CSEA’s PAC urges
endorsement of Carter
New AFSCME international vice president
will be elected at Niagara Falis meeting
ALBANY — The CSEA Delegate
Meeting will be the scene of several
important decisions later this month
when a presidential endorsement is
considered by the Delegates and an
election is held for an International
Vice President to the Executive
Board of AFSCME.
The CSEA Statewide Political
Action Committee has recommended
the endorsement of President Jimmy
Carter to the union’s policy making
body.
The action by the Political Action
Committee puts the issue of a
Presidential endorsement before the
Delegates. A final decision on such an
endorsement is expected to be made
by the Delegates on October 1.
Delegates will be in Niagara Falls
starting September 28th for the five
day meeting which may result in the
first endorsement of a candidate for
President of the United States in the
70 year history of the state’s largest
public employee union.
AFSCME endorsed the Carter/Mon-
dale ticket earlier this month, but
CSEA and union president William L.
McGowan have not announced any en-
dorsement pending the decision by the
union’s Delegates.
Joseph Conway, chairman of the 15-
member Political Action Committee,
said the recommendation to endorse
President Carter was made following
a review of the records of the
Presidential Candidates at a
meeting of the PAC held in Albany
last Friday.
Said Conway, ‘There is no question
in my mind that the record of
President Carter in the area of public
employment and issues of vital con-
cern to our members is far superior to
the record of Gov. Reagan or Rep.
Anderson.
“While President Carter supports
collective bargaining rights for public
employees, Gov. Reagan opposes
them. The President favors strong en-
forcement of the occupational safety
and health laws, but Mr. Reagan
wants to weaken them. Mr. Carter
and his party endorse the Equal
Rights Amendment to the United
States Constitution, Mr. Regan and
his party do not.”
Conway continued, ‘‘AFSCME
International and the Executive Coun-
cil of the AFL-CIO have voted to en-
dorse President Carter for reelection.
While CSEA is not bound by the ac-
(Continued on next page)
ALBANY — The State of New York has agreed to a demand by CSEA to
immediately end a hiring freeze and fill 1,700 jobs in the Office of Mental
Health (OMH) and the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental
Disabilities (OMRDD).
On August 25, CSEA President William L. McGowan had demanded an
end to the job freeze that has created critical understaffing in state psy-
chiatric and developmental centers. Meyer S. Frucher, Director of the
Governor’s Office of Employee Relations, has since informed CSEA that the
freeze was lifted and the state will move immediately to fill 1,000 jobs in
OMH and 700 jobs in OMRDD.
“This union was the first to denounce the 1980-81 state budget as grossly
inadequate to meet the needs of the people of this state and most particular-
ly those handicapped and elderly people who depend upon public services,”
said McGowan. ‘The chaos created in the mental health system during the
past ten months and the decision to end the hiring freeze are proof that our
position was correct.”
CSEA represents about 40,000 employees in state institutions and
community-based support services in OMH and OMRDD. In his demand for
an end to the freeze, President McGowan told Frucher that conditions in
state institutions were becoming deplorable as a result of understaffing and
forced overtime that destroyed employee morale and significantly reduced
patient care.
“The direct care employees in OMH and OMRDD are the backbone of
the state’s mental health system,’’ McGowan said. “‘We have seen just how
critical these people are in the last ten months when positions weren’t filled
and conditions deteriorated. Our members work every day to care for these
people that our society cannot deal with normally. It’s a tragedy that the
only way to teach this lesson is by creating chaos in our institutions through
inadequate funding and understaffing. We hope this lesson won't be
forgotten in the next political battle for a state budget.”
CSEA has been critical of the state’s mental health system for many
years. Two years ago in response to constant criticism of its policies and the
scandal of ‘‘dumping”’ in which mentally handicapped patients were dis-
charged haphazardly from institutions, the svate outlined a new mental
health policy in what has come to be known as the Morgado Agreement.
Robert J. Morgado, secretary to the Governor, delineated this policy in
a June 15, 1978, memorandum to state Budget Director Howard Miller and
the Commissioners of Mental Hygiene and Mental Retardation. It establish-
CSEA demands halting MH job freeze;
state agrees, will fill 1700 jobs
Be :
PRESIDENT TO PRESIDENT — CSEA President William L. McGowan
shakes hands with President Jimmy Carter a few days ago when McGowan and
other members of the AFSCME International Executive Board went to the
White House to inform President Carter the International has endorsed his re-
election bid for President of the United States.
SECTOR
Official publication of The Civil Service Employees Association
Vol. 2, No, 46 — (ISSN 0164 9949) Wednesday, September 17, 1980
ed ‘‘staff to patient ratios’? of one staff member for every patient in Mental
Health facilities and 1.78 staff members for every client in Mental Retar-
dation facilities by the end of fiscal 1981-82. The hiring freeze and resulting
understaffing violated that policy agreement.
Responding to President McGowan’s demand to end the freeze, both
OER Director Frucher and Budget Director Miller agreed to end the hiring
embargo, ‘‘backfill’’ 1,700 jobs and again declared that the staffing goals of
the Morgado Agreement shall remain the policy of the State of New York.
“For far too many years, this state literally had no overall policy for its
mental health system and our patients suffered for that failure,” concluded
President McGowan. ‘‘There is still a lot wrong with this system, but the
Morgado Agreement represented a major stride in coming to grips with
these problems. I am gratified that the Administration has accepted our
demand for an end to the present understaffing crisis and has reiterated its
intention to retain a policy that should make life a great deal better for
thousands of mentally handicapped people.’””
Capital Region endorses
several candidates for
state senate, assembly
ALBANY — The Political Action Committee of the Capital Region of the
Civil Service Employees Assn. has announced the endorsement of the following
candidates in the upcoming New York State November 1980 general elections:
New York State Assembly
102nd Assembly District — Clarence D. Lane, Republican
103rd Assembly District — Michael J. Hoblock, Republican
104th Assembly District — Richard J. Conners, Democrat
105th Assembly District — held in abeyance by Committee
106th Assembly District — Neil W. Kelleher, Republican
107th Assembly District — Clark C. Wemple, Republican
108th Assembly District — No endorsement
109th Assembly District — Glenn H. Harris, Republican
110th Assembly District — Joan Hague, Republican
111th Assembly District — Andrew W. Ryan, Republican
New York State Senate
4ist Senate District — Joseph L. Bruno, Republican
42nd Senate District — Howard C. Nolan, Democrat
43rd Senate District — Ronald B. Stafford, Republican
44th Senate District — Hugh T. Farley, Republican
Delegates to consider
endorsement of Carter
(Continued from page 1)
tions of AFSCME and the AFL-CIO,
upon careful review of the record and
an analysis of the statements of the
candidates, the Political Action Com-
mittee agrees with the conclusion of
our sister unions that an endorsement
of President Carter and Vice
President Mondale are in the best in-
terests of our members, our union,
and all working people in the United
States.”
CSEA President McGowan abstain-
ed from voting with the International
Executive Board of AFSCME to en-
dorse President Carter citing the
pending action of the Political Action
Committee and the union’s Delegates.
