The Work Force, 1998 November

AFL-CIO

Your Nassau Express Newsletter is enclosed

Photo of the month ty marr Kotsin

KG tl,

registered to vote.
have a voice in the id gs arena.

op He

ea.

VOTE FOR CSEA-ENDORSED
CANDIDATES NOVEMBER 3 3

McCall defends pension fund

ROCHESTER — State
Comptroller Carl McCall
repeatedly brought CSEA
delegates to their feet with a
passionate defense of the
State Retirement Fund during
remarks delivered at CSEA’s
Annual Delegates Meeting.

The Comptroller’s remark’s
were in stark contrast to
candidate Bruce Blakeman’s
recent proposal to raid the
retirement system to finance
a business give-away and
political slush fund.

“State Comptroller McCall
has consistently defended
the integrity of the Retirement
fund,” CSEA president Danny Donohue said. “Under Carl
McCall’s leadership the performance of the fund has saved
taxpayers tens of millions of dollars in employer
contributions to the system while also providing fairness to
the public employees who depend on it for their future.

“We need that kind of continuing competence and
professionalism, not political opportunism,”

Donohue said.

CSEA is holding a special election to fill
vacant seats on the union’s Statewide
Board of Directors. One vacancy exists in
each of the following areas: Mental
Hygiene/Region 2, Chenango County,
Franklin County, Rensselaer County,
Schuyler County and Sullivan County.

The election schedule appears at right.
Election results will be published in the

\ Feb. 1999 edition of The Work Force.”

Special election to fill vacant seats on CSEA’s Statewide Board of Directors

Oct. 20,

Nov. 13,
Nov. 30,

Dec. 14,
Dec. 21,
Jan. 6,

1998

1998
1998

1998
1998
1999

Start of Petitioning Period: Nominating petitions available from Region

offices (Metropolitan, Southern, Capital & Central) and CSEA Headquarters.
Deadline for receipt of nominating petitions at CSEA Headquarters by 5 p.m.
Drawing for positions on the ballot at CSEA Headquarters. Candidates (or
proxies) may attend as observers.

Ballots delivered to Post Office for mailing at 5 p.m. |
Replacement ballot may be requested if original not received. |
Deadline for receipt of ballots by 8 a.m. y:

Pere THE WORK FORCE

November

1998

President
Danny
Donohue with
Gov. Pataki
earlier this
year.

CSEA backs Eliot Spitzer for
state Attorney General

CSEA President Danny Donohue
announced that the union has endorsed
Elliot Spitzer for Attorney General.

“Eliot Spitzer will work hard as Attorney
General to protect the rights of all New
Yorkers,” Donohue said. “Just as important,
he will work hard to build a strong
partnership with CSEA.”

CSEA will not make an endorsement in the
race for U.S, Senate between Sen. Alfonse
D’Amato and U.S. Rep. Charles Schumer.

“CSEA has worked well with both
candidates for many, many years,” Donohue
said. “I urge every member to make up his
or her own mind and vote.”

A full report on
amendments and
resolutions approved by
delegates to
CSEA’s 88th Annual
Delegates Meeting will
appear in the
December issue of
The Work Force.

Donohue says Governor worked with union to find common ground

CSEA endorses
Gov. George Pataki

R

OCHESTER — In a bold move, CSEA
President Danny Donohue announced
that the 265,000-member union has
endorsed Gov. George Pataki for re-
election.

“CSEA believes that Gov. Pataki is
the best candidate to lead all of New
York into the next century,” Donohue
told 1,200 delegates assembled here
for the union’s Annual Delegates
Meeting.

“We have not always seen eye to
eye with Gov. Pataki on every issue
and we will never see eye to eye with
any governor on every issue,”
Donohue said. “However, CSEA’s
respect for
Gov. Pataki
has grown
over the past
four years
and I know
that his
respect for
the CSEA
Workforce has
grown.

“The
Governor
cares a great
deal about
making New
York a better
place to live and work,” Donohue said.
“CSEA wants to help him meet those
objectives.”

objectives.9

“l am grateful to have the support
of the hundreds of thousand of
members of the CSEA,” said Gov.
Pataki. “Over the past four years, we
have accomplished a great deal

& The Governor
cares a great deal
about making New
York a better place
to live and work ...
CSEA wants to help
him meet those

together in making New York a better
place to live, work and raise a family.
And in times of crisis, like the ice
storms of last winter, I have been able
to rely on the members of the CSEA to
help New Yorkers keep this state
moving forward. I have been grateful
for your work while I have been
Governor and I am grateful for your
support in this election.”

In a telephone news conference
with Donohue, the Governor told
reporters that his administration has
“worked very hard to have
communications and a strong
partnership” with CSEA.

CSEA President
Donohue noted that
the Governor faced
some very difficult
circumstances on
taking office but
worked with the
union to find common
ground.

Donohue also
praised the Governor
for his continuing
efforts to build a
working relationship
with the union. He
pointed out that this
past year saw the
best state budget in a decade, the
most.significant public employee
pension system reform in a generation
and other legislation beneficial to
CSEA members and other working
people.

More on Pataki endorsement Page 4

See pages 16 and 17
for CSEA-endorsed
Legislative and Congressional candidates.

November 1998 THE WORK FORCE Page B

ESE RE
Official publication of
CSEA Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO
143 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12210-2303
Danny Donohue, President
STEPHEN A. MADARASZ
Communications Director & Publisher

STANLEY HORNAK
Asst. Director of Communications

CATHLEEN HORTON
Graphic Design & Support Services

RALPH DISTIN, Graphic Artist

JANICE NUSBAUM
Communications Production Coordinator

BETH McINTYRE
Communications Secretary

The Work Force (USPS 0445-010) is
published monthly by The CSEA Publication Office:
143 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12210.

Periodical Mail Postage paid at Post Office,
Albany, New York 12288.

Postmaster: Send address changes to:
CSEA, Attn: Membership Department,
143 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York
12210.

CSEA on-line: The CSEA web site
can be accessed at www.cseainc.org

Readers:
Send any comments, complaints, suggestions or ideas to:
Publisher, The Work Force, 143 Washington Avenue,

Albany, NY 12210-2303.

COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATES

SHERYL C. JENKS Long Island Region

(516) 462-0030
Metropolitan Region
(212) 406-2156

ANITA MANLEY Southern Region

(914) 831-1000

DAN CAMPBELL. Capital Region
(618) 785-4400

MARK M, KOTZIN Central Region
(315) 433-0050

Western Region
(716) 886-0391

ED MOLITOR Headquarters
(518) 257-1272

RON WOFFORD

LONG ISLAND REGION John C. Shepherd
METROPOLITAN REGION vacant
SOUTHERN REGION Diane Hewitt
CAPITAL REGION Marguerite Stanley
CENTRAL REGION Bruce Damalt, Chair
WESTERN REGION James V. Kurtz

.g0R COMMUN Ig, “s
fCSEA)

.
ean inh

TERNATIONAL

Pe THE WORK FORCE

In Touch with the

x)

x

CSEA President Danny Donohue

a y now I’m sure you are aware that CSEA has
endorsed Gov. George Pataki for re-election.

CSEA has not always seen eye to eye with Gov. Pataki on every issue. We
will never see eye to eye with any governor on every issue. However, CSEA’s
respect for Gov. Pataki has grown over the past four years and I know that his
respect for the CSEA workforce has grown.

On numerous occasions | have heard the Governor, publicly and privately,
praise the workforce of New York — the CSEA workforce — as the best
workforce you will find anywhere. We agree.

The Governor faced some very difficult and real budgetary problems when
he took office. We can’t ignore that fact. CSEA made a difference in how he
responded to those challenges and choices. At times it was difficult and even
stormy, but we worked through that to find common ground.

CSEA made tremendous progress this past legislative session with the
Governor's help. Most important to us was the Governor’s role in the passage of
the most comprehensive pension system reform in a generation — it was the
second time in four years that the Governor helped secure a pension
supplementation and resolve some long standing inequities..

This year alone the Governor has signed CSEA-backed legislation that will
benefit our members in local government and school districts along with the
best State budget we have seen in a decade.

