Official Publication of The Civil
Service Employees Association
Local 1000, American
Federation of State, County and’
Municipal Employees AFL-CIO
Vol. 5, No. 19
Friday, July 1, 1983
(ISSN 0164 9949)
Legislators leave
bittersweet results
in rush to recess
ALBANY — The legislature’s rush to a recess
left CSEA with some big victories, but also some
bitter defeats.
“We got half a loaf all the way through,” said
CSEA President William L. McGowan.
The biggest victory is a revision in the Tier IIT
pension plan that eliminates the Social Security
“offset.” That means retirees will collect their
full pension and Social Security benefits, rather
than having their pension reduced by half the
amount of their Social Security benefit.
The elimination of the Social Security “‘offset’’
also means improved disability benefits. But
CSEA officials disagree with a change that
means job-related and non-job-related disability
retirement benefits will be paid at the same rate.
CSEA believes that is unfair to members who are
disabled on the job.
The Tier III revision was proposed by Senate
Majority Leader Warren Anderson (R-
Binghamton) and put through with his leader-
ship. It appeared for awhile that there might be
no improvement in Tier III this session.
Despite the improvement, there are trade-offs.
The mandatory 3 percent employee contribution
remains. The “break-point”’ at which benefits
are calculated at a rate of 2 percent of average
salary has been raised from 20 to 25 years. The
automatic escalation of benefits has been
eliminated. And there is no provision for retire-
ment before age 62.
But the most outrageous provision of the revis-
ed Tier IH is that members who leave public ser-
vice without being vested (less than 10 years ser-
vice) will not have their 3 percent contribution —
refunded until they reach age 62. The money will
‘be held paying only 5 percent interest. And the
provision is retroactive to July 1976. :
“We're looking forward to challenging the re-
fund provision in the court,” said President
McGowan. So :
CSEA believes the refusal to refund members’
contributions until they reach age 62 will prove to
be illegal.
The Tier Il r will be in effect for two
years. CSEA will work to make clear the ine-
quities in it and to make improvements for our
members in the future. oo :
There is reason to believe that with strong
political action more improvements can be made
two years from now. In debating this revision,
Senator Richard Schermerhorn (R-Newburgh)
admitted the Social Security offset was a
mistake in the first place. Senator Schermerhorn —
said, “. . . You pay for Social Security, you pay
for the pension, and we allow one to reduce the
other. It’s ridiculous, inmy opinion,...”
‘And he forecast future changes, ‘‘. . . I believe
that one day we’re going to have one pension
system for the same job.”
Members will also benefit from a new workers’
compensation package. By next July, unemploy-
ment insurance benefits will increase from $125
a week to $180 a week. By 1985, the maximum
worker’s compensation benefit will increase
from $255 a week to $300 a week. Disability
Benefits increase from $95 a week to $145 a week
over a three-year period.
CSEA also scored a victory with the extension
of Agency Shop fees collection for two years.
“But this should be permanent,” Presi-
dent McGowan says, “By passing Agency Shop
for only twe years, the politicians are trying to ~
keep us on a string.”
A big victory is the passage of a bill that
guarantees a hearing procedure for any
employee accused of being mentally or physical-
ly incapable of performing his or her job. Prior
to this, the worker could be dismissed if a doctor
determined the individual unfit. Now CSEA
members are assured ‘due process.” And in-
dependent hearing officer will hear the case
before any action is taken.
CSEA succeeded in killing a bill that would
have threatened many members. It was a pro-
posal to allow lawyers to represent Mental
Hygiene patients in disciplinary proceedings
regarding patient abuse. The disciplinary pro-
cedure which exists was established by contract.
Another benefit secured this session is that
members who receive temporary promotions
will no longer lose their contractual bonuses. —
This often happened to members in the Depart-
ment of Taxation and Finance who receive tem-
porary promotions during the income tax filing
rush. These workers found that by accepting the
brief promotion they lost the $500 and $750
bonuses awarded in the second and third year of
«the contract to employees who stay in the same
Job for five years or more. :
Members in the Office of Court Administration
also gained some equity in this session. An inter-
pretation had been made that 0.C.A. employees
_ leaving state service would receive their lag pay
at the rate in effect at the time of the lag, rather
than the higher rate in effect at the time of
separation. CSEA was able to put through a bill
guaranteeing those members will receive the
pay rate in effect when they leave.
CSEA was also successful in helping to secure
more than $57 million in aid for 45 small city
school districts, the so-called Hurd districts.
That awaits Senate action this summer.
Members who are Vietnam veterans will
benefit from two CSEA-backed bills. The first
defines the Vietnam era as extending from
January 1, 1963 to May 7, 1975.
The second bill allows veterans, who served
during that time, who are being treated for ser-
vice connected disabilities at V.A. hospitals to go
for that care without being charged leave
credits. :
CSEA failed, however, to pass a bill allowing
veterans of World War Il, Korea and Vietnam to
buy back pension time lost while in the service.
The inability to pass a bill allowing early
retirement for local government employees was,
perhaps, the biggest and most bitter defeat of the
session. :
» CSEA membership, staff and counsel brought
heavy pressure to bear on this issue. To try to
Move the bill, President McGowan spoke with
Senate Majority Leader Anderson at 12:30 AM on
the final morning of the session. But all efforts
failed. Providing local government workers with
the same opportunity for early retirement af-
forded state workers remains high on the
CSEA’s political agenda.
Some big union gains in
a ‘half a loaf’ session
When state legislators shut down the
lawmaking process this week for the sum-
mer, they had concluded action on many
bills important to public employees. But
they also failed to take action on some
bills, and killed a few others, that were
also importa All of which led CSEA
President jam L. McGowan to con-
clude, ‘‘We got half a loaf all the way
through.’’ Following is a glimpse of some
of the major gains.
@ TIER Ill PENSION PLAN IM-
PROVEMENTS, especially elimination
of the Social Security ‘‘offset’’
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
PACKAGE INCREASE; unemployment
and disability benefits increased
AGENCY SHOP extended two years
GUARANTEED HEARING assures ‘due
process’ for employees accused of be-
ing incapable of performing job
HURD SCHOOL AID; $57 million. for
small city school districts
VIETNAM ERA VETERANS BENEFITS
protection n
TEMPORARY PROMOTIONS PROTEC-
TION; contractual bonuses remain
intact.
Mount Vernon Non-Instructional Unit President Marie Lewis meets with
Assemblymen John Branca of Mount Vernon and Nicholas Spano of Yonkers.
CSEA members from Westchester, Rockland
and Putnam Counties gathered recently for a
legislative breakfast with state assemblymen
and senators at the Tarrytown Hilton. From
left are Region III Vice Chairman Ken Kinko,
Westchester Local 860 President Pat Mascioli,
Senator John Flynn of Yonkers, Region III
Treasurer Eleanor McDonald and Region Ii
President Raymond J. O’Connor.
IH
Deputy Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Burrows of Yonkers talks
with Trena Kobbe, Putnam County Region III board representative,
and Westchester Local 860 President Pat Mascioli. The legislators
discussed their views on a number of issues before them that affect
CSEA members.
Suggestion Program can convert ideas into money
‘Twenty state employees recently shared in cash awards for suggestions
resulting in net first-year savings of $34,752 to New York State taxpayers.
Richie Ferrie, a Correction Officer at Napanoch, was a big winner —
$2,700 for suggesting locked phone boxes at the Eastern Bedford Hills Cor-
rectional Facilities to avoid vandalism.
Kenneth Coats, Motor Equipment Mechanic, and Robert Jacobson,
Highway Maintenance Supervisor I, from the Department of Transportation
at Delhi shared a $720 joint award for designing and implementing an ex-
haust ventilating system in the North Delaware County Residency. This
system was built at a fraction of the normal contracted cost.
Thomas Doin, a Motorized Scow Operator with the Department of
Transportation in Waterford, received a $100 award for designing and
building a bucket attachment to the crane on a self-propelled scow.
Robert Hug, a Senior Engineering Technician with the Department of
‘Transportation in Hauppauge, received a $100 award for recommending
that a substantial amount of drafting time could be saved and a more
uniform product produced if the Sign Data Sheet (normally drawn and trac-
ed by a draftsperson) be produced by the Central DOT computer. The sug-
gestion included a proposal which detailed how this automation might be
accomplished,
Other awards approved include:
Page 2 THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, July 1, 1983
$75 — Robert Widmer, Storekeeper, and Aileen Runge, Account Clerk,
Department of Transportation in Hornell.
$50 — Charles Henricks Associate’ Insurance Examiner, Insurance
Department in New York City.
$25 — Cheryl Furman, Senior Stenographer, Department of Labor in
Albany; Marc Tracey, Social Services Assistant Trainee II, Department of
Social Services in Albany.
Certificates of Merit were awarded to Edwin Rourke, Department of
Taxation and Finance in Albany; Steven Currie, Carl Hornisky, Sue Mariot-
ti, and Dave Neary, Department of Transportation in Utica; Johnny Black,
Office of General Services in Albany; Ahilud Williams, Division for Youth in
Albany; James DeLong, Division of Parole in Albany; Janet Jaeger,
Workers’ Compensation Board in New York City; William Feldman, Cor-
rectional Services at Fishkill.
