The Public Sector, 1987 January 12

Cold shoulder
eaves ’em hot
iInkrHerkimer

School board’s icy attitude puts a
chill on labor-management relations

gee
fo
‘hee

INSIDE

By Patty Mack
Coordinator CSEA/Unity Mutual Patty Mack

The number of requests for information that I’ve received since CSEA endorsed Unity’s
Individual Retirement Account Payroll Deduction Plan tells me that there’s a great deal eo. P
of interest in this benefit. The questions that you’ve sent along also tell me there’s some
confusion over how IRAs work, especially in light of recent tax law changes. With the

help of the PUBLIC SECTOR, I’ll try to answer some of the most commonly asked
questions. I am also providing a coupon for more information or for your specific question,
which I will answer in subsequent columns.*

Q: MUST I CONTRIBUTE THE FULL $2,000 IN ORDER TO TAKE THE IRA
DEDUCTION?

A: No. $2,000 is the maximum contribution allowed by law. You may contribute any
allowable amount up to that figure. Your tax deduction will be equal to your IRA
contribution.

Q: IF I CONTRIBUTE TO AN IRA ONE YEAR, MUST I DO SO THE NEXT?

A: IRA Contributions are not mandatory, it’s up to you whether you contribute. You may
make a full contribution the first year and make a smaller one the next year or not ®
contribute at all. Your account will still be earning the current interest rate.

Q: CAN I HAVE MORE THAN ONE IRA?

A: Yes, you can, as long as you don’t take more than $2,000 or the allowable amount of
your contribution in tax deductions in one year. You can have an IRA with as many
financial institutions as you want. You can also stop one IRA and start another at any
time during the tax year.

Q: WHAT IF I PUT MORE THAN $2,000 IN MY IRA IN ONE YEAR?

A: Not only will you not be allowed to deduct the excess amount from your taxes, you will
be required to pay a 6% excise tax on the excess amount for each year it remains in
your IRA. This does not pertain to ROLLOVER FUNDS. Using payroll deduction
plan, you'll be sure to contribute just the right amount for maximum tax benefits.

.
i EE STE i Tg aE AM A RO 5 7
w( ! De: j e
Shakedown may yy i ae Eat
Pe oxerecon for << | —_Please send more information about IRA I
PAGE 9 i _____ Please place my name on your IRA Mailing List
_____My IRA Question is: ae
| aa !
| |
The state of | SORE Sn es 1
the state |
...PAGE 7 | Re i keen
| i] ‘
i Name: hee: ee eet e
Address: iat a

Mail To: Patty Mack
Unity Mutual Life Insurance Company or
One Unity Plaza Call 1-800-448-5454
Syracuse, NY 13215
* This column is not intended to give legal, tax or accounting advice. The information contained in
this column is a summary of our understanding of the current tax laws effective in these areas and
how they relate to our annuity contract.

The Public Sector (445010) is published every other Monday by The Civil Service
Employees Association, 143 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12210. Publication Of-

Public fice: 143 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12210. Second Class Postage paid at Post

Office, Albany, New York.

Address changes should be sent to: Civil Service Employees Association, Attn:

Membership Department, 143 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12210.

Official publication of The Civil Service COMMUNICATION ASSOCIATES

Employees Association Local 1000, AFSCME, SHERYL CARLIN .... Region I RON WOFFORD Region VI
AFL-CIO 143 Washington Avenue, Albany, (516) 273-2280 (716) 886-0391
New York 12210 LILLY GIOIA Region II STEVE MADARASZ Headquarters
(212) 514-9200 (518) 434-0191

ANITA MANLEY Region III
(914) 896-8180.

AARON SHEPARD Publisher DAN CAMPBELL ..... Region IV
i (518) 489-5424

ROBER A: COLE Falter CHUCK McGEARY Region V
(315) 451-6330

2 THE PUBLIC SECTOR January 12, 1987

Lack of contract angers Herkimer members

Protesters hot despite

cold shoulder from the
weather, school board

HERKIMER — CSEA members from months, with disagreement over binding
throughout the Mohawk Valley area recently arbitration the key issue causing the delay.
braved sub-zero temperatures and a bone- _He said the Herkimer school board

chilling wind factor to join forces with continues to refuse to accept a binding
By Charles McGeary members of the Herkimer School District arbitration clause despite a recommendation
CSEA Communications Associate Unit in protesting the lack of a contract from the state Public Employment Relations
for 18 months. Board (PERB) that one be included in the

_CSEA county, state and area school contract.
district members responded to a call for (This unit is ock-eolid behind the

cuppare He gto See tnt negotiating team. We’ve stuck to our guns
. 7 A ‘ for 18 months, and we will continue to fight
informational picket prior to a recent school for binding arbitration,” Kane told the

board meeting. Fey
Included in the line of protesters were protest participants.

: Central Region V President Jim Moore, Region V President Moore praised
e aN statewide CSEA Treasurer Mary Sullivan, members who braved the freezing weather
‘ ea f Region V Director Frank Martello and to demonstrate their strength of purpose. “I

Collective Bargaining Specialist Roger think we sent a loud and clear message to
Kane. They were joined by picketers from the board that there is CSEA solidarity in
Herkimer County Local 822, Oneida County —_ the Mohawk Valley,”’ he said. “‘We stand
Local 833, NYSDOT Local 505 and school together with our brothers and sisters in the
employees from Herkimer, West Canada Herkimer School Unit for a fair contract

Valley and Frankfort-Schuyler. with binding arbitration. Other bargaining
Chief Negotiator Kane said negotiations on units in the area have it, and we want it

a new contract have dr. 1 on for 18 too!”

COLD BUT DETERMINED union leaders, above,
march in recent informational picket line in
Herkimer. From left are Herkimer County CSEA
Local 822 President Pat Labrozzi, CSEA Region
V President Jim Moore, and CSEA statewide
Treasurer Mary Sullivan.

@ FROSTY SENTINELS, right, on a bitterly cold
night in Herkimer are, from left, Collective
Bargaining Specialist Roger Kane and Unit
President Sam Servadio,

a

POMONA — CSEA members in alternative insurance plan maintains
BOLLEDIN (77 BULLETIN «1: Rockland County have enthusiastically existing benefits, including prescription
ratified a new contract for 2,600 county drug coverage, and has the same
employees. geographic acceptability as the existing
Ro chklan d S F plan. The county also affirms wherever
® The accord ends 18-months of intense and whenever possible to use the same
negotiations which were nearly derailed at participating providers.
m e mb © r &% the eleventh hour when the county The agreement, now subject to
unexpectedly demanded the right to ratification by the county legislature, is
e change insurance carriers. retroactive to Jan. 1, 1986. It includes
ratif new Unit President Vicki Burton, in return, annual pay raises of 5, 5 and 5'% percent
pledged “‘we will not sell out our and features such milestones as an
members” and after strong union improved dental plan, $100,000 annual
Cc ontract pressure, coupled with informational allocation for a pay equity plan, and a new
picketing, the county agreed to new tuition assistance program for employees
: contract language. It guarantees any who want to continue their education.
- ey,
®

January 12, 1987 THE RUBLIC SECTOR ej

NEW YORK — Alarmed by the discovery of
high lead levels in state office water fountains
last June at World Trade Center Tower Two,
CSEA launched a serious campaign to identify
any possible health risks to employees who
drank the tainted water. Subsequent union con-
sultations with top level experts in the field of
environmental and occupational medicine has
culminated with CSEA making available free
blood-lead level tests to any affected member.

Tests performed at CSEA’s Region II Manhat-
tan Headquarters were administered by hospi-
tal technicians of the Dept. of Community
Medicine under the direction of the Associate
Professor of Environmental and Occupational
Medicine at City University of New York’s Mt.
Sinai School of Medicine, Dr. Alf Fischbein,
M.D.

All members taking part in the blood test pro-
gram completed brief questionnaires to deter-
mine their occupational and environmental
histories. Particular attention was focused on
the duration of employment at 2 World Trade
Center and the frequency of water intake from
respective fountains. Blood specimens obtained
by finger-prick are now being analyzed at Mt.
Sinai for lead absorption.

Each worker tested will receive a confiden-
tial letter containing a report of their blood-lead
zine protoporphyrin levels and an explanation
of the degree of lead exposure found, if any.

