CSEA mourns passing of former State Senate Republican Majority Leader Joseph Bruno

Former Republican State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno supports CSEA in the union’s fight for affordable quality care, circa 2006.

ALBANY — CSEA is mourning the passing of former State Senate Republican Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, who was an amazing leader for New York State and a strong supporter of working men and women.

Bruno came from very humble beginnings in a large, poor family in Upstate New York. A Korean War veteran, he was initially elected to the State Senate’s 43rd District in 1976 and served as State Senate Republican Majority Leader from 1994 to 2008.

“He never forgot the struggles hardworking people have as he rose to become one of the most influential leaders in New York,” CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan said. “He took his experiences with him as he fought hard to secure the rights and respect that he knew working people deserve.”

From left, former Gov. George Pataki, former Republican State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno and former CSEA President Danny Donohue discuss the state’s permanent COLA legislation in 2000.

Bruno fought alongside CSEA for fairness and justice for working people, including during the union’s protracted battle for a fair state contract in the late 1990s and early 2000.

As the State Senate Republican Majority Leader, Bruno was also a powerful ally in our fights to preserve vital public services, including our fight for fair education and local government funding in 2003, when he helped lead a series of vetoes against proposed cuts that would have devastated school services across the state, as well as our fight to provide quality care to our state’s most vulnerable people.

Likewise, Bruno fought for our state’s eldest citizens in driving the passage of the EPIC program, ensuring seniors receive the pharmaceutical coverage they so desperately need. He was also influential in passing a permanent COLA for public retirees, helping ensure their retirement security.

“Joe Bruno was a great man and an incredible leader who always stood by working people and never forgot his roots,” Sullivan said. “Joe was a true friend to CSEA, working men and women and retirees in New York. On behalf of CSEA, I extend my deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.”