The Work Force, 2004 December

Month

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Photo of the
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From left, Long Island Region Veterans Committee
members Nelson Gutierrez, 2nd vice president, Pilgrim
Psychiatric Center; Nick LaMorte, president, CSEA Long
Island Region; William Gwynn, 2nd vice president, Long
Island DDSO; and Maryann Phelps, 4th vice president,
SUNY Stony Brook, take part in a Veterans Day event at
Armed Forces Plaza in Hauppague. Not pictured is
Veterans Committee Chair Steve Abramson, City of Long
Beach, who also took part in the ceremony.

Paul Ruller, 54, Sch’dy activist

SCHENECTADY — Longtime CSEA member and activist
Paul Ruller, 54, died unexpectedly in early November.

Ruller served as City of Schenectady Unit president since
1991. He began working for the city as a police dispatcher
in 1988 and in 1999 transferred to the Department of
Neighborhood Revitalization. He leaves behind a wife and
two children.

“Paul’s activism and dedication to the union were an
inspiration. He made sure the members came first,” said
CSEA President Danny Donohue.

Contributions may be made in Paul's memory to the
American Heart Association, 440 New Karner Rd., Albany,
NY 12205. The Ruller family's address is 1359 Glenwood
Blvd., Schenectady, NY 12308.

CSEA President Danny Donohue
to meet Long Island Region
members Dec. 10

CSEA President Danny Donohue will visit the CSEA
Long Island Region office on Friday, Dec. 10 to meet with
members.

The meetings will be held in the region office at 3 Garet
Place, Commack. Donohue will meet with union members
from 1 to 7 p.m. Please call the Long Island Region office
at (631) 462-0030 for an appointment and directions.

OCFS attack leaves
injuries, questions

RUSH — CSEA is demanding the
state Office of Children and Family
Services address staffing issues at
the Industry secure youth center
following a recent attack that left a
union member hospitalized.

Several youths staged a
coordinated uprising beginning
with a distraction in one unit,
causing youth development aides
to respond.

With the decoy in place, youths
in another unit lashed out at the
remaining YDAs. When staff
attempted to intervene they were
attacked, and when other staff
arrived on scene they were
attacked also.

The incident involved five YDAs
and five or more youths. One CSEA
member was hospitalized and
another four were treated at the
facility. That member’s name and
the extent of his injuries were not
available at press time.

The State Police arrested and
removed some of the youths from
the facility and several were
transferred to other centers.
Specific charges were not
available.

“Our primary concern, aside

from the safety of our members, is
why it apparently took 10 minutes
for the response teams to come to
the assistance of the YDAs being
attacked,” said CSEA Western
Region President Flo Tripi.

CSEA had met with OCFS
representatives shortly before the
attack to discuss a number of
issues, including staffing and
emergency response times.

“Our concerns played out on the
day this incident went down,” Tripi
said.

OCFS has claimed in the past
that staffing levels meet those
authorized by the state for the
facility. CSEA is taking issue with
the authorized levels.

On some days, the center’s two
units share a “floater” who
responds to situations in one or
the other unit, as well as
designated response teams in each
unit.

The union’s position is that
when more than one situation
occurs, the staff’s ability to
respond can be dangerously
limited.

— Lou Hmieleski

Monroe County budget cuts jobs

ROCHESTER — The Monroe County
budget approved Nov. 15 eliminates
160 jobs, 131 of which were vacant.

Of 29 layoffs, 14 were CSEA
members.

“Obviously we are concerned
about any layoffs. They are
detrimental both to the employee
and to the services,” said CSEA
Monroe County President Jim
Volpone.

“We've lost close to 650 positions
in the last two years. The work
force is already extended to its
limits and that creates a lot of other
issues,” he said.

“We're continuing to fight but
once the budget is done there is
little we can do. We are going to try
to find other positions for as many
of those people as we can,” he said.

Warren County members OK pact

By a vote of 276-58, CSEA members
in Warren County overwhelmingly
ratified a new four-year contract on
Nov. 10.

Nearly 90 percent of eligible CSEA
members turned out to cast ballots at

various worksites with 83 percent of
those voting in favor of the pact.

The new four year contract includes
salary increases in each year
retroactive to Jan. 1, 2004. The
contract runs through Dec. 31, 2007.

Page 2 THE WORKFORCE December 2004
CSEA decries mismanagement
in Erie County budget, priorities

BUFFALO — CSEA is wasting
no time in mobilizing members
and the community against
Erie County Executive Joel
Giambra’s “scorched earth
budget.”

At a recent news conference,
Western Region President Flo
Tripi and Erie County CSEA
officers launched their own
scorching attack on the
executive’s mismanagement
and misplaced priorities.

Giambra’s proposed budget
would result in the loss of
about 3,000 county positions
and another 3,000 jobs in
community and non-profit
agencies. The budget, which
includes no new revenue
sources, would result in
massive service cuts,
including the closure of every
library in Erie County.

Mismanagement evident
Increased Medicaid costs
have been cited by the county
executive as the reason for the

budget dilemma. However,
mismanagement by the county
executive has also come into
play, Tripi said at a recent
news conference.

“We are in this position
because the county executive
has squandered away our
reserves as well as our
tobacco settlement money
while digging our county
further and further into debt,”
Tripi said.

The mismanagement
continues.

With the current financial
situation, funding for travel
and office furniture and
excessive vacation time for
appointees and salaries for
new appointments should be
redirected to help preserve
services such as libraries,
snowplowing and parks. The

From left, CSEA Erie County officers and activists Joan Bender, Steve Szymura, Nancy Moran,
Scott Smith, Western Region President Flo Tripi, Ann Marie Haas, Denise Szymura and Sylvia

Thomas attend a news conference in which CSEA took Erie County Executive Joel Giambra to
task for a proposed budget that would drastically cut jobs and services.

county executive also should
eliminate management-
confidential positions created
in recent years and all funded
vacant positions, Tripi said.

CSEA officials and Erie
County officers continue to
meet to discuss strategy. CSEA
representatives will testify at
public hearings in the coming
days.

“Over the next few weeks,
CSEA is going to make sure the
public and politicians know
the impact that the county
executive’s scorched earth
budget will have on the
citizens of Erie County,” Tripi
said. “We plan to offer
suggestions to make this
process more acceptable to
the community and public
employees. We will be
watching, acting and holding
elected officials accountable.”

— Lynn Miller

Red budget, black future

Under the proposed Erie County budget:

¢ The new Public Safety Center, being built for $33 million,
would not have the staff needed to operate.

¢ Medical examiners would not be able to visit death
scenes to retrieve bodies.

¢ Dental clinics, which cost county taxpayers less than
$400 a year because of outside aid, would close.

¢ The Department of Emergency Services would shrink to
an unrecognizable level, unable to train emergency
medical technicians or firefighters or update an
antiquated radio system.

e Vans would no longer shuttle senior citizens to doctors’
offices or to dialysis and chemotherapy treatments
because of a shortage of drivers.

¢ The county would remove the nurses it provides to
Buffalo schools under an agreement that dates from the
1940s, when city health departments in New York
merged with county health departments.

¢ The Department of Veterans Services would shrink to a
staff of one, Director Louis R. Palma, who says he might
have to end the tradition of decorating veterans’ graves
with U.S. flags for Veterans Day and Memorial Day.

¢ State and federal regulators could seek the return of
grant money if they determine that Erie County has
failed to provide vital services.

December 2004 THE WORKFORCE Page 3
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 MARRA
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.

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 12210-2803.

COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATES

RACHEL LANGERT Long Island Region
(631) 462-0030
DAVID GALARZA Metropolitan Region
(212) 406-2156
JESSICA STONE Southern Region
(845) 831-1000
‘THERESE ASSALIAN Capital Region
18) 785-4400
MARK M. KOTZIN Central Region
(315) 433-0050
LYNN MILLER Western Region
(716) 886-0391
ED MOLITOR Headquarters

(S18) 257-1272

The Publications Committee

LONG ISLAND REGION Jane D'Amico
METROPOLITAN REGION Abraham Benjamin
SOUTHERN REGION Robert Lorenc
CAPITAL REGION Helen Fischedick
CENTRAL REGION Bruce Damalt, Chair
WESTERN REGION Mary Jo Tubbs

208 COMMUN c,
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NC

SUERNATIONA
Zeetoossy S

7 +AFLCIOICLE *

Page 4 THE WORKFORCE December 2004

he 2004 Election may be over but our work for a
better America must continue.

Clearly we remain a nation divided and must work
at finding common ground.

Disagreement over issues of policy is not
unpatriotic. In fact, disagreement is often healthy for
building consensus, which should be the objective of
our government.

It’s very nice that the president says he wants to
reach out to all Americans and help our country heal its
wounds. But it’s hard to take him at his word when his top priorities are
privatizing social security and a radical overhaul of the progressive income
tax system, to note just two sharply divisive issues.

CSEA members should be proud for standing up for the America we
believe in during the campaign and for acting on those beliefs at the ballot
box. It is a responsibility that must never be taken for granted and one
which we must continue to advance.

The intense interest and involvement in the election was an
encouraging development. It is up to all of us to maintain that level of
activity in the time ahead. There are serious and complex issues that face
our nation, state and localities. They demand debate and deliberation and
responsible action by our elected officials that includes considering many
points of view.

It is up to each of us to try to understand what is at issue and make
our voices heard. And we must be sure that we hold our elected officials
accountable at every level. Democracy is a concept that we must fight to
secure every day, especially when that fight gets tougher.

lee

CSEA fights contracting out
at Herkimer Adult Home

HERKIMER — CSEA members in
Herkimer County have begun a
public battle to retain another
vital piece of their public health
care system as the county seeks
anew operator for Country
Manor, the county’s adult care
facility.

As the county considers the
responses to a Request For
Proposals for operating the adult
home, the CSEA members
working at the home have
already begun attending county
Legislature meetings in force to
tell the public their health care
is worth keeping.

For some, the battle has
reopened old wounds from 2002
when the county failed to heed
to public pressure to continue
operating their public hospice
care, which they contracted out
with little public comment or
debate.

Now, the adult care workers
want to make sure legislators
don’t try to do the same with
their facility. CSEA has already
run ads in local newspapers
opposing the move. The union
has also launched a campaign to
educate the public about what
they stand to lose.

The workers are also

CSEA Herkimer County Unit
President Joan Grose speaks
at the county Legislature
meeting.

gathering petition signatures to
gain public support. Among
others, CSEA Herkimer County
Unit President Joan Grose spoke
at a recent legislature meeting to
urge county leaders to do the
right thing.

“We urge you to reject any
bids that you've received and

Workers from Herkimer County’

’s Country Manor hold signs at a
recent county Legislature meeting, urging legislators to stop
efforts to contract out the county adult home.

instead work cooperatively with
the union to find other ways to
realize cost savings, without
impacting the wonderful quality
of care our members provide at
Country Manor,” she told county
officials.

— Mark M. Kotzin

CSEA slates statewide health care

reform ad campaign

New CSEA TV and radio ads are
airing statewide as the first
salvo in CSEA’s campaign for
health care reform.

In the spots, CSEA President
Danny Donohue delivers the
message that “Health Care
Reform needs urgent care now!”

CSEA will focus intense effort
toward health care reform in
the months ahead, including
making it a legislative priority to
ensure beneficial changes in the
Health Care Reform Act, which
is up for renewal next spring.

The act currently short
changes public health care
facilities in its funding formula,
which is wreaking havoc for
CSEA represented facilities

across New York. The ads are
currently airing during morning
drive time (between 6 a.m. and
10 a.m.) on the top news and
information radio station in
each market; on TV, the ads air
during the 6 p.m. local news in
all markets and on the Sunday
morning talk shows (Meet the
Press, Face the Nation, This
Week).

There are also some selective
cable news outlets airing the
ads including News 12 Long
Island, New York 1, News 12
Westchester, RNN (Hudson
Valley), Capital News 9, News 10
Syracuse and R-News
(Rochester).

NEW YORK'S ©
Represents 60,000 Workers in
LEAL CALE
SERVICES

For some, the
battle has reopened
old wounds from
2002 when the
county failed to
heed to public
pressure to
continue operating
their public hospice
care, which they
contracted out with
little public
comment or debate.

CSER Voices

[ee was a true lady and
a fighter for all members,
having worked hard to
establish day care centers.
She'll be greatly missed by
myself, the officers and
members of the Southern
Region. 99

— Southern Region President
Diane Hewitt, commenting on
the passing of former
statewide Secretary Diane
Hewitt

(See feature on Pages 10-11)

December 2004 THE WORKFORCE Page 5
CORRECTIONS end
LAG ERECRCEMENT

The Revolutionary
War era Continental
soldier named
“Copper John” has
stood at attention
on the roof of the
maximum-security
facility for more
than 150 years.

CSER Voices

sYrene was an early and
passionate advocate for
working families and women
in particular and she helped
our union become more
responsive and sensitive to
needs of working women. Her
activism and dedication will
be missed. 99

— Metropolitan Region
President George Boncoraglio
on the passing of former
CSEA Statewide Secretary
Irene Carr

(See feature Pages 10-11)

Page 6 THE WORK FORCE December 2004

Auburn corrections workers
preserve piece of history

‘ESS

With the head of Copper John sitting in the foreground, Auburn Correctional General Mechanics

AUBURN — CSEA members at
the Auburn Correctional
Facility took a recent project in
stride even though it had
historic significance. The
workers were responsible for
the cleaning and repair of the
statue of a Revolutionary War
era, Continental soldier named
“Copper John” that has stood
at attention on the roof of the
maximum-security facility for
more than 150 years.

General mechanics Pete
Longo and Milo Tanner and
Industrial Training Supervisor
Brett Ray were given the job of
restoring the statue, which was
brought down from the roof for

Pete Longo and Milo Tanner work in the background giving his body a fresh coat of paint.

the first time since its
installation in 1848. The
restoration turned out to be an
involved process with a lot of
detail work.

“It was pretty weather-
beaten,” Tanner said of the 8-
foot, 8-inch statue, originally
built by prisoners. “The paint
was flaking off and chipped,
and some of the copper had
deteriorated and had to be
replaced. The reinforcing rods
inside were shot and also had
to be replaced.”

For two months, Tanner,
Longo and Ray worked on the
statue, formed from sheets of
pure 1/4-inch copper affixed to

steel reinforcing rods. It was
slow and delicate work. “We
had to be careful with it,”
Longo said.

The project was not without
some unusual developments
and generated some local
notoriety.

In the end, though, everyone
was pleased with the work they
did.

“It came out very good,” he
said. “They were really, really
happy.”

“Actually, a few pounds
under,” he said with a chuckle.

— Mark M. Kotzin

Washington County Unit
strides for the cure

FORT EDWARD — CSEA
Washington County Unit members
recently raised more than $2,000
to fight breast cancer.

Claire Winans-Keech, a
Department of Motor Vehicles
employee and lst vice president
of the Washington County White
Collar Unit, was asked in July
whether CSEA would participate
in the annual Making Strides
Against Breast Cancer Walk.
Winans-Keech, who is active in
the unit’s Member Action Team,
approached the group at its
August meeting.

“People were very supportive,
we got quite a few walkers,”
Winans-Keech said. The team
then asked the general
membership to walk during a
meeting held the following week.
While Winans-Keech served as
the DMV contact person, and
Jackie Spears and Unit President
Terry Glasier reached out to
county Department of Social
Services workers.

Winans-Keech also reached out
to CSEA Washington County Local
President Brenda Facin, who also
serves as the Greenwich Central
School District unit president.
Facin joined the walk and brought
in some more people.

Winans-Keech gave a tally of

Represents 50,000 Workers in
SUCUAL SEKWWLCES end
= APIUNLS VST E

SEL LCES

“It’s kind of a
good feeling to
know there are
so many
survivors. It
gives you
hope.”

— “as

Seated in front, from left to right, is Bill Lochner, Labor Relations

MeNeil, Erin Barber, Lisa Tyler with Logan and Lindsay Carpenter and
Madeline. Standing in back is Claire Winans-Keech, unit vice president,
Brenda Facin, local president, Stacy Gray and Stephanie Gray.

Specialist, Terry Glasier, unit president,behind Terry is Unit Treasurer Sue

the group’s fund-raising totals,
which totaled more than $2,000,
to members at the October
membership meeting. “Everybody
was pleased with the turnout and
the results,” Winans-Keech said.

The group walked in honor of
Elaine Gibbs, a former
Washington County employee.

“We had quite a few survivors,
more than I anticipated,” Winans-
Keech said.

Winans-Keech added that

because of the fast pace of work
in the department, members
don’t always have time to
socialize. She said she was
surprised to learn that some of
her co-workers are also breast
cancer survivors.

“It’s kind of a good feeling to
know there are so many
survivors,” she said. “It gives you
hope.”

CSER Voices

— Therese Assalian

CSEA members practice exam
taking during a training session.

ugg Want to improve your

“Women of my
generation owe so

Call the institute at 1-866-478-5548 for more information.

career?

Let the CSEA WORK Institute
help you!

CSEA WORK Institute is offering New
York state Professional Careers Test preparation in
Schenectady and New York City.

much to women like Irene
Carr who really blazed the
trail on so many progressive
issues. Her life's work is an
inspiration to me and to all
women who want to lead and
want to be heard. 99

— Kathy Garrison, CSEA
Capital Region president,
commenting on the passing of
former statewide Secretary
Irene Carr

(See feature on Pages 10-11)

December 2004 THE WORKFORCE Page 7
Represents 30,000 Workers in
WASTE LiANAGENMEN TL,

IVIAINGE NANG Eeeires
IKERASTRUCTULES

“The EMTs told
us ‘thank God
you found him,’
because a
couple more
hours, he might
have died from
hypothermia.”

CSER Voices

“eprene was the
quintessential lady. She
was as tough as she could
be. She fought to bring
women’s issues to the
forefront. She did this all
with grace and fooled
everyone who thought they
could walk all over this
‘nice lady.’ She was a good
friend and will be sadly
missed. 99

— Western Region President
Flo Tripi commenting on the
passing of former statewide
Secretary Irene Carr.

