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Message from the President
Jack McPhillips
April 3, 2009I write this last article with mixed emotions and eager anticipation for the future. It’s been a long journey from where I initially started but I’m very proud of the accomplishments I’ve made during my eight years as Westchester County Unit President.
We’ve come a long way in the last eight years. My goal for the Westchester County Unit when I was first elected was simple; unite the membership and make Unit 9200 the strongest Unit it could possibly be! Together I think we’ve most definitely accomplished that goal!
Westchester County Unit 9200 is currently the largest Unit within CSEA and during my past two terms we were able to settle two contracts (after a very lengthy period), which were ratified by 67% and 92% by you. These contract battles were well fought by us against the County Administration and I think we prevailed in the end. We still do NOT pay into our Health Insurance plan (which happens to be the best in the State!) and did not take a zero or a bonus in order to do so! We are one of a choice few that still do not pay – let alone have insurance in this day and age! For that I am very grateful and pleased as I too am a member and care deeply about the same issues as you.
Some other accomplishments have been the establishment of a quality quarterly newsletter and a web site that, I must say, has no peer for content and presentation! We also have an Annual Family Day @ Playland and an Annual Holiday Party. There was an additional full-time release representative added to increase the total number to four. The Unit office was expanded and renovated to a more modern office setting, which helps you receive better administrative services from the Union. We also have an e-mail distribution list that further enables communication directly with you.
There are now monthly general membership meetings and the minutes are posted on the web site for those that are unable to attend. Committees allowed under our contract have been re-established and used as needed. (More volunteers are always needed to fill these committees so please take a moment and ask questions about the committees if you would like to get more involved.)
While serving as your Unit President, I also became a two time elected member of CSEA’s Board of Directors, elected Local 860 President, and Region 3’s 1st Vice President. I was also elected to be AFL-CIO Central Labor Council Vice President two times. I have been appointed to four CSEA Statewide Committees and have been elected four times to be an AFSCME Convention Representative from Region 3. I was also appointed as the only non-management (therefore the only labor representative) member of the Deferred Compensation Board for Westchester County employees.
While these other commitments keep me busy and active, they provided me something so much greater than I ever anticipated. Through these other responsibilities I became better informed, more knowledgeable, and obtained a more advanced educational experience to easily handle the challenging issues this Unit encountered every day. I’ve held my own with County and State leaders and always tried to do the best I could to service you.
I have greatly enjoyed being your President and having received your continued support as I tried to better the Unit with the County, within CSEA, and, most importantly with you, the member! Thank you for your continued support, cooperation and, at contract times, your patience! I hope I have succeeded in fairly and admirably representing you and your interests during these past two terms. Now it’s time to move on and let someone else “carry the torch”.
Before I leave, I would like you all to take a moment and reflect on what challenges does the Westchester County Unit face right now? How do you plan to mitigate these difficulties and help your future union officers meet and succeed with those challenges? The local and federal economies are in a state of despair but history shows that unions become their strongest during these difficult times. Please do what you can to get involved, get active, and help support your Unit. If we keep this in mind and rely on each other as inevitable challenges are encountered, the probability of our success increases greatly. It may seem like I’m stating the obvious, but we often become solely focused on the issues and concerns that affect us directly and lose sight of the big picture. No union can function without the support of its members. If you want your union to be strong for you when you need it, you should work to make the union strong for others.
Best Wishes to everyone and THANK YOU!!!
Karen
Pecora, 1st Vice President
Noel
De La Cruz,
2nd Vice President
Ed Magilton, 3rd Vice President,
Jim Kelly, 4th Vice President
Kimberly
Gotzen, Secretary Elio Giuliani, Treasurer
Mike
Wolf,
Sgt. at Arms
112 East Post Road, Room 428,
White Plains, New York, 10601- 3311
Phone
(914) 995-2151
Fax (914)
995-5629
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