Page 2 - Work Force March 2016

Photo of the Month
CSEA President Danny Donohue will continue to lead New York’s leading union
Photo by Wendi Bowie
Keynote speaker Jose La Luz, standing in center, brings CSEA members to their feet during a “Never Quit” meeting in CSEA’s Long Island Region. (See page 5 for more about the CSEA Never Quit campaign.)
Bad faith bargaining in Onondaga County
SYRACUSE — Activity was fast and furious in Onondaga County as The Work Force went to press. Following rank and file rejection of a contract agreement, county lawmakers imposed a three-year agreement in violation of state labor law. (Under the law, contract impositions covering wages only for a one-year period can be made unless the union agrees, which in this case CSEA had not). CSEA has charged the county with bad faith bargaining.
“Typical of how the county has conducted themselves during our negotiations, they never discussed a three-year imposition with us,” said Onondaga County Local President Kathy Zabinski.
“They could have come to us with a three-year, wage-only offer, and
we could have brought that back
to our members for their vote, but they never did. Instead, they tried to do an end-run around the process and around our union with this imposition, leaving us no choice but to file this charge,” Zabinski said.
The county contacted CSEA
after the charge was filed to seek
a settlement. The Local leadership was considering its options at press time. Updates are available on the Onondaga County Local’s Facebook page.
— Mark M. Kotzin
ALBANY — CSEA members have re-elected President Danny Donohue and his leadership slate
to an unprecedented seventh term of office, which begins March 1.
“These are
challenging times
as CSEA members
and other working
people continue to
be squeezed and
undercut by the
manipulation of our
economy by the
greedy few,” Donohue said. “My priority is a stronger union that can better stand up and push back.”
“CSEA members appreciate being part of a statewide organization and a Labor Movement that’s bigger than themselves. But, need to feel the connection
more strongly
as individuals
where they
work and live —
and make their
voice heard,”
Donohue said.
Also returning to office for four- year terms are CSEA Executive Vice President Mary E. Sullivan and Statewide Secretary Denise Berkley.
Sullivan has served as CSEA’s Executive Vice President since 1994 and previously was the union’s statewide Treasurer. Originally from Herkimer County, she also serves as the president of the Capital District Area Labor Federation, which represents 120,000 union members and their families across 11 counties.
Berkley was first elected CSEA
Statewide Secretary in 2008. Berkley’s union activism began at the Brooklyn Developmental Center. As a longtime union activist, Berkley remains committed today to the ongoing struggle for social,
racial and economic justice for workers and communities.
William “Billy” Walsh was elected CSEA Statewide Treasurer
as part of the Donohue slate, replacing Joseph
McMullen, who is retiring (see story, page 12). Walsh is a member of the CSEA Town of Brookhaven Blue Collar Unit and serves as the union’s Suffolk County Local President and statewide Political Action Committee Chair.
In CSEA’s region elections, Long Island Region President Nick LaMorte, Metropolitan Region President Lester Crockett and Southern Region President Billy Riccaldo were all returned to office. Western Region President Flo Tripi and Central Region President Colleen Wheaton ran
unopposed. In the Capital Region, Ron Briggs, a CSEA leader from Fulton County, was elected to succeed Kathy Garrison, who ran against Donohue.
The election was conducted by mail ballot and overseen by the American Arbitration Association.
See pages 14-15 for complete election results.
Donohue
“CSEA members appreciate being part of a statewide organization and a Labor Movement that’s bigger than themselves. But, need to feel the connection more strongly as individuals where they work and live — and make their voice heard.”
Official publication of
CSEA Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO 143 Washington Ave. Albany, NY 12210-2303 Danny Donohue, President
The Work Force (USPS 0445-010)
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2 The Work Force
March 2016