The Public Sector, 1990 September 17

THE
PUBLIC

Official Publication of The Civil Service Employees Association, Local 1000, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO

-CSEA initiative boosts benefits
for state-employed reservists

Give ‘em a break

Seepage3
ae a

INSIDE NEWS YOU CAN USE

Many CSEA members have a second career —
military reservists. A large number have been
called to duty because of the Persian Gulf
crisis, and they deserve our support in every
way possible. Now, thanks to an agreement
between CSEA and the state, reservists called
to active duty can breath a bit easier when it
comes to worrying about providing for family
members they left behind.

CSEA has not endorsed any candidate in the
race for governor of New York, but the union
says some proposals put forth by GOP
candidate Pierre Rinfret are so outrageous they
deserve refuting.

Activism knows no age limit, and that was
Proven once again when a large number of
delegates turned out for the sixth annual CSEA
Retirees Convention.

A lot of people work
behind the scenes and
beyond the bright lights

at the New York State Fair.
Hundreds of them are
CSEA members.

If you’re trying to figure out how to afford to
send a child to college, you’d better check out
these CSEA/AFSCME scholarship programs.

The State Employees Federated Appeal (SEFA)
campaign is in full swing. CSEA urges you to
contribute generously to your favority charities
right in you own community through SEFA.

The new cars are here. Wouldn't you like to

have all the information necessary to deal even
Up with the salesperson? Now you can.

rAY

“Wait! Let’s think about this some more’’
seems to be motto at the Department of Motor
Vehicles when it comes to the new commercial
drivers license examination.

CSEA is pursuing new options after the state
refused to consider out-of-title pay grievances
filed by employees whose promotions to new

Cecil and Stan Harrington figure they’ve logged
more than a million miles over a combined 84
years of driving school buses in a western New
York school district.

cases won by CSEA.

It’s BTS (Back To School) time. A tip of the hat
to the thousands of custodians, bus drivers,
nurses and health aides, teacher’s aides,
groundspeople, cafeteria employees, mechanics
and clerical staff across the state who keep the
school systems functioning.

The way to get

Jacqueline DeJean has her job again, with back
pay. Sonia Crocetto won a promotion, with back
pay, that had been denied her. Both are
beneficiaries of recent successful arbitration

into civil service jobs and move
up the career ladder thereafter is primarily
through competitive examinations. Some of
those upcoming exams are listed on page 14.

Secretary 1 and 2 positions have been held up
while the state sits on their reclassification
applications.

A handy reference guide to CSEA member
benefits and services.

The loss of more than two dozen state police
civilian communications specialists, mandated
by the state’s budget, crisis this year, is having
a big negative impact.

The CSEA Employee Benefit Fund (CSEA EBF) is a negotiated program providing drug prescription, dental and vision care
benefits for more than 425,000 CSEA-represented employees in six statewide and more than 260 local government bargaining
units. For the benefit of the membership, The Public Sector will periodically publish information concerning the CSEA EBF.

We live in a mail order society. Just look at the flood of
catalogs the postman leaves in your mailbox. The catalogs
offer you a variety of items that you would otherwise have to
travel to several stores to find. And all available from your
own living room.

But the BEST MAIL ORDER OFFER AVAILABLE comes
from the CSEA Employee Benefit Fund (EBF). EBF's
Maintenance Drug Plan provides up to a six-month supply of a
prescription medicine to eligible EBF members. There is no
co-pay, never a trip to the drug store pharmacy because the
medicine is delivered right to your home, and no money to
send.

FILL A PRESCRIPTION FOR 25-CENTS? That's right, all it
costs eligible EBF members to participate in the Maintenance

Ege Sil

information package. Have your doctor write your
prescription for up to a six-month supply. Send the original
prescription in with the patient information form and the
completed questionnaire in the envelope provided. All it costs
you is the 25-cent stamp to mail it in, and the medication will
come to your home by first class mail in two weeks or less.
The plan covers almost all medicines requiring a prescription.

The EBF regular Prescription Drug Plan still provides
eligible members with a plastic prescription card, renewable
every six months, primarily designed for regular short-term
prescriptions. The regular plan has a minimum co-pay of $3
for brand names and $1 for generic equivalent drugs.

So for the best mail order deal you'll ever get, call the
CSEA EBF for your Maintenance Drug Plan information

Simply call the EBF for a Maintenance Drug Plan | |

"]
|

Drug Plan is the price of a 25-cent stamp. With it you can get
up to a six-month supply of your daily medication. package today. |
f- >)
The Public Sector (445010) is published every other Monday by The Civil Service
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Office: 143 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12210. Second Class Postage paid at
Post Office, Albany, New York.
Address changes should be sent to: Civil Service Employees Association, Attn:
Membership Department, 143 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12210.
Official publication of The Civil Service COMMUNICATION ASSOCIATES
Employees Association, Inc., Local 1000, SHERYL C. JENKS Region | RON WOFFORD Region VI
AFSCME, AFL-CIO, 143 Washington Avenue, (516) 273-2280 (716) 886-0391 |
Albany, New York, 12210 LILLY GIOIA Region Il STEPHEN MADARASZ Headquarters
(212) 514-9200 (518) 434-0191
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b ublisher 14 i % —
ROGER A. COLE Editor DAN CAMPBELL Region IV ® BCU) 4 |
KATHLEEN DALY Associate Editor (518) 489-5424 <>
MARK M. KOTZIN Region V arene
x STANLEY HORNAK Asst. Dir. of Communications (315) 433-0050 - yy |

ree 17, BO cries ole An est cpa EE EH el 0h er ee <P |

Paid military leave benefits

extended

i CSEA urges local
governments and school

| districts to do the same

New York state has agreed to extend
paid military leave for state employees
activated for military service after Aug.
1 for up to 30 additional days and to
provide health insurance and other
employee benefits for their covered
family for up to one year at no cost.

CSEA is actively encouraging local
governments and other public
employers to follow the state's lead and
establish similar protections for their
employees. CSEA local government
members called to active duty should
notify the appropriate CSEA region
office and a union representative will
establish contact with the reservist's
employer.

The new coverage expands the
provisions of the Military Law, which
provides a period of 30 days per year
during which military personnel on
leave from work are entitled to remain
on payroll at full pay. Thereafter, leave
credits may be charged to maintain full
pay status. When those are exhaused,
employees would be placed on leave
without pay status and no longer be
eligible for various benefits, including
state health insurance coverage for
themselves and their families.

CSEA helped initiate the state action
through a letter from CSEA President
Joe McDermott to Governor Mario
Cuomo, CSEA's concern stemmed from
the fact that employees who exhausted
their 30 day military leave would be
placed on leave without pay and their
families would see their health
insurance and other employee benefits
cut off.

“This positive response to our
| concerns assures security for the women
and men who are protecting America's
national security,"" McDermott said.

| “The possibility of a long crisis in the
Middle East creates tremendous
upheaval for many reservists,”
McDermott said. ‘Worries about the
well-being of their families should be the
last thing on the minds of our fighting
forces. This action relieves that
concern."

“CSEA hopes other public employers
will take similar action,"' he said. “We
are actively encouraging them to do

so,”

CSEA has waived union dues for
| members who are on active duty status.

for NYS reservists

August 29, 1999

Honorable Mari

Executive Chaniber ce
State Capitol

Albany, NY 12224

Dear Governor Mario Cuomo:
The Middle East crisi

isis
mployees/Reservists, While the Milit Be cone jerton of ies

Yours in Unionism
Cordially,

5 - 2.

JOSEPH EF, McDERMOTT.

I ee

Public employees have a proud
history of responding to the
nation’s call in times 7
of need

is

‘y

ae

September 17, 1990 3

FREEZE PAY?

