The Public Sector, 1985 March 22

SENIOR FABARICATED PLASTICS SPECIALIST WARD
FELLOWS IS ONE OF SEVERAL CSEA MEMBERS
WHO HELP MAKE HISTORY COME ALIVE AT THE
STATE MUSEUM IN ALBANY.

Official Publication of
The Civil Service Employees Association Local 1000,
American Federation of
State, County and Municipal Employees AFL-CIO.

Vol. 8, No. 6
Friday, March 22, 1985

shocks SIDC employees;
papers announce closing

By Stephen Madarasz
CSEA Communications Associate _

STATEN ISLAND — Opening your morning
newspaper to find you will be losing your job can
be a real shock.

“Devastating!” says Staten Island Develop-
mental Center CSEA Local 429 President Tyrone
Daniels. He speaks from experience, for that’s
exactly what happened to the nearly 1,400 CSEA

“This situation has been a long time comiing,
but it was still devastating for our people to find
out like this,” lamented Daniels after the state
Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental
Disabilities announced in the public press that it
plans to close SIDC within two years.

And while the announced closing is the result
of a 1975 court order and follows 14 years of legal
battles over the future of the facility (formerly
known as Willowbrook), CSEA officials were

quick to chargethat-the closing is.being carried
out for political purposes.

“For the past decade, Willowbrook has
symbolized everything that’s been a problem in
institutional mental health care,” said CSEA
Region II President George Boncoraglio. “This
action is a way of trying to put lessons that were
learned there behind us, but it really doesn’t
solve anything.”

(Continued on Page 4)

members at SIDC on March 5.

‘THIS ACTION IS A WAY OF TRYING
TO PUT LESSONS THAT WERE LEARNED
THERE BEHIND US, BUT IT REALLY
DOESN'T SOLVE ANYTHING.’

LOCAL 429 PRESIDENT Tyrone
Daniels, left, and CSEA Field Rep-
resentative Bart Brier respond to
members’ questions during a meeting
alled to discuss state plans to close the
taten Island Developmental Cente!

STATEN ISLAND — ‘‘Why is the state doing this?” That was a common
question from employees at the Staten Island Developmental Center after
the some 1,400 workers first learned through a newspaper account from the
state that they would soon be losing their jobs. i

Under the brutally announced facility closing schedule, the first 250
employees will lose their jobs at SIDC on May 22 of this year, and another

| 249 go to the chopping block next Fall. As clients are transferred from the

facility over the next two years, the remaining staff will be reduced at
regular intervals.

As in any layoff situation, temporary and probationary employees will
be the first to be let go. They will be followed by permanent employees with
the least seniority.

SIDC administration officials have said that while efforts will be made
to place the employees in other positions within state service, they are not
optomistic about finding jobs for many of the employees to be laid off.

There are also other problems with worker displacement from
Staten Island. “Staten Island has the worst transportation system in all of
New York City,” said one worker. “Even if jobs are available in the other
boroughs, it’s not easy to get there .. . between the ferry and the subway it
might take over two hours each way.” Most SIDC employees are residents
of Staten Island, and 60% of the SIDC workforce are minorities, 75% are
women.

Some CSEA members expressed concern that placement in other
facilities might not solve their problems. ‘“‘We’re just not wanted. The name
Willowbrook carries a stigma and people act like we’re inferior workers.”
That, some say, would isolate former SIDC employees as outsiders in other
facilities.

CSEA STATEWIDE PRESIDENT William L. McGowan, fourth from left, made a surprise visit to
the Schenectady County CSEA bargaining team as the team was considering to declare an impasse
in its negotiations with the Schenectady County administration. From left are Dorothy Neff, Lou
Altieri, Jeff Zabielski, McGowan, Frank Tomecko, Fran Bosher, Mary Merkel, Barbara Kush-
nick and Collective Bargaining Specialist Harm Swits. McGowan received an enthusiastic rece

tion and members elected to continue bargaining in an attempt to reach a negotiated settlement.

Longevity based
on hours worked,
arbitrator rules

MIDDLETOWN — A 10-year practice in which
a school district awarded longevity payments
based on hours assigned rather than actual
hours worked has been halted thanks to a
recent arbitration decision.

According to CSEA Attorney Barton Bloom,
the Monroe-Woodbury School District contract
provided that employees who worked fewer
than eight hours per day and 12 months per
year would receive their longevity payments on
a prorated basis according to “hours worked”
during the year.

The district argued that “hours worked’
meant assigned hours, not to include overtime,
and noted that they had been applying the
assigned hours formula for 10 years.

But the arbitrator agreed with Bloom that
since the contract language was clear, that
neither past practice nor waiver applied.

The district was directed to use total hours
worked in computing longevity increments
beginning with the 1984-85 school year.

New pass day
plan blasted at
Hudson River
Psych. Center

SNC RSD NS EE A I ESET AL I ASR NOT

Sexual harassment
decision in DOT
case far-reaching

ALBANY — The difficulties women face
in entering jobs previously dominated by
men often continue even after they break
through the barriers.

Barbara L. Buckenzie is an example.

She began working for the state Depart-
ment of Transportation in 1978. She said she
faced sexual harassment then, but believes
it got worse in December 1982 when she be-
came a highway maintenance supervisor.

In November 1983, Buckenzie filed a com-
plaint with the state Division of Human
Rights because she was being treated differ-
ently than other supervisors.

She recently settled her case and the im-
pact is far-reaching. DOT has agreed to:

¢ continue sexual harassment prevention
programs;

«seek extra funds for additional pro-
grams; and

* pay Buckenzie $1,000 for mental anguish.

The settlement is unique because it re-
quires the state, as an employer, to estab-
lish specific programs to train supervisors
in how to prevent discrimination,

is an arbitrary decision by Dominguez that will
disrupt many families.”

Deyo added that the Hudson River director ad-
mits that the purpose of the new schedule is to re-
duce overtime costs, a violation of the union
contract.

Another objection to the new plan is the fact that
the union has had little input as was promised by
facility officials.

“The plans were supposed to be sent to the
CSEA officers for their input,” said Deyo, ‘‘and
all of a sudden, management went ahead with an
implementation date for the new scheduling.”

More recently, the implementation date —
which was set for Feb. 28 — was postponed to April
11, following the receipt in Albany of petitions
from angry employees.

POUGHKEEPSIE — An arbitrary decision to
changé the pass day policy for workers at Hud-
son River Psychiatric Center is strongly object-
ed to by officers and employees who are members
of CSEA Local 410.

CSEA Field Representative John Deyo ex-
plained that for the last few years, it has been a
policy of facility officials to give most in-patient
care staff every other weekend off.

Recently though, Executive Director John
Dominguez notified employees that the policy
would change according to, he claimed, an edict
from the Office of Mental Hygiene in Albany that
would require employees to bid for weekend pass
days. The time off would then be granted accord-
ing to seniority.

“This was not an OMH edict,” said Deyo. “This

een dl

TEETER RARE OSES ESL STR SD TEREST

TES

Worksite revisited

CSEA EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Joseph E. McDermott, right, chats with Department of Trans-
portation CSEA Local 687 President Donald Nugent over a cup of coffee recently. McDermott served three
terms as president of Local 687 prior to being elected Region IV president and then statewide executive
vice president of CSEA. McDermott returned to his old work location to visit a CSEA Employee Benefit
Fund information day being conducted for DOT employees recently.

Page 2

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, March 22, 1985

NEW YORK—More than 400 union activists,
including a delegation from CSEA, gathered here
recently to express solidarity with South African
labor struggles.

The Conference on Labor and South Africa
featured three South African union leaders who
talked about how to aid the efforts of workers
organizing amid the racial oppression of
apartheid.

Apartheid is the system of racial segregation
imposed throughout South Africa by the white
minority government.

The speakers stressed the importance of
viewing apartheid as a basic moral issue, not just
a matter of concern to blacks.

They also emphasized the need to keep the
message before mainstream America, noting
unions have played akey role in putting the issue
forward.

“We need to do massive education on the issue,
starting with our rank and file,” said CSEA
Region II President George Boncoraglio.

As a step in that direction, the Region II Board
has joined the New York Labor Committee
Against Apartheid and appointed representatives
to promote CSEA involvement in its activities.
Boncoraglio has also joined the group’s steering
committee.

According to representative Willie Terry of
CSEA Tax and Finance Local 460, programs will
be presented to give members a clearer picture
of how bad conditions are in South Africa and how
events there affect American workers.

“T think if people hear more about what’s
happening, they’ll want to do something about it,”
he said.

The conference also looked at how the
exploitation of workers in South Africa
undermines labor’s bargaining position here.

Nelson Nthombeni, president of the National
Union of Textile Workers of South Africa, said that
while sympathy job actions and other activities
in this country are extremely helpful, the labor
movement desperately needs money as unions try
to organize amid increasing pressure from the
government.

He hinted that a single alliance of unions is being
pursued.

“We have wasted a lot of time attacking the bull

Conference on Labor and S. Africa
seeks to heighten awareness of

workers’ plight in apartheid system

from different directions,’ he said. ‘‘What’s
important is unity. We must join together to take
the bull by the horns.”

The South African leaders disputed claims that
the Reagan administration’s policy of
“constructive engagement” toward South Africa
is improving conditions for workers there.

They said that although there have been some
cosmetic changes such as the establishment of
industrial courts, the actual effect is continued
repression.

They called for a greater push for corporate
divestiture of South African investment, boycotts
of South African products and entertainers who
perform there, and a campaign for actions instead
of words in U.S. foreign policy.

The conference also heard from Congressman

a

REGION II PRESIDENT i a
George Boncoraglio. ..“‘we
need massive education on
the issue.”