Shortly after taking office the Governor negotiated the first on-time state
contract with CSEA since 1985. Moving forward from that, the Governor worked
with CSEA on civil service legislation, making it easier for state employees to
transfer from one agency to another. This long sought CSEA objective was a
significant step forward in workforce planning and has helped thousands of
CSEA members keep working and have greater career opportunities.

During crises like the North Country ice storm the Governor has
recognized how essential the CSEA workforce is and has worked with us to
resolve any personnel issues to help maintain productivity and boost morale.

CSEA knows there is a lot of hard work ahead to make New York even
better. CSEA is ready to work as a partner with Gov. Pataki.

ee

November 1998

Extending health benefits
gave Bosnia peacekeeper

peace of mind

MINEOLA — When Deputy Sheriff
Mark Hammer was on a recent
peacekeeping mission
to Bosnia, he had peace
of mind knowing that
health care benefits for
his family would remain
in effect thanks to the
union.

That’s because CSEA
Nassau Local
Administrative
Assistant Debbie
O’Connell worked hard
to secure legislation to
guarantee reservists
who served in Bosnia
similar health care
provisions as those
who served in “Desert
Storm.”

“Tm a reservist.
When | got called for
Bosnia I was concerned about health
care coverage lapsing for my wife and
son. With the help from Debbie and my
legislator I got important health care
coverage for my family while I was
away,” said Hammer who works at the
Nassau Corrections Center.

A 28-year reservist with three years of
active duty, he noted, “I have been
called in three times for reserve duty:
Grenada, Northern Iraq and Bosnia.”

From December through July, Hammer
was away from his wife, Debbie, and 17-
year-old son, Josh.

‘T'm a reservist.
When I got called for
Bosnia I was
concerned about
health care coverage
lapsing for my wife
and son. With the
help from Debbie and
my legislator I got
important health
care coverage for my
family while I was
away.”

“I called home once a week and I
would E-mail my family when I had
access to the Internet.
I've been on
deployments, but
never away that long.
It was hard,” Hammer
said.

Care packages from
his wife, complete
with magazines and
home-baked cookies
helped.

“Without the
legislation it would
have cost me $585 per
month.

I didn’t want to
worry about my family
not being able to use
their own doctors and
commuting long
distances for medical
care,” said Hammer.

He also shared some of his insight on
the situation in Bosnia.

“It is a war against the civilians. A
religious war with three factions. It was
armies against civilians.

“I was at four massive grave sites in
May when they moved the bodies from
one area to another,” Hammer said.

“The smell of rotting flesh is
something you don’t forget,” he added.

“I’m happy to be home.”

— Sheryl C. Jenks

4

a 25-year at half pay retirement package.

Donohue. “It’s long overdue.”

we implementation at the local government level.

New law boosts probation _)
officers’ retirement .

ALBANY — Gov, ‘Geaies Pataki has signed a law, vigorously supported hy the
hundreds of probation officers CSEA represents, which allows counties to offer them

“We're pleased the governor has signed the legislation,” said CSEA President Danny

The new law, it should be stressed, gives counties the option of offering the half
pay retirement package. Probation officers must now set their stents on. lobbying for

1%, ai)
009 WoRKERs In THIS WO

GSEA REPRESENTS

Gorrections 2x
Faw Enforcement

Nt

4

November

1998

When 9-1-1 is in
trouble,
who do you call ?

In the
past ten
years,
since 9-1-1
emergency
services
have
spread
throughout the state, there have been
many success stories, but many
growing pains as well. CSEA members
working
9-1-1 have often taken the blame in
sometimes high-profile cases for poor
management, dysfunctional or outdated
equipment, excessive overtime
demands, or a host of other problems
they've had to deal with.

We're looking to tell the workers’ side
of the issue. If you are a 9-1-1 emergency
services worker, or know someone who
is, and are willing to relate your story
about troubles with 9-1-1, please call
Communications Associate Dan
Campbell at 1-800-874-7344. If you wish,
your identify will be kept confidential.

We'll tell your story in the December

edition of The Work Force.

THE WORK FORCE

Page 5

CSEA REPRESENTS

Services

60 at
400 WorKERs w THIS WO

CSEA is one of the largest health care
unions in New York State, representing more
than 60,000 workers in the health care
industry. It is the largest single group we
represent.

CSEA represents various job titles in various
facilities. For example, our members are
nurses, public health specialists, mental health
therapy.aides, case managers, certified nurses
aides, physicians, technicians, housekeepers,
clerks, therapists and other health care
workers.

They work in state facilities, community
residences, county
infirmaries, nursing
homes, Nassau County
Medical Center,

Westchester County
Medical Center,

the Helen Hayes Hospital
(in Rockland County),
Erie County Medical
Center, and the Roswell
Park Cancer Institute (in
Buffalo).

These facilities are among the top ranked in
the country.

CSEA recognizes the changing health care
environment and believes that working
together with employers we can make this a
win-win situation for all the parties involved.
We are committed to quality health care and
meeting the varied needs of our patients.

For example,

CSEA won passage of legislation that turned:

*Roswell Park Cancer Institute into a public
benefit corporation, and

*Westchester County Medical Center into a
public benefit corporation.

Two examples of our flexibility. Our
commitment is to allow health care providers
to be more competitive while fighting to
maintain quality care standards,

The union helped set up the Congress of
Nursing Aides to focus attention and respect
on the vital role nurses aides provide in the
delivery of quality care.

ree THE WORK FORCE

TRE

Herkimer Adult Care
Facility Gets Vote of

Confidence

HERKIMER — A decision by Herkimer
County officials to retain the County
Manor adult care facility is good news
for CSEA.

Central Region President Jim Moore
praised a statement by County
Legislator Robert Nightingale that
selling the facility is no longer being
considered.

“We're pleased with the statements
from Mr, Nightingale and others that
suggest that the county wants to keep
providing this service to residents,
rather than sell it off to the highest
bidder,” Moore said. “Our workers know

that they can provide the best quality
of service to the residents and we're
glad that the county has recognized
that.”

Moore said that the union is willing
to work cooperatively with the county
to examine alternatives to contracting
out the operation of the facility that
would help reduce the current shortfall.

“| agree with Mr. Nightingale that the
county has an obligation to keep the
facility, and we'll be happy to join the
county in looking at other cost-saving
measures to continue the quality of
service that our members provide.”

OMH policies under scrutiny

NEW YORK — CSEA is applauding a
two-part investigative report aired on
WABC-TV EyeWitness News last month
that exposed the irresponsibility of
state Office of Mental Health policies.

“The TV report made the same case
that CSEA has made for years that
OMH is dumping patients without
ensuring responsible alternative care,”
CSEA President Danny Donohue said.
“Unfortunately, no one seems to care
about the mental health system until
the reckless discharge of patients
becomes a public safety issue. We can
only hope this TV exposure will open
some eyes.”

The report focused on Manhattan
Psychiatric Center which OMH is
rapidly downsizing. But Donohue
pointed out that the same problems
and issues affect every psychiatric
center in the state.

The Office of Mental Health declined
to be interviewed for the TV report
and simply issued a statement saying
that all discharges of patients are
appropriate.

November 1998

In a related issue, CSEA Metropolitan
Region President George Boncoraglio
took OMH officials to task for
misrepresenting the facts to the media
about the availability of services to
meet the needs of mentally ill
individuals.

“May I suggest that you study the
full testimony presented on July 21,
1998 at a Public Hearing conducted by
Assembly Mental Health Committee
Chair James Brennan ... You will find
that numerous witnesses contradicted
your remarks that private hospital
psychiatric units can now easily
accomodate clients who would have
been admitted to state psychiatric
centers in the five boroughs,”
Boncoraglio wrote in a letter to a top
OMH official.

“Clearly it is wrong and misleading
to give the impression to the press that
OMH has everything under control,
when that is undeniably false.”

SEA REPRESENTS

Sharing concerns; Godfieawics

s and
solving problems (We Stracive
Every year the Annual Delegates Meeting provides a forum for

CSEA's Social Services Committee to meet with delegates from 50,0 yor
the social services field to share ideas and concerns. 0 WORKERS IN THIS wo

Here are some comments from the participants about what was
discussed.

