Page 9 - Work Force December 2025

“PEOPLE is about our
future — our families,
our children, our
pay and our rights.
PEOPLE helps us
fight for better laws
and better working
conditions. It’s how
we protect everything
we’ve won.”
skeptical at first, but he meets them
where they are.
“A lot of people ask, ‘What does
PEOPLE do for me?’” said Flores. “I
tell them it’s about our future—our
families, our children, our pay and
our rights. PEOPLE helps us fight
for better laws and better working
conditions. It’s how we protect
everything we’ve won.”
Flores recalls convincing a
hesitant co-worker by sharing the
program’s history and real impact.
“When people understand
that PEOPLE helps make college
affordable and supports fair wages,
their mentality changes,” he said.
“They start to see how we’re
stronger together.”
For Flores, this recognition is both
humbling and motivating.
“I’m very proud,” he said. “Thank
you to the Lord, to President Brown
and to everyone who supports this
work. I’ll keep doing better and
better.”
SUNY Downstate Local 1st Vice
President Dagoberto Flores
participates in a rally.
Flores hopes to expand PEOPLE
participation by reaching members
in multiple languages and uniting the
diverse SUNY Downstate community.
With leaders like Flores, that unity
is growing every day at SUNY
Downstate and across CSEA.
“We have many cultures and many
races,” he said. “But when we come
together, we are stronger. When we
unite, we win.”
— David Galarza
Dagoberto Flores named PEOPLE
Recruiter of the Month
BROOKLYN — After 17 years of
service at SUNY Downstate Health
Sciences University, Dagoberto
Flores has earned well-deserved
recognition as PEOPLE Recruiter
of the Month for
October, recruiting
14 new PEOPLE
members.
A dedicated
housekeeping
worker and vice
president of CSEA’s
SUNY Downstate
Local, Flores’
energy, faith and
passion for his
co-workers have
made him a trusted
and inspiring union
leader.
For Flores, this honor didn’t
come easily — it came through
persistence, learning and teamwork.
He credits his local president,
Jonathan Brown, for guiding him
along the way.
“He gave me a lot of advice to be
better at speaking and getting people
involved,” said Flores. “It’s about
learning how to talk to people, to
help them understand
what PEOPLE is all
about.”
PEOPLE — Public
Employees Organized
to Promote Legislative
Equality — is CSEA
and AFSCME’s
political action
program. The PEOPLE
program protects and
improves our jobs,
benefits and pensions
in Washington,
Albany and in your
community. Your support and
participation in PEOPLE strengthens
CSEA’s clout in the workplace, in the
legislature, in your community and
in the labor movement.
Flores knows many members are
Sandra Suy earns
PEOPLE Recruiter of the
Month recognition
BUFFALO – Sandra Suy, section
executive vice president of Erie
County Social
Services in CSEA’s
Western Region,
has been named
one of two PEOPLE
Recruiters of the
Month for October,
recruiting 14 new
PEOPLE members.
“We all deserve
good benefits,
good pay and a
well-deserved
retirement,” said
Suy, also a CSEA
Statewide PEOPLE Committee
member. “For me, knowing that we
have more people working together
to help our common goal makes me
feel accomplished.”
CSEA’s PEOPLE
program protects and
improves our jobs,
benefits and pensions
in Washington,
Albany and in
your community.
Your support and
participation in
PEOPLE strengthens
CSEA’s clout in the
workplace, in the
legislature, in your
community and in the
labor movement.
— Sara McNicholas
Sandra Suy works a PEOPLE table to help recruit new members.
December 2025 9 9
The Work Force
“We all deserve good
benefits, good pay
and a well-deserved
retirement. For me,
knowing that we
have more people
working together to
help our common
goal makes me feel
accomplished.”