Welcome to CSEA Unit 8950
Welcome to the website of
CSEAUNIT8950.com & CSEAUNIT8950.org
Tina Buono, President, CSEA Unit 8950
CSEA Retiree Division Retirement Seminar
APRIL 15TH, 2026
Registration: 5:30pm
Program: 6:00pm
Address: 200 Stockade Drive, Kingston, NY 12401
* Downstairs Conference Room
RSVP: Tina. M Buono - president@cseaunit8950.com
Featuring:
NY State and Local Government Retirement System CSEA Retiree Division * CSEA Member Benefits * Pearl Insurance
NOTE:
This seminar is intended for any member that plans on retiring within the next two years
Space is limited for this event to 60 seats, please RSVP to the email on the posting.
Tina M. Buono,
President, CSEA UNIT 8950
CSEA ULSTER COUNTY UNIT 8950 MEETING and SCHOLARSHIP Drawing
General Membership Meeting and Scholarship Drawing
June 3, 2026 at 5:30pm
CSEA Local 856 Office in the NYSUT Building
200 Stockade Drive, Kingston, NY 12401
CSEA Ulster County Unit 8950 will be awarding:
One (1) $1,000 Carmine Nigro Memorial Scholarship
Three (3) $500 Unit Scholarships
Six (6) $250 Unit Scholarships
In order for your CHILD to qualify for these scholarships, you must:
*Be a CSEA Unit 8950 Ulster County member.
Applicant must be a 2026 graduating High School senior or current undergraduate who will be attending college full-time in the fall 2026 at an accredited College or University working to attain an Associate or Bachelor’s degree or a two-year program at an accredited trade school.
One $1,000 scholarship is offered in memory of Carmine Nigro, a former Unit 8950 President, who passed away in 1997. Three $500 scholarships and six $250 scholarships from Unit 8950 are also being offered.
Application forms and guidelines are available to be printed HERE and also on our Unit 8950 Facebook page, to be copied from union bulletin boards, or by contacting an officer or shop steward.
The application filing deadline date is May 15, 2026
You don’t have to be in the drawing to come to the meeting!
Local 856 Membership Meeting And Scholarship Drawing
General Membership Meeting and
June 3, 2026 at 5:30pm
CSEA Local 856 Office in the NYSUT Building
200 Stockade Drive, Kingston, NY 12401
CSEA Ulster County Local 856 will be awarding
$10,000 in Scholarship Awards
In order for your CHILD to qualify for these scholarships, you must:
*Be a CSEA Ulster County Local 856 member.
Applicant must be a 2026 graduating High School senior or current undergraduate who will
be attending college full-time in the fall 2026 at an accredited College or University working
to attain an Associate or Bachelor’s degree or a two-year program at an accredited trade
school.
Application forms and guidelines are here:
Ulster County Local 856 Annual Scholarship Application
The application filing deadline date is May 15, 2026
You don’t have to be in the drawing to come to the meeting!
All members in attendance will be entered in the raffles!
2026 Scholarship Applications Available
Scholarships
It is with great pleasure that we announce the 2026 Irving Flaumenbaum Memorial Scholarship Program.
Applications for CSEA’s 2026 statewide scholarships are now available for download.
2026 Scholarship Applications now available!
Graduating high school seniors who are dependents of CSEA active members are eligible to apply for and potentially receive one of our union’s statewide college scholarships.
CSEA awards 18 $1,000 scholarships under the Irving Flaumenbaum Memorial Scholarship program. Pearl Insurance and MetLife each sponsor a one-time $2,500 award.
Applications for 2026 scholarships are now available on this page for download. Filing for a Flaumenbaum Scholarship automatically puts an applicant in consideration for the Pearl Insurance and MetLife Scholarships.
The filing deadline is May 1, 2026.
Download the 2026 CSEA scholarship application
PLEASE NOTE: Old applications could disqualify potential candidates. Please do not use applications from previous years – applications were recently revised.
Karaoke Night! Wednesday April 1st, 2026 6pm to 9pm
Come join us at Castaways Bar & Grill at Bridgeview Marina for a joyous night of karaoke and food! Non alcoholic drinks and buffet style food will be provided by our gracious host with a ticket for entry. There will be a cash bar for any liquid courage to get up and belt out your favorite ballads. This event will be Adults only, please nobody under the age of 18. There will also be a raffle for anyone who gets up to sing a song!
Tickets will be sold at the union office at 200 Stockade Drive in Kingston on Saturday February 28th from 8am to 12pm.
Tickets will be $5 for CSEA members, and $25 for a guest ticket. Each member can bring one guest. If the event is not sold out by March 15th members can purchase one additional guest ticket. Only cash will be accepted for ticket purchases, and all sales are final, no refunds. There is a limit of 60 tickets. Last day to purchase tickets is March 23rd.
Please contact Chris Mergendahl at 845-399-4349 with any questions.
