The Public Sector, 1989 March 6

DOT CSEA Local 506 is
the first woman
©) Highway Maintenance
= Supervisor II in the
entire state.

‘STATE OF NEW YORK

EXECUTIVE
BUDGET

1989-1990

Electronic

Tina Branch Margaret Klimezyk

. = NYS Division of Housing ‘ Cheektowaga Central
lobbying § Pg.5 CSEA Local 258 Schools
“No. Boycotts don’t work Jon Saladin CSEA Local 868
well enough because unions oe parame “J don’t think so. I’m an

Village of Lake Grove
CSEA Local 852
“Sometimes. It depends
on the situation. But, if
CSEA asked me to boycott
something, I would.”

don’t publicize the reasons
behind them and educate
their members about the
importance of boycotts.”

avid newspaper reader, and
I don’t think newspapers do
enough to get the word out
about boycotts, get their
point across and make the
case clear as to why they
are doing it.”

EDITOR’S NOTE:

CSEA is in fact asking its membership to boycott something at the present time. That
something is California table grapes. We at The Public Sector feel that our boycott coverage
extends beyond simple facts, and explains the reasons behind boycotts such as the one we

Gopi with layoffs : currently support.

Pgs 6-7 For more information on the AFL-CIO, United Farm Workers grape boycott, see page
Si _/ 18.
MOVED? CG >

If you've moved recently, or plan to move in the near future, it's very 66 ‘
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, —_—_____ i 99
MY OLD ADDRESS WAS: —= “ : me on that eee

oa 7 “CSEA and its leadership have
scans OREM the guts and the determination

Street

ee = to stand up to manageraent to

My employer is:

te aaa protect our members and do our

Tam a member of CSEA Local ____ b 99
MAIL TO: Civil Service Employees Association jo S eee
rg eae aha al : “esa Labor Relations Specialist Al Sundniart talking
Albany, New York 12210 i : _ about union efforts at Westchester County Medical Center. oy
gies
THE PUBLIC UN The Public Sector (445010) is published every other Monday by The Civil Service
Employees Association, 143 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12210. Publication
E TORS 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 .. R 1 RON WOFFORD ..... Re VI
AFSCME, AFL-CIO, 143 Washington Avenue, (616) 273-2280 (716) 886-0391
Albany, New York, 12210 LILLY GIOIA : Region II STEPHEN MADARASZ Headquarters
Pee G16) 5A 2E00 (518) 434-0191
MICHAEL P. MORAN Publisher (914) 896-8180
ROGER A. COLE Editor DAN CAMPBELL Region IV
KATHLEEN DALY Associate Editor ; (518) 489-5424
Region V
\__ STANLEY HORNAK Asst. Dir. of Communications (315) 451-6330 )
2 THE PUBLIC SECTOR March 6, 1989

FIRST IN THEIR

Breaking through promotional barriers

By Ron Wofford
CSEA Communications Associate

ROCHESTER — Two CSEA members who are paving the way for other
women to move up in the state Department of Transportation (DOT) are taking
their success in stride, just as they have taken on jobs that until now, have only
been filled by men.

Pat Finewood is the first woman to be a highway maintenance supervisor
(HMSII) in the state DOT, while Ellie Mowry is the first woman pavement
marking supervisor. Both women are members of state DOT CSEA Local 506 in
Rochester.

“T didn’t realize I was the first,’’ said Finewood, who began working for
DOT as a laborer in 1981. ‘‘To be honest, I never looked at it as a male-female
thing. I think achievement here has more to do with how much drive you have
and how much money you want to make.’’

Finewood’s drive has taken her through the ranks as a highway equipment
operator-driver (HEO) and HMSI-crew supervisor to where she now oversees
several crews and plans, schedules and organizes highway maintenance
projects.

“One of the most challenging aspects of the job, especially in winter, is
making the necessary judgment calls on sending out snowplow crews, and
deciding how much salt or sand is needed for the condition of the roads on a
particular day,” Finewood said.

“The air temperature determines the ratio of the salt-sand mixture the road

crews use, and is quite critical to how long road pavement remains usable over
long periods of time.’’

Responsible for all state roads in Livingston County, she consults with her
HMSIs, who deploy the five snow plow crews, and generally works very closely
with the resident engineer.

“The real struggle is that you must be available on a 24-hour basis, so I’m
very lucky to have a supportive husband,” said Finewood, mother of an

8-month-old daughter. “But I’m looking for a pint-sized helmet for my daughter

in case I’m called out some time and he’s not home.”

Duane Wilcox, Local 506 president, is proud the two achieved firsts in his
local, but not surprised.

“Tn this residency, women are treated professionally,” said Wilcox, “and
this shows women have as much of a chance for promotion as anyone, if you
work hard. I think Ellie and Pat have both passed the probation periods with
excellent ratings, and they’ve taken on tough supervisory jobs and both are
doing all right.”

“T never wanted to be equal to a man,” said Mowry, ‘‘because that would
be like taking a step backwards. Besides, I always knew I was meant to be a
leader of men.’’ As she laughs, Mowry displays her good-natured joviality, but
she is totally serious in her pavement marking supervisor capacity.

“T’m really proud to be the first woman in this job,” said Mowry, “I
pursued it because I felt it was a job I could undertake and be good at. I had
studied, and knew all the aspects of the job, so I was quite confident in my
interviews. It’s been almost a year now and I’m really enjoying it, and I’m still
learning.”

Her learning of DOT ways began when she
was hired as a typist in 1978. She became a
laborer on a bridge maintenance crew in 1983,
was promoted to bridge repair assistant in
1986 and assumed her present position last
March.

She is responsible for painting
AppRORMALELY 1,800 miles of road markings in
lonroe County, supervising five employees
and maintaining the vehicles, including a

pavement marking machine.

“In 1988 we used 20,000 gallons of white
paint, and 16,500 gallons of yellow paint,”
observed Mowry. ‘‘So you’re always busy,
especially between April 1 and Thanksgiving,
our painting season.”

“During the winter months, there’s plenty of
rehabilitation work on the machinery, ordering
and inventory of supplies and so forth,”
Mowry said.

Mowry has used her creativity to initiate a
new safety sign for vehicles in the pavement
marking train, indicating which line is being
painted: to let the travelling public know which

ine is wet. She’s also been commended for her
initiative in discovering a cost-saving parts
supplier.

Mowry is secretary of CSEA Local 506 and
has been active since she began working for
the state.

“T really believe in the union,”’ she said,
“and I see no reason to stop being active
now.”

March 6, 1989

an

&

i

PAINT

ELLIE MOWRY, first state DOT woman pavement marking
supervisor, holds on to a safety sign she designed for more
effective roadwork.

SAFETY ;
"OU EAN LIVE
TAT

PAT FINEWOOD, first woman to hold the position of Clewear maintenance supervisor I, talks with
Local 506 President Duane Wilcox,

3

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

Many CSEA members have sent copies of the letters they mailed to their state
legislators protesting the effects the proposed budget will have on them, their

workplaces, families and communities. We’ve printed some excerpts of those letters

here.

If you haven’t written, maybe these letters will inspire you to write your own
message. The letter campaign we are encouraging is one of the most important tools we
have to fight the budget proposal that calls for layoffs at all levels of government,
increased property taxes and reduced services. Consider this message to CSEA President
Joe McDermott from Bruce Bertrand, a Department of Corrections employee from

Ogdensburg:

“Attached please find a copy of a letter I recently sent to Senator (John M.)
McHugh. I know it’s a small gesture, but perhaps if there are a large number of gestures

directed at Albany, it might do some good.

“T’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continuous and unenviable
fight, on behalf of CSEA and its many members. I know yours is not an easy task, and if
I can be of any further assistance, please let me know.”

The efforts of Bruce Bertrand and every other CSEA member are what will turn this
budget battle around. If you haven’t written your letters, check below for some tips and
the addresses you'll need. If you have any questions, contact the CSEA Legislative and
Political Action Department at headquarters or your regional political action coordinator.

“Ours is a relatively ee an |

10 depend on state JoDS ---- ays
ue “ ove children (while working two jo! )

i \
increase in taxes woul
alone in this ae ue
i harder working,
Ms a a chance to grow: to spread our se

wn again.
aper cuts us do
reaper ©'— Bruce Bertrand

id make such an acq
Yes, ours 8 4

ate town, one of hu
can't al ‘
at today’s prices,
uisition unattainable. \
small community,

ople anyw

more caring group ai user take root before the (grim)

eds an

f Ogdensburg, Department of Correctional Services.
oO ,

“Under

throughout the
indreds ig inadeq

fford a home for my

and an

know | am not
but you won't
here. All we're asking

governments,
taxes.’"

uate fundin,
le also proposed:

rmative Action
| that | have
he nurse station
jayee and off the

“Being a 55¢ (disabled) Affi

hee
rogram em joyee, it is essential
Program emp!

access to a professi jonal nurse

helps keep me a productive empl

ingerlands,
ployment Fr mo of Slinger
se Fs rvices employee.

a state Department of

ge!
The proposed te Sinice Nurs!

