Official Publication of The Civil Service Employees Association Local 1000,
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
AFL-CIO.
Vol. 8, No. 15
Friday, July 26, 1985
DOL puts $20,000 workers in Buffalo clerk jobs
Union charges DOL unfair
with layoff recall practice
WESTERN REGION PRESIDENT Robert L.
Lattimer...’’It’s atrocious the way the DOL
is mishandling this whole situation.”
By Ron Wofford
CSEA Communications Associate
BUFFALO—Higher-paid employees of the
state Department of Labor are taking the jobs
of some CSEA members in the Buffalo district,
and CSEA officials are calling the situation un-
fair and smacking of politics.
Department of Labor CSEA Local 352 Presi-
dent Sharon Cordaro said she is “burned up”
about it, while CSEA Western Region Presi-
dent Robert L. Lattimer says bluntly, ‘It’s
atrocious the way the DOL is mishandling this
whole situation.”
The problem had its impetus, according to
Cordaro, with federal fund cuts that led to DOL
layoffs across the state, including the Buffalo
area, where unemployment remains several
points higher than the rest of New York state.
Some employees were called back from the
layoffs under the 4.8 Emergency Hires provi-
sion of the Civil Service Law. But Cordaro says
the manner in which the recall was made’ is
“unfair,”and Lattimer said the inefficiency of
the top-heavy staff makeup “smacks of
politics.”
Cordaro said, ‘I’m sure the rest of the tax-
payers in New York state would be outraged
to know that this department is paying some-
one over $20,000 per year to perform the
duties of a clerk, whose average yearly wage
is about $14,000.” ~
Adds Lattimer, “For starters, they are not
laying off any top management people, as they
should, and they’re decimating the department
in the process. But, worst of all, the very peo-
ple whose job it is to assist the jobless are be-
ing put into the unemployment lines. And we
have the Reagan Administration to thank for
at.”
Both Lattimer and Cordaro have called on
Albany officials of the state Labor Department
to correct the situation in the Buffalo district,
where they say claims examiners are doing the
work of senior employment security clerks.
Cordaro has asked the Albany director of the
Unemployment Insurance Division to rectify
the situations in the Lackawanna, Tonawanda
and Lockport offices, and adds, “‘ The Buffalo
office also seems to fill every claims examiner
item that they can, then use them in a clerical
capacity, if they have to, in order to justify
their presence. Meanwhile vacant clerical
items remain vacant, or.we lose them to other
districts. This whole hiring practice seems
very inequitable.”
Cordaro questions “why the Department of
Labor, with its current budget crunch and fund-
ing shortages, would hire grade 14s, that we
do not need, to do the work of grade sevens,
that we desperately do need? It seems ridicu-
lous to be overstaffed with higher paying jobs,
and understaffed with lower paying jobs.”
With more layoffs looming for the be-
leaguered DOL, Regional President Lattimer,
Local President Cordaro, Field Representative
Vince Sicari and Collective Bargaining Special-
ist John Conoby have collectively vowed an all-
out effort to avoid any more layoffs, while cor-
recting the present staffing inequities.
ining Flaumenbaum Memorial
(CSEA distributes
| $9,000 in awards
. Thereisa great deal more to CSEA than may initially meet
| the eye. Behind its image as a powerful labor union lies a deep
union’s annual college scholarship awards program. Named
in memory of one of the union’s best known activists, the late
needy and deserving coliege-bound children of CSEA mem-
bers. Eighteen scholars year have been selected to share
he 1985 winners.
human element. Examples abound, but none better than the —
irving Flaumenbaum, the program provides scholarships to _
in $9,000 in awards. See pages 13-15 for capsule profiles of
SCHOLARSHIP AWARD [™)
This Certifies that |
i ee
has been chosen by members of the
Statewide Civil Service Employees Associaticn
Scholarship Cominitice to receive a
CSEA College Scholarship
Hor the 1985 - 1950 .
Growing plants for public places
By Anita Manley
CSEA Communication Associate
NEW ROCHELLE — Did you ever wonder who grows all the flow-
ers for the public parks? Or where the plants that are on display in pub-
lic buildings come from?
In Westchester County, a 21-year CSEA employee named Minoru
Arita is the man with the green thumb. la :
Arita, whose horticultural talents are a family tradition, grew up with
a father, an uncle and cousins who earned their livelihoods growing and
selling flowers on Long Island. After a stint in the army, Arita went to
work for his father raising tropical plants.
Later, he applied for a position with Westchester County and first
worked as a gardener on the grounds of Rye Playland, a county-owned
amusement park located along Long Island Sound.
Four years later, Arita moved to the main greenhouse on Glen Is-
land where he was employed as a nurseryman.
Arita says working in the greenhouse is a year-round job. Plants
and flowers are grown not only for the parks, but for indoor displays.
In fact, the county building in White Plains boasts one of the most beau-
tiful poinsettia displays in the area during December. All together, Ari-
ta estimates he grows about 15,000 plants a year.
Arita commented that working for the county was the “‘best move
l ever made.”’ He added that union benefits such as vacation and retire-
ment pension are a plus, and that he appreciates attending union meet-
ings because he ‘‘remembers the days when it used to be rough to be
active in a union.
“Management gave you a hard time,” he recalls. “But unions have
come a long way and CSEA has gotten a lot for us.”
Asked if any of his three children plan to follow in their father’s foot-
steps, Arita says only one is interested in plants and flowers.
“The other two live in condominiums,” he said. “They don’t even
want to mow grass.”
Arita estimates he
grows about 15,000
plants a year.
FLOWER MAN — Westchester County Nurseryman Minoru Arita
shows Region III President Pat Mascioli some of the flowers that
he raised in his greenhouse during the winter. The plants now grace
the entrance to Glen Island, one of the most beautiful county parks
on Long Island Sound.
‘A rose by
any other name’
Bedford School
worker wins
out-of -title
grievance
BEDFORD — If a “rose is a rose is a rose,” is a
teacher’s aide a teacher's aide—or is she a clerk-
typist?
She is if she’s performing the duties of a clerk-
typist even if she doesn’t have the title. That’s accord-
ing to Arbitrator David Stein who ruled that a CSEA
member hired as a teacher’s aide in the Bedford School
District has been functioning as a clerk-typist and
should be paid as such.
The union member, Dorothy Knox, was hired in
1982 as secretary to the math department and was
told she would perform such duties as typing, xerox-
ing and taking inventory.
Knox filed an out-of-title grievance and although
the district argued that it was not arbitrable, Stein
agreed that ‘the majority of duties performed by the
grievant since her employment fall within the County
Personnel Department's job description for the typ-
ist position, as opposed to the teacher’s aide position.”
In addition, he emphasized, the teacher’s aide job
description specifically states that “positions requir-
ing excessive clerical work and/or qualified typing are
not within this classification.”
Stein went on to say that “Since the district con-
ceded that typing, telephone answering, collating
documents and document reproduction constituted
the great majority of the grievant's functions, it ap-
ears that Mrs. Knox's duties required ’excessive cler-
ical work and qualified typing,’ contrary to the express
requirements of the Personnel Department's Teacher's
Aide job description.”
CSEA Attorney Arthur Grae noted that the deci-
sion is likely to have effects on other teacher's aides
in Bedford,
“This clearly sets a precedent for other employees
in the bargaining unit who are being similarly utilized
to perform what is tantamount to fulltime secretary
duties for department chairpersons and other
teachers,” said Grae.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
July 26, 1985
Coyle retirement (220 o7.ce3
Tom Coyle, a 25-year veteran with
is CSEA, as staff director of the Com-
mittee on the Work Environment
opens up career = {hchoGyear
bilities for two well-known CSEA
‘ d taft bers.
advancements for : foes, tu union’s long-time
administrative director of collective
bargaining, has been appointed toa
are n aar new position created by Coyle’s
9 retirement. Carey has been succeed-
ed by Bruce Wyngaard, formerly as-
sociate research director for CSEA.
Carey has been named director of
the joint State/CSEA Committee on
the Quality of Worklife. He will serve
as the sole director of the commit-
tee. Most such committees usually
function with co-directors, one
representing management and the
other labor. Carey's appointment
was made jointly by Thomas Hart-
nett, director of the governor's Of-
fice of Employee Relations, and
23 ai ’ i CSEA President William L.