CSEA Region II President George Bon-
coraglio, working closely with the union’s
Director of Safety and Health, James Corcoran,
pressed hard to assure that concerned em-
ployees had ample opportunity to be tested.
“Cutting through red tape presented some
problems,” Boncoraglio said. “But this is what
you have a union for. It’s not realistic to expect

WTC members tested for
health risk

“SIGN OF DANGER... CSEA Local 010 member Brian Sokoloff helps himself to some bottled water

on the 49th floor of World Trade Center last June while a sign on water fountain understates the con-
tamination problem. Above, one of numerous newspaper headlines focusing attention on the issue.

management to voluntarily provide you with
any information that could eventually be used
against them in a compensation case.”
Employees of the NYS Dept. of Law located
on the 49th floor of the 110 story tall tower said
they were eager to take advantage of the free
blood test. One fountain on their floor showed
a lead level of 0.22 milligrams per liter of water
which is four-and-a-half times the 0.05 level con-
sidered acceptable by Federal standards.
Authorities finally turned off the water pipes
supplying a sixteen floor section of Tower Two
primarily occupied by state agencies. “Don’t

TESTING FOR THE UNKNOWN... Department of Law clerk Mary Grant, right, has her blood tested at
CSEA Region II office. CSEA arranged with Mt. Sinai Hospital to conduct the free tests for members who
worked in the World Trade Center. Unsafe lead levels were discovered in the Center’s drinking water foun-
tains last spring.

4

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

Drink The Water” signs were placed over the
fountains by workers and bottled water was
supplied to each floor while the NYS Health
Dept. tested samples of the discolored water.
The tainted fountains have been in the building
since 1973, the year the World Trade Center’s
twin towers were completed.

When the problem was discovered last sum-
mer, Grade 5 Dept. of Law stenographer Pa-
trice Lewis said, “I really never drank the
water because it always had a funny taste. I’ve
been working here over 2 years and right now
I feel more concerned, not just about what could
happen to me, but what about people here who
have been drinking this water for 10 or 12
years?”

A Health Dept. spokesman indicated that ex-
posure at the levels tested seemed unlikely to
cause immediate health problems, but that
long-term continuous exposure to lead over the
limits can result in neurological damage.

Dept. of Law clerk Mary Grant asked her fa-
mily physician what his recommendation was
about taking the free blood test at union head-
quarters. He encouraged her to follow through
and ‘by all means let him know what the
results are,” she said.

Joan Acquatta, also a Dept. of Law clerk
whose blood was tested at CSEA, expressed ap-
preciation and relief that the union was follow-
ing through with blood testing of employees. ‘I
think that its a good idea to have something like
this checked out because it could be very seri-
ous,’’ she acknowledged.

NYS Tax and Finance Dept. CSEA Local 460
President Willie Terry, who works on the 62nd
floor of Tower 2, was among the union members
tested. “I encouraged all our members to come
down and take advantage of this free test be-
cause ignorance isn’t bliss and I have a right
to know, for my family’s sake, if my health was
jeoparidzed in any way because I drank water
here,” Terry said.

January 12, 1987

January 12, 1987

30 years of dedication and...

The book’s
still being
written

By Sheryl Carlin
CSEA Communications Associate

BABYLON — After working for the Town of Babylon for 30
years, Agnes DiVeto says she’s experienced enough interesting
situations that she ‘“‘could write a book” about her career spent
mostly as an assistant tax assessor.

Included among her collection of “thank you” cards from
satisfied taxpayers and pleasant memories of many happy occa-
sions are less pleasant recollections such as being chased by a pack
of dogs and having an irate taxpayer visit her with a gun in hand.

DiVeto was honored recently by the town and CSEA for reaching
three decades of services to the public. Still, she isn’t ready to retire
yet and before she does finally call it quits, it’s a good bet she en-
counters more situations to add to the book she could write if she
chose to.

“This job certainly has its moments,” said DiVeto. ‘‘I’ll never
forget when that man came in here with the gun.” DiVeto explained
at at the time, there were police stationed in the lower level of the

ing.

“T stayed calm and talked to the man and one of

co-workers
slipped out and got the police. Thank God they were in es

e building,

(L to R) Aileen Ronayne, Ed Madocks, CSEA Region I President Danny Donohue, Fred
Gallagher and Cathy Green flank 30-year employee Agnes DiVeto at her surprise party.

DiVeto related.

DiVeto, who is a Lindenhurst resident, began with the town as a
clerk, soon becoming an assessor’s assistant. She has seen many
supervisors come and go during her career.

In appreciation of her three decades of dedicated service, CSEA
and the Town of Babylon presented DiVeto with commemorative
plaques at a recent town board meeting.

Town Supervisor Anthony Noto said, “We are proud and
grateful to have an employee like Agnes; she’s a wonderful woman
and a hard worker.”

CSEA Region I President Danny Donohue congratulated
DivVeto, “It’s members like you who give CSEA a good name!”
____DiVeto’s direct supervisor, Ed Madocks, said, “I’m glad Agnes
isn’t retiring. It will take three people to replace her. She’s an ex-
cellent employee.”’

As CSEA Unit President Cathy Green gave DiVeto a bouquet of
ot with helium balloons, she asked DiVeto when she planned on
retiring.

_ “TY have no intentions on leaving now,” DeVito answered, “but
don’t count on me staying another 30 years, either!’*she added with
a warm smile. :

Achieving “more and better” in Garden City contract

Bargaining Specialist Irwin Scharfeld look on.

GARDEN CITY — The Garden City Unit
of Nassau County CSEA Local 830 recently
ratified a three-year agreement which in-
cluded increases of six percent, plus steps,
each year.

Other highlights of the pact included
money for work shoes for recreation and
DPW employees, an increase in meal
allowances, an agency shop clause, an in-
crease in the tool allowance and a shift
differential.

CSEA Collective Bargaining Specialist Ir-
win Scharfeld assisted the unit’s
negotiating team and commended them on
a job well done.

The team included Unit President Frank
Jaronezyk, Kay Williams, Edris Jackowski,
Betty DeMilta, Pat Luongo, Mike Kelly,
Larry Laboda, Robert Baulsir and Robert
Ebert.

“We feel fine about the contract,” said
Jaronczyk, ‘‘and the negotiating team was

excellent.”

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

More exam preparation booklets
to help you improve test scores

Additional assistance is on the way for CSEA members planning on taking promotional examinations. Five
additional exam preparation booklets have been added to the 12 self-study booklets previously available, bringing
to 17 the number of exam preparation booklets now available to choose from to help improve your test scores in a
wide range of state civil service exam areas.

The newest booklets should be very helpful to CSEA members taking the upcoming Public Administration
Traineeship training exam.

The newest booklets, like the previously available ones, are funded by the NYS-CSEA Committee on the Work
Environment and Productivity (CWEP) and written by Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor
Relations.

The booklets can be ordered by CSEA members for $1.50 EACH through the CSEA Education and Training
Department, using the order forms below. Non-CSEA members may order them through Cornell’s School of
Industrial and Labor Relations, 146 State Street, Albany, N.Y. 12207 at the same price.

Eight additional booklets relative to state examinations are expected to become available during February and
March, and work is underway on expanding the number of local government preparation booklets available as
well, according to Sally Engelhardt, director of education and training. As the future state and local government
exam preparation booklets become available, they will be added to the order forms published in The Public
Sector. Engelhardt reminded that stress management “relaxation tapes” are also available, at $2.50 each, on the
order form also printed below. The relaxation tapes are available only through CSEA’s Education and Training
Department.

State Examinations

prep booklets

ASSN.
ATTN: EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
P.O. BOX 7125
CAPITOL STATION
! ALBANY, NEW YORK 12224

Please send me the booklet(s) indicated.
@ understand the price is $ 1.50 (which includes

CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES

postage) for EACH booklet ordered. | have §

H enclosed a check or money order, payable to }
1 CSEA, for $

to cover the cost of §

Local Government

Relaxation Tape
cassette offer

prep booklets

CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ASSN.

ATTN: EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
P.O. BOX 7125

'

.

