Page 2 - Work Force December 2025

Photo of the Month
Central New York DDSO 2nd Vice President Cat Treonze, right, with a
very patriotic member of the crowd at the Central New York Veterans
Day Parade at the NYS Fairgrounds. See pages 1, 10-11 for more. (Photo by
Nicholas Newcomb.)
cseany.org
DECEMBER 2025 • VOL. 28, NO. 11
On the cover, CSEA Rochester
Area Retirees Local activist and
Western Region Veterans Committee
member Kim Whitlock pays tribute
to those who served our country
CSEA stands CSEA stands
with veterans with veterans
See pages See pages
2, 10-11 2, 10-11
during the CSEA Western Region
Veterans Ceremony at the Buffalo
and Erie County Naval & Military
Park. (Photo by Sara McNicholas.)
CSEA legislative agenda
strengthens workers
CSEA stands united for
SUNY Upstate workers
Supporting Spring
Valley workers
Page 3 Page 5 Pages 12-13
Photo by Sara McNicholas
CSEA mourns Titilayo Etuk
Titilayo Etuk, 50,
Health Safety Department started
a direct support
the required fatality investigation
assistant at Capital
and notification to PESH. This is
District DDSO,
standard practice for any work-
suffered a medical
related fatality to determine any
emergency at work
potential contributing factors in the
on November 3 and
workplace.
later passed away
CSEA extends our deepest
at the hospital.
condolences to Etuk’s family, friends
CSEA’s
and co-workers.
Occupational
— Therese Assalian
Etuk
CSEA warns against anti-
worker agendas in New
York’s race for governor
ALBANY — With the race for New
York governor beginning to take
shape, CSEA President Mary E.
Sullivan said our union evaluates
every candidate – regardless of
party – based on their record
and willingness to stand with
hardworking New Yorkers.
“Our next governor must be
someone who values public service
and understands the challenges
facing the people who keep our
state running,” said Sullivan. “We’re
looking for real leadership that puts
workers first, not politics.”
Sullivan said that means defending
collective bargaining, expanding
workplace safety protections,
preserving retirement security, and
investing in essential public services
such as health care, education and
transportation.
CSEA is expressing major
concerns to members about U.S.
Rep. Elise Stefanik’s recent bid to run
for Governor of New York, citing her
repeated opposition to the priorities
of working people.
“Congresswoman Stefanik has
had years to engage with CSEA and
fight for our members in Washington
– she’s done neither,” said Sullivan.
“For someone running for governor,
her lack of engagement with workers
who provide essential public
services across New York is deeply
concerning.”
The North Country Republican’s
career in public service began in
2006, when she worked in President
George W. Bush’s administration,
serving in the Chief of Staff’s office
and on the Domestic Policy Council.
She represents New York’s 21st
Congressional District. Stefanik
was first elected in 2014 at age 30,
at the time the youngest woman
ever elected to the House of
Representatives.
Stefanik recently launched her
bid for governor by releasing a
two-and-a-half-minute ad on social
media, which didn’t feature an
actual announcement from the
congresswoman herself. The video
featured attacks on Gov. Kathy
Hochul, recycled portions of news
broadcasts and a soundbite from
Stefanik during a past appearance on
Fox News.
During her time in Congress,
Stefanik has aligned with efforts to
weaken collective bargaining rights,
reduce federal labor protections
and roll back public employee
pension safeguards. Her remarks in
Washington have often framed large
unions as “ideological enforcement
arms,” language that undermines the
vital role organized labor plays in
protecting workers.
Stefanik has said she was “proud”
to support the federal reconciliation
bill, which will cost New York more
than $15.4 billion annually. The
legislation is expected to have other
devastating impacts, including
stripping health insurance from
1.5 million New Yorkers, reducing
or eliminating SNAP benefits for
more than 1 million residents, and
eliminating roughly 215,000 jobs
statewide.
Sullivan said the union will
continue to call out candidates
and policies that threaten workers’
rights, wages and retirement
security.
“New York’s working people
deserve leadership that strengthens
– not undermines – the labor
movement,” said Sullivan. “We’re
troubled by politicians who have
consistently opposed protections
for working families or ignored the
voices of public employees who keep
our state running.”
— Spencer Conlin
2 The Work Force December 2025