NO WAY!

CSEA blasts candidate's freeze proposal

ALBANY — CSEA President Joe
McDermott blasted a proposal by
gubernatorial candidate Pierre Rinfret
that calls for a wage freeze for state
employees.

The proposal, which also calls for a 20
percent reduction in the state workforce
over four years, ‘‘is a joke in very bad
taste,’ McDermott said.

Rinfret also says that if elected he will
work for $1 a year until the state's
budget troubles are solved.

“Maybe a millionaire can afford to
earn a dollar a year while he plays at
politics,'" McDermott said. ‘With the
economy the way it is, a wage freeze is
the same as a pay cut. We won't stand
for that."

Rinfret's proposal also violates the
heart of the collective bargaining
process.

“To walk into negotiations saying
‘sorry guys, but you get nothing’ is
hardly bargaining in good faith,"
McDermott added. ‘We'd file improper
practice charges so fast his yacht would
spin.

McDermott called Rinfret’s plan ‘‘a
mindless proposal by a hopeless
candidate."’ He underscored the
irresponsibility of the Republican's

4 September 17, ee

Rinfret's plan
is ‘‘a mindless
proposal by a
hopeless
candidate.”

CSEA President
Joe McDermott

proposal by pointing to the already
serious staffing and injury problems in
the Office of Mental Health and the
Office of Mental Retardation.

“To reduce the workforce is only
going to make a critical staffing problem
even worse. Our members are already
suffering serious on-the-job injuries
because of understaffing,"’ McDermott
said. ‘How can he realistically expect to

CSEA-backed candidates
win in Sept.

CSEA endorsed winning candidates in
a number of primary races across the
state.

The unofficial results available as this
issue of The Public Sector went to press
show CSEA backed 15 primary winners.

The successful primary candidates are:

Carol Bellamy — comptroller

Alton R. Waldon Jr. — 10th Senate
District

Ada L. Smith — 20th Senate District

Efrain Gonzales Jr. — 32nd Senate
District

Cynthia Jenkins — 29th Assembly
District

Barbara M. Clark — 33rd Assembly
District

Rhoda S. Jacobs — 42nd Assembly
District

Clarence Norman Jr. — 43rd
Assembly District

Daniel L. Feldman — 45th Assembly
District

reduce staffing through attrition when
very clearly the service needs are not
diminishing but growing daily? What's
he going to do? Send out the laundry?
Hire a butler?

“Clearly Mr. Rinfret has no grasp of
the reality faced by our members on the
job and at the cash register,’ he
continued. ‘‘Our members work hard
under difficult circumstances, but they
do their jobs. Freezing their wages and
cutting their numbers are ludicrous |
proposals which we will not even begin
to entertain.”

McDermott also lashed out at Rinfret's
simplistic tax policies. |

“This reminds me of the voodoo
economics of Ronald Reagan — the
policies which gave us the savings and |
loan disaster, an unmanageable federal
deficit and a growing recession,"

McDermott said. ‘‘Now Rinfret wants us
to let him do the same to New York |
state? No way.”

Rinfret is one of four major party
candidates for governor. CSEA has yet
to make its endorsement in the
statewide race.

primaries

James F. Brennan — 51st Assembly
District

Deborah J. Glick — 61st Assembly
District

David Rosado — 73rd Assembly
District

Hector L. Diaz — 74th Assembly
District is

Roberto Ramirez — 77th Assembly
District

Nicholas A. Spano — 35th Assembly
District

Clarification. . .

In a recent issue of The Public
Sector, an article about legislation
allowing Tier 3 and Tier 4 employees
to borrow against their pension
contributions left out the effective
date,

The law takes effect in July 1991.

7

SEATS 60
A STANDS 12

his passengers.

BUS DRIVER CECIL
HARRINGTON waves to two of

a

GI didn’t
think the
job would
last
anywhere
near this

| long. 9

IN APPRECIATION — Cecil Harrington,
left, and his cousin Stan Harrington,
right, receive plaques honoring their
years of service from Unit President
Virginia Madsen.

Million miles
with precious
cargo and
still going

MAYVILLE — Put their careers
together and cousins Cecil and Stan
Harrington have logged about a million
miles over 84 years for the Mayville
schools,

The two cousins, members of CSEA
Mayville Schools Unit of Chautauqua
County Local 807, have each driven
Mayville school buses for 42 years.

“Actually, Stan started before I did by
a couple of years,” Cecil said. ‘‘But he
went to work for a furniture maker for a
while before returning. Now we both
have the same time on the job.”

“T didn't think the job would last
anywhere near this long,” Stan said.
“You just keep on doing what you did
the day before."

Unit President Virginia Mattson
thought their habit of ‘doing what they
did the day before'’ was remarkable, so
she surprised the cousins with plaques
to congratulate them.

More than four decades on the road
doesn't mean they're ready for
retirement, though, They've been
looking forward to the school year.

School buses aren't the only thing
Stan and Cecil have in common. They
each own dairy farms, too.

Over the years, they've driven several
different generations of several families.
Their young riders get plenty of
attention from the bus-driving cousins,
who smile and call their charges by
name as they get on and off the bus.

About that million miles: With an
average run of about 59 miles a day,
one cousin drives about 12,000 miles a
year. Multiply that by 42 years, and each
cousin has driven about half a million
miles, That makes a round million for
the two cousins,

September 17, 1990 5

For most of us, summer ends on
Labor Day — but not for school
district employees.

Well before the first weekend in
September, they were behind the
scenes, putting the last touches of
wax on the gym floor and setting up
the classrooms and cafeterias as
well as completing all the necessary
paperwork and notices so that
everything's ready to welcome the
students.

For many employees there were
also orientation programs to attend
in preparation for the new school
year.

The Syosset School district on
Long Island was a good example of
a district that recognizes the
important role non-teaching
employees play in the education
process.

Syosset invited CSEA Unit
President Ben Gumin to speak at
their orientation.

Gumin, who was seated between
the superintendent of schools and
the president of the Board of
Education, said ‘Here in Syosset the
district believes each employee
makes the district work and each
one of us is important."

“T think all school districts should
include their non-teaching personnel
in the orientation process,'’ Gumin
said. ‘After all, we're all in this boat
together. Most of us live in the
district and have kids in the
schools,""

Hats off to the clerical staff,
monitors, teacher's aides, cleaners,
custodians and groundspeople who

work diligently all year to keep our
schools running efficiently.

Waterford-Halfmoon High
School; Joan Frenno,above,
school health aide, Corning-

|
Ted Conlan, leit, custodian, i i
Painted Post Schools.

6 September 17, 1990

ii

‘ J

piel

C.

Roger Abbott, far left,
electrician, Corning-
Painted Post Schools;
Duane Huyler, leit,
custodian, Corning-
Painted Post Schools;
Tony Ewing, above,
Groundskeeper, Niagara
Falls City Schools.

| |Ongra tilagtt or
[o*he Class of

FROM START TO FINISH:
Public Employees CARE for New York’s kids!

Dan Ginnan, above left, carpenter and Bob Button, right,
groundskeeper, Corning-Painted Post Schools; Darlene Pound,
right, secretary, Corning-Painted Post Schools.

September 17, 1990 y

SK

Activism is retirees’

SARATOGA SPRINGS — CSEA
President Joe McDermott praised
CSEA's retiree members for their
commitment to activism at their
recent convention.

“You have made activism a reality
at CSEA,"’ McDermott told the 170
delegates. ‘‘Activism begins at the
local level, and retirees demonstrate
a commitment. They are showing the
rest of the locals how to mobilize.”

