The Public Sector, 1983 April 8

Official Publication of The Civil
Service Employees Association

Local

1000, American

Federation of State, County and

Municipal Employees
Vol. 5, No. 13

AFL-CIO

Friday, April 8, 1983

(ISSN 0164 99497

ro We Et

| ALBANY — With New York State’s newly enacted $32.7 billion
{| budget firmly in place, Cuomo Administration officials have still not
| made final determinations on the number of state employees still
| targeted for layoffs or where those layoffs will occur.
The pressure of the layoff threat and its April 7 deadline was eased
somewhat when Gov. Cuomo and administration officials agreed to a
{| CSEA request to defer all layoffs until after May 5. This was intended to
j allow state officials to reassess their earlier layoff plans in the light of the
| new budget and to fully assess work’ force reductions from early
} retirements which will also impact on actual layoffs required.
| As adopted, the: state’s 1983-84 fiscal budget still requires the
elimination of some 11,000 state jobs. And plans still call for an estimated
| 3,100 actual layoffs of current employees to reach that work force target,
but that is about all that is clear so far as administration and legislative
| officials sort out exactly where appropriations are modified and what
| impact, if any, those modifications will have on jobs.
| For the 7,000 state employees who received layoff notices last month,
there was continuing anxiety. While all knew that the effective date of
April 7 had been deferred until early May, they also knew that about one
| half of those notices would be repealed. But no one knew which layoff
notices would be cancelled.
| The state is reportedly pressing ahead with plans to send new notices
out to affected employees advising them that their original notices have
been cancelled or simply deferred to May.

Meanwhile there were growing indications that when the May layoff
deadline arrives, less than the 3,100 remaining layoffs will actually be
required. The optimism is based on-a flood of activity in Cuomo’s early
retirement incentive program, a first for state workers.

The program offers an additional three years of service credits for
eligible employees retiring in a “window period’ between March 1] and
May 31, 1983. That means higher pension benefits for those who retire; in
some cases beyond the normal “maximum benefits” to which they might

say it all during a public employees rally in Buffalo recently to protest
layoffs under the new state budget. Similar demonstrations were conducted
by CSEA members at scores of locations statewide in recent weeks (see |

| otherwise be entitled.

(Continued on Page 19)
nt aig gee

ALBANY — It’s not quite two weeks old, but
already New York State's first early retirement
incentive program is showing signs of being a
victim of its own success.

After mostly procedural delays, the New York
State Legislature has approved Gov. Mario M.
Cuomo’s proposal for offering special retirement
penefit incentives to state employees retiring

after March 1, 1983, but before May 31, 1983.
| The administration projected that about 4,200

state employees could be coaxed into early

retirement by awarding any eligible retiree a

special three year service credit in addition to

their earned service credits if they retired now,
at the outset of the state’s fiscal year.

Meanwhile, non-judicial court employees have

been made eligible to choose the early

retirement incentive option program. The Office

of Court Administration this week elected to

include its non-judicial court workers in the list

of state workers eligible to select early
. retirement under the special program.

‘The idea behind the program was to reduce the
| need for layoffs by encouraging normal attrition
to accelerate.

CSEA projected that the target retirements
could be easily exceeded and apparently that
projection was right. In fact, officials at the New
York State Employees’ Retirement System have
been inundated with retirement applications,
requests for official estimates of pension
benefits, and requests for personal retirement
4 counselings.

requests for official pension estimates were
arriving at the rate of 300 per day. By early this
week, they estimate applications were arriving
at the rate-of more than 1,200 per day!

In a system geared to handle less than that
number of estimates a month, applications
began backing up despite the best efforts of

ALBANY — “‘It’s just another useless report”
is CSEA President William L. McGowan’s
description of the latest Tier III
recommendations released by the Permanent
Commission on Public Employee Pension and
Retirement Systems.

“We're very disappointed with the report,”
McGowan explained. ‘The Commission is
tinkering with details of the onerous Social
Security offset formula and recommending
administrative reforms, but they’re still not
adequately addressing the basic inequities in the
system. They’re still proposing that Tier TIT
members continue to pay more now and get less
later.”

CSEA officials will begin testifying next week
at public hearings on proposed changes in the
Tier Ill retirement system. Hearings are
scheduled for April 12 in Albany and April 14 in
New York City.

The hearings will focus on the 87-page report
issued by the pension commission. In general

members, pressed into overtime to try to deal
with the massive demands on the agency.
Retirement ‘System officials notified state
personnel offices that any requests for official
pension estimates received after April 11 could
not be answered prior to the May 2, 1983 filing
(Continued on Page 11)

E, GET LESS

terms, the Commission reversed its 1982 position |
and recommended that the employees’ 3 percent |

contribution be continued, but proposed that the |
complicated Social Security offset formula be §

changed. q

“They’re still integrating the pension benefits |
with Social Security, but now instead of calling it
an ‘offset’ they're labeling it an ‘aggregate’ |
integration. They can call it anything they like, |
put it’s still Tier III and it’s still not acceptable.”

“The Legislature must take action on Tier HII |
before the plan’s scheduled June 30 expiration
date,” the CSEA President added. “We'll be
testifying at the hearings, we're planning a |
major lobbying effort, and we'll continue to work |
hard to abolish Tier III.”

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main Metropolitan Region Il

Stavisky clear choice in
race for state senate seat

NEW YORK CITY — CSEA has endorsed
Assemblyman Leonard Stavisky in his bid for .the
State Senate in a special election to be held on April
12 to fill the seat vacated by Rep. Gary Ackerman.

Metropolitan Region II President George
Caloumeno stressed the importance of electing
Stavisky. ‘‘As an assemblyman, Stavisky proved he
was a true friend of CSEA,”’ Caloumeno said. “‘Now
he is facing a Ronald Reagan sponsored Republican
in a special election for the Senate. We have to go
all out to ensure that Stavisky is elected and this
seat doesn’t fall to the Republicans.”

An outstanding assemblyman for 18 years,
Stavisky, Chairman of the Assembly Education
Committee, is credited by many with having saved
the New York City school system during the 1975

fiscal crisis. He has been recognized nationally for
his expertise in education.

Stavisky is a Commissioner on the Education
Commission of the States and past Chairman of the
Education Committee of the National Conference of
State Legislatures, which represents 7,500
lawmakers in all 50 states. In these capacities,
Stavisky is a spokesman for the states on educa-
tional issues involving the federal government and
local school districts throughout the nation.

Caloumeno reports that Region II’s Political Ac-
tion Committee under the chairmanship of Robert
Nurse is “going all out” for Stavisky, including
establishing phone banks, door-to-door volunteer
work and distributing literature.

Assemblyman Leonard Stavisky ... running in a
special election April 12 for state senate seat.

Arbitrator Grant said it was

CSEA wins
dispute over
psychiatric
coverage in
Erie County

BUFFALO — CSEA and
AFSCME, representing nearly the
entire 10,000 member Erie County
work force, have won a clear-cut
victory in a dispute with the County
Administration over the halting of
Workers’ Psychiatric Health
Coverage,

Arbitrator Alice Grant found the
County Government in violation of
eontracts for not providing
psychiatric care since January 1,
when coverage lapsed.

The county must now resume its
psychiatric health care coverage
and reimburse county workers for
their out-of-pocket expenses for
that coverage since the beginning
of the year.

The dispute originated in parallel
lawsuits by both CSEA Local 815
and AFSCME Local 1095. The
lawsuits were dropped in return for
speeded-up contract arbitration
hearings.

“perfectly clear’ according to con-
tract language that the county
should provide the coverage, and
ordered purchase of a special rider
that became necessary when Blue
Cross/Blue Shield changed policy,
at the end of December.

Local 815 represents about 4200
white collar workers and Local
1095 represents about 5000 blue col-
lar workers.

EMPLOYEES, STUDENTS AND ALUMNI of the New York City Campus of
Empire State College gather in front of State University of New York
(SUNY) Chancellor Clifford Wharton’s New York City office to await of-
ficial word, which never came, on their status. The SUNY budget called for

workers,

the closing of the campus and the 15 employees there, including three CSEA

CAM TD APD I A ARN ETA AN BNE RL RL RE AS

members, received layoff notices effective July 1. Despite the restoration of
funds for SUNY by the legislature, the layoff notices have not been rescind-
ed. CSEA members Jay Chaisen (left) discusses the situation with his co-

ALBANY — Public employees who belong to the Statewide Health
(Metropolitan) Option are reminded that the mandatory second surgical
opinion program goes into effect April 1.

Second medical opinions will, thereafter, be required to receive max-
imum benefits for the following elective procedures: bunionectomy,
cataract removal, deviated septum, hysterectomy, knee surgery and
prostatectomy.

The cost of the second opinion will be paid in full by the Health Plan, and
the medical consultant will be an independent expert certified by the State
Civil Service Department. Arrangements should be made at least two weeks
before the surgery is scheduled.

To arrange for the second surgical consultation, or to get answers to any

«—Mandatory surgical opinion program fo begin—

questions about the program, calf one of the following toll-free telephone
numbers:

New York City area (including Long Island and Rockland/Westchester
counties): 1-800-832-4650.

Other areas: 1-400-342-3726.

If, after the second opinion is given, a person decides to have the elec-
tive surgery, hospital expenses will be paid in full by Blue Cross, and
Metropolitan medical/surgical will pay 80 percent of covered charges for
surgery, anesthesia and other related expenses.

Payments will be made regardless of whether or not the second opinion
confirmed the need for surgery. But, if a person does not arrange for a se-
cond opinion, then only 50 percent of covered hospital and surgical/medical
charges will be paid.

Cornell hosts
Labor Studies
during July

ITHACA — Labor Studies Summer
School will be conducted this July for
the seventh year by the New York
State School of Industrial and Labor
Relations. Classes are held on the
Cornell University campus in Ithaca.

Coures scheduled for July.10-15 are:
Sbor Movements During the 19th
Century, Labor and Technology, and
Preventing Occupational Cancer.

Scheduled for July 17-22 are courses
on Labor Movements During the 20th
Century, Quality of Work Life,
Women at Work, and Career
Planning.

Dormitory accommodations are
available at $18 per night single and
@3.25 double. Tuition for a 1.5 credit
hour course is $92.50. Classes are held
Monday through Friday from 8:30
a.m, to 12:30 p.m., with orientation on
Sunday evening.

Employee Benefit
| Fund moves

The CSEA Employee Benefit
Fund has moved its offices from
One Park Place, Albany, to 14
Corporate Woods Boulevard,
Albany, N.Y. 12211.

The main telephone number is’
now (518) 463-4555.

The toll-free number remains
the same. It is:

For additional information contact
Ann Herson at NYSSILER Extension
Division, Cornell University, Ithaca,

MONROE COUNTY EMPLOYEES UNIT of Monroe County CSEA Local 828 1-800

recently overwhelmingly voted to accept a new contract. Unit member Bob
Riggins, who served on the ratification committee, was among those voting in

N.Y. 14853, phone (607) 256-3287.

Sac UR CRU NIE

i}

FORMER NEW YORK CITY (CSEA) Local 010
member Guy DePhillips accepts congratulations
from New York City Mayor Ed Koch upon his
wearing-in as a Judge of the New York City

VM

favor or the new agreement.

