Page 12 - Work Force March 2016

Venditto fights for working people
OYSTER BAY — At a critical time for working people, CSEA needs all the allies we can get in the state Legislature. First-term state Sen. Michael Venditto is an example of a lawmaker who is responsive to CSEA’s concerns.
Town of Oyster Bay Local President
Jarvis “Tim” Brown said that he trusts that Venditto has the best interests
of CSEA members at heart.
“Senator Venditto
works hard
to provide a better quality of life
for all citizens of the state of New York,” said Brown. “The senator has supported various labor initiatives and has always protected the rights of public employees.”
Politics is in State Sen. Michael Venditto’s blood.
As the son of 10-term Town
of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto, he grew up watching democracy in action.
As an adult, Michael Venditto is continuing his family tradition of helping people in his community by serving in the state Senate, representing the 8th District, which
includes portions of
the towns
of Babylon, Oyster Bay and Hempstead.
“I enjoyed a great quality of life growing up on Long Island,” said Venditto.
“I feel obligated to give back
so that future
generations can have the same (great life.)”
No stranger to hard work, Venditto knows what it’s like to be a part of the labor force.
“I used to work as a seasonal employee in the local parks,” said Venditto. “I was out there pulling weeds, along with other laborers.
Sen. Michael Venditto and CSEA activist Guadalupe Johnson share anecdotes about working in the labor force.
“Senator Venditto works hard to provide a better quality of life for all citizens of the State of New York. The Senator has supported various labor initiatives and has always protected the rights of public employees.”
I’ve worked with them. I’ve been in their shoes. So, I understand their perspective,”
In his time working at the parks, Venditto had the chance to see what union representatives do and how they advocate for their members. Seeing this made him realize that
he wanted to be a part of improving their quality of life.
“I made a promise to myself that I would help them as much as possible,” said Venditto. “I need to fulfill that promise.”
He is showing his support of
CSEA members and other public employees by continuing to let them do what they do well — making his district’s communities livable for residents.
“I plan on putting people to work in parks that need to be renovated,” Venditto said. “We also still have storm recovery work happening from (Hurricane) Sandy. There’s a lot of infrastructure that needs to be worked on and we need skilled laborers to do it.”
— Wendi Bowie
‘It’s how we make the union stronger’
CSEA’s Joe McMullen retires
CSEA’s outgoing Statewide Treasurer Joe McMullen has
always thought of himself as a rank- and-file member,
a perspective he brought to his tenure as a statewide officer.
McMullen had
announced last
fall that he would
be concluding his
current term with
retirement, which will take effect March 1, so that he can spend
more time with his wife, children, and especially his grandchildren.
“There are many things about CSEA that I’m going to miss, but most of all,
I’d have to say I’ll miss helping people, especially new activists. People
say, ‘Don’t you get tired
of always going over the same material in treasurer trainings?’ and I say, ‘No way!’ Every opportunity we have to reach out and help
is a great reward. It’s how we make the union stronger,” McMullen said.
“Joe has led by example throughout his CSEA involvement, and I am personally very grateful
to him for his dedication and service,” said CSEA President Danny Donohue.
Before serving as CSEA’s Statewide Treasurer, McMullen
had been employed at the State University of New York at Oneonta for 30 years. A trained electrician, McMullen has been a musician since he was 13, including writing and performing “We Are the Union” at CSEA’s 1997 Annual Delegates Meeting.
McMullen became a CSEA activist
more than 25 years ago. “I wanted to make the local more active and help represent local members on their jobs,” he said.
“CSEA has a lot of challenges ahead, but we are better prepared than ever and I’m proud to have been a part of the hard work to make us stronger. People need
to know that there’s nothing that we can’t accomplish when we work together,” McMullen said. “It has been a pleasure to serve as Statewide Treasurer. Thank you to the members, staff and officers for your support, and believing and trusting in me.”
McMullen
12
The Work Force
March 2016