The Employee Suggestion Program, the oldest suggestion program for
State employees in the country, was started in 1947 and is administered by
the New York State Civil Service Department. Over the years suggestions
relating to improving office procedures and forms, methods for eliminating
delays and duplication and improving effectiveness have resulted in more
than $9 million in net first-year savings to the state and its taxpayers.
Awards are based on 10 percent of net first-year savings.
WAYNE COUNTY CONTRACT DISP P TE HE
G, | :
LEG Si ATIVE)
THOMAS CROWLY, left, president of Wayne County CSEA Local 859, and
Wayne County CSEA Employees Unit President Peter Stirpe.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING SPECIALIST
Harm Swits tells Local 859 members that the
factfinder’s report “retained the dignity of the
public employee and the local’s contract.”
EAR
LYONS — A factfinder’s report which basically supports the contract
aspirations of Wayne County employees has been overwhelmingly accepted
by members of CSEA Local 859, but a union representative said the county
will likely reject the report. If the county does reject the recommendation,
the situation would go to a legislative hearing and, ultimately, an imposed
one-year contract.
Wayne County employees have been working without a contract since
last December.
In the report the Wayne County employees were supported in their con-
tention that the gains of previous contract negotiations should not be written
out of the present contract, as proposed by the county negotiators, according
to Harm Swits, CSEA collective bargaining specialist.
“Of all the negotiating points reviewed by the factfinder, only one was
found in the favor of the county,” Swits said. The factfinder “retained the
dignity of the public employee and the local’s contract,” in his findings,
Swits said. The highlights of the report recommended a seven percent wage
increase and retained holiday and most overtime provisions.
Grievance procedures, seniority and probationary period statutes were
also retained in the factfinder’s report. The one county proposal recom-
mended by the factfinder called for standardization of overtime pay for
more than 40 hours worked. Currently, some members are paid over-
time after 35 hours worked.
The 500-member unit voted by a 9-1 margin to accept the report,
but Swits said it is likely that the county will vote to reject the report, since
so many of their proposals were denied. Following an executive session on
the report, the County Legislature would then hold a public hearing to deter-
mine if a one-year contract should be imposed under Taylor Law provisions.
The county’s negotiator had previously recommended no raises in addition
to “gutting the contract,” according to Swits.
/
REARING COPY OF FACTFINDER’S REPORT are Rod Crane and Mike
oms,
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, July 1, 1983 Page 3
publication of
The Civil Service Employees Association
Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO
33 Elk Street, Albany, New York 12224
The Public Sector (445010) is published every
other Friday by the Civil Service Employees
Association, 33 Elk Street, Albany, New York
12224.
Publication office, 1 Columbia Place, Albany,
New York 12207.
Second Class Postage paid at Post Office,
Albany, New York.
MICHAEL P. MORAN — Publisher
ROGER A. COLE — Editor
TINA LINCER FIRST — Associate Editor
Address changes should be sent to Civil Ser-
vice Employees Association, The Public Sector,
33 Elk Street, Albany, New York 12224.
Fn eee TT
RETURN WITH
US NOW TO THE
THRILLING DAYS
/ OF YESTERYEAR...
fi. EEL
ea uaa
| Hh
ne
LULU
re
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(
TNEMPLOTED
vy AN
FADPLE
ten i cae
CSEA AND FASCME recently filed sex discrimination charges against
Nassau County with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
CSEA Long Island Region President Danny Donohue and AFSCME Assis-
tant Coordinator of Women’s Activities Marilyn DePoy, right, later discuss-
ed the pay equity issue with Long Island radio station WGLI announcer Jim
Saunders on his “Contact L.I’’ program.
me
Insurance option
change reminder
CSEA members who participate in the Basic
Group Life Insurance Plan are reminded that
requests to increase coverage by changing
from Option B to Option A must be made prior
to Aug. 1.
Change of Insurance Option Cards may be
obtained by calling or writing: CSEA Insurance
Dept., 33 Elk St. Albany, N.Y. 12207.
Telephone No. is (518) 434-0191.
SORRY, WE GOOFED
In the May 20 issue, we mistakenly identified a
member of Staten Island Developmental Center
CSEA Local 429, Shown in a photo receiving a cer-
tificate of graduation from a special training pro-
gramfrom SIDC Director Dr. Ella Curry was
y | Joann Clark, not Joyce Williams. We regret the
identification error.
CSEA REGIONAL OFFICES
LONG ISLAND REGION |
Hauppauge Atrium Building
300 Vanderbilt Motor Pkwy.
Hauppauge, N.Y. 11788
(616) 273-2280
(516) 435-0962
CAPITAL REGION IV
1215 Western Avenue
Albany, N.Y. 12203
(518) 489-5424
METROPOLITAN
REGION Il
100 Church St.
Room 1620
New York, N.Y. 10007
(212) 587-8200
CENTRAL REGION V
Suite 308
290 Elwood David Road
Liverpool, N.Y. 13088
(315) 451-6330
SOUTHERN REGION Ill
Rural Route 1
Box 34
Old Route 9
Fishkill, N.Y. 12524
(914) 896-8180
WESTERN REGION VI
Cambridge Square
4245 Union Road
Cheektowaga, N.Y. 14225
(716) 634-3540
Page 4 THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, July 1, 1983
ie
iver Creek drivers battling
SILVER CREEK — A campaign to fight a
_ eontracting-out proposal and save the public jobs
of the school bus drivers in Silver Creek is —
underway.
“The people don’t really understand this issue,
that’s why it’s important we get the word out,”
said Unit President Ron Gens, as he prepared to
distribute flyers and petitions urging the school
board to reconsider its announced intentions to
contract out the district’s bus driving services.
“They don’t realize that this is a short-term _
The Silver Creek School's unit of ‘Chautauqua
ath te Pom : 5
full page
the ‘
es
servi
would
buses;
_ school
beculise the inoney paid to a private contract
would be sent out of the district as profits, rather
_ than stay in the hands of local citizens; and
destroy morale of friends and neighbors who
have driven the children to and from school until
now.
‘The unit urged the public ‘for the sake of our
children’? not to let it happen.
The school board is scheduled to review bids
for the school bus contract as the Public Sector
os kee
ONLY
$4.50
ALBANY — Retired public employees can pro-
tect their futures for just $4.50 — the cost for a
limited time 6-month membership: in a CSEA
retiree’s local.
The union’s legislative accomplishments for
retirees have included pension increases for peo-
ple who retired after April 1, 1970 and before
Dec. 31, 1979, drug prescription cards for those
with health insurances in the state program, and
survivor’s death benefits for state employees.
But these benefits could not have been ac-
complished without the political clout of the
40,000 people who already belong to retiree
locals. And, it is in the special interest of retirees
who have not yet joined their ranks to do so.
Membership gives them a voice in the state’s
capitol to lobby for their needs. In addition, there
is an official retiree’s newsletter issued
periodically, special mailings go out on selected
issues, locals meet regularly to share ideas and
exchange information, social gatherings are
held, and there is access to a retiree’s depart-
ment, staffed by professionals, in CSEA
Headquarters.
For additional information, contact the
CSEA retiree membership
tremendous bargain;
protect your future
through retiree power
retiree’s department by calling (518) 4340191. To
sign up, fill out the following form and with a
$4.50 check send it to: CSEA, 33 Elk St., Albany,
N.Y. 12207.
Print Last Name Above First Name
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
Thitial
MALL
ADDAESS:
‘Street and Number City State Zip Goce
OFFICIAL DATE OF RETIREMENT:
LAST EMPLOYED COUNTY © VILLAGE
lag 0 ciry DISTRICT
(Check one and © TOWN O STATE (Specify above name of governmental unit checked)
specity name)
DEPARTMENT, DIVISION, or
INSTITUTION OF ABOVE
GOVERNMENTAL UNIT:
0 RETIRED MEMBERSHIP DUES: $4.50
Signature of Applicant:
APPLICATION FOR RETIREE MEMBERSHIP
THE CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, INC.
Local 1000, American Federation of State,
33 Elk Street, Albany, New York 12207
‘County & Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, July 1, 1983
Page 5
HAUPPAUGE — Michael Antonelli should not have been denied sick leave
benefits when he was a candidate for public office, an arbitrator has ruled.
Antonelli, a welfare housing advisor employed by Suffolk County, was
nominated in June, 1982, to run for state senator. Shortly afterwards, questions
were raised because Antonelli’s job is paid by federal monies. A violation of the
While Schenectady puts itself
in dog house over workweek
SCHENECTADY — An attempt by the City of Schenectady to change the
workweek of Dog Catcher Michaelyn Hiller has landed city officials in the dog
house.
Hiller was hired in January of 1978 after responding to a newspaper ad
which listed a Monday-to-Friday work routine. She stayed on that schedule un-
til February of 1982 when she was ordered to begin working alternate
weekends.
She also filed a grievance which ended up in arbitration.
CSEA argued that according to the collective bargaining agreement the
normal workweek is Monday-to-Friday. Moreover, when Hiller worked
weekends she received overtime compensation which, in effect, acknowledged
that she was working outside the normal schedule.
