The Public Sector, 1988 November 28

NEVE

The Governor hasn’t asked, but if he does, the answer is ‘‘No!,’’ says CSEA statewide
President Joe McDermott.

Gov. Cuomo, facing a deepening state budget crisis, has indicated he would like to
renegotiate labor contracts covering state workers. CSEA contracts covering more than
100,000 state workers provided a 5 percent raise earlier this year and call for

9 increases of 5 percent next April and 5.5 percent in April 1990.

McDermott rejected the idea of reopening contract talks, and said employee layoffs and

.. cuts in aid to localities and schools -
are also unacceptable. The union
leader offered alternative
\ proposals he said would go a
; Jong way toward eliminating
an estimated $1.9 billion
state budget deficit.

(continued
on page 3)

TINSTIDIE

LABOR-MANAGEMENT

ACHIEVEMENT
AWARDS

'. PROGRAM

w 8s 9-13

NEW YORK STATI
we e J

Agreement

THE CIVIL SERVICE
EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, INC

THE STATE OF NEW YonK

Administrative
Services Unit

ee e@
f
A aapeeenecmnemmeinennat <p
Di a pee gait nee
“ Clg er
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CSEA New York state members take note! The wait is almost over. F
As seen above, the newly printed contracts for members in the
Administrative Services Unit, Institutional Services Unit, Operational
Services Unit and Division of Military and Naval Affairs are off the
presses and should be in your hands shortly.

The 106,000 contracts will be mailed out by bargaining unit over the
next few weeks. All contracts are expected to be in the mail before
Christmas. If you haven’t received your copy by Jan. 1, contact your
CSEA local president.

MOVED?

If you've moved recently, or plan to move in the near future, it’s very
important, to you and CSEA, that you notify the union of your new address
immediately. Use this form for your convenience.

__. CHANGE OF ADDRESS ___

Name ____ Social Security No.

MY OLD ADDRESS WAS

Street
Ci ae State ZIP
MY NEW ADDRESS IS:

Street

City State Sa

My employer is:
My work location is
Tama member of CSEA Local

MAIL TO: Civil Service Employees Association

Attn: Membership Department
143 Washington Avenue

Albany, New York 12210

CSEA seeks industrial hygiene specialist

CSEA is seeking candidates to fill a tests, analyzing data and taking and

vacant Industrial Hygiene Specialist position analyzing air samples, noise levels, and

in the union’s statewide headquarters in lighting.

Albany. e
Interested candidates should have at least Submit resumes immediately to:

a bachelor’s degree in the areas of safety & Civil Service Employees Association

health, biology or chemistry. The Ind&strial Personnel Director i

Hygiene Specialist will be responsible for, P.O. Box 7125, Capitol Station

among other things, reviewing laboratory Albany, New York 12224

Elizabeth Gordon named to Ulster County board seat vacancy

Elizabeth Gordon of Pine Hill, representing Ulster County CSEA members, is the e
newest member of CSEA’s statewide Board of Directors. Gordon was an unopposed
candidate for the vacant board seat and was named to the post Nov. 15.

‘a )
The Public Sector (445010) is published every other Monday by The Civil Service
THE PUBLIC Employees Association, 143 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12210. Publication
Office: 143 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12210. Second Class Postage paid at
Post Office, Albany, New York.
Address changes should be sent to: Civil Service Employees Association, Attn:
Membership Department, 143 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12210.
Official publication of The Civil Service COMMUNICATION ASSOCIATES @
Employees Association, Inc., Local 1000, SHERYL CARLIN Region | RON WOFFORD Region VI
AFSCME, AFL-CIO, 143 Washington Avenue, (516) 273-2280 (716) 886-0391
Albany, New York, 12210 LILLY GIOIA Region Il STEPHEN MADARASZ Headquarters
(212) 514-9200 (518) 434-0191
ROGER A. COLE Editor ANITA MANLEY Region Ill
A 914) 896-8180
KATHLEEN DALY Associate Editor DAN CAMPBELL ae Ni
(518) 489-5424
L STANLEY HORNAK . . Asst. Dir. of Communications pea eredan )
e

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

November 28, 1988

1T'S NOT SO MUCH
A QUESTION OF WHERE

IT CAME FROM AS:

CAN WE GET ouT
OF THIS WITHOUT
GETTING HURT
Too BAD 2!

Don’t even bother

. to ask, Governor!

(continued from page 1)

McDermott issued the following statement regarding the state
budget situation:

“The family of New York is in deep financial trouble. And that
means all of us will feel the pain unless positive action is taken
now.

For example, 60 percent of the state budget goes back into our
communities as aid to local governments and school districts. So
budget problems in Albany are not just a ‘state’ issue.

If the state cuts back, there will simply be a transfer of ‘red
ink’ that means higher local taxes to maintain such basic
community services as police and fire protection, education,
garbage and waste disposal, snow and ice removal, Medicaid and
Social Service programs.

The times demand leadership. Massive state layoffs are not the
answer; neither are cuts in aid to localities and school districts.
Expenditures — including negotiated labor contracts — are not out

@ of control; tax cuts are.

The State of New York has not asked us to re-open contracts. We
do not expect them to. But, if they do ask, we would not agree
because our contracts are fair agreements negotiated in good faith.

Therefore we call upon the governor and the state Legislature
to shoulder their responsibilities and not look for the easy way out.

CSEA proposes the following course of action:

*Eliminate all planxed income tax cuts until the state’s financial
position improves. This action would raise $1 billion.

*Close various tax loopholes for big business, including:

1) repeal the investment tax credit-employment incentive
credit;

2) eliminate interest cost deduction for mergers and
acquisitions;

3) tax all economic interest in real estate transfers; and

4) repeal double-weighted sales formula.

Our elected officials cannot, must not, refuse to make the
difficult decisions necessary to keep New York state running and, at
the same time, protect the state’s credit rating.

CSEA knows these decisions will be unpopular. But we firmly
believe that the alternatives would be just as unpopular — and
unacceptable.

The budget shortfall is a time bomb waiting to explode. We
must work to defuse it now.”

“If the state cuts back,
there will simply be a
transfer of ‘red ink’ that
means higher local taxes...”

November 28, 1988

THE PUBLIC SECTOR 3

THREE WHO HELPED — left to right, Jim Ferens,
laborer; Bill Shepard, driver operator; and Clayton
Bardin, laborer, were among the Village of Phoenix
employees who helped build a new DPW garage at
a huge savings to the taxpayers!

They did it themselves and saved

taxpayers’ money

PHOENIX — You say you are trying to convince your local
government that contracting out is not the way to go, but you need
a clincher? No problem! Tune in to the Village of Phoenix project in
Oswego County that saved more than $100,000 in construction and
labor costs for a new DPW garage complex!

It didn’t happen by budget-juggling or fast talk and mirrors. It’s
happened because the mayor of a small village on the Oswego
River had the foresight and common sense to fully utilize a valuable
commodity: the know-how and dedication of his own village
employees.

Jim Ferens, CSEA steward for the Village of Phoenix Unit of
Local 838 Oswego County, says the original idea for the ‘‘do-it-
yourself” project came from Mayor Marv Dix.

“For some time Mayor Dix and the village have known that a
local barge canal bridge would be replaced, and the access road to
the bridge widened. That would block the entrance to our DPW
garage,” Ferens said.

“After the Mayor discussed his ideas with Supervisor Nels
Burdick and the DPW crew, he took his ‘floor plan’ to the Village
Board where it received immediate approval,” Ferens added.

“Yes, we did our homework,”’ Dix said during an interview at
his equipment and supply store in Phoenix. ‘‘We went to the village
employees with some straight talk. I said to them: “You need a

4

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

building, the village needs a building. If we put it up ourselves, we
can save the village a bundle of money’,” Dix explained.

Using his expertise in the building trade, Dix estimated the new
garage complex could be built on village land for $25,000 in building
materials and an additional $35,000 in construction costs and
labor.

When compared to an estimated cost of $160,000, plus bonding
charges, for contracting the job to outside bidders, it was clear that
“do it ourselves” was the smart way to go.