TOM COYLE, above. Retired : " j McGowan.
after 25 years with CSEA. Carey joined CSEA 22 years ago
as a field representative, and served
as assistant executive director and
oe a acting executive director
JACK CAREY,right. New <q I: Q prior to being named admini:
director of Committee on : D . director of collective b ining.
fhe cuaaity of weenie, & : irector of collective bargaining
The new administrative director of
collective bargaining, Bruce Wyn-
foo has been with CSEA since
BRUCE WYNGAARD, far
right. New administrative r ‘i ‘
director of collective bar- \ , The staff changes went into effect
gaining. e duly 15,
Salary schedule hike
also in Smithtown pact
SMITHTOWN — A story in the July 12, 1985 issue of The Pub-
lic Sector concerning the contract recently ratified by members of
the Smithtown CSEA Gnit of Suffolk County CSEA Local 852 was
incomplete. While noting the agreement contains salary increases of
e 4 percent and 5 percent, plus increments, the story did not report
that additional 2.5 percent and 2 percent increases will be added to
the salary schedule on July Il, 1985 and 1986, respectively.
ADIRONDACK CORRECTIONAL CSEA LOCAL 170, one of the Cap-
ital Region's newest locals, recently held its first Information Day
program at the facility. In photo at right, Local 170 President
Lawrence Dailey , center, is flanked by CSEA Capital Region Direc-
e tor John D. Corcoran Jr., left, and Adirondack Prison Superinten-
dent James Racette. Dailey labeled the program ‘‘a great success. . .
everyone, even management, was impressed.,”’
Some life insurance conversion
5 see ica ee er eR ae ae 7
may be POSSI De] [csr ieisscsdsrsinent 3 i Bice sony aR |
| Please send me information concerning the conversion privilege for the CSEA Ba- |
e Certain CSEA members insured under the Basic Group Life Insurance Pro- | si¢ Group Life Insurance Program. !
gram are eligible to convert part of their coverage, without medical informa- | |
tion, to an individual form of insurance with the Travelers Insurance Company. | NAME: Oink Maar OVhe coh Ce ee pues ie poet art sins oh}
This in-service conversion privilege allows any actively employed member | Last First Middle Initial Maiden |
participating in the Group Life Program who is age 50 or older, to convert up| |
to $5,000 of this term insurance to an individual form of coverage other than | Home Address: — ts ~ i}
term insurance. The amount of the group term insurance the employee is in- | Street City State Zip |
sured for will be reduced by the amount converted | je
Application must be made by Aug. 31, and the effective date of the con- | Place of Employment: ae HEME ease ENTE
verted insurance will be Noy. 1. Premium payments for the converted insur- | Social Security Number: i]
ance will be made directly to Travelers Insurance Company i} ]
Additional information on the conversion privilege may be obtained by return- | Sex: = =S=—S———__—séDatte of Birth: “ i = |
@ ing the adjacent coupon See oe oe Se ee ee ee a ee ee eC at
July 26, 1985 THE PUBLIC SECTOR 3
e
0
Srubiie .
Official 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
ROGER A. COLE — Editor
BRIAN K. BAKER — Associate Editor
Address changes should be sent to: Civil Service Em-
ployees Association, The Public Sector, 33 Elk Street,
Albany, New York 12224.
90k COMIN
it)
W arccrorese:
factor in Deer
Political action a
OM 5
ye)
Park
DEER PARK — Union political action at its finest was demonstrat-
ed recently when a pair of CSEA-endorsed candidates swept to victory
in races for seats on the Deer Park School District Board of Education.
involved in assisting in the electi
and John J. Coughlin to the Board seats. Union offi
of Camile Tillis
ials said they felt
previous Board members did for give union employees the respect and
concern they deserved. Suffolk E:
ucational CSEA Local 870 President
Walter Weeks said he feels union members will get “a fair shake” from
Coughlin and Tillis as Board members.
In photo at right, new Board members Coughlin and Tillis are flanked
by Deer Park School District Unit President Tom Corridan, left, and
CSEA Region | President Danny Donohue, right. Standing, left to right,
are Local 870 President Weeks, Unit Second Vice President Edna
Domeischel, Unit Political Action Chairman Mike Palmo, Unit First Vice
President Ray Archer, Region | PAC Coordinator Gus Nielson, PAC Com-
mittee member Chris Muldoon, and Region I PAC Chairman Mike Curtin.
Board of
Directors
Meeting highlights
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Public Sector regularly
publishes a summary of actions taken by CSEA’s
Statewide Board of Directors at the Board’s official
meetings. This summary is prepared for the infor-
mation of union members.
By Irene Carr
CSEA Statewide Secretary
MAY MEETING
The Statewide Board of Directors on May 16
approved a new private sector local for CSEA-
represented employees of McAuto Systems
Group, Inc., who process Medicaid claims for the
state Department of Social Services.
The Board requested the Personnel Commit-
tee to review and establish all job descriptions in
the Department of Organizing, and to review the
reporting procedures of staff. The Board asked
for a report and recommendations by Aug. 1.
JUNE MEETING
The Board of Directors at its meeting on June
20 approved a motion for a five-year lease of a
Pitney-Bowes copier.and mailing system for use
by New York City Local 010.
By a unanimous Board vote, the Treasurer is
now authorized to make adjustments in dues col-
lecting based on specifics consistent with the
CSEA by-laws, only for the fiscal year in which
the request is received.
The name of Florence Drew will be placed on
the Memorial Plaque at CSEA headquarters.
The Directors Budget Committee is responsi-
ble for presenting to the Board any and all infor-
mation regarding the fiscal condition of this
union, and also their financial projections for the
1985-86 fiscal year. The Board wants this infor-
mation so that it can effectively address the def-
icit situation as material presented for discussion
at the Aug. 1 meeting of the Board of Directors.
A motion that a local for the Greene Correction-
al Facility be formed was approved.
Authorization for the disbandment of the local
at the Long Island Correctional Facility was
granted.
The Suffolk County BOCES II Cnit is being al-
lowed to transfer from Suffolk County Local 852
to Suffolk County Educational Local 870.
A motion to accept modifications to the CSEA
Basic Group Insurance Plan, as listed by the
Standing Insurance Committee report, was grant-
ed. The nine insurance classifications would be
eliminated and replaced with four options to be
selected at time of enrollment. Salary will not de-
termine the amount of coverage, age will deter-
mine the rate and a triple indemnity feature for
accidental death occurring while traveling on a
common carrier will be added. Finally, the new
member guaranteed issue program will be ex-
tended from 120 to 180 days. Beyond 180 days
there would be a short medical required for all
amounts and ages.
An Annual Womens Conference will be held ev-
ery second or third week starting November
1985.
Patricia Metzger, Ruth Lewis, Ruby Hamilton,
Delia Middleton and Steve Penzik were confirmed
as members of the Region II Political Action com-
mittee,
Renovations are continuing in CSEA’s new
headquarters.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
July 26, 1985
ne ee VO
George Boncoraglio
Named
Bronx
labor
leader
of year
BRONX — CSEA Region II President George
Boncoraglio has been selected ‘*Labor Leader of
the Year” by the Bronx Democrats, an honor that
proves New Yorkers are taking notice of the
young labor leader for his achievements after but
one year as head of the union’s Metropolitan
Region.
In presenting the award, Bronx Democratic
“LABOR LEADER OF THE YEAR” George Boncoraglio is flanked by CSEA Region III Presi-
dent Pat Mascioli, left, and CSEA Region V President Jim Moore, both of whom were on hand
to congratulate the Region II president for being honored by the Bronx Democrats.
District Leader Denis O’Grady praised Bon-
coraglio as one of the ‘‘most dedicated fighters
for his people”’ that he has ever met. He went on
to cite the CSEA leader as a force for strength-
ening CSEA throughout the New York City area,
and said the union is making its presence known
as never before.
Boncoraglio accepted the honor on behalf of his
membership, saying, “CSEA is no longer a sleep-
ing giant in New York City.”’ He added, “My own
feeling is that I’ve only just begun a long, hard
task. | can promise you that I won’t let you down
and will continue to do my very best in working
toward greater dignity for CSEA members and all
working people.’
- - - one of ‘most dedicated fighters for his people.’
Union not obligated to accept
contract lacking pay grade hike
PORT CHESTER — When the Village of Port
Chester refused to include pay grade increases
for sanitation workers in a new contract, it was
a violation of the Public Employees Fair Employ-
ment Act, Administative Law Judge Susan A,
Comenzo has ruled.
Comenzo also dismissed an improper practice
charge brought against CSEA for its refusal to
a
S
REGION II] FIELD REP Larry Sparber, second from right, shows sanitation workers a copy
of Administrative Law Judge Susan A. Comenzo's decision granting them the upgradings
that were negotiated for them. From left are Shop Steward Ed Parham, Danny Giandurco
and Vincent Corbo, both members of the negotiating team; Unit President Virginia Telesca,
Sparber, and CSEA Region III President Pat Mascioli.
July 26, 1985
sign the contract which did not include the up-
grading.