The city, meanwhile, argued that since the CSEA contract specified 9:00 to
5:00 as normal work hours, and since Hiller worked different hours, the con-
tract was not binding.
Arbitrator Benjamin Westervelt rejected the city’s argument, noting that
the CSEA contract only specified an eight-hour weekday schedule. He found
the city violated the union contract by attempting to “alter terms and condi-
tions of employment without negotiating those changes with the Union,” and
ordered the city to restore the dog catcher to a Monday through Friday routine.
The award is another win for CSEA’s legal assistance program.
mie af Z nied fa seat
Suffolk County wrongly denied sick leave benefits
to senate candidate by applying Hatch Act defense
Hatch Act — which prohibits federally-funded public employees from seeking
effective office — was feared.
On July 19, Antonelli requested a leave of absence (without pay) effective
Aug. 15 to Nov. 30 to “give me enough time to wrap up my unfinished county
business so I may pursue my ‘candidacy’ for public office.”
A week later, the county sought a legal opinion from State Attorney
General Robert Abrams inquiring if there was a Hatch Act violation.
Events, however, took an unexpected turn on Aug. 23 when Antonelli was
hospitalized with a collapsed lung. He was placed on sick leave and received
the required contractual benefits. He was also notified that he would not get a
response to the leave of absence request until the county heard from Abrams,
which it did on Sept. 9.
The attorney general’s office provided an “informal and unofficial’’ opi-
nion that “an individual principally employed by a state or locality, whose
employment is in connection with an activity financed in whole or part by
federal funds, is prohibited by the Hatch Act from being a candidate for elec-
tive office.’ The opinion, at the same time, made no attempt to apply the Hatch
Act to specific circumstances.
On Sept. 22, Antonelli’s request for a leave of absence was finally granted.
His sick benefits were also terminated Sept. 27, which prompted the filing of a
grievance.
The county argued that it would be illegal, under the Hatch Act, to award
contractual benefits even though the grievant was genuinely ill.
CSEA, meanwhile, countered that the Hatch Act was not applicable under
the circumstances and that the grievant was due prior-earned sick leave and
vacation accurals. Moreover, since no hearing was ever held by the Merit
Systems Protection Board — the mechanism established by federal law to hear
possible Hatch Act violations — the county suffers no penalty and commits no
illegal act.
Arbitrator Francis J. O’Connell agreed with CSEA. He awarded Antonelli
contractual benefits and the union’s legal assistance program thus scored
another victory in Suffolk County.
“CSEA is our safeguard in a
political atmosphere where the
rank and file employees who
keep things functioning are
vastly underrated.
“Our union gives us a plat-
form from which to speak out,
negotiate and collectively solve
employee problems.
“Together in CSEA we have
a voice that must be heard.
**Singly, without the union,
who would listen?’”
—CORINNE DALY
MOTOR VEHICLE CLERK
Page 6 THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, July 1, 1983
SONYEA — The fight is not over yet in the bat-
tle to retain Craig Developmental Center as a
viable facility for the mentally retarded and
developmentally disabled, in the words of two
State legislators.
State Senator Dale Volker and Assemblyman
State plans to convert Craig Developmental
draws opposition from pair of area lawmakers
crowding and these conditions won’t go away
soon. But Craig has got to stay open as a mental
facility.”
Assemblyman Wesley pointed out that a men-
tal facility cannot be closed without the
Legislature’s approval, and said he felt confident
that the State Legislature would not approve
such a measure regarding Craig. CSEA has a
considerable amount of leverage, Wesley said,
and urged those present to ‘continue applying
political pressure so that the Governor and the
Legislature will be aware of your feelings.”
Richard Wesley met with members of Local 405
to inform them of the status of proposals to re-
tain Craig in the face of the State’s prison con-
version plans. Volker and Wesley both announc-
ed opposition to any plan that would eliminate
Craig as a mental health facility, but both also
felt an obligation to deal with the State’s prison
overcrowding problems.
“J had previously been opposed to co-location
of mental facilities with correctional facilities,”
said Volker, “‘and there was an agreement not to
take all of the facility for corrections, but since
last year’s election, corrections has been saying
that they need more space. More criminals are
being sent to our prisons causing the over-
Readers of the labor press are all too familiar with the subversion of oc-
cupational health and safety protections under the Reagan Administration.
Many workers know first-hand.
at may be less obvious is an escalating propaganda offensive by in-
dustry and its “deregulation” allies in government to shift the blame for
workplace-related disease and injury from the workplace to the worker.
Blaming the victim, of course, is very convenient for corporations bent on
avoiding the costs of cleaning up their operations. If disease and injury is the
fault of the worker, then why bother?
Ata recent Machinists conference on safety and health, scientist Samuel S.
Epstein titled his talk, “‘Blame the Victim — An Evolving Strategy by Industry
and Its Consultants.”
Epstein, professor of occupational and environmental health at the Univer-
sity of Illinois’ School of Public Health, is a recognized authority who has been
a consultant to congressional committees, federal agencies, and organized
labor.
Epstein said that by most estimates, some 100,000 American workers die
each year from past exposure to toxic chemicals. ‘“‘Where is the public out-
cry?” he asked.
No one knows what the final cost will be in human lives, disease, birth
defects and infertility caused by avoidable hazards in the workplace. As for the
financial costs, Epstein pointed out that, in the long run, “failure to regulate is
far more expensive than to regulate.”
But this fact has not slowed many corporations, now aided and abetted by
what Epstein called ‘‘a lawless Administration,” in their tireless efforts to get
“government off our back.”
As a key component of the deregulation drive, Epstein said, industry has
PONDERING THE FUTURE of Craig
Developmental Center are, from left, Local 405
Vice President Kathy Ponitillo, and Local 405
member Karen VanGee.
Fight to save
Craig goes on
STATE SENATOR Dale Volker discusses his
position relative to the state’s plans to convert
the facility into a state prison. Listening atten-
tively is Assemblyman Richard Wesley, both of
whom met recently with CSEA Local 405
members to state their opposition to the state’s
conversion plans.
been heavily promoting such “‘blame the victim theories” of disease as ‘“’the
lifestyle theory of cancer.”’ “If you get cancer, it’s your fault. It’s your smok-
ing, your drinking, your diet, or because you chose the wrong parents,” he said.
Smoking, of course, has been shown to be a major cause of cancer. But in-
dustry and its highly-paid ‘experts’ have been ‘using smoking as a
smokescreen to divert attention from a wide range of occupational exposures”’
to cancer-causing and suspect substances, said Epstein.
Lung cancer among non-smokers, said Epstein, has doubled since 1959.
For some half-dozen occupations, such as uranium mining, the lung cancer
rates of non-smokers is about the same as for smokers, he said.
Epstein cited a study by the American Industrial Health Council which
concluded that between 20 and 40 percent of all cancers are due to occupational
exposures. He said the industry-funded council commissioned other scientists
to refute its own study, but in vain.
Industry’s hired hands now are trying to draw a fine line between car-
cinogens which are known to cause genetic damage and those which have not
been so shown, said Epstein. The aim is to convince regulators and the public
that they shouldn’s worry much about the second category. He compared this
to the past plot of making a fine distinction between substances that cause
cancer in laboratory animals and those known to cause cancer in humans.
Eula Bingham, who headed an active Occupational Safety and health Ad-
ministration under President Carter, told the conference delegates that it
would take ‘‘at least three or four years of building for each year of tearing
down’’ OSHA by the Reagan Administration.
“This means that what a union does is more and more important,” said
Bingham. “Demand and negotiate health and safety in the workplace. What
you and your union does may be the only thing that stands between you and
some kind of disease.”
‘Page 7
Cuomo taps trio of new commissioners
ALBANY — Gov. Mario M.
Cuomo has made three appoint-
ments that could have a big effect
on CSEA members.
The governor has selected Karen
Burstein to head the state Civil Ser-
vice Commission, Arthur Y. Webb
as commissioner of Mental Retar-
dation and Developmental
Disabilities, and Dr. Steven E.
Katz as commissioner of Mental
Health.
Only Burstein received Senate
confirmation before the state
Legislature’s recess.
Burstein replaces Joseph Valenti
in the $65,700-a-year job as presi-
dent of the commission. The
40-year-old attorney has been the
head of the state Consumer Protec-
tion Board since 1981. She served
on the Public Service Commission
from 1978 to 1980 and as a state
senator from Long Island from 1973
to 1978. She is a graduate of Bryn
Mawr College and Fordham Uni-
versity Law School.
“] think the appointment of
Karen Burstein is fantastic,” said
CSEA Statewide Secretary Irene
New drug
prescription
cards due
ALBANY — Members of the
CSEA Employee Benefit Fund
(EBF) who are enrolled in the
prescription drug program should
watch their mailboxes for arrival
of their new drug program cards.
Administration of the EBF
prescription plan has been changed
from Pharmaceutical Drug
Systems Inc. to MEDAC Interna-
tional, so new cards are now being
mailed to all EBF members.
