CSEA SPONSORED TRAINING DURING COURT RECESS

During the 2025 Court Recess, CSEA represented bargaining unit employees are allowed to participate in the Union-sponsored remote training without charge to leave accruals. This is a CSEA negotiated benefit, and eligible employees can opt to participate by registering for one or both days. If your court is in session on these training dates, you will need supervisory approval to participate.

Training Dates:

Monday, December 29th, 2025, and
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
9:00 am 4:00 pm with a lunch break

REGISTRATION OPENS on Monday, November 3, 2025, and closes at end of business onFriday, December 12, 2025. Note: No exceptions will be made beyond this date.

Registration Process:

CSEA members must register at https://memberlink.cseany.org/Event.axd?e=2050. After logging in, you will be taken to the registration form.

CSEA non-members must call the CSEA State Operations Department to register at 518-257-1279.

Requirements / Ground Rules :

MUST participate for the full day (no partial days allowed).

MUST provide a personal email address to participate.

MUST provide first and last name (i.e., John’s iPad will not be counted as participating).

No sharing of a link is allowed. There will be unique identifiers attached. If a link is shared, the participants utilizing the same link will not be counted as participating.

No recording of the training is allowed.

No anonymous logins- you will be removed.

Below is the list of workshops that will be offered. The dates and times for when each will be held will be in the next communication.

WORKSHOPS

Workshop Title: Building Power Together: CSEA in the Legislative and Political Process

Description: CSEA plays a vital role in influencing the laws, policies, and elections that affect our work and communities. This workshop explains how the Legislative and Political Action Department works to advance members’ interests and offers practical ways for you to get involved through lobbying, advocacy, and political participation.

Workshop Title: Social Media for Social Justice

Description:   Social media can be a great tool to build our union and to keep in touch with family and friends. During this workshop, we will teach you the current state of the law and best practices so that your use of social media does not lead to discipline at work.

Workshop Title: Privacy in the Workplace

Description:   Employers are beginning to use cameras and video surveillance in the workplace more than ever before. This is done often to prevent theft or to monitor what employees are doing while on the clock. Sometimes the employer advises the union or employees that they are being watched, and other times it is done secretly. This workshop will update you on the latest rules that employers must follow when they decide to engage in surveillance of their employees. Both private and public sector workplace rules will be explored.

Workshop Title: Drug & Alcohol Policies & Legal Weed

Description:   A discussion of employer policies, what to look for, what is negotiable, and how the legalization of marijuana impacts them.  

Workshop Title: The FMLA

Description:   This workshop will give you a firm understanding of the Family and Medical Leave Act, what is covered, how it works, and what you should look for when representing your members. Serious health conditions, family members covered, military caregiver leave, parental leave, etc.

Workshop Title: New York State and Local Retirement System Retirement Overview

Description: This workshop will provide a general overview of everything a New York State and Local Retirement System member needs to know including the differences in the tiers, how a benefit is calculated, service credits, what you need to do to file for retirement, death benefits and Retirement Online.

Workshop Title: New State Deferred Compensation Plan

Description: This workshop is an interactive conversation on the benefits of enrolling and participating in the NYS Deferred Compensation Plan. Learn about the basics of investing and our investment options, pre-tax or post-tax dollars, and an overview of our easy and secure online enrollment process.  We will also discuss longevity, income sources, asset consolidation, and required minimum distributions associated with the NYS Deferred Compensation Plan.

Workshop Title: Bloodborne Pathogens Program Review

Description: During this workshop there will be a review of the regulatory requirements for a NYS DOL PESH compliant Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Program and the status of the current UCS program, with discussion about program implementation across the courts system.

Workshop Title: Workplace Violence Prevention Program Review

Description: During this workshop there will be a review of the regulatory requirements for a NYS DOL PESH compliant Workplace Violence Prevention Program with a review of the status of the current UCS programs with recent add-ons for the MHLS program activities, with discussion about program implementation across the courts system.

Workshop Title: Active Shooter

Description: This is the C.R.A.S.E Class from A.L.E.R.R.T. During this workshop you will learn what an unarm person could do if ever confronted with an active shooter Situation.

Should you have any questions, please contact State Operations at 518-257-1279.