\

ee

‘DP INVESTS

"IF YOU THINK 'M ABUSING WORKERS IN THIS COUNTRY,
I'M GETTING AWAY WITH IN SOUTH AFRICA/"

IMAGINE WHAT

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, March 22, 1985

——

ie Hy Bank

SeuTH AFRICA

Major Owens (D- Brooklyn) who expressed
optimism that major legislation will be passed this
year implementing significant economic sanctions
against South Africa.

AFRICAN UNIONISTS — A trio of South African
labor leaders spoke at the recent Conference on
Labor and South Africa. From left are Nelson
Nthombeni, president of the National Union of
Textile Workers; Emma Mashinini, general
secretary of the Commercial, Catering and Allied
Workers Union; and Edward Mogane, president
of the Building, Construction and Allied Workers
Union.

IN

Page 3

Is

Official publication of i
The Civil Service Employees Association

Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO
33 Elk Street, Albany, New York 12224

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

Publication Office: 1 Columbia Place, Albany, New
York 12207. Second Class Postage paid at Post
Office, Albany, New York.

MICHAEL P. MORAN — PUBLISHER
ROGER A. COLE — Editor

TINA LINCER FIRST — Associate Editor
BRIAN K. BAKER — Assistant Editor

Address changes should be sent to: Civil Service Em-
ployees Association, The Public Sector, 33 Elk Street,
Albany, New York 12224.

WAIT, BEFORE YOU GO DOWN
TO THE UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICE...
THAT PRIVATE COMPANY WE HIRED
NEEDS YOU To GO OVER AND SHOW
THEM HOW YoU USED TO

Do THE work!

(Continued from Page 1)

Boncoraglio said great improvements have
been made at the State Island facility since
allegations of patient neglect and abuse received
widespread media coverage in the early 1970’s.
“In many respects, SIDC is now a model of
proper care and programming for the retarded,”
he stated.

Local 429 President Daniels agreed that the
decision to close is not based on the merits of the
present situation at SIDC. While acknowledging
that the state must comply with the court’s
consent decree, Daniels questioned whether the
state’s actions will maintain the level of care for
the approximately 700 SIDC clients.

“The fact is, most of the clients are being
dumped into other institutions,” he said, pointing
out that policy violates the spirit of the consent
decree which called for deinstitutionalization
ang placement of clients in community group

jomes.

Daniels also pointed out that while most SIDC
clients are from the New York metropolitan
area, the state is transferring many to upstate
facilities. That, contends Daniels, clearly
changes the intent of community care facilities
\ to work with local clients.

( sic closing announcement poorly handled )

In addition to being ‘‘insensitive,”’ both
Daniels and Boncoraglio said the public
announcement of the planned closing might be
premature. Both stressed that a number of
alternative use proposals for SIDC are still under
consideration.

As for the employees’ future, CSEA Field
Representative Bart Brier says the 1,400 layoffs
are a worst case scenario. ‘“‘You might see a
political ‘sleight of hand’ where officially SIDC,
as we know it, is closed down, but some type of
facility continues to provide care on the SIDC
grounds,” Brier projected.

Regional President Boncoraglio said, “We
expect serious consideration for other types of
services that could be provided at the Center and
we intend to push before it’s too late.’’ Adds
Daniels — ‘‘We’re not throwing in the towel, but
we know that layoffs begin in May and so we
have to look at reality and start making
arrangements for our people who are losing their
jobs.”

Admitting bitterness, Daniels said the tragedy
of Willowbrook/SIDC is part of a larger issue.
“The sad part is that what’s happening here will
eventually happen elsewhere . . . it’s a matter of
the state trying to get out of the business of
caring for mentally retarded.” S

DOT reallocation OK'd

ALBANY — Paychecks will be getting
bigger for approximately 200 state
Department of Transportation employees in
New York state.

The salary grade of highway maintenance
supervisor II, effective April 1, will go up from
14 to 15. The increase is the result of a civil
service “reallocation” which CSEA strongly
supported.

A “reallocation” is defined as a change in
salary grade with no change in title. It does
not require a new probationary period.

Tf you were one of those who responded to an
article in the previous issue of The Public Sector
about Hereditary Hemochromatosis (H.H.), you
probably left out some important information
when you sent in the coupon to apply for a low-
cost screening program designed to detect H.H.

According to the Hemochromatosis Research
Foundation, which has received several coupons
from CSEA members, most people have failed to
provide the complete address of their physician,
which is vital to the project. (Please include ZIP
CODE). Also, many did not include a self-

H.H. screening application requires information

addressed return envelope with $.44 postage.

If you are one who failed to follow the
instructions completely, please follow up by
contacting the Hemochromatosis Research
Foundation, P.O. Box 8569, Albany, New York
12208 to clarify your application.’

Also, the screening project is presently limited
to residents of the following 14 counties of New
York state: Albany, Columbia, Essex, Franklin,
Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Montgomery,
Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie,
Warren and Washington.

Seeking director of
Communications Dept.

CSEA is accepting resumes from persons
interested in being considered for the posi-
tion of director of communications in the
union’s statewide headquarters in Albany.

The director of communications is
responsible for promoting the policies of
CSEA through the media and all internal
communication programs and projects. In
addition, the director serves as publisher
of the union’s official publication, The Pub-
Me Sector. The director supervises a staff
of 14.

Candidates should have 10 years ex-
perience in the public relations field and/or
newspaper business. A bachelors degree in
communications may be substituted for
some experience.

Interested individuals should submit
their resume and salary history no later
than April 2 to: Personnel Office, P.O.Box
7125, Capitol Station, Albany, New York
12224.

Attention State Employees!
If you recently...

° returned from leave

© were promoted

© moved into another unit

Summer School for Union Women, an annual labor studies program
conducted at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, is scheduled for July
28-Aug. 2. For more information about this session, write to Ms. Dale Melcher,
Labor Relations Center, 208 Bartlett Hall, University of Massachusetts,
Amherst, MA 01003.

© moved into another agency
. . -motify your payroll dept.
to keep your CSEA membership!

Union Women
Summer School

Page 4 THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, March 22, 1985

In Syracuse School District es

_F RENT erro ery eam

SYRACUSE — By a margin of better than
2-to-1, CSEA members of the Syracuse City
Schools Operational Plant Maintenance Unit
have ratified a new two-year agreement
calling for wage increase and other improved

} benefits.

The contract affecting 250 employees is
retroactive to Jan. 1 and calls for pay
increases of 6 percent the first year and an
additional 5 percent in 1986.

Other benefits include:

« Improved longevity payments.

¢ A co-payment drug prescription plan for
employees and their families.

+ An additional allotment of work clothes.

¢ Improved tuition reimbursement for job-
related educational courses.

¢ Plus other improvements in contract
language.

David Kennedy, president of the unit
affiliated with CSEA Onondaga County Local
834, announced results of the secret balloting
ae followed an informational meeting to

RATIFIED AND SATISFIED — Syracuse schools maintenance workers showed solid backing of
their new two-year contract in a 2-1 vote. Members of the negotiating committee pictured above
are: first row, Bob Davis, Jerry Smith and Joseph Moran; second row, Unit President David Ken-
nedy and Rick Adsitt; third row, Robert Michaels and David Russell.

explain terms of the tentative agreement.
“The fact our members voted 124 to 50 to
accept the contract is a strong indication of
support for the negotiating team as well as the
two-year package,” said Kennedy. “‘It’s a fair
contract with good benefits and

improvements in the language.”

The negotiating committee included: Jerry
Smith, Robert Davis, Robert Michaels, David
Russell, Robert Seeley, Joseph Moran, Rick
Adsitt and CSEA Field Representative Terry

Moxley. oS

Davis and CSEA: a long way together.

By Charles McGeary
CSEA Communications Associate

SYRACUSE — For Bob Davis, veteran with more than 39 years of
service with the Syracuse City School District, the expression ‘‘You’ve
come a long way, baby!” carries some special meaning.

“T started with the district back in the 40s after World War II,” Davis
recalls with a smile,” and I still have my first pay stub. I think my take-
home pay was something like $55 and change for 88 hours. That translates
to about 68 cents an hour.”

Davis is now head custodian in charge of a staff of nine at Fowler
Senior High School. He likes reminiscing about the old days and all the
things that have changed in the course of his career advancements and
transfers among eight different schools in the district, some of them now
long gone by the wrecking ball.

Bob Davis: “I’ve seen
many changes for the bet-
ter through the efforts of
CSEA.” ‘ele

“In the old days we were paid cash for overtime by the group or
organization reserving a room, gymnasium or auditorium in the building.
We would open, close and clean up and be paid the princely sum of 25
cents an hour. On a good night, I might take rome one or two dollars,” he
says with a chuckle.”

Davis is sentimental about his early years with the district, but when
talk turns to unionism and his CSEA unit in particular, he becomes all
business.

Besides being an active CSEA member from the very start of the
school district’s affiliation, Davis has served on four negotiating teams
and has been a member of numerous committees. According to Dave
Kennedy, his unit president and a dedicated union activist in his own
right, Davis has never refused to serve on any committee for which he’s
been asked. That’s in addition to performing his other union duties as
chief steward for the custodians.

One reason that Davis has worked so hard as a unionist is that he
credits the union for many of the improvements in his job and benefits.

“In those 39 years with district I’ve seen many changes for the better
through the efforts of CSEA. Of course, those benefits didn’t come
through the generosity of the school district, or all at once, We fought
hard for every one of them over many bargaining tables. There were
times when we thought we would never wrap things up, then a break-
through would come to reach an agreement.”

Davis has some words of wisdom for younger fellow employees just
starting up the career ladder.

“Have faith in your union and your union leadership,” he said.
“Attend as many meetings as possible and get involved. The old adage
about strength in numbers really applies. The stronger the union
membership and its leaders, the stronger each unit or local will be when
the time comes to negotiate a contract.’’

Although Davis is rapidly approaching his 40th year with the school
district, he has no immediate plans for retirement.

“Retirement is a long way down the road,” he says. ‘Before that
time comes, I’ve got lots of work to do. In this age of computers and
sophistocated lighting, air control and other equipment, I’m always
learning something new.