Employee ©
state buildings:

losing 29
Lica erin Stations n

his pro, losed budge: Governor Yomo has called for
Propi iget, C /

of health, social
8 1 educati,
1 to balance the by 'onal and local pr
which will inevitably dget on the backs of rua

eon -
lean increases in local Property

> Tom Gargi
Biulo of E
County Recreation ad Pans

CSEA Local 830

President of Nassau

(= “As an em

ployee of SUNY Oswego, | service

Heaths ur ‘Future of Tomorrow.’

and the eta ris ee a a

for the children of New York se = ae re

chee for over 400 members of my members

ogre serving over 8,000 students, our college
‘ake any further cuts without seriously

affecti it if
poe sats quality of life at the state College at

the students, o

— Dale Dusharm, president of CSEA Local
611.

“If the governor wants to free up employee
salaries to combat the deficit, let him start with
the fat he has at the management level. As
retirees, we would be thrilled if he began with
some of the top echelon in the Department of
Civil Services.””

— Donald R. Webster of Mt. Vernon,

president of Westchester Retirees CSEA Local
921 and chairman of the
CSEA Retirees Executive Committee.

“In 1985 G
number of = ‘overnor Cuomo increased the

the state, for

concept has worked
availability of troopers.”

— Deborah A, Albano of Latham,

The proposed budget call
million in the SUNY hae ie hs

The proposed budget calls for the elimination
of 2,100 state employee jobs.

eo Neuunications specialist,
lew York State Police.

The proposed
of [46 a ed state budget calls for the layoff

ivilian dispatchers for the State Poli
ice.

When writing your legislators to urge
that Gov. Cuomo’s budget cuts be revised
and the third and fourth year of the
scheduled tax cuts be delayed, follow
these hints.

1, IDENTIFY YOURSELF.

2. STATE THE PROBLEM AS YOU
SEE IT.

3. PROPOSE A SOLUTION—
STRONGLY URGE THAT THE THIRD
AND FOURTH YEARS OF THE STATE
TAX CUTS BE DELAYED.

4

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

4, REQUEST ACTION—ASK YOUR
LEGISLATOR TO CALL ON GOV.
CUOMO TO FREEZE STATE TAXES
AT 1988 LEVELS.
5. ASK FOR A RESPONSE FROM
YOUR LEGISLATOR.
6. SEND A COPY OF YOUR LETTER
TO:
JOE MCDERMOTT,
CSEA PRESIDENT
143 WASHINGTON AVENUE
ALBANY, NEW YORK 12210

"(New York State Assembly
Albany, New York 12248

March 6, 1989
CSEA begins /
budget blitz

By Kathleen Daly
Associate Editor

ALBANY — CSEA is going high tech with
its lobbying effort, taking its case on the
proposed state budget to legislators via
video.

Working with AFSCME and three other
New York AFSCME affiliates, CSEA helped
write and produce a seven-minute videotape
that will be presented to each of the 211
state legislators and to the press.

In the video, CSEA President Joe
McDermott protests that the so-called tax
cuts included in the proposed budget are
actually only tax cuts for the wealthy.

But even more significant, the cause of
the state deficit is not excessive state
spending, which is rising at a modest pace,
but state revenue, which continues to drop
sharply.

“Spending isn’t out of control,”
McDermott says in the video. “It’s the tax
cuts for the rich that are causing the
problem.”’

CSEA Communications Director Michael

Moran narrates the video, which
highlights the variety of
services — including day care
and corrections — that will
suffer under the proposed
budget.

Also appearing on the video
are AFSCME Council
82 President Joe Puma,
speaking on the dangers of
cuts in corrections, and AFSCME District
Council 37 Executive Director Stanley Hill,
raising concerns about New York City under
the weight of the budget proposal.

“Video is a new tool in lobbying,’’ Moran
said. ‘‘We believe it is very effective. A
video is a concise, graphic way to make our
point clearly to the legislators. They’re the
people we have to convince on this budget
proposal.”’

CSEA Director of Legislative and Political
Action Larry Scanlon is also pleased about
the finished product.

“‘We’re breaking new ground here, and
we're doing it well,” he said. ‘“‘This video is
a professional, quality production. And

The BUDGET BLUES

quality counts when you’re trying to
convince a legislator that what you’re
saying has merit. That’s what we have to do
— prove our point beyond a doubt so that
the proposed executive budget is
realistically revised and the so-called tax
cuts are halted.”

The video was delivered to the legislators
on March 6.

“The key to beating this budget is
presenting a united front with its concerns
carefully and reasonably outlined,’’ Scanlon
said. “This video accomplishes that goal.”

Another weapon...

‘To add to CSEA’s arsenal in the
budget battle, the union has started a

SA

N.Y, State Troopers Can’t Chase Drug
Pushers if They’re Pencil Pushers.
Cuts in civilian staff at State Police stations around

the state mean that highly-trained police officers will
be relegated to answering phones and filling out forms.

Drug runners and other criminal elements think it’s
a great idea.

We think it stinks,

Civil Service Employees Association
Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO * Joe McDermott, President

series of advertisements in the
“Legislative Gazette,” a weekly
newspaper directed to the state
Legislature. :
The first ad, appearing in the current
issue of the “Gazette,” highlights
CSEA’s concern about plans to cut up
to 200 civilian jobs in the State Police.
Using some humor, “The Budget
Blues” series will highlight specific
problems with the proposed budget.

March 6, 1989

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

COPING WITH

LAYO 7 FS. you are facing job uncertainty _|

Useful information to help if >

WHO WILL PROVIDE
VITAL PUBLIC
SERVICES?

The question of how many layoffs, if any, and who will actually be
affected under the next state budget was still unresolved at press
time.

What was known was that the proposed state budget calls for
about 2,100 state jobs to be eliminated and the state estimates the
actual number of layoffs will be between 500 and 800 people after
attrition and transfers to vacancies unaffected by job reductions. That
number would be further reduced by the number of employees eligible
for a proposed $12 million re-training program.

Layoffs could become a reality on March 16 when employees who
will be impacted by the reduction in force are scheduled to be given
their layoff notices. Due to the complexity of the civil service layoff
procedure, in some cases people who receive layoff notices will not, in
fact, be the people who are eventually laid off. Under the state’s
timetable, layoffs are scheduled to become effective April 12.

For anyone facing the prospect of layoff, there are many things to
consider. The status of insurance coverage and benefits are certainly
high among those concerns.

The following information should be beneficial to everyone facing
job uncertainty during the budget crisis.

/

Laid-off members may continue insurance
by arranging direct payment of premiums

CSEA members who are laid off may continue to participate
in CSEA-sponsored insurance programs by arranging to pay
premiums directly to the insurance carrier.

CSEA-sponsored Basic Group Life Insurance (Code 305),
Supplemental Life Insurance (Code 306), Accident and Sickness
Insurance (Code 307), Family Protection Plan (Code 358) and
Home and Auto Insurance (Code 324 or 390) programs may all be
continued after layoff by arranging for direct payment of
premiums. CSEA sponsors the insurance programs through
Jardine Group Services Inc.

A member who is laid off must first apply to CSEA for dues-
free membership in the union (see adjacent article regarding
dues-free membership status) before arrangements can be made
for direct payment of insurance premiums.

Members who are laid off may continue their Basic Group
Life Insurance policy for up to one year from the date of layoff
by arranging to pay insurance premiums directly. Questions
concerning continuation of Basic Group Life Insurance should be
directed to CSEA’s insurance department at 1-800-342-4146 or (518)
434-0191.

If the member has not returned to state employment one year
after the date of layoff, the Basic Group Life Insurance coverage
may be converted, without a medical examination, to any form of
insurance, except term insurance, underwritten by the Travelers
Insurance Company. Application for conversion must be made
within 31 days after the date of termination to:

The Tvavelers
Employee Benefits Department
Life & Healin Conversion Unit, 4 NB
Hartford, Ct. 06133-6130

For information concerning direct payment of premiums for
Supplemental Life Insurance, Accident and Sickness Insurance,
Family Protection Plan and Home and Auto Insurance, members
should call Jardine Group Services Inc. on their toll-free
telephone number — 1-800-366-5273 — or (518) 381-1600

Ext. 459 Supplemental Life Insurance
Ext. 563 Accident and Sickness Insurance
Ext. 329 Family Protection Plan

Ext. 356 Home and Auto Insurance

You'll be able to continue your EBF benefits

State employees who currently receive
benefits under the CSEA Employee Benefit
Fund (EBF) may continue coverage if they
are laid off.

