Workplace safety and health is not only a right, but it’s one of the cornerstones of unionism.
Ensuring our safety on the job is one of most important things we do as a union, which is why our recent Statewide Conference on Occupational Safety and Health is so vital.
At this biennial event, nearly 1,000 of our members got training in numerous safety and health topics, learned how to organize around safety and health issues and engaged our members to build our union around workplace safety.
Our opponents are not only seeking to destroy unions, but are willing to cut corners on regulations, training and equipment that protect us at work. We know that “safe workplaces are no accident,” because it takes all of us to keep our workplaces safe.
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- Monroe County Local activist Debra Ake, right, participates in the multi-part “Winning the War: Organizing Powerful Locals and Units that Never Quit” workshop, in which attendees learned how to organize, fight and win against anti-union groups.
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- From left, Rome School District Clerical Unit Vice President Mary Munney-Griffiths, Rome City Hall Unit President Diana Samuels, Rome School District Clerical Unit President Kim Seifert and Oneida Educational Employees Local President John Brown get valuable training.
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- Jefferson County Local activist Debra Doyle discusses the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire and how subsequent activism led to advances in workplace safety and health.
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- Members attend the “Best the Bully! Addressing Workplace Bullying” workshop.
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- “I’m excited to be a part of strengthening our union and bringing us to new heights!” — Yvette Gaynor, Nassau County Local activist and caseworker, Nassau County Department of Social Services
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- Members work to identify potential workplace hazards at the “Taking Necessary Steps to Make Sure Your Workplace is No Accident” session.
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- CSEA Statewide Secretary Denise Berkley speaks with SUNY Downstate Medical Center Local President Althea Green-Pruitt.
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- “Now, I’ll be able to share what our union does. People don’t really know what our union does to keep workplaces safe.” — Lisa Jackson, Broome Developmental Center Local, on completing at the conference a certificate program on organizing around health and safety issues.
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- Harlem Valley Secure Center Local Treasurer Shubert Broomfield, left, and local Vice President Tiron King, right, pose with the CSEA Canary.
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- From left, Erie County Educational Employees Local activist Joseph Yeh, local President Deborah Morley, local activist Patty Reitz and local 1st Vice President Colleen Clifford pledge to Never Quit our union. “We have to keep fighting to stay united and ensure our benefits and way of life.” — Joseph Yeh, laborer, Williamsville Central School District
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- Lake Placid Central School District Unit member Lisa Rissberger proudly displays a CSEA “I’m Sticking with Our Union” lawn sign in front of her home that was presented to her during a CSEA member engagement visit to her home. During the conference, teams of member volunteers visited homes in the Lake Placid area to discuss workplace safety and health issues, the Janus v. AFSCME Council 31 case and other concerns with members.