He said following the an-
nouncement that he will support the
decision of the Delegates and urged
them to give full consideration to the
recommendation of the union’s PAC.
The Committee also voted last Fri-
day to defer action on a recommen-
dation for a CSEA endorsement in the
U.S. Senate race for New York State.
Executive Board to fill the vacancy
created by the death of CSEA Region
One President Irving Flaumenbaum
CSEA’s two representatives to the
IEB were elected by CSEA’s elected
delegates to the International's
Convention in Anaheim, California in
June. AFSCME’s Constitution
provides the mechanisms for a new
election to fill the vacancy.
James Roemer, CSEA’s Chief
Counsel, explains that as a result of a
review of the procedures for such
elections, the 223 CSEA delegates to
the International’s Convention will
meet at Niagara Falls on Tuesday,
September 30, to elect a new
representative to join President
McGowan on AFSCME's Inter-
national Executive Board.
As the result of technical provisions
of the AFSCME Constitution, CSEA’s
Delegates will meet on Monday mor-
ning, September 29, to consider a
resolution to empower the election of
The Capital Region Political Action Committee interviewed all candidates
seeking elected office. The Committee reviewed candidates voting records or
position papers and recommended the above candidates for endorsement to the
CSEA Statewide Political Action Committee.
Each endorsed candidate will now be eligible for various forms of
assistance from CSEA. These services can range from a volunteer work force
to telephone banks, endorsement mailings, etc.
a new International Vice President.
While CSEA rank and file members
did elect all 223 delegates to the Inter-
national’s Convention in June, the
vote of the CSEA Delegates to the
Niagara Falls Convention will be re-
quired to authorize this election
procedure.
It is expected that the Committee will
meet again to decide that issue prior
to the Delegate meeting.
Another important question to be
resolved in Niagara Falls is the
election of a CSEA International Vice
President to AFSCME’s International
Grievance won on overtime meal allowances
MANHATTAN — About 130 Manhattan Psychiatric Center workers,
members of CSEA Local 413, will be getting an addition to their paycheck as a
result of a favorable grievance decision concerning overtime meal allowances.
Many plumbers, tin smiths, carpenters, general mechanics, masons,
electricians, boiler room attendants, and general maintenance people at the
facility will be receiving from $10.50 to $217 in back overtime meal allowances.
But the grievance decision did not come easily. During second-step
hearings, Mohamed Hussain, grievance chairman for the Local, reportedly
was threatened physically by a Manhattan Psychiatric Center administrator if
he pursued the grievance.
The workers had been denied meal expenses granted in their contract if
Television editorial irks
Region President Lattimer;
sets the record straight
BUFFALO — Western Region VI President Robert Lattimer took to
the television airwaves recently to defend CSEA members from a TV
editorial slur against ‘‘public employees’ and asserted their rights to
Social Security benefits.
Lattimer: was responding to a WIVB-TV (Channel 4, Buffalo)
editorial which, in part, claimed that ‘“‘public employees end up collecting
without paying in over the years ... everyone else pays into Social
Security, there is no reason to exclude public employees’’.
Lattimer blasted the vague allusion to ‘‘public employees’ as a
“Jumping together of all publicly employed workers into a group
seemingly seeking unearned benefits’’ and reeled off a list of facts in
defense of the 250,000 CSEA membership roll which includes city, town,
village, school district and state employees. s
Among other facts, he cited the overwhelming majority of counties,
municipalities and subdivisions in New York state that are contributing
over $1.6 billion annually in employee-employer contributions, which
makes this state’s input higher than any other.
He concurred, with the editorial’s assessment concerning the Social
Security fund’s steadily dwindling possibilities as a retirement base, but
asserted these problems ‘‘are not the fault of the thousands of hard-
working CSEA public employees in New York State who are paying their
fair share and are entitled to the same Social Security benefits as are.
other working citizens.’”
Lattimer’s forceful appearance should serve as evidence to all con-
cerned that the CSEA leadership will not stand idly by while the ill-guided
or misinformed take unwarranted potshots at the CSEA’s hardworking
membership.
Page 2 THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, September 17, 1980
they work overtime, despite contract provisions which provide for the
payment.
The contract states: ‘‘When it is necessary and in the best interest of the
state for employees to work overtime, a sum of $3.50 per meal will be allowed,
including tips.”’
Local President Ismael Lopez said: ‘‘The reason administrators
attempted to play games with the already earned meal money of 130 CSEA
members was to make the budget of the Support Services Department, which
the workers are assigned to, look good to top level management. It's just not
decent to take the hard earned money of the people who keep Manhattan
Psychiatric Center running, in an attempt to make budgets look good on
ee Calendar
of EVENTS
September
17—Buffalo Local 003, general membership meeting, 5:30 p.m., new Buffalo Hilton on
the waterfront. *
18—Region III Executive Committee meeting, Holiday Inn, Fishkill, 7:45 p.m.
18—Region V Political Action Coalition “meet the candidates night,” Sheraton Motor Inn,
liverpool, 7 p.m.
19—Local 335 all-holiday dinner dance, Town and Country Restaurant, Walden and
Union Road, Cheektowaga. Cocktails 6:30 p.m., dinner 7:30 p.m.
19—Manhattan Developmental Center employee recognition banquet, 6-10 p.m., State
Office Bldg., 125th Street.
19—Binghamton City Local 002, general membership meeting, First Ward Legion, 7:30
p.m.
19-20—Region VI meeting, Sheraton Inn East, Walden Avenue, Buffalo.
20—Hudson Valley Armory Employees Local 252, Annual Banquet and Awards Dinner,
Capri Il restaurant, 152 Washington Street, Peekskill, New York 8:00 p.m.
20—Local 550 picnic, Applewood, Highland.
24—Local 352 Labor Department-Buffalo District “Get Involved Nite” membership
meeting; Continental Restaurant, 212 Franklin Street, Buffalo, 6 p.m.
24—Region Ill Delegates meeting, Holiday Inn, Newburgh, 7:45 p.m.
27—Binghamton City Local 002 fall dinner dance, Greenhouse Lounge, Endicott, 6:30
p.m
October
4—"Run for your Health” road race, 10 a.m., Central Islip Psychiatrie Center, Central
Islip.
16—Saratoga County Local 846 Shop Stewards meeting, Solor Building, Ballston Spa, 5
p.m \
17—Nassav County Local 830 annual dinner dance, Salisbury Inn, Eisenhower Park, East
Meadow.
20—Saratoga County Local 846 Executive Board meeting, Solor Building, Ballston Spa, 7
p.m.
23—Saratoga County Local 846 general membership meeting, Solor Building, Ballston
Spa, 7:30 p.m.
24—Westchester County Local 860 annual dinner-dance, 8 p.m., Colony Club, New
Rochelle,
- Unitization: Better
service for Local 010
NEW YORK CITY — Providing proper representation for the widely
scattered 7,500 New York State employees represented by CSEA New York
City Local 010 under the best of circumstances would be a difficult job, Local
010 President Joseph Johnson says
However, with the membership of the local spread throughout the state of
New York, Local 010 is attempting to greatly improve the representation and
service to the persons represented by the local through the unitization of the
local, Johnson said.