Using the Village 10-man work crew, plus some hands-on help
from the Mayor and Oswego County Highway trucks and
employees, work began in May. By late summer the project was
completed and an open house program was held in September. Dix
estimated that village employees completed 95 percent of the job.
The village workmen cleared the site, built the cinderblock
foundation, constructed the framework, siding and the roof.
Professional electricians wired the building.

“Supervisor Burdick and his crew worked on the project when
they could find the hours away from other jobs,” Dix said.

“This isn’t our first do-it-yourself project,” Ferens said. ‘“We
put in 1,500 feet of water main on the south end of the village. That
job included home tie-ins and hydrants for a savings to the village
of $20,000. We have a good team here, and I think Mayor Dix and
the Village Board know it. When we can take on a project and save
taxpayers money, it makes good sense and job security. After all,
we live in the Village, too. Call it employee pride, or community
pride, we stay on the payroll, the village saves money. Everybody
wins!’’, Ferens said with a tone of satisfaction.

November 28, 1988

Ee

(MANHATTAN PSYCHIATRIC CENTER HALFWAY HOUSE

Where unpaid mandatory overtime
was “expected” by

management

‘BUT NOW IT”
-PAYBACK TIME

By Lilly Gioia
CSEA Conmannieetione Associate

NEW YORK — For five employees, it was
a $100,000 payoff. But it wasn’t hitting the
lottery or winning at a TV game show that
recently rewarded five Manhattan
Psychiatric Center Halfway House aides.
With radiant smiles and checks in hand,
their feelings of joy and achievement
seemed boundless as the CSEA Local 413
members jubilantly celebrated recovering
years of unpaid overtime.

Waving a check for $41,153.31, exuberant
Halfway House Aide Barbara E. Rantin said
the employees recovered the unpaid

overtime because they took their case to the
union.

“We came to CSEA with a grievance
because we were being scheduled for 16
hours and only being paid for eight. We
came with proof of what we were talking
about and sat down with the union rep,”
Rantin said.

“CSEA then put endless hours in on behalf
of these people,”’ Local 413 President
Mohamed Hussain said, alluding to stacks of
time and attendance records and sign-out
sheets that had to be researched to
document the pay loss. ‘‘Plus the business
office here was giving us the hustle about
exactly when the members would be paid,”
he added.

HALFWAY HOUSE AIDES Janet Sillah, Panchita Fraser and Barbara E. Rantin, from left, are
surrounded by CSEA Local 413 President Mohamed Hussain, second from right, and other Local 413
officials. Fraser and Rantin were among five aides sharing in nearly $100,000 in unpaid overtime
checks, and display the checks in the photo.

November 28, 1988

“T worked six and one-half years on these
16-hour shifts without being compensated,”
said a delighted Panchita Fraser as she
received her back pay check for $7,130. Now
unable to work because of a serious eye
problem, Fraser expects to use the windfall
to assist with medical bills for upcoming eye
surgery.

Other unpaid overtime checks were issued
to Edna Waters ($7,241), Lorraine Shepherd
($15,572) and Courtney Doeman ($23,691).

The unpaid overtime victory was
announced in conjunction with a CSEA Local
413 Employee Recognition Day program,
where hundreds of members heard CSEA
Metropolitan Region II President George
Boncoraglio and statewide Executive Vice
President Danny Donohue salute the quality
services provided by Manhattan Psychiatric
Center employees to the mentally ill.
Donohue urged members to continue
supporting their union and get even more
involved.

“Tn cases where employees are clearly
being abused by management, you have to
act with the full force of the union,”
Boncoraglio emphasized.

“Don’t be afraid to go to the union or
afraid you will lose your job,’ Barbara
Rantin said encouragingly. ‘In the union it’s
not about who you know. Mr. Hussain
worked with me as a stranger.”

Rantin openly expressed relief at no
longer being forced to work mandatory
overtime without pay and looks forward to
spending more time at home with her
12-year-old daughter, Tashan. She is
thinking about a down payment on a larger
home as a result of regaining her lost pay,
she said.

Field Representative Barton M. Brier said
employees had been told by management
that they were “expected” to work
mandatory overtime without pay as part of
the job. Under these circumstances, some of
them resigned. But CSEA’s successful

grievance even included back pay for an
employee who had resigned.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

WHITE PLAINS — A two year contract for more than 6,000
Westchester County employees has been overwhelmingly ratified
following lengthy negotiations.

Employees voted 2,934 to 372 to approve the agreement which
is retroactive to Jan. 1.

Following a declaration of impasse and unsuccessful
mediation, a fact finder was brought in in July to break the

S

‘Westchester County Unit
gives overwhelming Okay

>

stalemate. The fact finders’ report was submitted to members for
their vote on Nov. 9.
The two-year contract provides for 5 percent pay increases
each year, increases in tuition reimbursement, longevity and
night shift differential, language clarification pertaining to
disciplinary procedures and promotions and bereaverient leave.
As of the Public Sector publication date, the contract was due
to be ratified by the Westchester County Legislature. Ay

Critically injured
DOT Worker dies

EAST MEADOW — One of two CSEA members who were
struck by a car on Oct, 19 while picking up litter near the
Southern State Parkway later died of head and internal
injuries.

Joseph Ingrassia, 64, a member of CSEA DOT Local 508,
died at the Nassau County Medical
Center. He never fully regained
consciousness after the accident.

Co-worker Roger Plassman, 33, also
suffered extensive injuries, requiring
many hours of surgery. He is recovering
at the medical center.

“It’s a shame. Joe was going to
retire in two months,” said Local 508
President Hank Jenny.

“Joe Ingrassia will be sorely missed
by his family, friends and co-workers,”
Jenny said.

Jenny said a committee is being
formed to research and collect data for
use in lobbying for hazardous duty pay
for the road crews.

“Our people are at the mercy of hundreds of motorists
every day. If that isn’t hazardous I don’t know what is,” said
Jenny.

Ingrassia is survived by his wife Nancy; his children,
Anthony, Geraldine and Patricia; his brother Salvatore;
sisters Mildred, Helen and Mary; and six grandchildren.
Many CSEA brothers and sisters attended the funeral which
was held in Lindenhurst where Ingrassia resided.

CSEA DOT Local 508 is collecting donations for a
memorial fund to be given to Ingrassia’s family. Please make
checks out to Nancy Ingrassia and send them to:

Ingrassia

Bud Dieckman
DOT 1234
Meadowbrook Road
North Merrick, NY 11566

6

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

Incidents emphasize the
danger of public employment

Arthur Mayotte killed

TUPPER LAKE — Arthur Mayotte, a 20-year employee
of the Village of Tupper Lake and member of Franklin
County CSEA Local 817, was killed on the job Nov. 16.

Mayotte, a mechanic in the Department of Public Works,
was repairing a hydraulic line on a front end loader. The
loader’s bucket, which was resting on a steel pipe, slipped
and fell on him. He was killed instantly.

The accident is being investigated by the Department of
Labor.

“Everyone knew him,”’ said CSEA Unit President Joe
Cormier. ‘‘It’s hard to say anything about what happened —
it’s a shock and he will be missed.”

Mayotte worked for the Department of Public Works
since 1968.

There’s still time for your to “help feed the hungry” as
part of the CSEA Cares Food drive. Although activities and
collections were being planned for all six of CSEA’s regions
on Nov. 30, many locals are continuing their efforts beyond
that date. Check with your local or regional CSEA office
for details on activities in your area.

November 28, 1988

- CSEA halts Stony Brook Hospital
employment recruitment scheme

which ignored seniority rights

@ STONY BROOK — CSEA says Stony seniority problems affecting nursing station “We got a fair, workable agreement,”
Brook University Hospital tried to clerks. said Charline Alonso, a nursing station clerk
circumvent contractual seniority guidelines But the hospital administration made a for 10 years. ‘‘I think CSHA did a good job
in an effort to attract new employees. So last-minute agreement with Local 614 handling the grievance.”

CSEA stepped in to protect the rights of recently to follow contractual seniority
current employees. suugelines ae learning rene Fe OTS
‘ : plans for an informational demonstration by
an He hoon fae ae Hon Eee the nursing station clerks outside the
. A hospital’s main entrance. Ruggiero
when it offered new employees holidays off ied ted if

@ 28 a recruiting technique. cancelled the demonstration after _

management agreed to stop violating the

“The union contract definitely calls for the
assignment of employees to be made on the
basis of seniority,” Ruggiero said.

