WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: Joe Vertalino (pictured above), a 38-year United Steelworkers (USW) Member, is the USW District 4’s new Sub-District Director, succeeding Jim Briggs - who had served in the position for the past nine years. Vertalino, who officially started on January 1st, told WNYLaborToday.com his goal as Sub-District Director is to “take care” of his Union’s Membership who are employed across Western New York, as well as to “make sure the facilities where they work are operating safely.”  (WNYLaborToday.com Photos)

(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – Joe Vertalino has been a United Steelworker (USW) Union Member for the past 38 years, starting a Tube Cutter/Bender with two area employers back in the mid-80s. Over the years he “saw a need to get involved” in his Union and began to methodically climb the Union Ladder as a Recording Secretary before sitting on the Grievance Committee and then becoming Vice President and then President of Local 897 in the mid-90s.

Those rich experiences led him to take a Staff position with USW District 4, beginning in 2014, and subsequently provided him with a unique opportunity offered by USW District Director Dave Wasiura, who was looking to replace retiring and long-time Sub-District Director Jim Briggs.

“I’ve known and worked with Joe ‘for more than (25) years and this was the typical story of you meet people, you work with them and you help each other,’” Wasiura told WNYLaborToday.com. “We’re ‘always looking for the next wave of leaders and he’s proven himself.’ The USW ‘suffered a major blow’ with the closing of the Sumitomo Plant (where 1,200 USW-represented Local 135 Members lost their jobs when Sumitomo abruptly closed its Tonawanda operation in November 2024). Joe was at the table while we negotiated an ‘industry-setting’ closure agreement. ‘He has the skills and knows what’s best for Working People.’ He’s a ‘fantastic bargainer in what he brings to the table.’ ‘He’s also a leader with an eye on the future and we share that vision.’ ‘We’ve worked together closely (over the years) and he was the right person.’ ‘In a nutshell, Joe is a great family man, a dedicated Labor Leader and we are lucky to have him.’”

But what Wasiura said he also saw in Vertalino was his “experience and dedication,” someone who’s “dedicated his life to his work” that made him a good choice to succeed Briggs.

“He does a ‘great job balancing everything’ and he ‘never says no,’” Wasiura continued. “Safety (of our Members) ‘is also in his mind, as well as what is important to our Members.’ ‘He takes that process very seriously.’ ‘And he’s exceeded our expectations’ (as Sub-District Director). He has ‘big shoes to fill’ (in terms of what Briggs accomplished over the years), ‘but he’s knocked it out of the park, so far.’”

Briggs - who is continuing to serve as President of the Niagara-Orleans AFL-CIO Central Labor Council, was a Staff Representative prior to be tabbed to serve as Sub-District Director.

He told WNYLaborToday.com Vertalino “has ‘always put a total effort into all he does.’”

“He ‘always does what’s right for the Membership and he works hard on it, every day.’ ‘He will do a good job,’” Briggs approvingly said.

WNYLaborToday.com recently sat down with Vertalino at the USW’s District Offices on Sheridan Drive in Suburban Buffalo to talk about the job, its responsibilities, the Staff he now oversees and what he hopes to accomplish in the years to come.

“I’m ‘responsible’ for Western New York - from Niagara Falls to Olean to parts of Rochester and Geneseo. My time as a Staff Representative ‘gave me a better understanding of how to deal with management and individuals in day-to-day struggles, a multitude of experiences,’” he said. “(Being Sub-District Director) ‘has been a smooth transition.’ I have a ‘great’ staff - Valerie Mueller-Thomas, Angelle Gregoire and Holly Rudolph - ‘and great’ Membership.”

WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: Pictured below, from left to right: Valerie Mueller-Thomas; Vertalino; and Holly Rudolph in the USW District’s Offices on Sheridan Drive.

Asked what strengths he brings to the position, Vertalino said: I’m ‘even-tempered’ and ‘rarely do I blow up.’ ‘I’m able to differentiate between a gripe and a grievance.’ ‘I do my best to alleviate both issues.’”

Some of the employers Vertalino now deals with across the region include Cutco Cutlery, Honeywell, Smurfit Westrock, the City of Niagara Falls, PVS Chemicals, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department, Xylem Heat Transfer, Morton Salt and American Rock Salt.

“They are ‘all different’ situations, ‘but it all boils down to wages and safety on the job - and I have been well-educated through the USW to respond to it all, including all aspects of bargaining.’ ‘But it’s still a learning experience,’” he said.

One new aspect of the job is becoming “move involved politically” - dealing and interacting with a host of Local, Regional, State and Federally-Elected Officials, Vertalino said.

“Now, I’m ‘more face-to-face with the movers and shakers to try to get the issues that affect our Members front and center with the elected community,’” he said.

Another aspect of the job is becoming even more involved in what the USW does in terms of being involved in the many communities where their Members work, live and raise their families - making sure the high level of giving back is maintained.

“I’m ‘very grateful’ to our Locals ‘for what they do,’ including our Women of Steel group, the things we do, such as our Black History Labor Week program - and what we do for our Veterans. Our Retirees have even gone into schools to talk about Labor History, which I hope to restart” he said.

Right now, a number of USW contracts have either been settled - such as a new three-year agreement at Cutco Cutlery that features wages increases in each year of the deal - or are currently in negotiations (with the City of Niagara Falls). 

Others will come in 2026, including at Xylem Heat Transfer in Cheektowaga and Aurubis (the former American Brass Facility) in Buffalo. 

“It’s ‘not too crazy right now,’” Vertalino said.

Vertalino’s Father was a President of an International Longshoreman’s Union Local in Western New York, so Unions “‘run in my family and in my blood,’” he said, “and ‘I’m very proud to be in this position.’”

“At a ‘young age I understood that you have to work to make a better working environment for your Members and their families.’ ‘I’m glad to carry on this tradition,’” Vertalino said.

Now, this married Father of two step-children and six grandchildren who grew up in Orchard Park, credits his wife, who he said is “very understanding” of the time-consuming position that he’s now taken on.

“I ‘know I won’t be there for a lot of family functions and sporting events, that’s why (his family) will have to shoot a lot of videos,’” he said.

As Sub-District Director, Vertalino admits he “‘definitely does have big shoes to fill’” in what was once Briggs’ position with the USW.

“‘That man knew everybody,’” Vertalino said.

Asked what he would like people to immediately think when his name is mentioned, Vertalino answered: “‘That he was a person who was able to take care of his Membership.’”

“‘It’s my goal to make sure every one of our facilities (where USW Members) are employed operate as safely as possible,’” he said. “‘If I can accomplish that, I’ll be a very happy person.’”