He said the local is in the process of organizing more than 50 units with
approximately 30 units expected to be organized later this year.
Johnson explained the special nature of his local as follows:
—Local 010 is the largest CSEA State Division local, representing 7,500
employees of which more than 5,600 are CSEA members.
—Local 010 is the only State Division local with members in all four
bargaining units — Administration, Institutional, Judicial and Operational.
—The membership works in 66 separate agencies of New. York State
government.
—There are well in excess of 300 sites where Local 010 members work in-
cluding a number of unknown work sites.
—Most of the Local 010 members work in New York City and in Nassau,
Suffolk, Westchester and Rockland counties — all of Regions I and II and part
of Region III.
—Local 010 represents the employees of the First and Second State
Judicial Departments which cover all of Regions I, II and III except for
Sullivan and Ulster counties.
—There also are an unknown number of other State employees scattered
all over New York State represented by Local 010.
EXPLAINING THE UNITIZATION OF New York City Local 010 at a recent
Local 010 Executive Committee meeting is Local President Joseph Johnson,
standing, flanked by two of the local’s vice presidents, Rose Feuerman and
Willie Raye.
To overcome these problems, Johnson and his officers have met with the
CSEA statewide Charter and Election committees and with the CSEA law firm
to workout a plan for unitizing the local, Johnson said. Some of the aspects of
that plan, as explained by Johnson, are:
¢ Ultimately there will be more than 50 units in the local.
e At least 30 units hopefully will be in operation by Nov. 1, 1980.
* Local 010 will provide each unit with a small treasury, and each unit
will receive a 25 percent rebate from the local.
* Each unit will be required to hold meetings during the work day twice a
month to bring the union closer to the members.
The Local 010 Executive Committee will consist of the local’s elected of-
ficers and the elected unit presidents or some other elected unit represen-
tatives.
¢ The present Local 010 Executive Committee will be replaced by the new
committee once the units are functioning.
The officers of the new units will serve approximately one-year terms to
align the terms of office with the Model Unit Constitution.
¢ For the initial shortened terms, the Local 010 president will appoint the
officers if there is only one candidate for a position.
“The units will allow the local to give the representation to the members of
which they deserve and are entitled to,’’ Johnson said.
He said the units will be aided by a new grievance representative system,
under grievance chairman Edward Satran which already has 150 reps in place
in 30 of the 66 agencies.
Information on the new units is available through the grievance reps. If a
Local 010 member does not have a grievance rep, a call to the local office,
(212) 625-2008, will supply the information.
Once your unit is identified, members wishing to run for office should
write a letter requesting a place on the ballot (president, vice president,
secretary or treasurer) to: Helen B. Kennedy, Chairperson, Nominating Com-
mittee, New York City Local 010, CSEA, 16 Court Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11241.
Johnson, realizing that many members interested in holding unit office
might not feel they have the qualifications, is working with CSEA headquarters
and with Region II in planning three separate training sessions for president
and vice president, for secretary, and for treasurer.
NEW YORK CITY LOCAL 010’s plans for unitization are discussed by, from
left, Edward Satran, Local 010 grievance chairman; Anthony Vericella, special
assistant to Local 010 President Joseph Johnson; and Al Sundmark, CSEA field
representative.
PERB orders Albany Social Services to promise in
writing they won’t threaten grieving employees
ALBANY — A Public
Employment Relations Board ar-
bitrator made the Albany County
Department of Social Services
management promise in writing
that it would not threaten reprisals
against employees for filing
grievances after che Civil Service
Employees Assn. complained in an
improper practice charge that it
had done so on at least two oc-
casions,
In June, then president of the
Albany County Social Services unit
CSEA, Frank Lawrence, told the
arbitrator that case planner Nancy
Bell was demoted and her unit dis-
banded after she refused to revoke
a grievance seeking a promotion to
case supervisor B, a position which
was denied to her despite the fact
that she met the educational and
experience requirements.
In this case, PERB also ordered
DSS management to pay Ms. Bell
for doing the work of a supervisor
for several weeks.
Another employee was told that
never again would department
employees be given unscheduled
holidays, such as Good Friday, off
if he did not retract a grievance
claiming he was unfairly docked
for time taken off Good Friday
afternoon.
Glen Humphreys took personal
leave on Good Friday morning,
after being told prior in the week,
the office would be closed that
afternoon. On that morning,
however, the management an-
nounced that the holiday applied
only to certain offices and that
Humphreys’ office would not be
closed that afternoon. The follow-
ing Monday, Humphrey was dock-
ed a half day pay for taking un-
authorized leave in the afternoon.
In a grievance, which is still pend-
ing, he is claiming to be the vic-
tim of poor communications.
According to the improper prac-
tice settlement handed down by
PERB the department must
process Humphreys’ and all future
grievances, without harassing
employees involved.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, September 17, 1980
Page 3
2Public
SSECTOR
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
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Send address changes to The Public Sector, 33 Elk Street,
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Publication office, 75 Champlain Street, Albany, New York
12204, Single copy Price 25¢
Thomas A, Clemente—Publisher
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Dr. Gerald Alperstein—Associate Editor
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« LABOR PRESS ) Beco
Office, 75 Champlain Street, Albany, N.Y. 12204 (518) 465-4591
Work to rule voted
by hospital workers
ILION — In a determined show of
unity, more than 70 employees of the
Herkimer Hospital have voted un-
animously to exercise their right un-
der the Taylor Law to work to rule.
The employees are all members of
the Civil Service Employees
Association Herkimer Hospital Unit
of Herkimer County Local 822.
Both sides now await notification
from the Public Employment
Relations Board (PERB) in regard to
the impasse filed by the paid
negotiator for the hospital. ‘A PERB
mediator will be assigned to the
iegotiations in the near future.
Chester pact oked
CHESTER — Secretarial,
clerical, maintenance, bus drivers
and service personnel of the Union
Free School District here recently
ratified a new three-year contract.
CSEA Collective Bargaining
Specialist John Naughter, who
assisted the unit's negotiating
team, said the pact provides an-
nual pay raises of $750, $800 and
$850 for full-time employees.
Bus drivers will receive an ad-
ditional 30 cents per hour each
year, and will be reimbursed for
attending annual refresher
courses. All other hourly
employees will get an extra 20
cents per hour each year.
Other features including
granting of an.agency shop and in-
creasing the mileage allotment, ac-
cording to Unit President Gene
Winters.
\
Published every Wednesday by Clarity Publishing, Inc. Publication
DISCUSSING SUBJECTS OF MUTUAL INTEREST are,
from left, Southern Region III President James Lennon,
Region ill Director Thomas Luposello and Congressman
Hamilton Fish. The meeting was at Region III Head-
quarters in Fishkill.
