Page 12 - Work Force May 2023

‘Part of a family:’
Adam Acquario retires
from CSEA
ALBANY — Adam Acquario recently retired as CSEA’s Director of Member Engagement after a long career at our union.
“I want to congratulate Adam
on his recent retirement from our union,” said CSEA President Mary
E. Sullivan. “Adam has served CSEA in various and important roles for over 30 years. He is one of those rare people who gives his all 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. There is not a job that he didn’t take on and do well, whether it was answering a question or designing and directing a blitz campaign. I
will miss his energy, his creativity and his enthusiasm but most of all his total commitment
and dedication to the
members and our
union. Let’s all wish our
brother Adam the very
best as he moves into
the next phase of his
life.”
Before beginning
his career with CSEA,
Adam had worked as an Albany-based legislative representative for
District Council 37.
It was through that position that Adam was introduced to CSEA and Legislative and Political Action Director Fran Turner, who brought him into the CSEA family.
Fighting for fairness
Adam began his time at CSEA
in 1992 by working on our union’s efforts to elect Bill Clinton as President, running phone banks and placing lapel pins on postcards from then-CSEA President Joe McDermott. In February 1993, Adam became
a permanent CSEA staff member, initially working as a legislative representative.
He later became our union’s Capital Region political action
12 The Work Force
May 2023
“There is not job that he didn’t take on and do well, whether it was answering a question or designing and directing a blitz campaign.”
coordinator, and also served as our union’s Director of Political Operations.
“I have worked with Adam for over 20 years,” said Turner. “His dedication to CSEA, not to mention his colorful humor, always helped members and staff feel like they were part of a family.”
Among Adam’s most notable accomplishments at CSEA was his collaboration on the historic 1999 state contract fight. He called it “one of the most invigorating and engaging times at CSEA.”
One of Adam’s fondest CSEA memories was a 1999 member bus trip to the Goodwill Games in Lake
Placid, where members planned to rally and demonstrate for a fair contract.
During the ride, Adam had fired up members in anticipation of the rally. However, shortly before they arrived, he learned that conditions had changed and members were no longer advised to demonstrate.
Adam’s strong relationships with members helped
him in delivering the news to the fired-up group.
“Having the respect of the members so much that they did what I asked them to do, to stand down, something they clearly didn’t want to do – having their trust like that was one of most reassuring feelings ever,” said Adam. “When we trust and respect each other, there is nothing we can’t accomplish.”
That state contract fight led to legislation that ended contributions for Tiers 3 and 4 of the state retirement system and added service credit for Tiers 1 and 2 members. He also cited the permanent COLA for pensioners and the 30/55 (retirement
In this file photo, Adam Acquario addresses CSEA activists and staff on the best practices in engaging members at their worksites and homes.
after 30 years or at age 55 for Tiers 3 and 4).
“[The victories were] all Fran Turner and [former CSEA President] Danny Donohue, but I was proud to be part of the team,” said Adam.
Helping lead historic effort
In 2016, Adam became our union’s Director of Member Engagement, playing a key role in helping CSEA members stay strong as our union faced unprecedented challenges from anti-labor opponents.
As the U.S. Supreme Court’s Janus v. AFSCME Council 31
opinion loomed, Adam developed and implemented comprehensive member engagement plans that included partnering staff with union activists to visit members at their homes or worksites.
These efforts took Adam and teams of staff and members across the state for member engagement visits, often concentrated on specific geographic areas and regions.
He also worked closely with our union’s Retiree Division, helping grow members in several ways, including visiting worksites to recruit employed CSEA members planning to retire.
“We designed and implemented the best plan for member engagement that any public sector union had,” said Adam. “It united membership and staff, on the streets and in the workplaces. Nothing has made us stronger. We are now five years out and holding strong because
we are a great organization with great leadership.”
Adam said he would miss the member leaders and the membership the most.
“We’re one of the few unions
left that is still run by members
and not staff,” said Adam. “We
are fortunate to have local and
unit leaders, especially treasurers who don’t come into the job with extensive training in finances. I’m awed by their dedication; what they do for each other and for their co- workers. We are very fortunate to have a membership that allows us to provide resources.”
Pandemic pivot
During the pandemic, Adam worked with Sullivan, other union leaders and staff to continue to engage members, including through helping promote popular member- only benefits and launching drive- through visits outside union offices, worksites and other locations.
“I am most recently proud of what we did during the pandemic,” said Adam. “Through President Sullivan’s leadership, we launched a CSEA low- interest VISA credit card and created a great partnership with CAP COM Federal Credit Union. Mary pushed us to be there for our members despite the lockdown, and we were.”
“While I am sad to see him go, I am thankful and happy for the time he spent with us,” said Sullivan.
— Mathew L. Cantore