Page 15 - Work Force October 2025

PEOPLE Program seeing
membership increases
The CSEA/AFSCME PEOPLE
Program has seen a recent uptick
in members who are contributing.
“It’s no surprise
to see this,” said
Statewide PEOPLE
Committee Chair
Karen Bright.
“More members
are understanding
the importance of
being involved and
engaged in politics
Bright
at every level to
protect the rights we have fought so
hard to win.”
The PEOPLE program protects
and improves our jobs, benefits and
pensions in Washington, Albany and
in your community.
Your support and
participation in
PEOPLE strengthens
our union’s clout
in the workplace, in
the legislature, in your
community and in the labor
movement.
Only 3 cents of every dues
dollar goes to CSEA’s Legislative
and Political Action Department. In
addition, federal law prohibits the
use of members’ dues for federal
campaign contributions. This is
why voluntary contributions to the
PEOPLE program are so important.
These funds allow us to support
pro-labor candidates in both parties,
advance legislation that benefits our
members, and fight back against
harmful proposals.
“Given what’s been going on
with national politics, members are
more aware of and engaged in the
political world,” said CSEA PEOPLE
Coordinator Kim Wallace-Russo.
“This is leading to more members
understanding the importance of
PEOPLE and supporting it.”
Recruiting members to
contribute to the PEOPLE Program
is largely driven by region PEOPLE
committees and CSEA Political
Action Coordinators. Wallace-Russo
said the committees have done an
outstanding job recruiting members
to contribute. The Retiree Division
locals have also stepped up their
efforts, she said.
AFSCME Assistant Director
of Fundraising Jeanette Barnes
noted that support for the PEOPLE
program has increased nationally
as well.
In 2025, the AFSCME PEOPLE team
set a goal of signing up 10,000 new
MVP-level PEOPLE supporters and
as of September, they have already
reached 77 percent of
that goal.
“This momentum
reflects a growing
understanding among
our members,” said
Barnes. “We are living
in a critical moment
for labor, and now is the time to act.”
PEOPLE is key to fighting back
against legislation that will harm
CSEA members and working families,
as well as the essential services they
provide.
“We are spreading the word
about dangerous legislation like
the so-called ‘Big Beautiful Bill’—a
bill that threatens working families
and undermines the progress we’ve
made,” said Barnes. “We must
continue to fight against these
assaults on our rights and our
livelihoods.”
PEOPLE is a nationwide
program that supports all AFSCME
affiliates. To learn more about how
federal cuts threaten workers and
communities across the country, see
page 3.
— Mathew L. Cantore
CSEA PEOPLE Coordinator Kim Wallace-Russo, left, speaks with a member
about the program during the recent Ulster County member engagement
blitz.
Matthew: PEOPLE protects members,
communities
For more information on the CSEA PEOPLE program,
including applications to sign up as a contributor, visit
cseany.org/the-people-program.
MANHATTAN
— For Joyce
Matthew, being
named PEOPLE
Recruiter of the
Month for August
is more than an
honor — it’s a
chance to show
what union
Matthew
activism can
accomplish.
Matthew, who serves as
CSEA’s Metropolitan DDSO Local
President, was only recently
appointed to her local PEOPLE
committee, but she wasted no time
getting to work.
Inspired by Metropolitan Region
Political Action Coordinator
Matthew D’Amico, she started
attending membership meetings
and talking directly with members.
“I didn’t have much experience,
but I just wanted to get my feet
on the ground,” said Matthew. “I
followed his lead, and members
were very receptive.”
Her outreach paid off. In August,
she recruited 18 new PEOPLE
members. New hires particularly
responded to the program’s efforts
to fix state pension Tiers 5 and
6, an issue that hits home for
workers planning for retirement.
“The new trainees were excited
to hear the PEOPLE Program can
help fix Tiers 5 and 6,” Matthew
said. “They also raised concerns
about wages, because we live in
the city and it’s very expensive.”
Matthew sees PEOPLE—Public
Employees Organized to Promote
Legislative Equality—as essential
to protecting both members and
the communities they serve.
“OPWDD is funded by Medicaid,
and if we have budget cuts,
services will be cut,” said Matthew.
“That doesn’t just affect staff—it
affects individuals and families
who depend on those services.”
She also connects the work to
the national political picture.
“Who we have in the White
House matters,” she said. “The
PEOPLE program gives us the
power to fight back against
harmful cuts.”
Looking ahead, Matthew said
she’s committed to growing
PEOPLE in her workplace and
beyond.
“I’m happy to be part of this
committee,” said Matthew. “I’m
looking forward to getting more
experience, finding new members
and keeping PEOPLE strong.”
— David Galarza
October 2025 15 15
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