eet your state contract negotiating team, Pages 10-11
Work Force
Sanuary 2011
PEOPLE WORK
LAYOFFS DON’T
CSE
A special message from CSEA President Danny Donohue
The state of our union in 2011 is strong!
>
s CSEA begins its second century, the challenges
BAe before our union are nearly overwhelming. Our
/s AAhistory offers perspective to guide us. Crisis has
- ‘always brought out the best in CSEA members and it has
always strengthened our bonds as a union.
t But some of the best lessons for us are not from
decades past, but from the past year.
Our centennial year, 2010, was one of the
proudest times in our history despite the
difficulties. CSEA members stood together and
stood up for what was right whether it was
politically popular or not.
\ rit . We stood strong against demands for
CseA's Centennial: \ : concessions and givebacks. We stood together
The Icing on the Cake 3 against withering attacks by an out-of-control
ayes, governor and other misguided politicians. We
ee Tuga ~_ = _ | remained true to the principles of fairness and
ste gous ey rk Fore 2 respect for working people.
CSEA’s solidarity and poise over the past
year are an enormous strength and inspiration
as we look forward. Make no mistake, there are
difficult times and some impossible choices in
front of us.
Change is inevitable and we will embrace the opportunity
to make New York a better place. We will be willing partners
in efforts to make our government work better at every
level. We will welcome new ideas that promote a better
workplace and a more appreciated and productive work
force.
We will accept our role as partners with our
elected officials to find creative solutions to our
society’s most difficult problems.
But CSEA will not accept reform that undermines
and denigrates public employees and other working
people. We will not have terms and conditions dictated to
us and we will not be pushed aside.
All of this requires you to be an informed
and active member of this union. CSEA will
communicate with you and we will need your
feedback and your action. Read this newspaper.
Check our website at www.csealocal1000.org
\ regularly to stay up to date and look for new
MMe Goteraoe de your sto * a \ media options that we will offer. Together, we
Dene! cS 5 b) are stronger than any of us as individuals. We
2 - will need all of that strength, and then some, in
myc Chstaes LI
Fre por ee the year ahead.
Special Message: State of our union 2011
Photo of the Month
Photo by Jessica Ladlee
Representatives from CSEA and management from
Tarrytown and Yorktown participated in a weeklong
train-the-trainer course on working in confined
spaces. The workshop, taught by staff from the CSEA
Occupational Safety and Health Department at the
headquarters of Highland Hose Co. No. 1 in Lloyd, will
allow participants to train co-workers on how to work
safely in confined spaces. CSEA members Anthony
Ruggiero Jr. and John Kelly died on Labor Day in
Tarrytown after apparently succumbing to fumes in
amanhole. The Village of Tarrytown had not offered
proper confined space training to its work force. CSEA
recently conducted similar trainings across the state.
CSEA membership dues/
agency shop fees remain
the same for 2011.
s aresult of the AFSCME minimum
dues structure remaining the same as
2010 there will be no increase to the CSEA
membership dues/agency shop fee schedule
for 2011.
What they’re not telling you ...
' Situation at Tryon
‘| misrepresented in news
f you listen to some politicians and the
media, you might believe that state Office
of Children and Family Services (OCFS)
employees at the Tryon School in Johnstown
are being paid to do nothing at taxpayer
facilities and out of the system with some
serious consequences. As the facility has
downsized, much of the staff who remain on
the Tryon budget lines have been assigned
to the Tryon Girls facility, which continues
expense. It’s simply not
true.
CSEA was
instrumental in passing
a law several years ago
requiring communities
to receive a year's
‘What they’re not telling you ...’
Work Force feature that will appear on oc-
casion to inform CSEA members about is-
sues that affect union members that may
not be getting an accurate portrayal in the
media and other public forums.
to operate on the same
grounds. The facility
also continues to
operate the agency's
statewide dental and
transportation centers.
A skeleton crew is
is anew
notice before significant
downsizing or closure.
The purpose was to prevent serious
decisions like closures from being subject
to knee-jerk politics and to require adequate
planning and preparation.
Under the misguided policies of OCFS
Commissioner Gladys Carrion, which included
running sex parties to “incentivize” the
underage convicted felons in OCFS care,
Tryon’s population has been diverted to other
also responsible for
maintaining the grounds
and physical plant, which is a necessity under
any circumstance.
Amuch more questionable use of tax
dollars than Tryon remaining technically
open is Carrion’s policies that seek to place
dangerous youths in community settings
without adequate staff, resources or
safeguards.
NLRB finds employer violated the act, orders
back pay for terminated union supporters
n Dec. 9, the National Labor Relations
Board (NLRB) determined that
Correctional Medical Services, Inc. (CMS)
violated the National Labor Relations Act (Act)
when it interrogated, threatened and then
terminated five employees who were CSEA
supporters during an organizing drive at the
Albany County Jail.
CSEA was able to get CMS, a private sector
employer who ran the jail’s medical clinic, to
bring the employees back to work after five
weeks pending the litigation.
During its organizing drive, CSEA engaged
in picketing at the jail because CMS refused to
recognize the union. However, because CMS
was considered to be a medical facility, the
union was required to give 10 days’ notice of
its intent to picket. Here, the union failed to
give the requisite notice. After the five at-issue
employees participated in the union’s picket,
CMS ultimately terminated them.
CSEA filed an unfair labor practice charge
with the NLRB. Initially, the Board held that
since the union failed to give the notice,
the picketing was illegal and the employees
who participated in the picketing engaged
in unprotected activity and thus could be
terminated.
That decision was appealed to court. The
court found, in short, that simply because
the union failed to give proper notice did not
mean that the employees who participated
in the picket engaged in unprotected activity.
The court remanded the case back to the
NLRB.
The NLRB has now determined that CMS
violated the Act because it terminated the
employees for engaging in protected activity.
The Act only provides remedies against the
union for failing to give notice of a picket.
The Act does not permit an employer to take
adverse action against employees who engage
in a peaceful picket. CMS was ordered to pay
back pay (for the five weeks) plus interest and
expunge the employees’ files of any reference
to the illegal terminations, among other
remedies.
This is an important development in the
law because previously private sector health
care employers would routinely terminate
employees who participated in peaceful
pickets in support of a union where the union
failed to give the requisite notice.
January 2011
THe Work FORCE
WORK
ISSN 1522-1091
Official publication of
CSEA Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO
143 Washington Ave.
Albany, NY 12210-2303
Danny Donohue, President
STEPHEN A. MADARASZ
Communications Director & Publisher
STANLEY HORNAK
Deputy Director of Communications
LOU HMIELESKI
Executive Editor
JANICE GAVIN
Associate Editor
CATHLEEN FEBRAIO
Graphic Production Specialist
JANICE M. KUCSKAR
Graphic Production Specialist
BETH McINTYRE
Communications Assistant
The Work Force (USPS 0445-010) is
published monthly by The CSEA Publication Office:
143 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12210.
Periodical Mail Postage paid at Post Office,
Albany, New York 12288, and additional mailing offices.
Postmaster: Send address changes to:
CSEA, Attn: Membership Department,
143 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12210.
CSEA on-line: The CSEA website
can be accessed at www.csealocal1000.org
Readers:
Send any comments, complaints, suggestions or ideas to:
Publisher, The Work Force, 143 Washington Avenue,
Albany, NY 12210-2303.
COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALISTS
RICH IMPAGLIAZZO. (631) 462-0030
DAVID GALARZA, (212) 406-2156
Long Island Region
Metropolitan Region
JESSICA LADLEE Southern Region (845) 831-1000
THERESE ASSALIAN Capital Region (618) 785-4400
MARK M. KOTZIN Central Region (B15) 433-0050
LYNN MILLER Western Region (716) 691-6555
ED MOLITOR Headquarters (G18) 257-1272
JILL ASENCIO Headquarters (G18) 257-1276
The Publications Committee
Annie Campbell
Brenda Chartrand
Ramon Lucas
Robert Pazik
Liz Piraino
Ronald Revers
“ALEC
® ETS 1220M we
\TH
> Th
? Work Force
CSEA President Danny Donohue
Open season on public employees
S public employees are now the new public enemy?
Welcome to the twisted world of 2011.
Since when did it become a crime to dedicate your life
to public service, doing jobs that keep New York’s economy
going or dealing with people and problems that most people
would prefer to pretend don’t exist?
Why is it a bad thing that you and other public
employees work hard to earn and then spend paychecks in
local communities, supporting local businesses and making
those communities better places to live along with helping
charitable organizations?
Why should you be ashamed of who you are and
what you do? Why should you have to apologize for trying
to make a decent living, take care of your family, pay your bills and
have some pension security?
Why is it suddenly wrong to follow the law and bargain in good faith
for contracts that protect employers and employees? And why is it somehow
unacceptable that CSEA believes both labor and management have to live up to the
agreements they make? For that matter, why is it that misguided critics seem to
think only labor contracts can be broken on demand?
The fact is, there are no good answers to these questions.
There’s too much wrong with the way things work in this state right now for
self-serving politicians to run down the people who actually do the work. We’re
prepared to be part of needed change. We’re not willing to be insulted and made
scapegoats.
Hold your heads high — CSEA is not apologizing for anything.
Danse
4 | THe Work FORCE
January 2011
The Restoration Ss
20
HISTORICAL NOTE:
In 1660, Charles Il became King of England,
many years after his father, King Charles |
was ousted from the throne by a group of dissidents
The period that followed was known as the Restoration.
\
II
New law strengthens child care provider rights
Action plan set for the future
egislation passed recently
L* the state Legislature
and signed by Gov.
David Paterson sets existing
collective bargaining rights for
child care providers across the
state into law.
This means child care
providers who are members
of VOICE/CSEA will be able to
collectively bargain with the
state Office of Children and
Family Services, the agency
that ultimately oversees
their work and controls
the conditions of their
employment.
Previously, VOICE/CSEA
members could collectively
bargain, but their rights were
under an executive order
signed by Gov. Eliot Spitzer,
which could have been
reversed by a future
governor.
More than 50
the numerous
accomplishments of
VOICE/CSEA since
2002 and talk about
enormous challenges
that families and
providers face in these
economic hard times.
Their recently ratified first
agreement addressed several
concerns, including quality
Continuing
to build
providers from across membership
the state recently met and power is the
in Albany to celebrate key to solving
many issues
for parents and
providers.
program grants, expanded
opportunities for professional
development and affordable
health insurance,
but there is still
much work to do.
Continuing to
build membership
and power is the
key to solving
many issues
for parents
and providers.
Providers adopted
an action plan for
the next few months which
includes home visits, local
membership meetings and
work to establish 25 chapters
throughout the state (a
structure approved by CSEA
Board of Directors in January
2010) during the next few
months.
In May, hundreds of
providers, child care
colleagues, dignitaries and
other invited guests will
convene to attend the first
statewide meeting of VOICE/
CSEA Local 100A to adopt
an action plan for 2011 that
continues this work and also
lets legislators and public
officials from Albany to
Washington D.C. see and hear
their “VOICE.”
— Jill Asencio
January 2011
THe Work FORCE Bi
PEOPLE
WORK
LAYOFFS
DONT csex
“I feel that
terminating
my position is
discriminatory
against the
Hispanic
consumers who
call and visit our
office.”
Visit CSEA’s
website at www.
csealocal1000.
org for the latest
information on
your union’s
effort to fight
back against cuts!
Since 1910
CSE
New York’s LEADING Union
6 | THe Work Force
Layoff increases language barriers
MANHATTAN — Anabel
Rosa remembers the day
a client stepped in her
office full of despair, only
to walk out a few minutes
later with a smile anda
new outlook.
The woman didn’t
speak English, had
recently lost her sons
and now had lost her
vision. As the only
Spanish-speaking
keyboard specialist in
the state working for the
Commission for the Blind
and Visually Handicapped
(CBVH), Rosa was not
only able to help the client
with information in her
native language, but she
also felt like she offered
her some hope.
After 25 years of
providing walk-in and
call-in services to legally
blind, Spanish-speaking
consumers who live in
the Bronx and Manhattan,
Rosa now needs some of
that hope herself.
She was one of
hundreds of state workers
targeted for layoffs by
lame-duck Gov. David
Paterson.
And while others in
her office have been
reassigned, as the
only Spanish-speaking
keyboard specialist in the
state, she cannot bump
anyone with less seniority.
“At this point, I feel that
terminating my position is
discriminatory against the
Hispanic consumers who
call and visit our office for
overall information about
CBVH services,” Rosa
recently wrote to state
Office of Children and
Family Services officials,
who oversee the agency.
An OCFS training
in June had ironically
discussed the lack of
cultural diversity within
the agency and the
communities it serves.
“They said the agency
was going to start to do
more to address this
salient fact,” said Rosa. “If
this is the case, how can
eliminating my position
SSS
Anabel Rosa is one of hundreds of state workers facing
the loss of their jobs.
help what OCFS intends to
do?”
The state Office of
Children and Family
Services website states
“OCFS commits to
identifying, addressing
and reducing
disproportionality and
to eliminating racial and
ethnic disparities in
our systems of care and
custody.”
As The Work Force
went to press, Rosa had
not received a response to
her letter.
“I would like to keep
my job,” she said. “I
would like for the CBVH
administration and state
personnel to consider
my overall diligence,
dedication, and positive
work ethics on the job for
the past 25 years.”
— David Galarza
Workers, city services hurt by layo
FULTON — CSEA City
of Fulton Unit President
Brace Tallents is upset
over the recent layoffs in
his municipality because
he knows that it’s not just
about numbers — it’s about
people.
Despite the union efforts
to try to get the city to find
alternatives to layoffs, city
administrators decided
to lay off four full-time
workers, all laborers in
the city Public Works and
Sanitation departments.
Out of a CSEA-
represented work force of
75 people, it may seem like
a small number, but it’s one
that Tallents said will have
a big impact.
“These are the guys that
do all the unseen work,”
he said. “They walk behind
the garbage trucks, do
sidewalk repairs, shoveling
and plowing and all the
tough work, out there in the
snow and rain. You're not
going to notice a drastic
impact at first, but as time
goes on, things are going
to slow up. Surprisingly
enough, four people make
a difference, like on a day
like today when we've got
a lot of snow, and we're
shorthanded, it slows
everyone up.”
Tallents said the city
won't save that much by
firing the workers and it
could have been avoided.
“The amount ultimately
saved with the layoff
doesn’t amount to much on
a budgetary scale,” he said.
“We could have found other
ways to fund this budget
gap without people being
put out of work.”
