Vol.12 No. 3 (GEA __ New York's LEADING Union! March 2009
ORK FORC
-
Photo by Jessica Ladlee
Workers at Westchester Medical Center, other facilities at risk.
Story, Page 3
Mi) of the Month
Clarence Highway Department workers Keith Albrecht, left, Dennis
Raquet, Chip Moore, Tim Norris, Clarence Blue Collar Unit President
Bill Metzger and Rick Weitz are among the many volunteer
firefighters who responded to the crash of Flight 3407 in Clarence
Center, northeast of Buffalo. Fifty people lost their lives in the crash:
49 on the airplane and one on the ground. “I thought I might need
to respond to a plane crash someday but I never thought it would be
here,” Moore said.
See next month’s Work Force for full coverage of how CSEA
members responded to the crash.
Town of Hempstead Local President
Bill Flanagan, 65
HEMPSTEAD — Hempstead Local President Bill Flanagan, 65, passed
away Jan. 29.
He had been employed by the town as a locksmith since 1990 and
was first elected local president in 1998.
Local 880 Executive Vice President Charlie Sellitto said Flanagan
will be sorely missed.
“It will be impossible to fill his shoes,” he said. “His vigor for the
job was a driving passion for him. Even his opponents on the other
side of the bargaining table expressed great respect for Bill. He was
a tenacious fighter who feared no one.”
Former Erie County Local President
Michael Bogulski, 63
BUFFALO — Longtime CSEA officer and activist Michael Bogulski, 63,
died Feb. 4.
Bogulski was a four-term Erie County Local president, first elected
in 1995. He also served as the Erie County AFL-CIO political action
coordinator.
Bogulski began his union life in 1967 with the Grain Millers union
while he was working for Agway. He was employed as a corrections
officer when first elected to CSEA office.
He was named Polish-American of the Year in 1995 by the Am-Pol
Eagle and also served in the Army Reserve as a medic from 1969 to
1976.
2 | THE Work FORCE
Unions, lawmakers
oppose combined
economic
ALBANY — CSEA joined forces with
the Public Employees Federation to
offer an alternative to Gov. David
Paterson’s plan to merge the state’s
major economic development
programs into a public benefit
corporation. Key state lawmakers
also voiced concern about ensuring
better oversight and accountability
for the state’s economic
development programs.
“At a time when taxpayers should
be demanding more accountability
and transparency in government, the
governor’s plan will only move us
deeper into the shadows,” said CSEA
President Danny Donohue.
Paterson is proposing to merge
the Department of Economic
Development (DED) and the New
York State Foundation for Science,
Technology and Innovation
(NYSTAR) into a shadow agency —
the Empire State Development
Corporation (ESDC). Donohue noted
programs
that despite news of a $780 billion
federal stimulus plan being passed,
CSEA members should not be
complacent in thinking it will solve
New York’s problems.
“Proposals like this are something
we will be fighting for some time,”
Donohue said.
In testimony prepared for the
Senate Finance Committee and
Assembly Ways and Means
Committee, union leaders reminded
lawmakers that a similar proposal
was rejected by the Legislature in
1997 because of concerns over
public accountability, the transfer of
agency regulatory powers to a public
benefit corporation and the
elimination of legislative oversight.
The unions were joined by
Assembly members Richard Brodsky,
Susan John, Peter Abbate and
several lawmakers who indicated
they have similar concerns.
— Ed Molitor
Private-sector Guild
negotiates first contract
BROOKLYN — After months of
negotiations and despite an
economic climate that threatened to
derail an agreement, CSEA members
at the Guild for Exceptional Children
recently negotiated their first
contract.
“We fought hard for a year at the
negotiating table so that all of us can
have better working conditions and a
real raise,” said negotiating
committee member Shannon Wade.
The two-year agreement includes
wage increases, provides health
insurance for all full-time employees,
additional benefits for part-time
employees, seniority for promotions
and transfers, dues check-off and full
grievance and arbitration language.
“We think the contract is great
Since 1910
since it will bring clarity along with
disciplinary procedures that are not
arbitrarily decided by management,”
said Bill Freude, a counselor and
negotiating committee member.
The Guild is a non-profit, social
service agency offering
comprehensive services to people
with developmental disabilities. It
receives the bulk of its funding from
the state Office of Mental Retardation
and Developmental Disabilities.
“I think that we need to shift our
focus now to the next contract and
realize that we have made
considerable gains in the first
contract and that we can only make
more in the next contract,” said
Freude.
— David Galarza
March 2009
Westchester
Medical
Center stung
by layoffs
VALHALLA — A sign of things to come across the state if
Gov. David Paterson’s budget cuts are passed, CSEA
members at Westchester Medical Center were recently
hit with an announcement of massive layoffs.
Hospital management said a projected $70 million
shortfall in state aid meant they would be eliminating
400 jobs, half of which would come through the closure
of the hospital’s public nursing home, the Taylor Care
Center.
“These cuts are devastating,” said CSEA Southern
Region President Billy Riccaldo. “So many of the
members who are impacted by these cuts have
dedicated their careers to the patients they serve both
in the main hospital and in the Taylor Care Center.”
Short notice
What infuriated workers, on top of the actual layoffs,
was the brief time frame management gave for them to
decide whether to take a hospital resignation package,
retire (if eligible), or risk layoff. Management did not
specify who was being let go, but rather offered a list of
titles at risk of layoff and opted to wait to see how many
retired or took the resignation package.
“The whole process has been very confusing,” said
CSEA member Barbara Kerr, a unit clerk in the Taylor
Care Center. “There are people here who might not have
actually been laid off who took the resignation package
because they are nervous.”
Lack of planning
CSEA leaders criticized hospital management’s
approach to the layoffs. Despite the original projected
closure date of April 1 at the Taylor Care Center,
management at press time had yet to release a complete
list of workers to be laid off, making it impossible for the
state Department of Labor to plan a job fair for those
workers.
“There have been so many instances of management
not being forthcoming during this process,” said
Westchester County Local President Jack McPhillips.
“Meanwhile, you have hundreds of people who are
trying to make ends meet and do not know what their
next step is going to be. The management at
Westchester Medical Center should be ashamed.”
— Jessica Ladlee
March 2009
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Bla CO ORS tEA0INS Oy Photo by Joe GerinHos
Above, CSEA members confront Gov. David Paterson in Binghamton. In middle
photo, Paterson is asked about proposed Office of Children and Family Services
closures by Capital Region activists, including Capital Region President Kathy
Garrison, third from left. In bottom picture, Central Region activists, including
Central Region President Colleen Wheaton, middle, confront the governor.
CSEA remains guarded that
the $780 billion stimulus
package approved by
President Barack Obama
will help New York out of
the state’s current crisis.
CSEA members should not
be complacent in thinking
attacks on raises, contracts
benefits and pensions are
going away any time soon.
Read CSEA’s testimony to
state lawmakers and
download fliers for your
workplace at:
www.csealocal1000.org/
2009_state_budget.php.
THe Work Force
REWORK FORCE) 2
ISSN 1522-1091
Official publication of
CSEA Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO
143 Washington Ave.
Albany, NY 12210-2303
Danny Donohue, President
STEPHEN A. MADARASZ
Communications Director & Publisher
STANLEY HORNAK
Deputy Director of Communications
LOU HMIELESKI
Executive Editor
JANICE MARRA
Associate Editor
CATHLEEN FEBRAIO
Graphic Production Specialist
JANICE M. KUCSKAR
Graphic Production Specialist
BETH McINTYRE
Communications Assistant
The Work Force (USPS 0445-010) is
published monthly by The CSEA Publication Office:
143 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12210.
Periodical Mail Postage paid at Post Office,
Albany, New York 12288.
Postmaster: Send address changes to:
CSEA, Attn: Membership Department,
143 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12210.
CSEA on-line: The CSEA website
can be accessed at www.csealocal1000.org
Readers:
Send any comments, complaints, suggestions or ideas to:
Publisher, The Work Force, 143 Washington Avenue,
Albany, NY 12210-2303.
COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATES
RICHARD IMPAGLIAZZO Long Island Region
(631) 462-0030
DAVID GALARZA. Metropolitan Region
(212) 406-2156
JESSICA LADLEE Southern Region
(845) 831-1000
THERESE ASSALIAN Capital Region
(618) 785-4400
MARK M. KOTZIN Central Region
(B15) 433-0050
LYNN MILLER Western Region
(716) 691-6555
Headquarters
G18) 2
(618) 257-1276
ED MOLITOR
JILL ASENCIO
The Publications Committee
Brenda Chartrand
Mary D’Antonio
William Lebaron
Marcia Olszewski
Ronald Revers
Ron Walker
Mary Alice Whiteman
‘80K COMIN cy,
sennarionay
oy
agccigioue
Governor Paterson’s credibility problem
hocking is the only way to describe the recent media
revelations that Gov. David Paterson secretly gave huge pay
raises to top staff in his office at the same time he was sounding
the alarm about the drastic state fiscal situation.
The governor and his top staff ought to be ashamed of
themselves. Their actions are the height of hypocrisy.
Unfortunately, it’s just the latest example of our enormous
disappointment with the Paterson administration.
For nearly two decades, state Sen. David Paterson was
an individual who stood up for working people, advocated fair
and progressive public policy, and seemed to understand just
how important your work really is.
Now Gov. David Paterson wants to impose dozens of new taxes and fees on
working New Yorkers, cut aid to schools and localities that will undermine jobs,
services and increase property taxes. At the same time, his administration has so
far refused to consider overhauling New York’s personal income tax, which would
be the fairest way to address the state’s revenue issue.
This is also the same administration that’s threatening state employee
layoffs whether or not CSEA agrees to another five-day payroll lag along with
reopening fairly negotiated state contracts! (For the record, we’re not going to
agree). Keep in mind that months ago CSEA offered the administration numerous
alternative suggestions for generating or saving hundreds of millions of dollars that
have largely been ignored.
Scores of dedicated CSEA activists have raised these issues at every town
hall meeting the governor has held in recent weeks. Each time he hears what we
say, but not what we mean.
It all adds up to a serious credibility problem for the Paterson
administration. Gov. Paterson has a long way to go to re-earn our trust.
Daron
| 4 | THE Work FORCE
March 2009
HEALTH CARE
SERVICES
“We need to
consider the
safety of
workers.”
Unfairly dubbed “queen of overtime”
Worker not into royalty, just
a hard-earned check
BROOKLYN — When
the New York Daily
News published
Kingsboro Psychiatric
Center worker Edith
Alexandre’s overtime
payments, the article
erroneously suggested
she had done
something wrong.
The newspaper also
needlessly frightened a
hard-working state
employee.
The tabloid exploited
Alexandre’s work
situation, not putting it
into proper context.
The article also failed
to note the short
staffing that often
forces workers into
“People are —_&*t.”
overtime. Hard work, 7 “We don’t
“It made me feel very sacrifice making an see this asa
scared,” said Alexandre. “You spend honest living matter of
“They put our lives in all your time py making public record,
danger. They might try here, some 16 these but as a
to kidnap me or my hours every age matter of
sacrifices
family.”
She worries that
day and
public safety,”
including your every day and said
people with bad pass days this is what Kingsboro
intentions may read because you ” President
about her in the have goals you get. Fitzroy
newspapers, think she’s —_ you want to Wilson. “We
wealthy and take to
take advantage in a
sinister way.
And in fact,
Alexandre’s daughter
recently received a by making these
threatening telephone sacrifices every day
call. and this is what you
achieve and you have
your support,” said
people that depend on
Alexandre. “People are
making an honest living
6¢" The budget cuts the governor proposes
unfairly target the middle class and the
elderly. We had a patient who left the home to
have surgery and almost ended up in
Massachusetts because beds were unavailable
locally. We eventually ended up getting him back
here. But it proves the point that we need more
beds, not fewer. His family lives near here and
they should be able to stop by and visit with him,
maybe bring him a coffee. Closing county homes
means that more and more people will get turned
away and be forced to live far from family.»
— Ralph Sorrentino, registered nurse,
Glendale Nursing Home, Registered Nurses
Unit President and 16-year CSEA member, on
how state budget cuts will affect his work site.
(Read more on pages 10-11.)
March 2009
need to consider the
safety of workers.”
“They see the
amount of money you
are paid and think it’s a
joke,” said Alexandre.
“They don’t see how
you're drained
sometimes. They never
think about how hard
you've worked.”
While she admits she
often volunteers for
overtime, Alexandre
has also been mandated
for extra shifts. “If they
want me to work, they
call me because they
know that I am
reliable,” she said.
Alexandre wonders
why corporate CEOs
and others who earn
millions of dollars each
year don’t face the
same kind of scrutiny. “I
work very hard to make
this money,” she said.
— David Galarza
THE Work FORCE
Community
OUTREACH
NY tf
Freez’ For A Reason
POLAR
Helping Across
the State
CSEA members on track
to raise more than
$10,000, more than last
year, to help send
athletes to the New York
Special Olympics.
CSEA members not only
raise money, but
volunteer their time as
coaches to Special
Olympics teams, and help
as staff volunteers at
Special Olympics events.
To learn more, visit:
http://www.csealocal1000.org
/polar_plunge.php
Frosty,
frigid and
friends of
Special
Olympics
ROCHESTER — CSEA members
from the Western Region took a
frosty dip Feb. 8 in slushy Lake
Ontario as part of the Polar
Plunge to raise money for the
Special Olympics.
Team CSEA Region 6
members dodged ice chunks at
Ontario Beach Park (Charlotte
Beach) as they waded through
the lake.
Rescue personnel watching
the bathers prevented any from
going too deep, due to the icy
Lake Ontario conditions.
“Freezin’ for a Reason” from
the Western Region were Delia
Bertrand, John Bieger, Robbie
Ellis (wearing a dress on a fund-
raising challenge), Fran
Falzone, Joe Michaels, Susan
Livingston County Local President Robbie Ellis and Wyoming
County Local President Delia Bertrand emerge from Lake
Ontario. Team CSEA Region 6 raised more than $3,000 for the
Special Olympics on their Feb. 8 plunge.
Newman, Yvonne Sirkin, Misty
White, Kim Wentworth and
Jamie Arena. Team Captain was
Western Region President Flo
Tripi.
The team raised more than
$3,000 in pledges for the
Special Olympics.
arn
ie
Special Olympics
New York
Team CSEA Region 6
members, at left, pose before
plunging. Missing from the
team photo is Western Region
President Flo Tripi, team
captain, who hosted the team
at her home for coffee and
doughnuts before the plunge
and hot soup afterward.
Coming next month
CSEA members on Long Island
will take the plunge at North
Hempstead Beach Park
(formerly Bar Beach), Port
Washington while Southern
Region members will brave the
Fishkill Polar Plunge.
| 6 | THe Work FORCE
March 2009
ADMINISTRATIVE AND
SociAt SERVICES
“We’re
working with
fewer
resources
and we are
stretched
thin.”
FACT
The New York
Library
Association
recently reported
that workers in
80 percent of
libraries across
the state have
helped patrons
search for a job
within the last
three months.
