The Public Sector, 1981 June 24

- Court reporter comp time restored
____ ALBANY — CSEA has been upheld in a grievance against the state un- _ between CSEA and the State in which the State agreed it would not change
| ified Court System regarding compensatory time for court reporters. any “current standing agreements’ regarding compensatory time.

In the past, Court of Claims reporters had been eligible for compen- f ae i : nok aa
satory time when working more than their regular hours. ee ee In granting this grievance, Arbitrator Kurt L. Hanslowe ruled that

especially significant since the reporters were frequently required to travel _ COU't of Claims reporters are entitled to any and all of the compensatory _
on Sunday before a trial or after 5 p.m. Frida ues ae time they may have earned from October 1979 to the date the oes stopped :

In October 1979, the Court of Claims Chief Clerk informed reporters paging fo) such ne 3 —
that, under the 1978-80 agreement between CSEA and the State, they were no The arbitrator also ruled the State must continue to pay these benefits
__ longer eligible to earn compensatory time for travel outside their normal unless. modifications are made through explicit negotiations. ==
working hours. noe : __ ‘This is an important case affecting a large number of employees CSEA

CSEA contended this violated an Article AQ agreement negotiated _ represents,”’ said CSEA Attorney Richard L. Burstein. : r

Official Publication of
The Civil Service Employees Something on your
Association : = e
on mind? Bill McGowan
‘eee wants to know. See
ednesday, June 24, a
page 5 for details.

CISSN 0164 9949)

ALBANY — Some 393 Performances Evaluation ratings which have been In addition, the Department of Audit and Control has issued a bulletin
in abeyance will be restored to their original ratings, Tom Coyle, Staff Direc- _ stating that those now eligible for an award as a result of this resolution will be.
tor of the Joint Labor-Management Committee on the Work Environment and paid during the week of June 29.

Productivity for CSEA, has announced. For those now due an expedited advancement, payment can be made in ac-

“This will possibly result in the payment of a performance award or anex- cordance with normal payroll procedures.
pedited advancement, depending on one’s circumstances,” said Coyle. “Individual letters to each member will be forthcoming from my office as

“This matter has been discussed, investigated and reviewed to death, but soon as possible,’ says Coyle, ‘‘so everyone is properly notified.”
has finally been put to rest.”’

Last year, The Public Sector ran an article (‘‘If You Were Evaluated’) on 3 x s
the state’s employee rating process, instructing employees who had received : The Special Olympics have special meaning
two completely signed-off evaluations for the period Jan. 1, 1979 to Sept. 30, A LESSON for CSEA and its members across the state.
1979 to detach and submit a clip-out coupon with supporting documentation to CSEA members generously contributed
CSEA Headquarters. thousands of dollars each year to sponsor

After many meetings with the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations, IN COURAGE participants in the Special Olympics for
an agreement was made to restore the original ratings of those who were re- mentally retarded individuals. And
evaluated. : -FOR US ALL hundreds of members serve as Special

The Division of Budget then interceded and delayed the payment of the Olympics volunteers, coaches and

resulting performance awards or performance advancements. h ‘ é
Agencies have been notified by OER of those employees affected by the ee ponmmer Seeds ces

recent decision to restore the original ratings. pics games. The 1981 summer games were
held at Elmira College June 12-14, and
hundreds of CSEA members were there to

Training scheduled assist. In next week’s issue of The Public

Sector, we’ll describe in words and pictures

ho 10) bers helped make this ”
for new treasurers mmer games a Ee

ALBANY — Newly-elected Local and Unit Treasurers will be going
to summer school this July and August.

At least one Treasurer Training session will be held in each Region
this summer, putting into operation the CSEA Statewide Board of Direc-
tors’ recent mandate that Local and Unit Treasurers undergo training
within 60 days of their election. : : /

Supervisor of General Accounts Cathy Bruno, who will be conducting
the day-long training sessions, said letters will be going out to treasurers
reminding them to participate in one of the sessions. :

“Tn preparation for these seminars, we’ve compiled a Financial Stan-
dards Code,’ Ms. Bruno explained. “This includes an interpretation of the
recent additions to the Constitution concerning finances. We've also in-
corporated into the code information that we’ve covered over the years in
treasurer’s seminars, but which had never been written down.

“We'll also give treasurers a complete packet of all the information
we think they’ll need to operate as treasurers, discuss how to use the

various accounting forms, go over instructions about required tax
~yeturns, and allow time for questions and answers.”

_ ‘The first two Treasurer Training sessions are scheduled as follows: a vine o sae * oat *
Region II, 9 a.m., July 1, at the New York Sheraton on Seventh Avenue; A CHECK IN SUPPORT of the Special Olympics is presented by Robert
and Region I, 9 a.m., July 25, at the Holiday Inn in Hauppauge. Densmore and Joan Brower, first vice president and president respectively

Regions IV and V have each scheduled two training sessions. of Broome County CSEA Local 804, to CSEA statewide Secretary Irene
Treasurers from both Regions may attend sessions on August 1 and 8 at Carr, right. CSEA members across the state contributed to support the
locations to be announced later. : Special Olympians. )

7)

CORTLAND — Over 100 Cortland County
employees and guests gathered recently at the
Moose Club in Cortland for an annual dinner-
dance to honor 18 CSEA retirees who represent a
total of 325 years’ service to Cortland County.

Honorees seated, in above photo from left to
right, are: Robert Leonard, 27'2 years, Highway
Department; Bernardine Baker, 31 years,
Cortland Sheriff's Department; Angeline Fiske,
12 years, Cortland Schools; Helen Robinson, 10
years, BOCES; Elizabeth Kenny, 19% years,
County Health Department; rear, left to right:
Don Crandall, President of Local 812; Katherine

<< > : DB

<4 &

Cortland honors retirees

E. Kiernan, 34% years, County Clerk’s Office;
John Neighoff, 12% years, Highway
Department; James Tanner, 30% years,
Cortland Schools; Edward Hayes, 14 years,
Virgil Schools; Elmer French, 13 years,
Cortland Schools.

Also honored, but not present for photo were:
Fred Austin, 174 years, Angelo Beninati, 13%
years, Bart Beninati, 10’ years, John Fabrizio,
22% years, all with Cortland Schools; Laurence
Bergeron, 11 years, Eldon Keith, 1 year, Willard
L. Morgan, 31 years, all with Highway Dept.;
Edwin C. Lloyd, 10 years, Co. Radio Dispatcher.

Camillus pact
retro to Jan.

CAMILLUS — Members of the Town of
Camillus Unit, CSEA Local 834 Onondaga Coun-
ty, recently voted to accept a new two-year con-
tract calling for salary increases and other
benefits, retroactive to January 1, 1981.