Federal workers garner a 9% raise
WASHINGTON — Nearly 1.4 million salaried
federal employees will receive a 9.1 percent pay
increase in October — substantially higher than
the Administration had budgeted earlier this
year,
The increase, announced by President Carter,
is in line with private sector increases over a 12-
month period but is less than the 13.5 percent
raise that a government panel determined would
be needed for a full catch-up after several years
of imposed pay restraint.
About 25,000 of the government’s lowest-paid
workers will get the higher amount, however.
‘Yhe 13.5 percent increase will be allowed to the
xtent that it does not raise a worker's salary
over $9,069 a year.
The budget President Carter sent to Congress
in January projected a 6.2 percent increase, and
a mid-year budget review pushed that up to 7.8
percent. But the American Federation of
Government Employees, backed by the AFL-
CIO, argued that any such ceiling would breach
the Administration's commitment to fair
treatment for federal workers as part of the
National Accord with labor.
The 9.1 percent raise falls within the 7.5 to 9.5
percent anti-inflation guideline and would match
the private sector pay increase average deter-
mined by a Bureau of Labor Statistics survey
earlier this year.
Page 7 th THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, September 17, 1980
Lennon meets with
Congressman Fish
FISHKILL — Southern Region III President James
Lennon met recently with Congressman Hamilton Fish
at Region III Headquarters in Fishkill. The meeting had
been requested by Fish, who represents Dutchess, Put-
nam and part of Westchester counties in the U.S. House
of Representatives.
Among the items discussed by Fish and Lennon were
CETA, Social Security, aid to education, the future of the
Harlem Valley campus and CSEA’s affiliation with
AFSCME
State study favors
varied work hours
The State Department of Civil Service has released
the findings of its third year of a continuing study of the
effects of alternative work schedules in State operations.
The Civil Service Department 1980 study analyzed
reports from 184 State’ agencies, facilities, commissions
and authorities which have established some form of
alternative work schedule.
Five types of alternative schedules are covered in
the study. They are:
* Staggered hours — (Groups of workers are
scheduled to begin and end work at different times)
¢ Part-time — (Employees work less than a full
work week).
* Compressed schedule — (Employees work fewer
than five days a week, but more hours per day).
* Flextime — (Workers may vary starting and
ending time from day to day, but must work a certain
number of hours a day), and
¢ Individualized schedules — (Work hours are ad-
justed for employees to accommodate personal
situations, such as child care, commuting and
education).
Commissioner Victor S, Bahou said that according to
the study, alternative work schedules have resulted in in-
creased productivity and efficiency. The schedules also
have resulted in increased employment opportunities for
minorities, women, the handicapped and disabled, and
the elderly, the report indicates.
Generally, as in the past, no serious problems were
reported. Most were minor difficulties which were easily
resolved. Maintaining adequate coverage and super-
vision continued to be the most frequently reported dif-
ficulties.
The study is the third of its kind and was conducted
over a three-month period early this year by the
Employee Relations Section of the State Civil Service
Department.
Union defending
members accused
of supporting strike
ALBANY — Union attorneys have begun
defending nearly 700 CSEA-represented Correc-
tions Department workers charged with being on
strike during the Correctional Services job
action in the spring of 1979.
The first round of hearings in the matter was
set for Sept. 9, 10 and 11 at South Beach
Psychiatric Center. On Sept. 16 and 17, hearings
were to be held at South Beach and at Elmira
Psychiatric Center, and will continue at Elmira
on Sept. 18, 23, 24 and 25.
Attorneys Pauline Rogers, William Wallins
and Michael Smith, of the CSEA law firm of
Roemer and Featherstonhaugh, have been
assigned to the hearings, which were scheduled
by the State at nearly all 19 correctional in-
stitutions in the state. The two psychiatric
centers are involved because they had Correc-
tions Department employees working on certain
wards during the period:
“These hearings will take up almost all of our
time for the next three or four months,”’ Ms.
Rogers predicted. ‘‘An awful lot of people have
been charged, but we intend to give them all in-
dividual attention.’’
Toward that end, the union lawyers sent out to
all employees involved, forms on which they can
write outlines of their proposed testimony. The
attorneys are meeting with the charged in-
dividuals at each facility a week in advance of
their hearings, to discuss the outlines and
answer questions for the affected workers.
The free legal representation is part of CSEA’s
$1.5 million Legal Assistance program.
Several honored for work on OSHA passage
“Everyone who did not come in to work during
the Council 82 strike was assumed to be on
strike, also,’ Ms. Rogers said. ‘‘They failed to
eonsider the climate of fear during that period,
and the threats of revenge against those who
crossed the lines, both by the inmates and the
strikers.”
The 700 employees involved in the hearings are
those who, at CSEA’s urging, submitted af-
fidavits raising substantial objections to the
charges against them.
Under the state’s Taylor Law, employees
found ‘guilty’ of being on strike are fined two
days pay for every day they do not report to
work.
Because of the number of hearings involved
with this matter and the intensity of the work
they required, the law firm has notified all six of
CSEA’s regional offices that requests for legal
assistance during the next few months should be
forwarded to Roemer and Featherstonhaugh as
far in advance as possible.
Ry,
ALBANY — CSEA’s Statewide Safety Committee recently marked
passage of the historic Occupational Safety and Health Act for public
employees in New York State with a luncheon program.
Among those attending the committee’s luncheon were, from left, CSEA
Communications Director Gary G. Fryer; State Sen. John E. Flynn of
Yonkers, who sponsored the bill in the Senate; CSEA President Bill
McGowan; Assemblyman Frank J. Barbaro of Brooklyn, who sponsored the
DURING A VISIT with members of the Rochester
Satellite Office last Wednesday, CSEA President
William McGowan had the opportunity to chat with
Louise Kinhead of the Rochester Psychiatric Center.
PRESIDENT McGOWAN visited with rank and
file members at the Utica Satellite Office during
his statewide tour.
bill in the Assembly; CSEA Statewide Safety Committee Chair Frank Fale-
jezyk; CSEA lobbyist James D. Featherstonhaugh; CSEA Collective
Bargaining Specialist Nels E. Carlson, who advises the safety committee;
and Bernard J. Ryan, CSEA Director of Political Action and Legislation.
Mr. Barbaro, Sen. Flynn, Mr. McGowan, and CSEA’s Political Action
and Communications Departments received plaques in appreciation of their
efforts in achieving the OSHA law.
McGowan kicks off statewide tour
McGowan are, from the left, John J. Vergalito
Jr. of Local 422 and Bill Rafferty of Local 414,
Pictured above with
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, September 17, 1980
Page 5.
poner
PLAYLAND
recreation thriving
MAINTENANCE MECHANIC AL ROSCIA has worked at Playland for 50 years. Here he takes
@ moment to sit on thé carousel, which he remembers being first set up 45 years ago. Al says he
does “‘a little bit of everything” in his job.
GARY ARBUSTO, right, works on
maintenance of roofing to protect
the visitors to the park.
WELDER GEORGE KUCHERA, below, works on a
part for one of the rides at Playland.
Page 6 ‘THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, September 17, 1980
Public workers keep
w= PARKING 1°
“Oe
: “s Walco Mme 10’
pl AYLAND RYE,N.Y.