According to Region III Field Representative
Larry Sparber, the sanitation workers were re-
ferred to as ‘laborers’ during contract negotia-
tions. At the time, during March 1984, Sparber
said he told the village manager that the term
‘laborers’ encompassed the village’s sanitation
crew. Sparber said that since the motor equip-
ment operators who drive sanitation trucks had
been upgraded in the previous contract that it
was important to upgrade sanitation workers dur-
ing present contract talks.
A tentative agreement reached in May stated
that laborers, grade 9, were to be upgraded to
grade 10, However, when the first payroll follow-
ing ratification was issued, none of the sanitation
workers received their upgrading.
Although the village manager contended that
no extensive discussion of the laborers’ upgrad-
ing proposal occurred and that no mention was
made of upgrading sanitation workers, Comen-
zo Said she found that the proposal was in fact
discussed at length. “The village, by presenting
for execution a collective bargaining agreement
which did not include such an upgrading, repudi-
ated this agreement,” Comenzo ruled. ‘“‘CSEA
had no obligation to execute a collective barg;
ing agreement which misrepresented the parties
agreement,” the judge said.
Comenzo ordered village officials to “cease and
desist from refusing to include in any collective
bargaining agreement offered for execution a pay
grade increase for sanitation workers from grade
9 to grade 10.”
The village has decided to appeal the ruling,
Sparker said, but he is “hopeful the PERB board
will sustain the decision.”
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
Cornell labor courses ‘change lives’
FISHKILL — They all agree: Education is the most effective
weapon today in guarding the advances made by labor unions.
“They’’ are five CSEA members from Region III who recently
received certificates for completion of a two-year program at the
Cornell School of Industrial and Labor Relations. They say the pro-
gram helped them to become better unionists and, in some cases,
changed their lives.
ere are their stories.
Region III members who are interested in
enrolling for the fall semester at Dutchess,
Orange, Rockland or Westchester community
colleges should contact
Marjorie Glusker at (914) 695-3455.
rogram coordinator
edge she needs to help other county employees.
er public an
periences. Some of them were union
experience in organizing and negotiating.”
how to be more effective as a union member.
SANDY FRANO, a staff assistant to the Westchester County direc-
tor of labor relations, says she felt the program would give her the knowl-
The peer pale of the program, she said, was the involvement of oth-
private labor unions. “I learned more from their ex-
residents and officers and had
Frano noted that the program gave her some basic knowledge about
“I know the correct grievance procedure, for example,’’she said.
“The courses have given’ me good background information. I can help
the people who call me up with problems and questions.”
IRENE SACCENDE, a code enforcer for the town of Clarkstown in
Rockland County said that after she became a shop steward, she real-
ized that she needed to sharpen her skills to better represent members.
“I could speak for members, but I had to know more about this.”
The program at Cornell met her needs, she says.
“Tt was very beneficial. Even if you don’t use all the knowledge, you
said Saccende.
know your rights, you know what to do. It’s a good learning experience,”
An active member of the Region III Political Action Committee, Sac-
cende is involved in the Rockland County Voluntary Mediation Program
and is interested in someday going into the arbitration field.
CSEA shop steward, said he signed up for the program
“with no long-term commitment.
“But when I got into Labor Law, I found it very interest-
ing and I wanted to get into it. As | became more involved
and learned about labor/management relationships, | gained
a better understanding of the union,” says Fella. _
While Fella has a masters degree in social work, he says
the courses he completed may have changed the course of
his life and could mean a whole new career for him in the
future. An employee of Rockland County for 11 years, he
now works as a fraud and fair hearing investigator for the
Department of Social Services.
6
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
GARY JOSEPH, an employee of Rock-
land Psychiatric Center says he feels
many union members are shortchanged
because they don’t know the law. Joseph
is especially concerned with his non- Eng-
lish speaking co-workers who do not un-
derstand the function of the union.
Joseph says the courses in labor law,
organizing and negotiations were most in-
teresting to him. Most important, the
program heiped him better understand
and appreciate labor unions.
“Labor organizers led the way for the
rest of us,” he said. ‘We take it all for
granted, but there was a price paid.”
MARY VERRILLI, who served on the
Harrison School District negotiating
team, says the program expanded her
concept of labor relations.
“Unions are changing so rapidly,” she
remarks. “Education is the only way to
go because you have to learn to commu-
nicate not just with management, but
with your fellow members.”
Looking towards the future, Verrilli
says she would like to continue her labor
education and return to school to earn an
associates degree in labor relations.
July 26, 1985
ics ethnical eden int ino sa
Donohue speech peps up Cornell grads
FARMINGDALE — It was an inspiring message
that Region I President Danny Donohue had for re-
cent graduates of the Cornell School of Industrial
and Labor Relations.
“Go and tell people what you’ve learned here.
We are all brothers and sisters who will continue to
work together so that labor becomes an even
stronger and more unified force,” Donohue told
members of the program's twelfth graduating class.
The two-year program at Cornell includes in-
depth studies in labor law, collective bargaining, ar-
bitration, union administration and various other
subjects.
On hand for the graduation ceremony were two
Advanced Labor Studies graduates from CSEA:
« Ralph Spagnolo, president of the Department of
Public Works Unit of Nassau County Local 830; and
Geraldine McNeece-Chrils, president of the local’s
Farmingdale Library nit.”
“The course was excellent,” said Spagnolo. “In
addition to the actual classes, you had a diverse mix
of unions all sharing thoughts and ideas. | thought
this was great because it gave us the chance to learn
from each other.”
CSEA Field Representative Irwin Scharfeld,
who taught a class in union administration last Fall,
noted that the program helps create better un-
ionists.
“When members takes courses like these, as
well as the programs CSEA offers throughout the
year, they become very weéll- educated about union
matters. It helps them to better help our members,”
said Scharfeld.
eau
f
STUDENT SPEAKER, TEACH-
ER — Pictured from left are:
Ralph Spagnolo, Danny
Donohue and Irwin Scharfeld.
At Upstate Medical
Members raise $4K for pediatrics unit
SYRACUSE — Members of Upstate Medical Center Local 615 and
others from Region V followed through last month on an old pledge when
eH donated more than $4,000 for a new unit at the central New York
facility. |
At grand opening ceremonies for the center’s new Pediatric Intensive
Care Unit, local officers presented the administration a check for
$4,365.80 on behalf of CSEA members.
The new million-dollar unit was officially opened to serve a 15-county
referral area with the most sophisticated and modern technology, equip-
ment and services for improved health care for children.
Local President Kathy Collins explains that CSEA members from the
local and region have been involved since 1982 in a supportive role in fund
raising for the the new state-of-the-art PICU.
“While the unit was still in the planning stage, members of Local 615
were are to take part in helping fund the project,” she says.
Collins said that the local got a “‘wholehearted endorsement” from Re-
gion V President Jim Moore on an idea to raise money for the project by
selling bumper stickers region-wide.
“In the months that followed, contributions arrived from scores of
state, county and educational locals and units,”’Collins said. “It turned out
to be a tremendous CSEA effort for a very worthwhile cause.”
PASSING THE BUCK — CSEA support for the new Pediatric Inten-
sive Care Unit at Upstate Medical Center was clear when Local 615
President Kathy Collins, right, presented Charles Calligaris, hospi-
tal administrator, with a check for $4,365.80. Also on hand for the
presentation during the unit’s grand opening ceremonies were Rick
Noreault, Local 615 executive vice president, and Janet Mitchell,
secretary.
"Se Re ie a I AU Ya a No pc
July 26, 1985
7
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
OSH SPECIALIST FLOYD PAYNE
Coordination of efforts
a top priority of union’s
By Stephen Madarasz -
CSEA Conimunicattans Associate
NEW YORK — “You really need a team ap-
proach to staffing,”says CSEA’s newest oc-
cupational safety and health specialist. Andif
that’s the case, Floyd Payne should fit right
into the line-up because he already knows all:
the players, and doesn’t need a scorecard.
Payne recently became the occupational
safety and health specialist in Region II after
16 years as a union activist, most recently
serving as regional first vice president and
president of Manhattan Psychiatric Center
CSEA Local 413.
In addition to working with the regional staff
to identify and correct safety problems, Payne
sees his new role as a coordinator for the ef-
forts of CSEA local officers and members. “It’s
important for locals to have a place to bring
information and get help. The OSH commit-
tees should function like grievance commit-
tees. That's only just starting to happen,” said
Payne. He said locals.have to be much more
active where hazardous conditions are con-
cerned.
“Locals have to realize that it’s up to them
to identify an issue and suggest a solution. I
want to make sure they know how to do that,”
Payne said. y
To get results, Payne contends locals have
to work with management to resolve differ-
ences. Both sides have to communicate. “Even
when there are problems in the workplace,
business has to qo on. That can’t happen un-
newest safety specialist
less we talk to each other to work things out.””
