Dear fellow members,

For those of you I have yet to meet, I am Bridget O’Connor, and I am a proud member of Local One who has worked in our jurisdiction since 2010 and was initiated in 2015. Over the years, I’ve served as the steward at Circle in the Square Theatre, participated on the negotiating committee for the Vivian Beaumont Theater, and co-chaired the Young Workers Committee from 2016 to 2020.

I see the role of Administrative Secretary as a calling—one rooted in humanity, compassion, and unwavering service to our members. This position carries deep responsibility, especially when helping members navigate some of the most difficult moments in their lives: workplace injuries, long- and short-term disability claims, workman’s comp issues, or filing for permanent disability. 

I’ve walked some of these paths myself— suffering a workplace injury and going through workman’s comp, caring for my mother through end-stage cancer, advocating for my father during his years of long-term care for MS, and navigating the accidental death of my older brother. These experiences taught me how critical it is to have compassionate, knowledgeable support during life's hardest turns.

If elected, I will advocate relentlessly to ensure our members are treated fairly, claims are processed promptly, and no one is left to struggle alone. I will be a reliable and accessible resource, ready to tackle the frustrating red tape and delays that are inherently part of the system.

My professional background in Broadway’s audio departments has honed my computing, organizational and problem-solving skills. My union involvement—especially my work with the L1 Young Workers—has always been and will always be in pursuit of improving our members’ lives. 

I aim to expand our accessibility for our members by:

• developing secure digital portals for form submission

• keeping our website current and easily navigable

• creating step-by-step how-to guides for navigating member benefits

I hope to build up our focus on proactive care by:

• partnering with the L1 Safety committee to implement injury prevention programs

• working with the Entertainment Community Fund to obtain the most benefit for our members. 

• developing programs to keep us strong and safe (strength/stretching classes, PT, gym discounts, etc.)

I am fiercely dedicated to the long-term strength of Local One and the well-being of every member. At the end of the day, I care deeply about each of our members as human beings, and every one of us deserves to be supported by the union we dedicate so much of our lives to.

I humbly ask for your consideration and your vote to serve as your Administrative Secretary.

In Solidarity,
Bridget O’Connor