CSEA members sometimes are employed in unusual places, and one
of those unusual places surely is Westchester County’s Playland at Rye.
The waterfront park has been in business 52 years, and the 56 CSEA
union members who work there keep it in shape by painting, gardening,
cleaning, fixing, and doing all kinds of odd jobs, from repairing a roller
coaster to giving a youngster a helping hand.
The county-owned park, to be sure, shares some of the same
problems that confront public employees everywhere nowadays, es-
pecially contracting out of rides and other services, but CSEA has vowed
to fight to keep the members’ jobs with Westchester County.
Section President Curley Bell Jr., says he ‘loves his job’’ and breaks
out in a big smile as he walks through the 270-acre ‘‘fun machine’’ and
sees young and old, alike having a good time. He also knows that there’s a
lot more to the park than meets the eye.
Pees trrcsy
WELCOME TO PLAYLAND is made all the more so by the work of 56 CSEA members employed by
Westchester County who work at the amusement park.
CSEA SECTION PRESIDENT Curley Bell Jr. gives clown
face a face-lift in the paint shop area.
SL
WALKING THE RAILS, CarpenjAndrew Tassone gives a
close inspection to the roller cog at the park.
ELECTRICIAN HENRY
DESROSIERS, above, inspects the
controls on one of the many major
rides.
GARDENER TONY MARSELLA,
left, tends to some of the 75 differ-
ent varieties of plants that de-
corate the amusement area.
JOHN MIKKELL is art director for the facility. Here he
touches up one of the hundreds of signs that help guide the
million visitors who visit the park each season.
JOHN HILPL lends a hand to a
child on one of the more than 20
different rides featured at Kid-
dyland.
N ELABORATE. watering
system are Plumber's Helper James Alexander,
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, September 17, 1980
THE »* | AMERICAN” BUMPER STICKER CAMPAIGN of Southern
Region III is launched in New Paltz at the Ulster County Local 856 booth at
the Ulster County Fair in August. Manning the booth when it opened are,
from left, CSEA Intern Michael Schonberg, Ulster County Unit President
| Joseph Van Dyke and Region III President James Lennon.
|
\-
rs
a PS
ls
| ULSTER COUNTY HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES, from left,
John Lukaszewski and Ernest Osterhoudt display some of the heavy
| equipment CSEA members use to keep the roads of Ulster County safe to
\ drive on.
Uister unit mans
booth at fair to
educate the public
NEW PALTZ — With the contract between the Ulster County CSEA
Unit and the County expired and contract talks at impasse, the County CSEA
Unit and CSEA Local 856 manned a booth at the recent Ulster County Fair to
“meet the public, clean up our image and educate the public about CSEA,”
according to Ulster County Unit President Joseph Van Dyke.
Van Dyke pointed out that the contract between the unit and the county
expired back on January 1, 1980, and the impasse procedure in current
‘negotiations has reached the fact finding stage.
The Local 856 booth was set up at the fair in front of the CSEA Mobile
Office. Among the activities at the booth were the distribution of bumper
stickers and other CSEA literature and accessories, blood pressure
screenings by employees of the County Infirmary and the County Health
Department, a display of heavy equipment by employees of the County
Highway Department and a voter registration drive.
More than 200 new voters were registered at the Local 856 booth during
the five-day fair, Region III Communications Specialist Stanley Hornak
said.
Local 856 President Barbara Swartzmiller said that approximately 40
members of the local manned the booth. She said this was the first time the
local participated in the fair.
In future years, the local hopes to take part in the fair with more
departments participating with exhibits, she said.
Region III President James Lennon said: ‘‘This is a very fine public
relations gesture on the part of the Ulster County Local and unit to let the
people know the important jobs we do.”
Van Dyke said the display by the County Highway Department
employees was to demonstrate the importance of those public employees
during snow storms, floods and other emergencies.
ULSTER COUNTY LOCAL 856 President Barbara Swartzmiller, an
employee of the Ulster County Infirmary, takes the blood pressure of CSEA
member Walter Parslow at the Ulster County Fair. Employees of the
County Infirmary and the County Health Department provided free blood
pressure screenings to the public at the fair.
——‘Buy American’ campaign
FISHKILL — Southern Region III has launched a
“Buy American’? campaign with bumper stickers
which read: ‘Buy American, CSEA/AFSCME
Southern Region 3.”
our families.
Region III President James Lennon said the cam-
paign is the region’s way of showing patriotism.
The campaign got underway in August at the
Ulster County Fair in New Paltz where the bumper
stickers were displayed and distributed at the booth
manned by members of Ulster County Local 856
The bumper stickers are available at the
Region III Headquarters in Fishkill, (914) 896-8180.
Lennon said: ‘‘As working men, we all know how
important it is to Buy American, Buying American
Page 8 THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, September 17, 1980
is more than just a slogan. It means jobs for us and
“So, the CSEA Southern Region III is urging all
its members to proudly display the bumper stickers
on their cars. Buying American — it’s good for all
of us!”
Say AMERICA
CSEQ /AV 70S SOUTHERN REGION
SSN RS
Region | completes
instructor program
HAUPPAUGE — Thirteen members of CSEA Long Island Region I com-
pleted the AFSCME Steward Instructor Training Program last month. Those
13 members are:
Millie Vassallo and Carol Craig, Suffolk Education Local 870; Jerome
Donohue, Edward Ochenkoski, Patrick D’Alessio and Nicholas Dellisanti,
Nassau County Local 830; Bud Scudder and Stephen DeVoursney, Central Islip
Psychiatric Center Local 404.
Jean Frazier, Pilgrim Psychiatric Center Local 418; Gregory Szurnicki,
Kings Park Psychiatric Center Local 411; Aileen Ronayne, Suffolk County
Local 852; Joseph Allen, SUNY Stony Brook Local 614; and Louis Mannellino,
Department of Transportation Local 508.
Others from CSEA who attended the opening session of the program were
the late Region I President Irving Flaumenbaum, Southern Region III
President James Lennon, Region I Director William Griffin and Long Island
State Parks Local 102 President Arthur Loving.
The instructors for the five-day training program were David Williams,
John Dowling and Bailey Walker, all of the AFSCME Education Department
headed by Williams.
Also attending the program were Thomas Quimby and Chris Lindsay of
CSEA staff and Steve Regenstreif and Linda Hassberg of AFSCME.
The purpose of the program is to establish ‘‘a permanent mechanism for
training local union stewards,” Williams said.
The newly trained steward trainers from the program will be called back
periodically for discussion, feedback and follow-up, he said.
“The most important thing is that CSEA Region I develops its own
AFSCME EDUCATION DIRECTOR David Williams
(below, left), leads a discussion at the Steward Instructor
Training Program in Region I. Listening to Williams are,
from right, CSEA Education Director Thomas Quimby and
AFSCME’s John Dowling.
AMONG THOSE TRAINED AS STEWARD
INSTRUCTORS in Region I are, from left,
Pat D’Alessio, Nassau County Local 830; Local 418.