According to Jack Miller, CSEA Field
Representative and chief negotiator for the
bargaining unit, terms of the new pact include
the following wage increases:

1981 1982
Mechanic $.55 per hr. $.50 per hr.
Med. Equip. Operator $.50 per hr. $.45 per hr.
Water & Parks ‘
Maintenance * §$.50 per hr. $.45 per hr.
Laborer $.45 per hr. $.35 per hour

Other benefits include: $.25 per mile for use of
personal vehicle for Town business; $35 per year
toward the purchase of safety shoes; an increase
in sick leave accumulation from 150 to 165 days;
an increase in meal allowance; new language
concerning higher rate of pay for emergency
work performed in a higher job classification; $1
per hour compensation over present hourly rate
for any employee performing foreman or group
leader duties; and an additional $.35 per hour
over present hourly rate for employees
operating special equipment as designated by
the Highway Superintendent.

The acceptance of the new contract concluded
negotiations begun in October, 1980. Members of
the Negotiating Team, in addition to Miller,
were: Pete Miniselli, Unit President; Joe
Selvester, Vice president; John Cole, Robert
Kelly, and Jim Waleski.

( Florida workers join CSEA affiliate Weekend workers compensated

AFSGME gains 23,000

AFSCME, CSEA’s international affiliate, has won collective bargain-
ing rights for some 23,000 Florida state clerical and administrative
employees.

Seventy-seven percent of the employees who cast valid ballots voted
for the million-member American Federation of State, County and

POMONA — CSEA has won an ar-
bitration involving two Rockland
County employees who had- been
ordered to work weekends without
compensation.

A panel of three arbitrators,
headed by Impartial Chairman Joel

a collective bargaining agreement in
changing the regular hours of CSEA
Unit President Raymond Zerbarini
and co-worker Max Frenzel without
compensating them for overtime pay.

Both men, painters at the Rockland
County Health Complex in Pomona,
will be paid overtime wages for the

Municipal Employees. The union now represents about a quarter-million M. Douglas, found the county violated
clerical employees nationwide.

“In Florida and throughout the nation, clerical employees are turning
to AFSCME because the union has been in the forefront of efforts to win
fair wages and working conditions for this important sector of the
nation’s workforce,”’ said AFSCME President Jerry Wurf. ‘‘This vote is
one of a series of union representation successes AFSCME has had in
Florida and other Sun Belt States.”

AFSCME’s Florida Council 79 — the largest union in the state —
already represents some 90,000 state, county, city and school employees.

weekend hours worked in July of 1979.

ee i

SUNY STONYBROOK LOCAL 614 long-time president Al Varrachi,
right, is congratulated by Long Island Region I President Danny Donohue
on Varrachi’s retirement. Varrachi, a long time union activist a many
levels, was honored at a party in Port Jefferson, e

.
ROCKLAND PSYCHIATRIC CENTER Local 421 President Eva Katz, center,
joins retirees Nicholas and Mary Ann Luccketti at the Local 421 Flea
Market recently. Since retiring, Mary Ann has taken up crocheting and
beadwork, creating numerous dolls and toy animals. Nick does the braiding.

Page 2. THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, June 24, 1981

— os

TROY — A grievance hearing committee of
Rensselaer County and CSEA representatives
recently ruled that full payment was owed to
Sheriff's Department deputies for unused
vacation time. Citing an existing policy, county
officials had previously claimed employees were
allowed only a partial payment.

The committee’s ruling upheld CSEA’s con-
tention that the county unit and the Sheriff's
Department unit are two separate and distinct
units and that the policies of one cannot be ar-
bitrarily applied to the other.

When Lt. Steve Grogan and Investigator David
Harris, in whose names CSEA filed its
grievance, and four other employees left the
department in March of this year, the county
notified them it would'pay them a pro-rated
amount — equalling 3/12 of the total, for three
weeks unused vacation. The county reasoned
that although the employees were all entitled to

LOCAL 158 PRESIDENT Bill Kenneweg, third
from left, signs a “policy statement” implementing
the first Employee Assistance Program in a cor-
rectional facility in New York State. Other par-
ticipants included, from left, Industrial

Donahue new Nassau pres.

MINEOLA — First Vice President Jerry Donahue has won a
decisive election victory over the incumbent, Nick Abbatiello, for
the presidency of the 20,000-member Nassau Local 830, the

largest CSEA local in the state.

The election returns tallied June 1 gave election to Donahue,
who ran as an independent; four who ran on a ticket with Ab-

batiello, and three who ran as incumbents.

The winners:

President, Jerry Donahue;
President, Nick Dellisanti;

Sam Piscitelli, and Secretary, Mary Calfapietra

Donahue is also president of the Sheriff’s Department unit
and is the holder of a master’s degree in Labor and Industrial

Relations.

Donahue called on the officers and membership to work
closely together on mutual concerns, including contract
negotiations just getting under way with Nassau County on behalf

of more than 13,000 members.

Partial payment policy overturned

First Vice President,
Wallace; Second Vice President, Ralph Spagnolo; Third Vice
Fourth Vice President,
Ochenkoski; Fifth Vice President, Trudy Schwind; Treasurer,

three weeks vacation after completing five years
of service with the department, since they would
not be working the full year in which the
vacation came due they did not deserve full
reimbursement. Since this policy has been
followed in the county division for years, the
county's notice continued, it applies to sheriff's
department employees as well.

Sheriff's Department CSEA Unit President
Gary Bryer refuted the county’s claim that its
policies are universally applied to all units and
demanded full payment in accordance with the
sheriffs’ department contract.

“Our contract calls for three weeks vacation
after five years of service, from the date of
original employment and that provision should
be upheld,”’ he said. ‘“‘We never agreed to the
idea of pro-rating and should not be forced to
follow the guidelines established with another
separate unit.”

“

Superintendent Bob Holt, Superintendent Charles J.
Scully, Kenneweg, and EAP Committee Members
Terry Todd and Henry VanDeusen. The Green
Haven Correctional Facility, Stormville, employs
approximately 800 people.

Otsego officials
cited in attempt
to decertify CSEA

COOPERSTOWN — The Civil Service Employees
Association (CSEA) has filed an Improper Labor
Practice charge against the County of Otsego and a
member of its Board of Representatives, citing a
number of alleged violations of Article 14 of the
Public Employees’ Fair Employment Act (Taylor
Law).

According to Gerald Phelan, CSEA Field
Representative, County Representatives, on
several occasions, attempted to persuade nurses
working at the County infirmary (The Meadows) to
decertify CSEA and form their own union

CSEA further alleges that Mr. Domenick Di
Scala, a member of the Otsego County Board of
Representatives, encouraged Otsego County nurses
to become involved in a professional nurses’ union,
implied that CSEA was not properly representing
the nurses, and offered to suggest the steps involv-
ed in getting a new nurses’ union.

The CSEA charge further contends that mem-
bers of the Otsego Board of Representatives
have repeatedly made statements to the news
media regarding negotiations proposals, in
violation of their verbal promise to maintain con-
fidentiality until a settlement is reached.

CSEA and the County of Otsego have been at Im-
passe in negotiations for new salary terms for
nurses since May 18, 1981.

