Recently Retired UE Organizer Jim Ermi Dies at 60

April 28, 2016

Retired UE Field Organizer James "Jim" Ermi died Saturday at Virtua Memorial Hospital, Mount Holly, NJ, following a heart attack. Jim served as a UE organizer for 26 years in the Eastern Region and before that, District 1, organizing and assisting UE locals primarily in Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Ermi became involved with UE some 30 years ago as a worker at Stryker Machine Shop in Trenton, NJ, which he helped to organize into UE Local 155. After the union was established in the shop, Jim was elected chief steward.

Retired UE President Bruce Klipple has known Ermi since that organizing campaign in the 1980s. “Jim constantly kept the members in mind and always fought for them.” He also remembers Ermi for his sense of humor. “Even in the toughest situations, Jim would find something funny that would break the tension and help us all to keep going.” Klipple says that at time, Ermi had one of the largest servicing assignments in UE, with many contracts to negotiate, and he handled it well. “We were very lucky to have and organizer as dedicated as Jim to work with our members and help them in their battles.”

Jim Ermi is survived by his wife Linda, daughters Frances and Laura, and son William, and six grandchildren. He died surrounded by family and friends. He was 60 years old and had retired from the UE staff just last year.

The funeral will be Friday 9:30 a.m. at Koschek and Porter Funeral Directors, 1115 Hornberger Avenue, Roebling, NJ. Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday 11:00 a.m. at Sts. Francis & Clare Parish, Holy Assumption Church, Roebling. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Autism Speaks, 1060 State Rd, 2nd Fl., Princeton, NJ 08540-1423, Attn: Donielle Bridgewater. Condolences may be sent to www.koschekandporterfuneralhome.com

Subscribe!

If you like what you read, please consider subscribing to the UE NEWS — for as little as $5/year you can support great labor journalism and receive the print edition of the UE NEWS four times per year.

You can also sign up to receive monthly UE NEWS Bulletins via email, or follow UE on FacebookTwitterInstagram and YouTube.