Librarians’ services expand amid
shrinking resources
ALBANY — Against a
backdrop of state and
federal budget cuts and
pressures on local
communities to reign in
spending, librarians are
being forced to do more
with less.
People need library
services more than ever in
this tough economy, yet
there is more work involved
in delivering services and
fewer resources for the
librarians who do the work.
“We are definitely seeing
more people coming
through the doors every
day,” said Albany Public
Library Branch Librarian
and CSEA member Melissa
Wasilewski. “Perhaps they
are looking to check out a
book instead of buying one.
Maybe they are searching
for a job and need to access
online resources.”
Any federal, state or local
cuts affect libraries and the
demand for services.
Wasilewski said librarians
are increasingly spending
more time on individual
tasks such as walking
people through online job
searches, teaching basic
computer skills, or helping
New technologies and the economy are increasingly leading library staff such as Albany
Public Library librarian Melissa Wasilewski, here on the job, into new work tasks.
download tax forms from
the IRS website.
While the workload and
demand for services
increase, libraries are forced
to defend their mission and
continue to press for ever-
elusive funding. Libraries
have traditionally been
unfairly targeted, said
Wasilewski, because
libraries are thought of as
an “easy place to cut.”
“We won’t turn our back
on anyone and we will
continue to try to meet
everyone’s needs,” she said.
“But we are working with
fewer resources and we are
stretched thin.”
— Therese Assalian
Library workers to fight
ROCHESTER —
A proposed 18
percent cut in
state library
funding would
absolutely
devastate the
important
services libraries provide
and harm the workers who
provide them.
That’s the message
longtime CSEA activist Ove
Overmyer hopes to get out
to state, county and local
Overmyer
lawmakers — before it’s too
late.
Overmyer, president of
the City of Rochester
Library Unit, and other
library workers from the
city and Monroe County
plan to travel to Albany
March 10 to meet with state
lawmakers to discuss the
funding crisis.
“It is just plain foolish not
to properly fund libraries,”
Overmyer said. “We are just
as critical to many people as
state spending cuts
police and fire protection.
The public expects us to be
there to provide services.”
As the economy sours,
library usage increases
dramatically, Overmyer said.
Libraries help residents with
resume creation, job
searches and employment
issues. Their vast collection
of books and DVDs also
provide a free source of
entertainment for financially
strapped families.
“Libraries are and will
always be the best possible
investment for the
taxpayers of (Monroe)
County and for New York
state,” he recently told the
Monroe County Legislature.
“(Libraries) are part of the
solution to our local
economic recovery. A
vibrant library system is
necessary to the vitality and
growth of our region.”
— Lynn Miller
March 2009
THE Work FORCE 7 |
HEALTH CARE
SERVICES
“If we let this
program
disappear,
people will never
have anything like
it again. We’ve
seen this happen
before.”
®
—Ye Vi
AFSCME
We Make America Happen
Follow the news
that affects
working families.
Visit the AFSCME
Newswire at:
http://www.afscme.org
/press/newswire.cfm
Daily national news
stories chosen
especially for union
members.
Clients, community
would hurt from
proposed closure
MANHATTAN — Closing
the 52-bed Manhattan
Addiction Treatment
Center on Ward's Island
makes no sense.
“My concern is for the
Hispanic community,”
said Rafael Del Valle, an
addiction counselor
assistant. “We meet a
specific need and if we
close, people will have
nowhere else to go.”
Safety net
The center provides
24-hour, 7 days a week
inpatient rehabilitation
for alcohol and substance
abuse. Near East Harlem
(also known as Spanish
Harlem), which has a
large Latino population,
the center is the only
state-operated, bilingual
facility in the city.
The center also serves
many under-represented
people; lesbian, gay,
bisexual or transgender
community members and
offers a special program
for women.
The program, typically
28 days, provides
individual, group, and
family therapy treatment,
and many other services
to help people recover.
“If we let this program
disappear, people will
never have anything like
it again,” said Manhattan
Psychiatric Center
President Sam Koroma.
“We've seen this happen
before.”
Safety risk
Koroma and center
workers fear the facility’s
closure also poses a
safety risk because some
of the clients come from
psychiatric or criminal
facilities.
“The governor's budget
cuts will create a problem
not only for the clients
and the program that
serves them, it will also
create a danger to the
community,” said
Koroma.
Despite talk that the
facility could be moved
to another borough, Ruth
Henriquez, an addiction
counselor assistant, said,
“my clients don’t want to
go to Queens or the
Bronx for these services.”
From left, CSEA members Ruth Henriquez, Arnold
Elliott, Manhattan Psychiatric Center Local President
Sam Koroma and Rafael Del Valle discuss the
proposed closure of Manhattan Addiction Treatment
Center.
Workers are
scheduling visits to local
legislators, writing letters
to the governor and
planning other actions.
“God only know what
can happen if this facility
closes,” said Koroma.
— David Galarza
really astonishing. 99
Why we need the Employee Free Choice Act:
eT fact that our labor law has no penalties for employer violations, no punitive damages, no
financial penalties, that the worst thing that happens to employers when they commit egregious
violations is a slap on the wrist, has emboldened employers to break the law at an extreme that is
— Kate Bronfenbrenner, Cornell University director of Labor Education Research, quoted in The
Nation, "Can Labor Revive the American Dream," an article about the Chamber of Commerce and
other business interests fighting the Employee Free Choice Act.
Ei THe Work FORCE
March 2009
BOCES merger meets
strong opposition
LIBERTY — A state-funded study
recommending Sullivan County
BOCES merge with Orange-Ulster
BOCES is meeting with fierce
opposition from CSEA and other
groups in Orange and Sullivan
counties.
The study, conducted by the state-
funded Nelson A. Rockefeller
Institute of Government,
recommends merging the two
facilities but does not offer concrete
details on how such a merger would
save money or improve educational
opportunities.
“Our preliminary research is
showing that merging the two BOCES
locations would likely cost taxpayers
more,” said Southern Region
President Billy Riccaldo. “It appears
that there was selective use of data
in the study which skewed the
results in favor of a merger.”
Under the recommendations from
the study, classrooms would be
maintained in Sullivan County while
clerical staff would all be located at
the Orange-Ulster site in Goshen, an
hour southeast of the Sullivan
campus. While no mention of layoffs
appeared in the study, Riccaldo said
a merger could hurt the 145
members CSEA represents at
Sullivan County BOCES.
“Even if our members were to be
offered jobs in Goshen, how feasible
would it be for the clerical workers
to be forced to drive as much as 65
miles each way to work?” said
Riccaldo. “For our members living in
northern Sullivan County, this could
potentially force them out of a job.”
Riccaldo and Sullivan County
BOCES Unit President Joanne Kraack
recently spoke about their concerns
at a public hearing on the proposed
merger. Kraack pointed out the
study's recommendation that
students have equal access to
BOCES programs negates the cost
savings piece.
“The only way to allow for the
merged BOCES students to have
equal access or benefit is to create
CSEA Southern Region President
Billy Riccaldo speaks at a public
hearing regarding merging Sullivan
County BOCES with Orange-Ulster
BOCES.
duplicate programs in their own
geographic areas,” Kraack said.
“How will this be cost effective?”
— Jessica Ladlee
Summary of January Board of Directors meetings
EpucaTION SupPoRT
SERVICES AND NEWS
Editor’s Note: The Work Force publishes a
summary of actions taken by CSEA’s
Board of Directors. The summary is
prepared by CSEA Statewide Secretary
Denise Berkley for union members.
ALBANY — CSEA’s statewide Board of
Directors met on Jan. 15. In official
| business, the board:
¢ Ratified the tentative agreement
Berkley between CSEA and United Union
Employees of New York (UUE-NY);
¢ Designated dates and locations for upcoming Retiree
Delegates Meetings: 2009: Aug. 27 - 30, Crowne Plaza,
White Plains; 2010: Oct. 18 - 22, Albany, to coincide with
CSEA 100; 2011: Aug. 18 - 21, Crowne Plaza, Niagara Falls
Conference Center and 2012: Aug. 16 - 19, Holiday Inn,
Wolf Road, Albany;
¢ Adjusted fees affecting statewide Board of Directors
meetings;
¢ Approved 2009 maximum miscellaneous allowances for
upcoming CSEA events;
March 2009
* Renewed lease for office space at 366 North Broadway,
Jericho, for Local 882 (Nassau County Municipal
Employees);
¢ Appointed Donna Miller (Monroe County) to the Board
of Directors;
¢ Changed the name of Local 441 from Binghamton
Psychiatric Center to Greater Binghamton Health Center;
¢ Appointed Faye Wilkie-Fields, Ramon Lucas and Fitzroy
Wilson to the Metropolitan Region Political Action
Committee;
¢ Appointed Kathy Johnson, Andy Mantella and Pamela
Shear to the Central Region Political Action Committee;
and
¢ Placed into administratorship Amsterdam Head Start
Local 733, Long Term Care Hospital Unit 7800-05/Local
834, Town of Brookhaven Unit 8752-02/Local 852, Village
of Lake Success Unit 7220-00/Local 882;
Questions concerning the summary should be directed to
Statewide Secretary Denise Berkley, CSEA Headquarters,
143 Washington Ave., Albany, N.Y. 12210 (800) 342-4146 or
(518) 257-1253.
Don’t believe
everything
you read
he statewide news
media recently
reported that New York’s
taxpayers are footing the
bill for a 100 percent
increase in pension
payments to local and state
government workers.
The story stated that
pension payments in 1998
were $3.4 billion, and that
figure has “ballooned” to $7
billion.
Here’s the rub: During
the go-go ‘90s, local and
state government were
making only token
payments to the pension
system because stocks and
bonds that back the funds
were going through the
roof.
The law was changed in
2005 to require public
employers at least make a
baseline payment to ensure
the system’s adequate
funding.
Those who complain
about the pension system
usually forget that the state
and local governments
avoided their obligation for
nearly a dozen years.
At the same time, most
public employees were still
required to contribute 3
percent of their salary to
their retirement fund.
THe Work Force
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Old standards more
difficult to match
n his 25 years caring for consumers
with developmental disabilities,
Developmental Aide II and CSEA
Broome Developmental Center Local
member Dave Brown has seen big
changes at his work site.
Brown said budget cuts have
affected his co-workers’ ability to care
for their consumers.
“Things have been cut back quite a
bit,” he said. “We used to have two
recreation therapists, and now we're
down to one for four units, so it’s left
to the staff to do recreational
activities when we’re already working
at minimum staffing levels ever day
and doing mandatory overtime about
every other day.”
Brown oversees
21 consumers and
the evening shift.
Those in his care
are adult males,
quite a few with
behavioral problems, and most have
lived at the center for a long time.
“The cutbacks have stopped us
from putting more houses in the
community,” he said. “I’ve got a
consumer who’s been waiting about a
“We can’t afford to lose more
five staff who work sraff We're there for the
consumers and I don’t think
people understand that.”
aH - 2
Dave Brown at Broome
Development Center.
year and a half to be placed ina
home.”
Brown said he can’t believe the
governor is proposing more cuts to
OMRDD.
“We've already seen
cutbacks,” Brown
said. “Who could tell
what further cutbacks
would do? We can’t
afford to lose more staff. We’re there
for the consumers and I don’t think
people understand that. They are the
ones who are suffering.”
— Mark M. Kotzin
Wi oc life Care facility workers struggle with tight staffing ratios
THE Work FORCE
66 e’re already short-staffed.
Budget cuts will impact staffing
levels. County homes take the most
challenging patients and we can’t go
any lower with respect to staffing.99
— Linda Depaula, registered nurse
supervisor, Glendale Nursing Home,
Scotia.
Keeping a community jewel from becoming a ‘rusty nail’
SS —
=—_>
==
==
—=_=_
==>
==
—= —
a
==
= =—
==
_—
f | Rh Wee
Doug Goodman works hard to keep things shipshape at Genesee County Nursing Home.
Tight ship
“We run a tight ship here, from dietary to nursing
to maintenance,” Goodman said. “People who have
loved ones here sing our praises. The residents like it
here.”
Goodman assists with the
day-to-day operation of the
facility, repairing and
maintaining a variety of
equipment. His position allows
him to frequently interact with
the residents.
oug Goodman doesn’t plan to sit back and let
Gov. David Paterson’s state budget proposal harm
the residents of the Genesee County Nursing Home.
Instead, Goodman, a building maintenance
wie ever, iy oe “Everything comes down to the residents.
make sure the They are why I work here. This is their
important safety net home. We can’t continue to be
remains open and overburdened by unfunded state mandates
and Medicaid benefit cuts. There has to be a
public for the people
who call the facility 7 P
place for people to go to maintain a good
home.
“This facility is a quality of life in their end years. z “Over the years I've gotten to
jewel in the know many of the residents
and their families. I like
knowing I make a difference in the lives of the people
here.”
“Everything comes down to the residents,” he said
“They are why I work here. This is their home. We
can’t continue to be overburdened by unfunded state
mandates and Medicaid benefit cuts. There has to be
a place for people to go to maintain a good quality of
life in their end years.”
community; we don’t
want it to become a rusty nail,” said Goodman, an 11-
year employee at the nursing home. “This is a
community asset. The governor’s budget threatens
the viability of the facility.”
Like so many other public nursing homes
throughout the state, the Genesee County Nursing
Home struggles with budgeting. Management and the
employees “get along great” and everyone works
together to keep the residents’ best interests at heart.
— Lynn Miller
Saying ‘thank you’ with quality care
gt. Felize Gigante served our
country with valor as an Army tank
commander during World War II.
Now 84, he is a resident of the Long
Island State Veterans Home, where
aging veterans rely on — and receive
— quality care and compassion from
the 324 CSEA
members employed
there.
One of those
CSEA members is
Certified Nursing
Assistant Charles
Nolan, who has
worked at the hom:
since September
2000 as a frontline
provider of nursing care. He is a key
member of the nursing team involved
with day-to-day care, which focuses on
assisting residents in activities of daily
living such as feeding, bathing,
dressing and transferring.
“IT have noticed that the residents
have become more dependent upon
my care over the years,” he said.
“They enter the nursing unit these
mind.”
Since 1910
“We give back to our country
by providing the nursing care
our residents require to keep
them healthy and happy in the
twilight of their lives. The
e governor should keep that in
days appearing older and frailer than
in years past. As a result, the care they
require is much greater.”
And it may soon be a greater
challenge for Nolan and other CSEA
members employed at veterans’
homes across the state to provide that
care.
Gov. David
Paterson has
proposed a $6.9
million reduction
in Medicaid
reimbursements to
the Long Island
State Veterans
Home, which could
force
administrators there to make
decisions that are disadvantageous to
residents because an estimated 80
percent of the residents living at the
home rely on the Medicaid program.
CSEA members, whose job titles
include barbers, housekeepers,
certified nursing assistants, licensed
practical nurses, unit clerks,
groundskeepers, maintenance workers
and painters, make a difference to the
residents’ lives at the Long Island
State Veterans Home as well as their
families.
