Page 16 - Work Force October 2024

I think of these and many other memories from this year in reflecting upon the 2024 Annual Delegates Meeting theme of “Moving Forward Together.” It is vital that we keep doing just that. I do not want to diminish
the importance of supporting labor-friendly candidates for office (in fact, that is crucial!), but no matter what, we must keep working toward unity so that success will indeed take care of itself.
Unity will allow us to focus on strong contracts, developing new activists, maintaining safe workplaces, and getting new members to choose to join our union because we have demonstrated to them in our new member orientations why it truly is better to be union. Moving Forward Together will be the critical component in making all of this
from the 250 responses was evaluated by the committee and our Occupational Safety and Health Specialist and informed continued discussion at the fall conference.
Capital Region locals/units have been engaging members, holding membership meetings and events. I have been invited
to food truck events, ice cream socials and many summer functions. Keep up the great work in engaging and informing members and allowing me to join you at your events. JOB WELL DONE RAISING OUR MOMENTUM!!! “We are each other’s harvest; we are each other’s business; we are each other’s magnitude and bond,” said Gwendolyn Brooks.
In an effort to get region locals/units in compliance with the financial standards code, we contacted Statewide Treasurer Meeks, who conducted an in-person Treasurer’s Training. A special “thank you” to Treasurer Meeks and congratulations to those who participated.
We have several locals and units in administratorship, and we are partnering with our union’s Retiree Division for a phone blitz to impacted members to get some members to step up. Further, our Retiree Division has offered to mentor new leaders. Our region has some of the most active Retiree Locals and we are extremely grateful for their efforts. “We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men,” said Herman Melville.
Plans for our fall conference are
happen.
In closing, I would like to thank all of our
region staff along with the officers throughout the Southern Region, for the work they do each day to keep our union moving forward. So much of what we do, we just consider part of the job, but the reality is that the people working behind the scenes daily continue to make incremental improvements that lead to broader improvements in the labor movement each year. For that, I offer my continued gratitude.
Respectfully submitted,
Anthony M. Adamo
Southern Region President
being finalized with a focus on leadership complacency, safety, union benefits and CSEA history. Our Presidents Only Conference is planned for November with emphasis on the relationship between local/unit presidents and the LRS, along with education around locals with unit structures.
Raising our Momentum and growing this union is not about numbers, words, or slogans, it is a constant reminder to keep educating ourselves as leaders and members.
Leadership for me is life sustaining air,
the action of taking a breath; to inhale and
to exhale in the instance to construct a distinction beyond myself and my ability.
To give space for leaders and members to enervate all options, opportunities, and benefits this union has to offer. In this fight for fairness, let us not lose sight of why we
are here, and who we are here for. Let us keep the courage to do what is right on behalf of the members we support every day; the clock is always ticking.
Some closing thoughts from Rita Dova:
“Courage has nothing to do with our determination to be great, it has to do with what we decide in that moment when we are called upon to be more.”
BE THE MORE.
Respectfully submitted,
Shana Davis
Capital Region President
February. The event honored longtime labor leaders, including the legendary AFSCME and CBTU leader William “Bill” Lucy, NYS AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer and CBTU President Terrence Melvin and CSEA’s very own Sharon Lovelady-Hall.
In March, I joined labor leaders, elected officials and New Yorkers in honoring
the immigrant women who perished in
the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. The tragedy demonstrated the importance of the union movement and led to the passage of many workplace safety and health laws to better protect workers.
The CSEA Metropolitan Region 2 Women’s Celebration was given the theme “You Don’t Have to be a Star to be in our Show,” but it was nonetheless a star-studded affair enjoyed by members and staff in our Region 2 office and virtually. Coordinated by the Region 2 Women’s and Education Committees, the celebration highlighted the contributions of women that included Ruby Bridges, Michelle Obama, Shirley Chisholm and Letitia James. Participants also honored homegrown Region 2 she-roes, past and present.
CSEA Metropolitan Region Safety and Health Committee Chair Deb Hanna joined the New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH), other unions and labor organizations in
April to commemorate Workers’ Memorial Day in honor of those who have died or suffered injuries or illnesses while on the
job, including those who have been lost as a result of workplace exposure to COVID-19, 9/11 related illness, and other occupational illnesses, and to renew our fight for strong safety and health protections for all working people.
In our celebration of CSEA members and appreciation for the work they do, CSEA Metropolitan Region 2 went to the Brooklyn Cyclones ballpark, where I had the honor
of throwing the first pitch, while our retiree
Barbara Shoates was feted and Laila and Nia Harewood spent quality time on the field. Though the evening was chilly, our hearts were warmed by the hospitality and sportsmanship of the Brooklyn Cyclones.
The CSEA Metropolitan Region 2 held its officer installation ceremony in June
and we honored longtime members for
their vital contributions to the Region 2. Congratulations to Vincent Martusciello, Executive Vice President; Faye Wilkie-Fields, 1st Vice President; Ajani Williams, 2nd
Vice President; Jonathan Brown, Secretary and Delphine Moultrie, Treasurer. Special thanks to the Installation Committee, led
by Faye Wilkie-Fields, for organizing such a memorable affair.
Finally, dozens of CSEA Metropolitan Region 2 activists joined local and statewide officers and staff for the Region
2 Education & Women’s Committees’ Annual Conference. The conference theme, Embracing Change and Transformation, offered members an opportunity to
learn and grow as unionists by attending workshops on the retirement system, grievance representation, retirees, workers compensation, political activism, member engagement and more.
It was a pleasure to join Statewide officers, including Executive Vice President Ron Briggs, Statewide Secretary Richard Bebo
and Statewide Treasurer Nicole Meeks,
in welcoming and facilitating many of the discussions throughout the weekend. Special thanks to Education Committee Chair, Felicia McCollough and Co-Chair Adrian Williams and Women’s Committee Chair Darcel Johnson and Co-Chair Charlene Carter and all the members of their respective committees for organizing such a productive and fun-filled conference.
Respectfully submitted,
Lester Crockett
Metropolitan Region President
16 The Work Force
October 2024
SOUTHERN REGION PRESIDENT continued from Page 13
METROPOLITAN REGION PRESIDENT continued from Page 12
CAPITAL REGION PRESIDENT continued from Page 13