Page 6 - Work Force October 2018

Ulster County activists aim to reach non-members
KINGSTON — When our union kicked off our member engagement initiative nearly two years ago, outreach to
our members at their homes and worksites meant countless hours
of planning by CSEA staff and collaboration with activists on the ground.
The fruits of that labor are now being seen, as union activists are fired up and taking the lead in member engagement.
One of those activists is Sheri Farrell.
Farrell, who serves as Ulster County Unit
secretary,
recently
spearheaded a targeted member engagement blitz aimed at signing
up non- members.
From
developing
lists of non-
members
to mapping
driving
routes for
home visits,
Farrell
planned every aspect of a two-day enrollment blitz during which unit officers and CSEA staff teamed up and knocked on dozens of doors.
A team effort
Farrell is taking part in the current class of CSEA’s Labor Education and Development (LEAD) program, a program run by Statewide Executive Vice President Mary E. Sullivan aimed at better equipping our newer union activists for leading our union.
When the time came to choose a project for her LEAD class, Farrell turned to her executive board.
“I consulted with our board before
choosing a project because it affects all of us,” Farrell said. “We all work very well together to do whatever we can for our membership.”
Farrell took part in a larger member engagement visit in Ulster County last year and saw the value of one-on-one conversations with co-workers in strengthening our union.
In organizing the two-day visit targeting county unit members, Farrell paired up activists and staff, who headed out after work hours to knock on doors in locations across
Pictured at the Ulster County Local prior to doing home visits to Ulster County Unit non-members are, from left: CSEA Employee Benefit Fund Senior Benefits Specialist Jordan Hughes, CSEA Region Director Charisse Seneres, CSEA Political Action Coordinator Chris Ludlow, Ulster County Unit Vice President Kirk Jones, CSEA Labor Relations Specialist Howard Baul, Ulster County Unit Secretary Sheri Farrell, Ulster County Unit Secretary Tina Buono and Ulster County Unit President Janet Knott.
Local members recommit to our union
WEST SENECA — Western New York DDSO Local officers used the local’s recent annual hot dog roast to urge members to stick with our union.
Local President Stacey Pettigrew, vendors representing many CSEA’s member-only benefits and Labor Relations Specialist Steve Meyer were among those who explained the importance of staying union and staying strong, as well as what it means to be a proud union member.
Many attendees signed CSEA recommit cards to show their support of staying union.
“Meaningful conversations with the right people can have lasting value,” Pettigrew said. “We made some good progress reaching out to our co-workers concerning their recommitment to stay with the union. Our members get it. They know we are stronger together.”
— Ove Overmyer
CSEA members from the Western New York DDSO Local sign recommit cards at the local’s annual hot dog roast in West Seneca.
6 The Work Force
October 2018
Ulster County Unit Secretary Sheri Farrell, left, and Unit President Janet Knott consult on last-minute details before kicking off a non-member blitz.
Ulster County.
A stronger future
Ulster County Unit President Janet Knott said she and other unit officers saw how Farrell’s LEAD project could benefit the entire unit.
“Getting to full
membership sends a message of strength, and we
knew Sheri’s organizational skills and commitment to this project would get us closer our goal,” Knott said.
Organizing the mini-blitz on her own shows that our members on
the ground can continue to build momentum, though Farrell was quick to come back to the importance of teamwork, thanking the officers and staff who joined her in member home visits.
“I am extremely grateful to be part of such a cohesive team,” Farrell said.
— Jessica Ladlee