Activism was the theme of the
retirees’ sixth convention.

McDermott also expressed his
sorrow at the death earlier this year
of Retiree Division Chair Don
Webster. Although retirees have
made progress, McDermott noted,
“Don would say ‘do more!’

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Lou
Colby, the founder and president of
CSEA Florida Retiree Local 950, is
this year's recipient of the Retiree
Division President's Mission
Achievement Award.

This is the first year the award
has been presented. It is given to a
state, local government and retiree
division member who best
represents the spirit of the CSEA
Mission Statement:

“|, to serve our members as best
we can, any way we can and to
maintain our role as a leader of

MISSION ACHIEVEMENT — CSEA President Joe
McDermott, left, presents Retiree Local 950
President Lou Colby with the Retiree Division's CSEA
Mission Achievement Award.

“You have made
activism a reality at
CSEA"

CSEA President Joe McDermott

In his opening remarks, Retiree
Division Chair Charles Peritore
praised Webster as a moving force
for retirees.

“The unions are beginning to
realize that there are many retirees
and they want them as part of their
organizations,"’ Peritore said,

McDermott said he expects
permanent pension supplementation
and health care reform to result from
retirees’ activism. Referring to the
recent CSEA endorsement of Carol
Bellamy for state comptroller, he
said the union has received “‘nothing
but lip service from Ned Regan for
the past 12 years.

“Carol Bellamy will work with us
for change," he said.

Colby wins Mission Award

labor unions.”

Colby became a state employee in
1935 in Farmingdale, where he
worked for the Department of Parks
and Recreation. Over the years, he
served as local president, CSEA.
board member and negotiating team
member.

A year after he retired to Florida,
Colby ‘‘got restless.'' That led to his
setting up a meeting of fellow CSEA
retirees and was the beginning of
what became, in 1980, CSEA's first
out-of-state local. It now has more
than 5,000 members.

ADDRESSING THE RETIREE DELEGATION are, at left, Local 905
President Bonita Barber and, above, Director of Retiree
Programs Kathleen Cahalan. Retiree Division Chairperson
Charles Peritore is seated, left.

‘meeting theme

TAKING A BREAK from the many programs at the sixth annual

CSEA Retirees Convention are, from left, Mike Morella and
Victor and Louise Coster.

Bellamy backs CSEA goals

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Pension reform is a major bone of
contention for state Comptroller candidate Carol Bellamy.

The 48-year-old former New York City Council president
told delegates to the CSEA Retirees Convention that she plans
sweeping changes in management of the state’s pension fund
once she is elected.

“The New York State Pension Fund is one of five pension
systems in the United States that has a sole trustee,'’ Bellamy
said. ‘‘No one should be a sole trustee over this amount of
money.’

Bellamy said she believes a Board of Trustees should
oversee the fund, and that board should include union
representation. CSEA strongly supports the idea.

“I served as a trustee on the city pension fund,” she said. “I
worked with union people on that board. It works."

Bellamy also plans to establish a complaint department in
the comptroller's office and to keep pension fund investments
within New York state.

RETIREE LOCAL 917
Member Melvin Woolheater
makes a point at the
Retirees Convention.

ee
HEN HOME

Sheller,

| a SPER EE AN Ge MT ATA Os oe SE eee 17, 1990 9

oa . :
CAROL BELLAMY, standing center, the CSEA-endorsed candidate for state
comptroller, chats with retirees. Also standing is CSEA PEOPLE Coordinator Cheryl

RETIREE LOCAL 999 President Emil
Spiak addresses the retiree delegation.

The 150th annual edition of the New
York State Fair concluded another
successful run on Labor Day in Syracuse.
Putting together an operation of the scope
of the State Fair, and keeping all the
pieces from coming unglued, is no easy
feat. It could not be accomplished without
the hard work and dedication of CSEA
members whose assignments are as varied
as staffing display booths to working
behind the scenes and beyond the bright
lights of the midway.

CSEA represents hundreds of seasonal
and temporary fair employees, and for
some maintenance workers the fair is a
year-round job. They keep the facilities in
top shape and stay busy with special
events held at the fairgrounds throughout
the year.

Fair time is a busy, exhausting time for
all. It's 16-hour workdays with maybe one
or two days a week off if you're lucky. It
might be exhausting and it might be
grueling but, as one employee said, ‘‘It's
never boring at the fair.’" Photos by

_ Mark M. Kotzin
CSEA Communications Associate

ONE OF THE HEADLINE EVENTS at this year's fair was not even on the schedule. A
tornado briefly touched down, ripping the roof off this animal stable. CS9EA member
Mark Kolceski, a general mechanic, helps clean up the debris.

Spe TS eee ee
pI a ks Ete dee Sd

SNOW REMOVAL EQUIPMENT is important in the snowbelt area of Central New York.
Daniel Finigan, second from left, a DOT construction equipment operator, and DOT
Assistant Equipment Operations Instructor Frank Gilmore, both out of North Syracuse,
show fairgoers features of DOT snow removal equipment at the DOT highway
maintenance display.

1 6......:..; 17, 1990

CSEA MEMBERS FROM THE NYS P;

Specialist Sandy Epoch, Parks & Re:

Schad. T

t

Department's Central Region Office
the fairgrounds. From left are Park Re

ee ES ected

Pecreation and Historic Preservation

he display booth in the “mini state park" on

ion Business Assistant Jennie Sala, Keyboard
T Aide Karen Keast and Stores Cierk Linda

at

|

GENERAL MECHANIC JOHN RUSTON
removes boards to install wiring to the
grandstand's sound board. In background,
General Mechanic Dan Griffin, right, gives
instructions to one of many laborers
working to set up next show. Ruston has
worked at the fair for 21 years, Griffin for
10.

—

s ‘O MECHANIC CHUCK WEILAND has kept things running for eight
years at the fairgrounds, Here he installs a new rear end transaxle.

ELECTRICIAN JACK KOSLOWSKL, leit, of the state fair maintenance
partment, shows union electrician Dan Gallagher where to set up wiring
r the evening's grandstand concert. Koslowski has worked at the fair for
years and is responsible for maintaining all the fairground’s power
pply. The junction boxes behind him supply more than 10,000 amps of
wer to the grandstand — enough to power five to ten one-family homes.

ah |
IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE FUN, but it’s not easy to drive a golf cart around the
fairgrounds with an average attendance of 70,000 people every day. Still,

Mason/Plasterer Louis Armstrong, who has worked the fair for 27 years,
weaves his way though heavy crowds.

Y

i ‘ 5 Bs

JULIE DEVLIN, an energy information aide with the NYS
Energy Office in Albany, hands out information from her
agency's booth in the Center of Progress Building.

DISPATCHER/OPERATOR ANGELA TUZZOLINO answers
the phone while CSEA retiree member Bill Mahyna works
as a dispatcher. Tuzzolino has worked full-time at the
fairgrounds since 1980 while Mahyna works part-time
since he retired four years ago after 33 years with the
maintenance department. Tuzzolino has two daughters
who work as temporary employees at the fair.

September 17, 1990 1 1
McDonough deadline nears

Applications for the 1990 Thomas
McDonough Scholarship Program have
been sent to eligible applicants.

Completed applications must be
submitted to the Scholarship
Committee at CSEA Headquarters by
Oct. 1.

One McDonough scholarship will be
awarded in each of CSEA's six regions.
Previous winners of the 1987, 1988 and
1989 Irving Flaumenbaum Scholarships
who are enrolled in college are eligible
to apply.

Scholarships

for children of CSEA members

Your being a CSEA member opens opportunities for your family.
For instance, scholarships available to the children of CSEA and
AFSCME members can mean a lot to you and your college-bound

child.

