Page 12 - Work Force November 2022

To be a good leader, certain skills must be used. Some of these skills are not taught, but they are inherent in many CSEA members. I would think that one of the most important skills is to be able to listen, and then talk. Listening gives the people you are talking with confidence in both what they are saying at the time and in you, as a leader. Some leaders like to simply hear
themselves talk and carry
on for a long time, thinking
they are now official leaders.
That is not good leadership.
Another big quality is being
able to work together with
others. That might sound
simple and easy but believe me, many leaders forgot how to work with others. When
you do work together, you can delegate assignments to include many other people. Then, you will be able to share your own knowledge while gaining more confidence within our membership.
A good leader can bring people together, not divide them. The best way for you, as a leader, to teach others how to lead is to do so by example. If you are a credible person who speaks the truth, people in general will be attracted to you. Most members, regardless
of title, grade or position, are very keen on others who speak as a leader. If a leader is not consistent, does not appear to be truthful and seems to avoid the tough questions, members pick up on that.
Leadership is a quality that almost all of us have. Many people simply choose not to be a leader and that is alright. Leadership comes with a great deal of responsibility. In my opinion, a good leader is courageous,
12 The Work Force
was good, I was very careful to thank all those people who helped me as a leader to accomplish some goals.
Now that I said all I did above, I want to reiterate that you do not have to be a CSEA elected official to be
a good leader. Members who are engaged in what is going on can speak with others on the job. That is leadership! People who try to convince others to get more involved, attend meetings and sign letters to leadership are also leaders. CSEA is extremely fortunate to have a great deal of leadership throughout our union’s membership.
I should also speak about the responsibilities of being a good elected official. Basically, those elected to CSEA officer positions are always on the clock. There are no days off, no real vacations and no off-limit times for members to call you. I have received calls during Easter dinner and while I was away with family on vacation.
I have been called at 2 a.m. because of a member’s injury. That is a big part of being a real leader. You expect those kinds of things to happen. Members in need do not want to hear that you are on vacation when they have
Long Island Region President, continued on page 16
I would like to begin by congratulating the representatives of our region who served honorably on our state contract team. We recognize and appreciate the tireless work
of Faye Wilkie-Fields, John Montalbano, Jonathan Brown and Marvina Queenie. Not only did they work on a state contract filled with many improvements and upgrades, they also fended off attempts to
dilute or diminish hard-
fought gains from the past.
Through their efforts, we
elevate the leader that exists
in every member who works
and delivers every day with
dignity, professionalism and
respect. Congratulations
for voting overwhelmingly for this contract! Kudos also to the members at Lifespire for negotiating a good contract as well!
That contract was a great victory to celebrate at the New York City Labor Day Parade, another in-person event we were all yearning for. Special thanks to all the officers and members who joined us, including our union family from Regions 1 and 3, as we marched down Fifth Avenue to unequivocally and unapologetically proclaim our union pride.
That was the same pride that brought many of us together for the Annual Union Night at the New York Yankees. Although
2022 Annual Delegates Meeting Officer Reports
JERRY LARICCHIUTA
Long Island Region President
A good leader can bring people together
LESTER CROCKETT Metropolitan Region President
Proclaiming our union pride
CTSEA Brothers and Sisters,
his year, the theme of our annual convention is “The Leader in You.” I think this is a great theme and really could help us define what our union stands for. When we speak this year about the leader in you, we mean YOU! This is not so much about the region and state leadership, as it is about members, including local and unit leaders. Our leadership qualities are very important, and everybody in CSEA has leadership skills.
straightforward, honest and caring. I learned a great deal from former CSEA President Danny Donohue. I found him to be easy to approach and willing to listen to you. Danny gave me great insight to how CSEA operates and what is important to this union and what is not. I did not always agree with him, but that is not important. What is important is that I knew when I spoke with him, he was doing his best to teach me a few things that were important at that time.
I am a CSEA Long Island Region President; I was fortunate enough to win four elections along with my team in Nassau Local 830. I believe that Nassau Local members believed in what I said. Credibility is by far the single most important asset to have as a union leader. For almost 16 years, I spoke with members in real terms. If the news was not good, I did not sugarcoat it. If the news
GOreetings Sisters and Brothers,
n behalf of the mighty members of the Metropolitan Region, our activists, officers and staff, I would like to welcome
all of our delegates to the greatest city in
the world! I hope you get as much out of
our Annual Delegates Meeting as you get
out of the Big Apple. I cannot tell you all how excited we all are to be hosting our
first in-person Annual Delegates Meeting following more than two years of a pandemic that forced us to curtail activities that we all yearn to do in person.
clouds and a little rain threatened to damper our spirits, there was absolutely nothing that could stop us from breaking bread with each other and witnessing Yankee great Aaron Judge hit a record-breaking Grand Slam to seal a victory for the Bronx Bombers!
While our Region 2 office remains
open, we have not resumed meetings in
our conference rooms for the time being. However, we are planning to coordinate a few social events before the end of the year as well as our annual executive board meeting in December.
Brothers and sisters, as we continue to make our way through this great city and state, let us be mindful that there are many working families still struggling. I urge you all to support our mom and pop shops and small businesses that are often the economic lifeline of our communities. I also want to encourage you to support all the passionate
“Members who are engaged in what is going on can speak with others on the job. That is leadership!”
and innovative organizing efforts that are going on across the country, many starting right here in New York
from Starbucks workers in Buffalo to Amazon workers in Staten Island. These workers represent the future of the labor movement and we must
do everything we can to support and sustain these organizing efforts.
Finally, I know I do not need to remind you all that the pandemic has not completely disappeared. Variations and other illnesses continue to strike. Please protect yourselves, family and co-workers. Have a great time in New York City and have a fun and successful meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Lester Crockett
Metropolitan Region President
“I want to encourage you to support all the passionate and innovative organizing efforts that are going on across the country.”
November 2022