CSEA held a series of meetings with
management in an effort to resolve the

contract.

“Management has agreed to schedule
time off for the holidays based on
seniority,” Ruggiero said. ‘‘We’ve won our
grievance and it’s effective immediately.”

LOOKING OVER AGREEMENT to schedule holidays off by seniority are, from left, CSEA Field
Representative Jim Walters, Nursing Station Clerk Lina Leving, Executive Board member Phil
Santella, Nursing Station Clerk Charline Alonso, CSEA Local 614 President Tony Ruggiero and
Executive Board member James Madison.

“WE GOT A FAIR, workable agreement,” said
Nursing Station Clerk Charline Alonso.

2 >)
: New Rochelle city workers rally to help
needy co-worker forced out by disability
NEW ROCHELLE — City workers in Former Unit President Tony Blasie, According to Blasie, the Garcia family
New Rochelle have begun a fund-raising who is helping with the fund-raising, has had to stretch Mrs. Garcia’s paycheck
effort for a former co-worker who has reminded members Garcia won a major until her husband’s disability checks start.
been forced to retire due to a disability. grievance for his co-workers, compelling Meanwhile hospital bills, which are only
Co-workers want to help Louis Garcia the city to upgrade their job titles. partially covered by insurance, are piling
@| Jr., who came to work for the city Garcia is a Navy veteran who saw up.
highway department in 1967 and service in Vietnam. Although he and his Garcia’s former co-workers have
ultimately rose to the position of foreman. _wife have three children of their own, planned several fund-raising events.
A dedicated union activist, Garcia was _ they also found time to be foster parents
president of his union for several terms and even adopted one of the youngsters. Anyone wishing to help are asked to
when he was an AFSCME member. Later, But recently the 44-year-old Garcia has mail checks or money orders made out to
when the foreman title was transferred to _ been in poor health. Diabetes has claimed “Louis Garcia Jr.” and send them to
CSEA, Garcia became a CSEA shop most of his eyesight and he was forced to Tony Blasie, 184 Drake Avenue, New
\_ steward. retire. Rochelle, N.Y. 10805. By

November 28, 1988

7

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE M/C COIN

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units to management/confidential (M/C) said. 2g = ag g Eo g a3 gee par es ss
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increase this year although union- eas e were leaving, quitting and being SeRBShee 3 SEER pes
represented state employees received et go. = osee She B g2c78¢9 ope
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There are approximately 15,000 M/C back into CSEA, in a job that didn’t have é aya SES 2 a £2 Ber Eg
employees in state government alone; the title but had a whole lot more, I ighB e432 REGS SE8 8
hundreds more in local governments. grabbed it — union dues, insurance 5
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sometimes include a new title and implied —_ worth it.” g33% 3 BG ae BaEESES EAE
higher status, the grass is not always After seven years in management, one pegeR8 seep ages BPs
greener on the other side of the fence. man told why he returned to the union 3 ees 3 z a eee 53 Pee § g 5
ranks three years ago. sek fos Sabha Beara aga
By Daniel X. Campbell “7 used to be a union leader (before La tee iS P o8aen! gee ae
CSEA Communications Associate being promoted into management) and Baeuce a ree E gag a
while I liked the higher salary, after eoeeck (S868 8s ia fart
ALBANY — “‘If I had known then what several budget battles; after having job see SSE Freer ase oad Rs 5
I learned the hard way, I would never benefits cut overnight; after seeing how guBake eas Be A 238, 835
have let them make me management treats its own, I decided to Sin 6 ag Sa =eks 2 ah ge
management/confidential, never,” one move on and move back,” he said, adding | 29929 gE Bare aehke Es
former M/C secretary insists. he’s pleased with his decision.
The former M/C secretary was one of A woman who once worked in one of the f723ESE8Z9O8  pyerasgs
é ; ; F ‘ ; RESETES gs z
several employees interviewed about their most powerful state offices said she got Be jaa see 24 eklsle &
personal experiences after being plucked there through politics. But she left for a Ba B ge a8 Sy Sf ens aa & 3 :
from union ranks and placed in the never- union-protected job. Beaty See 83 gseetak
never-land between union member and “Over a period of time I discovered that AaS 3 Hy Se BALERS A
management. To a person, each talked on if you get a job through who you know, 3 ReRS Rea BS - P|
condition of remaining anonymous. you’re not really secure because who you ; ¢ ag ack & ? ead =4 x ae oO
“Oh, the title may sound nicer than, know can lose, can fall out of grace, can SSeS aRR° EB as F iy § a =
say, clerk/typist; but you really lose a lot be replaced by someone else who doesn’t gee a eB as gE BS GER Bee
going into M/C, or even into a know you or want you, and you're gone. ah Rese g8k® saee O
management title,” another employee Forget the benefits, forget the high- : be g ag ga F ee ae 8 sé
who returned to a union-represented powered offices, the limos, the press . At i fe $28 al Bre ae pa)
position whispers quietly. conferences, the travel; that can be gone oil eS eae See
Every year at various levels of CSEA, —_ almost overnight. And without a contract SE SEE. RERSOS BARRE
from the smallest school districts to the and a union to fight for you, you’re gee Bear fo y Sae> geagg> =
largest state bargaining units, history too.” ne z 85 Sesc=pce FF berg =D)
management seeks to designate some State management/confidential Se ae eG gk ond FER ae (@)
workers as M/C employees and take the — employees, still waiting for a possible 852 22 CE ga aa 8 £ suo a fos ae
incumbents out of the union. Often CSEA salary increase while a state budget a7 BR FG gs Poe Beg eg 8 Pre (4p) e
ends up spending a substantial amount of deficit deepens, know in the end, hat in af. gad AgE@ ea e EEeE2S a
time and money to prevent many of the _ hand, they’ll take what’s given and like it, | ¥ 8g wtp FB fe Be Rbesdo
unilateral changes from happening. But _or else. CSEA members have already Rae SER a ehees zegs g (¢p)
some do get through, and the results are —_ fought for, won and received their raises. gs Z aes i bis ss RB a a Es (qp)
not always what was expected. When injustices arise, they can file PEE 3B 2808.3 grPs., cn
“Oh, I was approached by my former _ grievances or other charges. If you’re an Be S38 paca ei gffad

boss,” one worker said, explaining how M/C and times get difficult, sometimes all
she ended up falling for the line. you can do is hope.

@
8 THE PUBLIC SECTOR November 28, 1988

“A

1988
LABOR-MANAGEMENT
ACHIEVEMENT
AWARDS

Labor-Management
ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

The Labor-Management Achievement Awards Program has been
established as an annual event to acknowledge those employees who
have actively committed themselves to developing effective labor-
management relations. Jointly sponsored by the Civil Service
Employees Association (CSEA) and the New York State Governor's
Office of Employee Relations (GOER) and administered by the
Committee on the Work Environment and Productivity (CWEP), the
awards program honors persons who have extended themselves in

promoting labor-management cooperation through various programs,
initiatives and activities. 2)

CSEA Local 602, is congratulated by CSEA
statewide President Joe McDermott.

CREAOLA SHELTON, left, President of CSEA
Local 439, and Elizabeth Moore, director of
Governor’s Office of Employee Relations.

|

eo 2a di al:
RICHARD PARKER, right, president of CSEA
Local 640 with CSEA President Joe McDermott.

November 28, 1988

INDIVIDUAL RECOGNITION AWARDS

These CSEA-represented or management employees
have worked sincerely and tirelessly to improve
labor-management cooperation or the quality of work
life of employees within a given agency or facility
worksite.

Ms. Berchou is an outstanding example of an effective labor
leader who believes in labor-management cooperation. She is an
extremely effective communicator of the needs of her local
members, working with management to resolve issues that benefit
both the employees and the University. She played a major role
in the successful negotiation of a smoking policy for the
campus. She also provided the leadership in obtaining CWEP
grants to improve the work environment for the custodial staff
and has been an active member in the EAP committee.

