Let's Honor Our Union History
Just as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood up for economic and racial justice, so do AFSCME members today. With strength and solidarity, we honor his legacy through action.
Let's stand together to reaffirm our commitment to justice. We will Never Quit.
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I'LL NEVER QUIT
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Thank you for honoring our union history
This month, tens of thousands of workers and their allies joined together in Memphis, Tennessee, for I AM 2018, a nationwide campaign to advance social and economic justice by drawing on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the 1968 Memphis Sanitation Workers' Strike.
Please join us. Even if you couldn't travel to Memphis, you can take part in this historic moment.
Fill in the blank with your job: "I am a _____."
Such a short but powerful statement says that you're not going to let powerful interests rob working families of their freedom to join strong unions. Your recording will be a part of a chorus of workers who know that the fight for freedom has only just begun.
Sisters and brothers: We need to speak up together to secure our future.
Record Your Video »
Honor MLK's legacy and reaffirm your commitment to justice.
Let AFSCME know you will Never Quit.
CSEA Member's Quick Thinking Saves a Life
On The Record: I AM 2018
NAACP Honors Former Sec.-Treas. Bill Lucy, 1968 Memphis Strikers
By Jessica Ladlee, CSEA January 16, 2018 Your Union Never Quit
Jay Gonzalez, a motor equipment operator at the City of White Plains, New York (Photo courtesy CSEA)
WHITE PLAINS, New York — While they are filling potholes one day and plowing snow the next, there are certain parts of the workday for Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) member Jay Gonzalez and his co-workers that are practically a daily ritual.
One thing you can count on is them using their afternoon break to make a quick stop at a local store to grab a drink or snack.
When they made that stop on one recent summer day, however, Gonzalez, a motor equipment operator at the City of White Plains, remained in his work truck as his co-worker went inside.
That decision may have saved a life.
Jumping Into Action
"As I was sitting there, a lady came running and knocked on the window," Gonzalez said. "She was knocking hard and crying. I opened the door and she said, 'Do you have a knife, do you have something that can cut a seat belt? My daughter is choking!'"
Gonzalez grabbed the first item he could find in his work truck, a screwdriver, and ran toward the woman's car.
"When I looked in the car, I saw the girl had the back seat belt wrapped around her neck," he said. "I wanted to make sure she could catch her breath first, so I was able to use the screwdriver to nudge the belt away from her neck, and she took a deep breath."
Gonzalez bolted back to his work truck, grabbing a portable handsaw stowed inside.
"I was able to run back and cut the seat belt on the top, so I was able to get it off her neck," he said. "She had the seat belt wrapped around her neck, and when she went to unbuckle it, the seat belt had tightened like it does when the car is in motion and you hit the brakes."
As a father of a 3-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son, Gonzalez knew firsthand the fear the young girl's mother was experiencing.
"One day when my son was younger, he was choking and it was so scary," he said. "I was in shock when it happened to my son, so I knew when I saw this girl's mom panicking that I had to make sure to get her out as quickly as I could."
Gonzalez went on with work as usual after the rescue, but after hearing what happened, City of White Plains Unit President Joe Longo felt more widespread kudos were in order.
"It means a lot to see anybody do something courageous like that," Longo said. "These days, many people would rather take out their phones and videotape something like this rather than jumping into action. Jay is a good father, friend and union brother. We're all very proud of him."
Gonzalez remains humble, but said he realizes he was in the right place that day at the right time.
"Every time I go to that store, I always get out and buy something," he said. "That day, for some reason I didn't leave. I feel like for some reason it was meant to be."
Never Quit Service Award
Do you know public service workers who go above and beyond the call of duty?
Nominate them for the AFSCME Never Quit Service Award.