Franceline Ehret to Lead NJ CWA
Franceline “Fran” Ehret is the new NJ State Director of the Communication Workers of America replacing Hetty Rosenstein.
Ms. Ehret, who was #13 on InsiderNJ’s most recent OUT 100 Power List, will lead one of NJ’s more powerful and politically potent unions.
“For the last 14 years, Hetty Rosenstein has played an indispensable role in everything that District 1 does in New Jersey,” said Dennis Trainor, CWA District 1 Vice-President. “But there is no one with better collective bargaining skills, stronger political instincts or who reflects CWA’s values more than Fran Ehret. Hetty has left big shoes to fill, but I am confident that Fran Ehret will do an outstanding job.”
Ehret has a lifetime of activism and a track-record of organizing, bargaining and fighting for working families. Since 2013, she’s served as a National Staff Representative at CWA. Prior to that, she was President of the Turnpike Workers Union, IFPTE Local 194 – where she fought efforts to privatize the New Jersey Turnpike under both Governors Corzine and Christie.
Ehret has been a member of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee for a decade. A leader in the LGBTQ community, Ehret is the daughter of Frank Forst – a lifelong labor leader and the father of the New Jersey’s public sector collective bargaining movement – and Norma Forst, a leading Puerto Rican community activist in the Democratic Party.
Rosenstein recently announced her retirement from CWA after 40 years with the union – the last 14 as New Jersey State Director. Rosenstein played a key role in the 1990’s reforms of the Division of Youth and Family Services, in unionizing thousands of home child-care workers and in fighting the privatization of Motor Vehicles. During the disastrous Christie Administration, Rosenstein was an unapologetic, constant, consistent leading Christie critic.
“I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have two strong, fearless, visionary union leaders as mentors in my life: my father and Hetty Rosenstein,” said Franceline Ehret. “I grew up in a union household, where we never passed a picket line we didn’t join. I’ve grown so much at CWA, a union that involves members in every issue that impacts working people. I’ve watched Hetty strategize various campaigns, talking through bargaining road blocks and working with her on organizing initiatives. We have a tremendous staff at our District office, and I look forward to meeting the challenges ahead together with them and our awesome locals.”
“We will have a smooth transition in New Jersey,” said Dennis Trainor. “We will not miss a day of aggressive representation of our members. And we’ll continue to be leaders and organizers in New Jersey’s workers’ and civil rights movement.”
CWA represents more than 70,000 working families in The Garden State – including 40,000 state workers, 15,000 county and municipal workers, and thousands of workers in the telecommunications, airlines, healthcare and direct care industries.
Rosenstein’s final day with CWA will be Friday, April 2nd.
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