Jennifer Wilcox on the job as a food service helper at the Averill Park School District.
AVERILL PARK — Workers from the Averill Park School District voted decisively to join CSEA in an election that took place a few months after reaching a majority and certification from the state Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) earlier this year.
The new bargaining unit comprises all non-instructional titles in the district. Several reasons to join CSEA informed their choice.
The main reason was to tap into CSEA’s negotiating strength. With nearly 300,000 members statewide to back them up, and having a designated labor relations specialist at the bargaining table with them along other experts such as access to a legal team during contract negotiations, reinforced their choice.
“We have started negotiating with the district,” said Dennis Weatherwax, unit president. “Having great labor relations specialists to help us through the negotiations has been wonderful. We have good support from our local leadership and have high hopes that we can deliver for our members.”
CSEA’s uniquely democratic system of representation offers union members more local control that the workers at Averill Park School District see as extremely valuable.
Colleen Caitlin works in food service at the Averill Park School District.
Our member-driven union, with workplace-based officers and an independent treasury, puts power back into the hands of the members; this is important to them and exactly what they were looking for.
“I’m excited we are getting into a union with more resources. I really like that college benefit from AFSCME. That could really help my family. We wouldn’t have things like this if we didn’t join CSEA,” said Nancy Hajduk, a cook at Algonquin Elementary School.