2 A AAR A TN RRA LN SY

TT

Municipal Family Court.
DePhillips was a member of Local 010 from 1965
until his recent appointment to the bench.

om

tas a

8
Lane mas: coe

342-4274

Cuomo proposes
| UDC bonds for
| building cells

ALBANY — With prisons in New York State
currently at 113.3 percent of capacity, Gov. Mario
Cuomo has proposed that the Urban Development
Corp. (UDC) issue up to $150 million in bonds to
finance construction of 3,000 new prison cells.

“Unless overcrowding is relieved,” the chief

' executive told legislators, “‘this State will see

* repeats of incidents as happened at Ossining in
January. And the next time, the consequences may
be more severe.”

UDC financing would avoid further strains on the
state’s financial situation while permitting quick
expansion of prison capacity. It would also assure

|) legislative oversight of prison development since
construction bonds would require the unanimous
approval of the three-member Public Authorities
Control Board which is made up of the chairmen of
the Assembly Ways and Means Committee and the
Senate Finance Committee as well as the state
Budget Director.

New prison sites are: Altona near Clinton, N.Y.;
Lockport Air Force Base, Cambria, N.Y.; Hancock
AFB near Syracuse; Stuart Park, near Newark,
N.Y. and an annex to the state prison at Coxsackie.
Facilities at both Watertown and Ogdensburg
prisons would be expanded.

The state’s prison population currently stands at
29,409 but is expected to reach 30,100 next year arid
increase by 1,000 annually through 1986.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday. April 8, 1983

Poge 3

£6 ‘8 iudy ‘ADpiss “O1D3S DITGNd 3HL

» e604

Official publication of
The Civil Service Employees Association
Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO

33 Elk Street, Albany, New York 12224

The Public Sector (445010) is published every
other Friday by the Civil Service Employees
Association, 33 Elk Street, Albany, New York
12224.

Publication office, 1 Columbia Place, Albany,
New York 12207.

Second Class Postage paid at Post Office,
Albany, New York.

GARY G. FRYER — Publisher
ROGER A. COLE — Editor
TINA LINCER FIRST — Associate Editor
GWENN M. BELLCOURT — Assistant Editor

Address changes should be sent to Civil Ser-
vice Employees Association, The Public Sector,
33 Elk Street, Albany, New York 12224.

Erie benefits upheld

BUFFALO — “The unions did not bargain
for a number as in a lottery, but bargained for
a specific plan which included certain
benefits.”

In that one sentence, Arbitrator Alice B.
Grant went to the heart of the matter and
upheld a grievance against Erie County that
was filed by CSEA Local 815 when employees’
health insurance coverage was changed and
they lost psychiatric care benefits.

CSEA argued that it bargained for specific
kinds of coverage as provided by ‘‘Blue Shield
Plan 50-51,” and that the coverage could not
be “unilaterally abrogated.”

The county responded that when the in-
surance carrier discontinued the ‘50-51 Plan,”
it was obligated only to promise a “Blue
Cross-Blue Shield Plan’ and not specific
coverage. This prompted Grant to note: ‘‘The
County bases its principal argument on the
contention that the contracts provide for a
BC-BS plan and not for specific coverage. The
Unions, however, did not bargain for a
number as in a lottery, but bargained for a
specific plan which included certain benefits
... Inits contracts. . . the County agreed that
it would provide health insurance coverage
under Blue Shield 50-51. When Blue Cross-Blue
Shield eliminated that plan, then the County
was obligated to choose a plan which provided
the same benefits as the 50-51 plan.”

Grant, therefore, ordered the county to
purchase “Rider 16” coverage for all
employees which restores the psychiatric
care benefit.

senditto: -

GIVIN

5

Change of Address
he Public Sector’
In the event that you change your maling address, a i
12 peace Peasant oe

CSEA REGION I Political Action Chairman
Mike Curtin reads inscription on a plaque
presented to him recently by Region I President
Danny Donohue, background. Curtin was

recognized for his role in lobbying efforts to ob-
tain a new contract for Suffolk County workers
and for his work in lobbying against state
employee layoffs in the region.

Fe i ina a a |

My present label reads exactly as shown here (or affix mailing label).

Name. Local Number.
Street.
City. State. Zip.

My New Address Is:

Street.

Clty. State. Zip.

Agency where employed.

aan aga

My sociel securlty no.

Info Center on
preferred lists
opened fo help
layoff victims

vice has set up a Pi

The Center,
the State Office

ALBANY — The Department of Civil Ser-
red List Information
yees facing layoffs.
Counselors will be available 8 a.m. to 6
p.m. to answer telephone questions.
The phone number Is (518) 457-2973.
in Room 119 In Bullding'1 of
iding Campus In Albany,
/ will also provide Information on a walk-in
basis from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. dally.

(S18).
457-2978

CONTRACTS OK'D

... for Pearl River Library

PEARL RIVER — A three-year contract containing a pay increase of 25
percent has been approved by both the Pearl River Public Library and CSEA
employees.

A 9 percent hike retroactive to July 1 will be followed by an 8 percent
increase this July 1. Another 8 percent boost goes into effect July 1, 1984,

By the third year of the agreement, the library will pay 100 percent of the
employees’ hospitalization plan. For the first two years, library contributions
to the plan will be 65 percent and 85 percent, respectively.

Employees will be allowed to have payroll deductions made to the CSEA
Masterplan insurance programs. Also, non-competitive and labor class
employees who have been working at the library for at least six months will be
given full protection under Section 75 of the Civil Service Law. Section 75
provides for a hearing in the event of disciplinary actions or discharge.

Collective Bargaining Specialist Manny Vitale praised the work of the

CSEA negotiating team, which was comprised of Unit President Margaret K.

@ Growner, committee chairwoman, and members Mary Ratnecht, Edna Pfaff,
and Geree Rosinski.

... for City of Middletown

MIDDLETOWN — Workers in this Orange County city will be enjoying
increases in pay, and meal and mileage allowances under a contract that has
been ratified by unit members and the city’s Common council.

The two-year pact, which took effect Jan. 1, contains wage hikes of 8
percent this year and an additional 8 percent for 1984, in addition to increments
where due.

The meal allowance went up 25 cents, from $3.25 to $3.50. Mileage was
increased from 18 cents to 20 cents.

Four positions were reallocated to higher grades. They include housing
inspector, chief sewage plant operator, junior engineer and police dispatcher.

Supervisors’ flat dollar “‘in lieu of overtime”’ payment will be increased by
8 percent each of the agreement’s two years.

Unit President William ‘Pat’? Osborne was chairman of the CSEA
negotiating committee. Other committee members included Daniel J.
Osborne, Henry Cutler, Jackie Patterson, Walter J. Maher, Ted Walters,
Ronald Walrath, and Phil Pingotti. Collective Bargaining Specialist Many
Vitale is being credited by the committee for working out a fair agreement for
the Middletown city workers.

GRIEVANCES WON
..» by Suffolk clericals

HAUPPAUGE -- Clerical personnel who work in the central records sec-
tion of the Suffolk County Police Department have won a grievance they filed
when the county declined to grant them overtime pay, for working through
meal periods.

The employees, who staff 19 telephone extensions, provide information
from available records to law enforcement officials. If, for example, someone
is arrested for speeding, the arresting officer will call them to find out if the
speeder has a prior record or any outstanding offenses. <

Beginning in mid-1981, employees began to miss breaks and lunch period:
because of personnel shortages. Time-and-a-half compensation was granted
instead. But on Dec. 15, the county issued a directive that ‘‘if any employee is
compelled to miss her meal period or any portion thereof due to her official
duties, she shall be entitled to straight time for ... for any portion so
missed. .. .”

Later, rules were tightened so that “whenever there are more than two
persons working a particular tour, no missed meals will be accepted. They
must be taken or forfeited.”

The county defended its decision to pay straight time by arguing that the
job “normally” requires working through lunch breaks. Arbitrator Max Doner
disagreed. He found that the employees involved are not “normally” required
to do so and consequently upheld the grievance on behalf of White Collar Unit 2
of Suffolk County Local 852.

The decision was another victory for CSEA’s Legal Assistance Program.

... by Nassau correction officer

MINEOLA — The punitive transfer of a Nassau County employee has been
condemned by a grievance hearing officer.

The ruling declared that ‘‘it is apparent to the arbitrator that the reason for
the employee’s transfer was because he was circulating a petition advocating
an action. . .”” The arbitrator said that it was a “general” rule that “a
transfer cannot be used as a form of discipline.”

The case involved a Nassau County correction officer who had been trans-
ferred from a desirable to a less desirable assignment after circulating a
petition advocating a separation of the sheriff’s and correction services into
two separate departments.

CSEA had offered evidence that the officer had been rebuked by superiors
for his action, and had been transferred the following day.

The case was successfully argued by Barry Peek of the law firm of CSEA
Regional Attorney Richard M. Gaba.

e
e
’
NEWLY-APPOINTED SAFETY COMMITTEE members in CSEA Region
@ VI held their initial meeting recently. Among those present were, from left,
Art Cousineau, Sharon Cordaro, Regional Safety Coordinator John Bieger,

Robert Schaff, Gilbert Collins and Stephen Carvana. Committee members
not pictured are Mike Curtis, Jack Schlenker, John Brandits, Margaret
Dale, John Wallenbeck, Thomas Finger and Dick Maggio.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, April 8, 1983

Page 5

va

The making of a strong
education committee: Region V's
Mary Lauzon the ‘natural choice’

SYRACUSE — The ultimate success of a
program or plan, most experts agree, depends upon

PLANNING AHEAD — Region V Education Com-
mittee members go over plans for future training
sessions and workshops at a recent meeting in
Syracuse. Seated left to right, Cynthia Hammond,
Carol Uhlig, Committee Chairperson Mary Lauzon,

Dolores Herrig. Standing are Donna Tuthill and
Clara Pruitt. Other committee members include:
Mark Smacher, vice-chairman; Dick Brown,
regional advisor; Merwin Stevens, Rosemary
Baker.

“Our first step,’’ Lauzon explained, ‘‘was to
request input from CSEA members as to types of

a key person or committee for the job. educational training they wanted. The committee e
Region V President Jim Moore knew where to reviewed all suggestions as they arrived, then
turn when he needed someone to serve as_ proceeded to plan a series of training sessions and
chairperson to strengthen the regional education programs throughout the region,”’ she continued.
committee. He appointed Mary Lauzon, a “As the largest CSEA region in terms of area, we
dedicated union activist and president of CSEA agreed that the interests of the members would best
Local 613 at SUNY Potsdam. be served if most sessions, other than steward
“In selecting the right chairperson we wanted training, were conducted in Syracuse, a central
someone with the right background experience — location near regional headquarters,’ Lauzon
someone with drive who could work with a added.
committee to formulate a series of informative The most recent training program March 19drew @
programs, workshops and seminars and then follow nearly 100 persons to Syracuse and offered two
a through,” Moore said. “Since Mary had been sessions. A 10 A.M. to noon segment entitled ‘‘Cop-
WOMAN ON THE GO — From a busy desk at actively involved in educational committee workon ing with Job Displacement’? was presented by
SUNY Potsdam, Mary Lauzon, Region V Education the statewide and local level, and also works in an Janice Frank, Clinical Director, Onondaga County
Committee Chairperson, uses some free time to educational atmosphere as a state employee, she Mental Health Department. It centered on dealing
evaluate a film or audio tape for use at a future was a natural choice,” Moore added. with the emotional trauma of facing job displace-
CSEA training session or workshop. Lauzon reports In discussing her role as committee leader, ment and was geared to state and other employees
her committee has already planneda series of train- Lauzon quickly pointed out thather groupmembers who have been or expected to be, notified of layoff.
ing workshops and programs to carry through the represent state, county and school district An afternoon session entitled ‘Employment
next nine months. employees who are compatible and eager to work. Rights,” presented by Joseph Tortelli, concen-
trated on marketing individual skills to benefit the e
‘In selecting the right chairperson, we wanted someone with ... employee in retaining or securing a position.
drive who could work with a committee to formulate a series of infor- Following the state workshop at Grossinger’s,
faathee ’ April 13-15, is schedule of future regional training
[ite nhindbn IIE legion V President James Moore sessions includes:
Te ¥ ‘ < May 14— ‘Personal Growth
Inventory”, Marilyn Kratz,
speaker Hotel Syracuse
June 17-19— Region V Conference, Lake
Placid (program to be listed
in conference agenda) )
July 22-28— Officers Training, Syracuse
Aug. 12-13— Officers Training, Syracuse
An introduction to CSEA that
will include seminars for all
elected officials,
parliamentary procedures,
plus sessions for audit and
budget committees
Judging by the enthusiasm at recent meetings
and growing interest in future sessions, the e

education committee is obviously producing good
results.