“I’m proud to be a CSEA member
and will never take for granted the
sacrifices made by the veterans I serve
each day,” said Nolan. “We give back
to our country by providing the
nursing care our residents require to
keep them healthy and happy in the
twilight of their lives. The governor
should keep that in mind.”
— Richard Impagliazzo
Certified Nursing Assistant Charles
Nolan hands veteran Felize
Gigante a cane at the Long Island
State Veterans Home.
Apri 2009 ¢ Apri 2009
Tue Work Force 11
2009 CSEA ELECTIONS Info
Public Sector Local, Unit
elections scheduled for 2009
Elections will be conducted for all public sector
local officers, delegates and unit officers
he term of office for all current public sector local officers, delegates
and unit officers expires June 30, 2009. Public sector officers and
delegates will be elected to four-year terms. Balloting for local officers,
delegates and unit officers will be conducted between May 15 and June
15, 2009.
Each local and unit executive board must select its own election
committee and committee chairperson, or election meeting chair if
applicable. The local and/or unit election committee is primarily responsible
for conducting the election.
Slate petitioning and slate voting will be an option for candidates for
local and unit office (see adjacent information).
Members may run as individual candidates if they wish.
Attention: Public Sector Local, Unit Presidents
Did you send the Election Committee Data Form
to CSEA Headquarters?
n early January, registered election committee chairs and election
meeting chairs began receiving their election package to help them carry
out their election duties.
You must submit your election committee data form before an election
packet will be mailed to your election committee chairperson or election
meeting chair.
CSEA Headquarters cannot send material and information to any
appointed election committee or meeting chair without first receiving the
completed election committee data form from the local or unit president.
Inquiries concerning election materials may be directed to the CSEA
Central Files Department at 1-800-342-4146, ext. 1261.
Locals and Units with 150 or Fewer M
ers
Holding an Election at a Spe Membership Meeting
Locals and units with 150 members or less may choose to appoint an
Election Meeting Chair (instead of an election committee) and conduct an
election at a meeting.
Holding your election at a Special Membership Meeting simplifies the
election process in that, where there are races (more than one candidate
for an office), the Election Meeting Chair calls a Membership Meeting for
the purpose of electing officers.
Application for Office
Special election rules are available to CSEA locals and units of 150 or
fewer members.
In these smaller locals and units, completion of the Application for
Election to Office replaces the requirement to obtain signatures on a
nominating petition.
In locals or units with 150 or fewer members, any member who submits
the application and meets election requirements under the appropriate local
or unit constitution will be placed on the ballot.
Important information about
slate petitioning and slate voting
Local Elections
In local elections, a slate must contain a candidate running for the offices of
president, one or more vice presidents as set forth in the local’s by-laws,
secretary and treasurer.
The slate may also include candidates for other offices that have been created
according to the local constitution and by-laws. In locals that have created the
combined position of secretary-treasurer in their by-laws, the slate must include a
candidate for that office.
Unit Elections
In unit elections, a slate must contain a candidate running for the offices of
president, one or more vice presidents as set forth in the unit's by-laws, secretary
and treasurer.
The slate may also include candidates for other offices that have been created
according to the unit constitution and by-laws. In units that have created the
combined position of secretary-treasurer in their by-laws, the slate must include a
candidate for that office.
Candidates should know the following:
+A member cannot be a candidate for officer and for delegate on the same
slate. An officer candidate must circulate a separate nominating petition in order
to appear on the ballot also as a candidate for delegate. The member will appear
on the ballot as a candidate for office as part of the slate and as an individual for
the position of delegate.
+ Candidates who run as a slate must complete a Slate Eligibility and Consent
Form and a Slate Petition Request Form. By petitioning as a slate, candidates
who appear as part of a slate need to submit only one set of the required number
of signatures to qualify as a candidate. Individual petitions are not necessary for
slate candidates.
* Candidates who withdraw from a slate must complete a Slate Withdrawal
Form and return the form to their election committee.
More detailed information about election slates will be available from local and
unit election committees.
Break in membership affects elegibility for union office,
voting privileges
A break in union membership status can have long-term future implications. Your membership
status affects your eligibility with respect to:
* seeking or holding union office;
* signing nominating petitions for potential candidates;
* voting in union elections, and;
* voting on collective bargaining contracts.
Only members “in good standing” can participate in these activities. To be in “good standing,”
your dues cannot be delinquent.
If you go on unpaid leave or for any other reason have a break in your employment status, your
dues will not continue to be paid through payroll deductions. You must make arrangements to pay
your dues directly to CSEA to continue your membership status. If you are either laid off or placed
on leave without pay status due to becoming disabled by accident, illness, maternity or paternity,
you may be eligible for dues-free membership status for a period not to exceed one year. If you are
called up for active military duty you may also apply for dues-free status.
Note, however, you must continue to pay dues to run for office. Dues-free or gratuitous
membership allows members to continue their insurance coverage while out of work. It does not
protect your right to run for or hold office. This does not apply to members who are on leave due
to being called up for military duty. Members on active military duty, upon return, are considered
to have had continuous membership status for all CSEA election purposes.
Please notify the CSEA Membership Department at 1-800-342-4146, Ext. 1327, of any change in
your status and what arrangements you are making to continue your membership in CSEA.
Pa tie Work FORCE
March 2009
LeGat ASSISTANCE
PRoGRAMS
Did you know?
The CSEA Board of
Directors created a
Special Veterans
Committee in 1991 to
address the special
needs of members wh
are veterans.
The Veterans Committee
became a standing
committee in 2004.
SUNY New Paltz Local
activist Len Beaulieu is
the committee chair.
CSEA expands legal services to
members carrying firearms for work
CSEA is pleased to
announce an expansion of
its Legal Assistance
Program to provide legal
services to all our CSEA
members who carry
firearms as part of their
CSEA covered job
requirements, for certain
job-related incidents
requiring legal counsel.
This new Legal
Assistance Program
coverage was approved
by the CSEA Board of
Directors at the Board's
January 2009 meeting.
Numerous CSEA members
carry firearms in the
course of their jobs,
including those who work
in investigations,
probation, and other
areas of law enforcement.
There are times during
the course of an
employee’s duties when
physical force, including
the discharge of a firearm,
may be used to affect
arrests.
Sometimes these
events come into
question by others,
including the District
Attorney covering the
county in which the
incident occurs. If such
an investigation should
arise, our Legal
Assistance Program will
now be able to provide
expert legal
representation.
As part of our Legal
Assistance Program,
CSEA-provided
representation to a CSEA
member involved in the
use of force will be
available 24 hours a day,
seven days a week. Our
pilot program coverage is
as follows:
1. Covered Incidents:
Gun discharge, use of
baton or other weapon
Veterans Committee.
served as a “Seabee” for a
The Veterans Committee
Foster, a 36-year member, will
retire at the end of March. He
combined 20 years of active and
reserve duty in the U.S. military.
The Special Veterans Committee
was created in 1991 to address
concerns unique to veterans.
became a standing committee in
Foster honored for statewide Veterans
Committee service
SEA President Danny
Donohue recently honored
Onondaga County Local
Executive Vice President Len
Foster for his valiant service as a
charter member of the union’s
dispensed by, or at the
employer’s direction, or
other use of force in the
line of duty in such
fashion as to result in the
commencement of a law
enforcement agency
investigation that could
result in criminal charges
against the employee.
2. Attorney Contact:
Covered employees can
contact the CSEA funded
attorney for advice and
appearance on their
behalf. The attorneys
assigned to each region
are as follows:
Regions 1, 2, 3:
Jim Moschella, Esq.,
Karasyk & Moschella, LLP
225 Broadway, 32nd Floor
New York, N.Y. 10007
(212) 233-3800
(24 hours)
Region 4:
Eugene Grenz, Esq.
113 Great Oaks Office
Park, Albany, N.Y. 12203
(518) 464-1700
(24 hours)
Region 5:
Edward Dunn, Esq. Dunn
Law Office
333 East Onondaga St.,
2nd Floor, Syracuse, N.Y.
13202
(315) 474-4648 (Office)
or (315) 427-5881
(After hours)
Region 6:
Dan Henry, Esq.
Villarini & Henry
16 Main Street Hamburg,
N.Y. 14075
(716) 648-0510 (Office)
or (716) 361-3520
(After hours)
2004. \ .
— Jill Asencio SEA President Danny Donohue, left, presents 3. Scope of Coverage:
charter Veterans Committee member Len Foster Attorney would be
with a plaque honoring his service to the available to respond to a
committee. “call out” by an employee
March 2009
facing the initial phase of
an incident investigation
that occurs immediately
after a “covered incident.”
Upon receiving a “call
out,” the attorney would
determine whether
his/her presence is
necessary and, if so,
proceed to the site of the
initial investigation.
Attorney would also
appear at subsequent
meetings, if any, with
district attorney while
matter is being
considered for
presentation to grand
jury. Attorney would also
appear at any grand jury
convened to consider
criminal charges against
the employee.
If criminal charges are
issued, CSEA funded
representation would
cease. Employee would
be responsible for his/her
costs of continued
representation by the
attorney and/or securing
other representation for
his/her defense.
CSEA funded attorney
would be permitted to
represent employee, at
employee's request, with
the cost of such
continued representation
being agreed to in writing
by the employee and the
attorney under terms
clearly providing that
once criminal charges are
issued, the employee is
fully responsible for the
costs of his/her
representation.
If there are any
questions or comments
regarding this program,
please feel free to
contact CSEA Legal
Assistance Program at
1-800-342-4146
extension 1443.
THe Work FORCE
‘Since 1910
New York’s LEADING Union
1910 - 2009
99 years
YEARS OF PROGRESS
THE Work FORCE
1929 | Great Depression brings great opportunity to CSEA
80 years ago ...
The Great Depression was a time of great
challenge for the United States. It was also a time of
great opportunity for the Association of State Civil
Service Employees, as CSEA was known at that time,
and its leaders seized the moment.
Gov. Al Smith's overhaul of New York state
government approved by voters in 1926 was a
major shift, as it centralized and expanded state
responsibilities while consolidating power for the first.
time with the governor. The reforms provided an MeDonough
environment in which job classification and function could be
standardized under a merit system.
While many of these reforms still took years to be established, the
association vigorously advocated for their implementation and established
powerful alliances with the state’s leaders to ensure
they would come to pass.
Many factors accounted for the association's
dramatic growth in the 1930s, most notably the
dynamic leadership of William McDonough and
Beulah Bailey Thull. (See page 18 for more on Thull.)
Their organizing skills, sawvy and fireless efforts helped
the association membership balloon from about 600 in
1929 to 8,500 by the end of 1930.
The association would continue to grow rapidly
_
ter
Thull
throughout the rest of the decade, along with scores of accomplishments
to benefit members.
Also in 1929...
* The Great Depression begins when the stock market crashes on Oct.
29, ak.a. “Black Friday.”
+ The Lateran Treaty establishes an independent Vatican City.
* The Museum of Modern Art opens in New York City.
*: CBS, then encacronym for Columbia :
Broadcasting System, is founded by William S. | sts Jf
Paley. r—
* Broadway Melody becomes the first
major release of the talking picture era.
* Motorola introduces the first car radio.
CBS founder William S.
Paley, circa 1929
* U.S. Admiral Richard Byrd is the first
person to fly over the South Pole.
* Penicillin is first used to fight an infection.
* German psychiatrist Hans Berger develops the electroencephalogram
(EEG) for recording brain waves.
March 2009
Protecting Your Benefits
Diabetic shoes — a negotiated Empire Plan benefit
ffective July 1, 2008,
Fe pair of custom Health
molded or depth Benefits
shoes per calendar year is
a covered expense under
the Empire Plan if:
¢ You have a diagnosis of diabetes and
diabetic foot disease;
¢ Diabetic shoes have been prescribed
by your provider; and
¢ The shoes are fitted and furnished by a
qualified pedorthist, orthotist, prosthetist,
or podiatrist. Shoes ordered by mail or
from the Internet are not eligible for
benefits.
Network benefits
When you use a Home
Care Advocacy Program
(HCAP)-approved provider
for medically necessary
diabetic shoes (including work boots), you
receive a paid-in-full benefit up to an
annual maximum benefit of $500. To ensure
that you receive the maximum benefit, you
must make a pre-notification call to the
Home Care Advocacy Program.
You must call The Empire Plan toll free
at 1-877-7NYSHIP (1-877-769-7447), choose
United HealthCare and then the Benefits
Management Program. The Home Care
Advocacy Program will assist you in
making arrangements to receive network
benefits for diabetic shoes.
Non-network benefits
If you do not call for pre-notification or
you do not use a Home Care Advocacy
Program-approved provider, benefits will
be considered under the Basic Medical
Program subject to the annual deductible
with any remaining covered charges paid
at 75 percent of the network allowance
with a maximum annual benefit of $500.
See more Health Benefits
articles on page 16.
Promoting Good Health
Join the 40-Hour FAST
he Labor-
Religion
Coalition of GION
New York State i masee Akp,
will hold its 14th es &
annual 40-Hour
FAST from
Wednesday,
March 4 at 8 p.m.
to Friday, March
6, at noon.
This year’s FAST, with the theme “Coming Together for
the Common Good,” will include prayer, education and
action.
Building Conlitions and. Campaigns for Economic Justice
For specific FAST events in your region, contact the
state coalition at (518) 213-6000 or visit the coalition’s
website at www.labor-religion.org.
Did you know that over $15 million
in disability claims were paid out to CSEA
members just like you in 2008?
nd according to the Health
Insurance Association of
America, nearly 30 percent of
Americans age 35 - 65 will suffer a
disability lasting 90 days or more,*
rear!
taking them out of work and Carroll
eliminating their ability to earn their
normal paycheck. To most people their ability to earn income is of vital
importance, and those who suffer a disability are faced with the challenge
of paying everyday bills once their sick time runs out. Are you prepared if
such a disability happened to you?
There are ways to supplement your income in the event that such a disability
did occur. Shortterm disability insurance can cover up to 26 weeks of
benefit time, and long-term disability insurance can cover longer periods of
time. By choosing one of our two types of disability insurance, you are giving
yourself and your loved ones financial peace of mind should an injury or
illness keep you from working.
Don't risk the chance of losing your income due to a prolonged injury or
illness. Contact the people of Pearl Carroll for more information on disability
insurance coverage by calling 1-877-VIP-CSEA (1-877-847-2732) or by
going to our website, www.pearlcarroll.com.
*source cnnmoney.com
March 2009
THE Work FORCE
Protecting Your Benefits
Empire Plan enrollees: New mental health
and substance abuse insurer and administrator
ffective Transition of
E= 1, Health care benefit
2009, Benefits =a To help ensure
United
HealthCare Insurance Company
of New York (UHICNY) began
insuring and OptumHealth
Behavioral Solutions
(OptumHealth) started
administering The Empire Plan’s
Mental Health and Substance
Abuse (MHSA) Program.
