2 fie.
SSECTOR
Official Publication of
The Civil Service Employees
Association
Vol. 3, No. 40
Wednesday, July 22, 1981
CISSN 0164 9949)
IP reactivated, political action Intensifies, ad campaign planned
Suffolk dispute boiling
HOLTSVILLE — CSEA reactivated an improper practice charge
with PERB against the Suffolk County Legislature last week for giving
pay raises and upgradings to select groups of employees in violation of
collective bargaining agreements and the Taylor Law.”
The PERB action resulted from the rejection by the Suffolk County
Legislature two weeks ago of a one-year contract, which had been
approved by the County and ratified by the Union, on the grounds that the
contract contained provisions that would have ended the Legislature’s
practice of granting raises and upgradings to favored employees. CSEA
says the Legislature’s actions created two classes of employees — those
who get advances unfairly through political influence and the majority
who abide by the collective bargaining agreement. :
STAFF MEMBERS and interns from CSEA’s Office of Legislative and
Political Action moved into Suffolk County to coordinate a political action
campaign designed to get county legislators to reverse their decision to
reject a proposed contract. Director of Legislative and Political Action
Bernard Ryan is shown along with his staff and interns as they check
computerized membership rosters as part of a telephone contact cam-
paign.
Insurance covers hospice care
CSEA members and their families who need care or help in coping with
terminal illness and death are now covered for hospice care under CSEA’s in-
surance plan.
Hospice services will be covered under the Blue Cross Hospitalization
coverage of the New York State Health Insurance Program, and the GHI op-
tion. :
There are currently 14 approved New York State Hospice Demonstration
Programs. These are hospitals or centers aimed at providing comprehensive
physical, spiritual and psychological family-like support for the terminally ill
and their families.
In addition to care provided by these New York programs, services by out-
of-state hospice organizations will also be covered, provided the hospice is
licensed by the appropriate agency of the state in which it is located.
‘Hospice claims are currently being evaluated on a case-by-case basis,”’
said Christine Dobert, Senior Employee Insurance Representative of the
Department of Civil Service.
The 14 approved New York State hospice programs are:
Beth Abraham Hospital, The Bronx; Hospice Buffalo, Inc., Buffalo;
Cabrini Medical Center, New York; Hospice of Schenectady (Capital District
Hospice, Inc.), Schenectady; Genesee Region Home Care Association,
Rochester; Hospice Care, Inc., New Hartford; Long Island Jewish-Hillside
Medical Center, New Hyde Park.
Also, Mercy Hospital Association, Rockville Centre; Metropolitan Jewish
Geriatric Center, Brooklyn; Northshore University Hospital, Manhasset; Our
Lady of Lourdes Memorial Hospital, Binghamton; St. Luke’s Hospital Center,
New York; St. Peter’s Hospital, Albany; and United Hospital, Port Chester.
Anyone with questions about the Hospice Care Program may call the
Employee Insurance Section of the Civil Service Department at (518) 457-5754
or 457-5784. i
Hospice care is also available to CSEA members through the CSEA
Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which last year linked up with St.
Peter’s Hospice in Albany. ‘ sa ( .
The unexpected and unprecedented rejection of the contract — which
contains raises from 7.5 to 23 percent for approximately 7,500 county
workers — shocked and infuriated CSEA leaders throughout the state
from Suffolk Local 852 President Charles Novo and Region One President
Danny Donohue to Statewide President William L. McGowan who rushed
to Long Island after the contract was turned down.
Mr. McGowan, Mr. Novo and Mr. Donohue met with County Ex-
ecutive Peter Cohalan, sampled the opinions of key Legislators, then
huddled to plan strategy to get the contract brought back before the
Legislature and approved.
Before putting the contract before the Legislature for another vote, the
CSEA leaders decided to first try the long-dormant CSEA charge against
the Legislature before PERB decision is rendered. CSEA officials said
that if the union’s charge is upheld, the County Executive could then call
a-special meeting of the Legislature to reconsider the contract.
CSEA attorney Marge Karowe presented CSEA’s case in New York
before PERB hearing officer Louis Patack on Wednesday, July 15. After
the hearing, Mr. Patack said he would give the union, the Legislature and
the County until July 22 to present briefs and would make a ruling within
a week after that. °
In addition, the union revved-up its political engines for a vigorous cam-
paign to get Legislators to change their votes when there is another vote.
Region One Political Action Committee Chairman, Michael Curtin, cut
short a vacation to begin lining up votes for the contract and Bernie Ryan,
director of Legislation and Political Action was sent down to Long Island
with members of his staff to help with the political and membership sup-
port drives.
Also, CSEA prepared an advertising and information program — in-
cluding a full-page ad in Newsday — designed to bring the CSEA position
to the public and CSEA members when the campaign gets under way.
The Improper Practice charge was filed with PERB on Dec. 2, 1980 by
the Suffolk Local 852 but held in abeyance on Dec-11 when the union and
the County agreed to a clause in the contract which would limit the
authority to initiate salary raises and promotions to the president of the
union representing employees and the Director of Labor Relations ap-
pointed by the County Executive. The Legislature would retain the right
to approve or refuse all raises and upgradings.
‘
THE ASSEMBLY’S SIDE of the recent marathon state legislative session
is explained to CSEA President William L. McGowan by Assembly
Speaker Stanley Fink, right, during a face-to-face discussion in the
Speaker’s Office at the State Capitol. CSEA received the Speaker's sup-
port in its successful efforts to win supplementation for retiree pensions
and eliminate a seven percent cap on school district transportation fund-
ing. Speaker Fink was also an advocate of CSEA’s bills to make agency
shop legislation permanent and mandatory and to remove some of the un-
fair biases of the state’s Taylor Law.
The sickle cell crusader
ee! ee
—
a
4 «
-
MEDICAL RESEARCH TECHNICIAN Sam
Herbert at work in the Cancer Cell Center,
Electron Microscopy Dept. of Roswell Park
Memorial Institute.
SAM HERBERT, left, a Medical Research
Technician at Roswell Park Memorial Institute,
receives proclamation from Buffalo Mayor James
Griffin declaring June 30 “Sickle Cell Anemia
Cooperation Day” in honor of Herbert’s efforts
toward a TV telethon. Erie County Executive
Edward Rutkowski also signed the proclamation.
Sam Herbert hopes
to launch telethon
By Ron Wofford
BUFFALO — If Sam Herbert has his way, 1982
will see the first telethon for sickle cell anemia in
the history of Western New York. He has the
necessary determination and is gaining the support
needed to see such a venture through.
