Driving Change: Voluntary Benefits in Action for Union Employees

Client Background

The Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) is a labor union in New York that represents employees in state and local government, as well as school districts, childcare, and the private sector. There are approximately 175,000 members in CSEA NY with an additional 50,000 retiree members throughout the United States.

The union has had a great impact on New Yorkers’ lives since a group of state employees formed the Association of State Civil Service Employees on Oct. 24, 1910. More than 100 years later, the Civil Service Employees Association (as the association was renamed in 1946), is one of the largest, most influential unions in the United States.

CSEA NY members also belong to the larger union family, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the international house of labor, the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).

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Awareness of Financial Wellbeing Needs

At each level CSEA NY offers exclusive benefits designed to save its members and their families money. CSEA NY prides itself on its history of providing members with savings that exceed their union dues, leveraging its significant buying power to deliver value.

Before New York became a right-to-work state and while CSEA NY still collected fair share dues, in the mid-2010s, it also evaluated its voluntary benefits offering for non-members. Many of CSEA NY union members fit the Purchasing Power ideal employee profile and were well suited for the program.

“If folks have an option of joining or not joining [our association], it adds value when they know a program like Purchasing Power is available as a members-only benefit,” said Beth King, Director of Member Benefits. “If someone is struggling to buy what they need and they don’t have the money to purchase it, this [Purchasing Power] is the perfect option for them.”

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Reaching Members When They Need It Most

For more than 20 years, our unique payroll-enabled employee purchase program has helped employees responsibly stretch their budget further when facing large unexpected expenses. They can buy what they need when cash, access to affordable credit, or taking on more debt are not viable options.

Offered exclusively through employer organizations at no cost, our program complements other traditional employee benefits and long-term financial wellness solutions offered. Purchasing Power is available immediately to employees if and when they need it, and there is no cost to employees when the program isn’t used.

^{*2024 Public Sector Purchasing Power Value as a Benefit Survey responses, as of December 2, 2024.}