06/09/2025
Thursday, June 5, 2025
Dear CSEA Family,
CSEA mourns tragic loss
We are heartbroken over the tragic death of CSEA member Robert Bornt, a DOT highway maintenance supervisor and Unit President for Local 676, who passed away following a May 29 work zone intrusion. Robert was a dedicated leader and public servant. On behalf of CSEA, I extend our deepest condolences to his family, loved ones, and co-workers. This tragedy underscores the urgent need for stronger work zone safety enforcement and greater public awareness. CSEA successfully fought for expanded speed camera enforcement in this year’s state budget, but more must be done. Work zones are workplaces and our members deserve to come home safe. Please respect the cones, obey speed limits, and remember lives are on the line every day.
Understanding the Reconciliation Bill and What’s at Stake for CSEA
As the federal Reconciliation bill moves through Congress, it can be difficult to track exactly what’s in it and what it means for CSEA members and New York State. That’s why it’s so important to stay informed.
I urge you to reach out to your Region Political Action Coordinator and invite them to present to the membership. These presentations are designed to break down what’s in the bill, how it’s changed in the House, and what’s at stake for our members. This latest version of the presentation includes important updates, so even if you’ve attended a previous session, it’s worth bringing your members up to speed.
The Senate is expected to finalize its work on these deep and damaging cuts by July 4, so time is critical. Please also encourage your members to sign up as CSEA Federal Activists. This is the best way for them to stay engaged and take action as we push back against harmful provisions in this bill.
New CSEA Branding Rollout – Begins July 1
CSEA will officially transition to our new logo on July 1 as part of a broader effort to modernize and unify our public image. To help guide this process, I appointed a branding team comprised of a diverse mix of leadership, members, retirees, and staff from various regions and departments, including Stacey Baldwin-Deyo, Jarvis Brown, Shana Davis, Hattie Adams, Lovy Mootry, Bernadette Giambra, Jennifer Nagy, Neil Kelly, Rob Scholz, Dan Ventresca, Elizabeth King, Eric Wilke, and Bryan Miller.
This plan will occur in three phases:
• Phase 1 (by July 1, 2025): updated digital platforms, social media, website, and publications.
• Phase 2 (through July 1, 2026): Printed materials phased in as supplies run out.
• Phase 3 (ongoing): Permanent signage updated following further planning.
The CSEA Communications Department will lead this transition, with support needed from all departments, partners and members. A branding kit and digital assets are being developed to help with the transition and will be available by July 1. More details coming soon. While we anticipate some challenges along the way, we are confident that this transition will be a success and will help move CSEA forward into an exciting future.
For questions, please email [email protected].
Ulster County Member Engagement Blitz kicks off!
The blitz kicked off Tuesday with a worksite visit at the Ulster County Department of Social Services, where over 100 CSEA members engaged in meaningful conversations and received valuable information on CSEA's member-only benefits. That’s just the beginning, though! There’s lots of energy and excitement in the air this week. The Member Engagement team is leading the effort with support from local volunteers. The blitz runs through Saturday, with home visits ramping up on Friday and Saturday.
After 2 days - by the numbers:
250 lit drops
105 knocks
47 conversations
28 collected contact update cards
All together over 400 CSEA members were contacted in these last two days! Thank you to all who have volunteered. Your dedication is truly making a difference!
See photos and videos from the blitz and more at hCSEA Region 3School’s out for summer
Summer break is almost upon us, but maintaining a safe & healthy school workplace happens all year-round at CSEA!
The New York State Workplace Violence Law covers all public schools and requires every school district to maintain forms for reporting incidents of workplace violence and to maintain an annual log of those incidents that is reviewable by CSEA. Be sure to have a Workplace Violence Prevention program and plan in place, and train all staff to follow the plan. In every school year, each school district and union in NYS must:
• Meet to review & analyze all incident report forms to identify trends and to determine if existing control measures have been effective during the current school year
• Meet to review and update (as needed) the written Workplace Violence Prevention program to reflect changes or updated controls based on the incidents
• Meet to review and update the school’s Workplace Violence Prevention training program & plan (if needed)
• Plan for providing the required annual Workplace Violence Prevention training for all school employees at the start of the 2025-2026 school year
June is the month to plan for a safer school year in 2025-2026, and CSEA can help. CSEA’s Office of Safety & Health has Specialists who can assist any CSEA unit in enforcing our rights to a healthy workplace. For more information go to:
Stay Updated Contest
CSEA launched a contest on March 1 for members who update or verify their contact information via the MyCSEA app, website, or a contact card. In the past three months, 19,995 members participated! We randomly selected 12 winners to receive $25 gift cards. Congratulations to the following members:
Analis Okros, Local 836
Diane Beckwith, Local 620
Brittany Goodine, Local 612
Susan Chipman, Local 807
Rebecque Colon, Local 414
Ronald Gardiner, Local 860
Tamalia Mela, Local 869
Rebecca Smola, Local 615
Alexander Szkotak, Local 827
Kenneth LaValley, Local 810
Tyler Preston, Local 857
Kevin Mutisya, Local 412
All remaining entries roll over for another drawing at the end of May. As the contest continues, please tell members to help us keep everyone’s information up to date. Thanks for staying connected!
