The Public Sector, 1985 February 22

' S) Public

Official Publication of The Civil Service Employees Association Local: 1000,
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees

AFL-CIO.

Vol. 8, No. 4
iday, February 22, 1985

2 &

unique exhibit. See articles on pages 6 and 7.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN’S historic Emancipation Proclamation exhibit at the New
York State Museum in Albany is visited by CSEA Executive Vice President
Joseph E. McDermott, right. Explaining the significance of the exhibit is Edward
Brown, left, supervising exhibit specialist in audio visual design, and Anne Marie
Hakeem, second vice president of Education Department CSEA Local 657. CSEA
and AFSCME members played major roles in putting together and protecting the

i ————

ALBANY — Will CSEA soon be in the business
of helping members cut food costs?

The answer may very well be “yes” if an ex-
perimental program, authorized by CSEA Presi-
dent William L. McGowan, succeeds.

Food buying co-ops, which the union leader says
could save as much as 25 percent in costs, will be
tested at selected work sites. If they succeed,
McGowan expects the program to be extended
statewide.

Pilot projects will shortly be underway at these
locations:

REGION I — Suffolk Developmental
Center, Central Islip, Kings Park and
Pilgrim psychiatric centers;

REGION I — all Staten Island lo-
cals;

REGION II — Rockland County
Local 844, Rockland Psychiatric Center
and Letchworth Developmental
Center.

McGowan expects additional locations in other
ae regions ‘‘to be announced within several
weeks.”

The pilot program is the result of an agreement
with SYSCO Frosted Foods to provide savings to
CSEA members on a wide variety of frozen foods,
meat, seafood, vegetables, cheeses, cold cuts, dry
products and salad oil. Special discounts may also
be available on kitchen utensils and tableware.

CSEA locals would establish committees to run
the co-ops. They would take members’ orders and
then arrange distribution once the items were
delivered.

SYSCO Frosted Foods is a division of the SYS-
CO Corporation which is based in New York State.
Nationally, SYSCO is the largest distributor of
foodservice products. Here in New York State, the

operates warehouses and distribution fa-
cilities in Albany, Syracuse, Horseheads and
Malone.

( STATEWIDE OFFICERS
ELECTIONS TO BEGIN

ALBANY—The process of electing CSEA’s
statewide officers -president, executive vice presi-
dent, secretary and treasurer— is about to begin.
Start of the election period has been delayed due’
to pending litigation, necessitating some modifi-
cations in the procedures and timetable.

All candidates for the four statewide offices will
he required to qualify for a ballot position by pe-
tition. To qualify, a candidate must obtain signa-
tures of 1,000 CSEA members in good standing.

The petitioning period will begin Monday,
March 11, when Nominating Petition Request
Forms and official petition forms will be avail-
able at CSEA Regional offices and at CSEA head-
quarters in Albany.

Final date for nominating petitions to be
received at CSEA headquarters is Monday, April,
ib.

Following review of the proposed election proce-
dure at the February meeting of the union’s
statewide Board of Directors, the full election
schedule will appear in the March 8 edition of The

\Publie Sector. oy

A CSEA POLITICAL ACTION COORDINATOR AND A STATE
LEGISLATOR ARE SILHOUETTED AGAINST THE BACKGROUND
OF THE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA IN AN OFFICE OF THE LEGIS-

LATIVE FICE BUILDING IN ALBANY DURING A RECENT LOB-

BYING DAY PROGRAM CONDUCTED BY CSEA. THE UNION IS
ATTEMPTING TO MAKE LAWMAKERS AWARE OF DANGERS OF
A PROPOSED MAJOR OVERHAUL OF THE STATE’S MENTAL
HEALTH SYSTEM. FOR DETAILS, SEE PAGES 12 AND 13.

EH ET PE EE TITS PE ENS Me PO TEBE THE DENI PE ETO ORE A PER PRES I IE TOR AAT,

Proposal for setup
of multi-million dollar
training program

A plan for a $5 million training and education
program on occupational safety and health has
been introduced in the state Legislature in
Albany. It would be funded by a surcharge on
Workers Compensation insurance premiums.

“A New York State occupational safety and
health education and training program can
significantly reduce workplace injuries and deaths
as well as reduce the financial burden on employ-
ers and insurance carriers,” said Assemblyman
Richard N. Gottfried (D-L, Manhattan) and Sen.
John E. Flynn (R-C, Westchester), the sponsors
of the bill. “We must take action to help stop work-
place accidents and harmful toxic exposures from
happening.”’

Nationally, there are 5 million work-related
injuries reported each year and 100,000 deaths
from job-related diseases, the legislators said.

The bill sets up a training and education fund
which would provide grants to employers, labor
organizations, trade associations, educational
institutions and governmental bodies for
training and educational programs, such as

educating workers on preventive health
measures and workers’ compensation
procedures.

The $5 million fund provided for in the bill
would come from special compensation
assessments collected annually by the Workers
Compensation Board in their current assessment
procedure on workers compensation insurance
carriers and self-insurers. The fund would be
administered by a State Occupational Safety &
Health Training and Education Board consisting
of three representatives each of the public, labor
organizations and employers.

“While the world is sickened at the news of
2,000 people dying from the industrial disaster in
Bhopal, India, it is equally appalling that every
week in this country the same number of
workers die from job-related diseases,” pointed
out the legislators.

The bill is strongly supported by the State
AFL-CIO, the New York State Council on
Occupational Safety. & Health and numerous
labor and health organizations.

Syracuse pact nets pay hikes,

SYRACUSE — By a margin of better than 3-to-1,
members of the CSEA Syracuse City Unit voted to
accept a new two-year agreement calling for salary
increases, improved dental plan and other benefits
retroactive to Jan. 1.

According to Margaret Dennis, president of the
unit which represents 330 city employees in five
departments, the vote was 108 in favor of the new
contract package and 36 opposed.

Terms of the agreement include:

¢ 5.5 percent increase the first year;

5.5 percent in 1986;

e Improved dental plan to include family
members;

Increased car allowance for employees who use
their personal vehicle for city business;

Increase in mileage allowance;

«Increase in uniform allowance for meter
readers;

« Improved language in sick leave benefits.

