Editor’s Note: Shop stewards continue to act in the best interests of our members by being the face of our union at our work sites.
Stewards make it their duty to be available to our members with questions about our union and available resources.
They are the true labor champions of our union, but the importance of our shop stewards can be overlooked. That is why we are highlighting the work of our union’s shop stewards.
Anthony “Tony” Vasell, a member of the Long Island State Employees Local, works as an environmental specialist at the state Division of Military and Naval Affairs at Gabreski Airport in Westhampton Beach. He has been in the position for 17 years. Before working for the state, Vasell served in the U.S. Air Force for 24 years, last serving at the airport where he is now based.
Off the job, Vasell is also a deacon at his church. He said the skills that he has acquired as a deacon lend themselves well to his role as a shop steward.
The Work Force’s Wendi Bowie met with Vasell to learn more about his role as a shop steward.
Wendi Bowie (WB): What made you decide to be a shop steward?
Anthony Vasell (AV): My unit needed someone to fill the position, and I was approached to do it. As a deacon at my church, I’m already an advocate for people. I believe that what’s right is right.
WB: How long have you been a shop steward?
AV: About three or four years.
WB: What is the most rewarding thing about being a shop steward?
AV: When I can bring an answer to somebody that’s not my opinion, but based in facts. I enjoy being a conduit for information. I provide members with the references they need to get the information that they want. I can’t always be the answer man, but I can be the person that points them in the right direction.
WB: What’s the most challenging thing?
AV: Getting people to participate [in our union]and respond to inquiries. Some people don’t think the union can do anything for them.
WB: How do you address that problem?
AV: I have longevity on the planet, so I have the ability to talk to people. I can’t change somebody’s mind, but I can show that I care. Showing people that I care builds trust and then they know that I’m not against them. That’s kind of how I relate to them.
I also tell them that there’s safety in numbers. The more numbers we have, the more of a voting bloc you are and the more important you are. Everything you think is secure can go away. You think because there are laws, things can’t change? Well, the laws can change and your pension can change with it.
WB: Did you have a mentor?
AV: I’d say Andre Sigmone (a former CSEA member and current CSEA labor relations specialist). He was a military guy like me and I respect that. I would watch him and see how he dealt with things. I counseled with him, too. I also observed the CSEA officers at my work site when they were interacting with other members.
WB: What are the most common things that people come to you to speak about?
AV: Their benefits, mostly health care. Normally, Human Resources takes care of those things, but sometimes people get overwhelmed with information, sometimes they’ve experienced a major life event like getting married. They come to me because they know that I’m always going to be honest, especially because of my being a deacon. A lot of them just know me as “The Deacon.”
WB: How does being a deacon compare with being a shop steward?
AV: I’m an adaptive teacher as a deacon and as a shop steward. I legitimately love people. So, any time I can help somebody, that’s what I’ll do. Being a shop steward seemed like a natural offshoot of what I was already doing.
WB: What about the shop steward trainings? How did they help you?
AV: The important thing was that the trainings showed me what being a steward is not. It’s not a knight on a horse, fixing things. That’s not our role. The trainings taught me that union members aren’t alone. We have a specific contract, but our success as a union has a lot to do with how we interact with each other.
WB: Any advice for someone who wants to be a shop steward?
AV: I’d encourage them if they have a heart for people and want to participate in the process. Administration is going to challenge you, because you are trying to help someone that they are trying to [discipline]. If someone does something wrong, there’s laws for that. There’s no need for management to be vindictive because they don’t like that person. It doesn’t matter what someone is or if someone is different from you in some fashion because we’re all equal.
WB: (smile) That’s the deacon in you kicking in.
AV: (laughs) Yeah. I guess it’s a little of the guy who I work for.