According to the new federal law known

as COBRA, employees have a legal right to -If you are a CSEA member in good
continue benefits for up to 18 months on a standing and are aoe off and Mee ona
direct pay basis if they are laid off. Once _ preferred list for rehire, you will be
your termination date is given to the EBF eligible for free union :

by the state, you will automatically be sent
COBRA information and an application.

It is no longer necessary to apply for
continuation of coverage before you leave
the payroll. The COBRA mailing will contain
full details, including filing deadlines and
the cost of coverage.

Tf there is any chance that the EBF does
not have your current address, please
contact EBF at 1-800-342-4274 to be certain
you will receive the COBRA mailing.

Note: CSEA dues-free membership does
not entitle a person to EBF benefits. Only
the COBRA option offers you the protection
you need after leaving the payroll.

(May be eligible for
dues-free membership

/ as 24146 ae
) signed by :
in ap ion | oan local pecatdent or the employee’s
pie ey I pa : personnel to verify layoff status.
_ Dues-free membership: one if the
forms and a em| loyee returns payroll,
G reomreeen one d additional ployee returns to the Ly

6

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

March 6, 1989

Health insurance coverage
may be continued for most
laid-off employees under
civil service law and
terms of union contracts

Not the least of worries for state workers
facing possible layoffs is the concern about
the status of their health insurance should
they be affected by a layoff.

Civil Service Law and regulations, along
with provisions of contracts negotiated by
CSEA with the state, provide certain laid-off
employees the right to continue health
insurance coverage under specific
circumstances.

If you are laid off and eligible to continue
your health insurance coverage under one of
the circumstances listed below, you may do
so by paying the required contribution,
if any. Under current contracts, the
state pays 90 percent of the cost of
individual coverage and 75 percent of
the cost of dependent coverage provided
under The Empire Plan or an alternative
health maintenance organization (HMO)
program. If both you and your spouse are
state employees who have qualified for and
chosen the Dual Eligibility Family Benefit,

for family coverage in either The Empire
Plan or a participating HMO. Should one or
both of you be placed on a preferred list,
you keep the Dual Eligibility Family
Benefit.

IF YOU ARE SEPARATED FROM
STATE SERVICE, YOU MAY CONTINUE
YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE
UNDER THE FOLLOWING
CIRCUMSTANCES:

1, IF YOU HAVE HAD FEWER THAN 10
YEARS OF STATE SERVICE ...

A. and your name is placed on a
preferred list, you may continue coverage
under the state program for a period of
one year or until you are re-employed by
a public or private employer, whichever
occurs first. At the end of the year you
will be eligible for coverage for up to 18
months under the federal continuation of
coverage law known as COBRA. (See
COBRA explanation below). After that
period, you will be offered the opportunity
to convert to a standard direct-pay policy
with the carriers.

B. and you are not eligible to have your
name placed on a preferred list, although
you have been employed on a permanent
full-time basis and the separation is the
result of the abolition of your position, you
will have the same continuation rights as
an employee on a preferred list. (See A
above).

C. and you are not eligible to have your
name placed on a preferred list, and the
separation is not the result of the abolition
of a position, you will be offered COBRA
continuation coverage for up to 18 months.

| the state pays 100 percent of your premium

March 6, 1989

After that period, you will be offered the
opportunity to convert to a standard
direct-pay policy with the carriers.

D. and you had employment with an
agency such as a state authority or a
local subdivision which participates in the
state Health Insurance Program and that
employment, combined with your state
service, equals at least 10 years, you may
be eligible to continue coverage as a
retiree. Your agency health benefits
administrator can advise you whether
your state service and your employment
in a participating agency can be
combined for eligibility.

2. IF YOU HAD 10 YEARS OR MORE OF
STATE SERVICE...
A. and are eligible to retire as a member
of a retirement system, you may retire
and continue coverage as a retiree, or you
may defer any retirement allowance due
and continue coverage by direct payment
of the enrollee share until the retirement
takes effect, then continue coverage
through deductions as a retiree.
B. and are a member of a retirement
system, but not yet retirement age...
(1) if your name is placed on a preferred
list, you may continue coverage for one
year or until you are re-employed by a
public or private employer, whichever
occurs first. If you reach retirement age
before you lose eligibility for the
preferred list, you may continue
coverage as a retiree. If you do not
qualify for retirement by that date, you
may continue in vested status until you
reach retirement age, then continue
coverage as a retiree.
(2) and you are not eligible to have your
name placed on.a preferred list,
although you have been employed on a
permanent, full-time basis and the
separation is the result of the abolition of
your position, you will have the same
continuation rights as an employee on a
preferred list. You may continue
coverage in vested status until you reach
retirement age, then continue coverage
as a retiree.
C. and you are not a member of a
retirement system and you are not
eligible to have your name placed on a
preferred list, but you are 55 or older (age
62 if your last entry into state service was
on or after Sept. 1, 1983), you will be
permitted to continue coverage as a
direct-pay retiree. If you have not
attained retirement age, you will be
eligible for up to 18 months of COBRA
continuation coverage. At the end of 18
months, you will be offered the

Hi '

(COPING WITH )

LAYOFFS

VITAL PUBLIC

Ee

opportunity to convert to a standard
direct-pay policy with the carrier.
COBRA: WHAT IT IS

As of Jan. 1, 1989, all terminated enrollees
are eligible for continuation of coverage
under the Federal Consolidated Omnibus
Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). The
law permits a person whose employment is
terminated to continue coverage in the
employer-sponsored group health plan for up
to 18 months. Coverage available to you
under COBRA is the New York State Health
Insurance Program. Dental and vision care
coverage may also be available through the
state or your Employee Benefit Fund
(EBF ). The 18-month period begins when
eligibility for health insurance coverage
under Civil Service Law and regulations
ends. See your health benefits administrator
for information about COBRA eligibility and
enrollment.

YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE
BENEFITS PACKAGE

Tf your employment is terminated, your
benefits may change slightly depending on
whether you are eligible to continue
coverage in preferred list status or as a
COBRA enrollee. In preferred list status,
depending on the bargaining unit to which
your position was assigned, some provisions
such as co-payments might change. If you
are not eligible for preferred list coverage,
you may enroll in COBRA. As a COBRA
enrollee, you will have the same benefits
package as when you were an employee.

THE COST

If you are eligible to continue your health
insurance coverage in preferred list or
retirement status, you may do so by paying
the employee contribution, if any. Any
employee who continues coverage while in
vested status must pay the full cost of that
coverage. A COBRA enrollee must pay the
full cost of that coverage plus a 2 percent
administrative charge.

EMPLOYEES AND/OR SPOUSES
AGE 65 OR OLDER

If your coverage as an active employee
ends, you and/or your spouse should
immediately enroll in Medicare. If you fail
to enroll promply, you could be subject to a
waiting period before your Medicare
coverage begins.

Other questions concerning continuation of
health insurance coverage should be
directed to your agency personnel oftice or
the Department of Civil Service, Employee
Insurance Section, Division of Employee
Benefits, State Office Building Campus,
Albany, N.Y. 12239. ’

7

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

NOW!

By Stephen Madarasz
CSEA Communications Associate

ALBANY — Recognizing that we are
entering a period of major change in
the way we work and live, CSEA and
New York state are joining forces to
meet the challenges of tomorrow.

Tying in with the release of a task
force report on the New York state
public workforce in the 21st century,
CSEA and the state have formed a
labor/management committee to deal
with workforce planning issues.

The task force consisted of leaders of
the state government, business,
academia, and labor, including CSEA
representatives. The report was
prepared by the Rockefeller Institute of
Government of the State University of
New York.

Having enough qualified workers to
provide public services is a serious
concern for the years ahead. How
effectively the issue is addressed could
have significant impact on CSEA
members on the job, within the union
and as taxpayers.
“We can’t ignore
the importance of
workforce
planning,” said
CSEA President
Joe McDermott.
“The average age
of state employees
is getting older
and there’s a
shortage of
younger workers }/
entering the
workforce. That
means the state is
going to have to
be more
competitive in its
hiring practices or
face severe
understaffing
problems and a
drop in the quality
of service in a
variety of areas.”

McDermott
pointed out that :
it’s also critical to = nye
project what the Elizabeth Mo
Jobs of the future will be and what
skills workers will need to handle them.
The state then has a responsibility to
recruit qualified people and train
current employees to move into other
areas. Once that’s done there’s
additional need to provide career
opportunities that encourage individuals
to stay in state service.