(See feature on Pages 10-11)

Page 8 THE WORKFORCE December 2004

Find injured motorist in highway ditch

DOT sign painters
hailed as heroes

ITHACA — It turned out to be a
very lucky day for accident victim
Glen Smith.

CSEA member Tim Haire was
driving on state Route 89 to Ithaca
from his Interlaken home during
the early morning hours in
September when he noticed a
toppled road sign. Haire said it
was simply luck that he happened
to notice the sign that Smith had
knocked over, as he had driven
the route numerous times.

It was also lucky that Haire, a
maintenance assistant, is half of
the Ithaca state Department of
Transportation’s two-person sign
crew. When Haire reported the
fallen sign to Sign Crew Supervisor
Lois Marshall, they decided to
replace it that day.

As Haire and Marshall were
replacing the sign, Haire noticed a
pair of tire tracks running along
the road bank, and something
dark laying at the side of the road.
A few hundred yards away, Haire
discovered that the object was a

jacket. He also noticed that the
tire tracks continued along the
wrong side of a guardrail, ending
abruptly on the side of a small hill
by adeep culvert.

Curious, Haire looked into the
culvert, where he noticed a pick-
up truck laying on its roof. Haire
told Marshall, “Lois, a truck’s
down there.”

“I just hollered out, ‘is anybody
in there?’ and I heard a voice
saying, ‘help me, I’m up here’,”
Haire said. He finally located
Smith on the opposite hillside of
the culvert, away from the
roadside, where he’d apparently
climbed to try to find help.

While Marshall called 911, Haire
went to check if anyone else was
in the truck and then climbed the
embankment to check on Smith.

“He was conscious. He was
laying down, he was cold, and he
was happy to see us,” Haire said.
“He’d been down there quite a
while.”

Temperatures had dropped into

©
945209

Lois Marshall, left, and Tim Haire outside their DOT truck. They are
credited with recently saving the life of a driver whose truck went into a

culvert.

: oe TAN
Tim Haire and Lois Marshall look
down from above into the culvert

where they found Smith’s truck.

the 40s that night, and although
he wasn't seriously injured, Smith
was suffering from exposure. Haire
quickly gave him his own jacket to
warm him up.

Marshall, meanwhile, went
down the road to flag down the
rescue crew. Haire cleared some
brush nearby to make it easier for
them to get to Smith, who was
then brought to the hospital,
treated and released. Afterward,
the rescue crew told Haire and
Marshall they had probably saved
Smith’s life.

“The EMTs told us ‘thank God
you found him,’ because a couple
more hours, he might have died
from hypothermia,” Haire said.

“The only way someone would
have seen that poor guy would
have been if they were walking
and looking for him,” Marshall
said. “I think the good Lord just
put us all in the right place. He’s a
lucky man.”

“It was just sheer luck,” Haire
said.

— Mark M. Kotzin

SUNY fight
eyes job titles

BINGHAMTON — CSEA
members on the SUNY
campus are working to
spread the word that
they and their job titles
are in danger of being
classified out of work.

Specifically, CSEA
members are seeing
their work slowly
usurped by subtle job
title changes that often
lead to outsourcing.
The positions are
absorbed by a
competing union,
United University
Professions, which
represents instructors
on SUNY campuses.

“We’re working at
the statewide level with
SUNY trying to come
up with some type of
solution. They’re aware
of the issue,” said CSEA
SUNY Labor-

Management
Committee Chair Joe
McMullen. “We’re well
aware that it’s out
there and we’re trying
to attack it. There’s
legislation that’s been
drafted and needs to
be strengthened,”
McMullen said.

Fighting a loss of
CSEA membership to
the so-called U-grade
positions is part of the
battle, said CSEA SUNY
Binghamton Local
President Tyrone
Webb. Getting CSEA
members motivated
and active in the fight
and making CSEA’s
clout known is just as
important.

“One of the things
the local is trying to do
is change the attitude
that CSEA has little say

Above Kelly Wilson and below, Chaheeda Sherba
work at SUNY Binghamton, helping make the
campus an economic force in the Southern Tier.

on campus,” Webb
said, noting that the
issue is a statewide
concern.

Part of the Team

CSEA has already
taken an active role in
a campus-wide effort to
turn SUNY Binghamton
into an economic
engine for the Southern
Tier region, with union
activists providing
comment on the
university’s overall
plan.

But that work needs
to go hand-in-hand with
fostering employee
morale to help protect
CSEA titles.

“CSEA believes
strongly that the
loyalty of its members
needs to be rewarded
by the university,
especially when
promotions are not
present. Though we
would appreciate the
university’s willingness
to look into the
possibility of increased
position upgrades, we
appreciate the ideal of

rewarding employees
whenever and
wherever possible,”
Webb wrote in a letter
to SUNY Binghamton
Provost Mary Ann
Swain recently.

The hard work CSEA
members do in
maintaining the
campuses is one
reason the campuses
are desirable for such
projects and for
parents sending their
children to school,
Webb said.

“You can’t disregard
the potential and
ability of folks who
have been working on
these campuses for so
many years to get
SUNY to this point,”
Webb said, suggesting
that one solution could
be civil service law
reforms that would
help CSEA members
advance in their
positions without
leaving the union.

— Lou Hmieleski

LEADING)UNION
Represents 55,000 Workers in
EPUCATLOL SUEFLGLT
SELNVLCES

“You can’t
disregard the
potential and
ability of folks
who have been
working on these
campuses for so
many years to
get SUNY to this
point.”

CSER Voices

oe hen I was a local
president, Irene Carr
gave me a lot of support, and
she was very supportive of
the educational locals as
well. She was a true unionist,
and an early, vocal advocate
of women's and children's
issues. She also pushed for
the statewide secretary and
treasurer positions to be
accorded the respect they
deserve within CSEA. She
could be as warm and as
compassionate as anyone,
but she wouldn't hesitate to
cut to the chase when it was
necessary.99
— Long Island Region
President Nick LaMorte
commenting on the passing
of former CSEA statewide
Secretary Irene Carr
(See feature Pages 10-11)

December 2004 THE WORK FORCE Page 9
CSEA mourning the death of work and family issues crusader

Former CSEA Secretary

Irene Carr recalled as pioneer

ONEONTA — Former CSEA statewide
Secretary Irene Carr died on Nov. 1, leaving
behind a legacy of
strong advocacy - and
many advancements -
on behalf of issues
concerning working
women,

Her tenure as a CSEA
activist included
serving 17 years as the
union's statewide
secretary, an office she
held longer than
anyone else.

Carr, a Delaware
County native, held
jobs at Hartwick
College and the
Veterans Service
Agency early in her
career. She soon became a Chemistry
department secretary at the State University of
New York at Oneonta, where she first became a

CSEA activist.

“Irene’s accomplishments remade CSEA,”
President Danny Donohue said. “She tirelessly
advocated for women’s rights in our union and
in our society. She succeeded in bringing about
necessary and meaningful changes in our union
and in our members’ lives. Irene could be tough
as nails when she had to be, but she was always
a lady.”

Carr, who had been a single mother when she
first joined CSEA, devoted much of her four
decades of union membership to fighting for
progress on women’s issues such as pay equity
and child care. She also shattered the glass
ceiling that had prevented many women from
pursuing union leadership positions.

After attending the National Women’s
Conference in 1977, Carr was inspired to fight
for what she called “work and family issues”
and soon formed the first CSEA Women's
Committee.

“Irene was the first lady of CSEA,” Executive
Vice President Mary Sullivan said. “She was a
true pioneer for women in this union. She paved
the way for women to become leaders in CSEA.”

“Throughout her career, Irene faced adversity
both professionally and personally with
challenges to her health and well-being,”
Secretary Barbara Reeves said. “She faced all of
these with quiet courage and determination,
and I took a lesson from her in this regard when
I faced my own battle with breast cancer. | feel
privileged to hold the position of CSEA
Statewide Secretary, and I never forget that it
was Irene’s strength and dedication that made
this office what it is today. It is her legacy to us
that CSEA is truly the union of working

families.”

“Irene Carr
was a leader in
CSEA who
advanced
issues affecting
women and their families,” Treasurer Maureen
Malone said. “She was instrumental in
establishing affordable child care facilities for
state employees.”

“The first time I met Irene, 1 was mesmerized
by her,” CSEA Women’s Committee Chairwoman
Jackie Stanford said. “She made me feel like I'd
known her forever. Irene was a beautiful
woman, and she was respected everywhere.”

One of her proudest accomplishments was

Carr, left, with former Senate Minority
Leader Manfred Ohrenstein and former CSEA
President Joe McDermott.

Page 10 December 2004

THE WORK FORCE

her work in establishing more than
50 work site day care centers at
state agencies, which allow
employees to access affordable,
quality child care. Carr's efforts
eventually made her a leading,
national advocate for affordable
work site child care. Shortly after
retiring, Carr called her visits to the
centers one of her fondest CSEA

memories.

Women's
roles in CSEA
have also
B) evolved
because of Carr's efforts
to encourage them to
become leaders. As one
of the few women
leaders in CSEA when
she was first elected to
office, Carr was
determined to have an
active voice. She urged
) local and unit secretaries
to not act as mere
“notetakers,” but to take
on a strong role on their
executive boards.

Today, largely because
of Carr's influence, women hold more than
half of CSEA's local president positions, as
well as the majority of region and statewide
offices. She had permanently marked her
union with unprecedented career, training
and leadership opportunities for women.

Carr's legacy also lives on through the
biennial Irene Carr Leadership Award, which
is presented at each CSEA Women’s
Conference. The award honors a CSEA
member, retiree or union staff member who
has taken a leading role in advancing one or

more “work and family issues”
through the union’s agenda.

Carr is survived by her
husband of 46 years, Wilbur B.
Carr; her son, Terry Foster, and
his wife, Donna, of Cary, N.C.

Contributions in Carr’s memory
may be made to the Parkinson's
Center at Albany Medical Center.
‘The address is 43 New Scotland
Ave., Albany, N.Y. 12208 (mark on
envelope MC#119).

Carr’s place was
in her union

Irene Carr's accomplishments improved
union members’ lives on and off the job.
Carr's activist involvement included:

« Formation of the SUNY Oneonta local
— Janice Marra | in the 1960s.

* CSEA local delegate and secretary.

* Central region secretary for eight
years.

* Elected as CSEA statewide secretary
in 1976, serving until her retirement in
1993.

« First CSEA woman to serve as a vice
president of the New York state AFL-CIO’s
Executive Council.

« Formed and served as first
chairwoman of the CSEA Women’s
Committee.

* Served as chairwoman of the AFSCME
National Women’s Advisory Committee.

+ Instrumental in establishing more
than 50 on-site child care centers at New
York state agencies, testifying before
Congressional and state legislative
committees to promote work site child
care centers.

* Played a key role in CSEA's successful
efforts to promote clerical training and
advancement opportunities, pay equity
adjustments for women and minorities
and proper video display terminal use.

* Established ongoing training for CSEA
local and unit secretaries.

* Served on Cornell University’s
Advisory Board for Labor Studies, and
was a member of the Coalition of Labor
Union Women (CLUW), among other
organizations.

December 2004 Page 11
Give union for the holidays

This holiday season, you
can give the gift of good union
jobs to millions of Americans
when you buy union products
made in the United States.

Shoppers are expected to
spend more than $1 trillion
during the holidays. The
season’s purchases have a
large impact on the economy
and jobs. CSEA and the AFL-
CIO are encouraging union
members to help preserve
American jobs by buying
union-made, American-made
gifts and other products.

The CSEA eStore, which can
be found at
www.csealocal1000.org,
contains clothing, office
supplies, mugs and other items
that are all union-made in the
United States. Items can be
individually or mass ordered,
and you are able to customize
many items.

Stumped on gifts to buy
your co-workers? Give them
coffee mugs or pens featuring
the CSEA logo. Have no idea
what to buy that travel buff in
your life? He or she will
appreciate quality CSEA bags.
Sports nuts will surely love
stadium cushions, Frisbees or
golf balls. Even clotheshorses
will do well at the CSEA store
with its wide offering of shirts,
sweaters and hats.

Buy, or don’t buy

You can also visit other
web sites or store shelves to
buy union products, thanks to
lists published by the AFL-
CIO’s Union Label & Service
Trades department that urge
consumers to purchase — or
boycott — products. The AFL-
CIO is promoting union-made
gifts, service and other items
during “Buy Union Week,” from
Nov. 26 to Dec. 5.

One highlight of the “Buy
Union Week” campaign is a
new all-union shopping web
site administered by the Union
Label. The site,
www.shopunionmade.org,
offers union-made items such
as clothing, toys, food and
greeting cards.

Union-made Ghirardelli or
Hershey chocolates will get
you in a festive mood.
Complete your holiday table
spread with union-produced
Boar’s Head, Hillshire Farms or
Hormel meats, Snyder’s
Birdseye and Hanover
vegetables, Sara Lee baked
products and Ritz crackers.

You can toast to the
holidays by sipping union-
made wines from C.K.
Mondavi, Columbia Crest or
Gallo of Sonoma. You can deck
out for your local’s holiday
party in union-made duds from

CSEA President Danny
Donohue is fired up and ready
to fight in the CSEA
windbreaker and cap.

Ellen Tracy, Tahari, Jones New
York, Chaps Ralph Lauren or
Perry Ellis, with some extra
sparkle with cosmetics and
other personal care products
from Revlon.

Continued on page 13

Western Region President Flo
Tripi, no stranger to the links,
models a visor and pullover
perfect for play or lounging at
the 19th hole.

Page 12 THE WORK FORCE December 2004

Long Island Region President
Nick LaMorte is cool and
comfortable in the CSEA golf
shirt.

Marching in a Labor Day
Parade? Capital Region
President Kathy Garrison has
the look for miles and miles.

A hot toddy on a cold winter
night works in a CSEA mug
and long-sleeve pullover,
shown here by Metropolitan
Region President George
Boncoraglio.

Buy union, keep America strong

Southern Region President
Diane Hewitt has it all
together and organized in
her CSEA attache.

Toys for Tots

You can also give gifts the
union way. Union-made toys
from Hasbro, Fisher Price and
Milton Bradley are sure to
delight the young and young-
at-heart. Music lovers will find
hours of fun and creativity
with instruments from Yamaha
and Buescher. Sports fans will
also do well with union-made
Top Flite golf balls, Louisville
Slugger baseball bats and
Wilson footballs.

You can wrap your union-
made gifts with union-made
wrapping paper from “Cleo
Wrap,” which is sold under
some items bearing the
Hallmark and American
Greetings brands. You can also
wish your loved ones happy
holidays with union-made
greeting cards from Brown &
Bigelow, Homestead and Mark
Holiday Cards.

CSEA cotton baseball cap and
denim shirt are all Central
Region President Jim Moore
needs to feel calm, collected
and casual.

The AFL-CIO urges people
wishing to buy union products
to carefully check the source of
the item because many brands
sell both union and non-union
products. Many of the items
produced by union workers
will include a union label.

For more information on
finding union-made products
and CSEA discounts with union
manufacturers and service
providers, visit the CSEA
member benefits page,
available on the “members-
only” section on the CSEA web
site. You can also visit the AFL-
CIO web site at www.aflcio.org,
for more information about
union-produced products.

— Janice Marra

Executive Vice President Mary Treasurer Maureen Malone is
Sullivan knows that when the __ ready to go with a CSEA tote,
wind blows, she can count on visor and denim shirt.

her CSEA pullover wind shirt

to keep out the chill.

Shop Union for the Holidays

IFT
"'GOOD JOBS

This holiday season, support good jobs by giving
union-made gifts. Your shopping dollars can keep
good-paying jobs — with good wages and benefits —
in your community.

For a fine selection of holiday gifts,
go to: www. shopunionmade.org

Union Label & Service Trades Dept., AFL-CIO

December 2004 THE WORKFORCE Page 13

17 years ago ...

1987 brought one of the most dramatic changes
in the history of the state classification and
compensation plan as 42,000 CSEA members
were upgraded, sharing pay increases in excess of
$30 million, while thousands more received several
million for performing hazardous work.

CSEA negotiated with the state in 1985 to set
aside a total of $75 million to ensure the findings
of two studies of inequities in the state system

would be put into effect. It was negotiated to
correct historic wage discrimination in job titles
held primarily by women and minorities and was
the first plan of its kind in the nation to guarantee
adjustments.

Page 14 THE WORKFORCE December 2004

Front page from 1987 Public
Sector, CSEA’s newspaper. The
cartoon at the top of the page
was drawn by Ralph Distin on the
occasion of former statewide
Secretary Irene Carr’s retirement
in 1993.

Also in 1987

+ Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman
inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

8 Young Jessica McClure falls down a well and
is later rescued as America watches on TV.

+8 Stock market falls sharply around the world
on Black Monday.

+ Married ... with Children” premieres on the
Fox television network.

*& Congress holds inquiry into Iran-Contra
affair.

& New York Giants defeat Denver Broncos in
Super Bowl XXI.

+k Platoon” wins Academy Award for best
picture.

Members fight hard

CSEA gets out the vote

CSEA members across the state hit the
streets and worked the phones on Election
Day, and throughout the campaign season,
to get out the vote for candidates
supportive of working families.

The union’s hard work resulted in the
election of many of CSEA’s endorsed
candidates for the U.S. House of
Representatives, state Assembly and state
Senate.

In the Western Region, union members
pounded the pavement to elect Brian
Higgins to the U.S. House of
Representatives seat being vacated by Rep.
Jack Quinn. U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham
Clinton recently visited the area to help
boost support for Higgins.

“There isn’t any district in America that
has more at stake than this district right
here,” she said. “Nobody has more at stake
than organized labor. | believe Brian
Higgins ... will make a difference not just
for this district but for America.”

Voters appear to have heard Clinton’s
message. On election night, Higgins
defeated his opponent, Erie County Clerk
Nancy Naples.

