ULI Spotlight: Christina Christman, President Federation of Social Workers IUE-CWA 81381, Monroe County

Christina joined the union when she began working for the Monroe County Department of Human Services in 2011, signing up after a training presentation. Initially, she was only minimally involved but became more engaged in 2019 as the Political Action Chair during a critical election, helping elect pro-labor candidates to the County Executive and Legislature, greatly influencing employee negotiations. Under the previous administration the County had gone without a contract under the prior administration for eight years. In 2020 and 2021, Christina participated in the IUE mentorship program and successfully ran for President of her local in November 2021.

For Christina, ULI has played a pivotal role in her leadership growth, offering insights that other leadership programs have not. Rather than concentrating on the daily tasks and challenges of union work, ULI encourages participants to explore their internal motivations, struggles, and sense of purpose. Christina values the lifelong connections she has forged with her instructors and classmates and enjoys the balance between hard work and fun throughout the program. Representing various industries and sectors, Christina finds hearing about her peers' diverse challenges and triumphs fascinating. A few years ago, she never imagined labor would be her career path, but now she cannot envision anything more rewarding than advocating for workers' rights. Being surrounded by fellow activists and leaders invigorates and inspires her.

Christina realizes she has much to learn about herself and the labor movement. She appreciates the open, nonjudgmental discussions with her classmates and instructors, believing that everyone contributes valuable perspectives as they navigate the complexities together. She understands larger unions' power over smaller ones, the overlapping representations across industries, and the intricacies of union politics. Christina says that the ULI has helped her reflect on issues such as union-busting tactics, the importance of robust Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies, and challenges in resource allocation. For her ULI fieldwork project, Christina is working on creating a resource hub for locals in the public sector in New York. This hub will gather information on employment law, civil service updates, PERB rulings, state legislation, budget news, and other helpful resources to support public sector members.

Outside ULI and her union duties, Christina is involved in several projects in her local organization, including updating the bylaws for the Executive Board, addressing grievances, and enhancing communication through social media and a document repository. She has also formed a financial planning team and is planning a retreat to develop goals for the local chapter. As a founding member of the Equity Caucus within the County Democratic Committee, Christina advocates for Good Cause Eviction and expanded tenant protections while seeking funding for a public utility study. She teaches Internal Mobilization at the local Labor Council's Organizing School. She is excited about establishing a labor library and museum as a Ronald G. Pettengill Labor Education Fund board member.

Christina is looking forward to continuing her ULI journey and values the support from her classmates and instructors. She wants to attend professional development classes and grow with her cohort, believing they can help each other succeed. With a new President in office in the United States, she thinks it’s essential for workers to unite to survive and thrive despite fears about possible threats to worker rights during the next administration. She finds comfort in the solidarity of her fellow union members, believing they can strengthen one another in their efforts this coming year.