“We have entered an era where labor

ii

Joe McDermott

ore

8 THE PUBLIC SECTOR

THE FUTURE 15

and management must work as
partners if we are to successfully
address the changes the future will
inevitably bring,” said Elizabeth Moore,
director of the Governor’s Office of
Employee Relations.
In announcing the formation of the
committee, Moore cited a number of
recommendations from the task force
report to help prepare for the future.
Among them:
¢ Improve the image of government
service as a career choice
¢ Create a stronger link between state
government and high schools and
colleges through internships, work-
study and other cooperative programs

¢ Strengthen opportunities for workers
with private sector experience to
enter public employment

« Review state salary and benefit
packages to determine if they are
competitive for attracting qualified
workers

¢ Broaden policies and programs that
help workers balance work and family
life — such as flex-time and child
care

¢ State agencies should work together
to recruit individuals for hard-to-fill
positions

¢ Probationary periods should take
advantage of the opportunity for
orientations and training

¢ In an effort to attract the most
qualified people, the state should
develop better programs to help new
hires and present employees relocate
when necessary

In accepting the task force report,

PUBLIC_SERVICE
THROUGH THE
STATE GOVERNMENT WORKFORCE:

THE CHAI -LENGE 0)
CHANGE F

Pratced by he
‘Task Force on the
New York State Puitic
Workforce in the 21st
Century

on beta ot
New York Governance
in the 2ist Century

A Public/Private Pannership —

Nelson A. Rockefeller
Institute of Government
State Academy for
Public Administration

CSEA Director of
Research William
Blom and Special
Assistant to the
President for
Workforce Planning
John Corcoran listen
during the recent
briefing on the task
force report,

Dr. Henrik Dullea, director of State
Operations, said that the report ‘“‘will
not sit on the shelf.” The creation of the
labor/management committee with
CSEA is evidence of the state’s
commitment to moving forward on this
agenda.

While CSEA endorses the concepts
outlined in the task force report and
will work with the state, there is
concern about some of the
recommendations and how they might
be achieved.

McDermott made it clear that
workforce planning is a priority issue
for CSEA, but not at the expense of
CSEA member rights or the civil
service system.

“All initiatives in the area of
workforce planning for the future must
be done in the framework of a
competitive civil service system based
on merit and fitness,” he said.

Having enough
qualified workers
to provide public
servicesisa
serious concern
for the years
ahead

CSEA not intimidated by ‘goon tactics’
of Westchester med center administrator

Compiled by Anita Manley
CSEA Communication Associate

VALHALLA — A relatively routine
labor/management meeting turned ugly
recently at the Westchester County Medical
Center after a county administrator became
hysterical and lost control. The incident has
served to intensify CSEA’s efforts to resolve
concerns over a weekend work schedule
policy that has dampened employee morale
at the facility.

“It was unbelieveable. He became
hysterical,” said CSEA Labor Relations
Specialist Al Sundmark after Dennis
Cheeseman, director of maintenance at the
Medical Center, screamed and yelled during
the meeting, locked union representatives in
and Sundmark out of the meeting room and
called Westchester County police to escort
the union reps from the building.

“Cheeseman’s behavior was
embarrassing, not only to the union and the
workers, but to the county in general.
Fortunately, he represents the exception
rather than the rule in Westchester County,
Sundmark said. “I have dealt with
managers in pressure cookers like
Willowbrook, Brooklyn State and Manhattan
State (psychiatric centers), and I can only
say that I have never experienced such
irrational and unprofessional behavior from
an individual supposedly possessed of
managerial expertise.”

The outburst by Cheeseman only served to
strengthen CSEA’s determination to resolve
concerns over the work schedule policy,

”

Sundmark said.

“We will not be intimidated by ‘goon
tactics.’ CSEA and its leadership have the
guts and the determination to stand up to
management to protect our members and do
our job. We won’t wilt in the face of
hysterical and unreasonable characters like
Cheeseman,” he said.

Sundmark, CSEA Chief Shop Steward
Carmine DiBatista, union representative

AL SUNDMARK — “We won’t wilt in the face of
hysterical and unreasonable characters like
Cheeseman.”

Barbara Ames and two members of the
maintenance staff were meeting with
Cheeseman about union concerns over the
weekend work schedule policy when the
administrator responded irrationally.

“When I told Cheeseman his policy might
undermine the efficiency and productivity of
the staff, he leapt to his feet, began
Screaming and attempted to order us out of
the room,” Sundmark recalled. ‘When I left
to make a phone call, Cheeseman called
security people and locked my people in and
me out. It was simply an unbelievable
display of loss of personal control by the
man, and was completely inappropriate.”

The meeting was called to talk about staff
morale and other concerns following the
upgrading of some maintenance staff but not
others. Prevously all maintenance staff
rotated to cover the facility on weekends but
many of those who received upgrades no
longer are assigned weekend duty. That,
Sundmark noted, has lowered the morale of
the staff who not only continue to be
assigned weekend duty, but now on a more
frequent basis.

Sundmark said because Cheeseman was
so unreasonable and unprofessional during
what should have been a routine meeting,
the union will attempt to work the problem
out at a higher level. Sundmark has written
to the county commissioner of hospitals to
schedule a meeting to discuss the incident
and the work schedule policy, and is also
contemplating improper practice charges
against the county growing out of
Cheeseman’s behavior.

(-

STONY BROOK — Donald Cooper
believed his problems were settled
when CSEA won his out-of-title
grievance, promoting him from a grade
6 maintenance helper to a grade 9
maintenance assistant.

Not so. According to Stony Brook
University CSEA Local 614 President
Tony Ruggiero, the paperwork was
never put through. Apparently, the
director of the physical plant where
Cooper was employed decided that he
“didn’t like the idea of Cooper going to
the union for his upgrading,” Ruggiero
said.

“The director contrived that Cooper
had time and attendance problems. We
hit him with a grievance,”’ Ruggiero
explained.

c While the union waited for the

RE SS ARSE SE

sso

GRIEVANCES, ARBITRATIONS, ETC.

secs

CSEA GRIEVANCE WINNER GAINS
PROMOTION AFTER LONG BATTLE

grievance to be answered, the
administration replaced the problem
director.

“The new director agreed to make
Cooper a grade 9,”’ Ruggiero said.
“Just shows you what can be
accomplished with labor/management
cooperation.”

Cooper, who has been with the
university almost 11 years, gave the
administration the benefit of the doubt
on why his paperwork was never put
through.

“Tt could have been an honest
mistake, but I don’t know. I feel
wonderful that I’ve gotten the
promotion,” he added.

“T think the new director is a fair and
honest man, so there shouldn’t be any
other problems.”

és The director
contrived that Cooper
had time and
attendance problems.
We hit him with a
grievance ... the
new director agreed
to make Cooper a
grade 9. Just shows
you what canbe |
accomplished with
labor/management

cooperation. iy

,

\s

March 6, 1989

9

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

March is Women’s
History Month

Women’s History Month is a chance for all of us to celebrate
the achievements and contributions women have made to our
society.

The labor movement owes a great deal to women, who
helped on picket lines and marches for their husbands,
brothers and sons, and who made history with their own
marches for not just survival wages but for quality of life. The
legendary Mother (Mary) Jones has been an inspiration to
hundreds of thousands of labor activists because of her
determination, dedication and success as a labor organizer and
activist. t

CSEA has its own reasons to be proud during Women’s
History Month. More than 50 percent of the union’s members
are women. Powered by their energy and concern, CSEA has
broken ground on major issues on a national as well as a
statewide basis.

CSEA members themselves contribute every day to women’s
history — just by working, taking part in their communities,
supporting their families and being active in the state’s largest
public employee union.

On these two pages, we celebrate that achievement with
these photos, part of a display called “CSEA Women on the
Job.” The display will be in the Empire State Plaza in Albany
during March, and then will travel to the union’s six regions.

DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLE REPRESENTATIVE Carol Brown
is on the job on Staten Island as a member of New York City State
Employees CSEA Local 010. At right, Housing Security Officer Sheila Haney
patrols the grounds for the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority
represented by Erie County CSEA Local 815.

NASSAU COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER NURSE Donna Cappabianca at her
Station, above. She’s a member of Nassau County CSEA Local 830. Below,
cafeteria workers Kathy Summers and Gloria Thompson serve up lunch as
members of Maryvale School District Unit of CSEA Local 815. At left,
Mental Hygiene Therapy Aide Amy Jannsen attends to a client at Sunmount
Developmental Center represented by CSEA Local 431.

WESTCHESTER COUNTY LOCAL 860 MEMBERS Susan Wein and
Judith Carbone, above, are staff developmental specialists for the
county’s social services department. Above right, Court Attendant
Caroline Bush, a member of Judiciary CSEA Local 333, delivers
documents while on the job in Schenectady. At right, Highway
Maintenance Supervisor Rose Bush is on the road for the state
Department of Transportation in Chestertown as a member of CSEA
Local 676.

The photographs on these pages were taken by CSEA Communications
Associates Ron Wofford, Dan Campbell, Anita Manley, Lilly Gioia and
Sheryl Carlin.

