New York State Canal Authority workers are dwarfed by an immense flood gate structure as they lower flood gates at Erie Canal Lock 8 in Rotterdam. Canal workers and Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) members were critical in cleaning debris, repairing locks and infrastructure, and helping to get the canal open on time this season following two devastating storms and an earthquake.
Members of the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Capital Region Team, the Polar Penguins, raised $2,200 for Special Olympics athletes when they plunged into frigid Lake George on Nov. 19, 2011. Team members made up of CSEA members, friends and family, gathered at Shepard's Cove Beach for a pre-plunge photo. CSEA members are, second row left to right, holding banner, Denise Famiano, Deb Gallachi, Mary Ann Brownell and Heidi Holcomb, CSEA Capital Region 3rd Vice President Brenda Facin and Martine Perrott and back row, left, Kim Teta, Dan Barkley, and (center) Bill Lauer.
Tom Utley, a building maintenance worker and Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) member, makes repairs to radiant heating on a wooden walkway at Gore Mountain.
?Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) member and Albany County Department of Social Services Unit President Alex Whatley finds the transition to union officer challenging and rewarding. Whatley has elevated occupational safety and health awareness at the Albany County Department of Social Services.
Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) member and Greene County 911 Dispatcher Jim DePerna works in the Communications Center of the county's Emergency Services Building. The county's dispatchers were key in helping county residents after a winter storm dumped more than four feet of snow on the county.
Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) members attend a meeting to oppose the closure of Moriah Shock Incarceration Facility. The governor is proposing to close Lyon Mountain Correctional Facility in Clinton County in January 2011, and Moriah Shock Incarceration Facility in Essex County in April 2011.
Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) member and Clinton County Correctional Facility Local President Roger Willingham, left, believes the governor is unfairly targeting upstate communities. North Country residents rely heavily on public employment because of the lack of industry. The governor is proposing to close Lyon Mountain Correctional Facility in Clinton County in January 2011, and Moriah Shock Incarceration Facility in Essex County in April 2011.
Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) member and Kingsboro Psychiatric Center Unit Coordinator Rosalind B. Douglas wears a protective face mask. Douglas returned to work after recovering from the flu unaware that her building had been quarantined because of H1N1.
The Albany Public Library recently celebrated its newest branch in the city's Pine Hills neighborhood. The grand opening on Dec. 5, 2009, drew hundreds of patrons and families. Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) members staff the library. Collection Management Librarian Diedre Lisio shows off the large collection of Japanese Manga, or Anime.
Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Statewide Treasurer Joe McMullen tells Saratoga County officials of the crises communities have faced across the state after privatizing their nursing homes.
The Civil Service Employees Association's (CSEA) Capital Region President Kathy Garrison leads a demonstration against the sale of Saratoga County's Maplewood Manor nursing home before a publc hearing.
Morrea Foote celebrates her retirement from the New York State Teachers' Retirement System in Albany after 60 years of service. For the past 40 years, Foote has been a switchboard operator and receptionist at the teachers' retirement system. Foote, who is retiring to spend more time with her family, was honored by her co-workers with a day dedicated to her, a poster and a tribute by the retirement system board.
In a four week period, Capital Region residents endured an earthquake, a hurricane, a tropical storm, flooding, and in one Montgomery County town, a tornado. Through it all, Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) members were on the front lines in the clean-up efforts, many continuing to work and volunteer despite their own homes being damaged or destroyed. CSEA members from the Canal Authority work to remove debris from an Erie Canal lock in the Capital Region. Much of the canal remains closed as workers continue to remove debris and repair damaged locks.
Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) members across the state were involved in the immediate response to Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. Saratoga County Local member Matt Farnsworth, working in the Clifton Park Highway Department, clears downed tree limbs in a bucket truck.
Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) members across the state were involved in the immediate response to Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. CSEA members working for the New York State Canal Authority represented by CSEA Black River Valley State Employees, Clinton County State Transportation, Franklin County State Transportation, and St. Lawrence County State Transportation Locals, work to fix a collapsed roadway in Elizabethtown, in Essex County.
Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee left their marks on New York, and Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) members were out in force aiding in the storm recovery, showing the value of public workers across the state. Montgomery County Augo Mechanic Technician Rick Dingman, left, speaks with CSEA President Danny Donohue about the cleanup efforts of county Department of Public Works employees following the damage caused by Hurricane Irene.
A photo of Ken Bergmann, part of the State Emergency Management Office (SEMO) planning section who worked with a team of 10 people out of the state operations center to coordinate the response of several state agencies to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, used in the special section of the September 2011 edition of the Work Force, Always Remember: A commemorative 10th anniversary retrospective published by the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA). Bergmann is now retired.
A photo of Bill Howard, a front line coordinator of the state's response to the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001, used in the Special Section of the September 2011 edition of the Work Force, Always Remember: A commemorative 10th anniversary retrospective. In 2001, Howard worked as a deputy director of state operations for then-Governor George Pataki. Today, Howards is the director of the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA)'s Employee Benefit Fund.
Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) member and South Colonie School District custodian Doug Hutton took quick action that helped save a 72-year-old man who had been playing basketball with an over-50 league at the Roessleville Elementary School when he collapsed on the court. Hutton used a defibrillator that delivered a shock to the man's body. Paramedics arrived and delivered a second shock and the man started talking.
Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) High Peaks State Employees Local members fill sandbags at the Saranac Lake Village garage. As devastating floods swept through Clinton, Essex, Warren and parts of Saratoga counties CSEA members put their personal lives on hold as they scrambled to help residents and businesses and went into action on a moment's notice, staffing a pumphouse around the clock, delivering and laying sandbags and leading a relief effort that netted 15,000 sandbags.
CSEA Village of Rouses Point Unit President Jason Juneau stands by a flooded boat ramp in Rouses Point. As devastating floods swept through Clinton, Essex, Warren and parts of Saratoga counties, Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) members put their personal lives on hold as they scrambled to help residents and businesses and went into action on a moment's notice, staffing a pumphouse around the clock, delivering and laying sandbags and leading a relief effort that netted 15,000 sandbags.
CSEA members Jesse Fitzgerald, Jon Charland, John Lefebvre and Ross Robert lay sandbags at Swiss Marine in Saranac Lake. As devastating floods swept through Clinton, Essex, Warren and parts of Saratoga counties, Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) members put their personal lives on hold as they scrambled to help residents and businesses and went into action on a moment's notice, staffing a pumphouse around the clock, delivering and laying sandbags and leading a relief effort that netted 15,000 sandbags.
Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) member Terry Nugent, a senior court analyst at the New York State Board of Law Examiners, now does much of her work electronically, helping the state save thousands of dollars in paper and postage.
Senior information technology analyst and Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Capital Region Judiciary Local member Richard Streichert, shown here working on a server, is among the court workers who have helped the state save thousands of dollars through the use of technology.
A photo of Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) member Betty Eagan, nurse for the Saratoga Springs School District, appeared with a quote about the attacks on public employees and concern over budget cuts.
A photo of Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) member Kevin Thompson, a bridge maintenance assistant, Jefferson Residency, Bridge Department at the state Department of Transportation, appeared with a quote about the attacks on public employees and concern over budget cuts.
Paul Dyer, former state Capitol tour guide, points out a staircase at the Capitol on a tour given to Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) delegates in October.
Fulton County Local President Ron Briggs speaks out about the county's proposed sale of public health services, as Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) members hold signs in support.
State Office of Children and Family Services Local President Richard Chaffin discusses national health care reform with local member Kerry Simonds during the local's 5th annual "I Scream" event in Rensselaer, which raises awareness each year about a hot political issue, informs the membership and "spurs debate."
Albany County Unit members and their supporters demonstrate before a county legislature meeting to protest the five planned furlough days which cut public services and hit county workers in the wallet.
Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) activist Betty Lennon greets a visitor to the CSEA table at the 2009 Clinton County Fair. CSEA's traveling history banner was on display at the fair.
City of Saratoga Springs Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) members demonstrate outside of a state Conference of Mayors function in the Spa City. The workers were demonstrating over stalled contract talks with Saratoga Springs Mayor Scott Johnson.
Shenendehowa Central School District Unit Vice President Gary Lanahan drives buses for the district but also is a passionate booster of the school's hockey and baseball teams. Lanahan spearheaded the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) unit's efforts three years ago to provide fund-raising support to the teams.
South Glens Falls School District Unit President Don Ostrander and his new Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) tatoo (between his thumb and index finger).
Capital District Psychiatric Center Local Vice President Dwayne Parsons, left, congratulates Carl Shank who was honored for his dedication, hard work and longevity. At the time of this photograph, Shank was 85 years old and still working with no plans to retire.
Saratoga Springs Department of Public Works Unit President Gary Benincasa, right, presents Mark Roberts, left, and Mark Milks, center, with certificates of recognition by the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) unit. The two public works employees are credited with saving the life of a stabbing victim.
Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Executive Vice President Mary Sullivan is presented with the Capital District Women's Employment & Resource Center's Harriet Rifkin Leadership Award by the center's Board Chairman Glenn Clermont. Sullivan was honored for her longtime efforts to advance working women. She also serves as the officer liaison to CSEA's statewide Women's Committee. The private, not-for-profit group helps women find success in the workplace by building their economic and personal independence.
Capital District DDSO Local President Joseph Howard and Western New York DDSO Local President Dawn Smith with certificates of appreciation they received from the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Commissioner Diana Jones Ritter and John Monteiro, Deputy Commissioner for Workforce and Talent Development. Both are retiring from state service.
Warren County workers and Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) members, including Warren County Unit President Mark Murray, far right, demonstrate in front of the county's municipal center.