Schenectady County welcomed Hon. Katherine A. McGuirl and New York State Officers Brandon M. Bailey (U.S. Air Force Veteran) and Joel Herrera (U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, currently serving in the New York Air National Guard) for a special event dedicated to supporting local veterans.

In partnership with the Schenectady County Veterans Service Agency and the Veterans Peer-to-Peer Program, the event provided veterans and their families with information on legal resources, court-based services, and programs tailored to their needs.

The initiative underscored the power of collaboration and the ongoing commitment to ensuring veterans have access to the tools and support they deserve.

The Albany Veterans Day Parade will be held on Veterans Day, November 11th at 11:00 a.m.

Members, family and friends should meet at Robin Street and Central Avenue.

The CSEA contingent will exit at CSEA Headquarters, 143 Washington Avenue, for a post-parade gathering with food and drinks.

Your Executive Board is back from a weeklong training in beautiful Niagara Falls at the CSEA Annual Delegates Meeting. 

We all had a very productive week and attended multiple daily sessions to learn how to best represent you, the members. We are committed to work hard to serve the membership in every way we can.

Reach out with any questions or concerns and we will give you answers or find the answers!

SAVE THE DATE

Dates: Monday, December 29th, 2025, and Tuesday, December 30th, 2025. 

Registration will open on Monday, November 3rd, 2025, and it will close on Friday, December 12th, 2025. 

Information on registration and the specific program is forthcoming. 

Should you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact Alexandra Molina at alexandra.molina@cseainc.org or at 1-800-342-4146, extension 1290

This is 1st VP Matt Carpenter and Delegate Kelly Giuliano.

They are using their vision benefit before it expires at the end of the year.

They are smart.

Be like Matt and Kelly.

Fellow Members:

Our local and CSEA, want to stress that anyone doing any work for the court system, or any court related program such as Outreach or Workfares, are to be paid. There is no such thing as “volunteering” without being compensated. Whether it is after hours or on the weekend. Especially those in uniform. Any questions, please reach out to me or any Local 333 executive board member. Thanks – Dave

The Albany Tunnel to Towers Climb at the Corning Tower saw participants ascend 42 stories to honor the heroes of September 11, 2001, while raising funds for fallen and injured first responders, veterans, and their families.

NYS Court Officer Eric Potts of Schenectady’s Southern Command, and member of CSEA Local 333, represented his profession in full uniform, paying tribute to Court Officers Captain Harry Thompson, Sgt. Mitchel Wallace, and Sgt. Thomas Jurgens, who gave their lives 24 years ago. 

For the third year in a row, Officer Potts placed first in the Law Enforcement category.

Congratulations to him on this amazing achievement!

To honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month, you can wear pink to spark conversations, schedule or remind loved ones about mammograms or display a pink ribbon to raise awareness about the importance of prevention and routine screening for the early diagnosis of breast cancer.

And if you’re a court officer, you can wear this patch to show support in the month of October.

The link is below.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/144918711185

CSEA is holding a Zoom meeting October 7th at 6pm for all Court Security Series members. That includes Trainees up to Major.

Anyone interested, please read below…

Dear UCS Bargaining Unit Member: CSEA would like to invite you to join an informational Zoom session on Tuesday, October 7, 2025 at 6pm.

Below is the link to join the meeting:

https://zoom.us/j/93861343943

This is a great opportunity to meet with all of the UCS Local Presidents and some staff representatives to discuss several current topics that are important and relevant to the Court Officer/Security title series represented by CSEA within the NYS Unified Court System.

The topics discussed will include:

• Overview of contract related benefits and upcoming negotiations
• Firearms: Overview of legal challenges pursued over the last 15 years and next steps
• Retirement legislation
• Decertification Q&A

CSEA Local Presidents:

• Kevin Mahler, Local 332, Region 3
• Ian Spencer, Local 334, Region 5
• Bill Hart, Local 335, Region 6
• Dave DeJesus, Local 333, Region 4
• Nicole Ventresca-Cohen, Local 694, Region 4
• Lanielle Roach, Local 010, Region 2
• Larry Germano, Local 330, Region 1

CSEA Staff Representatives:

• Carisa Guild, Deputy Director of State Operations
• Daren Rylewicz, General Counsel & Director of Legal Services
• Josh Terry, Director of Political Action
• Alex Molina, Contract Administration Specialist