Latest CSEA News

📷Thursday, March 18, 2021   Irene Carr Leadership Award nomination deadline extended We’re extending the deadline to nominate deserving individuals for our union’s Irene Carr Leadership Award. You must know someone who is always there for the union or their fellow members, every day, without fail. It could be someone who regularly conducts new member orientations and signs up new members, or someone who’s always available, who shows up and takes action on behalf of the union, whether it’s regularly attending legislative or school board meetings, or calling elected officials from union phone banks. It could be someone who fights in the workplace for issues like equal pay, or in their community against domestic violence. If you know one of these constant and committed union leaders, we are accepting entries through April 2, but I ask that you please nominate them today. Download the nomination form at: https://tinyurl.com/carr-award-nomination21 

I encourage you to get vaccinated As your CSEA President, I want you to know that I got vaccinated against COVID-19, and although it’s a personal decision, I encourage you to join me in doing so. It is our way out. It is the only way we can truly return to safe workplaces where all members are protected, and fully reopen our workplaces, businesses, schools and society. We are relying on the experts who tell us that the vaccines have been proven safe and effective, and with more vaccines becoming available, and paid leave time to get them, I would encourage all union members to get vaccinated. If the majority of us get vaccinated, we will be able to return our lives to the new normal.   Legislative update – new law allowing paid vaccination leave As previously reported in our weekly political newsletter This Week In Albany, last week Governor Cuomo signed into law legislation guaranteeing public and private sector employees paid time off during scheduled work hours to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. The law, which went into effect immediately, provides employees up to four hours off per injection without charging leave accruals. CSEA supported this legislation. If you do not receive This Week In Albany and would like to get updates like this, you can subscribe at: https://cseany.org/legislative-political-action 

More frontline workers eligible for COVID-19 vaccines starting yesterday A reminder that yesterday, NY opened up eligibility for COVID-19 vaccinations to include all essential front-facing public workers. If you work in public employment and deal directly with the public, you are now considered eligible. Our union leadership pushed the state for this expansion, as many essential union members had previously been excluded, despite continuing to put their own safety at risk providing direct services to the public throughout the pandemic. Despite eligibility opening up, and more vaccine supplies being delivered, people may still experience difficulty getting appointments. We urge your patience and advise you not to show up at vaccination sites without an appointment. The Governor has announced ten new state-run mass vaccination sites in New York City, Long Island, Hudson Valley, Capital Region, Southern Tier, Mohawk Valley and Western New York. All sites will open on Friday, March 19; and will operate 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.  Eligible New Yorkers can schedule appointments using New York's 'Am I Eligible' website at https://am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov or calling the COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline at 1-833-697-4829.  Federal update Money from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan is already starting to arrive to help families with relief in the form of stimulus checks. Soon, that money will be coming to state and local governments and schools, to help all levels of government recover from the losses they’ve experienced without having to lay off workers and cut services. I again thank all members who took the time to advocate on behalf of this aid. We knew what we needed, and we joined together with union members around the country to put the pressure on our elected leaders to make it happen. This was proof of our union’s people power in action.   State Budget update This week, the Senate and Assembly passed their one-house budget resolutions. These proposals lay out each house’s negotiating position as they enter negotiations over a final state budget. Overall, while not perfect, the one-house proposals are very favorable to CSEA's positions. This is in large part due to the efforts of CSEA activists who have taken action through our Legislative Action Center. Thank you to all members who have taken action so far. However, our work is not done. With a final budget agreement due by April 1, we are entering the critical stages of budget negotiations. The pressure must be kept on legislators to ensure that they stand strong through the end. Here is a brief summary of how important issues were handled in the one-house budgets: OMH: Both the Senate and Assembly propose to restore funding for Rockland Children's Psychiatric Center and all adult beds; OCFS: Both the Senate and Assembly omit the proposal to close four OCFS youth detention facilities; Local government funding: Both Senate and Assembly propose to restore the State's responsibility for AIM payments. The Assembly proposes to restore all cuts in VLT aid, while the Senate only proposes to restore aid to some municipalities. Both houses propose increased resources for local roads and bridges; and Retirees: Both Senate and Assembly omit proposed increases in retiree health insurance costs. While these proposals are in many cases a good start, the battle is by no means won. Please visit our Legislative Action Center at: https://cseany.org/issues today to see new and updated actions you can take to make sure the final budget ends up in the right place.  Reminder: CSEA members may be eligible for new Pandemic grant fundingLast week I told you that CSEA members who worked during the pandemic may be eligible for up to $1000 per household to reimburse out-of-pocket childcare, transportation, lodging and other qualifying expenses that enabled them to perform their duties. This funding is from private donations and coordinated by the NYS Office of Children and Family Services. The eligibility guidelines and application form have still not yet been made available, but when they are, you will find them at: http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/news/COVID-relief. On that site you can enter your email to get notified as soon as the application information is available.  April 2021 CSEA Longevity Awards for State employees The Office of the State Comptroller has released Payroll Bulletin 1897 providing information about the April 2021 Longevity Payments for eligible NYS Executive Branch Employees 2021. Highlights are as follows: Otherwise eligible employees must be on the NYS Executive Branch Payroll on March 31, 2021 to qualify. See, Article 7.2 of the ASU, ISU, OSU and DMNA contracts for eligibility requirements. Payments will be made: Institution Payroll employees – Thursday April 22, 2021 Administrative Payroll employees – Wednesday April 28, 2021 Longevity payment amounts:5 - years at the job rate = $1,500 10 - years at the job rate = $3,000 15 - years at the job rate = $4,500 (this 3rd longevity payment was negotiated in the last contract which also includes language that mandates longevity payments continue during a period in which no successor agreement is in place). Also, newly eligible employees will receive longevity even in absence of successor agreement. These are lump sum paper check amounts Longevity amounts are not added to base pay for future across the board pay raises Longevity amounts are added to base pay to calculate the new base pay when the employee is promoted Questions regarding payment eligibility or payment dates should be directed to your Labor Relations Specialist or Local President. Due to COVID-19, the Office of the State Comptroller will process this payment via direct deposit. Employees who do not have access to direct deposit will receive payment in a separate check. NEW! Updated COVID-19 vaccine LIVE webinar scheduled I want you to have all of the facts regarding the new COVID-19 vaccines so that you can make an informed decision for you and your family. This ninety-minute updated and LIVE WEBINAR version of our popular program, presented by the staff experts in our Occupational Safety and Health Department, will answer the most commonly asked questions regarding how the vaccines work (including the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine), employee rights, the NYS Roll Out Plan, tips to get an appointment and Post Vaccine Protocols in the workplace. CSEA staff will also be on hand to answer any other questions you may have. This webinar is open to anyone in your community, and everyone is welcome to attend. Thursday, March 25 – 11:00 am to 12:30 pm Register at: https://tinyurl.com/csea-vaccine-webinar-march25  En español - Las Vacunas del CoVid-19 30 de marzo de 2021 a las 12:00 – 1:00 

