Page 2 - Work Force June 2025

Photo of the Month
Primary elections:
When we show up, we win
GET OUT THE VOTE
cseany.org/vote
The New York State Department of Transportation and state Thruway Authority hosted the Fallen Workers Memorial at the New York State Fairgrounds on April 29 to honor the workers who have lost their lives
or were injured while on the job. CSEA members from both agencies and our union’s Central Region attended. We must all do our part to protect the people who maintain and improve the roads we travel every day. Slow down. Stay alert. Move over. Their lives depend on it. For more, see pages 14-15. (Photo by Nicholas Newcomb.)
New York’s local government primary elections will be held on June 24.
These primary elections decide which candidates appear on the November ballot. In this year’s local government elections, many mayors, town officials, and county legislators will be on the ballot. These elected leaders make decisions that affect more than 100,000 CSEA members’ jobs, but voter turnout is often low.
Every vote counts and even one vote can make a difference. Here are a
few examples.
Union power
at the polls
In Monroe County,
member turnout made a big difference. After Democrats won the County Legislature in 2019, four members broke away and joined the Republicans, blocking the county executive’s worker friendly priorities.
In 2021, Democrats challenged three of those breakaways and won all three races. Look at the turnout
of CSEA members in these races.
• Legislative District 22
– Mercedes Vasquez-Simmons: 14% of voters were CSEA.
• Legislative District 28 – Ricky Frazier: 18.3% were CSEA.
• Legislative District 29 – William Burgess: 19% were CSEA.
The fourth breakaway wasn’t challenged until 2023, when CSEA endorsed Rose Bonnick in Legislative District 27. With 25% of voters in that primary race being CSEA members or retirees, Bonnick won the race,
leading to a Democratic majority in the county which helped advance a labor friendly agenda led by Monroe County Executive Adam Bello. Our union made the difference.
Successful outreach
In 2023, CSEA endorsed Kingston Mayor Steve Noble, who faced a tough primary opponent. Of the city’s 7,707 registered Democrats, just 1,083 turned out to vote. However, 15% of of them were CSEA
members, even though our union members only made up just 2.2% of registered Democrats. Noble won, thanks in large part to member turnout driven by CSEA outreach. Our union’s activists volunteered to knock on doors, make
phone calls and held worksite meetings
to keep members informed of this important primary race. Their work won the day.
Why it matters
These are just
a couple of great examples of CSEA voters being more informed and active than the general
public. Our union members’ ability to show up and vote has a dramatic impact on elections and flexes our union power.
CSEA rarely endorses in primaries, but when our union does so, it’s strategic. While we may not endorse in every race, we urge ALL members to stay informed and engaged to their local elections. Our union’s power is an informed, active membership.
For a full list of 2025 endorsed candidates, visit cseany.org/vote.
STAY CONNECTED with CSEA for a chance to win a gift card!
To better provide services to our union members, CSEA needs to ensure we have your most updated contact information.
CSEA is encouraging members to keep their information updated by holding a contest throughout this year. Any member who updates or verifies their contact information through the MyCSEA App, our
website at cseany.org or by filling out a contact card will be entered into the contest for a chance to win a gift card.
At the end of each month, CSEA will draw at random 12 members, who will receive a $25 gift card.
Stay Informed. Stay Connected. Keep Your Information Updated!
3 ways to update or verify your contact information:
Contact Information Update
Fill out and return to your CSEA representative OR
(turn card over)
Zip
Name (print):
Address (print): Street
Personal Email:
Home Phone:
*CSEA ID #:
Last
First City
Cell Phone: Local/Unit #:
scan to update your info on cseany.org
MyCSEA App
* To look up your CSEA ID number, go to cseany.org and click on Get My Member ID icon at the top right of the page,
or download the MYCSEA app.
fill out a contact card
For more information about the MyCSEA App, visit cseany.org/mycseaapp.
2 The Work Force
June 2025