Joseph Allen, SUNY Stony Brook Local 614;
and Jean Frazier, Pilgrim Psychiatric Center
¥
FUTURE STEWARD INSTRUCTORS, from left, Carol Craig, Suffolk
Education Local 870; Aileen Ronayne, Suffolk County Local 852; and Nicholas
Dellisanti and Edward Ochenkowski, both Nassau County Local 830; take part
in the Region I Steward Instructor Training Program.
mechanism for training stewards. The region has control over it,” Williams
said.
He said the same program which trained 15 stewards in Central Region V
during the summer of 1979 is “working reasonably well’’ with eight or nine of
the trainers ‘‘very active.”
Dowling said the program utilizes discussions, lectures, films, slide
presentations, video taping and playbacks and role playing by the steward
trainers.
Among the tools the trainers are taught to use is the Local Union Training
Program developed by AFSCME and the New York State School of Industrial
and Labor Relations — Cornell University.
DISCUSSING THE AFSOME STEWARD INSTRUCTOR TRAINING
PROGRAM in Long Island Region I are, from left, Southern Region III
President James Lennon, AFSCME’s Bailey Walker, the late Region I
President Irving Flaumenbaum, AFSCME’s Steve Regenstreif and Region I
Director William Griffin.
TRAINING PROGRAM in Region I are Millie Vassallo,
Suffolk Education Local 870; ad Jerome Donohue,
Nassau County Local 830,
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, September 17, 1980 Page 9
First segment of salary increase due
effective October 1 for state workers
ALBANY — More than 100,000 CSEA members in
the state’s Administrative, Institutional and
Operational bargaining units will be receiving the
first segment of a salary increase next month under
provisions of the CSEA contracts with the State of
New York.
The current three year contract took effect
following member ratification on April 1, 1979. On
that date a seven percent salary increase was add-
ed to the salary schedule.
Now, starting with the payroll period the first day
of which is closest to October 1, 1980, a three and a
half percent increase will be added to the salary
schedule as the first installment of a salary in-
crease for this fiscal year. Then, after next April 1,
the remainder of this year’s salary increase will be
made in a lump sum payment.
While the procedure for the increases is complex,
the concept is simple. If the computation for the
total salary increase for this fiscal year works out
to seven percent, then an employee doing the same
job this year as last year will receive seven percent
more salary, plus any increments or performance
awards he or she may be entitled to receive. Part of
that seven percent raise comes around October 1,
but the bulk of it comes in lump sum payment after
April 1.
Negotiations for the present contract yielded the
ALBANY — CSEA’s contracts with the
State of New York in the Administrative,
Institutional and Operational bargaining
units’ contain provisions for salary in-
creases for new employees that are not
properly reflected in the contracts as
published by the state.
The printed contracts indicate that new
employees aren’t eligible for the retroac-
tive lump sum payment for a fiscal year if
they came to work after the start of, that
fiscal year. That isn’t correct.
CSEA and the Goyernor’s Office of
Employee Relations (GOER) have notified
union representatives and personnel of-
ficers that the contracts actually provide
for such employees to receive a lump sum
payment pro-rated for their length of ser-
vice during the fiscal year.
GOER has asked personnel offices to so
inform new employees when they are given
copies of their contracts.
In an effort to avoid undue confusion, the
following sections of Article Seven of the
CSEA — State contracts have been printed
here exactly as they appear in the publish-
ed contracts which employees now have.
Readers are cautioned, particularly
employees hired after March 31, 1980, of
the correction.
7.12 For the fiseal year April 1, 1980 to
Mareh 31, 1981 the performance based salary
ibed above will continue and a
nerease will be provided in the
nner.
(a) Eff October 1, 1980* a general
increase of 3.5 percent will be applied to base
pay; with the salary schedule increased by 3.5
percent
(b) Effective April 1, 1981* a percentage
general increase in base pay will be provided
in an amount equal to 7/9ths of one pereent
for each one percent inerease in the Consumer
Price Index’ over the period from January
1980 to January 1981, less the 3.5 percent
provided on October 1, 1980; provided, how-
first cost of living adjustment clause ever in a state
contract, but as with most such adjustments in un-
ion contracts, this adjustment is based on a com-
plex formula that can yield an increase up to a
certain maximum. In this case, the contract
provides,for an increase of three and a half percent
plus the cost of living adjustment up to a maximum
total increase of seven percent. Q
The three and a half percent applied to the salary
schedule on October 1 is the first segment of that in-
crease. The remainder will be paid after the cost of
living adjustment is calculated during the beginn-
ing of the next fiscal year. This deferral allows for
a true calculation of the COLA and allows the state
to ‘roll over’’ the salary increase from one fiscal
year into the next fiscal year. This was required by
the state’s continuing fiscal crisis. While it might
seem complicated, it guarantees the employees a
true increase in salary for the entire year.
Other unions representing state employees have
negotiated less complicated payment formulas, but
those formulas do not guarantee a true increase for
the entire year.
Here’s an example of how the system will work
using an employee with a salary of $10,000 per year
as of April 1, 1980.
In the payroll period the first day of which is
closest to October 1, 1980, the employee's salary is
increased by three and a half percent to an an-
nualized $10,350. For the remainder of this fiscal
year, the employee receives bi-weekly paychecks
based on that annual salary.
After the beginning of the next fiscal year (after
April 1, 1981) the COLA formula is calculated.
Assuming it works out to the maximum amount,
then the employee is “owed” the difference
between what he or she received as a result of the
three and a half percent increase in October, and
what he or she would have received if a seven
percent salary increase had been awarded on April
1, 1980. The difference — in this case $525 — is then
paid to the employee around April 1, 1981, in the
form of a Jump sum check.
The salary schedule is then amended effective
April 1, 1981, to reflect the total salary increase. In
our example, the salary schedule would be amend-
ed on April 1, 1981 to $10,700.
The same procedure is then repeated in the third
year of the contracts.
Article seven, sections 12, 13 and 14 of the con-
tracts for the Administrative, Institutional and
Operational bargaining units provide for the salary
increases. The text of those parts of the contracts is
reprinted below for your convenience.
For more detailed information or to explain
variations for employees entering, leaving or being
promoted, contact your CSEA representative or
your personnel office.
Verbatim contract language
re: State salary increases
ever, that the total inerease in base pay
provided as a result of (a) and (b) may not
result in a total salary increase in excess of 7
percent (noncompounded). The general in-
erease of April 1, 1981 will be applied to the
Salary Schedule. =m
(c) Employees in full-time employment
status on March 31, 1980 and who are in
full-time employment status on March 31,
1981** will be entitled to retroactive payment
for service from April 1, 1980 to March 31,
1981 to make up the difference between salary
actually received and the salary rate estab-
lished in the April, 1981 schedule. Such ret-
roactive payment will be made no later than
during the first quarter of the fiscal year
beginning April 1, 1981, and such payment
shall be based upon the base pay and overtime
compensation received by the employee.