“However, the program is iden-
tical in coverage. As far as the
members are concerned, nothing
has changed except the name,”’ ex-
plained EBF Administrator Tom
Collins. ‘The cards will continue to
be accepted by most pharmacies in
New York, and members will con-
tinue to pay only $1 for their
prescriptions. Members should
still look for the familiar
CSEA/EBF symbol on the phar-
macy door.”
He added that first names of
members’ dependents will con-
tinue to be listed on the drug plan
cards.
Members who haven't received
their new cards by July 15 should
notify the CSEA Employee Benefit
Fund by calling their toll-free
number: 1-800-342-4274.
4
Ae
KAREN BURSTEIN
Carr. “Ms. Burstein has done a lot
for women in New York State,”
Carr added, noting she and Burs-
tein have worked together on the
board of Women in Government,
which Burstein chairs.
Lattimer blasts
striking nurses
BUFFALO — Harassment of workers carrying
out their legitimate right to strike is a problem with
which many unionists are familiar. And this harass-
ment has not subsided even in our so-called
“enlightened age,” according to Region VI President
Robert L. Lattimer.
ARTHUR Y. WEBB
Dr. Katz is a New York City
psychiatrist. In addition to having
a private practice, the 45-year-old
doctor is medical director of the
Department of Pyschiatry at
Bellevue Hospital. He is also a staff
Lattimer was recalling recent evidence of this
while supporting striking nurses at Buffalo General
Hospital. ‘This is a continuation of this hospital’s at-
tempt to bust the union,” Lattimer said while carrying
a “CSEA Supports Nurses United”’ sign.
“T was personally harassed and saw other strikers
harassed by guards who were intimidating them with
their dogs. And we won’t stand by and watch the cause
of unionism trampled by those who think workers
have no rights.”
Many Region VI CSEA members and officers
responded to Lattimer’s call to join the nurses of Local
1168, Communication Workers of America, AFL-CIO
in their picketing for a contract with better wages and
working conditions.
A security guard at the hospital was recently
charged with harassment of picketing nurses, follow-
ing a nurse’s complaint that the guard carried her on
the front of his car for several feet at the entrance of
the hospital’s parking lot. The matter will be heard in
Buffalo City Court.
REGION VI PRESIDENT Robert L. Lattimer shows
his support for Buffalo General Hospital’s striking
nurses.
Page 8
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, July 1, 1983
psychoanalyst and lecturer at Col-
umbia University’s
Psychoanalytic Center for Train-
ing and Research and vice chair-
man of the Department of
Psychiatry at the New York
University Medical Center. He is a
graduate of Cornell University and
the Hahnemann Medical College.
Webb, of Glenmont, is now serv-
ing as the executive deputy com-
missioner of the state Department
of Social Services. He served as ac-
ting commissioner for six months
until January of this year.
From 1979 until 1982, the 39-year-
old Webb was with the Department
of Correctional Services, where he
served as assistant commissioner
for health and mental health ser-
vices and later as deputy commis-
sioner for programs.
Webb has also worked with the
state Health Planning Commission
and the Division of the Budget.
He is a graduate of New York
University’s Washington Square
College and is a candidate for a
Ph.D degree from N.Y.U.
Both commissioners’ jobs pay
$69,200 annually.
CSEQ
LOCAL 1000 AFSCME
AFL-CIO
President’s
Message
Fraternally,
‘We will work for those politicians who have helped us,
and defeat those who have voted against us.’
1 am disappointed by the outcome of
this legislative session, But it is disappoint-
ment tempered by hope.
We won some big ones. Despite tough
opposition, we were able to do away with
the Social Security offset for Tier Il. But I
am disappointed that we had to live with
bitter trade-offs to accomplish that.
The 3 percent mandatory employee con-
tribution remains repugnant to us. We also
object to the change which treats job-
related and non-job-related disability
retirements the same way. Although by do-
ing away with the social security offset the
benefits will be better, it is fundamentally
unfair to workers disabled on the job to
treat their claim the same as a non-job-
related disability.
Raising the "break point" at which
benefits are calculated at 2 percent of
average salary from 20 to 25 years of ser-
vice is also objectionable.
But the Tier II revision will expire in
two years, and we will work hard to make
improvements in the plan that will succeed
this one.
We will not wait two years to try to
change the most outrageous part of the Tier
lll revision. Under the revision, employees
who leave public service without being
vested (10 years service), will not have their
3 pecent contribution refunded until they
reach age 62. That means the state will hold
their money paying only 5 percent interest.
Because the provision is retroactive to July
1976, it takes away Tier Ill employees’ pre-
existing right to the return of their retire-
ment system contributions.
We think this is not only unfair, but il-
legal and unconstitutional and we will
challenge it in the courts.
We won a two-year extension of Agen-
cy Shop. This is an important victory, but |
am disappointed that the Agency Shop is
not permanent. By extending it for only two
years, the politicians are trying to keep a
gun at our heads.
There are other significant victories
(detailed on Page 1 of the Public Sector),
put too often we had to settle for half-a-
loaf,
My biggest disappointment is the
failure to pass an early retirement bill for
local government workers. | promise that
we will continue to fight to provide local
employees with the same early retirement
opportunity given this year to state
workers,
My hope is that our victories and our
defeats will provide a source of inspiration.
Both show the need to keep our political ac-
tion strong. We are working to improve the
effectiveness of our lobbying. But this is not
something officers, staff and counsel can do
alone. Members must take an active role.
Let your representatives know that you are
aware of their actions. Let them know, also,
that we will work for those politicians who
have helped us, and defeat those who have
voted against us.
In solidarity, we have the numbers
and power to do that. But we must all work
hard and work together.
Officers urged
to fill out
name, address
forms
ALBANY — CSEA local and unit elections have just
been held, and all over the state officers are taking their
oaths. of office. CSEA Headquarters is working to make
sure they have complete records of the newly-elected or
re-elected officials.
“With some 300 locals and nearly 1,000 units, it’s
critical that we get timely and complete input for our
records and mailing lists,” said CSEA Statewide
Secretary Irene Carr, who has been working to gather the
information. ‘I would hope that one of the first jobs a
local or unit secretary does is to fill out the forms we
recently mailed out and return them to my office.”
The forms call for names, Social Security numbers,
work and home addesses and phone numbers for officers
and delegates. Carr’s office will share the data with
Headquarters and regional offices which need the
information.
“For example, field representatives who service the
local contracts need to know who the local leaders are,”
Carr said. ‘“‘And it’s vital that our central files in Head-
quarters are complete so that we can send out mailings
with confidence that the right people are receiving them.
“After every round of elections, we have local of-
ficers who call us and complain that they haven’t receiv-
ed mailings for several months and accuse us of having
lousy communications. Yet when we check our records,
we usually discover that we’ve never been given the pro-
per names and addresses for our records.”
Carr stressed that the information she is gathering is
in addition to the official certification of election results
required from local election committees.
Tf a local or unit hasn’t received the proper forms, or
if there’s a question, officers are urged to get in touch
with Carr’s office at CSEA Headquarters, 33 Elk Street,
Albany, N.Y. 12224.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, July 1, 1983 Page
TAM AY
MONTICELLO — Several hundred CSEA ac-
tivists recently participated in a wide variety of
meetings and seminars over a three-day period while
attending the annual Irving Flaumenbaum
Memorial CSEA County Workshop here.
CSEA staff members and service providers con-
ducted workshops on such subjects as safety in the
workplace, negotiations, improving communica-
tions, internal organizing, the Employee Assistance
Program, job classifications, the effect of
Reaganomics on social programs, and utilizing
CSEA resources.
The event also provided ample time for members
to get together to discuss mutual concerns,
Information tables were set up to educate
members on such topics and services as the
Employee Benefit Fund, insurance, CSEA Labor
Institute, CSEA Women’s Committee, Defensive
Driving, AFSCME, and CSEA departments, in-
cluding Communications, Research, Collective
Bargaining, and Treasurer.
On the first day of the County Workshop, James
Murphy explained the application of an employee
assistance program on the local government level.
The Women’s Committee conducted a workshop on
job reclassifications.
Two sessions dealt with budget matters. One
zeroed in on the effect of budgets on protected
Programs for AFSCME in Washington, D.C. detail-
ed the human effects on the Reagan cuts in
domestic spending.
According to Russo, the $30 billion cut from
_ domestic programs in the 1981-82 fiscal year meant
' the loss of 20,000 public service jobs in the country.
Who suffers? Russo says ‘“‘those without the jobs,
- and those entitled to receive the services being
cut.” Those services not spared the budget ax in-
cluded Title 20, Aid to Families with Dependent
Children, Child Welfare, Student Lunch program,
and more.
For example, the school lunch program was cut
$2 billion, which means 1500 schools have dropped!
out of the program. Three million children no
longer receive free school lunch, free milk, or
reduced price lunches because they have either
been declared ineligible or their schools no longer
participate in the program.
More than $1 billion was taken from the A@DC
program, effecting 750,000 families with three
million children. About $2 billion was cut from the
food stamp program, meaning two million people.
previously eligible for this program have been cut
off. For the 20 million remaining on food stamps,
many have had their benefits reduced.
Russo says, ‘‘We must do more of what we did in
1982 in terms of political action. That’s how we can
turn our legislative aims into legislative victories.
CSEA has done a remarkable job in political actjon.