Following the telethon, Herbert has hopes and
plans for the development of the first facility in
New York dedicated to the research of sickle cell
anemia.
His plans were given a big boost recently when
Buffalo Mayor James Griffin and Erie County Ex-
ecutive Edward Rutkowski signed a joint
proclamation declaring June 30 ‘‘Sickle Cell
Anemia Cooperation Day’’ in honor of the efforts of
the eight-year Medical Research Technician at
Roswell Park Memorial Institute.
It’s probably as surprising to most people as it
was to me when they find out that there is not one
facility in the state doing medical research on
sickle cell,’’ said Herbert. ‘In Buffalo there are at
least three organizations or facilities involved in
the counseling, education and treatment of the dis-
ease, but no research is being done on a regular,
concerted basis.’’
“Sickle cell is a painful, hereditary illness that is
not limited to black people,’’ Herbert continued.
“And no cure has yet been found. It can be fatal,
too. As a child I lost four friends to sickle cell while
growing up in Harlem.”
No stranger to childhood illness, himself, Herbert
was hospitalized with polio from age five to eleven.
“T suppose I lost a good deal of my childhood
between the Hospital for Joint Diseases and
Bellevue,” recalled Herbert. ‘‘But it gave me the
motivation I have today and I intend to see this
through to a successful finish.”’
The telethon, tentatively planned for June of 1982
ona local station, promises to be a star-studded af-
fair. ‘I’ve already got at least tentative com-
mitments from Teddy Pendergrass, Billy Taylor,
Al Jarreau, George Benson and others, ‘‘Herbert
said. ‘‘And I’m working on getting Roberta Flack,
Diana Ross and Richard Pryor.”
Herbert is hopeful that the contacts he has made
over several years of running his own production
company will be helpful in drawing the support that
will make a sickle cell telethon a successful, grow-
ing endeavor.
“My goal is to raise $1 million the first year and
at least $5 million by the third year,’’ Herbert said.
“And I know I'll need help from all by brother and
sister members of CSEA Local 303, who I know
from experience are hard-working, concerned in-
dividuals.”’
“Just as we here are working towards the even-
tual elimination of cancer as a major killer of
mankind, there needs to be a more concerted effort
aimed at wiping out the toll of lives cut down or
threatened by the sickle cell. And that won’t happen
until we make it happen.”
Contracting out
squelched at
Bronx Dev.
NEW YORK CITY — CSEA Metropolitan
Region II has won a battle with Bronx
Developmental Center over the in-
stitution’s contracting out of housekeeping
services. At a recent labor/management
meeting to discuss issues within the New
York City Regional Office of Mental Retar-
dation and Developmental Disabilities
(OMRDD), OMRDD First Deputy Com-
missioner Zigmund Slezak pledged that
OMRDD will go to the Division of the
Budget with a plan to terminate the
housekeeping contract at Bronx
Developmental Center and hire state
employees to perform the housekeeping
function.
The decision to end the contracting out
came after meetings between Region II
representatives, Bronx D.C. director
Roy Carmichael and officials of OMRDD
and after an audit by State controller
Edward Reagan’s office. The audit reveal-
ed a $57,000 overpayment to the housekeep-
ing contractor.
“We are naturally very pleased that
OMRDD finally recognized the problems
with contracting out the housekeeping ser-
vice at Bronx D.C.,’’ Region II field
representative Bart Brier said. “In ad-
dition to the overpayment, Carmichael
himself admitted that the services provid-
ed by the contractor were far from
satisfactory.”
While CSEA collective bargaining
agreements with the state specify that
“there shall be no loss of present jobs as a
result ...’’ of contracting out, Bronx
Developmental Center is a 2-year old
facility which has never had state
employees in housekeeping.
Discussions at the labor/management
meeting also focused on the failure of the
OMRDD New York City Regional Office to
comply with a letter from OMRDD com-
missioner James E. Introne regarding
community residences for the mentally
retarded. In his letter, Introne directed the
OMRDD Regional Office to establish com-
munity residences run by the State in equal
number to those contracted out to volun-
tary agencies. There are currently 34 state-
run community residences for the mentally
retarded in New York City and 148 run by
voluntary agencies. OMRDD projects open-
ing 11 state-run and 33 voluntary agency-
run residences in the 1981-82 fiscal year.
“In view of what the State Island Ad-
vance printed about United Cerebral Palsy,
I can’t believe that OMRDD in New York
City is ignoring the commissioner’s in-
structions,’’ said Staten Island
Developmental Center Local 429 president
John Jackson.
Region Ii officers
take oath of office
METROPOLITAN REGION II Officers, from
left, President George Caloumeno, st Vice
President Frances DuBose, Second Vice
President Brenda Nichols and Secretary Ann
Worthy are installed by former Region II
President Solomon Bendet, now retired. New
Region II Treasurer George Boncoraglio was
unable to attend the installation due to illness.
Page! 298)
“THE PUBLIC’SECTOR,. Wednesday, ‘July 22, 1981
By Stanley P. Hornak
CORTLANDT — Charlie Eichler is a David go-
ing after Goliath.
The 35-year-old state Department of Transpor-
tation employee is challenging an entrenched in-
cumbent for the position of Superintendent of
Highways in this northern Westchester County
town of: 35,000 people. And Eichler says his par-
‘ticipation in the recent CSEA Candidate Cam-
paign Institute ‘Blueprint for Success” has been
a ‘‘shot in the arm”’ on his hopeful road to vic-
tory.
* A member of Local 507 and a public employee
since 1963, Eichler knows how to get a job done.
Highway Superintendent hopeful views citizens as ‘shareholders’
Experience may elect Charlie Eichler
department budget does not have a separate line
item for gasoline, but instead categorizes it un-
der “miscellaneous.” Eichler calls that lack of
accounting ‘‘typical’’ and notes that the town an-
nually spends $3 million to maintain 124 miles of
road, or $28,000 per mile.
In his quest for efficiency, there’s one thing
that Eichler would change immediately, and that
is the practice of the current supervisor to
contract-out some snow removal and ice control
services. He pays $55 per hour to private con-
tractors and supplies sand, gas, oil and takes
responsibility for breakdowns. It outrages
Eichler who says town employees can do the job
better and cheaper.
David Eichler, who acts as one of his brother’s
main political advisors, “to keep it in the
family” he laughs, describes the campaign as a
“grassroots movement.’’
“It’s our hometown, we know what’s going on
and we owe it to our friends.” He also expects
CSEA and AFSCME endorsements to make it a
populist campaign.