Wildfires may threaten air quality
Unfortunately, we’re once again seeing wildfires in Canada that could impact air quality here in New York. While recent wind and rain have helped, conditions may change. If air quality worsens, limit strenuous outdoor activity, keep car windows closed, and run A/C on recirculate. Use home air filtration units if available. If you must be outdoors, wear an N95 or P100 respirator for better protection and take frequent breaks. You can monitor air quality at airnow.gov, which updates throughout the day. Please stay informed and take precautions to stay safe.
DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know June marks the anniversary of the Wagner Act? Officially known as the National Labor Relations Act, the Wagner Act was signed into law on June 27, 1935. This landmark legislation gave workers the legal right to form unions, bargain collectively, and take collective action. It laid the foundation for the modern labor movement and protections we still rely on today. Without the Wagner Act, many of the rights we enjoy as union members might not exist.
Regional News:
Southern Region members enjoy Renegades outing for Member
Appreciation Month
During Member Appreciation Month, members in the Southern Region were invited to enter a ticket contest for an evening at the Hudson Valley Renegades minor league baseball game. Those tickets winners turned out to the game last Friday and enjoyed an evening of baseball (along with a Taylor Swift theme night!) courtesy of CSEA. Later this summer, the Southern Region will host a picnic night at the New York Boulders, another local minor league team. Details for that game will be sent very soon.
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Appreciation Continues!
Member Appreciation Month may be over, but the celebration continues across the region! Last week, Local 828 Monroe County held two great events at Monroe Community Hospital, where members enjoyed meals and connected with union benefit vendors. This week, Local 436 Finger Lakes DDSO hosted an Info Day that was well attended. View Facebook photos here. Member events and meetings are continuing into June and beyond—check with your local leadership to see what’s coming up. Whether it’s a picnic, vendor fair, or meeting, your union is here for you. Stay involved and stay connected!
Member Benefit Spotlight:
Did you know that all CSEA members have access to exclusive member benefit programs designed to save money and add value to a CSEA membership? Some of which include:
1. Educational and advancement programs
2. Discounted legal services, BJ’s wholesale memberships, Dell Computer products, rental cars, hotels, entertainment tickets, furniture, mattresses, and more.
3. Buying programs for home heating oil, propane, appliances, cars and more.
4. Exclusive voluntary insurance programs
5. Low fixed rate credit card
6. Free credit and student loan counseling
7. Mortgage programs
8. Defensive driving courses
9. Hearing health benefits including discounted hearing aids
10. Free $10,000 Accidental Death Benefit
11. Purchasing Power – allows you to spread the payments of your purchases over 12 months without interest
Many of the above benefits are also available to family members. There is truly something for everyone!
Visit: cseany.org/mb
Online registration available for in-person workshops!
If you’re planning to attend one of our upcoming in-person workshops, you must register in advance. Without your registration, we have no way of knowing you’re interested and that puts the session at risk of being canceled due to low enrollment. Don’t assume we know you’re coming! If you haven’t officially registered, now is the time to secure your spot. Let’s keep these workshops happening and thriving. Your participation matters.
Ways to register:
• Call your Region Office
• Sign in to MemberLink and register
• Call the Education & Leadership Department at 518-257-1363
What do you want to read about?
I’m asking for your feedback on any topics you’d like to see covered in future editions of this weekly leadership update. If you have ideas, please take the time to fill out our quick online survey at: https://forms.office.com/r/seCVpFhVaG.
I appreciate your response.
In Solidarity,
Mary E. Sullivan
President