CSEA Social Services Committee Chair, Ginger Sheffey — Senior
Stenographer, Cayuga County DSS

“We get people together from across the whole state and Joe may have a
problem in Onondaga County but Patty may have a solution in Greene
County because she had the same situation. So it’s always important to get
the people who do the same jobs together to talk about the issues and share
concerns and find how to work together on the solutions.”

CSEA Social Services Committee Member, Sabina Shapiro — Training
Specialist, Orange County DSS

“This year it was interesting because the concerns were all very much the
same. Whether people worked in child protective services, or adult services,
or in the office as examiners for temporary assistance, Medicaid or food
stamps, they're all concerned about the same things. They’re concerned
about safety, and about the effects of welfare reform on their jobs and
potential downsizing that’s already started in some areas.”

Joseph Alcaro — Caseworker, Onondaga County DSS
“One of the key issues that came up that wasn’t common is the
transportation issue of putting people in their cars and who assumes that
liability. Some counties have county cars and in our county we don’t have
that. That's something that became a new focus for us to work on and
| knowing the structure of this committee, I’m sure it’s going to be dealt with.”

Patty Whiteman — Systems Coordinator, Greene County DSS

“T work in the systems end of it with the equipment more than with the
people. So it brought me up to date with the concerns of my co-workers.
We're having a lot of problems with the state’s computer system that’s not
working very well. So it gave me an idea... I belong to a systems forum with
the NYS Public Welfare Association and I'm going to see if I can’t get other
systems people interested and maybe we can come up with a better system
that's a lot more worker friendly.”

Kay Walton — Social Welfare Examiner, St. Lawrence County DSS
“The health & safety issues and the security of the workplace are really
items that need a lot of attention and need to be addressed by all regions. I
think that the Social Services Committee has been able to identify and bring
to light a lot of those types of issues to help solve them and other problems

that area. common thread to all of us.”

November 1998 THE WORK FORCE Ewes

SEA REPRESENTS

Management,
Maintenance &
Infrastructures

50 at
"00 Workens in THIS WY

Life returning to normal

Tree pruner John DeBottis from the
North Syracuse state Department of
Transportation is shown cutting down
dangerous tree branches in the Town of
Manlius. The CSEA Work Force, as usual,
worked around the clock to help
communities in a dozen counties recover
from the trauma of a violent Labor Day
weekend storm.

Log cabin is work
of their hands

The CSEA Work

Force has a

creativity and

ingenuity which is

too often taken for
granted. At times,
workers have skills Waites
that are almost lost ‘easel
in time. This is a .
story of just such en
workers.

PLATTSBURGH —
CSEA North Country
members are used to
making lemonade out
of the lemons Mother
Nature often gives that
area of upstate New
York.

First, there was the
‘98 Ice Storm which
destroyed hundreds of
thousands of mature
trees which give the
countryside its unique
beauty. The next disaster b-
was when fire destroyed
the Department of
Environmental
Conservation's Lake Colden
rescue cabin, a
refuge for cross
country skiers and snow shoers.

Fortunately, DEC workers led by Sherwin LaLonde came up with a unique North
Country solution to replace the cabin. They would turn the felled trees into logs and
themselves build a cabin 26 feet by 36 feet with 1,000 square feet of space.

Trees were harvested in the Lake Clear area near the DEC sawmill facility. On
average, logs were cut approximately 12-13 inches thick by the workers.

They skinned the bark from the logs which provide their own natural insulation
against North Country cold and marked each one separately for individual notching.

The notching was done by chain saw and finished off with hand tools.
The logs had to fit tightly together as the cabin was assembled without the aid of
spikes since it would later be dissembled and airlifted to Lake Colden for
reconstruction.

Hundreds of pieces were airlifted 10 miles deep into the Adirondack forest and
reassembled much like piecing together a puzzle. Long spikes were driven into the
logs and will hold the cabin together for years to come,

The cabin, worth an estimated $200,000, is proof that there is no better value than

EA Force.
He Gee A Wer GIS — Daniel X. Campbell

Page 8 Oa November 1998

CSEA Locals Help csth REESE
Buffalo Bills Kick Off Season i

FREDONIA — Members of two CSEA locals were in the front lines when the Buffalo
Bills football team prepared for the 1998 National Football League season at their
training camp at SUNY Fredonia.

“Our members take care of the grounds, marking off. the yard lines,
keeping the field shipshape, and keeping the dorms clean,” said _
Tim McGraw, president of the Fredonia Local. “Everyone is happy
to do any job to support keeping the Bills here for training camp.”

Faculty Student Association Local members who normally
keep the students well-fed, are just as happy putting out the
giant spreads that keep pro football players’ big appetites
satisfied.

“Our food service members do a lot of cooking and
preparing a wide range of food, everyday,” said Judy
Gizowski, FSA Local president. “They maintain food for meal
times and between-meal healthy snacks around the clock
for more than 100 players and coaches.”

CSEA member Mike Kozlowski takes his vacation from his
regular job at the college to run operations for the Bills’
training camp support.

“We love having the Bills here every year,” said
Kozlowski. “We’re hoping their lease arrangement with their
Buffalo stadium will be settled soon, so they will be able to
renew their contract here with the college, and be here for
the eighteenth year, next year and beyond.”

— Ron Wofford

Volunteers Make about many different union issues. It’s nice to

be able to help people with problems and
h D 2 ff. concerns to the appropriate CSEA officers or
t e 1 erence staff who can help solve their problems or
ease their concerns.

Cortland City School District “For those who stop by with problems or

concerns who are not CSEA members, we give

member volunteers at the them brochures and direct them to our

New York State Fair organizing department. | feel this helps to
increase our membership numbers which in

SYRACUSE — “I'm Dolly Petrychka from Rn Seas eo Cun mon:

Cortland County Local 812 and I’m about to r spnother focus of Our boothial the fain
begin my fourth year as an in-school involves voter registration. At work, I keep

suspension monitor with Cortland City track of the Cortland High students who turn

Schools. I have been an involved CSEA activist eighteen during Mig senog yeay ang Mlscuss
from the start. lam a shop steward and am with them the importance of registering, as

trained in grievance representation. I recently iy ie sopping ang solvtns Gr oe
became a member of the PEOPLE program and Sr erat LG Aare Bhee ECAR Teeiaige

have been asked to chair the Political Action Unie OF Beonle: gaye auc.) Date ee
Committee for Cortland County. Ou £ 8

Ne be made.
“This is my second year as a volunteer at by
the New York State Fair, and | have found it as eer wore pepanes Ou members
rewarding this year as I did last. | have had the ee F Heke ues He ieee ae pee abour
opportunity to meet many CSEA members ee err Dace Md asp aves af
from across New York State, as well as union opportunity to be visible to such a wide

b fi : th tat IT variety of people, and to be available to ‘
ae pie pee as ‘ 8 aie x members who might want to see us there. Dolly Petrychka hands out bags

— as told to Mark Kotzin at the CSEA booth,

November 1998 THE WORK FORCE Page @

INSIDE

Conventional
Wisdom

The 88th Annual
Delegates Meeting
through the eyes of
first-time delegate
Scott Seltzer

g QOCHESTED

CSEZS Local 1000
: AFSCME, AFL-CIO |

Sin

ANNUAL MEETING |

“The new delegate orientation
was a pleasant surprise. (CSEA
Executive Vice President) Mary
Sullivan had everybody relaxed

and encouraged dialogue.”

ROCHESTER — Scott Seltzer, president of
the Town of Brighton Unit of the Monroe County
local, attended his first CSEA Convention this
year. He shares with us his impressions as a
first-time delegate.

“If I had more
time I would
have done even
more although I
will admit that

Constitution & By-
Laws Committee
Chair Tony Bailous
reads proposed
amendments to the
Constitution

after attending
three workshops
in one day I was

dragging.”

