(ALBANY) - Come June at its national convention, Danny Donohue - who heads the 300,000-member Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA/AFSCME Local 1000) in New York State - will find out whether he will replace the retiring Bill Lucy as Secretary-Treasurer of the 1.6 million-member American Federation of State County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

The 65-year-old Donohue (pictured above) - who over the years has become the face of CSEA across New York in television commercials that have him declaring CSEA as "New York's Leading Union" - recently announced his intention to seek the national position and spoke with WNYLaborToday.com late last week on why he feels he's the right person for the job.

"Times are difficult, but I believe I bring something to the table, with a different perspective.  Some may say Labor is on the downside.  But CSEA has done some very innovative things in New York State.  (For example,) We organized twenty-five-thousand child care workers in the biggest organizing campaign we have over the past ten years.  It's time to recruit (workers into a Union).  We can make things better," Donohue said during a telephone interview from Albany.

"We need to get back to what's made Labor great," Donohue continued.  (Labor's) greatest asset is our members - on all levels.  We all have busy lives and it's hard to get them to meetings, but we need to get them, and our younger members, more involved.  We need to work with community and church groups.  We need to do more than hold big rallies to get thirty seconds of good press (coverage).  We need to take advantage of the computer (and Internet) age - everything under the sun.  (Labor doesn't) want to rant.  (Labor) wants to make things better."

Certainly, Donohue has the experience for the job.  For the past 16 years, Donohue - a Vietnam veteran who began his CSEA career as Union President at the Central Islip Psychiatric Center back in 1975 - has guided the 300,000-member state employees Union in New York that has a staff of 500, which is much larger than many other Union organizations across the United States, through both good times and bad.  CSEA, which is made up of more than 375 Locals and more than 1,000 units deployed in six geographic regions across New York, represents state employees, local government and school district employees, and certain private-sector employees, as well as day-care providers throughout the state.

In addition, Donohue - who also serves as vice president of the New York State AFL-CIO - has already received the endorsement of Lucy, whom Donohue calls the "heart" of the National AFSCME Union.  Reportedly, Lucy - who is said to be the highest-ranking African-American in the U.S. Labor Movement - believes Donohue would ''bring a clear sense of what is needed'' to the office.  ''Danny's commitment to this Union and its members is second to none and, for that, he has gained my total respect and support.  He has led the development of a strong and effective staff to deal with the multitude of issues that confront his members at every level of government in New York.  He and his leadership team have developed a sound structure that provides the capacity for effective contract negotiations and membership education, along with strong organizing and political action programs," Lucy said in a public statement.

"I'm extremely proud of his endorsement.  (Lucy) is a great leader is the American Labor Movement," said Donohue of Lucy, who also founded the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists.

Donohue will find out if he will become AFSCME's next secretary-treasurer during the Union's National Convention that will be held in Boston in June.  Reportedly, of the 3,800 AFSCME delegates who will attend the convention, 240 will come from New York State.

While Donohue has publicly pledged - if elected as secretary-treasurer - to "build on the legacy of progressive leadership and to serve as President McEntee's partner as we go forward to make AFSCME an even stronger Union, defending AFSCME members and leading our country in these difficult times."  As head of one of the Nation's most politically-active Unions, AFSCME's McEntee - whose present term as president expires in 2012 - also serves as chair of the National AFL-CIO's political committee.  However, there have also been reports that Donohue would be interested in McEntee's position as president of the 1.6-million-member AFSCME Union should McEntee decide not to seek re-election.  "If the president steps down, I would run for that position," Donohue told WNYLaborToday.com.

If Donohue is successful in being elected as AFSCME's secretary-treasurer, CSEA Executive Vice President Mary Sullivan would automatically ascend to fill the two years remaining on his term - become the first woman president of CSEA. 

Donohue also discussed with WNYLaborToday.com the growing frustration - and in some cases, anger - that Labor Leaders have had with those elected officials Organized Labor and their members have worked so hard to help get elected in not only New York State, but in Washington.

"Most Labor Leaders are fed up with our elected officials, who take (Labor) for granted.  (Labor) is held hostage by the Democratic Party.  (Meanwhile) The Republicans just can't keep saying, 'No," to National Health Care, while the Democrats are using it as an opportunity to get something for their individual states.  People have every right to complain.  That's why, I believe, we have to get involved in primary races.  We need to show (elected officials and candidates running for office) that they cannot take (Labor) for granted.  And they need to be reminded that (Labor) can make 'them' unemployed," Donohue said.

In New York, Donohue points to CSEA being able to work with all elected officials to put together a program that helped convince local governments they could save money and jobs by importing prescription drugs from Canada for their workers, including Schenectady County - which reportedly has saved $6 million.  "We were able to bring in a number of companies and sat down with them down to save money.  People were a little skeptical at first, but we're saving money and that's the best cheerleader of this effort," said Donohue, who was so frustrated by the lack of movement by Congress to make the same thing happen across the country that he decided to take matters into his own hands in New York State in order to get it done.

Donohue, meanwhile, knows Organized Labor must also deal with the many public misconceptions as Organized Labor's enemies continue to blame Labor Unions and their members for every economic ill that Americans face these days.  He knows very well the stereotypes in New York State, as public employees have now been placed up front and center by those who look to attack and tear down Labor.

But in New York, CSEA and Donohue have taken to the offensive. 

For instance, CSEA has offered solutions to New York's financial problems, several times attempting to get elected officials - including Governor David Paterson - to look at saving the state billions of dollars by cutting back on the use of temporary workers. 

In mid January, CSEA announced it had uncovered more than $62 million in tax dollars that had been used to systematically hire temporary workers through temporary personnel agencies in place of state workers in almost every state agency.

"CSEA will address the flaunting of civil service requirements and Union contracts, that's our responsibility.  But it's just one outrage among many in this situation.  The administration is cheating workers, some of whom have been stuck in temporary status for years, while paying millions to the temp agencies.  These workers deserve better.  Just as important, the Paterson Administration is not being honest with taxpayers about how tax dollars are being spent and is clearly not focused on securing better value.  New York taxpayers deserve better.  Tired old insults questioning CSEA's motives won't change the facts.  The governor ought to know that actually trying to manage his workforce is better than trying to score cheap political points," Donohue said at the time.