(d) Employees in full-time employment
status on September 30, 1980 and who are in
full-time employment status on March 31,
1981** will be entitled to retroactive payment
for service from October 1, 1980 to April 1,
1981 at the rate established as a result of the
April 1, 1981 inerease. Such retroactive
payment will be made no later than during
the first quarter of the fiscal year beginning
April 1, 1981.
§ 7.13 Third Year of Agreement
For the fiseal year April 1, 1981 to March
31, 1982 the performance based salary system
will continue and a general salary inerease
will be provided in the same manner as in
ically;
(a) Effective October 1, 1981* a general
increase of 3.5 pereent will be applied to base
pay; with the salary schedule increased by 3.5
pereent
(b) Effective April 1, 1982* a percentage
general increase in base pay will be provided
in an amount equal to 7/9ths of one percent
for each one percent increase in the Consumer
Price Index! over the period from January,
1981 to January, 1982, less the 3.5 percent
provided on October 1, 1981; provided, how-
ever, that the total increase in base pay
TUE DIIRIIC CECTOR Werinecdiny Sentemhear 17 1080
provided as a result of (a) and (b) may not
result in a total salary increase in excess of 7
percent (non-compounded). The general in-
erease of April 1, 1981 will be applied to the
Salary Schedule.
(c) Employees in full-time employment
status on March 31, 1981 and who are in
full-time employment status on March 31,
1982** will be entitled to a retroaetive
payment for service from April 1, 1981 to
March 31, 1982 to make up the difference
between salary actually received and the
salary rate established in the April 1, 1982
schedule. Such retroactive payment will be
made no later than during the first quarter of
the fiseal year nning April 1, 1982 and
such payment shall be based upon the base
pay and overtime compensation received by
the employee.
(d) Employees in full-time employment
status on September 30, 1981 and who are in
full-time employment status on Mareh 31,
1982** will be entitled to retroactive payment
for service from October 1, 1981 to April 1,
1982 at the rate established as a result of the
April 1, 1982 increase. Such retroactive
payment will be made no later than during
the first quarter of the fiseal year beginning
April 1, 1982.
the pay-
as provided
in New York State Finance Law Section 44(8)
** Provided, however, that employees who die or
retire during the stated period shall receive pro
ayments based on the number of days served
in such full-time employment status during the
stated period.
‘U.S. All Cities—Urban Wage Earners and
Clerical Workers Revised
Impasse reached in
Madison County talks
WAMPSVILLE — A spokesman for the Blue Collar Unit of Madison County-
CSEA Local 827 has reported an impasse has been filed with the Public
Employment Relations Board (PERB) regarding the recently reopened
negotiations between the County of Madison and the union which represents
more than 200 county employees in the unit.
According to Ted Modrzejewski, CSEA field representative, the current
stalemate involves the dental insurance plan negotiated for the White Collar
Unit during the Fall of 1979.
“At that time,’’ Modrzejewski said, “it was mutually agreed that
negotiations would reopen for Blue Collar employees if reopened for other
county units.”’
‘When Blue Collar negotiations were opened,’’ Modrzejewski continued,
“the county proposed a dental plan whereby it (the county) would pay full cost
of employee coverage and 50 percent of dependent care coverage. In addition,
the county also proposed that employees who are presently receiving a rebate
of $15.00 per month for not choosing dependent care coverage under the present
Health Insurance Plan would continue to receive the $15.00 rebate for the
remainder of 1980. However, effective January 1, 1981, that rebate would be
reduced to $7.50 per month, and terminated December 31, 1981,’’ Modrzejewski
said.
“At the present time, 57 employees from the total unit of more than 200
have opted for the additional money rebate in their salaries. If the county does,
in fact, reduce the rebate next January, and terminate it in December of 1981,
it would result in financial hardship for a considerable number of county
employees.”
“CSEA is countering with the proposal that the present rebate system
remain status quo until new contract negotiations begin in September of 1981.
We are saying, hold off making a change until it can be formally decided at the
bargaining table,” Modrzejewski said.
GRADUATION CEREMONIES for 170 mental nyelene therapy aides,
members of Local 447, were held at the Brooklyn Developmental Center. The
aides completed a vigorous year of patient care training. Among the graduates
was Brenda Nichols, second from right, president of the Brooklyn
Developmental Center CSEA Local. She received her degree from Director
Thomas Shirtz. Also participating in the formal ceremonies held in the
facility’s gym, were Region II President James Gripper, Jr., left, and Ann
Ackerson, right, the Center’s Assistant Director of Education and Training.
CSEA’s Irene Carr recuperating
ALBANY — CSEA Statewide Secretary Irene Carr is recuperating from|
surgery at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, 169 Riverside Drive, Binghamton,
N.Y. 13905. Friends may send cards or letters to Ms. Carr at that address.
Employee Insurance reps available on regular schedule
Effective as of September, 1980, Employee Insurance representatives
from the Employee Insurance Section of the State Department of Civil Ser-
vice will be at various sites on a regular schedule throughout the State to
pe information on health insurance matters for retirees and pre-
retirees.
On those days and at those places listed below, the insurance reps will
join in a cooperative venture with State Retirement Systems represen-
tatives who are also available for counselling retirees and )yre-retirees. The
Employee Insurance reps will be available to discuss nealth insurance
benefits, coverage during retirement, claims cite und Medicare as it
relates to the State Health Insurance P’
The pilot project is presently limited to the d days and locations listed, but
may be expanded to other areas in the future.
CLEO McKENZIE, center, has been named Memplavee of the Quarter’ at Creedmoor Psychiatric
Center, where she is a dining room attendant. On hand for the award ceremony honoring Ms. McKenzie
are, from left, Creedmoor CSEA Local 406 President Dorothy King; Creedmoor
Ms. McKenzie; employee Millie Blue, and Institution Food Administrator Phil Weimer.
CITY ADDRESS MONTHLY VISITING DAYS
Binghamton _ State Office Building Third Wednesday, First Wednesday
Buffalo Gen. Donovan Office Building First & Fourth Wednesday
Hauppauge State Office Building First Tuesday .
Utica State Office Building Second & Third Monday
White Plains Westchester County Center Second & Fourth Monday
New York City World Trade Center (55th Fir).
Agenda set for CSEA
Women’s Caucus
ALBANY — June Scott, chair of CSEA’s
Statewide Women’s Committee, has announced the
agenda for the union’s first Women’s Caucus, Nov.
7th, 8th and 9th at the Granit Hotel in Kerhonkson,
in Region III.
Ms. Scott, president of State Dept. CSEA Local
689, said, ‘‘With women comprising half of CSEA’s
membership, our hope is that this conference will
give our women members the tools and the
motivation to participate more fully and more
effectively, We designed the program to achieve
that goal,”
Workshops include ‘‘Women’s Buying Power,” 8
to 10 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7; ‘‘Problems at the
Workplace,”’ 9 to noon, Nov, 8; ‘‘Dress for
Success,’ noon to 2 p.m., Nov. 8; ‘The Power of
Positive Thinking and the Fear of Success,”’ 2 to 4
p.m., Nov. 8; and ‘‘Does Alcohol Discriminate?’’, 9
to noon, Nov. 9.
