Jarvis T. Brown became a CSEA member in 2000 and has been an advocate for workers’ rights from his first day. Leading with the motos, “Communicate to Educate” and “Knowledge is the Key to Success,” Brown is dedicated to building a stronger union and improving the lives of CSEA’s membership. Brown is an avid listener who is always available to hear the concerns and ideas of CSEA members. By creating an open and inclusive environment, Brown fosters a sense of trust and collaboration, thereby empowering emerging leaders and strengthening the overall union movement.
Brown built his leadership career as a local president of CSEA Town of Oyster Bay President from 2013-2024, Jarvis grew his own local by organizing hundreds of workers with previously excluded titles into his local while bargaining strong agreements and maintaining the highest level of membership. At Oyster Bay, Brown developed and refined his ability to recruit, develop and lead a team of activists and leaders that work collaboratively to build power for workers.
Brown was elected CSEA Long Island Region President in 2024, leading almost 50,000 workers across Long Island. He immediately went to work strengthening the region by recruiting and training leaders for units in administratorships to ensure that every member had a voice and a seat at the table. Brown hosted and led leadership education classes for new and seasoned leaders to recruit the next class of leaders and activists. Brown led the fight at the table when management demanded concessions or local and units had expired contracts expired without resolution. With his support, thousands of CSEA members in the SUNY Farmingdale Local, the Bethpage Cafeteria Local, Nassau University Medical Center, and Nassau Local 830 have become more informed, resilient, and tenacious union workers.
A highlight of his region leadership has been his work with Nassau County Local 830, at the time, the local was one of CSEA’s largest locals, with over 7,000 members. Brown went head-to-head with county leadership to speak on behalf of members to lead the local’s fight to preserve affordable medical benefits for thousands of members. Brown helped rebuild the local by creating a network of activists and communications to strengthen members’ trust, activism and engagement.
An outstanding union organizer, Brown has grown our union by successfully organizing more than 1,000 new CSEA members around New York State. Brown’s most exceptional organizing achievement is bringing 120 SCO Family of Services workers into our union. With the help from the workers ‘organizing team, Brown successfully defeated one of the country’s largest union-busting law firms. When beginning the group’s contract negotiations took longer than expected, Brown “stormed the SCO Family of Services management’s office,” where he parked himself in the waiting room for about an hour until the director of the facility agreed to speak with him face-to-face. Contract negotiations began the next day.
Some additional groups Brown has helped organize are the Oyster Bay Lifeguards, the Tyree Learning Center, Oyster Bay – East Norwich School District Monitors, Oceanside Fire District, Island Park Department of Public Works, Babylon Teacher Aides and Monitors, and the Northeast Parent and Children Society, which pulled Brown into Albany, N.Y. to assist. CSEA Leadership recognized Brown’s leadership in organizing the Nadra Floyd Organizing Award in 2019.
Brown’s additional credits include being a CSEA Leadership Education and Development Program class 4 graduate, a New York State AFL-CIO Executive Council member, a Long Island Federation of Labor executive board member, and a Coalition of Black Trade Unionists International Executive Council member.
Brown continues his distinguished career in public service with unwavering commitment to advocacy, leading with integrity, and making a lasting impact on CSEA’s membership.