Statewide Secretary
Barbara Reeves
delivers her report

to the delegates

“Gerry
McEntee’s
speech was as
good as people
told me it woula
be. It made me
proud to be part
of AFSCME.”

First-time CSEA Delegate Scott Seltzer, left,
conferring with Monroe County Local President
Bernadette Giambra and Third Vice President Jim
Volpone at the General Business Session at CSEA’s
88th Annual Delegates Meeting in Rochester

‘It’s all about empowerment. Giving power to members.”
“Our leaders aré

so down to
: H AFSCME Internati i srry McEnte
It was great to hear from people around the state. Bdareeaiiin he Deeaaics ct nous teal oe earth.”

“Tapping into other people's experiences is a great tool.”

page LO THE WORK FORCE November 1998

Delegates discussing an important issue at
one of the many ADM workshops

os eo

CSEA President
Danny Donohue
presiding at the
General Session

“Tt was
good to see that

delegates/members

do have a voice in
a democratic union
and convey their

members’ concerns.

The membership
does have the
power.”

Jane D’Amico, CSEA
Nassau Co. Local

“They were all quite
informative,

... | thought it was
especially
appropriate that the
attorneys were
conducting the one
on legal matters and
the union’s duty of
fair representation.”

Executive VP, recipient
of the 1998 Irene Carr
Leadership Award
presented at the CSEA
Legislative Breakfast

Ss
NYS Comptroller H. Carl

McCall greeting delegates
prior to his address to the
delegates (see page 2)

AFL-CIO Vice President
Linda Chavez-Thompson
speaking to her union
brothers and sisters

(for highlights from her
speech, see page 15)

“CSEA is taking

necessary steps to change the union and
evolve with the times to become more

powerful. I have no reservations in signing.”

“November

Delegates Joe McMullen, left, and
Mike D’Alessandro performing a
song about the ADM

1998 THE WORK FORCE Fmt
Latex reactions. ogee
*t fit easy description

These shoes are
made for working

LATHAM — It was all in the numbers. Some workers were getting $200 for work
shoes; other workers $55; and still others zero.

When state Environmental Conservation Local President Vern French was alerted
to the disparity by Shop
Steward Butch Edwards,
he took action, The
winners will be all
EnCon Operational
Services Unit employees
who need foot
protection while on the
job.

French explained he
heard so many different
stories about
reimbursements that he
knew something was
wrong. He discussed the
disparities with CSEA
staffers Mary Rubilotta
and Jim Martin and then
took it up with EnCon
administrators.

A labor/management
agreement followed
which provides a $100
shoe allowance to all
permanent and long-
term seasonal workers
who need foot
protection.

Footwear purchased
must conform with
OSHA and American
National Standard
Institute standards,

“The settlement,” said
French “translates into
fairness at the workplace
for all eligible employees. ” Martin added, “The-OSU contract is-clear. We had to level
the playing field and we did.” He noted: the agreement even specifies a mechanism for
employees to follow if work shoes are destroyed and need to be replaced.

Page 12

EnCon Local President Vern French sees more work
shoes in the future for his co-workers thanks to a
recent labor/management agreement.

THE WORK FORCE November 1998

Latex reactions don’t fit easy description
‘Adverse reactions to latex gloves are increasingly
being reported as latex allergies. Latex allergy is actually
a broad term with several different types of latex
reactions. Three different reactions may occur,

Common reaction not allergy

Irritant Contact Dermatitis is the most commonly
suffered reaction to latex gloves but is not a true allergy.
People who suffer from this condition generally
experience dry, irritated patches on the hands. This
reaction is often caused by an initial reaction to a
different chemical (a cleaning or sanitizing agent) or
frequent washing of the hands.

Delayed reaction from other chemicals

Allergic Contact Dermatitis is a delayed
hypersensitivity reaction. It is brought on from the other
chemicals added to the latex in the manufacturing of the
gloves, People who suffer from this condition will
experience an itchy rash very similar to poison ivy one
to two days after wearing the gloves. The condition can
worsen and spread to other areas of the skin.

Symptoms escalate with true allergy

Latex allergy is an immediate hypersensitive
reaction to the latex proteins. The reaction can begin
within minutes of wearing the gloves to hours, The
initial symptoms are worse than the previous conditions
including highly irritated skin, redness, itching, and
hives. The symptoms can escalate to the respiratory
system with symptoms such as sneezing, dry throat,
runny nose, eye irritation, and asthmatic type symptoms.

Only a doctor knows for sure
Latex allergy can only be diagnosed by a physician
and can be detected with positive blood tests or skin
test even if symptoms are not occurring. It has been
proven that the latex protein adheres to the particles in
powder therefore use non-powdered latex
gloves.

Helpful hints
Choose better gloves (eliminate
latex or use reduced latex content)
Make sure that hands are completely dry
before wearing latex gloves, moisture can add to the
condition,
Do not use oil based hand lotion or moisturizers
when wearing latex gloves.
Once latex gloves are removed, thoroughly wash
the hand with a mild soap and completely dry.
If the symptoms persist consult with your
physician.

YOUR UNION
NEWSLETTER

pa re

November 1998 * Vol. 3, No. 11

CSEA NASSAU COUNTY LOCAL 83
y i & MH),

CSEA Will Not Tolerate
Workers’ Comp Abuse

A Message From

Workers’ Compensation
doesn’t seem to be working.
At least it doesn’t seem to be
working right.

Over the past several

months, I have received a

considerable number of
complaints in my office relative to the
thoughtless treatment that CSEA members have
received at the hands of Workers’ Compensation
doctors.

The most common complaint is that these
doctors demonstrate a total lack of attention to
the medical problems brought before them by
CSEA members who have been injured on the
job. Often, workers are told that they should

Stay Informed.

Tune in to

“CSEA in Focus”’

Thursdays at 7 pm
repeated
Saturdays at 8:30 am
on WGBB, 1240 AM

hony Giustino

return to work without even a cursory
examination. Many doctors, they: say, are less
than indifferent to specific physical difficulties
experienced by our members.

To help CSEA members protect their rights
and better navigate the Workers’ Compensation
system, CSEA introduced a new program earlier
this j he CSEA Workers’ Compensation
Legal Assistance Program provides you with no-
cost legal representation. I urge you to take
advantage of this CSEA benefit if you have the
misfortune to need it. To access the program,
call 1-800-342-4146 and follow the
instructions.

However, I remain very disturbed by these
complaints. Ignoring the legitimate health
concerns of our members tears at the very heart
of a system that was set up for the specific

purpose of protecting working men and women.

CSEA will not tolerate these abuses. We will
use every legal and administrative avenue
available to us to remedy the situation. I am
urging members who have suffered a Workers’
Compensation abuse to report it immediately to

the CSEA office at 571-2919.

a

Tony Giustinof President
Nassau County Local 830

Vote for
CSEA-endorsed candidates
Election Day November 3

0
fo ‘a ’

Congressional Candidates
Endorsed by CSEA

Last month, we ran the list of New York
State Assembly and Senate candidates
endorsed by CSEA. In this issue, we are
listing the candidates CSEA has endorsed
for U. S. Congress. CSEA. has concluded
that these candidates most closely embrace
the philosophy, causes and goals of our
union and who most associate themselves
with the aspirations of working men and
women. We urge our members to vote for
them.

Ist C.D. — Michael Forbes (R)

2nd C.D. — Rick Lazio (R)

3rd C.D, — Peter King (R)

4th C.D. — Carolyn McCarthy (D)

5th C.D. — Gary Ackerman (D)

Conast Negotiations Info
Available at CSEA Office

As contract negotiations enter the home stretch,
CSEA members can get progress updates by calling
the Nassau Local 830 office at 571-2919 Mon. - Fri.
from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. In addition, members may
speak directly with their respective unit presidents, all
of whom are members of the CSEA negotiations
team. There is no news blackout on the current
contract talks, Information will be made available
upon request.

Because of the early deadline for this newspaper,
and because contract talks are ongoing, it is often
impossible to give a timely update on negotiations
status on these pages. For that reason, we are urging
members to keep abreast of the talks by following the
above advice, by reading the latest CSEA bulletins,
by attending the “President's Forum” worksite
meetings and by listening to updates on our radio

| program, “CSEA in Focus,” Thursdays at 7 p.m. and

Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. on WGBB- 1240 AM.

