ALBANY — CSEA activists and officers recently participated in the 46th New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators in Albany, where a myriad of issues, including the state budget, the Constitutional Convention and current issues in health and education, were debated and discussed.
CSEA is a longtime supporter of the Caucus event, and hundreds of event attendees visited our union’s booth at the Empire State Plaza concourse. Statewide Executive Vice President Mary E. Sullivan, Statewide Secretary Denise Berkley, Statewide Treasurer Bill Walsh and Capital Region President Ron Briggs joined activists and staff in greeting visitors and distributing CSEA materials.
Above, from left, State Assemblyman Robert Rodriguez, CSEA Statewide Secretary Denise Berkley, and State Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes honor Berkley as Labor Leader of the Year during the Labor Luncheon at the NYS Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators Caucus.
At the Annual Labor Lunch, Berkley was presented with the Labor Leader of the Year Award that she proudly accepted on behalf of our union members.
AFSCME President Lee Saunders delivered the luncheon’s keynote. “We must all stand together,” he said. “(Opponents) are trying to divide us and we can’t let that happen!”
Among the many workshops and discussions during the weekend was the forum on the Constitutional Convention, which provided more insight and arguments to oppose the ballot measure in November.
“We have more to lose than gain,” said Ryan Delgado, New York State AFL-CIO political director. He cautioned that the process would be a waste of money, is unnecessary since a process already exists to amend the constitution, and it would be risky because many delegates may potentially support measures that roll back many of the rights and protections that are essential to our futures.
— David Galarza
Above, CSEA Statewide Executive Vice President Mary E. Sullivan, Statewide Secretary Denise Berkley, Capital Region President Ron Briggs and Statewide Treasurer Bill Walsh join activists and members during the annual NYS Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators Caucus.