In addition, CSEA President Bill McGowan and
Secretary Irene Carr will speak at the banquet, 7 to
9 p.m. on Nov. 8, A cocktail hour will folllow the
ector Dr. Haveliwala;
CSEA Safety Hotline
800-342-4824
banquet.
Brochures, agendas, and reservation forms will
be mailed to all CSEA local presidents and the
Board of Directors this month.
Other Women’s Committee members involved
with planning the conference include Margaret
Meaders of Region II; Shirley Brown of Region IV;
Barbara Reeves of Region V; Joanna Williams of
Region VI; Geri Cadieux of Region I and Barbara
Swartzmiller of Region III.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, September 17, 1980 Page 11
Open season on Wassaic employe
200 attacks against workers ~—s ; SR pene
in last year alone creates
a reign of fear, but official
policy limits legal action
BY STANLEY HORNAK
CSEA Communications Associate
i ... cracked ribs, fractured thumbs, chunks of hair pulled out, ruptured
| gall bladders, broken ribs, scratches, bites, broken limbs, . . .
It’s open season on employees of the Wassaic Developmental Center.
In the past year, there were at least 200 serious attacks on employees,
and a reign of fear has gripped them, aggravated by official policy which is
to penalize workers who seek legal recourse to protect themselves.
CSEA Local 426 President Harold Ryan puts the question this way:
“What can we do to defend ourselves, and most of the residents here, from
abusive clients?’ He calls working conditions, ‘“‘almost impossible because
of staff shortages’’ and cites the recent case of a client who required five
state troopers to restrain him, only to be later returned to his residence
where he mingles with 25 other residents, under the watchful eyes of only
two or three direct care workers.
(The subject of minimum staffing levels has been discussed in labor-
management meetings, but hospital officials have since backed off on what
they once agreed to as acceptable.)
Ryan has also repeatedly called the situation to the attention of state Of-
fice of Mental Retardation Commissioner James Introne, but only receives
“Jip service’ in reply, he says. Meanwhile, the reign of fear goes on.
Recently, the local president asked the 2,200 CSEA members at Wassaic
oo
CSEA LOCAL 426 President Harold Ryan holds some of the numerous
reports he receives about physical attacks upon employees at Wassaic
Developmental Center.
emmaaracime
quarters at Wassaic, with two or three clients sleeping to a bedroom. The
new arrangement actually calls for more staff, but instead less staff is —
available, making working conditions much more difficult, and the potential
for being attacked much more likely.
The concern expressed by Ryan is also shared by parents, who worry
to send him written statements describing some of the attacks. Here are a
few excerpts:
“«_., grabbed me from behind by my hair and threw me to the floor. I
about the safety of their children. Clients at Wassaic range in age from
seven years old to seventy. And, it is also recognized that sometimes staff
have to ‘“‘baby”’ the violent, which causes ‘‘distancing’’ from other clients. |)
But Ryan explains, ‘‘we have no choice, most of the times we have to meet
the immediate situation to protect the overall good.”
The workers’ plight was recently aggravated by a directive from the |
had to leave work and go to the hospital emergency room for she had pulled
out a chunk of my hair and wrenched my neck. I was out of work 7’ days.
(It took 6 employees to get her off me.)””
-_ *
a RRR
‘ * i i center’s administration which makes it perfectly clear that employees
“ was signing out for the day when someone came into the office and should be discouraged from going to court against chronically abusive
told me that . . . . was in the day room hitting another client. Estarted to go _ clients.
The memo, which CSEA obtained, reads in part:
“It is the position of the management of this facility that no legal action
is to be initiated against any resident of the Wassaic DDSO by the ad-
3 ministration for acting-out behavior. . .
“When I first came to WDC, I was trained to take care of retarded “Any individual employee has the right to, as a private citizen, initiate |
residents, but I was not trained to defend myself against mentally ill such criminal action... However, it is the responsibility of all ad- i
residents. No one should have to work on a ward alone, but we have to _ministrators of this facility to bring to the attention of the employee involv- |
because of employee shortages.”’ ed our strong concerns regarding the inappropriateness of such action.
“] was on the ward in the Wingdale unit, alone with 17 residents, when Employees should be made aware of the fact that the initiation of criminal
.... came back from work shop early. She insisted that I take her to see action neither benefits the client from a programmatic point of view, nor is
| another employee on a different ward. When I told her I couldn’t leave the is beneficial to the individual employee.”
|| other girls alone, and if she waited until the other employee came back, I What, then, is the answer? What must be done to protect both workers
| would take her, she became disturbed and grabbed the back of my hair and and resident?
| pulled me backward. When I finally got her hand out of my hair, I turned CSEa Field Representative John Deyo describes this plan of action:
| around to face her and she had both hands, claw fashion, ready to gouge my —provide sufficient staffing for newly reconstructed buildings,
i
|
SERA A a I
down the hallway, and heard hollering and screaming. ... was hitting
another resident as hard as he could with a wooden coat hanger. He broke
the coat hanger into a million pieces.”
+ #
H
eyes. I, in turn, yanked my head back to avoid her hands.” —separate chronically disruptive residents from the mainstream, and |
tA ubn cy them into an appropriate structural setting to meet their special needs, |
an
In order to provide a more home-like atmosphere for its 1,469 residents,
—increased cooperation from the state Office of Mental Retardation.
dormitory-type residences are being converted into family-type living
| The case for direct care staff
; at rabbed Recently, the Director of the State Commission on Quality of Care,
Mary Wilbur, addressed the national conference of the American
me from behind by
Association of Mental Deficiencies. wh
In a paper delivered to the assembly, Mrs. Wilbur noted, ‘‘When
my hair and threw Ru i
me to the floor.
there is recognition by administrators and also by the public of the
_ Thad to leave
emotional and physical demands placed on direct care staff who work
with the retarded and developmentally disabled, and an effort is made to
work and go to the
hospital ber aie
room for she
“It is the
position of the
management of this
facility that no
legal action is
to be initiated
against an i
resident of the
support and strengthen them, (then) clients . . . as well as workers .. .
will benefit.”
Mrs. Wilbur had several suggestions on how to alleviate the problems
of the direct care staff. The changes would affect how the entire in-
stitution operates. Here are some of them:
« All new staff hired at an institution, including professionals and ad-
ministrators, should spend a period of two to three weeks providing direct
| pulled out a chunk care A clients. aunier th supervision a - Suerienced theray ait i Wassaic DDSsO by ]
i * Community residence staff shor e adequately trai and al |
| of my hair and direct care staff should be offered continued education and chances to ad- the administration i
| vance. “ar |
i wrenched my neck. The system should be revamped so that employees have a clear un- for acting out |
i derstanding of their responsibilities and to whom they are accountable. behavior Aer |
i NOTE; Mary Wilbur toured the Wassaic Center recently accompanied by |
‘ CSEA Local President Harold Ryan. }
“eaacan eons <M RN RRR posssecamnesbar irene: maar nae
Page 12 THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, September 17, 1980
