Judi Knight
Erie County— CSEA Western Region activist and Erie Community College employee Judi Knight readily admits she loves a challenge. She knew right from the get-go trying to help area part-time workers organize and get the benefits of union membership at her workplace would be an uphill battle– but it would be one worth fighting for.
“Being uniquely positioned within the college as a full-time payroll specialist, I had the ability to see how some part-time workers were being held to a different standard,” said Knight. “I knew some employees were struggling and I had to do something about it.”
Knight credits her Erie County Local President and mentor Denise Szymura with giving her a chance to get more involved with her union. She said, “Denise came to me and said I am recommending you for the CSEA 2015 LEAD program. I knew nothing of the program when it began, but I can now attest to how much it has helped me problem solve and build confidence. It was just an awesome experience.”
Knight’s initial objective was to unionize the college part-time workers, but with help from CSEA staff it soon morphed into organizing all the Erie County part-time workers as well. Her strategy was two-fold; first meet with every part-time employee in person and get them to sign a membership card. Secondly, she wanted to bring the college administrators, Erie County officials and CSEA staff and members to the table to hammer out a new deal. In December of 2016, a Public Employees Relations Board decision on the matter compelled management not to delay the action.
“When I told others about my LEAD program organizing project– they seconded guessed me. They told me it might be too ambitious, but I went full steam ahead anyway. I knew I could do this. I had a plan.”
Just within the last month, Knight delivered on her promise of creating a database of employees who want to belong to CSEA and now all parties have signed off on moving the plan forward.
Building a better union one conversation at a time
During her initial launch, Knight personally met with over 180 workers to educate them on the importance of belonging to a union– knowing full well the most effective way to change hearts and minds is to talk to co-workers on a one-to-one basis. Part of her project also included identifying emerging leaders and to make sure these new members have a starring role in the overall process. The final phase of the project will include acknowledging part-timers in an addendum of the Erie County Unit contract.
Knight not only excelled within her CSEA LEAD class, she was also honored with the statewide Nadra Floyd Award for Organizing in 2015. The award’s namesake, Nadra Floyd, was a longtime CSEA union activist who served as Director of Organizing from 2000 to her untimely passing in 2001. At the time of her death, Floyd was working to grow CSEA’s membership and transform the way CSEA organizes new members– much like what Knight has been doing in Erie County for the past couple of years.
Knight, who has attended CSEA organizing blitzes in Erie, Oneida and Monroe Counties, also serves as the Chair for the Erie County Local Women’s Committee. She told the Work Force, “I think I’m motivated by making sure everyone is treated with respect and dignity. If a workplace is going to be productive, justice must prevail. I’m very thankful I was given an opportunity to take a leadership role in our union. I knew I could make a difference.”
Knight says her union work for the past couple of years has been a truly rewarding experience. Once the new part-time contract details are a done deal, Judi said she is already looking forward to the next big challenge.
-Photos & Story by Ove Overmyer