“Our primary goal is to offer as many interesting
and informative training sessions as possible.
Hopefully, with the cooperation of local and unit
officers, and stepped up communication among
CSEA Region V members, we can be successful,”
Lauzon said. ,

noted that contract language as it relates to longevity is ‘‘clear and e
unambiguous. There is no mention that the employee must be physically
performing his or her job for five continuous years in order to be eligible.
It merely states that the employee must be fulltime.”
Stilletti’s grievance arose because the town refused to promote him

to be a “heavy equipment operator B even though he was the most
senior person to apply. But the grievance took on an extra twist because

he was, initially, awarded the promotion but told after eights days on the
job that since he couldn't run a blacktop paver “satisfactorily,” he
wouldn't be promoted. L

____CSEA argued, however, that the job posting contained no indication
that the position would be limited to the operation of a blacktop paver. @
Morever, as a heavy equipment operator Stilletti had successfully
operated scrub grinders, sweepers, payloaders and other heavy equip-
ment. Finally, he was never given any training to use the paver but was,
instead, placed almost immediately into the ‘‘combat area.”
_ Inmaking a decision, Arbitrator William Waite observed that there is
@ “general assumption’ in both civil service and the private sector that,
“management will provide instruction and/or experience to all
employees which will enable them to advance in the organization.” Find-
ing that Stiletti was not afforded proper instruction, the arbitrator
upheld the grievance and noted “‘it is the town’s right to refuse to pro-

mote a man because he cannot perform the job. But, when they gave this e
applicant training in the work, it was not the right kind.”

Arbitrators twice favor
employees in two cases
involving Brookhaven

BROOKHAVEN — Two different arbitrators have handed this Suf-
folk County town two separate defeats and upheld the rights of two in-
dividual employees thanks to CSEA’s Legal Assistance Program.

In the first instance, Marion Hamilton was awarded a $200 longevity
payment after completing five years service as a legal stenographer. In
the second instance, Vincent Stilletti won the right to be promoted.

Hamilton’s grievance stemmed from the town’s refusal to pay the
$200 because it maintained her service was twice interrupted due to back
injuries. But CSEA countered that during these authorized leaves, the
town continued to pay her benefits and credit her with vacation time.
Moreover, Unit President Gerry Mott testified that another employee
he absent 10 weeks and still received credit for the time worked towards

longevity.

Arbitrator Vito Competiello concluded that based on these facts,
“The grievance of Marion Hamilton is granted retroactively,” and he

£861 8 judy “Apis “YOIDIS DNIENd 3H1

9 abog

New York
State
Employees
Brotherhood
Awards

Luncheon

4
Le ; i
NEW YORK CITY LOCAL 010 Ist Vice President Rose Sutro, left, Local

010 President Joseph Johnson, Jr., Metropolitan Department of Labor Local
350 President Denis Tobin and Metropolitan Region II President George

CSEA
comes to
rescue of
Warwick
police chief

WARWICK — An effort by Town
Supervisor Mary Murtie to
undermine the authority of Police
Chief James Eckerson has been
halted with the assistance of
CSEA’s legal assistance program.

An arbitration panel consisting
of Arthur T. Jacobs, Philip S.
Demarest and Roger G. Phillips
unanimously concluded that the
police chief suffered a ‘reduction
of benefits or privileges’ when the

Caloumeno. supervisor changed his work
schedule and ordered him to begin
working rotating shifts.
Traditionally, Eckerson worked on
a fixed weekday schedule but

always remained ‘‘or call.”’

The arbitrators’ decision was
based on what they described as,
“past practice sanctified again and
again by the Town.'’ They also
noted that a town witness himself
admitted that the chief was always
available when he worked the fixed
schedule so that “there was no
evidence presented to show he
would have been more available
when needed by the men if he had
been on a rotating shift.”

But the decision also had wider
implications as Regional Attorney
Barton Bloom explained. “The
supervisor made an effort to
undermine the authority of the
police chief and disrupt morale,
but in so doing violated the CSEA
contract and had to be stopped.’

"hk
CENTRAL REGION V PRESIDENT James Moore, left,

Metropolitan Region Il 1st Vice President and Downstate
Medical Center Local 646 President Frances DuBose-

Batiste, CSEA Secretary Irene Carr, Local 646 member
Audley Batiste and State Insurance Fund Local 351
President Harriet Hart.

The Town of Warwick CSEA Unit
is part of Orange County Local 836.

e local 872 reaches accord

NIAGARA FALLS — The Niagara Falls Schools non-instructional unit
has reached agreement on a two-year contract, ending negotiations that
stretched from March, 1982, through January, 1983.

The new pact for the 360-member unit of Local 872 calls for wage in-
creases of 6,5 percent in the first year, and 7.5 in the second year, in addition
to service and longevity increments as scheduled.

Local President Dominic Spacone said the unit also negotiated a retene-
tion of Blue Cross coverage and a change from Blue Shield to a GHI plan
that includes optical coverage.

@ The Major Medical coverage will increase from $20,000 to $50,000, and
savings derived from the switch to GHI will provide a $15,000 sum from
which to provide upgrade pay to workers following a job survey by a labor-
management committee.

Cafeteria cooks have been given a 35 cents per hour upgrading above the
general wage boost, and repairmen required to perform the duties of shop-
man will receive an additional 25 cents per hour when shopman job
specifications have been completed.

Thomas Christy was chief negotiator, along with Committee members,
Russ Bettis, unit President, Florence Lennox, Robert Hughes and Eugene

12
\%
\3
y
3
2
=

C CKE, who is retiring after 34 years with the State
. Fi 1, custodial intenance, nurse Dept. of Transportation, was recently honored at a dinner in Pleasant Valley.
@ Percy, for the unit, that contains clerical, cus! + TOA aeal Locke, center, is surrounded by, from left: Shop Steward Cecil Van Wagner,

afeteri dacaian ionary engi titles.
catcteria, sou oe Job Htles Local ‘Treasurer Frank Straley, Unit President Bill Wells, Local President
Jack Shaw and Local Vice President Bill Shaw.

Page 7

£861 8 lid “ADpI4d “YOLDIS DITENd FHL

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aN

The question of how many layoffs, If any, and who will actually
be affected under the next state budget Is still unresolved at press
time.

What Is known Is that thousands of state workers recently
received layoff notices, but the final number of layoffs, If any, will
not be as large as the number of notices actually sent out.

Too, due to the bumping process Involved In a layoff situation,

COPING with LAYOFFS

Some facts you should know if you are facing job uncertainty

the person recelving a notice may not In fact be the person
eventually lald off.

For anyone facing the prospect of golng off the payroll, there
are @ great many things to consider. Insurance and benefits are
certainly among those concerns.

The following Information should be beneficial to everyone
facing Job uncertainty during the budget crisis.

Answers to some common questions about health insurance

ALBANY — What happens to my health insurance if I go off the payroll?

Although the number of state layoffs is expected to be less than once
feared, many employees are still asking that question. To set the record
straight, the Employee Insurance Section of the Civil Service Department has
provided answers to the following questions:

(1 Am I eligible to continue coverage in the New York State Health In-
surance Program if my job is abolished?

If you have been separated from service with the state and your name has
been placed on a Civil Service Preferred List, you are eligible to continue your
enrollment in the Health Insurance Program. If you are a state employee not
eligible for preferred list status, but you were employed on a permanent full-
time basis and are separated from service as a result of the abolition of your
position, you are also eligible to continue your health insurance coverage.

(2) What if I don’t meet the requirements described in Answer No. 1?

Your coverage in the State Health Insurance Program will end 28 days
following the last day of the last payroll period in which you worked. You will
automatically receive a written notice to convert your health insurance
coverage to direct-payment contracts with the health insurance companies.

(3) If 1 continue coverage in the State Health Insurance Plan, what type of
coverage will I be offered?

Your benefits will remain the same as when you were in active service witn
the exception of coverage for prescription drugs. Your coverage under the
CSEA Employee Benefit Fund will cease 28 days following the last day of the
last payroll period in which you worked. Coverage for prescription drugs under
the State Program will begin the day following the date coverage under the
CSEA Employee Benefit Fund program ceased.

(4) What is the cost to continue my State Health Insurance coverage?

If you are eligible to continue your health insurance coverage, you may do
so by paying the employee’s required contribution, if any. The State of New
York will continue to contribute 90 percent of the cost of your coverage and 75
percent of the cost of any dependent’s coverage. The Employee Insurance
Section will bill you on a quarterly basis any premium charge you may owe.

(5) How long am I eligible to continue my State Health Insurance
coverage?

How to make direct payments

ALBANY — If you are a CSEA member who is
separated from employment, then you can still
continue to participate in CSEA-sponsored
insurance by arranging to pay premiums
directly to the insurance carrier.

CSEA, through Jardine Ter Bush & Powell,
provides Basic Group Life Insurance (Code 305),
Supplemental Life Insurance (Code 306) and an
Accident and Sickness Plan (Code 307).

The first step for any laid-off employee who
wishes to continue the supplemental insurance is
to apply to the union for dues-free membership.
(See accompanying article.)

Once the dues-free membership is approved by
CSEA, Jardine Ter Bush & Powell will be
notified. Insurance premiums will be billed
directly and once payment is made, you will be

You may be
eligible for

dues-free
membership

How to continue EBF 1
coverage if you are
on a Preferred List

You may continue coverage for a maximum period of one year or until you
are re-employed on a full-time basis by a private or public employer,
whichever comes first.

(6) What must I do to have my state coverage continued?

Your agency will notify the Employee Insurance Section that you are
eligible to continue your coverage. You will then receive a letter informing you
how long you are eligible to continue coverage, what benefits you will receive
and procedures to follow when filing claims. You must also complete an
eligibility certificate concerning your current employment status and return it
to the Employee Insurance Section with your quarterly premium.

(7) Prior to my position being abolished, I met the service requirements
for retirement. May I continue my health insurance as a retiree?