“T feel awful,” Tallents
said. “We lost people,
people with families, people
who will probably have a
tough time paying their
mortgages and taxes and
keeping food on the table.
There are far reaching
effects of this. It affects the
whole community in more
ways than the small amount
saved.”
— Mark M. Kotzin
January 2011
PEOPLE
WORK
LAYOFFS
DONT csex
“They shouldn’t
be punished for
a problem they
didn’t create.”
Budget cuts “practically annihilate”
Newburgh’s Department of Public Works
NEWBURGH — When it
snows this winter, City of
Newburgh residents might
as well stay home.
In an extreme example
of local government cuts,
massive budget cuts
in Newburgh have left
the city’s Department
of Public Works
practically annihilated.
The department has no
laborers, thanks to two
consecutive years of these
cuts, and city residents
are now feeling the effects
of these cuts as winter
weather begins.
The remaining public
works employees must
now clear the city’s 56
miles of roadway.
Adding insult to injury,
city council members
approved a 71 percent tax
hike for 2011.
“With a city like
Newburgh, where there is
serious poverty and serious
In this February 2010 file photo, City of Newburgh Unit
members Alfred Bevier and Jim Humprey remove fallen
tree branches from a city neighborhood after a blizzard.
the workers who perform
quality of life work such
as street maintenance,”
said Southern Region
President Billy Riccaldo.
“Newburgh’s history
of financial blunders,
including most recently
a $9 million overrun on
the construction of a
budget ends up being
unfairly balanced on the
backs of the workers.”
CSEA members
lobbied the community
during the recent budget
process, leafleting city
neighborhoods and
taking paid advertising to
highlight the impact the
g on the already struggling
city.
The final budget
eliminated a half dozen
laborer jobs in Public
Works and the job of
a clerk who processed
incoming traffic fine
payments, a move CSEA
thinks is shortsighted for
a municipality desperate
to maximize incoming
revenues.
“Residents in Newburgh
are going to suffer because
they are not going to
receive the services
they're paying for,”
Riccaldo said. “The rank
and file workers are the
ones who have kept this
city running through many
years of uncertainty. They
shouldn't be punished
for a problem they didn’t
create.”
— Jessica Ladlee
crime, you cannot eliminate
courthouse, means the
loss of services would have
Town of Hempstead
welders Harold Pinder,
left, and Kenneth Hill
help the town save money
through welding to restore
aging equipment.
Welders save town money
HEMPSTEAD — Among the Town of
Hempstead Local members are four
welders whose high level of skills have
provided town administrators with a
means to save significant amounts of
money by restoring town vehicles and
equipment to optimum condition.
CSEA members Harold Pinder,
Kenneth Hill, Charlie Rosselli and
James Capuano make the necessary
repairs to the heavily used town
fleet of sanitation and tow trucks,
snowplows, roll-on trash bins,
recycling vehicles and various other
types of steel or metal equipment.
The capacity of these workers
to quickly and proficiently handle
fabricating, fitting and welding tasks
both large and small precludes the
need for the town to rely on private
companies to complete these tasks at
what would certainly be a far greater
cost.
Pinder estimates that five or six
sanitation trucks with a total damage
value of about $15,000 are repaired
in-house every month.
If a vehicle is too old to make
repairs feasible, usable parts are used
to fix other vehicles in the fleet.
“The savings resulting from the
work of these CSEA members is
incalculable as is their worth to
the town,” said Hempstead Local
President Charlie Sellitto.
— Rich Impagliazzo
Town of Hempstead welder James
Capuano works on a job.
January 2011
THe Work FORCE 7 |
PEOPLE
WORK
LAYOFFS
DONT csex
“Some of you
supervisors are
making a joke of
people’s lives.”
Bah Humbug! Sale of public services,
job losses grim mark of holiday season
ublic
services
are
being
threatened
in Fulton and
Montgomery
counties,
where county officials
have planned layoffs
and the sale of public
services for 2011.
Russo
Public services for sale
In late November, the
Fulton County Board of
Supervisors approved
the sale of the county
infirmary and county
nursing services to
private companies.
Fulton County Local
President Ron Briggs
has been coordinating
a public awareness
campaign about the issue
since last year,reaching
out to the public via
newspaper, radio and
television. Rallies have
been held and CSEA
members crowded
the chambers at a late
November budget
hearing, where nursing
home staff and union
leaders, including
Briggs and CSEA Capital
Region President Kathy
Garrison, warned
supervisors of the
negative consequences
of the sale.
Job cuts in Montgomery
In Montgomery
County, Local
President Ed Russo
urged supervisors to
reconsider job cuts
proposed for the 2011
budget, which county
supervisors approved
Dec. 14.
“Some of you
supervisors are making
a joke of people’s lives,”
Russo said. “If you’re
going to offer layoffs,
that you're going to tell
people a couple weeks
before Christmas that
they don’t have a job,
I want you supervisors
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Fulton County Local President Ron Briggs speaks out
about the county’s proposed sale of public health
services, as CSEA members hold signs in support.
to go around and tell
people. If you think
you've got the guts to
do that, then you should
stand up and do that.”
CSEA Labor Relations
Specialist Michael
Campon reminded
supervisors of the cost-
saving concessions
union members have
already made. “We’ve
agreed to cheaper
health insurance, dental
insurance and vision
insurance with more
out-of-pocket expenses
for workers,” he said.
“We agreed to a drug
plan that’s projected to
save the county about
$120,000 a year.”
CSEA members in
Montgomery County
demonstrated Dec. 14
before the final budget
hearing.
— Therese Assalian
CSEA fights layoffs
in Riverhead, Brookhaven
to cut jobs in their municipalities.
C SEA is fighting two Long Island towns’ proposals
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expected to cut six full-time and seven part-time union
jobs, while Brookhaven town board members plan to
cut six jobs in the town’s Highway Department.
While the job cuts are slated to take effect Jan. 1,
CSEA continues to negotiate for the reinstatement of
affected members in both municipalities.
— Rich Impagliazzo
January 2011
SUNY Canton labor-management
cooperation
ince the ratification of their first
CSEA contract, newly organized
food service and maintenance
workers at the SUNY Canton College
Association (CA) say management has
come a long way and is their partner
like never before.
Many issues that would have
never received consideration before
are now being addressed quickly.
CSEA negotiations and the resulting
labor-management committee moved
Canton CA workers from a culture of
dysfunction to productive, open lines
of communication.
“There was a
week following our
discussions when
we had 90-degree-
plus weather and
there are panels
in our dish room
that divide the
air conditioned
dining room from
the kitchen,” said
Toni Besio, newly
elected president
of the new SUNY
Canton College
Association Local.
Using their new
communication channels, they talked
with management about the issue.
“The panels were taken down
before I even could make it back to
my building. It cooled the kitchen
down 20 degrees,” Besio said. “Our
executive director went one step
further and also took the uniform
requirement away for the following
two weeks. He said, ‘wear what’s going
to be comfortable for you.’ This was
the biggest deal, I cannot even tell you
... and it was all done with a snap of a
finger; it was so simple,” said Besio
Barriers blocking communication
between the workers and the
executive director's office, which had
the power to fix problems for the
workers, were a serious issue for the
Newly elected SUNY Canton College
Association Local President Toni
Besio, left, and Secretary-Treasurer
Michelle Johnson help prepare a
meal for students.
working for workers
workers before forming a union. If
they tried to bypass supervisors, often
they suffered repercussions and it was
seen as going above a supervisor’s
head to notify the executive director’s
office of issues affecting conditions or
quality.
