Western Region 6
Thanks for visiting our region webpage! CSEA’s Western Region covers 14 Western New York counties, supporting workers in more than 80 locals and 220 units in state government, local government, school districts, library systems, public authorities and the private sector. The region has approximately 46,000 members.
Region 6 President Stephen Healy
Steve Healy is a longtime Ontario County labor activist. Steve served as the Western Region 1st Vice President and has been the acting Ontario County Unit and Local President for several years. Steve got his first taste of union work by becoming a shop unit steward in 2005. Shortly after, he enrolled in several programs offered by CSEA and the Cornell University Industrial and Labor Relations program. Since then, he has used those skills to benefit his co-workers and CSEA colleagues.
Western Region 6 Officers
Steve Healy
Region 6 President
Tim Finnigan
Executive Vice President
Sheri Ambuske
1st Vice President
Lovette Mootry
2nd Vice President
William Wilkinson
3rd Vice President
Bonnie Peters
Executive Secretary
Robert “Bob” Pazik
Treasurer
Events
Turn Your Empties into Impact!
After a weekend full of 4th of July celebrations, there’s bound to be a whole lot of empty bottles and cans cluttering your backyard. Make cleanup a breeze—and make a difference—with United Way of Greater Niagara’s “Cantribution” fundraiser! Just bring your empties to any participating Bottle & Can Retrieval Centersand say, “Donate to United Way of Greater Niagara.”
Your empties become funds that directly support your local community. Easy cleanup, easy giving—everyone wins!
This is the major decision-making body of the RLC. Dozens of delegates from unions across the region come together to discuss the topics of importance to their unions and the labor movement as a whole.
If you’re interested in attending, speaking to the body or becoming a delegate for your union, please reach out to Patrick Coyle at patrickcoyleaflcio@gmail.com.
Dinner is served from 6:00p to 6:30p following the Executive Board meeting.
The meeting will be held in IBEW Local 86, 2300 East River Rd., Rochester, NY 14623.
To purchase tickets, fill out the information listed here, and for further questions please reach out to event host amorgan@wnyalf.org. We hope to see you there!
This is the major decision-making body of the RLC. Dozens of delegates from unions across the region come together to discuss the topics of importance to their unions and the labor movement as a whole.
If you’re interested in attending, speaking to the body or becoming a delegate for your union, please reach out to Patrick Coyle at patrickcoyleaflcio@gmail.com.
Dinner is served from 6:00p to 6:30p following the Executive Board meeting.
The meeting will be held in IBEW Local 86, 2300 East River Rd., Rochester, NY 14623.
The AFL-CIO Next Up Young Worker Program is a place for young people and their unions, progressive allies, students and community groups to join together and work toward social and economic justice.
If you’re interested in getting involved in Rochester Next Up, contact Patrick Coyle at patrickcoyleaflcio@gmail.com.
The meeting will be held in Boulder Coffee, 100 Alexander Street, Rochester, NY 14620.
This is the major decision-making body of the RLC. Dozens of delegates from unions across the region come together to discuss the topics of importance to their unions and the labor movement as a whole.
If you’re interested in attending, speaking to the body or becoming a delegate for your union, please reach out to Patrick Coyle at patrickcoyleaflcio@gmail.com.
Dinner is served from 6:00p to 6:30p following the Executive Board meeting.
The meeting will be held in IBEW Local 86, 2300 East River Rd., Rochester, NY 14623.
Labor Relations Specialists
Whether it’s negotiating a new contract, enforcing the terms and conditions of your current contract, fighting unfair disciplinary actions or violations of your contract rights, your CSEA officers turn to CSEA’s professional Labor Relations staff for assistance.
Lead by Region Director Robert Mootry, the CSEA Western Region has a full staff of Labor Relations Specialists (LRS) who work one-on-one with your officers to help mentor, guide and assist them in any and all labor relations matters. They can also act as your point person to accessing other CSEA resources.
If rank and file members need union assistance, your first call is to your Unit or Local officer. If staff resources need to be further accessed, your Unit and Local Officers will contact the assigned LRS for your work place. If you need to speak with your LRS directly, please call the Amherst Region Office at (716) 691-6555 or the Rochester Satellite Office at (585) 272-0800.
Western Region Labor Relations Specialists
Amherst Office:
Sharon Ivey, Shaun Szejnar, Jill Ackerman, Crystal Melvin, Deb Mueller, Lynn Miller, Andrea Figueroa, Kevin Mole, Matt DeAngelo, Jose Cruz
Rochester Satellite Office:
Paul Peters, Paul Markwitz, Don Havens, Ryan Carbone, Matthew Colton
Chris Rackl, Political Action Coordinator
As organized working people, we wield some of our greatest power at influencing public policy decisions that affect our working world as well as determining who represents us.
Because we are mainly workers who deliver public services, our ultimate bosses are almost always elected officials. By participating fully in the political process, we strengthen the voice we have at work and in our community.
That’s why CSEA has a Legislative and Political Action Department.
In Western Region 6, all political activities are conducted under the advisement and with the assistance of Political Action Coordinator Chris Rackl.
As Coordinator, Chris can help CSEA leaders and activists get involved in the political process. From CSEA candidate endorsements, running voter registration drives, advising the Region Political Action Committee on policy that affects working people, or getting involved in village dissolution efforts are just some of the action items that keep our political action department busy.
If you have questions about our political action efforts, please contact Chris at the Western Region Office at (716) 691-6555.
Sara McNicholas, Communications Specialist
When CSEA needs to better communicate with the media, the public, or even our own members, assistance is available from Region 6 Communications Specialist Sara McNicholas.
Whether it’s speaking to the media, utilizing social media and web sites to get out our messages, photographing union events, putting together Letters to the Editor, fliers, demonstrations, information days, newsletters, contract campaigns, press releases, or articles for CSEA’s statewide newspaper The Work Force, Sara is available to help.
If you have a communications need, contact Sara at (716) 799-8061.
Illa Caira, Occupational Safety & Health Specialist
If you have a safety and health issue at your workplace, or want help deciphering the numerous safety laws and regulations that are designed to protect you against harm, please contact the office of the Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) Specialist for the Western Region. Our specialist Illa Caira is available to assist safety & health committees, Local and Unit officers and activists across the region in making sure your work sites are hazard free and safe.
The OSH Specialist conducts worksite visits to assess existing or potential hazards, files safety and health complaints with the state Department of Labor, advises the Region Safety & Health Committee, conducts educational training seminars on worker safety, among other tasks.
If you have a safety and health issue, question or concern, please contact Illa at the Western Region Office at (716) 691-6555.
If you have an urgent safety hazard or workplace injury to report, you can also contact CSEA’s Occupational Safety and Health Department at (800) 342-4146.
Western Region Support Staff
Our dedicated, unionized clerical support staff work hard to run our two offices, the Western Region Office in Amherst and the Rochester Satellite Office at Winton Place.
From answering the phones to typing forms, making copies, faxing, mailing and filing legal papers, our clerical support staff is the backbone of the whole operation providing top notch service to our members.
If you have a question about our union support staff services, call Region Office Manager Karen Confer at (716) 691-6555.
Support Staff:
Ryan Swarts (Rochester Office) – Senior Office Assistant
Sheila Mitchell – Senior Office Assistant
Mollie Dusza – Office Assistant