The McDonough Scholarships have
been increased to $500 this year, thanks
to funding from the J.J. Kelly
Schloarship Fund.

The application deadline is Oct. 1.

Applications should be sent to:

CSEA Scholarship Committee
CSEA Headquarters
143 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12210

Questions regarding the McDonough
Scholarship program can be directed to
the Office of Internal Operations at
1-(800)-3424146. extension 319.

McDonough aeauiine
Oct. 1

J.J. Kelly Fund to give two awards

CSEA will award two college
scholarships from the J.J. Kelly
Scholarship Fund this year,

The Kelly Scholarships will provide
$500 continuing four-year grants to
children of CSEA members who were
killed or totally disabled in the course of
performing their public duties.

Individuals who meet this criteria
should fill out the coupon below to
receive a scholarship application. The
coupon should be mailed to CSEA
headquarters at the address below.

The deadline for scholarship
applications is Oct. 26. Award
announcements will be made in
November.

tee geadling: )

AFSCME achalarsliy)

deadline: Dec. 31

1 2 September 17, 1990

em a age ce ee en oe ee
J.J. KELLY SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Please send me an application for the
J.J. Kelly Scholarship.
Name

Mail this coupon to: CSEA Scholarship Committee

CSEA Headquarters
143 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12210

Time to apply for AFSCME award

CSEA's international union, AFSCME,
is again preparing to screen applications
for the AFSCME Family Scholarship
Program.

Under the program, 10 scholarships of
$2,000 each are awarded annually and
they can be renewed for $2,000 a year
for up to four years, provided the
student remains enrolled full-time.

Any graduating high school senior
who is the child of an AFSCME member
and who intends to enroll in a full-time
four-year degree program in any

accredited college or university is
eligible.

Completed applications from high
school seniors must be postmarked no
later than Dec. 31.

To get an application, any interested
AFSCME member or his or her child
should write:

AFSCME Family Scholarship Program

Attn: Education Department
1625 L Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036

CLO.

SOR ore Deane ie

: CSEA Arbitrations

WI
an,

wy ne,

ICSEA wins on seniority rights

SCHENECTADY — A Schenectady
County Department of Social Services
(DSS) typist must be promoted to social
welfare examiner and receive back pay
covering the difference in salaries from
the date she should have been appointed

Sonia Crocetto

more than a year ago, an arbitrator has
ruled, CSEA took the case to binding
arbitration after management denied a
grievance filed over the issue.

Arbitrator James R. Markowitz said
Schenectady County DSS violated the
contractual seniority rights of Sonia
Crocetto when DSS hired a new
employee as social welfare examiner
instead of appointing Crocetto, who was
the most senior qualified candidate for
the position. The arbitrator ruled that
the seniority clause in the contract
between CSEA and Schenectady County
provides that the most senior qualified
employee must be promoted in all cases
for labor class, non-competitive and
competitive jobs except where a civil
service exam list has been established.

“This is a very important ruling,” said
CSEA attorney Paul Bamberger, who
handled the arbitration on behalf of
Crocetto. ‘Seniority is a bedrock
principle of unionism and by winning
this case we have strongly reaffirmed
that, in Schenectady County, the most
senior employee who is qualified to
perform the job is absolutely entitled to
be promoted to that job."

“Tt feels great,'' Crocetto said. ‘I knew
I was right from the beginning. The
facts were there. It's wonderful to beat
the system down there.

“T think CSEA is very thorough. CSEA
Schenectady County Social Services
President Joanne DeSarbo was right

iMember gets her job,

UNIONDALE — Jacqueline DeJean
was optimistic about her recent
arbitration because she had strong
support.

| “T felt sure I would win,’ DeJean said.
“T knew I didn't do what they accused
me of,and I had God, Lou Stober and my
kids on my side."’ Stober is CSEA
regional attorney.

CSEA recently won the arbitration,
which means DeJean gets her job back,

I: well as three months’ back pay.

A nurse aide at the A. Holly Patterson
Geriatric Center for 11 years, DeJean
was fired without an investigation after
a patient suffered a skin tear.

According to nurses at the facility, the
resident has a condition that makes her

Pextremeiy prone to injury because her
skin is very thin and may tear or bruise
easily.

Witnesses testified that DeJean was
caring for 13 residents at the time of the
incident. Her work included feeding,
cleaning and changing residents and
getting them into bed.

(Set nisin atltaiate 17, 1990 1 3

DeJean said she was helping the
resident into bed when the woman
became agitated and scratched DeJean.
DeJean ran to call for the nursing
supervisor, who came into the room and
found the resident suffered a bruise and
a skin tear on her arms,

DeJean said the resident must have
banged her arms on the safety rails
while DeJean went for help.

The county fired DeJean without any
investigation, claiming she ‘handled a
resident in an inappropriate manner
causing that resident physical harm."

“T thought my termination was very
unfair. It was like they condemned me
without a trial,'’ DeJean said. ‘They just
threw me away.”

CSEA brought evidence that the
resident had become agitated and fought
with other employees before, and
showed that the record proved the
resident had slapped a nurse aide across
the face, knocking her glasses to the
floor.

While admonishing the county, the

there to help me," Crocetto said. ‘‘CSEA
attorney Paul Bamberger was so calm,
he never let the pressure get to him; he
put up with the county's runaround and
set the tone.”

“The decision speaks for itself,” Unit
President DeSarbo said. ‘The county
was wrong and the union was right.”

“Seniority is very important as a local
contract issue,'’ CSEA Schenectady
County Local President Lou Altieri said.
“This decision has county-wide impact.
Hopefully it will resolve any
promotional opportunity problems we
may have in the future."

Crocetto has been a typist in the DSS
since September 1988 and in December
1988 she finished first in a competitive
civil service examination for social
welfare examiner. In May 1989 the
county processed the paperwork to
promote her to the examiner position
effective in June. The appointment was
delayed when Crocetto went on sick
leave and in July, when the civil service
list was no longer mandatory because it
contained fewer than three names, the
DSS commissioner rescinded Crocetto's
appointment and named a person who
was not then a county employee to the
position. The county later claimed it had
an urgent need to fill the position while
Crocetto was on sick leave but CSEA
contends she was denied the promotion
because of a personality conflict
between Crocetto and her supervisor.

back pay

arbitrator complimented CSEA for
perservering in finding the witness who
had been struck by the resident. The
county had previously said the incident
never happened,

“We are convinced that the grievant
neither by design or neglect either
caused or inflicted the injuries to the
patient,” the arbitrator said. The
arbitrator then ordered that DeJean be
reinstated to her job with ‘‘no loss of
wages of seniority or any other benefits
she would have accrued had she not
been terminated."

DeJean credited the support she got
from her family and CSEA with the
victory.

“T have five children, and they really
helped out. They told me not to worry,”
she said. '‘The CSEA attorney was really
great.

“T've never had a reason to go to the
union for help before,’ she said, ‘‘but
I've been telling everyone how great it
is that they're there when you need
them."