Ms. Shelton continually demonstrates her knowledge, skills,
and abilities to enhance labor-management cooperation as a
method of resolving workplace problems. She exhibits this
commitment through her involvement with staff, clients, parents
and visitors. The results of Ms. Shelton's efforts include:
creation and implementation of an innovative direct care
training program; improvement in agency training programs due to
her advocacy and first hand assessments; improvement of employee
performance due to her coaching; and the implementation of a
direct care task force group to meet with the director monthly.

Through Mr. Parker's promotion of labor-management
cooperation, the executive board of local 640 now meets monthly
with the executive board of United University Professions. This
joint effort, which is the first of its kind for CSEA on this
campus, has been invaluable in dealing with issues that affect
CSEA employees, while providing an important vehicle for labor
and management to work cooperatively. Mr. Parker is also very
active with the campus EAP program, and a member of the Asbestos
Abatement Training Program, overseeing its every aspect while
maintaining a deep concern for the safety and welfare of his
fellow workers in this program.

and

ued on next page)

THE PUBLIC SECTOR bS ]

CSEA LOCAL 411 PRESIDENT Tony
Bentivegna, left, was congratulated by
CSEA statewide Secretary Irene Carr,
center, and statewide President Joe
McDermott, right, after Kings Park
Psychiatric Center earned a 1988 Labor-
Management Award.

Kings Park Psychiatric Center

Hoa.
CSEA Local President

Robert T. Hettenbach
Executive Director

(Tony) Bentivegna

An extraordinary event occurred at Kings Park in June 1988
as result of a joint effort between CSEA Local 411 and the
Administration. While the continuation of services was assured
by professional staff, over 600 Mental Hygiene Therapy Aides
were honored at an "Employee Recognition Day." Therapy Aides
received special awards for outstanding dedication and service,
and took part in a "Benefits Fair." From this experience,
professional staff have a better understanding of the role and
commitment MHTAs have for the care of clients. Mr. Bentivegna
and Mr. Hettenbach also developed an overtime system which
resulted in a re-deployment of the workforce and the withdrawal
of 166 grievances. Their cooperation led to more equitable
staffing and vacation schedules.

LABOR-MA
ACHIIBV]
AWAR

4 GEMENT
MENT
DS

LABOR-MANAGEMENT TEAM/!

IMITTEE AWARDS

Small groups of two or m
employees and management empl
labor-management committees o;
statewide, regional, agency ©:
worked together to develop st:
workplace issues and conce@ns
quality of work life and work
commitment to labor-managemen)
also improved productivity an
delivered to the public.

ire CSEA-represented
vees or established
erating at the

facility level have
ategies to resolve

T@y have improved the
ace morale. By their
cooperation, they have
the quality of services

Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center

Patricia Sheppard Barbara Reeves
Director of ETU EAP Coordinator
Cindy Hammond Dr. Ramakrishna Rao
MHTA I Clinical Director

This group organized the "Role of the MHTA in the Nineties"
workshop as an effort to reinforce the role of the MHTA as part
of the treatment team and to enhance awareness on the various
ways of delivering Mental Health care in the community.
Management and CSEA together have supported this training to

keep employee productivity, morale, and wellness at an optimum
level.

Chris Powers

Melinda Monaghan
Assistant Business Officer

Institution Food Administrator

This team received a $5,000 grant from the Agency Specific
Training Grants Program to allow a group of 12 food service
workers to attend a local community college where a food service
program was offered. Mr. Powers and Ms. Monaghan held
discussions with the local college to refine the specific topics
that would be taught during this program. The employees were

allowed release time with pay to attend the courses during their
normal work hours.

Richard Heath
Executive Director
Barbara Reeves

EAP Coordinator

Linda Yost

Assoc. Human Resources Admin.
Cindy Hammond

Chair of EAP Committee

These labor and management representatives formed a
sub-committee from Mohawk Valley's EAP Program to cooperatively
address employee performance as related to stress stemming from
problematic personal circumstances. The sub-committee included
representation from all unions, direct care staff and
management. The administration set the tone, the unions
facilitated the process, and the staff made it happen.

Watertown Correc

onal Facility

Anne M. Cooke And
CSEA Local 172 President up}
Richard L. Harrison ob}
Treasurer Dep|
Delvan E. Streeter De:

ASU Steward
Theodore E. Delaney

Dep
Ben|

OSU Steward Dep’
Thomas L. Shatraw Roy
ISU Steward For

William VanBenschoten
Former Deputy Sup. of Programse

Due to the outstanding work
labor-management team, there have
CSEA members in the past twelve m
through effective communication b
representatives, management, and
A number of other issues were res
the cooperative efforts of the la
overtime for employees involved if
improvements for computer oper@to
safety and health, working condit
opportunities for employees.

ew T. Peters

rigtendent

xt Fisher

ty Sup. of Admin.

is Bliden

ity Sup. of Programs

amin Thompson

yy Sup. of Security
irdich

er Deputy Sup. of Security

‘complished by this

been no grievances filed by
ths. Conflicts were resolved
ween the union

@ employees on a daily basis.
iived at the facility due to
br-management group, including
snow removal, work station

6, @moking in the workplace,
pn improvements and training

i 4

Middletown Psychiatric Center

Grassroots Greatness Team

James Gewirtzman

Director for Administration
Robert Sklarz

Director for Personnel

Lawrence Decker

Associate Personnel Administrator
Patrick Piccirilli

Business Officer

Robert Brown

Geriatrics Unit Chief

Alex Hogg

CSEA Local President
vincent Panetta

CSEA 1st Vice President
Grace Ortiz

CSEA 2nd Vice President
Diane Hewitt

CSEA 3rd Vice President
Jennifer Schaeffer
Executive Director

This team holds monthly meetings to put forth issues of
concern to both labor and management. As a result of this
communication they worked together on the Employee Assistance
Program Committee to bring about a full time EAP Coordinator and
created an Emergency Loan Fund which has been extremely helpful
for employees experiencing temporary financial hardships. They
have also established the Hilltop Children's Center to serve
employees' children, raising over $8,000 for scholarships in
1988. Last October the facility opened an employee exercise
room as a result of their efforts.

New York State Department

ff Taxation and Finance,

Racing and Wag

ring Board

Alethia V. Boddie

Dist. Audit Administrator

Greg Greenwood e
Tax Compliance Manager
Gladys Belsky
Administrative Manager
Vanessa Fulston-Thomas
Admin. Service Manager
Ronald Sommer

Assist. Executive Director
Willie Terry

CSEA Local President

Lydia Siegel

Keyboard Specialist

Sadie Hankinson

Keyboard Specialist
Shelia Artz

Tax Compliance Rep.
Elizabeth Wilson

Clerk I

In the past two years, thig q
labor-management environment by cq
Committees: two for Safety and Hed
the Employee Assistance Program.
implementation of successful smok
obtaining parking permits for fie
improvement of many safety and hed
Committees have made great strideg
and morale at the workplace.

eon Wiggins
alculations Clerk
ii@a Slaughter

lerk I

ionel Taylor

fax Compliance Rep.
Judy Jenkins

eyboard Specialist

lex Glatt

fax Compliance Agent II
larvey Rosenfeld

ax, Compliance Agent II
James Fludd E

ax Compliance Rep.
larie Vuono

Benior Clerk

laudette Sullivan

fax Compliance Agent II
oraine McKnight
‘alculations Clerk

‘oug established a vibrant
Pating five sites for L/M

th Maintenance, and three for
his has resulted in the

g policies at four worksites,
H staff at the worksites, and
th issues. These L/M

in improving both conditions

State University of New York
at Stony Brook

Labor-Management Team

John Marburger Jesse Drucker

President Manager of Labor Relations
Jurgen Krause Karen Nimmons
Asst. V.P. for Human Resources Personnel Associate

Louis Rose

Director Human Resources
Alan Entine

Manager of Employee
Relations-Main Campus
Shirley A. Menzies

Sr. Personnel Administrator

Tricia Allen

Personnel, Associate
Anthony J. Ruggiero
CSEA Local President

Ed Zurl

Maintenance Supervisor I
Phil Santella

Alyce J. Hobbs Painter
Director & Asst. V.P./HSC James Madison
Human Resources Painter

This labor-management team worked to establish a highly
successful "English As A Second Language" program for
non-English speaking employees, at no cost to the agency.
increased efficiency by opening the lines of communication
between employees and between employees and management. This
team has also implemented a safety program which reduced hazards
for employees handling toxic and bio-hazardous materials,
resulting in a reduction of sick days and accidents. They
improved the grievance procedure making it possible to handle
many grievances through the computer system. In addition, they
achieved the resolution of a conflict with Town of Brookhaven
officials over Stony Brook's waste management system, averting a
potential crisis for the University Hospital.