CSEA members were out in force in the
Southern Region, where State Sen. Nicholas
Spano is still facing a tough fight for re-
election. At press time, Spano led his
challenger in the polls, but no winner has

been declared as votes are still being
recounted.

CSEA members handed out sample
ballots outside polling places and staffed
phone banks in the weeks before the
election. The union endorsed Spano
because he has demonstrated strong
support for working families throughout
the state.

CSEA members were also working hard
in the Long Island region to fight for
candidates friendly to working families. All
of the Congressional candidates endorsed
by CSEA were elected to office, as were
nearly all of the state Senate and Assembly
candidates backed by the union.

President Danny Donohue joins CSEA
activists in Albany on Election Day for the
union’s get out the vote effort.

Stay informed about what state government is doing through

INSIDE ALBANY

CSEA is a longtime, major underwriter of this award-winning public television
program. See the times below for the 2004 broadcast schedule in your area.

Saturday
Binghamton WSKG 2:30 pm
NYC WNET 1:30 pm
Rochester WXXI 5:30 pm
Sunday
Albany WMHT 12:30 pm
11:30 pm
Buffalo WNED 10:00 am
Long Island WLIW 7:00 am
Plattsburgh WCFE 9:00 am
Syracuse WCNY 1:00 pm
Watertown WPBS 7:00 am
Monday
Long Island WLIW 12:00 noon

U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton recently
spoke at a Buffalo rally in support of U.S.
House of Representatives candidate Brian
Higgins.

In the Capital Region, CSEA members are
basking in the glow of victory for local
endorsed candidates who won their
elections. Members and staff were busy
throughout the campaign season at rallies
and working phone banks. U.S. Rep.
Michael McNulty and State Sen. Neil Breslin
were handily re-elected to office.

— Therese Assalian, Lynn Miller and
Jessica Stone

U.S. Congressional candidate Brian Higgins
speaks to a crowd of supporters from CSEA
and the community. With strong support from
CSEA, Higgins defeated his opponent for
election to the 27th Congressional District.

265,000 Members Strong

LATOR TINTS

December 2004 THE WORK FORCE Page 15

What’s For

Include CSEA
Employee
AFSCME Local 1000, arco ~Benefit Fund in
EMPLOYEE
BENEFIT FUND your
negotiations

Why not make the Employee Benefit Fund part of your
wish list? Now is the perfect time to take advantage of the
benefits that are offered through the EBF.

If you are a member of a local government bargaining
unit that does not participate with the CSEA Employee
Benefit Fund and would like information on our programs
for upcoming negotiations, contact the EBF Marketing
department. We are available to meet with the unit to
review all options that are available. Or, if you are a
member of a local government bargaining unit and have
benefits with the fund and are looking to upgrade benefits
in upcoming negotiations, please contact us. We will even
attend negotiation sessions addressing EBF benefits.

Contact the following local government representatives
for more information:

Region 1: Linda Sclafani
631-462-5224
LindaSclafani@aol.com

Region 3: Carisa Haber]
1-800-323-2732 x813
Chaberl@cseaebf.org

Region 4: Kim Bailey
1-800-323-2732 x818
Kbailey@cseaebf.org

Region 5: Meghan Pastiglione
1-800-323-2732 x860
Mpastiglione@cseaebf.org

Region 6: Michael Wagner
716-668-8720
MWagner@cseaebf.org

All local government plans are obtained through
contract negotiations. Therefore, individual units may
have different coverages. For those who have vision
benefits through the fund, you are eligible for coverage
either every 12 or 24 months, depending on the plan
negotiated in your contract.

For those who have a dental plan, annual maximums
are based on a calendar year of January through
December. If you are a member of a local government
bargaining unit and have benefits with the fund, updated
materials are available at any CSEA region or satellite
office.

If you would like additional information on the EBF,
please visit us on the web at: www.cseaebf.com.

Ever Better Future

Preventing discrimination
in the workplace

Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series
of discrimination articles appearing regularly
to provide valuable information regarding
important areas of protection available
through the CSEA Legal Assistance Program
(LAP). The program covers employment and
labor issues involving disciplinary procedures,
contract grievances and arbitrations, court
litigation and agency proceedings. Get more
information about the LAP by calling CSEA
headquarters at 1-800-342-4146, ext. 1443, or
by visiting www.csealocall000.org, and
clicking on the legal programs and services
menu item.

This article provides an overview of race
discrimination in the work place. Other
specific discrimination laws will be
addressed in more detail in future editions
of The Work Force.

Since the end of the Civil War, lawmakers
have passed constitutional amendments and
laws aimed at ending racial discrimination in
the United States.

During
Reconstruction, the
14th Amendment to
the U.S.
Constitution was
approved, which
prohibits states
from denying equal
protection of the
laws to U.S. citizens.

During that era,
Congress also
passed laws
prohibiting race
discrimination by
states and other
government
agencies.

The civil rights
movement of the
1950s and 1960s led to Congress enacting
the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which was
aimed at ending race discrimination by
employers and labor unions.

The New York Human Rights Law also
contains prohibitions against employment-
related racial discrimination.

These laws make it illegal for most
private and all government employers to
fire, discipline, or treat an employee
differently in terms of employment because
of his or her race.

An employer can be held responsible for
the existence of a hostile work environment
when an employee's work place is filled with
racially based intimidation, ridicule and
insult that creates a hostile or abusive work
environment.

Discrimination in the
work place can be
reduced through regular
training and information
distribution. CSEA is
committed to fighting for
racial justice and building
a stronger union.

To prove racial harassment, an employee
must show many isolated incidents of
discriminatory comments or conduct.

The same standard holds true for other
forms of discriminatory harassment, such as
sexual harassment and harassment based
on national origin.

The issue of racial harassment is
important to CSEA.

Racial harassment
claims can be based
on the conduct of
co-worker within the
same CSEA local or
unit.

Co-workers who
engage in racially
charged conduct are subject to disciplinary
charges by the employer, even if the
conduct is not severe enough to be
considered a hostile work environment.

It is also unlawful for an employer to
cause an employee to resign by engaging in
racially motivated
behavior toward the
employee, such as
badgering,
harassment or
humiliation.

Such conduct by
an employer is
known as

constructive

discharge.

Proving
constructive
discharge is difficult,
because it must be
shown that the
employer planned to
force the employee
to resign through
using
discrimination.

Courts will consider all of the events to
determine whether the employer showed
severe enough discriminatory conduct that
the employee was forced to resign.

To maintain the unity, solidarity and
harmony necessary for a strong and vital
labor movement, it is important that to work
together to eliminate racism.

Discrimination in the work place can be
reduced through regular training and
information distribution.

CSEA is committed to fighting for racial
justice and building a stronger union. It is
very important that all activists and
representatives ensure that their behavior,
conduct and statements are consistent with
CSEA’s legal obligations to represent all of
its members regardless of race.

Page 16 THE WORK FORCE December 2004
Health

Health ss & Health insurance option transfer

Department

Protecting Your Benefits

Members who are considering changing
health insurance options for 2005 should
weigh many factors before making a
decision. A good source of specific health
insurance information is the Choices for 2005
guide available from the agency health

benefits administrator. The guide contains
information on the Empire Plan and the
health maintenance organizations which
participate in the New York State Health

Insurance Plan (NYSHIP).

NYSHIP 2005 Premium Rates
(For active, CSEA-represented Executive branch employees)

Health Plan Name NYSHIP option 2005 Individual 2005 Family
code Premiums Premiums
The Empire Plan 001 19.11 78.24
Aetna 210 45.71 158.63
Blue Choice 066 13.24 63.83
CDPHP (Capital) 063 14.61 73.34
CDPHP (Central) 300 16.30 100.83
CDPHP (W. Hudson Valley) 310 19.78 109.82
Community Blue 067 14.33 84.61
Empire BC/BS (Upstate) 280 16.52 94.43
Empire BC/BS (Downstate) 290 25.42 132.47
Empire BC/BS (Mid-Hudson) 320 39.58 169.53
GHI HMO 220 14.27 70.54
HIP 050 16.26 79.69
HMO Blue (Central NY Region) 072 51.74 208.85
HMO Blue (Utica Region) 160 70.53 219.21
Independent Health 059 12.80 68.33
MVP Health Care (East) 060 23.62 121.14
MVP Health Care (Central) 330 42.72 172.03
MVP Health Care (Mid-Hudson) 340 46.85 181.56
Preferred Care 058 12.54 59.53
Univera Healthcare 057 12.27 66.59
Vytra Health Plans 070 31.38 151.99
CSEA membership dues/agenc Annualized Salary _ Bi-Weekly
shop fees effective Jan. 1, 3005 as of Jan. 1, 2005 Dues/Agency

The scheduled adjustment in
membership dues and agency shop fees
is effective Jan. 1, 2005, to reflect
AFSCME’s minimum dues structure
approved by delegates at the AFSCME
convention.

The change applies to annualized
salaries, not including overtime or
location pay, based on salary at Jan. 1,
2005. No adjustments will be made
during the year for raises or increments.

New hourly and per diem employees
have dues deducted at the “Under
$5,000” category of $4.64 bi-weekly.

CSEA’s membership dues and agency
shop fee structure effective Jan. 1, 2005
is as follows:

Under $5,000
$5,000 - $9,999
$10,000 - $12,999
$13,000 - $15,999
$16,000 - $21,999
$22,000 - $27,999
$28,000 - $29,999
$30,000 - $31,999
$32,000 - $33,999
$34,000 - $35,999
$36,000 - $37,999
$38,000 - $39,999
$40,000 and higher

Shop Fee Rate
$4.64
6.96
9.56
11.88
13.43
15.04
15.35
16.35
17.24
17.56
18.51
19.46
19.94

period extended to Dec. 17

Check the Rates

At press time, the health insurance rates
and deadlines publication for 2005 were
being printed and mailed to enrollees’
homes. Members who want to change health
insurance options must submit a signed
Health Insurance Transaction Form PS-404,
to their agency health benefit administrator
by Dec. 17, 2004. The 2005 biweekly health
insurance premium deductions for CSEA —
represented state employees are listed
below.

NOTE: Although the Empire Plan has
experienced a modest premium increase this
year, the HMO premium rates vary. Many of
the HMOs have made significant changes to
their copayments and benefit structure, which
may have resulted in a decrease in premium
and extensive increases to out-of-pocket
expenses.

Please remember to review all benefits
changes and premium rates during this option
transfer period. This is necessary because
enrollees will have limited opportunities to
change health insurance options outside the
option transfer period. See your general
information book/Empire Plan certificate for
more information.

Payroll Changes

New health insurance options for
administrative lag-exempt employees will
begin Dec. 15, 2004. If you change options,
you will see an adjustment in the Dec. 30,
2004 paycheck. New health insurance
options for administrative lag payroll
employees will begin Dec. 29, 2004. If you
change options, an adjustment will be
reflected in the Dec. 30, 2004 paycheck. New
health insurance options for employees
under the institutional payroll will begin Jan.
6, 2005. The earliest paycheck in which you
will see a health insurance deduction
change will be the payroll check issued that
day.

Because of processing time, most
paycheck changes will be made retroactively
in mid to late January and will include
retroactive deductions to the effective date
of coverage. More information about the
option transfer period is available at the
agency personnel office.

December 2004 THE WORKFORCE Page 17
SALAMANCA — Joanne Vesotski is a 23-

year employee of the New York State
Department of Transportation in
Salamanca, located near the Pennsylvania
border in the CSEA Western Region.

In addition to running highway
equipment and driving a plow, she takes
care of “Katy the Snowplow,” an
important component of an educational
program for kindergarten students.
Vesotski takes her plow, “Katy,” to visit
kindergarten classes in a half-dozen
school districts.

The goal is to teach children to stay
away from the side of the road in winter.

Through her program, young children
have the opportunity to see a snowplow
up close.

They get to examine the truck and
learn how it works. Perhaps best of all,
the children get the chance to sit in the
driver’s seat and peer through the
vehicle’s large windshield.

Children completing the program each
receive a special hard hat, a signed
certificate and a photograph.

The “Katy” program continues to grow,
with its coverage area expanding.

Vesotski plans to continue visiting
kindergarteners as long as she can.

She takes two assistants with her, to
help with the volume of children — as
many as 80 during a single presentation
— and to help with lifting them into the
truck.

The Katy the Snowplow program is
based on the children’s book “Katy and
the Big Snow” by Virginia Lee Burton.

The Work Force’s Lynn Miller recently
caught up with Vesotski and asked her
about the program.

Page 18 THE WORKFORCE December 2004

Q: How did Katy the snowplow get its start in
Salamanca?

JV: ‘It started in 1996, a kindergarten teacher,
Mrs. Nan Miller, she’s retired now, had a book
called ‘Katy and the Big Snow.’ She wanted me to
bring down the snowplow and show the children
the plow and where all the material comes out
and the importance of safety. | decorated it with
balloons and put a sign on the front that said
‘Katy.’ | just had the one class at first, but then it
blossomed. | go to eight kindergarten classes ...
and | just started BOCES preschool.”

“At first, | almost didn’t get to go because | had
an older truck; (a co-worker) with a newer truck
was going to go. But the teacher wanted me to
come because she also wanted to show children
that women are doing the same work as men.”

Q: When you visit a class, what's it like for the
students?

JV: “Oh gosh. They get so excited. | take them all
around the truck and show them where the
material comes out. A lot of them, they just walk
right under it. They're just mesmerized by it. Then
we give them their hard hats and a Polaroid
picture of them sitting in the truck. And then when
we're done we have a group picture taken by the
side of the truck.”

Q: Why is the Katy program important?

JV: “It shows children that they should not play
around the road in winter and when the plow
comes by. They need to stay away. When Katy is
out doing her job, it is sometimes hard for her to
see. The children need to know they need to
stand back and stay away.”

Q: The program has been going on for almost a
decade; do you find that older children remember

Learning safety
with ‘Katy’

Above, state DOT snowplow operator Joanne Vesotski
shows a group of schoolchildren how the salt spreader on
“Katy the Snowplow’ works. Vesotski uses the truck to
educate youngsters about the dangers of getting too close
to plows.

their experience?

JV: “Kids come up to me all the time. If | go into
the grocery store, kids come up and tell me their
name and say ‘Remember me?’ Then they will
ask me how Katy is.”

Give a meaningful gift
this holiday season!

Give the acclaimed book

Border Witness:
Youth Confront NAFTA

With more than 50 revealing and powerful
photographs, Border Witness chronicles the
experience of youths and adults traveling on a
New York State Labor-Religion Coalition
delegation to Mexico. In English and Spanish,
Border Witness tells the stories of people
living on both sides of our shared border,
offering vivid commentary on the impact of
NAFTA and a compelling glimpse of the future
of globalization.

Holiday Special:
$25 suggested donation

To order, contact the NYS Labor-Religion
Coalition at (518) 213-6000 ext. 6294;
or visit the web site at www.labor-religion.org.

Local 1000 CSEss AFSCME,
Members AFL-CIO
LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM

: - This members-only benefit
program provides

attorney representation for
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION;
SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY;
PERSONAL INJURY and
PERSONAL LEGAL MATTERS

for members AND their dependents.

ality legal representation at little or no
out-of-pocket cost for injury/illness related matters.
Also, representation is available at pre-negotiated,
pre-published fees for other personal matters.

caut 1-800-342-4146
and Follow Prompts for
\ CSEA Legal Services Program Ls

PEOPLE PERSON — The
PEOPLE recruiter of the
month for September is Rutha
Bush of the Long Island
Developmental
Center/Sagamore Children’s
Psychiatric Center Local in
the Long Island Region. She
recruited eight new PEOPLE
members. PEOPLE is CSEA
and AFSCME’s political action
program. It is responsible for raising
money and collecting voluntary
contributions from the membership so
CSEA can effectively promote our
interests at the state and federal level ...
GRAND OPENING — The CSEA Warren
County Local held a grand opening
celebration in their new offices on Oct. 30.
The event had a Halloween theme, with
treats and door prizes. The local
encouraged its members to bring their
family in costumes. Local President Dave
Duell, along with Ist Vice President Joe
Slattery and 2nd Vice President Bonnie
Farmer, welcomed CSEA members to their
new office ... INJURED — A Town of
Cornwall mechanic recently was injured
in an explosion at the town garage. The
mechanic was in a maintenance pit
working on a town vehicle when a 30-
gallon waste oil tank exploded. The
employee was airlifted to Westchester
Medical Center and was released the next
day with second-degree burns on his face
and left arm. The cause of the explosion
has yet to be determined. The CSEA
Occupational Safety and Health
department is investigating the incident ...
CONTRACT FIGHT — CSEA members
from the Amsterdam City Hall Unit
recently joined the city’s AFSCME local for
a joint demonstration at City Hall. Both
groups are protesting a recent vote by the
city council to strike down their
respective contracts. CSEA members in
Amsterdam had signed an agreement in
July and ratified the contract at that time
... MORE CONTRACT BATTLES — More
than 100 members of the Lakeland School

CSEs

NEW YORK'S_
LEADING) UNION)
265,000 Members Strong

GSEA
ODAY

District Unit in Westchester
County recently demonstrated
outside the district’s
administration office to
demand a fair contract. The
workers, including bus
drivers, cafeteria workers,
clerical staff, teacher aides
and maintenance employees,
have been without an
agreement since July 2003.
Stalling negotiations have been issues
relating to health insurance contributions
and parity with other unions ... CITY OF
WHITE PLAINS CONTRACT — Elsewhere
in Westchester County, the City of White
Plains Unit has a new contract after more
than two years of negotiations, Unit
President Joe Roche said. The contract,
retroactive to July 1, 2002, and expiring
June 30, 2007, includes raises, a longevity
pay boost, an attendance bonus raise,
and an increase in personal leave time ...
CONTRACT SETTLED — CSEA members
in the Bedford Central School District Unit
in Westchester County also recently
ratified a new agreement. The contract,
retroactive to July 1, provides raises in
each year of the agreement. The pact also
includes a $500 top step bonus for
members who have reached the
maximum step by June 20, 2004, as well
as a $300 increase on each longevity
schedule ... AND THE NOMINEES ARE ...
—The Record, Troy’s daily newspaper,
recently published in its “Sound Off”
section a message from a reader who
expressed appreciation of the workers in
the city’s Public Works and Water
departments. CSEA represents employees
in both departments. “If there was a
nomination of the employee of the year, I
would like to nominate all the Department
of Public Works and the Water
Department street workers for their work.
They are friendly, courteous, and willing
to help. They are out in the worst weather
with the dirtiest job. They help the police
and fire departments and anyone who
asks.”

