CSEA MONROE COUNTY LOCAL 828 HOLDS MEMBERSHIP MEETING; PUBLIC WORKERS NETWORK AND SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR WORKPLACE

CSEA Monroe County Local 828 President Watts addresses union activsts
at an annual membership meeting on June 7 at Braddock's Bay State Park.
photo:  Ove Overmyer



Rochester, N.Y.--  Hundreds of fired-up CSEA Monroe County Local 828 union activists attended a membership meeting this evening at Braddock's Bay State Park on the shores of Lake Ontario in Greece, N.Y.

Bess Watts, Local 828 President was encouraged by the large turnout and willingness of the members to share Unit information with their Local brothers and sisters.  Many of attendees talked about worker layoffs, privitization at their workplace and cuts to their local government budgets.

photo:  Ove Overmyer

"Obviously, these are tough times right now," said Watts.  "Many of our Unit Presidents are working with their municipal managers to minimize the impact of the reduction in services and personnel layoffs that are taking place throughout Monroe County.  It's a shame that rank-and-file public employees are always the first ones targeted when budgets are cut and public services are reduced.  That has to change.  Whatever happened to sharing the pain?"

The meeting included several officer and committee reports, including Local 828 PAC Co-Chairs Cris Zaffuto and Ove Overmyer who scheduled a political action committee meeting for June 21 at 5:30 pm at HQ 167 Flanders Street.  This year will be an unusually busy one, with our team focusing on County wide races including 29 seats up for grabs in the Monroe County Legislature.

At the meeting, the Local 828 members also passed their By-Laws, in accordance to the state and local constitutions and financial code standards.

PAC committee stresses the importance of political action

Simply put, CSEA members need to have their voices heard. We are critical stakeholders in the political process and have an obligation to help create a better world. Whether it’s a city, county, school district, town, village or state employer, CSEA members can increase our clout in our workplace and in our community by getting involved in the electoral process.

Overmyer said, "Where else on earth but the public arena can workers choose our supervisors and managers? By exercising our political muscle, we can shape and mold who controls our very own public budgets and our very own workplaces. Political action is one powerful way for working people to strengthen their union and their communities."

Political action is also an opportunity for CSEA members to act together to influence decisions at the bargaining table and to influence elected officials who pass laws that affect our co-workers, families, neighbors and friends. It’s how we secure legislation that protects our jobs, pensions and how we can secure contracts that protect our salaries and health benefits. Political action is the means by which we elect officials who will represent our best interest.

President Watts wants to again thank all the members who attended tonight's meeting.  And, if you are interested in getting an endorsement process started for your Unit, please contact brother Overmyer or Cris Zaffuto as soon as possible. 

For more information about our efforts in political action, you can go here and read more.