This

1 0 THE PUBLIC SECTOR

Novemb¢

28, 1988

THE PUBLIC SECTOR 1 1

Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
Finger Lakes Region

Labor-Management Committee

David Eggorsdorf State University College of New York
CSEA Local President at Fredonia

Don Oliver
Park Manager
George Wyman

Labor-Management Smoking Policy Committee

Ma: Ann Bentham Joseph Grohol
Park Manager cSER Local President Assistant Purchasing Agent
Jim Reagan Joseph Muscarella Randall Dipert
Business Assistant Director Health Services Associate Professor e
Bill Acomb Daniel O'Rourke Lawrence Schwab
Park Manager I Director of Personnel Public Safety Officer

John Shaffer

Park Manager The multi-union Smoking in the Workplace Labor-Management

Pete Ells Committee was established in 1987 and developed a campus policy
- AoGsnese Officer that was sensitive to the needs of both smokers and
rton 1

non-smokers. Although it ruled out smoking in individual
offices, it called for the designation of smoking lounges in
most campus buildings. The committee dealt with the issue
systematically, mailing questionnaires to the campus employees, e
analyzed its results, sponsored open forums for discussion, made
recommendations to the College President on the designation of
smoking lounges in campus buildings, opted for a gradual,
realistic, cooperative approach, and advised the College
President on policy implementation. The smoking policy was
sensitive to the health of employees and students as well as to
the needs of the smokers.

Park Worker III
Barb Frasier
Regional Rec. Specialist
Jim Dunn

Seasonal Park Aid
Bob Lodinsky
Park Engineer
Bruce Rumsey

Park Worker III
Steve Garlick
Park Worker II
Tom Noble

Park Manager I
Julie Boyle

Park Worker II
Bruce Hartley
Park Supervisor

J.N. Adam Developmental Center e

Labor-Management Smoking Policy Committee

James Boothb; Buddy Beaver

Doug Haight DDAS a CSEA Local President

Painter Robert Haenszel Mark Robbins

coer te Marsh DIHRM Social Worker II

ark Manager Kathy Sterlace Joyce Hewitt
Andy Mazzella Sr. Stenographer Safety & Security Officer I

Regional Director i Saee 2 i

’

Mau PaRERR OT giooEds aoe r Consistent with the State's commitment to provide a healthy @

work environment for its employees, these individuals created a
labor-management committee to develop a policy that would
attempt to maintain a smoke-free environment without infringing
upon the rights of those employees who choose to smoke. The
commitment of the committee members to provide a fair policy,
their personal involvement with supervisors and staff to resolve
differences, their creative ideas to make work sites as
smoke-free as possible via use of mechanical devices, and their
proposals of a smoking cessation program to assist the smoking
employees, demonstrated their outstanding efforts in promoting e
labor-management cooperation.

Lance Powell

Park Manager I
Kathie DeSarno
Keyboard Specialist
Ernie Kiemle

Park Manager

Ron Gladstone

Park Engineer

Bob Terrell

General Park Manager
Randy Warne
Journeyman

Laurie Treleaven

Sr. Account Clerk

Ed Freeman
Supervisor Park Worker

Downstate Correctional Facility

Roxanne Wentworth Richard Stephens
Brad Mosher Keyboard Specialist Plumber/Steamfitter
Golf Course Maint. Super. Hildegard Smith
Dick Wilbur Senior Stenographer e

Park Manager
Art Nordby
Park Manager

These individuals have displayed commitment to
organizational excellence and a real concern for the quality of

John Dawson working life for the employees at Downstate. At this facility a
Supervising Park Worker climate of cooperation exists that has resulted in open

Tony DeSarno communication spawning ideas that improve productivity. For

Seasonal Park Aid example, Ms. Wentworth's efforts in having facility personnel

Dick Bassette certified to be notary publics, saved staff travel time as each
Plumber/Steamfitter housing unit now has a notary. This climate of cooperation has

Cliff Lott also resulted in unselfish and motivational efforts to improve

General Mechanic the quality of working life and morale. Exemplifying this are e

The Finger Lakes State Park Region Labor-Management
Committee exemplifies a new attitude of team building focused on
how each employee shares in the delivery of high quality
services to the public in the Finger Lakes Region. This process
of employee involvement and participation works effectively in
opening lines of communication by eliciting innovative ideas,
sharing concerns and solving problems that effect the way in
which the regional office does business. e

1 2 THE PUBLIC SECTOR November 28, 1988

% WILLIAM L. MCGOWAN AWARD

One labor-management committee or team was
selected by the statewide Awards Review Committee from
among all the nominations within each of these
categories as demonstrating the most outstanding
labor-management achievement of the past year.

1988

LABOR-MANAGEMENT

ACHIEVEMENT

; ¥ AWARDS
,

Ss

A .

MARK SMACHER, left, shakes hands with CSEA President Joe McDermott after the labor-
management committee from Broome Developmental Center received the William L. McGowan
award. Smacher is president of CSEA Local 449 at the facility.

Broome DDSO/CSEA Local 449
Labor-Management Committee

Mark Smacher William Olmstead
ZF CSEA Local President Dir. Inst. Human Resources Mgt.

Kathy Roma Richard Thamasett
CSEA Executive V.P. Director
Bill Krivyanik Roger Monthie

® CSEA lst. V.P. Deputy Director
Debra Davenport William Broskett
CSEA 2nd. V.P. Deputy Director
Sue Bederka Harold Hopkins
CSEA 3rd. V-.P. Deputy Director

Sandra Slodki

Senior Personnel Administrator
NEW YORK STATE The Broome DDSO/CSEA Local 449 Labor-Management Committee
has worked collaboratively to improve employee morale,

9 EEE motivation and levels of productivity through the joint
development of innovative and practical solutions to the
concerns and issues of the workplace. This was accomplished by
the creation of cooperative programs and practices that address
management and employee needs and interests.

Department of Taxation and Finance
Labor-Management Smoking Policy Committee

®@ deborah Dominski Meritt Hildreth
Labor Relations Rep. II Associate Administrative Analyst
Tom Beckstein Carmen Bagnoli
Supervising Admin. Analyst CSEA Local President
Lawrence Keely John Gully
Tax Audit Administrator II CSEA Statewide Board Rep.

The committee developed a comprehensive, far-reaching
smoking policy to be phased in over a two-year period. The
e policy results from a significant effort on the part of the

union and management team members to create a smoke free
environment and ensure that employee disatisfaction and dissent
would be minimized. This was a cooperative effort in which each
committee member played a full, active role in decision making
and in which the results reflect a sincere effort to reach
consensus.

SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Morrisville

e Carmel K. Greenwood Mark Sternburg
Cleaner Janitor

Ms. Greenwood and Mr. Sternburg helped to develop and
implement a campus smoking policy which considered the health
effects of smoking as well as the concerns of smokers and
non-smokers. As the CSEA representatives of the committee, they
were two of its most active members and contributed greatly to
the successful design and implementation of the facility's
smoking policy.

(© ssanmensreemiene 4 ESS E i G E E a
November 28, 1988 THE PUBLIC SECTOR 1 3

Dutchess Educational Local 867 President
Norma Condon and Wappinger School
District Unit President Maryjane MacNair
listen to a wellness workshop held recently
in the Wappinger School District. Nearly 275
support staff of the District attended the
workshop which was conducted by CSEA’s
education and training specialist Joan
Dunham-Card, at right.

Wellness
; in
Wappinger

nn

Out in
force

HUNTINGTON — Furious at the
town’s threat to contract out and
eliminate services, employees in the
Town of Huntington Unit of Suffolk
CSEA Local 852 demonstrated in front
of town hall recently.