10 THE PUBLIC SECTOR j wh eas al March 6] THE PUBLIC SECTOR 1 1
Member tells panel:

Day care

NEW YORK — “Being a working
mother in the ‘80s is a tough job, but
being a single working mother is almost
impossible,” said Elena Mereado, a
member of CSEA Tax and Finance Local
460. ‘Finding affordable, quality child
care for my daughter is a never-ending
search,”

The life of Elena Mercado, a senior
stenographer at the Tax Department’s
Racing and Wagering Board, is not easy.
As a single mother of a nine-year-old, she
must juggle her responsibility to job and
child between commuting to-lower
Manhattan from the Bronx every day —
more than 90 minutes on the subway each
way.

It’s a routine that gives her comments
credibility. But Mercado wasn’t just
speaking for herself — she represented
thousands of other CSEA working women
when she testified before a joint hearing
conducted by the state Division for
Women and the state Labor Department.

CSEA Local 460 member
Elena Mercado, with
daughter Qiana, above, and
nae on day care issues,

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

deserves

more than lip servic

The hearing on Balancing Work and
Family Life was held to examine day
care programs and policies in the public
and private sector in New York.

Mercado’s testimony made it clear that’
there is still a long way to go before those
programs and policies meet people’s
needs.

“Child care programs in New York
City, whether funded by local, state or
federal governments,” Mercado testified,
“leave much to be desired in all the
important areas, such as:

° Trained and screened personnel who are
not hired as babysitters, but as real
teachers :

« Clean facilities, not just barely meeting
Health Department guidelines but
actually exceeding them

¢ Operating hours that allow a parent to
drop off their child early and pick them
up in the evening without feeling like
you’re running a marathon to get there
on time ;

¢ Affordable child care so you are not
taking a second job just to pay for child
care, as some women I know have to
do.”

Through CSEA efforts there are now 38
on-site child care centers operating in —
conjunction with state facilities
throughout New York. Mercado pointed
out that’s not enough.

“T know my union, CSEA, has taken a
great interest in raising management
awareness about child care issues and
bargained for additional funds in our
contract...but I am not aware of my
_. agency taking any interest whatever in

eae with the issues of child care,” she
said.
Going even further, Mercado explained

that she has been subjected to harassment
for following through on her parental
responsibilities, even when carried out on
legitimate leave time.

“T have no other family or relatives in
New York to de on to help me when
either my daughter or I become ill. I use
my sick leave allowance which so far has
been sufficient,” she said.

“But I must add that there is always
someone in management giving me a
hard time should sickness cause me to be
away from the office; I am made to feel
very guilty for taking time off as if I am
letting the whole organization down,” she
continued. ‘‘It’s as if my responsibility to
my child with a 102° fever isn’t as
important as my work in the office.”

Mercado stated that state employees
need more than lip service on child care
issues from their employer, they need
management that is sensitive to their
situation.

“Many supervisors suffer from tunnel
vision, lacking any personal experience of
being the only one responsible for a
child's well-being. This attitude is
especially prevalent toward women who
occupy lower-grade clerical jobs.”

Mercado added, however, that even
though she could probably earn more
money in the private sector, she believes
it would not pay to give up the leave
benefits and union rights she has as a
state employee.

Instead, she believes that in working
with CSEA, the state should make a
greater effort to meet day care needs.

‘In buildings like 400 Broome Street,
where I work, three state agencies housed
there could be encouraged to combine
resources wherever possible,” she
explained.

“Just a few years ago, most major
state agencies relocated from the World
Trade Center to offices around the city.
Millions of tax dollars were spent to
refurbish old buildings. While landlords
and real estate brokers raked in these
millions from the Office of General
Services, what was done to mandate
space and construction of on-site child
care facilities? Were working mothers
even considered?”

March 6, 1989

CSEA gains LPN downstate differential

Compiled by Sheryl Carlin
CSEA Communications Associate

Senior licensed practical nurses (LPNs)
will no longer be forced to take a pay cut
when they gain a promotion in the New
York City and Long Island area.

After months of prodding by CSEA, the
state Division of the Budget (DOB) recently
corrected a quirk in geographic differential
pay that cost grade 10 LPNs as much as
$1,500 in lost pay when they took promotions
to grade 11 and 13.

CSEA’s Research Department successfully
steered a corrective measure through the
Department of Civil Service’s Division of
Classification and Compensation last fall

1988.

and has been prodding DOB to approve
funding ever since. DOB recently approved
geographic location pay for grade 11 and
grade 13 LPNs, retroactive to November

The problem arose because geographical
location pay of $2,000 given to grade 10
LPNs in the New York City-Long Island
area did not.apply to grade 11 and 13 LPNs.
A grade 10 LPN taking a promotion received
a pay increase of about $500 but lost the
$2,000 location pay, resulting in a net loss of
about $1,500 for taking a promotion.

At the Kings Park Psychiatric Center on
Long Island, for example, grade 10 LPNs
were being offered promotions with a

decrease in salary, according to CSEA
Kings Park Local 411 President Tony
Bentivegna.

Knowing all this, why would anyone be
interested in taking the promotion?

LPN Rich Mannox, a CSEA member at
the facility who took the promotion from a
grade 10 to a grade 11, explained.

“When I took the promotion I wasn’t told I
would lose the $2,000 location pay,”’ he said.
‘Even with.my $500 raise, I was losing
$1,500 and the only reason I was going to
stick it out was because when I became a
grade 13 I would see an overall increase in
my salary.”

Mannox said he had many more
responsibilities for less pay.

TONY B
the past problems with the promotional system.

MEMBERS IN NEED

Member’s Son Needs Costly Operation

HICKSVILLE — Anna Christi, a teacher’s aide in the
Hicksville School District and a unit member of CSEA Nassau
Educational Local 865, has a 25-year-old son, Julio, who has
battled leukemia for eight years now. :

Julio recently had a bone marrow replacement operation in
Seattle, Wash. Because he had no donor, another operation must
be per One Gy in order to replace the marrow that was removed
and since purified. ; ‘

In addition to dealing with the trauma of their son’s illness,
his parents will soon face the astronomical expense of flights,
hotel bills and other costs. 5

Any CSEA brothers and sisters who can afford to make a
contribution to the family should send their donation to Constance
Cerny, co-worker and friend to the Christis. Checks should be
made out to her, and mailed to 21 Monroe Avenue, Hicksville,
New York 11801.

Thanks to other recent appeals, the family has already
received some assistance for which they are very thankful. They
report that things look very hopeful for Julio’s recovery.

Hospitalized Plattsburgh DWI Victim

PLATTSBURGH — A union sister from SUNY CSEA
Plattsburgh Local 612 was recently injured after her car was
struck head on by a car whose driver was driving while
intoxicated. :

Marjorie Waldron, a part-time custodian, will need to be
hospitalized for a long period of time, undergo several operations
and have an extensive recovery period at home.

Members of the local are soliciting donations to assist her. If
a are able to help, please make checks payable to the ““CAS—

aldron Fund” and send in care of the State University College,
Plattsburgh, New York 12901.

March 6, 1989

ENTIVEGNA, CSEA Local 411 president, above right, and LPN Richard Mannox discussing

“On top of my
other responsibili-
ties, I had to
evaluate other
employees and
work regularly as
a ward charge,”
he said, ‘“‘but I
was getting less
money than I did
before.”

Bentivegna says
the promotions are
supposed to add a
career ladder for
the nurses, not
discourage them ‘
from moving up. _| LPN RICHARD MANNOX

“The state was playing games, taking
away the location pay,” Bentivegna said.
“There were very few takers for this
supposed promotion.”

He also said he was glad to hear that the
union was able to help his members by
pushing the issue, and winning them the
money they deserved.

Ta

KS

PALISADES PARK Manager John Doherty helps himself to a
cup of coffee as CSEA Local 105 President Joe Willis waits his
turn. The coffee pot, as well as the television, VCR,
microwave, refrigerator and table were purchased with funds
provided in the state contract and administered by the
Committee on Work Environment and Productivity (CWEP).
An air filter, air conditioner and and outdoor gas grill have
also been purchased for employees who work at the site,
located at Lake Minnewaska in Ulster County. Willis said 23
microwaves were purchased for the Park Commission
employees and were placed in all parks and historic sites.
Willis said he heard about CWEP funding at a CSEA workshop

he attended.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

Ee ae sO Se A eae ce eae SL
License to drive us crazy

Too many questions on
commercial driver changes

ALBANY — New York’s efforts to toughen commercial driver’s
license requirements to comply with federal law remind CSEA
Legislative and Political Action Director Larry Scanlon of the song
Alice’s Restaurant.

