Greetings, Sisters & Brothers,
June marks important celebrations for communities of people who continue to fight for justice.
On June 19, we mark Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. In 1865, 2,000 Union troops freed more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in Texas. On this day, we also celebrate Black education, achievement and the numerous contributions that Black people have made to advancing our society forward.
The recognition of Juneteenth as an official state and federal holiday is a step in the right direction, but we still have a long way to go. Juneteenth is a great opportunity for us to recognize the struggles Black people have had in our country and educate ourselves so that we can continue to move towards equity.
CSEA is committed to advancing the fight for equity, social and economic justice, including making it a priority subject of contract negotiations that Juneteenth be observed as an official holiday in all member workplaces. Our union is committed to building an inclusive union by expanding training on cultural diversity for leadership and educating members. CSEA has embraced opportunities to work with AFSCME and the AFL-CIO toward racial justice. We proudly stand for justice in our communities.
June is also Pride Month, when we support and celebrate those who are part of the LGBTQ+ community as they too seek equity and justice. We must stand with our union members who belong to this community to continue to ensure they have the rights that should be guaranteed to ALL citizens.
The labor movement has always been about defending rights, ensuring fairness and protecting the safety and health of workers. There is a very strong connection between all this and social justice, because discrimination too often happens in the workplace. That can lead to loss of rights, lack of fairness and in extreme cases, injuries or even death. We must fight to ensure justice for all, whether it’s in the workplace or our community. When we stand together, we are strong.
CSEA and other labor union members play an important role in this fight, including through our participation in AFL-CIO constituency groups that fight for working people in the Black and LGBTQ+ communities, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, the A. Philip Randolph Institute and Pride @ Work.
I encourage you to seek out Juneteenth and Pride Month events near you, and show your support for these communities that are still fighting for equity.
In solidarity,
Mary E. Sullivan, President
