For nearly two years, the New York Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) has resorted to fear and misinformation to keep their members in line.
But despite CSEA’s relentless scare campaign, New York public employees continue to cancel their union dues in unprecedented numbers. CSEA’s attempts to mislead and intimidate aren’t just failing – they’re backfiring spectacularly.
Take a recent CSEA webinar, optimistically titled “Fight Back with The Truth,” for example.
In an attempt to keep members in the dark about their First Amendment right to leave union membership and dues payments behind, the informational session focused almost entirely on mischaracterizing organizations like the Freedom Foundation as sinister forces intent on dismantling unions completely.
The webinar began as Josh Schik, CSEA’s Region 5 Political Coordinator, dismissively referred to communications from the Freedom Foundation and other workers’ rights groups as “pesky postcards and emails,” utilizing a disrespectful tone to trivialize legitimate concerns from union members.
Josh and his colleagues continued with flippant jokes, imitating bickering siblings and comparing their bad humor to a family squabble. This inappropriate performance was out of place in a setting meant to address serious issues. Such behavior not only undermines the union’s credibility but disrespects the intelligence of its members.
Throughout the webinar, presenters utilized derogatory language and mockery, referring to Freedom Foundation supporters as “deep-pocketed fat cats” while describing their dedication to informing public servants about their First Amendment rights as mere “trickery.”
The presenters’ condescending attitudes continued, portraying the Freedom Foundation’s motivation as pure greed without acknowledging legitimate concern from members about government union practices.
CSEA’s one-sided, dismissive approach utterly fails members who question union representation and seek balanced information about their rights. Dues payers deserve a better return on their investment than union webinars filled with cheap shots and baseless accusations.
Even propaganda can’t hide the fact that many CSEA leaders are out of touch with their members’ real needs. And as a result, the union resorts to fear tactics and misinformation in defense of their incompetency.
But public employees know better. A recent surge in CSEA members leaving union membership behind indicates that workers are no longer falling for union trickery.
Public servants understand that opting out of union membership means keeping more money in their pockets, gaining financial independence, and free exercise of their constitutional rights. Workers are tired of being misled and disrespected. They want transparency, professionalism, and respect – qualities that union leadership consistently fails to provide.
CSEA’s misinformation campaign is failing because public employees are seeing the truth for themselves. They are opting out in droves, reclaiming their rights, and setting a powerful example for others to follow. The future of labor in New York is changing, and it’s clear that transparency and respect – not fear and propaganda – will lead the way.