‘

H

{ CAPITOL STATION
' ALBANY, NEW YORK 12224

{ Please send me the booklet(s) indicated. I
H

‘

‘

'

.

cy

‘

4

= eres pres coeeeeesennn eae eensammmny

' CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ASSN.
ATTN: EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
P.O. BOX 7125
CAPITOL STATION
ALBANY, NEW YORK 12224
Please send me relaxatio
program(s) on cassette tape at the price of
$2.50 EACH. I have enclosed a check or mon:
ey order, payable to CSEA, for $ t
cover the cost of this order.

understand the price is $ 1.50 (which includes
postage) for EACH booklet ordered. I have
enclosed a check or money order, payable to
CSEA, for S$.

of this order.

____ to cover the cost

Pl 8
1.Secretarial and Typing Series for ease eenditape(s)ito

Counties, Municipalities and Non-

N
Teaching School District Personnel AOE
_____2. Custodial Series for Counties, ADDRESS ae
Municipalities and Non-Teaching
School District Personnel CITY —_______STATE/ZIP: ___

__3: Social Welfare Examiner Series SOCIAL SECURITY #

__4:Caseworker Promotional Exam
Series CSEA LOCAL
lease send booklet(s) to: EMPLOYER =
NAME eee
ADDRESS i

ITY ___ STATE/ZIP

c

SOCIAL SECURITY #_
CSEA LOCAL _

Js

MPLOYER
‘

Make checks or money orders
able to: CSEA Education Department H

Video tapes and related material are available in association with SOME of the exam
preparation booklets. CSEA Local presidents may obtain the video and material for

use in helping members prepare for exams by contacting the CSEA communications
associate in the respective regional CSEA headquarters.

6

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

—___9: Concepts

«this order.

1. Basic Math

- Arithmetic Reasoning

2
3.Understanding and
Tabular Material

Interpreting

p

- Understanding and
Written Material

Interpretin.

5. Preparing Written Material

6. Supervision
_7.Purchasing and Payroll Practices
8. Basic Algebra

and_ Principles
Normalization for the Mentally
Retarded/Developmentally Disabled;
Therapeutic Approaches

Treatment of the

Mentally
Ill/Emotionally Disturbed 4

|___11.How to take an Oral Exam

___12. Evaluating Conclusions in the Lights
of Known Facts

13-Gnderstanding and
Written Material II

Interpreting

|__14. Verbal Analysis / Evaluating Conclu-

sions in The Light of Known Facts Il

____!5-Quantative Analysis/Understanding

and Interpreting Tabular Material II

16.Contemporary Government and

~~ Social Problems

_—___1/ Written English/Preparing Written

Material II

Please send booklet(s) to:

NAME _

ADDRESS

CUI ene OS TATE Ale,

Social Security *
CSEA Local ee

Employer

January 12, 1987

e

of Cuomo’s state

—But CSEA questions
OMRDD suggestion

ALBANY — ‘‘The Governor made sure he had something for
everyone”’ said CSEA President William McGowan of Governor
Mario Cuomo’s fifth annual state of the state address. ‘‘He had pro-
grams for the taxpayers, teachers, environmentalists, the homeless,
you name it.”

McGowan noted that while many of the Governor’s ideas are
admirable, the real test of commitment comes when his Executive
budget is presented to the legislature. ‘“That’s when we know if he’s
putting his money where his mouth is.”

While a number of the items outlined in the speech could be of
tremendous benefit to CSEA members, the union is taking a cautious
approach to particular areas.

For example, the Governor is suggesting 1600 new community
beds for the mental retardation system and continued efforts to
develop community programs. However, he also noted that as
community services expand, some developmental centers may be
shut down.

Says McGowan: “Obviously we would want to know what
centers he has in mind and why. Then we would want to be
absolutely certain that there are facilities and services in place to
meet the needs of the clients in terms of providing necessary care.”

While also expressing continued support for the community care
models for the mentally ill, Cuomo acknowledged the need for major
improvements at a number of psychiatric centers as well as
Mereasing the capacity of the system. CSEA is anxious to see the
details.

In addition to proposing reforms for the civil service system, the
Governor is advocating a shift in responsibility for employee health
care from Civil Service Department to the’ Office of Employee
Relations. While supporting this specific action, McGowan restated
opposition to a further transfer or merging of the two areas.

There’s something for
everyone in the state

Under the terms of the current CSEA-

Among the other areas of interest to CSEA members in the
Governor’s speech:

* Transportation initiatives including: significant increases in
bridge repair and maintanance funding

* Continued efforts to implement pay equity agreements

*Stronger laws, regulations, and procedures to promote
integrity and ethical conduct in government.

Obviously we would want to know
what developmental centers he
has in mind and why.

—CSEA President
Witliam McGowan

serve the needs of their fellow members,”

New charges
filed in HVCC
union-busting

TROY — CSEA has filed a grievance
against the Hudson Valley Community
College’s Faculty Student Association
(FSA) for firing CSEA FSA Unit President
Mark Lansing. CSEA had previously filed
a series of unfair labor charges against
the F'SA with the state’s Labor Board for
what the union says are anti-union actions
against the union and its private sector
members and elected officials.

January 12, 1987

HVCC FSA agreement, the grievance over
the firing of Lansing will begin with a
hearing before the president of the
Faculty Student Association or his
representative. Since FSA President Willie
Hammett has already commented in the
press on the actions of FSA in the
termination of CSEA Unit President
Lansing, CSEA expects that a non-
involved third party should be designated
to handle this aspect of the grievance
procedure. If the FSA would like to
expedite the procedure, the union is
willing to move the termination to binding
arbitration, the third step of the regular
grievance procedure, as soon as possible.

“CSEA is not prepared to allow the
HVCC FSA management to disregard the
laws concerning the rights of employees to
participate in unions, to hold office and

CSEA Field Representative Pat Domaratz
‘said concerning the union’s actions in this
matter.

The field representative noted that while
the FSA was apparently attempting to
negotiate a contract with the remaining
employees through the press, citing FSA
President Willie Hammett’s statement
that the FSA Board gave authorization for
negotiations for a long term contract with
the CSEA private sector employees,
Domaratz noted that if the FSA
mnagement continued its anti-union
actions and attitudes the resulting contract
‘would be an insult to the concept of labor
relations, ‘“CSEA will not sell out its
presidents for lucrative salary offers or
long term contracts. Unions that don’t
fight for their members and defend their
leaders don’t last long. CSEA’s 76 years
old so we must be doing something right’’.

7

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

CSEA Committee profile

, Legal Committee serves as
‘‘watchdog of members’ rights”’

ALBANY — Because of the efforts of its
standing legal committee, CSEA defies
the conventional wisdom that “‘you can’t
fight city hall’’. In fact, when it comes to
protecting members’ contractual rights,
CSEA successfully challenges not only
city hall, but county governments and
New York state in the courts- hundreds of
times each year.

Working closely with the union’s Legal
Assistance Program, the Legal Committee
reviews dozens of requests for help each
month and recommends appropriate
action to the Board of Directors. The type
of cases run the entire spectrum of labor-
management relations- from individuals
challenging wrongful firings to class

action suits over non-delivery of ‘ ‘i a A .

§ 4 Region V Legal Committee Representative Barbara Reeves, left, and Committee Chairman James
contractual benefits, to protecting rights Heekin, center, listen as Committee Coordinator Tony Campione makes a point at a recent meeting.
due members under New York state and Other meeting members are: Vice- Chair and Region IV representative Richard Canniff; Region I —
Federal laws. Vito Bertini; Region II — Vincent Martuciello; Region III — Ed Carafa; and Region VI — George

Says Committee Chairman James Grownes:
Heekin: “Our job is really to police all of i i eae ae
CSEA’s contracts and safeguard While the committee does not ' The bottom-line is that applications are
members’ rights. Management can’t recommend action on every case it ultimately reviewed by the committee —
arbitrarily ignore contracts and it really reviews, Heekin says they review the made up of members who understand the
strengthens our position when they know merits of each case individually and if problems presented because they’ve all
we'll go into court if necessary”. there’s even a chance that the case will dealt with them in the workplace. All
succeed, they try to give it that chance. have been local officers, delegates, or
Heekin, who has chaired the committee Much of the preparation work for the Board of Directors representatives with
for the past year and-a-half, and has committee is carried out by the Legal ine experience to make informed
Sérveu as a metiioer Oi ifie group sincé Program Administrator, who prepares a decisions.
1982, believes the program is one of the stale histor; yon ea ee prior to
best that CSEA provides its members: “I committee meetings. Without this “ye! .
don’t think ieee another union that background, committee members indicate ‘We're the last recourse in a lot of
provides such comprehensive legal their review sessions might drag on for ae atts cereale remedies. t
coverage- coverage that really goes to bat days. Instead, they can quickly and ave failed’ adds Heekin. It’s Be Ah
for members, at no out-of-pocket cost to effectively respond to each case on its recourse that often gives contracts their
them”. merits. strength.

