Page 4 - Work Force September 2018

WorkForce
ISSN 1522-1091
Official publication of
CSEA Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO 143 Washington Ave. Albany, NY 12210-2303 Danny Donohue, President
SHANNON HUTTON
Director of Communications & Publisher
MATHEW L. CANTORE Deputy Director of Communications
Long Island Region: WENDI BOWIE (631) 462-0030
Metropolitan Region: DAVID GALARZA (212) 406-2156
Southern Region: JESSICA LADLEE (845) 831-1000
Capital Region: THERESE ASSALIAN (518) 782-4400
Central Region: MARK M. KOTZIN (315) 433-0050
Western Region: OVE OVERMYER (716) 691-6555
Headquarters: JILL ASENCIO (518) 257-1276
JANICE GAVIN Editor
JASON D. HOSIER Graphic Production Specialist
BETH MCINTYRE Graphic Production Specialist
JOELLE LUCENTE Communications Assistant
CommuniCations speCialists
The Publications Committee:
Karen Bright Marie Snyder
Debbie Nappi-Gonzalez Rick Stahl
The Work Force (USPS 0445-010)
is published monthly by
The CSEA Publication Office:
143 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12210. Periodical Mail Postage paid at
Post Office,
Albany, New York 12288,
and additional mailing offices.
Postmaster: Send address changes to: CSEA, Attn: Membership Department, 143 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12210
Readers: Send any comments, complaints, suggestions or ideas to: Publisher, The Work Force
143 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12210-2303
CSEA online: cseany.org
or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube:
facebook.com/csealocal1000 twitter.com/csealocal1000 youtube.com/csealocal1000
President Danny Donohue in touch with
The WorkForce
The Labor Movement Improves the Lives of Hardworking Americans
4 The Work Force
September 2018
As Americans across the country prepare to celebrate Labor Day, often with parades and barbecues, as the unofficial end of summer, we know the real significance
of Labor Day. Labor Day honors the labor movement for improving the lives of hardworking Americans, families and communities.
Without the labor movement, Americans wouldn’t have weekends, let alone long weekends, to spend time with loved ones.
Without the labor movement, Americans wouldn’t have paid sick leave, employer-sponsored health benefits, or the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Without the labor movement, Americans wouldn’t have workers’ compensation, pensions and social security.
Without the labor movement, Americans wouldn’t have overtime pay, paid vacation and workplace safety standards.
Now these hard-won rights that labor unions have fought so hard for are being threatened. CSEA is ready for this fight and these threats have made us even stronger.
Anti-union groups funded by wealthy CEOs like the Koch Brothers want to destroy unions and silence the voice of working people. It’s not going to happen. Already, their schemes and harassing emails to union members have backfired. Our members are angry that corporate-funded puppets are urging them to quit our union, and won’t
be fooled into giving up their rights and protections to save a few bucks.
Public employees have always had the choice whether to join a union, and
every day, our members show us that
they are sticking with our union. When working people stand together, we have a powerful voice on the job to increase wages, improve benefits and provide safe working conditions. Unions have always been, and continue to be, the path for working people to achieve the American dream. The labor movement has helped thousands of workers get out of poverty, created the middle class, and continues to boost our economy.
A strong union can protect your wages, health benefits, workplace protections and pension. The key to staying strong is for
all of us to stay union. In this edition, we highlight several locals and units that are keeping us strong by getting 100 percent
of their represented workers to be union members. They know it’s better to be union and are great examples of the solidarity we all need to show.
As a last note, I want to acknowledge the recent passing of Western Region President Flo Tripi, who was a passionate, powerful force in the labor movement. Flo used her voice to make life better for all New Yorkers and we profoundly miss her.
The best way to honor Flo’s memory? Do what she did for 50 years — fight like hell for dignity and respect for all union members.
Stay union, stay strong!