Conference unites union members, legislators 

‘Solidarity is not conditional. The anecdote for fear has always been solidarity.’ 

ALBANY — CSEA members recently joined other unions and legislators at the 55th annual New York State Association of Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislators (NYSBPHAL) Conference. 

The CSEA officers, activists and staff who attended included Executive Vice President Richard Bebo, Statewide Secretary Stacey Baldwin Deyo and Metropolitan Region President Lester Crockett. 

A highlight of the three-day event was the Labor Luncheon, where New York’s local and state representatives spoke with union attendees about the importance of civil service workers in our communities. 

This year’s keynote speaker was Public Employees Federation (PEF) President Wayne Spence, who described solidarity as a key aspect of moving past fear. 

“Solidarity is not conditional,” said Spence. “The anecdote for fear has always been solidarity.” 

Gov. Kathy Hochul was one of the many guest speakers for the luncheon. Hochul credited unions for giving her grandparents the financial foundation to put her where she is today. She then spoke about her efforts to work with unions to improve Tier 6 and find ways for wages to keep pace with inflation. 

State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli also spoke at the luncheon, acknowledging CSEA during his remarks. DiNapoli gave an impassioned speech about the role of labor and how the fight for equity empowers nonunion workers as well. He reaffirmed his commitment to protecting workers’ pensions so we can live comfortably in retirement. 

Attorney General Letitia James gave an impassioned speech about New York being under attack by the Trump administration. James thanked unions for continuing to fight on behalf of working people and promised to stand with unions, noting she marched with New York state nurses during their strike. 

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also spoke at the luncheon, acknowledging that unions are the reason many people are able to live with affordability and dignity—something he said all New Yorkers deserve. He thanked NYSBPHAL for holding the conference and creating a space for legislators of color to exchange ideas, align priorities, and plan for the future, noting the luncheon is where power is built by and for working people. 

A common theme among the speakers was opposition to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) presence in New York state. All reaffirmed their commitment to protecting the state and its residents from efforts to violate constitutional rights and respecting state sovereignty. 

“Indifference to evil is the worst kind of evil,” said James. 

Other conference highlights included many workshops focused on labor and policy, as well as vendor tables. CSEA was among dozens of vendors on site. 

The NYSBPHAL Conference was created to give people of color the opportunity to generate dialogue with workers and their representatives about issues and policies that impact their daily lives and communities. 

— Wendi Bowie 

 “The enthusiasm at this conference was tangible. You could feel it at our booth and throughout the entire building. At the labor lunch, we sat next to and supported other unions in their respective fights, and it reminded me that we’re all working toward the same goals—making our member’s lives better and making New York state a better place for everyone. If labor unions can come together and support one another, we all can too. Our strength comes from our diversity and respect of one another, not only as a union family but as people.” 

— CSEA Statewide Secretary Stacey Baldwin Deyo 

 “We are always trying to further educate ourselves to better understand the different challenges we all face, whether that be person to person or union to union. Conferences like this provide a great platform for these conversations to happen and unity to grow. Being united has always been very important, and with the current state of the country it has become even more vital. Understanding this allows us to become a bigger part of these conversations in the future.” 

— CSEA Executive Vice President Richard Bebo 

 “Conferences like this are helpful because they show you what programs and groups exist for our members outside of CSEA. It’s nice to say various people of color coming together to discuss our collective needs.” 

— Paula Love, Roswell Park Memorial Institute Local President 

 “Many legislatures attend this event. That gives CSEA members the opportunity to walk right up to them and ask what their plan are on a particular subject? I had been calling a senator’s office to see if he would speak at a Black History Celebration; he didn’t get back to me. I saw him here at the conference and asked him about attending the event myself. He gave me his number and told me to call him to set something up with him directly. You don’t get that kind of opportunity unless you attend this event.” 

— Felicia McCollough, Region II Taxation and Finance Local President 

 “Members should attend this conference in order to network and have a larger reach outside of CSEA. I think of us as being the biggest and the best union. We need for our presence to be known to show that CSEA is a force in New York State.” 

— Oneida Alvarez, City of Long Beach Unit Secretary 

(Photos by Wendi Bowie and Alexandra Whitbeck)