Break in membership affects eligibility
for union office, voting privileges

A break in union membership status can have long-term
future implications. Your membership status affects your
eligibility with respect to:

+ seeking or holding union office;

+ signing nominating petitions for potential
candidates;

+ voting in union elections, and;

* voting on collective bargaining contracts.

Only members “in good standing” can participate in
these activities. To be in “good standing,” your dues cannot
be delinquent.

If you go on unpaid leave or for any other reason have a
break in your employment status, your dues will not
continue to be paid through payroll deductions. You must
make arrangements to pay your dues directly to CSEA to
continue your membership status. If you are either laid off

or placed on leave without pay status due to becoming
disabled by accident, illness, maternity or paternity, you
may be eligible for dues-free membership status for a period
not to exceed one year. If you are called up for active
military duty you may also apply for dues-free status

Note, however, you must continue to pay dues to run for
office. Dues-free or gratuitous membership allows members
to continue their insurance coverage while out of work. It
does not protect your right to run for or hold office. This
does not apply to members who are on leave due to being
called up for military duty. Members on active military duty,
upon return, are considered to have had continuous
membership status for all CSEA election purposes.

Please notify the CSEA Membership Records Department
at 1-800-342-4146, Ext. 1327, of any change in your status and
what arrangements you are making to continue your
membership in CSEA.

December 2004

THE WORK FORCE Page 19

From small community clinics to large, complex public hospitals, the future of public Ru
health care is in serious doubt in every part of New York state. CSEsss

New York’s

Why is such essential public health care gasping for life? Years of neglect and Leading Union
inadequate funding from the federal and state governments have made a bad Local1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO
situation worse. A 20-year-old state funding formula has left local taxpayers se "Dcauaiecen
shouldering a back-breaking burden trying to maintain needed public health Ey

facilities and services. It’s not right and it puts the sick and elderly at risk. Sw)

The time is now for real reform. The governor, state lawmakers and .
local officials need to act quickly and responsibly to ensure . “eae i.
services will be there for the people who need them most. <

Tell your elected officials:
Health Care Reform

needs urgent care now!
ne 7 No. 12

The Road to Success is Always Under

Construction ...

or all of us, the road to success is always under construction. It is
never too late to learn new skills, change career direction, or
participate in a new learning opportunity.

“The New York State & CSEA Partnership believes that at any point
in your working life you can learn new tricks! Alll it takes to achieve
your goals is a little guidance and help with financing your education.”
— CSEA President Danny Donohue
Do you want to:

+ Advance your career

+ Update your job skills

+ Obtain a certificate or degree

+ Get a high school diploma

+ Receive advice on financial aid

+ Receive financial assistance to go
back to school

The Partnership is ready to help you.

This Work Force insert is a guide to your educational benefits as a CSEA member. It

also profiles the motivation of five CSEA members in New York state agencies who
have navigated the return to school. Some of them are pursuing a degree or have
recently completed a degree. They share their experiences along the road to
success. In their own words, they offer tips to other working adults who are thinking
about returning to leaming.

We invite you to consider using the educational resources available to you. All you
need to do is call 1-800-253-4332 or e-mail advisors@nyscseapartnership.org so
you can be in charge of the construction of your road to future success.

Thomas Clough
Highway Maintenance Worker

New York State Department of Transportation
Oneonta

Goal: To become prepared for a specialized career in the
railroad management industry.

Although Thomas Clough has served for 20 years on the roads in various job titles at the
Department of Transportation, he has always been a railroad buff. He has an associate's
degree in business administration from the State University of New York at Cobleskil. He
transferred credit from this degree to a unique program at Empire State College focused on
railroad management. Thomas eared 18 credits from Empire State College through their
Individual Evaluation Program. He was able to document college level learning, which he
acquired through his various positions at DOT and his avid interest in railroads.

For the past two years, Thomas has been taking courses during the summer, fall, and spring
semesters. Keeping up with several courses during a single semester has tested his time
management skills. He has used the Partnership's advisement services and Tuition Benefit
program. When finished, he will have a bachelor’s degree of professional studies in
transportation and planning with a specialization in the railroad management industry.

Tip: “If you have a specialized interest in something, follow it. Stay focused, find a way to
study it, and pursue a degree that will allow you to eventually make it your occupation.”

for Education and Trainiaz

Colleen Militello Hosie

Licensed Practical Nurse

New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental
Disabilities

West Seneca

Goal: Achieve career advancement in the direct care and nursing
field.

Colleen had previously worked in respiratory disabilities therapy. In early 2003, she was awed at
being chosen as a trainee along with 18 other employees from the Western and Finger Lakes area
OMRDD Developmental Disabilities Services Office (DDSO) to pursue a Licensed Practical Nurse
(LPN) certificate. The intensive, one-year program was aimed at recruiting and training LPNs to
provide acute nursing services at OMRDD community group homes. A Workforce Development
Grant and advisement services from the Partnership helped link the efforts of CSEA locals and state
agency management, participating educational providers, and the motivation of employees for a
cooperative “grow your own” approach to work force development.

Colleen worked in the West Seneca Developmental Center while enrolled full-time in Trocaire
College's LPN program. For Colleen, finding time to study and catch up on assignments was the
toughest thing to do. She used any time off to keep up with studies. She took the LPN board
certification examination in February 2004 and passed along with all of the other LPN recruits in the
program.

Tip: ‘Form a study group with other people in your class. Work together. There is usually something
that you understand that can help another student and something they understand that can help
you.”

| www.nyscseaparinership.org

1-800-253-4332

1

advisors@nyscseapartnership.org

Educational Advisement

Does going back to school seem overwhelming? Would you like to complete a degree program with the help of financial aid? Not sure how to
start, where to go for information, or what to take? Assistance from Partnership advisors is only a telephone call or e-mail away. All
conversations with Partnership advisors are confidential.

The Road to Success is Always Under Construction ...

Services
Academic planning helps you . . .

Individual advice for employees in the areas of professional development,
job skill needs, educational planning, financial aid, non-traditional
approaches to further education, and adult education basics. Contact a
Partnership advisor by calling 518-486-7814 or 1-800-253-4332 or by e-
mail at advisors@nyscseapartnership.org.

* Choose courses best suited to your needs

+ Determine if a school or non-traditional college program is the best
alternative

+ Decide whether to pursue a college degree

* Choose a college major

Adult Education Basics offers advice and referrals to . . .

+ Improve reading, writing, and arithmetic skills

* Obtain a high school General Equivalency Diploma (GED)
+ Study English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

+ Enhance college preparatory skills

Financial Aid Information includes . . .

+ Various ways to pay for education
* Eligibility requirements

+ Federal educational tax credits

* Scholarship searches

Figure this

2 —Number of courses you can take each year with the Tuition Benefit
Program

$460 | —Average cost of a course
$724 © —Amount a voucher can cover for one non-credit course

$2,000 — Maximum amount of money you can receive back for tuition in the form
of a tax credit

$55 — Cost of College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams, accepted for
college credit at more than 2,900 colleges across the United States

0 —How much it costs to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA), the form required to apply for financial aid at any college

3to5 —Number of business days it usually takes to receive your voucher
after applying over the phone on any Thursday

2,000 —Number of applications that have been taken by telephone since May

Heidi-Lynn Wagner

Senior Personnel Administrator

New York State Department of Transporation
Albany

4} Goal: To work in a positon involving human resources
management and labor relations.

Heidi-Lynn Wagner has used the Partnership's Tuition Benefit program since 1991 for
traditional college course work and credit-by-examination reimbursement. She used tuition
vouchers to take courses at Sage Evening College while working fll ime in various tiles at
the state Office of Mental Health.

Alter eaming her associate's degree in legal studies from Sage in 1995, Heidi-Lynn enrolled
in Excelsior College and continued to use the Tuition Benefit program and advisement
services. She also used the program to pay CLEP and DANTES examination fees. In less
than two years, she eared 21 college credits through these two programs. Presently, she
has six courses remaining towards a bachelor's degree in human resources.

While using Partnership programs, Heidi-Lynn has increased her promotional opportunities.
In May 2004, she began a two-year traineeship as a Senior Personnel Administrator and
will complete the program at DOT.

Tip: ‘When thinking about taking a course, you should find a course that you think will be
fun. A positive leaming experience with a fst course sets the stage for wanting to do more

2004 courses.”
7,200 —Advisement contacts made between members and Partnership
advisors per year
for Education and rship
2 advisors@nysceapartnership.org 1-800-253-4332 www.nyscseapartnership.org

Tuition Benefits The Road to Success is Always Under Construction ...

Assists CSEA-represented New York state employees with their education and job skills training needs. Education benefits help employees
earn college credits toward a degree or certificate, update their skills, improve their career and promotional opportunities and prepare for

future state work force needs. The program is described in a catalog that includes directions for completing an application (April 1, 2004 to
March 31, 2005).

Tuition

+ Vouchers are used to pay for tuition at more than 130 participating schools, including schools offering statewide and non-traditional programs.

+ Reimbursement provides tuition payments to students upon successful completion of course work at accredited schools that do not
accept vouchers.

Credit-by-examination fee reimbursement

In addition to regular tuition benefits, reimbursement is provided for an unlimited number of exams, including test
center fees, offered through the following programs:

* CLEP — College Level Examination Program

+ DSST — DANTES Subject Standardized Tests

+ TECEP — Thomas Edison College Examination Program
+ Excelsior College examinations

Applicants must work with an advisor to be eligible. Contact the Partnership at 518-486-7814 or 1-800-253-4332
or e-mail advisors@nyscseapartnership.org.

lan Jordan

Kathy Mackenzie

£ q | Plant Utilities Engineer Principal Audit Clerk
Middletown Psychiatric Center {| Office ofthe State Comptroller
New York State Office of Mental Health Albany

Middletown

J Goal: To get a degree for free using what she knows.
Goal: Take the entrance exam to get into law school.

lan Jordan has worked 11 years for New York state. He has an associate's degree in liberal | Based on her employment and other Ife experiences, Kathy Mackenzie gave herself lot of credit for the

arts, with a technical base that he has used in working as an assistant support aide at the knowledge and skis she had leamed since high school. Then, an advisor at Hudson Valley Community
attomey general’s office. Currently, while employed as a plant utilities engineer at the state College challenged her to eam 30 college credits toward a degree by taking three tests and some additional
Office of Mental Health, lan is taking 12 academic credits at Excelsior College and John Jay courses. She worked with Partnership advisors to find out how to:
College in Manhattan. He has accepted the challenge of full te studies while working full
time. He has 40 credits left toward a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. + Get credit-by-examination fees reimbursed by the Tuition Benefit Program for
CSEA-represented New York state employees
lan has been using Partnership advisement services and tuition benefits. He will continue to + Pay for up to two courses per year with the Tuition Beneft Program
use these benefits for courses in the spring. He is proud of the “base he has built’ through * Claim a tax credit up to $1,500 for the first two years of college
the encouragement and help from CSEA. He knows that all the hard work will pay off in + Find other ways to finance her education expenses

pursuing his dream of getting into law school.

Kathy pursued her education by taking three CLEP exams in ess than two years and was awarded 30

Tip: "For every 24-hour day, you owe yourself a few hours to advance yourself. If you know | credits in Spanish, French, and humanities. At the same time, Kathy began taking courses at HVCC and

what you want to do when you choose job-related courses, it will be easy to apply what you) has accumulated 45 credits towards an associate's degree in individual studies. The Tuition Benefit

leam.” Program has paid for most of those courses, and other courses were paid for using the HOPE federal tax
credit. She is taking courses this fall and next spring and hopes fo graduate in May 2006.

Tip: ‘Do it! Just about everything you do is a valuable learning experience. So, give yourseff credit for what
you already know and to lean some new things that can add up to a degree. It might provide new
‘opportunities for your job or add to your satisfaction in ife.”

SEE ership

for Education and Training

www.nyscseaparinership.org 1-800-253-4332 advisors@nyscseapartnership.org 3

The Road to Success is Always Under Construction ...

Educational Resources at Your Fingertips Other Resources

Want to have courses or services brought to your work
site? CSEA-represented New York state employees
can ask their CSEA local officer and state agency
administrators to submit a joint request to the

Arange of helpful resources for your education and training needs can be found at
www.nyscseapartnership.org, including:

+ Information on obtaining free and confidential education advisement Partnership for a course or service listed in the

+ Latest Tuition Benefits catalog and application Partnership's Resources catalog.

*Access to‘online leaming courses ow . What about courses directly available to employees?

+ Downloadable publications that feature application forms and education guides Apply for Skills for Success catalog courses scheduled

+ Coming Soon — Success stories about educational experiences from employees at training sites around the state. The catalog will be
...and you will be able to e-mail your success story! available in 2005.

+ How to contact the Partnership

Description of publications on the web for CSEA-represented New York state employees

Education Guides 1 through 5 — Information for full- or part-time employees furthering their education

1. Returning to Learning: Guide to Sound Decision Making — A seven-page guide covering tips on making educational decisions,
developing career plans, identifying options for school, and being an informed educational consumer.

2. Non-traditional Approaches to Further Education — A five-page guide to alternatives for taking courses and gaining college
credits including distance learning, credit-by-examination programs and evaluation of learning.

3. Credit-By-Examination Programs — A six-page guide that describes the major exam programs available for getting college
credits and how to use them. Included are CLEP, DSSTs, Excelsior College exams, and Thomas Edison College
examinations.

4. Tax Credits for Education — A four-page guide on how to use the HOPE Credit and the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit to
teceive up to $2,000 per year for tuition paid out-of-pocket or through loans.

5. Scholarships — A five-page guide on how to find and effectively apply for local and national scholarships based on
academic major, geographic location, and other factors.

Educational
Advisement
‘Services

Educational Advisement Services - A one-page description of the areas where
Partnership advisors can offer advice on educational planning, alternative
approaches to further education, education financing, and adult
basic education.

Financing Your Education: A Quick Reference Guide — A four-

page summary of the types of financial aid programs for adult
students that can be combined to help pay for college in
affordable ways.

For Education and Tratnlog

Corporate Plaza East
240 Washington Avenue Ext.
Albany, NY 12203
(518) 486-7814
1-800-253-4332
E-mail:
advisors@nyscseapartnership.org
Visit our web site at:

www.nyscseapartnership.org ‘ “ _\ Qe SEA

for Education and Training

\ Guide to Financial Aid for Working Adult Students — An easy-
to-read booklet of tips for obtaining financial resources for
the full-time worker and part-time student considering
further education.

4 advisors@nyscseapartnership.org 1-800-253-4332 www.nyscseapartnership.org

Volume 7 No. 12

CSE Long Island Region ”

Ong Island Reporter

OMMACK — The members of Suffolk Local 852’s
Executive Board vary as widely in the work they do
and where they do it as the 3,000 workers that the
local represents throughout the entire county.

Local President Irv Bitman is a social worker, 3rd Vice President Matt Hattorff works at a sewage plant. Treasurer
Debbie Trapp is an account clerk and 2nd Vice President Bill Walsh wears a blue collar to work. Executive Vice
President Pat Fisher works in the Smithtown library, Recording Secretary Jeanne McCarthy in Babylon's Town Hall,

Please see Variety continued on Page 3

Shown at their semi-monthly meeting are the officers of Suffolk Local 852. From left are President Irv Bitman, 2nd Vice President Bill Walsh, Sergeant-
at-Arms Bill Parente, Treasurer Debbie Trapp, Recording Secretary Jeanne McCarthy, 3rd Vice President Matt Hattorff, Executive Vice President Pat
Fisher and 1st Vice President Meg Shutka. Not present is Joe Sanzano, 4th vice president.

Variety, cornet romose'

Sergeant-at Arms Bill Parente in Lake Grove, and First
Vice President Meg Shutka in Brookhaven.

The local encompasses 34 units from the suburban
Nassau-Suffolk County line eastward to villages in the
Hamptons, a vacation spot on the Atlantic for many of
the country’s super-rich. Its members perform all sorts
of work for the seven towns, 11 villages, a dozen public
library systems and a smattering of other governmental
agencies, such as the Smithtown Fire Department.

Their jobs vary from the traditional, patching roads
and keeping records of licenses issued, to the exotic,
caring for mountain lions, bobcats and bald eagles at
Brookhaven's animal preserve in Holtsville.

To keep up with the many, far-flung activities of its
units, the local’s Executive Board meets every other
month. Its regular October meeting was held 5:30 on
Tuesday evening, Oct. 26 at the Hampton Inn in
Medford. After an executive session for the officers,
other unit representatives joined. President Bitman
opened the meeting with an announcement that all units
should appoint an Election Committee to conduct the
upcoming CSEA elections and inform the local of the
names of the committee members.

Reports from units followed. After noting that things
were fairly quiet in his unit, the Town of Huntington Unit,
Bitman was pleased to report that its contract, reached
nearly two years ago, had finally been printed.

Dave Wilcox, president of the Town of Southampton
Unit, said his unit had just ratified its contract after a 4
1/2-year fight. That agreement is set to expire soon
after its ratification, so the unit has begun setting up a
committee to look over contract proposals for the next
agreement.

Cindy Miller, president of the 50-member Central
Islip Library Unit, said a grievance has been filed for
seven long-term employees who were contractually
entitled to higher salaries in the present agreement but
were not receiving them yet.