In announcing the acceptance of the new pact
following an information meeting, Dennis said,
“The membership has spoken by ballot and they
overwhelmingly approved the new contract by

more benefits

better than 3-to-1. It is a fair contract containing
salary increases and additional important benefits,
including an improved dental plan.

The agreement wraps up negotiations begun last
September by a team which included: Linda
Delaney, Nikki Nichols, George Taylor, John
Hoover, Ann Casey, Bill Smorol and a special
thanks to CSEA Collective Bargaining Specialist
Tom Pomidoro.

The contract still must be ratified by the
Syracuse Common Council and Board of Estimate,
but both groups are expected to accept the
agreement.

CSEA locals honored for part in food drive

ALBANY — Three CSEA locals were honored
recently by the Albany Neighborhood Resource
Center and the Council of Albany Neighborhood
Associations for their support of a county-wide
Worksite Food Drive. Receiving recognition for
their efforts were New York State Education
Department Local 657, Motor Vehicle

) Neighborhood Resource Center.

Department Local 674 and Albany County Local
801.

Last year over 60 participating employee
groups raised approximately 24,000 food items
and $4,500 for the Worksite Food Drive. This
drive has become the means of restocking the
Food Distribution Center during the winter and

JUNE ROBAK, CSEA EDUCATION Local 657 president, and Helen Hardley,
Women’s Council, receive a certificate of recognition for the outstanding support
| of public employees for the Worksite Food Drive which took place in Albany
_ County. Presenting the award are Rev. Robert L. Zerbe, president of the Albany
County Emergency Food Task Force and assistant rector of St. Peter’s Episcopal
Church, and James Gallagher, president of the Board of Directors of the

CSEA MOTOR VEHICLE Local 674 also
appreciation for its part in the food drive. First Vice President
Suzanne Waltz and PEF’s Brian Ginett, center, receive the award

spring seasons. Operated by the Albany County
Emergency Food Task Force, the Food
Distribution Center at 340 First Street is the
central supply point for food pantries throughout
Albany County. While most food pantries have
their own sources of supply, those running short
can get replenished at the distribution center.

oi

received a certificate of

from Rey. Zerbe, left, and Gallagher.

Page 2

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, February 22, 1985

Social Services-sponsored

.| EAP

Awareness Da
highly successful

e ALBANY — An EAP Awareness Day program sponsored by the
joint EAP committee of the state Department of Social Services at-
tracted a large number of employees to displays set up in the depart-
ment’s facilities at 40 North Pearl Street here recently. CSEA local,
regional and statewide officials also stopped by during the daylong
program to view the exhibits and talk with union members visiting
the displays.

Li
CSEA PRESIDENT William L. McGowan, right, looks over some EAP in-
formation material along with William McMahon, left, Department of Social

e Services representative on CSEA’s statewide Board of Directors. Looking on
in the background is CSEA Region IV Director John Corcoran.

AMONG UNION OFFICIALS visiting the exhibit were, above,
Region IV President C. Allen Mead, left, and John Francisco,
Authorities representative on CSEA’s statewide Board of
Directors.

AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION display is explained, above
right, by Heart Association Program Coordinator Betsy Hardy to,
from left, CSEA statewide President William L. McGowan, CSEA
statewide Executive Vice President Joseph E. McDermott, and
CSEA Region IV President C. Allen Mead.

CATHY VALLEE, left, second vice president of Department of So-
cial Services CSEA Local 688, hands literature to CSEA statewide
Secretary Irene Carr in photo at right.

THE PUBLIC, SECTOR, Friday, February, 22, 1985 Page 3

Syenee
SECTOR

Official publication of
The Civil Service Employees Association
Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO

33 Elk Street, Albany, New York 12224

The Public Sector (445010) is published every other
Friday by The Civil Service Employees Association,
33 Elk Street, Albany, New York 12224

Publication Office; 1 Columbia Place, Albany, New
York 12207, Second Class Postage paid at Post
Office, Albany, New York.

MICHAEL P. MORAN — PUBLISHER
ROGER A. COLE — Editor

TINA LINCER FiRST — Associate Editor
BRIAN K. BAKER — Assistant Editor

Address changes should be sent to: Civil Service Em-
ployees Association, The Public Sector, 33 Elk Street,

Albany, New York 12224

¢ a)

DEL TORO ENDORSEMENT — State Assemblyman Angelo Del Toro, left, smiles as he is greeted by
CSEA Metropolitan Region President George Boncoraglio, right. CSEA statewide President William L.
McGowan has announced that CSEA is endorsing the candidacy of Assemblyman Del Toro for New
York City Council president, the first in a series of endorsements the union expects to make in New

York City elections in 1985.

Any activist can take CSEA treasurers’ training

ALBANY—Treasurers’ Training isn’t just for
treasurers, declares CSEA’s statewide treasurer,
Barbara Fauser, while announcing the schedule
for March training opportunities in Region V.

“Safeguarding and wisely managing union
funds is an important responsibility that should
concern all local and unit officers and activists,”
Fauser maintains. “So while the treasurers’ train-
ing course is mandatory for local and unit treas-
urers, I strongly urge others to attend these
sessions. I particularly like to see locals and units

Nassau settlement

MINEOLA — CSEA and Nassau County reached a tentative settlement
ona three-year contract, retroactive to Jan. 1, as the Public Sector went to

press.

The agreement, if ratified, will provide raises (plus increments) of 6
percent in both 1985 and 1986 and 5.5 percent in 1987.

Contract highlights include:
« fully paid health insurance;

binding arbitration to resolve disciplinary cases;
« optical plan for employees effective July 1; and

« improved dental benefits effective July 1.

The accord was reached after a marathon bargaining session attended
by Local 830 President Jerry Donohue, CSEA Collective Bargaining
Specialist George Peak and CSEA attorney Richard Gaba.

More details on the Nassau agreement will appear in the next edition of

the Public Sector.

NEW YORK CITY — CSEA will participate in
a two-day conference March 1 and 2 to support
the emerging labor movement in South Africa.
The New York City program will welcome three
South African union leaders in their first U.S.
appearance on a nationwide speaking tour. The
three represent nearly 300,000 black workers.

