Dear Brothers and Sisters in Solidarity,
 
In recent days, CSEA has distributed misleading and unfounded claims about the conduct of the Executive Board under my leadership. These allegations were spread with malicious intent by those working against our chapter since the day I took office—an egregious attack against our union, democracy, and a blatant theft of your voices. Over the past two years, our chapter has endured retaliation, harassment, and covert attempts to undermine us. And through it all, we have consistently risen above it all, staying true to our mission of improving the lives of our members.
 
Some of these charges listed in the CSEA letter can be attributed to the actions of a few disgruntled former board members. The newly appointed individuals, who have not even had a single day in their elected positions, should not be held responsible for these allegations. An attempt was made to impede a salary increase for the IBIA lead position, vigorously advocated for by one of these dissatisfied former board members. She actively, though unsuccessfully, launched a grassroots campaign to prevent the approval of that raise. Fortunately, through the collective efforts and determination of our chapter, we managed to surpass her campaign and secure the deserved raise for those few individuals.
 
Despite these challenges, we, as a member-led organization, now face an attempt to seize control without the consent of our membership. It's essential for us to unite against this injustice and reclaim our voices, remembering that we were all duly elected by the members of this chapter. These actions have consequences, halting negotiations we were diligently conducting on behalf of all employees. The raises and added benefits we were negotiating for you will be delayed, causing undue hardships in these challenging times.
 
I implore each of you to reflect on your personal experiences and not be swayed by falsehoods. We have always stood by each and every member, working tirelessly to recognize and honor your voices. The good we have done and the future good we can do are now being questioned and jeopardized.
 
We must band together to fight back and reclaim what is rightfully ours. No longer should we allow ourselves to be bullied by the organization. Let us stand up, stand strong, and ensure that our union remains a true representation of the collective voices of its members. We urgently call upon all of you to join us in letting CSEA know that we want our chapter officers reinstated. 

Please help us spread the word by sharing this message with EVERY PERSON you know in the district.

Your support is greatly appreciated,

Joe Ragusa