Mabel Wannamaker, President of CSEA Local
839 Otsego County, and Chairperson of the
Negotiating Team, said, ‘‘We have exhausted every
avenue of collective bargaining under the law
County Representatives have blatantly violated the
CSEA rights as the exclusive bargaining agent for
the nurses at The Meadows. As responsible
politicians they know — or should know — the cor-
rect procedure for negotiating contract terms.”

PERB is expected to set a mutually acceptable
hearing date in the near future.

Rita

Eddie

where we get our strength.”

\ ®
PLEDGING TO UPHOLD THE PRINCIPLES OF CSEA, new officers of Dutchess-
Putnam Retirees Local 909 were recently installed by Region III President Ray O’Con-
nor, right. Taking oath of offices were, from left, Treasurer Myrtle Misner, Vice
President William Hirtz, Second Vice President Mary Craigh, President Trish
Schwartz and Secretary Jeanette Plumb. O’Connor pledges to call upon the retirees,
“to help us — CSEA,”’ while Regional Director Thomas J. Luposello noted, ‘‘this is

By Bill Butler :
KINGS PARK — Bob Conlon, who dealt with
the Kings Park School Board for 12 years when
he headed the CSEA unit there, has won election

~ to the board,

His victory represented one
sses of a new! ffort to.

of the first
ige and

Conlon recently retired from his job in the
maintenance department of the school district.
He had been barred from seeking the school
board post when he was employed by the district.
The CSEA vote was significant.

Conlon received a plurality of about 400 votes.
There are 225 CSHA members in the Kings Park
School District unit, and an estimated 80: oe
the
also

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, June 24, 1981

Page 3

Official publication of
The Civil Service Employees Association
33 Elk Street, Albany, New York 12224

The Public Sector (445010) is published every Wednesday
weekly except for Wednesdays after New Years, Memorial
Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day for $5 by the Civil Service
Employees Association, 33 Elk Street, Albany, New York
12224

Second Class,Postage paid at Post Office, Albany, New York.
Send address changes to The Public Sector, 33 Elk Street,
Albany, New York 12224.

Publication office, 75 Champlain Street, Albany, New York
12204. Single copy Price 25¢

Thomas A. Clemente—Publisher
Roger A. Cole—Executive Editor
Dr. Gerald Alperstein—Associate Editor
Gwenn M. Bellcourt — Associate Editor
Deborah Cassidy—Staff Writer
Dawn LePore—Staff Writer
John L. Murphy—Staff Writer

Arden D. Lawand—Graphic Design
Dennis C. Mullahy—Production Coordinator

Published every Wednesday by Clarity Publishing, Inc. Publication
Office, 75 Champlain Street, Albany, N.Y. 12204 (518) 465-4591

WELL MOTHER, IT TOOK
A LONG TIME AND A LOT

OF HARD WORK, BUT WE'RE
FINALLY READY TO
LAUNCH 'ER !

DIET)

ELEANOR M
with the N.Y.S. Department of Social Services, Division of Operations in
Albany, is shown here receiving a ‘Certificate of Merit” award and pen set from
Nelson Weinstock, Deputy Commissioner. Bleichert, a member of Local 688,
received a $100.00 check from the State of New York for her suggestion which
resulted in a substantial savings. She suggested that instead of individual
letters to Medicaid providers, a copy of the actual computer print out should be
sent regarding address changes and the like. From left to right are: Richard
Burlew, Supervisor of Administrative Analysis; Nelson Weinstock, Deputy
Commissioner, presenting the award to Eleanor Bleichert; Bernard Noonan,
Director of Medicaid Management Information System Operations.

Calendar
of EVENTS

June

23—Orange County Legislative and Political Action meeting, 7 p.m., Goshen High
School, Goshen.

24—Labor Dept. informational meeting on OSHA, 10 a.m., Buffalo Convention Center,
Room 101H, Franklin and Genesee Streets, Buffalo.

24—New York State Bridge Authority Local 050 installation of officers and annual
clambake, 1 p.m., Kingston.

25—Westchester Retirees Local 921 Installation Meeting, 1:30 p.m., Rochambeau
School, White Plains

26—Labor Dept. informational meeting on OSHA, 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., Two World
Trade Center, 44th Floor State Hearing Room.

26—Pilgrim Psychiatric Center Local 418 installation dinner dance, 8 p.m., Hun-
tington Town House, Huntington.

27—Long Island Region | officer training workshop, 8 a.m., Holiday Inn, Haup-
pauge.

27—Southern Region Ill Legislative and Political Action Committee meeting, 7:30 p.m.,
Holiday Inn, Suffern

30—Labor Dept. informational meeting on OSHA, 10 a.m., Onondaga County War
Memorial, Lower Level Meeting Room, Syracuse.

~ STHE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, June 24, 198)

Page 4°

KEEP CSEA INFORMED ON MAILING ADDRESS

In the event that you change your mailing address, please fill out the below form
and send it to:

CSEA, Inc., P.O. Box 125, Capitol Station, Albany, New York 12224.
This form is also available from local presidents for CSEA members, but is
reproduced here for convenience.

Change of Address for ‘The Public Sector’

Please allow 3-4 weeks for change to take effect.
My present label reads exactly as shown here (or affix m

' Street _

I city

———— =

MY NEW ADDRESS IS:

Street Sena Tastes

City sed eee Semen ae State. Zip.
Agency where employed a ai
My social security no. — ¥ Agency No.

Suffolk County units ok new contract

HOLTSVILLE — Members of both the blue collar and white collar
units of Suffolk County Local 852 have ratified a new one-year contract
retroactive to January 1, 1981.

The contract was ratified 2,749-1,314 by the white collar unit
members, and 887-337 by the blue collar members. Additional details of
the contract will be published in next week’s issue of The Public Sector.

Pact includes pay hikes

BRIARCLIFF MANOR — A new, two year contract was recently ratified
by public works employees of this Westchester County Village, according to
Unit President Douglas Milks
June 1, all salaries were increased $850 and Dec. 1 they will go up another
$1,100.

Next year, salaries will increase six percent June 1 and five percent Dec.
1. Longevity payments will also go up to $300 after seven years, $425 after 12
years, and $650 after 17 years.

other highlights of the pact, according to Field Rep. Don Partrick, in-

clude

* increase in uniform allowances;

* establishment of labor/management committee and health and safety

committee;

* increase to 180 the number of sick days which may be accumulated;

* addition of the job title ‘‘skilled laborer,” and

* initiation of an Agency Shop.

SET REREAD ETE SO OS

~President’s

In recent weeks, the media ran stories
about a union in which the leadership didn’t
want to hear any opinions but its own.
Representatives whose opinions were un-
popular with officials were labeled
“dissidents’’ and shouted down, and
attempts to democratize union structure
were killed.

In the midst of the anti-union publicity, we
in CSEA could take pride in our democratic
structure and procedures and the fact that
we believe in two-way communications.

But, you know, it’s one thing to believe in
two-way communication, to permit a flow of
ideas. And it’s quite another thing to actual-
ly HAVE two-way communication within
this or any other democratic body.

After all, the President of the United
States can go on television to talk to you; but
how many chances do you get to bend the
President’s ear? How many of us take the
time and trouble to call or write our
Assemblymen or Congressmen, or even

| bother to go vote on election day?