And by. keeping the lines of communication
open, Payne believes many situations can be
addressed without having to go to a formal
grievance.
As examples, Payne pointed to a number of
successes he had as Local 413 president af-
ter he brought safety concerns to manage-
ment’s attention. “We pointed out fire hazards,
asbestos in the walls and ceilings, and intoler-
able noise levels in the physical plants. It
wasn’t until then that action was taken,”
He says he is particularly concerned that
Mental Health locals become more involved in
safety matters.
Payne said he was witness to a decline in
conditions at Manhattan Psychiatric Center
since he first began working there in the late
fifties. “What I enjoyed most was helping peo-
ple, but it becomes harder to keep up with the
work when you don’t have the tools to do the
job,” he said, insisting that MPC has gone
from being an institution designed to care for
the chronically ill into an acute care dumping
ground that is not able to meet that purpose.
Said Payne, “Whatever patients the city
hospitals can’t handle or don’t want to deal
with are sent over to Manhattan Psychiatric,
and that just increases the risk for the work-
ers. The employee injury rates are just stag-
a
FLOYD PAYNE, the union’s newest oc-
cupational safety and health specialist,
said one of his priorities is to coordinate
efforts of staff and locals in resolving safe-
ty problems quickly and effectively.
gering and there have to be steps taken to deal
with it. Short staffing is a continual problem
but in the short term we need to protect wor-
Ie who have themselves on the line every
jay.’ ‘
Payne said, “Individuals have to be aware
that by law they have a right to expecta safe
place to work,” he concluded.
Cnion history
taught in the
Troy classroom
CSEA REGION IV President C. Allen Mead, third from left
in above photo, presents prizes to winners in a CSEA- |
sponsored ‘‘History of Labor Unions” contest for Troy \
High School students. First place winner Randy Brenner }\
receives a $50 bond from Mead. From left are Elizabeth
Nichols, president of CSEA City of Troy School unit; third
place winner Amy Dworsky; Mead; Brenner; second place
winner John Daniels; and Troy School Superintendent
Mario Scalzi.
A PLAQUE is awarded by CSEA to the administration of
the City of Troy School District for the district’s cooper-
ation in conducting the first ‘‘History of Labor Unions"
program. In photo at right are Doyle Middle Schoo! Ex-
ecutive Principal James Gorman, Superintendent Mario
Scalzi, CSEA Region IV President C. Allen Mead, and
CSEA City of Troy School Unit President Elizabeth
Nichols,
THE PUBLIC SECTOR July 26, 1985
By Sheryl Carlin
CSEA Communications
Associate
KINGS PARK—Hard work and
perseverance on the part of CSEA
paid off recently when a 21-year
veteran employee of Kings Park
Psychiatric Center was exonerat-
ed of incompetence and miscon-
duct charges.
The charges were brought
against MHTA Monica Martin by
Kings Park P. C. administration
following an incident in which one
patient killed another in one of the
locked wards where Martin was
on duty. The administration
claimed that the murder resulted
from “patient neglect” and that a
e physical altercation would not
have occurred if Martin had been
sitting in a “designated area”
Tony Bentivegna
MHTA
* Martin
recalls
that
night
where the patients could be
“properly monitored.”
But examination of the murder
site by CSEA Attorney Lester
‘Lipkind revealed that it could not
have been viewed from that area.
The arbitrator in the case noted
Monica Martin
that a diagram and photographs
of the ward clearly indicated that
even if someone were sitting at
the exact location that the state
specified, the view would not have
included the sink or toilet areas in
the bathroom where the murder
took place.
The arbitrator also noted that
her findings were consistent with
the internal investigation con-
ducted by Kings Park. Official
reports on the incident state that
it did not involve patient neglect
nor was it caused by “actions of
employees.”
“We knew she was totally inno-
cent. She did her job and she did
it well,” said Tony Bentivegna,
Kings Park Psychiatric Center Lo-
cal 411 president.
The arbitrator said her decision
took into consideration Martin’s
performance evaluations for the
period of October 1983 to Oc-
tober 1984, which included the
time of the incident. Her overall
performance rating was “‘effec-
tive” and there was no mention of
the incident at all.
“I’ve been with Kings Park for
21 years and my whole family has
worked there through the years,”
says Martin. “I got a merit award
for a suggestion | made a few
years ago, and that really made
me feel good. But since the inci-
dent, | really feel that I’ve been
treated like garbage. | was used
as a scapegoat and it really has
upset my life.”
While Martin has been exoner-
ated, the union is still trying to
get all the information concerning
the incident pulled from her file.
Martin asked for a formal apolo-
gy from the administration but
was refused.
Says Field Representative Nick
Kings Park PC MHTA
cleared of neglect charge
in patient murder
Pollicino: “It’s always a great
thing when the union can make
such a big difference in a mem-
‘ber’s life. Monica knew she was
innocent and so did we. The un-
ion proved it, and now she’s ex-
onerated.””
NICK POLLOCINO: ‘‘The
union made a big difference.”’
KINGS PARK—While Monica Martin has been
cleared of charges of patient neglect involving a
murder on her ward more than a year ago, the in-
nocent is still vivid in her mind.
“It was the night of June 14, 1984, and! was
on duty with two other MHTAs,” she said, re-
counting the episode recently.
Everything was quiet that night, she remem-
bered, until about 2:45 a.m, when a Spanish-
speaking patient alerted them that there was a
problem in the men’s bathroom.
“We found L.S. (the murdered patient) in one
of the stalls, unconscious, with a bloody face. He
was a seizure patient and we thought he’d hada
seizure, fallen and broken his nose.”
There were no supervisors, nurses or doctors
- available on the ward so Martin said she called
the acting supervisor. She and her co-workers
also called the doctor twice, but he did not arrive
until a half hour after the second phone call.
“While we waited for help, we cleaned L.S.’s
face, put him on a stretcher and applied an am-
ber bag to give him oxygen. Finally, the doctor
arrived and took the patient into the clinic. It
was mass confusion.”
A doctor who arrived shortly thereafter exam-
ined the patient and pronounced him dead.
Staff on the ward learned later from the
Spanish-speaking patient that A.M. (another pa-
tient) was responsible for L.S.’s death. In inter-
rogation, A.M. admitted to killing L.S.,
explaining that he thought the latter was plotting
against him.
The next day Martin was assigned to work with
A.M. on a one- to-one basis.
“That night, | was sitting and A.M, was in his
bed. He was rolling his eyes and laughing. He
threatened to rape, mutilate and kill me, yet he
wasn’t in a straight jacket the entire time. It was
really bad, my nerves were shot,” recalled Martin.
Shortly after that incident, the patient was
transferred to Central Islip Psychiatric Center.
“*He’s still there as far as | know,” says Martin,
CSEA: Violations cause of worker’s death?
LONG BEACH—CSEA is currently awaiting
reports on a investigation into the death of a
57-year-old employee killed on- the-job at the city
water pollution control plant here.
A 27-year veteran employee and chief plant
operator, John Pinckney died July 19 while at-
tempting to turn off a pump in the basement of
the plant’s digester building. According to Unit
President Eugene Cammarato, Pinckney had
gone to the basement when he realized that
July 26, 1985
sludge had begun flowing out of the elbow of a
pipe disconnected by employees trying to clear
a clog.
“He turned off the pump and on his way back,
he went down,”’said Cammarato. Co-workers—
including William Notholt, Ronald Ebright, Pab-
lo Forestier, and Edward Powell—as well as four
fire fighters attempted to rescue Pinckney but
were unsuccessful because they were overcome
by gases leaking into the basement.
All co-workers required medical treatment and
one is still hospitalized.
Region I President Danny Donohue indicates
that CSEA is looking into possible violations or
lack of training in connection with the accident.
“We're waiting for the autopsy report,” said
Donohue. ‘We have a responsibi to our mem-
bers, four of whom risked their lives trying to
save a brother. We will definitely investigate this
incident and take whatever safeguards are neces-
sary to keep something like this from ever hap-
pening again.”
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
A, : 3 =
CHILD FIND 1-800-1 AM LosT
formation about missing youngsters can call
in complete confidence. Child Find reports that
it becomes involved with mostly parental ab-
duction cases, and that probably about 95 per
cent of the children the organization is look-
ing for were abducted by one of their parents.
In future editions, “The Public Sector” will
publish information from Child Find on how to
prevent child abductions, what to do if your
child is missing, and how to obtain other in-
formation and material from Child find dealing
e
a
Children ID_
project is
big success
in Region V
The concept of Jngerpringng, phetoarephig and otherwise identifying the
children of public employees in CSEA’s Central Region began early this year
as a joint project of three different unions at the Broome Developmental Center
in Binghamton.
