Page 4 - Work Force October 2016

WorkForce
ISSN 1522-1091
Official publication of
CSEA Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO 143 Washington Ave. Albany, NY 12210-2303 Danny Donohue, President
STEPHEN A. MADARASZ Communications Director & Publisher
EMILY COTE
Deputy Director of Communications
LOU HMIELESKI Executive Editor
JANICE GAVIN Associate Editor
JANICE M. KUCSKAR Graphic Production Specialist
JASON D. HOSIER Graphic Production Specialist
BETH MCINTYRE Communications Assistant
CommuniCations speCialists
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: MARK M. KOTZIN (315) 433-0050
Western Region: OVE OVERMYER (716) 691-6555
Headquarters: JILL ASENCIO (518) 257-1276
The Publications Committee: Karen Bright
Robert Ellis
Tim Finnigan
Debbie Nappi-Gonzalez Marie Snyder Rick Stahl Vincenza Turpin
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
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Albany, NY 12210-2303
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President Danny Donohue in touch with
The WorkForce
Communication is
at the heart of our
uWnion experience
hen we started the Never Quit blitz That one-on-one interaction with campaign, there were definitely other members builds a sense of
4 The Work Force
October 2016
some naysayers.
They told us “This will never work,”
and “You can’t really expect to visit members at home, can you? What will they say?” It was very different than anything we had ever done, especially on such a large scale.
Over the course of six months, we made more than 48,000 phone calls and met with more than 11,000 members. And by “we,” I mean staff, region and local activists, and member volunteers. It was a united effort that brought together the union in a new and exciting way, and while it was a lot of hard work, it was also energizing and informative.
We also discovered that conversations about our union were welcomed with open arms, whether they happened
at a work site, over the phone, or on someone’s front porch. And those conversations reminded us all of why we all dedicate ourselves to CSEA’s mission.
As we gear up for our next Never Quit blitz, and as we prepare for our “Never Quit” focused Annual Delegates Meeting in Washington D.C., we see a recurring theme: at the end of the day, communication is the driving force behind unionism.
community and shared understanding. Yes, we negotiate contracts and file grievances, but more importantly, we
are all just hardworking people who are part of this union because we believe in fairness for all workers. So often, we can overlook our differences when we choose to see the person standing in front of us, and when we recognize that regardless of our personal politics, we are all part of the same CSEA family.
I invite you all to embrace the spirit of Never Quit and start a conversation in your local or at your work site. Find one of your union brothers or sisters and try to get to know that person a little better. Talk about their union experience, ask questions, and share what you know.
To remain strong, we need each other and we need to use our voices, and also listen. Our union can only improve if we continue to Never Quit in strengthening our relationships and building a stronger union that works for everyone.