If your most recent date of employment in state service is prior to April 1,
1975, you may retire and continue coverage as a retiree, or may defer any
retirement allowance due and continue coverage on a direct-pay basis until
such time as your retirement is effective. At that time, you may then continue
as a retiree on a deduction basis. In either case, you are only required to
contribute the employee’s share of health insurance premium.

(8) Prior to my position being abolished, I had 10 years of state service
credited with the Retirement System, but I am under retirement age. Am I
eligible to continue health insurance as a vested employee?

You would be eligible to continue coverage for a maximum of one year or
until re-employed by a public or private employer by contributing only the
employee’s share of premium charge. If you reach retirement age on or before
that date, you may continue coverage as a retiree. If you do not qualify for
retirement by that date, you may continue in vested status until attainment of
retirement age and then continue coverage as a retiree. Vested enrollees must
pay both the employee’s and employer’s share of premium until they are
eligible to rétire.

Other questions concerning continuation of health insurance coverage
should be directed to your Personnel Office or the Employee Insurance
Section, Department of Civil Service, State Office Building Campus, Albany,
N.Y. 12239.

ALBANY — A year’s dues-free membership is available to any CSEA
member who is laid off and placed on a Civil Service Preferred List.

Applications, available at CCEA Headquarters or any of the six regional
offices, require the signature of the employee’s personnel officer to verify
layoff status.

Once completed, the forms should be returned promptly to: CSEA, 33
Elk St., Albany, N.Y. 12224.

Dues free membersip expires if an employee is returned to the payroll.

As an employee currently covered by the CSEA |
Employee Benefit Fund, | hereby request an |
application for direct-pay coverage while off the |

put on a direct billing system and receive
quarterly statements for up to one year.

Meanwhile, anyone who is laid off and who
participates in the CSEA MasterPlan
(Homeowners and Automobile . Insurance)
should contact Jardine Ter Bush & Powell at this
special toll-free number — 1-800-462-2636 —~ and
arrange to make direct payments to the
Travelers Insurance Co. The direct number is
1-618-381-1590, Participants in the Family
Protection Plan, as well as sipplemental life
insurance and accident and health/disability

. programs, may contact Jardine Ter Bush &

Powell toll-free at 1-800-342-6272, The direct
number is 1-518-381-1567. :

Questions regarding the Basic Group Life
Insurance Plan should be directed to CSEA’s
Insurance Department in Albany.

placed on a Civil Service Preferred List.

up to one year) participation in dental, optical and
prescription drug plans.

Anyone interested in the option should fill out the
following form and return it to: CSEA Employee
Benefit Fund, 14 Corporate Woods Blvd., Albany,
N.Y, 12211,

The EBF will! notify you of the cost of coverage,
which must include all three plans.

| Payroll. i]

| !

| 1

ALBANY — State employees who currently | x |
receive benefits under the CSEA Employee Benefit | AME a !
Fund may continue coverage if they are laid off and | ADDRESS he H
It should be noted that dues free membership } CITY
does not entitle a person to EBF benefits. Instead, } Sahar
you have the option of making direct payments to | soc. sec. NO. s raevas|
the CSEA Employee Benefit Fund to maintain (for } peieisy eres f]
: STATE. ZIP. = ;

| !

| |

| !

| |

| |

| |

| |

Mail to: CSEA Employee Benefit Fund
14 Corporate Woods Blvd.
Albany, NY 12211

(Do not send payment at this time)

A ‘SNAPSHOT’ CHRONICLE OF

BLACK WORKERS

IN THE AMERICAN
LABOR MOVEMENT

By Richard Chernela
Communications Associate

@ NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — Compressing nearly
150 years of social, economic and political turmoil
into one hour is no easy feat. But AFSCME
Secretary-Treasurer William Lucy did just that
recently in an address to the students, faculty and
alumni of the Rutgers University Center for Labor
Studies.

Lucy, in his own words, provided a “snapshot
vision” of the role of black workers in the American
labor movement, highlighting the progress of black
unionists from the early 19th Century to the present
day and offering an agenda for black workers that
has yet to be fulfilled.

NORTH AND SOUTH

Lucy started his chronicle in the pre-Civil War days
when there were two Americas: the slave South and
the North. “In the slave South,” he said, “most of the
work force, including the skilled work force, was
black. There were no unions as slavery and trade
unions cannot co-exist.

In the North, where blacks were free, the picture
was quite different. According to Lucy, northern
blacks were forming labor organizations before the
Civil War. The American League of Colored Laborors
was founded in 1850 and eight years later the
Association of Black Caulkers was established.

But, Lucy pointed out, “Northern blacks were
excluded from white labor organizations,” and, as a
protest, “black workers in 1869 established the
Colored National Labor Union.’

With exclusion remaining the norm well into the
20th Century, blacks organized hundreds of their
own unions, Lucy said. “A few did affiliate with white
dominated organizations,” he noted, “but these

@ almost always segregated into ‘Jim Crow’ locals.”

However, trade unionism hardly swept black
America, according to Lucy, because “until the
1930's most unions were organized by skills . . . and
the great majority of blacks were systematically
barred from acquiring those skills.”

And blacks were by no means united on the issue
of unionism. “In those early years, the black trade
union movement was carried forward by a relative
handful of people,” Lucy said. He cited Booker T.
Washington as one prominent black leader who
“didn't hold much truck with unions. He (Washington)

@ wanted blacks to concentrate on education,” which
he believed “was the better ticket to economic and
social equality.

MODERN BLACK MOVEMENT
Lucy dated the modern black labor movement to
1925 when A. Philip Randolph founded the
Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and ‘‘forged it
into a social movement that highlighted the basic
problems faced by black workers and the
institutionalized, systemic discrimination they faced,”
he said
® Randolph's emergence as the pre-eminent leader
in the black labor movement coincided in the 1930's
with the development of a “new kind of labor
organization — the industrial union," Lucy said. He
explained that the traditional labor union organization
by skills had resulted in the exclusion of black
workers because black workers had been denied the
opportunity to acquire the requisite skills needed to
obtain ajob with union representation.

Industrial unions, according to Lucy, changed that.
“Industrial unions," he said, “emphasized where you
worked rather than what you did, and because of this
the union became, potentially at least, accessible to

far greater numbers of workers.” Industrial unions
were also “a response to intense social, economic
and workplace changes, and thus they tended to be
much more progressive and politically active than the
older craft organizations,” he said.

Despite the emergence of industrial unions and the
powerful presence of A. Philip Randolph on the labor
scene, Lucy believes that “there was very little real
headway against entrenched discrimination in trade
unions, or anywhere else, for that matter, until World
War Ii.”

THE INFLUENCE OF RANDOLPH

Lucy credited Randolph with using his influence to
“coerce” President Roosevelt into signing an
Executive Order setting up the first fair employment
practices body to fight racial discrimination. This
step, taken “on the eve of war," and the war itself,
“enabled thousands, perhaps millions, of blacks to
enter the skilled labor force as defense workers,”
Lucy said. “And when they did, they usually joined a
union.”

Today, with “a great array of federal laws enacted
to protect the rights of minority workers and to
ensure their access to employment and training, and
with some 3.3 million black trade unionists, it would
be nice,” Lucy said, “to end with some stirring
generalization about Americans of all colors marching
in solidarity toward a new tomorrow. It would be
nice,” he concluded, “but it would be an exercise in
fantasy.”

MORE INVESTMENT THAN RETURN

Lucy summed up the reality of the black workers’
role in today's labor movement by, asserting, “Blacks
have invested one hell of a lot more in the labor
movement than they have gotten in return.”

He pointed out that while 12 percent of the civilian
workforce is black, blacks constitute about 15
percent of the membership of the national unions in
the AFL-CIO. He went on to note that “blacks seem
to be much more receptive to the trade union
message than whites these days” with 32 percent of
the black workforce organized, compared with 25
percent of the white workforce.

While the statistics indicate the increasing
participation of black workers in the American labor
movement, another statistic reveals, according to
Lucy, black influence in the top-ranks of the
movement has not risen accordingly. “The
percentage of blacks in leadership positions has
been and remains alarmingly small," he declared.

Lucy described himself, a top-elected officer of
AFSCME, one of the largest unions in the AFL-CIO,
as “not so much a trail blazer as an anomaly

WHY NO BLACK PRESIDENTS?

“In fact,” he continued, “not a single major union in
this country has a black president, and the situation
within the councils of the AFL-CIO is little better." Of
the 35 members of the AFL-CIO Executive Council,
just two are black, Lucy said.

The reasons for the absence of blacks from full
participation in the upper echelons of labor unions
stem, according to Lucy, from labor's losing, to a
great extent, its role as the primary force for social
progress in the country. “In the last generation or
so,” he said, “the American labor movement lost a
good deal of the fire in its belly . . . labor, in effect,
moved to the suburbs, planted a front lawn and
joined the Rotary Club.”

Lucy also cited a loss in the labor movement of the
“need to band together for mutual protection,” due in
large part to “continuing relative prosperity” which
has led increasing numbers of workers to lose “the.
sense of their own vulnerability.” A phenomenon,

Lucy believes, will change to a degree as a result of
the current recession.

He said that unions “have gotten a false sense of
security, and in their sense to preserve it, have come
to defend the status quo. There has been a turning
inward, and | think this has been most evident in the
area of organizing.”

Lucy sees organizing as “the life force of a union
Attracting new members is the means by which a
labor institution can maintain its social and intellectual
vitality,"" he said.

But, Lucy pointed out, “new members mean new
ideas, and that always threatens the web of existing
power relationships. And new members are viewed
as particularly threatening if they are minority
workers.”

Lucy maintained that the basic purpose of
organizing became “perverted” as, “instead of
reaching out for the unorganized, unions reached in
upon themselves and expended their energies and
their dollars in raiding each other's memberships.”

_ A FEW RAYS OF SUNSHINE

Despite providing what he termed “a rather bleak
snapshot of minorities in the American labor
movement,” Lucy did provide “a few rays of
sunshine." He asserted that with the passing of
former AFL-CIO President George Meany, “the labor
movement reached the end of one era and has been
entering a new and hopeful time.”

Of _Particular encouragement to Lucy is the
decision of the AFL-CIO to play a more active role in
the 1984 presidential campaign by endorsing a
candidate early in the process. He believes that
black workers will be substantially involved in that
process.

Lucy also pointed to the increased “talk about the
need for unions to put their own houses in order.
There is more talk about organizing the unorganized,
and even the beginnings of a coalition effort,” he
said. “There is more talk, and more action, about
social issues.”

He is optimistic that “the talk will produce
something more than echoes.” Lucy thinks that “the
Darwinian imperative is beginning to sink in: In the
world we live in, you adapt, or you perish.”

Lucy sees minority workers as having “‘a crucial
stake in the revitalization of the labor movement,
because, whatever its faults, labor has been one of
the chief forces pressing for social and economic
equality in this society.”

He called on black workers to accelerate their
efforts “to effect change from within, using such
time-tested political devices as intra-and inter-union
caucuses, Coalition building, and through plain, old-
fashioned political horse trading.””

The victory of Harold Washington, a black
congressman, in the Chicago Democratic mayoral
Primary is one recent “ray of sunshine” that Lucy
said restores his faith in the democratic political
process. He noted that Washington's victory came
as “a result of a coalition effort by minorities and
labor, and AFSCME was one of the chief players on
labor's side.”