Now, at the suggestion of a CSEA local president, the program has gone
into effect at the Utica and Marcy Psychiatric Centers with the full cooperation
of the same three labor unions, management, and the Employee Assistance Pro-
gram committees on both the Utica and Marcy campuses.
And CSEA Region V President Jim Moore, who had his own son enrolled
in the free child identification program, has pledged to support similar projects
by any CSEA local in the sprawling Central Region which wishes to conduct
child ID programs. Moore said CSEA is preparing fact sheets and other helpful
material on setting up children identification programs and that interested lo-
cal officials may obtain the material by contacting CSEA Region V headquar-
ters at (315) 451-6330.
The programs at Broome Developmental Center and at the Utica and Mar-
cy Psychiatric Centers are jointly conducted by CSEA, AFSCME Council 82
and the Public Employee Federation locals.
Regional President Moore recently singled out Mark and Suzanne Smacher
for their efforts in conducting the identification program at Broome Develop-
mental, and Marcy Psychiatric Center CSEA Local 414 President Bud Mulchy
and his officers for their work with the program at the Utica and Marcy facili-
ties. Moore told members of CSEA’s statewide Board of Directors that due to
the success of the programs, his region is endorsing and supporting efforts to
expand the program to other CSEA locals.
Beginning with this edition, “The Public Sec-
@ tor” will periodically publish photographs and
information about missing children registered
with Child Find, Inc. of New Paltz. Child Find
is a non-profit organization which works with
a national network of teachers, social service
groups and law enforcement agencies to help
locate missing children.
with the problem of missing children. We will
also publish photos and information on miss-
ing children supplied by Child Find.
The two children whose photographs appear
below were abudcted on the same day, June
22, 1984, from Bayside, California. If you be-
lieve you have any information relative to ei-
ther of these children, immediately call Child
Find on the toll free number, 1-800-1 AM
LOST.
Child Find maintains a toll-free number,
1-800-1 AM LOST, which persons with any in-
IN THE TIME
IT TAKES YOU TO
GET YOUR CHILD
READY FOR SCHOOL
issing!
ANOTHER CHILD
WILL HAVE
DISAPPEARED.
These two
children are
still m
MEASURING UP — Six-year-old Brian Mulchy, son of CSEA Loc:
414 President Edward ‘“‘Bud”’ Mulchy, right, is measured bygan
Delia, a MHTA at Utica Psychiatric Center. Brian’s height and oth
data was logged on information cards for later reference, if neede
Matthew Thomas Vignau
Birthdate: 12/5/79
Abducted: 6/22/84
Sarah Jane Vignau
Birthdate: 4/24/82
Abducted: 6/22/84
S
A PALM PRINT of Michelle Wilson, 11, is taken by Karen LaLiberte, center, an IRS Clerk
at Utica Psychiatric Center, and Cindy Hammond, right, Marcy Psychiatric Center EAP Com-
mittee chairwoman. Michelle's dad, Bob Wilson, a secure care treatment assistant, watches
the procedure,
1 0 THE PUBLIC SECTOR
By Charles McGeary
CSEA Communications Associate ®
Good things have happened for hundreds of
employees and their children at the Utica and
Marcy Psychiatric Centers in central New York,
thanks to one thoughtful suggestion from a
CSEA local president.
And today the children of more than 500 em-
ployees at the two facilities are properly identi-
fied and the information filed away on computers
in the event they should someday become among
the hundreds of thousands of children that be-
come missing each year in America.
Known as the KIDS (Keep ID Safe) project, th®
idea was initially suggested to the joint Employee
Assistance Program committees at Utica and
Marcy by Edward “Bud” Muichy, president of
CSEA Local 414 at Marcy. The free child identifi-
cation program became successful through the
cooperation of CSEA, AFSCME Council 82, the
Public Employee Federation, EAP coordinators
and committee members, management, and
scores of volunteers.
John Waterman, an AFSCME Council 82 secu-
rity officer at Marcy,is chairman of the KIDS pro-
ject. “It was a total team effort and it showe
what can be accomplished when labor and
management work together toward a common
goal,” he said. At Utica and Marcy, the program
was made available to children, grandchildren and
extended family members of employees over a
two-week period.
EAP Coordinators Barbara Reeves and Gary
Holmes, and EAP Chairperson Cindy Hammond
helped direct the steady flow of parents and chil-
CF #2049
CF #2049
JS
drq@p. Each child was issued an ID card that in-
cluded such vital statistics as height, weight,
fingerprints and a photograph. Completed cards
were then given to the parents, with an option for
an additional copy to be kept in a confidential file
in the safety department at either facility in case
of an emergency. CSEA Regional President Jim
Moore said the information was also keyed into
a computer system to make it available, if need-
ed, to police agencies and to Child Find, as well
as various national groups involved in the search
for missing children,
“It is extremely important to have immediate
ac@ss to records for the proper authorities in an
emergency,” noted Waterman peed is essen-
tial in the case of an abduction or missing child,
Statistics show that the first 24 hours of an ab-
duction are crucial.”
Marcy EAP Committee Chairperson Cindy
Hammond noted, “We offered the KIDS program
to our employees to stress the Employee As-
sistance Program is not just for them, but for
their family members, too. KIDS goes beyond
what has been done in the local schools because
we gitach a photo of the child, offer the program
to Children up to the age of 18, and the option
of keeping records i
ble 24 hours a day
CSEA Regional President Moore said, “The
success of the KIDS project was the result of
many hours of planning and work by the commit-
tee and volunteers from all three unions, With the
cooperation of management, children’s ID pro-
grams such as KIDS, and the similar three-day
a central location, availa-
July 2681985
MATTHEW MOORE, son of CSEA Region V President Jim Moore, was among hundreds of
children to be properly identified during KIDS project. From left are President Moore, Mat-
thew siegrs) IDS Chairman John Waterman, and Marcy EAP Committee chairwoman Cin-
ly Hammond.
project at Broome Developmental Center, are ex-
tremely worthwhile. They not only provide vital
information in an emergency, but dramatically
reinforce the true meaning of CSEA and un-
ionism. By working together toward a goal, we
benefit our members and their families.”
THE PUBLIC SECTOR 1 1
must pay for
special skills
PUTNAM VALLEY — Thanks to the persist-
ence of CSEA that led to a successful arbitra-
tion ruling, two employees of the Putnam
Valley School District have been placed in a
“special skills” category, with a resultant wage
increase.
The arbitrator agreed with CSEA that Nan-
cy Leisengang and Catherine Collins were en-
titled to the “special skills’designation in
accordance with the union contract. CSEA At-
torney Arthur Grae successfully argued that it
was agreed during negotiations that ‘special
skills” would apply to those working on spe-
cial equipment which included computers and
memory typewriters. School officials claimed
the designation would apply only to typists
who “worked the Bureughe machine” and that
there had been no discussion relative to other
equipment.
CSEA Region Ill Field Representative
Richard Blair explained that the latest collec-
tive bargaining agreement included a clause
which gave the Board of Education the right
to designate the special category, with a wage
differential of about $300 a year, for em-
ployees who operate equipment that requires
special training.
Shortly thereafter, two employees in the dis-
trict business office who worked on Burroughs
computers were granted the special skills
designation. But when CSEA Unit President
Klara Hamlyn requested the designation for
Leisengang and Collins, both of whom operate
Commodore 64 computers, the request was
denied. The union filed a grievance which led
Putnam Valley
—
NANCY LEISENGANG, seated, is one of two Putnam Valley School District employees
granted a special skill job designation through a successful grievance pursued by
CSEA. Catherine Collins was the other employee. Leisengang is showing CSEA Field
Representative Richard Blair and Unit President Klara
equipment she and Collins use.
to the arbitration decision.
In his ruling, the arbitrator stated, “If the
parties intended to grant special skills to oper-
ators of the Burroughs machine, they also in-
tended to include the Commodore 64.” He
added, “There is no doubt that the Burroughs
jamlyn the Commodore 64
machine is a computer. There is no doubt that
the Commodore 64 is a computer. While there
are differences in size and memory, and differ-
ences in type and capacity of discs between the
Burroughs and the Commodore 64, knowledge
is essentially similar...”” oy
McCalvin praised for EAP efforts
MELVILLE — “I want people to understand office and I want everyone to know where to find program held recently at the Long Island De-
that the Employee Assistance Program is not
limited to helping just the members. We want to
service their families, too. I’ve moved to a new
inet
That was EAP Coordinator Juanita McCalvin’s
velopmental Center.
LIDC Local 430 President Joe LaValle put it
rather modest explanation foran EAP openhouse differently. “The real reason we are here today,
EAP COORDINATOR JUANITA McCALVIN, seated left, drew lots of praise for her work dur-
ing recent EAP open house program at Long Island Developmental Center. Seated next to
McCalvin are EAP Committee members Paulette Barbera, Vivian Landstrom and Barbara
Caruso. Standing, from left, are Eugene Hayes, CSEA Region | President Danny Donohue,
EAP Committee Chairperson Theodore Ravenell, LIDC Director Fred A. McCormack, David
Buttacavoli, and LIDC Local 430 President Joe LaValle.
