Page 4 - Work Force November 2020

4 The Work Force
November 2020
President Mary E. Sullivan in touch with
Long Island Region: WENDI BOWIE (631) 462-0030
Metropolitan Region: DAVID GALARZA (212) 406-2156
Southern Region: JESSICA LADLEE (845) 831-1000
Capital Region: THERESE ASSALIAN (518) 782-4400
Central Region: NICHOLAS NEWCOMB (315) 728-3375
Western Region: OVE OVERMYER (716) 691-6555
Headquarters: JILL ASENCIO (518) 257-1276
WorkForce ISSN 1522-1091
Official publication of
CSEA Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO 143 Washington Ave. Albany, NY 12210-2303
Mary E. Sullivan, President
MARK M. KOTZIN
Director of Communications and Publisher
MATHEW L. CANTORE Deputy Director of Communications
JANICE GAVIN Editor
JASON D. HOSIER Graphic Production Specialist
BETH MCINTYRE Graphic Production Specialist
JOELLE LUCENTE Communications Assistant
CommuniCations speCialists
Karen Bright
Tim Finnigan Michele Kiuber
Marnie Rounds Marie Snyder Chris Vogel
The Publications Committee:
The Work Force (USPS 0445-010)
is published monthly by
The CSEA Publication Office:
143 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12210. Periodical Mail Postage paid at
Post Office,
Albany, New York 12288,
and additional mailing offices.
Postmaster: Send address changes to: CSEA, Attn: Membership Department, 143 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12210
Readers: Send any comments, complaints, suggestions or ideas to: Publisher, The Work Force
143 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12210-2303
CSEA online: cseany.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube:
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The
WorkForce
Get involved in our union!
SIisters and Brothers:
of course, a very different one. With COVID-19 still very much a problem in our state and nation, we have learned all sorts of new ways to adapt and change and still do the best we can to protect and represent our membership.
improve things for us all. I hope everyone who thinks we can do better takes the opportunity to join us in making that a reality.
t has been a busy Fall season so far, and
We just got through holding our very first virtual convention in our union’s 110-year- history.I very much appreciate the union staff who helped put this together to make it a success, but it was the participation from members like you, who stepped
You know what else is not a spectator sport? Our Democracy. I would be remiss
if I didn’t take this last opportunity to remind every single union member to get out and vote. Our system only functions well if people participate. This year,
that’s a lot harder than most, but we have numerous opportunities with early voting and absentee ballot voting, as well as in- person voting, to make sure our voices are heard. You know who our union supports and thinks will be the best candidates
for working women and men, but the
final decision is up to you and you alone, and I hope you’ll exercise your right and responsibility to vote in this and every other election.
up to represent all the members, who accomplished the actual business of running our union.
That’s because our union, like many other things in life, is not designed to be
a spectator sport. We are a member-run union, and we function better when YOU get involved, to whatever extent possible.
I know that people lead busy lives, but
we cannot always leave it to others to
be involved for us. We all care about improving our livelihoods and providing for our families, and we want our union representation to help enhance those things. I can tell you that when members get involved, we get stronger, and our ability
to make positive changes on behalf of the members increases dramatically.
In November, we also celebrate
Veterans Day and recognize the incredible contributions of our servicemen and women who have fought for our freedoms and on behalf of a grateful nation. We honor our union veterans and are proud to advocate on their behalf through our Veterans Committee, making sure their issues are addressed and their service is not forgotten. Please thank them for their service this Veterans Day.
If you’re not happy with the direction our union is taking, then I urge you even more strongly to get involved. You have no idea how many of our best union activists started out getting involved because they weren’t happy with what they were seeing in our union. They stepped up and got involved and learned how to make positive changes working within our union structure, to
I wish you all a safe, healthy and happy Thanksgiving holiday.
In solidarity,
Mary E. Sullivan, President