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Guild Notes Passing of Long-Time WBNG Officer Darlene Meyer In what was described as “a deep and tragic loss” for the Newspaper Guild, Local 32035 vice president J. Darlene Meyer has died at age 64. "It is with deep regret that I must advise that Darlene Meyer, our friend, colleague, sister, and tireless union activist, has passed away," said Sheila Lindsay, Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild president. “She was found in her home on Jan. 20.” Janet Darlene Meyer, an account executive for the Washington Post Advertising Department, had served as WBNG's vice president since 2003. She had been on sick leave for several weeks, and her last contact with the Post was on Jan. 9. Meyer came on staff at the paper shortly before joining the Guild in June 1998; she was an activist almost from Day One. She became chief shop steward for the non-editorial Guild-covered employees in early 1999, and was elected Commercial co-chairperson of the Post unit less than a year later. Also in early 2000, she was tapped to serve as a Post representative to the WBNG Executive Council. In late 2000, she was elected as WBNG secretary, one of the four top-officer positions in the local. Two years later she ran unopposed for vice president. She was successively elected to four two-year terms in the local's No. 2 position. “She was a tough and tireless advocate for all Post workers, particularly those in commercial departments who might lack the status and stature of more prominent newsroom employees,” said Bruce Nelson, TNG-CWA Representative. “Believe me, they were never without a voice when Darlene was around! She could silence a room with her indignation over managerial mistreatment. “I will miss the power of that passion,” Nelson said. “I will also miss her quiet laughter, more of a chuckle than a howl -- sometimes accompanied with a sharp twinkle in her eye -- when we'd encounter those frequent moments of utter absurdity at the bargaining table. |