12
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
labor and management, is to thank Juanita for a
job well done,” LaValle said.
McCalvin, who is on fulltime leave from her po-
sition as a mental hygiene therapy aide, was only
the second EAP coordinator on Long Island.
“When I started, EAP was a very new program.
But we gave it a lot of publicity and as soon as
the members were educated about it, they start-
ed coming to see me,” she said. That was four
and one-half years ago, and since then McCalvin
is credited with helping more than 1,400 fellow
employees.
“Most of the people I’ve talked to have
returned to the workplace as productive em-
ployees. This program helps people to deal with
their problems. It saves jobs. And, sometimes,
it saves lives,”” McCalvin said.
Regional EAP Representative Maureen Duggan
noted, ‘‘l was a CSEA member when EAP came
into existence. Danny Donohue (Region I presi-
dent) gave me the responsibility for getting the
program on its feet. Juanita was our second coor-
dinator, and now we have 250. And we're still
growing.”
Local President LaValle said, ‘‘Juanita is such
a special person. When | found out we needed a
coordinator for the program, she was the first
person | thought of. Now everyone understands
why.”
Regional President Donohue commented, “It’s
eople that make the difference. And in this case,
it’s Juanita, I hope we will all return in five years
for an even bigger celebration.”
LIDC Director Fred A. McCormack summed up
what the program means. “If we want our clients
to be treated with dignity and respect, then we
must treat our employees that way. We all need
someone to talk to. We all need support and as-
sistance sometimes.”
July 26, 1985
Members’ kids win
$9,000 in awards —
CSEA scholarship awards named in honor of the late Irving Fl
menbaum, former pede of the pong tsland Region, have been
presented to 18 college-bound children of CSEA members. eb oegee
The scholarship winners, three from each of the union’s six regions,
received their awards at presentation ceremonies conducted in recent
weeks. Winners were selected on the basis of such factors as financial
need, academic performance, class rank, scores on standardized tests,
and involvement in school and extracurricular activities.
The Irving Fiaumenbaum Scholarships are one-time $500 awards
presented annually to members’ children Stas om high school
and going on to higher education. This year, nearly 700 applications were
received for scholarship awards totaling $9,000.
Winners are shown in pictures on this page and pages 13 and 14.
(Identifications in captions read from left unless otherwise indicated.)
Region 1
HAUPPAUGE—Recipients of Irving Flaumen-
baum Scholarships this year in Region I are:
Kathleen G. Noonan from Kings Park; Christine
D'Addario from Port Jefferson Station; and Pa-
trice Murphy from Mastic.
Noonan plans to attend Barnard University in
New York as a political science major. Her moth-
er Helen is a stenographer at Kings Park Psy-
chiatric Center.
D'Addario, whose mother Barbara is a clerk-
typist for Comsewogue Schools, will attend Pace
Cniversity in New York as a business marketing
major.
ment major this Fall will be Murphy, whose moth-
er Carmen is a secretary for Motor Vehicles in
Hauppauge.
Attending SUNY Albany as a business manage- fh
The awards were presented by Region | Presi-
dent Danny Donohue, and Dorothy Goetz, coor- DOROTHY GOETZ; Lucy Jackson, president of the Comsewogue Schools Unit of Suffolk Educa-
dinator for the region’s Special Memorial tional Local 870; Walter Weeks, president of Local 870; Barbara E. D'Addario; her daughter Christine;
Frank D'Addario, father; and Danny Donohue.
Scholarship Committee.
co
Noonan, brothers; Helen Ann Noonan, mother; and Dorothy Goetz.
July 26, 1985
DANNY DONOHUE, right, presents award to Kathleen G. Noonan. Also, from left: Terrence and Kevin
CARMEN E. MURPHY and her daughter Patrice.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR 1 3
PLO SAAESORERER OR REESE
OFFERING CONGRATS — Region II President Flaumenbaum awards. Students, from left, are: Center Local 447 member Marlene Walker; and
George Boncaraglio, right, and Regional Scholar- Derrick Small, whose mother Marietta Johnson Jacob Tabb, whose mother Maida Tabb is also a
ship Committee Chairman Lamont “Dutch” is a member of State Insurance Fund Local 351; member of State Insurance Fund Local 351. All
Wade, left, congratulate recipients of the 1985 Andre Walker, son of Brooklyn Developmental are Brooklyn residents. @
e FISHKILL—Two students from Orange Coun-
e 10n ty and one from Rockland County are this year’s
s recipients of the Flaumenbaum scholarships in
i Region Ill. Presentation of the $500 awards was
, a 2 made at a recent luncheon hosted by Pat Mas-
cioli, regional president.
The three winners are: Sherry Stempert of Port
Jervis; Karen Bartolozzi of New City; and
Christopher Wayne Dodd of Middletown. e
Stempert is a 1985 graduate of of Port Jervis
High School and plans to attend Hartwick Col,
lege where she will major in computer science.
Her father Art is employed by the City of Port Jer-
vis and is president of the city’s CSEA unit.
A graduate of Clarkstown South High School,
Bartolozzi plans to attend Georgetown Universi-
ty and study international business. Her mother
Eileen works for the Rockland County Planning
Board.
Dodd, whose mother Anna is employed by
Middletown Psychiatric Center, graduated this @
“ e . year from Middletown High School and will study
CHRISTOPHER WAYNE DODD receives scholarship from Diane Lucchesi of CSEA statewide Scholar. ngineering at Orange County Community Col-
ship Committee. Also, from left: Diane Campion; Middletown Psychiatric Center Local 415 Presi- _ lege this Fall. He plans to transfer to Rensselaer
dent Alex Hogg; Anna Dodd, mother; and Pat Mascioli. Polytechnic Institute for a B.S.
DIANE LUCCHESI presents scholarship award to Sherry Stempert. Also, from left:
Region Ill Field Representative Flip Amodio; Orange County Local President Frank
Delauri; Pat Mascioli; and Art Stempert.
KAREN BARTOLOZZI receives award from Diane Lucchesi. Also,
from left, Eileen Bartolozzi, mother; and Rockland County Unit Presi-
dent Florence Kimmel.
@
14 THE PUBLIC SECTOR July 26, 1985
Irving Flaumenbaum Scholarship Winners
Region IV
ALBANY—The three winners of Flaumenbaum
@ scholarships in Region IV this year are: Lee
Joseph Forshey of Ballston Spa; Maria Valenti
of Troy; and Ellen Marie Hoffman of Petersburg.
Forshey graduated this year from Ballston Spa
. Senior High. His mother Donna is a dietary aid
with Saratoga County Local 846.
Valenti’s father, Ralph, is a clerk and member
of Tax and Finance Department Local 690. She
graduated from Troy High.
Hoffman, whose mother Catherine is a clerk-
typist for the Berlin School District, is a qradu-
ate of Berlin Central High School.
REGION IV PRESIDENT C. Allen Mead presents
Flaumenbaum scholarships to Maria Valenti and
Ellen Marie Hoffman.
LIVERPOOL—The three Flaumenbaum
scholarship winners in Region V received their
awards from Jim Moore, regional president, at an
informal ceremony at Central Region offices.
Winners are: Michael Abbott of Fulton; Ann
Elizabeth Thomas of Oneida; and Marisa
Kozlowski of Liverpool.
Abbott, son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Abbott, at-
tended G. Ray Bodley High School and has some
college credits from SUNY Oswego. He plans to
continue his education at SUNY Stony Brook and
major in nuclear physics. His father is employed
at SUNY Oswego and is a member of Local 611
at the university.
Thomas is the daughter of Paul and the late
Clara Thomas. She graduated recently as
salutatorian of Oneida Senior High School. She
is interested in engineering science and has en-
rolled for the Fall term at Mohawk Valley Com-
munity College. Her mother was a member of
Madison County Local 827.
Kozlowski, daughter of Helga Kozlowski, is a
graduate of Liverpool Senior High School. Mari-
sa has been accepted at Cornell University and
CAL WILLIAMS, president of Syracuse Housing Authority Unit of Onondaga County Local 834; Mar- will continue her further education toward a ca-
isa Kozlowski; Dale Dusharm, president of SUNY Oswego Local 611; Michael Abbott; Ann Thomas; reer in chemistry and genetics. Her mother is em-
Harriette Sochan, representing Madison County Local 827; Jim Moore; and Sandi Delia, CSEA ployed by the Syracuse Housing Authority and
Scholarship Committee member. is a member of Onondaga County Local 834.
e BUFFALO—Sharing in the $9,000 awarded
this year through the Flaumenbaum Scholarship
eC 10n Program are three college-bound students from
Region VI. They are: Alison Majewski of Eden;
Richard Joseph Miller Il of Lackawanna; and
Brenda Bliven of Belmont.