Registrarse en: https://tinyurl.com/csea-vaccine-webinar-march30Online union-building webinars scheduled through April The Education & Training Department staff continue to provide opportunities for members to gain and enhance their skills through our online trainings. Here is a summary of upcoming offerings. These trainings are open to members in all Regions. Registration is available online only at: https://cseany.org/education-and-training-webinars  March 23, 2021 - The 7 Tests of Just Cause - 3:00 pm-4:00 pm March 24-25, 2021** - Advanced Grievance: Power In Numbers - 6:00 pm-8:00 pm March 27, 2021 - Steward - 10:00 am-2:30 pm April 7-8, 2021** - State Government Grievance - 6:00 pm-8:00 pm April 12-13, 2021 ** - Steward - 6:00 pm-8:00 pm April 14-15, 2021 ** - Local Government Discipline and Interrogations - 12:00 pm-2:00 pm April 17, 2021 - Local Government/Private Sector Grievance - 10:00 am-2:30 pm April 20, 2021- Discipline and Interrogation Recertification - 6:00 pm-8:00 pm April 21-22, 2021 ** - State Government Discipline and Interrogations - 6:00 pm-8:00 pm April 26, 2021 - Grievance Recertification - 6:00 pm-8:00 pm April 27, 2021 - Duty of Fair Representation - 12:00 pm-1:00 pm April 28, 2021 - Weingarten Rights: What You Need to Know - 12:00 pm-1:00 pm **must attend both dates  In Solidarity,📷 Mary E. Sullivan President INFORMATION IS POWER! PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH ALL CSEA MEMBERS IN YOUR LOCAL OR UNIT!CSEA Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO, 143 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12210

