Meet the WN Region 1 Coordinators
The Women’s Network Region 1 Team covers New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.
Emily Sabo
Emily Sabo was born into a union family and raised with a deep understanding of the importance of worker solidarity and collective bargaining. Her parents, both active members of UFCW Local 919 working at Stop & Shop, demonstrated firsthand how union jobs could provide stability and opportunity for a family of six. From healthcare and dental coverage to holiday pay that helped create family memories, Emily learned early on the value of union protections and the dignity of hard work.
While attending college and working full-time at a restaurant, Emily discovered that the kitchen staff were not receiving the state-mandated minimum wage. After reaching out to her mother, she was connected with a union representative who helped guide her through the wage complaint process. Emily successfully helped secure back pay and raises for the entire kitchen staff, an experience that sparked her passion for labor advocacy.
Emily soon began volunteering with UFCW and, in 2018, became a union organizer with Local 919. She has since helped hundreds of workers organize their workplaces and eventually became the Local’s Organizing and Political Director.
Today, Emily serves as a Coordinator on the Cannabis Workers Rising team for the UFCW International Union, helping cannabis industry workers build strong unions and secure a meaningful voice on the job.
Samantha DeRiso
Samantha DeRiso is a seasoned labor leader with 36 years of experience. She has built a distinguished career advancing worker rights through political affairs, public advocacy, and organizing. Known for her strategic leadership, she has played a pivotal role in strengthening worker power, advancing legislative initiatives, and building broad-based coalitions to support impactful labor policies. Her work has extended nationally through major organizing campaigns, where she has supported union efforts across the country.
She currently serves as Director of Political and Public Affairs for UFCW District Union Local One, where she leads initiatives that connect policy, advocacy, and grassroots organizing. In 2018, she made history as the first female President of the Mohawk Valley Labor Council, representing 14,000 members across 34 affiliated unions, further demonstrating her commitment to inclusive and effective leadership.
Her influence extends beyond labor through active service on several boards, including the Workforce Development Board of Oneida County, Workforce Investment Board as a Labor Representative, United Way of Central New York, and the YWCA of the Mohawk Valley. She has also contributed to community development through prior roles with the Oriskany Public Library Board and the James R. Cook Labor Agency, among others.
Michelle Duncan
Michelle Duncan began her career in 1979 as a proud member of UFCW Local 919 while pursuing her college education, working as a cashier at Stop & Shop in Waterbury, Connecticut. She later transferred to UFCW Local 371, joining the deli department, where her strong work ethic and leadership skills earned her a promotion to Deli Manager.
Throughout her career, Michelle worked across Connecticut before relocating to Western Massachusetts. After starting her family, she transitioned to the meat department, entering and completing the Meat Cutter Apprenticeship Program, eventually advancing to Head Meat Cutter at the West Springfield Stop & Shop.
A dedicated union advocate, Michelle has served as a Shop Steward, bargaining committee member, and elected Executive Board Member of Local 371. Her passion for representing workers and strengthening contracts has been a hallmark of her career.
In 2017, Michelle joined the staff of UFCW Local 371 as a Business Agent, representing members across diverse industries in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. In 2022, she was appointed Regional Co-Coordinator for Region 1 on the UFCW International Women’s Network Executive Board, where she continues to lead with distinction, advancing equity, leadership, and opportunity for women across the labor movement.