22 EN PRESS LEEREELEOR LEER EEE

eooege¢ Women’s Dinner an Outstand ang Success

November 1998 Vol. 3 No. 11

A Monthly Publication of CSEA Nassau County Local 830
ANTHONY P. GIUSTINO, President

Tony Panzarella, Editor
(516) 571-2919 Ext. 15

Ronald G. Gurrieri, Chair, Communications Committee

The
Work Force

Award winner Regina
Corbin of the Board of
Elections, right, accepts
a plaque from Women's

Committee member

Sandee Horowitz, lefi.

Tim Jaccard of the AMT Unit
displays the plaque awarded to
him for his help to the Women's
Committee. Making the
presentation is CSEA 2nd Vice
President Noreen Lingham.

Newsday columnist Irene
Virag related with both

humor

Sheryl C. Jenks, Communications Associate
CSEA Long Island Region Office, (516) 462-0030

NASSAU LOCAL 830

Executive Officers:

Jane D'Amico, Executi
t

and poignancy a thought-
provoking account of her
personal battle with
breast cancer.

e Vice President

4th Vice President
Jewel Weinstein, 5th Vice President
Barbara Jones, 6th Vice President
Ron Gurrieri, 8h Vice President
Gerald Granger, 9th Vice President
Martin Stamile, 10th Vice President
Mary DelMare, 11th Vice President
Bobby Eisgrau, Secretary

Kathleen Vitan, Treasurer

Unit Presidents/Executive Board:

John Aloisio Ill, Treasurer's Office

Mark Barber, Sheriff's Department

Stanley Bergman, Comptroller's Office

n Corr, Recreation & Parks Department

n Cosgrove, Administrative Unit
essment Department
School Crossing Guards

n Geriatric Center

CSEA Nassau County Local
President Tony Giustino >
addresses the audience. : i President Tony

Award winner Rev.

Lillian Frier-Webb,

right, a retiree from
the Department of

jiustino presents a

special award to

c | Executive Vice
Guest speaker Irene Presi@lent and Women's

rau, County Cle
Gyathin lane Nee ommunity College
Nancy lanson, Office of Drug & Alcohol

Rape adhe & oe. fo oe ipetebaae Drug & Alcohol
salt eat Denar oh aes "Ami ld
‘illan Neumar, Police Department Cloitan photo following her DAmico. granddaughter and
ard Russ, Department ay ceneumar Alars TIE WE Bar ave PAirticipating in the Brug & Adcobol Unit
Martin Stamile, Department of Public Works Eileen Jones, center, cei ony are Nassau President Nancy
George Walsh, Neae Conant Wien Conte resident of the CSEA County Local ip ich
Joseph Whittaker, Fire Marshal's Office 2 J lanson, right.
Peter Wrba, Probation District Attorney's Unit Secrletary and County
We welcome reader suggestions: Please address and Jane D'Amico, Cléfrk Unit President

your comments to Tony Panzarella, Editor, Ni
County EXPRESS at CSEA Nassau Co. Lo’ .
400 County Seat Dr., Mineola, NY 11501-4137.

Bipbbi Eisgrau, lefi,
an Treasurer Kathy
Vitan, right.

executive vice president

and Women's

early 350 people turned out to help CSEA honor its Committee chair.

outstanding women at the “Women in Local Govemment”
Annual Recognition Dinner.

A highlight of the evening was Newsday columnist Irene Virag’s
poignant and inspiring account of her personal battle with breast
cancer. Another guest speaker, Elaine Witgate Conway, talked about
the New York State Division for Women, where she serves as
director.

“The success of this event was a team effort,” said CSEA Nassau
County Local Executive Vice President and Women’s Committee
Chair Jane D'Amico. Ms. D'Amico heaped praise upon her
committee for an exceptional jab.

Beth Luttinger

of the Social Services
Department displays her
jaward as President Tony

Jane D'Amico, right,
introduces Pat Bishop
Kelly of the American

Susan Graham
of the District
Attorney's Office,

Winners of this year’s awards were:

—
+ Regina Corbin, Board of Elections Caen Sane ah syne ets =
+ Susan Graham, District Attorney's Office ane os q fustino, Treasurer Kathy % left, accepts her
* Beth Luttinger, Department of Social Services announced that CSEA ‘itan and Executive Vice al award from
* Rev. Lillian Frier Webb, retiree, Department of Social Services Nassau County Local PrefRident Jane D'Amico look na Women's
Certificates of recognition were presented to the following pats nate hd Flagship Oe Committee
women: Sponsor” of the annual Rae hon Pattee
* Leanore Egan, School Crossing Guards “Making Strides Against Fern itinells
* Robin Hecht, Department of Social Services Grant Breast Cancer Walk” :
* Judy Lateiner-Malnick, Department of Social Services \
entertained at Jones Beach.
Special awards were presented to Tim Jaccard of the AMT Unit for with her unique
his assistance to the Women’s Committee, and to Ms. D’Amico, for pacer! :
her conspicuous and ceaseless involvement in the fight against breast singing style and lyrics.

cancer,

4 EXPRESS ¢

© early 1,000 CSEA members,

family and friends turned out

September 19 at Eisenhower

Park for a day of fun and food
at Nassau County Local’s annual picnic. Social
Committee Chair Beth Luttinger and her
committee members made sure the event went
smoothly. The Nassau Express captured much of
the day’s excitement on film and presents it
here.

1. North Hempstead Town Councilman Tony
Durso, center, stopped by to greet CSEA
members. He poses for photo in front of CSEA
banner with Nassau County Local President
Tony Giustino, left, and Long Island Region
President Nick LaMorte.

2. Social Committee Chair Beth Luttinger
(seated, center) and her committee members get
together at the end of a tiring but successful day
with President Tony Giustino and CSEA

support staff.

3. Father and daughter head for the finish line
in 3-legged race.

4, PEOPLE Program co-chairs Kathy Walsh
and Tim J.ccard were on hand to recruit new
members in this worthwhile cause.

5. More than 100 adults and children line up
for the “great water balloon toss.”

6. The day was designed for fun, but
information on CSEA benefits was also in full
evidence.

7. A young winner at hoola hooping.
8. First Vice President Les Eason tries to swivel
his hips to victory in the adult hoola hoop

contest.

9. Both sides put in a lot of umph in the tug-of-
war contest.

10. Where the food is.

11, Line dancing for health — presented by the
Healthy Heart Program.

12. Dancing to the music of D.J. Joey.
13. Laret Williams, left and Ken Swerling sinile

for the camera at the Jardine information booth
promoting info on CSEA insurance programs.

“Knowing
what it was
like in the

past — we had
a tough time. The
only thing you
can do with a
tough time is to
make it better,
and that’s what
we did = it was
always we. That’s the

point of a union? said

Clara Pruitt, winner

of the 1998 Donald Webster

Memorial Mission Award. A

union member since 1957,

Pruitt has been on the front

lines for five decades and

served CSEA in numerous

capacities. Executive Vice

President Mary Sullivan presenting the award at the annual Retiree
Delegate Meeting described Pruitt as “one of our greatest resources.
Her dedication has touched the lives of our entire CSEA Family.”

A CELEBRATION OF WORK AND FAMILY marked the 20th anniversary of
the New York State Labor/Management Child Care Advisory Committee and
the 15th anniversary of the state’s Employee Assistance Program. Former
CSEA Statewide Secretary Irene Carr, in the foreground, was awarded the
first Founder's Award for her leadership in promoting on-site day care
centers while her successor, Barbara Reeves, won a Labor/Management
Special Recognition Award for her role in advancing EAP, CSEA President
Danny Donohue called Carr and Reeves visionaries and says
they were both “ahead of their times.”

QUAL 1000 AFSCME « 4p,
oe Cio

Family, Friends
s° Neighbors

1
265,000 memBERS STRON™

Brookhaven Bears
Blazing Trail

BROOKHAVEN — The Brookhaven Ecology Site has
gone to the bears. No, actually the bears have gone to the
Brookhaven Ecology Site.