📷Thursday, March 4, 2021 Federal Update Having passed the House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate is now getting ready to act on the President’s American Rescue Plan. They may start debating the stimulus plan as soon as tonight. Anything they pass will then need to be reconciled with the House. We are hopeful that by the end of next week we may have a stimulus package in place that includes the vital funding for state and local governments that will protect your jobs and the services you provide, as well as helping American families in need.  Also on the Federal level, earlier this week we saw a very strong statement of support from President Biden on behalf of Organized Labor. In a video statement posted online, the President stressed the importance and value of unions and stood up for the rights of workers to decide whether or not to join a union free of coercion or intimidation. Read more or watch his video statement at: https://tinyurl.com/biden-union-support State Budget update Have you taken action yet? We’re coming to the time where the State Senate and Assembly release their one-house budgets and will soon start making deals to reach a final budget. We need to make our voices heard loudly and clearly in the next few weeks opposing cuts and closures to state mental health services and the closures of state youth detention facilities. Go to our Legislative Action Center at: https://cseany.org/issues to make your voice heard TODAY.  Celebrating social workers March is not only Women’s History Month, but also Social Worker Appreciation Month. Throughout the month, we honor those dedicated workers who have made it their mission and their passion to work on the front lines with children and families in need and to make sure they are safe, healthy and thriving. If you work in this field, thank you for your service. If you know someone who does, please take the time to thank them yourself.  Celebrating International Women’s Day next Monday Monday, March 8 is recognized as International Women’s Day. On that day, the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) and the Solidarity Center are presenting an online panel discussion called “Ever Essential: Women’s Work Is the Backbone of the Global Economy.” The event will take place from 9 am to 10:30 am and you must register in advance to participate. Speakers will include AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler as well as women’s advocates from around the world. If you’re interested and available, visit: https://tinyurl.com/ever-essential to register.  Celebrating Women’s History Month We have kicked off our celebration of Women’s History Month with coverage in the Work Force and online. Please watch on Facebook for profiles of union women, both modern and historical, whom we can all look up to. Please read and share my March Work Force column on this topic, online at: https://tinyurl.com/whm-message-2021 

Legislative update The Legislative & Political Action Department issued three memos to the state legislature this week: Direct Payments to Ambulance Service Providers - This bill would ensure that providers of ambulance services, which includes counties and other municipalities, receive direct payment from insurance companies. Currently, an insurance company will send payment to a patient and not directly to the service provider. This system can result in millions of dollars in uncollected payments to service providers including local governments and municipalities. CSEA strongly supports this legislation. View our support memo online at: https://tinyurl.com/ambulance-payments-support 

Canal Corporation Development - The amended Executive Budget includes a proposal to establish a new public benefit corporation with overly broad powers to "revitalize" the state Canal System, including through public-private partnerships. CSEA opposes any efforts to allow the Canal System to be sold off to private developers. View our opposition memo online at: https://tinyurl.com/canal-pbc-opposition 

Direct Deposit for Child Care Providers - CSEA supports this legislation. It would require counties to offer child care providers the option to be paid by direct deposit. Currently, providers are paid by check, which leads to delays and missing payments. View our support memo online at: https://tinyurl.com/childcare-dd-support Zoom Comedy Hour survey underway On Monday we emailed a survey to everyone who participated in our Zoom Comedy Hour to gauge their reactions. Thanks to the more than 300 members who have already weighed in with your opinions on the event. This will help us in planning for future online events to engage with members. If you received a link to the survey, and haven’t taken it yet, please do… your voice matters! We hope you enjoyed the event.  On-demand COVID-19 vaccine webinar still available CSEA wants you to have all the facts regarding the new COVID-19 vaccines so that you can make an informed decision for you and your family. Our ninety-minute on-demand program will answer the most frequently asked questions regarding how the vaccines work, employee rights, the NYS Roll Out Plan and post-vaccine protocols in the workplace. This free webinar is open to anyone on demand at: https://tinyurl.com/csea-covid-vaccine-webinar 

Online union-building webinars scheduled through March The Education & Training Department staff continue to provide opportunities for members to gain and enhance their skills through our online trainings. Here is a summary of upcoming offerings. These trainings are open to members in all Regions. Registration is available online only at: https://cseany.org/education-and-training-webinars    

March 11, 2021 - The 7 Tests of Just Cause - 12:00pm-1:00pm March 16, 2021 - It's Not Grievable, Now What- 12:00pm-1:00pm March 17-18, 2021** - Local Government Discipline & Interrogation - 6:00pm-8:00pm March 23, 2021 - The 7 Tests of Just Cause - 3:00pm-4:00pm March 24-25, 2021** - Advanced Grievance: Power In Numbers - 6:00pm-8:00pm March 27, 2021 - Steward - 10:00am-2:30pm **must attend both dates 

 In Solidarity,📷 Mary E. Sullivan President INFORMATION IS POWER! PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH ALL CSEA MEMBERS IN YOUR LOCAL OR UNIT!CSEA Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO, 143 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12210Sent via ActionNetwork.org. To update your email address, change your name or address, or to stop receiving emails from CSEA Local 1000, please click here.