CSEA “‘digs”’ snow closing info

“The weather is bad out there! Schools are | morning radio after a snow storm, Shepard said
closing. But for us it’s another day. We’re | “it was a natural vehicle” for CSEA to reach a

members of CSEA, your public employee union.” | maximum audience with our message to enhance
When the snow falls and the schools close, | the image of our membership.
that’s the message going out over radio stations Those stations carrying that message are:
from Buffalo to Long Island. 3
The idea to run a CSEA commercial in bee ja
conjunction with school closings comes from WSYR- NEB CHRE
CSEA’s Director of Communications, Aaron WIBX- Utica
Shepard: “It’s a way of letting the public know WHAM-Rochester
that many of our members are out there doing WGY-Schenectady
the job no matter what the weather.” WHUD FM-Peekskill
Noting that most households listen to WALK-Patchogue

8 THE PUBLIC SECTOR January 12, 1987

may soon
be history

State’s appeal blocking CSEA court victory, or

You’d have shed

Vy
RS

SS SS}

“a

SS
ox

KK

5)

a tier long ago

patient just a little longer, for the

wheels of justice are slowly grinding in your
favor.

That’s the advice from CSEA attorneys to
the more than 5,000 public employees who
have been trapped in the wrong tier of the
multi-tiered State Retirement System for the
past 10 years, and whose constitutional
rights have been violated, according to a
state Supreme Court justice, because the
State reduced their retirement benefits and
forced them to contribute a portion of their
own salaries into the system.

It has been six months since CSEA won a
major lawsuit that greatly improved the
retirement status of those thousands of
public employees who joined the State
Retirement System during the last half of
1976, and it could be another six months
before a higher court rules on an appeal by
the State of that decision. And up to another
year from now before a final determination
in the case is made should that decision be
appealed, which is considered likely.

State Supreme Court Justice Edward
Conway ruled last July in a suit brought by
CSEA against the State that employees who
entered the retirement system between July
1 and Dec. 31, 1976 should be in Tier II of

the system, and not Tier III where they had
been placed by the State. He said their
rights and benefits were unconstitutionally
diminished and impaired by the State’s
action. Tier II is noncontributory, while Tier
III participants must contribute three
percent of their gross salaries into the
retirement system. In addition, Tier II
retirement benefits are generally superior to
Tier III benefits.

Justice Conway also ruled that the three
percent contribution, plus interest, that the
employees have been paying into the system
for the past 10 years be returned. CSEA, in
its successful suit, noted the State placed
everyone who joined the system after July 1,
1976 in Tier III but did not begin deducting
the three percent contribution until Jan. 1,
1977. Justice Conway agreed with the union
that although the State enacted Tier III in
July, 1976, it did not go into effect until Jan.
1, 1977 when contributions were first
deducted.

The State announced plans to appeal that
ruling, which stayed Justice Conway’s
decision. CSEA Attorney John Mineaux, of
the union’s law firm of Roemer and
Featherstonhaugh, said the State intends to
file legal briefs on their appeal by late

(

January, and that a decision on the appeal
could be expected from the Appellate
Division of State Supreme Court by mid-
summer. Mineaux said if the Appellate
Division ruling is appealed, a final
determination in the case by the state Court
of Appeals could be expected by the end of
1987.

So, if you were one of the thousands who
joined the retirement system between July 1
and Dec. 31, 1976, be patient just a little
longer. CSEA officials say they believe their
case is a strong one, that Justice Conway’s
ruling will be upheld, and that after a
decade of fighting by the union to end the
injustice, a wrong will finally be made right.

CSEA gains delayed fallout from Hurricane Gloria

BROOKHAVEN — It began as a casual comment, progressed
into a formal grievance, and ended with probatioi employees of
the Town of Brookhaven getting credit for a personal leave day when
Hurricane Gloria battered Long Island in 1985.

When Pamela Delano mentioned to CSEA Brookhaven White
Collar Unit President Liz Puttre that she had lost a day’s pay due to
Hurricane Gloria, Puttre asked why she did not use one of the five
personal leave days CSEA had negotiated for town employees.

When Delano said the personnel office told her probationary
employees were not entitled to personal leave days until they were
on the job for six months, Puttre filed a grievance, charging that
violated the union’s contract.

Dorothy Gallagher, head clerk in the payroll division of the
finance department of the town, testified that probationary

mec) accu” a RSM em Ee EA PE SNe NA SORE RC ASP CAD
January 12, 1987

employees received five personal days annually until ten years ago
when a former supervisor informed her that the probationary
employees would no longer receive these days until they completed
their six-month probation.

Although this policy became effective, and has remained in ef-
fect to the present date, the union was never notified, either orally or
in writing.

An arbitrator found that the town violated the contract, and
awarded employees hired after Jan. 1, 1983, who are still employed
by the town and who have been denied paid personal leave days, five
additional personal days to be used by December 31, 1987. Eligible
employees who left employment with the town, or who will ter-
minate within 30 days after the award, shall be paid in cash for the
five days, according to the ruling.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

STATEN ISLAND — CSEA’s persistent
determination over the past two years has
saved nearly 1,000 Staten Island
Developmental Center jobs and led to
breaking important new ground in
CSEA/State labor relations. The state’s plan
to shut down SIDC by summer 1987
challenged union leaders and management to
come up with new, innovative solutions if the
potential disaster of massive layoffs was to
be averted.

Starting off, the propsed concept for a
totally new “Richmond Complex” to replace
SIDC was developed. ‘“The union fought hard
from round one to save jobs and maintain
quality care for retarded clients being
relocated; we pulled out all the stops,” said
SIDC Local 429 President John Jackson.

Now a reality, the new Richmond Complex
being built today will house 150 clients and
also provide a model recreational center
specifically designed to meet the needs of

retarded and disabled persons. A research
center for the treatment of the
developmentally disabled, the NYS Institute
For Basic Research, will remain as a third
and vital part of the Richmond Complex.

In the near future, the City University of
New York will begin renovations of suitable
SIDC vacant buildings to make possible a
new site for the campus of the College of
Staten Island. ‘By combining research and
treament with educational land uses of the
SIDC grounds, I believe this ambitious
project is a first of its kind not only in New
York, but worldwide,” said CSEA Region II
President George Boncoraglio. ‘‘The union’s
role in bringing all this together is a key to
the successful outcome,” he added.

During the lengthy transition period
required to close down SIDC, CSEA reached
agreement to provide special training for
members assuring they would be equipped
for future employment in group home
settings. Going still further, several Job
Fairs were sponsored to assist union
members in making lateral transfers to state
facilities in other New York City boroughs.

For the first time, displaced SIDC workers
were offered the choice of laterally

THREE WHO HELPED ... CSEA Region II President George Boncoraglio is joined by
Staten Island Assemblyman Eric Vitaliano and Assembly Mental Health chairwoman
Elizabeth Connelly at groundbreaking ceremonies for group homes on the SIDC grounds.

10

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

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transfering to upstate OMRDD facilities with
the state covering their moving expenses.
According to CSEA Field Representatives
Bart Brier, reaching the agreement
providing upstate relocations with employer-
subsidized moving costs, is an
“unprecedented occurrence.”

“Instead of a layoff, for many workers, it
meant a chance to begin a new life,” Brier
said.

These days when Brier drives around the
SIDC grounds on union business, he is apt to
recall the 1970s when the huge institution
housed 2,500 clients and its management
became the prime target of a media expose’.
Formerly called the Willowbrook State
School, the facility became the notorious
object of a riveted media blitz. Eventually a
court ordered historic Willowbrook Consent
Decree mandated the systematic placements
of clients into community-based facilities or
transfers of clients to other retardation
facilities.

Nearly a thousand CSEA members
working at SIDC in 1984 faced the prospect of
outright termination. Region II President
Boncoraglio and then Local 429 President
Tyrone Daniels seized an immediate
opportunity to confront OMRDD officials and
Gov. Cuomo face to face at an open public
Town Meeting on Staten Island. There and
then, CSEA pledged to stand firm on a
commitment to save jobs and maintain
quality care for the retarded.