Two six-month-old sibling cubs Honey and Pooh have
joined buffalo, deer, rabbits, raccoons, eagles, fox,
mountain lions and other rescued animals at the
Brookhaven Ecology Site which is run by the town’s
Highway Department.

CSEA members Patty Schaeffer and Hector Cruz handle
the bears, who were rejected by their mother and donated
to the Ecology Site.

Honey, a female, weighs in at 25 pounds and her
brother, Pooh at 35 pounds. The cubs, black bears, will
reach 400 pounds and will grow to be five- to six-feet tall.

The bears love to romp and eat and they are delighting
spectators and CSEA members who staff the site.

The cubs are living in a 20-foot by 20-foot cage with a
built-in underground den beneath hollow logs. They will
move into larger quarters as they grow. |

Adorable and playful as they are, the cubs can bite.

They currently feast on fruit and vegetables and special
pellets with meat in them; but as omnivores they eat small
mammals and fish — and as campers can tell you,
garbage and insects.

Watching Schaeffer and Cruz feed the cubs juice
bottles while administering ear drops for a yeast infection
it becomes glaringly apparent how strong these animals
are.

Pooh hooked his long claws around Cruz’ waistband
and Schaeffer had to free him.

“These bears are extremely powerful and no matter how
cute they are you must remember they are wild animals,”
said Schaeffer, who has her Bachelor’s Degree in Animal
Husbandry.

The Ecology Site employees recently mourned the
death of Brutus, the male buffalo who lived there with his
mate, Buffy and offspring, Pocahontas.

“He died in his sleep of old age, but we all miss him,”
said Cruz. hat Gian

CSEA member, Tour Guide Timmi Malepa walked by
with a Boy Scout group. “These are our new bear cubs,
Honey and Pooh,” she pointed out. Igi okiinils. fs

The cubs have become fast favorites.

Sheryl C. Jenks .

November 1998 THE WORK FORCE Page 13

Comments from
CSEA members:

“The boss is always open to suggestions.”
“Never asked our opinion on anything.”
“We had a reorganization and there was a lot of input.”

What's on your mind? The Work Force recently surveyed more “People make suggestions, boss claims the credit.”
than 300 rank and file members, chosen at random. Here are “Willing to listen about glitches in the new system.”

the results.
“J joined the safety committee and the employer listens.”

Does your employer listen to your ideas and “They took suggestions on saving wear and tear on
suggestions for improving your workplace? eriplover venicle.”

Yes 73.8% “Needed safety ladders, they took inventory, and got

No 21.3% Hee
“If it’s not in the contract, I don’t have a say. They don’t

Not Sure 4.9% listen.”

eee THE WORK FORCE November 1998

ROCHESTER — AFL-CIO
Executive Vice President Linda
Chavez-Thompson kicked off
CSEA’s annual delegate meeting
with a rousing speech on building
the voice of leaders. Here are
highlights of her remarks delivered
during a Labor Teach-In:

“Shrink that awful income gap”

“You're here because you know
in your heart how much we need to
lift New York and America up.

“You know that lifting America
up means that we shrink that awful
income gap between the very
wealthy and the rest of us.

“Lifting America up means
raising the living standards for
everyone who works for a living ...
making life more secure and fair for
them ... winning health care and a
safe retirement.

“Lifting America up means
making paychecks more equal.”

bar @} ae aes y
rganizing isn’t a luxury

“Our mission is as clear as it can
be.

“It is to build our movement ... to
make it a powerful, effective voice
for working people, both the
millions who are already members
of our unions and those who
haven't yet been able to join.

“Everything comes down to that
mission.

“But how do we do that?

“By organizing new members —
offering more working women and
men the chance to join our
movement.

“It’s our highest priority ...
organizing isn’t a luxury... it isn’t
something we do in our spare time.

“It’s something that we have to
do — and it is the most important
thing we do.”

“Y ou work hard for a living”
“Now, you’d think that in a
civilized society, the law would

protect working people.

Chavez-Thompson says Unions
“Lift up America” <=

“So what does the law say?
“For millions of us it says that
when you work hard for a living ...
when you're living from paycheck

to paycheck ... you deserve the
right to provide for your family ...
to improve your life through a
union.

“That right is just as important
as freedom of speech, and
freedom of religion, and the right
to a fair trial.”

“Workers in unions have
power”

“But the truth is that here in
America in 1998, you can express
any opinion you want... you can
worship where and how you
choose ... but if you want to
exercise your legal right to join a
union and bargain for a contract,
you're in for big trouble.

“Why?

“It's because workers in unions
have power ... the power to close
the income gap ... the power to
get decent health care and
pensions ... the power to build
their communities.

“That's good for America...
“But it’s bad for all the well-
heeled special interests who get
richer by keeping everything just

the way it is.”

“Fight longer and harder and
smarter”

“We can sit around, and moan
and groan about our enemies, and
do nothing.

“Or we can fight longer — and
harder — and smarter than ever
before to organize more working
people in our movement ... and
build more power to win even
more changes.

“That's exactly what we're
doing — and we’re going to do
more of the same.”

LOCAL 1000 AFSCME ag .
C19

265,000 memgens S1RON®

Linda Chavez-Thompson is one of 20 prominent women
listed on a ballot issued by the Ms. Foundation-affiliated
White House Project. The non-partisan project aims to
create a climate in which a woman could be elected
president by 2008. The ballot, which already appeared in
Parade magazine, will also be printed in upcoming issues
of Essence, Glamour, Jane, Latina and People. You can
also vote online. Go to www.thewhitehouseproject.org.

November 1998 THE WORK FORCE Page LS

The CSEA
endorse
roceEe

The people we
elect t i
office make decisions eas

affect all our li
ves. CSEA i.
apes political force chs
sabi we back up
endorsements with
a A
services augmented ae «
bear? volunteer network.
. ee: abipa seek our support
use they know i
results on Election es

*
Hees key to our success is
eae is a grassroots effort.
cae are done
e union’s politic
¢ al
— Seas Endorsements
ade only after
a a personal
ee and a careful review
e candidate's record and

position on issues i
i es ii
working people. fre

*

Z CSEA Political Action
‘committees or PACs are in

place at the unit, local, regi

and statewide levels ae

*Inc
ounty, local and school

oe appropriate unit
\ 's intervie
candidates and make yl

recommendation: i
s. Re
then act on those BAN

Pre palaptnieit and make
‘inal endorsements.

*
For State legislative races.

the Region PAC screens
candidates and makes
pact pee The
ae PAC then acts on
jose recommendation and
makes final endorsements

*For statewid

s le political

esi endorsements are made
yy the CSEA president based :

upon input f i
ai ie rom Region and

*For federal politi

political races
crane are made by th
EA president based upon i
input Hoe the union’s Federal
f s Committee, Regi
State PACs and our snags

International union, AFSCME

PME THE WORK FORCE November i998 ||
HE WORK FORCE Nove
mber 1998 ol

61

eee eeEEeE—eeeeeeeeeee

CSEA
endorses
these
candidates
sn the Nov. 3

°
general elections!
NEW YORK
CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT NAME
Oo Michael Forbes
02 Rick Lazio
03 Peter King
04 Carolyn McCarthy
05 Gary Ackerman
06 Gregory Meeks
07 Joseph Crowley
08 Jerrold Nadler
09 No Endorsement
10 Edolphus Towns
Ul Major Owens
12 Nydia Velazquez
13 No Endorsement
14 Carolyn Maloney
15 Charles Rangel
16 Jose Serrano
iy Eliot Engel
18 Nita M. Lowey
19) No Endorsement
20 Benjamin Gilman
21 Michael McNulty
22 John Sweeney
23 Sherwood Boehlert
24 John McHugh
25 No Endorsement
26 Maurice Hinchey
PA No Endorsement
28 Louise Slaughter
29 John LaFalce
30 Jack Quinn
31 Amory Houghton, Jr.