It is important to note that
while the benefits available under
the plan are not changing, there
may be differences in the
provider network. OptumHealth
has a large national provider
network and is also actively
recruiting additional providers
who currently treat a high
volume of Empire Plan enrollees.
Empire Plan
enrollees in outpatient treatment
have access to network benefits
throughout the transition
process, a 90-day transition of
care benefit is available for care
received through March 31,
2009. The transition of care
benefit also applies to alternate
levels of care, including partial
hospitalization, intensive
outpatient treatment and group
home.
If you or your eligible
dependent(s) received
outpatient care under the MHSA
program on or after July 1, 2008,
the transition benefit allows you
to continue medically necessary
treatment with your provider
through March 31, 2009,
regardless of whether or not the
provider is in the OptumHealth
network.
In addition, if you or your
eligible dependent(s) were
receiving care at a 24-hour
facility or program for inpatient
or residential treatment on Dec.
31, 2008, and remained confined
on or after Jan. 1, 2009, the care
will continue to be managed and
paid for by ValueOptions/GHI
until you are discharged to a
lower level of treatment.
If you or your eligible
dependent(s) will be seeking
mental health or substance
abuse services in 2009, or if you
have any questions about the
transition process, including
seeing if your provider is in the
OptumHealth network, call 1-877-
T7NYSHIP (1-877-769-7447) and
select the 2009 MHSA option.
We want your feedback....
The Health Benefits Department is interested in your
feedback regarding the transition of the Mental Health and
Substance Abuse Program. Please call our office at
1-800-286-5242 to tell us what you think.
year to:
United HealthCare Service
Corp.
P.O. Box 1600
Kingston, N.Y. 12402-1600
For the Empire Plan Basic
Medical Program, the Home
Care Advocacy Program (HCAP)
and non-network physical
therapy or chiropractic
services.
Empire Blue Cross and Blue
Shield
For assistance with the claim
after the end of the calendar year) in which to submit
| es Plan enrollees have until March 31, 2009 (90 days
medical expenses that were incurred during the 2008 plan
filing process of inpatient or
outpatient hospital services
contact Empire Blue Cross and
Blue Shield at 1-877-7NYSHIP
(1-877-769-7447).
ValueOptions
P.O. Box 778
Troy, N.Y. 12181-0778
For non-network mental health
and substance abuse services
received in 2008.
Medco
P.O. Box 14711
Lexington, Ky. 40512
For prescriptions filled at non-
participating pharmacies or at
participating pharmacies
without using your New York
Government Employee Benefit
Card.
Enrollees can call the Empire
Plan at 1-877-7NYSHIP (1-877-
769-7447) with questions or to
get claim forms.
As a reminder, when using the
Empire Plan’s toll-free telephone
number, please pay extra
attention to the choices offered
by the automated system.
Empire Plan deadline for 2008 claims is March 31
Network providers and
pharmacies will submit claims
directly to the appropriate
insurance carrier on your behalf
when provided with all
necessary information.
If you have a non-network
claim submission, make sure
you complete the requested
subscriber information on the
claim form, include the original
billing or receipt, if requested,
and don’t forget to sign the
claim form.
Promoting Good Health
March 2009
1 6 hee Work FORCE
ALBANY — In a major victory for
working New Yorkers, CSEA took
part in a $350 million settlement
against UnitedHealth Care for a
scheme to defraud union members
by manipulating reimbursement
rates.
CSEA was among the plaintiffs in
a class action lawsuit against
United, which is the nation’s
second largest health insurer. It is
the largest cash settlement in the
history of health care litigation.
“This is a historic milestone that
will have long-term benefits for the
health care industry,” said CSEA.
President Danny Donohue.
United set inaccurate
reimbursement rates for “usual and
$350 million settlement reached
against health care insurer
customary” charges for medical
services. This resulted in
consumers paying higher rates for
their share of expenses when using
out-of-network health care.
Excess fees fraudulently were
calculated because the company
that determined the rates was
owned by United.
Under the settlement, a claims
process will be implemented for
consumers to recover the excess
fees.
The settlement will now go to
the U.S. District Court for the
Southern District of New York for
approval. Given its terms, union
officials are optimistic of approval.
Procedure protects
AFSCME's constitution includes a rebate
procedure to protect the rights of members
who disagree with how the union spends money
for partisan political or ideological purposes.
Article IX, Section 14 of the International
Constitution, which establishes the procedure
for dues rebates for members who object to
AFSCME's partisan political or ideological
expenditures, was amended at AFSCME's 33rd
International Convention.
‘The amended language requires those
persons who object to the expenditure of dues
for political or ideological purposes submit
their objection in writing to both the
International Union and CSEA Local 1000 by
certified mail between April | and April 16
(dates inclusive) each year for the prior year
ending Dec. 31
‘The timing of the steps in the procedure is
tied to the International's fiscal year. The
procedure, including the requirements for
submitting a proper rebate request, is spelled
out in Article IX, Section 14 of the International
Constitution. THESE REQUIREMENTS WILL BE
STRICTLY ENFORCED.
Here's how it works. Members who object to
the expenditure of a portion of their dues for
partisan political or ideological purposes and
want to request a rebate must do so
individually in writing between April 1 and April
16, 2009. That request must be timely filed by
registered or certified mail with: the
International Secretary-Treasurer and the CSEA
Statewide Treasurer. The requests must contain
the following information: name, Social Security
number, home address and the AFSCME local to
which dues were paid during the preceding
year. This information must be typed or legibly
printed. The individual request must be signed
by the member and sent by the individual
member to: International Secretary-Treasurer at
AFSCME Headquarters, 1625 L St., N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20036-5687; and CSEA
Statewide Treasurer, Empire State Plaza Station,
P.O. Box 2611, Albany, N.Y.
rights
12214-0218. Requests for more than one person
may not be sent in the same envelope. Each
request must be sent individually. Requests
must be renewed in writing every year the
member wishes a rebate.
Upon receipt by the International of a valid
rebate request, an application for partisan
political or ideological rebate will be sent to the
objecting member. The objecting member will
be required to complete and return the
application in a timely manner. In accordance
with the constitutional amendment adopted at
the 1998 International Convention, the
application will require the objecting member
to identify those partisan or political or
ideological activities to which objection is being
made, and no rebate will be made to any
member who fails to complete that portion of
the application. In determining the amount of
the rebate to be paid to any member, the
International Union and each subordinate body
shall have the option of limiting the rebate to
the member's pro-rata share of the expenses for
those activities specifically identified in the
application
Upon receipt by CSEA of the valid, certified
request, the constitutional maximum of 3
percent rebate will be processed. No phone
calls or e-mail correspondence will be accepted.
‘Any member who is dissatisfied with the
amount of the rebate paid by the International
Union may object by filing a written appeal with
the AFSCME Judicial Panel within 15 days after
the rebate check has been received. Appeals
should be sent to the Judicial Panel
Chairperson at the AFSCME International
Headquarters at the address listed above. The
Judicial Panel will conduct a hearing and issue a
written decision on such appeals, subject to an
appeal to the full Judicial Panel. If dissatisfied
with the Judicial Panel's ruling, a member can
appeal to the next International Convention.
What's fi r You?
Retirees: Let EBF help you
make dental care easier
ince July 2002, the
CSEA Employee
Benefit Fund has
successfully
administered a retiree
dental plan for CSEA-
represented New York
state and local
government employees.
More than 1,300 participating
dental offices across the state
accept the fee schedule as full
payment for covered services.
If you are a local government
employee whose employer has
signed a Retiree Dental
Memorandum of Agreement with
EBF, you are eligible to participate if
you meet the following eligibility
criteria:
¢ You were previously covered
by an EBF dental plan on or after
July 1, 2002.
¢ Your previous employer has
signed a retiree language side letter
to its contract with EBF.
¢ You have had continuous
dental coverage from retirement,
CSE
AFSCME Local 1000, AFL-CIO
EMPLOYEE
BENEFIT FUND
through a date not
more than 90 days
before enrolling
Premiums are
offered in three
categories: individual,
retiree and spouse and
family coverage. To make paying
premiums easier, EBF offers a
voluntary direct payment program
that provides many benefits. In this
program, regularly scheduled
payments are automatically
deducted from your checking or
savings account on the first of
every month.
For more information on
this valuable program,
please contact EBF at
1-800-323-2732 and
speak with Linda Saxby at
ext. 803 or visit our
website at
www.cseaebf.com.
n Ever Better Future
WHITE PLAINS — The Westchester
Local is again offering two
scholarships for children of local
members, the Westchester Local
860 scholarship and Westchester
Local 860 Grace Ann Aloisi
Scholarship.
The local will award 12, $1,000
Westchester Local 860
scholarships. Applicants must be
graduating high school seniors who
plan to further their education and
are children of active Westchester
Local members and agency shop
fee payers.
One Westchester Local 860 Grace
Ann Aloisi Scholarship, a $1,000,
four-year renewable scholarship,
will also be awarded. Applicants
must be graduating high school
seniors who are pursuing degrees
in either labor relations or a labor-
Westchester Local announces scholarships
related field of study (such as
history, economics, law, political
science, sociology or journalism) or
in public service and who are
children of active Westchester
Local members or agency shop fee
payers.
Scholarships will be renewed for
a maximum of four years provided
the student remains enrolled in the
specified full-time degree program
(12 credits minimum). Applicants
must have maintained a 3.0 or
higher grade point average.
To request applications, please
call the Westchester Local 860
office at (914) 428-6452. The
deadline for filing applications is
April 15, 2009. Successful
candidates will be notified by May
22, 2009.
March 2009
THe Work FORCE
Beulah Bailey Thull: a union groundbreaker
Editor’s Note: CSEA will celebrate its 100th
anniversary in 2010. Throughout this year
The Work Force is devoting the Leading
Edge to a look back at some of the key
individuals who have helped shape our
extraordinary history. This month we feature
a profile of Beulah Bailey Thull, one of the
most significant and influential individuals in
all of our years of progress.
In CSEA’s nearly 100 years of history, Beulah
Bailey Thull stands out among the union's leaders.
Her 1934-35 tenure as association president was
the only time a woman served in that position.
Despite that short term, her years as a union activist
were significant and substantive.
Born in Troy in 1891, she was a 1912 graduate
of Cornell University at a time when few women
even attended college. She later earned a degree
from the State Library School and pursued
graduate work at Columbia University.
Active suffragette
Thull was an activist for women’s right to vote, a
founder of the New York State League of Women
Voters, Rensselaer County historian, and by the
time of her involvement in the Association of State
Civil Employees (as CSEA was then known), a
leading expert on tax policy.
It was through this expertise that she cultivated
contact with Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt that led to
his tacit recognition of the association as a
legitimate representative of state employees,
paving the way for tremendous growth and
accomplishment. There are several letters on
association business between Thull and Roosevelt
from the early 1930s that suggest growing mutual
respect.
Thull’s work with one of her predecessors as
association president, William McDonough,
dramatically advanced the association’s agenda
and credibility. Through their dynamic leadership,
the association membership ballooned from about
600 in 1929 to 8,500 by the end of 1930.
Growth would continue to be rapid throughout the
rest of the decade.
Statewide reorganization
Deep in the Great Depression, Thull helped
establish The State Employee magazine and open
an adult education center for civil service
employees. She was also deeply involved in
reorganizing the association to ensure chapter
representation across the state
“The successful leadership of Miss Bailey is
assured by the fact that she understands the needs
of the rank and file of state employee, men and
women. Her work as vice president, particularly
that which had to do with educational activities,
commends her to all,” McDonough said at the time
of her nomination for association president.
Enduring pioneer
During Thull’s term of office, the association
pioneered the voluntary group insurance program,
enrolled state institutional employees and made
strong advances in improving their working lives
along with legislative progress on establishing
standard state job classifications and compensation
rates — all milestone achievements that endure to
the present day.
During World War II, Thull served on a state
Union groundbreaker Beulah Bailey
Thull, circa 1934.
commission investigating the situation of women
working in war industries. It was also reported that
she won an 11-lap women’s sports car race at
Watkins Glen in 1959 at age 68. Thull passed
away in 1975.
CSEA’s official archives are housed at the M.E.
Grenander Department of Special Collections and
Archives at the University at Albany. Learn more at
http://library.albany.edu/speccoll.
18 fee Work FORCE
March 2009
March CSEA calendar of events
Statewide:
* March 31: AFSCME/CSEA Lobby Day,
Albany. Contact your region political action
coordinator for details.
Long Island Region:
* March 4-5: Contract Negotiations II:
Negotiating Team Training, Sign-in: 5:30-6
p.m., Workshop: 6-9 p.m., Oyster Bay Local
Office, Syosset
* March 10-11: Advanced Grievance
Training: Power in Numbers, Sign-in: 5:30-6
p.m., Workshop: 6-9 p.m., Suffolk
Educational Local Office, Medford
* March 11-12: Defensive Driving, 5:30 -
8:30 p.m., Long Island Region Office,
Commack. Call 800-942-6874 to register.
* March 21: Defensive Driving, 9 a.m. - 3
p.m., Long Island Region Office, Commack.
Call 800-942-6874 to register.
* March 24-25: Local Government
Discipline and Interrogation: Representing
Members In Interrogations, 5:30-6 p.m.,
Workshop: 6-9 p.m., Oyster Bay Local
Office, Syosset
Metropolitan Region:
* Visit the Metropolitan Region page at
CSEA’s website at www.csealocal1000.org
for more on region events.
Southern Region:
* March 21: An Overview of the Family
and Medical Leave Act, Sign-in: 9:30 -10
a.m., Workshop: 10 a.m.- 1 p.m., Southern
Region Office, Beacon
Capital Region:
* March 10-11: Steward Workshop, Sign-in:
5:30-6 p.m., Workshop: 6-9 p.m., Ballston
Spa Middle School Library, Ballston Spa
* March 10 & 12: Defensive Driving, 5:30 -
8:30 p.m., Capital Region Office, Latham.
Call 800-942-6874 to register.
* March 21: Conducting Successful
Meetings, Sign-in: 5:30-6 p.m., Workshop
69 p.m., CSEA Headquarters, Albany
* March 24-25: Contract Negotiation
Strategies: Maximizing Our Leverage, Sign-
in: 5:30-6 p.m., Workshop: 6-9 p.m., Cairo
Elementary School, Cairo
Central Region:
* March 3: An Overview of the Family and
Medical Leave Act, Sign-in: 5:30-6 p.m.,
Workshop: 6-9 p.m., Holiday Inn, Elmira
* March 4: Inside the Time and Attendance
Process, Signin: 5:30-6 p.m., Workshop: 6-9
p.m., Howard Johnson's, Norwich
* March 11: Sexual Harassment: What
Union Officers & Activists Should Know,
Sign-in: 5:30-6 p.m., Workshop: 6-9 p.m.,
Jefferson County Local Office, Watertown
* March 24-25: Steward Workshop, Sign-
in: 5:30-6 p.m., Workshop: 6-9 p.m.,
Jefferson County Local Office, Watertown
* March 31-April 1: Steward Workshop,
Sign-in: 5:30-6 p.m., Workshop: 6-9 p.m.,
Binghamton Satellite Office, Binghamton
Western Region:
* Visit the Western Region page at CSEA’s
website at www.csealocal1000.org for more
on region events.
