Page 11 - Work Force October 2023

GEreetings Brothers and Sisters arlier this year I had the the pleasure of attending a a a a a a a a press conference with Governor Hochul as she announced expanded paid parental leave for for CSEA members who work for for the the state That got me
me
thinking about my my own story and and the the birth of my my children At that time I worked in retail and and was was not able to to be present the day my daughter was was born That led me
to to to think think about about how powerful it is to to be be union I think think about about all
those new mothers and fathers who because they are part of of our union will have the the the the the great joy of of being able to care for and bond with their new children whether they are are born adopted or or or fostered There has been a a a a lot of chatter about groups out out there trying to to to convince members to to to to leave our union even going so far as to to to to outright scam them I I am am happy to to to report
that I I regularly look at at the the the number of member opt-outs and and these groups’ efforts are are not working CSEA members are are are staying and and they are are sticking with our union That is extremely important but we cannot be complacent about it We have to to to continue continue to to to work hard on on on on their behalf and and continue continue continue to to to to train learn and and and grow so that we can continue continue to to to lead and and and represent union members members We need to to to continue to to make members members understand that we all
need one another Involvement can be be be be as as as little or as as as much as as as members want it it it to be be be ISisters and Brothers would like to to to welcome you all
to to to the the 113th Annual Delegates Meeting I I am am thrilled to to to be be with you you all
this week in in Buffalo I I am am also honored to to be be your Statewide Treasurer and I am here to to to assist you you you all
with any issues or or concerns that you you you may have pertaining to to the financial wellbeing of your Regions Locals and Units quickly and be transferred directly to the Local’s bank account We are very excited to to to bring this new opportunity to to CSEA Locals!
Additionally a a a a a a a a a a a positive change was made to to the the Financial Standards Code In the the past Locals could be penalized up to to 50 percent of of their their annual rebate for the the the late submission of of their their financial reports President Sullivan and I agreed that that imposing harsh penalties on Locals that that submitted their financial reports late only hurts the the the members We did not want to financially restrict Locals from doing the the the the work of of the the the union Therefore we asked the the the Board of of Directors for for for approval to to to reduce penalties given to to to to Locals for for late financial report
filing to to 10 percent or or or at at at the the discretion of the the CSEA does not just magically happen though We are not here because someone said ‘Oh hey CSEA should exist ’
and POOF there we we were We are here here because more than one hundred years ago workers got together and recognized the the the the power they would have by coming together for one common goal That set off a a a a a a a a a chain of of many many many many events that leads us to to to where we are are are today We We We We are are are are still still still here here We We We We are are are are still still still together We We We We are are are still still still powerful We We We We have to to to to work hard to remain that way This year’s Annual Delegates Meeting is is a a a a a a a a a a a skills-based training event I cannot emphasize enough the the importance of the the skills skills we need to to continue to to lead and represent CSEA CSEA members every day CSEA CSEA IS A A A MEMBER-DRIVEN UNION! We only only exist and and we we only only continue to enjoy the power benefits rights and and privileges we we have because of of our membership It takes all
of us whether it it is opening and reading an an email attending a a a a a a a membership meeting
or becoming a a a a a steward grievance representative or or even an an officer We should be be encouraging all
types of of member member involvement and meeting
members where they are It is my great hope you will all
all
continue to do do the amazing work that you you all
all
all
do do every day for for CSEA and for for union members I I truly truly believe believe you you all
all
will because more than ever I I truly truly believe believe in in in in in CSEA Keep learning and and growing representing leading and and fighting I I promise you you that I I will be right there with you you every step of the the way!
Respectfully submitted Richard Bebo
Statewide Secretary
Throughout the past several years I have trained over 700 Treasurers and countless other officers officers in in in in Treasurer Treasurer training It is imperative that all
officers officers have an an an an understanding of of the Financial Standards Code and and and and are informed on how to to properly use rebated funds to to run their Locals and and and Units By offering virtual and in-person Treasurer training I I am able to reach a a a a a a a a a broader
audience of of officers I I have also conducted Treasurer training for entire Locals and have have been able to train train officers that have have never taken Treasurer training before If you have not done so already I encourage every officer to take Treasurer training because the the entire Executive Board is responsible for the the the approval of the the annual budget Over the the the past year we have made several positive advancements with with the the way CSEA conducts business with with Locals Locals Specifically CSEA is now offering Locals Locals the the the ability
to to have their rebated funds or any other reimbursement to to to the the the the Local Local directly deposited into their Local Local bank account as opposed
to to to waiting for a a a a a a a a a a paper check By offering direct direct deposit to to Locals this will alleviate checks checks being being misdirected or lost in in in in the the mail mail eliminate checks checks checks being being being mailed to to the the wrong person or or or address or or or checks checks being being stolen
and cashed by someone for which it it was not intended In addition funds will arrive more Statewide Treasurer President Sullivan and I recognize that that there are circumstances that that may arise when Locals do not file their financial reports by the the given deadline Essentially we felt that that it was imperative that that that Locals have the the money that that is needed to to operate their their Locals to to the the the the best of their their their ability
for their their membership With that said please continue to submit your financial reports in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a timely manner Please do not hesitate to contact me
me
if anyone needs any any assistance with their financial reports As I I have have traveled around the the state for conferences this past year I I have have had the opportunity to meet with so many people Having one-on-one conversations with members and officers is how we stay connected to people in in our union Whether it it it is is assisting a a a a a new Treasurer with their budget or or telling a a a a a a member member of the the the benefits that we receive just for for being a a a a a CSEA member member the the the more more information I can give someone the the more more empowered our leaders and members will be Treasurer continued on on page 15
“We only only exist and we only only continue to enjoy the power benefits rights and privileges we have because of our membership It takes all
of us ”
“When every member has a a a voice and they join together with other members they collectively can be be stronger in in negotiating with their employer ”
October 2023
The Work Force
11 Officer Reports
Richard Bebo
Statewide Secretary
It takes all
of us Nicole Meeks Statewide Treasurer Continue to empower each other