In that song, Arlo Guthrie described his selective service
examination as being “inspected, detected, injected and rejected.”
But Scanlon recently told the Assembly Transportation Committee
that CSEA wants to know when its members will be ‘‘ respected.”

Under the federal Motor Vehicle Safety Act, all states must
implement tougher written and driving tests for issuing commercial
motor vehicle licenses or risk losing federal highway funding. States
have a number of options in making the changes but must meet the
basic guidelines, including testing of all current license holders, by
1992.

Scanlon said that right now there are too many open questions
about how New York plans to implement and administer the new
requirements. CSEA wants the legislature to spell out the plans
instead of leaving it up to the Department of Motor Vehicles.

CSEA is especially concerned about New York’s actions because
50,000 CSEA members are commercial motor vehicle operators.
CSEA President Joe McDermott has appointed an ad hoc committee
to monitor the Department of Motor Vehicle and state legislature’s
actions and provide information to the membership about the
changes.

Among the areas that need to be detailed are plans for
“grandfathering-in” drivers with clean records, assisting current
commercial drivers pass the new written tests and setting up the
testing procedures.

In his testimony, Scanlon told the lawmakers that the tougher

requirements could make a bad situation worse. work part-time as school bus drivers. The increased cost of their
There is already a shortage of commercial motor vehicle license imposes a very real financial hardship.”

operators for positions such as school bus drivers. CSEA wants to CSEA also questions whether the Department of Motor Vehicles

be sure the new, tougher examinations will be administered fairly has the resources to meet the demands the new testing will create.

or exam takers could lose their livelihood, creating greater It’s estimated that the new requirements will affect 500,000

difficulty for public employers who can’t even fill positions now. commercial drivers statewide, so there has to be adequate funding
Higher licensing fees proposed along with the tougher and staffing to handle the load.

examinations are another burden. Scanlon emphasized that CSEA is committed to ensuring that
“Presently, it costs a license holder $33.50 for a four-year commercial motor vehicle operators perform in a safe reliable

license. As we read the bill, this cost can easily escalate to more manner, but the union remains concerned that chaos could result

than $100,” said Scanlon. ‘‘Most of CSEA’s members who need unless the state addressed the “‘nuts and bolts” issues before

commercial driver’s licenses earn relatively low incomes — many making changes.

Children of CSEA members
eligible for NYS AFL-CIO
4-year college scholarship

Children of CSEA members who will be *Be a member of a family whose parent
graduating from high school this year and or guardian is a member of a union be
who plan to enroll in labor ate . ee with the New York State Bi ed Sapna ire must be
i a related field at a college or FL-CIO, accompanied by a let
biter in New York state are eligible *Be planning to pursue a course of recommendation from a teacher from the
for a four-year scholarship offered by the study in labor relations or a related applicant’s school, an official transcript
New York State AFL-CIO. ; field at an accredited institution and SAT scores and an essay of 400 to 500
(0, of which CSEA i of higher education in New York state. words on the topic: ‘How Unions Help
The state AFL-CIO, of which CSHA is @ applications must be submitted by May Families.”
member, is offering an $8,000 scholarstiP. 1, 1989. Applications and additional Finalists will be selected and
($2,000 per year for four years) to eligible jpformation concerning the scholarship _ interviewed. ‘The winner will be selected
ape Hoan: ‘ licants must meet the  2°¢ available from: and all applicants notified of the decision
fi a be . igib Ig app Cauibs FAUT TERE HAY Emma K. Deeble, education director by June 9, 1989. The scholarship winner
Sale A itgae New York State AFL-CIO will be formally announced at a New
“Be a 1989 graduate from a New York 48 East 21st Street, 12th Floor York State AFL-CIO conference this
state high school. New York, N.Y. 10010, summer.

1 4 THE PUBLIC SECTOR March 6, 1989

=~ i “a " —

Region VI activists meet

By Ron Wofford
CSEA Communications Associate

ROCHESTER — A heavy schedule of
urgent concerns to CSEA members greeted
Region VI activists as they convened their
first Regional Conference of 1989.

The proposed state budget and its negative
impact on state and local government
employee jobs and delivery of services was
addressed in several forums, as was
political action strategy to confront the
threat.

“We've got to let our members know how
serious the situation is. The budget concerns
everyone,” said Region VI President Robert
L. Lattimer, ‘‘and it’s not just the job
picture, it’s the threatened unnecessary
diminishing of vital services at every level
that we need to be concerned about. We
each should stress to our state
representatives how important delaying the

a er i,
ROBERT MOOTRY of Buffalo Psychiatric Center
Local 403 takes notes at the conference.

“A

TERRY MELVIN, president, West Seneca
Developmental Center Local 427, above left, talks
with Barbara Reese of Roswell Park Memorial
Institute Local 303 about the day’s agenda.

March 6, 1989

upcoming scheduled state tax cut is to the
future of the state. The tax cut revenues
represent a source of state funding we
should be tapping, not giving up just as our
operations costs are expanding.”

The State’s Tax Reform Act of 1986 would
mean an extra windfall of more than $2,000
for families with incomes of more than
$260,000, and would be of no benefit at all to
low or middle income families, according to
Don Kelly, assistant director, CSEA
Research Department.

Kelly said the state’s tax cut gap will
continue to grow, and without corrective
action will reach $4 billion by 1991.

Kelly is chairperson of CSEA’s state
budget task force and also represents the
union on the Coalition for Economic
Priorities, which numbers more than 40
groups opposed to the proposed budget.

An example of the devastation the state
budget would cause on local governments is
the recent announcement by Erie County
Executive Dennis Gorski that more than 900
job layoffs would result, in addition to the
400 job cuts already made in the 1989 county
budget.

Region Political Action Committee co-
chairs Florence Tripi and Tom Warzel led
an open discussion and exercise aimed at
developing contingency plans for the budget
fight.

“We must remain active and resourceful
in marshalling our members for the budget
fight,” said Tripi.

Another political action front is the joint
effort to have the state’s RUGS
reimbursement method revised to more
accurately reflect the patient care and
funding needs of public nursing homes.

Convincing the governor and other state
officials to amend the RUGS formula by
showing the negative impact on public
nursing homes will be part of CSEA’s
strategy, according to Roger Sherrie,
Region VI political action coordinator. Other
strategies include mobilizing public and
political support through coalitions with
other groups, developing and using
persuasive arguments and persistent
pressure to ensure enactment of a fair
reimbursement method.

WESTERN REGION 6
482 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, N.Y. 14202
(716) 886-0391

Developing a climate for creativity and a

breakthrough to better ideas was the subject

of a presentation by Roger Firestien. A

faculty member at Buffalo State College and

coordinator of a graduate program in
creativity, Firestien has researched how
creativity training influences problem-
solving behavior in individuals, teams and
organizations.

uM

REGION VI PRESIDENT Robert Lattimer
stands at the podium addressing the region’s
activists.

JIM DUBIEL was introduced to
the region delegates as the vice
president of the new SUNY

a:
et

Buffalo Faculty Student
Association CSEA Local. The new
local is already 200 members
strong!

DON KELLY, assistant director of CSEA’s Research
Department, holds up a copy of the proposed state
budget.

15

An important notice regarding Empire Plan Major Medical claims

’88 Empire Plan
Major Medical
claims are due

1989, to:

Insurance Company.

All 1988 Empire Plan Major Medical
claims must be submitted before March 31,

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
CPO Box 1600
Kingston, N.Y. 12402-0600
Major medical claim forms may be
obtained from your agency’s personnel or
business office or from Metropolitan Life

Please be certain to have your doctor or
other provider fill in all information asked

for on the claim form, and sign it. If the
claim form is not filled out by the provider,
all bills submitted must include all
information asked for on the claim form.
Missing information will delay the
processing of your claim.

If you have any questions concerning your
claim, you may call Metropolitan Life
Insurance Company at the following toll-free
telephone numbers:

Within New York state — 1-800-942-4640

Outside New York state — 1-800-431-4312

before March 31

REGION VI activists listen and learn about CSEA election policies. :

More than 100 Western Region VI activists have completed _
election committee training, provided by CSEA’s Education and
Training Department in a year that calls for CSEA local and unit
officer elections throughout the union. :

__ The sessions in Region VI were part of 24 classes conducted
statewide during January and February by CSEA to prepare —
units and locals for trouble-free elections in accordance with the
union constitution, — :

“Region VI delegates turned out in good numbers,” said _

NZ

CONNIE WUNDERLICH, CSEA education and training specialist,
__ prepares region VI delegates for upcoming elections. °

Getting the vote out; election education

Connie Wunderlich, education and training specialist, ‘especially
in Buffalo and Rochester, and we have two more sessions
scheduled for Fredonia and Hornell.”

Local and union election committees will conduct local and

_ unit elections for three-year terms beginning July 1.