For more information on the listed events or
to participate, contact your region office
(phone numbers are listed on Page 4) or
visit your region page at CSEA’s website at
www.csealocal1000.org. Please note that
additional events may be scheduled in your
region, so check your region calendar page
on the website.
SUPPORT FOR
NURSING
HOME — CSEA
members and
Schenectady County residents
packed a special committee
hearing at Glendale Nursing
home Feb. 12 to unanimously
support the proposed
construction of a new 200-bed
Glendale Home. Speakers told
legislators of the continued need
for a county facility and many
praised the skilled and
dedicated staff (See pages 10-11
for more) ... WYOMING
CONTRACT — The Wyoming
County Employees Unit ratified a
new three-year contract that
includes annual raises
retroactive to Jan. 1, and other
features including bi-annual
issuance of a winter jacket and
hoodie to all Highway
Department Employees; and the
ability to grieve the employee
handbook ... LIBRARY PACT —
CSEA members in the Oyster
Bay East Norwich Library Unit
unanimously ratified a new four-
year contract that provides for
annual salary percentage
increases and a step schedule
reinstatement ... SCARSDALE
LIBRARY RATIFIES
ETAITODAY |i
Library Unit has a
new contract in
place. The four-year agreement
includes wage increases in each
year of the contract, longevity
increases, the addition of an
extra floating holiday, and
improvements in retiree health
insurance. CSEA represents 25
workers at the Scarsdale Public
Library ... MONROE COUNTY
SHERIFF'S COMMAND —
Monroe County Sheriff's
Command Unit overwhelmingly
ratified a new, four-year
agreement with annual raises
and a small increase in health
insurance contributions. No
changes were made to health
insurance at retirement ...
GENEVA CONTRACTS — CSEA
has reached a tentative
agreement with the City of
Geneva and the new City of
Geneva DPW Unit. The four-year
pact includes annual raises plus
a wage re-opener if the CPI-U
Index is greater than 3 percent
for 2011. All workers have been
moved into a health plan with
generous HRA amounts.
May 15 is deadline for submitting proposed
resolutions, changes to CSEA’s Constitution & Bylaws
Proposed resolutions and proposed amendments to the CSEA
Constitution & By-Laws for consideration by CSEA delegates to the
union’s 2009 Annual Delegates Meeting must be submitted by May
15, 2009.
Proposed resolutions may be submitted only by a delegate and
must be submitted on the proper forms. Forms for submitting
resolutions are available from CSEA headquarters and region offices.
Proposed resolutions and proposed amendments to the
Constitution and Bylaws must be submitted no later than May 15 to
Statewide Secretary Denise Berkley, CSEA Headquarters, 143
Washington Ave., Albany, N.Y. 12210-2303.
The 2009 CSEA Annual Delegates Meeting will be held Sept. 14-18
in Buffalo.
Townsend is PEOPLE Recruiter of the Month
Southern Region is PEOPLE Recruiter for the month of
B asil Townsend of the Hudson Valley DDSO Local in the
January. He recruited 27 new
PEOPLE members at the MVP level.
Townsend serves as chair of his
local’s PEOPLE and political action
committees. He has also
volunteered for local and national
political campaigns, including
President Barack Obama’s
presidential campaign.
CSEA’s PEOPLE program protects :
and improves our jobs, benefits and Townsend
tea isinvemet
Heese
pensions in Washington, Albany and
in your community. Your support
and participation in PEOPLE strengthens CSEA’s clout in the
workplace, in the legislature, in your community and in the
labor movement.
March 2009
THE Work FORCE
Working New Yorkers
Deserve Better.
My name is Mary Buehler. I work at the
county nursing facility. My co-workers and
Lall work very hard to make sure that our
residents get the best care possible — they
deserve it. Many of our residents are only here
because they can’t afford to be anywhere else.
This ts essential service.
Governor Paterson’s budget
1s going to hurt.
We can only provide the best care if we
have the people. That means we need
adequate funding. I can tell you that
the governor's proposed cuts are not
adequate funding.
It’s just not right.
Governor Paterson, these are tough times, but there are better ways
than making it so much harder for people who do the work every day.
Rw A Positive Force
=
CSEss Throughout New York State
New York’s LEADING Union For Nearly A Century.
Danny Donohue, President
www.csealocal1000.0rg,
CSE Long Island Region”
Orta
ong Island Reporter
CSEA and Babylon officials share common ground
March 2009
t|
Above, left to right, Local 852 President Bill Walsh, Babylon town Supervisor Steve Bellone,
Babylon Town White Collar Unit President Joanne Salvia, Long Island Region President Nick
LaMorte and Labor Relations Specialist Jimmy Wall.
CSEA and Babylon town officials met into effect retroactive to Jan. 1. CSEA
recently to resolve some confusion about the officials and members attended the last board
unit’s previously negotiated contract. meeting at town hall to express confidence in
This development represents a positive the continued relationship between the union
outcome for each side and is evidence of the and the town.
respect between CSEA Long Island Region “We want to commend Supervisor Bellone
President Nick LaMorte, Suffolk Local 852 for his willingness to resolve this matter
L : President Bill Walsh and Babylon town fairly,” said LaMorte. “It just goes to show
Above, LaMorte addresses the Babylon Town — Supervisor Steve Bellone. that reasonable people can always find
Board. The contract at issue now officially goes common ground.”
Pxoto oF THE MonTH
SUNY Stony Brook Local 614 recently staged
an information fair at the New York state
Department of Environmental Conservation,
located on the north end of the Stony Brook
campus. Members visited with
representatives from Member Benefits, EBF
and PEOPLE. Many other vendors were also
on hand. Local 614 members Berthanne
Murkowski, left, and Nancy Pinamonti
planned and coordinated the information fair.
housands of working New Yorkers united
in Albany Jan. 7 to join the “March for
Main Street,” which was timed to coincide
with Gov. David Paterson’s first State of
the State address and designed to challenge his
misplaced budget priorities that target middle
class New Yorkers.
The event was organized by CSEA, along with
other unions and sought to convey the message
that the governor’s plan will place communities,
jobs and services at risk. Our members traveled
from Long Island and every other part of the
state in the cold and snow to take part in the
march.
We helped organize the “March for Main
Street” to deliver this message: Working New
Yorkers live on Main Street, not Wall Street, and
we will stand up to proposals that will have us
pay more and get less while the wealthiest New
Yorkers are unaffected.
The governor’s proposed 2009-10 budget
includes destructive cuts in state services and
the state work force while ignoring cost-cutting
options that can save the state billions. Our
members are already doing more with less and
have endured massive cuts to state agencies. It’s
time our legislative leaders look elsewhere to
balance the budget.
CSEA members employed in state service,
including hospitals, parks, youth centers, motor
vehicles, Department of Transportation, state
universities, offices of mental health, and homes
for the developmentally disabled are regularly
working over and above their normal duties to
provide adequate service and care.
DOT and local government snowplow crews
are spread very thin but have managed to keep
our roads clear this winter, even in the face of
frequent storms. The Labor Department is
2 Long Island Reporter
Message from Long Island Region President
Nick LaMorte
scrambling with every available staff person to
meet a workload four times the volume of a year
ago. And these are just a couple of the daily
Tealities faced by our state employees.
We are getting hit equally hard in local
government. We are trying to save the jobs of
public safety dispatchers in Riverhead, and
Southampton has switched to the less expensive
Empire Health Plan and threatens closure of the
waste transfer station.
Do I have to tell you what’s going on in
Nassau County? The possibility of layoffs hangs
heavy over our heads as the specter of a
permanent 7 percent wage reduction looms. We
did not create this problem, but once again
CSEA members, working class people, are
asked to sacrifice.
It is disappointing that our elected leaders
apparently do not know or do not want to believe
that the vast majority of public employees are
already working in stressful circumstances
caused by inadequate staffing. Clearly, we must
take our message directly to the people on Long
Island and throughout New York state.
The March for Main Street was a good start,
but we have to follow it up on an individual basis
as well. Contact your state senator or Assembly
member. Tell them you live on Main Street, not
Wall Street. Let’s continue to speak out and
advocate for solutions other than those proposed
by the governor. We deserve better than that. We
are CSEA!
Yours in unionism,
Wide alps
Nick LaMorte, president
Long Island Region
CSEA mourns loss of Bill
Flanagan
The Long Island Region
is mourning the loss of
Hempstead Local 880
President Bill Flanagan, 65,
who passed away Jan. 29.
He had been employed by
the town as a locksmith
since 1990 and was first
elected local president in
1998. He is survived by his
wife Joanne; sons John,
Kevin, Bill Jr. and Dennis and four
grandchildren.
Local 880 Executive Vice President Charlie
Sellitto said Flanagan will be sorely missed.
“Tt will be impossible to fill his shoes,” he said.
“His vigor for the job was a driving passion for
him. Even his opponents on the other side of the
bargaining table expressed great respect for Bill.
He was a tenacious fighter who feared no one.”
Flanagan
Nassau and Suffolk Education Locals
Career Development
Conference March 28
HUNTINGTON — The Nassau and Suffolk
Education locals are hosting the 14th annual
School District Support Staff Career
Development Conference March 28 at the
Huntington Hilton.
Two workshop sessions and the conference
luncheon will highlight the day’s activities.
Monica Berkowitz is president of Nassau
Educational Local 865, and Harry Ader is
president of Suffolk Educational Local 870.
Veterans Committee
Memorial Day event planned
COMMACK — The Long Island Region
Veterans Committee will again be placing U.S.
flags at Pinelawn National Cemetery and
Calverton National Cemetery for Memorial Day.
CSEA members who would like to have a
flag placed on the grave of a union member or
loved one interred at either of the national
cemeteries should send the veteran’s name and
grave site to Veterans Committee Chair
Maryann Phelps.
She may be reached by mail at CSEA Long
Island Region, 3 Garet Place, Commack, N.Y.
11725; by e-mail to maryann1 1 @optonline.net,
or by telephone at (516) 971- 4629.
Long Island Region
adds seven new units
Long Island Region membership totals increased
significantly in recent weeks with the successful
organization of seven new units consisting of
municipal employees in the villages of East Hills and
Old Westbury, security personnel in the Port
Washington and Rockville Centre school districts,
custodial and maintenance workers in Valley Stream
school districts 13 and 30, and safety officers in
Brookhaven.
These additions add about 275 members to the
Long Island Region. Of course, such a positive
outcome is rarely achieved without the combined
and sustained efforts of people with varied and
essential skills and abilities, including CSEA.
Statewide Organizer Vinny Castaldo, who
coordinated the ground effort, and Lead Organizer
The addition of seven
new units was a topic of
discussion at the recent
Long Island Region
executive board meeting.
Geordie Pierce, who had general responsibility
forthe comprehensive campaign and did fine work
coordinating its many complicated aspects.
However, they were not alone in this team effort.
Credit must also be given to Suffolk Local 852
President Bill Walsh, Nassau Local 882 President
John Shepherd, Nassau Educational Local 865
Monica Berkowitz, Long Island Region Director
Ron King, Long Island Region President Nick
LaMorte and Legal Deputy Counsel Steve Crain.
“This was a collective triumph for CSEA and for
all who worked so hard in this shared effort,” said
LaMorte. “It just goes to show the tremendous
resources CSEA can bring to bear and what can be
accomplished when everyone is pulling on the same
rope.”
CSEA Endorses Mazzei for Brookhaven Supervisor
Suffolk Local 852 Political Action Committee Chair
Charlie Chierchio has announced that Tim Mazzei
received the CSEA endorsement for Brookhaven
Town Supervisor.
A special election is scheduled for March 31 to fill
the seat vacated by the election of Brian Foley to the
state Senate.
The unanimous committee vote came after the 10
members met with Mazzei and his opponent Mark
Lesko to determine which of the two candidates would
better fight for working families.
Mazzei opposed Foley’s plan to spend more than $1
million to install global positioning system (GPS)
devices in town vehicles and also took a principled
stand against the effort to eliminate financial support
for the Employee Benefit
Fund.
“Tim Mazzei is a
passionate advocate for the
causes of labor and his
election as Brookhaven
town supervisor would be in
the best interests of town
workers,” said Chierchio.
“He’s a local guy with
strong ties to the community
and a loyal friend to CSEA.
We urge all our members to
vote for him.”
Tim Mazzei.
Above, members of Suffolk Local 852 2 gather i in n front of Brookhaven Town Hall
before the announcement of the Mazzei endorsement.
Left, Charlie Chierchio explains the rationale behind the CSEA endorsement of
Long Island Reporter 3
—~
—=
—————————
Above, Long Island DDSO Human
Relations Committee Chair Sherry
Qualls cites King's most memorable
quotes during her welcoming
remarks.
Below left, State Office of Mental
ion & Developmental
ies Commissioner Diana
Jones Ritter with Local 430
President Daryl Wilson.
Below right, Local 430 activist and
PEOPLE Committee Statewide Chair
Rutha Bush kicks off the Martin
Luther King Jr. tribute.
Local 430 honors King’s legacy
Local 430 President Daryl Wilson presented scholarships to Kaliym
Sarden, the grandson of CSEA Statewide PEOPLE Committee Chair and
LIDC Local 430 activist Rutha Bush, and Bianca Cannon, the daughter of LIDC
Local 430 Treasurer and activist Gloria Cannon, during the 29th annual tribute
to Martin Luther King Jr. at Suffolk Community College.
The event was sponsored by the Long Island Developmental Disabilities
Service Office’s Affirmative Action/Human Relations Committee and chaired
by CSEA activist Marian Hester.
Diana Jones Ritter, commissioner of the state Office of Mental Retardation &
Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD), served as keynote speaker and discussed
the positive effects King’s life and legacy has had on American society.
Inspirational musical selections were performed by children from the
Wyandanch Day Care Center and members of the Copiague Middle School
Chorus. Other dignitaries on hand for the proceedings included LIDDSO
Director Irene Jill McGinn, Affirmative Action Administrator Jacqueline
DeVille and Deputy Directors Barry Ockner and Bob Lopez.
LIDDSO Human Relations Committee Chair Sherry Qualls cited some of
King’s more stirring quotes during her welcoming remarks.
Lt. Morris Wheeler of the famed Tuskegee Airmen capped the event with a
speech detailing the impressive deeds of that memorable group of African-
American pilots who served their country so admirably during World War IL.
B RENTWOOD — CSEA Long Island Developmental Center (LIDC)
4 Long Island Reporter
Inside Reporter
Long Island Developmental Center
.. I say to you today, my friends, so
even though we face the difficulties
of today and tomor I still have
a dream. It is a dream deeply
rooted in the American dream.
® : —~
" Ihave a dream that one day this
nation will rise up and live out the
true meaning of its creed: "We hold
these truths to be self-evident: that all
men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red
bills of Georgia the sons of former slaves
and the sons of former slave owners
will be able to sit down together at
the table of brotherhood.
