Page 16 - Work Force October 2023

of my life to promoting the best interests
of CSEA members and I surround myself with activists who share the same enthusiasm for progressing CSEA’s mission. It is my hope that all CSEA members duplicate
that sentiment. We must band together to combat the vicious attacks from anti-union organizations that seek to rob us of our seat at the bargaining table. Take ownership of our union by moving through it with the vigor of someone who knows how high the stakes are. Corporate interest groups would not be spending billions of dollars to wipe out unions if they did not have a special stake
impactful and enlightening.
On September 9, we had a blast marching
in the annual New York City Labor Day Parade alongside unionists from all over the city and our union family from Regions 1 and 3. Thank you for joining us!
I recently had the honor of receiving
a visit by United Farm Workers (UFW) President Teresa Romero, the first Latina and first immigrant woman to become president of a national union in the United States. We discussed the many organizing victories at New York State farms since the passage of the Farm Laborers Fair Labor
student experiencing a mental health crisis. They truly went beyond their job duties to help someone in a dire situation and felt comfortable to do so because they knew they had each other.
I am reminded with every board meeting, every contract campaign and every story just how strong our union membership is and just how lucky I am to be called a leader
in this organization. Through the stories of not only helping each other through tough times, but helping your communities through devastating and heartbreaking circumstances, I see how committed each and every one of
16 The Work Force
in the results. The wealthy oligarchs want workers to be vulnerable to their wants and needs, all while ignoring the workers’ best interests. Only through strong unions do we have a chance to stand up to our employers when they needlessly attack us.
CSEA will all be there to stand with you and for you. I only ask that you also stand by our union’s side in return.
Respectfully submitted,
Jerry Laricchiuta
Long Island Region President
Practices Act (2019) that was championed by CSEA. On behalf of CSEA, I expressed the union's continued support for the UFW and solidarity with the unionization of more farm workers throughout the state. In that regard, I proudly joined their host committee for their Solidarity Dinner in September. Thank you, CSEA, for coming on as a sponsor.
Respectfully submitted,
Lester Crockett
Metropolitan Region President
you is to your neighbors, your friends and your communities.
My hope as your region president is that
I can aid this union in fighting for you all
to have good, secure careers and lives so you may go forward and better your communities. I am here to amplify your voices because they hold power, they hold strength and they are what make me proud to represent CSEA.
Respectfully submitted,
Steve Healy
Western Region President
Nationally, we have seen union leaders who have had enough and are not holding back. As I write this, we are in the midst of SAG- AFTRA and Writers Guild of America strikes, and the Teamsters just avoided a major UPS strike by reaching a landmark union deal. With younger workers coming out of high school and college, they are refusing to accept the status quo.
We saw this firsthand in the Southern Region with our organizing campaign at
the Storm King Art Center. This largely young group of workers was troubled by some conditions in their workplace, but also wanted to more broadly achieve sustainable wages in an industry known for starvation wages. They contacted CSEA, began an organizing campaign, and won not one,
but two bargaining units at SKAC. As they work on negotiating their first contracts, I hope these activists will share their stories with other CSEA members in the Southern Region, because they all have stories of what made them take the plunge and organize.
For other CSEA members who never experienced that need for an organizing
the labor movement for nearly three decades, I find this rise in activism both overdue and gratifying.
We still have work to do. I understand the feeling that there is not enough time in
a day and I know from my time in DSS and Probation in Fulton County that residents’ needs are high and the line between getting
a service or having a really bad outcome is razor thin. I also recognize the people who come in early, stay late and lay awake at night re-playing an awful incident that took place that day or worrying about those who need their help.
If you work somewhere with many open positions, with people leaving for different jobs, with the pressure of trying to keep up because your workload or work hours are too high, I understand you.
Understanding the changing work landscape and the people who do the work informs our mission at CSEA and fuels our growth and collective power as a union.
I always return to people. Yes, we need a union to act and make change, but we also need that first person to stand up and say, “this needs to change.” Is that you? How can I help you stand up?
Our union provides the framework, the resources and the backing to bring change,
drive, I hope hearing some of those stories will contain the same contagious enthusiasm that turned me into a union activist almost 25 years ago. Looking forward and pledging improvements is important, but it is vital that we learn labor history and look back at our many victories to give us the motivation to keep going.
This past year in the Southern Region, we have had some incredible wins that I hope will be shared with new workers in years to come. With local and unit activists working collaboratively with our staff negotiators, we secured wage increases in some bargaining units that were literally life changing. The people that say unions had their place in
the past but are irrelevant now, could not
be more wrong. We have a proud history in CSEA and a strong future. Find your voice, share your story, and be a true participant in our union.
Respectfully submitted,
Anthony M. Adamo
Southern Region President
but it starts with people, even one person, identifying an issue and starting down that path to a solution.
To see change move from inception
to fruition has been and will remain one
of my greatest privileges to witness and to participate in as a labor activist. It is what fuels me and makes me a true believer. I have witnessed change happen and I have shared in the victories with so many special people here in the Capital Region.
In considering our convention theme, “My Union, My Voice, My CSEA,” I challenge each of you to ask how can your voice add to the conversation? What unique perspective do you bring? Are there specific changes you want to make in your workplace or in CSEA? How can you make our union better?
Being part of a union means your voice is amplified. Needed change is possible and a robust framework exists within CSEA to move your idea from inception to fruition.
I look forward to hearing your stories and sharing in the successful outcomes ahead!
Respectfully submitted,
Ron Briggs
Capital Region President
LONG ISLAND REGION PRESIDENT continued from Page 12
SOUTHERN REGION PRESIDENT continued from Page 13
METROPOLITAN REGION PRESIDENT continued from Page 12
CAPITAL REGION PRESIDENT continued from Page 13
WESTERN REGION PRESIDENT continued from Page 14
October 2023