“Our union has definitely served to
open the communication lines,” said
Bill Fletcher, facilities technician and
an organizing committee member. “So
far, Mike Perry, the director of the
College Association workers, has done
everything in his power for us. I'd say
he’s doing an excellent job.”
Workers now have
adequate supplies,
uninterrupted
lunches and breaks,
fewer scheduling
hassles and most
importantly,
adequate staffing.
“We were just
bare bones on
staff and upper
management was
telling us, ‘if you're
sick, stay home,’ but
supervisors would
say, ‘go throw up in
a garbage can and
go back to work.’ It was that way, I’m
not exaggerating,” said worker Jim
Rogers.
The school is undergoing an
expansion and also it’s very important
to the College Association Board that
students are happy.
“They want happy employees,”
Besio said. “Sometimes, the people
who are doing the job have good ideas
and they might end up saving money if
they listen to us.”
Attitudes of Canton CA management
have been so positive seeing the
process of negotiations and what it
can do for everyone that they have
asked the union to include shuttle bus
drivers in the bargaining unit.
Workers said it has helped
tremendously to have stellar support
throughout the campaign, negotiations
and now. Volunteer member
organizers from the CSEA SUNY
Canton Local and its local president,
Joe Kelly, and the SUNY Canton
College president have been their
champions.
“We know now, all of this can be
done by working together and it can
make a better workplace environment
and in our case, a happier, more
productive and efficient workplace,”
said Besio. “I would like others to
gain confidence by our story. It was a
tough road to get here, but we ended
up with not only a great contract but a
voice. It’s such a big deal.”
— Jill Asencio
“It was a tough
road to get here
but we ended up
with not only a
great contract but
a voice. It’s such a
big deal.”
Metropolitan Region Volunteer Organizers
recognized with Nadra Floyd Award
he CSEA
volunteer member
organizers from
the Metropolitan
Region were
honored with the
Nadra Floyd Award
at CSEA’s 100th
Annual Delegates
Meeting. The award
recognizes members
who have made
an extraordinary
contribution to the
growth of CSEA’s membership. In the picture, Metropolitan
Region Organizing/Membership Committee Chair Ramon Lucas
accepts the award from CSEA President Danny Donohue,
left, and is joined by Metropolitan Region President George
Boncoraglio, second from right, and Statewide Treasurer
Joe McMullen, right. The Metropolitan Region Organizing/
Membership Committee includes CSEA activists Abraham
Benjamin, Bronx Psychiatric Center Local; Sheila Conroy,
Staten Island Developmental Center Local; Lester Crockett and
Linda R. Williams, region officer liaison, State Insurance Fund
Local; Rosemary Hampton, Leila Hoskins, Jamagne King, and
Carlota Williams, Creedmoor Psychiatric Center Local; Adriane
Hudson, Brooklyn Developmental Center Local and Evans
Quamina, Metropolitan DDSO Local.
THE Work FORCE 9 |
January 2011
CSEA state, court contract teams set for toughest negotiations ever
ALBANY — CSEA is preparing for what
could be the union’s toughest state
contract negotiations ever, between a state
that’s financially hurting and a governor
who has vowed to cut state jobs.
The state negotiating team and the
Unified Court System negotiating team are
prepared to work hard to get the fairest
contract possible for state members in
terms of salary, health benefits and job
protection.
“These will be our most difficult
negotiations, ever. The incoming governor
(Andrew Cuomo) has already stated that
he wants to cut state government, the
state is facing a potential $9 billion budget
deficit for 2011, and health insurance costs
continue to increase,” said CSEA President
Danny Donohue.
“Both sides will have their work cut out
for them in getting to a contract that’s fair
and respects the hard work and sacrifices
our members make,” Donohue said.
In fact, the negotiating team has already
suffered from that state’s difficult financial
situation, losing member Keith “Scott”
Pulver, who was laid off from his state job.
CSEA state contracts expire April 1. At
press time, Cuomo had not offered any
indication about the start of negotiations.
Cuomo also had not made public most
of his choices to head state agencies,
including the Governor’s Office of
Employee Relations.
On these pages are the state Executive
Branch and Unified Court System
negotiating team members.
Unified Nicole
Ventresca-
Court Cohen
System
Vincent
Martusciello,
chair
Scott Gartland Don Lynskey Kevin Mahler
Administrative
Services Unit
Deborah
Downey
Shana Davis
Laurene
Hildebrant
Andre
Sigmone
mee call
James Staley Bill Casey Walpole
VanGuilder,
chair
Institutional
Services Unit
Kathy Button,
chair
tA
Patricia Casler
Scott Dussault
Ramon Lucas
Dorcilia Tanis
Lori Nilsson
Operational
Services Unit
Frank Strack Robert
Timpano,
chair
Since 1910
danuary 2011
10 | Tue Work Force
January 2011
Division of Military
and Naval Affairs
Greenhouse
Kissinger
THe Work FORCE 11 |
Workers demonstrate
against workplace
violence, layoffs
BRONX — On a bitterly cold
afternoon, nearly 100 Bronx
Psychiatric Center workers held
an informational picket outside
the center’s grounds and called
for an end to workplace violence
and layoffs that are putting
workers and patients at risk.
CSEA members employed by
Kingsboro Psychiatric Center,
Metropolitan DDSO and the
State Insurance Fund joined the
workers
“Fiscal and administrative
mismanagement at the Bronx
Psychiatric Center has created a
critical and dangerous situation
for patients and workers,” said
CSEA Bronx Psychiatric Center
Local President Abraham.
Benjamin. “Workplace violence
is on the rise and direct care
workers are being laid off yet
more managers, earning double
their salaries, are being hired.”
Gov. David Paterson plans to
lay off 898 state workers by the
end of 2010. The state Office of
Mental Health targeted 55 workers
for layoffs, 28 of them at Bronx
Psychiatric Center.
Workers were joined by state
Assemblyman Rory Lancman,
chair of the Subcommittee on
Workplace Safety, who recently
released a report revealing an
unacceptably high rate of non-
compliance with the state’s
Workplace Violence Prevention
Law.
“Psychiatric centers are most
prone to workplace violence,
but they have the lowest rate
of compliance,” Lancman said.
“We're not talking about sick
leave or wage increase. We're
talking about people getting
beaten up.”
Several workers who have been
assaulted on the job participated
in the demonstration.
“We already don’t have enough
staff on the premises and the
governor wants to lay off more
workers?” said Roslyn Akinware,
a mental health therapy aide at
CSEA Bronx Psychiatric Center Local President Abraham Benjamin
speaks with a television station reporter while CSEA members
demonstrate outside the center. The workers were demonstrating
over a lack of workplace violence law enforcement and layoffs.
Bronx Psychiatric Center.
According to recent data
compiled by CSEA’s Occupational
Safety and Health Department,
the state injury rate is twice the
national average. If New York
state dropped its injury rate to
just the national rate, it would
save $121 million in direct and
indirect costs. By comparison, the
898 layoffs would save $65 million.
Bronx Psychiatric Center had
the highest number of incidents
in the Office of Mental Health
(including forensic facilities) in
2009-10, and the center’s lost
workdays nearly doubled from
3,449 in 2007-08 to 6,462 in 2009-
10, the highest of any civil Office
of Mental Health facility.