If elected, Eichler plans to get highway
department employees together to seek their
grievances and find equitable solutions. In turn,
he plans to ask them what they can do to better
serve the town.
“Tf 1 put my mind and heart to it, I think that
the people who work with me — not under me,
but with me — will do the same,’’ he concludes
He contrasts his job performance as a Highway
Maintenance Supervisor on the Taconic State
Parkway with the performance of the man he’s
running against, and says, ‘‘I’m proud of the con-
dition of the section of the parkway I maintain. .
. you can say, I sign my work.” He complains
that Cortlandt’s Highway Department, ‘“‘lacks
leadership, lacks personality, and that’s why, for
example, we're always having problems with
street lights that don’t work and street signs that
aren't properly maintained.”’ Eichler, the father
of two girls, worries about hazards caused “‘by
the attitude of the administration” and vows, if
elected, to make it a 24-hour a day job.
“If my men are out there working, I'll be out
with them, too,’ he emphasizes. He’s been a
laborer himself.
Changing attitudes is the name of the game,
according to Eichler, as he starts his second run
for elective office. In 1980, he was elected a
Verplanck Fire District Commissioner. He sees
all citizens as ‘‘shareholders’’ and, ‘I won’t be
asking people if they voted for me before I plow
their streets.”’
At the same time, he understands the fiscal
realities of the 1980s and notes that the highway
Local’s outlook brightens
BUFFALO — Events reached a happy conclusion for CSEA Erie County
Local 815 members with the installation of newly elected officers and the sign-
ing of a collective bargaining agreement that was six months overdue.
Negotiations on a new contract had been delayed because of a represen-
tation challenge earlier this year. The challenge was easily defeated, but
nevertheless required the attention and focus of CSEA resources before a new
agreement could be hammered out.
Members of the largest local in Region 6 voted overwhelmingly to accept
the terms of the three-year pact and will begin receiving the benefits and six
months of retroactive pay increases, promised by the county in a separate
check before the end of July.
The 4,200 member white-collar work force will receive a five percent wage
boost for the first half of 1981 and another five percent in the second half.
In 1982, the pact calls for a six percent increase for the first half of the year
and four percent for the second half. In the third year, the agreement provides
a seven percent raise, effective Jan. 1, 1983.
Another feature of the new agreement is overtime pay, which will be paid
at the rate of time-and-one-half.
Local President John Eiss was ‘‘very satisfied with the package. I think we
did a very good job of negotiating, and I think the employees feel that way. For
every 11 votes in favor, only two were opposed.”’
The negotiating committee included President Eiss, George Clark, Bar-
bara Justinger, Perry Jowsey, Marion Klein, Charles Carpenter, Joseph
Healy, Maggie McNeela, Steven Caruana, Ed Adamski, Joe Cartonia and Mari-
jean Nichols. CBS Danny Jinks was chief negotiator, assisted by Field Rep.
Bob Young.
The newly installed officers for Local 815 include President Eiss; Ex-
ecutive Vice President Sal Castro; 2nd Vice President Steve Caruana; 3rd Vice
President Joseph Healy, 4th Vice President Gerald Prince, 5th Vice President
William Ferro, 6th Vice President Richard Croad, Secretary Barbara
GETTING TOGETHER to go over campaign plans with Local 860 officials are, from left, the
candidate's brother and main political advisor, David Eichler, Political Action Committee Chairperson
Eleanor McDonald, Charlie Eichler, Local President Pat Mascioli and Legislative Committee
Chairperson Pug Lanza.
as he gears up for Election Day, 1981.
ERIE COUNTY LOCAL 815 officers were recently installed by CSEA Western
Region President Robert Lattimer. Standing, from left, are, Steve Caruana,
Richard Croad, Sal Castro, Vince Muscarella, Gerald Prince, Vic Marr and
William Ferro. Seated, from left, are Patricia Del Cotto, President Lattimer,
John Eiss, Joyce Bawldy and Barbara Justinger.
Justinger, Financial Secretary Patricia Del Cotto; Treasurer Joyce Bawldy;
County Representative Vic Marr; Sergeant-at-Arms Vince Muscarella, and
Parliamentarian Sharilyn Kamholtz.
The oath of office was administered by Region President Robert Lattimer.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wedhesday) July:22, i) Page
12224.
Albany, New York 12224
12204, Single copy Price 25¢
ve a)
Official publication of
The Civil Service Employees Association
33 Elk Street, Albany, New York 12224
The Public Sector (445010) is published every Wednesday
ly except for Wednesdays after New Years, Memorial
, Fourth of July and Labor Day for $5 by the Civil Service
Employees Association, 33 Elk Street, Albany, New York
Second Class Postage paid at Post Office, Albany, New York.
Send address changes to The Public Sector, 33 Elk Street,
Publication office, 75 Champlain Street, Albany, New York
Thomas A, Clemente—Publisher
Roger A. Cole—Executive Editor
Dr. Gerald Alperstein—Associate Editor
Gwenn M. Bellcourt — Associate Editor
Deborah Cassidy—Staff Writer
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Published every Wednesday by Clarity Publishing, Inc, Publication
Office, 75 Champlain Street, Albany, N.Y. 12204 (518) 465-4591
“Weawant more school houses
and less jails;
miore books and less arsenals;
more learning and les-vice;
more constant work
and less crime;
more leisure and less greed;
more justice and less revenge;
in fact, more of
the opportunities to
cultevate our better natures...”
Chicago, Mlinois.
September, [89
Samuel Gompers
Founding President
American Federation of Labor
5 CENIg
Farce %,
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itll Lag
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798)..9%
Produced and Distributed by the
American Federation of Labor and
Congress of Industrial Organizations
ae
TAK-CUT
PROPOSITIONS
"OK, I CUT BACK ON SPENDING LIKE THEY WANTED, BUT WE'VE STILL
GOTTA KEEP THIS THING GOING... Gi0DYAPs"
THE AMERICAN LABOR MOVEMENT
One hundred years of progress
we're going. This article, first in a series, is condensed
from the AFL-CIO publication “A Short History of
As the American Labor Movement celebrates its
centennial in 1981, it is appropriate to 1
history of the trade union movement in the United States
ook back at the
to see where we've been, how far we’ve come, and where
Toward a federation of labor
The roots of the American trade un-
ion movement extend deep into the
early history of this nation
Among the Pilgrims arriving at
Plymouth Rock in 1620 were working
craftsmen, and craftsmen were much
in demand in early colonial
settlements. In cities along the Atlan-
tic seaboard, primitive unions — or
guilds — of carpenters, cabinet
makers and cobblers made their
appearance.