General Secretary Pirishaw Camay will speak
on behalf of the Council of Unions of South Africa
(CUSA) which represents about 100,000
members in construction, food and beverage,

being represented by their presidents, executive
committee members, and members of Audit Com-
mittees.””

Training is scheduled throughout: the year for
the convenience of members. Fauser and Region
VI Treasurer Jim Kurtz trained 37 treasurers re-
cently in Buffalo; and 46 local and unit officers,
including seven presidents, completed the train-
ing last month in Fishkill. That session was con-
ducted by CSEA’s Internal Auditor David Knutti
and Assistant Director of Finance Judy

Kosakoski.

Two sessions are tentatively scheduled for next
month in Region V. Courses will be held March
11 at LeMoyne Manor in Liverpool and on March
12 at the Sheraton Inn Conference Center in
Utica. Registration for each session begins at 6
p.m.

Additional information about the sessions is
available from the Region V Office by phoning
315/451-6330.

City of Newburgh contract ratified

reached

increments.

NEWBURGH — CSEA members in the city of Newburgh have ratified a two
year contract which provides for 4 percent in wage increases each year plus

The CSA unit consists of 110 members and includes all city workers with the
exception of fire and police department employees.

The new Contract is effective retroactive to January 1.

Negotiations, led by Collective Bargaining Specialist Manny Vitale, have
been going on for about six months.

Carr wants names and numbers

ALBANY — CSEA Statewide Secretary Irene Carr reminds local presidents

to continue sending her updated lists of union delegates which include Social

Security numbers.

The listing, in addition to Social Security number, should include the
delegate’s home address and telephone number, office address and telephone
number and CSEA local number. It should be sent to: Irene Carr, CSEA

Statewide Secretary, 33 Elk St., Albany, N.Y. 12207.
Carr also requests that she be kept aware of changes in local officers as

they occur.

CSEA to take part in New York City
conference on South African labor

chemical, steel, and mining trades. Emma
Mashinini, General Secretary of the Commercial
Catering and Allied Workers Union (CCAWU)
also represents 100,000 workers, mainly in retail
trades. Mashinini has been arrested and
detained without trial or charge by security
forces in South Africa for her union activities.
A third representative from the Federation of
South African Trade Unions (FOSATU) will also
join the conference. FOSATU, the largest labor
organization in South Africa is made up of unions

Page 4

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, February 22, 1985

in auto, textile, steel, iron, paper, food, trans-
portation, and jewelry industries.

The South Africans were invited to visit and
provide information on their organizing
struggles by American labor leaders. The New
York conference will also feature workshops on
international labor solidarity, U.S. corporate
involvement in South Africa, and social effects of
apartheid. For more information on
participating in the program, contact CSEA’s
Region II office,

By Stephen Madarasz
CSEA Communications Associate

NEW YORK CITY—Although the State Division
of Parole CSEA Local 259 had a safety commit-
tee for several years, it wasn’t until workers start-
ed getting sick last summer that the committee’s
importance became clearly evident.

The local safety committee and CSEA got
deeply involved last summer when a number of
problems plagued the offices in Manhattan and
employees began complaining of nausea, dizziness
and loss of memory. Now, because of the union’s
activity, major problems have been cleared and
some related minor matters are in grievance
procedures.

Local 259 safety committee member Shii Price,
who was one of several employees hospitalized
with symptoms last summer, says the union’s suc-
cesses in dealing with the problems of last year
have led to a greater trust in the effectiveness
of the committee and the union by members.

“They know we can’t do everything, but we’re a ©
place for them to go, and the situation gets put on|.

paper,”’ Price said.

She said the safety committee, in fact, regular-
ly called management’s attention to unsanita:
and unhealthy conditions through a series of
grievances. And while some improvements wer
made as a result, it was when some workers hai
to be hospitalized that management could n
longer ignore the committee’s constant messag
that things were not right.

Last summer’s incidents have since been traced
to a combination of factors—a freon leak from the
building’s air conditioning system, ongoing exter-
mination operations, office painting and bad cir-
culation of air. While none individually violated
any health or safety codes, the committee feels
that through its efforts management now has a
greater awareness of the possible dangers as-
sociated with such problems.

Local 259 President Jean Jenkins said of the
serious situation last summer, ‘“‘we’d never had
anything like this happen before, but fortunately
the safety committee was ready to act.”’ Prior to

that time the committee, Jenkins says, had to con-
cern itself with more mundane problems like re-
quests for more heat and hot water and making
certain the garbage was regularly removed.
Region II Occupational Safety and Health

SHII PRICE is back on the job now, but last
summer she was among several employees
at the State Division of Parole in Manhattan
who had to be hospitalized after complain-
ing of nausea, dizziness and loss of memory.

Specialist Mitchell Brathwaite says the success of
Local 259’s committee has made it one of the most

‘active in the Metropolitan Region. ‘‘It’s easier to

keep up interest in safety when there’s a crisis,
but 259’s committee has done a good job of get-
ting information to members. People were scared,
and they let them know what was going on.”’ Lo-
cal President Jenkins agrees, saying members
now are much more willing to bring complaints
or information to the committee.

Member involvement, Brathwaite says, is the
key to whether or not a local safety committee
succeeds. ‘‘All you need is one person to be active
in a worksite, someone to look at conditions and
talk to people.” Brathwaite says that in the past
there was often ‘confusion about what safety com-
mittees do. ‘‘People would contact me, or Albany
(CSEA statewide headquarters) about their
problems, but most safety and health questions
can be handled right in the workplace. It only
takes an individual to become familiar with OSHA
guidelines and be available to co-workers.”

Basically the local committee or its represen-
tative will review local situations initially to de-
termine if, in fact, dangerous circumstances exist.
If violations are discovered, the committee will
attempt to work out the problem with manage-
ment without calling in outside help. At times,
worksite representatives will need to call for the
assistance of the regional safety committee or
regional OSHA staff expert to deal with more seri-
ous problems or persuade management to take
corrective actions.

