President's message

CSEA siblings,

I cannot believe that another Annual Conference is upon us.

At headquarters in San Jose, and across the state, staff and member volunteers have been working tirelessly preparing for us to gather and conduct the business of our union.

This is such an important time for our Association. In just a few short weeks, over a thousand of our union siblings will gather to chart the future of our union. This is the power of organizing and our democracy in action, and it’s the reason CSEA has endured for nearly a century. It is truly a sight to behold, and I encourage everyone not attending Conference to follow along on the livestream as your chapter delegates participate in shaping CSEA.

Speaking of attending, I’m thrilled to be able to hold the 98th Annual Conference right in CSEA’s backyard at the San Jose Convention Center. I’ve often said that one of my favorite parts of being your Association President is the opportunity to meet and connect with so many of my union siblings. To see and hear about your lives and experiences is what makes my role so fulfilling and I can’t wait to see those of you attending Conference later this month.

I’m excited that this conference will showcase our union’s Core Values and the spirit of CSEA with our conference theme, Together We Thrive.

Our Core Values of Empowerment, Inclusivity, Respect, Transparency, and Innovation are not just a set of words on paper. They are the foundation of our organization and are what we see in each other every day. They are the guiding principles we look to in how we treat each other and how we represent ourselves, our union, and our communities.

We carry these values as we do all things – together. We are always stronger together and nowhere is that more evident than when over a thousand CSEA siblings come together in common purpose.

I hope that those of you attending Annual Conference, and the many more watching from home feel that sense of community and the pride of being a CSEA member.