Workers played an important role
in the colonies’ struggle. for in-
dependence. The ‘'Indians’’ who
hosted the Boston Tea party were, in
fact, carpenters, And the Declaration
of Independence was signed in 1776 in
Philadelphia's Carpenters Hall
The first American workers to go
on strjke were printers in New
York in 1794. Cabinet makers struck
in 1796, carpenters in 1797, and cord-
wainers (shoemakers) in 1799. Re-
corded efforts by trade unions to
improve workers’ conditions — either
through negotiation or strike action —
became even more frequent in the
early years of the 19th century
By the 1820s, various unions involy-
ed in the effort to reduce the workday
from 12 hours to 10 hours began to
show interest in the idea of federation
— joining together to achieve com-
mon objectives tor workers. But for
decades, attempts at federation were
short-lived. Most of these
associations were victims of hard
economic times and the changes
brought about by industrialization.
One organization that captured the
public imagination was the Knights of
Labor, founded in 1878. The Knights
were an all-embracing organization
Wednesday, July 22, 1981
committed to a cooperative society.
Membership was not limited to wage
earners, but was also open to farmers
and small business people. In fact
everyone was welcome except
lawyers, bankers, stockbrokers,
professional gamblers, and anyone in-
volved in the sale of alcoholic
beverages.
Membership grew to nearly 750,000
during the next few years. But the
Shoemakers in Lynn, Mass.,
demonstrated for fair compensation
in 1860 in one of the earliest major
demonstrations by women workers.
American Labor,”
prepared for the 1981 Centennial.
workers who had joined the Knights in
hope of improving their hours and
wages were soon frustrated.
The Knights’ organizational struc-
ture, and its leaders had an aversion
to strikes. They relied on the promise
of future social gains, instead of the
day-to-day work of building and
operating a union organization.
So as the 1880's began, the stage
was set for the creation of a down-to-
earth, practical labor federation
which could combine the long-range
objectives of a better society with the
practical activity of day-to-day union
functions:
The modern American labor
movement was about to be born
“What do we want?
Food on the table,
a rug on the floor,
a picture on the wall,
music in the home.”
Philip Murray
President
Congress of Industrial
Organizations
1940-1952
CSEA President Bill McGowan asks
What do you think about
our regional concept?
It is working well?
Can it work better?
PUBLIC SECTOR READERS responded to a recent offer from CSEA
President William L. McGowan to share their comments and gripes
about the union with him by clipping out a coupon and sending their obser-
vations directly to the President’s office. Hundreds of responses were
received and each was reviewed. The union president pledged to read
each letter and that is exactly what he did.
To: WILLIAM L. McGOWAN, President
Civil Service Employees Assn.
33 Elk Street, Box 125, Capitol Station
Albany, New York 12224
Dear President McGowan:
Here’s what’s on my mind concerning my region of CSEA:
-- Complete, clip and mail this form toda
When I recently asked you to take the time to use a coupon
form in The Public Sector to tell me what’s on your mind about
CSEA,; several hundreds of you did exactly that. You told me what
you think we’re doing right, and what you think we’re doing wrong.
I know, because I read every single one of your messages. That kind
of input is vital to this union because it can help us set directions
and improve services and efficiency for our members.
Because of the success of that effort, I would like to ask your
assistance once again.
Last time the topic was your union in general. This time I want
to know your feelings about your CSEA regional operations. I want
your comments, your complaints, your opinions, your suggestions
about your CSEA Region operation. Is the regional concept work-
ing well ? How can it work better?
Please take the time to fill out the form below mail it off to
me. I’m listening to you.
UCD biden. Lm OWen—
Date:
in CSEA Region
VTHE PUBLIC, SECTO!
NIP RI.?
A OS A TPR ES RE SRST BE SDSS BE SIENA
AFSCME EDUCATIONAL COORDINATOR Ron
Coder discusses the importance of soliciting help
from the union in dealing with such problems as
sexual harrassment.
CSEA DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION
toe
Text and Photos
By Bob Strom
ALEXANDRIA BAY — The annual summer
conference of CSEA Region V, held here in June,
broke all previous attendance records, drawing
more than 300 people to the Pine Tree Point Resort
on the St. Lawrence River in the Thousand Islands.
And participants not only came away informed
— through workshops designed for State, County
and School District employees — but also were
challenged through an educational session on Sex-
ual Harassment which left delegates discussing the
two-hour experience for the remainder of their stay
here.
The Sexual Harassment workshop was a product
Thomas
Quimby briefs Region V members on the problems
of sexual harrassment.
Page 6
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, July 22, 1981
of Thomas Quimby, CSEA director of education,
and Marsha Anderson, of the AFSCME educational
staff.
The session was designed both to make people
aware of the magnitude of the problem of sexual
harassment — for both males and females — and to
solicit their help in the CSEA effort to end it.
Unions, historically, have addressed social
issues, Quimby told The Public Sector. And the so-
called women’s movement, which he termed
“basically healthy,’’ is actually one which deals
with ‘‘human issues,”’ since they affect both males
and females.
“As a union, we have a responsibility to address
social issues. We have to make our unions become
support groups,’’ because groups which have
traditionally performed that role — such as
churches — do not have the influence they once had.
The educational session, the only function
designed for all conference participants in contrast
to other, separate sessions for those representing
state, county or school district employees, address-
ed an overflowing crowd.
In fact, Quimby noted, the session was
somewhat of an experiment, because the workshop
had never been conducted for so large a group.
After viewing a film which attempted to
demonstrate types of sexual harassment, the par-
-
ee
aes :
EUNITED — Retired Local 334 president Eleanor
Rl
S. Percy, joins present Local 334 president Jerrold
C. Goetz, left, and the Local’s first vice president
r"
LARRY SCANLON, CSEA’s coordinator of school
district affairs, directs a workshop.
Roy S. Hall at the Region V Summer Conference jj
Alexandria Bay.
ticipants broke into ‘‘small’’ groups of a dozen or
so, and the delegates took a stab at defining sexual
harassment, trying to figure out how to deal with it
in the workplace, and seeking overall solutions.
That there were no easy answers was a measure
of the magnitude of the problem. There was general
agreement that sexual harassment was a cultural
problem, and that any long-term solutions must
begin in the home, teaching boys not to @e
“harassing’’ and girls that they don’t have to be
confined to the stereotyped role of homemaker
But the surprise of the session was the amount of
sexual harassment aimed at males holding
“traditionally female’ jobs in local or state
governmental agencies.