Competitive Promotional, Exams
(State employees only)

NEW YORK STATE ANNOUNCES

OPPORTUNITIES IN GOVERNMENT Beara
FORESTER

m FORESTER TRAINEE

$21,070"

319,099"

NOUNCES
OPPORTUNITIES IN GOVERNMET 2

Open Competitive Examinations

APPLICATIONS DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 24, 1990

APPLICATIONS DEADLINE OCTOBER 1, 1990

Exam. Beginning
Exam Job Title No. Department Exam No. Title Salary
Principal Clerk (Medical) G-14 32-195 Health 21-595 Workers’ Compensation
Senior Safety and Health Examiner, Assistant $19,323
Inspector G-19 32-210 Labor 21-640 Workers’ Comp, Examiner, Asst.
Associate Safety and Health Ins. (Spanish) 19,323
G-19 32-211 Labor 21-639 Compensation Claims Clerk, Sr.-
Supervising Safety and Health Downstate 19,323
Ins. G-21 32-212 Labor 21-638 Compensation Claims Clerk, Sr.-
Mine Safety and Health Specialist Upstate 19,323
G-17 32-209 Labor 21-599 Compensation Claims Examiner,
Standards Compliance Analyst III Senior 30,655
M-2 39-294 OMH 21-598 Comp. Claims Examiner Trainee-
Senior Compensation Claims Downstate 24,346
Clerk G-9 32-227 Ins. Fund 21-643 Comp. Claims Examiner Trainee-
Compensation Claims Examiner Upstate 24,346
G-14 32-228 Ins. Fund 21-592 Safety and Health Inspector 24,509
Sr. Compensation Claims 21-591 Safety and Health Inspector
Examiner G-18 32-229 Ins. Fund Trainee 23,146
Associate Compensation Claims 21-596 Workers’ Compensation Review
Exam. G-22 32-230 Ins. Fund Analyst Trainee 25,047
Comp. Claims Examiner Trainee 27-258 Director of Lottery Security 43,080
($24,346) 00-407 Ins. Fund 27-038 Electrical Substation Supervisor 28,982
Ins. Fund Hearing Rep. I G-19 32-248 Ins. Fund 85-006 Park Sanitation Superintendent 28,876

Ins. Fund Hearing Rep. II G-22

Supervisor of Claims-Med.
Services G-20

Principal Underwriter G-25

Electrical Substation Supervisor

32-249 Ins. Fund

32-250 Ins. Fund
39-319 Ins, Fund

G-17 39-313 SUNY
Asst. Workers’ Comp. Examiner

G-9 Comp 32-235 Workers’
Workers’ Compensation

Examiner G-14 Comp 32-236 Workers’
Sr. Workers’ Comp. Examiner

G-18 Comp 32-237 Workers’
Asso. Workers’ Comp. Examiner

G-22 Comp 32-238 Workers’
Prin. Workers’ Comp. Examiner

G-25 Comp 32-239 Workers’
Workers’ Comp. Review Analyst

G-14 Comp 32-231 Workers’
Sr. Workers’ Comp. Review

Analyst G-18 Comp 32-232 Workers’
Asso. Workers’ Comp. Review

Analyst G-22 Comp 32-233 Workers’
Prin. Workers’ Comp. Review

Analyst G-25 Comp 32-234 Workers’

(FOR COMPETITIVE PROMOTIONAL EXAMS LISTING)

APPLICATION FORMS: Application forms are available through your Personnel
or Business Office. You may also obtain them by mail or in person at the
following offices of the New York State Department of Civil Service: The W.
Averell Harriman NYS Office Building Campus, Albany, N.Y. 12239; 55 Hanson
Place, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11217-1582; 6th Floor, Adam Clayton Powell State
Office Building, 163 West 125th Street, New York, N.Y. 10027; or Room
303, 65 Court Street, Buffalo, N.Y., 14202. Specify the examination by its
number and title. Mail your completed application form to: NYS Department of
Civil Service, The W. Averell Harriman NYS Office Building Campus, Albany, NY
12239.

APPLICATIONS DEADLINE OCTOBER 15, 1990

21-655 Employment Security Clerk,
Senior 19,323
21-656 Employment Security Clerk,
Senior (Chinese) 19,323
21-657 Employment Security Clerk,
Senior (Spanish) 19,323
APPLICATIONS DEADLINE OCTOBER 29, 1990
27-270 Child Care Development
Specialist 39,850
27-272, Child Care Development
Specialist II 46,707
21-339 Environmental Conservation
Officer Trainee 25,963
APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED CONTINUOUSLY
20-106 Licensed Practical Nurse 20,460
20-866 Motor Equipment Mechanic 22,952

(FOR OPEN COMPETITIVE EXAM LISTINGS)

APPLICATION FORMS: You may obtain forms at the following offices of the
NYS Department of Civil Service: The W. Averell Harriman NYS Office Building
Campus, Albany, N.Y. 12239; 55 Hanson Place, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11217-1582;
6th Floor, the Adam Clayton Powell State Office Building, 163 West 125th
Street, New York, N.Y. 10027; or Room 303, 65 Court Street, Buffalo, N.Y.
14202. Applications may also be obtained by calling in person at one of the
NYS Department of Labor Community Service Centers or local offices; these
offices cannot handle mail requests. Specify examination number and title. Mail
your application when completed to the NYS Department of Civil Service, The
W. Averell Harriman NYS Office Building Campus, Albany, N.Y. 12239.

Check periodically for local govt. exams

Since civil service examinations for local
government positions are conducted on an as-needed
basis, it is advisable to check periodically with the
appropriate municipal or county civil service agency as
to the scheduling of examinations for specific local

government positions.

Civil service examinations for local government
positions are generally supervised by the state
Department of Civil Service in conjunction with the
municipal or county civil service agency.

1 4 September 17, 1990 i

State Employees Federated Appeal 1" said

pledge and payroll deduction forms CSEA President Joe McDermott.

will be distributed to state workers “When you designate specific

soon, charities or agencies you know where
CSEA is encouraging its members to your contribution is going and that it's

give generously. CSEA is endorsing used in your home area.

and participating in the 1990 SEFA “This way we're all working

campaign. together to help our communities, he
“Turge CSEA members to contribute said,

to their own favorite charities in their

You specify where your ;
contribution goes by designating it in
box number 10 on the SEFA pledge or
payroll deduction form.

“A lot of people are depending on
us,"” McDermott added. ‘‘Give
generously to your favorite charities
in your home area through SEFA.””

N - SEFA
PLEDGE AND PAYROLL DEDUCTION FOR FEDERATED FUND CONTRIBUTIO

NAME
SEINE NOL digi) [3=_ FIRSTNAME ME LAST.

RECEIPT - SEFA 19

1. AGENCY CODE (5 digit)

|

n
7. DEDUCTION PER CHECK

authorize you to deduct the amount
vecks during the calendar year

6. TOTHE STATE COMPTROLLER: hereby
ity this authorization at any

dicated from each of my salary <h

‘understand I may revoke or mo

Time by written notice to you Pinar

back of this form

9.DaTE. ——

NO AUDIT & CONTROL KEY PUNCH BELOW THIS LINE ....++

8, SIGNATURE

LAR SEFA AGENCY

TOTALANNUALS.

NOTE !! IMPORTANT

Fure Code in BOX |
the “List of SERA Ca

1 soucron — eo
1 For Agency Use Only i}

| PAYROLL DEDUCTION

(Must complete nos. 1-9

Deduction Pe"
chk So

\ LIST YOUR
ae | << HOME AREA
CAMPAIGN
HERE

TOTAL PLEDGE (Must besilled in

s

TOTAL PLEOGE (Must De filled in)

2/90) Part One to Audit & Control

mearoitany rom Part one

SEFA.”

“| urge CSEA members to contribute generously to
their favorite charities in their own communities through

—CSEA President Joe McDermott

If it seems that Lou Altieri shows up at
just about every event involving CSEA,
it's probably because he does. Altieri
could be the ultimate example of a
union activist.

Among other things, he is president of
CSEA Schenectady County Local 847,
third vice president of CSEA's Capital
Region, an elected member of CSEA's
statewide Board of Directors, a delegate
to numerous union meetings, a
participant in virtually every CSEA
activity and CSEA's Capital Region
representative on the State Employee
Federated Appeal (SEFA) Campaign.