The same principles hold true in this
smaller democracy we call a union. Par-
ticipation in some Local and Regional elec-

' tions and even in some contract ratifications

is small. And how many rank and file

" members know the name of their Board

representative, let alone express their views

] to that person?

So despite good policy and intentions, the
two-way communication we seek to en-
courage in CSEA still seems too often to be
flowing only one-way: from the leadership
to the membership, from officers to the rank
and file.

We want to do some listening. We want
you to talk to us, or perhaps talk back to us.

We want to know how we're doing. What
you think we're doing right, and where you
think we’re going wrong. Whether you think
we're doing too much of something and not
enough of something else. How well you
think we’re serving your interests and
representing you.

In short, we’re asking for feedback.

Without this kind of feedback, this kind of
input from members, it’s difficult for CSEA
to do the best possible job for you.

Your input can help us’set directions, im-
prove service and efficiency, and make
policy decisions. Only your input can make
this union sensitive and responsive to the
needs and wishes of its members.

So if you think we’re doing something
good, give us a pat on the back. If you think
we're letting you down, send us your gripe.

To make it easier for you to tell us what’s
on your mind, we've provided a coupon you
can fill in, cut out and mail in. You don’t
have to sign your name if you don’t want to.
But telling us what’ Local or Region you're
from can often help us to analyze your
problem or put your comments in context.

Please spend a few moments and a stamp
to talk to us. After all, not everyone has a
union that wants to listen.

[FOIA pee Zn casa

Complete, clip and mail this form today

To:

WILLIAM L. McGOWAN, President
Civil Service Employees Association
33 Elk Street

Box 125 Capitol Station

Albany, New York 12224

Dear President McGowan:
Here’s what’s on my mind:

I am a member of CSEA Local
Name ‘ =n
Address Be bes:

eye

* Jyhe '24

THE PUBLIC SECTOR: W

‘Page 5

SEERA AARC AEDT SRR HRT

DEIR TIE

SACO

SSRIS GEE

SSeS

Probation officer Don Simkin

'who tr

Spare-time
boxing coach

ly cares

By Ron Wofford

ROCHESTER — People who know him speak in glowing terms about
Don Simkin, a probation officer for Monroe County and a member of
CSEA Monroe County Employees Unit 7400, Local 828.

They're aware of his no-nonsense approach to his difficult occupation
and of his devotion to the Rochester St. Martin’s Boxing Club. These two
interests sometimes overlap if an individual happens both to be on
probation and to be interested in the pugilistic arts.

His dedication to his job and to his young boxers recently earned the
modest 16-year veteran probation officer the 1980 Service Award from the
New York State Division of Probation, as an expression of the State’s
appreciation for ‘outstanding contribution of time, effort and ability in
improving probation services.”

Simkin was the moving force behind saving the St. Martin De Porres
Center’s boxing club from extinction when the center had money troubles
in the early 1970's and eventually was displaced in an urban renewal
sweep. The club is now based at the South Avenue Recreation Center.

Simkin speaks with obvious pride of his team’s boxing ac-
complishments. “‘We've got some real champions, and we’ve been as far
as California and Hawaii. But one doesn’t have to be a champ to belong to
the club,” he emphasized. ‘‘New boxing candidates are always welcome.
You never know how good you can be until you try it.”

“Our board’s main interest is community development, and we’re
quite proud of the fact that we’ve never been government funded,”

2]

FOLLOW THROUGH — Coach Don Simkin really gets involved as he
shows a new recruit to the St. Martin Boxing Club the correct application
of the right cross.

the courts, and their participation is not punitive.”

“It's more of a big brother approach,”’ he explained. ‘‘The club exists
for the kids. We're trying to help them learn authority as a positive con-
cept. Discipline, self-discipline, caring, and investment of time and effort
as opposed to instant gratification, are character elements we're working
on improving.”

The mutual affection between Simkin and his proteges is evident as
he drives through the city’s neighborhoods, picking kids up amid shouts
and waves of recognition from parents and friends.

“There’s always another tournament to prepare for, and we try to
compete in as many as possible, from AAU through Junior Olympics,
Golden Gloves, Empire State Games, as well as the World Olympics,”
said Simkin. i

He's also high on his union. ‘‘We’ve got a very good CSEA Local,”’ he
said. “They really stood by us when we had a problem. I think more peo-
ple need to be union oriented. You've got to be organized. Unions are the

i Simkin continued. ‘“‘Our board and coaches represent a broad cross
section of the community. We have lawyers, psychologists, restaurant
owners — all sorts of folks who volunteer their time for the kids.

“No one gets paid, and many spend out of their pockets for those
necessities that are always coming up. We’re using boxing as a medium
to work with the kids. Only about a third of them have been involved with

| li ia :
ARE YOU READY? — Coach Simkin picks up 20 to 30 youths each even-

ing before he begins his coaching duties at Rochester St. Martin Boxing

\Club. a sparring match.

only real salvation for working people.”

COACH SIMKIN helps 15-year-old Ricardo Matos with his gloves prior to

a

SYRACUSE — Technical assistance and even
some financial help are available for establishing
day care centers. But getting the job done depends
largely on the hard work, persistence and “creative
problem-solving’ of Locals.

That was the basic message this spring at both
the State and County workshops, as CSEA’s
Statewide Women's Committee presented a panel
of day care experts to the delegates. Participating
were Molly Hardy, Executive Director of Empire
State Day Care Services Inc.; Sue Vaughn of the
Onondaga Child Care Council; CSEA consultant
Paula Lambert, recently named to a three-person
team to assist Locals trying to establish day care
centers; Inez Singletary, President of the New
York State Child Care Coordinating Council; and
CSEA Collective Bargaining Specialist Jack

Hard work and
dedication are
what it takes
to establish

Local day care
Ce y

Conoby, who discussed with county workshop
delegates how to negotiate day care provisions into
local contracts.

“We should make it clear from the start that we're
not just talking about babysitting,” explained Sye
Vaughn, who recently helped establish a model
care center in downtown Syracuse. ‘‘Day care
should do the same things for children developmen-
tally as Head Start and pre-kindergarten programs
do, but the programs must last longer to meet the
special needs of working parents.”’

Molly Hardy also emphasized that day care
should be left to experts.