Dianne Roberts of the Longwood Public Library Unit
said that as its two-year contract was expiring in June,
she was writing to the board president to begin the
negotiations process.

With reports focusing on bargaining, Maureen
Sullivan, the local's office secretary, reminded the group
that expenses in the negotiations are usually
reimbursable, and suggested negotiators keep accurate
records.

Bill Walsh is president of the Brookhaven Blue Collar
Unit, which, along with the two other Brookhaven units,
White Collar and Highway, signed 10-year contracts
with the town several years ago. Such long contracts
are unusual in collective bargaining. He said the length
was working out well for the membership. “People
thought we were nuts, but I'm glad,” he said.

He also reported on a grievance the unit won for a
large number of its members.

Hattorff said an agreement with the Town of
Riverhead now enables bargainers to settle
questions on disputed contract language much faster
after negotiations end. He added that he did not favor
longer contracts.

“It just shows every unit is different,” said Bitman.

Wilcox told about a compensation study now going
on in Southhampton. CSEA members sit on the study
committee, which will examine compensation of
appointed officers and administrators, other towns’
compensation scales and private industry contracts.

Bitman noted that all unit contracts are now on its
website, suffolklocal852.org. He moved over to the
question of affordable housing to point up the
importance of the union to the residents of Suffolk
County. “One thing we're running out of is capable
union workers,” he said. “We are a valuable asset.”

He closed the meeting with a reminder about the
website. “We have a variety of contracts,” he said.
“Look on our website.”

Above, after the meeting ends, Nick Zambelli of the
Village of Patchogue Unit, left, discusses contract
negotiations in the South Shore village with Bitman.

Below, Pete Collins, left, and President Dave Wilcox of
the Southampton Unit attend the Executive Board
meeting.

Three librarians at the meeting are Cindy Miller of
Central Islip, left, and Dianne Roberts and Kitty
Grinnell, both from the Longwood Public Library.

3

Long Island Reporter
--PHOTO OF THE MONTH

From left, Long Island Region
Veterans Committee members
Nelson Gutierrez, 2nd vice
president, Pilgrim Psychiatric
Center; Nick LaMorte, president,
CSEA Long island Region;
William Gwynn, 2nd vice
president, Long Island
Developmental Center; Maryann
Phelps, 4th vice president,
SUNY Stony Brook; and
Veterans Committee Chair
Steve Abramson, City of Long
Beach, take part in a Veteran's
4 Day event at Armed Forces
Plaza in Hauppague.

G reetings brothers and sisters!

Now that the cold weather is moving in, so is the
creeping realization that the holidays aren't far
behind. | just don’t know where the year went! As we
think about the perfect gifts for friends and loved
ones, | suggest we think about quality. We can find
that quality by looking for the Union Label.

When you purchase a union made article,
manufactured in America, you are not only getting a
high quality item, but you are also helping to make
the American Dream a reality for someone's family.

It's been proven that unionized workers in
America are paid higher wages, get better health
benefits, and are generally able to maintain a better
quality of life than non-union workers. And with the
Internet, it's easier than ever to buy American! You
don’t even have to leave your house!

Just take a look at the CSEA Store at
www.csealocal1000.org

Here you will find a wide variety of American
made CSEA items, everything from hats &
sweatshirts to car safety kits and golf balls. If you
want a catalog, call (518) 370-1158.

And if you know what type of gift you want, it's
easy to find out which brands are American made.
Just check out the AFL-CIO's official guide at
http://shopunionmade.org. It not only includes links to
places where you can order things like union made
holiday cards, toys, housewares, and much more; but
it also allows you to search for union made goods

2

Long Island Reporter

Message from Long Island Region Presiden

Nick LaMorte :

that you can buy either
through catalogs or in
stores.

Just remember that shopping at discount retailers
may be extremely costly in the long run. Putting your
money behind American quality and workmanship
makes a powerful statement that businesses
understand! As the saying goes, “Labor creates all
wealth.” So, show that you value the labor and
craftsmanship of your union brothers and sisters this
holiday - Buy Union, Buy American. Encourage your
friends and family to do the same!

In solidarity,

Nick LaMorte, president
Long Island Region

Nie Alps

Flagpole fitting honor to Tom Byrne

COMMACK — The CSEA Long Island Region's deep, long-felt respect and
affection for Tom Bryne underlay the ceremonies dedicating a flagpole
outside the region office in his name at Veterans Day ceremonies.

Byrne, who died in September at the age of 61, was the longest
serving local officer in the region, having led State Employees Local 016
for 24 years before his retirement in 2001. He also chaired the region's
Veterans Committee and CSEA's Special Veterans Committee, and served
on numerous statewide labor-management committees. He received the
CSEA Mission Achievement Award in 2000 for his many contributions to
the betterment of CSEA members.

“Tom became part of us and will never go away,” President Nick
LaMorte told the 40 family, friends and CSEA co-workers who attended the
ceremonies. “He lives in our memory every day. Many of us think of him in
our daily routine, so it's nice to have a material thing we can see.

“The flag and all it stands for is a wonderful memory of Tom,” LaMorte
continued. “Now, when anyone looks up at the flagpole, they'll know that it
is dedicated to his memory.”

His widow, Jeanne, to whom he was married for 35 years, and
members of her family and friends attended the dedication.

After the ceremonies, friends and family talked of Byrne's three loves,
his family, his union and the American Legion, and spoke fondly of his
humor, patriotism, good will and eagerness to help others.

Members of the family of Tom Byrne and CSEA leaders look up at the
flagpole dedicated to his memory as Long Island Region President Nick
LaMorte, left, leads the Pledge of Allegiance to open dedication
ceremonies on Nov. 11. Byrne, who died in September, was the longtime
president of Local 016.

Wes

Jeanne Byrne, widow of Tom Byrne, holds plaque given to her at the
flagpole dedication ceremony, expressing the union's gratitude for the
decades of service the late Local 016 president gave to the Long Island
Region and its members. Presentation was made by Region President
Nick LaMorte, at right of Byrne. Others in foreground, from left, are
Barbara Reynolds, president of Local 920; Michael Hemberger, Donna
Hemberger, Tom Byrne’s niece, and Nelson Gutierrez of Local 418. The
ceremony was attended the Byrne family and friends and CSEA leaders
and members who had worked with Tom Byrne over the years.
—
——>_=

OLD WESTBURY AND GARDEN CITY — One workshop given by CSEA’s
Education and Training Department in the Long Istand Region recently grew
out of difficulties Local 618 President Mary D’Antonio was having with
personnel staff at SUNY, Old Westbury.

“asked for the workshop because of the problems | was having at Old
Westbury with regard to family medical leave,” she said.

‘Assecond workshop presented by a specialist from the department was
shop steward training, part and parcel of one basic goal of CSEA and all
unions — preparing the leadership of the future.

Above, among the more than 50 Local 618 members at the workshop are,
from left, clockwise around the table, John Pettway, Nick Mangra (partly
obscured), Frazier Hughes, Deborah Butler, Alix Florestal and Michael
Williams.

Below, members of Local 618 at workshop are Valerie Paig, in plaid
jacket, foreground and Treesa Varhese, left in striped shirt, Margie Carr
and Joanne LoCascio, right.

Inside Reporter

CSEA Provides Training; Prepares Leadership of the Future

FMLA 101

The Family and Medical Leave Act was pushed through Congress in 1993
by the Clinton administration. It provides that a worker may take unpaid leave
for up to 12 work weeks in 12 months because of the worker's or family's
medical needs, childbirth in the family or adoption of a child. The employer
must maintain the worker's health benefits, and the worker's job, or a similar
one, must be available when he or she retums from leave.

The problem at Old Westbury was interpreting the law.

“The biggest problem was the interpretation as to what constitutes ‘serious
illness,” said D’Antonio. ‘We've had members put on family medical leave by
management for earaches, bronchitis and even sprained ankles.”

Enter Education and Training Specialists

So she called Eric Muldoon, one of CSEA's education and training
specialists, who came to the campus and gave a well-prepared workshop on
the legislation.

More than 50 members of the local, nearly half its membership, attended
the session, along with officers of two other CSEA locals. The workshop, held
ina large meeting room in the Student Union Building, began soon after 11
a.m. and ended about 1 p.m.

“It's a complex law that has a lot of good ramifications for us but there are
different aspects — | don’t want to say pitfalls — of the law," said Muldoon as
he began the workshop.

He discussed its basic benefits, requirements for a worker to be covered
by the law, conditions that qualify for leave under the act (a serious health
condition generally is not a cold, the flu, bronchitis, tooth extraction, earaches,
or an upset stomach), how the “12 month period” may be defined, how an
employee or family member's serious health condition is certified by a health
care provider, provisions covering the employee's return to work and appeals.

4 Long Island Reporter

Members of the audience
asked questions and offered
comments based on their
experiences with their
employer, which enriched the
session.

Helpful Sessions

Manny Mangual,
executive vice president of
Pilgrim Psychiatric Center
Local 418, found the
workshop useful.

“Itwas a very good
workshop,” he said. “You can
always learn something from the questions.”

Laura Gallagher, executive vice president of the host local, thought the
workshop had been excellent.

“I think the workshop eased some of the concerns members had who had
been placed on FMLA by management,” she said.

DAntonio has spoken to other local presidents and found that only a few
had the same sort of problems she was having at Old Westbury. But
nevertheless she thinks that all local presidents can benef from attending this
type of workshop.

“The feedback I've received has only been positive," she said.

Steward Training at NCC
Earlier that month, Patty McArdle, another of CSEA's education and
training specialists, conducted a shop steward course for Long Island Region
members on the campus of Nassau Community College in Garden City.
Members from five locals attended the two-night class, which prepares
members to serve as their union’s voice in the workplace.

John Andersen (left) and Bobby Rauff of
the Town of Oyster Bay Local 881 were
among officers of other unions at the
workshop.

Above, attending FMLA
workshop with members of
Local 618 are LRS Bob Brooks,
right, and seated in row with
him Cathy Custance and Manny
Mangual of Local 418.

Below, Joanne LoCascio fills
out evaluation form after the
workshop ends.

Patty McArdle, education and training specialist, introduces herself to the class.
Members are, first row, from left, Valerie Marmo, Local 830; Roy Piper, Local
016; Joseph Josaphat, Local 865, and Lucille Kaleck, Local 016; in second
row, from left, are John C. Russo, Local 508; Corey Hill and Carelus Etienne,
Local 865; George Herbst, Local 881,
and Maureen Oates, Cynthia N. Turk,
Denise Pope and President George
Kalamaras, all of Local 016. At rear are
Alicia Sanchez and Sandee Horowitz,
members of the Nassau Community
College Unit of Local 830 who served
as registrars.

At right, before the stewards class
starts, Patty McArdle chats with one of
the students, Roy Piper of Local 016.

Local 618 President Mary D’Antonio, left, Eric Muldoon and Local Executive
Vice President Laura Gallagher seek an answer for a question raised by Sheila
Farrell. Farrell, secretary to the college's vice president of enrollment services,
said she thought the workshop had been “very informative and helpful in
clarifying the purpose of the law...! did feel that it could have been presented
over a day-long workshop because there is just so much information to cover
and so many answers to give. | really appreciated attending this workshop.”

Long Island Reporter 5
Long Island Region Women’s Committee

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

Cathy Custance, seated
second from left, and
Cathy Pipitone, seated
at right, co-chairs of the
Long Island Region
Women’s Committee,
coordinated advance
planning for the union's
participation in the
event.

JONES BEACH — On a blustery October morning, 200 CSEA members turned out to
fight breast cancer at the annual Strides Against Breast Cancer.

“We raised well over $20,000,” said Bobbi Eisgrau, chairwoman of the Long Island
Region Women’s Committee, which coordinated the union's efforts at the annual walk.
She said members of several locals that had not participated before showed up
this year. The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists
and the Nassau County Federal Credit Union

shared CSEA's tent and sponsorship.

Eisgrau thanked Women's Committee
members for their hard work in making this
year's walk a success.

“The committee members work very hard
coordinating the whole function,” said Eisgrau.
“They started in April to get this rolling. | want to
thank everyone for their participation. | love .
them.” Region President Nick LaMorte,

She expressed special appreciation to Cathy center, joins two leaders of the Long
Pipitone of the Town of Oyster Bay Local and Island Chapter of the Coalition of

Cathy Custance of the Pilgrim Psychiatric Center Black Trade Unionists, Les Eason of
Local for serving as committee co-chairwomen, Local 830, left, first vice president of
as well as Long Island Region President Nick 14 Re
LaMorte for his support of the walk and women’s
issues.

“He's always given us his support,” Eisgrau
said.

Long Island Region, and Rudy Bruce,
chapter president, also a Local 830
member.

Long Sskand Region One

Bundled up against a chilly
morning at Jones Beach are,
above, from left, Barbara
Maniscalco, Local 330; MaryAnn
Phelps, Local 614; Mary
D'Antonio, Local 618; Region
President Nick LaMorte; Bobbi
Eisgrau, Local 830, chairperson of
the Women's Committee; Loretta
Zuch, Local 881, and Shelley
Davidson, Local 920.

Among the 200 CSEA members who
walked are Steve Abramson, Tina Killian,
center, and Lynnda Delasant of the Long
Beach Unit of Local 882.

Local 430 fetes ‘community of
caregivers’

COMMACK — Seventy Local 430 members with longtime service at the Long
Island Developmental Disabilities Service Office were honored at the agency's
annual Employee Recognition Awards Dinner.

The union members were honored for completing 35, 30 and 25 years of
service with LIDDSO.

“We are a community, a community of caregivers,” Irene Jill McGinn, the office’s
director, told the 300 dinner guests, “and we are all committed to provide services
with pride.”

Local 430 members who were honored for 35 years of service at LIDDSO are
Carol Beck, Diane Clemons, Nellie Davis, Mollie Hutler, Elizabeth Jones, Ubirda
Morales, Linda Napolitano, Shirley Pernell, Josephine Potter, Stephen Rampell,
Rosalie Russo and Paulette Sheridan.

Those who were marking 30 years of service are Rachel Burke, Barbara
Callahan, Geraldine Cobbs, Shirley Davidson, Savina Debrodt, Judy Dennis,
Samuel Durant, Margie Greer, Regina Harris, Phyllis Hussain and Doris Jones.

Also, Clarissa Kelley, Nicholas Loretta, Sylvia McCallum, Patricia Moenius,
Zachary Oliver, Glenn Paige, David Quinn, William Starke and Wanda Tunson.

Forty-three members of Local 430 were honored for a quarter-century of service
with LIDDSO. They are Nancy Affelt, Mary Ellen Barber, Annese Bickman, Theresa
Branca, Mary Bulger, Linda Chiolo, Joan Curtis, Betty Dekanchuk, Nelson
DelCastillo, Ima Diaz, Roscoe Felton, Sandra Hawkins and Jayne Hogan.

Also, Aresles Holder, Verlie Jackson, Hattie Johnson, Yvonne Johnson, Joseph
Joyner, Marlene Kerr, Ruby Latham, Nora McCall, Varniell McCarthy, Theresa
McDonly, Leslie Martin and Sharon Motley.

Also, Claudia Nischo, Sharon Oliver, Jane Ott, Alice Pernell, Charles Pipitone,
Patricia Power, Suzanne Quinn, Pearlie Reid, Margaret Rizzitano, Joan Serling,
Denise Smith, Brenda Thomas, Clive Tobias, Tina Troxler, Barbara Ward, Geoffrey
Williams, Robin Williams and Gloria Wimbley.

The officers of the local are among the hundreds of long-time employees at
LIDDSO. Five of the seven officers — President Willie Allen, Executive Vice
President Shirley Baker, 2nd Vice President William Gwynn, 3rd Vice President
Veronica Oliver and Treasurer Rutha Bush — have 25 or more years of service;
Baker and Bush have 37 years at LIDDSO and Allen has 36.

“This is an annual acknowledgement from management honoring the
employees for their many years of hard work and dedication to the consumers of
LIDDSO,” said Local President Willie Allen.

He noted that each honoree recived two dinner tickets for the evening, a
framed, personalized certificate and a gift.

“Along with this,” he added, “we all enjoy the opportunity to party and meet and
greet each other’s families and friends.”

Rachel Burke holds plaque she
received for completing 30
years of service at the Long
Island Developmental
Disabilities Service Office.
Flanking her are Irene Jill
McGinn, the office’s director,
and Local 430 President Willie
Allen.

6

Long Island Reporter

6 - LUT! State Grievance Workshop —
5:30 -9 p.m.

7- LUT! State Grievance Workshop —
5:30 -9 p.m.

9 - Region 4 Holiday Party, Fox Hollow
Country Club, Woodbury — 7-14 p.m.

10 -Statewide President Danny Donohue visits
Region 1 — 1-7 p.m.

13-Health and Safety Committee Meeting —
5pm

14-PEOPLE Committee Meeting — 5 p.m.

20 -Women's Committee Meeting — 5:30 p.m.

21 -Education & Training Committee Meeting
—5:30 p.m.

15 -Defensive Driving Course — 5:30-8:30 p.m.
16 -Defensive Driving Course — 5:30-8:30 p.m.

18 -Defensive Driving Course — 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Calendar of Upcoming Events: December 2004

24 - Region Office Closed for Christmas

31 - Region Office Closed for New Year

Happy Holidays and a
Happy New Year!

COMMACK — CSEA Statewide President
Danny Donohue will pay his annual visit to the
Long Island Region on Friday, Dec. 10 from 1 to
7pm.

Members who wish to meet with Donohue
must call the Long Istand Region office for an
appointment.

Call Jennifer Nagy at the region office, (631)
462-0030, to make an appointment.

Medford DMV folks say so long to Hansen

Jeanne Hansen, seated, second from right, was honored by co-workers when she retired
recently after 27 years as a DMV representative at the department's Medford office.

MEDFORD — Present and former co-workers of Jeanne Hansen feted her recently on the occasion
of her retirement from the Department of Motor Vehicles office in Medford.

