Page 7 - Work Force December 2025

Rising Tide: Western Region grows our union
NIAGARA FALLS — Our union’s
Western Region was recently
honored with CSEA’s first-ever
Rising Tide Cup at the 115th Annual
Delegates Meeting (ADM). The award
recognizes the region that signs up
the most new members throughout
the year.
This membership-focused award
is rooted in the belief that a rising
tide lifts all boats. When fair wages,
better benefits and improved
workplace conditions are achieved
by our union, entire communities see
the rewards.
Western Region
President Steve
Healy proudly
accepted the award
at the ADM.
“Hearing Region 6
called by President
Sullivan was a total
shock. I had no idea
we were winning this
award,” said Healy.
“I am incredibly
proud of the leaders
working each day to
grow and strengthen
our union. We have
so many passionate,
dedicated people in
Region 6 and across
the state. We share
this win together.”
While the Western Region was
honored with the award, recruiting
efforts across our union are at
its crest. Membership-building
initiatives across the state are
working, and our union continues to
reach more workers every day.
The efforts and energy from
leaders across the state have
resulted in more than 14,000 new
members joining our union so far
in 2025, as announced by CSEA
President Mary E. Sullivan.
“One of the most important things
we can do to build a stronger CSEA
is to grow our membership,” said
Sullivan. “Every new member who
signs up adds to our collective
power — power to win fair wages, to
secure better benefits and to make
our workplaces safer and stronger.”
“One of the most
important things
we can do to build
a stronger CSEA
is to grow our
membership. Every
new member who
signs up adds to our
collective power
— power to win fair
wages, to secure
better benefits and to
make our workplaces
safer and stronger.”
Building connections
Encouraging workers to join our
union has always been an integral
part of both region and statewide
initiatives. Across the Western
Region, locals have taken a proactive
approach to reaching new members.
Of the 1,480
CSEA-represented
workers at Finger
Lakes Developmental
Disabilities Services
Office (DDSO), 1,463
are proud union
members.
Finger Lakes
DDSO Local 1st Vice
President Catalina
Guzman, who also
serves as Western
Region Membership
Committee chair,
brings an inspiring
energy to her
conversations with
potential members.
By building
personal connections during
New Employee Orientation (NEO)
sessions and in the workplace,
she aims to foster trust and
demonstrate the real benefits of
union membership through her own
experiences.
“I’m not only your union rep,
I’m your friend,” said Guzman, who
notes she is available to members at
any hour. “I am in a position where I
can help you along the way.”
Guzman focuses on relating to
people on a human level, sharing
her background in nonunion
employment and finding creative
ways to connect, all of which
have proven effective in growing
membership.
Her counterpart during NEO
sessions is Finger Lakes DDSO
Local Treasurer Courtney Valentino.
Together, they bring dynamic
energy to what can often be lengthy
trainings. They provide essential
information along with moments of
humor as they explain the value of
union membership.
The team comes prepared
to answer questions, learn new
employees’ concerns and maintains
an “open-door policy” as new hires
navigate the agency.
“We try to make sure when, we
do our piece, we take the time to
answer questions,” Valentino said,
noting that she follows up with new
hires when needed. “Then, we try to
give them words of advice and things
that will help them be successful in
their job.”
Their efforts have resulted in each
orientation signing up between 95%
and 100% of new employees.
At the Health Research Inc.
(Buffalo) Local, a team of officers
has led tremendous growth, from
being in administratorship with little
member participation to reaching
more than 600 members.
President Debbie Bradley, Vice
President Sarah McEvoy, Treasurer
Michael Habitzruther and Secretary
Danielle Wittek were new to private
sector union leadership, according
to Bradley. Having never served
in these roles before, they each
learned their positions and worked
closely with CSEA staff to establish
comprehensive NEO sessions and
energize employees about union
benefits.
They collaborated with others
across Roswell Park Comprehensive
Care Center (RPCCC) to coordinate
CSEA Western Region 6 was
honored with our union’s Rising
Tide Cup, which honors the CSEA
Region that added the most new
members. CSEA Western Region
President Steve Healy, left, accepts
the award on behalf of the region.
CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan is
on the right.
meetings and sign up both new and
current employees.
“There is a huge purpose here,”
Bradley said. “These benefits belong
to us for a reason. We’re all in the
same boat, so let’s help each other
out and stand together.”
As their chapter grew, they
developed new ways to connect with
workers across the large medical and
research campus.
Routine email blasts and
member meetings are paired with
community outreach initiatives, such
as a donation drive for personal
care items benefiting Buffalo City
Mission. The initiative was done
in collaboration with our union’s
Roswell Park Memorial Institute
Local.
“We’re all in the union and we’re
stronger together,” said Bradley.
— Alexandra Whitbeck
December 2025 7 7
The Work Force