Page 14 - Work Force November 2021

Gamache honored for efforts to give co-workers a voice at work
POUGHKEEPSIE — While our union often looks to organize non-union worksites, sometimes there are organizing opportunities close to home.
That’s what Lynne Gamache, former Arlington School District Unit president, realized when she spoke with security guards in her district.
Gamache is the 2021 recipient of the Nadra Floyd Award, which is presented each year at our union’s Annual Delegates Meeting to an existing CSEA activist who helps move our union’s organizing efforts forward.
District security guards reached out to Gamache during the COVID-19 pandemic after struggling with
the financial impact of reduced or inconsistent work hours.
With other workers having
collective bargaining agreements in place, the security guards noticed things were going more smoothly for unionized workers.
“The security guards were the only people in the district who aren’t in a union, and they had no rights,” said Gamache.
Gamache arranged for the security guards to meet with CSEA Labor Relations Specialist Doug Morrison and Statewide Organizer Adam Pelletier. Along the way, she continued to work with CSEA staff to move the campaign forward.
The campaign is still in progress, but Gamache’s efforts have been key in helping secure a voice for these workers.
“The pandemic showed how things can change in the blink of an eye,” said Gamache. “We have
Lynne Gamache accepts her award virtually.
Wilkie-Fields: Award is ‘fuel to keep on pushing’
BROOKLYN — As the coronavirus spread throughout state Office
for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) facilities and agency workers were designated essential, Brooklyn Developmental Center Local President Faye Wilkie-Fields worked around the clock to ensure workers’ safety.
“Through the OPWDD labor-management committee that
I chaired, we were instrumental
in getting PPE to our members
when the pandemic started even though the state was unprepared
for this global disaster,” said Wilkie- Fields, who also serves as the CSEA Metropolitan Region recording secretary, chair of CSEA’s statewide Women’s Committee and numerous other leadership roles on every level of our union.
Because of her determination and efficiency in securing these safety
supplies and addressing multiple health and safety issues at state facilities and group homes, Wilkie-Fields was honored with this year’s CSEA Danny Donohue Leadership Award for State Government. The award was presented virtually at the recent 111th Annual Delegates Meeting.
“We just wanted to make sure that CSEA members on the front lines as essential workers received all health and safety benefits they deserved while working,” said
Wilkie-Fields.
In addition to providing PPE, she
also worked with the committee on air quality concerns at the group homes where many individuals had tested positive for the virus.
“I was just doing what I thought we needed to get done,” said Wilkie-Fields.
A recent raise in starting salaries
Faye Wilkie-Fields accepts her award virtually.
14 The Work Force
contracts that protect us and our jobs, but there were other workers in our school buildings who didn’t have the same. They didn’t have a seat at the table like we do as union members.”
While Gamache has volunteered on previous member engagement blitzes, this was her first time being involved in an organizing campaign.
She urged CSEA members to take note of where there might be
opportunities for organizing within their worksites and communities. “Be aware of what’s going on in
your worksite,” said Gamache. “It’s easy to take for granted what we have. These workers deserve to be protected, too, and we should use the power we have as union workers to help our co-workers get the same voice on the job.”
to improve recruitment and retention of direct support workers served as a confirmation and affirmation of the essential nature and importance of these positions.
“That was my biggest victory,” said Wilkie-Fields. “I was pushing for that for almost two years between labor-management and political action. This will help us attract workers for these OPWDD jobs.”
Wilkie-Fields, who herself
was hospitalized in August with COVID-19, said her Danny Donohue Leadership Award recognition served as “fuel to keep on pushing and doing the work.”
“I accepted this award on behalf of all the people on the front lines taking care of individuals. It meant more to me that someone saw what we were doing,” said Wilkie-Fields. “That we were noticed.”
— David Galarza
November 2021
— Jessica Ladlee