Page 10 - Work Force October 2023

MSisters and Brothers:
y y y Union My My Voice My My CSEA I am SO proud Together we have done some
amazing things Through the the hard work all
of you have have done we we have have demonstrated our power in in in the the workplace over over and over over again We have successfully organized in in in the the the City of Long Beach for part-time workers the the the Utica Zoo the the Croton Library BANGS Ambulance Storm King Art Center Inwood Sanitation District #1 for Supervisors and the Goshen Public Library Workers at all
those places recognized the power of of CSEA and wanted to be a a part of it They now now know just like we we have for a a a a sorts of false promises and fake information designed to to trick members into leaving The best part is is that it is is not not working Our union members members are are not not leaving We are are gaining members members As long as they keep keep coming after us us we we we will keep keep fighting them them and showing them them just how how powerful we we we we are are when they fail to break break us us We are are unbreakable and we we we will keep showing them that until they get it Our voices voices matter As your your President I encourage all
of you you you to to use your your voices voices too We are leaders activists and and proud members and and our voices can make all
the the the difference when we use use them together Now is the the the time to to to use use our voices Help
Since our our last Annual Delegates Meeting I have continuously traveled the state visiting worksites listening to to our our membership to to be be be better informed of our our our current struggles and and and understand the challenges facing both our our our leadership and and and our membership One thing thing has become increasingly clear We need to do things differently I I I see see see where where we we are are strong (I (I see see see you) you) and I I I I see see see where where we we are are struggling (I (I support you) you) though though repeatedly the same thought enters my mind — ‘We need to do things differently ’
A common thread that that weaves through our union is that that we we we achieve great success when we we we are are united organized and active When our union members are engaged and and and groups who would like to to see us taken out to to squelch our powerful voice but we we have proven that that they will NOT win I see a a a a future that that is bright and strong Where every member feels secure protected and defended Where all
members members know they have a a a a voice with membership regardless of their role It does not matter whether you sit at at a a a a a a desk work with the the the public or or or take care of our beautiful state or or or if if you are are the the the one who says ‘I do do not get in trouble I I I I I do do my job the the best I I I I I can and I I I I am a a a a a a a a good employee ’
(I see you) You are just as as important to our union as as an an an activist holding a a a a a a a picket sign Tens of of thousands of of our members go to long time how we improve our workplaces by by making them safer by by fighting for and and and winning dignity and and and respect and and and fair treatment on on the job “Our voices matter As your President I encourage all
of you you you to to use your voices too We are leaders activists and and proud members and and our voices can make all
the difference when we use them together ”
recruit new employees into rewarding public service positions We can share our stories of how wonderful our our work can be and encouraging people who may be thinking about public sector work to to to pursue it it it Thanks to to to the new initiatives it it it is easier than ever to apply If we each connected with one person we we know who may informed — working hand
in in in glove with leadership — we solve the toughest
workplace issues and collectively bargain for the best contracts: pay benefits and working conditions When worksites are organized active and united the the the greatest power is in the the the hands of the the the membership When we we are active and and strong we we serve each other best work every day giving their all
for our our state and our our communities with not much time or energy left over over — covering mandated shifts (I see you) doubles and and triples sacrificing for the the good of their families (I see you) Recruitment and retention issues affect all
all
of of public service in all
all
of of our divisions which means most of our members on on on one level or another are affected
Unions have been demonstrating their power in in in in historic ways too As I am writing this we are in in in in the midst of of an ongoing
strike strike by members of of SAG-
AFTRA and a a new strike strike by UAW members In both cases they are standing up for themselves to demand the the the same things all
unions want That is what makes us united in in in solidarity They are a a a a a a a a a a a a great reminder that together we we we have the the power we we we need to to make real changes in in in in our favor “We face a a a a choice whether to adapt and assess our union honestly to identify what what works and what what does does not work work The top-down style does does not work We must look left to to right to to find our strength ”
All this reinforces that public opinion of labor unions is is at at at its highest point in in in in a a a a a a a a very very long time We are very very much a a a a a a a part of that movement Our power is not just about the the workplace either We have have seen prolonged repeated attacks from anti-union groups who have have resorted to to all
sorts of dirty tricks including outright scamming members into opting
out out We have seen mailers and emails with all
be looking for rewarding work we we would go a a a a a a a a a long way toward solving the understaffing crisis we face because legislation alone will not force people to to to go to to to work Use your your voice to to to to engage your your members Encourage them to to participate Sign up new new members Each new new involved member member makes us that that much stronger Members need to be be be be constantly reminded of the power that that comes with being in in in in our Union This is is the great thing about CSEA We are a a a a a a a group of incredibly diverse people from all
different backgrounds who have joined together to to improve our our own lives and and by doing so for our our families and and loved ones President continued on on on page 15
Management sees our collective strength at the the bargaining table Our communities see see our collective strength in in in the the the good we do do but active does not look the the the same for everyone This year’s theme ‘My Union My My Voice My My My CSEA CSEA ’
’
is is personal Every member has an an important reason for being CSEA CSEA We must not underestimate the power of membership membership It is membership membership first and and foremost that makes us powerful and and and heard and and and for for this very reason our union is is being tested We have been pushed and and pulled in in directions we never thought possible Our union union has been under attack by anti-union by this crisis Our state needs to be held accountable for everything already promised and yet still we need more action to solve this staffing emergency As many of you know I I serve as an an AFSCME International Vice President Recently a a a a nationwide survey commissioned by AFSCME identified union members’
top three priorities across the the country By a a a a a a a landslide they are — pay benefits and and working conditions In that that order It is critical that that as as a a a a a a a union we stay laser-
Executive Vice President continued on on page 15
10 The Work Force
October 2023
2023
Annual Delegates Meeting Mary E Sullivan Statewide President My My My Union My My My Voice My My My CSEA Denise Berkley Statewide Executive Vice President We are at a a a a crossroads