Lucy concluded his talk on an upbeat note, re-
emphasizing his point that blacks have made
“substantial contributions to the American labor
movement and, therefore, to the quality of life in this
country, and | see great things to come.”

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, April 8, 1983

“" Page 9

e861 '8 dy “ADpIs4 “YO1DIS DITGNd 3HL

Ol a60g

Craig closing disasterous for
clients, community, employees’ -

SONYEA — If New York State succeeds in
closing Craig Developmental Center, it may very
well be a death sentence for between 35 and 120
severely handicapped people there.

The reason? ‘‘Relocation Syndrome” or
“Transfer Trauma” aggravated by the resident’s
level of disability, severity of additional handicaps,
isolation, and age.

Indeed, of the 358 developmentally disabled
people there, fully 75 percent are severely or
profoundly retarded, 65 to 70 percent suffer from
epilepsy in addition to mental retardation, 51
percent are non-ambulatory, and 32 percent are
over 51 years old and 12 percent over 71 years.

In more human terms, 75 percent of the residents
have IQs below 35 and a maximum mental age of
less than four years. Over 2/3 are subject to
unexpected life-threatening seizures and more than
1/2 cannot walk. Still others cannot hear, speak or
see, and many suffer from acute emotional or
behavioral disorders. Nevertheless, the state has
put a $2.3 million price tag on their lives — the
actual money it will ‘‘save’’ by closing the
developmental center.

The total 1983-1984 state budget is $31.6 billion.

These possible deaths are just one of the
conclusions reached by an impact study, “If They
Close Craig. . .”’ made public on April 6 by Region
VI President Robert Lattimer. It was done by
AFSCME’s public policy department.

The study describes Craig residents as “‘a fragile
population” and notes that 39 percent of them have
received fewer than two family visits in the last
eight years. For them, Craig is home; the staff,
with a historically low turnover rate of 8 percent,
their only family. For others, particularly the 91
residents who originally lived in the surrounding

The impact study has been detailed to
employees at Craig Developmental Center
by Western Region President Robert L.
Lattimer and other union officials. Follow-
ing a presentation to employees,
members of CSEA Local 405 determined
that they would distribute the report
material throughout the community and
through the news media to bring the infor-
mation to the general public.

area, relocation would cause even greater isolation,
especially as they and their families grow older.

There is also another impact.

Closing Craig and eliminating 616 jobs would take
millions of dollars out of the local economy and
cause Livingston County’s unemployment rate to
rise another 4 to 5 percent. The impact would be
devastating on a county already hard hit by
higher-than-average unemployment.

The ultimate folly is that eliminating the jobs
would cost the state at last $6.1 million in such
additional expenditures as:

¢ $2.6 million in unemployment insurance
benefits;

“‘We’ll be doing all we can to make sure
the local community is aware of all the
negative effects the Craig closing will have.

The most important problems are the pain
that will be inflicted on the clients.

Secondly, the local economy will suffer,
along with our members who stand to lose
their jobs, through no fault of their own.’

—Robert Dunlap
Acting President, CSEA Local 405

$1.8 million in required pension fund payments;

¢$1 million in accrued benefits, worker’s
compensation and administrative costs; and

«$700,000 for continued health insurance
coverage for those who qualify. In addition, the

state would lose $500,000 in tax revenues. And, thi
does not include long-term expenditures for publ.
assistance, Medicaid and social services that c.
be expected by laying off state workers with high!
specialized skills not easily transferable to oth
jobs in the Livingston County area.

But what are the alternatives? To quote tl
impact study: ‘‘According to Craig Development
Center officials, the facility now has approxinfate!
200 Medicaid reimbursable beds, and 150 be:
which do not qualify for Medicaid reimbursemen
The current daily Medicaid rate for Craig is $156.6
of which $79.71 is federally reimburseable. If t
cost of bringing these 150 beds into compliance wi
Medicaid regulations is $800,000 — as have be
estimated by Craig staff members — th
expenditure could result in a $4.4 million annu:
increase in federal Medicaid assistance.”’

Impact study indicates that
closing could impose a death
sentence on some clients and

would cripple economy of

the community and county

““‘We hope to convince the citizenry and _ elefed
representatives of Western New York that it is important for the
sake of all concerned, the clients, community and employees, to
prevent or amend the implementation of such an ill-conceived
plan (to close Craig as a mental institution).

We have still not seen the final stages of this plan, but it
should be plain to see, by this Impact Study, the future of the
Sonyea community hangs in the balance.

The closing is a bad decision, which seems to be based in
part on media reports of the last year or so, that focused on the
failures of the top Administrators of Craig and other area mental
facilities to provide the adequate medical care the clients dese@e.

The State didn’t do their job of monitoring properly in the past
and now seems to be making more misdirected decisions.

In fact, if one wonders who is orchestrating all these
destructive moves, an educated guess would seem to point to the
Department of Correctional Services.

When our impact study regarding the Gowanda Psychiatric
Center closing is complete, a similar pattern of orchestrating
seemingly-total community support will become apparent.

But CSEA is not buying the bill of goods they are attempting
to sell to the general public.’’

SEA Region VI President
Robert L. Lattimer e

Union pulls out of
Gowanda Task Force
e as dispute intensifies

GOWANDA — Charging that the state is
misleading the community on many issues,
CSEA has withdrawn its membership on a task
force created to deal with state plans to convert
Gowanda Psychiatric Center into a state prison.

CSEA Western Region VI President Robert L.
Lattimer declared ‘‘We will continue to monitor
the state’s activities regarding Gowanda, but we

ill not be put in a position of appearing to con-

lone their actions, because we definitely do not.
They have misled this community on too many
issues.”

CSEA announced its withdrawal from the task
force, which included State representatives,
following a recent meeting of the task force. That
meeting was pickets by some 50 members of
Gowanda Psychiatric Center CSEA Local 408
members upset over plans to close down the
psychiatric center facility and convert it into a

@rison.
The State Department of Corrections was

The State Department of Correc-

tions was blasted by Lattimer for

“not working in the best interests

of the clients, community and
@ employees” at Gowanda.

blasted by Lattimer for ‘‘not working in the best
interests of the clients, community and
employees” at Gowanda.

Lattimer pledged that CSEA would intensify
its fight to prevent the total conversion of the
Gowanda Psychiatric Center into a prison.

@ ‘There can be no doubt in the mind of anyone
with a realistic view’’, said Lattimer, ‘‘that this
facility will soon disappear as a Mental Health
operation if the DOCS agenda is carried out.”

Lattimer praised the members of Local 408 for
“hanging in there against the State’s efforts to
wear them down.”

“Doris Smith (Local 408 president) and her
fellow members have worked very hard to stay
abreast of what is actually happening, and to in-

‘orm the community, in the face of the State’s
Smoke screen. They have maintained their in-
tegrity in a very difficult situation.”

The latest expansion plan would take another
600 patient beds for prisoner use, bringing the
Collins Correctional Facility Prison population
to about 930 inmates.

The psychiatric center presently houses about
600 patients.

e

a =

(Continued from Page 1)

deadline for the early retirement incentive
program. In fact, some officials were expressing
concern if estimate applications on hand even
prior to April 11 could be answered in time.

By April 5, the retirement system was advising
interested employees who had not received
estimates in the mail before late April to bring
wage statements (W-2 forms are best) and any
official estimates they may have received
previously, to Retirement System counseling
centers where staff members would make rough
estimates of what potential retirees could expect
in pension benefits under the system.

As the filing deadline loomed nearer, it was
becoming increasingly clear that the
overwhelming interest in the early retirement
incentive program was overloading a system
that was not designed to handle the ‘peak
demand” from the program, a first for New
York State public employees.

CSEA is advising its members that the unique
benefits of the program mean enriched pension
benefits for those who choose to retire. While a
retirement decision is obviously the kind of
choice that can only be made on an individual

New York State
Employees’ Retirement System

Edward V. Regan
State Comptrolier

1 members under the Retirement Incentive Program
To use the chart, three steps are required

Early retirement popular

Retirement Benefit Chart

This chart shows the amount of the annual retirement allowance payable, per $1,000 of final average salary, 10 Tier

basis, the union has advised its members that in
view of the special benefits of the program, it
certainly is in their interest to consider
retirement now, while the special benefits are in
place.

With the estimate process beginning to
backlog, CSEA officials are advising any
members who have not received their estimates
by April 18 to visit retirement counseling centers
personally to work out a rough estimate, or to
work with the Retirement System’s estimation
chart — which should be available in personnel
offices by then — to help reach a retirement
decision.

CSEA stressed that to participate in this
program an eligible employee must retire prior
to May 31, 1983 and to retire by that effective
date, the employees actual retirement
application must be received by the New York
State Employees’ Retirement System no later
than May 2, 1983!

Whether an employee has filed for an estimate
or not makes no difference. To participate in the
early retirement incentive program, an
employee’s actual retirement application must
be received on or before May 2, 1983.

a for use with the
Retirement Incentive

Program
for State Employees
Tier 1 Members Only

1. Determine your actual years of service. Do not add any extra years
2. Determine your final average salary ~ probably your last three years of earnings divided by three ~ and divide

this by 1,000.

3. Find the line showing your years of service and multiply the figure shown in the last column by the number

calculated in step two.

For example, if a Tier 1 member with 18 years of service determines that he or she has a final average salary ot

$17,500, he or she would divide $17,500 by 1,000. This produces 17.5. The figure in the last column for 18 years of
service is $420. Multiplying $420 by 17.5 produces $7,350, thal member's annual no-option retirement allowance

under the Program

(assuming Required Contributions (if any) are intact.)

Service Retirement
Allowance - No Option

Years of Service

Tier 1 member Retirement Allowance per $1,000 of Final Average Salary

) Retirement Incentive —

Annual Retirement

Program Addition Allowance With
No Option Retirement Incentive

Program - No Optior

166.60 49 98
W 1 49.98
12 199 92 49 98
13 216.58 49.98
14 233.24 49.98
19) 249.90 49.98 299 88
16 266.56 49.98 316.54
7 283.22 116.78 400 00
18 299.88 120.12 420.00
316.54 123.46 440.00

400.00
21 420.00
22 440.00
23 460.00

480.00

60.00 460.00
60.00 480.00
60.00 500 00
60.00 520.00

60.00 540,00

500.00
26 520.00
27 540,00
28 560.00

580.00

60.00 560.00
60.00 $80.00
60.00 600.00
60.00 620.00

60.00 640.00

600.00
31 620,00
32 640.00
33 660.00

680.00

60.00 660.00
60.00 680.00
60.00 700.00
60.00 720,00

60.00 740,00

700.00

60.00 760.00

Page 1) ,

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, April 8, 1983

e861 '@ dy “Apis “YO1D3S DIIENd HL

Zt boy

The following New York State
Employees’ Retirement System
units are best equipped to handle,
telephone inquiries regarding the
Early Retirement Incentive
Program:

INFORMATION SERVICES: (518)
474-7736.

SERVICE RETIREMENTS: (518)
474-4449; (518) 474-4932; (518)
474-3621.

GENERAL ESTIMATES: (518)
474-7699; (518) 474-4467.

