger has been “fighting for and speaking up for the voiceless” as both a Member and Officer of United University Professions (UUP) in the Buffalo area, as well as volunteering for so many things - including political campaigns - that she became a very familiar face in the Summer and Fall, going door-to-door in neighborhoods across the region to talk to voters about an array of Labor-endorsed candidates seeking public office.

But now, the shoe is literally on the other foot as Berger is running for an open seat on the Amherst Town Board in Suburban Buffalo in the November Election, which currently holds a 3-2 Democrat Majority.  As far as Berger knows at this time, there will be no primary race.

In a letter to the Western New York Labor Community to announce her run for office, Berger said: “I’ve spent my life fighting and speaking up for the voiceless.  As an Amherst Town Board Member, I will work with residents to improve our community.  We need people elected and appointed to committees at every level of government who will work on behalf of Working People.  The Amherst IDA (Industrial Development Agency) needs Members that will ensure that good jobs will be created and that effective claw back policy be instituted and enforced.”

“This is ‘part of the reason why’ I decided to run,” the 61-year-old Berger told WNYLaborToday.com over a cup of coffee in an Amherst restaurant recently.  “I’m ‘tired of working for people who don’t work for us’ – ‘even though they are people that you have to count on.’  I thought – ‘enough is enough, I have to do this myself.’  I’ve ‘worked my tail off for other people – some who have come through, some others not.’  ‘I know that I will do the work – I’m in it for the long term.’”

And Berger isn’t afraid to run on the fact that she is a Labor Leader.  

“I ‘own it’ - ‘I am a Union Leader and activist for social justice and I am not going away.’  ‘I will be a partner with my constituents and the Labor Movement.’  ‘We must work to preserve and strengthen the ideals of Working Men and Women,” Berger told Your On-Line Labor Newspaper.  “This is an ‘opportunity to become’ a ‘louder voice’ as an elected official ‘who can really speak up on the issues.’  We, as Union Members and Leaders, ‘can’t count on others to do it for us’ – and there are lots and lots of Union Members and Leaders, like Mark Manna and Monica Wallace who have won.”

Berger was referring to United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local One Western Area Director Mark Manna, who held a seat on the Amherst Town Board for several years, and Monica Wallace – a UUP Member who successfully ran for the 143rd New York State Assembly last year.

Berger has been a UUP Member for 15 years, serving on the Executive Board and as a Delegate at Empire State College in Buffalo, where she works as a teaching Faculty Member. 

Berger, who unbelievably also finds time to be involved with programs helping the mentally-challenged, initially and got heavily involved in her Union when she began fighting for the rights of Part-Time Faculty. 

“We were ‘getting screwed’ and that was ‘important’ to me, ‘especially because of their right to be in the retirement system.’  I became a Chapter President in the early 2000s and ‘got more involved,’” she said. 

UUP Statewide President Fred Kowal said: "Jacqui has been an active, long-time UUP member, and we wish her well in her run for Amherst Town Board" and UUP Statewide Vice President Tom Tucker of Buffalo, who’s known Berger for a number of years, told WNYLaborToday.com: “Jacqui’s been a ‘consummate’ volunteer over the years.  She’s ‘been there all the time’ and ‘her dedication in the political arena has been stellar.’  She’s a ‘worker and an advocate for what she believes in.’  She will be ‘a voice for’ the Amherst community.  It’s important we that we see Union Members and Leaders like Jacqui ‘stepping up.’  She ‘energizes other’ and I think her ‘taking a shot at this is extremely positive.’”

Another Western New York Labor Leader, whom Berger has been friends with for some time and whom she said “encouraged her to run for public office,” is New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) Western New York Regional Staff Director Mike Deely (pictured below with Berger).

“What can I say, she’s a ‘solid’ Unionist and ‘I like her a lot,’” Deely told Your On-Line Labor Newspaper.  “She’s an ‘intriguing’ woman.  She’s ‘done the legwork in the past,’ going door-to-door for ‘other’ candidates – from School Board to Congress.  ‘She’ll listen to everyone’ (on the issues as she runs for office), but she also has (Labor’s values) and ‘that’s the hook’ to her starting this run for public office.”

Western New York AFL-CIO Area Labor Federation (WNYALF) President Richard Lipsitz described Berger as “one of the ‘best’ (Labor) activists ‘who is very smart, committed and thoughtful.’”  “She’s the kind of candidate ‘we want’ and ‘one who shares’ our Pro-Union values – ‘she absolutely has that.’  ‘No question in my mind that she will be a terrific’ councilwoman.  She ‘will serve all well’ if she gets elected,” Lipsitz said.

Berger says she wants the voices of Amherst residents to be heard by the Town Board Members after years of “out of control development ‘without discussion on needed and improved’ infrastructure.”

In her letter to the Western New York Labor Community, Berger said: “As a resident of Amherst for 29 years, I love my community and I want to champion the town as an inclusive, dynamic community where we can raise our families, prosper and live life to the fullest.  Government needs to be transparent, open and responsive.  I will listen to Amherst residents to gain a deep understanding of the issues that matter to them.  The town needs a comprehensive, long-term plan for development, redevelopment and transportation that puts residents first.  We need responsible development that keeps infrastructure, green space and communities at the forefront.  Residents and neighbors should come first before developers.”

“Things ‘just seem to happen and requirements get waived,’” Berger told WNYLaborToday.com of what she has witnessed while watching the Amherst Town Board conduct town business.  “And ‘there seems to be some ethics issues.’  ‘Forms are not being filed and it appears things are being approved by committees and decisions made to impact their friends.’”

Right now, Berger is continuing to go door-to-door, but this time for herself.

“I’ve ‘done this for so many other people in the past, but going door-to-door really is the most effective way of meeting and connecting with voters.’  ‘I want to know what really matters the most to residents.’  ‘It’s not what I want, it’s what the people want.’  ‘Instead of just being angry with a politician, I will fight back and really do something,” she said.

Even with her run for the Amherst Town Board heating up, it’s a sure bet those in the Western New York Labor Community will still see Berger continuing to heavily involve herself in a number of area Labor activities and events – including helping run the annual Buffalo AFL-CIO Labor Council’s Labor Day Parade in early September.

“She is ‘so dedicated – she shows up for everything,’” WNYALF President Lipsitz said.