Union courage brings sweet victory for workers and residents
GLOVERSVILLE — In a courageous effort to spark change, Gloversville Housing Authority (GHA) workers, supported by CSEA Capital Region leaders, exposed rampant mistrust, a hostile work environment and deplorable living conditions for the residents who live there.
The workers’ actions not only took giant leaps toward improvements for residents, but their own lives saw positive change when they recently organized their union with CSEA.
More than 80 residents also supported the workers, including packing into the residential complex’s community room to call out the authority’s governing board on its egregious neglect.
One example is the nine-month bedbug infestation that caused resident Karen Odell and her husband to sleep on patio furniture because they had to throw away their bedding. Residents are also dealing with laundry facilities in
Getting justice — and a voice
In December, several GHA employees asked CSEA for help after being placed on administrative leave, retaliation for an ethics complaint they filed.
In the complaint, they outlined the deteriorating work environment and alleged corruption by the board. GHA employees were allegedly told to do work on a board member’s home while on the clock.
The employees understood the power a union can have in protecting workers, improving working conditions as well as the living conditions for residents. Our union sprang into action, and the employees courageously worked with CSEA leaders and residents, reaping great rewards.
“As GHA workers, we work hard to provide safe, clean housing for tenants and we are good at it,” said Tina Sena, an organizing committee member and GHA account clerk. “Recent developments are negatively impacting our ability to accomplish this. We are ready to partner with the board to clean up GHA. We have decided to organize our union with CSEA to clean up our work force and request that GHA recognize us now so that we can move forward. We want a true partnership with the board, to make sure we have the safest cleanest places for our residents and workers. We strongly urge the board to recognize our union and work with us and the tenants to clean up this mess.”
CSEA Capital Region President Ron Briggs, who also strongly supports the workers, asked the authority’s board to “recognize our employees because they deserve protections and we need to move forward to build back GHA to what it used to be.”
Hard work reaps rewards
For several months, CSEA and the GHA employees put on such intense focus and heat through actions and media reports that U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) officials took notice. Authority board chairman and GHA Executive Director Tim Mattice eventually quit and several other board members resigned.
All of the employees who were placed on unpaid leave were returned to work. New board members voted March 16 to recognize CSEA as their representative.
“CSEA welcomes the Gloversville Housing Authority workers, who have shown through their words and actions that positive change is possible when people stand together,” Briggs said.
— Jill Asencio and Therese Assalian
