Page 8 - Work Force December 2024

8 The Work Force December 2024
BINGHAMTON — Kathy Johnston
was fully prepared to opt out of her
union membership in January.
But come June, she found herself
sitting at an in-person Steward
Workshop, led by the
CSEA Education and
Training Department staff,
eager to learn and take on
the responsibilities of a
union activist.
What changed for
Johnston, a food service
worker II at the Greater
Binghamton Health Center?
“I think I just realized that
if you want change, you have
to be a part of that change,”
said Johnston.
Frustration leads to action
Johnston was frustrated. Her
local had been in administratorship
(without elected local officers) for
a while and it was taking a toll on
members. The local has since come
out of administratorship.
She felt like she had nowhere to go
in her facility and that management
was taking advantage of the lack
of union presence, aside from the
local’s labor relations specialist
(LRS).
“It felt like there were different
rules for some people,” said
Johnston. “At the time, I had
been dealing with an issue
of my own that I didn’t think
was being handled well
through management. Then,
I saw a co-worker of mine
kind of get screwed.”
It was at that point
she began filling out the
opt-out paperwork. Soon
after, she got a call from
CSEA Member Engagement Specialist
Michael Ottaviano.
“I had conversations explaining
to her the benefits of her union
membership for not just herself,
but for her entire workplace,” said
Ottaviano. “Without solidarity,
we look fragmented and that’s
something management loves to
take advantage of. Showing unity is
From near opt-out
to activist: a union
success story
Kathy Johnston, left, takes an in-person Steward Workshop taught by
Education and Training Specialist Eric DeCarlo at our union’s Binghamton
Satellite Office.
what gives us our strength as a labor
union.”
Johnston said that Ottaviano
was always quick to respond to her
emails and phone calls and from
their discussions, she began to
change her mind about opting out.
“(Mike) spent a lot of time
presenting my decision to me,” said
Johnston. “[He explained that] if you
opt-out, our union can’t be there for
you in certain ways and if people
keep dropping out, there won’t be a
union anyway. I wasn’t pressured at
all. I was just asked to take my time
to think about things.”
A new activist is born
After seeing the injustice suffered
by her co-worker, Johnston decided
there needed to be more of a union
presence at her workplace.
Another co-worker urged Johnston
to get involved and take steward
training.
“I signed up and now I’m all in
because something needs to change,”
said Johnston. “I firmly believe more
union presence will help us from
being walked over.”
Johnston successfully completed
our union’s steward training and was
soon appointed a shop steward by
Greater Binghamton Health Center
Local President Michael Narozny.
“Kathy is a self-starter and a great
asset,” said Narozny. “She is very
good with member engagement,
an area I haven’t had too much
time to focus on because of all the
grievances we are working through.
Working in the kitchen, she goes all
over the facility and can talk to a lot
of members.”
Johnston was inspired by the
trainings and is eager to learn more.
Her goal is to be a representative
at new employee orientations and
explain to people what our union is
all about.
Johnston said that she could retire
in a year or two, but getting involved
in her union has given her a new
outlook on the future.
“I’m going to be leaving, but it’s
the next generation that will continue
to fight for fairness,” said Johnston.
“I think people really need that push.
It’s not about helping me; it’s about
helping other people.”
— Nicholas Newcomb
“Showing
unity is
what gives
us our
strength
as a labor
union.”
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