Ansen spent her entire career at the Medford DMV.

“A grandmother of two, she retired to spend more time with her family after working for the state
for 27 years,” said Cynthia Turk, Local 016 executive vice president and a fellow DMV representative
at Medford. “Her sunny personality will be missed by all her co-workers, who saw her every day.”

Hansen worked in audit and checked the intake of all the representatives every moming, so she

was well known to everyone in the office.

Welcome Back Sal!

CENTRAL ISLIP — Co-workers of Local 508 member Sal DiQuattro have
welcomed him back to work after recent surgery.

He is the local’s shop steward at the equipment management facility in the
Department of Transportation's Central Islip facility.

Operation Shoebox: ‘It’s
a beautiful thing’

STONY BROOK — Members across the Long
Island Region are contributing to Operation
Shoebox, which sends packages of toiletries,
candy and other items to
soldiers serving in Iraq and
Afghanistan.

Maryann Phelps, a
member of the Long Island
Region Veterans Committee
and fourth vice president of
the SUNY Stony Brook local,
is coordinating the collection.

The region put out a flier,
and the response has been overwhelming,
Phelps said. “I've had calls from all over Long
Island, Queens to Southold,” she said.

“We have so many people wanting to pitch
in, I'm spending two hours a night on the e-mail
answering. It's a beautiful thing.”

Shoebox wants to include soap, sunscreen,
disposable razors, toilet paper, shaving cream,
magazines, lip balm, baby powder, baby wipes
for cleaning between showers, chewing gum,
hard candies and similar items.

Local 016 Executive Vice President Cynthia
Turk, who works at the Department of Motor
Vehicles’ Medford office, said some items
collected at her office are especially intended for
women serving overseas, including women’s
deodorants. “There are a lot of them there, too,
she said.

The Medford office became aware of
Operation Shoe Box through a local Boy Scout
troop, said Turk, an Air National Guard member
who served on active duty overseas. Tania
Ciappa headed the drive.

Members of Suffolk Cooperative Library Local
701 have also gotten involved in Operation
Shoebox.

“So far, we have a lot of contributions and
several volunteers,” said Debi Groh, vice
president of the local. “The members who have
volunteered are Linda Hoff, Michele Toscanini,

MaryAnn Phelps

Vivian Loper, Lorraine Rossano and me. We are
all excited about helping out and being able to do
something for our troops.”

Donations were to be delivered to the Long
Island region office in Commack by Nov. 15 and
taken the next evening to the Medford Veterans
of Foreign Wars hall. The items will then be
packed in shoe boxes for shipment to the troops
for the holiday season.

Asecond Operation Shoebox drive is being
conducted by CSEA member Barbara Sarringer,
who created the program in October 2003, at
SUNY Farmingdale.

“My brother, Sgt. Maj. Donald Sarringer, was
serving in Iraq and he had suggested that the
troops miss items from home, so we compiled a
list of items to make their time in this terrible
place a little more bearable,” she said. “We
thought of the shoe box because we did our first
shipment during the 2003 holidays, and | thought
that opening a package for the holiday would be
special for the soldiers.”

Since then, she and other volunteers at SUNY
Farmingdale have sent approximately 250 boxes
overseas through five shipments through
Operation Shoebox. They have been working
with the VFW, and were to recently joined other
CSEA members in Medford packing the shoe
boxes.

‘Sgt. Major Sarringer, who served in Iraq for 18
months, is now stationed in Wiesbaden,
Germany. A second brother, Sgt. Edward
Sarringer, is at Westhampton Beach Air Base
after serving in Kuwait and other posts overseas.
Anephew, Sgt. Derek Sarringer, now at Ft.
Bragg, North Carolina, will be going soon to Iraq
or Afghanistan.

Holiday Parties Announced for Locals

STONY BROOK AND LONG BEACH —
SUNY, Stony Brook Local 614 and the City of
Long Beach Unit of Local 882 have announced
the dates of their holiday parties.

The Local 614 schedule is as follows:

Ambulatory Surgery, Dec. 6, 11:30 a.m. to 2
p.m.

West Campus SAC Center, Ballroom B,
Dec. 9, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

University Hospital Level 3 Galleria, Dec.
10, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m; the evening shift
outside the union office, Level 5, 2 a.m. to 4
am.

Tech Park Conference Room, Dec. 13,
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Long Island State Veterans Home, New
Wing, Dec. 17, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.;
evening shift 2 a.m. to 4.a.m., and

Coram Health
Center, Dec. 20,
11:30 a.m. to 1:30
p.m.

The parties are for members and there is no
cost.

Bobby Holland is president of the local.

The Long Beach Unit will hold its holiday
party at 6 p.m. on Dec. 16 at Paddy McGee’s in
Island Park. The cost is $10 a person, and all
members and their guests are invited to attend.
Carolyn Campbell, who works in the city’s
Purchasing Department, is in charge of
arrangements. She may be reached at (516) 431-
1000, Ext. 204.

Colleen Silvia is president of the unit.

7

Long Island Reporter
Election update

CSEA clout helps carry candidates

COMMACK — Thanks to the voting strength of union
members and their families, CSEA is gaining clout in
Long Island's political world.

Of the 24 candidates for the U.S. House of
Representatives, New York state Senate and state
Assembly who were endorsed by the union, 22, or better
than 91 percent, won election on Nov. 2.

All four endorsed Congressional candidates won, as
did all nine state Senate candidates and nine of the 11
endorsed Assembly candidates.

Congressional winners were: Tim Bishop, 1st
Congressional District; Steve Israel, 2nd District; Peter
King, 3rd District, and Carolyn McCarthy, 4th District.

Elected to state Senate seats were: Kenneth LaValle,
1st Senate District; John Flanagan, 2nd District; Caesar
Trunzo, 3rd District; Owen Johnson, 4th District; Carl
Marcellino, 5th District; Kemp Hannon, 6th District;
Michael Balboni, 7th District; Charles Fuschillo, 8th
District, and Dean Skelos, 9th District.

Assembly winners from the region were: Pat
Eddington, 3rd Assembly District; Steven Englebright,
4th District; Ginny Fields, 5th District; Philip Ramos, 6th
District; Robert Sweeney, 11th District; Joseph Saladino,
42th District; Thomas DiNapoli, 16th District; Earlene

Hooper, 18th District, and Harvey Weisenberg, 20th
District.

Long Island Region Political Action Committee
Chairman John Shepherd thanked CSEA members and
their families who volunteered for the campaign.

“CSEA came out for this year's elections like never
mmm before,” said Shepherd,
president of the Nassau
Municipal Local. “This year, we
stuffed more envelopes, made
more phone calls and walked
door-to-door more than ever
before. Even though the
national election didn’t go as
we hoped, we showed that
CSEA is a political stronghold
on Long Island.”

“CSEA-endorsed
candidates from Long Island
were everywhere,” Shepherd said. “Good job, brothers
and sisters!”

John Shepherd

Long Island Region President Nick LaMorte
and the Social Committee
cordially invite you to attend the

2004 Holiday Party

Honoring the Children of Hope Foundation

At the Fox Hollow Country Club,
7725 Jericho Turnpike, Woodbury, N.Y.
Thursday, Dec. 9, 2004
7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Region President Nick LaMorte worked with CSEA
members in Long Island to get out the vote.

The cost is $75 per person. Please make checks payable to CSEA Region | and return to:
CSEA Long Island Region, 3 Garet Place, Commack, N.Y. 11725, Attn: Social Committee, by Friday, Dec. 3, 2004.
Please include the names of the guests who will be seated at your table(s).
For more information, call Social Committee Co-Chairpersons Lee Reynolds or Laura Gallagher at the
Long Island Region Office, (631) 462-0030

8

Long Island Reporter
YOUR UNION
NEWSLETTER

Message fi

ON THE COUNTY SIDE

With the passage of the county budget, we have a commitment from the
county to backfill any positions vacated in 2005. We have already been
successful in our fight with the county to fill dozens of vacant positions in the
Department of Parks, Recreation & Museums and with the Probation
Department. In addition, the county has begun to hire in highly sensitive areas
where staffing levels have dropped dangerously low, such as C.B. operators,
crossing guards and public safety. Our demands that the county continue efforts
to civilianize certain positions in the Police Department and Correctional Center
have also met with success. We have been assured that this trend will continue
into the new year.

The topic of employee evaluations has come up once again as the county
initiates a new round of its controversial program. This time, however, CSEA has
input as to notification forms and format thanks to our successful grievance. We
encourage our members to utilize the procedures that are now in place, noting
those areas that are intentionally marked as “optional,” including the appeals
process if evaluations are perceived to be unjust.

In the Real Estate Consolidation Program, we have been advised that the
Health and Human Services Vertical continues to be in flux relative to the
movement of personnel. Our Health & Safety representatives continue to monitor
the situation.

As | mentioned last month, the issue of Fleet Services consolidation has been
put to rest since the idea was voted down in the legislature. However, we
continue to fight the ill-advised idea of merging the Police Department's Building
Maintenance Unit into the Department of Public Works.

In our next edition, | will have a complete update on one of CSEA's largest
grievance wins ever, a class action grievance that will benefit hundreds of
members whose salaries were improperly calculated following promotions. We
are hopeful that all salary adjustments will have been completed by year’s end,
and retroactive salary will follow in 2005.

Meanwhile, the contract books should be ready for distribution by the holidays.
Unfortunately, a printing error delayed more timely completion and the books are
currently being reprinted.

Ps a
December 2004 * Vol. 9, No. 12

CSEA Local 830 President Jane D’Amico

| County Will Stabilize Staffing in 2005;
Cautious Optimism for NHCC Contract

| am immensely proud of the work of our members,

who continue to perform with dedication and
professionalism through these difficult times.

ON THE NHCC SIDE

With two meetings scheduled with the mediator as this edition goes to print,
we are cautiously optimistic that significant progress toward a new contract will
result. Our most important goal is to complete a salary and benefits package
before management begins contemplating a new round of layoffs, which are
possible sometime after the new year.

NUMC Unit President George Walsh and | have been trying to reach many of
our NHCC employees personally through a series of worksite meetings, which
have begun the process of allowing us to keep members informed on the
progress of negotiations and to listen to their concerns. Additional meetings are
planned. We will, of course, make all employees aware of any major contract
breakthroughs. Watch for union bulletins.

| am immensely proud of the work of our members, who continue to perform
with dedication and professionalism through these difficult times. Elsewhere in
this edition of The Express is a story about a NHCC employee and CSEA
member who wrote and obtained a large grant for the NUMC Breast Imaging
Center. There can be little doubt it is the work of our members that continues to
maintain the high level of quality of Nassau County's public health care system.

| would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone in both the county work
force and the Health Care Corp. a healthy and happy holiday season and a New
Year that brings success in all endeavors.

Yours in solidarity,

2 EXPRESS

The
Work Force
Nassau County Local 830

LAFFESS

December 2004 = Vol. 9 No. 12

‘A Monthly Publication of CSEA Nassau County Local 830
JANE D'AMICO, President

Tony Panzarella, Editor
(616) 571-2019 Ext #13

Ronald G. Gurren, Chai, Communications Committee

CSEA Long [stand Region Communications Associate Rachel
Langert (631) 462-0030

NASSAU LOCAL 830
Executive Officers:

JANE D'AMICO, President

LES EASON, Executive Vice President
GEORGE WALSH, 1st Vice President
ROBERT CAULDWELL, 2nd Vice President
RAYMOND CANNELLA, 3rd Vice President
JEWEL WEINSTEIN, th Vice President
RON GURRIERI, Sth Vice President

MARY DELMARE, 6th Vice President

TIM CORR, 7th Vice President

NANCY IANSON, 8th Vice President

RUDY BRUCE, 9th Vice President

BOBBI EISGRAU, Secretary

KATHLEEN VITAN, Treasurer

Unit Presidents/Executive Board:
CHARLES ALBERS, Fire & Rescue Services

JOHN ALOISIO Il, Treasurer's Office

ROB ARCIELLO, Deputy Sherif

STANLEY BERGMAN, Comptroller's Office
RICHARD BREUSCH, Public Safety

RUDY BRUCE, Department of Public Works

RAY CANNELLA, Civil Service Commission

TIM CARTER, Health Department

TIM CORR, Recreation & Parks

VIVIAN CROWLEY, General Services

KENNETH DASH, SR, Administrative Unit

MARY DELMARE, Schoo! Crossing Guards

LES EASON, A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility
BOBBI EISGRAU, County Clerk

RAYMOND FLAMMER, Assessment Department
SUSAN GRAHAM, County/Distit Attomey

NANCY IANSON, Drug & Alcohol

DEBRA IMPERATORE, Police Civilans

RON KAHL, AMTS

JERRY LARICCHIUTA, Shenifs Support Unit

DIANE RUSS, Consumer Affairs

MICHAEL TIMMONS, Social Services

GEORGE WALSH, Nassau University Medical Center
JEWEL WEINSTEIN, Nassau Community College
PETER WRBA, Probation

JOSEPH WHITTAKER, Fire Marshal

We welcome reader suggestions: Please address your
comments to Tony Panzarella, Editor, Nassau County
EXPRESS at CSEA Nassau Co. Local 830, 400 County

L Seat Dr., Mineola, NY 11501-4137. LI

Holiday Crafts

CSEA NASSAU COUNTY LOCAL 830 UNION MEMBER NEWS

Disciplinary Investigations — Are There Limits on

What an Employer can do?

Nancy Hoffman, Esq.
CSEA General Counsel

Employers who seek to

= implement a new policy or

.) procedure for internal disciplinary
investigations are prohibited from
doing so, unless the union agrees to the terms and
conditions of that policy. A union does not have the
legal right to interfere with criminal investigations. If a
new procedure, such as mandatory fingerprinting of all
employees, is to be used by the employer, the union
has the right to negotiate it under the Taylor Law.

Although there have been no decisions by the Public
Employment Relations Board (PERB) or the courts
which specifically state that fingerprinting is a
mandatory subject of bargaining, CSEA believes that it
is mandatory to negotiate. PERB has ruled that similar
investigatory techniques are mandatory negotiation
subjects. For example, a polygraph test to be used by
an employer as part of an internal investigation is a
mandatory subject of bargaining. A new requirement
that employees sign in or out also must be negotiated.
Based on these cases, fingerprinting should also be a
mandatory subject of bargaining.

Assuming fingerprinting must be negotiated into a
union contract. An employer cannot otherwise establish
such a policy. The employer is prohibited from
implementing a fingerprinting policy unless CSEA
negotiates it into a contract, and the union is under no
obligation to agree. If the union does not agree to a
fingerprinting policy, the employer would be prohibited

There is no legal obligation for
the union to agree but if the
parties reach agreement
through good faith
negotiations, then the employer
can establish a fingerprinting policy.

from fingerprinting workers.

If an employer wants to start a fingerprinting policy
and requests that the union negotiate it, the union is
obligated to bargain the policy in good faith. The parties
can discuss any proposed restrictions on fingerprinting,
such as fingerprinting methods and safeguards to
ensure the privacy of the fingerprints. There is no legal
obligation for the union to agree but if the parties reach
agreement through good faith negotiations, then the
employer can establish a fingerprinting policy.

This analysis would be true for almost any new
policy or procedure that the employer seeks to use for
disciplinary investigations. Vigilant workers and the
union can safeguard against the employer's demands
for new investigatory procedures. It's up to us to keep
on top of these efforts to ensure that we do not give up
our bargaining rights in regard to disciplinary
procedures.

Ets

CSEA members work on holiday crafts at a recent workshop sponsored by
the Local 830 Women’s Committee. More than 25 people made reverse
decoupage leaf plates for the Thanksgiving table. The workshop was one
of a series of free programs presented by the Women’s Committee on a
regular basis.

Give the Gift of FUN! for the holidays
CSEA is collecting board games for
The Nassau County Juvenile Detention Center

We are asking members to donate games such as:

DROP OFF POINT: (Through Dec. 17)
CSEA Office, 400 County Seat Drive, Mineola

the use of the residents of

* Monopoly * Uno * Yatzee * Life
* Checkers * Chess * Dominoes
* Backgammon * Trivial Pursuit

Phone: 571-2919

4 Express

Nomination Forms Available
2004 Women’s Awards Dinner
Set for Thursday, May 5

Now is the time to mark your calendars for the 2004 “Women in Local
Government Outstanding Achievement Awards Dinner.” Several outstanding
speakers are expected to be on hand to discuss topics of importance for
women and families. The event has been set by the Local 830 Women's
Committee for Thursday, May 5, at Verdi’s of Westbury on Jericho Turnpike
in Westbury.

The dinner is to honor CSEA members who have achieved outstanding
‘success at their jobs, in their communities, in the labor movement or in the
field of women’s and family issues. Award winners are selected from
nominations submitted by other CSEA members.

Award criteria include:

+ Dedication to the advancement of CSEA women's goals within the
labor movement and/or the public sector;

+ Volunteerism and/or community service;

+ Outstanding job performance;

* Other criteria, such as outstanding achievements related to
women/family/humanitarian contributions.

Members wishing to nominate someone for an award can do so by
filling out the form located elsewhere in this paper and returning by the
deadline of April 1, 2005, to CSEA, 400 County Seat Drive, Mineola, N.Y.
11501, Attn. Women's Committee. The dinner is a program of the Nassau
Local 830 Women's Committee, chaired by Sandee Horowitz.

SEA NASSAU COUNTY LOCAL 830 UNION MEMBER NEWS:

A Women’s Committee Program
The Women of Glory House
Need Your Help!

Glory House is a unique housing program for women who are struggling
to recover from drugs and alcohol, mental illness, HIV/AIDS, domestic
violence and poverty as it relates to homelessness. We, the Women’s
Committee, have adopted Glory House in order to help a neighbor in

need.

Your Donations of the Following New Items
Will Be Very Much Appreciated

Kitchen Items: Glasses, Dishes, Cutlery, Cookware, Slow Cooker.
Baby Items: Clothing, Lotions, Diapers, etc.

