The new year not only brings us major challenges, but many opportunities to not only meet the challenges but make our union even stronger.
We have our work cut out for us. There are cases before the U.S. Supreme Court that could make it far more difficult for us to protect our pensions, benefits and rights if they are decided in favor of right-to-work interests.
Politicians and corporate leaders are aiming to gut pensions, Social Security and Medicare, particularly for people who are still working. Right-to-work legislation is under consideration in several states.
In November, New Yorkers will decide on whether to approve a state constitutional convention. If a convention is held, every aspect of our state constitution is open to change, which could jeopardize many of our rights and protections.
These challenges can be daunting, but there are also opportunities and hope.
Just as you have done for years, your employed brothers and sisters are providing valuable services in every community in New York, often going the extra mile to ensure that everyone gets the vital services they need.
Throughout the past year, we have been working hard to reach out to all of our members and engaging them in one-on-one conversations about what it means to be in a union. If we do our jobs and vow to never quit on each other and never quit fighting for what we believe in, we will be strong.
To reinforce — and build — this strength, we are continuing the membership blitzes that have inspired so many CSEA members and staff to stand strong against the challenges that face us.
We are also working hard to defeat the Constitutional Convention initiative, and we will need all of you to help get the word out to other New Yorkers that this convention is a bad idea.
But we can’t meet these challenges and build our strength without all of you. We have great momentum and it’s time to build on it, whether it’s at the legislative table, negotiating table or kitchen table.
