Beth White guiding one of the children in her care on the monkey bars while another child looks on. White has been a strong advocate among Ulster County, New York daycare providers for the benefits and strength that come from joining a union. Independent child care providers across New York State came one step closer to having a union voice after Governor Eliot Spitzer signed an executive order on May 8, 2007, allowing them union representation.
Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) VOICE Local leaders and negotiating team members Beth White, a child care provider from Ulster County (foreground left) and Patrick Hogan, a child care provider from Westchester County (foreground right) meeting with United States Senator Hillary Clinton and other AFSCME child care providers to discuss home-based childcare industry issues. Clinton announced that day the Quality Childcare for America Act. The act would increase funding for worker development programs and block grant funding by $200 million. CSEA is New York State's largest union.
Keith Shultis, a member of the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Mid-Hudson State Employees Local, operates a grooming machine at the Belleayre Mountain ski resort located in Highmount, NY, in Ulster County. CSEA members at Belleayre, Gore Mountain and Whiteface Mountain are all wrapping up a busy ski season that kept them on the slopes through April, as ski areas did much better business this year than last.
Across New York, Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) members are reaching out to their communities to help make the holidays brighter for New Yorkers who are facing tough times. Ulster County Local President Terry Gilbert, left, and Ulster County Shop Steward Christine Block sort through the pile of gifts collected for Toys for Tots. The Ulster Local Office served this year as a drop off point for Toys for Tots. Block, with Gilbert's support, spearheaded CSEA's local involvement with Toys for Tots. Numerous county departments collected toys, which will all be distributed locally.