Toiletries, Household Cleaning and Laundry Products.

Other Items: Paper Goods, Plastic Ware, Linens, etc.

Drop-Off Location:
CSEA Local 830 Office, 400 County Seat Drive, Mineola

For further information please contact:
Alicia Sanchez, Project Director - 571-2919 Ext. 20 or
Asanchez15@nyc.rr.com

NASSAU LOCAL 830 WOMEN’S COMMITTEE
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
NOMINATION FORM

(PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY OR TYPE)
1. GUIDELINES

+ Applications must be submitted by a Nassau County Local CSEA member in good standing.

+ Nominations must be submitted on the Official Nomination Form.

+ All nominations must be received no later than April 1, 2005, at the CSEA Nassau County Local Office,
400 County Seat Drive, Mineola, NY 11501, Attn: Women’s Committee.

* The awards will be presented at the annual CSEA Women in Local Government recognition dinner on
May 5, 2005, at Verdi's of Westbury, at 680 Old Country Road in Westbury.

2. ELIGIBILITY
Nominees for the award must be a member who is either:
+ Acurrent dues paying CSEA Nassau County Local member, or
+ A dues paying retiree who was a Nassau County Local member while actively
employed.s
Previous award winners are not eligible, but previous nominees will be considered.
Nassau County Local Women's Committee members are not eligible.

3. CRITERIA
Nominees will be evaluated on the basis of demonstrated commitment to the concerns of women and
families within the labor movement and community.
Factors that are considered are:
+ Dedication to advancement of CSEA women's goals within the labor movement or
the public sector
+ Volunteerism and/or community service
+ Outstanding job performance
+ Outstanding achievements related to women/humanitarian contributions/activism/
or other special qualities.

I NOMINATE
DEPARTMENT JOB TITLE
JOB DESCRIPTION

Home Address Phone

Work Address Phone
Nominated By: Sst

Work Phone Home Phone.
Address

Describe fully how the nominee meets the criteria outlined in Section 3 above. Be as specific as possible. Attach
additional pages if necessary.

RETURN COMPLETED FORM TO:
CSEA Nassau Local 830, 400 County Seat Drive, Mineola, NY 11501
Attention: Women's Committee

CSEA NASSAU COUNTY LOCAL 830 UNION MEMBER NEWS

express 5

MAMMOGRAPHY
SCREENING PROGRAM

Fact Sheet

TO MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT, PLEASE FOLLOW THESE EASY STEPS:

The “Mammography Screening Program” is a benefit negotiated by CSEA for all Nassau County government employees,
regardless of insurance carrier or coverage. This benefit allows you to go to the Nassau University Medical Center BREAST
IMAGING CENTER on your work time and with no out-of-pocket cost to you. You will stay as long as it takes to get a proper
diagnosis, and you will meet personally with the doctor to discuss the results.

1. Call the NUMC Breast Imaging Center at (516) 572-5781 to schedule an appointment. (If you get a recording, identify yourself as a
CSEA member and leave your phone number.) Appointments for county employees will be held on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3:30

p.m,

2. When you call, you will reach the CSEA mammography program hotline voice mail system. Please leave your name, daytime phone

CSEA member writes grant to enhance
NUMC’s mammography program

Christine Mancuso, RN, a public health nurse at the Nassau
Health Care Corp., was successful in writing and securing a
grant from the Avon Foundation for Breast Care for the
hospital's breast screening program.

Nassau University Medical Center recently received a
$352,500 check from the foundation to buy new equipment for
its breast imaging center.

“It is through the hard work, expertise and dedication of =
CSEA members such as Christine that the Nassau Health Care Christine Mancuso
Corp. will flourish. CSEA is especially proud of Christine for
making a major difference in an extremely important area of health care,” said CSEA
Local 830 President Jane D'Amico.

Through the Avon Foundation’s generosity, the hospital will purchase a new
computer-aided diagnostic unit, which applies a second reading of the mammogram,
as well as a motorized mammography alternator viewing system. This necessary
equipment will enhance the quality of screening, will speed and improve
mammography film readings and will allow NUMC to initiate a computerized
mammography reporting system.

Mancuso, a nurse for more than 25 years, is the director of the hospital's Breast
and Cervical Cancer screening program which provides screening and follow-up
services for women at NUMC, the community health centers and the mammography
van. About 8,000 women get breast screening services through the facility.

“| would like to remind our members that CSEA has a long-standing negotiated
agreement with NUMC to provide mammography screening with no out-of-pocket
expense,” said D'Amico.

Elsewhere on this page is a fact sheet listing the procedures that CSEA members
should follow for visiting the breast imaging center.

number and best time to be reached. A scheduler from
the Breast Imaging Center will promptly return your
phone call and schedule your examination.

3. Fill out a department time and leave slip; check
“other,” and write “mammography screening.” Submit
it to your supervisor.

4, Mammography screening will be given to you at no
out-of-pocket expense. Your insurance company will
be billed. If you have insurance, bring your insurance
card with you, and an employee ID card if you have
one. Bring your prior mammographic films with you, if
you have any.

5. A parking map is available through your department
coordinator. The designated parking spaces on the
map will be free or you may park at your own expense
in the paid parking lot. Inside NCMC, follow the rose-
colored “Breast Imaging Center” signs.

6. Upon returning to work, you will be required to
submit documentation to your department, which will
be supplied by NUMC at the examination.

7 You will be excused with authorization and will be
granted leave without loss of time or pay for travel
and examination.

6 express

Member seeks CSEA’s help for
husband’s bone marrow transplant

ACSEA member whose husband needs a bone marrow transplant to live
has asked for her union’s help.

Valerie Markert's husband, Chris, was diagnosed with leukemia in July and
the family must now find a suitable donor by establishing a match from the
bone marrow registry.

Markert, a county employee for 18 years in the accounting section of the
Health Department, wants to organize a dedicated bone marrow donor drive,
but the cost to do so is high and not covered by insurance.

Judy Bejarano, Nassau County's assistant accounting director and a friend
of Markert’s, said bone marrow transplants differ from heart and lung
transplants in that a patient does not register once in the transplant bank, wait
for a donor match, and then pay for the organ at the time of the transplant. In
this case, a blood sample is required first to see if a person can be a potential
marrow donor.

“A bone marrow transplant, through the patient advocate, requests a
search from the bone marrow donor registry, which, in turn, generates a list of
approximately eight candidates each time,” Bejarano said. “The donor
candidate's blood sample then requires additional testing to determine if they
are a perfect match for the recipient. The entire process costs thousands of
dollars and if no match is found the first time, the search request and testing is
repeated until a match is found, funds run out or the patient dies.”

Chris Markert, 42, and Valerie have two young children. He has been
unable to work since July and spent six weeks in the hospital. At press time, a
bone marrow drive was being planned, but no date had been set.

“Dollar donations are needed to offset the costs incurred to purchase the
kits to be used in the bone marrow drive, as well as to access the bone
marrow registry. Blood is needed to test for a match,” said Bejarano.

Bejarano said that there are several methods of obtaining bone marrow
from a donor that do not involve a hospital stay or surgery.

CSEA Nassau County Local President Jane D’Amico is urging members to
take a blood test and/or make a contribution to help in this worthy cause.
Checks should be made payable to the “Chris Markert Benefit Fund” and
mailed to: Chris Markert Benefit Fund, c/o Regina Rubenstein, 2591 Milburn
Ave., Baldwin, NY 11510. Numbers to call for more information are 516-223-
8328 or 516-571-2016.

Making Strides Against Cancer

Local 830 Secretary Bobbi Eisgrau, chair of the Long Island Region Women’s
Committee, once again successfully put together a CSEA team for the Annual
“Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K Walk at Jones Beach. Braving chilly
winds outside the CSEA tent are, from left, Local 830 Executive Vice President
Les Eason, President Jane D’Amico, Long Island Region President Nick LaMorte,
DPW Unit President Rudy Bruce, Drug & Alcohol Unit President Nancy lanson
and Nassau Community College Unit Secretary Alicia Sanchez. Each year, CSEA
serves as a Flagship Sponsor for the event, raising tens of thousands of dollars
for the fight against breast cancer. Eisgrau was on hand at 6 a.m. setting up the

CSEA site.

CSEA NASSAU COUNTY LOCAL 830 UNION MEMBER NEWS

Alicia Sanchez heads program to help
Glory House residents

Alicia Sanchez always seems to be in the right place at the
right time. That was certainly the case at CSEA’s Martin
Luther King, Jr. luncheon last February, when Sanchez was . i
introduced to Terenna Williams, the director of Glory House.

“Terenna explained to me what Glory House was all about,

a place where women in need can go for support, help,
shelter and start a new life,” Alicia said.

Sanchez’ meeting with Terenna sowed the seeds for CSEA's relationship with
Glory House.

“Having been an active member of CSEA’s Women’s Committee for five years,
| thought that this was something we should be involved in,” Sanchez said. “This
was a way we could help our neighbors in our community.”

At a Women’s Committee meeting following the luncheon, Sanchez presented
the idea of “adopting” Glory House, an idea that the committee quickly and
unanimously approved. Women’s Committee chairwoman Sandee Horowitz
appointed Sanchez as the project director.

“Today, 10 months later, we have been able to make a difference in the lives of
these women and their families. CSEA members throughout the county have
helped the residents of Glory House get many of the items that they need to
make their transition from helplessness to hopefulness easier.”

Sanchez, who can often be found deeply involved in community causes, was
not only the catalyst for CSEA involvement with Glory House, but she is the
person who continues to stimulate interest in the program on a regular basis. She
currently serves as secretary for CSEA’s Nassau Community College Unit.

Sanchez’ greatest reward is simply “knowing that these women will be able to
regain their lives.”

She is urging members to participate in the Women’s Committee effort on
behalf of Glory House. On Page 4 is a list of items that Glory House residents
need, along with the drop-off location and contact information.

CSEA NASSAU COUNTY LOCAL 830 UNION MEMBER NEWS
Veterans Corner

Benefits for Veterans in
Nursing Homes

By Edward G. Aulman
Nassau County Veterans Service Agency

An almost unknown benefit for wartime veterans
living in nursing homes is a $90 pension that is paid
directly to the nursing home, but is for the exclusive
use of the veteran. To qualify, Medicaid must pay all or
part of the veteran's expenses. The Veterans Service
Agency in Denton, Texas, has been able to
successfully get this benefit extended to wartime
veterans living in assisted living facilities as long as
the veteran is certified by a physician as being
housebound or in need of aid and attendance by
another person.

Aveteran in an assisted living facility who has
financial assets of less than $40,000 and who pays all
or most of his income to the assisted living facility may
qualify for hundreds of dollars every month from the
VA that cannot be taken by the facility. There are many
conditions and limits involved, but interested wartime
veterans in nursing homes or assisted living facilities
should seek the counsel of a veterans’ counselor.

Election Day Service
Jim Colwell, commander of the Farmingdale Post
No. 449 of the American Legion provided a service to
the Farmingdale community that should be
recognized. On Election Day, members of this
American Legion post provided free transportation to
any voter who needed a ride to the polls.

Walls of Honor
If you would like to place your name or the name of
any honorably discharged Nassau County veteran on
the Walls of Honor at Eisenhower Park, or contribute
to the construction of a Vietnam monument, call 516-
681-8214.

Noise Exposure

Combat veterans and others who were exposed to
loud acoustic trauma are encouraged to see a
veterans’ counselor if they have experienced
increasing hearing loss throughout their lives. Having
adequate hearing until you are a senior citizen, and
then suddenly needing a hearing aid is probably not
connected to service, but gradual hearing loss over
the years following a period of armed service where
you were exposed to loud noise should be considered
service connected. Contact a veterans’ counselor at
516-572-8452.

Women’s Committee
Launches
$500 Scholarship Program

The CSEA Women's Committee has initiated a
scholarship program that will offer a $500
scholarship each year to a college student or
graduating high school senior. The award will be
presented at the committee's annual Women In

Local Government Recognition Dinner, set next year
for May 5.
According to Women's Committee Chair Sandee

Horowitz, the theme of the scholarship will be the

Express 1

items most closely associated with women's issues
and social concerns, such as health, pay equity and
improving the quality of family life. Application
deadline is Feb. 1, 2005.

Only CSEA Local 830 bargaining unit members
in good standing and their children are eligible. They
must be enrolled in an accredited two or four year
college or vocational school. Career goals should be
in the fields of social/behavioral sciences, health,
legal or related fields with the intent of furthering
issues that are relevant to women and working
families.

To obtain a complete list of criteria and
application requirements call Horowitz at 571-2919.

Eligibility Requirements

a) A student who is a child of, or in the legal
custody of and active CSEA Local 830 bargaining
unit member and who is either:

a graduating high school senior to be
enrolled in an accredited two or four year college
or vocational school; or

a college student in good standing, enrolled
in an accredited two or four year college or
vocational school.

b) A CSEA Local 830 bargaining unit member,
in good standing, enrolled in an accredited two or
four year college or vocational school.

Student's Name:

Address:

Phone.

College:

Parent's Name (CSEA Bargaining Unit):

CSEA NASSAU LOCAL 830
WOMEN’S COMMITTEE SCHOLARSHIP

APPLICATION FORM

Department/Location:

Address:

Pho

ne.

On a separate piece of paper, please attach typed
essay (250-500 words) to include:

+ School Activities
+ Community Involvement
+ Career Goals

ALL APPLICANTS MUST BE VERIFIED AS TO
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRENT CSEA LOCAL 830
BARGAINING UNIT MEMBER.
Return Application and Essay to:
CSEA Nassau Local 830
Women’s Committee
Attn: Sandee Horowitz, Chair
400 County Seat Drive
Mineola, N.Y.

8 EWwRESS

(CSEA NASSAU COUNTY LOCAL 830 UNION MEMBER NEWS

A Message From Long Island Region President Nick LaMorte

Now that the cold weather
is moving in, so is the
creeping realization that the
holidays aren't far behind. |
just don't know where the year
went! As we think about the
perfect gifts for friends and
loved ones, | suggest we think
about quality. We can find that quality by looking for
the Union Label.

When you purchase a union made article,
manufactured in America, you are not only getting a
high quality item, but you are also helping to make
the American Dream a reality for someone's family.

It's been proven that unionized workers in
America are paid higher wages, get better health
benefits, and are generally able to maintain a better
quality of life than non-union workers. And with the
Internet, it's easier than ever to buy American! You
don’t even have to leave your house!

Just take a look at the CSEA Store at
http:/Awww.cseastore.sm-pm.com/m/welcome.asp.
Here you will find a wide variety of American made
CSEA items, everything from hats and sweatshirts
to car safety kits and golf balls. If you want a
catalog, call (518) 370-1158.

And if you know what type of gift you want, it's
easy to find out which brands are American made.
Just check out the AFL-ClO's official guide at

http://shopunionmade.org. It not only includes links
to places where you can order things like union
made holiday cards, toys, housewares, and much
more; but it also allows you to search for union
made goods that you can buy either through
catalogs or in stores.

Just remember that shopping at discount retailers
may be extremely costly in the long run. Putting
your money behind American quality and
workmanship makes a powerful statement that
businesses understand! As the saying goes, “Labor
creates all wealth.” So, show that you value the
labor and craftsmanship of your union brothers and
sisters this holiday - Buy Union, Buy American.
Encourage your friends and family to do the same!

In solidarity,

Shop Union for the Holidays
Buy Union!

See Pages
12-13
in this
month’s
edition of
The Work
Force.

in your community

For a fine selection of holi
go to: www.shopunio:

Deadline for AFSCME Scholarships is Dec. 31

Nassau CSEA President Jane D’Amico has
advised parents of high school seniors that the
deadline is rapidly approaching for the AFSCME
Family Scholarship Program. Completed applications
must be postmarked no later than Dec. 31, 2004.

D'Amico noted that AFSCME awards 10
scholarships of $2,000 each selected from applicants
who meet the eligibility requirements. The
scholarships are renewable each year for a
maximum of four years provided the student remains
enrolled in a full-time course of study.

Any graduating high school senior who is a
daughter or son of an AFSCME (CSEA) member (or
whose legal guardian is an ARFSCME member) and
who intends to enroll in a full-time, four-year degree
program in an accredited college or university, is

eligible.

Criteria for the award include academic record,
high school activities and a written essay on “What
AFSCME Has Meant to Our Family.”

Applications can be obtained by writing to:
AFSCME Family Scholarship Program
Attention: Education Department
1625 L Street N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20036

Application requests can also be made by e-mail
to education@afscme.org or can be downloaded
from the AFSCME web site at www.afscme.org, or
can be obtained by phone by calling (202) 429-1250.

Nick LaMorte, president
Long Island Region

Ul

Set for Dec. 15

CSEA Holiday Party

Almost a Sellout

If you expect to attend CSEA Local 830's

YY)

2004 Holiday Party, you'd
better get your tickets

soon because
sales have
been very

brisk and the Social
Committee expects another sellout. The
event, which is the highlight of the holiday

season, will be held this year on

Wednesday,

Dec. 15, at the Coral House on Milburn Avenue
in Baldwin. The festivities will get under way at

7 p.m. and run through midnight.

The admission price is still the best deal in
town. Once again this year tickets are on sale

for $25 per person for Local 830

bargaining

unit employees. For guests of bargaining unit

employees, the price is $45.

The party will include a cocktail hour, open
bar, full sit-down dinner,s music and dancing.
Adding to the excitement will be a raffle

featuring many great prizes.
George Walsh and Nydia Con

cepcion,

Social Committee co-chairs, are asking

members to bring an unwrapped

children’s toy

for the U.S. Marines Corp’s annual “Toys for
Tots” program. In the past, this very successful
program has brightened the holiday season for
hundreds of children from underprivileged

families on Long Island.
Tickets are available at the Lo
400 County Seat Drive, Mineola,

cal 830 office,
or through

your unit president. For more information call

571-2919.