Thave a dream that one day
even the state of Mississippi,
a state sweltering with the
heat of injustice,
sweltering with the heat
of oppression, will be
transformed into an
oasis of freedom and
justice.
Ihave a dream that my four little children will one day live in a
nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by
the content of their character.
T have a dream today.
Ihave a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious
racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of
interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama,
little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little
white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
T have a dream today.
T have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill
and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made
plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of
the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. .
From the “I Have a Dream” speech Dr. King delivered at the
March on Washington on Aug. 28, 1963.
Right, from left, front row, Lt.
Morris Wheeler of the famed
Tuskegee Airmen; Diana Jones
Ritter, commissioner of the New
York State Office of Mental
Retardation & Developmental
Disabilities and LIDDSO Director
Irene Jill McGinn enjoy the
festivities.
Below, Gina Occhiogrosso, left,
directs the Copiague Middle
School Chorus.
Above, Local 430 President Daryl Wilson
presents a scholarship to Kaliym Sarden,
grandson of Rutha Bush.
Above, inspirational musical selections were performed by children
from the Wyandanch Day Care Center.
Right, Local 430 Treasurer Gloria Cannon cuts the cake at the post-
event celebration; her daughter Bianca also earned a scholarship.
Long Island Reporter 5
Polar Plunge review highlights
region executive board meets
Long Island Region officers, local presidents and committee chairs
recently convened at the region office for the region Executive Board’s
quarterly meeting.
Region President Nick LaMorte called the meeting to order and
introduced Special Olympics Development Director Rebecca Keller, who
detailed preparations being made for the Polar Plunge at Bar Beach in Port
Washington Feb. 28 and explained the critical need for CSEA members to
get involved in any manner.
Special Olympics New York provides year-round sports training for
children and adults with developmental disabilities, giving them continuing
opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience
joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their
families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
The meeting continued with comprehensive reports from region officers
and committee chairs, with a discussion of new and unfinished business
items preceding adjournment.
Above, Long Island Region local presidents and
committee chairs tend to business at the executive
board meeting.
Left, Special Olympics athlete Matthew Schuster speaks
to the region executive board about the upcoming Polar
Plunge.
Long Island Federation of Labor’s Health and Safety Committee recently
conducted a meeting at the CSEA Long Island Region office, with Long
Island Region President Nick LaMorte, CSEA Occupational Safety and
Health (OSH) Specialist Jeff Hyman and Long Island Region Safety and
Health Committee Chair Stephen Cohen in attendance.
New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH)
OSH Specialist David Pratt opened the meeting with a report on recent
worker fatalities in the local area and then introduced Vanessa Crilly from
Jobs with Justice, who discussed how health and safety issues factor into
contract negotiations and organizing campaigns.
Pratt and Hyman followed with the announcement of a $20,000 grant
recently received by NYCOSH to increase awareness and use of green
cleaning products in schools, health care facilities and municipalities through
Union reps confer on safety and health issues
a combination of training and technical assistance.
Representatives from unions affiliated with the Long Island Federation of
Labor were in attendance at the meeting, which concluded with a dialogue
on legislative actions related to issues of occupational safety and health and a
recounting of the 2009 NYCOSH event schedule.
Below left, Long Island Region Occupational Safety and Health Specialist
Jeff Hyman, right, makes a point as Long Island Region President Nick
LaMorte (left) and Long Island Region Occupational Safety and Health
Committee Chair Stephen Cohen (center) looks on.
Below right, members of the Long Island Federation of Labor's Health and
Safety Committee meet at the CSEA region office.
Long Island Reporter
Calendar of Upcoming Events:
March 2009
2— Education & Training Committee Meeting — 5:30 p.m.
4— Political Action Committee Meeting — 5:30 p.m.
5— Local 430 Executive Board Meeting — 3:30-5:30 p.m.
10— PEOPLE Committee Meeting — 5 p.m.
11— Defensive Driving — 5:30-8:30 p.m.
12— Defensive Driving — 5:30-8:30 p.m.
16 — Women’s Committee — 5:30 p.m.
17— Safety & Health Committee Meeting — 5:30 p.m.
18— Region Executive Board Meeting — 5:30 p.m.
19— Local 430 Membership Meeting — 3:30-5:30 p.m.
21— Defensive Driving — 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
25— Veterans Committee Meeting — 6 p.m.
Bridgehampton demo
From left, Bridgehampton School District workers
Linda Kenney, Ava Mack, Thomas Manigo, Carl
Johnson, Ninfa Boyd, Erika Bambino, JohnAnn Credle
prepare to demonstrate at a Bridgehampton Board of
Education meeting. The group was demonstrating over
contract discussions.
Long Island labor leaders gather for
roundtable
Members of the Long Island Federation of
Labor’s Political Action Committee recently
met at Infosys International’s Plainview office
for the Long Island Labor Roundtable, which
was coordinated and moderated by state
Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel.
State Sen. Diane Savino served as guest
speaker for the event and discussed issues of
concern to local labor leaders such as public
employee compensation, paid family leave and
deficiencies in the unemployment insurance
fund.
The leaders also had the opportunity to ask
Schimel and Savino questions specific to their
branch of labor and meet with them when the
event concluded.
In attendance on behalf of CSEA were
Long Island Region President Nick LaMorte,
Long Island Judiciary Local 330 President
Kevin Ray, SUNY Old Westbury Local 618
President Mary D’ Antonio, Oyster Bay Town
Local 881 President Bob Rauff, Nassau
County Local 830 Executive Vice President
Ron Gurrieri and Political Action Coordinator
Gretchen Penn.
tf /2
Long Island Region President Nick LaMorte at
the Long Island Labor Roundtable.
“Tt is incumbent upon us as labor leaders to
create a dialogue with our elected officials and
make them aware of our overall mindset and
specific concerns,” said LaMorte. “We are
gratified that Assemblywoman Schimel
provided a forum for this purpose and pleased
that Senator Savino lent her expertise to the
proceedings.”
Ls A]
From left, Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel, Long Island Region Political Action Coordinator
Gretchen Penn, SUNY Old Westbury Local 618 President Mary D‘Antonio, Judiciary Local 330
President Kevin Ray, State Sen. Diane Savino and Long Island Region President Nick LaMorte.
Long Island Reporter 7
Spotlight on Local 618
This is the second of a two-part series introducing
maintenance and custodial members of SUNY Old
Westbury Local 618.
OLD WESTBURY — Despite losses of workers over the
years, the maintenance staff at SUNY Old Westbury helps
ensure the best possible physical environment for the
college’s 3,200 students and 140 full-time faculty.
“Our members of Local 618 are working harder than
ever with less support,” said Local President Mary
D’ Antonio. “But they do their job, which is vital to
keeping the college running.”
The 40 CSEA-represented workers in the Facilities
Management Department perform many tasks on the
lovely 604-acre campus, formerly the estate of members of
the Clark family of the Singer Sewing Machine fortune.
The other CSEA members who make up the 103-
member local are employed in the Academic Affairs,
Business Affairs and Student Affairs divisions and the
college library, supporting the college’s academic and
administrative personnel.
Maintenance staff keeps the campus buildings warm in
the winter and air-conditioned in the summer. They plow
the snow, cut the grass and rake the leaves. They maintain
the electrical service, the lights in the buildings and the
streetlights. They clean the classrooms and labs, empty the
garbage cans and renovate buildings, maintain the
college’s vehicles and do the dozens of day-to-day
maintenance jobs that are needed in any building complex.
Here are photos of a second group of these proud, hard-
working CSEA members at SUNY Old Westbury.
(Editor’s note: We apologize for incorrectly calling the
union Local 614 in the last issue. Local 614 represents
CSEA members at SUNY Stony Brook.)
Left column, top to bottom: Steve Ciurlys, a motor
equipment mechanic, works on an auto engine. The
college has 125 vehicles and equipment, such as plows
and tractors. “We maintain everything from weed
whackers to buses,” he said.
Dawan Dawkins, left, and Art Foure, are
groundsworkers. Dawkins, who has worked on the
campus for nine months, likes working outdoors. “The
cold troubles me sometimes, but not much,” he said.
Foure is a 20-year Old Westbury employee. “Leaves,
grass, snow,” he said. “Tree work, storms, hurricanes,
all that sort of stuff.”
Michelle Malone, left, a secretary, has worked at the
Old Westbury campus for four years; secretary Julia
Sweeney has also worked at the switchboard, in
central receiving and the mailroom and driven a bus
during her 23 years at the college.
Dmitri Bardman, left, and Giuseppe Scutiferro are
engineers in the heating plant. Ten CSEA members take
care of all the heating, ventilation and air conditioning
needs on the campus and provide 70 percent of the
electricity used on campus.
[ERS .
“We have a bunch of caring,
dedicated and committed
people.”
— Tommy Noble, 1st vice
president of Local 618
4 :
Above, from top to bottom: Errol Roberts, left, and
Edward Moorer, maintenance assistants, cut a 2x4
for a maintenance job. “We lay tile, do sheetrock, do
blinds, frame windows,” said Moorer.
Howard Harleston, a motor vehicle operator, has
worked at Old Westbury for five years. “I drive pretty
much everything — bus, van, snow plow,” he said.
Tommy Noble, first vice president of Local 618, is the
only electrician left on the maintenance staff; once
there were four. Union members work well together
and respect each other. “We have a good sense of
unity,” he said.
Long Island Reporter 8
YOUR UNION
NEWSLETTER
KX)
Mar. 2009 ¢ Vol. 14, No. 3
K, so the county is near bankruptcy and
apparently most members of the county
executive's team seem to think that the work
force is to blame. They must be thinking that,
since I continue to hear how Nassau County cannot crawl
out of this hole unless all unions in Nassau agree to
tremendous permanent salary cuts. Let’s review the plan
set forth by County Executive Suozzi. According to him,
there are three buckets.
The first bucket contains federal stimulus money
where Nassau expects to realize $50 million. The second
bucket is filled with anticipated revenue coming from
state legislation Nassau has yet to receive such as the red
light cameras, the cigarette tax and the ticket surcharge. So
far, we have lots of promises but nothing of substance. Oh
yeah, the infamous third bucket, that’s us. Suozzi expects
$50 million from all labor unions or else........CSEA faces
layoffs, CSEA faces a 10 percent furlough for remaining
employees, CSEA departments such as Parks will be
devastated and great pieces of our Long Island history
such as the Old Bethpage Village Restoration will be
closed.
The way I see it, CSEA seems to be taking the brunt of
the attack on union workers. Isn’t that always the case? I
say that this is something we will change in the history
books of Nassau County. Yes, the county can do all of
those terrible things it says it is prepared to do to CSEA.
This time, we will have an answer. November is just
around the corner and if push comes to shove, this union
will respond like never before. I have been in contact with
our statewide organization and in fact I met with
Statewide President Danny Donohue the week of Feb. 16.
We will put into action a political fight like never seen
before here in Nassau. Those legislators who vote in favor
of layoffs will surely be scrutinized in the upcoming
election period. The message will be clear. If you vote to
lay us off, we will vote you out! We may not be successful
in each district, but we believe we can make a significant
difference in Nassau’s political layout. I can remember just
about each and every one of them answering “NO” to the
question “Would you ever support laying off county
workers?” during their interviews for endorsements. In
fairness, some said it would be a last resort, but very
unlikely. Legislators who vote in favor of giving the county
executive unfettered power to close the county at his wish,
will be called irresponsible and ineffective. After all, if the
county executive should have those powers, it would not
be in the county Administrative Code to keep it from
him. Legislators who are charged with checking and
balancing the executive branch will be handing him a
golden dagger to pierce the hearts of not only his work
force, but his residents and taxpayers. Nassau County will
be closed?
By the time you read this article, | am assuming that
either an agreement was made between the unions and the
county, or we are heading into the “doomsday scenario”
Suozzi painted for us. As of this writing (Feb. 17), there
has been no such agreement. We have said recently that
CSEA is not oblivious to what has happened here in the
United States. We know the state has caused us great
financial pain by trimming its budget and continuing with
its unfunded mandates. We are also aware that sales tax
does play a very important role in supplying our county
with the funding needed to feed our budget. Yet, we find
our county executive has not pursued the $100 million a
year this county loses to schools and special districts as
does every other county in the state. I am speaking about
the irrevocable effects the so called “county guarantee” has
caused us as a county. We pay refunds to commercial
business for their tax challenges despite the fact that
Nassau never collected the money in the first place. This
county has lost more than $700 million just since Suozzi
has been the county executive. Imagine today’s budget
with an extra $700 million in it. OK, most of it would
have been spent, history tells us that, but we would surely
not be closing Nassau County, laying off workers and
demanding labor concessions to the tune of $50 million!
What about the five years without a tax raise? Sound
familiar, county residents/workers? Did the county
workers cause any of the above problems? Were we in a
position to propose tax raises, collect the monies schools
owe us? Of course not, but we are being asked to pay for
those mistakes.
Over to the troubled Nassau Health Care Corp., we are
grinding towards negotiations for our next collective
bargaining agreement. Recently we spoke with Larry
Slatky, the heir apparent to labor negotiations for the
corporation. It seems that CEO Art Gianelli has come
down from his original position that in order to survive,
CSEA members would have to basically work without a
pay increase for years to come. That stated, we are still
substantially far apart in just our philosophies and on how
to approach these negotiations.
We will continue to speak and negotiate with
7, CSEA NASSAU COUNTY LOCAL 830
IW fd [1 KX
Message from CSEA Local 830 President Jerry Laricchiuta
CSEA Will Respond to County’s Budget Threats like Never Before
management. Our LRS, Bob Brooks, has been assigned
from CSEA’s Long Island Region office and he comes with
a world of experience and knowledge. Bob will work
alongside me and our entire negotiating team to fight hard
for a fair contract for all Health Care Corp. members. It is
still early in the process and in fact we are still collecting
proposals from you, the members. The next step in the
process will be to go over your proposals and make a final
list of them that makes sense for all members. Talks will
continue in the meantime to set up the ground rules and
policies of these negotiations. We are right on schedule
today and as soon as we have something more informative
to tell you we will bring it to you. Remember, whatever we
bring to you will be voted on by the membership of the
Health Care Corporation.
Yours in unionism,
Gerry Laniechiuta
Nassau County Local 830 president
Correction — Last Month I stated that County
Comptroller Howard Weitzman handed out 5 percent
raises for his ordinance workers while CSEA members
worked without a salary increase in 2008. In fact, Mr.
Weitzman gave his ordinance workers a 3.5 percent
salary increase in late December after our award was
announced. There was one raise for 5 percent which
went to one of his most senior ordinance staff. A raise
in late December is still a raise but certainly it impacts
the next year (2009) much more than it would in 2008.
I stand corrected on the issue.