We must follow that old axiom, ‘Reward our fri€@tds
and punish our enemies in Congress.’ That meant
Democrats as well as Republicans we don’t support
our goals.”
Karen Burnstein, Executive Director of the New
York State Consumer Protective Board, conducted
an evening seminar on “Power and the People: The
Future of Energy in the State of New York.”
Day two saw two Regional Directors detail the
Training, School District Affairs, Retirees, and the
Employee Assistance Program. Also, Communica-
tions, Legal Services, Legislative Affairs, and the
services provided by Jardine Ter Bush & Powell,
were explained.
Acting Director of Education Lawrence Scanlon
and Education and Training Specialist Peg Wilson
used role playing to show members how to build
membership strength. Among the do’s of intef&al
organizing, the workshop leaders said: organizers
should know the law and their contracts when ap-
DREDS ATTEND COUNTY WORKSHOP |
proaching potential members. Explain that
members have a voice in the operation of CSEA.
Compile a list of bargaining history gains, and ex-
plain the power and strength of collectivism. Make
the union representative available by providing
work phone numbers. Explain the legal assistance
available when needed. Of course, convey en-
thusiasm and satisfaction of being a union member.
@udget Analyst Kathy Albowicz and Collec-
tive Bargaining Specialists Dan Jinks and Roger
Kane gave pointers on setting the foundation for
negotiations. They listed 11 guidelines. Among
them are selecting a negotiating team that
represents the entire membership and providing
them with the authority to negotiate a contract.
Refer to grievance files, labor-management
meeting minutes, contracts, previous drafts of pro-
posals, for information. Canvass members for their
thoughts and ideas. Categorize proposals into
Porites, problem oriented, and trade off
proposals.
Remember that wages and economic benefits are
not the sole items which can, or should be,
negotiated. Be prepared to define and discuss the
rationale for a particular change in benefits and/or
wages. Prepare ground rules for negotiating the
proposals which aid the negotiating process.
Melinda Carr, CSEA’s Assistant Director of Com-
4 983 classes. The other dealth with the impact of Presi- services provided by CSEA. Frank Martello from munications, and Communications Associate
June 8, 9, 40, | dent Reagan’s budget cuts on human service Region V and Lee Frank of Region VI describe@ghe S@unley Hornak led a workshop explaining how
: Country Club ii programs. i i work done by the Member Services Department communications can build locals and units into bet-
Kutsher’s In that workshop, Al Russo, Coordinator of Social __and its components; Field Service, Education and ter functioning organizations.
Carr described the work done by each Region’s
Communications Associate. It is their job to write
for the Public Sector, help locals and units establish
and maintain newsletters, handle inquiries from
newspapers, radio and television, show how to ef-
fectively use bulletin boards, and provide ideas for
having better attendance at meetings.
@oth workshop leaders provided copies of
materials printed by CSEA through the Com-
munications Department and handed out order
forms for fliers, notices, and other items available
from Headquarters in Albany.
Collective Bargaining Specialist Nels Carson con-
ve
CSEA WOMEN’S COM-
‘MITTEE members con-
ducted a seminar on job
reclassifications for
delegates attending the
Workshop. In photo at
right, at podium is Region
Ill Women’s Committee
Chairperson Helen Zocco,
while Tim Pillsworth and
Staff Coordinator Cindy
Chovanec, await their
THIS GROUP of attendees at the Workshop are,
from left, Mary Sullivan, Lynn Martins, CSEA
as cai
Field Representative Irwin Scharfeld, Shirley Ger-
main and Charles Novo.
ducted a workshop on safety in the workplace, and
described the work done by the Regional OSHA
Specialists.
Those who attended agreed the workshops pro-
‘@led valuable information to help their locals and
units, and members were able to learn from ex-
periences of fellow CSEA members from around
New York State.
turns to speak.
AL RUSSO, AFSCME Coordinator of Social Service Programs in Washington,
and CSEA Statewide Social Services Committee Chairwoman Grace Vallee
discuss the impact of President Reagan’s budget cuts on state and local social
service programs during Russo’s presentation at the CSEA County Workshop.
3 wa
CSEA SAFETY COORDINATOR Nels Carlson, left, talks with Chautauqua
County Local 807 President James Kurtz.
>"
TWO STATEWIDE OFFICERS discuss union issues during a break in the
@ounty Workshop schedule. Long Island Region I President Danny Donohue
and Statewide Secretary Irene Carr were among several statewide officials at- a
tending the annual meeting.
CSEA CENTRAL REGION PRESIDENT James Moore, right, chats with Bob
Shaller from Broome County Local 804.
TWO MEMBERS take the time to share ideas over a cup of coffee.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, July 1, 1983
Page 10
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, July 1, 1983 Page 11
UP GLOSE AND PERSONAL An interview with
“We have to reaffirm our positive feelings and
get people to understand that we have productive
Members and good leaders in our Region.”
That’s what Frances DuBose-Batiste, the new
president of CSEA Metropolitan Region II, sees
as one of the most important aspects of her new
job.
DuBose-Batiste, who succeeds George
Caloumeno as Regional President, has been a
CSEA activist for almost 10 years. She won her
first election in 1974, winning the second vice-
president’s post in the State University’s
Downstate Medical Center Local 646. Two years
later she was elected institutional represen-
tative, and in 1979 she won her first term as local
president. Reelected twice more, her latest vic-
tory came in just a few weeks ago.
DuBose-Batiste has also held several statewide
and regional CSEA positions. She was elected
first vice-president of the Region in 1981 after
serving a term as second vice-president. In addi-
tion, she is a member of CSEA’s statewide Ex-
ecutive Board and has served as a member of
both the CSEA Convention Motions Committee
and the statewide Labor ement Commit-
tee of the State University of New York (SUNY).
This committee set up the Employee Assist-
ance Program in the state university system.
The oldest of nine children, Frances was born
on May 22, 1942, in Camden, South Carolina,
daughter of a homemaker and a jeweler. She
came to New York in 1947 with her family, settl-
ing in Brooklyn’s Ocean Hill-Brownsville area.
After attending local public schools, she
graduated from Brooklyn’s William H. Maxwell
High School in 1960.
Region Il President
Frances DuBose-Batiste
Du-Bose-Batiste spent several years as a
homemaker, caring for her two young sons and
supporting them with help from public
assistance. In 1967, she enrolled in a training pro-
gram for laboratory technicians at Manhattan’s
Metropolitan School of Medicine. She completed
the accelerated training program in six months.
Amonth after becoming certified as a lab techni-
cian, she got a job at Downstate Medical Center
on April 15, 1968. Six years later she won her first
union office.
But CSEA has been more than another interest
for Region II’s new president. It’s been a way of
life.
On November 7, 1977, Frances DuBose mar-
ried Audley Batiste, an employee in Downstate’s
maintenance department and a union activist in
his own right. Local 646 members have chosen
him to serve as an operational representative.
Says DuBose-Batiste of her activist hsuband,
“Audley gives me a lot of support in my union
role. In fact, he was the one who convinced me to
run for local president and encouraged me all
along the way. He’s a totally liberated man.
When we’re dong our union thing, we’re not a
man and a woman, we’re two workers.”
The couple live in Brooklyn’s Coney Island sec-
tion with DuBose-Batiste’s son, Lawrence, 21, an
accounts clerk. Another son, Warren, 19, is serv-
ing in the Mediterranean aboard the tanker
U.S.S. Milwaukee with the US Navy’s Sixth
Fleet.
DuBose-Batiste, who overcame a stroke suf-
fered in 1980, looks forward to the new challenges
in Region II. ‘(Our members need the chance to
show the skills they’ve learned through CSEA.
We’ve got 23,000 people in this region — their
needs must be addressed and their talents
tapped.”
Although her union activities haven’t left much
time for hobbies, she enjoys music and singing.
DuBose-Batiste hasn’t forgotten her home
local. She has been spending several hours each
morning at Downstate to assure a smooth
change over.
“I’m a worker,”’ she said, ‘‘I’ve done it all. A
lot’s happened in our Region. Sometimes we’ve
been divided seven ways from Sunday, but we’re
in a new era now. We have to work together to
solver our problems. We have to understand that
the issues we face aren’t institutional workers’
issues, or clerical workers’ issues, but workers’
issues.”
Richard Conrad, 26,
Local 815 member,
killed in on-the-job
accident on June 28
Moran new director
ALBANY — Michael P. Moran has been ap-
pointed Director of Communications of CSEA, the
state’s largest public employee labor union.
“T am happy to serve a union that represents the
best of the labor movement,” Moran said. As Direc-
tor of Communications, Moran supervises a staff of
more than a dozen professional communication
specialists, and is responsible for the union’s com-
munications, press relations, public relations and
advertising programs.
Prior to joining CSEA, Moran worked as a pro-
ducer / reporter / anchor for WNYT-TV, the NBC
affiliate in Albany. His duties included covering the
state capitol. Moran has also covered state govern-
ment and politics for the public television program
Inside Albany. In addition, he has worked for
WSKG-TV, Binghamton, N.Y., The Middletown
Times Herald-Record and Empire State Report.
