From left, CSEA Central Region President Kenny Greenleaf, CSEA Central Region Treasurer Amy Simmons and CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan pose shortly after Sullivan presented Simmons with the William L. McGowan Award during our union’s Statewide Conference on Occupational Safety and Health. (Photo by Therese Assalian.)
Editor’s Note: Since this edition went to press, Amy Simmons has stepped down as Central Region Treasurer due to her plans to soon retire.
LAKE PLACID — Amy Simmons’ greatest strength is empathy in her work.
That’s why she always takes the time to understand workplace safety concerns that may be perceived as small or insignificant and gives them the time and attention they deserve.
Simmons, who serves as CSEA Central Region Treasurer and St. Lawrence County Local and Unit President, was recently honored with our union’s William L. McGowan Award for Occupational Safety and Health, which was presented before hundreds of attendees at the recent Statewide Conference on Occupational Safety and Health.
“I’m humbled and pleased to receive this award,” said Simmons. “At every safety and health conference I went to, the award always went to someone well deserving. It was a complete shock when CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan called me to tell me that I had received the award.”
Simmons has served in her local and unit offices for nearly 15 years. Before that, she served as the local’s secretary and is a trained steward and grievance representative. She is also heavily involved with our union’s local government committees as well as the statewide insurance committee and the Central Region Program Committee.
“When danger presents itself, Amy Simmons is one of those people who will run towards it to make sure everyone is safe,” said Sullivan. “She has taken the time to fully understand all the resources available, including the Occupational Safety and Health Department and PESH. Beyond all that, she’s always more than willing to listen to the safety concerns of the members, which may be the most important thing of all. She truly represents what it means to be a strong health and safety advocate for CSEA.”
“Amy is well deserving of this award and I’m proud of the work she’s done for St. Lawrence County and Central Region 5,” said CSEA Central Region President Kenny Greenleaf. “She truly knows how to advocate for safety for all of her members, regardless of where they work or what they do.”
From an ergonomic issue at a cubicle, to the deep nuance of workplace violence, air quality in a building to an exposure at the transfer station, highway workers in traffic to a Social Services worker doing a home visit, Simmons works to understand members’ safety and health concerns and learn about state Public Employee Safety and Health (PESH) Bureau regulations so she can take action.
“Quite a few years ago, there were workers welding part of a bridge and there was some fume or something coming from it, and they didn’t even have the proper equipment to be doing what they’re doing,” said Simmons. “I just had to think to myself, ‘Why should we have to call to get these things fixed? Shouldn’t the county know better?’”
St. Lawrence County has many aging buildings, and some issues often went overlooked. Improvements and upgrades are slowly being made – and with consideration for safety for employees and the public, thanks to the efforts of Simmons.
“Amy has taken the time to understand the dynamics of both CSEA’s OSH department and PESH, leveraging them for the members against bad safety practices,” said Greenleaf.
Safety and health meetings with legislators used to be a normal occurrence, but lately, they’re rare. Simmons is working on getting the situation fixed with the soon-to-be local and unit president before her upcoming retirement.
“Amy builds activism, Amy builds strength, and Amy builds our union,” said Greenleaf. “She not only encapsulates all that is Bill McGowan and what this award represents, but all that is CSEA.”
— Nicholas Newcomb