“That keeps my job interesting and I enjoy coming to work in the
morning. Keeps me active and young,” he said with a sly wink of
satisfaction.

What will he do when he finally does retire?

‘When I eventually decide to pack it in, I think my wife Dorothy andI
will tour the country and visit all the national parks. We enjoy getting
away on camping trips and spending time with out three children and
seven grandchildren,” says Davis.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, March 22,1985

They step into history to —

By Daniel X. Campbell
CSEA Communications Associate

ALBANY—When Dave LaPlante goes to work, he steps back in time about 14,000
years, to an age when mastodons roamed the land which is now New York State.

LaPlante isn’t a time traveler. He’s a senior museum exhibit specialist in taxidermy,
and he works in what his fellow employees refer to as “the dream factory,” the production
facility of the State Museum in Albany.

The two-story, block-long structure is the backroom workshop of the state museum,
where exhibits are conceived on paper and transformed into reality by the skilled hands
of 45 employees, who are members of CSEA’s Education Local 657.

“This isn’t all mine,” LaPlante said with a sweep of his hands to take in a huge diorama
depicting a prehistoric Indian caribou hunt. “I’m just responsible for one small part of the
project—the caribou.”

Uncovering the carcass of the supposedly prehistoric caribou, the zoologist points out,
“It's really a steel skeleton filled with styrofoam, covered with fiberglass. The fur is real
and everything else is as close as possible, except it’s all plastic.”

LaPlante noted “‘at least four or five other department employees have already been
involved in this project so far and we still have about a year of work to do.”

“YOU'D HAVE TO GO ALONG WAY
to find a better job,’’ says
restoration specialist Jeffrey
Stringer, shown here working on a
lifesize mastodon display.

DAVE LAPLANTE works with a minidture model that aids in creating”

a lifesize diorama on mastadons.for @tuture exhibit at the State Museum
in Albany. 5

\

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, March 22, 1985

Page 6

“That's how we work down here,” he says. “Each person is
responsible for his specific expertise, metal work, plastic molding,
Photography, etc. But we all work together to surpass the establish-
ed goal of any project.”

There's a spirit of determination, enthusiasm and solidarity that
seems to permeate all the museum employees.

“Every job here is a challenge. .No two jobs are ever alike and
most of them have never been done before. Each day here is a new
adventure,” according to Neil Hallenbeck, a 15-year veteran museum
exhibit specialist in molded plastics.

Hallenbeck was busy working on a two-foot-long front section
of an adult mastodon trunk. Working with a reverse rubber mold
which has been made from a clay model, he fills the mold with small
pieces of fiberglass cloth and covers it with acetone to create a life-
like snout, wrinkles and all.

“I've built every rock, tree and person in the state museum’s
Adirondack exhibit,” Hallenbeck says with pride. “Now I’m doing all
the rocks in the hunt scene and working on the mastodons. I feel
busy, happy and challenged by the job.”

The current state museum is located in the huge Cultural
Educational Center of the Empire State Plaza in downtown Albany.
It will mark its 10th anniverwsary in this location July 1, 1986. To
the casual museum visitor, the facility may appear staid, almost
unchanging. But a look behind the scenes reveals the pace is anything
but slow.

“Yes, we're working on projects that the general public will not
see until sometime in 1986,” LaPlante said. “But realize we're talking
about building highly realistic life size models, huge backgrounds that
recreate the one second in history that we're after. And everything
from the largest figure to the smallest tree leaf has to be as authentic
as possible. The research alone on one small part of any exhibit may
require months or even years of work.”

Emil Schaller and Curt Fretz, both restoration specialists, agree.

“For the past several months we're been restoring a 1903
hansom cab from New York City,” Schaller said. “We had no
problems rebuilding the woodwork and redoing the paint work, but
due to the deterioration of the internal mechanical mechanism, we
couldn't figure out how the front windows of the cab operated. The
cab was in such bad condition when we got it that it didn’t even have
the window frames.”

“The curator traced the cab’s serial numbers through the New
York City Library and Museum and we ended up with the history of
this very cab, plus information on the design and operation of the
two sliding front cab windows. We then built them to fit exactly into
our cab,.” Fretz said.

CSEA Education Local 657 Second Vice President Anne Marie
Hakeem says, “The museum prides itself on combining art, history
and natural science exhibits. When the new museum opened, its goal
was to show, in a different way, the experience of the people of this
state in the past and present one facility. And that’s what the
fabricators of the various exhibits have been striving to do over the
years.”

“You'd have to go a long way to find a better job,” is the way
Jeffrey Stringer puts it. A nine-year veteran in restoration work,
Stringer said, “The employees are all committed to the mission of
the institution. We have a sense of commitment from the grade 3's
right up to the top management position. And everybody is willing
to lend a hand to help another worker.”

Ward Fellows, a senior fabricated plastics specialist, summed
up the general attitude of the facility employees. ‘Management has
said go for quality, not quickness. And they have stood by this
philosophy in everything involving the operation of the deparment.”

Fellows said that some other museums use a slightly quicker
method of construction to build their exhibit cases that often results
in small gas bubbles in the joint seams. “I use a slightly different
procedure which takes a little longer, but gives better results. And
that’s what the museum management and its employees want—the
best possible results.” 4

The facility is not entirely a worker's paradise—it has some
problems, but management and the union say they are addressing
those problems in a positive manner.

“We have 100 percent voluntary CSEA membership at this
location,” noted Local 657’s Hakeem. “That helps when we go to-
management with a problem, because then we can honestly say it's
their problem also. And we're all willing to work together to solve
our common problems.”

the past ali
7 ‘

RESTORING A HANSOM CAB, above, has proven to be a long process requiring much
research to assure authenticity. Restoration Specialists Emil Schaller, left, and Curt
Fretz apply their magic that is bringing the cab back to its original state.

ANNE MARIE HAKEEM, left, is CSEA Education Local 657 second vice president. The
union enjoys 100 percent voluntary membership at the fabrication facility and Hakeem
says that helps settle whatever labor relations problems arise.

EVERY JOB HERE IS A CHALLENGE.’
says molded plastics exhibit specialist
Neil Hallenbeck, a 15-year veteran in his
speciality

DORANCE GORTON pays close attention to every detail of a human model that
will become part of a future museum exhibit.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, March 22, 1985 Page 7
ERIE COUNTY CSEA Unit President Stephen
Caruana leads members of his unit in public pro-
test over lack of a contract.

CSEQ

OCAL 1000 AFSCmE
AFL-CIO

THIS CSEA MEMBER shows his determination
in his face as, bundled against the Buffalo cold,
he marches in protest demonstration.

Informal dialogue

may start soon on
building reopening

Page 8

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, March 22, 1985

An imposed contract

expected following
legislative hearing

BUFFALO—Erie County employees who have
been without a contract for more than a year have
taken their case to the people.

To vent their displeasure and inform the pub-
lic, representatives of the more than
4,000-member local have held two informational
pickets so far in front of the county’s executive and
legislative buildings.

“We've already been through mediation and
fact-finding stages,” said Unit President Stephen
Caruana. “Our members are fed up with the de-
lays that have caused them to be without a con-
tract for so long.”

Since the Dec. 4 rejection by the local of a fact
finder’s report, it had been trying to negotiate cer-
tain benefits into an agreement prior to a legisla-
tive imposition of a contract. But negotiations
proved unsuccessful and the local is expecting a
contract to be imposed soon, following a legisla-
tive hearing on the matter March 18.

“Because we have already been through 1984
without a contact, we wanted to try to have cer-
tain member benefits—such as dental plan and
summer hours—in the package before we start-
ed working on any agreement for 1985,” said
CSEA Collective Bargaining Specialist Danny
Jinks.

Despite several meetings between the union and
county negotiators, the county executive has con-
sistently torpedoed” tentative agreements, says
Jinks.

‘While we have been able to reach agreement
on most issues, summer hours continues to be a
sticking point,” said Jinks. “‘The county executive
refused to consider it, so we were back to square
one.”

With the collapse in negotiations, the local called
on members to become more vocal by renewing
their demand for a legislative hearing as well as
continuing their informational picket schedule for
the weekly legislative meeting.

“We asked them to show their activism and let
these legislators know that we mean business,”
said Caruana.

The local’s crisis action committee is consider-
ing several other means for members to use in
pushing for a fair contract, according to commit-
tee member Betsy Piette.

“Among other things, we’re working on a but-
ton that members can wear, showing their mem-
bership in the union and our displeasure with the
county’s dragging its feet on our contract,” Piette
said.

“Tt’s important that we stick together and use
the united force of our numbers to keep working
for the best settlement we can get,”’ said Caruana.

BINGHAMTON — Informal discussions are
planned with Binghamton State Office Building
employees expected to return to the facility later
this year.

The building was shut down after an electric fire
and toxic contamination four years ago. Since then
employees have been working at about a dozen
temporary work locations.

David Rings, executive coordinator for the Of-
fice of General Services, recently announced that
the cleanup and renovation of the downtown tow-
er is progressing on schedule.

A year without a new contract
angers Erie members and drives
them to public protest marches

os

em,

AFLCIO”

FAIR
TREATMENT

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING SPECIALIST Dan-
ny Jinks explains union’s position to television
reporter during an informational picket.

Rings expects state officials to meet informal-
ly with employees to discuss the reopening. He
does not expect the expert panel to hold actual
meetings with employee groups as previously
reported. He does anticipate, however, trying to
arrange a meeting of the expert panel with local
union officials.

CSEA has been a highly visible leader during
the past four years to protect employees’ rights
and health and safety, and has helped workers
with such matters as relocation, restoration of lost
time, and personal property claims.

as

year.

... for its own good |

Last January, a group called the Independent Commission on the Future of
the State University issued a report which CSEA believes holds a dangerous
proposal. That report argues that the SUNY administration needs deregulation,
separation from the state so that it can have more freedom, or “‘flexibility,’”’ in
making decisions about how its resources are used.