RETIREMENT
INFO

Where to find out about
STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM

SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS

ta bane

Retirement information
service schedule listed —

Due primarily to the recently announced veal retirement
incentive program for state employees, there has been a
tremendous increase in the number of employees seeking in-
formation on their potential benefits under the New York
State Employees’ Retirement System. System information
representatives are available to discuss the retirement incen-
tive program and individual retirement specifics on the follow-
ing schedule.

The schedule shows the locations and visiting days for Retirement
System Information representatives.

Note that this is an expanded schedule compared to the one listed
in the previous edition of The Public Sector. The expanded schedule af-
fects the Albany area, in that the Albany office of the State Employees
Retirement System in the Gov. Smith State Office Building will be open
on Saturdays during April. Additionally, information representatives
will be available each Friday during April in the Roosevelt-Cleveland
Room of Building 1 at the State Campus.

While services at each location are offered on a ‘‘first come, first
served’’ basis, appointments are urged for the Saturday sessions by
calling (518) 474-7736. Basic information by telephone may be obtained
by calling the same number from any location.

For info by telephone
(518) 474-7736

REMEMBER — the state retire-
ment process is separate and
distinct from any potential
benefits an individual may be en-
titled to from the Social Security
Administration. Therefore, in-
dividuals seeking information on
the early retirement incentive pro-
gram should also obtain informa-
tion separately on options for
Social Security benefits. There
are dozens of district Social
Security offices throughout New
York State. Check your telephone
directory for the office nearest to
you — to obtain necessary
information.

City or
Village Address Monthly Visiting Days
Albany Gov. Smith State Office Every Business Day and
Bidg. : all Saturciays in April
Albany Bldg. 1, State Campus Every Friday in April
Binghamton Broome County Center —_ First and Third. Wednesday
Buffato Buffalo State Office Bldg. First, Second, Third & Fourth
(65 Court Street) Wednesday and Friday
Canton County Courthouse First Thursday
Goshen County Center Third Thursday
Hauppauge State Office Building First and Fourth
Wednesday Z
Horseheads _‘Village Hail Second and Fourth Tuesday
Little Valley | County Office Building Second and Fourth Monday
Lockport Municipal Building First and Third Monday
Mayville Chautauqua County
Health and First Tuesday
Social Service Building
Mineola 222 Willis Ave. First and Fourth Monday

New York City State Office Building
270 Broadway (23rd
Floor)

ll world Trade Center

(44th Floor)

Plattsburgh County Center

Pomona County Health Complex
(Bldg. A)

Poughkeepsie DOT Headquarters

Riverhead County Center

Rochester Rochester City Hall

(Room 102-A)
County Courthouse
State Office Building

State Office Building
Westchester County
Center

Syracuse
Utica

Watertown
White Plains

First and Third Tuesday

Second and Fourth Tuesday

Third Thursday
First and Third Friday

First Thursday

Third Wednesday

Second and Fourth
Thursday

Second and Fourth Friday
First, Second, Third and
Fourth Tuesday

First Friday

Second and Third Monday
(except July)

NEW YORK STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM Information
Representative Michael Brown explains the ins and outs of early
retirement to CSEA Metropolitan Region Il members at New

York Psychiatric Institute. Region II also hosted an informa-
tional meeting on early retirement at the World Trade Center and
another is planned for. Bonx Psychiatric Center on April 21.

s gee

In Rensselaer County:
Union seeks to
avert highway
dept. layoffs

TROY — C. Allen Mead, president of CSEA’s
Capital Region, has pledged the full support and
resources of the union to help 50 Rensselaer County
highway workers facing what he says are
“politically-inspired”’ layoffs.

“Capital Region is not going to allow either party
in Rensselaer County to use our members as chips
in a political poker game of brinksmanship,”’ Mead
said.

“We are prepared to provide our members with
our full resources ranging from a budget analysis of
the current document to political action and paid
advertising to alert the county residents to the
dangerous games politicians on both sides of the
aisle are playing with their personal safety.”

Recently, the Rensselaer County Legislature
split along party lines, 12 Republicans and 8
Democrats, concerning the funding of major road
and bridge repair projects in the county. For the
past decade, when the Democrats controlled the
Legislature, such projects were financed through
bonding. The county had bonded more than $9
million during that time period.

However, the Democrats, now in the minority but
controlling the two votes needed to get the required
three-fourths majority required to pass bonding
requests, have successfully stopped the Republican
majority in two attempts to pass bonding

legislation. The first request for $1.56 million went
down by pure party line votes and a second attempt
for $1.17 million met a similar fate.

Claiming that if the bonding requests aren’t
passed the County Highway Department laborers
will not have any work to do, the Republicans
removed funds equal to the workers’ salaries from
the department’s budget and put the monies under
the personal control of the County Executive
William Murphy. Due to these actions, the county
administration has notified the workers that layoffs
would be necessary due to a lack of funds.

CSEA’s Capital Region has sent a copy of the
current budget, a list of recent legislative
resolutions concerning the county highway
department and the contents of a cost-cutting
resolution to CSEA statewide headquarters for

TIRED OF POLITICAL GAMES — Rensselaer
County highway employees, at left, assemble in
the county’s main highway barn to hear a talk by
Capital Region President C. Allen Mead about
the union’s concern over “politically-inspired”’
layoff plans. Below, WRGB-TV reporter Mary
Beth Wenger in a live interview with Shop
Steward James Michael, and Field Represen-
tative Aaron Wagner, Mead and Rensselaer
County Unit President Carol Larpenteur at the
barn.

thorough review with the goal of finding funds to
continue the employment of the 50 workers.

“We are attempting to see if alternatives to
bonding are available as a means of financing the
projects. And we want to know which projects have
to be addressed immediately versus those which
can be done later,” Mead said.

The region is also attempting to have the
politicians live up to their public statements that
they are willing to talk about the situation and
hopefully resolve the problem before the workers
and their families are affected.

“We have 20 politicians all saying they want to
talk. We’re looking for one or two that want to listen
and work for a solution,” Mead said.

fe

Schedule set for State Delegates Workshop

Topics range from labor's political clout to solving time and attendance problems

=

S

LIBERTY — A dozen workshops, as well as information tables and
business sessions, will attract hundreds of ‘state delegates to their
annual workshop at Grossinger’s April 13-15.

Workshop topics include: Utilizing Regional Labor/Management
Facilitators; Solving the Problems of Misuse in Time and Attendance;
Defensive Driving Lowers Your Insurance Cost; and Using Affirmative
Action to Your Benefit.

Representatives of the CSEA Employee Benefit Fund and of the New
York State Health Insurance Program will discuss new aspects of their
programs, and a treasurer’s workshop will address problem areas of
local union finances.

Other workshops will focus on the CSEA Legal Assistance Program,
communications and the media, and how job classifications are
established.

Barry Feinstein, chairman of the Public Employee Conference, will
conduct a workshop on Labor’s Political Clout in the 80s.

Registration for the event begins at noon Wednesday, April 13. The
three-day workshop concludes with the State Delegate meeting on Friday
morning, with reports by Pat Crandall, State Executive Committee
chairwoman; James Roemer, chief counsel; Thomas Quimby, Training
and Development Program director; and James Murphy, union advisor
to the statewide Employee Assistance Program.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday. April 8, 1983

Poge 13

F Welded together again in a common cause, the underlying strength
r | we S of CSEA — the membership itself — emerged with undeniable
visibility and determination across New York State over the past few
weeks. In the face of extreme adversity caused by a proposed state
budget that would cost thousands of jobs and many important public

service programs, members rose up in opposition in man

eel ers to et er places and in several different ‘Ways. The budg
stands as a tribute to the tens of thousands of members who wrote
letters to state legislators, sent postcards, made phone calls, signed
: _ petitions, lobbied on a personal level, and marched in displays of
unity at scores of work locations statewide. Depicted on this page
are some of those efforts that helped frame a final budget far dif-
ferent from the one first proposed.

2

o)
tle SF

{
BIG CSEA TURNOUT AT CANTON RALLY — Members of CSEA Locals at SUNY Canton ATC REGION EE ES DENT Ray 0 Conner acne
and Potsdam joined hundreds of the teaching staff, students and others who recently protested the faneon confronted’ Gov. Cuomo “(checkere
Cuomo Budget which threatened the layoff of many state employees. Taking part in the afternoon hat) yen the Boverner met pickets during
rally at the St. Lawrence County Courthouse in Canton were, front and center, Loretta Rodwell, Cuomo’s recent visit to Hyde Park.
president of Local 603, Canton ATC, and Mary Lauzon, president of Local 613, SUNY, Potsdam.

hii: — “
x - MIDDLETOWN PSYCHIATRIC CENTER Local 415 members and retirees con-
REGION I President Danny Donohue talks with news media about ducted informational picketing outside that facility to protest original plans to
problems associated with layoffs during recently rally in Islip. lay off almost 60 employees at the facility.

ROCKLAND COUNTY PSYCHIATRIC
CENTER Local 421 President Eva Katz address
more than 400 employees at the center who came
to hear about difficulties in the state budget.
Seated behind Katz are Assemblyman Eugene
Levy, Center Director Charlotte Oliver, and
Senator Linda Winikow, Not shown is
Assemblyman John Connor, who also attended
informational meeting.

£861 (8 dy ‘Aopis4 “YO1D3S DNENd 3HL

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KIRKBRIDGE HALL HOUSEKEEPER John
Macky, who wrote a poignant letter to Gov.
Mario Cuomo urging the governor to use means
other than layoffs to close a state budget gap.
Macky was a resident at Letchworth for 25
years, and says he sees how much love, care, and
understanding employees today put in to patient
care.

IMPORTANT
REMINDER
FOR ANYONE
CONSIDERING
THE EARLY
RETIREMENT
INCENTIVE
PROGRAM

e To participate, you MUST
tile a notarized “application
for service retirement,”
form RS-6037, which MUST
be received by the retire-
ment system no later than
May 2, 1983.

@ Your retirement must
take effect prior to May 31,
1983.

JOHN MACKY: The view from both sides

‘lf you only knew the
love and understanding’

THIELS — John Macky, a housekeeper at
Kirkbridge Hall at Letchworth Village
Developmental Center here, remembers how it
once was at Letchworth. So he recently wrote a
poignant letter to Gov. Mario Cuomo, and sent a
copy to the local newspaper, urging the governor
to find ways other than through layoffs to
balance the budget. Otherwise, he fears, the
clock will begin turning backwards as the staff is
reduced.

“Tf you only knew the love and understanding
that all the employees give to the residents, you
would think twice about the layoffs,”’ Macky
wrote. John Macky knows, because he was a
resident at the facility for 25 years himself. “I
was a resident from 1933 to 1958; I did not have
the love, caring, understanding and programs
that the residents have now .. .”” he told the
governor.

Letchworth Village Developmental Center was
slated to be the hardest-hit facility in New York
State under the governor’s original layoff plan —

REGION HI PRESIDENT RAY 0’C!
microphone, discusses potential crisis situation
at Letchworth Village that would be caused by
employee layoffs. Several hundred Letchworth
employees attended meeting and also heard an

400 employees out of work in the first round of
layoffs scheduled. That number has since
changed substantially, but the final number of
layoffs at Letchworth, as at other work locations
around the state, is unknown under the state
budget.as finally adopted last week.