Led by Unit President Dorothy Goetz
and CSEA Region I President Jerry
Donahue, approximately 300 members
walked with signs and shouted “‘no con-
tracting out!” prior to the town’s public
budget meeting, to protest the town’s
proposed budget cuts which include the
contracting out of the Payroll Depart-
ment, as well as the elimination of the
Consumer Affairs Department.

Seven CSEA members, all Huntington
residents, would lose their jobs and send
off a domino effect by bumping rights.

The union has announced plans to file
an Improper Practice Charge against
the town because the positions involved
“have historically and exclusively been
the work of the bargaining unit.”

“We’re confident PERB will rule in

our favor on this,” said CSEA Region I
President Jerry Donahue.

All affected employees are higher
paid females in the white collar unit. No
budget cuts have been proposed for the
predominantly male, blue collar unit
employees.

At the board meeting, CSEA Field
Representative Jim Walters delivered
an inspiring message to the board.

“We will not allow the town to con-
tract out our services.

We will fight you every step of the
way!’’ he declared.

1 4. THE PUBLIC SECTOR

November 28, 1988

ee

DOT workers display their talents

By Anita Manley
CSEA Communications Associate

POUGHKEEPSIE — Some CSEA members who work
for the state Department of Transportation (DOT) had a
chance to show off their artistic talents at a recent art
show.

DOT CSEA Local 507 President George Ballard was
one of the contributing artists in the show sponsored by
DOT, the state Office of General Services and the state
Association of Transportation Engineers.

He surprised his co-workers by exhibiting his
handiwork — an intricately embroidered and framed fan
of pink and mauve flowers. He started his hobby while he
was housebound with a broken heel.

“My wife told me to take up a hobby and she bought
me a kit to start me off,” Ballard said. “It was good
therapy.

Ballard said he highly recommends embroidery for
anyone who needs to take their mind off everyday
problems, “especially being a local president!”

Two other Local 507 members who work in the
Poughkeepsie DOT office were lauded for their work.
Popper Gardner, a mail and supply clerk, and Terry Hart,
an information processing specialist, both had their work
displayed. Gardner paints, and Hart paints and
photographs flowers.

Gardner said the show gave her a chance to show her
co-workers that she had other talents.

“People here who didn’t know me were floored,”’ she
said. ‘‘They didn’t expect a mail clerk to be a painter.”

Gardner is self-taught and has been painting since she
was 13. She is a member of Barrett House, which is
affiliated with the Dutchess County Arts Council.

“The show gave me a lot of confidence,” Hart said,
adding that she heard ‘‘a lot of comments from co-
workers.”

Hart bought a 35-mm camera about six years ago and
began experimenting with close-ups of flowers ‘‘since
they’re my favorite things.”

Art by other people has often been displayed in the
building, she said, but the employees’ show gave her co-
workers a chance to see what she and others can do.

“T had people say to me, I didn’t know you could do
that,’” Hart said. ‘‘They think I’m just a secretary!””

Ballard said he plans to help publicize next year’s
show so that more CSEA members get involved.

TERRY HART photographs exquisitely colored flowers.

‘“‘People here who didn’t know
me were floored. They didn’t expect
a mail clerk to be a painter.”

Popper Gardner

GEORGE BALLARD says his crewel embroidery is a theraputic hobby.

November 28, 1988

POPPER GARDNER poses with one of her striking paintings.

15

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

aN NSN ERE ICM OO TS PERS NE SR

EDUCATION

ILR program offers degree

ALBANY — The New York State School
of Industrial and Labor Relations has
added an associate’s degree program and
will begin classes along with its regular

This year the school, in conjunction with
Hudson Valley Community College, is
introducing its associate’s degree in labor
studies. That is in addition to its 18-credit

* Labor Law, Thursday
* Labor’s Changing Role in the
American Economy, Thursday

spring 1989 Labor Studies Program in
January.
The Labor Studies Program is a unique
Se Pae ay for union members to broaden
their knowledge of labor issues through
courses offered by Cornell University’s
School of Industrial and Labor Relations

certificate program.

To make the program more accessible
to working people, the program courses
are offered evenings from 6 to 9 p.m.

The spring semester begins Jan. 9, with

the following courses:
* Collective Bargaining, Monday

Registration for the spring semester
will be conducted from 5 to 7 p.m. Jan. 4
at the Capital District office of the New
York State School of Industrial and Labor
Relations, Cornell University, 146 State
Street, Albany.

For more information, call Alice Brody,
labor programs coordinator, at

extension program. * Arbitration, Monday 518-449-4161.
LEAP is the Labor Education Action Program
of CSEA. It offers tuition-free courses at two-
and four-year public and private colleges,
La bor Cc | a sses BOCES and various state facilities across New
York state. LEAP is available to CSEA-
2 palter fae employers in the Operational
ervices, inistrative Services an
set | n B u ffa lo poonigsiialactigays Institutional Services units, Health Research
Te eeecron ae Dae a
fi Military and Nava airs and the Teachers
Baan eres ue Labor Studies Retirement System. CSEA/LEAP courses are ®
oo . a = lesigned to increase upward mobility in state
Course for the term include: Labor Education Action Program service and improve the quality of life on and
* Labor Law I: Private Sector off the job.
* Labor Law I: Public Sector
* Labor History 5
* Internal Union Organizing and Union 0 u ré acce e
Leadership a o 8
* Collective Bargaining
* Crisis Bargaining The application period for the spring REGISTER with the school. If you fail to
* Financial Research for Bargaining 1989 LEAP semester has ended, and all register, the school is not required to hold ®
Classes meet Wednesday evenings at eligible CS9EA members who applied will a space for you and you may be
the Buffalo State College campus. Limited | soon hear whether they have been responsible for the tuition for that course.
scholarship assistance is available. accepted. Certificates of residence are required by
Since 1972, more than 400 Western New Trans-o-grams will be mailed the week community colleges as proof of county
York union leaders and activists have of Dec. 12 to the homes of all who applied and state residence. They are available at
graduated from the Buffalo Labor Studies to inform them whether they have been the appropriate county building. Students
program, a college-credit certificate accepted for a LEAP course. may not be allowed to enroll without a
program of Cornell University in Buffalo. If you are accepted for a LEAP course certificate of residence or may be
For more information, call the Cornell you should immediately contact the required to pay the higher out-of-county
University Office at 716-842-6180 or stop in college or BOCES where you have been residence tuition themselves. ®
at the office, 120 Delaware Avenue, Suite accepted to verify registration If you are accepted for a course, you
225. requirements, the course location and the must purchase your own books and other
date of the first class. related course materials. CSEA/LEAP
YOU ARE REQUIRED TO FORMALLY only pays tuition.
i CSEA Local Government members, ®
there’s a new workshop designed especially
for you!
The union developed ‘‘Getting Ahead:
Exploring Your Career Potential” with
SUNY Empire State College to help you
uncover your strongest skills and talents and
provide you with information on educational
opportunities.
The program — based on a course offered
by CSEA/LEAP — is being offered to local e
government members for the first time.
The workshop has been held in three
regions so far and will be offered in Buffalo
3 on Dec. 3 and in Syracuse Dec. 10. Plans are
PUTTING THE FINISHING TOUCHES on the Local Government career potential workshop are, from pe Ing developed tov offer slmplan programs in
left: CSEA Deputy Director for Local Government Ron King; CSEA/LEAP Director Debbie Baum; e near TULuEe. is .
Empire State College Dean of Continuing Education and Public Service Hugh Hammett; CSEA Local, For more information, contact Sean
Government Executive Committee Chairperson Shirley Ponkos; and CSEA Assistant Local Turley in the CSEA Education and
Government Director Ed Catrine. Training Department at 1-800-342-4146. e
1 6 THE PUBLIC SECTOR November 28, 1988

‘Small
world

Her hobby is
in miniature

By Anita Manley
CSEA Communications Associate

NEWBURGH — An Orange County
probation officer is furnishing and
decorating homes in her leisure time. But
Jean Yanarella’s homes are not for people
— they’re dollhouses, to be looked at and
admired for their tiny, intricate furnishings.

“They’re definitely not for kids,”’
Yanarella says. ‘‘They’re too fragile.”