The report, entitled ‘‘The Challenae and the Choice,”’ recommends a
fundamental and drastic alteration of the current relationship among the state
Legislature, the Division of Budget and SUNY. In a word, SUNY would be held
unaccountable for the more than $1 billion in state monies it receives every

Why is CSEA against this? The union points to widespread administrative
abuse that already permeates the SUNY system. The story is on pages 9-12.

well as yours

SUNY maintenance crews try to keep up

NEW PALTZ — A lack of preventative maintenance and a backlog of
routine chores are the results of years of cutbacks in the support staff of
the state university system.

According to Dale Sutton, president of SUNY New Paltz Local 610,
there are 4,000 fewer employees statewide — mostly support staff — now
than in 1975. In New Paltz, about 25 members of the maintenance crew
have been cut in the last decade. he

“When they have to cut, they cut maintenance,” said Head Janitor Jim
Powers. ‘The institute is here for educational purposes, so the first pri-
ority is to hire teaching staff. We’re only support staff.””

Powers points out that while the buildings are not about to crumble,
routine work is now deferred and maintenance staff has time to tend only
to emergency situations. In addition to the morale problem that this causes,
“People can’t keep up the areas at a level of cleanliness that they would
like,” says Powers.

Powers added that there is no back-up staff to cover for employees
who are ill or on vacation. “Work accumulates, and we end up taking staff
from other assignments,” he said.

“We don’t let priority problems go,”” Powers emphasized. “There are
no health and safety violations, but we’re not providing the level of sup-

4 When they have
to cut, they cut
maintenance. 9

ee

a.
=

port to the college community as we did when we had more staff.

Physical Plant Director Arnold Bernardini says he is concerned that
without the ‘spit and polish,’ SUNY can’t compete with private schools in
the Hudson Valley.

“We can maintain minimum standards, but to make this school spe-
cial, we need dollars. Now we can’t create the type of atmosphere con-
ducive to creative thinking.”

Bernardini also pointed out that the situation is affecting the morale
of the staff. ‘“There’s a feeling that they can’t get ahead of the work,” he
said.

Emphasizing that the cutbacks are not cost effective, Powers com-
mented: “It’s like the MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority). For
years they didn’t budget money for maintenance, and when they finally
decided they couldn’t put it off any longer, it cost them much more.”

“The hidden cost,’”’ said Bernardini, ‘‘is lack of peace of mind, lack
of job security, threats of lay-off for reasons that have nothing to do with
the quality of work.”

“What is totally neglected are the amenities. Not only do you not at-
tract students, you can’t attract quality staff and faculty away from the
private colleges.”

FALLING APART AT THE SEAMS — Local 610 President Dale Sutton
shows cracks in the wall of building on campus at SUNY New Paltz. In
photo above, cracks in walkways and steps go without adequate repair
and create possible safety problems for faculty and students. Deteriora-
tion of facilities is hitting SUNY campuses around the state, and cuts in
funding are shrinking maintenance crews that would otherwise be able to

make repairs. yy)

Bea ne

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, March 22, 1985.

Page 9

LE SE ALI

a

PS TB rare Am

X

aac de ASL 5

Page 10

Region IV Treasurer Barbara Stack gets together for a talk with Sen.
Howard Nolan (Albany).

it’s simply a
power grab.

The commission
report is
unacceptable.9

Thomas Haley
CSEA Political Action Director

L CSEA comes down hard on proposal

to give SUNY more ‘flexibility’

Plan would men

freedom from state kentrol

ALBANY — ‘It’s simply a power
grab.”

That’s how CSEA’s Legislative and
Political Action Director Thomas
Haley describes the latest attempt by
SUNY’s chancellor, trustees and
administrators to gain what they call
more “‘flexibility” in their decision
making.

The idea for less regulation for
SUNY is contained in a report called
“The Challenge and the Choice,”
issued in January by the Independent
Commission on the Future of the State
University. Among other things, the
report suggests making SUNY a public
benefit corporation, free from the yoke
of the state Legislature—but still riding
it for $1.5 billion a year in funding.

But in a counter effort last week,
union representatives lobbied some 55
legislator to drive home the point that
SUNY needs not less, but more
regulation by the state.

“The commission report is
unacceptable to us,’’ said Haley. “‘It
doesn’t establish at all that the
chancellor or the university system
needs more flexibility, which is what
it sets out to.”

The commission report sites a few
examples of some administrative
difficulties SUNY has had in the past.
The most dramatic one concerns the
attempt to purchase a kidney from a
donor for $5,000. Audit and Control
refused authorization because no
competitive bidding has been let out to
establish a fair market price.

ab LAER

Doris Mason, political action coordinator from the Southern Region, discusses U-
Grades legislation with Assemblyman Samuel Colman (Rockland County).

ce SOR AE TU

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, March 22, 1985

oN AA AERTS IIT

Capital Region’s Political Action Chairman John Francisco, right, wit
Assemblyman Andrew W. Ryan Jr. (Franklin and Clinton counties. \g

“This is an outrageous example
because it involves saving a human life
and no one would be opposed to having
flexibility in such a case,” says CSEA|
Attorney Steve Wiley. ‘‘But the|
situation was cleared up with a phone|
call so we fail to see a real problem.”

According to Wiley, SYNY|
administration already has too Much
flexibilty and has abused it in ways|
that are hurting workers in the civil]
service and jeopardizing the state’s
enormous investment in the physical
structure of the campuses.

CSEA is backing a measure in the
legislature known as the U-Grades Bill
(S.2940/A.3831) which would put the
brakes on one of these abuses. Wiley]
explains. e

“This U-Grades situation is a blatant
example to us that SUNY has far tq
much flexibility. SUNY now hag
jurisdiction to take jobs out off
classified service and to put them into
unclassified service. Because there are
no checks on them, they can d
whatever they feel like.”

When jobs are taken out of classified
service they are removed at q
jurisdiction of the state Civil S¢Pvice
Commission. In effect, what thig
means is that career civil servants ar
deprived of promotional opportunities.

Unclassified, or ‘‘professional,’
positions can be filled at the discretior]
of administrative officials.

The proposed legislation woul
restore the power to approve th
placement of positions to the Civi

Be ess

Service Commission and would more
clearly define which positions are to be
in the “professional service.”
According to Wiley, SUNY has been
labeling all sorts of jobs as
“professional” and taking them out of
classified service. Workers who
basically do jobs as plumbers or

@ecretaries have been placed into new

jobs with higher salaries in a
patronage system that is prevalent on
all the campuses.

In addition, SUNY is using license in
creating new administrative positions
at the expense of maintenance. At one
mid-state college, 13. new
adminstrative jobs have been added
since 1957, while 60 custodial ones were
dropped.

@ Theirony is that as SUNY complains

of insufficient funding to hire more
workers to maintain the campuses, it
pours more money into salaries for
“professionals,” says Wiley.

“This is a situation that’s heading the
state for disaster,” he says. ‘“‘What
we're going to have is a ‘Rebuild
SUNY” bond issue if it keeps up.

“The question is whether the state of
New York, the Legislature and the

overnor are going to have any control
over the $1.5 billion worth of revenue
that goes into the SUNY system each
year, or whether they’re going to give
the chancellor a check book with a lot
of money and allow him to write checks
as he sees fit.

“We're saying more stringent
controls would save taxpayers’
money,” Wiley said.

Is there a

ALBANY — If SUNY reigns, we'll
all be poor.

@ _ There will be “dire results” if the

Legislature loses its control over
SUNY, Marie Romanelli told members
of Senate and Assembly committees on
Higher Education at a hearing in
Binghamton recently. The worst of it
will be that SUNY will have to float a
bond issue to try to keep its head above
water.

And it will be the taxpayers who get

@ bit.

Romanelli pointed out not only that
January’s Commission Report fails to
make a case for lifting regulations on
SUNY’s management but that there’s
some strong evidence to the contrary.

She claimed that in three or four
years the buildings and grounds of
state campuses could become so

Assemblyman Richard Miller (Broome and Tioga counties), left looks at CSEA proposal against increasing SUNY
flexibility.” CSEA representatives pictured are: Keith Zulko, Binghamton Psychiatric Center Local 441 and Sue
Calhoun, State University at Syracuse Local 615.

From left, Third Vice President Ralph Young ai
some talk over the SUNY issue with Assemblyman John G. O’Neil (St. Lawrence County).

‘SUNY bond issue’ in our future? |

rundown because of cutbacks in
maintenance crews that special funds
will be needed to revamp them.

“Unless routine maintenance is
performed, the legislature will be
called upon to float a SUNY
reconstruction bond issue. We can see
it now—‘‘Rebuild SUNY.”

“Of course, members of SUNY’s
Board of Trustees will not have to pass
the bill, raise the taxes or perform any
act for which they will be held
responsible,”’ she says.

But the administrations decision’s
now to ignore legitimate needs of the
campuses will be the real reason for its
needing capital construction funds in
the future, said Romanelli.

She pointed out that between 1974
and 1983, enrollment at state campuses
increased by 2,800 students as faculty

21 BRANT SE OL

declined by 750 and the educational
support staff lost 3,663.

Though campus maintenance
continues to fall behind, funds still are
not being directed towards beefing up
the crews.

“Fill levels required by last year’s
budget bills were almost entirely
dedicated to professional and teaching
positions—which CSEA does not
represent,’’ she said.

CSEA does represent nearly 13,300
employees in the university system
through its Administrative and
Operational Services units.

Romanelli says that SUNY’s error in
judgment over campus upkeep shows
the need for state control to keep it in
line.

“Given a choice, SUNY managers
will always make the wrong one,”’ she
said.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, March 22, 1985

ind President Dorothy Penner of Oneida County Local 833 engage in

Marie Romanelli |

SPAETH

Page 11

sinks under wave of
budget cuts

BRONX — “‘Out of sight, out of mind” seems
to be the byword for the New York Maritime
College when it comes to getting funding from
the state.

