Editor’s note: Women’s Conference attendees told the following stories during the Sunday plenary program, after they were selected among the stories members told during Saturday breakout sessions of “Our Voice, Our Power.”
James Coleman and Hollie Hallock
When Oswego County received federal American Rescue Plan funding, the monies largely went to management and not to the CSEA members working on the front lines during COVID.
CSEA members employed by the county wanted to be included in these raises.
“We work for departments such as DSS, Parole and Mental Health,” said Hollie Hallock, an Oswego County CO-OP (County Office Personnel) Unit member. “If you have worked in these positions, you know it’s not easy work, especially during COVID.”
Unit officers drafted a Memorandum of Understanding and submitted to county legislators and Human Resources, with no response.
Meanwhile, CSEA members were making themselves heard.
“We were waiting for any meeting, and in the meantime, members were fantastic, showing up to legislative meetings, started reading letters from other members and sharing their struggles we’ve all been through during the pandemic,” said James Coleman, Oswego County CO-OP (County Office Personnel) Unit Treasurer. “We were feeling it in our pocketbooks, in time we spent on the front lines working and making sure our communities and our members were safe.”
Soon after the workers’ struggle was covered in the local press, county officials finally called a meeting.
Several meetings later, with the help of CSEA Labor Relations Specialist Rich McCormick, the county agreed to pay $1,500 to every county employee this year, as well as an additional $1,000 in July 2024 to employees who are still on the payroll. The county also agreed to pay for a pay equity study.
“This was just unheard of in our county and really amazing,” said Coleman. “The cool thing is that it just started out with our bargaining unit and in the end, the legislators did it for all county employees. It’s amazing and we’re so happy.”