WHAT’S INSIDE
MARCH 2009 EXPRESS
ts PAGES 4 AND 5
* CSEA Fights County Budget Cuts
* Crossing Guards Form Strong
Relationships with Children
¢ 40-Plus Year CSEA Member
‘he
Work Force
< » CSEA’Nassau County Local 830
LMPLLIE I
Mar. 2009 * Vol. 14 No. 3
A Monthly Publication of CSEA Nassau County Local 830
JERRY LARICCHIUTA, President
Ryan Mulholland, Editor
(516) 571-2919 Ext. #13
wwww.csea830.0rg,
NASSAU LOCAL 830
Executive Officers:
JERRY LARICCHIUTA, President
RON GURRIERI, Executive Vice President
ROBERT CAULDWELL, Ist Vice President
DEBRA IMPERATORE, 2nd Vice President
SCOTT MULHOLLAND, 3rd Vice President
TIM CARTER, 4th Vice President
BARBARA LANG, 5th Vice President
ROBERT McLAUGHLIN, 61h Vice Presidene
JOHN ALOISIO, 72h Vice President
RAY CANNELLA, &1h Vice President
MARLA ROWE, 9% Vice President
ROBERT ARCIELLO, 10:h Vice President
KEN NICHOLSON, 1th Vice President
SUSAN COHEN, Secreeary
DEBBIE O'CONNELL, Treasurer
Unit Presidents/Executive Board:
CHUCK ALBERS, Fire & Rescue Services
JOHN ALOISIO IIL, Treasurer’ Office
ROB ARCIELLO, Deputy Sheriff
ALICE BARRON, A. Holly Patterson
STANLEY BERGMAN, C
ROBERT CAMPO, Public Works Department
vice Commission
MARIE CATALANO, Consumer Affairs Unit President
ROBERT CAULDWELL, Social Services
E Examiner’ Office
Nassau Community College
jeneral Services
, Board of Elections
Senior Citizens Affairs
Sheriff Support
, Drug & Alcohol
RATORE, Police Civilian
ROBERT JOHNSON, Health Department
LARRY LOISELLE, AMT:
STEVEN KORNFELD, County Attorney/District Attorney
ROBERT McLAUGHLIN, Nassau University Medical Center
ELIZA MOON, Assessment Department
JOHN RINALDO, Parks, Recreation & Museums
MARLA ROWE, Probation Department
A-TIRPAK, Public Safety
Police Communications Operators
Y WATSON, BMU/Flect Services
JOSEPH WHITTAKER, Fire Marshals Office
LJ We welcome reader suggestions: Please address your |]
comments to Ryan Mulholland, Editor, Nassau
County EXPRESS at CSEA Nassau Co. Local 830,
400 County Seat Dr., Mineola, NY 11501-4137.
This Month in
LABOR HISTORY
March 15, 1917
The U.S. Supreme Court approved the Eight-Hour
Act under the threat of a national railway strike.
Union officials representing 400,000 railroad
workers threatened a nationwide strike unless
theiir demands for an eight-hour workday and
wage parity with their existing 10-hour workday
were met.
CSEA NASSAU COUNTY LOCAL 830 UNION MEMBER NEWS.
CSEA Honors NAACP on 100th Anniversary
<q CSEA Local 830 Administrative Assistant Rudy Bruce,
left, presents NAACP Roosevelt Freeport Branch
President Doug Mayers with a plaque courtesy of the local
at the NAACP’s 100th Anniversary celebration on Feb. 4.
“I want you to understand, that if this does not work out,
we will watch every legislator that votes for layoffs and
watch every legislator that votes to close the county, and
trust me, we will watch very closely.”
— CSEA Local 830 President Jerry Laricchiuta said in his eight-
minute address to the Nassau County Legislature on Feb. 9.
pte of the »&
What’s the easiest way to keep
up to pace with what’s going on
in your union?
JOIN WWW.CSEA830.ORG!
By signing up, you will
automatically be added
to our e-mail list, and
will receive periodic
updates on the latest
CSEA news!
Congratulations to January’s Contest Winners who
received $25 gift cards to TGI Friday’s!
Robin Hecht, Social Services
Lauren Rubenfeld, County Attorney
Nwanneka Amaya, NUMC
Michele Zucker, Constituent Affairs
CSEA NASSAU COUNTY LOCAL 830 UNION MEMBER NEWS.
Diane Connor, LPN, Employee of the Month for the
Nassau Health Care Corp.'s Community Health Centers
|
| nurse, has been honored as the
] Diane Connor, a licensed practical
exrnees 3
Calvin Garrett, Employee of the Month at Nassau
University Medical Center
Calvin Garrett, a patient
care assistant at Nassau
January Employee of the Month
for the Community Health Centers
by the employees of the Nassau
Health Care Corp. Connor, of
| Levittown, started at NUMC in
1983 in the pediatrics department
and was reassigned to the
ambulatory centers where her good
humor and confidence with staff
and patients are displayed on a
daily basis. She is very
conscientious and comes to work
with great reliability and a smile on
her face every day for patients and
staff. Connor is a great mentor for
University Medical
Center, was recently
honored as the January
Employee of the Month
at a reception hosted by
the staff. Garrett, of
Hempstead, has been
employed at NUMC
since 1987 in the
department of
psychiatry and
behavioral health
services. He is sensitive
From left, Nyapati Rao, MD, chair of department of
psychiatry and behavioral health services, NUMC;
Geraldine Wilkins, RN, nurse manager, department
of psychiatry and behavioral health services, NUMC;
Calvin Garrett, employee of the month and Mitchell
Rubin, MD, vice president of ambulatory services
and chair of department of community medicine.
From left, Marge Mauro, RN, nurse
manager Freeport Health Center; Diane
Connor, LPN; Mitchell Rubin, MD, vice
president, Ambulatory Care and Chair of
Community Medicine and Karen Dudek,
RN, nursing supervisor, ambulatory care and
community medicine.
to patient conditions
and circumstances and
new nurses and student nurses as
well. She has a big heart and we are
lucky that she shares it with all of
us on a daily basis.
always working diligently to help others in need, especially in a department with
patients suffering from mental health issues. He is reliable and devoted to his
patients who have come to rely on him.
ATTENTION CSEA MEMBERS FROM THE NASSAU HEALTH
CARE CORPORATION!
CONTRACT NEGOTIATION TIME IS COMING UP!
¢ The contract between CSEA Local 830 and the Nassau Health Care
Corp. will expire Dec. 31, 2009
The CSEA Local 830 is in the process of forming its contract
negotiation team and will soon be meeting internally and with NHCC
officials regarding a new contract
* CSEA is looking for proposals from its members on the issues that are
most important to you and should be addressed in our next contract
fi d Simi b If * Please fill out the form below and drop at the union office at NUMC
or you and your tamily members. 1: you or anyone in Room 104, Att: Ken Nicholson at 2201 Hempstead Turnpike in
related to you suffer from: marital problems, East Meadow, 11554
depression, stress, panic attacks, domestic violence, job | | Se ..--.------------------2--02ee cece ence cece eeeeee ee eeeeeeeeeees
stress, medical problems, alcohol abuse, loss, gambling, | | NAME (Optional)
family problems, drug abuse, legal issues, anxiety or
relationship concerns, then THEY CAN HELP!
Employees Assistance Program
In 2009, don’t forget CSEA members working for you ||.
at the Nassau County Employees Assistance Program.
EAP provides free, confidential services
DEPARTMENT (NUMCG, A. Holly or outlying clinic)
They provide on-site, rapid intervention, assessment
and referral to providers that accept your insurance or
offer a sliding scale free.
PROPOSAL.
Call 571-7000 to arrange an appointment.
4 exruces
CSEA Fights off
County's Proposed Cuts ¢
MINEOLA — In light of the gloomy
economic climate across the country and in
Nassau County, County Executive Tom Suozzi
addressed the Nassau County Legislature and
the public Feb. 2 with a three-part solution to
save $135 million in this year’s budget.
This solution that has drawn great ire from
CSEA Local 830.
Part I involves $50 million in federal
Medicaid increases. Part II is $30 million that
would either come from state legislative items
or from various program cuts including youth
board, drug, alcohol and mental health and
senior citizens.
Part III is the labor aspect of it. Suozzi’s
proposal is that all county employees, union
and non-union, reduce their salaries by 7
percent, which would save $55 million. If the
unions do not agree to that, his solution would
be to shut the county down for the equivalent
of 26 days per year by opening county business
for the day each Wednesday at 1 p.m., as well
as laying off 320 civil service employees, 250
police officers, 100 correction officers and 200
additional layoffs.
This proposal would also affect the county's
other public unions, including the Police
Benevolent Association, Sheriffs Officers’
Association, Superior Officers’ Association, and
Detectives’ Association.
“Tt seems as if we were zero percent of the
problem, but now we are 33 percent of the
solution,” CSEA Local 830 President Jerry
CSEA NASSAU COUNTY LOCAL 830 UNION MEMBER NEWS,
Laricchiuta said. “The 7 percent pay cut is just
unrealistic at this time. I have members calling
me saying they are foreclosing on their homes,
and they can’t afford to pay their bills as it is.”
The average CSEA member working for
Nassau County makes an average of $46,000
per year. A 7 percent pay cut would come to a
$3,220 annual deduction in salary. “For most
members, that is 2-3 months of mortgage
payments,” Laricchiuta said. “CSEA was the
only union that took no raise in 2008, which
would make this even more painful for our
members. We have already given back.”
CSEA has made it clear it is willing to work
with county officials, citing the difficult
economic times, but the county must respect
the union's requests as well. “We understand
that there is a global economic crisis and
Nassau County is not immune,” Laricchiuta
said. “But if we are to make concessions, we
would certainly seek some sort of retribution.”
The Fallout
On Feb. 9, the county legislature held its
full legislative hearing. Laricchiuta was the first
to speak and addressed the legislators with
hundreds of CSEA members in attendance.
Many of the Local 830 president’s remarks
drew applause from members.
“Tam here today to let everyone know that I
am here, and ready to come to the table and
speak with the county executive,” Laricchiuta
said.
Before Laricchiuta’s speech, the legislature
had agreed to postpone any vote on layoffs
until Feb. 23.
“Tam pleased that the county has given us
two weeks to work things out,” Laricchiuta
said. “Layoffs will only contribute to the
problem and will add to the ranks of public
assistance and foreclosure.”
“It’s time that we stop going after the low-
paid workers,” Nassau County Legislator
Denise Ford said in response to Laricchiuta’s
speech.
Legislator Dave Denenberg congratulated
Laricchiuta on supporting his members and
approaching the legislature with courtesy.
_Z
What's Next?
As The Express was going to press, CSEA
has three scheduled meetings with the county
to iron out a solution before the next legislative
hearing Feb. 23. For the latest updates, please
log on to www.csea830.org. Make sure you
sign up so you are added to our mass e-mail
list to receive instant updates directly to your
mailbox.
Nota especial para nuestros miembros
de habla hispana: Conéctese a
www.csea830.org y haga clic en el vinculo
Special Features para ver la entrevista de Jerry
Laricchiuta’s en Univision 41el 3 de febrero
con respecto a las cuestiones del presupuesto
del pais.
Above, Jerry Laricchiuta addresses the legislators
on Feb. 9 with local members in the
background.
Left, Laricchiuta addresses the media on Feb. 2.
Laricchiuta Addresses
Legislature on Tax
Certiorari Issue
Local 830 President Jerry Laricchiuta
addressed the legislature on Jan. 26 on an
issue that has recently generated great
interest among government officials, union
leaders and media. That is the concept of
“tax certioraris.”
“Nassau County is breaking the state law
every single day by adhering to their policy
of refunding 100 percent of residents’ tax
rebates, and not having the schools or
special districts chip in,” Laricchiuta said.
When a homeowner pays property taxes,
approximately 17 percent of that bill goes
to Nassau County, while about 65 to 70
percent goes to your local school district,
and the rest to Special Districts and other
municipalities.
However, when that homeowner files for
a property tax refund, Nassau County pays
back 100 percent of the bill, not the 17
percent that they are responsible for.
Legislator Dave Denenberg said that this
cost the county $90 million last year alone.
It is believed that on an annual basis it costs
between $50 million and $100 million.
Legislator Roger Corbin has been the
one government official holding the torch
on this, and said he has not received any
response from other public officials. “I
turned this over to County Attorney Lorna
Goodman, and to Attorney General
Andrew Cuomo. I received no answer,” he
said.
“The bottom line is, we would not be
in the predicament we are in today if we
have been following this law correctly for
the past 30 years,” Laricchiuta said. “We are
not asking anyone to rewrite the law, we are
just asking the county to follow it, just like
every other county does.”
CSEA believes that no legislation is
needed to correct this problem, just a
change to the county’s Administrative
Code.
“How can we even discuss layoffs or
furloughs when we have obviously not
exhausted all measures of recouping the
money that we deserve?” Lariccchiuta said.
Stay tuned.
CSEA NASSAU COUNTY LOCAL 830 UNION MEMBER NEWS,
Crossing Guards Form Special Relationships with their Kids
For a total of 70 years,
nearly 13,000 school days,
and more than 200 brutal
winter months, crossing
guards Sue Tirino,
Catherine “Kitty” Chiocchi
and Aida Cain have been
making sure Nassau County
children get to and from
school safely.
Over that time, what a
lasting impression those kids
have made on them, and in
turn what an effect they
have had on their kids.
Cain, who has been
doing crossings for more
than 30 years, works at Bowling Green 2
Elementary School in Westbury and on the
corner of Carman and Stewart Avenue in East
Meadow. She is retiring at the end of this
school year and is struggling to break that
news to her kids. “I’m trying to slowly tell
them that I won't be back next year,” Cain
said.
When someone like a crossing guard
becomes a fixture in a young person's life, not
having them around anymore could be tough.
“T can't even miss a day sometimes, or a
crossing,” said Chiocchi. “I’ve had kids come
to my house and ask where I was.”
She works on the corner of Prospect Place
and Hicksville Road in Massapequa and has
been on the job for 30 years. When asked if
she is eyeing retirement, she said, “No, not at
all. I love what I do.” That echoes the
sentiment of most guards.
Tirino, vice president of the CSEA
Crossing Guards Unit, has been on the job
just 18 years, but has lots of stories to tell.
She crosses seven days a week. Monday
through Friday, she works the corner of
Chestnut Street and Hempstead Avenue in
West Hempstead.
“Over all these years, I've seen them go
through graduation, to first boyfriends, to
college, and then a lot of times they come
back,” Tirino says of the special relationship
she has with the children. “I was even
interviewed by the Secret Service because
someone used me as a reference when getting
a job with the government.”
All three guards maintain that though they
have formed these special bonds, they still
have a job to do and a very serious job at
that. “There are cars going 90 miles per hour
on Stewart Avenue sometimes, big buses and
Crossing
jon * -
Guards Catherine Chiocchi, Sue Tirino and Aida Cain
with Jerry Laricchiuta.
small, so we have to be careful,” Cain said.
“Tve had a car take my pocket off,” Tirino
said
Crossing Guards Unit President Mary
Delmare echoed that thought. “Traffic
conditions at times can be very dangerous,”
she said. “The weather, especially in the
winter months, can take its toll on you and
the fact that today in this fast-paced world we
live in, there are times when the guards need
to make split-second decisions to not only
protect the children but themselves as well.”