But it’s the state that will be ‘‘missing the
boat” if it soon doesn’t begin to recognize the
vital role the college plays in keeping New York
City the most important port in the world, say
school and union officials there.

The college, which is part of the state univer-
sity system, is tucked away beneath the Throgs
Neck Bridge on a campus that.includes an ac-
tual stone fort. ‘‘We tend to be overlooked be-
cause we’re hidden away and nobody knows
about us,’’ says Margie O’Brien, president of
the 150-member CSEA unit on campus.

New York Maritime provides specialized
training for careers in the Merchant Marine
service to an average enrollment of some 900
students. O’Brien notes that people often con-
fuse the college with the Federal Academy at
King’s Point, right across the water. But she
indicates that the SUNY Maritime program is
actually broader and more open to students be-
cause they don’t need political appointments to
enroll. It is the only school of its kind to offer
a full four-year college degree and preparation
for Merchant Marine licensing.

The school is unique in other ways also. The
only facility in the SUNY system with an 1830s
fort on campus as well as a 533-foot long ocean-
going ship at dock, Maritime has special needs.

But, according to O’Brien, the college has had
a hard time making its needs clear in Albany
and as a result of being “historically underfund-
ed” finds itself trying to avoid one crisis after
another.

Campus maintenance

KEEP OFF

NOT IN SHIPSHAPE ANYMORE — It wasn’t until the stonework started falling down that SUNY
Maritime College at Fort Schyler, Bronx received funding to make necessary repairs. The cam-

pus, with its 150-year-old fort and oceangoing vessel, has unique maintenance problems but has

been underfunded throughout its history, say college officials.

As an example, O’Brien points to a series of
construction bridges surrounding the fort.
“They’re in place because the stonework
parapets started falling down,” she says.

While there had been backing of projects
to maintain the building for some time, it

6 Unfortunately, when
we don’t have
adequate funding,
CSEA workers are
hurt the most. 9

wasn’t until the walls started crumbling that
He money came through for repairs, O’Brien
said.

According to Maritime’s Director of Business
Affairs Richard Bizar, the school’s budget out:
look is “‘horrendous, bleak, and disturbing.”’ He
indicates that while there had been some en-

couraging attention to the college’s needs over
the past year, at the last minute there were
across the board cuts in SUNY budgeting that
wiped out possible improvements.

Although Martime officials are seeking resto-
ration in critical areas such as temporary serv-
ice and overtime pay, Bizar is not optimistic
about the chances for success.

“Unfortunately, CSEA workers are hurt the
most. When we don’t have adequate funding,
we have to let things like maintenance and up-
keep of the physical plant slide in favor of put-
ting resources elsewhere.”

Also, without proper staffing, existing staffs
have to take on additional responsibilites or
necessary work doesn’t get done, said Bizar.
That, in turn, contributes to a decline in mor-
ale. Bizar is particularly concerned about the
temporary service and overtime cuts because
they have picked up some of the slack from the
staff shortage in the past.

“The shame is that this is such a special col-
lege and we need to keep things up to attract
the better students,” says O’Brien. “If we don’t,
we're not going to be turning out people with
the necessary skills to keep such an important

industry productive.” yy

Cutbacks in custodians pose problems at Purchase

PURCHASE — Problems on SUNY’s Westchester County campus here
have gone from bad to worse.

According to Head Janitor Frank Russo, a member of SUNY Purchase
Local 637, the custodial staff has shrunk by 30 positions in just the last three
years.

Director of Personnel Richard Silver says the staff shortage is caus-
ing “a myriad of problems.”

And Patrick Coughlin, vice president for finance and management has
sent a warning to deans and directors of the university. “It is important
that you begin to plan now for austerity measures,” he told them in a memo.

Coughlin says the Governor’s budget proposal for SUNY poses ‘‘very
serious problems for the college.” Not only did the state not fulfill a re-
quest for additional positions, but Coughlin pointed out that inflationary
increases in the non-salary budget have not been addressed. Therefore,

Page 12

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, March 22, 1985

the cost of materials, repairs and everyday operating expenses such has
postage and telephone bills is severely impacted.

In addition, temporary service was cut by 20 percent and mandatory
savings was increased by over $40,000.

What this means to the support staff is a cut in overtime, less money
for equipment and a campus that is not receiving the attention it should.
Russo says that, like his colleagues on other state campuses, he and his
staff are managing to cover emergency situations but are finding it very
difficult to keep up with daily and preventative maintenance.

The problem is, Silver says, “the less attention you give to the
physical plant, the more it deteriorates.”

“We won't go out of business,” Coughlin commented, ‘‘but we'll get
a little seedier.”

Labor/management grievance
workshop for SUNY locals

TWELVE CSEA REPRESENTATIVES from six Central
Region V SUNY locals attended a recent Labor/
Management Institute grievance workshop in Liverpool.
The one-day sessions, conducted statewide, are designed
for local level union and management personnel with a role
in the grievance process. Pictured are, front row from
left: Sue Calhoun, Local 615 SUNY Upstate Medical Cen-
ter; Pat Crandall, president, Local 605 SUNY Cortland;
Mary Lou Wasilewski, president; Debbie Snyder, first vice
president, Local 609 SUNY Morrisville; Mary Drahos,
third vice president, Local 648 SUNY Binghamton; and
Alice Steckiewicz, president, Local 647 SUNY College of
Forestry & ENCON at Syracuse University. Back row, from
left: Dale Dusharm, president, Local 611 SUNY Os-
wego; Mike Matthews, Local 615; Dick Guyer, Local 611
SUNY Oswego; Robert Goeckel, Local 648; Steve Darrow,
first vice president, Local 647; and Beverly Poole, first
vice president, Local 605. The Labor-Management Insti-
tute is funded by CSEA and the Governor’s Office of Em-
ployee Relations.

PERB rules commissioner violated Taylor Law:

NIAGARA FALLS—A basic union right under the Taylor Law — to file
grievances — has been upheld by the Public Employment Relations Board in
a Niagara County decision.

PERB has directed Niagara County Social Services Commissioner Louis
Scozzafava to stop discouraging county employees from filing grievances.

Theruling has been hailed by CSEA leaders as ‘‘a firm warning” to all state
public employers that “‘public employees have certain rights under the law and
that CSEA will take whatever steps are necessary to protect the rights of our
members,” said CSEA Western Region VI President Robert Lattimer.

Unit President Quain Weber called the ruling ‘‘a great morale boost for our
members. This is proof that the Taylor Law does have some teeth in it.”

It was ruled that Scozzafava violated the Taylor Law at a June meeting of
department employees when he implied that those who filed grievances would
meet with unspecified discipline.

Thomas X. Christy, field representative for the 800-member unit of Niagara
County Local 832, filed an improper practice complaint with PERB.

An attempt to settle the matter informally failed, and a formal hearing was
held in November.

In February, a PERB administrative law judge ordered the county
department to ‘‘cease and desist’’ from the unlawful practice, and to post notices
pledging not to ‘‘interfere with, restrain or coerce any of our employees in the
exercise of their rights” under the Taylor Law.

CSEA was represented by Attorney Stephen J. Wiley at the formal hearing.

According to the decision, Scozzafava “clearly indicated his displeasure with
the filing of grievances and implied that employees who filed grievances would
suffer unspecified reprisals.”

Lattimer said he hopes all public employees will ‘‘take note of this decision,
recognizing that public employees are human beings, not slaves working at the
whim of administrators.”

The posted notices must remain in place for 30 consecutive days from the
date of posting and must not be altered, defaced or covered by any other
material.

Expert approves county efforts to resolve health complaints

KINGSTON—A consultant hired by CSEA to
inspect the Ulster County Office Building says he
is satified that county officials did all they could
to resolve health complaints that surfaced in
January.

Matt Gillen, an industrial hygienist from the
Washington, D.C.-based Workers’ Institute for
Safety and Health (WISH), approved of the
county’s installing exhaust fans and increasing the
air intake in the building.

A lack of freshly circulated air in the building
caused workers to experience dizziness, nausea,
burning eyes and fainting, sending many to a local
hospital for treatment. Insufficient fresh air
causes a build-up of carbon dioxide, which can
bring on such symptoms, said Gillen.

Gillen met recently with Ulster County Safety
Officer Bob Hoose, CSEA Health and Safety
Director Jim Corcoran and Region III Health and
Safety Coordinator Linda Siccardi to appraise the
situation.

Hoose pointed out that the week before the
incidents, outdoor temperatures plummented
below freezing, automatically closing the vents
that bring outdoor air into the building.

In addition to the actions already taken by the
county, Gillen made several recommendations:

A HEALTHIER WORKSITE — Ulster County Health and Safety Officer Bob Hoose, right, discusses
health problems of employees in the county office building with CSEA Health and Safety Director Jim

Corcoran, Region II Health and Safety Coordinator Linda Siccardi and Industrial Hygienist Matt
Gillen.

* The humidity shouldbe increased from the

conditions by afternoon — when most employees

¢ The fresh air intake should be increased
further. Although the current the heating system
does not allow for this, he says a major renovation
project planned for the building should include
such provisions,

present 15 percent — which is extrememly low —
to about 50 percent.

‘ The heat should be turned off earlier in the
day. The building retains heat from the mid-
morning sun, causing extremely hot and dry

reported problems.

Region III Field Representative Steve
Chanowsky said the county demonstrated a
willingness to cooperate when incidents occured.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR) Friday, March 22,1985 Page 13

Buffalo employees stage protest

BUFFALO—While public and employee
opposition to evening hearing hours at the
Workers’ Compensation Board grows across the
state, CSEA members here recently voiced their
dissatisfaction at an informational picket.

