Page 4 - Work Force February 2020

Long Island Region: WENDI BOWIE (631) 462-0030
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Headquarters: JILL ASENCIO (518) 257-1276
WorkForce ISSN 1522-1091
Official publication of
CSEA Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO 143 Washington Ave. Albany, NY 12210-2303
Mary E. Sullivan, President
MARK M. KOTZIN
Director of Communications and Publisher
MATHEW L. CANTORE Deputy Director of Communications
JANICE GAVIN Editor
JASON D. HOSIER Graphic Production Specialist
BETH MCINTYRE Graphic Production Specialist
JOELLE LUCENTE Communications Assistant
CommuniCations speCialists
Monica Berkowitz Karen Bright Tim Finnigan
Marie Snyder Rick Stahl Christopher Vogel
The Publications Committee:
The Work Force (USPS 0445-010)
is published monthly by
The CSEA Publication Office:
143 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12210. Periodical Mail Postage paid at
Post Office,
Albany, New York 12288,
and additional mailing offices.
Postmaster: Send address changes to: CSEA, Attn: Membership Department, 143 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12210
Readers: Send any comments, complaints, suggestions or ideas to: Publisher, The Work Force
143 Washington Avenue
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CSEA online: cseany.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube:
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President Mary E. Sullivan in touch with
The WorkForce
Struggles continue in fight fSor human, labor rights
isters and Brothers: has meant that all too often those needing
In the last edition of our paper, we published an article celebrating
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his historic fight for civil rights. We pointed out
how those fighting for labor rights and for civil rights were and still are bound together through a history of struggle and support for each other. Members of unions marched together with Dr. King and his fellow civil rights leaders in their struggles for racial justice, just as Dr. King marched alongside union members in our struggles for economic and social justice. You cannot unlink the two.
that lifting up are people of color and other groups, like women, who have been the targets of systemic discrimination.
What I think is so important to understand is that when we observe Black History Month, we recognize
those shared struggles of so many of us for a belief we still hold and continue to fight for — the concept of equality for everyone, regardless of your skin color, your economic or social status, your nationality, your gender, or who you love. What our movement has always believed is that labor rights are human rights, and we all deserve to be treated equally, in the workplace, by our governments, and in our homes and communities.
We’ve all heard the old saying that ‘those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.’ That’s why it’s important to celebrate Black History this month, and to remind ourselves of the important struggles people have fought and are still fighting today to bring racial, economic, and social justice to those
who have struggled simply because
of the color of their skin. It’s why we
are so proud to sponsor and belong to our “Constituency Groups” — groups whose missions align with ours, like
the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU), of which I am proud to be a longtime member.
When it comes to economic justice, our fights for civil and labor rights are even more important, as our goal has always been to lift up all workers out of poverty. Unfortunately, our country’s past history
In solidarity,
Mary E. Sullivan, President
When we support each other, we come out stronger. That’s why I am proud
to recognize the struggles of our Black members, and recognizing that history,
I am equally proud to stand and fight alongside them to make things better for our shared future.
4 The Work Force
February 2020