Remembering CWA Local 1103 Chief Steward Gerry Horgan

August 15th marked the 36th anniversary of the death of Local 1103 Chief Steward Gerry Horgan.

Gerry was a "natural born leader" in Westchester County who was on the front lines fighting alongside his CWA brothers and sisters during the 1989 NYNEX strike. The strike was just two weeks old when a scab worker, who was the daughter of a company manager, drove through the picket line and struck Gerry with her car, killing him.

On the day of his funeral, thousands of CWAers wearing red lined the streets for a mile along the route to the church—the sight was described as “a sea of red leading the way” to his service.

Since 1989, CWA members continue to show their solidarity and honor Gerry's memory and his sacrifice by wearing red on Thursdays - a custom that has been adopted by CWAers across the country.

This year, Local 1103 members held their annual memorial for Gerry on August 13th at the union’s office—better known as Horgan Hall—with current members as well as several retirees who were close with Gerry in attendance.

Click here to learn more about Gerry, the 1989 NYNEX strike, and about why we wear red.