“Setting up a day care center isn’t as easy as it
may seem, especially in New York State where the
regulations are the most stringent in the country,’’
she said. ‘Because the regulations are so specfitc

Page THE

June 24, 1981

will be key
*| to contract
CHECKING AGENDA are State Contract Unit Workshop chairpersons Al Mead of the |
} Administrative Services Unit, Joan Tobin of the Operational Unit, center, and Delores |)
| Farrell of the Institutional Unit. |
CG i ALBANY — A State Contract workshop recently held in Region IV ur vast membership. This early workshop has started our members
| marked the beginning of the Region's preparations for a new State con- thinking about the areas that they feel must be improved, retained,
tract. The workshop, similar to those held in recent months in other renegotiated or removed.”’
| Regions, included participants from the Administrative, Operational and “Our members have been doing their homework,’ commented
f Institutional bargaining units. Region IV Vice President Al Mead, who chaired the Administrative Ser-
] With the present agreement expiring in 11 months and with vices Unit session. ‘‘They had already started to exchange ideas and to
| negotiations beginning this October, the Regional workshops were among _ evaluate possible proposals. We will have a strong program of demands
| the many preparatory steps leading to the contract talks. to be presented to the CSEA statewide teams.” _ .
Region IV President Joseph E. McDermott stated, ‘‘We have to be Region IV Vice President Joan Tobin, who chaired the Operational
prepared in every area of contract negotiations in order to do the job for _ Services Unit session, noted, ‘They have already marked up the old con-
e en , i333 tract books to the point where they look like European road maps. But
Pa ml they have also listed numerous alternatives to each section. I’m im-
t pressed.”’
The Institutional Services Unit session was chaired by Local 653
President Delores Farrell, who said she felt the members were anxious
| to get at the bargaining table with the State as early as possible.
| Representatives of the three bargaining units also met jointly to dis-
i cuss common items such as health benefits, salary and organizational
# leave. CSEA’s Administrative Director of Collective Bargaining, Jack
i Carey, conducted the session, joined by Collective Bargaining Specialists
] John Conoby, Paul Burch and Nels Carlson.
q “Staffwise, we're right where we should be now in preparation for
® i] negotiations,” Carey said. ‘‘In a few weeks, we'll be going directly to the
i membership for their input and direction. We have the statistical infor-
i mation we need to make our points, and our members will provide the
qt specific issues which will give us the necessary openings to explain and
expand our case.”’
: 3 at z oe pe q President McDermott summed up the session by saying, ‘‘I’m glad
TRYON SCHOOL CSEA President Dominic Ruggeri, left, and Vice we're on our way. We all need to see our state salary check fattened up
President Don Satterlee takes notes during discussion. just as much as possible.”” /
s — i . “ F
i
° i
|
i
@ - q

—

ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION for Institutional

Unit personnel is led by CSEA Collective left with coat.

Bargaining Specialist Paul Burch, fourth from

ds
REVIEWING TOPICS at left is Operational Unit
Workshop chairwoman Joan Tobin, ieft, as
CSEA Collective Bargaining Specialist Nels
Carlson delivers his overview statement.

about space, number of children, staffing ratios,
and all the fire, safety and health requirements,
you actually have very few options. You hire a
director and the professional director runs the

@roeram. Then your Local committee acts as an ad-
isory board.”’

“‘Need assessment’? — determining whether a
facility or workplace can support a day care center
— is a critical first step.

“Once a day care center is operating, it must be
self-sustaining," Ms. Hardy said. ‘‘That basically
means you need about 35 children on a continuing
basis. So on-site day care isn’t always appropriate
for small employers, and small Locals may have to
explore other community-based options.”’

@ A CWEP grant is making some seed money

available to State Locals establishing day care
centers on state-owned property. Grants up to $10,-
000 per center may be used for such start-up costs
as equipment, supplies, the first year’s insurance,
and the director’s salary for the first few months
until the center becomes operational.

Under the CWEP grant, space for the center,
renovation of the site, and continuing physical
maintenance must be provided by the State facility.

- Ms. Hardy outlined steps that Locals should take
in qualifying for the grants. (Although County
Locals are not eligible for the CWEP funds, they
should follow many of the same steps when setting
up a day care center).

e Establish a Labor/Management Committee to

deal with day care. =)

¢ The three-person team (Paula Lambert, Molly
Hardy and Jack Williams of the CWEP staff)
will meet with the committee to offer technical
assistance, advice and guidance.

° The Committee must select a site, and
management must agree to renovate and
maintain it.

* State licensing officials can be called upon to
visit the site before renovation to determine if
the site is feasible for day care use.

¢ The three-person team will assist the Local
committee in writing up a proposal for the CWEP.
seed money.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, June 24, 1981

Page 7
Creedmoor reciassifications creates serious understaffing os
Director undermines labor effort

NEW YORK CITY — Creedmoor Psychiatric Center Local 406 president
Dorothy King has accused Creedmoor Director Dr. Yoosuf Haveliwala of
“subverting good faith agreements made between CSEA and the Office of
Mental Health (OMH) regarding clinical staffing levels at Creedmoor.”

CSEA President William L. McGowan, OMH commissioner Dr. James
Prevost and Meyer Frucher, director of the Governor's Office of Employee
Relations, visited Creedmoor in December of 1980 as part of a top-level,
facility-by-facility tour intended to deal with labor relations problems
within the Offices of Mental Health and Retardation.

Shortly before the top-level meeting King learned that Haveliwala had
hired nearly 130 professionals and only six Mental Hygiene Therapy Aides
(MHTA’s) during his first year as Creedmoor’s director. According to King,
Haveliwala reclassified MHTA positions to professional positions to permit
the institution to increase its professional staff.

“We told Haveliwala that we would not stand for the depletion of MHTA
staff so important in clinical areas,” King said. ‘‘We told him that we in-
tended to bring this matter up at the top-level meeting.”’

King says that when Haveliwala was confronted by her and staff from
Metropolitan Region II, he pledged to stop reclassifying positions and to hire

| MHTA’s and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN’s) in equal numbers to
\, professionals in the future.

“I'm convinced he made this promise just to keep the issue from com-
ing to the attention of McGowan, Prevost and Frucher,” King said

What convinced King is a startling piece of information she has confirm-
ed with the Creedmoor personnel office: Haveliwala has continued to
reclassify MHTA and LPN positions to professional positions to create an
even greater ratio of professionals to MHTA’s and LPN’s in clinical areas.

According to King the Creedmoor personnel office reports that since the
top-level meeting in December, 22 MHTA and 5 LPN positions have been
reclassified to professional positions. The personnel office further reports
that 12 MHTA and 10 LPN positions are pending reclassification — a total
loss of 49 direct care positions.

“It’s no wonder that we have so much forced overtime and problems
with pass days,”’ King said. ‘‘Haveliwala has made us short of staff in
clinical areas and is trying to make matters worse, a total subversion of the
purpose of the top-level meeting here at Creedmoor.”’

A plan for an additional 125 clinical care positions at Creedmoor came
out of the top-level labor/management meeting. The plan calls for an equal
number of professional staff to MHTA’s and LPN’s to be hired.

“Even if the plan is approved we will only gain back what we’ve lost
since December,’ King said.

DOT job status upgraded,
thanks to fellow workers

at. *% ‘nual
-CINDY DeMARMELS, formerly a Senior Clerk in
Transportation Maintenance, and now a Transpor-
tation Office Assistant Grade Nine, work con-
‘tentedly after an upgrading of her position through
CSEA.

BINGHAMTON — Chuck Eynon, president of
CSEA Binghamton City Local 002, announced
recently that because of the efforts he shared with
members Cindy DeMarmels and John Mason, a ma-
jor improvement has been made in the status of
some Department of Transportation Workers.