Delegates did agree, though, that there are few
ways to handle the thorny problem: If you ignore it,
the harassment will continue.
Ways suggested included: verbal rejection of the
person doing the harassing; creation or expansggn
of ‘networks’ of CSEA employees to discuss
problems and formulate ways to present them to
supervisors; greet harassing suggestions with the
comment, ‘‘I’ll go to the director and see if that’s
allowed here,”’ or file complaints with the Human
Rights Commission.
But for union ‘‘activists,” the key to solving
problems while protecting your job is to document
LOCAL 834 PRESIDENT Kathy Zeronicky asks
question during the session.on Sexual Harassme@.
incidents, ‘stand up for yourself, and get your
fellow workers to stand behind you.”
CSEA Region V President James J. Moore told
the delegates that the union has identified the
problem of sexual harassment, and ‘‘we know it ex-
ists.”’
“It's up to us as union officials — male and
female — to go back to our locals and try to solve
th@ problem.”
Region V, he said, is in the process of developing
a policy and format to deal with sexual harassment
cases, and is planning to increase the number of
educational sessions on the subject, along with ex-
panding a Region-wide committee to address it.
CSEA President William L. McGowan told par-
ticipants at the State workshop that the union, prior
to starting contract talks with the state, is seeking
Suggestions from its members and officers on
specific things they want addressed.
y Whatever we want, we have to justify,”
McGowan said. ‘‘We’re the underdogs, because
management’s always right and we're always
wrong.”
The CSEA President said he believes state
employees “‘get robbed’’ on Workers’ Compen-
sation, and that he intends to start a program “‘so
our people will have representation when they go
before a hearing officer.’’
EA REGION V PRESIDENT James J. Moore presents a certificate to
ureen Malone, now an AFSCME representative, for her years of service
and dedication to CSEA.
eee
EA ATTORNEY MICHAEL SMITH, left, CSEA
pRsident William L. McGowan, center, and State
He told delegates at the County workshop on
Political Action for County Members that they
should not be afraid to approach local and state
elected officials who have benefitted from CSEA
political action contributions, demanding that they
live up to their promises to the union.
And McGowan said he tells public officials seek-
ing support, money and endorsements from the un-
ion that, ‘‘we help our friends and we bury our
enemies, and when you don’t help our friends, we
consider you an enemy.”’
Region V President Moore, noting that relative-
ly small amounts of money can sway elections in
most school districts across the state, urged the
delegates to get involved in those contests, and to
“put some time and effort’’ into electing school
board members who would be sympathetic with the
drive to organize school district employees.
A similar message was delivered by McGowan
before the School Affairs workshop on ‘Organizing
School Locals.’’
‘Why not help our people to become members of
a school board, so they can help our people get a
fair and equal wage and better working conditions?
We have to stand together and work together.
“The message is simple,’ McGowan said,
“when we stick together, we're united; and when
we're united, nobody can beat us.”
workshop vice chairman Hugh MacDonald address
members at the Region V Summer Conference.
LINDA FIORENTINO, Region V Summer
Conference chairperson, thanks her committee at
Saturday night’s banquet.
EAE RMENEL EN.
i ‘
MOIRA GREINER, Region V Political Action
Chairperson, takes the opportunity to express her
view at the workshop, ‘‘Political Action for County
Members.”’
MARSHA ANDERSON of the AFSCME educational staff discusses the facts j
behind the issue of sexual harassment at the Region V Summer Conference. 4
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, July 22, 1981
Page 7
AMONG THOSE ATTENDING the meeting of the BOCES Board of Education are
Nassau County Local 830 BOCES Unit members, from left, Anthony Williams, Ed
Garcia and Ronald Combs.
CSEA FIELD REPRESENTATIVES, from left,
Rigo Predonzan and Michael Aiello attend the
meeting of the BOCES Board of Education at which
CSEA demonstrated support for a new fair con-
tract.
NASSAU COUNTY LOCAL 830 President Jerome Donahue, left, joins the officers of the
local BOCES Unit, from left, Second Vice President Beverly Berger, President Joseph
Piller, Treasurer Doris Catanzaro and First Vice President Sal Auletta to demonstrate
dhe Local’s support for the unit before the BOCES Board of Education for a new contract.
AU REEM OREN
C.S.E.A.
Were
-FED-
—UP—
WITH
‘RUMBS!
BOCES UNIT MEMBERS, from left, Estelle Guednau, Joan Martelli
and Mary Sperber are among the more than 150 CSEA members show-
ing their support for a new fair contract at a meeting of the BOCES
PAY LAGGING
moe ranne
Board of Education.
2% pay offer ‘unconscionable’
WESTBURY — Would you accept a pay offer of
less than two percent a year?
The members of the BOCES Unit of Nassau
County Local 830 would not, and have been working
without a contract since June 30, 1980.
Local 830 President Jerome Donahue recently
led more than 150 CSEA members at a meeting of
the Nassau County BOCES Board of Education to
demonstrate the unit and local’s support for the
leadership of the unit in the negotiations.
Donahue said the BOCES Board’s pay offer is
less than two percent for approximately one-third
of the unit and is no more than 6.5 percent for any
member of the unit.
Unit officers attending the meeting included
President Joseph Piller, First Vice President Sal
Auletta, Second Vice President Beverly Berger and
Treasurer Doris Catanzaro.
Members of Local 830 from other units who
attended the meeting to demonstrate their support
for the BOCES Unit included First Vice President
Rita Wallace, A. Holly Patterson Home Unit; Gene
Cammerato and Ronald Friedl, City of Long Beach
PAY LAGGING
REUInAe
/C.S.E.A. ee
pees mote
Bs all
Nonaka BEHIND?
SHOWING THEIR
Unit; and Howard Quann,
Department Unit;
Social Services
Kenneth Darby, Village of
Garden City Unit; Alice Groody, Assessors
Department Unit; Fifth Vice President Trudy
Schwind, City of Glen Cove Unit; Doug Milne,
Probation Department Unit; Robert Ford, village
of Freeport Unit; and Gus Neilsen and Kenneth
Brotherton, Town of Hempstead Unit.
CSEA Field Representatives Michael Aiello and
Rigo Predonzan also attended the meeting.
Speaking before the board, Donahue demanded
the board negotiate in good faith with the union.
Piller told the board that the employees were
deserving of more than the increase which had been
offered.