Shii Price sees the role of the safety committee
as that of a watchdog. ‘Even after everyone got
sick, management was still loose about conditions
in this place. I wish they’d be more considerate
of our health.” And so the safety committee’s role
is to watch and take whatever action is necessary
whenever a health and safety issue arises, she
says. “Conditions at Parole may be far from per-
fect, but they’re a lot better than they were,” says
Price, and she credits the concern and persistence
of the local safety committee with achieving that
improvement.

The conference room at CSEA Metropolitan Region headquarters will be renamed the Frances DuBose Batiste
Memorial Conference Room at a special ceremony March 18 at the regional headquarters, 11 Broadway, Man-

hattan.

The.action by the CSEA Region Il executive board during its regular meeting on that date will honor the
memory of the late Frances DuBose Batiste, who rose through the union ranks to become president of the
23,000-member CSEA Metropolitan Region

DuBose Batiste died unexpectedly on March 18, 1984 and was regional president at the time of her death

Several CSEA statewide officers and other union officials are expected to attend the ceremony. Rank and

file members are encouraged to attend and participate in the memorial program as well.

at

Ca!

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, February 22, 1985

ck
History
Mionth

Museum members install
exhibit of historic
Lincoln proclamation

ALBANY — The Preliminary Emancipation
Proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln
Sept. 22, 1862 is currently on display at the New York State
Museum here, coinciding with Black History month.

The exhibit was installed by a team of CSEA members
from Education Department Local 657 and is under the
watch of building security guards and Capitol Police
represented by AFSCME.

Continuing through Feb. 28, the exhibit is a joint
venture of the museum and the New York State Library,
which has owned the rare document since 1865.

The four-page, epoch-making decree has been called
one of the three or four most significant documents ever
«issued in America, along with the Declaration of
Independence, the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

It has been taken out of its air-conditioned vault and put

on display only once every 10 years over the past several
decades. Extremely sensitive to light, humidity and
oxygen, it is placed on pure blocks of cellulose in a double-
walled, glass-fronted steel container from which the air was

MUSEUM EXHIBITION SPECIALISTS — These CSEA members were responsible for
setting up the Lincoln document, which is taken out of its vault and put on display only once
every decade. From left to right are Steve Shashot, John Yost, George Betke, Ed Brown, Greg
Brown and John Whaley.

evacuated and replaced with nitrogen.

The proclamation declared that all slaves in states which were still in
rebellion on Jan. 1, 1863 ‘‘shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.”
Thus, it had taken nearly a century, many years of abolitionist agitation and
two years of the Civil War to apply the meaning of the Declaration of
Independence to the nation’s black population.

The document is written entirely in Lincoln’s hand, except for minor
revisions by Secretary of State William H. Seward, a former governor of
New York, and a formal beginning and ending by the chief clerk.

Lincoln’s final Emancipation Proclamation was issued on Jan. 1, 1863.
The manuscript copy was acquired by the Chicago Historical Society but

The preliminary document was acquired by the New York State Library
through an interesting series of events.

In February and March 1964 the Army Relief Bazaar was held to raise
money for the U.S. Sanitary Commission, a precursor of the Red Cross that
helped provide medical care for Union soldiers.

Lincoln donated the preliminary proclamation to the relief fund, and it
was subsequently won in a lottery by Gerrit Smith, a well-known
abolitionist. Smith gave the proclamation to the Sanitary Commission to be
sold to raise more money. :

Three days after Lincoln’s funeral train passed through Albany on April
25, 1865, the Legislature acting with dispatch purchased the proclamation

lost during the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

for the New York State Library.

ai

BLUFORD JOHNSON... “the unions have
Ke a lot to ease prejudice.”

( CSEA retiree takes pride, overcomes prejudice |

PAWLING—Bluford Jackson has officially re-
tired from his 26 years of state service, but the
68-year-old is as active as ever —in politics, health
and human services.

“T think I owe something to society. I can repay
a debt,” says the CSEA retiree, a former em-
ployee at Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center and
Downstate Medical Center.

Bluford began working in 1951 as a mechanic at
Harlem Valley and later was an attendant and a
patrolman. In 1968 he became head of security at
Downstate. He was instrumental in forming a
CSEA unit there with the late Frances DuBose
Batiste, former Region II president,

These days, Jackson is involved in local politics.
An old friend of former Congressman Hamilton
Fish Sr., he has accompanied Fish on many of his
speaking engagements.

In addition, he is the zoning administrator for
the Village of Pawling in Dutchess County, a
member of the Board of Directors of Health
Shield, a health maintenance organization in
Poughkeepsie, and a member of the newly formed
Dutchess County Human Relations Comission. He
was the first black county commander in the
American Legion and is a member of NAACP.

“The good Lord has blessed me,” he said. “I

owe a great deal to my mother and father. They

taught me not to use my color or the prejudice of

ones as an excuse not to accomplish things in
ife.””

Jackson was no stranger to acts of prejudice.
He recalled that as a youngster he was not allowed
to accompany his school class on a trip to
Washington, D.C.

While many of his boyhood friends studied nurs-
ing at Harlem Valley State Hospital, Jackson
could not be admitted because of his color.

He also remembers an incident that occurred
while he was in the armed services and the men
were offered a bus trip to see a baseball game.
“The sergeant said the soldiers would sit in the
front of the bus and the blacks would sit in the
back. When I went to sit in the front, I was told
I was not considered a soldier.”

But Jackson is not bitter.

“The country has been good to me in spite of
everything I was deprived of,” he says.

Jackson credits CSEA with bringing black and”
white workers together to solve common pro-
blems. ‘The unions have done a lot to ease pre-
judice,” he said. ‘We can all work together —
but can we play together?” Ly,

Page 6

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, February 22, 1985

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The

Emancipation

Proclamation

September 22,

1862

at Here, a closeup of

Lincoln’s epoch-making
proclamation, which is
considered one of the three
or four most significant
documents in American
history.

‘| have in my hands a large piece of history’

exhibit specialist

ALBANY — Edward Brown’s maternal great-
great-great grandparents were plantation slaves
in Georgia, but the CSEA member says handling
the document that freed America’s slaves was in
many ways just another aspect of his ever-
interesting job at the New York State Museum.