On May 5th, 1981, the Division of the Budget
approved a title structure change and reallocation
of all Senior Clerk positions in Transportation
Maintenance to Transportation Office Assistant,
Grade Nine.

According to Eynon, DeMarmels approached him
with a grievance and requested that the CSEA of-
ficial look into the upgrading of the position. At the
time, DeMarmels was a Senior Clerk SG7 in Trans-
portation Maintenance.

“Cindy said she had tried before to upgrade the
status of her job,” said Eynon, “‘but she did not
have any success.’’ DeMarmels said that a fellow
employee and CSEA member John Mason, of Han-

cock, helped her in presenting her plea to Eynon.

After discussing the situation with DeMarmels,
Eynon researched the request, filled in a CC2 form,
and passed on the information to the Civil Service
Department in Albany.

Soon after Eynon’s action, the Personnel Bureau
of the Department of Transportation released an
announcement stating the title structure change
and reallocation for all Senior Clerk (Transpor-
tation Maintenance) positions.

Now a Transportation Office Assistant,
DeMarmels is happy with the actions of her CSEA
local president, and with her new job status.

Eynon noted that provisional and temporary
employees in the Transportation Maintenance
Senior Clerk titles shall be continued in their
current status in the new title. According to Eynon,
this means they will get the new title and grade, but
are still considered provisional and temporary.

McAvoy honored with first
Distinguished Service Award

ROCHESTER — Jean McAvoy, the first vice president of the Monroe
County Local of CSEA, has been honored by Monroe Community College
(MCC) with its first-ever Distinguished Service Award.

The award, recognizing outstanding work in the areas of leadership, ser-
vice to the college, job performance, innovation and initiative, and crafts-
manship, ‘‘couldn’t have gone to a more deserving person,” according to
MCC CSEA unit President Jim Bond, who served on the selection committee.

“Support of her nomination came from every facet of the committee,
faculty, students and administration, as well as staff,’’ Bond continued, ‘‘and
when you receive such support from your peers, you know it’s real.”’

Mrs. McAvoy, “‘tickled to death’’ about her award, is supervisor of the Ad-
ministrative Services Department, delivering stenographic, copying and word
processing services to the college.

“It’s nice to know the non-academic staff will now be recognized annually
along with professors, because so many of our fellow staff and CSEA members
do so much for the college but get little recognition,’ said Mrs. McAvoy.

CSEA Monroe County Employees Unit President Florence Tripi, ‘thrilled
that Jean is finally getting some recognition,’ said Mrs. McAvoy “‘is a lady
who has done everything in our union structure. I only wish there were a
thousand more like her.”’

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FIRST EVER — Jean McAvoy of CSEA Monroe County Employees Unit, holds
plaque honoring her for services to Monroe Community College.
Congratulating her are Unit Pres. Florence Tripi and Unit President Jim
Bond.

| APPROXIMATE RETIREMENT DATE
| SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.

| NAME SE GAS |
| STREET a z H
lorry STATE hie
| PHONE NUMBER HOME WORK |
|

|

a

Page 8 THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, June 24,1987"

FORMER CONGRESSWOMAN Elizabeth

Holtzman and Region I President Danny
Donohue at the Local 852 Women’s Forum. Ms.
Holtzman, keynote speaker at the forum, spoke
on President Reagan’s proposed budget cuts.

CSEA ATTORNEY Marge Karowe speaks on
women in the labor movement at the Suffolk
County Local 852 Women’s Forum.

MEMBERS OF THE TOWN OF HUNTINGTON UNIT of Local 852 attendi

ns
ig the Local 852 Women’s

Forum are, from left, Florence Cento, Peggy Keyes, Rose Rizzo, Glady Marcinisen and Dorgthy

Goetz.

Criticism of federal budget
voiced by Holtzman at forum

SMITHTOWN — Former Congresswoman
Elizabeth Holtzman was highly critical of
Presjdent Reagan's federal budget position dur-
ing her keynote speech which highlighted the
recent Women’s Forum sponsored by Suffolk
County CSEA Local 852.

Ms. Holtzman was especially critical of
President Reagan’s federal budget cuts in
numerous federal programs including:

Nutrition, food stamps, school lunches, day
care, CETA, Unemployment Insurance, Aid to
Dependent Children (welfare), Medicaid, health
programs (alcohol, VD, drugs), Social Services,
Education, disabled, senior citizens, lega] ser-
vices, revenue sharing to state and local
governments, energy, student loans and trans-
portation.

‘‘We should have a national goal of no one go-
ing hungry. ... The proposed block grants put
senior citizen, child care and disabled programs
all competing for the same money. .. .

“If we are not prepared to give our children
the best education, nationally we will suffer. We
are kidding ourselves. We are robbing
ourselves,” she said.

She said New York State will lose $2 billion
which will result in the loss of services and
public employee jobs

Ms. Holtzman also was critical of the Reagan-
supported tax cut plan which would give the rich
huge tax savings but would increase the taxes for
those earning less than $15,000.

ATTENDING THE LOCAL 852 Women’s Forum ar
CSEA Board of Directors Edmund Garcia and Step!
Processing Unit of Local 852.

e, from. left, Suffolk County representative to the
hanie Garite and Elaine Dunlop, both of the Data

If the State and the local governments wish to
maintain services, it would mean other taxes
would have to increase, she said.

“Thespicture is very bleak. We do not see the
impact yet. The big task for us who oppose
Reagan's approach is to raise our voices and
fight for what we believe in,” she said.

Other speakers at the forum were CSEA At-
torney Marge Karowe on women in the labor
movement; Francine Berger on assertiveness;
Joan Gittelsen on personal finance; former Suf-
folk County Chapter National Organization of
Woman President Dana Buskirk; Town of East
Hampton Supervisor Mary Fallon and Suffolk
County Local Treasurer Jean Tuthill,

Ms. Karowe spoke about a recent talk given by
Lilian Roberts who was recently nominated by
Governor Hugh L. Carey to be State Industrial
Commissioner.

She quoted Ms. Roberts as saying: ‘‘Unionism
is a state of mind. We are all in this together.
What is good for one of us is good for all of us.

. When we talk against our union, we talk
against ourselves.”’

ORGANIZERS of the Suffolk County Local 852
Women’s Forum were, from left, Jo Ann
Fleischman and Barbara Rotunno,

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, June 24, 1981

“Page 9

LEGISLATIVE AND POLITICAL ACTION Direc-
tor Bernard J. Ryan.

TO SECURE

BENEFICIAL LEGISLATION ...

ALBANY — ‘‘The purpose of the Legislative and
Political Action office is to secure passage of
legislation we see as beneficial to our members and
to defeat legislation that would be harmful,’ ex-
plained director Bernard J. Ryan. ‘We do this
through political action — trying to elect law-
makers who will listen to and hopefully be respon-
sive to our input — and through the lobbying
process.”

An office overlooking the Capital is shared with
AFSCME. Shared staff members include a training
specialist, journal clerk, receptionist and several
interns.

