CONTACT US

Building For The Future

TEAM JARVIS

The future of your union is at stake on Feb 15th!

Our core values center on putting our members first, ensuring our voices are heard, and addressing their concerns with innovative and solutions-driven approaches. Together, we strive to create a fair, safe, and equitable workplace where every member can thrive and prosper.
MEET THE TEAMCONTACT US

Our Mission

Team Jarvis for CSEA Region 1

Our region slate is dedicated to empowering and protecting our members, advocating for their rights, and fostering an inclusive and supportive union. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of Professionalism, Transparency, and Accountability in all our actions. Our core values center on putting our members first, ensuring our voices are heard, and addressing their concerns with innovative and solutions-driven approaches. Together, we strive to create a fair, safe, and equitable workplace where every member can thrive and prosper.

Building For The Future

Region One Board of Directors

Our VISION

Our Vision For CSEA Members Will Bring Back Trust In Our Union By Being Openly Transparent And Credible To All Members.

A union that will be run as a true democracy, not a dictatorship. We envision a union where the voices of our members will decide our next move, not the voices of the politicians. We refuse to be alright with members making below-poverty wages, members being bullied by unchallenged management and some union staff working to protect the statewide president at all costs.

We will visit all parts of NY State and join our members, at unit and local rallies, and protests and will speak at local government and school boards to remind them that you, the members, are not alone. This leadership will create a movement that will bring back the pride in being a CSEA member instead of feeling small, irrelevant, and weak.

Denise Berkley

Candidate for

President

Current Position

Statewide executive vice President

Denise Berkley’s historic election to the office of Statewide Executive Vice President for CSEA in 2020 serves as a vivid example of a union member who learned that to make a difference, you must get involved.

Denise’s union activism began at the Brooklyn Developmental Center (BDC) over 47 years ago. During her tenure within CSEA, she has served as the Local President of Brooklyn DDSO, the Executive Vice President of Region Two and was the former Statewide Secretary for 12 years. She is currently in her 10th term on the CSEA Statewide Board of Directors, in her third year as AFSME International Vice President and she is also Vice President of the NYS AFL-CIO Executive Board.

Denise states that “the key to our future is looking ahead, mentoring and developing leadership that can carry CSEA into the future.” She believes that passing on the knowledge she has to newer members can only strengthen our union. This is why she was such a strong proponent to get members involved in their future via the Next Wave Committee and had volunteered to be their officer liaison.

Over the years, Denise has been instrumental in advocating for women in the workplace. She has empowered numerous union women to seek higher positions within CSEA’s units, locals, schools, private sector and statewide. She feels all members need to have their voices heard.

Denise’s vision is to bring back the trust to members in CSEA, our union. She will make sure that all parts of NY State will be touched. No one will be left out on their own with no one to turn to. This will once again be the union of the people.

Jerry Laricchiuta

Candidate for

Statewide executive vice President

Current Position

Region 1 President

Jerry is a man of action. His union career began in 1995 as the first shop steward allowed at Nassau County Jail. He became involved due to the boss being a dictator and never challenged. Soon Jerry was able to establish the CSEA Sheriffs Support Unit. Then elected its first president. His courage and resolve turned things around. The dictator was fired. In 2005, Jerry ran for the president of the largest local in the region with 10,000 members, and won by a historic 73% of the vote. That is when Jerry was truly able to show everyone how to run a union.

Local 830 was transformed from a giant toothless local into the strongest union in Nassau County. “You must not be afraid of anything and fight management with everything you have.” That is how Jerry ran Local 830. He was able to attain a great contract in 2008 by winning the right in the legislature to have binding arbitration to settle contracts. Local 830 has never had binding arbitration. When layoffs were being prepared, Jerry held the biggest rally in CSEA history with over 5000 people in attendance. The layoffs were significantly reduced and eventually Jerry was able to get almost every member back.

Jerry was re-elected four terms for a total of 16 years. He ran successfully for Region One President. He intends to bring his true fighting spirit to Albany. He believes that CSEA State officers should get involved in all areas of dispute throughout the state. “I truly believe and fight for the underdog and CSEA is always the underdog. I plan on changing that with Denise Berkley.” Jerry’s two favorite saying are “where there’s a will there’s a way” and “I can do it because I’ve done it.” The proof is in his actions.

Michele Bollman

Candidate for

Statewide Secretary

Current Position

CSEA Local 815 Erie County Unit Secretary, Social Services President

My name is Michele Bollman. I am currently a member of Local 815 located in Region 6, Erie County. I am the Erie Unit Secretary and the Social Services Section President.

I have decided to run for Statewide Secretary due to the fact that I am tired of our union being considered weak and inferior compared to other unions. I feel that a change is needed and running on Team Berkley’s slate with those who will push this union forward is the right choice. No more
“status quo.”

I have been a proud union member for almost 20 years. My journey into union activism began when I joined the Next Wave committee. This was my stepping stone to acquire the knowledge and experience I use to advance. I started taking trainings such as steward, grievance representative, and discipline and interrogation. I joined more committees and then I ran for office. I became the Corresponding Secretary for Local 815 and Erie Unit, and Executive Vice President for Social Services. Four years later, I advanced even further and became Recording Secretary for Erie Unit and Local 815. I was also elected President of the Social Services section of Erie Unit, which has about 1400 members. I am also the chair of Local 815’s Health and Safety Committee, co-chair of the Woman’s Committee, and a member of the Health and Safety Committee for Region 6.

Under my leadership, Social Services section implemented a new member orientation program that I developed as my LEAD project, which has resulted in new hires becoming members faster. This process became the standard practice within the entire Erie Unit as it was more streamlined
and efficient.

Going forward, my hope would be to bring my experience and passion to the entire state.

Ali "Doc" Cottrell

Candidate for

Statewide TREASURER

Current Position

President, CSEA Local 615

My name is Ali “Doc” Cottrell. The current President of Local 615, SUNY Upstate Hospital, located in Region 5.

I guess the big question on everyone’s minds is “Why is he running?” My family said it best - “You cannot open new doors with old ways of thinking.”

My role as the local President is to work with the hospital administration/management to make sure that our members voices are heard and that their rights are not violated under the contract.

As a local President I was able to negotiate geographic pay for the LPN’s. Myself as well as the Local 615 Executive Board fought hard to get more SUNY Hospital titles instituted into the 2.5% overtime rate. This was a hard fight that we are very proud of. My Executive Board has also helped me engage with the younger members to attend our membership meetings.

The Hospital at SUNY Upstate is a 24/7 operation. I make myself available to members on all shifts. When serious matters have arisen during the third shift, I have been known to show up to help. Losing sleep is a small price to pay when I see the sense of relief and appreciation on members faces.

As a union activist, I have educated my members in the PEOPLE program. I have achieved the people recruiter of the month numerous times and the people recruiter of the year twice. Also, after being selected, I have successfully completed the LEAD program.

Holding the current position of President, the main concern I have heard from members is the feeling of a major disconnect between the statewide leaders in the union and the members they represent. This must change. Our members voices must be heard and be respected. It’s time for union leadership to listen to the members.

COMMUNICATE TO EDUCATE

Team Jarvis will use this philosophy by creating an open and inclusive environment to bridge the gap between local leadership and unit leadership to successfully represent their members throughout Long Island Region One.
CONTACT