A grade 17 supervising exhibit specialist in
audio visual design, Brown was part of a group of
museum employees who helped prepare and in-
stall Abraham Lincoln’s Preliminary
Emanicipation Proclamation of 1862 for display
(see accompanying story). The exhibit, which
coincides with Black History Month, runs
through Feb. 28.

“The proclamation means my ancestors were
a little bit freer to do what they wanted to do, like
sharecrop land, and to live where they wanted to
live, such as I do today,” said Brown. “The proc-
lamation was supposedly for all blacks, but in
the end it was for all humankind,”’ he added.

A member of CSEA Education Department
Local 657, Brown heads a team of four CSEA
members who design, maintain and repair
museum audio visual exhibits, including in such
special events as children’s programs, festivals,
film series and other video presentations.

“Anything in the building that uses AV, we
do,” he said, adding that his crew also installs
and maintains much of the museum’s security
devices, including video cameras, monitors and
alarms.

They were responsible for dressing and
lighting the fragile, 123-year-old Lincoln decree
and preparing the showcase for security.

In some ways, Brown says, the proclamation
was “just another important historical docu-
ment. I felt, I have in my hands a very large
piece of history.”

A soft-spoken, articulate man, Brown started
working for the museum in 1975 and became a
CSEA member two years later. A native of
Macon, Ga., the son of a career army man, he
lived for several years at a time in France,
England, Switzerland, Germany and Hawaii.
The family finally settled in the Boston area, and
Brown attended East Coast Aero Tech and the

eM

A LOOK AT LINCOLN — Edward Brown gazes at the exhibit he helped set up at the New York State

Museum.

University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He was’
in the Naval Air Reserves for several years,
where he trained in electronics.

He and his wife, a medical records technician,
moved to the Capital Region in 1973. They have
two sons, 13 and 11.

He says he has been interested in discovering
more about his roots ever since attending a fami-
ly reunion six years ago in his hometown at
which more than 240 relatives showed up.

“My kids are very interested in where we
came from, how we got where we are,”’ he said,
noting that in his spare time he enjoys carving
African statuettes and going to African dance
performances.

But he is not only interested in his black
heritage — he’s part Cherokee and Blackfoot In-
dian, too. And so he counts a rare Indian wam-
pum belt as one of the more fascinating historical

artifacts he helped set up at the museum.

Located at the Empire State Plaza in
downtown Albany, the museum is one of the
oldest and largest state museums in the country,
and is devoted to exploring the people, history,
art, science and natural environments of New
York state.

Brown says some of the more interesting proj-
ects he has worked on over the years have been
a jazz festival series, an exhibit/lecture series on
Trish art and literature, and ‘‘all the special pro-
grams with the kids.”

He enjoys the diversity of his work and says his
job has “taught me a lot about history and
science.”

Working on the Preliminary Emancipation
Proclamation with Brown were fellow CSEA
members Gregory Brown, Steven Shashok,
Thomas With, John Whaley, George Betke,
James Jackson, John Yost and Keith Prior,

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, February 22, 1985

~ Page 7

WASHINGTON — AFL-CIO President
Lane Kirkland has sharply criticized a
Treasury Department proposal to tax such
worker fringe benefits as health insurance,
pensions, day care, education and pre-paid
legal plans as part of ‘tax simplification.”

“Any revenue attained by taxing fringes
would be directly and exclusively taken out
of the pockets of working people,” Kirkland
said.

Kirkland also attacked the Treasury’s
proposals to tax fully unemployment in-
surance and workers’ compensation
benefits.

The federation chief said, “In the so-
called fringe benefit group now being con-
sidered for taxation are widely used pro-
grams that fulfill major, demonstrable
needs and social purposes that affect the
great majority of working Americans.”’ He
said such employer-paid benefit programs
“have been subjected to the checks and
balances of the legislative process as well
as the collective bargaining process.”’

“These benefits,’ Kirkland continued,
“are not frivolous ‘perks’ or gimmicks to
shelter income, generate phony losses or
cherie reduce the taxes of a privileged

ew.” i

Kirkland stressed that the AFL-CIO
“supports just and fair measures to reduce
the deficit and make the nation’s tax struc-

Health insurance, pensions,
day care among ‘fringes’
targeted for federal taxes

ture more efficient and productive. But
merely to increase the taxes of working
people and jeopardize benefits and protec-
tions that are essential to their welfare and
that of their families would be unjust and
unfair.”

If employee health insurance benefits
were taxed, Kirkland said, ‘‘the most likely
effect of scaling back benefits would be loss
of coverage for preventive care, outpatient
diagnostic services, dental care, eyeglasses
and other benefits which, in fact, save
money.”

Kirkland noted that pensions already are
taxed when they are received by employees ar
and their beneficiaries.

He pointed out that unemployment
benefits also are taxed above certain
thresholds, and said “the suffering of
unemployed workers should not be com-
pounded by increased taxation of their
unemployment benefits.”

Workers’ compensation benefits,
Kirkland said, ‘‘are already inadequate to
meet the needs of disabled workers and
their families.”

Kirkland urged Congress ‘‘to concentrate
on the long list of alternative means to in-
crease revenue through improving, not
sacrificing, equity.”

U.S. Chamber of Commerce President
Richard Lesher has also issued a similar
statement opposing taxation of fringes.

CSEA routs Teamsters in Lakeshore challenge

ANGOLA — A spirited effort by CSEA loyalists and activists has turned

Thomson.

forts and continue transportation services as a district operation,” said

back a representation challenge in the 192-member Lakeshore Central Schools
Unit of Local 868. The challenge was mounted by the Teamsters.

“Now we can go forward,” said Unit President Joyce Tomaka, “‘and con-
tinue to work for improvements on behalf of all our members. CSEA is here to
stay, and I’m glad the majority of our members weren’t intimidated by the tac-
tics of the opposition.”

“This show of confidence will help give us momentum toward a decent
negotiated contract,” noted Jack Schlenker, Local 868 president. ‘Our record
of accomplishments on behalf of our members can’t be beat, but we don’t rest
on our laurels. Our members want results, and that’s what we’re planning for
in upcoming negotiations.”’ : i

The spectre of subcontracting transportation services had to be defeated
before the unit could complete planning for bargaining, according to Bill
Thomson, field representative.