Ms. Wallace told the board that a pay offer of
less than two percent was “‘unconscionable.”’
Ms. Berger reminded the board that more than
half the employees earn less than $10,000 a year.
The BOCES Unit represents clerical,
maintenance, custodial, aides, cafeteria, bus
drivers, mechanics, occupational therapist,
technical and data processing employees of BOCES.
C.S.E.A.
SUPPORT FOR THE BOCES unit are
members of other Local 830 units, including, from left, Ronald
Freidl, City of Long Beach Unit; Local 830 First Vice President
Rita Wallace, A. Holly Patterson Home Unit;
Cammerato, City of Long Beach Unit.
IO LLLSI LIEN ORE RITES ANAON
POMNELEBULLTO EE ES EEE ELELLESEESEAEEIETISERESS”
and Gene
EDUCATION and
STAFF PROFILE § UCAION
The Civil Service Employees Assn. is an extremely diverse a professional staff of more than 200 people to provide services to the
organization. Its membership of upwards of a quarter of a million membership. Slightly more than one-half of that total are assigned to
workers perform thousands of different jobs at hundreds of work statewide headquarters at 33 Elk Street, Albany, with the remainder
locations throughout New York State. The needs of those members assigned to the six regional headquarters maintained by CSEA
can vary as much as the members themselves, and it takes a throughout the state. ‘‘Staff Profiles’ is an informational series
sophisticated staff organization to meet those needs. CSEA employs _ designed to acquaint members with staff departments and personnel.
Director Thomas Quimby
defines goals of membership
One of the truly diverse
departments within CSEA is
Education and Training. This
department helps Locals, Regions
and Headquarters meet the train-
ing and educational needs of CSEA
officers, members and staff.
“In a nutshell, we help people
realize their potential as in-
dividuals working collectively in
the union,” says Thomas Quimby,
Director of the department.
“We make resources available to
people so they can participate in
the union in a constructive, self-
fulfilling’ fashion. Ultimately, the
better people feel about
themselves and their capabilities,
the better union members they
become.”
The functions of the department,
which, in addition to Quimby, is
staffed by administrative assistant
Sandy: Rhodes and secretary Janice
Daniels, can be divided into three
categories: contractual training
programs, member service/union
building, and staff training.
Much of the department’s time
and energy is taken up with con-
tract and contract-related
programs with New York State,
chief among them is the Employee
Benefits Training Program.
Under this program, $1.8 million
is set aside each year under
CSEA’s three state contracts to
fund four programs: the High
School Equivalency Program, the
Tuition Support Program, the
Agency Experimental Program,
and Employee Benefits Training
Courses.
Quimby says he monitors these
programs ‘‘to see that the money
allotted is being spent construc-
tively. There’s a constant effort on
our part to ensure that the needs of
our members are being served, and
not just the needs of the
employer.”’
In another union effort to provide
higher education to the
membership, noted Quimby, his
department establishes links
between CSEA Regions and in-
stitutions of higher learning.
“For example, we've entered
into a contract between Adelphi
University and Region I in which
the university makes courses
available to members at a reduced
rate,
“Colleges, faced with declining
enrollments, are now beating a
path to unions, because of the
numbers of union members who
are interested in higher
education,’’ Quimby said. ‘‘Unions
are ina position to drive some real-
ly hard bargains.”
The member service/union
building aspect of the Education
and Training Department involves
training officers, stewards and
members in a variety of areas.
“There are three basic purposes
here — strengthening and building
union membership, protecting the
individual's rights to due process,
and protecting and improving the
terms and conditions of
employment,’’ said Quimby.
In connection with these goals,
* the department develops and con-
ducts courses, workshops and
seminars statewide on a wide
range of topics,
“T get calls from regional of-
ficers, unit officers and local of-
ficers saying ‘We want to do a
program, can you help?’ I help
them clarify their program goals,
design the program and line up
speakers,’’ said Quimby
In the past, speakers have
addressed such topics as sexual
harassment, assertiveness
training, collective bargaining,
contract administration, public
sector labor law, civil service law,
steward training, comparable job
worth, stress management, effec-
tive public speaking, election
procedures, labor history and how
to conduct labor/management
meetings.
Also along these lines, Quimby’s
department was responsible for
putting together two important
education manua!s — the Stewards
manual and the Local Officers
Manual
In the area of staff training, the
Education and Training
Department is responsible for
providing technical skills to union
staff and integrating staff into the
union.
In carrying out all of its basic
functions, the department has
access to AFSCME resources.
“AFSCME is very helpful,”
says Quimby. “They're very good
at putting resources, such as in-
structors and materials, at our dis-
posal. With our continued af-
filiation with AFSCME, we are
more able to deliver education ser-
vices to CSEA members.”
As for future Education and
Training projects, Quimby talks of
the importance of steward training.
“Our first objective has got to be
to ensure that, through Regional
and Headquarters efforts, all of our
stewards are trained and ultimate-
ly certified,’ he says.
TRE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday,
THOMAS QUIMBY,
Education and
Training Director, is
responsible for a
diverse cross-section of
programs ranging from
tuition support to staff
training.
92,1981 Page 9
presentation to Jack Corcoran, right.
an
HEALTH COUNCIL HONORS CAPITAL REGION AND DIRECTOR — The Northeastern New York
Health Council recently honored the CSEA Capital Region and CSEA Regional Director Jack Cor-
coran for ‘‘continued support of programs and services of all Health agencies in the Northeastern
New York Health Council. CSEA Capital Region President Joseph E. McDermott, left, received a
plaque on behalf of the Region’s membership from Ruth Dyer, Council Chairwoman, who makes a
Out-of-title
Re-opener wins increases
OLEAN, N.Y. — Three units of Cattaraugus
County CSEA Local 805 have received wage in-
creases and increased mileage allowances under
re-opener provisions of existing contracts.
Two of the agreements were negotiated follow-
ing factfinder reports, while the third was im-
posed by the County Legislature following re-
jection of the factfinder report by the CSEA unit.
The General Bargaining Unit and the Sheriff's
Department Unit both ratified the factfinder’s
recommendations, and will receive an eight per
cent wage increase up to a maximum of $1,150.
The new mileage allowance will be 24 cents
per mile, retroactive to January 1, 1981. The
mileage allowance will increase or decrease ac-
saab
LONG ISLAND REGION I President Danny Donohue presents an Irving
Flaumenbaum Memorial Scholarship to Cary Oliva, the daughter of SUNY
Stony Brook-Local 614 member.Barbara Oliya, right.
cording to local area pump prices. Verification
of existing prices will be monitored on June Ist
and January Ist by representatives of the county
and the CSEA units.