Election committee members learned the procedures for all

. union elections — local and unit office, to be held this year;

regional office in 1990; and statewide office in 1991.

y

AW SUNY Geneseo

College
receives
explosive
package
in mail

By Ron Wofford
CSEA Communications Associate

GENESEO — A bomb threat at State University College at
Geneseo turned out to be more than a mere threat, although no
one was hurt.

“We're glad no one was injured in this reckless action,” said
Arlie Bennett, president of Local 608 at the college. A number of
CSEA members work near the area where the device was
discovered.

Bennett said an incendiary device in a tin box was apparently
sent through campus mail to the dean of student affairs, who
become suspicious after reading a note attached to it.

Campus public safety officers responded to her call and
evacuated about 100 people from the building. The Livingston
County Sheriff’s Office, which is not equipped with a bomb squad,
contacted the Monroe County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad, who
responded and detonated the device in a nearby field.

Police said the device was not technically a bomb, but would
have burst into flame and could have killed or seriously burned
anyone nearby.

“It’s quite scary that anyone would do such a thing,” said
Bennett, who could not recall any other similar incidents or bomb
seare calls happening at the college before. Police are continuing
their investigation.

1 6 THE PUBLIC SECTOR

March 6, 1989

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And had chi dren 3 258
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Nominations being accepted

for statewide board of directors

ALBANY — Nominations opened March 3 _he or she wishes to represent. Not more
for all 106 seats on CSEA’s statewide Board than 450 signatures are required.

Educational locals which share a
representative require valid signatures
calculated on the combined number of
can have his or her name placed on a ballot _ eligible voters in all educational locals in
their particular CSEA region. Not more than
450 signatures are required.
form. The union’s statewide Election Committee
will oversee the balloting which will be
conducted by the Independent Election Corp.
of America, Lake Success, N.Y.

CSEA’s Board of Directors has adopted
addition, he or she cannot be a member of a__ the following election schedule:

March 3 —Nominations open. Nominating
Petition Request Forms are
available from local and unit
election committees as well as
at CSEA regional offices and
CSEA headquarters, Albany.

more than 450 signatures are required. April 7 —Final date for nominating
petitions to be received at
CSEA Headquarters. Deadline

of Directors.
Under the union’s open election
procedures, any member in good standing

by obtaining the required number of CSEA
member signatures on an official petition

In order to be eligible, a candidate must
have been a member in good standing of
CSEA since June 1, 1988, and continuously
paid membership dues since then. In

competing labor organization and must not
be serving a penalty imposed by the CSEA
statewide Judicial Board.

In the State division, a candidate needs
petitions signed by not less than 10 percent
of eligible voters in the department or
agency he or she wishes to represent. Not

In the Local Government division, a
candidate needs petitions signed by not less
than 10 percent of eligible voters in the local is 5 p.m.

April 24

May 1

—Drawing for ballot position, 11
a.m., at CSEA headquarters,
Albany. Candidates (or
proxies) may attend as
observers. Address labels
available to candidates for
mailing campaign literature.

—Campaign articles printed in
The Public Sector. Remarks
are the personal statement of
the candidate and are not to
be construed as reflecting the
opinions or beliefs of The
Public Sector or CSEA Inc.

—Ballots mailed.

—Replacement ballots available
from the Independent Election
Corp. of America.

—8 a.m. deadline for return of
ballots. Ballots will be counted
and results announced.

—Protest period ends (10 days
after official results are
announced).

——“*,.

Chere was ® fx

Weis q
What could she do?
What could she do?

March 6, 1989

A plan to shift administration of the
state Barge Canal has put CSEA on its
guard in case it has to come to the
waterway’s rescue once again.

A report from the state’s Barge Canal
Planning and Development Board calls
for the canal, now administered by the
state Department of Transportation, to be
administered by the state Department of
Parks, Recreation and Historical
Preservation.

Other proposals include shortening
canal hours and the canal season. The
canal, while administered by the state, is
considered a federal resource.

“This proposal puts the fate of the canal
in the governor’s hands, a governor who
has done nothing since he took office
except attempt to close it,” said CSEA
Federal Issues Coordinator Joe Conway.
“‘We’re concerned that this may be
another blow to the canal.”

The report also calls for elimination of
24 jobs, the addition of user fee, 50
percent of which would go into the state’s

Canal
concern:

Report recommends
some major changes

PROCEED

Washing’

ton
Watch

WITH
CAUTION

By Kathleen Daly
Associate Editor

general fund and allowing for commercial
development.

“We've got to look at the budget and the
report proposals very closely,” Conway
said. “The canal is too valuable for us to
ignore what could be major changes to its
character.”

CSEA, working with sports groups,
chambers of commerce and elected
officials, particularly U.S. Sens. Daniel
Moynihan and Alphonse D’Amato,
managed to get $5 million federal dollars
last year to keep the canal open, Conway
said.

Family update

U.S. Rep. Thomas Downey (D-New
York) has introduced a bill in the House
of Representatives that would re-establish
the Select Committee on Children, Youth
and Families. The committee, first
established in 1983, has coordinated

efforts in Congress to work on legislation
to meet the needs of children and
families.

““Tssues affecting our families are more
timely and critical than ever. Today over
55 percent of all women work outside the
home. I am concerned about the new and
more complex problems that face
American families,’ Downey said.
“Therefore I continue to support an
oversight committee that can monitor the
conditions affecting our children and
families and can help develop policies
that will implement positive change. That
is the role of the select committee.”

Downey’s effort is an important boost
for the many family-related bills CSEA
and its international affiliate, AFSCME,
are fighting for in Congress this year,
Conway said.

“This committee is vital in helping our
progress on issues like education and
family and parental leave,”’ Conway said.
“We're grateful to Congressman Downey
and others like him who want to provide
this important forum for legislation to
benefit children and families.”

CSEA PALs to lobby Legislature

ALBANY — CSEA’s political action
liaisons (PALs) will take an active role in
fighting the proposed state budget when they
descend on state legislators at home and in
Albany this month.

“We're going to make a show of solidarity
and a show of strength,” said Sean Egan,
chair of CSEA’s statewide Political Action
Committee. ‘“‘We’re going to make sure the
legislators know exactly what we need and
how we can achieve our goals.”

During in-district lobbying March 9 and
10, PALS will visit or call their legislators at
their district offices to explain CSEA’s
position and remind the legislators and their
staffs that the union represents many of the

same constituents as the legislators.

Then on March 13 and 14, members of
CSEA SUNY locals will be in Albany to
meet with legislators at their offices to
discuss their specific concerns regarding
proposed SUNY budget cuts.

PALs representing CSEA members in the
Offices of Mental Health (OMH) and Mental
Retardation and Developmental Disabilities
(OMRDD) will visit legislators in Albany on
March 28.

Joining them will be PALs who will speak
about criminal justice issues affected by the
proposed budget, including 200 job cuts in
Department of Corrections and the
elimination of 146 State Police civilian
dispatchers.

Finally, on March 29, PALs will meet with
legislators to express worries about aid to
local governments and school districts,
which are faced with the loss of at least $400
million in state aid.

“We will cover all the points of the budget
that affect CSEA members at state and
local government level,” said Larry
Scanlon, director of legislation and political
action. “‘CSEA PALs are doing their part to
ensure that the state Legislature knows we
mean business. We need every CSEA
member to reinforce the message by letter
or by phone — CSEA won’t accept layoffs;
we want tax cuts for the wealthy postponed;
and we want to maintain services at all
levels of government.”

Save nurse stations

Imagine being at work and suddenly,
you have chest pains — you quickly call
the Employee Health Service nursing
station in your office building, and you get
medical help immediately.

The availability of emergency aid from
a Department of Civil Service nurses may
be a comforting thought, but unless the
proposed state budget is arnended, it will
only be a memory.

\__ The proposed budget would eliminate 29

nursing stations in state buildings and lay
off 32 nurses. While CSEA doesn’t
represent those nurses, the union is
concerned because of the valuable
services they provide many CSEA
members.

The nursing stations offer care to
workers who might otherwise lose time
and productivity because they would have
to travel to a doctor’s office.

One CSEA member who is disabled has
written his legislator to say that without
the nursing station, he may not be able to
continue working for the state.

The most vital service the nurses
provide is immediate emergency care to
state employees and visitors to state
buildings.

The cost of these nursing stations? Only

$700,000, a small sum for lifesaving care. »
The stations are scattered around the

stale. What you can do

The most important effort you can
make is to help convince your state
legislators that the proposed state budget
must be changed. The proposal attacks
vital state programs by cutting spending,
laying off workers and reducing aid to
local and state governments. All that, yet
it maintains income tax cuts that
primarily benefit the wealthy.

Join the CSEA effort to convince the
state Legislature to freeze income tax
rates at the 1988.

For addresses and suggestions on how

to write your letter protesting the
proposed state budget, see Page XX.

