Page 12 - Work Force May 2025

May 2025 13
The Work Force
Our union used several methods of
communication during the recent
wildcat strikes to ensure members
working at state Department
of Corrections and Community
Supervision (DOCCS) facilities
received updates from CSEA.
In addition to modern forms of
electronic outreach, staff at our
union’s Southern and Central Region
offices picked up the phone and
started dialing. Over two days, they
called more than 800 CSEA members
from DOCCS locals.
Unlike phone banking that often
supports our endorsed political
CSEA dials in: Phone banks
strengthen member ties
CSEA Labor Relations Specialist
Jeffery Colburn makes calls to
members.
Southern Region Director Kate Fitzpatrick meets with staff before they
kick off phone banking to CSEA members who work at DOCCS locations.
candidates, there was no specific
request attached to these calls. Staff
were simply checking in, answering
questions, and reminding members of
the resources available through our
union.
“What we saw was our union
prioritizing personal contact over
relying solely on social media
or email,” said Southern Region
President Anthony Adamo. “While
some calls went to voicemail, the
outreach resulted in a lot of good
conversations and was well-received.
For members who might not have
regular contact with CSEA beyond
their local, it was a great opportunity
to remind them that they have a large
organization with vast resources
advocating on their behalf.”
Adamo praised Southern Region
Director Kate Fitzpatrick and labor
relations specialists making the
calls, noting that the proactive
outreach allowed members to receive
immediate answers to questions they
might have hesitated to ask. It also
gave members a chance to provide
feedback, which staff relayed to
CSEA’s State Operations Department.
Jeffrey Colburn, a Central Region
labor relations specialist and former
Madison County Unit president,
helped make the wellness calls in the
Central Region and was pleased with
the outcome.
“It went very well. As usual, there
were some bad phone numbers
and times when we had to leave a
voicemail, but the people I talked
to were appreciative of the call and
happy to hear from us,” Colburn said.
Members are encouraged to keep
their contact information up to date
by using the MyCSEA app or filling out
a contact update form.
Colburn noted that some members
expressed interest in state contract
negotiations. Although negotiations
aren’t happening in the immediate
future, he encouraged them to reach
out to their local president and share
their thoughts.
While phone banking may seem
old-fashioned to some people, the
positive feedback was a reminder
of the importance of one-on-one
conversations with members —
especially at worksites like DOCCS
locations, where security measures
can limit worksite accessibility.
“My hope is that we can
harness this as a tool for member
engagement,” said Adamo.
“Sometimes, we overthink how we
communicate and feel we have to
rely on large-scale campaigns, when
in fact, these smaller, targeted efforts
mean more to people.”
— Jessica Ladlee and
Nicholas Newcomb
BUFFALO — For
Sandra Suy,
Section 1st Vice
President at
Erie County’s
Department of
Social Services,
Asian American
and Pacific
Islander (AAPI)
Heritage Month is
deeply personal.
As a proud Chinese American
and longtime CSEA member, she’s
witnessed the power of cultural
recognition—and the pain of its
absence.
“In my 16 years working for Erie
County, this was the first year we
celebrated Lunar New Year,” said Suy.
“Growing up in America, I saw Martin
Luther King Jr. Day celebrated. I saw
Columbus Day celebrated. But never
anything from the Asian community.”
While she has seen Juneteenth
events and growing awareness
around diversity, she’s clear-eyed
about how far there is to go.
For Suy, the lack of visibility and
cultural inclusion underscores a
broader issue—stereotypes and
systemic barriers that many workers
in the AAPI community face.
“People think we’re all good at
math,” she said, with a smile. “But
we have strong voices and opinions
that matter. We’re not all quiet or the
same.”
She’s candid about the challenges
AAPI workers face within union
spaces.
“There’s a glass ceiling,” she
said. “Advancement tends to go
to Caucasian or Black workers. As
an Asian American, if you speak
out, people say you’re not Chinese.
If you stay quiet, you’re seen as
complacent.”
Despite this, Suy encourages
her colleagues who are in the AAPI
community to step into leadership
and union involvement.
“When in doubt, you want to get
involved,” said Suy. “Before you say,
‘What are they doing for me?’ Ask
yourself, ‘What did I do for myself?’”
Suy recently transferred to a new
department where she’s noticed a
greater emphasis on education and
awareness.
“Most people there have
bachelor’s or master’s degrees, and
I think that makes a difference,” said
Finding voice and visibility:
Sandra Suy reflects on AAPI heritage and union life
Suy
Suy. “There’s more openness, more
respect.”
She believes unions like CSEA
must do more to uplift AAPI voices,
not just during Heritage Month, but
year-round.
“We need to teach that this was
earned by a lot of somebodies,”
she said. “The next generation—
especially the Tier 6 workers—are
watching. They’ll vote based on how
they’re treated. If we don’t change,
we’ll be left behind.”
For Suy, recognition is more than
a celebration—it’s a call to action.
AAPI workers have always been a
vital part of the labor movement, and
now more than ever, they deserve to
be seen, heard, and supported.
— Sara McNicholas