Holiday Message From the President
Widely recognized as the holiday season, December is often a time of reflection, celebration, family and anticipation for the coming New Year. As I reflect on 2011, I am reminded of the many challenges we faced this past year from fending off continuing attacks on organized labor to public employees. As union brothers and sisters, we chose to ratify a very unpopular contract in order to avoid layoffs. As a result of the ratification the 2011 - 2016 contract, CSEA members through out the State of New York are able to keep the American dream alive.
As local President, I feel truly blessed to be part of such a diverse and strong membership that has lead the way for CSEA Region 1 State employees through out my term in office. Because we have such a rich diverse local, during the holiday season it allows us to celebrate and appreciate both our similarities and differences. As you reflect and celebrate this season, I hope that you too will look forward with anticipation to the opportunities we will share in 2012. While we continue to face challenges as individuals and a local, I believe our strength, unity and our future lie in the creativity and determination found in our diversity. Happy holidays and May peace prevail on earth.

CSEA Local 614 Members Save State Money

CSEA members employed at SUNY Stony Brook recently renovated the hospital's Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Center, which added 7,500 square feet of space to the facility - and saved the state a significant amount of money. Click here for the full article.

Veteran's Day Ceremony

Pictured: Committee Chair Maryann Phelps presides over the ceremony.

The Long Island Region Veteran's Committee conducted a ceremony to honor the service of United States veterans on the Armed Forces Plaza of the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge. Many CSEA activists turned out to join the committee members for this poignant tribute, which was timed to coincide with the Veteran's Day holiday.

Local 614 Rallies for
Health Center

Pictured left to right: Local 614 President Carlos Speight, Suffolk County Legislator
Sara Anker and Executive VP
Debbie Nappi-Gonzales.

More than 50 members from SUNY Stony Brook Local 614 rallied recently in front of the Elsie Owens Health Center in Coram to
protest the proposed closure of that facility, which treats approximately 30,000 people
each year.
The potential loss of this critical facility is directly related to drastic reductions in aid
from New York State and is likely to place an added burden on hospital emergency rooms
in close proximity, putting the health of
Suffolk County residents at greater risk.
"Closing this health center pokes another hole in an already frayed social safety net," said Local 614 President Carlos Speight. "It will also mean that the 24 CSEA members who work there in clerical, custodial and patient care positions will lose their jobs."

CSEA Rallies at State Office Building

Local 614 President Carlos Speight gets the word out to the media.

About 200 CSEA members from SUNY Stony Brook Local 614 and practically every other local in the LI region gathered for a vocal rally at the New York State Office Building in Hauppauge to oppose elements in the proposed state budget of Governor Andrew Cuomo. Chief among their concerns are cuts to funding for health care, mental health services and education as well as the loss of nearly 10,000 state jobs.

Local 614 Holiday Party & Toys For Tots

Pictured: Local 614 members donated generously to the Marine Corps annual
Toys for Tots program, thanks to the efforts of Executive VP
Debbie Nappi-Gonzales.

Local 614 and The New York Jets

Local 614 and the Long Island Patriots

On February 12, 2011 CSEA Local 614 Executive Vice President Debbie Nappi -Gonzalez met with Coach John Van Wyk and baseball teamU12 Long Island Patriots at the All Pro facility in East Setauket, NY. Debbie presented Coach Van Wyk and George Rainer with a $500.00 check for the team. CSEA Local 614 SUNY Stony Brook raised these funds by raffling off a TV to show support of the baseball team and assist on their mission to raise enough funds to help scale back costs for the kids to attend a tournament in Cooperstown, NY. Coach Van Wyk, a dedicated father who has been coaching these boys since they were an intramural team, finds it inspiring and encourages the boys to strive to do their best. With hard work and determination, the team has achieved their goal in obtaining a spot in a tournament at Cooperstown Dreams Park. The team will also have the opportunity to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame. The expense of this trip is costly per child and CSEA Local 614 is proud to be able to respond to their request of a donation by way of a fundraiser, and helping a local community children’s baseball team. We will continue to support children in sports, and programs that gear our children, our future, in the right direction. CSEA would like to thank all our members, friends and family for the continued support with our fundraising efforts! Your continued patronage is what makes it successful time and time again.

Statement of CSEA President Danny Donohue
on Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Proposed State Budget

“There is nothing fair nor shared in the proposed state budget.
Slashing aid to our communities, to our hospitals and nursing homes, to our schools
and disproportionate cuts in state operations does not represent any new direction. It will
mean fewer people on the job maintaining our roads, fewer people keeping our water
clean, fewer people making our neighborhoods safer, fewer people providing care to our
most vulnerable citizens, fewer people driving our children to school and helping New
Yorkers lead healthier lives.
CSEA has repeatedly said that we are prepared to do our part and work with the
administration for a better New York.
We are not willing to see the necessary services that CSEA members provide to
people in every community in the state used as a bargaining chip to maintain tax breaks
for millionaires.”