The SEFA assignment is unique in that
Altieri, a Schenectady County
employee, represents the union in a
program designed to service state
employees.

“T'm honored to be serving the needs

Altieri United Way’s volunteer of the year

of the CSEA membership in any area, in
any role,’ Altieri said.

The Schenectady County United Way,
affiliated with the SEFA Campaign,
certainly believes Altieri is doing a
great job. It recently presented Altieri
with the United Way's Anthony M.
Salerno Volunteer of the Year Award.

John J, O'Connor, chairman of the
United Way Board of Directors, praised
Altieri for his successful efforts to
eliminate pre-printed SEFA designation
cards that made it difficult for public
employees to specifically designate
where they wanted their contributions
to go,

“Lou is always willing to help,
whether it’s a little advice or a lot of
individual effort,’ CSEA Capital Region
President C. Allen Mead said. ‘‘He is
always there ready to serve the needs of
the membership on any level.”

i eh at ce el a ae hal 17, 1990 1 5

~
ZS

UNITED BUYING

SERVICE INTL.

‘

THE NEW CARS ARE HERE!!

shop smart and KNOW your pricing

BEFORE you go into the dealership!

Don’t buy or lease without checking the UBS deal

NEW “UBS AUTO HOTLINE”

The new “UBS AUTO HOTLINE” service enables CSEA members to

obtain new car factory costs on all makes and models of American and

Foreign cars and trucks plus dealer cost on factory installed
options.This information puts you in the driver's seat when negotiating

with a dealer.

UBS auto specialists will also give you a used car evaluation while
you are on the phone. This arms you with the information you need to

determine whether or not the new car dealers are trying to “steal your
trade.” With this information, you can determine whether you are better off
trading your car or selling it privately. Please have ready before you call,
information on the make, model, year, mileage and general condition
of the car you wish to have evaluated. If you have already determined
which new car you wish to purchase, UBS can refer you to a new car
dealer that has agreed to a substantially reduced price for CSEA

members.

All of this information is available to you, by calling,

"THE UBS AUTO HOTLINE" at 1-900-446-9400

($1.95 per minute).

BUYING A CAR? -

An automobile is one of the most
expensive investments you will
ever make. Therefore, it
requires some time and effort on
your part to insure getting the
right vehicle for you.

The new model year in the
automobile industry normally
starts in September. Many
people do not consider buying
at that time of the year, as they
feel that the dealers will be
getting higher profits when the
caris first introduced, and that
discounts will be more readily
available in the Winter months.
What most consumers don't
know is that factory cost
increases occur during the
course of the model year. These
cost increases are passed on to
you, the consumer. It may very
well make more sense therefore,
to purchase a new automobile
between September and
December, since dealer's cost
will be lower.

Many consumers feel that they
are getting the absolute best
value by buying what are
commonly known as "leftovers".
This would be a brand new 1990

negotiate a fair price on your own
with a local dealership, UBS will
help you locate the car of your
choice at a substantial discount

through their Car Buying
Service.

Many dealers confuse the
potential customer by giving an
extremely low price on the new
car, but undervaluing the trade-
in, or vice-versa. When initially
pricing a car at a dealership, do
not discuss a trade-in. Only
when you have received a firm
commitment on the new car
price should you bring up your
trade. To receive an accurate
figure as to what your existing
car is worth on a trade-in, take
advantage of a new service by
UBS. This is their

Used Car Price
Evaluation Service.
Last but not least, many dealers
will give you a low price on a new
car, but build their profit by what
is called an "after-sale". That is
the sale of non-factory items
(i.e., undercoating, paint sealant,
fabric protector, alarm systems,
tust proofing, etc.) for high
profits. For advice on which
items are worth considering,

LEASING

There are many reasons why
leasing may be the right choice
for you: Times have changed -
Cars are getting more expensive
and recent tax regulations have
taken away most of the
advantages of owning a car, as
compared to leasing. Some of
the advantages of leasing
include:

Lower Monthly Payments -
Since you only pay for a portion
of the car, depending upon how
long you lease the vehicle for,
you in effect, do not pay for the
end value (residual value). It's
like receiving a credit for the
trade-in at the beginning of the
deal.

No Down Payment - Many
leases do not require a down
payment. So, instead of tying up
your capital in an automobile that
depreciates rather rapidly, you
are able to invest your money
and collect interest for the term
of the lease. At the end of the
lease, you still have the option of
purchasing the vehicle.

No Wasted Shopping Time
- The UBS Leasing Division can
find you virtually any make or

fast credit approval, simplified tax
records, no selling worries, and
you do not tie up your own
personal credit line. For
information regarding leasing
only call UBS at 1-800-336-
4UBS.

REMEMBER, whether you are
purchasing a new car and need
to know the dealer's cost, want
to know what your used car is
worth on a trade-in, or need a
referral to a discounting car
dealer, take advantage of your
Official Discount Shopping Club
(United Buying Service
International, Inc.). All of the
information you require can be
given to you right over the
phone through the new

UBS Auto
Hotline, just dial
1-900- 446-9400.

($1.95 per minute).

EXPANDED HOURS!
UBS has expanded its
hours of operation for your
convenience and the busy
automotive season. We

Se Pees he model, foreign or domestic, and are now available to
p save you days of shopping time. vi t

introducticn of the 1991 cars. Call The UBS ‘Nga gan ANAIEG: Wine. fronerer dean Eh

Although you might find dealers ¥ Mi

willing to sell these cars at actual
cost, keep in mind, that the car
will have a lower resale value 3 or
4 years down the road, when
you go to trade it in. The best
way to buy any car is to know the
dealer's cost before negotiating
with the dealership. We strongly
suggest that before purchasing
any car or truck, you avail
yourself of the UBS New
Car Price Service, so
that you know exactly what that

Auto Hotline At
1-900-446-9400

($1.95 per minute).

painstaking process of trying to
determine which car dealership
is being honest with you.

Other advantages of leasing are:

8:30 AM to 7:30 PM.
Saturday's 10:00 AM
to 3:00 PM.

UNITED BUYING
SERVICE INTL.

VISA and MasterCard accepted

UBS is CSEA's official discount
shopping service, offering the lowest
prices on automobiles, major appliances,
video, stereo, furniture, carpeting,
jewelry, china, crystal, flatware, luggage
and a host of consumer electronics. Shop
around on any of the above items, and
then call UBS for their price. You'll be

car cost the dealer. Additionally, CALL 1 -800-336-4UBS glad you did.

Kareboule you not be able to 7

1 6 September 17, ta

DMV delays commercial motor vehicles mailing

CSEA members expecting to take the tapes as well as preparation booklets, —
A new commercial drivers license costs $16 plus postage. An order form is
E I Y ler Y ) ers examinations will wait a little longer for _ below.
Helena, The new testing requirements are part }

The state Department of Motor of a federal law intended to improve

S hou Id Use Vehicles has delayed the mailing of the roadway safety. CSEA successfully
information packets and registration pushed to have commercial drivers with |
|

material. The testing was expected to

. i : : clean records exempted from having to
Tl Nn 1e to stu dy begin early this fall. There is no _ take the new road test. All commercial
De aie auneeeealigs delay means —qriyers must take the written exam,
fo r test CSEA members should use this However) y : E |
opportunity ‘to continue preparing for New York risks losing federal highway
the exams. CSEA's international union, funds if all commercial drivers are not in
AFSCME, has a study kit available. The compliance with the licensing ~

kit, which includes video and audio requirements by April 1992.

