Longtime Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) activist Jimmy Gripper in a 1998 photo. CSEA will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2010. Throughout 2009 The Work Force is devoting the Leading Edge page to a look back at some of the key individuals who have helped shape our extraordinary history. This month we feature a interview with Jimmy Gripper. Gripper began his career in state service at what was then known as the Brooklyn Developmental Center in 1972. An activist in CSEA for 30 years, Gripper was the union's first African-American region president when he was elected to lead the Metropolitan Region in 1980. He is now retired and living in Virginia.
Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Capital Region President Kathy Garrison, right, and CSEA Organizing Department staff person Lisa Horton pose with Obama signs in front of infamous McCain supporter 'Joe The Plumber's' house in Toledo, Ohio, November 3. Garrison and Horton were part of the large AFSCME contingent that successfully got out the vote, delivering Ohio's electoral votes to Obama.
Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) activists from eastern Long Island spoke out against Town Supervisor Phil Cardinale's posposed 2009 budget, particularly his plan to eliminate funding for public safety dispatchers in the town's Police Department. Riverhead Unit President Matt Hattorff addresses the town board in opposition to the supervisor's plan to eliminate positions.
Nearly 40 Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) members under the age of 35 from around the state attended a workshop in Rennsselaerville to be a part of Next Wave; a new program designed to encourage younger activists to take an active role in building and maintaining the strength of CSEA by passing along the torch of activism to the next generation. Guadalupe Johnson, Nassau County Local Administrative Assistant, enjoys a light moment with other members at the weekend workshop.
Nearly 40 Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) members under the age of 35 from around the state attended a workshop in Rennsselaerville to be a part of Next Wave; a new program designed to encourage younger activists to take an active role in building and maintaining the strength of CSEA by passing along the torch of activism to the next generation. Shannon Wade, right, from Guild for Exceptional Children, with Scott Gould from Health Research Inc. Local in Buffalo.
Nearly 40 Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) members under the age of 35 from around the state attended a workshop in Rennsselaerville to be a part of Next Wave; a new program designed to encourage younger activists to take an active role in building and maintaining the strength of CSEA by passing along the torch of activism to the next generation. CSEA President Danny Donohue addresses the attendees of the weekend program.
Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) member and State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities aide John Normile stands with a framed New York Times sports section front page. He took the photo of Drew Bledsoe getting sacked.
Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) members, Joe Kevlin, center, of the state Education Department Local, his son Patrick Kevlin, a College of St. Rose student, and Jim Dunden, also of the state Education Department Local, work to get out the vote on Election Day in the Capital Region.
Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Long Island Region President Nick LaMorte and region Women's Committee members and activists recruited nearly 400 walkers for the recent Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk at Jones Beach. The region again served as a flagship sponsor for the walk, and union members raised nearly $10,000 to fight breast cancer, including research, education and patient care.