Majewski is a graduate of Eden Senior High
School and will attend Clarkson College this Fall.
She is the daughter of Eden Central Schools
nurse Juanita Majewski, a member of Erie Educa-
tional Local 868.
Miller, the son of Mr, and Mrs. Frank Churney,
is a graduate of Lackawanna Senior High and will
attend Rochester Institute of Technology. His fa-
ther is a member of state Department of Trans-
portation Local 514.
Bliven graduated from Belmont Central High ee
School and will attend Houghton College, major-
ing in English and music. She is the daughter of
Charles Bliven, a bus driver for Alfred State Col-
lege and member of the college’s Local 620.
Arthur Howell of Corning was a member of the
bee. statewide scholarship committee that made the
ac ik J selections and joined Region VI President Robert *
Brenda Bliven Richard Joseph Miller Il Alison Majewski L. Lattimer in presenting the awards.
@ July 26, 1985 THE PUBLIC SECTOR 1 5
itt
Hii
HE
foo |
Canal continues to nourish communities along its banks
Revitalized barge canal
marks 160th anniversary
As CSEA President William L. McGowan not-
ed recently, ‘New York didn’t seem to have much
interest in the Canal.”
That all started changing about three years
ago, when CSEA was about the only one that was
interested in the Canal. That’s when the union
launched its “Save Our Canal” project, which is
largely responsible for the revitalization of the
historic Erie Canal, which this year. marks its
160th anniversary.
When CSEA launched its project, the waterway
now known as the New York State Barge Canal
was in rough shape. The state was threatening
to further reduce funding to operate the system,
and to change canal employees from fulltime to
parttime status.
The union’s ‘save our canal’’ plea struck a
positive chord with elected officials and civic-
minded businessmen and residents all along the
Canal, which slices through the heartland of New
York state. The state Commerce Department es-
timates the Canal generated about $27 million
in tourist trade last year, and the economies of
most smaller communities along the canal route
are heavily dependent upon it.
State legislators, particularly those whose dis-
tricts border the canal, responded positively to
the mushrooming effort to save the waterway.
And in the end, state Senators James Donovan,
Martin Auer, H. Douglas Barclay, Joseph Bruno,
John Daly, Hugh Farley and L. Paul Kehoe
spearheaded legislation which provided more
than $600,000 to add staffing and improve ca-
nal maintenance. CSEA’s campaign was a suc-
cess. And so, too, is the canal. Still an important
trade route, it is being promoted more and more
for its recreational potential. More than 100,000
pleasure boats passed through the canal last year
alone.
And while the state once didn’t appear to hav@
much interest in the future of the canal, this year
the state has sponsored official ceremonies
marking the 160th anniversary of the canal. And
state officials helped host a special preview of a
documentary film, “‘Carry on, Oh Erie,” which
premiered on public TV stations across the state
in June.
The fight CSEA began virtually alone and which
was joined by many dedicated individuals to pre-
serve the benefits and the history of the Barge
Canal is one the union points to with pride. It
among the highpoints in the history of the union,
which this year is celebrating an important an-
niversary of its own— the 75th anniversary of the
founding of CSEA,
PREMIER PEOPLE AT A PREMIER EVENT — Among those attend-
ing premier showing of documentary film about the old Erie Canal
in Albany recently were, from left, CSEA Local 502 Vice President
Harold Reinhardt, CSEA statewide Secretary Irene Carr, State Sen.
James Donovan, CSEA statewide President William L. McGowan, and
Local 502 President Frank Zammiello.
16
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
OT
July 26,1985 ®
Waterway
ROME — On July 4, 1817, then-New York
Were DeWitt Clinton journeyed to this mid-
ate community to break ground for his dream
project, tne much-ridiculed Erie Canal.
On July 4, 1985, more than 400 history buffs,
area residents and activists who worked to help
‘restore the canal as part of CSEA’s “Save Our
Canal” campaign journeyed to the same spot to
re-enact the ground breaking ceremony.
Rome Mayor Carl Eilenberg, one of the first in-
dividuals to sign CSEA “Save Our Canal” peti-
t@ns some three years ago, dressed in period
costume to recreate the ground breaking at
Rome’s Erie Canal Village. It was near where Gov.
Clinton turned the first spade of earth to begin
the seven-year construction project.
And among the invited participants were two
CSEA representatives who have played key roles,
among other union activists, in the Canal cam-
paign over the past three years. Barge Canal
CSEA Local 502 President Frank Zammiello Jr.
and Local 502 Vice President Harold Reinhardt
tgpk part in the ceremony. Mayor Eilenberg paid
special tribute to Zammiello and Reinhardt for
their contributions.
JOAN TOBIN, a major force behind the un-
ion’s campaign to restore the State Barge Ca-
nal, is congratulated by Gov. Mario Cuomo
recently. Tobin is the state Department of
Transportation representative to CSEA’s
statewide Board of Directors.
Zammiello nominated
Barge Canal CSEA Local 502 President
Frank Zammiello Jr., one of the prime movers
behind the highly successful “Save Our Canal”
project, has been nominated for the 1985
Governor’s Productivity Award.
In his letter of notification from the gover-
nor’s special assistant for management and
productivity, Zammiello was told, “this award
seeks to recognize those employees who in an
@ceptional way, have contributed positive
results to the productivity effort. The fact that
you have been nominated demonstrates to us
that these goals are on everyone’s mind and
that your counterparts in the work force feel
you deserve recognition for your efforts.”
An independent review panel consisting of
five individuals from the private sector will
make the final determinations for the award
later this year.
canal’s beginning July 4th
e
July 26, 1985
activists recreate
ROME MAYOR CARL EILENBERG, in period costume, is flanked by Barge Canal CSEA Lo-
cal 502 President Frank Zammiello Jr., left, and Local 502 Vice President Harold Reinhardt,
right, at July 4th ceremonies. Eilenberg holds a DOT cap making him an honorary member
of the ‘‘canal team.”
A30-YEAR SERVICE PIN is presented to Henry Paul, right, of Barge Canal Local
502 by CSEA President William L. McGowan.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
17
WINNERS—Drivers in the Riverhead Central ‘‘School Bus ROADEO”’proudly display their
certificates and trophies following the event. Forty-three out of the district’s 56 drivers
took part in this year’s competition which was designed to promote safe driving.
ROAD CREW — Huddling for pictures in front of the school buses
at Riverhead Central are, from left: Marge Komosinski, shop stew-
ard; Walter Weeks, Suffolk Education Local 870 president; and Bill
Hunter, Riverhead School District unit president.
RIVERHEAD — It was billed as a rodeo, but
there wasn’t a cowboy or bronco in sight. Instead,
the featured attractions were school buses and
the CSEA members who drive them at Riverhead
Central Schoo! District.
For the annual “School Bus ROADEO,” the
huge parking lot in Riverhead was transformed
into courses for the various events, all of which
are designed to promote safe driving. Yellow
cones, manned by retirees of Suffolk Education
Local 870, marked the various events, including
parallel parking, student loading, railroad cross-
ing, and the serpentine.
Participation by the school bus drivers is strict-
ly voluntary, but 43 out of the district’s 56
drivers took part. As Shop Steward Marge
Komosinski commented, “It’s arent how every-
one gets involved. This is my third roadeo, and
I think they’re wonderful.”
The big winners of the day were: for large
buses, Pat Larsen, Rolland Corwin and Wendy
Drumm; and for vans, Linda Gatz, Diane Webster,
and Betty Okula, Pat Larsen also received the
special ‘Precious Cargo Trophy.”
1 8 THE PUBLIC SECTOR
July 26, 1985
By Stephen Madarasz
CSEA Communications Associate
NEW YORK CITY — The faces were familiar,
but the titles were different as Region Il recently
installed two longtime CSEA activists as new
regional officers. Sworn in respectively as sec-
ond and third vice presidents were Miguel Cruz
(Creedmoor Psychiatric Center Local 406 presi-
dent) and Denise Berkley (president of Brooklyn
Developmental Center Local 447).
The changes follow the resignations for profes-
sional reasons of Helen Boyd and Floyd Payne,
and the elevation of Department of Labor Local
350 President Denis Tobin from third to first vice
president.
Together, Cruz and Berkley bring more than 30
years of experience in CSEA to their new posts.
