Page 7 - Work Force November 2022

Maroney recognized as a ‘GEM’ for service
BINGHAMTON
— Southern Tier
State Employees
Local President
Andrew Maroney
was recognized
earlier this year
by the New York
State Department
of Transportation
(DOT) with the
‘Going the Extra
Mile’ (GEM) Award for taking on the job of acting Highway Maintenance Supervisor and helping the short- staffed crew get through another snow and ice season.
Maroney said that last winter had the most significant understaffing he’s seen in his 12 years with DOT. In December 2021, he was approached by his supervisors to take on
an acting supervisor’s role at a moment’s notice.
“It was a great opportunity that
I was happy to be able to take advantage of,” said Maroney. “I had the support of all my co-workers, my family and management.”
Maroney immediately switched from a day shift to a night shift and was given more responsibility in his new acting role.
“My arms did get tired from juggling everything,” said Maroney. “Sometimes, you’re at work 20 to 30 hours and then when you come home, the kids are asking you to go build a snowman. My family was so supportive.”
After successfully serving in his acting supervisor role for six months, Maroney resumed his normal job duties in June. Shortly afterwards, he was recognized with the GEM award.
“When management came to me that they were giving me this award, it bothered me a bit because I’m not fond of individual accomplishments. It’s more of a team award,” said
Maroney
In this 2022 file photo, Andrew Maroney participates in a St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Binghamton as part of the CSEA delegation.
Maroney. “While I was kind of at the helm, I couldn’t have done it without [my co-workers] and my family.”
Maroney jested that he’s normally a thorn in management’s side because of his union responsibilities, but he was happy that could be put aside.
“It was good to see the hard work paid off,” Maroney said. “It was a team effort, group effort and a family effort. But to get it, that was a big accomplishment.”
Maroney hopes that his honor will inspire other workers to not be afraid to step up to the challenge like he did.
“Hopefully, it opens the doors for people to work harder and others want to do the same thing and go above and beyond,” said Maroney.
— Nicholas Newcomb
In this 2021 file photo, Andrew Maroney participates in a Polar Plunge.
CSEA Retiree activist Bess Watts honored as a Woman of Distinction
ROCHESTER
— September’s Rochester Labor Council meeting was one for the books.
CSEA Rochester
Area Retirees
Local activist
Bess Watts was
honored as a
Woman of Distinction by New York State Sen. Jeremy Cooney.
Watts, who had served as our union’s Monroe County Local President and numerous other CSEA and labor leadership roles before retiring, has been a leader in advancing LGBTQ+ rights and
intersecting them with statewide labor movement.
Watts stood alongside her wife as CSEA and other labor leaders praised her accomplishments over her 23 years as a CSEA member.
“From her leadership as CSEA’s Monroe County President for years to her engagement on both the union’s Political Action and LGBTQ+ committees, Bess has made an impact on the livelihoods of so many of her friends, colleagues
and neighbors,” said CSEA Western Region 1st Vice President Renee Jackson. “Even as a retiree, she’s remained dedicated to the members of our union.”
In addition to her involvement with CSEA, Watts is also president
of Pride at Work’s Rochester Finger Lakes Chapter. Pride at Work is an AFL-CIO constituency group that represents LGBTQ+ union members and their allies, including through organizing mutual support between the labor movement and the LGBTQ+ community and advancing social and economic justice.
Pride at Work has 28 chapters across the country, including four in New York.
“[Watts] has set a precedent
of inclusivity and equality within CSEA and that legacy will remain preserved within this union going forward,” said Jackson.
— Madison Ruffo
Watts
November 2022
The Work Force 7