“The combined efforts of our members, elected officials and field staff was
instrumental in gaining agreement by the district to halt subcontracting ef-

Charlie Jacobson
remembered

IN MEMORIAL — Friends and colleagues of the
late Charlie Jacobson joined together recently for a
memorial ceremony at the Arthur Kill Correctional
Facility on Staten Island. Jacobson, a plumber and
CSEA Local 010 grievance representative at Arthur
Kill, was a member of the union for more than 16
years before his sudden death last November.
Among those participating, from left, were: Robert
Richards, Jacobson’s successor as grievance rep;
Ann Marie Delinkolou, alternate grievance rep;
Rose Sutro, president of Local 010; Kenneth
Dunham, superintendent of Arthur Kill; Dorothy
Jacobson; and Charles Bell, CSEA field rep.

Page 8 THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, February 22, 1985

The effort saved 66 bus driver and mechanic jobs and honed the unit into a
tight-knit core of CSEA members, he said.

Schlenker praised the election campaign input of Thomson and Region VI
Organizer Thomas Mullen, and vowed renewed determination in the process-
ing of member grievances.

“We have an outstanding record at Lakeshore,” Schlenker said. ‘We've
won more than 84 percent of all grievances filed and numerous arbitrations. I
think that’s why the employees voted to retain us.”

The unit’s present contract expires June 30, and Tomaka looks forward to
meeting the school board members, who “were very good in seeing the benefits of
district-run transportation.”

“Tn the subcontracting negotiations, we were working on behalf of the bus
drivers and mechanics,” said Tomaka. ‘Now we'll be pushing for the benefit of all
our members.

By Ron Wofford
CSEA Communications Associate

ROCHESTER — The seldom-addressed potential for assault or harrass-
ment of public employees on the the job received maximum attention in a
recent series of mandated seminars for Monroe County’s more than 2,000 em-
ployees.

The program included a presentation on managing and surviving poten-
tially violent situations, aid an explanation of procedures that will be used
to expedite prosecution should a county employee be attacked.

“The average county employee is a potential target for harrassment or
assault from a frustrated client or consumer, said Florence Tripi, president
of the county employee unit of Monroe County CSEA Local 828.

“For understandable reasons, social services personnel come under at-
tack more often than others,” Tripi said. “But workers in the health, en-
vironmental, parks, auto bureau and highway department also come in con-
tact with the public. Therefore, it is important to have the knowledge that
allows one to-assess the potential for conflict and confrontation in the work
situation, whether in the office or the field.”

Tripi said that for these reasons it was a big boost to employee morale
when Monroe County arranged four half-day sessions, allowing virtually all
employees to attend on county time.

“County Executive Lucien Morin and District Attorney Howard Relin em-
phasized the county is concerned with avoiding attacks, but will prosecute
to the full extent of the law should any occur,” said Local 828 President
George Growney.

Ammunition to avoid and reduce the risk of attacks was provided by a
presentation of James R. Clark, Ph.D., director of the county’s Mental Health
Clinic for Socio-Legal Services.

“The first step” in attaining a degree of personal safety is the realiza-
tion that ‘‘we are each primarily responsible for our own protection,” said
Clark, who is also a member of Local 828. is

“You can’t do a good job if you’re scared,”’ Clark said during his “‘Sur-
viving the Violent Situation’”’ workshop.

The psychologist explored a wide range of potential situations. He dis-
cussed the role of stress within oneself and the client, body language, deal-
ing with weapons, and pro-xemics, the science of maintaining proper
distance for the situation.

The session also included a sampling of violent behavior theory by Sig-
mund Freud and other psychoanalysts. A 10-point model for human services
contacts was designed to provide a condensed group of guidelines to follow.

District Attorney Relin outlined for employees the extensive measures
that will facilitate criminal processing by his department in cases involving
assaults upon county employees. The procedures include instructions to su-
pervisors of every department to immediately notify an assistant district at-
torney or the D.A.’s office administrator to expedite the prosecution. An
assistant district attorney will personally assist in drafting criminal infor-
mation forms and will keep the involved employee informed of the progress
of the case.

“It is the policy of Monroe County to ‘‘prosecute such cases vigorously
and effectively in order to prevent such incidents from occurring in the fu-
ture,” declared Relin.

Employees were given printed copies of the procedure at the sessions,
which were developed in cooperation with CSEA and other unions, accord-
ing to Tripi.

a
TALKING SAFETY — Gary Brandt, manager of employee health and safe-
ty for Monroe County, talks about the subject of safety with John Bieger, CSEA
occupational safety and health representative in Region VI.

Tripi said “‘we have had positive feedback on this,” and said she will pro-
pose such a presentation for a future regional conference. “It would also make
a great model for every county in the state to follow, ‘‘Tripi said.

KEEP PROPER DISTANCE - Dr. James R. Clark discusses the importance
of knowing proper distance to maintain in any situation.

APPRECIATION — Monroe County Employees CSEA Unit President Flor-
ence Tripi presents a plaque of appreciation to District Attorney Howard Relin
for his assistance in conducting the seminars.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, February 22, 1985 Page

The CSEA Employee Benefit Fund (EBF) was
formed in 1979 as the result of a negotiated agree-
ment between CSEA and the State of New York. The
unique Fund replaced an insurance program ad-
ministered by the state and which provided only den-
tal benefits.

Improvements and changes became immediate
under the CSEA- administered EBF as a prescrip-
tion drug insurance plan was inaugurated and the
previous dental plan’s deductible requirement was
dropped. A year later, EBF again improved dental
benefits. Expanded benefits coverage came again in
1981 when EBF offered its Vision Care Benefit pro-
gram. Increased benefits continued on a regular ba-
sis, and last year EBF was expanded again with the

Trustee

WILLIAM L.
McGOWAN

William L. McGowan,
statewide president of
CSBA, serves as chairman
of the Board of Trustees.
McGowan is also an inter-
national vice president of
the American Federation
of State, County and
Municipal Employees AF'L-
CIO, CSEA’s international
union affiliate. An active
member of CSEA for more
than two decades, Mc-
Gowan has held many high
level offices in addition to
serving as statewide presi-
dent for three terms.