“It’s very devastating. We’ve
never had the direct care workers
targeted,” said Benjamin. “We are
the ones on the front line working
with patients on day-to-day
activities. How can they cope with
their issues if there’s no one left?”
— David Galarza
Avoiding the ‘hex’ of chrome in the workplace
here is a hex in the workplace that CSEA
members should avoid.
That hex is hexavalent chromium, or hex
chrome, which is a form of that metal that is
much more toxic than its other forms and with
extended exposure can cause liver and kidney
damage and lung cancer. Immediate effects of
exposure include skin rashes and ulcers, and
possible skin allergies and asthma.
If you work with metals, particularly
stainless steel, you could be exposed the
hexavalent chromium.
To know if a product contains hexavalent
chromium, first check the name on the
container label. If it says chromic acid or
chromates, then it contains hex chrome. If
you are unsure, check the ingredients section
on the Material Safety Data Sheet. It can also
12 fie Work FORCE
be created in the workplace when welding
or cutting any steel that contains chrome,
like stainless steel. Chrome is also present in
recycled steel, and in welding wires and sticks.
If there is a possibility that workers
have been exposed to hex chrome in the
workplace, the employer is required, under
the PESH Chromium (IV) regulation, to find
out if employees are overexposed. The
most common way is to take air samples on
employees when they are working where the
exposure could occur.
If employees are overexposed, the employer
must take action to reduce the exposure
below the permissible exposure limit (PEL),
by first controlling the workplace, like
providing ventilation, and then by providing
personal protective equipment like respirators.
If exposures above the PEL are present,
the employer must also provide areas for
employees to separate their work clothes from
their street clothes and have places to wash
and eat that are not contaminated with hex
chrome containing dust.
If you think you might be under the chrome
“hex,” you should check labels and an MSDS
for the products you use. Contact your unit or
local president if you have any concerns.
CSEA also has a fact sheet on hexavalent
chromium that is available on our website at
www.csealocal1000.org in the occupational
safety and health area with more information
on this material. CSEA’s Occupational Safety
and Health Department staff can also provide
help on this matter.
January 2011
Powar PLUNGE
» a
Freezin’ For A Reacon
POLAR
As Madison County Local
activist Karen Bright
watches, SUNY Binghamton
Local President David Lee
gets down and chilly in the
waters of Oneida Lake.
CSEA “Polar Peeps” team dominates
Central New York Polar Plunge
ONEIDA LAKE — They
were definitely ‘freezin’
for a reason,’ as 48 CSEA
Central Region “Polar
Peeps” teammates took the
Polar Plunge into Oneida
Lake to benefit the Special
Olympics.
Team Captain Jeffrey
Colburn said the air
temperature was below
freezing as the plungers hit
the 40-degree water, but
that didn’t stop the team
from plunging and reaching
their goal of raising more
than $20,000 for the Special
Olympics.
Special Olympics New
York CEO Neal Johnson
presented a plaque to
Colburn and Central Region
President Colleen Wheaton
for being the event’s
highest fund-raising team.
Johnson also posed for
photos with the Central
Region Judiciary Local
“Chain Gang,” who won the
best costume award.
The Central Region
Right, the Central Region Judiciary Local “Chain
Gang,” winners of the best costume award, pose with
Special Olympics New York CEO Neal Johnson. From
left are Darlene O’Hara, Brenda Leone, Johnson, Local
President Don Lynskey, Natalie Spilman, Sheila Sears
and Gaige Gonyeau-Spilman.
Central Region “Polar Peeps” team members take the plunge in Oneida Lake, including
Team Captain Jeffrey Colburn, dressed in the yellow Peeps suit. Central Region
President Colleen Wheaton is to Colburn’s immediate left.
“Polar Peeps” Team
was the winner of last
year’s CSEA Polar Cap
award, presented by
CSEA President Danny
Donohue, for raising the
highest total of any CSEA
region throughout the
state. They’ve already
set the bar high on this
year’s competition.
— Mark M. Kotzin
Knowing they will
gain strength by
being part of CSEA
with the support
of 300,000
members, they can
then negotiate with
the college for a
stronger, better
contract.
January 2011
Suffolk County Community College workers organize to join CSEA
orkers employed
by Suffolk County
Community
College (SCCC) are
organizing to join CSEA.
They recently filed a
petition with the state
Public Employment
Relations Board (PERB).
The college workers
(blue collar, white collar,
and campus security
from all three SCCC
campuses) are organizing
because after having
been represented for
the past 26 years by an
independent employee
association, they don’t
believe that organization
addresses their specific
issues. Knowing they will
gain strength by being part
of CSEA with the support
of 300,000 members, they
can then negotiate with
the college for a stronger,
better contract. Their
campaign is called SCCC
Workers for Change.
PERB will oversee an
election, scheduled for Jan.
11, to determine which
union the workers want.
SCCC Workers for
Change has received
organizing support from
CSEA volunteer member
organizers across Long
Island including Suffolk
County Local President Bill
Walsh, SUNY Stony Brook
Local President Carlos
Speight and Maria Navarro,
Suffolk County Education
Local.
— Jill Asencio
THe Work FORCE
CSER AQ”
AFS
PEOPLE
“Now more than
ever, with the
anti-union climate
EAST SYRACUSE
— When pitching
PEOPLE to CSEA
members, Betty
Jo Johnson knows
at the state and better than to talk
about politics.
federal level, “Most folks don’t
we need every
member to be as
involved as they
possibly can be.”
like politics,” said
Johnson, the CSEA Johnson
Central Region
PEOPLE Committee chair. “They
don’t want to think that their
money is going to a politician.”
Another great CSEA Member-Only Discount!
Take advantage of your CSEA membership
for a special discount for certain 2011 SU Basketball
Home Games at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse!
To get $5 off the regular price of upper level seats for certain home games this season,
order online at: www.suathletics.com/groupoffers - Click on the CSEA logo - click
on “Find Tickets” to select the game of your choice - Use special offer code: CSEA10
(no spaces) - Create a NEW ACCOUNT (even if you have an account already) -
Follow the steps to purchase and check out. There will be a processing and print at
home fee. To purchase blocks of tickets or order by phone, you can also call SU
Group Sales at (315) 443-3212 and mention you're a CSEA member.
‘SU vs Providence **
SU vs Notre Dame
SU vs Cincinnati *
SU vs Villanova
‘SU vs Seton Hall *
SU vs Georgetown
December 28, 2010 * 9 p.m.
January 1, 2011 + 3:30 p.m.
January 15, 2011 * 12 noon
January 22, 2011 * 12 noon
January 25, 2011 +7 p.m.
February 9, 2011 * 7 p.m.
Instead, Johnson and her
committee members speak about
issues that resonate with workers
like health care, pensions and
layoffs.
“There are no Democrats, there
are no Republicans and there is no
Tea Party,” said Johnson. “There
are only union issues.”
It’s a strategy that has served the
committee well and garnered them
the coveted PEOPLE Cup at this
year’s Annual Delegates Meeting.
The committee recruited nearly 400
members.
Dedicated committee members
They also had three PEOPLE
recruiters of the month: Mohawk
Valley Psychiatric Center Local
President Michael Patterson,
Madison County Local activist
Karen Bright and Broome
Developmental Center Local
President Patti Kolata.
“Once somebody comes up to
the PEOPLE table, they’re already
halfway there,” said Johnson. “It’s
just a matter of zeroing in on what
affects that person directly and
doing it quickly.”