Page 2

CSEA President Donohue to Join in Festivities

Local 834 Celebrates 3rd Anniversary with

Lights on the lake

For the third year in a row, Local 834 members will take
part in CSEA Night at Lights on the Lake, gaining a special
low admission rate on Monday Dec. 6 to the festive holiday
light display that is one of the area's most popular holiday

traditions.

Look for our beautiful 10-foot-tall red, white and blue
CSEA display. Last year it welcomed the more than 300
catloads of CSEA members and their families who drove
through Liverpool's Onondaga Lake Park for CSEA Night.
CSEA and Onondaga Local 834 jointly sponsored the CSEA
“New York's Leading Union’ light display. This commitment
by CSEA recognizes the powerful role our union plays
across New York state. Our display acts as a civic reminder
to highlight the many ways our members serve the public.

Local 834 President Frank Forte will again join CSEA
Statewide President Danny Donohue and Treasurer
Maureen Malone in greeting members from 5 to 9 p.m. at
the Ste. Marie Among the Iroquois Museum for coffee, cider
and refreshments. Santa will be making a special visit forall
the children.

Your Local 834 leadership is especially proud of this
event because the Lights on the Lake program is entirely
maintained and erected by CSEA members working for the
Parks Department. Their skills and hard work define the
spitit of CSEA Local 834, and is recognized with special
signage at our CSEA display. CSEA Onondaga Local 834
and the Parks Department have joined forces to make this
discount family night possible.

The entrance fee for CSEA Night only will be $4 per
catload, using advance sale tickets that will be available
through the units and also through the Local Office at 446-
0330. Tickets will also be on sale that night atthe Ste. Marie
Museum.

Each year the Local picks a worthy charity in our
community to benefit from this event. This year's project is
Toys for Tots. Please think of others this holiday season and
bring your donation of an unwrapped toy to drop off at the
museum or the park gate as you drive through. If you forget,
we will also be accepting cash donations that evening and
at Unit worksites.

Local 834 extends our special thanks to our Lights on
the Lake Committee: Chair Rick Adsitt, and members Joe
Alcaro, Miles Nugent and Nick Kochan, as well as those
representing the Local Womens Committee who will be

Mark Your Calendars!
Dec. 6, 2004 - 5 to 9 p.m.
CSEA Night at Lights on the Lake

‘Santa, often mistaken for Miles Neugent from the
county DOT, hears some holiday wishes from a visitor
at last year’s CSEA Night at Lights on the Lake.

working at the Ste. Marie event: Ruth Smith,
Barb Taylor, Gail Pedersen, Dave Delaney,
Dave MacDonald, Anna Sinclair, Donna
Gavett, Sue Lepkowski, and Mary Linnertz.
Make sure you check our Local website for
additional information about Lights on the
Lake

‘Onondaga Co. Parks Dept. workers Don Spraker, Shirley Chapman an
Guiliano Mevoli set up the Local’s display in Onondaga Lake Park for the
2004 Lights on the Lake holiday show.

Onondaga Local 834 News & Views

local Delegates go to Different Capital for Updates
By Gail Pedersen, Editor

‘As mentioned in President Forte’s column, in light of the recent cancellation of
CSEA's Annual Delegates Meeting scheduled to take place in Washington, a group
consisting of our Local 834 Officers, Delegates, and Safety Committee Chairperson
decided to travel to Albany to check up on the current state of our union and to talk
about the year ahead.

For many of us activists who've been involved many years but have never had
the chance to visit CSEA Headquarters, it was an exciting opportunity to meet many
of the union staff that we deal with over the phone, but may have never met in
person.

AAs your newsletter editor, | was anxious to meet the people at Headquarters
who help our Committee put together this newsletter and make it look so great.
After our stroll through the Communications Department, we headed to the Phone
Banking area where a majority of the phone calls made during election campaigns
take place.

‘Among the informative meetings we held was an update on organizing initiatives
with Organizing Director Ben Gordon. We also met with the CSEA director of
insurance and representatives from JLT Group Services, CSEA’ insurance
provider.

One of the most important stops on our tour was to meet with CSEA President
Danny Donohue to discuss the continuing threat that Medicaid costs are posing,
and to discuss possible solutions. We also met with Ken Crannell, a representative
of the New York State Association of Counties, on this issue.

Overall, because we couldn't make the trip to our nation’s capital, our substitute
trip to our state capital turned out to be an informative and thought-provoking one,
which was valuable to all who attended.

Special thanks to Lisa Horton for playing the role of tour guide on our visit.

( '
Wy, : Bo Baveeyce
Local Delegates and Officers meet with Danny Donohue, above, to discuss

Medicaid Reform. Below they are with Ken Crannell from the New York State
ion of Counties.

Onondaga Local 834 News & Views

Fall Extravaganza organizers Cindy
English, Linda Park and Fran Scarzone
On Saturday Oct. 16, the county Health and
Social Services Units held their first Fall
Extravaganza. The weather for the day was
fall-like with a bit of rain thrown in. The
apple trees were easy picking and
members got to go on a wagon ride to pick
pumpkins. The kids enjoyed the animals in
the petting zoo, and the “corn cannon” was
something that you just have to experience
to appreciate. More than 300 members and
their families took part in the event, and we
are currently planning next year's outing.

City of Syracuse Unit

President Rick Rogala reports he is working
with Pomeo Insurance Co. to help
determine why dentists are dropping out of
the network. He is also working with City
Hall administration towards getting extra
money for individuals who use their cars for
business. With gas prices going up, Rick
said our members are paying extra money
out of their pockets.

North Syracuse Schools Clerical

Unit President Sue Lepkowski reports that
negotiations for a new contract have gone
to impasse, with the district fighting the
union over the issues of job promotions
from within, before outside people are
considered for district jobs, and the salary
schedule. The workers contract expired in
June and the union is working to arrange
the first session with the Mediator, as well
as developing a strategic campaign to push
for a better contract.

North Syracuse Schools

New Unit President Gary Orzel reports he is
trying to work through the backlog of
grievances that have accumulated.

North Syracuse Schools Teacher
Aides

Unit President Anna Sinclair reports that her
Unit is participating in the Stocking Stuffer
Holiday Project. The Unitis collecting such
items as gum, candy, toiletries, pens,
pencils, etc. At their Holiday dinner, after all
items have been collected, Anna Sinclair
will be presenting the donations to Sue
Heinley of the North Syracuse Schools
Clerical Unit. Sue is the chairperson of this
project collecting the items for inner-city
youth and Unity Acres.

The Wellness Committee at Van Duyn
Home & Hospital recently sponsored a
scarecrow decorating contest. Individual
departments were challenged to decorate a
scarecrow with the theme of Health,
Wealth, and Happiness. The CSEA Unit
Officers are proud to announce they came
in 2nd place with their rendition of a labor-
ftiendly Donald Trump, complete with a sign
saying "You're Hired!”

Health Department Unit to Hold
Holiday Party

County Health Department President Linda
Park reports that the Unit will be holding the
2nd annual Holiday Party on January 22 for
unit members at Bella Domani in North
Syracuse. This wil include dinner, dancing
with a DJ, rafles and door prizes. Tickets
are $25 per person, $40 per couple. They
will go on sale Nov. 29. Look for flier with
more details.

Unit Vice President Bob Riley reports that
his members are still without a working “on-
call’ policy. Currently, their policy consists of
employees carrying either cell phones or
beepers, who are expected to respond to

work-related issues during non-working
hours and are not compensated for this
intrusion. This should be called an
“inconvenience” policy, not an ‘on call”
policy. Many of our union brothers and
sisters have been saddled with the burden
of this nuisance long enough. Management
says that being ‘on call” with a pager or cell
phone is considered a “perk." By definition a
“perk” is an added benefit, extra bonus and
an advantage. We do not consider being
called at any point during our private lives,
be it during dinner, precious family time, or
any recreational times, a “perk.” Call it what
you wil, itis long overdue that the extra
responsibilty of being on call should be
compensated accordingly. Whether the
worker is a pay grade 6,7 or 11,12, we are
all sil inconvenienced equally. Having a
lack of policy with this issue has enabled
management to take advantage of the
situation. We hope to make it right as we
begin negotiations.

Jortan-Elbridge Schools

CSEALRS Rick Noreault, the union's chief
negotiator, reports that contract negotiations
for the workers are near a possible tentative
agreement. Their previous contract expired
back in June.

Syracuse Housing Authority

SEA Unit President Linda Campbell
reports that budget cuts have resulted in
more than 29 positions being lost this year.
Also, the union is looking into legal
remedies over management unilaterally
changing the work schedules of the mobile
maintenance crew, without discussing the
change with the union.

Syracuse Crossing Guards

CSEALRS Rich McCormack, the union's
chief negotiator, reports that the Crossing
Guards Unit recently ratified a new three-
year agreement with the City. Their
previous contract expired in June. Also, he
reports that new officers for the Unit have
stepped forward and are expected to be
officially installed in the very near future.

« Around the Local - Around the Local -

Page 3

© [2907 S17) PUNOUY - [2907 SI PUNGAY - [2907 Sif) PUNOAY - [2907 SIN) PUNoAY - [2907 BI PuNnowy

News & Views is an official publication of
CSEA Onondaga Local 834

5815 Heritage Landing Dr.
E. Syracuse, NY 13057-1042
‘446-0330 (phone) 446-1042 (fax)

www.csea834.com.

Onondaga Local 834
Newsletter Commitee
Gail Pedersen, Social Services, Editor
Donna Gavett, Syracuse City Schools
Barb Taylor, Van Duyn Home & Hospital
Ruth Smith, Van Duyn Home & Hospital
Bob Riley, Water Environment Protection

Advisers:
Robyn O'Brien, Local 834 Office Manager
Mark Kotzin, CSEA Communications Associate

23 Onondaga Local 834

www.csea834.com
Vol. 4 No. 2 - December 2004

It should be no surprise that Medicaid
costs are the most pressing crisis affecting
county government today.

County Executive Nick Pirro and | have been beating the
Medicaid reform drum for a very long time. We have spoken
of and written of the implications of Medicaid until we're both
blue in the face. Onondaga County is not alone in this crisis.

It seems so obvious that Medicaid must be fixed. After all
it affects every county, every CSEA member, and every
business in New York State. Also obvious is the fact that the
Governor and state lawmakers will not act unless pressured
to respond.

As the leaders of your union, we take very seriously the
unbearable burden the outmoded Medicaid system places
on us as both local government employees and taxpayers.
CSEA has long been outspoken about the need for a bold
new approach to Medicaid reform. We are working with
CSEA President Danny Donohue and our statewide leaders
to bring about change. It is clear that any meaningful change

will need an effective coalition of labor, local government and
the business community.

CSEA is also clear that reform means more than simply
shifting costs from localities to the state. It also means
addressing the problem of New York being shortchanged on
Medicaid reimbursement by the federal government and
reworking the health care funding formulas that put public
health care facilities at a disadvantage

Recently we traveled to Albany to speak with the New
York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) and urged them
to join us in seeking Medicaid Reform. Our meeting with
NYSAC was excellent overall and the start of a very
promising relationship was forged. There is more outreach to
be done.

Every county in this state should recognize that these
reforms are critical. Every county should do exactly what
we're doing and gain the support of their business councils,
knowing that they will have CSEA and NYSAC's support. We
will begin our efforts right here in Syracuse. We are in the

Local Activists Selected for CSEA Leadership Program

By Bob Riley, Vice President, Water
Environment Protection

Local 834 has the honor of having two
of our activists selected from hundreds of
statewide applicants to be among 36
participants in CSEA's Leadership
Education and Development (LEAD)
Program.

Gail Pedersen from the Department of
Social Services and Bob Riley from Water
Environment Protection were selected for
the program, which aims to keep the union
movement going forward through the next
few decades.

The 18-month LEAD Program will
provide participants with tools and

instruction needed to be successful
leaders within the labor movement.

This is not a typical CSEA program; it
is intense, time consuming and more
challenging than any previous trainings
offered, “After the first five days of training
you are already gaining the knowledge to
be successful, whatever role you may
have in the union," Riley said.

“It's great to see CSEA bringing
together new activists with experienced
activists," Pedersen said.

‘Anyone with questions about the LEAD
program should feel free to speak with
Bob of Gail about their involvement. Riley
encourages others to get involved. “We'll
be looking for prospective candidates for

the LEAD program who we think can help
lead CSEA into the future.”

Political Action
Update

By Local 834 Political Action Chair Nick
Kochan

Aer the seemingly endless political
season, when all the votes were finally
counted CSEA's Central Region won 32 of
the 40 election races in which we chose to
support a candidate. Party endorsements in
the region were divided 57 percent

Republican to 43 percent Democrat. This is
an impressive track record except for one
important fact — just what did we and the
candidates win?

We won, but Oneida County raises sales
taxes to 9.75 percent.

We won, but Erie County's Executive is
threatening to lay off 3,000 employees.

We won, but Onondaga County raises
sales taxes an additional one percent.

We also won the chance to watch
Medicaid costs increase another 11.3
percent in 2005.

Unless we can help cap Medicaid costs,

it won't matter who is elected, we won't
have a state budget that can afford anything
else. We need to help solve this problem
before it destroys all other programs and
threatens our jobs.

News & Views

AMessage from Local President Frank Forte
Medicaid Reform... Urgent Care Needed Now

process of planning a meeting in early December at which
time we will launch our historic efforts.

What does all this add up to? Ensuring the future of
health care and saving our jobs while saving our state.

Check our Web Site
There’s a lot Going on!

By Joseph Alcaro, CSEA Local 834 Executive Vice-

President/Webmaster

Members with internet access, be sure
to add www.csea834.com to your
browser's “favorites” list. With our county
Units about to start negotiations, we'll use
the Local website as a valuable tool to
update county workers on our progress.
We want you to have information as
soon as it is available. Our latest addition was a survey for
members to select their priorities for the county
negotiations.

The website also features links to various programs that
members can visit to learn more about the many benefits
of CSEA membership. We will also strive to post news and
photos of events occurring throughout Local 834.

Anyone wishing to submit an article or picture on the
website can e-mail our office manager at:
CSEA834@aol.com or call the Local at 315-446-0330.

Page 4

Clip and Save —
Local and Unit
Officer Listing

LOCAL OFFICERS:

Frank Forte, President
Joe Alcaro, Executive VP
Fred Carton, tst VP

Rick Adstt, 2nd VP
Barbara Taylor, 3rd VP.
Ross Salisbury, Treasurer
Gail Pedersen, Secretary

COUNTY UNIT PRESIDENTS:

Ronald Hil, Dept. of Corections

Joe Alcaro, Dept. of Social Services

Linda Park, Onon. Co. Health Department

Barbara Taylor, LTC/Van Duyn Home & Hospital

Eric Burbidge, Onon, Co. Parks & Recreation

Mary Linnertz, Onn. Co. Probation
Department

Miles Neugent, Dept. of Transportation

Keith Webb, Dept. of Water Environment
Protection

Mitchell Tiegel, Onon. Co. Public Library

Len Foster, Combined Services Unit1OCC

UNIT PRESIDENTS:

Connie St. Denny, Baldwinsville School Dist.

Vetter, Town of Camilus

dim DeVaul, Cicero Highway

Roseanne Barbagla, Jordan Elbridge
School Dist.

Pamela Sprague, Liverpool Library

Suzanne Lepkowski,N. Syracuse Clerical

Gary Orzel, N. Syracuse Maintenance

‘Anna Sinclair, N. Syr. Teaching Aides

Fred Wilmer, N. Syr. Vilage DPW

Nick Kochan, Onon, Co. Water Authority

Rick Rogal, City of Syracuse

Dan Schantz, Town of Dewitt-Blue Collar

Andy Worden, Town of Dewitt White Collar

Dale Longden, Town of Dewitt-Supervisory

Vacant, Syracuse Crossing Guards

Linda Campbell, Syracuse Housing Authority

Douglas Miler, Skaneateles Schoo! District

Tom Bell, Syracuse Schools #6 (Blue Collar)

Donna Gavett, Syracuse Schools #9 (Clerical)

Dan Murphy, Vilage of Skaneateles

John Conners, Town of Manlius Highway

LOCAL 834 DELEGATES:

Tad Fundalinski, Probation Dept.
Miles Neugent, Dept. of Transportation
David MacDonald, Syracuse City Schools
Nick Kochan, Onon. Co. Water Authority
Ruth Smith, Van Duyn Home & Hospital

Lf 4

Despite the recent announcement of the dissolution of the Syracuse Salty
Dogs soccer team, CSEA Local 834 was a proud supporter of the team,
sponsoring several CSEA games, and selling tickets for discount admission
at our recent clambake. Shown with the team mascot, Salty the Dog, is
Local Treasurer Ross Salisbury, who coordinated the Local's involvement
with the team.

Local Women’s Committee
Women’s Committee Has A Busy 2004

By Barb Taylor, Chair

This past year, several of our Local Womens Committee members
attended a breakfast for Vera House. It was a wonderful and moving
experience that encouraged us to get even more involved. We've done
this in several ways. At our clambake, we raffled off a ‘picnic basket" with
a lot of goodies in it. Between the picnic basket and another raffle we
were able to send Vera House a check for $1,300. Our Committee will
also be gift-wrapping Christmas presents at the Carousel Center Mall to
benefit Vera House this December 5 & 12. We're hoping that our CSEA
members and their families come and support this worthwhile cause.
Finally, we're in the planning stage of a Wine Tour for the Spring.

Onondaga Local 834 News & Views

Above, Local 834 Executive Vice President Joe Alcaro and his son
J.T. march in the Labor Day Parade at this year’s New York State
Fair.

Also marching in the parade at left, are Local 834 activist Bob
Riley and his wife Andrea and daughters April and Amanda
(behind April).

Above, plates and plates of clams pile up at the Local's clambake
held at Hinerwadel’s Grove this past summer.

Below, Local 834 President Frank Forte introduces Statewide
Treasurer Maureen Malone at the 2004 clambake.