2026 CSEA Scholarships
Applications for our CSEA Southern Region Scholarships are now available. These scholarships are for high school seniors who are children of CSEA members working here in the Southern Region (Dutchess, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Ulster and Sullivan counties).
We encourage activists to print and post this info on worksite bulletin boards.
Congratulations to all the upcoming graduating high school seniors!
Contract Negotiations
Tuesday, January 27th, 2026
We are reviewing the draft document of the 2025-2028 contract. Until that is completed and signed by both the County and the Unit, please refer to the 2020-2024 contract and the ratified Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).
Ways to Help
Adult Services and Office for Aging Food Drive
We are organizing this drive to benefit the elderly and aging population of Ulster County. We are assisting Adult Services with filling their pantry and Office of the Aging with supplies for their senior hub. We are requesting donations of the following:
JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST
Join CSEA Unit 8950 Bulletin and Flyer email list
If you would like to be on our mailing list for updates on the contract, and events - click here (you can unsubscribe anytime)
50 Reasons to Thank Labor Unions
50 Reasons to Thank Labor Unions
50 Reasons to Thank Labor Unions
1. Collective bargaining rights for employees
2. 8-hour work day
3. 40-hour work week
CSEA NEVER Quit
50 Reasons to Thank Labor Unions
50 Reasons to Thank Labor Unions
Did you know? If you are not a CSEA member, you're not protected. That means no union representation.
CSEA AFSCME PEOPLE
50 Reasons to Thank Labor Unions
CSEA AFSCME PEOPLE
PEOPLE Works for Local Gov. Employees!
Lobbied and passed legislation to increase aid to local government and stopped privatization attempts...
Break and Lunch
CSEA Dues Dollar
Comp Time Policy
Although it is never acceptable to work through your breaks and lunch hour, on occasion, it might be necessary and unavoidable to due to...
Comp Time Policy
CSEA Dues Dollar
Comp Time Policy
Compensatory Time Policy
Resolution #193, unanimously approved...additional info
CSEA Insurance Plans
Quick Guide to CSEA Member Benefits
It's Better to Be Union
Insurance plans specifically designed for CSEA Members! Disability, Term Life, Whole Life, Universal Life, and More!
It's Better to Be Union
Quick Guide to CSEA Member Benefits
It's Better to Be Union
Higher Wages, Union Members Earn 27% More than Non-Union.
Quick Guide to CSEA Member Benefits
Quick Guide to CSEA Member Benefits
Quick Guide to CSEA Member Benefits
CSEA Membership has its benefits!
NY HEALTH ACT - Additional Info
The New York Health Act is a proposal in the New York State Legislature to create a government run health care system. Under this plan, all New Yorkers would be mandated to participate, NO EXCEPTIONS. It would eliminate private health insurance including plans negotiated in a collective bargaining agreement.
What happens to the health insurance I have now?
Your current health insurance would be eliminated.....
Click on the images for further information..
Hours of Availability
Announcing our office hours:
We will be available to Unit 8950 members, by appointment only:
Please call 845-706-9620 or email president@cseaunit8950.com to schedule a time.
YOUR CSEA INSURANCE REP
CSEA - Group Sponsored Insurance program, announces a new CSEA Insurance Representative to contact.Click here or on the image for more details...
At Pearl Insurance, our Insurance Representatives can facilitate plan enrollments via fax, email and in some cases, directly online.
Simply call, text or email your CSEA Insurance Representative:
Shannon Johnson
CSEA Region 3 Insurance Rep.
518-491-8687
shannon.johnson@pearlinsurance.com
To setup a one-on-one appointment to speak over the phone or meet at a time & location convenient for you.
Call Today!
WE ARE ALSO ON FACEBOOK
CSEA Members Save
CSEA Members can save with the CSEA Visa Credit Card, and can also apply for a Vehicle Purchase or Loan Refinance. Click on the printable flyer for more details...
Mission Statement
CSEA Unit 8950 Mission Statement
As working men and women - every one and everywhere - we are our greatest resource. We organize and represent workers to ensure our voice is heard, our place at the table is kept and the American dream is ours in the 21st Century. As a labor union, we hold these values as our working principles:
Honesty
We are honest with ourselves and each other.
Inclusiveness
Every group, every idea is welcome.
Full Participation
We encourage and expect full participation in all union matters.
Respect
We respect each other and honor our differences.
Diversity
We celebrate our diversity and use it to strengthen us.
Open Communications
We listen and provide for open communication across all parts of our union and in all directions.
Accountability
We are accountable for our actions and decisions.
Fiscal Responsibility
We conduct our business in a fiscally sound manner.
As a labor union, we are committed to union democracy and we follow these values with integrity.
ADDITONAL INFORMATION
PLEASE CHECK YOUR BUILDINGS' CSEA BULLETIN BOARD OR WITH YOUR UNION REPRESENTATIVE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For Additional Information:
Call us- (845) 706-9620. Or email: president@cseaunit8950.com
Open by Appointment: Give us a call!