Page 14 - Work Force February 2025

Aleta Palmer ‘stands up, speaks up and takes charge’
BUFFALO — Metz Culinary Management Local President Aleta Palmer has been recognized for
her hard work and dedication to advocating for members and using her voice to improve workers’ lives.
Palmer, a 42-year employee and leader in our union since
the early 1990s, was recently awarded
the Danny Donohue Leadership Award
– Private Sector in recognition of her hard work and longevity.
“If you only knew
how excited I was to
finally get recognized
for my time, all
my hard work and
determination I have
put in to being a union president,” said Palmer, who along with her co-workers, provides food service at Erie County Medical Center and Terrace View Long Term Care Facility.
In the 1990s, Palmer served as the
local’s vice president. In that office, Palmer worked hard to advocate for members and educate them on their rights.
After the local president stepped down, Palmer was elected local
president by members who wanted Palmer to be their voice.
“I was immediately voted to become president, so I have been doing this for quite a long time,” said Palmer.
Palmer’s longevity
in her position has helped her co-workers stay union strong, even while facing challenges.
“I have stayed to help them and be a
voice,” said Palmer. “For many years, the different companies we have
had have tried to go against union contracts, and I was and still am a voice for them. Without my voice, the companies would have won, but I stood up, spoke up and took charge.”
Metz Culinary Management Local President Aleta Palmer is shown on the job.
14 The Work Force
February 2025
“I have always
had backing and support, which is another reason I have stayed as long as I have. Without their support, I would not have been able to be a strong voice with the knowledge I needed.”
Palmer attributes a great amount of her success to the support she has from her union representatives and leaders.
“I have always had backing and support, which is another reason I have stayed as long as I have,” said Palmer. “Without their support, I would not have been able to be a strong voice with the knowledge I
needed.”
Palmer has spent her time as
a union leader advocating for employees and members, making sure they are not taken advantage of, misinformed or misrepresented.
“I will continue to advocate and be a voice for them,” said Palmer.
— Sydney Thomas
Supervisor’s resignation gives CSEA members hope
HAMBURG — Years after special laborers in the town of Hamburg were stripped of their titles,
the town supervisor behind
the decision recently resigned, giving our union leaders and representatives the hope of reinstating special laborers’ titles.
Throughout the past couple years, Hamburg Town Supervisor Randy Hoak stood by his decision to demote town employees’ special laborers’ titles.
Hoak’s choice to rid workers of this title caused great distress to the workers and their families.
“Two of them have young children and
all of them
have families,” said Town of Hamburg Unit President Reanna Krautsack. “The pay cut that they got, they couldn’t afford.”
Krautsack
to have these titles reinstated, but experienced continued delay and avoidance of a decision or action on Hoak’s part.
The prolonged battle has weakened morale among unit members and other Building and Grounds Department workers, which led to tension and lack of trust between employees and supervisors.
“Hoak has been a driving force
in the breakdown of morale,” said Krautsack. “He has caused chaos and disarray in the shop through his anti-union decisions.”
After Hoak announced his resignation in December 2024, CSEA members are hopeful for a near future decision for the reinstatement of the special laborers’ titles.
Krautsack said she hopes our union will be able to come to the table with the new town board member and reestablish the special laborers’ titles.
“I believe the new board member will be an ally to the union, unlike Hoak ever was,” said Krautsack.
— Sydney Thomas
From the day of the title demotion, union leaders and representatives took to the forefront and worked vigorously