Two years later the commitment is just as
strong and the dismantling of SIDC is
obviously right on schedule. A tour of the
expansive grounds on any given bleak winter
day reveals many visible signs of Willow-
brook’s demise. Broken-down overgrown
playground areas flank the large boarded-up
brick school buildings.

Yet, driving on further there is the sight of
new construction and laborers building the
new Richmond Complex group homes.
Joining parents’ groups, along with city and
state officials at the Richmond Complex
ground-breaking ceremonies, both
Boncoraglio and Jackson hailed the occasion
as a ‘“‘new beginning that was breaking
ground in more ways than one.”

January

SEA Communications Associate

By Lilly Gioia

STATEN ISLAND — A veteran SIDC
employee with over 22 years of service,
Community Resident Aide Dolores Harrell
initially was reluctant to believe that the
entire institution could ever be phased out.
Despite the raging media controversy
surrounding Willowbrook, she observed that
many of their clients sent to other places
were often returned to the school as

@ unmanageable.” “Nobody could handle
some of these clients, so they sent them back
to us,’’ she recalls.

When the Willowbrook expose’ exploded
across newspaper headlines and TV news- |
casts, followed by extensive investigations,
Harrell remembers there being much talk
about closing down the facility. As a result,
she began preparing herself to accept the
idea that the institution was really going to
close. ‘‘When any kind of training programs
were offered for group home employment, I
put in to attend all of them,” she said.
One training she participated in was the

HOME AWAY FROM HOME ... Community Residence Aide Dolores Harrell at work in the
kitchen of new group home at the Richmond Complex on the grounds of the former SIDC.

ta

Live-in Unit Non-Ambulatory (LUNA)
Training which over an 8 week period taught
workers how to take care of clients so as to
help them feel more responsible for
themselves, to a degree more than had been
expected previously of ‘institutionalized’
patients. The program focused on teaching
clients how to dress and feed themselves.
Harrell noted that under the old Willowbrook
living conditions where 90 to 100 clients

from all over the metropolitan area were
assigned to one ward with two or three
attendants on duty, time to spend teaching
clients self care was an absolute
impossibility.

Another training program Harrell attended
emphasized behavior modification
techniques to help previously secluded
patients living in locked areas, to be
socialized to a point where they could
interact with their peers.

Harrell has been assigned to a Richmond
Complex group home since March 1986,
where ten men clients reside. Many clients
now have their own rooms. It’s a very
different feeling which they seem to enjoy,
she observed, and for the employees it is
“much better’’ also. “It’s now for them and

clients and staff

us like a home away from home,” she says.
Whether an employee moved to another
facility or stayed at Staten Island Develop-
mental Center, there were many changes to
contend with and they took some getting
used to according to Harrell. ‘Things I do
now, I didn’t do under the old system. I
didn’t cook, wash or clean before. We had
porters and ward aides for that,” she
reflected. ‘Now we are something like
‘house mothers’ seeing that clients’ rooms
are cleaned and the house is taken care of.”
As a community activist involved in
NAACP, the National Negro Women’s

in NAACP, the National Negro Women’s
Council, her local church, and the Staten
Island Raritan Temple Elks, Harrell must do
a juggling act to coordinate her work
schedule with community commitments. She
maintains that ‘it would have been very
difficult for me to leave Staten Island and
the groups I’ve been involved in here.”

As a longtime union activist at SIDC,
Harrell believes CSEA has done a good job
in handling a very difficult transition period.
“Not much went down that the union didn’t
know about and they really tried to prepare
the employees ahead and communicate to
them what their rights were,” she concluded.

CSEA worked hard to save jobs while
clients were being moved to new locations.
Now the Richmond Complex clients will all
be Staten Islanders and those who have
family here, while those who were moved
away from Willowbrook had no family ties in
the Staten Island area.

Speaking from the friendly-looking
welcoming environment of the new group
home where she now works, Harrell
commented about the last two years of
upheaval and uncertainty and changes. ‘I
think things worked out about the best that
could be done.”

THE PUBLIC SECTOR 1 1

EDITOR’S NOTE — Through the joint efforts of CSEA and the state,
coordinated by the office of Re-employment and Training, massive
layoffs have been avoided in the shutdown of Staten Island
Developmental Center. While some employees were helped to find jobs
outside state service at their own choice, and others placed in facilities
in New York and Long Island, a third group of 30 employees took
advantage of a unique opportunity to transfer to upstate facilities at
state expense. More than half of that group moved to just one facility...

PA Sie

Taking a
BIG step

Displaced SIDC workers
find new home at Sunmount

By Stephen Madarasz
CSEA Communications Associate

TUPPER LAKE — “It really wasn’t a difficult decision” claims
Jim Phillips, a 21-year veteran therapy aide, who last year packed
up his family and moved from the New York City borough of Staten
Island to the Village of Tupper Lake in the heart of the Adirondack
mountains.

Phillips, like ten other longtime co-workers at Staten Island
Developmental Center took a transfer option to Sunmount
Developmental Center. The option was part of a plan worked out
between CSEA and the Office of Mental Retardation and
Developmental Disabilities to protect SIDC employees with years of
experience from layoffs due to the shutdown of that institution. An-
other group of 6 SIDC employees will transfer to Sunmount in the
coming weeks.

“J took a tour of Sunmount and it was beautiful” says Phillips.
“Tt really seemed like everyone was bending over backwards to
welcome us.”

Even after a year on the job at Sunmount, Phillips is still
enthusiastic about his surroundings: “It’s much quieter than New
York, but after living in the metropolitan area for so long I got tired
of the hustle and bustle.”

Phillips is now preparing to buy a house and adds that the state
helped ease his move by providing housing on the grounds of the
facility until he was able to get settled in town.

THROUGH THIS DOOR LIES NEW OPPORTUNITY...Sunmount DC Af-
firmative Action Coordinator Clarence Marsh gives prospective SIDC
transferee Betty Love a tour of the facility.

12

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

NO PROBLEMS AT ALL...CSEA Sunmount DC Local 431 President Don
Hesseltine, right, discusses the experience of SIDC trasnferees with
prospective employees Shirley Haynes, left, and Anna Mae Lawrence, center.

Much less hassle

Like Phillips, Lilly Armstead also took the transfer after 26
years of service at SIDC. Because she is a widow with three grown
sons, she says the relocation was easier than if she had family to
worry about.

Armstead comments: ‘‘I’d never been this far up in New York
state before and wanted to see what it would be like.” So far, what
she’s seen she likes. “I lived in a small town in New Jersey so I’m
used to that.”’ For Armstead, the whole lifestyle is much less e
complicated. Living on the grounds of the facility has made going to
work very convenient and free of hassle.

Both Armstead and Phillips explain that one of the biggest
differences in their actual work is that Sunmount is a much smaller
facility where you work more with the clients individually. It is this
direct care approach that is the goal of the new programs at SIDC.

Phillips points out that quite a few SIDC clients were also
transferred up to Sunmount in the SIDC shutdown process: “That
helped me adjust since I was working with some clients I already

ew.”

The two also indicate their co-workers have gone out of their
way to help them settle in- a comment echoed by CSEA Local 431
President Don Hesseltine: “So far everyone who’s transferred up
here has fit right in. We haven’t had any problems and we’re
looking forward to the next group that’s coming up.”

Some SIDC employees still in limbo

Hesseltine was recently part of the group of Sunmount officials
who guided prospective SIDC transferees on a tour of their facility.

Among those making the tour was Betty Love, a 17-year SIDC
MHTA, who interviewed for a transfer. Love, who is still waiting for
official notification says she wants to make the move. ‘I loved the
facility and was very impressed by what everybody there told me.”

“I’m sure it will be an adjustment, but I had to do that when I
first started working at SIDC too- I had never done this kind of
work before. I don’t think my lifestyle will be all that different.”

Love, who will bring her 17 year-old son along with her, consid-
ered transfers to other locations but decided on Sunmount for her e
fresh start: ‘I feel I can contribute the most at Sunmount.”

But such a big step and a chance to start over again is not for
everyone. Shirley Haynes, another SIDC employee who toured
Sunmount was equally impressed by the facility but has decided
against a transfer upstate: ‘‘It’s just too far for me. I have
immediate family on Staten Island and the rest in the Bronx and I
want to stay close to them.”

