The Leader In You: CSEA holds 112th Annual Delegates Meeting

CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan, at podium, addresses the 112th Annual Delegates Meeting. Seated, from left to right, are New York State AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Terrence Melvin, former CSEA President Joe McDermott and SUNY System Administration Local Secretary Susan Watson-Amos, who served as a sergeant-at-arms. (Photo by David Galarza)

MANHATTAN — Hundreds of CSEA delegates and officers from across the state recently came together for our union’s 112th Annual Delegates Meeting (ADM).

During the five-day meeting themed as “The Leader in You” and the first ADM to be held in person since 2019, delegates conducted important union business, attended workshops, department and division meetings and heard from union officers and inspiring speakers.

“Welcome to our CSEA 112th Annual Delegates Meeting,” said CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan during her address to delegates. “I am so happy to see you! It has been way too long, my brothers and sisters, since we have seen one another face-to-face, and it’s great to see your sweet and smiling faces.”

Speakers included Gov. Kathy Hochul, New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, New York State Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, AFSCME International President Lee Saunders and AFSCME International Secretary-Treasurer Elissa McBride.

Gov. Kathy Hochul, at podium, addresses delegates. Seated at left is CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan and former CSEA President Joe McDermott, in background.

Hochul reaffirmed her support for CSEA members and other working people, noting that her administration is continuing to work with our union to recruit and retain state workers.

“We need more workers because people have more needs than ever before,” said Hochul. “Let’s respect the people who are part of the public workforce, because you are the most dedicated, every one of you could have had a job somewhere else. Every day, members of this workforce go out and do good for the people of New York. There is no New York State without a strong CSEA.”

AFSCME International President Lee Saunders addresses delegates.

Saunders called on delegates to focus on strengthening our union.

“We are truly living in a unique moment of great opportunity and great possibility,” said Saunders. “We’ve got to take advantage of this environment to grow the labor movement in New York State and across the country; we really have to seize this moment because it’s not going to be around forever. We’ve got to take advantage of it right now.”

In addition to giving delegates an update on the state Retirement System, DiNapoli praised the dedication of CSEA activists.

New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli addresses delegates.

“I really want to thank you for being union leaders and union activists. It means you are taking the extra step of being the united voice on behalf of CSEA members,” said DiNapoli. “That kind of commitment to the union is so important and that is what made CSEA the leading public employee union, not just in New York State but in the entire nation.”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, at podium, addresses the
112th Annual Delegates Meeting. Seated, from left to right, are CSEA General Counsel Daren Rylewicz, CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan, New York State AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Terrence Melvin, SUNY System Administration Local Secretary Susan Watson-Amos and Metropolitan Region President Lester Crockett.

Adams praised CSEA members for continuing to deliver public services even in challenging times, including the pandemic.

“You have stood on the front line. I cannot thank you enough,” said Adams. “Not only when you look to the left and look to the right and behind you that you see the diversity and the reflection of this state, but you even see how there are no barriers you would allow to stand in the way to provide the services.”

State Senate Minority Leader Robert Ortt addresses delegates.

Ortt lauded members for their dedication to providing services during the pandemic.

“The past several years as we all know, have not been easy for anybody, but certainly not for your membership,” said Ortt. “To the extent that this state got through COVID, it’s because of the work of the men and women in this room.”

Many of the ADM’s workshops and programs were designed to help delegates build their leadership and union skills.

“There is no better way to protect our future than to recruit new members and develop new leaders,” said McBride. “It’s about the leader in you looking for the leader in others.”

Attendees were also urged to bring back the knowledge they gained to members to help others develop their own union leadership skills.

“I hope you will take back what you learned this week and use it to train the next generation of leaders in this union,” said Sullivan. “The only way we will stay strong and powerful is each one, teach one. That’s the only way we develop a strong, powerful CSEA in the years to come. This is a powerful union, and I am proud to be the president of this powerful union. We are unstoppable when we come together and when we work together, there is nobody who can stop CSEA.”