Since Workers’ Comp Chairman Robert
Steingut implemented the plan Feb. 4, CSEA has
worked to reverse it, citing impracticality, higher
administrative costs and a violation of the
workday/workweek article of the union-state
contract.

“Robert Steingut acts as though he is superior
to the contract that was negotiated between CSEA
and the state of New York,” declared Buffalo
State Employees Local 003 President Kathie
Fetzer.

After picketing in front of Buffalo City Hall,
Fetzer went inside to testify before the Temporary
Commission on Workers’ Compensation, outlining
the problems caused by the change in hours.

“The inconvenience the evening hour schedule
is imposing on the public goes hand in hand with
the problems facing the employees of the Workers’
Compensation Board,” she told the Commission.

Court Reporter
Frank Navarro

Joining Fetzer on the picket line earlier were
two Local 003 members who called the night hours
“ineffective, disruptive and unsafe.’ The two,
Michelle Smith and Frank Navarro, are both
Comp Board court reporters who were recording

‘How can one man play God with so
many lives? And where does he get
the right?’

—Kathie Fetzer,
Local 003 president

the daylong hearings, but picketing during their
lunch hour.

“T’ve had to work twice already at night and
most of the people scheduled to show up for
hearings have failed to do so,” said Smith. “If this
is going to be a pattern, it’s a big waste of taxpayer
dollars.”

Navarro called the night hours disruptive to

Fight against Workers’ Comp
evening schedule escalates

family life, saying the employees weren't given
adequate notice of the change.

Fetzer pointed out the hazards of the General
Donovan State Office Building, where the night
Comp Board hearings are held.

“Public transportation is remote and
inadequate. The nearest bus stop for most is at
least three blocks away,” she said, noting there
were also minimal building security, first aid and
cafeteria services available in the evening.

The commission hearings were chaired by
Karen Burstein of the Civil Service Commission,
who disclosed that a report will be made to the
state Legislature when statewide hearings have
been concluded.

Also testifying against the night hours were
attorneys, insureds and claimants. The session
was videotaped by an AFL-CIO television crew.

“Good, intelligent minds negotiated a fair
bargain, but Mr. Steingut strikes a superior role,
as if he knows more than anyone else what is right
for the people of the state,” said Fetzer.

“How can one man play God with so many
lives? And where does he get the right?”

p/

VOICING THEIR OPPOSITION to the new schedule were Local 003
members Michelle Smith and Frank Navarro, court reporters for the
Workers’ Compensation Board.

LOCAL 003 PRESIDENT Kathie Fetzer and Field Representative Vince
Sicari on the line.

jg’:

—. ©.

COURT REPORTER Michelle Smith took testimony at the Comp Board hear-
ings, then spent her lunch hour picketing the new night hours.

Tax credits available
for working parents

If you’re a working parent, your children can help you claim additional
credits on your income tax returns. Both the federal government and New
York state allow significant deductions for child care expenses that can save
you money.

The amount that can be deducted depends on your family income and
how many children you have. It ranges from a low of 20 to 30 percent of child
care costs under U.S. guidelines. New York also allows an additional 20 per-
cent of the federal deduction to be claimed.

Both single parents and households where husband ana wite are e1mpivyeu
full- or parttime are eligible. Also, you can claim the credit if you are look-
ing for work or if you are a fulltime student for five months of the year.

The deductions are allowed whether or not you itemize on your tax
returns. They also apply to any expenses involved in taking care of your chil-
dren in order to work. For example, you can file for the credit whether you
take your children to a day care center or have them cared for at home. Travel
expenses in transporting children to child care are also deductible.

As always with income tax matters, it is best to keep all receipts just in
case you are audited. For more detail on the child care credits, contact the
Internal Revenue Service and ask for publication 503, ‘‘Child Care and De-
pendent Care.”

Downstate Med workers
win out-of-title grievance

BROOKLYN — Eleven employees of the Downstate Medical Center here
have had their job titles reclassified and have been awarded nearly a year’s
worth of retroactive pay increases, thanks to a successful out-of-title griev-
ance won by CSEA.

Previously, the administration at Downstate sought and received reclas-
sification for the employees from the state Civil Service Department. Under
the reclassification, the employees were upgraded from grade 4 admitting
clerks to grade 7 nursing station clerks.

Although the reclassification recognized the additional responsibilities
that were required, the grievance ruling ensured that the employees were
properly compensated for the period between the grievance filing and the ef-
fective date of the promotions.

k

CSEA REGION III President Pat Mascioli, left, who serves in the Army Re-
serve as a command sgt. major, is shown here during a recent ceremony in which
Westchester County Executive Andrew O’Rourke was presented with the ad-
miral’s colors to honor his promotion to rear admiral. Mascioli commented,
‘While we sit on different sides as union and management, we come together
in other community areas.” Traditionally, the flag is displayed on the building
in which the admiral is present, he explained.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, March 22, 1985 Page 15

CSEA Treasurer Barbara M. Fauser

The financial statements of CSEA, Inc. for the year ended Sep-
tember 30, 1984 are contained in this issue of The Public Sector. The
statements also contain comparative figures for the previous fiscal
year.

The combined statement of Fund Revenues and Expenses indi-
cates that expenses exceeded revenues by $93,000. This was not un-
expected and existing fund balances were adequate to meet this
short-fall. You may recall that this is in line with projections made
in previous years.

The report of Coopers & Lybrand, our independent certified pub-
lie accountants, and a report by the CSEA Special Audit Commit-
tee are also included.

WILLIAM L. McGOWAN
President

BARBARA M. FAUSER
Treasurer

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
To the Officers and Directors THE CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, INC.

We have examined the accompanying statements of assets, liabilities and fund balances,
of THE CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, INC. as of September 30, 1984
and 1983, General Fund and Insurance Fund, and the related statements of revenues,
expenses, and changes in fund balances and changes in financial position for the years
then ended. Our examinations were made in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards and, accordingly, included such tests of the accounting records and such other
auditing procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances.

In our opinion, the financial statements identified above present fairly the financial position

THE CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, INC.

Statement of GENERAL FUND ASSETS, LIABILITIES and FUND BALANCES
as of September 30, 1984 and 1983

ASSETS 1984
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash on hand and in checking accounts $ 192,433
Cash in interest-bearing accounts and
certificates of deposit - Note 2 7,255,680
Marketable securities, at cost which
approximates market - Note 1 6,779,087
Membership dues and agency fees receivable 747,738
Due from insurance fund 38,384
Miscellaneous receivables 642,130
Prepaid expenses 1794429
Totel current assets 75,830,801
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Land 124,207
Executive headquarters 996,192
Furniture and equipment 904,882
2,025,281
Less accumulated depreciation ¢ 767,520)
1,257, 761
OTHER ASSETS
Certificate of deposit - Note 2 1,000,000
Marketable securities, at ci
which approximates market 1,045,673
Deposit 169,000
Tara 673

$19,307,315
LIABILITIES AND FUND BALANCES

CURRENT LIABILITIES

Accounts payable $ 990,232
Compensated absences 412,166
AFSCME per capita dues 826,990
Payroll tax accruals and funds withheld as agent 8,216
Que to locals for share of dues 2,550,286
Due to employees’ retirement plan ~ Note 6 13,427
Dues collected in advance 10,078

Total current liabilities 4,411,395

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES - Notes 4, 6, 7, 8 end 9
FUND BALANCES
Fund for general operations and working capital:
Undes ignated
Designated by the governing board to
offset future dues increases

4,589,696

4,500,000

1983

$14,374
11,100,005

3,309,496
707,714
153,909
726,926

59,294

76,071,718

124,207
996,192
852,412

7,972,811

(__"645}499)

7,327,312
1,300,000
627,566
THy927, 366

$19,326,596

$571,686
351,056
774,720
9,934
2,539,466
66,178
24,246
7,337,286

4,958,524

4,500,000

of THE CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, INC. at September 30, 1984 and Fund for contingency 34071722 3°200;759
4983, and the results of its operations and changes in fund balances and changes in financial Fund for building and equipment investment 1,427,580 1,326,958
position for the years then ended, in conformity with generally accepted accounting Fund for additions to building and equipment 338,782 302,813
principles applied on a consistent basis Fund for replacement of headquarters building 632,140 = _700,276
Albany, New York December 12, 1984 ae yA L SEE), UE RAL
$19,307,315 $19,326,596
Certified Public Accountants
THE CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, INC.
Statement of GENERAL FUND REVENUES, EXPENSES,
AND CHANGES IN FUND BALANCES for the years Fund for
ended September 30, 1984 and 1983 General
Operations
and Working Fund for Other 1984 1983
Capital Contingency Funds Total Total
Revenues:
Dues and fees:
State $14,540,770 $ $ $14,540,770 $14,047,008
County 13,195,175 13,195,175 _12,574,678
27,735,945 27,735,945 26,621,686
Less:
Refunds to locals 4,474,502 4,474,502 4,305,813
Political action provisions - Note 5 808,499 808,499 562,026
Affiliation dues - Note 4 9,681,468 9,681,468 9,319,500
14,964,469 Ta, 964,469 14, 167,339
12,771,476 12,771,476 12,434,347
Insurance Fund reimbursement of expenses - Note 3 402,869 402,869 327,786
Employee Assistance Program Grants 122,161
Labor Education Action Program Grants 1,359,932 1,359,932 525,947
AFSCME Grants - Note 4 850,000 850,000 1,899,999
Interest earned 1,404,567 359,040 119,333 1,882,940 1,489, 408
Income from other sources 229,268 229,268 106 , 962
77,018,112 359, 040 119,333 77,496,485 76,906,610
Expenses:
Salaries, payroll taxes and other personal service 7,181,197 7,181,197 6,542,013
Employees' pension and group life insurance costs 912,807 912,807 813,684
Administrative travel, lodging and meals 865,040 865,040 872,479
Officers’, directors’ and committees' expenses 696,419 696,419 701,274
Official publication 791,110 791,110 745,150
Printing and communications 460,579 460,579 459,593
Legal services 2,120,915 2,120,915 1,704,247
Data processing services and equipment rental 387,509 387,509 400,199
General expense 208, 686 208, 686 205,814
Depreciation 131,913 131,913 118,032
Headquarters occupancy costs 196, 382 196,382 228,843
Public relations programs 424,736 424,736 127,735
Travel allowance to locals 147,646 147,646 149 096
Regional offices, conferences, State and County workshop
costs other than payroll 924,043 924,043 778,159
Labor Education Action Program expenses 1,359,932 1,359,932 525,947
Delegate meetings, election expenses and organizational costs 780,961 780,961 309,435
77,457,962 731,913 77,589,875 7a, 681, 700
Excess of revenues over expenses
(expenses over revenues) (439,850) 359,040  ( 12,580) ( 93,390) 2,224,910
Fund balance, beginning of year 9,458,524 3,200,739 2,330,047 14,989,310 12,764,400
Appropriations between funds 71,022 (__ 152,057) 81,035
Fund balance, end of year $ 9,089,696 $3,407,722 $2,398,502 $14,895,920 $14,989,310