John Macky doesn’t want to see any reduction
in the workforce or programs at the facility.
Remembering his time as a resident at
Letchworth, he told Gov. Cuomo, ‘‘As a former
resident, I am deeply upset about the layoffs.
When you have had nothing most of your life, and
are finally given something and someone, (you
are) given a reason to live. If you take it away,
you will deeply hurt a lot of people, maybe even
break and destroy a lot of lives. I know. I was
almost there.”

Macky closed his letter to Cuomo by .asking,
“from the bottom of my heart, that the Almighty
God will provide another way besides layoffs for
you to cut costs. Please don’t cut off someone’s
love!!! Reconsider the layoffs!”

area state legislator voice opposition to layoffs at
Letchworth. Assemblyman Eugene Levy, a
Rockland County Republican, said “I'll walk
with you, march with you, knock on Albany’s
doors with you to avoid these layoffs.”’

105th AD

ALBANY — CSEA’s Capital Region Political Action Committee has
endorsed Eugene Hallock in the April 12 special election for the 105th
Assembly District.

“Gene Hallock’s 35 years of service to the people of Schoharie County
speaks for itself,’ said John Francisco, Region IV PAC chairman. His
experience as county clerk, town supervisor and school board member gives
him broad experience in many areas of government which will enable him
to represent all of the people in the 105th Assembly District.””

The district is composed of Schoharie County and parts of Montgomery,
Schenectady and Albany counties. The Capital Region covers 14 counties
including all of the 105th Assembly District. More than 2,500 public
employees represented by the union reside in the district.

Hallock has been endorsed by both the Republican and Conservative
parties.

Eugene
Hallock
choice in

1 8, 1983

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, Apri

wudy “ADPI44 “YOLDIS DIIGNd 3HL

8

9¢ 260g

By their very nature, the labor committees of the state Senate and
Assembly deal with some of the bills and issues of foremost interest to

public employees. Following is a look at some of the views held by the

The Senate Labor Committee

Both ranking members of the Senate Labor Com-
mittee believe the controversial ‘Whistle Blower”’
Bill, one of CSEA’s major proposals for the current
legislative session, will be reported out of commit-
tee this year, as it was last year.

While ranking minority member William T.
Stachowski (D-57th Dist.) is “not sure’’ how the bill
will fare on the Senate floor, the sponsor and partial
architect of the bill, Committee Chairman Joseph
R. Pisani (R-36th Dist.), says, “I will try to over-
come the responsible objections that have been
made to the bill, and will endeavor to have it con-
sidered by the whole Senate.’’

The Whistle Blowers Bill would provide that an
employer not take retaliatory personnel action
against an employee who discloses certain policies
or practices which may pose a threat to public
health or safety, or for disclosing substantial
mismanagement, gross waste of funds or abuse of
public authority.

As for other key bills the union supports — such
as the elimination of Tier [II of the State Employees
Retirement System, the proposal to make Agency
Shop permanent and mandatory for all public
employees and the Martin Luther King Day bill,
which would designate the day a state holiday —
Pisani anticipates that they will pass.

“They say that every proposal has its time,”’ the
Westchester senator said. ‘‘With respect to these
bills, I think the time has arrived.”

Stachowski was positive about Tier III Elimina-
tion and Agency Shop, but expressed uncertainty
about the Martin Luther King bill.

“The Martin Luther King Day matter once again
seems clouded by multi-bill confusion,” said the
Buffalo legislator. “I feel the Tier III problem will
be dealt with this session, hopefully to our satisfac-
tion. I also hope positive action is taken on the
Agency Shop bill.’’

Both men were optimistic that the maximum
Unemployment Insurance benefit will be raised, a
proposal originally made by Gov. Mario Cuomo and
supported by CSEA. The maximum benefit has not
been increased since 1978; such a raise could affect
some 750,000 New Yorkers.

Said Pisani: ‘I, along with Senator (Frank) Bar-
baro, have proposed a substantial increase in
unemployment insurance benefits. I do not believe
it will cause any significant increase in rates of in-

surance. We will pass a bill in both houses this year
providing for increased unemployment benefits.”

Commenting on the relationship between Gov.
Mario Cuomo and the Legislature, both committee
leaders expressed hope that it would be a produc-
tive one.

Pisani says he and Cuomo “enjoy the highest
mutual respect for each other and I see no reason
why that should change in any regard.”

Says Stachowski: “Hopefully, the governor will
work closely with the Legislature to make this a
very successful session in spite of the many
problems we have to face.”

ranking members of these committees. This is the third in a series of
reports describing the various legislative committees.

SENATE LABOR
COMMITTEE FOR 1983

NAME. ADDRESS
JOSEPH R. PISANI, 291 North Ave.
CHAIRMAN (R) New Rochelle, N.¥. 10801
NORMAN J. LEVY (R) 30'S, Ocean Ave.,
Room 305

Freeport, N.Y, 11520
30 S. Broadway, Rm. 430
Yonkers, N.¥. 10701

162 Margaret St.
Plattsburgh, N.Y. 12901

JOHN E. FLYNN (R)
RONALD B. STAFFORD (R)

HUGH T, FARLEY (R) LOB 903
Albany, N.Y. 12247
WALTER J. FLOSS, JR. (Ft) 218 State Office Bldg.
65 Court St.

Buffalo, N.¥, 14202
302 Hillside Ave.,
Suites 45
Williston Park, N.¥. 11596
WILLIAM T, STACHOWSEI (D) 2030 Clinton St.
Buffalo, N.Y. 14212
THOMAS J. BARTOSIEWICZ (D) 861 Manhattan Ave.
New York, N.Y, 11222
270 Broadway
New York, N.Y. 10007
527 Ocean Ave.
Brooklyn, N.¥. 11226

MICHAEL J. TULLY (R),

MARTIN CONNOR {D)}
MARTIN MARKOWITZ (D)

tor Joseph R. Pisa
Committee Chairman
set .

Senator William T. Stachowski
Ranking Minority Member

Court ruling
for former

CETA employee meet certain conditions and eligibility requirements.
a \
a first

The 1975 law provides that the employee and his or
her employer make contributions into the retirement
fund in an amount equal. to what each, would: have.
contributed, plus interest, had the CETA been creditable

CSEA has won its case for a former CETA employee,
in whose behalf a court directed Suffolk County to pay
into the New York State Employees’ Retirement System,

The case was the first court interpretation of the law
which allows former CETA employees, after serving five
years as regular public employees, to obtain retirement
credit for up to four years of their CETA service if they

service under the retirement plan.

“The CSEA member met all the requirements under
the law and wanted to buy back her service,” explained
CSEA Attorney Marjorie Karowe, who handled the case
for the union. ‘“‘But when she made a request to the
employer to contribute the necessary money on her
behalf, Suffolk County refused to do so.

“The judge, however, indicated that the language of
the law is clear and that the employer has an obligation
to pay, the determined amount. The payment isn’t
optional as the county had contended.””

The Committee: An Overview

Legislative committees within the Senate and
Assembly play a major role in the process of a bill
becoming a law.

Both the Senate and Assembly have 30 commit-
tees. These committees deal with a wide and
diverse range of topics, from aging to
transportation.

Legislative committees are comprised of a chair-
man and members. The number of members within
the various committees range from eight to 27,
depending upon the importance of the committee
and the number of bills that must be reviewed by.
the committee.

The main function of a committee is to review

bills which fall within its particular field of exper-
tise. Committee meetings are usually held on a
weekly basis, with certain bills being reviewed at
the upcoming meeting.

At the meeting, the bills on the agenda are voted
on by the members. There are several ways a bill is
dealt with. The members may vote to pass the bill,
otherwise known as ‘‘reporting the bill” out of com-
mittee to first reading on the legislative calendar...
In some instances, usually at the end of the
legislative session, the bill may be reported directly
to third reading for immediate action by the
legislature.

A bill may be reported to another committee for
their review. Or, a bill may be “held” by the com-
mittee. This means no definite action is taken on the
bill. It is held for further discussion and may appear
on the agenda for action at a later date. It can also
be “killed” in committee. This term applies when a
bill is held in committee and no action is taken on it.
The bill is never allowed to the floor of the
legislature for a vote.

ASSEMBLY LABOR
COMMITTEE FOR 1983

NAME OFFICE

FRANK J, BARBARO,
CHAIRMAN (D) 7105 Bay Parkway

Brooklyn, N.Y. 11214

129 B 106th St.

New York, N.Y, 10029

3159 47th St.

Long Island City, N.Y.

11103

459 Central Park

Rochester, N.Y, 14605

4100-11 Hutchinson River

Pkwy. E.

Bronx, N.Y. 10475

ANTHONY S. SEMINERIO (D) 109-56 11th Street

Ozone Park, N.Y. 11420

ANGELO DEL TORO (D)
DENIS J. BUTLER (D)

GARY PROUD (D)
ELIOT L. ENGEL (D)

CLIFFORD EF, WILSON (D) - 60-53 68 Road
Ridgewood, N.Y. 11227
GERALDINE DANIELS (D) 45 W, 132nd St.
New York, N.Y. 10037
RILEEN C. DUGAN (D) 122 2nd Place

Brooklyn, N.Y. 11231

131 Westminster Place

Utica, N.Y. 13501

1636 Pitkin Avenue

Brooklyn, N.Y. 11212

VINCENT MARCHISELLI (D) 4309 A White Plains Road
‘Bronx, N.Y. 10466

RICHARD 5, RUGGIERO (D)
WILLIAM S. BOYLAND (D)

HELEN M. MARSHALL (D) 103-02 27th Ave.
E, Elmhurst, N.Y. 11369
FRANCIS J. PORDUM (D) 3444 Emerling Drive
Blagdell, N,V, 14219
JOSE RIVERA (D) 2076-78 Creston Ave.
Bronx, N.Y. 10453
GEORGE H. MADISON (R) ‘791 Third Ave.

Franklin Square, N.Y.
11010

“YT West Court St,
Rome, N.Y. 13440

WILLIAM R, SEARS (R)

The Assembly Labor

Committee

Like their fellow legislators in the Senate Labor
Committee, the two ranking members of the
Assembly Labor Committee are optimistic about
the fate of the Whistle Blower bill.

In fact, Committee Chairman Frank J. Barbaro
(D-47th Dist.), sponsor of the bill, states, flatly, that
it ‘will pass.’ Co-sponsor George H. Madison
(R-22nd Dist.), the ranking minority member,
echoes this certainty. ‘I fully expect to see a
Whistle Blower bill signed into law this year,” he
says.

Barbaro also sees a “favorable’”’ future for the
Tier III Elimination, Agency Shop and Martin
Luther King Day bills, while Madison says “it is
difficult to predict their eventual fate.”

Commenting on working with the state’s new
governor, Brooklyn Legislator Barbaro anticipates
a “good working relationship’ between Mario
Cuomo and the Legislature, while Madison praised
Cuomo’s style of leadership.

“The Legislature welcomes Gov. Cuomo’s sense
of balance of dealing with the three branches of
government,” said Madison, of Nassau County.
“He has made a very favorable impression upon
many in this area.”

How much attention do the two legislators pay to
the concerns of their constituents, particularly
special interest groups who often urge their
members to write their legislators? Barbaro says,
“(I) respect the views of responsible groups,
especially pro-labor, pro-worker, and pro-civil
rights.”

Says Madison: ‘I pride myself with having a
very close relationship with those whom I
represent, and carefully weigh their opinion on all
legislation. Very often, ideas for legislation begin in
the community and are expressed by letters and at
meetings. In my opinion, that’s the way a
democratic government works.”