ES

MPLOYEE BENEFIT FUNC

The CSEA Employee Benefit Fund is administered by a six- mem-
ber Board of Trustees. The trustees are William L. McGowan, chair-
man; James J. Moore, treasurer; Irene Carr, secretary; and members
Joseph E. McDermott, Louis J. Mannellino and Elaine Mootry. Follow-
ing are profiles of the members of the Board of Trustees.

a

JAMES J. MOORE
James J. Moore, presi-
dent of CSEA’s Central
Region V, serves as treas-
urer of the CSEA Employee
Benefit Fund. Moore has
headed up Region V since
1977, and has been a mem-
ber of the union’s statewide
Board of Directors since
1973. He has held a wide
variety of elected and ap-
pointed positions within the
union for many years.

introduction of a Personal Legal Plan.

CSEA statewide President William L. McGowan
is also chairman of the Board of Trustees which over-
sees the operation of EBF. McGowan recalls his dis-
satisfaction with both the level of benefits and the red
tape involved in plans then being administered by the
state. As head of CSEA’s negotiating teams, he was
in a position to conduct the historic negotiations
which led to creation of EBF.

“When we negotiated in 1979 to create the Fund,
there were a lot of skeptics, ‘‘McGowan remembers.
“But since the day we paid our first benefit until now,
we have shown steady and consistent progress in
providing an invaluable benefit to our members.”

Indeed, EBF celebrated its fifth anniversary last

The Employee Benefit Fund (EBF) provides health care benefits to
CSEA members in the state's Administrative, Institutional and Operational
bargaining units and to CSEA members in scores of local government bar-

\
IRENE CARR

Irene Carr, statewide
secretary of CSEA since
1976, also serves as secre-
tary of EBF. Very active in
a wide range of union ac-
tivities, she has held numer-
ous positions within the
union for several years. Ms.
Carr also is chairperson of
the AFSCME Women’s Ad-
visory Committee.

AT YOUR
SERVICE

O H Ei.
McDERMOTT

Joseph E. McDermott is
CSEA statewide executive
vice president and an inter-
national vice president of
AFSCME. He is a former
five term president of
CSEA’s Capital Region IV,
and has held a wide variety
of regional and statewide
positions within CSEA dur-
ing his more than two de-'
cades as an active CSEA
member.

Part of a series of articles to be
published periodically in the
Public Sector concerning the ser-
vices available to the membership
from or through The Civil Service
Employees Association.

June on an impressive record of accomplishments
and in a sound financial position. e

For instance, the Fund administered $34 million
in benefits during the previous fiscal year, which
translated into 1,186,360 prescriptions, 243,875 den-
tal claims and 46,269 vision care vouchers handled.

Utilization of the various programs by members
has grown substantially each year and results of the
fiscal year which ends next month will certainly es-
tablish even more impressive figures. EBF manag-
ment has instituted several cost containment
measures to help offset inflationary increases'
medical costs and the Fund continues to provide bet-
ter benefits with greater economy than ever before.

in some 120 bargaining units throughout

PH LOUIS J.
MANNELLINO

Louis J. Mannellino has
been an active member of
his Department of Trans-
portation local since 1966.
He is president of his local
and has held virtually every
other local office over th®
years as well. Mannellino
has held various regional
offices and has served on
more than a dozen regional
and statewide committees
within CSEA,

gaining units through contractual agreemen|
ers. EBF presently provides benefits coveragiito about 120,000 members

‘EMPLOYEE BENEFIT FUND

ADMINISTRATIVE
Thomas P, Collins, C.P.A.
Fund Director
Kathleen V. Barnes
Director of Operations
Jason P. McGraw
Director of Marketing
and Communications

CERTIFIED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANTS
Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co.

COUNSEL
“iy Pattison, Sampson,
kits] Ginsberg & Griffin, P.C.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
CONSULTANTS
Frank B. Hall & Co.

Thomas P. Collins.

between EBF and employ-

‘w York State.

ELAINE MOOTRY
Elaine Mootry is a mental
ygiene representative on
EA’s statewide Board of
Directors, and has served
is president of her West
eneca Developmental
enter CSEA local. In addi-
ion @ serving on several
egional and statewide
lommittees, she has been
hairperson of CSEA’s In-
titutional Services Unit

egotiating committee.

STRATEGY SESSION — The top administrative officials of the CSEA Employee Benefit Fund review
strategy for the day-to-day operation of the Fund. From left are Director of Marketing and
Communications Jason P. McGraw, Director of Operations Kathleen V. Barnes, and Fund Director

——
| om |

The CSEA Employee Benefit Fund provides health benefits in four
main areas. They are dental, prescription drug, vision care and a per-
sonal legal plan. The Fund provides health and welfare benefits in these
areas to CSEA-represented state employees and their eligible depen-
dents in the Administrative, Operational and Institutional bargaining units
and to employees and their dependents in authorities and local govern-
ment jurisdictions which have negotiated such coverage with EBF. Not
all coverage is available to all employees since the type of coverage varies
from jurisdiction to jurisdiction as negotiated in the individual contracts.

The following is a brief profile of each of the benefit areas available
through the Employee Benefit Fund:

PERSONAL LEGAL PLAN

The Personal Legal Plan (PLP) is the newest major benefit offered
by EBF to eligible enrolled members. PLP became available last May,
and like all other areas of EBF, is totally self-insured.

PLP is a two phase plan, with phase 1 providing eligible members
and their dependents free and immediate telephone access to an attor-
ney for advice on certain issues and problems. One simple will per year
for a covered employees and spouse at no costis available under phase
1 also.

Phase 2 of the plan offers comprehensive personal legal services
when required from qualified attorneys or law firms selected from through-
out the state. This phase offers legal representation at rates far less than
normally charged for a wide variety of services, including family law mat-
ters, real estate transactions, civil litigation, negligence cases, criminal
matters, estate planning, bankruptcies and landlord-tenant disputes.

PLP is administered by the law firm of Roemer and Featherstonhaugh,
P.C., Personal Legal Plan Division, 99 Pine Street, Albany, New York
12207

Eligible, enrolled employees can utilize the Personal Legal Plan by call-

INVESTMENT COUNSELOR
Michael B. O'Higgins

TF" Benefit coverage
very comprehensive

ing toll free 800-HELP-PLP. In the Albany area, covered employees may
call (518) 436-9363.