Instead, Haynes intends to hold on for a possible reassignment
on Staten Island or a transfer to Manhattan DC. She notes that
while the transition process at SIDC has been inconvenient for most
employees, it has been handled as well as can be expected under
the circumstances.

“What can we do about it except go where we have to? So far e
from what I’ve seen, most people have been able to transfer where
they want to go.”

Adds SIDC Local 429 President John “Bunny” Jackson: ‘‘The
state through the office of Re-employment and training, has really
helped people look at what options are open to them. They’ve
encouraged people who might not have considered moving upstate
to take a look at the facilities. Once they did, a lot of them made up
their minds on the spot.”

For those who moved and those who stayed, the shutdown of
SIDC has brought a lot of change but it has also been achieved with
cooperation all around and has allowed the quality of care to be
maintained throughout the system.

January 12, 1987

MEMBERS OF DOT LOCAL 508 congratulate longtime CSEA activist
Lou Manellino on his retirement. From left, Joe Fallon, Jesse Wilson,

Carl Hyland, Hank Jerry, Artie Allen, Mannellino, Bob Poles, Tommy
Tighe, Phil Bertuglia, and Mike Ragussio.

After two decades of CSEA service,
a night to remember

By Sheryl Carlin
CSEA Communications Associate

ROSLYN — More than 200 CSEA officers
and activists turned out to honor one of their
own recently, gathering at a retirement din-
ner to praise union activist Lou Mannellino
for two decades of efforts on behalf of the
union rank-and-file.

A heavy equipment operator for the state
Department of Transportation on Long
Island, Mannellino began a steady rise
through the union ranks 20 years ago that,
among other things, included 10 years as

af AOmA

Unit negotiating team for CSEA-state con-
tract talks, a trustee of CSEA’s Employee
Benefit Fund for the past seven years, and
chairman and member of numerous
regional and statewide union committees.
CSEA statewide President William L.
McGowan, statewide Secretary Irene Carr,

Thomas A.

died Dec. 29 after a long illness in a Glens
Falls nursing home.

Mr. Gilmartin, prior to joining CSEA, had a

40-year teaching career in New York City, Troy

and Scotia-Glenville. He joined a religious
teaching order at the age of 13 and graduated

magna cum laude from Catholic University in

Washington, D.C. at age 19. He also earned a
master’s degree from SUNY Oneonta.

He is survived by his wife, a son, two daughters, two brothers

and four grandchildren.

Burial was in Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery, Niskayuna. The
family requests that memorial contributions be made to the

American Cancer Society.

January 12, 1987

Region I President Danny Donohue, and
EBF Administrator Tom Collins were
among the dignitaries attending the dinner
to honor the work of Mannellino.

Awards were presented by Donohue,
Local 508 president Hank Jenny, Stony
Brook University Local 614 president Tony
Ruggiero, and Collins. McGowan and Carr
spoke in praise of Mannellino and his union
accomplishments through the years.

Mannellino’s wife, Fran, and children,
Jerome, Ronald and Doreen Russo and her
husband Anthony, and his sister, Pauline,
and nephews Andrew, Danny and niece
Kathy also were in attendance.

CSEA STATEWIDE PRESIDENT William
McGowan, Lou Mannellino and CSEA Region I
President Danny Donohue surround March of
Dimes poster child Meghan Coutieri. CSEA is
very active in the March of Dimes campaign on
Long Island.

By Tom Gilmartin
CSEA Retiree Coordinator

After a little breather, this
retirees column, known for three
years as “Retiree Grapevine,”
Tesumes as @ regular monthly
feature of CSEA’s weekly
publication, It is written for ail
Fetirees of New York State’s put
sector, but particularly for CSEA
retiree members, present and
future

‘The column's purpose continues
to be to keep retirees informed on
retirement issues and to offer, for
what it is worth, some commen:
tary

‘A subscription to The P
tor featuring a ma
retiree news is ava
@ year, sent to INC,, 33 Elk
Street, Albany, N, ¥. 12207, The
Public Sector's coverage of retiree
news will appear on the last

ublie Sec
sectior

Mason and Assemblyman Clark
Wemple both unsuccessfully in-
troduced bills to implement this
same idea

The state’s retired employees
have opposed such efforts because
all such proposed legislation set a
relatively low ceiling for the ex
emption, so that all pensioners
would be taxed over certain
amounts of pension, say five or six
thousand dollars. This would mean
thousands of retirees of the State's
public retirement systems would
lose their total exempt status.

Commissioner Dyson states that
his idea would cause the state to
Jose $50,000,000 in personal income
tax revenue, but would be a good
break for senior citizens. All senior
citizens need every break they can
gel, but some at the expense of
others?

In this day of taxpayers’ revolt,
the wide publicity Dyson's proposal

Gilmartin dies -——Retiree Newswate —

Thomas A. Gilmartin Jr., 73, CSEA retirees
coordinator for nine years in the 1970s and 80s,

‘on about $45,000, Stanley Steingut
if he: retires, would get around
$29,000, and a few other big ones

Wednesday of each month. End of is sure to get is certain to bea ws

A COLUMN FOR members of CSEA’s Retirees Division, written by

Mr. Gilmartin, appeared in “The Public Sector” during the late 1970s.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

13

COLONIE — With a big assist from CSEA
and the franchise owner of a minor league
baseball operation, Santa Claus made his
pitch to children from the pitching mound of
the Albany-Colonie Yankees ballpark this
past Christmas.

Santa’s appearance to spread holiday
cheer to a group of children from several
Albany-area social service organizations
was arranged with last minute hectic
planning by Town of Colonie CSEA Unit C
President John Liburdi Jr. and New York
Yankees minor league franchise owner Ben
Bernard.

“We both had heard reports of possible
shortages in local toy drives and charity
efforts, so while we were taking stock of
leftover inventory supplies, Ben decided to
try to do something special from a sports
point of view. Something that would involve
a lot of work in a little time,” Liburdi
recalled.

In about three days time, with the help of
CSEA, the visit from St. Nick was arranged.
“Ben handled finding other vendors for hot
dogs, cookies, etc., and CSEA handled
rounding up various charities to participate
in the spirit of the occasion,’’ Liburdi said.

at the ballpark.

CSEA helped Santa spread the spirit
to children from Colonie to Creedmoor

* JOHN LIBURDI JR., above,
and right with one of the
children visited by Santa Claus

“Seeing the children’s faces light up is
something special. So special that Bernard
is already planning a winter festival for

children for next year,” Liburdi noted,
adding that CSEA will be helping the jolly
old gentleman out next year too.

BUSY SANTA, assisted by CSEA, was able to visit children at
Albany area ballpark, above, and stop in for children’s
Christmas party at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center, left.

SANTA AND CHILDREN were centerpieces of the first Christmas party
held for children of members of CSEA Local 406 at Creedmoor Psychiatric
Center. At left is Local 406 President Mickey Cruz, and looking on is
Metropolitan Region II President George Boncoraglio.

14

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

1987 Region ii Women’s
Conference
“Getting It Together” at Raleigh Hotel

March 6-8, 1987 will be the dates for the second annual CSEA Women’s | @
Conference, again being held at the Raleigh Hotel in South Fallsburg, New
York.

The Region II Women’s Committee theme for the program is “Getting It
Together.” Committee Chairperson Harriet Hart expects a record turn-out
of activists at this year’s conference.

The program is open to CSEA members from all regions.
Reservations will be on a first-come, first-served basis. To reserve
accomodations and for more information on cost, contact:

MS. HARRIET HART
(212) 312-7467

MS. SHARON KATZ
(718) 642-6022

@
January 12, 1987,

DFY youth camp perfect example how
Gnderstaffing impacts on

safety, health and morale

By Ron Wofford
CSEA Communications Associate

GREAT VALLEY — Because they truly
enjoy working with, and providing guidance
for the youths in their charge, there is a
relatively low rate of turnover among the
aides at the Great Valley Youth Camp of the
state Division For Youth (DFY).

But, according to William Jordan, the
thorny issue of understaffing and the
problems created by it, ‘“‘impacts on safety
and health, in addition to morale and pass-
day complaints.”

Jordan is president of DFY Local 562,
which is primarily based in Buffalo, with the
youth camp a rural-setting satellite for
youngsters deemed to need a setting away
from city distractions.

