Page 2 - Work Force July-August 2019

Photo of the Month
Farmworkers win labor rights
CSEA Town of Brookhaven White-Collar Unit member Karen Curtiss,
an audiovisual production specialist at the town, films CSEA Town of Brookhaven HIghway Unit members on the job for a recent town public service announcement. The PSA stresses the importance of obeying the New York State Move Over Law, which requires drivers approaching stationary emergency vehicles displaying flashing lights, including tow trucks and maintenance vehicles, to vacate the lane closest (if safe and possible to do so) and slow to a speed that is safe, reasonable and prudent. Town of Brookhaven Laborer and CSEA activist Chris Flaherty discusses
in the ad the dangers of working on or near roadways. The PSA is airing on local television stations on Long Island. View the ad on the CSEA Long Island Region Facebook page at facebook.com/csealongisland/videos. Photo by Wendi Bowie.
ALBANY — Workers’ rights and protections that CSEA members and most other working New Yorkers enjoy will be extended to the thousands of people who put food on our tables.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently signed legislation (A.8419/S.6578) that takes effect in 2020 and gives farmworkers in New York State labor rights, including the right to unionize, collect overtime pay and have at least one day off per week. The legislation also allows farmworkers to have access to unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation benefits.
Farmworkers in New York State have long been exempt from many of the basic labor rights
and protections afforded to most working people in our state, including the U.S. National Labor Relations Act and U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act.
CSEA is a longtime advocate of farmworkers’ rights and strongly supported the legislation. We have stood with the farmworkers who have been fighting for this justice for years, including at rallies across New York.
“This new law provides overdue justice to the people who work hard to provide our food,” CSEA President Danny Donohue said. “Farmworkers deserve dignity and fairness just as all workers do. This legislation will go a long way in improving the lives of thousands of farmworkers.”
ALERT
CSEA President Danny Donohue to meet with Long Island, Southern and Central Region members
CSEA President Danny Donohue will visit the Long Island, Southern and Central Regions to meet with members.
Long Island Region: Donohue will visit the CSEA Long Island Region on Wednesday, July 31. The meetings will be held from
1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Long Island Region Office, 3 Garet Place, Commack. Please call the region office at (631) 462-0030 for an appointment and directions.
Southern Region: Donohue will visit the CSEA Southern Region
on Wednesday, Aug. 14. The meetings will be held from 1 p.m.
to 7 p.m. at the CSEA Southern Region Office, 568 State Route
52, Beacon. Please call the region office at (845) 831-1000 for an appointment and directions.
Central Region: Donohue will visit the CSEA Central Region on Tuesday, Sept. 3. The meetings will be held from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the CSEA Central Region Office, 6595 Kirkville Rd., East Syracuse. Please call the region office at (315) 433-0050 for an appointment and directions.
United Farm Workers co-founder Delores Huerta urges state lawmakers to pass farmworker rights legislation at this 2013 rally attended by farmworkers, supporters and labor organizations, including CSEA.
Union mourns loss of activist Kevin Piazza
2 The Work Force
July-August 2019
ALBANY — CSEA is mourning the loss of Capital Region activist Kevin Piazza, 50, who died suddenly on June 11.
Piazza began
work at the state
Office of General
Services in 2002
and quickly became active in our
union, eventually becoming a shop steward, grievance representative and most recently as executive vice president of our state Office
of General Services Local. He had worked tirelessly for our members.
Off the job, Piazza enjoyed coaching baseball and was an avid fan of the Buffalo Bills and Arizona Diamondbacks. He is survived by his mother, several siblings, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Piazza