NYS Assembly
endorsements

NEW YORK STATE SENATE
DISTRICT NAME
il Kenneth LaValle
2 James Lack
3 Caesar Trunzo
4 Qwen Johnson
5 Carl Marcellino
6 Kemp Hannon
Ht Michael Balboni
8 Charles Fuschillo, Jr.
9 Dean Skelos
10 Alton Waldon, Jr.
i Frank Padavan
12 Ada Smith
13 No Endorsement
14 George Onorato
15 No Endorsement
16 Leonard Stavisky
17 Nellie Santiago
18 Velmanette Montgomery
19 John Sampson
20 Marty Markowitz
21 Carl Kruger
22 Seymour Lachman
23 Vincent Gentile
24 John Marchi
20 Martin Connor
26 Roy Goodman
27 Thomas Duane
28 Olga Mendez
29) David Paterson
30 Eric Schneiderman
31 Efrain Gonzalez, Jr.
32 David Rosado
a8) Larry Seabrook
34 Guy Valella
35) Nicholas Spano
36 Suzi Oppenheimer
37 Vincent Leibell
38 Joseph Holland
39 William Larkin
40 John Bonacic
41 Stephen Saland
42 Neil Breslin
43 Joseph Bruno
44 Hugh Farley
45 Ronald Stafford
46 James Wright
AT Raymond Meier
48 Nancy Larraine Hoffman
49 John DeFrancisco
50 James Seward
51 Thomas Libous
52 John Randy Kuhl
53 Michael Nozzolio
54 Richard Dollinger
55 James Alesi
56 Patricia McGee
57 Anthony Nanula
58 William Stachowski

Dale Volker
Mary Lou Rath
George Maziarz

DISTRICT

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

NAME
Patricia Acampora
Fred Thiele
Debra Mazzarelli
Steve Englebright
Paul Harenbers
Robert Wertz
Thomas Barrag@
Philip Boyle
John Flanagan
James Conte
Robert Sweeney
Steven Labriola
David Sidikman
Marc Herbst
Donna Ferrara
Thomas DiNapoli
Maureen o’Connell
Earlene Hooper Hill
Kathleen Murray
Harvey Weisenberg
James Darcy
Thomas Alfano
Audrey Pheffer
No Endorsement
Brian McLaughlin
Ann Margaret Carrozza
Nettie Mayersohn
No Endorsement
William Scarborough
No Endorsement
Pauline Cummings
Vivian Coo
Barbara Clark
Ivan Lafayette
Jeffrion Aubry
Denis Butler
Catherine Nolan
Anthony Seminerio
No Endorsement
Edward Griffith
Helene Weinstein
Rhoda Jacobs
Clarence Norman, Jr.
James Brennan
No Endorsement
Adele Cohen
William Colton
No Endorsement
Peter Abbate, Jy.
Joseph Lentol
Felix Ortiz
Joan Millman
Vito LopeZ
Darry! Towns
William Boyland
Albert’ Vann

Roger Green

Nick Perry
Elizabeth Connelly
Eric Vitaliano
Robert Straniere
Sheldon Silver
Steven Sanders
Richard Gottfried
Alexander Grannis
Deborah Glick
Scott Stringer
Nelson Antonio Denis
Edward Sullivan
Keith Wright
Herman D. Farrell, Jr.
No Endorsement
No Endorsement
Carmen Arroyo
Ruben Diaz, Jy.
Peter Rivera

No Endorsement
Roberto Ramirez
Gloria Davis
Jeffrey Klein
Jeffrey Dinowitz
No Endorsement
Samuel Bea, Jr.
James Gary Pretlow
Ronald C. Tocci
Richard Brodsky
Michael Spano
Audrey Hochberg
Naomi Matusow
John Sarcone
Willis Stephens, AV ee
Alexander Gromack
Samuel Colman
Nancy Calhoun
Howard Mills

Judy Green

Joel Miller

Jacob Gunther
Dana Robideau

No Endorsement
No Endorsement
No Endorsement
James Tedisco

No Endorsement
Paul Tonko

Ronald Canestrari
Robert Prentiss
Pat Casale

No Endorsement
Chris Ortloff
William Magee
Dierdre Scozzafava

Marc Butler

H. Robert Nortz
David R. ‘Townsend, Jy.
RoAnn Destito
Frances Sullivan
Michael Bragman
Joan Christensen
James Corbett
Harold Brown, Jr.
Clifford Crouch
Jay Dinga

Robert Warner
Martin Luster
Daniel Fessenden
George Winner
Robert Oaks
Craig Doran
James Bacalles

David Koon

Jerry Johnson

No Endorsement
Francine DelMonte
No Endorsement
Robin Schimminger
Arthur Eve

Susan Peimer

Paul Tokasz

Sam Hoyt

Brian Higgins
Richard Smith

No Endorsement
Robert Kucewicz
Cathy Young
William Parment

VOTE for

CSEA-

endorsed
candidates
Election Day
Nov. 3; 1998

Important Reminder from Joint Committee on Health Benefits for State Employees

November is Annual Option Transfer Month

ovember is the Annual Option
Transfer month, when state
employees may change their
health insurance option, pre-tax

Guide.

contribution status, and/or

Dependent Care Advantage

Account participation.

Employees who wish to change their plan option must do so during the
Option Transfer Period by contacting their health benefits administrator,

located in their agency personnel office.

NOTE: When this article was going to print, the 1999 New York State
Health Insurance Program premium rates were not yet approved by the
NYS Insurance Department. As soon as the 1999 rates are approved, a
Rates & Deadlines Guide will be sent to enrollees’ homes so an informed
decision can be made about your health insurance choices for 1999. As
always, you will have 30 days from the date that the rate information is
released to make your changes. If you decide NOT to change your health

insurance option, you do not have to take any action.

V Attention NYS Health Insurance
Program Enrollee

New York State helps employees pay for health
insurance coverage. After the State’s contribution,
you are responsible for paying the balance of
your premium through biweekly deductions from
your paycheck.

If you enroll in the Empire Plan, the State pays
90 percent of the premium for individual
coverage For family coverage, the State pays 90
percent of your premium as the enrollee, plus 75
percent of the cost of dependent coverage
regardless of the number of dependents.

If you enroll in a HMO, the State pays 90
percent of the non-prescription drug components
of the premium for individual coverage. For family
coverage, the State pays 90 percent of the non-
prescription drug components of your premium
as the enrollee, plus 75 percent of those
components of the premium for dependent
coverage regardless of the number of dependents.

As of January 1, 1998, the State’s dollar
contribution for the non-prescription drug
components of your HMO premium would not
exceed 105 percent of its dollar contribution for
those components of the Empire Plan premium.
Effective January 1, 1999, the State’s dollar
contribution for the non-prescription drug
components of your HMO premium will not
exceed 100 percent of its dollar contribution for
those components of the Empire Plan premium.

This change could have a significant impact on
what you currently pay for your HMO coverage in
1999.

U Health Insurance Choices for 1999

The Health Insurance “CHOICES” for 1999
publication is scheduled to be mailed to your
agency health benefits administrator's ‘office in
early November. The publication describes the

Pee: THE WORK FORCE

November

Empire Plan and the NYS Health Insurance
Program (NYSHIP) approved HMO in your
geographic region and can be a very important
resource if you are contemplating changing your
health insurance option, If you would like to
review your options and the benefits available,
you may obtain a copy of the Health Insurance
“CHOICES” for 1999 from your health benefits
administrator directly.

U Pre-tax Contribution Program (PTCP)

The Pre-tax Contribution Program (PTCP)
allows you to have your health insurance
premiums deducted from your pay before taxes
are taken out. This may lower your taxable
income and give you more spendable income.
Under IRS rules, by participating in the PTCP you
may change your health insurance deduction
during the tax year only after a qualifying event.
The PTCP is explained in the NYSHIP Health
Insurance “CHOICES” for 1999 and is
automatically applied unless you sign a waiver
indicating that you do not wish to participate. If
you want to change your tax status for 1999
health insurance premiums, you should see your
health benefits administrator by no later than
November 30 which is the IRS deadline. No action
is needed if you wish to keep your current pre-tax
option.