In fact, Yanarella’s work is so far from
child’s play that some of it was displayed at
the Hill Hold Museum in the Newburgh
area.

“Dollhousing”’ can be an expensive hobby,
depending on the decorator’s taste.
Hundreds of catalogs have designer
furnishings that can cost nearly as much as
the life-size item. A hanging, working lamp
can run about $40, sofas and chairs $85
and up. Other items available include
shower stalls, toilets, fireplace embers,
working doorbells, bricks, keys and tiny
portraits to hang on tiny walls. One
catalogue even had something ‘“‘to make
your doll-house lawn look oh-so-real: doggy
do-do.””

“You buy the dollhouse and, of course,
you can’t leave it naked,” Yanarella says,

ORANGE COUNTY Probation Department employee Jean Yanarella displays her dollhouse; this

particular three-story condominium was once a stereo speaker.

“so you look in the catalogs and buy
miniature furniture, plants, books, all kinds
of tiny things. I admit, it’s crazy!”

Yanarella uses her own ingenuity to
create furniture for her houses. A miniature
store has little ceramic alligators and
snakes. A living room has magazines made
from gummed stamps that advertise for
subscriptions to life-sized magazines. On the
tiny coffee table is a pair of miniature eye
glasses made of blue wire. Yanarella also
upholsters her own sofas and beds for her
little houses.

Miniaturists use their imaginations to save
money on their hobby, she explains.

“Sure, you can buy waste baskets for your

THE CERAMIC SNAKE coiled at left is more of Jean Yanarella’s handiwork. She made it out of clay
for her miniature store.

November 28, 1988

bedrooms and bathroonis, but the little
coffee creamer containers at fast food
restaurants look just as good as store-bought
when they’re stripped of their foil top and
cleaned,” she says. ‘They also make good
lampshades.”

Yanarella is always on the lookout for
items that “‘can take on a new life in a doll
house.”

She became interested in dollhouses more
than a year ago through conversations with
a co-worker. Since then, she has completed
three dollhouses and individual rooms that
have been displayed at the Newburgh Free
Library. Her current project is a nine-room,
three-story Federal style residence which
she has equipped with electricity.

“I always swear that each dollhouse I
build will be the last,”’ she says. “It’s a lot
of hard work, sanding, painting and gluing.”

Yanarella says she sees her nine-room
house as a life-long project.

“Just like any house, it is never really
complete,” she adds.

Yanarella looks for new ideas at shows.
For example, at the Hill Hold Museum, she
got the idea to put a miniature cat ina
miniature litter box in one of her dollhouse
rooms, using groundup litter she has for her
life-sized cat.

“Incidentally, many people with
dollhouses report that their pet cats are
fascinated with their dollhouses and often go
into the little rooms, thinking that they’re
just the right size,” she notes. ‘My cat has
not dared to trespass. She must know she’d
be in need of a new residence entirely if she
did that!”

Yanarella, a member of Orange County
CSEA Local 836, supervises adults under the
Probation Department’s Intensive
Supervision Program. Her hobby helps her
handle some of her job stress.

“This is a hobby I can escape to,’’ she
says. “It’s something unreal, something
creative.”

THE PUBLIC SECTOR 1 7

ALBANY — Two CSEA local presidents
testified recently at a public hearing on
issues concerning the State University of
New York (SUNY) system.

CSEA was the only public employee
union to make a presentation at the SUNY
Board of Trustees hearing.

SUNY Plattsburgh CSEA Local 612

public hearing held by the SUNY Board of Trustees.

‘Travel time is
past practice

HYDE PARK — It had been going on for 20 years, and an
arbitrator agrees that constitutes “past practice.”

Maintenance employees in the Hyde Park School District
have for two decades returned from their scattered worksites to
the bus compound to begin their 30-minute lunch breaks. At the
end of the half-hour, they would return to their assigned
workplace.

But management decided that there would be a new policy —
all employees would break at 11:55 a.m. for lunch and be back to
their worksites at 12:30 p.m. This meant that employees would
have to eat at their worksites rather than at the bus compound.

School district officials contended that the previous practice
was contrary to the contract, which stipulates a half-hour lunch.
CSEA attorney Tom Mahar pointed out that the contract must be
interpreted according to past practice.

Arbitrator Janet Maleson Spencer concurred.

“T agree with the union that the article ... has to be
interpreted and applied in accordance with this firm 20-year
practice, and that any unilateral change violates that section,”
she ruled.

“Tn accordance with past practice, employees should be
allowed travel time of fifteen minutes before lunch to return to
the compound for their personal vehicles and 15 minutes after
lunch to return to the worksite.”’

“Tt’s a good win,” said Region III Field Representative
Richard Blair. ‘‘This arbitration establishes a good strong

18

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

CSEA speaks out at SUNY hearing’

President Betty Lennon outlined the
problems of U-grades — the unclassified
service titles and positions within SUNY.
SUNY Buffalo CSEA Local 602 President
Kathleen Berchou testified about the lack of
promotional opportunities within SUNY.
U-grades
While U-grades were originally created to

AN

TIMONY — CSEA Assistant Director for Research Don Kelly, left, talks with SUNY
Local Presidents Kathleen Berchou, center, and Betty Lennon as they wait to give testimony at a

definition of a past practice.” 2y

help SUNY “with more flexibility to attract
qualified staff,” Lennon said, in reality they
have become a personal patronage system
for campus presidents. They are also seen
as a license to steal jobs from classified
service, she said.

Using examples, Lennon pointed out that @
the salaries of U-grades positions are often
twice as high as those being paid to CSEA
members in classified jobs who are
performing essentially the same service.

In one instance, she showed how SUNY
could save $6.54 per hour by using a full-
time keyboard specialist who is a grade 6
and a CSEA member instead of a U-grade
employee. The hourly rate for the U-grade
employee doing the same job would be
$13.74 per hour.

Advancement
Berchou faulted the SUNY system for
failing to develop methods for its own
workers to advance within the system.
“Within the SUNY system, it is difficult
for most, and almost impossible for women,
to advance in the skilled trades. SUNY
sparingly uses the Joint Apprenticeship @
Program,” she said. “SUNY has the ability
to be a leader in recruiting employees
through the Joint Apprenticeship Program,
which could be a prime tool in encouraging
the advancement of minorities.”
Summing up the problem, Berchou said,
“The word regarding the utilization of the
Joint Apprenticeship program must come
from the highest level down in order to show
individual campuses that the program works @
and is available.”

Bill aids Nassau
corrections officers

EAST MEADOW — Corrections officers in Nassau County can
look forward to the option of retiring at half-pay after 25 years of
service, regardless of their age.

Gov. Mario Cuomo recently signed into law a bill giving that
option, to take effect Jan. 1, 1991.

CSEA, along with the Nassau County Board of Supervisors,
strongly supported the bill, which was sponsored by state Sen.
Ralph Marino and Assemblyman Lewis Yevoli.

The Nassau County CSEA Corrections Unit, Part of Local 830, e
initiated the change and CSEA lobbied county officials for their
support, said Unit President Bill Stanley.

The county also said it would pay the $1 million needed to
implement the law.

CSEA presented studies which showed that correction officers had
a 61 percent turnover rate in three years; also, corrections officers
have a life expectancy of 59, making the delay of a pension until 62
impractical.

Corrections Officer First Class Dennis Hesse has been with the ©

Nassau County Corrections Unit for six years. He is 28 years old and
says the bill will have a dramatic effect on his life.

“With this bill I can retire at age 48 instead of at age 62,” he
said. ‘‘That’s 14 years of my life.”

“Due to the tremendous amount of stress and the shortened life
expectancy associated with law enforcement, the past retirement
plan was unfair to officers and their families. Now the word retire-
ment has a meaning for our officers,’’ Hesse said.

November 28, 1988

[Adaaaad
i Ad

THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER THING

Filling some |
important shoes

Thanks to CSEA efforts, 150 members of Pilgrim Psychiatric Me
Center CSEA Local 418 are now receiving safety work shoes. The ”
facility only provided the shoes after the Department of Labor 3
stepped in and mandated them at CSEA’s request.