Jordan and John Gayton, a youth aide and
local steward, said the facility is ‘at least
eight aides short of what is needed’’ to
adequately handle the client population of
the camp, currently housing about 60
residents.

Gayton said the current CSEA-represented
staff of 20 includes 19 who work directly
with the residents, with four working the
night shift and six on duty during the two
daytime shifts.

“The problems really arise when the
residents return from school,” said Gayton,
explaining that the residents are divided into
four units, based on the level of structured
learning they have passed through. They
attend regular academic classes on the
grounds during the day.

The Structured Learning Therapy
techniques that the aides are trained in
takes the young charges through periods of
learning social skills, and rewards them
with privileges such as movies, phone calls
and extra television time.

January 12, 1987

ee

PROBLEMS OF UNDERSTAFFING at the DFY Great Valley Youth Camp are discussed by, from left,
Shop Steward John Gayton, Local 562 member Kathy Nailor and Local 562 President Bill Jordan.

The four units, ranging from ‘“‘orientation”’
to “level,” are all housed under the same
roof, but kept separated, with their own,
constant supervision.

“The low ratio of staff to residents is what
worries us and creates problems,” said
Gayton. ‘‘And it’s especially bad when
multiple restraints are necessary. It’s
dangerous, creates stress and is definitely a
safety hazard.”

The workers feel that an official staff-to-
resident ratio should be established, and
that it should be ‘about double what the
average ratio is around here now.” They
feel Albany management is reluctant to set
staff ratio standards because ‘“‘then they
would have to maintain them.” They said
local management is sympathetic to the
problem, but unable to dictate their own
staff level.

“The problem is also added to by an
extremely slow rate of replacing workers
who have left,” declared Jordan, citing the

eight unfilled slots that are presently
awaiting live bodies. He said they have not
been given a timetable for filling the slots.

“A fire evacuation would be utter chaos,’
observed Gayton, who has worked at Great
Valley for two and a half years. He said per
diem or relief workers should work with the
regular staff, but often are called on to work
instead of regular staff.

The youth camp workers are called to
work “grueling” eight-hour shifts, without
any time away from their charges, even for
a lunch break, and have no break periods to
make phone calls or smoke, something they
are not allowed to do in front of the
residents, Jordan said.

“But those are minor compared to the
issues of understaffing and overtime,” said
Jordan, ‘‘and we hope the state and CSEA
will be able to come to an agreement before
these problems burst into an unsightly
mess,””

® The low ratio of
staff to residents
is what worries
us and creates
problems.J

15

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

Union action makes town garage a safer
place to work than it was a year ago

4 When this all
: spe last January,

CSEA helps defuse | a A tae an,

C | of wn garage
a safety timebomb Um 2c
HAMBURG — CSEA action has aided in members of Local 815 shows the need to building for office workers that did not lead
making the Town of Hamburg highway follow up on inspection violations and keep directly through the more potentially
garage a safer place to work, according to open the lines of communication with hazardous garage area. e
OSH specialist John Bieger. management as well as the Department of iti r ;
“When this all began last January,” Labor, which administers the PESH Act. infec cio nie set LOU that areas aici

combustible or flammable liquids were
stored were not separated from other
operations in the building. Gasoline was
being stored in an area with other
combustibles, and oil drums were stored in

recalled Bieger,’’ an inspection of the town The violations cited by PESH included
garage found 37 violations of the Public Em- _ several electrical hazards, such as non-
ployee Safety and Health Act ( PESH). But grounded equipment, an equipment hoist
through concerted action and follow-up with that did not allow for safe blocking with a

our unit officers and the Town board, most load in the air, and other wiring and Sep be A
the hazards have been taken care of, and the switching inadequacies. on rea lee EEO ET NE:
remaining ones are being worked on.” Other hazards included structural ‘

Bieger worked closely with CSEA unit deficiencies of walls in the garage where a Another factor found to be undermining
officials on the situation, especially Blue storage balcony was anchored above the the structural integrity of the walls of the
Collar Unit President Bill Ferro and White ground floor, inadequate railings leading garage, was the practice of piling large
Collar Unit President Mary Jane Kruszka. _ upstairs, no second means of egress for volumes of sand against the outside walls,

Bieger said the upbeat conclusion to the employees from a second floor lunchroom with damage continually occurring as trucks

legitimate safety concerns of the Hamburg area in case of fire, and no safe exit from the and scoops excavated the sand.

Your letter can help
get their attention
in Washington...

And maybe save “7%
a lot of jobs

- in the process >

HAVE TO GET THEIR ATTENTION)

eperhk CUTS IN PROGRAM my,
6 Ne

Hospital terminations violate contract, union says

CATSKILL — It gets a bit complicated, but CSEA says the fact of the as such should be provided with seniority and layoff rights and other
matter is, it’s an illegal action in violation of a contract the union has with protection under the CSEA-Greene County contract. CSEA says Columbia @
Greene County. Memorial Hospital has not yet taken over complete operation of the Greene

The union charges that seven employees of the Greene County Memorial County Memorial Hospital and Nursing Home. ee
Hospital and Nursing Home have been notified their jobs will be terminated. CSEA Capital Region Director John D. Corcoran Jr. charged, ‘“This

The facility was operated by the county and the 300 people who work there action of terminating employees and not allowing them any type of job _
were county employees, and CSEA members, until the facility was supposed _ protection is only a foreshadowing of the operating techniques of Columbia
to be administratively taken over by the privately-owned Columbia Memorial Hospital. We predicted this type of action long ago.
Memorial Hospital as of Jan. 1. The union says it was Columbia Memorial Corcoran said CSEA has already begun an organizing drive to represent
Hospital which ‘notified the seven workers their jobs are being terminated. the employees as private sector workers. a e ;

CSEA Field Representative Gregory Davis has sent a letter to Greene The facility shifted from public to private administration after a series
County Legislature Chairman William B. Lawrence stating that the of problems there led to an order from State Health Commissioner Dr.
employees, in the union’s opinion, remain county employees during the David Alexrod for the county to either close the facility or merge it with

period of transition from public to private administration of the facility, and another health care facility approved by the state.

@
1 6 THE PUBLIC SECTOR January 12, 1987

Many of the most significant advances in improving terms
and conditions of employment for public employees have come
through labor-management meetings and programs.

And recently in Albany, representatives from labor and
management gathered to discuss the past, present and future of
what has been called “‘the best labor-management committee
concept in the nation,” the joint CSEA-State Committee on Work
Environment and Productivity (CWEP).

Nearly 200 participants heard CSEA statewide President
William L. McGowan praise the accomplishments of CSEA labor-
management programs to date while advising, ‘‘We have to begin
now to plan for the next five years...we’re going to have to learn
to use the labor-management concept even better.” McGowan
said the success of programs such as CWEP is based on mutual
trust that both labor and management are committed to working
toward common objectives.

Thomas Hartnett, director of the Governor’s Office of
Employee Relations, noted that “labor and management working
together is really a chance to develop a positive agenda. Through
such interaction we can both get the best ideas for the best

Director Jack Corcoran.

qualities
should a
good union
member
have?

Where asked: Various areas
in Capital Region IV.

January 12, 1987

CEWP PROGRAM ATTENDEES included, from left, CSEA Region IV
First Vice President Joan Tobin, Region IV President C. Allen Mead,
SUNY Cobleskill CSEA Local 616 Secretary Karin Huneke, and Region IV

nation.”

BS

§

| Future is bright for CWEP,
‘best. . . concept in nation’

By Daniel X. Campbell
CSEA Communications Associate

solutions to our various problems. In this effort I know that New
York state is becoming the model for other states and the

iz e : x

MEETING OF THE MINDS — CSEA President William L. McGowan,
left, and GOER Director Thomas Hartnett agree on the importance of
maintaining and improving labor-management concepts.

|

Joseph Skelly,
steward

Tax and Finance Local 690
“A good union member . . .
should be active in all
Local functions, as active
as possible. Members
should know their con-
tract, be aware of their
rights and benefits, and
know who to contact when
they have a problem.”

shop

Gwen Piacente,
secretary
Waterford Halfmoon
School Unit

“A good union member is
someone who cares about
people and their work-
place. A good member
should be willing to listen
and to help other mem-
bers.”

unit

Tom Connell, vice presi-
dent, editor

Rensselaer County Unit
“The qualities that a good
union member should have
include being involved and
caring for their fellow
employees. Good members
should attend meetings
and help out as much as
possible.”

