Page 14 - Work Force March 2023

Activist touts value of CSEA membership
ALBANY— Thomas Bushnell takes every chance he gets to discuss the value of our union with new hires.
Bushnell, a mail operations supervisor at the New York State Archives and 1st Vice President
of our union’s State Education Department Local, decided in 2013 to finish his bachelor’s degree.
Bushnell took advantage of the NYS-CSEA Partnership for Education and Training’s voucher program that provides tuition reimbursement up to two, four credit-hour classes per year.
Over seven years, Bushnell took 14 courses. In 2021, Bushnell earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Economics from Empire State College.
Bushnell continues to take advantage of training and certificate courses through the Partnership to enhance personal and professional
skills.
The programs are available to
CSEA-represented New York state workers via their union contract and are offered at no cost to the workers.
Member-only benefits add value
Bushnell can also speak as to the value of CSEA member-only benefits.
He recently took advantage of a member-only benefit through Pearl Insurance to get a discount on a bundled home/auto policy after his previous insurer of 30 years gave him a hassle when adding a new vehicle to his existing policy.
Pearl Insurance, which has partnered with CSEA for more than 80 years, was able to find Bushnell a new insurer, offering a more robust policy with expanded liability coverage at a lower premium.
His premium payments are easily deducted from his paycheck over the
From left to right, State Education Department Local 1st Vice President Thomas Bushnell shares information about CSEA member-only benefits with new CSEA member Conner Lasch while on a break at the New York State Archives.
course of the year.
“I encourage new hires to join
the union,” said Bushnell. “There’s strength in numbers. I let them know about all the benefits of being in CSEA as far as contractual rights,
representation at disciplines and having a say in our contract. I also encourage people to take advantage of the range of benefits available to save money.”
— Therese Assalian
‘Rural health champion’ Bourgeois honored for service
OSWEGO — After putting Oswego County patients first for 33 years with her care and quick wit, Oswego County Unit member Tina Bourgeois,
a senior licensed
practical
nurse at the
county’s Health
Department,
was recognized
as the county’s 2022 Rural Health Champion of the Year.
“We are thrilled that Tina is the recipient of this award, as she is a true rural health champion,” said Oswego County Interim Public Health Director Vera Dunsmoor. “Tina has a profound impact on Oswego County. She is dedicated to improving the health and lives
of residents and has a passion for public health that is unmatched.”
Bourgeois, who plans to retire this month, has spent her career investigating communicable diseases, administering vaccines and assisting with health clinics.
“I was surprised and humbled
at receiving this award,” Bourgeois said. “It’s a team effort here. It made my heart feel good.”
Co-workers who nominated
her for the award said Bourgeois provides a ‘breath of fresh air’ to the department with her high-energy delivery of care.
Known for her ability to deliver vaccines at a “lightning speed,” Bourgeois is often specifically requested by patients for appointments.
Because of her ability to connect with nervous patients and project an aura of calm, Bourgeois is known to deliver vaccines before patients
even realize what happened. “Tina has been the nurse at the
other end of the needle for many times I’ve needed a vaccine; she is so smooth you
almost don’t feel
the shot at all,” said CSEA Oswego County Office Personnel
Unit President Valerie Williams. “She is planning her retirement, and we will sure miss her ready smile and her friendly attitude as she carries out her work tasks.”
Williams added
that Bourgeois’ calm
approach was especially important during the pandemic.
“It never seems like work with her, even when going person to person in the large COVID clinics.
She made ‘quick and friendly’
work at a time when we were all so nervous about the virus and using a vaccine, not to mention being in a
room with more people than we had likely been with in a long time,” said Williams. “She was calm and reassuring. We all wish her well in her future endeavors and she will be missed at the Oswego County Health Department and CSEA members.”
“I’m so grateful to have been coming into this place every single day for the last 33.5 years,” said Bourgeois. “That’s going
to be a change not doing that. I love coming in here, it’s a great place to work and I love serving the people of Oswego County.”
— Nicholas Newcomb
Bourgeois
(photo provided by Oswego County)
“Tina has a profound impact on Oswego County. She is dedicated to improving the health and lives of residents and has a passion for public health that is unmatched.”
14 The Work Force
March 2023