CSEA Endorses Joseph Morelle

The Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) announced that it has endorsed Joe Morelle’s candidacy for the 25th Congressional District. CSEA represents approximately 300,000 active and retired, public and private sector employees, including 45,000 members in Western Region 6 which serves Monroe County.

"I've known Joe for years and know that he will stand up for working families in Congress.  Your vote matters in this primary so be sure and vote Joe on Tuesday, June 26th"  Bess Watts, CSEA Local 828 President Monroe County.

Morelle, who served as a state Assemblymember representing the towns of Brighton, Irondequoit and parts of the city of Rochester, has spent a lifetime in public service working to advance the best interests of working people. In the Assembly, Morelle has successfully fought for the passage of legislation to raise the minimum wage in New York State, establish paid family leave to ease the burden on our working families, improve access to healthcare for all people, bring millions of dollars in infrastructure improvements to our area, and increase workforce development training to ensure individuals have the skills and training they need to be successful.

Watts added, "we miss Louise Slaughter and know we can never replace her, but knowing that her family supports Joe gives me comfort that Joe is the best candidate to represent our interests in Washington." 

CSEA Local 828 Scholarships Awarded

Bess Watts with Jesse Pitoni

Webster, NY - On Monday, June 11, CSEA Monroe County Local 828 Executive Board, Local 828 Scholarship Committee and CSEA Retirees Local 912 hosted the 26th Annual Scholarship Awards Dinner at Liberty Lodge in Finn Park, 850 Maple Drive in Webster, NY.

At the picnic dinner, Local officers formally announced the winners of the CSEA Local 828 George M. Growney Memorial and the Monroe County Unit 7400 Scholarship Awards for 2018. This year, $8,000.00 was awarded to deserving area students whose parents or caregivers are members in good standing of CSEA Monroe County Local 828.

“This is my favorite time of the year, the committee does all the work and I show up and give out money to well deserving children of CSEA members” said Bess Watts, President of Local 828. She added, “It’s very rewarding to know we are helping our young people succeed in life. It also does my heart good to see young people understand the value of our union and how much we contribute to the well-being of our community. One day they will become the leaders we need.”

CSEA Local 828 Scholarships are open to graduating high school seniors whose parents and caregivers are members or agency shop fee payers of Monroe County Local 828. The scholarship committees have reviewed thousands of applications in the past 25 years, which demonstrates the significant need of financial resources for young adults continuing their formal education. Scholarships applicants are judged on academic achievement, a written essay, financial need and potential..

Since 1993, CSEA Local 828 has awarded over $158,000 in scholarship prize money. In 1993, the Monroe County Employees Unit 7400, the largest Unit in the Local, created their own scholarship program and have distributed more than $27,000.

About George M. Growney

Mr. Growney was a long time local labor leader and activist. He was employed as a probation officer with Monroe County. He served as local president for nearly two decades before his retirement in 1995. George had a passion for kids to succeed, and would be proud that his union brothers and sisters have carried on his legacy of love and commitment to youth. George M. Growney died on August 10, 1997. The scholarship program was named in his honor in 1998—one year after his passing.

Region 6 President Flo Tripi addressing the audience

A special thank you to the Scholarship Committee, Chaired by Nancy Steele from the Town of Webster,  for all the work you did to make this such a successful event.   If you are a member of CSEA Local 828 and want to be on the Scholarship Committee contact your Unit President and ask if you can get involved.  We'd love to have you!

CSEA Local 828 Will Never Quit

Town of Irondequoit Ground Breaking Ceremony

The Town of Irondequoit broke ground today for their new Department of Public Works facility. There were many speakers offering high praise for the hard working DPW workers who have weathered the storm after losing their building in a Christmas Eve fire two years ago. Their new digs will be open sometime next Fall.

Contractual Benefits at Risk

WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER. These words ring true now more than ever. Stronger together: as a Nation, Community, Family and more important in your day to day life as a Union. As Public Employees and Union members we faced the prospect of a Constitutional Convention in New York State with a referendum on our voting ballot. We all know the negative impact that could have carried for us as Public Employees. Early on last year 75% of voters polled were in favor of having a Constitutional Convention. The Unions and Public Employees worked and stood up together to educate voters and members alike. The Constitutional Convention was overwhelmingly voted down with 87% of the voters against it. This recent case along with many others cases we have won, has proven what strength we can have if we stick together as one strong group. 

Unions as a whole, and especially Public Employee Unions, are facing another tough challenge this year. This challenge comes with the possible fallout we face from the current U.S. Supreme Court decision due out in June on the Janus v. AFSCME case. This case, being funded by Right to Work and the wealthy, is the latest attempt to weaken and dismantle the Unions in this country. The case involves an Illinois Public Employee who has filed suit against AFSCME. His contention is he shouldn't have to pay Union dues if he doesn't want to be a member of his Union. He benefits from the pay and benefits negotiated by his Union. He benefits from the representation and member benefits supplied by his Union. He just feels he shouldn't have to pay for those benefits. If you went out with a group of your friends, wouldn't you expect everyone to pay their fair share? Same principal should apply here. To get benefits for free and expect them not to change and always be there for you is unrealistic.

We receive many benefits as Union members from our collectively negotiated and democratically approved contracts. By choosing to not be members and pay our fair share, we risk losing all of our negotiated benefits and Union representation. If more than 50% of our Unit decides not to be members and pay their fair share Monroe County can choose to not recognize the Union or the negotiated contract. You would become an “at will” employee with no representation. Monroe County would be able to pay you the wage they decide is fair. They will give you the Health Insurance they consider fair, and you will pay the % that they consider fair. There is a good chance that the possible increased cost of Health Insurance alone could be more than you are currently paying for Union dues. They will be able to treat you with the minimum standard recognized by the Dept. of Labor. The amount of rights you would lose, rights that you have gained through negotiations by the Union in our contract; which are miles ahead of the Dept. of Labor minimum requirements, would be staggering. By choosing to not be members and pay your fair share, you risk losing all of our long term and hard fought negotiated benefits.

If you are not currently a member of the Union, take the time to sign up and become a member. If you are currently a member and are given the choice to not pay dues, NEVER QUIT! If we stay together as a functioning Unit within our Local  we can continue to enjoy the guaranteed benefits we have negotiated which cannot be taken away unless we agree to it.

STAY STRONG, STAY UNION!

A message from Jim D'Amico - CSEA Local 828 VP #1 & Monroe County Unit 7400 President