Joseph Rounds, president
City of Troy Unit

““ Good union members
should have a quality of
professionalism about his
or her job, their union and
the union’s activities. With
today’s governmental
problems, a good member
must be willing to try new
methods to resolve prob-
lems.”

THE PUBLIC SECTOR 1 7

Professional union help
is just phone call away

We're just a phone call away.
The best professional help, or the answers to

any questions you might have about civil service STATEWID
employment, are as close as the nearest tele- E HEADQUARTERS
phone.

Your initial contact should be with your shop 143 WASHINGTON AVENU E
steward and/or your Local president, of course.
But help is also right there in your CSEA Region-
al Headquarters, or in one of our satellite offices. ALBANY N Y | DI @)
And all types of professional staff assistance is , oe

there to serve you in CSEA’s statewide headquar-
ters in Albany. (5 | 8) 434-0 19 |
Save this page, you never know when you'll

need to contact a union official or representative.
They're just a phone call away.

CENTRAL
REGIONAL OFFICE
Suite 308

290 Elwood Davis Rd.
Liverpool, N.Y. 13088

(315) 451-6330

CAPITAL
REGIONAL OFFICE
1215 Western Ave.
Albany, N.Y. 12203

(518) 489-5424

SOUTHERN
Petit NER (ops REGIONAL OFFICE
Rural Route 1
2 Box 34, Old Route 9
: Fishkill, N.Y. 12524

(914) 896-8180

WESTERN
REGIONAL OFFICE

482 Delaware Ave.

Buffalo, NY. 14202 METROPOLITAN New yoRK city
REGIONAL OFFICE
(716) 886-0391 11 Broadway/Suite 1500 »=_ LONG ISLAND
REGIONAL OFFICE

New York, N.Y. 10004 ey
(212) 514-9200 200 Vanderbilt ater Pla
Hauppauge, N.Y. 11788
(516) 273-2280
(516) 435-0962

CSEA SATELLITE OFFICES

BINGHAMTON SATELLITE OFFICE
oan 218, Executive Office Bldg. @ PLATTSBURGH SATELLITE OFFICE
Beonaniten Fis . Broad Street Professional Bidg.
33 W. State Sirocco:  @CANTON SATELLITE OFFICE Piattewurgh, NY 12001
607-772-1750 P.O. Box 488 518-563-0761
Canton, NY 13617 @ROCHESTER SATELLITE OFFICE
332 Jetterson Rd.
WESTCHESTER SATELLITE OFFICE Tre-zra0600 “7°
ins, NY 10601
905 or 6006s @UTICA SATELLITE OFFICE @MAYVILLE SATELLITE OFFICE
289 Genesee Street WO. Box 228
Utlea, NY 13501 mersssa00

1 8 THE PUBLIC SECTOR January 12, 1987

Special Service awards were presented
recently to former officers of Barge Canal
Employees CSEA Local 503. In photo at
left, Local 503 President Homer Porter,
left, congratulates former president Ed
Canavan, center, with 10 years of service;
and Ron Saleski, former secretary, with 17
years. Both received awards from CSEA
plus a U.S. Savings Bond in appreciation

We're not sure who you might have
reached if you called one of the numbers listed
in a recent edition of The Public Sector as a
CSEA satellite office, but it would not have
been the union office. The correct number for
the Rochester Satellite Office at 332 Jefferson

@ listing of CSEA office numbers is on the
opposite page of this issue. The page should be
clipped and saved for future reference.

JUST A REMINDER — Monday, Jan. 19
is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, an
official state holiday observed on the third
Monday of each January.

January 12, 1987

RONG NUMBER

Road in Rochester is (716) 272-0800. The correct

from their fellow employees during a
general membership meeting.

RELAX AND ENJOY

Nat Zummo, right, recently retired “‘to relax
and just enjoy life” after 18 years as a CSEA field
representative serving Long Island members. Prior
to joining the CSEA staff, Zummo work 14 years for
the state, and served eight years as president of the
Kings Park Psychiatric Center CSEA local.

“T really believe in the union,” he said recently.
“T feel that when I was local president, I was able
to help many people . . . that’s extremely gratifying.
As a field rep, I was able to do the same.”’ Zummo
was recently honored by many of the CSEA locals:
he served over the years.

Wassaic Developmental Center CSEA Local 426 activists were awarded
certificates recently as newly trained union shop stewards. Shown are, from left
in first row, Local Secretary Boni Pellino, Shop Steward Candice Miles,
Administrative Representative Kathy Kayea, and CSEA Region III President
Pat Mascioli, who attended the ceremony.

In the second row are Shop Steward Bill Tamburrino, Shop Steward Freddy
Richards; Local President Tom LeJeune and Region III Field Representative
John Deyo. Standing in the third row are Local First Vice President Steve
Pellicciotti; Second Vice President Cy Holdeen, Local Treasurer Al Ackerman;
and Wassaic Director of Personnel John Marion. Other Stewards who could not
be present for the ceremony were Gary Stossel, Tybor Megyeri, Scott Myers,
Ron Newman, Eugene Noone, Doug Mann, Robert Wood and Jack Tears.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR 1 uy

A team of nine CSEA officials and staff
members will lobby personally with New
York’s congressional delegation in
Washington soon as part of a CSEA-
AFSCME campaign to convince Congress to
restore $33.5 million to New York State
employment services and end the threat of a
March layoff of up to 1,000 state Department
of Labor employees.

The $33.5 million cut by the federal
government here is part of a $329 million
reduction in funding for state employment
services nationwide. The huge funding
shortfall to New York resulted in plans by
the state Labor Department to reduce its
workforce by up to 1,000 employees by early
March.

The CSEA-AFSCME campaign is aimed at
convincing lawmakers to pass a special
supplemental appropriations bill to restore

* the $329 million nationwide, including the
$33.5 million to New York.

Meanwhile, CSEA is also launching a
letter writing campaign by state
Department of Labor employees to
members of Congress from New York and to
members of the state Legislature. Sample
letters are printed elsewhere on this page.
CSEA President William L. McGowan is
urging employees to send letters and/or
cards to federal and state lawmakers
immediately to support the union’s lobby
effort in Washington, which is tentatively
scheduled for late January or early
February.

D’.
TIVES. Senators
é. Senate, Was!
him or
receives mail at a
rants ‘Washington, D.C. 205!

serait:
Dear — car Congress cut $329 fale t,

Last y joyment services. AS FLabor, whic
py state bine oy! partment OF ane

illion. The 3 une

ee ino}
‘a result of thes

{work in the

speratel:
Yet, while sta

T eagerly awal
‘hank you:

20

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

d to lay off 1}

“Sending letters is one way in which
individual employees can do something to
help themselves in this difficult situation.
And it’s very important to the union’s
overall effort to help them as well,’ said
McGowan.

All permanent employees in the state
Department of Labor received “layoff
packets’ last month as the first step in the
expected layoff process. While no
announcement has yet been made as to
which jobs will be cut, or from what
locations, union and state officials have said
that restoration of the funding cut by the
federal government may be the only solution
preventing the layoffs in March.

to halt
layoffs -&

CSEA lobby team loaded with
skilled activists and staff

The following individuals will comprise
CSEA’s nine-member team that will
journey to Washington to lobby personally
with U.S. Senators Alfonse D.Amato and
Daniel P. Moynihan and the 34 members
of the U.S. House of Representatives from
New York State:

JOSEPH CONWAY, chairman of
CSEA’s statewide Legislative and
Political Action Committee; THOMAS
HALEY, director of CSEA’s Legislative
and Political Action Office; Metropolitan
Region II President GEORGE
BONCORAGLIO; Capital Region IV

administered
ew York lost kaya
inisters the effecte 1
(00 employees as ‘
impact such a
clients they se

e, in conference
pplemental Ap-
fd to its impact,

President C. ALLEN MEAD; Western
Region VI President ROBERT
LATTIMER; Department of Labor Albany
CSEA Local 670 President JEANNE
LYONS; CSEA Assistant Director of e@
Research KATHY ALBOWICZ; CSEA
Director of Workforce and Planning
PAUL BURCH; and Collective Bargaining
Specialist JACK CONOBY.

Conway is coordinating the lobby effort
in conjunction with legislative and
political action staff members from
AFSCME’s International headquarters in
Washington.

Tam great.
ployees will

@
January 12, 1987