The mandate came about after Local 418 President Pat Hahn filed a
grievance and was told the state was not obligated to take care of safety
shoes.

“Tt was ridiculous, so I filed a complaint with the Labor
Department and then came down and cited the facility for a PESH

@ J} violation” Hahn said.
“T think the shoes are great. It’s important to have safety
shoes on the job,” said motor vehicle operator Bill Lynn.

IF THE SHOE FITS... Pilgrim Psychiatric Center Local, 418 member
Frank Dolinski, Jim LaRocca, Local President Pat Hahn and CSEA Safety
and Health Representative Dan Morra watch as motor vehicle operator Bill

Lynn tries on safety shoes won through CSEA action.

Please Help! Going to bat

CSEA Nassau County Local 830 is asking for your help in
providing urgently needed rehabilitation care for Carl Gonzalez, for day care
son of member Leslie Gonzalez, an employee of the County
Department of Social Services. E The TLC Day Care Center, located on the grounds of Helen Hayes
Gonzalez suffered a broken neck that left him paralyzed Hospital, has a group of guardian angels who are helping to keep it open.
during a swimming accident last summer. He has been treated HHH Local 302 President Darlene Foust says co-workers helped

at Nassau County Medical Center since August, but now needs A ¢ g i
@ | to enter a rehabilitation center which must be paid for in ee ESI EEL CE BLOT EPEC COENEN

cali contributionatta: The $1,200 was used to purchase a TV and a VCR and to pay for
Carllcanzaics Fund liability insurance for the center. The remainder will be re-invested
§ Hunter Lane into more fund-raising activities. Some future plans call for a dinner
Levittown, New York 11756 dened ania T shiisale
‘ Local 302 Vice President Scott Keyser, who helped to organize
the softball game, said the fund-raising has been a team effort for
CSEAS Local 302, PEF and management. The local community has
also been very supportive, he added.

Our mistake

Oops! We goofed. Last edition, The
Public Sector ran a photo of Hudson
River Psychiatric Center-Brookside Day
Care Center Director Denise Rega, say-
ing that she’s helped raise $13,000
through bake sales and other fundraiser.
That’s too much wishful thinking (or
very special baked goods). The truth is,
about $3,000 has been raised for the
center.

Marathon man
Kudos are in order for
CSEA Deputy Director for
Contract Administration
Mark Lawrence who recent-
ly completed the New York
City Marathon in the top 10
percent of finishers.
Lawrence's time of 3:16

for the 26 miles course _
CSEA President Joe McDermott recently honored four longtime ee nna hd Sety B00
CSEA staffers for reaching 20 years of CSEA service. Pictured, from runners out of 24,000 who
left, acting CSEA Region IV Director Paul Burch; Statewide Elec- started the cap :

tion Procedures, Judicial Board and Appeals Committee Assistant
Marcel Gardner; McDermott; Research Associate Cindy Chovanec;
and Senior Offset Machine Operator Rose DiNuzzo.

We’re breathless just
thinking about it!

November 28, 1988 THE PUBLIC SECTOR

By Sheryl Carlin
CSEA Communications Associate

CENTRAL ISLIP — Charges were
dismissed recently against a mental health
therapy aide (MHTA) who was accused of
choking a patient to death while trying to
restrain him earlier this year.

But MHTA Forrest M. Taggart, saying he
felt like a scapegoat ‘‘thrown to the wolves
by management,”’ later resigned his job
anyway.

A county judge said there was not enough
evidence to indict Taggart, who worked at
the Central Islip Psychiatric Center, on
charges of criminally negligent homicide.

“We had faith in
the legal system
and felt sure
Taggart would be
exonerated,” said
Central Islip
CSEA Local 404
President Al
Henneborn. ‘‘Tagg-
art has always
been a
conscientious
employee with no
disciplinaries and
we stood behind
him since day
one!”

Henneborn did not stand alone. Union
members poured out support on Taggart’s
behalf in the form of letters and court
appearances.

Taggart, 27, said he felt ‘‘extremely
relieved”’ after being cleared of criminal
charges and praised the support his union
and co-workers gave him during the ordeal.

The judge’s decision doesn’t end the
nightmare for Taggart, however. The
client’s mother reportedly is pursuing a $1.5
million lawsuit against Taggart and the
state. And despite being cleared of any
criminal charges, Taggart recently resigned
his job after the hospital administration said
it would continue attempts to fire him. (See
related story).

According to testimony, the client, Calvin
Phinizy, 38, died while Taggart and other
aides struggled to get him into a
straitjacket. Taggart reportedly was using
an acceptable choke hold, one that is not
prohibited, as a means of restraint.

The death prompted state officials to ban
the use of straitjackets in most of the
Central Islip facility, as well as recommend
increased training in resolving
confrontations without violence.

Testimony showed that on the day of the
incident, Taggart was told by a doctor on
duty to transfer Phinizy, diagnosed as a
paranoid schizophrenic, to a more secure
ward.

Phinizy was accompanied down a hallway
by an aide holding each arm and Taggart
walking behind. Phinizy suddenly broke one
arm free and punched one aide in the chest

20

Local 404 President Al
Henneborn

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

at which time Taggart put the client in a
headlock, witnesses testified. Phinizy fell
backward, pinning Taggart against the wall.

At that point, a physician was present and
he told Taggart to be careful not to choke
Phinizy, but did not tell him to change his
position, according to testimony.

Taggart reportedly held Phinizy while the
other aides put the jacket on his arms.
When they turned him over to lace the
jacket up the back, Phinizy became still.

The doctor then ordered the straitjacket
removed and made an unsuccessful attempt
to resuscitate him.

Taggart was the only one of those present
to be brought up on charges.

CSEA Region I President Jerry Donahue
said the union grieves for the family but
that the death was definitely an accident.

“Taggart acted quickly in an emergency
situation. A doctor was on the scene and did
not see anything negligent about the way the
incident was handled,” he said.

‘ONE HELL
OF A YEAR

Forrest Taggart has had one hell of a
year.

He was brought up on criminally
negligent homicide charges in April, got
married, went through grueling months of
hearings and, most recently, resigned
from his job.

Taggart, a 27-year-old mental health
therapy aide (MHTA) at the Central Islip
Psychiatric Center, accidently choked a
client during a restraint. Efforts by a
doctor to revive the client were
unsuccessful.

Although two other MHTAs, a doctor
and a nurse were present during the
incident, only Taggart was brought up on
charges.

A grand jury indicted Taggart on
homicide charges just 14 days before his
wedding date.

“Me and Laura tried to act as normal
as possible and go on with our wedding
plans,” Taggart said. His wife works at
the same psychiatric center as a nurse.

After enduring extremely stressful
hearings, the charges against Taggart
were dismissed due to lack of evidence.
However, the administration persisted in
attempts to fire him.

Almost immediately management tried
to dismiss him on another incident they
alleged happened earlier that day.

“That was it!,’’ exclaimed Taggart’s
wife. ‘I’m five months pregnant and we
want to get on with our lives. The strain
has been too much,” she added.

& Instead of enduring an administrative

Forrest Taggart

hearing, Taggart chose to resign. CSEA
Local 404 President Al Henneborn had
said the union would support Taggart and
fight the administrative charges ‘‘all the
way.”

“T felt that even if I beat the charges, I
would never be able to do my job,”
Taggart said. “I would always feel like
the administration was breathing down
my neck.”

CSEA said the administration’s attempt
to fire Taggart was their way of
appeasing the Board of Visitors, the
center’s watchdog group for patient
rights, parents of the clients and the
state.

“T feel as though I’ve been the
scapegoat,” Taggart said. ‘Just thrown to
the wolves by the facility.”

Taggart received back pay from the
day he was suspended to the original date
of the administrative hearing, as well as
six days vacation time.

He expressed his thanks to those who
helped him get through the difficult year.

“The union support was there from the
beginning,” he said. ‘So was the support
from my family, friends and co-workers.”

Taggart, who had been with the facility
about three-and-a-half years, now works
for a cement company.

“We're sad to lose a good employee and
union member,” said CSEA Local 404
President Henneborn, “‘but we definitely
understand his reasons. I think there’s a
good chance management would continue
to harass him.” )

November 28, 1988

ee