Page 14 - Work Force December_2022

Member uses technology to build CSEA’s strength
MERRICK —
CSEA Town of
Hempstead
Local
Recording
Secretary
Justin Blasich
was surprised
and humbled
when CSEA
President
Mary E.
Sullivan
personally
called to
inform him that he had received this year’s Membership Achievement Award.
The award is given to a CSEA member or group of members for their work in signing up new employees make a significant contribution to converting nonmembers into members.
“I’m here for the members; they’re my brothers and sisters. We work together every day,” said Blasich. “The fact that I won an award for
doing right by them is an honor.” Blasich, who received the award at
our union’s 112th Annual Delegates Meeting (ADM), was honored for his tireless efforts to engage members and grow our union, which includes using technology.
His CSEA activism began about
10 years ago when local officers identified him as a strong-willed person who is unwilling to accept management abuses. It is that same will that motivates Blasich to use
all available resources, including technology, to keep building CSEA’s strength in the town, where our union today has a respectful working relationship with town board members.
One of the tools Blasich uses
is a project and task management website named monday.com, which CSEA Town of Hempstead Local Executive Vice President and Local technical specialist Mike Errico introduced to the Local as a way
to keep track of members’ contact information and member status.
The website also has an application, which Blasich uses as a backup for the My CSEA application.
The convenience of technology has been especially helpful when signing up members at union events.
“Everyone wants to attend the big local events like our
holiday party and
member appreciation
day,” said Blasich. “That’s my opportunity to verify people’s members status on the spot.”
Blasich also stresses the importance of identifying people who do not realize that there has been a change in their membership status.
“A lot of members fell through
the cracks post-Janus,” said Blasich, referring to the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 Janus v. AFSCME Council
31 opinion. “Now, we have new employees that show up to member meetings because they know that’s where they get updates about issues impacting the town’s workforce.”
“When I look them up using one of the apps and see that they are not members,
I can begin a
conversation
about why they
should join CSEA,”
said Blasich.
“Most of the time,
they are surprised
by the number of
benefits of being
a CSEA member.
I explain to them
that that’s the
reason why their
supervisors never
told them about
us.”
The method must be effective, because Blasich signed up 19 new members at one of the Local’s member appreciation days.
Occasionally, Blasich still has to rely on the Town of Hempstead
Local’s manual member files, which gives him a greater appreciation for new technology.
“Sometimes, I think to myself that I can only imagine what I would do if five members came to this office right now and I had
to manually look up their member status,” said Blasich. “Using technology, you’re not waiting and you can help the member in a reasonable amount of time. That efficiency helps strengthen your relationship with the member.”
If increasing CSEA’s strength and influence is not enough motivation to build CSEA’s member numbers, there is also a
more practical side.
“Like everywhere else, the Town
of Hempstead is very short staffed,” said Blasich. “To lose membership numbers means an increased workload for the members who remain.”
Explaining these simple facts is another part of Blasich’s success. Workers may not realize the
huge impact of being part of a
unified, unionized workforce. All it takes is someone
like Blasich to take the time to explain the complexities
of unionism and political power, and workers suddenly understand the importance of coming into the CSEA fold.
“You really just shoot the breeze with people and ask them questions about
themselves,” said Blasich. “When people become more comfortable with you they generally open up and become more receptive to what you have to say.”
— Wendi Bowie
Blasich
“Using technology, you’re not waiting and you can help the member in
a reasonable amount of time. That efficiency helps strengthen your relationship with the member.”
STAY CONNECTED with our union!
The newly-updated My CSEA smartphone app, available for Apple and Android devices, keeps you connected to our union and provides important information about your representation and benefits.
Download the app for your smartphone today and GET CONNECTED!
Find it on the Apple & Android App Stores (search for My CSEA),
or visit cseany.org/myCSEAapp
for direct download links.
cseany.org/myCSEAapp
14 The Work Force
December 2022