Page 15 - Work Force November 2018

CSEA STATEWIDE PRESIDENT, continued from Page 10
This is our charge moving forward. To keep emphasizing the value of our union. We have made a lot of progress, but there is more work to be done. Keep having those one-on-one conversations with members. Continue to educate them about all of the benefits of being in our union. But also take time to listen. The more we listen to our members, the more we know what they need from us.
We also need to fight back!
Anti-union groups are going to great lengths to destroy us. They are harassing members at their worksites with misleading emails, ambushing them on the street and going to their homes. These anti-union groups are also trying to gain access to union meetings and even trying to trick members into saying damning things on video. That is why we are upping our security this year at the ADM. While
we do not have anything to hide, we do not want these groups sneaking into our meeting and getting into our business.
As I said, this is a historic time for the labor movement and we all need to do our part. Each and every one of us worked hard to build this union and we all need to work hard to protect it!
I want to take this moment to
honor one of labor’s biggest champions, and longtime fighter for the rights of hardworking Americans, Flo Tripi. Flo served our union and the Western New York labor community for 50 years. While she will be sorely missed, the best way to honor Flo’s memory is to do what she did for decades — fight like hell to improve the lives of union members.
We will have no shortages of opportunities to do this.
This year has been an eventful year and while it was not easy, we are better off for it. The attacks on the labor movement have made us stronger than ever. Our members are angry at anti-union efforts to get them to quit our union. That means we are doing things right. While I cannot predict what challenges lie ahead in 2019, I can say this... we will be ready. There is nothing we cannot do when we stick together. Stay Union, Stay Strong!
Respectfully submitted,
Danny Donohue
CSEA President
Economic Justice Work Group on a new training program for members with AFSCME called “Connecting the Dots.” This new training brings clarity through economic education, understanding and empowerment to members to build, educate, inspire and focus us on what is actually happening; teaching us what we can do to bring inclusion, equality, social and economic justice to hardworking CSEA members.
I taught this workshop to AFSCME members and it was enlightening to listen to how members feel and see the transformative effect it can have on us as we learn about the economic system and our power in it. It was so valuable that we will be rolling out this training to our members at upcoming CSEA conferences so keep your eye out for it.
We are at a tipping point in our history. The conversations we have with one another remind us that our goal is to listen. We hold onto our values that there is dignity in all
refresher training for many of our treasurers, there are also many recently elected treasurers. We have trained hundreds of new and experienced unit and local treasurers, and we intend to get to all of our treasurers.
One thing that we must remember is that our treasurers are also volunteers. Many of our treasurers may live in locations remote from their nearest region and satellite offices, work non-traditional or extended hours or have family and other personal responsibilities that make it tough for them to attend an in-person training. To continue to keep our union strong, we wanted to find a way to welcome everyone who is willing and able to serve in a leadership position. That is why I worked with our Internal Operations, Information Services and Education and Training staff to develop an online Treasurer Training webinar, which we expect will be rolled out soon. Through the webinars, our treasurers can complete the training on their own schedule and even print their completion certificate. I am hoping that we can soon offer more webinars.
To keep moving ahead as a union in the 21st century, we need to further implement new technologies. I am working with our Information Services Department on getting video equipment implemented in our region
work and equality is an inalienable right. We win when working people come together and fight for that which is greater than ourselves.
Once again, history affirms, Unions are the key to protecting families and rewarding work again. Our opponents want to divide and conquer us. They work to manipulate information and tear us apart. As New Choice NY and other anti-union front groups recently found out, their attacks aren’t working on CSEA. We are only made stronger.
We are aware of a bigger picture. We know what is credible and relevant to us and when they are trying to pull the wool over our eyes. We will not fall for it.
Our Union is local. Our Union is personal. The Member Response Group takes calls every day from members who express that they’re upset about things that impact daily life. Everyday issues that occur at their worksites are top of mind and it’s clearer than ever that we are on the right track with our
and satellite offices that will help us more easily offer webinars. While these upgrades will cost us money now, in the long term, we will not only see a cost savings in traveling, but we will have an increased number of well-trained activists.
Upgrading our technology is also important to our preservation and growth as a union. Our newest members — young people who have recently entered the workforce — are accustomed to advanced technology and will be more interested in becoming active in an organization that uses technology familiar to their generation. These young people are CSEA’s future leaders and we cannot expect them to adjust to us; we need to go to them so that they will want to become involved in our union and be more excited to play a major role in the Labor Movement of the future.
Over the past two years, I have participated in member engagement “blitzes” throughout the state. I enjoyed meeting our members at their worksites and homes and hearing their thoughts on how we can make our union stronger. While not everyone will agree on every issue, truly listening to our members’ interests and concerns will move us closer to a common ground. When we stand together, we can accomplish great things. If you have not
work. We have to stick together, stay union to stay strong and hold our elected officials accountable.
Mentorship- Leadership- Accountability: you will be hearing these three words a lot as we move through the next year. CSEA Never Quit is a reality. CSEA Never Quit we’ve learned now means; Never Quit listening, Never Quit progressing, Never Quit talking with one another and our co-workers. Never Quit until every member understands the value of being a union member and feels the protection and the fellowship of working together for a better, more inclusive future.
We will Never Quit until every member understands what this means.
I am proud to be a union member. I am Proud to be CSEA. Stay Union, Stay Strong!
Respectfully submitted,
Denise Berkley
Statewide Secretary
participated in a blitz in your area yet, please do. They are not only important to reaching out to all of our members, but they really remind many leaders of why we are here in the first place.
As leaders of our union, we have to remember something crucial about our members. Our union is obviously a large, statewide organization, but the face of our union is often the activists our members see every day. As activists and leaders, you may
be the first — and only — person who hears our members’ concerns about our union. You must always remember that you are the union to them and act in a responsible, respectful way when interacting with our members. We must always remember why we are here — we are labor leaders who always must put our members’ interests first.
As we continue to face challenges, we must remember that everything we do must be for our members. If we keep that in mind and stick together, our union will stay strong! Have a great convention and Stay Union, Stay Strong!
Respectfully submitted,
William Walsh
Statewide Treasurer
CSEA STATEWIDE SECRETARY, continued from Page 11
CSEA STATEWIDE TREASURER, continued from Page 11
November 2018
The Work Force 15