Duwaine Walker

CWA LOCAL 1040 - UNION PRESIDENT

Elect

Leadership That Delivers!

Trusted Experience.

Duwaine Walker for
CWA Local 1040 President

Trusted Experience. Leadership That Delivers.

For more than three decades, my life has been guided by service, family, and a deep belief in the dignity of working people. I have served as a public servant, supervisor, union member, advocate, Election Committee Chair,

Staff Representative, Branch President, Local Higher-Level Vice President, Executive Vice President, and now President of CWA Local 1040.

Through every role, one thing has remained constant: my commitment to people and service.

My belief in unions began long before I became a union leader. My mother and grandmother were postal workers represented by the American Postal Workers Union. Their union jobs helped create a better life for my family. I learned firsthand that a strong union can provide more than wages and benefits—it can provide dignity, stability, opportunity, and hope for generations.

That lesson became even more personal when, as a single father, I took a union position at Northern State Prison to provide stability, healthcare, and a pension for my family.

There, my journey as a CWA leader grew. I served first as Executive Vice President because I believed leadership should be earned through preparation, humility, and experience. In 2008, I was elected Branch President.
We strengthened representation, raised thousands of dollars to assist members
and their families during times of bereavement, organized Unity Days, and built something bigger than a branch—we built a union family.

President Walker’s Vision

My vision is to work tirelessly to build an army of well-trained stewards and proficient branch leaders so that our members have a strong voice, real protection, and trusted representation at every level of the workplace. I believe that when we invest in people, strengthen our worksites, and build a culture of unity, we create a union that is prepared to meet today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities.

I also plan to organize the unorganized because membership is the cornerstone of our success.
As someone who worked his way from Union Steward to President of a Local, I have an in-depth,
first hand understanding of how this union functions from the bottom up, from branch grievances to administrative matters.

Since taking on the role of President in April, I have begun implementing my vision by conducting two interactive training sessions on grievances that branch leaders and stewards have raved about. In preparation for the NJ State contract, I have participated in preparatory meetings for the State of NJ contract negotiations and revamped CWA Local 1040’s Viewpoint. This publication highlights what is happening in our union through the lens of the CWA Triangle: Representation, Organizing, and Movement Building, to enhance communications within our Local. I have also directed and pushed for Unity Days at our worksites and branches and supported several community-based initiatives that help less privileged individuals in our communities.

This is only the beginning of my commitment to building a stronger, better-prepared Local 1040—one where every steward and branch leader has the knowledge, confidence, and support needed to defend our members, organize our worksites, and move our union forward together.

Duwaine Walker
President,
CWA Local 1040 Union

20 years of outstanding service

Education & Special Recognition

Duwaine attended Kean University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a minor in public administration. He also holds a master’s degree in law and governance with a concentration in regulatory compliance. In addition, he completed a graduate-level certificate in workplace conflict management at Montclair State University, with coursework in arbitration, negotiations, and the legal aspects of human resources.

CWA Local 1040 Carolyn C. Wade Award, 2025
CWA National Officer Training, 2023
CWA Minority Leadership Institute, 2016
CWA Local 1040 Shop Steward of the Year – Corrections, 2007
Kean University Alumni Criminal Justice Spotlight, 2013

My Team

We believe that solidarity is our strength. As leaders, we will remain accessible and accountable to the membership, encourage participation, develop future union leaders, and build a stronger, more unified union.

Alvin R. Herron

Executive Vice President

35 Years of State Service

Evelyn M. Boyd

Local Secretary

35 Years of State Service

Nicola Bellamy-Tatum

Local Treasurer

14 Years of State Service

Scott Strand

Higher Level VP

38 Years of State Service