Johnson, who works at the
Madison County Department of
Social Services’ Child Support Unit,
also credits their success to the
use of current technology. She also
credits committee members, who
stay on top of local issues that are
important to CSEA members.
“You need to have dedicated
committee people who are willing
to read their e-mails and the local
newspapers and magazines,”
Johnson said. “We read The Work
Force and the CSEA website, and
Johnson: talk issues, not
politics, in PEOPLE recruiting
covering a region that stretches
from the Canadian border to
Pennsylvania is no easy feat,
especially during the winter,
but Johnson heaped praise on
committee members who schedule
conference calls or maintain regular
contact to make sure the work is
being done.
“Now more than ever, with the
anti-union climate at the state
and federal level, we need every
member to be as involved as they
possibly can be,” said Johnson.
“They need to join the fight.”
Johnson cited the recent
Supreme Court decision, commonly
referred to as the Citizens
United decision, which allows
corporations to spend unlimited
amounts of money on political
campaigns, as a major reason to get
every CSEA member involved with
PEOPLE.
“The only weaponry we have is
provided through PEOPLE,” said
Johnson.
With a new state administration,
Johnson fears the new governor
will try to balance the budget
on the backs of workers, cutting
services and jobs.
“They may try to change the
rules governing our pensions,” said
Johnson. “That’s why we worked
so hard to elect state Comptroller
(Tom) DiNapoli.”
Working with CSEA PEOPLE
Coordinator Cheryl Palmer,
Johnson and committee members
intend to work just as hard
to continue building PEOPLE
membership and protect union
members.
“Cheryl is a tough taskmaster,”
SU vs West Virginia February 14,2011 +7 p.m. also have an e-mail communication _ said Johnson. “She is extremely
SU vs Rutgers * February 19, 2011 + 4 p.m. system that we stay on top of.” good at what she does and she sets
SU vs DePaul * March 5, 2011 +4 p.m. the bar.”
; | PEOPLE helps us fight back
** CSEA discount available for these games only Scheduling meetings and — David Galarza
THe Work Force January 2011
Empire Plan health insurance
changes effective Jan. 1, 2011
( “ike would
like to H ea It h
remind
active New York
state Empire
Plan enrollees that the following
changes will take effect Jan. 1,
2011.
Basic Medical Annual
Coinsurance Maximum: Increase
from $500 to $515
When a CSEA active state
Empire Plan enrollee uses a
non-participating Empire Plan
provider, claims are paid under the
Basic Medical Program.
The Empire Plan pays 80 percent
of reasonable and customary
charges for covered services after
the annual deductible is met. The
remaining 20 percent that the
individual is responsible for is
considered “coinsurance.” The
annual coinsurance maximum
effective Jan. 1, 2011 is $515**
for the enrollee, $515** for the
enrolled spouse/domestic partner
and $515** for all dependent
children.
Once the annual coinsurance
maximum is met, the Empire Plan
pays 100 percent of reasonable
Benefits >
and customary
charges for
covered
services.
** The $515 coinsurance
maximum expense is reduced to
$309 for calendar year 2011 for
employees in (or equated to) salary
grade 6 or below.
United HealthCare
Reimbursement: Non-Network
Hospital Coinsurance
Should an individual use a non-
network hospital or skilled nursing
facility, they are responsible for a
coinsurance of 10 percent of the
billed charges for services, up to
a coinsurance maximum of $1,500
for the enrollee, $1,500 for your
spouse/domestic partner and
$1,500 for all dependent children
combined. Effective Jan. 1, 2011,
the previous benefit that allowed
enrollees to request up to $500
reimbursement under United
HealthCare, to offset the $1,500
coinsurance maximum, will be
eliminated.
Please contact the CSEA Health
Benefits Department at 1-800-286-
5242 with questions.
NYSHIP special enrollment period for
young adult dependents to end Dec. 31
Ne enrollees have until Dec. 31, 2010, to add to their health
insurance coverage eligible dependents u
As a reminder, NYSHIP will change its eligi
‘0 age 26.
ility rules to cover
eligible dependents, up to age 26, in compliance with the federal Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) effective Jan. 1, 2011.
NYSHIP enrollees can add eligible dependents up to age 26 during a
special enrollment period, which began Nov. 1, 2010 and ends Dec. 31,
2010. An enrollee’s young adult children can be added to family coverage
at no additional cost. If the NYSHIP enrollee currently has individual
coverage, the enrollee will need to switch to family coverage.
Enrollees looking to add a young adult child to their coverage should
complete and return the “Young Adult Dependent” transaction form to
their agency health benefits administrator (typically in their personnel
office) by Dec. 31, 2010.
Save the Date ...
April 1 — 3, 2011
Since 1910
CSE
New York’s LEADING Union
STATEWIDE
WOMEN’S CONFERENCE
Desmond Hotel, Albany, N.Y.
Look for more information about the conference
in an upcoming Essentially Women or on CSEA’s
website at www.csealocal1000.org.
Get the latest on issues that concern women in CSEA and the
labor movement! Subscribe today to Essentially Women, a
quarterly publication dedicated to working women.
Visit CSEA’s website at www.csealocal1000.org and follow
the link on the home page for a downloadable coupon. Just
fill it out and mail it in!
CSEA accepting Irene Carr Leadership Award nominations
SEA is also accepting
nominations for
the Irene Carr
Leadership Award
through Feb. 1, 2011. The
award, named for former
Statewide Secretary Irene
Carr, will be presented
at the union’s Women’s
Conference in April (see
above for more). Learn
more about the award and
download the application
from CSEA’s website at
www.csealocal1000.org.
Long Island Region
activist Catherine
Custance accepts
the 2006 Irene Carr
Leadership Award
from CSEA President
Danny Donohue.