But through all of that, they have been
able to do their job very well and make a
difference in young children’s lives.
And it’s not just the children they affect,
said CSEA Local 830 President Jerry
Laricchiuta. “It’s teachers, PTA member,
neighbors, parents,” he said. “They all know
the crossing guards and appreciate what they
do every day.”
And the schools often let the guards know
of the gratitude they have for them. The
elementary school where Cain has become a
fixture over the years recently awarded her
with a plaque for outstanding appreciation.
She even got a Christmas ornament last year
saying “Best Crossing Guard Ever.”
Tirino said she was asked recently to come
into class for a child’s special person day.
“T agree with Kitty, Sue and Aida that you
develop a close relationship with the children
as well as the parents and guardians,”
Delmare said. “The teachers come to
appreciate all that you do and how much you
have to endure.”
So, this winter season, don’t forget your
450 Nassau County crossing guards who help
get your children to school and back home
every day, safe and sound.
exruess 5
Member Spotlight
Bob Reily: 42 years at
Nassau Community College
UNIONDALE — When Bob Reily began working at
Nassau Community
College in 1967, a
stamp cost 5 cents, the
median household
income was just over
$7,000, Frank Sinatra
won a Grammy for his
record “Strangers in the
Night,” and the Green
Bay Packers won the
first Super Bowl.
Much has changed
in the past 42 years,
but Reily still works at the college.
Reily has been working with computers at the college
since 1967. He is now a programming manager and
oversees a group of about eight computer program
analysts.
Without Reily and his group, students wouldn't be
able to register for classes efficiently or even pay for
them. He is responsible for administrative computing of
registration, admissions, billing and various student
services.
In the world of computers, 42 years is more than a
lifetime, so he has seen many details about his job
change over the years.
“When I first started, it was the IBM punch card era.
We worked on a small main frame and programming
work was transcribed to punch cards and read by a card
reader,” he said.
That was a system of thousands of cards. “If we had
20,000 students, and four cards each, for the amount of
classes they take each, then that’s 80,000 cards,” he said.
Reily was instrumental in moving on from that and
helped develop the Legacy Online Registration system.
He personally wrote the online registration computer
program and continued to develop it throughout the
years.
Starting last fall, the new Banner System was
implemented, enabling students to register for their
classes online. Naturally, that requires a transition
process and a long education process through various
seminars and courses.
Understandably, the updating of software could be a
whirlwind for everyone, but even with nearly 40 years
with the college when this came out, Reily still was
interested in learning the new system.
“I have enjoyed what I’ve done over the years,” he
said. “Management is good to work with, and I enjoy a
new challenge.”
Reily, is from Oceanside and has two sons. He is a
graduate of LaSalle College in Philadelphia.
CSEA NASSAU COUNTY LOCAL 830 UNION MEMBER NEWS.
exrneeys 6
Four CSEA Members Recognized as Top Physicians in Metro Area
EAST MEADOW — On Jan. 30, the Nassau Health
Care Corp. proudly announced that six physicians from
Nassau University Medical Center, four of them CSEA
Local 830 members, have been included in the Castle
Connolly's 12th edition of “Top Doctors” New York
Metro Area.
‘A New York City research and information company,
Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. publishes an annual guide
titled Yop Doctors: New York Metro Area, which lists
doctors whom Castle Connolly has determined to be the
top 10 percent of the region’s physicians. More than
6,000 doctors are listed. The CSEA members listed are:
Kenneth H. Hupart, MD
Before joining NUMC, Dr. Kenneth H. Hupart served
as the medical director of the outpatient department at
Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, NY. He was a
member of the faculty of endocrinology at the Albert
Einstein College of Medicine where he was an associate
professor of clinical medicine. Hupart received his
undergraduate education at the School of Engineering
and Applied Science at Columbia University and was
awarded his Doctor of Medicine degree from the State
University of New York at Stony Brook in 1982.
Hupart also leads the endocrine, diabetes and thyroid
biopsy clinics and is the chief of the new metabolic bone
and osteoporosis clinic
David Rosenthal, MD
Dr. David Rosenthal attended medical school at New
York University and completed his residency in internal
medicine at Wilfor Hall, U.S. Air Force Medical Center
in San Antonio, Texas. His fellowship in the field of
endocrinology, metabolism, diabetes and nuclear
medicine was achieved at Boston University Medical
Center. Rosenthal is dually board certified in internal
medicine and in endocrinology/metabolism.
Before 1972, Rosenthal served as the chief of the
department of medicine for the U.S. Air Force in several
region hospitals. Upon his return to Long Island in
1972, he joined a private referral practice in
endocrinology and also joined the voluntary attending
staff at NUMC in the endocrinology division and
became actively involved in the NUMC fellowship
teaching program. In 2006, he left private practice to
devote all his professional time to NUMC as an
attending physician.
Leonard Octavius Barrett, MD
After an honorable discharge from the U.S. Marine
Corps in 1974, Dr. Leonard Octavius Barrett entered
and graduated Iona College in New Rochelle with a
degree in biology and chemistry. He graduated from
SUNY Downstate in 1983 with a medical degree. In
1989, he completed his residency in general surgery at
SUNY Stony Brook, where he remained an additional
year to complete a surgical/critical care fellowship. Since
then, Barrett has qualified for board certifications in
general surgery, surgical critical care, and thoracic
surgery. Only about 2 percent of the physicians in the
United States qualify for triple board certification. In
1983, Barrett began his assignment at NUMC as a
thoracic surgery attending and as a director of surgical
critical care. Due to his outstanding performance, he was
appointed in 1995 as chief of thoracic surgery.
Dominick Sabatino, MD
Dr. Dominick Sabatino, director pediatric
hematology/oncology is a graduate of the University of
Bologna, Italy, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery. He is
board certified in pediatrics and pediatric
hematology/oncology, and since 1988, has served as
director of pediatric hematology/oncology at NUMC.
Before joining the medical staff at NUMC, Sabatino was
the associate director of pediatric hematology/oncology
at the Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn and
assistant professor of clinical pediatrics at SUNY Health
Sciences Center, School of Medicine in Brooklyn. He is
presently a professor of clinical pediatrics at SUNY Stony
Brook School of Medicine.
Public
Security
Officers
Receive
Patch
Public Security employees, who work under
the Nassau County Police Department, have
received their police patches for their uniforms.
Despite driving patrol cars with the county
police logo on it, there was previously no patch
on their uniforms. CSEA has been working for
several months on this, and thank the Police
Department for its cooperation in getting the
patches added.
Defensive Driving Course
Receive 10 percent off your insurance premium for the next three years
Four-point reduction on your driving record
To Register, please complete the form below and make out check payable to
Nassau Local 830 and send to CSEA Nassau Local 830, Defensive Driving, 400
County Seat Dr., Mineola, NY 11501
Session (Please circle): Mar. 14 Apr.25 May9 June6 June 20
Once you complete the program, you are eligible for an immediate 10 percent
discount on your auto liability and collision insurance for a three-year period on
all vehicles for which you are the principal operator.
The cost of the six-hour course is $22 members, and $27 for non-members.
Saturday, 9am - 3:30 p.m. all days
March 14, 2009 * April 25, 2009 * May 9, 2009
Name.
Work phone
Home phone.
Department
Number of people
June 6, 2009 * June 20, 2009
400 County Seat Drive, Mineola 11501
Family and friends welcome
For NUMC members:
Amount enclosed.
Defensive Driving Classes at
No Refunds, No Rescheduling, No Walk-Ins
Nassau University Medical Center
Sat. 3/21/09 * Sat. 4/25/09
Auditorium at NUMC ¢ Call 572-6364 to Sign Up!
8 exrness
CSEA NASSAU COUNTY LOCAL 830 UNION MEMBER NEWS.
A Message From Long Island Region President Nick LaMorte
Message to Legislative Leaders
il Look Elsewhere to Balance the Budget
Thousands of working New Yorkers united in
Albany Jan. 7 to join the “March for Main
Street,” which was timed to coincide with Gov.
David Paterson's first State of the State address
and designed to challenge his misplaced budget
priorities that target middle class New Yorkers.
The event was organized by CSEA, along with
other unions and sought to convey the message
that the governor's plan will place communities,
jobs and services at risk. Our members traveled
from Long Island and every other part of the
state in the cold and snow to take part in the
march.
We helped organize the “March for Main
Street” to deliver this message: Working New
Yorkers live on Main Street, not Wall Street, and
we will stand up to proposals that will have us
pay more and get less while the wealthiest New
Yorkers are unaffected.
The governor's proposed 2009-10 budget
includes destructive cuts in state services and the
state work force while ignoring cost-cutting
options that can save the state billions. Our
members are already doing more with less and
have endured massive cuts to state agencies. It’s
time our legislative leaders look elsewhere to
balance the budget.
CSEA members employed in state service,
including hospitals, parks, youth centers, motor
vehicles, Department of Transportation, state
universities, offices of mental health, and homes
for the developmentally disabled are regularly
working over and above their normal duties to
provide adequate service and care.
DOT and local government snowplow crews
are spread very thin, but have managed to keep
our roads clear this winter, even in the face of
frequent storms. The Labor Department is
scrambling with every available person to meet a
workload four times the volume of a year ago.
And these are just a couple of the daily realities
faced by our state employees.
We are getting hit equally hard in local
government. We are trying to save the jobs of
public safety dispatchers in Riverhead, and
Southampton has switched to the less expensive
Empire Health Plan and threatens closure of the
waste transfer station.
Do I have to tell you what’s going on in
Nassau County? The possibility of layoffs hangs
heavy over our heads as the specter of a
permanent 7 percent wage reduction looms. We
did not create this problem, but once again
and throughout New York state.
The March for Main Street was a good start,
but we have to follow it up on an individual basis
as well. Contact your state senator or Assembly
member. Tell them you live on Main Street, not
Wall Street. Let’s continue to speak out and
advocate for solutions other than those proposed.
by the governor. We deserve better than that. We
are CSEA!
Yours in unionism,
Nick LaMorte, president
Long Island Region
CSEA members, working class people, are asked
to sacrifice.
It is disappointing that our elected leaders
apparently do not know or do not want to believe
that the vast majority of public employees are
already working in stressful circumstances caused
by inadequate staffing. Clearly, we must take our
message directly to the people on Long Island
Long Island Polar Plunge for Special Olympics
ie
= Treezin’ For A Reason itis
ear]
TORCH AUN POLAR 2 LBINGE
North Hempstead Beach Park (Formerly Bar Beach)
Port Washington, N.Y.
Saturday, Feb. 28, 2009
Registration begins at 9 a.m.
Plunge at Noon
Go to www. specialolympicsny.org for more information
or call 631-254-1465
Help raise money for Long Island Special Olympics Athletes!
CSEA is an event sponsor.
CSEA NASSAU COUNTY LOCAL 830 UNION MEMBER NEWS
exrness'7
CSEA Addresses State Assembly on Governor's Budget
SMITHTOWN — CSEA Long Island Region
officials, including Local 830 President Jerry
Laricchiuta addressed Republican members of
the New York State Assembly Feb. 13.
CSEA is concerned that local government
employees across Long Island are taking the hit
for the state’s budgetary shortfalls. In the 2009-
2010 fiscal year, New York will have a $13.8
billion deficit.
Long Island Region President Nick LaMorte
was the first of the CSEA contingent to speak
and said, “Working families are being asked to
bear the brunt of a problem that is not of their
making.”
The governor has created 137 increases in
taxes, fees, and fines on New Yorkers in hopes
of generating nearly $5 million in revenue.
“These taxes unfairly burden the people that
could create.
can afford them the least,” LaMorte added.
Laricchiuta spoke of the pain that job cuts
“Local governments are hurting.
The first reaction is to cut services and layoff
workers. This will do nothing to help the
financial situation we're in right now.”
A main concern of Republican Assembly
members is the high property taxes on Long
Island, and this budget is offering little
protection to homeowners. LaMorte echoed
that thought while speaking on the record with Addressing the New York State Assembly, from left: State
Assemblyman Rob Walker, and said the slashing Employee Local 016 President Andre Sigmone, SUNY Stony
of the middle class STAR Program could prove
to be particularly devastating.
CSEA will continue to fight against the
governor's 2009-2010 budget proposal to
protect jobs, while helping maintain the great
services CSEA members provide every day.
CSEA Speaks with Pearl Carroll & Associates on
Talkin’ Labor with Local 830
Jerry Laricchiuta spoke with Pearl Carroll & Associates’ Steve Neithardt
Jan. 21 regarding Pearl Carroll’s great insurance programs available for
CSEA members. Products include Disability Income Insurance, Life
Insurance and much more. All products and information are available at
www.pearlcarroll.com.
Neithardt spoke of how as of Jan. 1, 2010, the New York State Disability
Insurance acquired by CSEA in the recent contract with Nassau County,
will be of great benefit to all members, including those who already have
Pearl Carroll insurance. “Members can now use Pearl Carroll as a
supplement to the New York State Disability Insurance,” Neithardt said.
“For example, someone who wanted $2,000 per month of coverage and
could not afford it, now would only have to pay $1,300.” The New York
state Disability covers you for $700 per month.
According to Neithardt,
one quarter of Local 830
members are enrolled with
Pearl Carroll, with those
numbers going up 5
percent over the past four
years. If you would like
more information, or
would like to enroll, please
call 1-800-681-2654.
If you would like to
hear this radio show in its
entirety just log on to
www.csea830.org and click
on the “Talkin’ Labor with
Local 830” icon.
-
Laricchiuta with Steve Neithardt
Brook Local 614 President Carlos Speight, Local 830 President
Jerry Laricchiuta, Long Island Region President Nick LaMorte,
Nassau Educational Local 865 President Monica Berkowitz and
CSEA Political Action Coordinator Gretchen Penn.
NUMC and Social Services Participate
in Wear Red Day for Heart Disease
UNIONDALE — Dozens of employees from Nassau County Social Services
participated in the 2009 National Wear Red Day campaign Feb. 6 in support of
preventing heart disease.
Workers raised more than $1,400 for the American Heart Association. Great
prizes were donated by Houlihan's, Panera Bread, Tin Alley Grill, Borrelli’s and
other local restaurants, as well as gift bags from New York and Company and
Lord & Taylor. $200 was donated by Florion Food Services, which is the catering
service for 60 Charles Lindbergh Boulevard, home of Social Services. Those who
participated bought raffles to win the prizes.
This is the third year that Social Services has taken part in this program with
more money being raised each year. They raised $1,200 last year. Diane Lorenzo
of Social Services coordinated the event.
At Nassau University Medical Center, more than 50 employees participated in
“Wear Red” Day of the American Heart Association by purchasing pins that they
wore to a lunch and learn lecture provided by Dr. Aloysius Cuyjet, chair of the
department of medicine at NUMC. The employees raised $675 to donate to the
American Heart Association.
For more information on heart disease, log on to www.goredforwomen.com.
Social Seeviee employees enjoying the Wear Red Day vite
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