Assemblyman Frank J. Barbaro
Committee Chairman

Bee
Assemblyman George H. Madison
Ranking Minority Member

Local seeks fo recoup

interest earned on misused pension funds

SCHENECTADY — The Schenectady County local of CSEA is evaluating ‘ady County retirees and to help keep the system solvent,” said Frank

the feasibility of a lawsuit and other appropriate actions to recover the interest. Tomecko, Local 846 president. “The county has instead chosen to make a profit

earned by the county through its improper use of funds contributed by county 9" the workers’ contributions.”

workers and allocated to the Employee Retirement System. The union indicated that the county had made a gross profit of $182,000 in
Many Schenectady County employees are members of the Tier III retire- interest on some $2 million it withheld from the retirement system. Even after

ment system, which means they contribute 3 percent of their salaries toward paying a late penalty of $60,000, the county was left with a net profit of $122,000

their fature Sean com, ee from the misuse of funds. :

_ “By wit H and contributions from the county toward the “This was done witho i

retirement program, the county has prevented the state’s retirement system cartiptvolien of ths Ai Spates baled ail tes hak ad

JHE PUBLIC SECTOR, Fridey, April 8, 1983

from making its own investments to help pay the current benefits of Schenec- have been left holding the bag if the investment had gone sour?”

Poge 17

fe6t ‘8 H4dy ‘ADpisg “YOID3S DITENd FHL

81 e6og

Exam prep tapes to be offered by regions

ALBANY — If you missed the four-part television series on how to pass a
Civil Service promotional exam when many New York public television sta-
tions broadcast it earlier this month, it’s still not too late to take advantage of
this educational opportunity.

Videotapes of the series have been distributed to each of CSEA’s Regional
Offices, where they will be available for showings at workshops, conferences
and Local meetings.

In addition, several of the state’s public television stations and cable
outlets are planning to work the series into their Spring and early Summer
broadcast schedules.

Two stations have already announced their re-broadcast schedules:

Members in the Capital area will be able to spend their Saturday mornings
watching rebroadcasts of the series, when the programs are shown by WMHT,
Channel 17 in Schenectady, 11:30 a.m. to noon, April 23 and 30 and May 7 and 14.

Members in the North Country will get another opportunity to view the
series when WCFE in Plattsburgh repeats the programs. Parts I and II will be
shown 9-10 a.m., Saturday, April 30, and Parts III and IV will be broadcast in
the same time slot the following Saturday, May 7. The four segments will also
be repeated from 6 to 6:30 p.m., May 2, 3, 9 and 10.

Two new booklets geared for May promotional exams

Two new, important, instructional booklets in
a series of booklets designed to assist people in
taking civil service exams will become available
next week. The two latest booklets (numbers 9
and 10 in the adjacent order form) should prove
especially helpful for those planning to take the
May promotional exams for positions in OMH
and OMRDD.

Booklets 9 and 10 will begin to be distributed

immediately. Booklets 1 through 8 are available
immediately.

The instructional booklets, together with a
videotapes instructional series being shown on

April 13, but orders should be placed

VIDEOTAPE INSTRUCTIONS to help prepare

than 30 members viewed the program for help in

O #6 BASIC ALGEBRA

0 #9 CONCEPTS AND PRINCIPLES OF NOR-
MALIZATION FOR THE MENTALLY RETARD-
ED / DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED:
THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES USED

© #10 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES IN THE
TREATMENT OF THE MENTALLY ILL / EMO-
TIONALLY DISTURBED

Send to:
ane

Address =)

City. State/ZIP__

several public telcvision stations (see related 1
ca have been Lara i CSEA by the he l
York State School Industrial and Labor 1
Relations, Cornell University. Theprojectispart | <Webchwen cc’ OY ate. \
of a program funded by the Committee on the {
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ALBANY, NEW YORK 12207 :
Please send me the booklet(s) indi |
stand the price Is $1.50 [includes post: I
EACH booklet ordered, and | have enc! I
check or money order for $. to cover the
cost of this order.
C1 #1 BASIC MATH |
O #2 ARITHMETIC REASONING
( #3 UNDERSTANDING AND INTERPRETING |
TABULAR MATERIAL |
(#4 UNDERSTANDING AND INTERPRETING |
WRITTEN MATERIAL : |
( #5 PREPARING WRITTEN MATERIAL
|
O #7 PURCHASING AND PAYROLL |
PRACTICES
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for civil service exams are shown to University preparing for an exam being given before the Soclal Security Number. CSEA Local
of Buffalo CSEA Local 602 members by Doris _ videotape was shown on public television sta- I
Williams and Pat Walp from the Local. More tions in the Buffalo area. (eepleiss Saas ee aay i
Competitive Promotional Exams
COMPETITI E FILING ENDS APRIL 25, 1983
TITLE AND SALARY GRADE DEPARTMENT EXAM. NO
Library Clerk Il G-7.......... .. AUDITICONTROL......... . 37-957

‘PROMOTIONAL EXAMS

{State employees only)

Detailed announcements and applications may be obtained from the following locations:

ALBANY: Examinations Information, Department of Civil Service, State Office Building
Campus, Albany, NY 12239.

BUFFALO: State Department of Civil Service, Room 303, 65 Court Street, Buffalo, NY
14202.

NEW YORK: State Department of Civil Service, 55th Floor, 2 World Trade Center, New
York, NY 10047 or Harlem State Office Building, 163 West 125th Street, New York, NY
10027.

LOCAL OFFICES: New York State Employment Service (no mail handled or applications
accepted).

Special Test Arrangements Will Be Made For Saturday Religious Observers’ 5
And Handicapped Persons When A fitten Test ts Held.

Chief of Environmental Conserv.
Facilities Engineering M-3... ‘

Petroleum Engineer, Assistant G-20.

Petroleum Engineer, Senior G-24

Ratan Tee 39-691
. 30-275

Library Clerk 11 G-7......... CORRECTIONAL SERVICES.....
EXECUTIVE

.—Human Rights Division. ;

—OGS.

Library Clerk Il G-7.....
Assistant Heating & Ventilating Engineer G-20..)..
Facilities Management Assistant G-14 ate ‘
Food Inspector II (Surplus Foods) G-1 acai oi
Assistant Mechanical Construction Engineer G-20. .
Assistant Plumbing Engineer G-20. .

Library Clerk 11 G-7.,...... corte

Library Clerk 1G-7........
Chief Clerk (Corporations) G-20,.
Head Clerk (Corporations) G-15. . A
Head Clerk (Corporations Search) G-15. .
pene Clerk.(Corporations) G-11.
Principal Clerk (Corporations Search
Library Clerk tl G-7...
Library Clerk 11 G-11....

PROTEST — Members of th

the picket line. At right, employee carries sign addressed to Albany County Executive James

Coyne. fs

In Albany County:

Social Services pickets for pact

ALBANY — Albany County Social Services Department employees,
dissatisfied with their current contract negotiations, staged a noontime
informational picket in front of the county office building here recently. Some 150
members joined the line.

The Social Services Department is currently in fact-finding, while two other
units in the county local, health and jail civilian employees, are at an impasse.
The fourth unit, the highway employees, is the only one still at the bargaining
table.

“We've been at the bargaining table for months and very little progress has
been made. The county refuses to budge on many issues,”’ Alexander Oliver,
president of both the Social Services unit and the Albany County local, said.

During the past several months, CSEA has filed a series of improper practice
charges against the county for various actions it has taken during the negotiations
process.

“The county has unilaterally changed the: terms and conditions of the
employees’ health insurance without negotiations. The county has announced its
predetermined contractual settlement to the press before it has even put it on the
bargaining table. And while crying poverty, the county has bonded money for
sports facilities without once considering the needs of its workforce,” Oliver said.

The president charged that every time the union has come forward with a
suggestion to save time and money in the bargaining process, the county has
“dragged its feet.

“If the county would even now consider coalition negotiations on salaries and
health insurance, the savings would be substantial,” he said. ‘But it will most
likely continue individual unit bargaining until the County Legislature becomes
involved.”

How many layoffs, and where?

Employees’ Retirement System officials reported that requests for
official benefit estimates had skyrocketed since the program was
announced from an average of 1,000 requests per month, to more than
1,000 requests per day! Actual retirement applications were also pouring
in as applicants hurried to beat the final filing date of May 2 to participate
in the program.

The Cuomo Administration has publicly pledged that any retirements
in excess of the 4,200 anticipated for the early retirement incentive

‘We've been at
the bargaining
table for
months, and
very little
progress
has been made.’

—Alexander Oliver

Last call to apply for
CSEA scholarships

ALBANY — April 29 is the deadline for high school seniors to apply for $500

CSEA scholarships.

Each year, the union awards 18 scholarships — three in each of the six

program would be used to offset layoffs.

So despite the passage of two months since the Executive Budget was
revealed and despite the lengthy legislative budget process and despite
the two weeks that have passed since the actual budget agreement was
reached, even today the State of New York still does not know how many
layoffs it intends to make or who will be laid off. Meanwhile 7,000

previously targeted workers remain unsure of what their fate will be

when ail of the details are sorted out.

regions — to the dependents of CSEA members to help students and parents
meet the spiraling costs of higher education.

Financial need, academic performance, class rank, test scores and outside
activities are the primary factors which determine winners.

Applications for the one-time award are available by calling the regional
offices, contacting local presidents, or writing to: Scholarship Committee, 33
Elk St., Albany, N.Y. 12224.

Local presidents who have not yet received applications are advised to
contact CSEA Headquarters immediately.’ * ah Sie

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday. April 8, 1983

Poge 19
O133S DING 3HL

£861 @ [dy “Apis

02 2604

Retire Tier fil
The Pension “Reform” that W/ent Haywire

How would you feel ”
about paying three
percent of your gross
income into a
retirement system

that may never pay
you a dime? Sound
ridiculous? It is, but
very possible under the
current Tier Ill pension
program for public
employees hired after

July 1, 1976. And ,
that’s why 500,000 public
employees across New

York State are demanding
changes in Tier Ill of the
state retirement program.

Tier fll was created in

1976 to “reform”

earlier public

employee pension

programs that some

people claimed were

too expensive. The

“reformed” plan, costing

about 10 percent of salary,

was about right, they said.

It was rammed through the
Legislature in the waning hours before
adjournment without a hard look at its
long range consequences.

Unfortunately, after Tier Ill was enacted,

the Social Security ‘‘offset’’ to which it is
linked changed dramatically.

It's been changing

ever since. The result? While
salaries for public employees
have been going up—although
slower than private sector
salaries—pension benefits paid
by Tier Ill are going down.

The “reform” program is costing
less than expected, but at the

public workers. For
employees this

means lower
retirement income. For

the public, it means
qualified, competent,
productive “career”

elsewhere for
employment.

DO

i Ses Last year the average

SA pension paid by the
New York State

Employees Retirement System was
$5,251 a yearl Is that what the
“reform’’ was supposed to do? Of
course not! :

Even some of our most conservative
leaders in Albany agree that it is time to
overhaul Tier Ill before we create more
impoverished retirees and drive career
employees out of public service.

The longer we delay, the more it will
cost to correct Our mistakes later.

The Civil Service Employees Association, Inc.
Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO

William L. McGowan, President