18

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

March 6, 1989

THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER THING

aescosnsenytrantcmmsaenccancatcs met

Members of Kings Park Psychiatric
Center CSEA Local 411 have begun
collecting donations for a union member’s
17-month-old nephew who suffered burns
over 40 percent of his body.

The child’s recovery will be long and
expensive and he has no medical benefits
coverage.

Please give generously if you can to the
Bryan Alex Johnson Fund. All checks
should be mailed to RR 1, Box 27B,
Yaphank, New York 11980.

Anyone with questions should call Joe
Pucei at (516) 544-2257.

Toddler
needs

your
help

Love is in the air

It’s love from one end of the world to
the other!

Carmel Sunga and Rollie Mendoza, both
physical therapists at Nassau County
Medical Center and members of CSEA
Local 830, wed Feb. 11 in their native
Philippines.

The two met while attending school in
the Philippines and have worked at
Nassau County Medical Center for a year.

A

You can't buy
publicity
like this

Capital District radio personalities Bob Mason and Bill Sheehan,
whose morning antics include frequently disparaging remarks about
state employees, recently found that they weren’t too popular with
state officials.

It seems the Office of General Services blocked the DJ’s
“Nutline”’ telephone number in the state’s CAPNET telephone
system — meaning the number could not be dialed on any of the
state’s telephones.

Once this was brought to the duo’s attention, they immediately
gave out a new phone number and charged that their station was
being singled out.

OGS Commissioner John Egan later removed the block and said
that individual department supervisors should monitor employee
phone use.

Maing Evesina Telegram, Thurdey Jouery9,190-2 “*. - Vi! Everything you always wanted
Hie carvice LaF isi named op, Jopionnaine to know about state government
rv fe taont One frig plirerpeicd race en an acknowledgement of
a e ‘or its assistance in the
Is appreciated development of Governing the Empire

Kudos are in order for Franklin County
CSEA Local 817 activist Garry LaFlesh on
his selection as the county’s American
Legionaire of the Year.

LaF lesh has been president of the
Chateaugay Central School District CSEA Unit
and member of the local executive board for
the past five years.

LaF lesh is a Marine Corps veteran of the
Vietnam War and is actively involved in numerous
community activities.

Union women
heading &
for j
Maine

The annual Summer Institute for Union Women — a program
that brings together activists from throughout the region for
training and updates on vital issues of importance to labor — has
been scheduled for July 23 to 28.

The Northeast program will be offered at the University of
Maine at Orono. The cost for the weeklong activities is about $350.

CSEA participants have given the program high marks as an
excellent opportunity to meet and share ideas with other women
activists and for providing help in making a real difference through
union involvement.

If you’re interested in attending this year’s session, contact
Adreienne Taylor at (201) 750-5580 or Wanda Ingham at (207)
622-3151 or (207) 581-4124 for further details.

State: An Insider’s Guide — a recently
released handbook on state government
published by the Governor’s Office of
Employee Relations and the
Rockefeller Institute of Government.

The guide is a concise description on
how New York government really
works.

Copies are available through the
Management Resources Project ¢/o
Rockefeller Institute, 411 State, Albany,
4 York 12203.

ie price is $9.95 per copy plus $1.50
for postage and handling. a

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March 6, 1989

THE PUBLIC SECTOR 19

CSEA warns Nassau County:

NO SALE!

Declaring it’s time to slap a ‘Not For Sale’
sign across Nassau County government,
CSEA Long Island Region I President Gloria
Moran has directed the filing of a series of
Improper Practice (IP) charges accusing
management of operating what amounts to a
contracting-out factory.

A CSEA task force headed by Nassau
County CSEA Local 830 Executive Vice
President Ralph Spagnolo uncovered

leading to the filing of the charges, Moran
said. CSEA Labor Relations Specialist
Claude Ferrara and a team of attorneys
from CSEA’s legal department round out the
task force.

“Contracting-out has gotten completely
out of hand in Nassau County,” Nassau
County CSEA Local 830 President Rita
Wallace declared. ‘‘We have uncovered
multiple instances of improper contracting-
out. Abuses are spreading like wildfire.”

“We've got a case here of ‘Nassau County
government for sale.’ Anything goes and it’s
all personal-service contracting with no
legal notice and no public bidding,”’ added
Spagnolo.

CSEA attorneys Pamela Turner and Paul
Bamberger worked with the task force
reviewing evidence collected by Spagnolo,
Ferrara and other local union activists.
Regional President Moran then directed
Ferrara to file the series of IP charges
against Nassau County with the state Public
Employment Relations Board (PERB).

CSEA charges the county has
sub-contracted work and services that could
and should be performed by county
employees in as many as a half-dozen
county departments. A dozen or more job
titles are affected. CSEA is awaiting the
scheduling of hearings by PERB into the
charges leveled by the union:

Turner said the county committed
improper labor practices each time it
contracted out work traditionally done by
public employees to private contractors.
Spagnolo said the county may also have
violated its own charter whenever it
contracted out management functions as
well.

Mate ey are the er offend
when it comes to contracting out wor'
private contractors, according ' to Ralph

Spagnolo.
He said the county has contracted-out

for clerical help in the DPW at a cost of

numerous cases of improper contracting-out, ¢

investigated by sta!
Health Department. Extermination was

CSEA STAFF ATTORNEYS Pamela Turner and
Paul Bamberger are greeted by Nassau County
CSEA Local 830 Vice President John Aloisio Jr.
when they arrived recently to assist a CSEA task
force investigating widespread contracting-out in
Nassau County.

Both Wallace and Spagnolo said the
county slowly moved to widespread job give-
aways while former Local 830 Brcident
Jerry Donahue headed up the CSEA local.
Donahue, while apparently aware of the
problem, did nothing to stop it.

“Gloria Moran’s predecessor (Jerry
Donahue) knew what was going on but he
did nothing about it.” Wallace charged.
“But our union and new leadership took an
aggressive action as soon as we became
aware of the situation.”

Wallace and Spagnolo moved up to lead
Local 830 last July when former local

- about
inyolving rodent
the county

Betually tise only about 20 times a

a wonder how many Nassau taxpayers

YOU CAN TURN ‘EM IN;

CALL THIS HOTLINE

CSEA has established a hotline for
reporting additional cases of contracting
out. Nassau County Local 830 members
who are aware of instances of
contracting-out are urged to call
Executive Vice President Ralph Spagnolo
or CSEA Labor Relations Specialist
Claude Ferrara at Local 830
headquarters, (516) 535-2919.

All reported cases will be throughly
investigated.

president Donahue filled the vacant Long
Island regional president position for a short
time. Donahue resigned that post in January
and Moran took command.

“Unfortunately, there is a 120-day statute
of limitations for filing an improper practice
charge so we’re restricted as to how far
back we can go,” Spagnolo noted. ‘“These
cases had never been brought to the
attention of the local’s current officers.”

Wallace said she and her administration
discovered after taking over the leadership
of Local 830 that Nassau County had
routinely, without public notice or bidding,
been contracting out many public services
for some time.

She said the county routinely contracted.
out work that could and should have been
performed by county workers such as
licensed practical nurses, respiratory
therapists, cooks, steam maintenance
personnel and road strippers.

“They are contracting-out grass mowing,
rodent control, pothole repair, you name it,”
Spagnolo charged.

“County workers can do the job better and
at less cost to the taxpayers,” Spagnolo told
the Nassau County Board of Supervisors at
a meeting in February at which
sub-contracting practices were exposed by
the union. Based on CSEA testimony, the
Board of Supervisors tabled a motion that
would have funded a sub-contracted position
at the Nassau County Medical Center.

“The board is now on notice to put this
proposal on hold until all administrative
remedies are exhausted,’ Spagnolo said.

Turner called the contracting-out scheme
“insidious” because it affected many
departments and many job titles but, except
in one possible case, has not yet resulted in
loss of jobs.

“On the surface it would appear that
individual employees are not affected, but in
fact contracting-out eliminates overtime in
some instances, limits the growth of job
openings and promotional opportunities and

$14 an hour and for registered nurses at
He Mey ee a eee oh a

_ know that the county paid a private
exterminator $5,500 each of the 20 times
they were asked to catch a rat last
year?” asked CSEA Region I President
Gloria Moran. “It would have cost nothing
- if the job had not been taken a from
ane members!”

in general restricts the growth of the
workforce,” Turner pointed out. “It
definitely harmed the bargaining unit by
selling work and services the employees
should be performing.”

“Employees would eventually be out on
the street if we did not fight each and every
case we find,” Spagnolo said.

ae the most-costly single example —
uncovered thus far is a $110,000 a year
contract to a private firm for controlling _
rodents in rainwater sumps, Bikes Us to.

Spagnolo,

- 20

THE PUBLIC SECTOR