Work hits a fever pitch when the legislature is in
session. As bills are introduced, they are reviewed
to determine whether CSEA has an interest; staff
members are then assigned to sit in on committee
discussions of bills the union is tracking.

“Our work is closely coordinated with our legal
counsel James Featherstonhaugh, who is also
CSEA’s chief lobbyist. When we identify a bill of in-
terest, the law firm prepares a memo for or against
the bill for the legislative leadership and the com-
mittees to which it has been assigned.

“Sometimes the memo itself is enough to get the
job done, and we always try to do our job while the

bill is at the committee level. But if, for example, a
bill we oppose gets out of committee, we have a
bigger job ahead of us.

We may have to sit down and talk with key
members of the legislature or their staff; we may
have to direct memos to every member of the
legislature; and in some cases, we may have to call
upon our members to write letters, phone their law-
makers, or even join us in Albany for lobbying
days.”

The workload and complexity can become
staggering. As many as 10,000 bills can be introduc-
ed into the Senate and Assembly during a session,
and at one point this spring Ryan estimated that
bills of interest to CSEA had been assigned to 22
different committees.

This process of tracking bills through the state
legislature is just a small part of the office’s func-
tion. They work with the law firm to develop
CSEA’s own legislative package for each session,
obtaining input from members, officers and staff;
they answer inquiries about bills from CSEA
members; and they get involved in joint lobbying
efforts with other groups.

They work with other public employees unions on
issues, often getting together to develop closer
positions in preparation for a lobbying effort. And on

STAFF PROFILE

LEGISLATIVE AND
POLITICAL ACTION

The Civil Service Employees Assn. is an extremely diverse
organization. Its membership of upwards of a quarter of a million
workers perform thousands of different jobs at hundreds of work
locations throughout New York State. The needs of those members
can vary as much as ‘the members themselves, and it takes a
sophisticated staff organization to meet those needs. CSEA employs

BERNARD J. RYAN left, and his assistant, Tom Haley, center, confer with Assemblyman Neil Kelleher
about the union’s position on a piece of key legislation moving through the Legislature.

a professional staff of more than 200 people to provide services to the
membership. Slightly more than one-half of that total are assigned to
statewide headquarters at 33 Elk Street, Albany, with the remainder
assigned to the six regional headquarters maintained by CSEA
throughout the state. “Staff Profiles” is an informational series
designed to acquaint members with staff departments and personnel,

CSEA members across the state.

“You can’t separate political action from our lobbying role.

Page 10

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, June, 24, 198)

The purpose of both is to provide good legislation.”

RAMONA GALLAGHER, training specialist, con-
ducts numerous workshops on political action for

... 10 DEFEAT

HARMFUL LEGISLATION

occasion the office finds that CSEA has common
legislative goals with such groups as the school
boards association and the conference of mayors.

Throughout the year, the staff works closely with
the various CSEA Political Action Committees and
with the more than 200 Political Action Liaisons of
“PALS.”’ PALS are CSEA members — one for each
Senate and Assembly District — who provide direct
CSEA liaison with the legislators to whom they are
assigned.

Ryan sees education as the key to the union's
future as a lobbying and political force to be
reckoned with.

“Our legislative seminar this year was themed to
lobbying, and now we’re developing a manual deal-
ing with lobbying techniques and containing
background information members would need in
order to lobby effectively,’’ Ryan said.

“We're even putting an emphasis on how to write
toa legislator, and not only telling members how to
write these letters, but also stressing how im-
portant it is.

“The idea that legislators don’t read mail is a
fallacy. I don't know how many times a legislator
has reached into his drawer and pulled out a stack
of constituent mail for or against an issue to prove a
point to me.”

Activity doesn’t slow down by any means when
the legislature adjourns. Attention simply switches
to candidates and election campaigns.

“You can’t separate political action from our lob-
bying role. The purpose of both is to provide good
legislation,’ Ryan said.

He described the long screening process that
leads to CSEA endorsement of a candidate, and in-
dicated that the union can offer support to endorsed
candidates in a number of ways, ranging from a
minimum number of dollars and volunteers to an
all-out campaign with phone banks, neighborhood
canvassing, and mailing to members.

“The 1980 campaign was really the first time we
engaged in an all-out campaign, and we were pleas-
ed with the success we had,’’ Ryan said. ‘‘But
again, I think education is the key factor here.”

He explained that members who wish to work on
political action efforts will be trained how to
operate phone banks, how to canvass
neighborhoods, how to get out the vote on election
day, and even how to utilize somewhat
sophisticated precinct targeting approaches.

“We have a high level of member voting support
for candidates we've endorsed, and I think this is
because our endorsements are based on facts,” he
said. “No one wants to be told who to vote for. But
they do want to know why we’re recommending one
candidate, and often just as importantly, why we’re
not recommending that candidate's opponent

“More and more in the coming years political
action will have to be our lifeblood. All you have to
do is look at the Reagan philosophy to see how im-
portant it will be for public employees to have
legislators who will listen to us.”’

To face this challenge, the staff is looking to the
oots levels of the union
‘re talking about more political action train-
ing at the Local and Unit levels. We're talking
about more involvement in campaigns at the city,
county and school district levels. We're talking
about more voter registration drives among our
members, And we're talking about efforts to get
CSEA members involved in their political parties
at the local levels. We’re even planning a ‘“‘cam-
paign college’’ offering some training for CSEA
members who want to run for public office.

“What we've found is that the people who really
volunteer for political action and who actually show
up to do the work on campaigns are often rank and
file members who hold ‘no other CSEA positions or
offices. So our education plans and other efforts are
going to be designed to reach these people at the
unit level so we can build a more effective political
organization from the ground up.”’

r
tt cdl
JOURNAL CLERK Connie Kellogg monitors the

status of key legislation as it moves through the
State Legislature.

RECEPTIONIST Karen Barr is kept busy handling
calls for assistance and information to the busy of-
fice.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, June 24, 1981

Court orders
snow days pay

WEST BABYLON — According to a recent
Appellate Court decision, food service
workers in CSEA’s West Babylon Non-
Teaching Unit will be paid their average
wages for the days of Feb. 6-10, 1978, when
schools were closed due to a snow emergency.

The court ruled there was a violation of the
workers’ collective bargaining contract,
which states the employees are entitled to
compensation for days missed because of a
snow emergency.

According to the court, the relevant con-
tract language as negotiated by CSEA was
clear and straightforward in its meaning,

The plaintiffs were part-time hourly food
service employees working for the Board of
Education, which had previously denied a
grievance submitted by the Unit.

Charlie Novo heads
Suffolk Local 852

HOLTSVILLE — Charlie Novo led his siate to
victory in the elections for the 10,000-member Suf-
folk Local 852, tallied June 2. Novo nosed out
Robert Villa, a former local president.

The results for all officers generally followed the
finish of the heads of five slates of candidates.
Heading the slates as presidential candidates were:
Charlie Novo, Robert Villa, John Desmond, Ben
Boczkowski (the incumbent), Ed Byrne and Bill
Arthur.

