Page 8 - Work Force July-August 2025

GLEN COVE — Many CSEA members
live in the communities where they
work, which makes for a natural
bond with local residents. These
relationships can often benefit the
greater good of our union members
and the community during contract
campaigns.
That is exactly what the City of
Glen Cove Unit did while they were
going through the negotiations
process.
Functioning as a wall-to-wall
unit with various titles from
Emergency Medical Services, to
sanitation, grounds, park workers
and many more, members work near
community members every day. The
relationships that members have
been forged at work and during their
personal time as city residents were
highlighted to show CSEA’s presence
in the community.
“The first thing we did was talk
to residents that we knew personally
and asked them to hang CSEA Fair
Contract Now signs in the windows
of their homes,” said CSEA City
of Glen Cove Unit actvist Ralph
Comitino. “Everyone agreed to it.
Some people also agreed to put a
Contract Now lawn sign in front of
their home and wear CSEA buttons.”
Comitino also gave out CSEA hats
to community members at the city’s
most recent St. Patrick’s Day Parade,
in which our union marched.
Unit members note they have no
ill intent toward the city. During the
contract campaign, they never said
anything negative about the city
administration. The point of their
action was to build public support
for CSEA.
Noticing the many CSEA signs
and pins around the area prompted
city residents with whom our union
members did not have a personal
relationship with to ask if there was
something they should know about.
Members leverage
public support for
contract campaign
8 The Work Force July-August 2025
The question served as the perfect
opportunity for members to discuss
the many jobs and responsibilities of
CSEA workers, how those roles help
keep the community functioning,
and why CSEA members would like
community support. In most cases,
residents were very supportive and
thankful to have more insight about
the inner workings of their area.
“Regular,
everyday,
interactions is
how you build
relationships
and get to know
people in your
community,”
said CSEA City of
Glen Cove Labor
Foreman and
activist Keith Simpson. “You could
be getting lunch, buying coffee, or
going to your child’s soccer game;
every interaction is a chance to build
relationships.”
With all of the CSEA collateral
being displayed around the city,
administration had no choice but
to notice public support for CSEA
members. To their credit, some
members of administration also
supported unit members and asked
for CSEA collateral.
“We’re outspoken in this unit,
but we do it in a smart way,” said
Comitino.
When it finally came time to vote
for or against the proposed contract,
unit members voted in favor of it by a
landslide. The contract negotiations
committee credit their willingness
to keep unit members informed
about negotiations, without giving
specific details, as meetings with city
administration occurred. Sharing
updates helped to instill trust with
members.
“It’s really helped that we have a
unit activist who is available,” said
City of Glen Cove
Unit member Albi
Calderon. “In this
unit, every day we
talk about union
issues.”
City of Glen
Cove Unit members
say staying united
and assembling a
diverse contract
CSEA City of Glen Cove Unit activist Ralph Comitino has been asking both
our union members and city residents to place CSEA signs in their cars,
businesses and their homes to garner support for unit members.
CSEA City of Glen Cove Unit member Jimmy Ayers is one of many unit
members who have been driving around with CSEA signs in their car
through the contract negotiations process.
negotiations committee, representing
diverse job titles is key to
successfully negotiating a contract.
“You can’t have members
making side deals or chatting to
administration on the side,” said
Simpson. “At the end of the day, you
have to stick together and stand
united as one.”
— Wendi Bowie
Simpson
Calderon