Page 4 - Work Force January 2025

President Mary E. Sullivan in touch with
Wor k Force
Dr. King’s
message more
relevant than ever
BRYAN MILLER
Wor k Force ISSN 1522-1091
Official publication of
CSEA Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO 143 Washington Ave. Albany, NY 12210-2303
Mary E. Sullivan, President
Director of Communications and Publisher
MATHEW L. CANTORE
Deputy Director of Communications
JANICE GAVIN
Editor
JASON D. HOSIER
Graphic Production Specialist
KATE POHLMANN
Graphic Production Specialist
BOBBY COMPANI
Digital Content Coordinator
JOELLE LUCENTE
Communications Assistant
Communications Specialists:
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:
SYDNEY THOMAS
(716) 691-6555
Headquarters:
JILL ASENCIO
(518) 257-1276
The Publications Committee:
Chris Vogel, Chair Karen Bright
Tim Finnigan
Kathleen Rider Marnie Rounds John Wagner
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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cseany.org
4 The Work Force
January 2025
The
ACSEA Family,
s we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day this month, I am reminded how he often connected civil rights with labor rights. Dr. King understood that without one, the other could never be realized. The power that can be achieved by joining together collective voices for a shared purpose is more relevant than ever.
I have heard from members about the sad attempts by the Freedom Foundation to contact CSEA members during the holiday season with lies and propaganda. These anti-labor groups wish to divide us in order to weaken our voice. We must remember Dr. King’s message that the power we can achieve as workers comes when we join together.
We know these corporate backed groups will not stop their attempts to take away our rights and protections that we have worked so hard to achieve. CSEA will continue to combat their lies with the truth about the value of union membership.
No matter what your background, job or beliefs may be, the value of our union membership looks very much the same. We all want a good job that allows us to sustain a dignified living; affordable health care; safe working conditions; a voice on
the job and a secure retirement. Our union membership is the best way to ensure that have these things we hold dear.
Our union has fought to advance workers’ rights for 115 years, sometimes in very difficult circumstances. While much has changed since 1910, one thing has stayed the same: when we stand together, we win.
I know that members have a wide range of beliefs and may disagree with one another, but it is vital to remember what ties us together. To move forward, we have to focus on our shared goals as opposed to what makes us different.
Let us use our differences not as a roadblock but as a strength. While we may never agree with one another, we can and should listen, and learn from, each other. I believe that is what Dr. King would do, and I believe it will be what keeps our union truly strong.
In Solidarity,
Mary E. Sullivan, President