Page 16 THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, March 22, 1985

FOR YOUR
INFORMATION ©

ANNUAL REPORT

Civil Service Employees Assn.

adjustment, if any, for a particular year reflected in the subsequent year.
(See Note 3,)

THE CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, INC.
Statement of GENERAL FUND CHANGES IN FINANCIAL POSITION
0 5 THE CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, INC.
for the years ended September 30, 1984 and 1983 INSURANCE FUND - FOR INSURED MEMBERS ONLY
1984 1983
FINANCIAL RESOURCES PROVIDED BY OPERATIONS
Excess of revenues over expenses *
(expenses over revenues) ($ 93,390) $2,224,910
Item which did not require outlay STATEMENT OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES and FUND BALANCE
of working capital during the year: as of September 30, 1984 1983
Depreciation 131,913 118,032
Total working capital provided by operations 38,523 2,342,962 ASSETS
e Long-term investments transferred to current 300,000 450,000 Due from insurance underwriter $110,000 © $213,942
Disposition of fixed assets 428
$110,000 $213,942
338,523 2,793,370 <a Seca
LIABILITIES
FINANCIAL RESOURCES APPLIED TO Wut Func mn
Purchase of property and equipment 62,362 82,899 Dosh ro eaneral Fue Ubi) ORE
Purchase of long-term investments 418,107 627,566 FUND BALANCE
Deposit on building 162,000 Restricted for members insured under the group plan 71,616 60,033
One G2 een 1853) $110,000 $213,942
Increase (decrease) in working capital,
CO) ($510,986) $2,082,905 STATEMENT OF REVENUES, EXPENSES and CHANGES IN FUND BALANCE
for the years ended September 30, 1984 1983
e@ SUMMARY OF CHANGES IN WORKING CAPITAL COMPONENTS REVENUES
Increase (decrease) in: Refund fi 1 02 408,
Cash 3,666,266) $2,553,356 lefund from insurance company $416,1) $404,237
Marketable securities 3,469,591 (| 45,448) EXPENSES
Membership dues and agency fees receiveble 40,024 70,312 Reimbursement to General Fund of costs of maintaining
Due from insurance fund (115,525) 27,903 the group life insurance program - Note 3 402,869 327,786
Miscellaneous receivables (94,796) (177,213) Other oepersea 11650 1°50
Prepaid expense: 120,135 4,306 ana eam
Decrease (increase) in: 8
Accounts payable ( 18,546) 248,961 AO 2Ie 529,286
Compensated ebsences (61,110) ( 31,825) 1 ‘
AFSCME per capita dues (52,270) (12/240) Wad: ial
Payroll tax accruals and funds withheld as agent 1,718 ( 3,585) ts 9:
Due to locals for share of dues (10,820) ( 519,148) DURESBah aries cap eGh4\Of year — SOs 16918)
Due to employees’ retirement plen 52,751) (| 295474) ie
Dues collected in advance 14,168 ( 3,281) Ene Betencein Siriots year LUUSIE $60,033
e Increase (decrease) in working capital ($310,946) $2,082,905
THE CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, INC. The Association maintains individual records with respect to members who
s participate in the Group Life Plan underwritten by the Travelers Life
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Insurance Company. Premiums collected through the State Comptroller's
office and many municipalities are forwarded to the Association to be
processed snd thereafter transmitted to the underwriter's agent in original
form. The financial statements of the Association do not reflect the
insurance plan activity.
1, Significant Accounting Policies
6 The Association adheres to generally accepted accounting principles as described 2." Cash/in"InterestrBeuning Accountsiand:Certificates ‘of Deposit
in the Industry Audit Guide, "Audits of Certain Nonprofit Organizations," of ee
i buring the year ended September 30, 1982, the Association entered into a
Phe Anentoan/ Instttite of Certified Fub lite) Accountants, long-term deposit contract in the amount of $1,750,000 with a banking institu-
Income taxes: tion. The principal deposit must remain intact through March 1984 and will be
; reduced by varying amounts each six months thereafter through March 1987. The
The Association is a lebor union exempt from income taxes under Sect ion 501 Br .0cs na) dgaoa tt: baisnoe eb iver bomber 90,1281 1514/.200) 000.
(c) (5) of The Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, no provision for income
taxes has been made. 3, Group Life Insurance Reimbursement of Expenses ”
Marketable securities: The Board of Directors has approved separate studies conducted to determine
the cost of handling the group life insurance program for the years ended
Marketable securities sre carried at amortized cost, which approximates September 30, 1983 and 1982. The effect of these studies was to decrease fund
market. Premiums paid or discounts received on acquisition are amortized on income end the insurance fund balance by $27,869 and increase fund income and
a straight-line basis over the life of the security. the insurance fund balance by $47,214 for the respective years. General fund
income and the fund balence for general operations were conversely increased
@ Property, plant, equipment and depreciation: and decreased by similer amounts for the respective years.
Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated on a A cost study for the year ended September 30, 1984 has not yet been initiated.
straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets ranging
from 5 to 20 years. 4. Affiliation Agreement
Grants received: In April 1978, the Association entered into a three-year affiliation agreement
\ with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO
Operating funds restricted by the grantor for particular purposes, such as (AFSCME). This agreement was amended, effective January 1, 1981, whereby CSEA
Employee Assistance Program and Labor Education Action Program, are deemed became a permanent affiliate of AFSCME incurring all financial obligations of
to be earned and reported es revenues of operating funds when the Associat ion an AFSCME local. As @ permanent member, CSEA must pay the prevailing AFSCME
has incurrea expenditures in compliance with the grant specifications. per capita tax per member per month ($3.90, 1/1-12/31/84; $3.70, 1/1/-12/31/83),
The amended agreement slso provided for an organizational grant of three a
Retirement plan: million dollars ($3,000,000) paid by AFSCME to CSEA upon execution of the
e i agreement and for AFSCME to pay organizational grants to CSEA amounting to
The Association hes a retirement plan covering most of its employees, Nine million six hundred thousand dollars ($9,600,000) payable in varying
Pension expense is determined in accordance with an actuarial cost method, monthly amounts ranging from three hundred twenty-five thousand dol lace
and it is the Association's policy to fund pension costs accrued, Past ($325,000) to fifty-nine thousand dollars ($59,000) over the next forty-eight
service costs under the plan are being funded over a 27-year period. (See month
Note 6.)
5. Political Action Provisions
Insurance fund:
To advance the political goals and interests of the Civil Service employees of
The Insurance Fund is restricted to use for insured members only, but is the State of New York and its political subdivisions, a Civil Service Employees
controlled by and considered part of one legal entity, THE CIVIL SERVICE Political Action Fund was organized. This fund is maintained independently of
EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, INC. Based upon an estimate of the cost of handling the Association and, accordingly, is not included in the accompanying Financial
the group life insurance program, made at the beginning of each fiscal year, statements. The provisions of $808,499 and $562,026 recorded in the fund for
expense is recorded in the Insurance Fund, with the offsetting income general operations and working capital represent the anounts appropriated and
reflected in the General Fund. After the close of the fiscal year, @ study transmitted to the political action fund for the years ended September 30,
e is done to determine the actual cost of operating the program, with the 1984 and 1983, respectively. id

(Continued on Page 18)
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, March 22, 1985

Page 7

FOR YOUR
INFORMATION

(Continued from Page 17)
Employee Benefit Plans

Pension plan:

The Association has @ noncontributory pension plan covering substantially all
its employees. Total pension expense was $841,491 and $761,803 for the years
ended September 30, 1984 and 1983, respectively. The unfunded actuarial
liability at December 15, 1983, according to the latest actuarial valuation,
was $791,311 and is to be funded over a remaining period of 13 years. The
Association's policy is to fund pension costs accrued. The assumed rate

of return used in determining the present value of accumulated benefits was 7%
for both years. The accumulated plan benefits and plan assets for the Associ~
ation's defined benefit plan as of December 15, 1983 and 1982 ere presented
below:

Actuarial present value of accumulated

plan benefits: 1983 1982
Vested $4,621,883 $3,443,317
Nonvested 531,683 652,277

$5,153,566 $4,095,594

Net assets available for benefits

Deferred compensation plan:

During 1984, the Association instituted a deferred compensstion plan for
officers that provides benefits upon retirement or death. The deferred
compensation benefits ere funded by life insurance policies on each partici-
pant with the Association as owner and beneficiary. Total expense for

this program for the year ended September 30, 1984 was $78,946.

Litigation

The Association is a defendant in a number of actions in several jurisdictions.
The amounts of liability in these actions were not determinable at September 30,

1984, but in the opinion of management any ultimete settlement will not
materially effect the Association's financial position.

ANNUAL REPORT

$7,710,649 $6,347,069

Civil Service Employees Assn.

