CSEA President Danny Donohue: New year brings challenges, opportunities Message from Retiree Executive Committee Chair Charlotte Adkins It is clear that 2016 was a year of change. It was a very long presidential campaign, and it seemed to end in a real whirlwind that was shocking to many. The big change for me is that I am writing a column in this spot instead of Judy Richards. Judy has resigned as Chair of the Retiree Executive Committee (REC) and we wish her all the best in the future. As CSEA continues to fight the good fight, the organization is going through some changes of its own. Many staff took advantage of the retirement package offered by CSEA and that included our own Diane Sheldon, the retiree program specialist who has worked very hard for the Retiree Division members over the years. She will be missed and we wish her all the best. However, we have a new Retiree Program Specialist, Christine Meehan, who I believe is going to be a very good partner for the REC members and all retirees. I personally look forward to working with Christine. We also have a new REC vice chair, Suffolk Retirees Local 920 President Millie Lucas. Along with Grace Bevington-Eglin, who remains the REC Secretary, I look forward to working with Millie and the entire committee. Because of the changing climate and the attack on labor unions and the working people CSEA is changing the way it does business. The new year promises to bring even bigger changes for everyone. That means we must continue our fight to keep Medicare and Social Security from being privatized and reduced. Our fight will need to be intensified, and we will need everyone to join that fight. Great things can happen when we never quit on each other and stand for what’s right. Joining the Retiree Division of CSEA keeps our union strong and growing. We need each other to keep making our mark on working New Yorkers, such as our employed CSEA brothers and sisters. I hope you had a happy holiday season and wish you a Happy New Year! In Solidarity, The new year not only brings us major challenges, but many opportunities to not only meet the challenges but make our union even stronger. We have our work cut out for us. There are cases before the U.S. Supreme Court that could make it far more difficult for us to protect our pensions, benefits and rights if they are decided in favor of right-to-work interests. Politicians and corporate leaders are aiming to gut pensions, Social Security and Medicare, particularly for people who are still working. Right-to-work legislation is under consideration in several states. In November, New Yorkers will decide on whether to approve a state constitutional convention. If a convention is held, every aspect of our state constitution is open to change, which could jeopardize many of our rights and protections. These challenges can be daunting, but there are also opportunities and hope. Just as you have done for years, your employed brothers and sisters are providing valuable services in every community in New York, often going the extra mile to ensure that everyone gets the vital services they need. Throughout the past year, we have been working hard to reach out to all of our members and engaging them in one-on-one conversations about what it means to be in a union. If we do our jobs and vow to never quit on each other and never quit fighting for what we believe in, we will be strong. To reinforce — and build — this strength, we are continuing the membership blitzes that have inspired so many CSEA members and staff to stand strong against the challenges that face us. We are also working hard to defeat the Constitutional Convention initiative, and we will need all of you to help get the word out to other New Yorkers that this convention is a bad idea. But we can’t meet these challenges and build our strength without all of you. We have great momentum and it’s time to build on it, whether it’s at the legislative table, negotiating table or kitchen table. Charlotte CSEA mourns loss of Victor Costa CSEA is mourning the loss of Victor “Vic” B. Costa, 88, who passed away on Monday, Dec. 5. Coster was a longtime CSEA retiree activist, including serving as president and treasurer of the Westchester Retirees Local. Before retiring in 1986, he had worked for the Westchester County Department of Public Works for about 35 years. Constitutional convention is not a solution On Nov. 7, 2017, New York state voters will decide whether to hold a state Constitutional Convention. The New York State Constitution mandates that every 20 years, voters must decide whether to approve a convention. A state Constitutional Convention is a meeting of three delegates from each of the state’s 63 Senate districts, plus 15 at-large delegates. During this meeting, delegates would have the ability to amend any part of the state’s constitution. Any changes agreed to by a majority of delegates will then go to the voters for approval. Any approved changes will then become part of the state constitution. In 1997, voters rejected a convention largely based on strong opposition from CSEA and our allies. In recent years, some elected officials, voters and interest groups have expressed support for holding a constitutional convention because of frustration with recent political scandal and misguided state policies. We are again strongly opposed to a convention, which could potentially open the door for losing many of the rights and protections that help secure our futures, including our pension benefits, collective bargaining rights, contract rights, civil rights and social welfare and much more. A convention would also be expensive; it would likely be controlled by special interests that want to reduce your protections and could cost taxpayers millions. We urge you to share this information. Learn more at cseany.org/stopthecon. 2 CSEA RETIREE NEWS
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