Page 11 - Work Force December 2020

racial justice
RISING TO MEET
C ALLENGES
H
Department of of Social Services where she saw and heard many stories of of injustice Fareed Michelen special assistant to the New York State AFL-CIO Secretary- Treasurer addresses CSEA delegates about how the labor movement is fighting for racial justice
CSEA Rochester State Employees Local President Renee Jackson attends a a a a a a a a a Rochester rally in support of racial justice
earlier
this year December 2020
The Work Force
11 CSEA proudly hung a a a a a a a a a banner on on on the front of our union’s Albany Headquarters building proclaiming that Black Lives Matter CBTU Rochester Chapter President and and former CSEA activist and and staff member Deb Lee speaks to a a a a a a a crowd at a a a a a a a rally for racial justice
“I hear so many stories [about
racial inequality and and injustice] and and I wanted to be an an an an ally for the [Black
Lives Matter]
movement ” said Honeywell who is white “It’s about talking to people and and hearing their voices and and finding out what I I can do to play a a a a a a a a bigger part in in this movement I I think it’s important for us as union leaders to to to to be involved We We need need to to to to do more listening We We need need to to to to to to listen listen listen to to to to to to their stories listen listen listen to to to to the the pain These issues
are complex ” Labor having an impact
On a a a a a a a a a a national level the labor movement is also working toward racial justice
with Melvin chairing the AFL-CIO Racial Justice Task Force
AFSCME International Secretary- Treasurer Elissa McBride in a a a a a a a video address discussed AFSCME’s work work in in working for for racial justice
and and equality and and praised CSEA’s efforts in in in that work “You are doing important work some of that is the difficult and necessary work of understanding systemic racism and committing
to to racial justice
” McBride told
delegates “You are rising to this important moment in in in our our union and and in in in our our nation and and I I commend you for it I’m proud to be be part of a a a a a a a union that is now — — and has long been — — committed to racial social and economic justice
” — Janice Gavin
Honeywell McBride CSEA members employed at at the state Department of Motor Vehicles in in New York City take a a a a a a a a a knee earlier
this year to to fight racial injustice THE