Page 11 - Work Force October 2024

Richard Bebo Statewide Secretary
It takes every one of us are the the the ones they they will come to when they they have a a a a a question or a a a a a problem When that happens your title will not matter In the moment when a a a a a a a a member member needs needs information or or a a a a a a a a member member needs needs assistance you are no longer a a a a a a a a a President
President
Vice President
President
Secretary
Treasurer or any other title You You are are a a a a a a a a a representative representative of CSEA You You are are THEIR representative representative In that moment they need YOU Your answer answer should not be be related to your title in in CSEA The best answer answer for our our our union
members is always to to try to to help in in any way way possible Maybe you do not know the answer and that that is OK None of us know everything but in in that that that moment we can look that that member in the eye and say “I am not sure but we will figure this out out together Let me me reach out out to to someone who will know ”
Of course it it is critical to do just that Pass along the the concerns or questions to to the the the the right people If you were the the the initial contact with the the the member follow up too It goes a a a long way Many times the member just wants to to be be heard They want want to to know someone is is listening even if there is is is is is not a a a a a good answer for them Listening is is is is is something any and and every officer and and activist in in in in CSEA can do Every member who has this kind of of experience with a a a a a a a a representative of of CSEA will walk away feeling a a a a a a a a a little little more more included and a a a a a a a a a a little little more more committed to CSEA Each time that happens it it it makes us stronger stronger And every time we we we we get get get stronger stronger we we we we get get get more powerful Our influence gets bigger When we we we we need our Secretary
continued on on page 15
Nicole Meeks Statewide Treasurer Joining together keeps our union
strong GLreetings CSEA Family et et me me start off by saying one more time how grateful I I am to have been reelected as your Statewide Secretary
I I consider it an an honor and and a a a a a a a a privilege to to serve the members of CSEA in in this role and and I am committed to to making
the the the next four years the the the best they can possibly be!
Speaking of being reelected I know many of of of you may be be weighing the the the decision whether whether or or or not to run for office office again whether whether it is is the the the same office office you now hold or or or a a a a a a different one There may be be many members out there looking to run for for office office for for the the the first time Whatever the the office office and whoever the the person you have my
respect and admiration for considering
becoming a a a a a a candidate
for office It is is no small
task but it it is is every bit as as as rewarding as as you make it it CSEA could not exist
without officers at at every level level but especially at at the local and unit level level This year’s theme
is is “Moving Forward Together
”
I truly believe
CSEA will always move
forward no matter what We are a a a a a a a great labor
union
with hardworking amazing members throughout New York State That means our progress will continue For me me me the the the the key word in in the the the the the theme
this year is is “together ”
If we we all work together together we we can move
CSEA forward faster and better It takes every one of of us doing our part In fact it depends more on on all of of you you than you may realize Local and unit officers are are the faces of of CSEA that members see every day You are are there in the the the workplaces with them often side- by-side They They know you you They They trust you you You ICSEA Family would like to to welcome you all to to the 114th Annual Delegates Meeting I am excited
to to be be with you all this week in in in New York City I I am grateful to to be be in in my
second term as as Statewide Treasurer and I I I look forward to to to working with you all! I I will always be available to to to to assist or or or offer guidance to to to to anyone with any any issues or or concerns pertaining to to to the financial security of your Regions Locals and Units which is always a a a a a a a good thing!
From a a a a a a a a a a a a financial financial standpoint I am happy
to report that CSEA is doing well financially Over the past year we we have seen a a a a a a a a a a a volatile stock market interest rate adjustments by the Federal Reserve and have had threats
of a a a a a a a a a a a a a possible recession however CSEA has has maintained a a a a a a a a a strong fiscal position and has has made wise investment decisions CSEA continues to provide members with the services and resources that we all have become accustomed to to This This year’s theme
theme
for the the the the ADM is is is Moving Forward Together
This This theme
theme
means many things to to me me me me Educating members and and officers is key to to to keeping our union
strong and and “When union
members join together to to have their voices heard they can achieve many things such as a a a a a a voice and equity in the workplace fair wages health care and and other benefits and and a a a a a a a a a guaranteed pension ”
October 2024
The Work Force
11 “We have faced plenty
of challenges together in the the past several years We have continued to move
CSEA forward We will face plenty
more in in the coming
years too Let us all continue to to to work together as best we we can can If we we we can can all do that I I know we we we will be truly unstoppable as we we all Move Forward Together!”
moving
forward together Keeping the the members informed and educated is essential in in the survival of not only CSEA but every labor
union
Informing the members of benefits such as higher wages and good health care benefits due
to collective bargaining improving conditions in in in in the workplace and job stability is so important to keeping our union
strong Enabling
workers to to to come together as a a a a a powerful collective voice is crucial to to to building a a a a a stronger middle class Labor unions exist
to hold employers accountable Unions advocate for for workers’ rights and livable wages for for their members Labor unions enable workers to negotiate higher wages and and better benefits and and improve working conditions Research has shown that labor
unions help to make our economy more equitable and build worker power therefore boosting job satisfaction for for union
union
members A few examples of how labor
unions have Treasurer continued on on on page 15
Throughout the past several years I have trained more than 800 Treasurers
and numerous other officers in in in in in Treasurer Treasurer training training training I have offered many virtual trainings trainings via Zoom and several in-person trainings trainings throughout the state It is imperative that all officers of of of the the executive board have an an an an understanding of of the the Financial Standards Code In addition it it is important that everyone understands
how to to properly use rebated
fund to to run their Locals and Units 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 I highly recommend every officer take take Treasurer training because the the the entire
Executive Board is responsible for for the the the the approval of the the the the annual budget and essentially for for the the the the financial well-being of their Local or or Unit I I have have traveled around the the state for many conferences and and events this past year I I have have had the opportunity to meet and and speak with so many members Some have even said
that that these conferences were were the the the very first conference conference that that they were were attending It is encouraging to see so many new faces at at at at at the the conferences! To me me me that that means that that more members are getting involved in in in our union
Officer Reports