MARJB Workers United, an SEIU Affiliate
ABOUT MARJB
The Mid-Atlantic Regional Joint Board was chartered in 1983 and was formerly affiliated with UNITE (Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees) which was formed in 1995 by the merger of two of the nation's preeminent and oldest unions - the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) and the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union (ACTWU). In 2009, Workers United, an SEIU affiliate, was created and the Mid-Atlantic Region is now a chartered affiliate of Workers United. Our members work in the following industries: laundry, food service, auto parts and auto supply, hospitality, gaming, bag and packaging, apparel, textile, manufacturing and distribution, retail and related industries. The Region represents approximately 5,000 members in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, Ohio, and the District of Columbia. Regional headquarters for the Mid-Atlantic Region are located in Frederick, MD. Patrick Jones, Sr. is Regional Director and Patrick Jones, Jr. is Associate Director. In addition to Patrick Sr. and Patrick Jr., members of our Executive Board are President-Larry Bryant, Vice President-Chad McCroskey, Secretary-Peter Bostic, Sergeant-At-Arms-Rick Bailey, and Members at Large-Tommy Fragakis, Jamie Rhodes, and Mercedes Rivera. We believe that only through organizing the non-union competition, and adding to the Union's strength, can workers continue to achieve improvements in their wages, benefits, and working conditions. We strive to organize the unorganized, educate our membership, elect politicians who are worker-friendly, and to pass legislation that will have a positive effect on our members lives and advance the right of people everywhere to live and work with dignity.
Patrick Jones Sr.
International Vice President / MARJB Director
Patrick Jones Sr. is an International Vice President and the Director of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Joint Board of Workers United. Patrick became a Union member in November 1993 at Emporia Foundry in Emporia, VA, a "right to work" state, where he worked in an entry level utility position. At that time, the shop had low Union membership, only about 25%. In February 1994, Patrick was elected as President of Local Union 1622 where he created an internal organizing committee to increase membership in the shop. After three terms of fighting hard for his members, Union membership increased to 95%.
In 1998, Patrick was elected to the Executive Board of the Mid-Atlantic Region of UNITE where he served as Sergeant-at-Arms. Patrick began working for the Mid-Atlantic Regional Joint Board in 2001 as a Joint Board Representative as part of the Laundry Team. In this position, he gained the experience of working through various obstacles amongst a diverse workforce. The valuable experience he gained by servicing shops, negotiating contracts across the Region, and being the Maryland and Delaware State Director provided the foundation and strengthened his commitment to continue the fight to build a strong Region for our members.
Patrick's motto is “the strength of the Union is the members; and, the strength of the members is the UNION."