Carr, circa
1980s
January 2011
THE WorK FORCE
2011 NYSHIP rates for CSEA active state employees
Biweekly employee contribution
he state Division of Budget has approved the Empire Plan’s premium rates for
| the 2011 plan year. New York state active employees have until Dec. 31, 2010 Capital Region
to change their health insurance option. Plan name Individual | Difference from | Family Difference from
Although the Empire Plan has experienced a modest premium increase this 2010 2010
year, some of the HMOs have experienced SIGNIFICANT increases. New York TheEmpire [$2801 0.14 Hun rer
state pays 90 percent of the cost of the individual premium and 75 percent of Plan (001)
the cost of the dependent premium for HMOs; however, the state's contributions -
toward HMO premiums are capped at the state's contribution to the Empire Plan CDPHP (063) _| $24.70 +$0.83 $122.01 +$12.42
premium. Enrollees in an HMO with premiums that exceed this Empire Plan cap will CDPHP (300) _| $60.72 1813.65 $215.18 1818.85
experience higher enrollee biweekly contributions. _— = =e - 7
To change your health insurance plan during the Option Transfer Period, see TM osa BS; 876/54 S719 5281389 e2107
your agency health benefits administrator as soon as possible. Ask for the Health - -
Insurance Transaction Form P$-404 and return the completed form to your agency GHIHMO (220) | $104.36 +$44.69 $371.21 +$121.96
health benefits administrator by Dec. 31, 2010. HMO Blue (160) | $63.70 1$13.84 $243.08 1842.93
The following represents the 2011 biweekly rates for CSEA-represented, New : :
York state active employees. This list is organized by region and includes the MVP East (060) | $22.13 shod $102.58 sal
cost difference from the October 2010 rates. Please review the 2011 rate options
carefully. Central Region
i Planname —_| Individual | Difference from [Family Difference from
Long Island Region 2010 300
Plan name Individual _ | Difference Family Difference THe EMI 7 5
piterenes piterne The Empire | $28.01 $0.14 $117.74 $5.40
Plan (001)
The Empire | $28.01 +$0.14 $117.74 +$5.40 BlueChoice, | S158 ais rr err
Plan (001) (066)
Aetna (210) __ | $101.87 $151 $453.24 1954.05 CDPHP G00 [$60.72 Bises qisie eens
AMO Sos alee 21 alt38 $411.99 938.14 Empire BC/BS | $76.54 47.19 $287.39 $21.07
HMO (280)
HIP (050) $47.27 +$1.95 $172.7 +$1.72 GHI HMO (220) | $104.36 $44.69 $371.21 +$121.96
Metropolitan Region HMO Blue $63.70 +$13.84 $243.08 $842.93
160
Planname | Individual _| Difference Family Difference ay)
from 2010 from 2010 HMO Blue $81.28 +$15.78 $260.53 +$44.12
072
The Empire | $28.01 +$0.14 $17.74 +$5.40 se
Plan (001) MVP Central | $33.74 “$4.21 $146.51 $30.99
330
Aetna (210) _ | $101.87 $151 $453.24 $854.05 So)
MVP North | $70.88 184.77 $239.97 “$11.35
Empire BC/BS | $124.21 +$14.36 $411.99 +$35.14 (360)
HMO (290)
MVP Rochester | $21.07 $6.59 $97.60 “$32.47
HIP (050) $47.27 +$1.95 $172.77 +$1.72 (058)
Southern R n =
Plan name Individual | Difference from | Family Difference from 2010 Western Region
2010 Plan name Individual | Difference from [Family Difference from
The Empire | $28.01 +$0.14 $117.74 +$5.40 2010 2010
Plan (001) The Empire | $28.01 +$0.14 s117.74 +$5.40
Aetna (210) _ | $101.87 “$1.51 $453.24 +$54.05 Plan (001)
CDPHP (310) _ | $70.37 1815.94 $239.14 +$24.09 Oe s2t28 +8013 ee ye
TO een BS [812421 lise ae ald Community | $25.36 $8.85 $169.09 $35.88
Blue (067)
Empire BC/BS | $125.03 $14.90 $414.19 “$41.32 EMOBIE Faia Wists Pensa reas
HMO (320) 72)
GHIHMO (350) | $132.82 7856.10 $448.54 3814424 i.e ya ase dD mp
HIP (050) $47.27 281.95 $172.77 +8172 (059)
MVP Mid- $29.62 $27.16 $135.87 $91.32 MVP Rochester | $21.07 $6.59 897.60 $32.47
Hudson (340) (058)
16] HE Work Force January 2011
EBF can play important role in protecting oral health
he CSEA
Employee
Benefit Fund
is here to help you
protect your health,
including your oral
health.
EBF dental plans
were designed to
keep you healthy. If you have an
EBF dental plan, make it a point
take advantage of this valuable
benefit this year. If you do not
have an EBF dental plan, let one
of our senior benefits specialists
know. It is possible one of our
products will fit nicely into your
next contract.
Why should you guard your
oral health? The link between
oral health and overall health is
more important than you may
think. When your teeth and
gums are healthy, the bacteria
naturally occurring in your
mouth does not usually enter
CSE
AFSCME Local 1000, AFL-CIO
EMPLOYEE
your bloodstream.
Gum disease
and invasive dental
treatments can allow
this bacteria to enter
your bloodstream.
Certain medications
and medical
treatments can also
disrupt the normal balance of
bacteria in your mouth.
Some researchers believe
this bacterial imbalance and
imflammation in the mouth are
linked to other health problems.
Poor oral health can affect
your quality of life. Tooth decay
is the single most common
chronic childhood disease; it
is five times more common
than asthma and seven times
more common than hay fever.
Children lose more than 51
million school hours annually
due to dental related illness.
Adults lose more than 164
Cardiovascular disease:
Some research indicates
bacteria from gum disease
can travel through your
bloodstream into your heart
affecting your cardiovascular
system.
Pregnancy and birth
complications: Gum disease has
been linked to premature birth
and low birth weight babies
as disease-causing organisms
originating in the mouth have
been found in the placenta or
amniotic fluid.
Conditions linked to poor oral health
Diabetes: The destructive
inflammatory processes that
are common with periodontal
disease are closely related to
diabetes. Diabetes increases
your risk of gum disease, decay
and infection. Poor oral health
can also make your diabetes
more difficult to control as
infections may cause blood
sugar to rise.
Osteoporosis: Beginning
stages of bone loss may show
up in your teeth. Routine X-rays
may allow your dentist to
identify bone loss and suggest
treatment.
million hours of work annually
due to dental disease.
EBF can help play an
important role in protecting
your oral health through one
of the fund’s dental plans. For
more information, visit EBF’s
website at www.cseaebf.com or
call EBF at (800) 323-2732.
Skills for Success courses offered
This winter and spring, CSEA members
employed by New York state, local
government agencies and the private sector
have opportunities to take Skills for Success
training courses offered by the NYS & CSEA
Partnership for Education and Training
(Partnership).
Course participation, as space permits,
by CSEA-represented employees in local
government agencies, school districts,
state authorities and the private sector is
sponsored by the CSEA WORK Institute.
More than 120 classes are scheduled
statewide from Jan. 3, 2011, through June 15,
2011. The training is available at no cost to
employees or agencies.
All courses are held at conveniently
located training sites. In order to increase
participation in courses while limiting time
away from the office, the Partnership is
piloting a select number of courses using
condensed evening and webinar formats.
Eligibility
Employees are eligible to participate in
Partnership courses if they are:
e A CSEA-represented New York state
employee (ASU/02, OSU/03, ISU/04 or
DMNA/47).
e A CSEA-represented employee in local
government agencies (county, city, town,
village), school districts, state authorities or
private sector, as space permits.
For more information
A web catalog of the Skills for Success
courses is available on the Partnership's
website at www.nyscseapartnership.org.
The catalog contains course descriptions,
course schedules, training locations and an
application form that can be downloaded and
printed.
For more information about Skills for
Success courses, call 518-486-7814 or, for areas
outside the Capital Region, call 800-253-4332,
or e-mail at learning@nyscseapartnership.org.
‘Apply today!
Classes fill
quickly.
NYS:
Seba ership
for Education and Training
Séille for
Courses for CSEA-represented employees
@)
2010 -*2011
e”4
Courses available October 2010 - June 2011
www.nyscseapartnership.org
4
January 2011
THe Work FORCE
Schultz is PEOPLE Recruiter of the Month
im Schultz, of the Hudson River Psychiatric
Jin: Local in the Southern Region, is the
PEOPLE Recruiter of the Month for November. He
recruited 16 new PEOPLE MVP members.
“I’ve been involved in PEOPLE since the 1980s
because we need lobbying power in Washington
D.C. to fight for programs like Social Security,” said
Schultz, who chairs the region’s PEOPLE Committee
and co-chairs the region’s Community Action and
Safety and Health committees. “More than ever, we
need to fight to protect programs such as these so we
can maintain quality of life in our older years. None
of us want to work into our 70s, especially when we’ve
paid into Social Security our entire working lives. PEOPLE helps us fight
for what’s right.”
