Wallace-Russo
Editor’s Note: Former longtime CSEA Capital Region activist Kim Wallace-Russo recently took on a new role in our union — as the new CSEA PEOPLE Coordinator. CSEA’s PEOPLE program protects and improves our jobs, benefits and pensions in Washington, Albany and in your community. Your support and participation in PEOPLE strengthens CSEA’s clout in the workplace, in the legislature, in your community and in the labor movement.
Here, Wallace-Russo discusses with The Work Force her new role, why PEOPLE is so important for CSEA members and how you can play a role in PEOPLE.
The Work Force (WF): Before joining CSEA staff as the new PEOPLE Coordinator, you had been a longtime CSEA activist. Can you please discuss this background and how it prepared you for your new role?
Kim Wallace-Russo (Wallace-Russo): My CSEA activism really kicked off in 1999 when I was appointed secretary of a large state Local, Tax [State Taxation and Finance] Local 690. While it was new to me, I loved it and grew in the position. As my passion for activism continued, my roles within our union expanded.
Over the next 20 years, I served as Capital Region Secretary and Treasurer, became President of my local and served on various Statewide committees, including the Women’s Committee, Constitution and By-Laws, Judicial Board, Board of Directors Representative and Chair of the State Executive Committee. Any time there was an opportunity to work on behalf of my union, I said yes!
I can honestly say that every position I held or committee I served on gave me a new perspective and educated me about the membership. I bring that 20 plus years of knowledge to becoming the PEOPLE Coordinator. It was important to me to be visible, accountable and always try to be the best advocate for my members in every arena I was in.
It was equally as important to try and make the members understand that we needed them to be active in order to be a strong union and local. That includes participation in the PEOPLE Program. This program provides so many resources beyond CSEA dues. Our dues can’t provide funding for us to lobby Congress for federal aid, or state, federal and local leaders on legislation that is important and essential to us as public employees.
WF: What do you hope to bring to the PEOPLE Coordinator role, and what are your goals?
Wallace-Russo: I hope to bring knowledge and understanding of the PEOPLE Program and its importance! I understand that we need to raise money in order to fund this program. I also understand that can be difficult to for members to want to hear, but I want to explain why it is essential for them now and for their futures.
PEOPLE money helps preserve services, protect jobs and avoid layoffs. A big one for me is that PEOPLE provided financial support to fight against a Constitutional Convention that would have put our pensions at risk. For these reasons and many more, the program is so important. This program is not party driven! We will lobby and support politicians from all sides of the table to ensure that we have their support on issues that are in our best interest.
WF: Can you speak about the importance of the PEOPLE Program, particularly why it’s so important for members to participate?
Wallace-Russo: I know how important it is to secure the benefits that we have been promised! Also, for example, health insurance costs, Social Security, Medicare benefits and the other benefits that we were promised. We were instrumental in the campaign for the much-needed federal aid that we just received! We must be vigilant and pay attention! We cannot be asleep at the wheel! All of this takes time, effort and money!
WF: How do members join the program and any other important details?
Wallace-Russo: You can join this program any number of ways.
- You can access a PEOPLE application on the CSEA website: https://cseany.org/people
- Email either PEOPLE@cseainc.org or kim.wallacerusso@cseainc.org
- Call the CSEA Legislative & Political Action Department at (800) 342-4146, Ext. 1404 or (518) 436-8622.
