RETIRED — Third District International Representative Julie Cosenza, a dedicated unionist whose empathy and leadership have left lasting impressions on her fellow members, has retired from the IBEW.
A native of Buffalo, N.Y., Cosenza joined the union in 1989 when she was hired by National Fuel, a gas utility serving 800,000 customers in New York and Pennsylvania.
“When I started, I was part of the bargaining unit. It wasn’t an option,” she said. “What I did have a choice with was how much I got involved.”
Buffalo Local 2199 represents National Fuel’s technical and office workers in New York. Early on, Cosenza became a regular fixture at the local’s meetings.
“I wanted to be part of the collective bargaining process because it affects your whole family,” she said.
Cosenza credits former Local 2199 Business Manager Bill McMahon for helping in her activism journey.
“I admired and respected Bill,” she said. “He was very inclusive and had me come to meetings with the company.”
Cosenza soon became a steward and joined the local’s negotiating and steering committees. She also helped represent Local 2199 within the New York State Association of Electrical Workers.
In 2000, Cosenza became Local 2199’s vice president. Ten years later, when McMahon retired, she was elected his successor.
“She makes people feel valued, like you’re her favorite person. … She really helped us get stronger contracts.”
– Buffalo, N.Y. Local 2199 Business Manager Colleen Ballacchino
“Behind every IBEW sister is a brother — or brothers — who’s supportive,” Cosenza said. “When I became business manager, I had tremendous support from [Third District International Representative] Mike Flanagan. We worked very closely together.”
Colleen Ballacchino, Local 2199’s current business manager, said Cosenza has a gift.
“She makes people feel valued, like you’re her favorite person,” said Ballacchino, who initially resisted becoming involved with the IBEW.
“I had every excuse in the book not to,” she said. “Julie goes, ‘You can’t let somebody else determine your future.’”
Cosenza led by example, Ballacchino said: “Julie was a force in negotiations. She really helped us get stronger contracts.”
In 2012, then-Third District International Vice President Don Siegel tapped Cosenza to work on his staff as an international representative.
“To say that I was surprised would be an understatement,” said Cosenza, who was especially grateful for encouragement she received early on from Siegel, who retired in 2017, and his successor, Mike Welsh, who retired in 2022.
“I met so many members and officers in the local unions who I still call friends,” Cosenza said, “and I worked with the most incredible international reps in the Third District.”
One of those was Jenn Duck, who joined the district’s staff in 2019, a few months before the COVID-19 lockdowns.
“Julie helped me manage that,” Duck said. “I come from outside construction, and Julie was super helpful with her work on the utility side.”
International Representative Kris Anderson joined the Third District’s staff in 2017, assisting utility locals alongside Cosenza and working with her on such things as the district’s quarterly utility workshops.
“Julie is the epitome of a genuine person who understands the value of small gestures of kindness. She would take it upon herself to collect any unopened toiletries from workshop attendees and deliver them to a local homeless or women’s shelter as a contribution from the IBEW,” Anderson said. “This small act meant so much to these groups, and it truly embodied the kind-hearted person that she is.”
Cosenza also served on the Third District’s Women’s Committee, and she represented the IBEW on the Interunion Gas Conference Steering Committee and the Utility Labor Council. Additionally, she was a trustee with the Buffalo Central Labor Council and was treasurer for the Western New York Coalition of Labor Union Women.
“I’m a pretty positive person, so I try to find even in the darkest spots a little bit of light,” Cosenza said.
One of those moments of light, she recalled, followed a meeting where a member was disciplined. “She told me I was the only person who believed her and stuck up for her,” Cosenza said. “People like her made me keep going, and I’m grateful for that,” she said.
Cosenza took classes at Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations, the United Association of Labor Education and the Labor Arbitration Institute. Through the United Way, she also became certified in adult mental health first aid.
“Julie was big on making sure that those of us on staff take care of each other,” Duck said.
Before he was appointed in November as international vice president for the Third District, Frank Muia worked with Cosenza as an international representative.
“One of the things you learn when you first meet Julie is that she’s extremely compassionate and cares about the IBEW,” Muia said. “She did a phenomenal job servicing her local unions.”
In retirement, Cosenza and her husband, Joe, plan to spend time with their three children and five grandchildren.
“Believe it or not, I love spending time with my husband,” she said with a laugh. “Being on the road as much as I was, I couldn’t have done it without Joe’s support.”
The couple recently bought a recreational vehicle and plan to take road trips with their two golden retrievers. “We’re working on getting them certified as therapy dogs to work with the elderly or those going through cancer treatments,” she said.
At home, Cosenza assists her fellow parishioners at Queen of Heaven Roman Catholic Church with funeral planning. She describes gardening as her “biggest passion,” and she notes that she and her husband are avid, season-ticket-holding Buffalo Bills fans.
“I thank God every day for the IBEW and the opportunities it has provided me,” Cosenza said. “It always had my back, it kept me and my family safe during COVID, and it provided us all with a better life.”
One valuable lesson Cosenza learned from the IBEW was that she “didn’t have to be the loudest voice in the room to make an impact,” she said.
“Truth and facts speak volumes,” she said. “The IBEW taught me to stand up for what’s right, even when it’s uncomfortable, and to advocate for myself.”
Muia called Cosenza’s retirement “bittersweet.”
“Julie always wanted to make sure things were done properly,” he said. “She was just a pleasure to work with.”
Please join the entire IBEW membership in wishing Sister Cosenza a long and happy retirement.