UV Dependent Care Advantage Account

The Dependent Care Advantage Account helps
you reduce your taxes and increase your
spendable income by paying your dependent care
expenses with pre-tax dollars. This program is
available if you have dependent children of any
age or adult relatives needing care in order for
you to continue working. A booklet explaining
how this program works is available from your
health benefits administrator, The enrollment
deadline is November 20; however, employees
who experience a family status change may still
enroll during the program year. For further

1998

If you wish to change health insurance options, you must submit a
signed Health Insurance Transaction Form PS-404 to your agency Health
Benefits Administrator by the deadline specified in the Rate & Deadlines

1998 NYSHIP Benefit Statement

y now you should have already received the 1998 NYSHIP Benefit
Statement/Correction Form which was mailed to the home of every
NYSHIP enrollee.

Your benefit statement shows your official health insurance enrollment
record at the Department of Civil Service, Employee Benefits Division.
Please review your entire record for accuracy and completeness, making any
necessary corrections and return it to your agency Health Benefits
Administrator as soon as possible.

If your record is complete and correct, no action is required.

information regarding the Dependent Care
Advantage Account Program, see your agency
health benefits administrator or call
1-800-358-7202.

State Empire Plan Enrollees
May Be Eligible for Out-of-
Pocket Reduction

Empire Plan enrollees may be eligible for the
Basic Medical Program's co-insurance
maximum reduction provision.

Through a negotiated benefit for CSEA-
represented state employees, Empire Plan
enrollees may be eligible to reduce their
annual out-of-pocket co-insurance from $776 to
$500 per calendar year. As of October 1, 1998
those employees earning $21,696 or less base
salary are eligible.

Enrollees who meet the criteria may obtain
an application from the New York State
Department of Civil Service at 1 (800) 833-4344
or (518) 457-5754, Information showing that the
enrollee is the head of the household and sole
wage earner of the family must be provided.

Send application to:

NYS Department of Civil Service

Division of Employee Benefits

W. Averell Harriman State Office
Building Campus

Albany, N.Y. 12239

© Please refer to your Empire Plan
Certificate for out-of-pocket cos sociated
with the Managed Physical Medicine Program
and the Managed Mental Health and Substance
Abuse Program. Although the out-of-pocket
costs remain unchanged, they differ widely
based on network vs. non-network benefits.

Helping to
Build Your
Community
There’s no master

blueprint for building

strong communities.
Fortunately though, there are
experienced United Way
volunteers to assemble the
building blocks. They know
our community

inside and out,

so together

we can assess

and address

the challenges

that make

our home-

town unique.

By promoting

partnerships and

seeking preventative solutions,
we make sure your donation
is well spent.

United Way...
Building communities, one
by one.

i
B:
a")
5)
+

A PARTNE

The
powel

of YU’

1(800)411-UWAY
http://www.unitedway.org

UNION PLUS CREDIT CARD
im SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE

Applications for the 1999 Union Plus Credit
Card Scholarship Program for union members,
their spouses and dependent children are now
available. The 1999 Scholarship Program will
award $250,000 in scholarships. Under the
program, winners are selected from applicants
who meet the eligibility requirements. They will
receive one-time awards between $500 to
$4,000.

Members can obtain an application by

| sending a postcard with their name, address,
phone number and AFSCME local number to:

Union Plus Credit Card Scholarship

P.O. Box 9389

| Minneapolis, MN 55440-9389

| Completed applications for the 1999
scholarship must be postmarked no later than
January 31, 1999. The scholarship winners will
be announced May 31, 1999.

COMPLAINT

AGAINST

UNLICENSED
SUBCONTRACTOR —
CSEA has filed a complaint
with the state Department of
Licensing after learning the private contractor
hired by the Town of Smithtown to perform
“professional investigative services” has been
doing so without a license. “The town is
attempting to circumvent our union contract
and the law by hiring a supposed professional
who is not working with a license, is not
bonded and. is not a member of the collective
bargaining agreement. We are going to put a
stop to it,” said CSEA Town of Smithtown Unit
President Doug Keltner. The union has also
filed an Improper Practice charge against the
town. ... YONKERS DISTRICT UNIT
PRESIDENT HONORED — Yonkers School
District President Mae Tyropolis was cited by
Yonkers Mayor John Spencer and the city’s
Republican Committee. “We are pleased to
honor CSEA for standing by our city through
our difficult years and for their steadfast
commitment to protecting the needs and rights
of our labor force,” Spencer explained. ...
DUTCHESS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC
COMMITTEE HONORS CSEA ACTIVIST —
Dorothy Killmer was one of eight union
activists to be honored by the Dutchess
County Democratic Committee. The awards
were presented at the annual Salute to Labor
dinner. Killmer is 1st vice president of the
Taconic DDSO Local. ... TRESPASSING
CHARGES AGAINST UFW PRESIDENT
DROPPED — Charges of trespassing against
Arturo Rodriguez, president of the United
Farmworkers union will be dropped, ending a
bizarre scenario that took place May 15.
Rodriguez, in the Buffalo area to address an
anniversary dinner of the Western New York
Council on Occupational Safety and Health,
stopped by a Wegmans supermarket with several
supporters to advise the store manager of the
campaign against non-union strawberry growers.
After asking for the manager, Rodriguez was asked
to leave.When he did not leave fast enough, police
were called, and charges were filed. The arrest
prompted a spontaneous demonstration that
included many CSEA leaders and members, ...
COHOES POLITICAL LANDSCAPE CHANGES
— An upstart grassroots insurgent
organization, consisting of concerned citizens,

265,000 mempens STRON™

union members and
private sector business

f ‘leaders, won seven
“races and gained control
aS of 15 party committee seats
i

in the September 15 primary.

The wins assure that the newly

established Democrats Changing
Cohoes organization will have enough

support to influence the selection of
candidates in the November 1999 elections, ...
CSEA REFRAINS FROM BUYING AD TIME ON
BUFFALO TV STATIONS — CSEA will not buy
advertising time on two Buffalo TV stations, WGRZ-
TV2 and WKBW-TV7, that are in contract
stalemates with their unions. ... NCMC
RECOGNITION. LUNCHEON — Doctors and
nurses were recently recognized by the Nassau
County Medical Center (NCMC) administration
for their volunteer services at the recent
Goodwill Games. White linens, flowers and an
elegant buffet transformed the auditorium into
a cafe for the recognition luncheon. CSEA
members were called one by one to receive
plaques and certificates. ... NO CONTRACT AT
LINDENHURST LIBRARY — CSEA members
from the Lindenhurst Library are proving their

. unified commitment to get a fair contract. That

commitment was shown at a demonstration
recently, prior to a library board meeting. Unit
members wore black armbands and
“CONTRACT NOW” buttons as they circled the
front of the library. ... MOHAWK VALLEY
PSYCHIATRIC CENTER LOCAL AWARDS
SCHOLARSHIPS —Three $250 scholarships
were awarded to beginning college students
whose parents are MVPC employees. The 1998
scholarship winners are: Lisa Horvath,
daughter of JoAnn and Fred Horvath; Greg
Jasinski, son of Patricia and Michael Jasinski
and Amber Schmidt, daughter of Kim and
Andrew Schmidt. Congratulations to the
winners! ... THANKS TO FELLOW
EMPLOYEES — CSEA member Phillip
Cervantez and his family are extending their
thanks to his fellow DOT employees across the
state who donated leave time on his behalf.
Cervantez, a bridge repair assistant in the state
DOT Bridge Maintenance Unit is currently at
the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center
where he awaits a heart transplant. ...
ACCURACY IS IMPORTANT — In the October
edition, Deborah DeCicco was mistakenly
referred to as the Ulster Local President in an
article about scholarship winners. She is, in
fact, the Ulster County unit president, Sandra
Reynolds is the Ulster local president. Sorry.m

November 1998 THE WORK FORCE page LO

- sf :
= 1 | 4
; aw | ms | 4 i iis
Pr a

cial publication of
The Civil Service Employees Association, Inc.
Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO
143 Washington Avenue
any, New York 12210-2303

1 men Ree A TRESS