CSEA’s PEOPLE program protects and improves our jobs, benefits and
pensions in Washington, Albany and in your community. Your support and
participation in PEOPLE strengthens CSEA’s clout in the workplace, in the
legislature, in your community and in the labor movement.
Schultz
Remember: ‘Don’t Zone Out’ during winter
inter is here and with it comes snowy and icy
road conditions.
CSEA members who work on highways
spend many hours clearing, salting and sanding
roadways, often in inclement weather, to make them
safer for us to drive.
As you're driving this winter season, please continue
to remember to “Don’t Zone Out,” and urge your
families, friends and co-workers to do the same.
Visit the Don’t Zone Out page on CSEA’s website at www.
csealocal1000.org to learn more about the Don’t Zone Out campaign.
January CSEA calendar of events
Long Island Region: Capital Region:
+ Jan. 19-20: Steward Workshop, + Jan. 5-6: Steward Workshop, Sign-
Sign-in: 5:30-6 p.m.; Workshop: 6:9 in: 5:30-6 p.m.; Workshop: 6-9 p.m.,
p.m., CSEA Long Island Region Office, Rensselaer County Public Safety Building,
Commack Troy
* Jan. 12-13: Steward Workshop,
Sign-in: 5-5:30 p.m.; Workshop: 5:30-
8:30 p.m., Peru Primary School Building,
Peru. This workshop is open to Capital and
Central Region members. Please call the
Plattsburgh Satellite Office at (518) 563-
0761 to register.
* Jan. 25-26: Local Government
Discipline: Representing Members
in Interrogations Workshop, Sign-in:
5:30-6 p.m.; Workshop: 6-9 p.m., Holiday
Inn, Schenectady
Metropolitan Region:
* Visit the Metropolitan Region page on
CSEA’s website at www.csealocall 000.
org for the latest on events in your region.
Southern Region:
* Jan. 19-20: Local Government/
Private Sector Grievance
Representation Workshop, Sign-
in: 5:30-6 p.m.; Workshop: 6-9 p.m.,
Webutuck Jr./Sr. High School, Amenia
* Jan. 25-26: Contract Negotiations:
Constructing Proposals Workshop,
Sign-in: 5:30-6 p.m.; Workshop: 6-9 p.m.,
Rockland County Local Office, New City
Central Region:
* Jan. 12-13: State Government
Grievance Representation
January 2011
‘Since 1910
SMITHTOWN 2.
semis == CSE as
CONTRACT — Serfonsteanme inion
CSEA members
in the Smithtown
Fire District unanimously ratified
a five year contract that provides
for annual salary percentage
increases and precludes an
increase in health insurance
contributions ... BATTERY
SATURDAY —The Village of
Suffern Unit was
a co-sponsor
of the second
annual event
called Battery
Saturday. The event allowed
residents to drop off used
batteries at a village site, rather
than having to make a longer trip
to the county recycling facility.
The CSEA unit is active in many
village activities.
deadine approaching
pplications are being
accepted for the 2011 Union
lus Scholarship and AFSCME
Family Scholarship programs.
Union Plus Scholarship Program
grants union members or family
members scholarships from $500 to
$4,000 each year. Applications for
the Union Plus scholarships must
be postmarked no later than Dec.
31, 2010.
Each year, the AFSCME Family
Scholarship Program provides 10,
$2,000 scholarships to high school
seniors that will be renewed for
$2,000 each year for a maximum of
four years, provided the student
remains enrolled in a full-time
course of study. The scholarship
AFSCME, Union Plus scholarship applications
formation and
n form, visit the
For more
an appl
websites listed below or contact
your unit or local president:
AFSCME Family Scholarship:
www.afscme.org/
members/880.cfm
Union Plus Scholarship
www.unionplus.org/college-
education: ion-plus-
scholarship
may be used for any field of study.
Applications for the AFSCME
scholarship must be postmarked
no later than Jan. 31, 2010.
Workshop, Sign-in: 5:30-6 p.m.;
Workshop: 6-9 p.m., CSEA Canton
Satellite Office, Canton
* Jan. 12-13: Steward Workshop,
Sign-in: 5-5:30 p.m.; Workshop: 5:30 -
8:30 p.m., Peru Primary School Building,
Peru. This workshop is open to Capital and
Central Region members. Please call the
Plattsburgh Satellite Office at (518) 563-
0761 to register.
* Jan. 25-26: Local Government
Discipline: Representing Members
in Interrogations Workshop, Sign-
in: 5:30-6 p.m.; Workshop: 6-9 p.m.,
Onondaga County Local Office, East
Syracuse
Western Region:
* Jan. 18-19: Local Government
Discipline: Representing Members
in Interrogations Workshop, Sign-
in: 5:30-6 p.m.; Workshop: 6-9 p.m.,
Chautauqua County Local Office, Mayville
* Jan. 19-20: Local Government
Discipline: Representing Members
in Interrogations Workshop, Sign-in:
5:30-6 p.m; Workshop: 6-9 p.m., Ramada
Geneva Lakefront, Geneva
+ Jan. 25-26: Steward Workshop,
Sign-in: 5:30-6 p.m.; Workshop: 6-9 p.m.,
CSEA Rochester Satellite Office, Rochester
+ Jan. 29: State Government
Grievance Representation
Workshop, Sign-in: 8:30-9 a.m..;
Workshop: 9 a.m-3:30 p.m., CSEA
Western Region Office, Amherst
For more information, contact your
region office (phone numbers are listed
‘on Page 4) or visit your region je at
CSEA’s website at www.csealocall 000.
ote that additional events
heduled in your region, so
check the website regularly.
THe Work FORCE 18}
TNosualicgyen® GY
DON'T ZONE OUT!
Go Ask Alice
. was one of the most
dynamic in our history. The u union marked its 100th anniversary, but there}
wasn’t much opportunity for celebrating as economic challenges at the
national, state and local levels dominated attention throughout the year.
CSEA stood strong against attacks on public employees, demands
for unilateral concessions, threats of layoffs, and all manner of budget
difficulties across the state.
CSEA helped elect state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli in a tight race in which the
CSEA vote made the difference. The union launched a statewide Don’t Zone Out
campaign to improve road and highway safety and CSEA members were leaders
across the state when it came to involvement in community service and support
of charitable and service organizations.
CSEA members can be proud of their union for its century of service, but more
importantly, all members should take pride in our union for the accomplishment
and strength of 2010.
Special Message: State of our union 2011
Work, Force
Published by CSEA
143 Washington Ave * Albany NY ° 12210
Danny Donohue, President
(518) 257-1000 * (800) 342-4146
CSEA * Local 1000 AFSCME ¢ AFL-CIO
Everyone knows we need jobs. Especially jobs that add value to our communities.
Keeping people working should be
There are no easy answers. But some
politicians think public sector layoffs are
a quick fx. They‘re wrong.
There are no real savings by eliminating
jobs because:
+ Layoffs mean paychecks won't be
spent in the community
+ Income taxes won't get paid
+ Services won't be available
+ Work that generates revenue
won't get done.
Politicians who talk about creating jobs
while promoting layoffs are talking out of
both sides of their mouths.
Everybody knows New Yorkers
have had enough of that!
CSEK
New York’s LEADING Union
