COMMACK — The ability to help members form a union is a very important skill for union activists.
CSEA Suffolk Educational Employees Local President Maria Navarro and the local’s executive board members have proven that they excel in that area when they played a key role in helping members of the Amityville School District’s Custodial and Clerical Unit form a union with CSEA earlier this year.
For their hard work, Navarro and the board members were honored with CSEA’s Nadra Floyd Award for Organizing at the recent 106th Annual Delegates Meeting.
The award honors a CSEA member or group of members who played a pivotal role in a campaign to organize anew bargaining unit or group of workers into CSEA.
The key to the local’s success was keeping a constant dialogue. Floyd, the award’s namesake, had served as CSEA’s Director of Organizing and in numerous AFSCME leadership roles until her passing in 2001.
“The local board members and I had a lot of meetings with the workers in Amityville,” said Navarro. “We wanted to make sure that we heard all of their concerns.”
It was helpful that Suffolk Educational Employee Local executive board members Stephen Nocella and Joe Owens work in maintenance and grounds at their school districts. They were able to relate to the potential members because they are in their shoes. Nocella and Owens spoke with members about how our union has helped them at their respective work sites.
Navarro believes that organizing is extremely important for the future of CSEA.
“There is power in numbers,” she said. “The more members we have, the stronger our voice is in the labor movement.”
For any local that is trying to organize new members, Navarro suggests that you simply make yourself available to the potential members.
“Answer their phone calls, give them advice and let them know about all the resources they have at their disposal as members of CSEA,” said Navarro. “When you offer people your support, it’s easier to bring them in because they know there is someone there to reach out to if they have a need.”
Navarro also believes working with the CSEA staff is an important part of achieving success.
“All the people in (CSEA’s) Organizing department are really enthusiastic and dedicated to CSEA’s cause,” said Navarro. “I always say that when the staff and (elected union officers) work together, it’s a home run for the members.”
Navarro said that the local board is very excited about being honored.
“We felt like we won the Academy Award,” said Navarro. “It’s really rewarding to receive the recognition. We worked hard together and we were honored together.”
— Wendi Bowie
