Page 4 - Work Force October 2018

WorkForce
ISSN 1522-1091
Official publication of
CSEA Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO 143 Washington Ave. Albany, NY 12210-2303 Danny Donohue, President
SHANNON HUTTON
Director of Communications & Publisher
MATHEW L. CANTORE Deputy Director of Communications
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
JANICE GAVIN Editor
JASON D. HOSIER Graphic Production Specialist
BETH MCINTYRE Graphic Production Specialist
JOELLE LUCENTE Communications Assistant
CommuniCations speCialists
The Publications Committee:
Karen Bright Marie Snyder
Debbie Nappi-Gonzalez Rick Stahl
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
143 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12210-2303
CSEA online: cseany.org
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President Danny Donohue in touch with
The WorkForce
Get out and vote!
4 The Work Force
October 2018
Every fall, we see an increase in Halloween decorations and political advertisements.
Admittedly, some of the ads are scarier than some of the decorations, but this brings us to Election Day on November 6.
This year, we will elect candidates for state and Congressional offices. There has been a lot of attention centered on races
for the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, including several key races in New York.
While this is important, we can’t afford to forget how important state and local races are for us. Elected leaders in our state and local government often have more of an effect on our daily lives and workplaces than what happens in Washington.
That’s why CSEA goes to great lengths in endorsing candidates. The most important thing I can emphasize about this process is that it’s not driven by political parties, but by who will best stand up for hardworking New Yorkers.
Union members throughout the state serving on political action committees at
the region, local, and unit levels interview candidates, review voting records and debate very carefully whether any of the candidates will act in our best interest if they are elected.
Only then is an endorsement made.
On our list of endorsements, which you can find on our website at cseany.org/cseas- 2018-endorsements or on Pages 16-17 of this
edition, you will notice we have endorsed candidates from both major parties. Only candidates who have demonstrated their willingness to fight for working people receive our endorsement, even if it means that we don’t endorse at all in a race.
We support the candidates who have vowed to stand up for us, but the most important thing is to GET OUT AND VOTE on November 6. People have fought and died for our right to vote, and we must use this right. Our government only works when we all exercise our right to vote and have
a say in who represents us at every level of government. For those of us employed in
the public sector, voting also serves as an opportunity to hire — and fire — our bosses.
Our country recently lost a great man
in U.S. Sen. John McCain, and his example
is one we should live by. We must come together despite our differences and diversity if we truly want to better our country, our lives, and our world. We owe
it to ourselves, our families and our loved ones to vote for candidates who will support us when they are elected so we can protect everything we’ve fought so hard for over the years.
Remember this mantra on Election Day: “I’m CSEA and I vote!”