MANHATTAN — CSEA Metropolitan Region President Lester Crockett, SUNY Health Science Center (Brooklyn) Local President Jonathan Brown and CSEA members joined labor unions and community activists in rallying in support of Gov. Kathy Hochul ahead of her recent televised debate.
The rally brought together union members and allies to show support for the governor’s work on behalf of New York’s workforce, including a state employee contract that delivers meaningful gains for workers and changes aimed at improving retirement security for public employees.
“CSEA members work hard every day to keep New York running, and they deserved a contract that recognizes their contributions,” said Crockett. “Our members secured a strong contract that delivers real gains for working families. We’re here to stand up for the progress we’ve made and ensure public employees continue to have a voice in the decisions that affect their lives.”
Brown pointed to reforms to Tier 6, which have addressed longstanding concerns about the state’s public employee retirement system.
“Tier 6 has been a major concern for public employees, especially those just starting their careers,” said Brown. “The reforms are an important step toward making public service more attractive and giving workers a fairer path to retirement. We need to build on that progress so New York can recruit and retain the dedicated workforce our communities depend on.”
For CSEA members, the rally was an opportunity to make their voices heard and underscore the importance of standing with leaders who support working people, strong public services and a fair retirement system.
— David Galarza
