Federation of Social Workers IUE-CWA 81381 President Christina Christman Recognized by the Union Leadership Institute
In November, Christina Christman, President of IUE-CWA Local 81381 (the Federation of Social Workers) was highlighted by the Cornell School of Industrial Labor Relations (ILR) newsletter as the recipient of the 2024-25 NYS AFL-CIO Union L.E.A.D. Scholarship:
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.
On January 9th, Christina was also elected First Vice President of the Rochester & Genesee Valley Area Labor Federation. Congrats Christina!
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