A graphic illustration by Graphic Artist Ralph Distin, titled "Quality Family Daycare: not all fun and games," depicting an independent family daycare provider with lack of protections and benefits, and confusing regulations. Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) and VOICE (Voice of Organized Independent Childcare Educators) are working with providers to encourage them to officially recognize VOICE as an advocate on their behalf on numerous issues they face, including dealing with agencies such as the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. CSEA is New York State's largest union.
Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) members Jim Peterniti, left, a maintenance assistant, and General Mechanic Rod Mitchell, who work to maintain the Great Valley Residential Center in western New York, despite understaffing at the youth facility. Many CSEA members who work for the New York State Office of Children and Family Services say the agency has become a rudderless ship. CSEA, New York State's largest union, has reached out to the Office of Children and Family Services to discuss concerns union members have with communication, policy, staffing and regulations.
Gloria Patmore, a Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) member and cook at the Great Valley Residential Center in western New York. When the kitchen is short on staff, youth development aides are brought in to help, leaving other services understaffed. As a result, CSEA has reached out to the New York State Office of Children and Family Services to discuss concerns union members have with communication, policy, staffing and regulations. The CSEA is New York State's largest union.
Day care provider and Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA)/VOICE (Voice of Organized Independent Childcare Educators) founding member Fran Nantista with some of the children for whom she cares. With CSEA, she is fighting for collective bargaining rights for daycare providers across New York State. As a provider she has concerns with the State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) and thinks a union voice can help providers. Nantista was featured in the Leading Edge in the CSEA monthly pulbication Work Force. The CSEA is New York State's largest union.
A graphic depicting the New York state Office of Children and Family Services as a troubled agency. The Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) has concerns that the OCFS is an agency in crisis unable to serve those in need of services and unwilling to develop clear-cut policies and procedures to help its employees do their jobs.
Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) member, Douglas Hayes, a Youth Developmental Aide 3 at the Office of Children and Family Services' Ella McQueen Residential Center in Brooklyn, NY. Hayes blames short staffing at the facility for the injuries he's received on the job. In response to growing concerns about the safety of youth development aides at state Office of Children and Family Services facilities statewide, CSEA has stepped up efforts to ensure that workers voices are being heard loud and clear by OCFS officials.
Workers at the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Lansing/McCormick Residential Center unhappy with the dangers created by short staffing at Office of Children and Familiy Services facilities. Workers are demanding more staffing and resources from the OCFS after several workers at Lansing were forced to confront a violent situation at the facility without adequate means to do their jobs safely. The residential center is in Lansing, a town in Tompkins County, NY.
Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Lansing Residential Center Local Vice President Andy Mantella displays a cell phone image of his injured finger after an attack at the youth detention facility located in Tompkins County, NY. Workers at the center are demanding more staffing and resources from the Office of Children and Family Services after several workers there were forced to confront a violent situation at the facility without adquate means to do their jos safely.
Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Tryon Residential Center Local members, from left, Courtney N. Lee, Isaac Brown, Guy Newborn, Jeff Miskinis (back row center), Local President Mike Geraghty and Eric Jensen. The workers say the agency (New York State Office of Children and Family Services) is doing little to help them deal with staffing and assault issues on the job. Workers at the center, located in Johnstown, NY, often face abuse and short staffing.
Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA)/Child Care Providers Together-NY, a new CSEA child care union (CSEA Local 100B), won with 96 percent voting in favor of a union. Representatives from Local 100B will now join CSEA/VOICE Local 100A at the table for negotiations with the Office of Children and Family Services. One contract will cover both child care locals, a similar structure that CSEA uses for state contracts.