CSEA

Commercial Motor Vehicle Study

Name kit order form

Local

'g and hand;
AFSCME. 2 Oder. Checks should be eayment,

t
|
|
|
i

AFSCME ka |

uc,

1625 L Street, Nir Department |
|
|
t
H
i
t
t

Washingto; ;

1g to orion eC: 20036

'g and handlj
ents,

t multiple stud;

Ing cost, ¥ Kits can save on

- Information has been sent

CSEA persistence yields action

Worksite visits expected
in stationary engineer

upgrade review

State stationary engineers, get ready. The state Civil
Service Department's division of Classification and
Compensation may be coming to your worksite this fall to
take a closer look at the work you do.

Class and Comp's field audit was ordered by the Civil
Service Commission after CSEA appealed for further
review,

CSEA was shocked, then angered, last fall when Class
and Comp said no to upgradings for stationary engineers.
What made the decision particularly infuriating was that
the division had stalled for three years before saying no.

But CSEA didn't accept that answer and appealed to the
Civil Service Commission. The new review is a result of
CSEA's strong presentation and persistence.

CSEA stressed to the Civil Service Commission that
changes in technology and workplace environmental
controls have required continuing increases in knowledge
and skills by the stationary engineers. But salaries have not
kept up with the increased responsbilities, j

“We know that we have a strong case,'’ said CSEA STATIONARY ENGINEERS ON THE JOB — Stationary
President Joe McDermott. ‘The Civil Service Commission Engineer John Hennigan and Senior Stationary Engineer
recognized it and that’s why they ordered this new review. Eric Van Zandt, both members of CSEA Office of General

“Upgradings for stationary engineers are merited but Services Local 660. Field audits of the work stationary
we can only hope that Class and Comp recognizes reality engineers perform will take place across the state this fall
when they see what's actually going on in the field.” as a result of CSEA's appeal for upgradings.

Oe ees! eee ene ae 17, 1990 1 7

CSEA is considering new legal
action as one option following the
latest outrage in the state's secretarial
reclassification.

The latest brouhaha erupted when
the Governor's Office of Employee
Relations (GOER) refused to consider
out-of-title pay grievances over the
secretary positions.

CSEA has been advising its members
to file for the out-of-title pay for
months because hundreds of members
are performing the duties of the new
Secretary 1 and 2 positions without
the pay while the state sits on their
reclassification applications.

Many reclassifications have already
been okayed by agencies and the
Civil Service Department but continue
to languish in the Division of the
Budget's “in” basket.

For some,
persistence
pays off

The state's handling of the
secretarial reclassification has created
one problem after another. While the
state has the right to establish the
procedure, CSEA has consistently
fought for its members’ rights during
the process.

More than 1,600
applications for
upgrading are still
pending in the state
Division of the
Budget. That number
does not tell the
whole story,
however. There are
major state agencies
which nave had only f¥
a handful, if any
reclassifications. Lucille Olsen

But there are some work locations
where CSEA persistence has paid off.

The Institute for Basic Research
(IBR), a part of the Office of Mental
Retardation and Developmental
Disabilities (OMRDD), on Staten Island
is a good example.

“CSEA really went to bat for us,”
said Lucille Olsen, a 22-year state
employee. Olsen, upgraded in August
to Grade 11 Secretary 1 along with all
other IBR secretaries, credited CSEA's
determined efforts with management
for the extra take-home pay.

According to CSEA Local 438
President Mary Greenman, the road
that led to the upgradings was a
“rocky one,'' beginning with some of
the secretaries on staff receiving in-

Furious over out-of-title outrage |

“I'm appalled by the way the state's
handled this whole situation,” said
CSEA president Joe McDermott.

“People have a right to be paid for
the work they're doing and we'll fight
for that right any time, any place, any
how," McDermott said.

“The out-of-title pay shouldn't have
anything to do with the status of the
individual's reclassification,’ added
CSEA Deputy Director for Contract
Administration James Hennerty.

“The CSEA-NYS contract is clear on
qualifying for out-of-title pay and it’s
separate and distinct from
reclassification.’

CSEA is also working on another
unfair aspect of the reclassification.

Reclassifications are being processed
agency by agency with a wide range
of retroactive dates. Some give no

retroactive pay at all.

CSEA has expressed great concern
about the haphazardness of this
procedure and is investigating options
to challenge it.

In another development, State
Supreme Court Judge Daniel Prior has
rejected CSEA’s lawsuit seeking to
block the use of the Secretary 1 and 2
exam results until all of the
reclassifications have been completed.

CSEA initially sought to prevent the
exams in the first place.

When the judge dismissed that
motion, CSEA pursued the case. In
issuing his decision, the judge ruled
that the state’s actions to date were
not arbitrary or illegal.

house letters notifying them that they
were either accepted or rejected for
the upgradings.

Working with CSEA Labor Relations
Specialist Hal Robertson, Greenman
questioned whether management had
thoroughly reviewed the job
responsibilities.

Lucille Olsen pointed out that
secretaries at the facility needed
essential knowledge of medical
terminology and their positions
entailed a great deal of decision-
making.

The local organized meetings with
the employees and management to
assure that all documentation packets
were completed using language that
properly recognized the complexity of
the actual duties being performed.

“To say that all secretaries in New

‘A LUCKY FEW — A few of the recen ly upgraded secretaries at the Institute for
Basic Research pose with CSEA Local 438 President Mary Greenman, second from
left, during a recent meeting at the facility.

York are disgusted with the way the
state has bungled its responsibility in
handling the upgrades is not quite
true any longer because you
persevered here at IBR,"’ said CSEA
Region II President George
Boncoraglio at a recent meeting with
the employees and management.

Faculty director, Dr. Henry
Wisniewski, also told the employees,
“you are people who are very
important to the success of the
science at this facility. Whenever we
can get together and help the people
who are important to us, we should do
ite

“There's much greater mutual
respect between labor and
management at IBR as a result of
working together on this issue,’
Greenman said.

1 8 September 17, a ee al Si a ns

“AT YOUR SERVICE|

YOUR UNION

BENEFITS
Ed os a

The union's toll-free telephone number —
1-800-342-4146 — is your direct link to CSEA
Headquarters.

When you call the toll-free number, a
recorded message describes the choices to
put you through to the right place for the help
you need.

You need a touch-tone telephone to
complete your call without operator
assistance. If you aren't calling from a touch-
tone telephone, an operator will pick up and
complete your call at the end of the message.

If you know the extension number of the
individual that you're trying to reach, you can
press “O” plus the extension number on your
touch-tone telephone at any point during the
recorded message and be connected.

If you don’t know the extension, the
message will give you the following choices:

* For Field Operations or the Empire
Plan/Health Benefits Committee, press number
1

* For disciplinaries, grievances and other
legal matters, press number 2.

* For Communications, the Executive
Offices or Political Action, press number 3.

* If you have a question concerning dues,
membership or agency shop, CSEA group
insurance other than health or need to talk to
the Finance Department, press number 4.

The CSEA Employee Benefit Fund is a
CSEA-administered trust fund which provides
certain supplemental negotiated benefits for
state employees and participating local
government employees. It currently
administers Dental Care, Vision Care,
Prescription Drug, and Package 7 Benefits
Plans.

For questions regarding any of the benefits
or for assistance with negotiations, call:

1-800-323-2732 or (518) 463-4555 or write:
CSEA Employee Benefit Fund
14 Corporate Woods Boulevard
Albany, NY 12211

CSEA can help you prepare for civil service
exams with low-cost study booklets and free-
to-borrow video tapes.

CSEA also provides educational workshops
for union activists eager to learn more about
their union responsibilities.

To request booklet order forms or to obtain
information on union workshops, call CSEA
headquarters at 1-800-342-4146. For
information on videotapes, contact your CSEA
regional office.

