Page 19 - Work Force June 2016

TODAY
News briefs from around the state
Fruit Belt parking agreement a start
BUFFALO — CSEA helped broker an agreement with community partners on a residential parking permit system in the Fruit Belt neighborhood. CSEA believes the recent talks between union officials, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, state Sen. Timothy M. Kennedy, state Assemblywoman Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes, Buffalo Common Council President Darius G. Pridgen and the Fruit Belt neighborhood representatives is a decent act of compromise and a good start to finding a long-term solution. Inadequate parking on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus forced workers there, including CSEA members, to park on residential streets, adding to parking congestion in the neighborhood. Visit cseany.org/r6 to learn more.
Helping neighbors in the North Country
KEESEVILLE — Clinton County’s Strong Communities Work Committee members rolled up their sleeves recently to paint some project houses for the Champlain Valley Habitat for Humanity. Among those helping with these efforts were Clinton County Local activist Karen Plotas McGrath, Clinton County Local President Joseph Musso, Clinton County Local Secretary Jennifer Ocasio, Clinton County Local member Debi Guynup, Clinton County Local member Kerilyn Guynup, Barbara Marking, Champlain Valley Habitat For Humanity Board member Janet McFetridge and Clinton County’s Strong Communities Work Committee Chair Bill McNierny.
Photo provided by Bill McNierny.
Fighting for fair workplace treatment
C
member who was improperly fired last fall. CSEA Regional Attorney William Burke argued in a lawsuit filed in state Supreme Court that the member was fired without the disciplinary hearing allowed in the state contract. The judge hearing the
case concurred and ordered the member reinstated.
Unique solidarity spin
The fight for a fair contract is nothing new for Yonkers School District Unit members in Westchester County, but unit leaders found a unique spin for a recent event aimed at building union solidarity. For the second year, they planned a Mother’s Day gathering. This year’s theme? Mothers Without Contracts. Not only
does the event promote internal union building, leaders said, word of the event
is a reminder for public officials that CSEA remains strong despite the protracted negotiations.
SEA’s advocacy has resulted in justice
for a State Police Troop K Local
Farmworkers, supporters march for justice
MANHATTAN — More than 200 farmworkers, activists and allies recently took part in a rally at New York City Hall to fight for justice for farmworkers across the state.
The rally was part of the
Rural and Migrant Ministry’s
18-day, 200-mile March for
Farmworker Justice, which
began May 15 in Smithtown and was slated to end at the state Capitol in Albany on June 1. The march aims to raise awareness of the farmworkers’ struggles and urge state lawmakers to enact the state Farmworker Fair Labor Practices Act (A4762/S1291).
More than 60,000 New York farmworkers are vital to the state’s agricultural industry and economy, yet they are excluded from the workplace rights and protections that cover most working people in the state, including a day of rest, overtime and collective bargaining rights. CSEA is a longtime supporter of the farmworkers’ fight for justice.
Above, farmworkers, politicians, religious and labor leaders and supporters march over the Brooklyn Bridge as part of the 200-mile March for Farmworker Justice.
Solidarity with Verizon
workers
LONG BEACH — Long Island Region members stood up to corporate greed by joining striking Verizon workers on the picket line in front of
the Verizon building here.
Showing solidarity with striking
Communications Workers of
America-represented Verizon workers included CSEA Long Island Region President Nick LaMorte, City of Long Beach Unit President John Mooney, Long Beach City Councilman Anthony Eramo and more than 100 CSEA members.
June 2016
The Work Force 19