The Supervisor’s Unit will receive an eight per
cent wage increase up to a maximum of $1,250
under the settlement imposed by the County
Legislature. The mileage allowance will be the
same as for the General Bargaining and Sheriff's
Department Units.
Chief CSEA Negotiator Michael Painter was
aided by a committee including Local President
Tim Anderson and Tom Bruno of the General
Bargaining Unit, Tom Power, President of the
Supervisor’s Unit and Jerry Burrell, President
of the Sheriff's Unit.
pauge.
Ave., Albany
Page’ 10»
THE PUBLIC. SECTOR, Wednesday, July: 22,1981
work ruled a
safety hazard
WESTCHESTER COUNTY A favorable
opinion and award has been handed down by Ar-
bitrator Joan Stern Kiok in a grievance arbitration
matter involving out-of-title work for probation
assistants.
Kiok held that requiring probation assistants to
transport juveniles from Family Court to and from
various facilities violated the collective bargaining
contract between the county and the union. Ac-
cording to the agreement, public employees are
prohibited from performing out-of-title duties.
Futhermore, Kiok ruled that requiring a
probation assistant to transport a dangerous or
violent juvenile would be a violation of the health
and safety clause.
“The portion of the arbitrator’s decision
regarding health and safety is a major precedent
and should prove helpful to CSEA in future cases,””
said CSEA Regional Attorney Arthur H. Grae.
“Management made an effort to water down the
health and safety clause, which failed.”’
The arbitrator did hold, however, that a probation
assistant could be made to assist a probation officer
in transporting a non-violent juvenile, provided
there were two probation personnel in the
automobile.
INFOLINE
1-800-342-2027
A referral service
created
for you
25—Long Island Region | treasurers seminar, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Holiday Inn, Hauppauge.
27—Southern Region Ill treasurers and secretaries seminar, 7 p.m. Holiday Inn, Fishkill.
AUGUST
1—Long Islond Region | state contract demands forum, 1-4 p.m., Holiday Inn, Haup-
1—Capital Region Treasurers’ Training Workshop, 9 a.m., Thruway House, Washington
8—Capital Region Treasurers’ Training Workshop, 9 o.m., Westport Hotel, Westport.
24—Southern Region Ill treasurers and secretaries seminar, 7 p.m., Coachman Hotel,
White Plains.
New Region VI Local now negotiating
Hard-fought victory
BUFFALO — After a long, hard struggle to organize and then to be
recognized, a newly formed CSEA Local is negotiating a collective bargaining
agreement on behalf of the employees of ARA Food Services, a private con-
tractor at the Erie County Medical Center.
Recalling the battle that began in 1978 to organize the nearly 100 food
workers, Region VI Director Lee Frank likened the situation to the now-
famous struggle of textile workers for J.P. Stevens to organize and bargain for
decent wages, benefits and working conditions.
“Ever since the employees of ARA requested that we organize them
through then-Region Organizer Michael Painter, we've been attempting to sit
down at the bargaining table on behalf of these food workers and bring their
wages and benefits more in line with reality’, Frank said. i
“But we overcame every roadblock they threw in front of us and we intend
to see it through from here on out on behalf of our new members, just as we do
for all our bargaining units,"’ Frank continued.
“It's too bad we had to resort to strike threats and bring the county
legislature and county executive into the picture to threaten withdrawing
ARA’s food service contract with the Medical Center, but they left us no other
choice” said Frank.
The trail, from the point of the organization request to finally sitting down
at the bargaining table, was indeed a circuitous and winding one. It started
with the state labor relations board and winded its way down through the
national labor relations board, with ARA filing appeals and objections to near-
ly every ruling made on behalf of the workers and CSEA
Then the County Legislator Richard A. Slisz’ passed a resolution asking the
County Executive Edward Rutkowski to terminate ARA’s contract which
would normally expire in July of 1983. This came after the strike threat by
Region VI Director Frank.
The company won the right in competitive bidding in June, 1977, to operate
the hospital cafeteria and prepare meals for the 500 patients.
SOLIDARITY — Linking hands in a show of union solidarity are, from left,
CSEA Region VI Director Lee Frank; Nate Stevenson, vice president; and
Vince Gugino, president, of the ARA Unit of CSEA Local 815.
“It’s very interesting how the threat of loss of their contract brought them
around to sitting down at the bargaining table,” Frank said smiling as he
prepared recently to meet with the ARA unit’s negotiation committee. The
team includes President Vince Gugino, Vice President Nate Stevenson and
Secretary Donna Kramer.
Region Director Frank credited Region Organizer Robert Massey with
following through and staying on top of the case throughout the struggle.
“We've set our sights on a target,’’ Frank said, ‘‘and we'll know we've
scored a bullseye when we walk away from the bargaining table with a decent
Southern Region
probation tour
a welcomed event
ARMONK — Probation
employees from Orange,
Rockland and Westchester coun-
ties had an opportunity to dis-
cuss problems in their various
probation departments with
members of the Statewide CSEA
Probation Committee when the
committee met late last month
at Armonk.
Region III President
Raymond J. O'Connor was on
hand to welcome the committee
and about 25 probation
employees from the three coun-
ties,
Committee members who par-
ticipated in the Westchester
County meeting were: James
Brady, Chairman; James
Mattei, Gary Clark, and James
Breardon.
Fillmore gains
two-year pact
FILLMORE — The Fillmore School
CSEA Unit of Allegany County Local
802 has agreed to terms of a two-year
contract with the school board.
The eighty members wiil receive
wage increases of 9 percent in both
years. In addition, members will
receive a $2 co-pay drug prescription
rider and modified agency shop.
The school board also agreed to pay
100 percent of Blue Cross/Blue Shield
costs in the second year of the con-
tract
Unit President, Lowell Fancher
said, ‘‘We made good gains with this
contract. We thought we were going
to go on all summer long until we got
the insurance question cleared up.”’
Chief negotiator Ray Ducharme
was aided by Alice Yanda, Jackie
Bailey, Beverly Luckey and Graydon
CSEA’S ELECTION PROCEDURES COMMITTEE will be meeting on
August 11 and 12 to review results of the union’s recent elections for
Regional Officers, members of the State Executive Committee, and
County Educational Representatives. Results of the June 26 ballot count
could be designated as official at that time. In the above photo, Election
Procedures Committee Chairman Gregory Szurnicki studies a tally sheet
on June 26 as committee member Karen Pelegrino watches. In photo
below, also studying a tally sheet with great interest, are CSEA Capital
Region President Joseph E. McDermott, who was re-elected without
opposition, and Joan Tobin, who was elected Capital Region second vice
president and as a member of the union’s statewide Board of Directors
representing the Department of Transportation.
settlement for our members.”’