Moran holds a master’s degree in Mass Com-
munications from Syracuse University and a
bachelor’s degree in Political Science / Journalism
from SUNY Albany.
WEST SENECA — Richard Conrad, a
West Seneca town employee, was killed
Tuesday, June 28, when he was struck by a
flying cover from a_brush-chipping
machine while working at the town
highway garage.
The 26-year old member of Local 815 was
attempting to close the cover, which acts as
safety guard over the chipper’s cutting
blade, according to witnesses.
Unit President Jim Kittner said the
‘chipping machine had a history of pro-
MICHAEL P. MORAN
Page 12°
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, July 1, 1983
blems, and that the manufacturer of the
chipper had made an adjustment that still
failed to eliminate clogging of chips near
the chute.
Region VI OSHA Specialist John Bieger
and Steve Caruana of the local and region
safety committees. were on the scene the
day of the accident, and will issue a report.
Town officials said a federal OSHA in-
vestigator would also inspect the accident
scene,
Arbitrator ruling
supports employee
on transfer issue
SILVER CREEK — The Village of Silver
Creek has been ruled in violation of its con-
tract with CSEA by not awarding a transfer
request by an eligible employee.
An arbitration has ordered the village to
place Vito Botticello in the position of water
and sewer maintenance man and to pay him
the difference between what he earned as a
dispatcher and what he would have earned in
the water and sewer maintenance position.
The arbitrator’s award upholds the CSEA-
village contract that gives incumbent
employees preference over outside ap-
plicants. The state hired an outside applicant
to fill the job and rejected Boticello’s applica-
tion, according to CSEA Field Representa-
tive Mark Higgins. Boticello is a member of
Chautauqua Local 807.
BE SEF teehee a ee ee ee
DON’T PULL
THE PLUG
ON THE
BARGE CANA
, right, of-
y of Rome Mayor
n one of thousands
ted statewide by
CSEA in an effort i prevent the threatened
layoff of State Barge Canal employees later
year. Mayor Eilenberg said he was
of the Problem,
that the original opening of the
place at Rom : he was concerned
. that the waterway will continue to be a vital
link in the state transportation and com-
em, and feared the layoffs might
ze that stature. Photo by David
Coates, ‘Rome Sentinel”
Nearly half of those laid off during May were rapidly re-employed
ALBANY — The State Department of Civil Service reports that of the 1,428
state employees who received pink slips in a double rounds of layoffs during
May, only 795 were unemployed by mid-June.
Some 1,428 employees actually received pink slips in May, although more
than 2,400 were targeted for layoff. Of those receiving pink slips, however,
more than 600 were offered other state jobs, largely because of the success of
the early retirement program. Other layoffs were averted because of the
retirement option, attrition or transfers.
According to CSEA Counsel James Fatherstonhaugh, the rapid re-
employment of nearly half of those workers laid off in May “underscores what
we said in the beginning — that there was no need to lay anyone off.
“It’s clear that with a little workforce planning, attention to detail, and ag-
gressive action by GOER, these layoffs could have been averted.”
Civil Service Department sources said that many of the 675 people still
unemployed from the first round of layoffs were temporary employees. Of the
1,100 workers scheduled for May 24 layoff from OMH and OMRDD, Only 252
workers were actually laid off. Of those, 120 remain unemployed.
)
ALBANY — A year’s dues-free membership is available to any CSEA
member who is laid off and placed on a Civil Service Preferred List.
Applications, available at CSEA Headquarters or any of the six regional
offices, require the signature of the employee’s personnel officer to verify
layoff status.
Once completed, the forms should be returned promptly to: CSEA, 33
Elk St., Albany, N.Y. 12224.
(COPING with LAYOFFS
How to make direct payments
ALBANY — If you area wr ieecee who is
You may be
eligible for
dues-free
membership
iTondine Ter Bush & Powell,
ic Group Life Insur:
on Bas Life fae (Cade. 26) anda Dues free membersip expires if an employee is returned to the payroll. .
and Sickness Plan (Code 307).
for any laid-off employ:
How fo continue EBF ph» | |
As an employee currently covered by the CSEA |
e e Employee Benefit Fund, | hereby request an |
coverage if you are application for direct-pay coverage while off the |
a | payroll. |
on a Preferred List |
ALBANY — State employees who currently | NAME |
receive benefits under the CSEA Employee Benefit | !
Fund may continue coverage if they are laid off and | PIES }
placed on a Civil Service Preferred List. } i H
It should be noted that dues free membership | cjty i
e does not entitle a person to EBF benefits. Instead, | |
you have the option of making direct payments to | soc.sEc.NO. |
the CSEA Employee Benefit Fund to maintain (for | |
up to one year) participation in dental, optical and | state eee |
prescription drug plans. |
ac salth/disab! Anyone interested in the option should fill out the } I
programs, may contact Jardine Ter Bush & following form and return it to: CSEA Employee j Mail to: CSEA Employee Benefit Fund I i
Powell toll-free at 1-800-342-6272. The direct Benefit Fund, 14 Corporate Woods Blvd., Albany, | 14 Corporate Woods Blvd. |
ee 1-518-381-1567. te Geuw Lite N.Y. 12211. I Albany, NY 12211 |
Questions regarding Basic ; ‘ | |
a Insurance Plan should be directed +o SEAS The EBF will noth you of oe cost of coverage, | (Oo not send paymenver this time) |
Insurance Department in Albany. winen mustincludeialithnee plang. ee (2 Si cicenie neers 0 ers atatiesrnc cen leg ai
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, July 1, 1983 Page 13
eer
cimetidine
TAKIN?’ IT
TO THE
STREETS
“
ALBANY COUNTY LOCAL PRESIDENT Al
Oliver, left, is joined by CSEA Capital Region
President Al Mead in handing out placards to
picketing union members in front of the Albany
County Office Building.
ALBANY — An angry group of Albany County
employees, upset over a final contract offer that
three out of the four CSEA units rejected, took
to the streets in downtown Albany recently to
picket a meeting of the Albany County
legislature.
AOCAL 1000, AFSC, AA-C1O
CSE
Labor Education Action Program
STAFF
OPENING
ALBANY — CSEA’s Labor Education Action
Program (LEAP) is seeking candidates to fill
the position of Program Evaluator.
Job responsibilities will include designing and
implementing evaluation systems to monitor
LEAP projects. Field visits to training sites in
various parts of the state will also be required.
Minimum qualifications are as follows:
(A) Bachelor’s degree plus two years ex-
perience in three of the four areas, that is: 1)
designing, developing and evaluating cur-
riculum; 2) teaching adult education; 3)
developing evaluation design, methodology and
implementation; and 4) monitoring training
contracts;
or
(B) A high school diploma plus three years ex-
perience, as above;
or
(C) A combination of both education and ex-
perience as described above.
Candidates must possess driver’s license and a
car for business use.
Resumes should be submitted by July 11 to:
Personnel Director, 33 Elk St., Albany, N.Y.
12224.
H
i aga .
WHE 2-0 PAY ASE
SIRE 3 Yt OU]
The Albany County Highway Unit accepted
the county’s offer recently, but employees of
three other units — social services, health and
civil employees at the county jail — rejected
the offers by wide margins and have elected to
go to fact finding.
Passa Peed
Pine Valley unit oks new contract
PINE VALLEY — The 40-member Pine Valley
School unit of CSEA Local 807 has reached agree-
ment on a two year contract that raises wages by
eight percent in the first year and six percent in the
second year.
Additional benefits for the unit that includes
cleaners, bus drivers, teacher aids, food service
and clerical workers include a new salary schedule
linking increments to years of service, paid snow
days and teacher conference days as well as an ad-
ditional vacation day for anyone required to work
on a snow day.
Custodians and building maintenance mechanics
will receive three clean uniforms per week, plus $20
per year towards work shoes. The new pact also in-
creased life insurance for Tier I and Tier II
employees from $5,000 to $10,000. The school
district’s contribution to the dental plan will be in-
creased from 25 percent to 50 percent, providing 75
percent of eligible members join the plan.
Other benefits won include the right of rebuttal in
personnel files, rights to grieve disciplinary action
by the employer and two additional bereavement
days on the death of spouse, parent or child.
Mark Higgins was chief negotiator. Committee
members included Donna Snyder, June Jones,
Janet Halleron, Bernice Mason, Jeanette Ivett,
Lillian Gross and Unit President Jerry Williams.
Rensselaer Unit
says 'NO WAY’ to
welfare recipients
replacing workers
TROY — “No way!”
That, says Rensselaer County CSEA Unit President Carol Larpenteur,
is the union’s position to a county proposal to use 10 welfare recipients to fill
summer job positions.
Larpenteur said the union is prepared to immediately file legal
documents to halt any effort by the county to use welfare recipients to fill the
summer jobs. At the base of the problem is the fact the county recently laid
off 49 county employees, claiming there was not enough work to keep them
on the payrolls. ‘
“Those workers did everything from cut brush to dig ditches, and the
county administration publicly claimed there was no work for them to do. So
why would we allow the county to fill those items with summer welfare
workers? No way. Hire the laid off workers back, use the 10 most senior.
Nothing else will be acceptable to this union,” she stated.
