Page 13 - Work Force November 2018

SEisters and Brothers,
ach year, I am honored to have the opportunity to report out on the
many victories and accomplishments we have celebrated as a union. No matter the circumstances in any given year, we always manage to ratify solid contracts, successfully advocate on behalf of our members and maintain a strong CSEA. That is what we have done during our 108 years of service to New York and it is not about to change, no matter what any court decision states.
During my years as Southern Region President, this past year has been my proudest. From the smallest bargaining unit in a rural area to our large state locals spread across multiple counties, I have witnessed a consistent commitment by our members to “Stay Union, Stay Strong!”
Our member engagement efforts have
with officers. Going the extra mile with
the blitz, however, clearly made a positive impression, momentum we want to continue to build upon.
As union officers, we enjoy being able to cultivate activism from amongst the rank and file membership. Those are our future union leaders. I traveled with Statewide Secretary Denise Berkley to a Saturday morning membership meeting with our members
in the Clarkstown Central School District. We met a member there who took time out of her weekend and drove all the way from her home in Poughkeepsie to this meeting
in West Nyack, over an hour’s drive on her day off, because she felt it was so important to attend. It is that kind of dedication and motivation that is going to keep us going as we face ongoing challenges.
The energy from these blitzes keeps us
What a wild ride this year has been! Though attacks against everything we stand for continue, I find myself constantly inspired and encouraged by my union brothers and sisters. Your response in the face of this assault on workers has been strong, swift and unwavering. We truly are “Stronger Together.”
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to every leader in the region, but especially the region officers, Rich Bebo, Dowell Harrell, Brenda Facin, Karen Wilson, Kim Wallace-Russo, Shana Davis, and the recently retired Mary Hamilton, who have all been so hardworking and unstoppable. Also, a thank you to all of the committee chairs and members who have taken the challenge to step up and bring forth new ideas.
The committees have been working
continues to bring value to membership and to help advertise that value. And, of course, our PAC is gearing up for what will be an exhausting fall trying to get all the region and CSEA endorsed candidates elected.
Recently in a newspaper in the region, one that has had many editorials that I
have disagreed with in the past, said the following in an editorial, “recovery from
the Great Recession, has been uneven for
too many here and nationwide. Wages
have been stagnant, and even the hopeful economic numbers mask people who are underemployed, freelancing without benefits, do not have the skills needed in the digital marketplace or just gave up looking for jobs. Big companies are getting bigger through mergers, lessening the leverage of workers
to switch jobs for higher pay. Meanwhile,
picked up steam
and energized our
longtime leaders while
encouraging new
activists to step up. I
saw this firsthand last
fall when we held a
member engagement
blitz in Ulster County.
Whether we were
driving up into the
Catskills to knock on members’ doors or hosting a worksite meeting in downtown Kingston, the response we received from members was the same. They told us it is better to be union and that they are sticking with CSEA. We had good discussions, hearing about what we are doing well and listening to feedback from members about what we can improve.
The response was equally positive when we gathered months later for a similar blitz, this time in Rockland County. Our members understood what is at stake if we do not stick together. It was also clear that our members were happy that we were doing such direct outreach in order to hear from them. I want to be clear that, as a democratic union, our members’ voices are always welcome, whether it is speaking out at a membership meeting, completing a contract survey or direct contact
November 2018
going as we navigate the everyday challenges of negotiating and enforcing contracts. Our members in Westchester County showed that their efforts can make change, as their political action work last fall contributed to
the unseating of then-County Executive Rob Astorino, someone who has been no friend
to working people. Our hope is that we will be able to secure a fair contract soon for our members from the Westchester County Unit after over seven years of negotiations. While we are thrilled to finally have a labor-friendly executive back in the top spot in Westchester, the financial mess Astorino left behind has meant additional delays in ratifying a fair contract. I am hopeful that we can reach that agreement.
Even in difficult circumstances, we bring back fair contracts. We were finally able to resolve a longstanding contract dispute in the North Rockland School District, a district saddled with financial difficulties after losing a massive amount of tax money from a
Southern Region President, continued on page 16
diligently to meet the challenges that we face. Our communication committee brought forth our own pamphlet on the Janus case
“Join me in recommitting to our union, to our mission and to each other. The ways are endless. Talk to a non-member about the value of membership. Organize a union meeting. Join a committee. Become a steward. Volunteer for a blitz.”
CEO compensation has skyrocketed, increasing the income inequality gap, despite decades
of increased worker productivity.” I actually had to go back to re-read the editorial as I was
not sure I was reading it correctly given the past history of this paper.
The article made me wonder if the pendulum is swinging. Have
2018 Annual Delegates Meeting Officer Reports
BILLY RICCALDO Southern Region President
We have power in numbers
RON BRIGGS
Capital Region President
Recommit to our union
“From the smallest bargaining unit in a rural area to our large state locals spread
across multiple counties, I have witnessed a consistent commitment by our members to Stay Union, Stay Strong!”
which was distributed
throughout the region.
Our Membership
Committee, with
assistance from the Next
Wave Committee, put
together a New Member
Orientation folder that
has, so far, been given to over 1,000 new members. Our Education and Program Committees have continued to up their game to make each Region Conference unique, educational, and fun. We have been able to blitz, picket and educate our children, while still having a bit of fun. Our Presidents Only Meeting, scheduled for January, is going
to be a Strategic Planning Session for the Region. The goal will be by the end of the weekend to have a plan in place to guide and inform our strategy for 2019. Our Veterans Committee is finishing up work
on a resource packet to be distributed to all veteran members. Our Women’s Committee is moving forward with ideas to expand
our offerings to connect with and empower women. The Health and Safety Committee
working families started to understand that we are getting the short end of the stick? Have they figured out that wages today, adjusted for inflation, are lower than they were in 1973?
Wage inequality, soaring health care costs, lack of quality education and retirement insecurity are all issues that working families struggle with. Unions and the people in them are fighting against these continued infractions. At every membership meeting
I attend members share with me their concern for their future. When they realize that on average, union members’ salaries are 27% greater than those in non-bargaining workplaces, they react with surprise. How
Capital Region President, continued on page 17
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