Glen Tuifel
Candidate for President
My Union Story

I grew up in a working-class family in Ridgewood, on the Queens/Brooklyn border. I’m the oldest child of parents who immigrated from Germany and Austria. My father worked in a union shop, and even as a kid, I knew I was pro-union—though I couldn’t yet explain why. Like many Gen X families, my parents worked constantly to provide for us. That upbringing instilled in me a deep sense of independence and self-reliance. It was a sink-or-swim environment, and while I had my share of sinking moments, more often than not, I learned to swim. That experience also taught me the value of a strong work ethic, a valuable character trait that has stayed with me throughout my life.

After high school, I attended SUNY Stony Brook—my first real introduction to Long Island. I remember not being able to sleep at first because it was too quiet—no trains, no distant sirens. Little did I know that I would end up spending the rest of my life here. During college, I worked full-time and studied full-time to afford tuition. I started working in the moving business in my late teens. It was tough, physical work, but I took to it. If you could handle the grind, the pay was good. In the booming economy of the ’80s and ’90s, I sometimes worked up to 80 hours a week, school permitting.

After college, I eventually started my own moving company and spent my 20s hustling to get ahead. I quickly realized that the moving industry was a “young man’s game,” so I began looking for a good union job, one with benefits and a pension, that could turn into a long-term career. At 26, I started working for Nassau County as a Social Welfare Examiner I at the Department of Social Services (DSS) in the Special Investigations Unit. I was soon promoted to Caseworker I in Child Protective Services and eventually moved to Family Court as a DSS Liaison. I worked there for nearly 10 years and developed a knack for legal strategy, excelling in developing arguments and writing. For the first eight years of my county career, I continued to run my moving business, because surviving on the County’s wages alone was difficult.

I eventually started a family and settled in Glen Cove, where I still live today. I have two daughters, now 23 and 19, who mean everything to me. I’m proud to say they’ve grown into remarkable young women. My oldest is a Physician Assistant, already thriving in her career. My youngest is currently attending college in Western New York (Go Bills!) and will graduate a year early before heading to law school. She has a fierce spirit, likes a good fight, and excels at oral and written arguments. She tells me that her time spent around Local 830 in her youth inspired her passion to fight for what’s right.

Everything changed for me about 16 years ago, when I had 14 years in with the County, and the union took on a profound significance in my life. While working as a Case Supervisor I in a CPS Investigations Unit, I was summarily terminated without a real investigation, over what amounted to a “nothing burger” situation. I won’t go into great detail here, but if you’re curious, Google my name, the media coverage is still out there. The management at the time even pushed for criminal charges (a misdemeanor based on Social Services Law), which led to my arrest just days after my termination.

I was devastated and lost. But it was the union that ultimately gave me my redemption, and so much more.

The union challenged my termination, and within five months, I was reinstated with full back pay. The criminal charges were eventually dismissed, and I even represented myself at my Unemployment Insurance Benefits hearing, beating the three attorneys representing the County, Pro Se (without an attorney). That experience revealed my true calling. I had gained a powerful understanding of what the union could do, and I knew I had to use that knowledge to help others.

Not long after that victory, I began my career at Local 830, first as a staff advocate, and later, in various officer positions. I’m now the Executive Vice President, and I believe I am ready to take on the role as the leader and President of our Union.

Over the past 16 years, I’ve handled hundreds of disciplinary and grievance cases. Many Local 830 members reading this will likely remember at least one. I understand what it feels like to be scared or furious when an employer tries to take away our benefits, ignore our contract, or threaten our livelihood. I bring every bit of my experience, passion, and knowledge to each case. I don’t win every fight, but I do win the vast majority, and I never stop fighting.

This is MY UNION STORY — and it’s the foundation for everything I do for Local 830.

To me, the answer is clear.

Thank you for reading. I ask for your vote on May 15, 2025.