Recently, the Rensselaer County Legislature failed to reach an agree-
ment on a political compromise to allow the county to bond for highway and
bridge repairs. Due to this lack of human concern for the plight of 49
employees and their families, the workers were laid off and supposedly
Stack goes
to Harvard
ALBANY — CSEA Com-
ptroller David M. Stack has
been selected to participate in
the national Program for Senior
Executives in State and Local
Government to be conducted
this summer at Harvard Univer-
sity’s John F. Kennedy School of
Government.
The prestigious and deman-
ding three-week program will
include intensive training in
management, analytics, leader-
ship, policy development and
labor relations.
Selected from a nationwide
pool of applicants, the class of
100 participants includes state,
y county and municipal govern-
ment officials and executives, as
well as state legislators, city
: 5 councillors and officials of non-
DAVE STACK profit organizations.
CSEA working to represent
Fort Ann school employees
FORT ANN — School may be out but CSEA is busy working to represent
the school employees of the Fort Ann Central School District in Washington
County.
Because of CSEA’s involvement, the 40 school employees have already
roca some non-negotiated benefits from the apparently upset school
istrict.
The school board authorized a non-negotiated 7 percent salary increase for
the workers in what could be viewed as an attempt to dissuade them from sup-
porting a real union. The workers are currently represented by an independent
non-recognized in-house organization.
In addition, Robin Temple, president of the Board of Education, issued a
letter to James Coley, an AFSCME_representative working on the organiza-
tional drive, clarifying alleged remarks made by board member William
Lezette. Temple said Lezette’s comments about contracting out the jobs of the
district’s transportation department employees if they decided to join CSEA
were not authorized by the Fort Ann Central School Board of Education.
Said Temple: “It is not the intent of the Board of Education to interfere
with any of its employees’ legal rights to organize.”
= eR.
WORKERS
GONE,
BUT NOT
FORGOTTEN.
q Rensselaer County Unit, Civil Service Employees Association )
forgotten about by both groups of politicians.
However, the weather, bush growth and other day-to-day maintenance
chores have not paid any attention to the political decision that there is no
work to be done by the workers. The wet spring weather has moved highway
beds; now the hot summer weather is causing parts of the county highways
to buckle. And the political decision has not stopped the brush from growing
or the roadside ditches from becoming clogged.
+ “First the county said it had to work for its regular employees. Now it
wants to go out and hire welfare recipients to do the same work as the laid
off workers. That’s unfair,” Larpenteur stated.
State law does not allow any person assigned to such work relief pro-
jects to be taking over a job normally done by a regular employee.
“Since the highway department employees did everything from A to Z,
there is not a work assignment that could be given to a welfare recipient
wen wasn’t done by a regular county highway employee,” Larpenteur
noted.
“Tf the county wants to call back the 10 most senior workers for brush
cutting, etc., that’s fine with us. But not anything less.”
Representation election set for
Washington Co. highway workers
ALBANY — The Public Employment Relations Board has scheduled a
mail ballot election to resolve the representational issue between CSEA and
Teamster Local 294 concerning the right to represent 79 Washington County
Highway Department employees.
“The county did not want to give sufficient time off for the employees to
safely participate in an on-site election,” John D. Corcoran, Jr., region direc-
tor, said. ‘We were prepared for either type of balloting and in this instance a
mail ballot may actually provide more privacy to allow the voters to make
their own personal decision.”
PERB will mail out the ballots to the involved workers July 6 with the
count being held at 10 a.m. July 20. If an eligible employee has not received a
ballot by July 12, the employee should contact PERB for a replacement ballot.
CSEA has scheduled an informational meeting for all the involved workers
at 7:30 p.m. July 7 at the Original Halfway House Bar across from the General
Electric plant in Fort Edward.
At that session, the workers will have the mail ballot voting procedure ex-
plained, and will have an opportunity to talk to CSEA field representatives
about labor situations in Warren and Saratoga counties.
Saratoga Co. ratifies 2-year pact
BALLSTON SPA — A two-year contract has been ratified by a 9-1 margin
by the Saratoga County General Unit membership and unanimously by the
County Boad of Supervisors, ending 10 months of hard bargaining on both sides
of the table.
The contract will cost the county about $544,000 in 1983 and will provide
each county employee with a 6.5 percent general salary increase each year.
“We accepted no diminishment in benefits despite the catastrophic in-
crease in health insurance premium costs the county realized,” Chery] Sheller,
unit president said.
The county, which had experienced a 50 percent incease in this year’s
premium, had originally wanted the workers to pay the full cost of the in-
crease. The union’s position was firm and, after the union participated in
public discussions on the issue, the problem was finally resolved.
“Tn essence, we developed a partnership with our employees,” Frederick
McNeary, Saratoga County supervisor and chairman of the county’s bargain-
ing team, said, explaining that these somewhat strained negotiations had serv-
ed as a beginning for a new relationship between the parties based on mutual
understandings of common concerns and needs.
Other highlights of the pact are a $25 increase in the established uniform
allowance for infirmary and public health nurses; on-call pay for social service
workers; and an additional 5 per cent hour increase for highway workers in
each year of the pact.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, July 1, 1983 Page 15
AFSCME PRESIDENT GERALD W.
McENTREE gestures as he delivers
an address to several hundred CSEA
members attending the recent Region
V Thomas H. McDonough Summer
conference at Lake Placid. Region V
Ee President James Moore is at
left.
hosts record
Page 16 THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, July 1, 1983
in Central Region -
LAKE PLACID — Breaking all attendance records for a Central Region
Conference, more than 350 CSEA members including statewide, regional
and local officers gathered here June 17-19 for the first annual Region V
Thomas H. McDonough Summer Conference, named in honor of the late
union executive vice president.
The three day program began Friday evening with an address to the
regional executive board by AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee. ( )
In his talk to the regional officers, McEntee cited the adverse effects of
Reaganomics on the nation and New York State. The international union
leader also stressed the vital need for continued unity within the ranks of ,
labor unions, and expressed deep concern for the problems confronting
public employees in New York State. McEntee reassured the support and
help of AFSCME services to CSEA whenever needed.
In a program departure from past conferences, the Saturday morning
session was devoted entirely to informational services. Twenty booths and
tables were assembled to offer a wide range of information including labor
education, insurance, OSHA, P.E.O.P.L.E., political action, employee
assistance, research, vision care, communication, CSEA field service, legal e
aid, school district affairs and many others.
A Saturday evening banquet was capped by special ceremonies honor-
ing the late Thomas McDonough. and past Statewide Treasurer Jack
Gallagher. As a special guest of the Region, Mrs. Pauline McDonough ac-
cepted the honors from Region V President James Moore.
HONORED — Pauline McDonough, widow of
Thomas H. McDonough, for whom the Region V
Summer Conference is named, received gifts
and a kiss from Region V President James
Moore in photo at left. In photo below, former
long-time statewide CSEA treasurer Jack
Gallagher accepts a gift of appreciation for his
devotion to union activities from President
Moore.
ay
GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE is the topic of discussion, photo left, between
Van Robinson, right foreground, and Local 611 President Dale Dusharm, left
foreground, Mark Dexter and Ed Whaw from Blue Cross listen in background.@
COMPETITIVE
PROMOTIONAL EXAMS
{State employees only)
TITLE AND
SALARY GRADE DEPARTMENT EXAM NO.
Associate Public Information
Specialist G-23.. ; . 36-903
Chief Clerk G-20. . 38003
Head Clerk G-15. . 37-996
. Head Clerk (Personnel) G- 15 . 37-997
Head Clerk (Purchase) G-15. . 37-998
Head File Clerk G-15 . 37-999
Head Mail and Supply Clerk G-15 . 38-000
Head Statistics Clerk G-16..... - 38-001
Payroll Clerk IV G-18 . 38-002
Senior Public Information Specialist G 18... .36-902
Associate Examiner of Municipal
Affairs G-23..... AUDIT & CONTROL..... 37-939
Principal Examiner of Municipal Affairs G-27 .37-940
Associate Education Publications
Editor G-23........ EDUCATION........ 37-991
q Senior Education Publications Editor G-18. . .37-990
JUDY SHANLEY, left, of Local 013 talks with Chuck Fish Culturist | G-11.......ENCON.......37-973
Gregory, center, and Brian Ruff of the Committee on
Work Environment and Productivity.
Fish Culturist li G-12.
Fish Culturist Ill G-14.
Fish Culturist IV G-16.
Fish Culturist V G-21...
. 37-974
. .39-735
39-736
39-737
e 3 Transportation Planning
: MIG i GrBe cite cee DOT ener, . 00-155
CENTRAL REGION V Ae ae ptt OS.
Suite 308 : 5 Manager Il G-18....TAX & FINANCE... .38-010
290 Elwood David Road ’ Chief Mail & Supply Clerk G-21..
Liverpool, New York 13088 Ae
(315) 451.6330 open competitive
STATE JOB CALENDAR
FILING ENDS AUGUST 8, 1983
Title Salary Exam. No.