8. Lease Commitments

The Association is committed to various noncancellable leases for rental of
office space for satellite and regional offices end automobiles expiring at
various dates. Minimum rental payments under such leases are as follows:

Total
Fiscal Year Offices Autos Amount
1985 $ 413,709 $ 225,000 $ 638,709
1986 362,616 52,000 414,616
1987 313,863 4,250 318,113
1988 264,230 264,230
1989 198, 582 __ 196,582
1,553,000 281,250 1,834,250
Later years 738,083 738,083
Total minimum
payments required $2,291,083 $281,250 $2,572,333

Rental expense for the years ended September 30, 1984 and 1983 was as follows:

1984 1983
Satellite and regional offices $ 400,491 $ 289,693
Automobiles 221,188 = _ 132,985

$621,679  $ 422,678

Subsequent Event

During November 1984, the Association purchased a new headquarters building
for $3,350,000. The purchase of the building and related improvements is
financed through a $4,000,000 industrial development bond. The debt service
payments are $36,365 per month for 20 years beginning December 1984, which
includes interest of 9.25% per annum.

Lybrand.

The Audit Committee met at Headquarters February 15, 1985.
The following members were present: Chairman John Geraghty,
Charles Perry, Ralph Spagnolo and Ray Bohen. The main topic was
a review of the Annual Financial Report of the union for the fiscal
year ended September 30, 1984. The details of the report were
reviewed with auditors from the accounting firm of Coopers &

CSEA experienced a loss of $93,390 in fiscal year 1984 as com-
pared to the $2.2 million profit in fiscal 1983. As the close of fiscal

1984, CSEA remained in a strong financial position with a total fund
balance of $14,895,920.

SPECIAL AUDIT COMMITTEE
John Geraghty, Chairperson
Ralph Spagnolo

Charles Perry

Ray Bohen

Mary Sullivan

John Kiss

CSEA COLLECTIVE BARGAINING SPE-

CIALIST George Peak explains details of new

3-year contract to members of Nassau County

CSEA Local 830, Members later overwhelming-
« ly approved the agreement.

Nassau County Local 830 members give a
resounding ‘yes’ to new 3-year contract

MINEOLA — A new contract described as mak-
ing ‘important inroads and many milestones” has
been overwhelmingly accepted by members of Nas-
sau County CSEA Local 830.

Nassau County employees accepted the pact,
retroactive to Jan.1, by a 5,112 to 1,417 margin.

The 3-year pact covers about 14,000 CSEA-
represented Nassau County workers. The pace pro-

vides raises of 6 percent in 1985 and 1986 and 5.5 per-
cent in 1987, and includes increments,

Local 830 President Jerry Donahue said the con-

tract makes “important inroads and many mile- °

stones” and said it is a testimony to the hard work
of the union’s negotiating team.

Among the new contract benefits are fully paid
health insurance, a 20 percent increase in dental
benefits effective July 1, and binding arbitration
through an impartial panel to settle disciplinary ac-
tions. It also includes an optical plan for individual
employees beginning July 1, child care leave of up
to one year for both male and female employees, and
a number of other innovative benefits.

Page 18

"THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, March 22, 1985

LOCAL 830 PRESIDENT Jer-
ry Donahue tells his members
that new contract contains
“many milestones.’’ Members
gave wide margin of approval
to contract which is retroac-
tive to Jan. 1,

CSEA POLITICAL ACTION ACTIVISTS who participated in a legislative work-
shop sponsored by the Black and Puerto Rican Coalition of the state Legisla-
ture included, from left, CSEA Statewide Secretary Irene Carr, Region V PAC
Chairwoman Dorothy Penner, Brooklyn Developmental Center Local 447
Political Action Committee member Ivan Destine, and Metropolitan Region II

President George Boncoraglio.

Chemung highway dept.
employee Paul Talada

dies in work mishap

FISHKILL — A grade 8 maintenance assistant at
Downstate Correctional Facility has been upgraded to
a motor equipment mechanic grade 12 as the result of
an out-of-title grievance filed by CSEA.

According to then Region III Field Representative
Diane Campion, William DeCarlo’s claim was that since
1979, he had been assigned to diagnose, repair and main-
tain hydraulic systems, diesel buses and heavy equip-
ment, heavy duty trucks, automobiles, tractors, cement
mixers and small engines.

In addition, DeCarlo was supervising three in-
mates, developing a preventive maintenance program
for the fire engine; performing vehicle inspections, in-
stalling motors and transmissions and performing body
and fender work. He further stated that the supervision
he was receiving consisted only of receiving work
orders.

In his recommendation to the Governor's Office of
Employee Relations, Associate Director Allen C.
DeMarco stated, “Although some of the tasks per-
formed by the grievant are appropriate for main-
tenance assistant, the majority of duties performed are
at the journey level and are performed without super-
vision, making these assignments characteristic of mo-
tor equipment mechanic grade 12.”

“Mr. DeCarlo worked out-of-title for quite a while,
and was promised the upgrading over and over again,”
Campion remarked. “It was only when we filed the
grievance for him that he was finally upgraded.”

Campion urged workers to file out-of-title
grievances promptly. “It may force the state to con-
sider more seriously the need for re-classification,” she
added.

AMONG CSEA REPRESENTATIVES attending a recent Black and Puerto Ri-
can Coalition legislative workshop in Albany were, from left, CSEA Central Re-
gion V Political Action Committee Chairperson Dorothy Penner, CSEA Region

V Executive Secretary Ralph Young and CSEA Statewide Secretary Irene Carr.

ELMIRA — Paul A. Talada, an employee of the
Chemung County Highway Department, was
killed in an on-the-job accident March 12 when he
reportedly was crushed between an unmanned
dump truck and a grading machine during grad-
ing operations on a county road.

Details of the fatal accident are being inves-
tigated by State Police and by CSEA Region V Oc-
cupational Safety and Health Specialist Chris
Jamison.

Talada, a member of Chemung County CSEA

Local 808, was an 18-year employee of the coun-
ty. Talada was described as “‘a real nice guy who §
worked hard and was very safety conscious,”
by Shop Steward Chuck Elliston. ‘‘The guys are
really taking it hard,” he said of the 29-member
county highway crew.

Chemung County Executive Robert Densburg-
er granted Eliston’s request that the highway
department be closed for the afternoon of Tala-
da’s funeral services to allow all co-workers to
attend.

UPGRADED — Newly upgraded Motor Equipment Mechanic Bill DeCarlo, center, is congratulat-

ed by Downstate Correctional Facility Local 155 President Bob Anderson, right. At left is Plant

Superintendent Roger Miller.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, March 22, 1985.

Page 19
ULRIKE (RICKI) HENDERSON SAYS, “I JUST KNEW | HAD TO

PUT OUT THAT FIRE.”’

~ ROY BROWN MODESTLY SAYS, ‘‘ANYONE WOULD HAVE

DONE THE SAME THING.”’

Ulrike (Ricki) Henderson

Henderson, a senior stenographer and an active member
of Middletown Psychiatric Center CSEA Local 415, was work-
ing in her second floor office of the facility's Education and
Training Building when she heard a smoke detector in the hall-
way sound.

Henderson responded quickly—"'I walked out into the hall-
way and checked a room where the washer and dryer are kept,
and everything seemed okay. Then | walked further to a small
room where we have a stove for staff use, and the door felt
very hot.”

When she opened that door, heavy black smoke rolled to-
ward her from a burning pot on the stove.

Instantly, Henderson grabbed a sheet from a nearby clos-
et, wet it under a faucet, and put it over her nose and mouth
in order to be able to breath in the smoke-filled room. She then
pulled the fire extinguisher from the wall and used it to éxtin-
guish the fire before it could spread any further.

“A lot of staff people live in this building,” noted Local
415 President Alex Hogg in praising Henderson's bravery and
quick action in an emergency.

Was she frightened when she first saw the fire? “I didn’t
have time. | just knew | had to put out that fire,” Henderson
said.

She has been an employee at the Middletown Psychiatric
Center for 19 and one-half years. Henderson has been a CSEA
delegate in the past, and has been involved in several union
activities and projects over the years.

child.

Page 20 THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, March 22, 1985

wo CSEC members prevent
possible fire and ice deaths

ROY BROWN, left, is congratulated by Middletown Psychiatric Center
CSEA Local 415 President Alex Hogg. Brown says, “‘Anyone would have
done the same thing” of his actions which probably saved the life of a young

AND BOTH MIDDLETOWN PSYCHIATRIC CENTER EMPLOYEES
ARE BEING CALLED HEROS FOR QUICK-THINKING ACTIONS WHICH
PROBABLY SAVED LIVES IN TWO SEPARATE INCIDENTS
RECENTLY.

ULRIKE (RICKI) HENDERSON shows CSEA Local 415 President Alex
Hogg where a stove fire started in a room near her office. Henderson’s
quick action extinguished the fire that could have endangered many lives.

Roy Brown

It was a very cold wintry day in January when Motor Vehi-
cle Operator Brown was returning from a nearby town, where
he had just picked up some repair parts for vehicles that be-
long to the facility

As he neared his destination, Brown crossed the railroad
tracks a short distance from the psychiatric center.

“Lsaw this little kid, about two or three years old, walking
down the tracks,” he recalls. “He had no shoes on, and no jack-
et, and it was below freezing!”

Realizing the small child was alone, the CSEA member
stopped and asked the child where he was going. Brown
remembers that the youngster told him he was heading for a
local discount store to “ride the horses,” apparently referring
to a mechanical merry-go- round in the store lobby.

But the severely underdressed child did not know his own
name, his age, or where he lived. So Brown put him in his ve:
hicle and took him to the facility garage, where safety officials
called local police, who later located the childs’ parents.

Brown, an ex-Marine and a five-year employee at the psy
chiatric center, shrugs off his actions, which possibly saved the
child’s life in the below freezing weather. “Anyone would have
done the same thing,” he says.