New York’s leading union has unveiled one of the most significant projects of the union’s centennial year. “A Century of Service: The Story of CSEA’s First 100 Years,” a book that chronicles the history of CSEA and growth of New York decade by decade through the 20th century and into the present day, is now available.
It is the story of CSEA, as it has never been told before.
“The history of CSEA is not as well understood or appreciated as it should be…until now,” said CSEA President Danny Donohue. “This book is a must-read for CSEA members and every other New Yorker.”
The story of CSEA is extraordinary in many ways. It is a story about individuals, but it is also a story about collective action – people working together. Most importantly, it is a story about aspiration:
From the very start on Oct. 24, 1910, the story of CSEA has been about people wanting to do better and believing it could help make New York a better place. That’s still true today.
When CSEA came into existence, America was just becoming a world power; Theodore Roosevelt was the dominant political figure of the time; women did not have the right to vote; people of color were at best second class citizens; cars were just being mass produced and radio broadcasting was in its infancy.
