Page 11 - Work Force November 2016

Meeting Officer Reports
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Denise Berkley, Statewide Secretary
We should talk about building bridges
Bill Walsh, Statewide Treasurer
When we work together, we can accomplish great things
Greetings brothers and sisters,
It’s been such a pleasure going across the state meeting and speaking with so many of you these last few months, especially during our Never Quit campaign earlier this year. I believe the enthusiasm and commitment you all expressed during that campaign will serve us well as we prepare for a host of challenges in the future.
The most immediate challenge that none of us should take lightly is the Presidential election. As public servants and union members, we need to make sure that we run, not walk, to the polls and elect Hillary Clinton President. We need to make sure that our families and everyone we know votes, too.
our human and civil rights.
The struggle of Native American people
to protect their sacred land in Standing Rock, North Dakota, under threat by a massive pipeline project, also remind us of the challenges we face to protect our planet from the dangers of climate change. While their struggle is noble and just, it should also serve as a trumpet call to the union movement and working families to do everything we can to use renewable sources of energy and practice sustainability in every facet of our lives.
Finally, as a nation of immigrants, I find it so repulsive and sickening that the candidate for the Republican Party keeps demeaning and insulting immigrants who are struggling
Sisters and Brothers,
As we meet for our 106th Annual Delegates Meeting, I am honored to serve as your Statewide Treasurer. As CSEA continues to face challenges, it is so important for all of us to work together to make real, meaningful change in our union to keep us strong.
state meeting so many of you. I would like to give more of an introduction to myself for those of you who don’t yet know me well.
I grew up in South Troy (near Albany) and have been dedicated to public service for my entire adult life. After graduating from high school, I proudly served in the U.S. Air Force for four years and received an honorable discharge.
While I was stationed in New Mexico, my future wife came to visit her aunt, and 37 years later, I have been blessed to have married an angel. My wife Kathleen and I have made our home on Long Island, and we have three sons, Bill Jr., 36; Jason, 33 and Daniel, 30. We have one grandson, Michael John.
There’s too much at stake
in this election. It’s not just the
presidency. It’s about our fate
as a nation and leader of the
free world. We all know what
the alternative is and it’s not
pretty. In my lifetime, I have
never seen such an offensive and
divisive candidate nominated to
represent a major party in this
country. He’s a candidate who
clearly doesn’t represent any
of the ideals or vision of his party. Abraham Lincoln must be turning in his grave.
Indeed, we are in the midst of many challenges as a nation. The Black Lives Matter movement has catapulted a deeply disturbing reality to the forefront of our concerns. The treatment or mistreatment of African Americans and other people of color by law enforcement has created huge rifts
and widespread distrust in our communities between those who live there and those sworn to protect and uphold the law. We cannot allow this to continue any further. We must come together to find creative and proven ways to keep people safe while also protecting
to survive and provide their families with a better future as many immigrants have done in this country over the centuries. Instead of building walls, we should talk about building bridges and be thankful that this country has been blessed with so many talented people from every country and all walks of life.
With the holidays approaching, I want to offer you all a safe and
happy season. I also want to express my sincere gratitude and affection to all the wonderful members of our staff who have decided to
start a new chapter in their lives. Thank you for your continued support as your Statewide Secretary.
Respectfully submitted,
Denise Berkley
Statewide Secretary
We are entering a transformation of our union. It’s important to remember that even though we are seeing much change, our goals remain the same. We are still fighting for decent wages, health insurance, improved working conditions, retirement security and above all, respect in the workplace. Though we have made many gains and victories in these and so many other areas, the core goals have not changed since we
formed our union more
than a century ago. The
most important part of
being successful in our
fight for fairness? We can
Never Quit on our union,
and we need to urge all of
our sisters and brothers to
stick by our side as well.
When we work together, we can accomplish great things.
One of my goals as your Statewide Treasurer is to ensure that CSEA continues to be fiscally responsible. We work hard to make sure that all of our spending is justified, including investments and our union staffing levels. As our membership numbers have declined in recent years, we all find ourselves doing more with less. We strive hard to make sure that our money is spent wisely. I am excited about the challenges that come with being your new Statewide Treasurer. I am also looking forward to serving as the officer liaison to our Veterans, Membership, Human Rights and Scholarship committees.
Since being elected to serve as your Statewide Treasurer, I have traveled across the
I became a CSEA member when I was hired as a blue-collar laborer at the Town of Brookhaven in Suffolk County. The first title I held in CSEA was the title “member.”
To me, this is the only
title that matters. Soon after I entered town service,
I learned what it means to be a union member and stand up for what I believe in. I also wanted to show my union sisters and brothers the value of public service and being a CSEA member, so I reached out to as many of my sisters and brothers as possible to show them that we could work together and fight for our rights.
In 1989, I was proud to be elected president of the Town of Brookhaven Blue Collar Unit, as well as to our union’s Suffolk County Local office. In 2005, I became the Suffolk Local President, where I served until becoming your Statewide Treasurer.
The 27 years that I served as Unit President were very rewarding because it gave me the opportunity to help people and
Treasurer, continued on page 15
November 2016
The Work Force
“We must come together to find creative and proven ways to keep people safe while also protecting our human and civil rights.”
“We need more moderate discussions from all viewpoints to work through our challenges. It is the only way of keeping — and improving — all that we hold dear.”