Leaders of New York State's Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) and Lifespire, a not-for-profit provider of services to people with developmental disabilities, recently met to strengthen labor-management relations and plan strategies to improve quality of care in their operations. Last year, 1,200 Lifespire employees formed a union with CSEA and were recognized by management. Their first contract is in the works. From left are Metropolitan Region President George Boncoraglio, New York AFL-CIO President Denis Hughes, CSEA President Danny Donohue, Lifespire Inc. President Mark Van Voorst, Lifespire Executive Vice President Tom McAlvanah and Lifespire Vice President for Human Resources Cassandra Dancy-Potts.
Paul Cole, New York State AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer, shaking hands with Denis Hughes, New York State AFL-CIO President attending an event hosted by the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA).
Months of hard work by Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) activists and staff produced Election Day success for most CSEA-supported candidates across the state. All of the union's statewide candidates, including Governor-elect Eliot Spitzer and US Senator Hillary Clinton, scored impressive victories. CSEA Metropolitan Region President George Boncoraglio, left, and New York State AFL-CIO President Denis Hughes, to Boncoraglio's left, listen as Governor-elect Eliot Spitzer thanks labor leaders during his post-election celebration. Also pictured are New York State Teachers President Dick Ianuzzi, left of Spitzer, and NYSUT Vice President Alan Lubin, right of Spitzer, and AFSCME District Council Executive Director Raglan George, fourth from right.
Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) President Danny Donohue, center, joining AFSCME President Gerald McEntee, left, and AFL-CIO President John Sweeny for a videotaped discussion of the unions' agenda for the future. The CSEA is New York State's largest union.
New York State Governor George E. Pataki signing legislation awarding retired public employees in New York a supplement to their pensions. Among the dignitaries looking on are New York State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno, Office of Management Confidential Employees President Barbara Zaron, Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) President Danny Donohue, New York AFL-CIO President Ed Cleary and New York State Comptroller H. Carl McCall. CSEA, New York State's largest union, fought long and hard for the bill which was a top legislative priority for years.