Each is a mental health therapy aide who already
represents a large local: Creedmoor’s ranks num-
ber nearly 2,500, while Brooklyn D. C. counts
more than 1,000 members,
Cruz, who is known to all as “Mickey,” has
worked his way up through the CSEA ranks dur-
ing the past 17 years, having served as a shop
steward, board member and local vice president
before being elected local president in 1983. He
also served on the statewide negotiating team
this past year.
Being a union activist has been a more difficult
job than he ever expected.
“I went in knowing my members needs but |
was surprised to find such a one-sided approach
from management. They seemed primarily con-
cerned with saving money, without looking at
how to do it, and still thought they could achieve
certain goals in providing services,” says Cruz.
But he adds that he has learned from negotia-
tions, too. “I wanted to find out more about
management's attitudes and also about how
CSEA works because that knowledge would help
me improve my service to my members.”
July 26, 1985
ONLY THE TITLES HAVE BEEN CHANGED — Longtime CSEA activists
Denise Berkley and Mickey Cruz get sworn in as new Region II officers.
Cruz says he recognizes the importance of
working for unity in his local as well as the re-
gion. When he became president at Creedmoor,
the administration was under fire for a series of
management failings, there were criminal inves-
tigations into the death of a patient, and the lo-
cal was seriously divided.
“I faced some real problems. We had to fight
for everything — even things that were in our con-
tract. There were also so many changes that
sometimes we didn’t even know who manage-
ment was.”
While not everything is rosy now, Cruz says
there has been a noticeable improvement at the
facility. “I believe in being straightforward and I
think people eventually respect that. Especially
in the local, we’re proving that if people believe
in the union, it can work for everyone.”
Determination is also a strong part of Cruz’
character. That’s apparent in his long career as
a professional musician and his expertise in
karate which has earned him a black belt.
“I’ve always played drums. Even going back to
grade school, | used to play as part of show and
tell. As I got older, I discovered it was a way to
make a living and stay off the streets. I also Mad
a friend who was into karate and wanted to learn
the drums, so we traded off. | taught him music
and he taught me karate.”
Hard work led to success in both. Although he
reached karate’s highest level, Cruz doesn’t con-
sider himself a real master. ‘I’m proud of the ac-
complishment, but I think to be an expert you
have to practice all the time and enter internation-
al competitions. Between my family and union
responsibilities, I just don’t have the time to do
that anymore.”
Those same obligations have also changed his
musical direction. While he once played weddings
and club dates three or four nights a week, the
late evening have become too much,
“I played for fun and to make money to put my
wife through school, now I'm trying to pass my
musical knowledge on to my son. He’s only four,
but he can already play. When I first started play-
ing professionally, | met a promoter who said he
couldn't promise stardom, but he could promise
steady work, Now I recognize that not everyone
is cut out for stardom.”
But Cruz shines in his work for CSEA, just like
Brooklyn D. C.’s Denise Berkley. Now in her sec-
ond term as local president, she became active
in the union 13 years ago because she saw a lack
of leadership.
“I started out apathetic but I was working with
people who really needed representation—they
needed a mouthpiece for their concerns and the
union wasn’t meeting that need. So | decided to
try to do what I could in the organization,” she
Says.
Berkley says she is most proud of her efforts
to improve communication in the local and push
education programs. She contends that both are
vital for a strong union.
“People have to know about issues that affect
them and understand that they can do something
about them.”
With that in mind, Berkley has been instrumen-
tal in establishing a regional task force on Afri-
can issues. “That’s all about educating our -
members. If we believe in unionism, then we have
to realize there’s a whole struggle going on over
that issue in South Africa and our brothers and
sisters need our support.
“If we’re concerned about creating better liv-
ing and working conditions for our members
here,” she went on, “we have to remember there
are millions of people starving to death over
there, It’s all related and there’s a lot we can do
to improve things.”
It’s that kind of compassion that Berkley car-
ries over into her everyday life. In addition to the
pleasure that she receives from working with
clients at the development center, she also
tries hard to help young people in her own com-
munity. Working on her own, she generously
spends time talking to teenagers to help them
set a direction for their lives.
“I have them think about going to school and *
having some kind of direction. I'm especially con-
cerned with helping pregnant teenagers who may
not know where else to turn.”
Whenever she finds herself with some free
time, Berkley says she likes to spend it reading.
While she likes novels, her main subjects of in-
terest are histories, political science and law
books, Her explanation is: “You never know when
or where the information will come in handy.”
THE PUBLIC SECTOR 1 4
Erie County Medical Center
A troubled past with an uncertain
By Ron Wofford
CSEA Communications Associate
BUFFALO — With an Erie County legislative hearing as the back-
drop, CSEA has made public its stance regarding the future of the trou-
bled Erie County Medical Center, and the jobs of about 1,000 members
of Erie County CSEA Local 815.
Although it provides a multiple number of vital services unavail-
able elsewhere locally, the Medical Center has been blamed for the
county’s plunge into a fiscal crisis last year. The modern, well-equipped
hospital has been the subject of hot dispute in the local political arena
for some time now.
ECMC, union representatives told the legislative hearing, should be
maintained as a public hospital, with the ultimate accountability rest-
ing with the County Legislature, and not a public benefit or not-for-profit
corporation. But, said Barbara Piwko and Kathy Albowicz, if a choice
must be made between the two, CSEA would prefer, and the public would
be better served by, a public benefit Borporeuep:
Piwko is executive vice president of the CSEA hospital unit, super-
visor of outpatient billing, and a 15-year employee. Albowicz is a CSEA
budget examiner.
Piwko testified that while deficits attributed to the center should
be improved through better management and billing procedures, the vi-
tal role the center plays in insuring the health of county residents should
not be overlooked.
“The center provides emergency psychiatric services; alcohol and
substance abuse detoxification services; the only spinal cord injury unit
in the area; and medical services for area correctional and mental health
facilities,” Piwko emphasized. “The medical center has the busiest emer-
gency room and largest outpatient unit in Western New York. It is a major
teaching facility for SUNY Buffalo Medical School, and provides clini-
cal teaching for pharmacists, psychologists, physiotherapists, occupa-
tional therapists, five nursing schools, and others. All of these functions,
Piwko continued, “enhance the health of the residents and the econom-
ic health of the area.”
CSEA Budget Examiner Albowicz said it makes better sense for the
county to appoint a board of managers and top hospiia! staff who would
be directly responsible to county government rather than to a corpo-
ration.
Earlier, CSEA Western Region President Robert L. Lattimer had is-
sued a position paper on behalf of Erie County Local 815 in response
toa county task force study on the future of the medical center. ECMC
Unit President ereptien Caruana was an appointed member of that task
force, which included several legislators and community leaders.
And a few more points
CSEA Budget Examiner Kathy Albowicz and Unit Executive Vice
President Barbara Piwko raised a number of other points in testimo-
ny before the Erie County Legislature recently. Among them were the
following:
% The county should actively pursue state funding for services
provided for the state.
* ECMC’s financial troubles resulted primarily from the county’s
failure to adequately budget for services to the indigent and uninsured.
%* Public benefit corporations are formed and must function ex-
plicitly for the benefit of the community. Non-profit hospitals do not
necessarily have the same obligation or provide the needed services.
%* CSEA remains firmly committed to the belief that the provi-
sion of public health services is an integral part of the mission of the
Erie County government, and completely opposes the inclusion of a
not-for-profit corporation as a valid option when considering the fu-
ture of ECMC.
It proved its worth
The value of the Erie County Medical Center to the public it serves
was brought home graphically in the recent slowdown by doctors to
protest high malpractice insurance rates for most physicians.
As most hospitals in the area reduced or curtailed completely
their normal surgical and treatment schedules, including their emer-
gency facilities, the medical center received an even greater share of
area patients. That increase in activity put a major strain on the med-
ical center’s 2,000 employees, of whom about 1,000 are members
of CSEA Local 815.
Hospital Unit Executive Vice President Barbara Piwko said that
after the crisis was resolved, the Erie County Executive and the hospi-
tal management sponsored a reception for staff and volunteers for
their “compassionate manner in keeping the center the hospital of
last resort” during the crisi
Notes Piwko: “Everyone pitched in (during the crisis). We knew
it had to be done. Many gave up their vacation or time off to see that
the job got done, and no one knew how long it would last.”
She said the “thank you” gesture was good for staff morale. She
noted also that the brunt of the patient overload is now again being
felt as the paperwork for the 1,600 patients seen during the slow-
down is just starting to show up in the patient billing department.
ina
BUDGET EXAMINER Kathy Albowicz urged
7 the county to retain direct responsibility
ee for operating the medical facility.
BARBARA PIWKO, executive vice presi-
dent of CSEA's hospital unit, offered tes-
timony on future of Erie County Medical
Center.
20
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
ECMC ONIT PRESIDENT Stephen Caruana
was an appointed member of a task force
which studied future of the medical center.
July 26, 1985
