Page 3 - Work Force June 2016

Capital Region members ‘Never Quit’
The Capital Region’s Never Quit blitz was the most successful blitz to date with 40 teams heading out over five days
to distribute literature, make evening home visits and
hold worksite conversations.
All told, 6,500
homes were
reached with
literature, with 1,400 home visits, 520 conversations and 2,240 members signing Never Quit cards.
“This is our fight!” said CSEA President Danny Donohue. “We
“Without the union, we have nothing. Really. I didn’t realize how important the union was until I started work in the Tax Department. I always worked in the private sector and didn’t realize the benefits that”
are all stronger when we stand together and speak with one
voice.”
CSEA’s Never Quit campaign continues
to gather momentum as more members pledge to Never Quit the union. After blitzes
on Long Island,
New York City, Westchester County and Onondaga
County, teams of organizers came to the Capital Region. Here’s what members there had to say:
CSEA Statewide PEOPLE Coordinator Denise Felt, left, speaks with
CSEA member Cassandra Cade, an office assistant at the state Workers Compensation Board, during a work site visit about the power of belonging to a union. “It feels good to be part of CSEA, knowing that there are people out there fighting for me and for my rights,” said Cade.
came with belonging to a union.
— Justine Carey, shop steward, CSEA state Department of Taxation and Finance Local
“With the Never Quit Campaign, we’ve reached out to a lot of people to let them know
what’s really going on in the country, and what’s going on
with the union, and it kind of opened some eyes for people. I th”ink it’s a great campaign.
— Del Stephens, shop steward, CSEA state Department of Taxation and Finance Local
I can’t believe how many people want to know what’s going on, and how many people really like the ” union and want to stay involved.
— Felicia McGill, shop steward, CSEA state Department of Taxation and Finance Local
“It was OVERWHELMINGLY positive. We have a lot of young people who work in this department because of the nature of our
job at tax, and we hire a lot of temporary people. They are here for years, some
of them, and they’re young. And I was amazed by the amount of young people who were interested in the union, because sometimes you lose touch a
little bit and you think yo”
don’t care – THEY CARE.
— Kim Wallace-Russo, CSEA state Department of Taxation and Finance Local president
“
ung people
Photos and quotes provided by Therese Assalian and Emily Cote.
June 2016
The Work Force 3