To report unsafe or unhealthy working
conditions or serious accidents, call your
CSEA labor relations specialist. For
occupational safety and health information, call
CSEA headquarters at 1-800-342-4146.

THE AFSCME MasterCard has one of the
lowest interest rates around — 5 percent
above the prime lending rate. There is no
annual fee.

To obtain an application form, call your
CSEA regional office.

The card is issued by the Bank of New
York. If you apply for a card and there is no
response within four weeks, call the bank toll-
free at 1-800-942-1977.

The AFSCME Advantage Union Privilege
Legal Service Program makes it possible for
you to easily obtain high quality, affordable
legal services for many personal legal matters.
For more details and a list of the participating
lawyers in your area, call the CSEA office in
your region

CSEA offers several insurance programs at
low group rates and provides the convenience
of automatic payroll deduction.

These voluntary group plans include: Basic
Group Life, Supplemental Life, Income
Protection Program, Hospital Indemnity Plan,
Family Protection Plan, Auto Insurance and
Homeowners Insurance. For more details,
call 1-800-366-5273 or (518) 381-1600.

For health insurance questions concerning
Empire Plan coverage, call the appropriate
following telephone number:

EMPIRE PLAN

Blue Cross Claims 1-800-342-9815

or (518) 465-0171
Metropolitan Claims 1-800-942-4640
Participating Providers 1-800-537-0010

Empire Plan Health Call 1-800-992-1213
(Hospital admission approval/surgical review)

If you are retiring soon, it’s important that
you select the proper option from the
Employees’ Retirement system.

By using the services of a CSEA-provided
retirement counselor, you'll be able to plan for
a lifestyle in your retirement years that takes
into account your anticipated expenses.

For more information, call 1-800-366-5273.

General retirement information and retiree
membership information are available by
contacting CSEA’s Retiree Department at
CSEA Headquarters 1-800-342-4146 or (518)
434-0191.

Technical retirement benefit questions (i.e.,
eligibility for service buy-back, transfer of
membership), requests for retirement
allowance applications, and requests for
retirement estimate applications should be
directed to the New York State and Local
Retirement Systems at (518) 474-7736.

Get big savings on consumer products
through the union's official discount buying
service. UBS combines the power of millions
of members to negotiate discounts on a whole
range of major name discount products.
Everything from automobiles to major
appliances, video to home furnishings and
more. The program is free to CSEA members
and carries no service charges. To place an
order or for pricing information, call
1-800-336-4UBS or 1-800-877-4UBS. UBS has
also set up a hotline for information on limited
special monthly offers available only to CSEA
members. For a listing of specials, call the
hotline at 1-203-967-2980.

If you believe you have a grievance,
immediately contact your local grievance
representative or shop steward. If they are
unavailable, contact your CSEA Unit or Local
President, or your CSEA Labor Relations
Specialist at the appropriate regional office. Do
not delay if you believe you have a problem;
grievances must be filed on a timely basis.

eCSEA REGIONAL OFFICES

LONG ISLAND REGION 1 OFFICE

Hauppauge Atrium Building

foe vane ops
lauppauge,

(516) 273-2280

(516) 435-0962

METROPOLITAN REGION 2 OFFICE
Suite 1500

11 Broadway

New York, NY 10004

(212) 514-9200

Rural Route 1

Fishkill, NY 12524
(914) 896-8180

Suite 402

Albany, NY 12203
(518) 489-5424

SOUTHERN REGION 3 OFFICE
Box 34, Old Route 9

CAPITAL REGION 4 OFFICE

1215 Western Avenue

CENTRAL REGION 5 OFFICE
6595 Kirkville Road

East Syracuse, NY 13057
(315) 433-0050

WESTERN REGION 6 OFFICE
482 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14202

(716) 886-0391

CSEA STATEWIDE HEADQUARTERS
143 Washington Avenue, Albany, N.Y. 12210

1-800-342-4146 (toll-free)

(518) 434-0191

0 a en ie er Sy er er Ya eet eeiee Poel 17, 1990 1 a

Editor's note: A scant few years after
their positions were created in a
revolutionary move to improve
public safety and security, state
police civilian communications
specialists have become innocent
victims of the battle of the state
budget. Ten civilian communications
specialists were laid off effective
Sept. 12. Attrition, transfers to other
agencies and resignations in recent
days cleared out other people to
accomodate the specific elimination
of 25 communications specialist
positions ordered when the state
budget was passed this year. The
numbers may seem small, but each
are highly-trained human beings in
critical positions whose careers have
been abruptly interrupted.

Here's a look at how the situation
affects State Police Troop F
headquartered in Middletown.

By Anita Manley
CSEA Communications Associate

F lost one civilian communications
specialist amont the 10 who were laid.
off statewide on Sept. 12. Troop F was
originally targeted to lose two people,
but attrition and bumping rights
reduced the loss to one.

“Tt has a snowball effect,"’ said
CSEA Local 276 President Steve Sisco.
“The schedule will be one person
short, which means we'll have to
change shifts, which means that
certain duties will not get done.”

MIDDLETOWN — State Police Troop

A SERIOUS LACK OF
COMMUNICATIONS

ee <i
LOCAL 276 PRESIDENT Steve Sisco:

“They could have saved these jobs with
petty cash.”

Local 276 Vice President Mike
Biondi said the layoffs hurt the morale
of employees.

“You can't help but think, ‘If they're
going, are we far behind?’ What are
the ramifications?”

Biondi often trains local police
department dispatchers on new
computerized equipment. New
scheduling caused by the layoffs will
now restrict the time he has available
to do that.

MAJOR CARL COLBERG JR., Troop F
\_ Commanding Officer.

State Police Major Carl Colberg a

Jr. commands Troop F, which he
called the busiest troop in the state.
In one month alone recently Troop
F communications specialists
processed nearly 114,000
transmissions. Last year Troop F
personnel originated 24,000
terminal teletype messages. State
Police civilian employees perform
many essential duties, Colberg
stressed.

“T don't want to lose any of
them," he said. ‘‘When we lose one,
we have to pull troopers off the
road and when there are less
troopers, there's no one to replace
them.

“It's like closing a firehouse in
New York City," Colberg said. ‘The
people in the community are the
ones who suffer, We can’t fulfill our
commitment to them and the public
wants their service."

Two years ago Colberg lost his
scretary to layoffs,

“T'm the only major in the state
without a secretary,"’ he noted.

nal

es

CSEA LOCAL VICE PRESIDENT Mike
Biondi: He has less time to train local
police dispatchers.

Sisco pointed out that the layoffs
directly impact the lowest-paid
employees.

“They could have saved these jobs
with petty cash," he said.

“We perform a vital service," said
CSEA Local President Sisco. “It’s like
having one nurse in an emergency
room — you can’t lay her off. I don't
know if state officials have given this
serious thought. Last year we lost
three positions.”

In addition to dispatching for the
state police, the communications
specialists also answer and dispatch
calls for a number of small
surrounding towns, saving taxpayers
what it would cost to provide
communications centers in each
individual police department, Biondi
pointed out.

“There's a lot of liability involved,”
he said. “Occasionally we even have
to testify in court. You can't put
someone in this job who is untrained."

- “Using a $40,000 Trooper to
replace a $20,000 civilian
employee doesn't seem to me
to be cost-effective ... I'm sad
that anybody has to be lost.
Whenever there is a budget
crisis, the employees are
always the ones to suffer. It's
unfortunate.”
— Helen J. Halbritter
President, CSEA Troop E Local 275
and Chair, statewide State Police
Labor-Management Committee

J

20 September 17, Bh aes pee oe eRe