Other winners: Executive Vice President,
Shirley Germain, First Vice President, Kevin
Mastridge; Second Vice President, Lynn Martins;
Third Vice President, Peter Caliendo; Fourth Vice
President, John Stein; Treasurer, Isabelle Jones;
Recording Secretary, Sue Smith, Corresponding
Secretary, Yvette Warren; Executive Represen-
tative, Cathy Green, and Sergeant-at-Arms, Sam
Tadicicco.

The new officers take office July 1

(Nels Carlson president |
of new safety council

Nels Carlson, Safety Coordinator and
Collective Bargaining Specialist for the Civil
Service Employees Association, has been
elected president of the Northeastern New
York Safety and Health Council. The
Northeastern New York Safety and Health
Council is an affiliate of the National Safety
Council.

The Council also elected the following of-
ficers at its annual meeting: Vice Presidents
— Karl Scharl, Public Safety Administrator
for the State University of New York at
Albany, and Donald J. Boyle, President of
Donald J. Boyle, Public Affairs, an Albany
Public Affairs firm; Secretary — Mary Beth
Leitt, a secretary for CSEA; and Treasurer —
David Rings, Director of Staff Development
and Training Bureau for the NYS Department
of Transportation.

The Northeastern New York Safety and
Health Council was formed to encourage and
abet safety and health procedures in a 20-
county area extending from the Canadian
border to the lower Hudson River Valley
region. The Council’s main activities include
acting as an information collection and dis-
semination body and organizing and con-
ducting educational seminars and programs
on safety and health methods. A principal
responsibility will be to offer assistance to in-
dustry and local govenments in the implemen-
tation of the recently enacted State Oc-
\ cupational Health and Safety Act. oy

“Page 11

-ePigay

ae me eet

f the

JILL DOBERT, a file clerk at the Consumer
Frauds and Protection Bureau, says she easily
handles 50 calls a day. Among her many duties, |
Jill is usually the one to advise consumers on |
how to fill out a complaint form.

By Deborah Cassidy
ALBANY — Angry and upset, Mrs. G called the hotline number
» operated by the Consumer Frauds and Protection Bureau of the state At-
torney General’s Office.

After spending $400 for a correspondence course from an extension un-
iversity, she earned a high school diploma, which she needed to obtain a title
+ upgrade at the state run hospital where she worked, Mrs. G discovered,
however, the diploma was not recognized by the state Department of
} Education, and therefore was not acceptable to her employer. No one from
4 the school ‘had ever warned Mrs. G about the limitations of correspondence
© diplomas
i The worker who answered the hotline call in the bureau’s Albany office
) sympathized with Mrs. G’s dilemma and urged her to calm down. After
> assuring Mrs. G that the bureau could help her, the worker advised her how
to file an official complaint.

The worker subsequently talked with Mrs. G on the phone several times
after this, to answer her questions and to let her know of the progress being
| made in her case.

As the distraught consumer’s first contact with the Consumer Frauds
» and Protection Bureau, the clerical employee absolutely must be efficient
; and effective.

This employee from Albany is typical of numerous others on the CSEA-
represented clerical staffs of the bureau’s branches located in 12 major
cities throughout the state. In addition to taking hotline calls, clericals per-
form a variety of other casework duties making them the backbone of the
bureau, says Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Consumer Frauds
and Protection Bureau Robert Buchner. ‘‘They are truly a support staff
around here,” he said.

“We rely on the clerical staff to obtain the initial facts in a case, to give

INVESTIGATOR RONALD PREMO works closely with Jill Dobert, pic-
" tured above, and Karen Johnson. Premo attributes the success of the bureau
* to the clerical employees whose work, he says, ‘‘is vitally important.”

Page 12 THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, June 24, 1981

“Protection.
hotline
_ Compassion

genase ce BARA Nami Ds SDA SR RP EM AMIEL TES CENT OTR

ed

KAREN JOHNSON, the other half of the clerical

shotline team, has worked as a typist with the

/ {bureau for nine years. Both women admit their
_job titles are misleading: ‘‘We’re everything

rom a chaplain to a social worker to a public

elations person,”

‘Everything from social work ... to public relations’

us a base from which to work,”’ added Ronald Premo, an investigator for the
Albany bureau. ‘As we proceed with a case, the clerical employee is there
to continue providing information. In any office a good clerical staff is an
asset, but here their work is vitally important.”

In order to fully understand the role of the clericals, it is necessary to
know about the operation of the bureau.

Basically, according to Buchner, the bureau receives and investigates
complaints from consumers who feel ‘‘they’ve been had.’’ The bureau, he
stressed, cannot act as the court or judge, but mediates the dispute and
suggests a settlement. It can, and often does, subpoena the merchant into
the office.

The effectiveness of the bureau lies in its power to enforce consumer
statutes such as truth in advertising, fair debt collection and truth in len-
ding, just to name a few. Though the bureau cannot bring court action
against a merchant in the interest of an individual consumer, it would take
such a step when the merchants policies affect the public as a whole,
Buchner said.

On the professional staff are consumer representatives, investigators
and attorneys. Student interns from law schools and colleges often assist the
staff for scholastic credits.

Seventy percent of the claims taken up by the office are settled in favor
of the consumer, said Buchner. Last year, alone, he said, the bureau
recovered two and one half million dollars in “‘money and the value of goods
and services’’ for consumers in the 12 county area served by the Albany of-
fice.

The office processes an average of 1000 new claims each month.

Referring to their work on the hotline, Albany employees Jill Dobert
and Karen Johnson say ‘We're everything from a chaplain to a social
worker to a public relations person.’’ Our attitude is of prime importance.”

Most of the callers, they say, are justifiably irate and upset. They want
to talk to someone who is understanding and knowledgeable. They want
answers.

“First we have to calm the caller down and get him to tell his story.
Often we have to sift out the pertinent facts,’ Dobert continued.
“Sometimes the complaint doesn’t belong with our office but with another
state department. In that case we must refer the caller to the proper source.

“If the complaint is valid, however, we tell the consumer what the
bureau is, what it can and cannot do for him. We must be sure the com-
plainant knows what he is getting into and what he can expect in the way of
assistance.””

The worker may inform the caller what his rights are, but must be
careful not to dispense legal advice. That is up to a bureau attorney.

Often a caller just needs some of the printed information put out by the
bureau and the clerical worker immediately get this into the mail.

For each case accepted by the bureau, approximately 50 a day, the
clerical must prepare a hotline report, and turn it over to an investigator or
student intern. What follows are the responsibility of typing, cor-
respondence and filing of each case.

“We must know each complaint and be able to provide its file to the con-
sumer or professional staff member when needed,” said Dobert.

Although the clericals often suffer from ‘‘burnout”’ and need to get away
after listening to so many complaints, the Albany staff of 20 agrees their job
is rewarding and satisfying. ‘‘Being able to help others is an uplifting ex-
perience,’’ said Dobert.

“Besides,” added Johnson, ‘‘We always know where to shop for the best
service and merchandise.”’
comrTER SERRE

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