Education Publications Editor $17,694 25-972
Education Publications Editor,
Assistant 28,772 25-974
ONONDAGA Education Publications Editor,
Senior 22,132 25-973
MADISON Housing Consumer
cAvUGA é Representative 17,894 25-957
OTseco Museum Publications Assistant 22,132 25-975
CORTLAND) CHENANGO Public Information Specialist 17,694 25-230
Public Information Specialists
Senior 22,132 25-231
Public Information Specialist,
DELAWARE Associate 28,772 25-232
Public Service Publications Editor 22,132 25-962
Transportation Planning Aide | 10,299 25-949
Chief of Developmental Center
Treatment Services 47,221 28-513
Environmental Specialist (Cultural
DISCUSSION ON COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, below, has the attention of, £ Resources) 22,132 28-523
from left, Local 015’s Mary Jo Coniglio, Rosalie Tallman of Local 827, and . Medical Conduct Investigator,
Local 827 President Bob Suits. Conducting the discussion is Steve Ragan. Principal 32,020 28-533
" Transportation Contracts Analyst 28,772 28-531
‘ Transportation Contracts Analyst,
Assistant 22,132 28-530
Coastal Development Specialist |
(Planning) 17,694 80-071
Coastal Development Specialist Il
(Planning) 22,132 80-072
.
Muscatiello elected
ALBANY — Tony Muscatiello has been elected
president of the James E. Christian Memorial
Health Department CSEA Local 664. He heads a
slate of officers which also includes Vice Presi-
dent Cindy Gansle, Treasurer Bob Simone and
Secretary Sandy Draper.
Elected members of the Local Executive Com-
mittee were Jane Holstein, Ken Perrier, Mary
Lou Breslin, Debbie Coratti and Sheila Bradwell.
Elected delegates were Lynne Albright,
Thomas McMahon, Ricky Goldman,
Muscatiello, Draper, Simone, Gansle and
Perrier.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, July 1, 1983 Page 17
Metropolitan Region |
holds Open House program
METROPOLITAN CSEA REGION Il PRESIDENT Frances DuBose-
Batiste guides visitors on a tour of the new Region II headquarters
facilities during a recent open house program at the 100 Church Street
location in New York City. From left are Frank Stella of AFSCME, Presi-
dent DuBose-Batiste, CSEA Regional Director Ron Mazzola, CSEA
Regional Atty. Stanley Mailman, and AFSCME Area Director Steve Fan-
tauzzo. Many CSEA members and several legislators attended the
program.
METROPOLITAN REGION II
100 Church Street
Room 1620
New York, N.Y. 10007 «
(212) 587-8200
Frances DuBose-Batiste, Sa
-CSEA Regional President SS | \
CLINTON THOMAS, left, president of Creedmoor Psychiatric Center °
Ren Mazzola, CSEA Local 406, is congratulated upon his pending retirement from
public service by CSEA Field Representative Charles Bell. Thomas was
among scores of CSEA members and officials attending the recent
Ni CSEA Regional Director Region II open house program. ,
Class action case
decided in favor of
Smithtown workers
HAUPPAUGE — “The town did violate Arti-
cle 37 of the collective bargaining agreement
when it failed to provide a level of“nealth benefits
equal to the Statewide Health Plan as of Dec. 31,
1980,””
With those words, Arbitrator Roger Maher
upheld a class action grievance filed on behalf of
the Town of Smithtown Unit of Suffolk County
Local 852.
The town had unilaterally increased the health
plan deductible when it substituted health
carriers.
JSEA, however, argued that the contract as
ratified did not stipulate any health plan deducti-
ble increases. And, to acquiesce to the change
would be to violate the members’ trust. The ar-
bitrator agreed and, as part of his award,
ordered the town to reimburse employees the in-
i i nd ‘ f
creased deductible’ charges of $25 for single » \ RETIREES CONTINUE TO SERVE — CSEA retiree members pe
/
=a
coverage and $75 for family coverage. dona: is land Region I head-
i A , many valuable functions. This group at the Long Islan gion I hea
The award is another win for CSEA’s legal ie sorts information cards to be used as part of a political cam-
assistance program. ae | paign by the union’s political action committee. Rai. ail
Page 18 THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, July 1, 1983
Department burgeoned under reins of Tom Gilmartin
ALBANY — “‘I was fortunate to
have come in on the ground floor,”
is how Thomas Gilmartin modestly
describes his achievements as
director of CSEA’s Retirees
Department. But to those in the
@know, his achievements were
anything but modest.
Gilmartin, 70, retired June 30
after nine eventful years as
retirees director. During his
tenure, the department burgeoned
— the number of retiree locals
grew from six to 19, while the
number of enrolled members
jumped from 7,000 to 50,000. Today,
this mighty group is the largest
organization of retired public
employees in the United States.
| For Gilmartin, it all began witha
newspaper advertisement. He
replied to an ad in The Public Sec-
tor which his wife, a former CSEA
member herself, had called to his
attention. At the time, he was a
fledgling retiree himself, having
just left his position as an English
@ teacher in the Scotia-Glenville
School District in Schenectady
County. He had been teaching high
school for 35 years.
“Tt was interesting coming into a
situation of dealing with retirees
after having retired myself,” said
Gilmartin recently, reminisicing
about his CSEA service. “I just
started from scratch. Still, it was
pretty hectic most of the time since
@ | was carrying the fort myself.”
When he wasn’t busy recruiting
new members, setting up new
locals, and coordinating lobbying
and political action efforts on
behalf of the retirees, Gilmartin
could often be seen on the
ae!
telephone, responding to members
on a personal level. His was the
friendly and knowledgeable voice
giving advice and answers on any
number of problems a member
may face in the process of
retirement.
“People have all kinds of ques-
tions — about health insurance,
about pension checks which don’t
arrive on time — and they come to
us for advice,” he says.
“Until we had this office, people
didn’t know who to turn to, or who
to go to for answers.”
He also found the time to start a
regular retirees newsletter, which
covers developments in New York
State of interest to retired public
Catalog of tuition-free
courses now available
employees. Eventually, job
demands required more staff and
in 1981 Leo Hope was hired as his
administrative assistant.
Gilmartin attributes the success
of his department to the fact that
“CSEA has the interest of its
members at heart.” He adds, “It
would not have been possible
without the wonderful staff people
here.”
Through the years, he has seen
the political clout of retirees in-
crease. “Our numbers are so large
we can’t be ignored,” he says. And,
he is convinced that they are “a
great resource for the biggest of all
public employee unions in New
York State.”
LEAVING CSEA — Tom
Gilmartin is leaving his post
as head of the Retirees
Department after nine years.
At left, he is shown working
with Administrative Assis-
tant Leo Hope; below, he is
captured in a pensive
moment.
ALBANY — Thomas Quimby, director of CSEA/LEAP, the Labor
Education Action Program, reports that the fall 1983 catalog of tuition-free
courses is now off the presses and available at state training and personnel
@tfices.
Courses were designed based on membership surveys, reviews of job
descriptions and interviews with both union officials and management per-
sonnel. They will be held at various two- and four-year public and private
colleges across New York State.
July 25 is the deadline to sign up using streamlined application pro-
cedures in what Quimby calls ‘‘the first test of our computer-assisted
registration process.””
Local presidents are asked to cooperate with agency/facility training
directors to guarantee rapid distribution of catalogs and applications.
CSEA/LEAP is a three-year project funded with state monies for
@employees of the administrative, institutional and operational bargaining
units. Its purpose is to promote advancement through education and
training.
Pilgrim's Frazier honored
by Assembly resolution
Longtime union activist Jean W.
Frazier, who in June was elected as a
Mental Hygiene representative to
CSEA’s Board of Directors and who
has served in a wide variety of union
positions, has been recognized by a
resolution passed recently by the
State Assembly.
Introduced by Assemblyman Paul
Harenberg from the 5th Assembly
District in Hauppauge, the
Legislative Resolution honored ‘“‘Jean
W. Frazier for her devotion, dedica-
tion and advocacy for the patients and
employees of Pilgrim Psychiatric
Center.”
The resolution notes, in part, that
“Tt is the sense of this Legislative
Body to recognize those of its citizens
who have proven themselves to be
dedicated to improving the welfare of
their fellow man. . .”
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, July 1, 1983
Page 19
What if no one were there?
A lot of very special people in our state need some very
special help; the sick, the elderly, the handicapped.
Fortunately, many men and women in New
° York State have made a deep commit-
ment to helping those in need.
We're very, very proud of one group
in particular, and proud that these
volunteers were recently recognized
for their contributions. New York State
Public Employees, as a group, have
received a Presidential Citation
for the volunteer work they perform
in addition to the public services
they provide every day.
The Presidential Recognition Award
cited New York's Public Employees
for leading the nation in blood
donations, They were also
recognized for their outstanding
commitment to Special Olympics.
They have sheltered neighbors in
need, established food banks for
_ the unemployed, and provided
_ activity centers for urban teens.
| At CSEA, this award does not
_ surprise us. We know that our
; members give of themselves fo
F make things better for others.
| We'te proud to serve New York
both on the job and long
after the workday ends.
Public Employees .. .
where would you be
without them?
CSEC
The Civil Service
Local 1000,
President
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, July 1, 1983
Employees Association
AFSCME, AFL-CIO
William L. McGowan,
