Page 3 - Work Force November 2025

“Every single
one of us needs
to stand up
and fight back.
When working
people are under
attack, when our
communities are
at risk, we have
to lock arms and
push forward
together. We need
to take action.”
Stalemate in Washington leaves
workers paying the price
As this edition went to press, the
federal shutdown is continuing
with no clear end in sight.
The U.S. Senate has held several
votes on spending packages, all of
which have failed.
Speaker Mike Johnson says he
does not plan to reconvene the
House until Senate Democrats agree
to the Republicans’ “clean” spending
bill. Democrats continue to insist
that any agreement must include
an extension of Affordable Care Act
(ACA) tax credits that help working
families afford coverage.
CSEA supports all sides entering
negotiations to both reopen the
federal government and ensure that
working families do not see their
health insurance premiums double
because of Congress’ failure to
extend these critical tax credits.
The ACA tax credits reduce the
cost of health insurance on the
marketplace, and the credits are set
to expire at the end of this year. The
2026 insurance premiums were due
to be released on Nov. 1, which will
show massive increases. If the ACA
credits are not extended, insurance
premiums will skyrocket for millions
of Americans, including many CSEA-
represented child care providers.
In some places in New York, a
family of four receiving insurance
through the ACA may see premiums
increase by nearly $1,300 per month,
or $15,000 per year, in 2026.
Strain on workers
The shutdown will increasingly
devastate New Yorkers, who are
already bracing for the full impact
of federal cuts. As of
Nov. 1, SNAP benefits
will stall for nearly
3 million people in
New York. Other
assistance programs,
such as WIC and
those funded by Head
Start, will also see
cuts.
The Trump
administration has
also frozen funding for
numerous projects in
New York, including
those related to
infrastructure and
clean energy.
The Trump
administration has begun
permanently terminating thousands
of employees from various federal
agencies, adding to the disruption
caused by the shutdown and
increasing uncertainty. While a
federal judge temporarily blocked
the latest round of layoffs at most
Capital District Psychiatric
Center Local President
Curtis Boddie speaks during
the Minority Caucus.
Finger Lakes DDSO
Local 1st Vice
President Catalina
Guzman speaks
during the session.
agencies, the administration is
expected to appeal the district
court’s decision.
Federal workers recently missed
their first full paycheck, further
straining families. Trump warned
that there is no guaranteed back
pay for federal workers during a
government shutdown,
saying, “there are
some people that don’t
deserve to be taken
care of.”
This means that
the thousands of
furloughed — and
those who are workig
without pay — may not
be paid for the length
of the shutdown, even
after a spending bill is
passed. This reverses
longstanding federal
policy and punishes
workers who have no
say over the federal
budget process.
Fighting back
During the 115th Annual Delegates
Meeting’s Minority Caucus session,
CSEA members discussed how
federal budget cuts will be especially
devastating for the communities and
services that our union members
provide.
Participants
heard from Buffalo
Common Council
Majority Leader
Leah M. Halton-
Pope, who fired up
the session with a
compelling message:
political action
matters – especially
Halton-Pope
now, as the federal
government shutdown threatens
working people.
Delegates and members echoed
Halton-Pope’s urgency, sharing how
federal cuts could slow down road
repairs, delay hiring, and hurt our
— Mathew L. Cantore
November 2025 3
The Work Force
CSEA/VOICE
Local 100A
Suffolk Chapter
Representative
Darcel Leone
makes a point.
CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan
urges members to take action.
communities, a major reason why
our union members need to stay
loud, visible, and united in the face
of these cuts.
CSEA officers from the New York
State Thruway Authority and state
Department of Transportation locals
spoke about how federal cuts and
policies affect road maintenance.
New federal regulations are also
making it more difficult to hire
individuals who hold a commercial
driver’s license (CDL). The
existing law greatly restricts some
immigrants’ ability to obtain a
CDL, which could lead to a worker
shortage. This hits minority
communities especially hard, as
it limits immigrants’ employment
opportunities.
After several speakers expressed
concern over current federal policies
and regulations, CSEA President
Mary E. Sullivan encouraged
solidarity in fighting back.
“We all have to come together
to fight this,” said Sullivan. “Every
single one of us needs to stand
up and fight back. When working
people are under attack, when our
communities are at risk, we have
to lock arms and push forward
together. We need to take action.”
CSEA encourages members
to email their congressional
representatives,
and tell them
to reopen
the federal
government and
extend ACA tax
credits! Use the
QR code here to
take action.