Marathon talks
reach accord
PLATTSBURGH — After three
eight-hour marathon negotiation
sessions, the Civil Service Employees
Assn. and the administration of the
Northeast Clinton Central School
District have come to agreement on
the terms of a three year contract
covering bus drivers, custodial,
maintenance and teacher aide
employees there.
The marathon session, said Capital
Region CSEA Field Representative
Charles Scott, called for the services
of mediator Paul Curry from the
Public Employment Relations Board.
Dispute centered on the ad-
ministration’s unwillingness to grant
sufficient wage increases, he said.
Effective July 1, the final
agreement calls for salary increases,
on top of increments, of 9.5 percent in
the first year and ten percent for each
of the next two years. Also in the first
year the retirement plan will be
changed from the 75C to the 751 plan,
representing an increase in dollar
value of 4.3 percent.
All benefits were retained with
language changes made in some.
The package includes an increase of
$5 paid to bus drivers making extra
runs and a shift differential increases
of $150 the first year and $300 the
second year for custodial workers.
Scott said the union was particular-
ly pleased with what he termed the
“pool concept” of adding the in-
crements to salary schedules when
computing increases to boost the
overall percentage increases.
On the negotiating team were:
CSEA Unit President Dick Lamber-
ton, Elmira Lamberton, CSEA Unit
Vice President Ron Gibbons, Louis
Bechard and Wendall Tatro.
Armjgon.
RATAN VERLAAAAUAMAAU ERA AUUN VERTAAL AEE
THE PUBLIC: SECTOR, Wednesday, July: 22,1981
Page’ 11
Former CSEA Local president on his way to the top
Page 12
By Tina Lincer First
Communications Associate
SCOTIA — When CSEA member Peter Looker
dons his top hat and tails, it’s not because he’s
going dancing.
He’s going to work — as a chimney sweep.
Looker, a part-time therapy aide at 0.D. Heck
Developmental Center in Schenectady, took on
the out-of-the-ordinary, old-time occupation of
chimney sweep about two-and-a-half years ago.
Since then, he has been spending from 10 to 50
hours a week getting rid of soot, creosote and
“other flammable nastiness’’ from assorted
chimneys throughout the Capital region.
“When I got into it, I was working eight hours
a day with psychiatric clients, which is very
draining,” he explained. ‘You don’t often get the
immediate rewards of seeing a job well-done,
and the frustrations of dealing with management
were getting to me. I said, ‘Enough is enough.’ ”
By comparison, said Looker, he found sweep-
ing chimneys offered the pleasure of working
with his hands and the satisfaction of seeing a
job through from start to finish.
“Chimneys don’t talk back, and they don’t get
on your nerves,”’ he said. ‘‘I found the customers
much more reasonable to deal with than the
management at Heck, and I get treated with a lot
more respect.”
Looker, 30, recently ended a two-year term as
President of O.D. Heck CSEA Local 445. He
worked at Letchworth Village Developmental
Center in Rockland County and at Albany’s
Capital District Psychiatric Center before join-
ing O.D. Heck as a full-time supervisor in 1979.
In the middle of these job changes, he took a
Life/Career Planning course and made some
decisions about his future
“I decided I wanted to be working part-time at
the developmental center, get into some small
business of my own, and have the classic house
in the country.”’
In 1978 he responded to an ad in the ‘‘Mother
Earth News” about becoming a chimney sweep.
He bought the requisites of his trade — brushes,
fiberglass rods, vacuum cleaner, ladders and
miscellaneous items — and promptly practiced
on the chimneys of family and friends.
Ina short time, Looker became one of a hand-
ful of chimney sweeps in the Capital region. He
is currently New York's representative for the
National Chimney Sweep Guild Convention.
He also fulfilled his other dreams switching to
Seon
part-time work at O.D, Heck and moving into a
rural cabin overlooking the Mohawk River.
Thin, bearded and with wire-rimmed glasses,
Looker sat in his living room recently discuss-
ing his trade.
He was attired in his top hat and tuxedo jacket,
the traditional garb of the bona fide sweep.
“The top hat is a must for good luck,’’ Looker
explained. ‘‘In Europe, master chimney sweeps
were often invited to New Year’s parties and
weddings for good luck. There’s also a super-
stition — never go on a roof without a top hat.”
The tails, he noted, were historically cast-offs
from morticians. ‘‘They worked out well because
the sweeps were very dirty characters, and the
tails covered the seats of their pants,’ said
Looker. ‘‘This way, they wouldn’t dirty up chairs
when they went into a restaurant or pub.”
Although many of the legends and traditions of
the sweep have not changed over the years, the
work itself has.
“With today’s air-tight stoves, there’s a whole
new set of problems and a whole new technology
developing,” said Looker.
“It’s very different from the old-fashioned
wood stoves. The old rules of cleaning — that you
clean the chimney once a year — don’t apply.
You can have a fire within a week after cleaning
an air-tight stove.”
The Scotia sweep usually wears a mask to
prevent inhaling carcinogenic materials while on
the job, and says he believes strongly in safety
precautions involving the use of wood-burning
stoves.
“Individuals have to be much more aware of
how they operate their stoves,”’ he says. ‘‘People
should make sure they have safe installations
and use extreme care when turning their stoves
down low. They should also consult with the fire
department or a chimney sweep before installing
a stove.”
Looker, who holds a master’s degree in public
affairs, added he was extremely pleased CSEA
pushed for the passage of the OSHA law in public
employment, and now would like to see unions
take an active role in consumer and environmen-
tal issues.
“Unions could get together with consumer and
environmental groups and get accountability
from public utilities,’’ he says. ‘‘They could work
together to fight increases and questionable
spending by the utilities, to help consumers
keep up with inflation and keep some of the
energy costs down.”
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, July 22, 1981
vas
SWEPT AWAY — Chimney sweep Peter Looker, ,
a former CSEA Local president, leaves a
customer's home. He is dressed in the tra-
ditional garb of the sweep — top hat and tails, :
CHIMNEY SWEEP Peter Looker, a member of
CSEA Local 445, started “Sweeps,” a chimney
cleaning service. Looker is pictured on the job,
left.
