Page 4 - Work Force February 2021

4 The Work Force
February 2021
President Mary E. Sullivan in touch with
Long Island Region: WENDI BOWIE (631) 462-0030
Metropolitan Region: DAVID GALARZA (212) 406-2156
Southern Region: JESSICA LADLEE (845) 831-1000
Capital Region: THERESE ASSALIAN (518) 782-4400
Central Region: NICHOLAS NEWCOMB (315) 728-3375
Western Region: OVE OVERMYER (716) 691-6555
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
Karen Bright
Tim Finnigan Michele Kiuber
Marnie Rounds Marie Snyder Chris 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
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CSEA online: cseany.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube:
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The
WorkForce
The hill we climb to heal and unite
SListers and Brothers:
moved by the words of 22-year-old youth poet laureate Amanda Gorman, when she delivered her poem “The
Hill We Climb” during the presidential inauguration. Her poem was hopeful and a message to us all. Here is a passage that meant a lot to me:
everything they can to divide and conquer. We must do everything we can to unite and overcome.
ike many others, I was inspired and
It’s not easy when we represent such a diverse group of workers, with differing socio-economic backgrounds, cultures, racial and ethnic identities, religious and political beliefs, and geographic locations, just to name a few. We have to work harder to find the things that we have in common, that we can all unite around.
“We are striving to forge a union with purpose
To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and conditions of man
This past year saw something of a tipping point when people of all colors rose up and joined together, around our country and the world, protesting against structural racism and standing up for the inherent value of human life, no matter your skin color. This gives me hope for our future, that we can unite. People are examining issues like structural racism and having difficult conversations to try and create a more equitable and just society. Many of us are committed to making positive changes that will do so, healing the wounds of generations. I hope you will join me in this work. In the further beautiful words of Amanda Gorman,
And so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us
but what stands before us
We close the divide because we know, to put our future first,
we must first put our differences aside”
This amazing young woman’s words recognize the deep divide that separates many of us and challenges us all to overcome it. This is so important to me as president of our union, because we cannot succeed in our mission to advocate for the majority of workers if we are wasting any of our time fighting each other.
“We will not be turned around
or interrupted by intimidation
because we know our inaction and inertia will be the inheritance of the next generation”
In solidarity,
Mary E. Sullivan, President
Our union empowers us to come together to advocate and fight against those powerful interests who seek to do
us harm and oppress us. By uniting, we use our people power to combat their power, money and influence, to tip the scales in favor of working women and men. Those who oppose unions, who want to take more out of your pockets will do