DENTAL COVERAGE

The dental plan is a self-insured program with dental benefits being
provided covered employees and eligible dependents according to a
specific reimbursement schedule. There are about 200 dental offices
throughout New York State that accept the CSEA fee schedule as full
payment for most services. Employees may also use any licensed den-
tist to provide dental services, but in the event charges are more than
covered in the fee schedule the employee must pay the difference be-
tween the scheduled benefit and the fee charged.

The plan has no deductible fee. Since 1983 there has been a
$1,000 annual limit per year per individual for dental benefits.

MEDICAL PRESCRIPTION COVERAGE

The EBF prescription drug program is accepted at more than 3,000
pharmacies throughout New York State. Prescription drugs, insulin,
syringes and oral contraceptives are covered. Under this plan employees
and dependents receive prescription drugs from participating pharma-
cists at a cost of just $1 for each covered drug. The prescription drug
program is also a self-insured plan, and like all EBF plans, requires en-
rollment by the individual employee.

VISION CARE COVERAGE

The vision care benefit plan allows eligible members and depen-
dents,once every 24 months, to have an eye examination and obtain
cone pair of eyeglasses (lenses and frame). An allowance is made for
contact lenses.

When covered member or dependents use optometrists approved
by EBF and select specific lenses and frames, a special CSEA voucher
is accepted as full payment. If non-participating practitioners are used,
the plan provides for specific fees payable to the member, who is respon-
sible for payment to the practitioner

Page 10

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, February 22,1985 Page 11

Political action coordinators
campaign against changes
in mental health system

STAFF MEMBERS OF CSEA’s statewide Legislative and Political Action office and regional ALBANY — CSEA’s Legislative and Political Ac-
political action coordinators get together at a breakfast meeting in Albany prior to lobbying at the tion office Feb. 5 held a Lobbying Day to help make
state Legislature. Pictured in background, from left, are: Gus Nielson, Region I political action coor- the state’s politicians more aware of the disastrous
dinator; Joyce Dimitri, administrative associate; Robert Haggerty, director of operations; and effects for the mentally ill of a proposed major
Thomas Haley, legislative and political action director. overhaul of the mental health system.

The union’s regional political action coordinators,
recent additions to the political action office, worked

~ the halls of the state Legislature, meeting with state
senators and assemblymen and criticizing recom-
mendations by a special governor’s study panel for
radical changes in mental health services. Primari-
ly, the commission has advised decentralization of
the services, under which there would be a shift from
state-run facilities to more community residences
that would be governed by regionally- established
offices or boards.

Prior to meeting with legislators, the political ac-
tion coordinators met with staff members of the un-
ion’s political action office.

“We met to brief them on the issue so that they
could properly represent CSEA’s position on the mat-
ter,”’ said Legislative and Political Action Director
Thomas Haley.

“We wanted to make it very clear to legislators
that CSEA is not against deinstitutionalization of the
mentally ill, but against releasing them into the com-
munity without adequate state-run support serv-
ices,” Haley said. “What we are against is the
proposal for community facilities run by private in-
terests for profit instead of the well-being of the men-
tally ill.”

Haley said that coordinators reported ‘mixed
responses”’ regarding opinions of the lawmakers on
the matter.

REGION II POLITICAL ACTION Coordinator
Doris Mason, above, looks over a copy of ““Com-
passion and Care” with Assemblyman Robert
Connor (D, Rockland), The report, a comprehen-
sive document put together by CSEA and
AFSCME, criticizes recommendations by a
special governor’s study panel which proposed
an overhaul of the state’s mental health system.

DOUGLAS PRESCOTT (R-C, Queens) takes
some time to talk over the issue with Region II
Political Action Coordinator Lauri Cohen.

ny

\
ys tan)
AGINN

=

ren yt

Page 12 THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, February 22, 1985

Board of
Directors

Meeting highlights

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Public Sector regularly
publishes a summary of actions taken by CSEA’s
statewide Board of Directors at the board’s official
meetings. The summary is prepared by statewide
Secretary Irene Carr for the information of union
members.

By Irene Carr
CSEA Statewide Secretary

ALBANY — Meeting in Albany on Jan. 10, the
statewide Board of Directors overruled the report
of the Legal Committee in three instances, granting
legal assistance in each case.

It was announced that the State Workshop will be
held in Syracuse May 1-3 and that the Local Govern-
ment Workshop is scheduled for June 7-9 in Albany.

The Local Government Executive Committee
received a report from CSEA’s Research Depart-
ment on the Civil Service Abuse Study. The Board
then recommended that within 90 days they be fur-
nished with a report of the disposition of and/or
recommendations for the resolutions of problems
identified within the report.

Two appointments to the union’s statewide
Political Action Committee were approved: Joan
Newman, representing Region III, and Keith
Zielko, representing Region V. Sal Grieco was nam-
ed as a member of the Region III Political Action
Committee.

The Board also recommended that the statewide
Treasurer send a definitive status report to the ap-
propriate unit or local president and treasurer
when financial records are taken for an audit at
headquarters. The report should be provided every
30 days while’ the books are being held.

Questions by CSEA members concerning the
union’s Board of Directors should be directed to
that member’s board representative, local presi-
dent, or to the office of the statewide secretary.
Copies of the secretary’s Board minutes are mailed
to all board representatives and local presidents.

EDWARD LAPLANTE, political action coordinator in Region IV, right, holds a quick meeting in the
hall of the Legislative Office Building with two lawmakers, Assemblyman Arnold Proskin (R-C,
Albany-Saratoga) and Assemblyman Richard Miller (R, Broome).

i YEARS OF
PROGRESS

SEG

During the World War II years, CSEA con-
tinued to grow and obtain substantial and im-
portant gains for public employees. In 1941,
CSEA was a strong backer of the law creating
the Fite Commission to develop rules and pro-
cedures to bring all public employees in the
state under the merit system. CSEA’s presi-
dent and counsel were both members of
that commission, In 1942 CSEA won statu-
tory protection relative to leaves, in-
crements, reinstatements, etc. for employees
entering military service. In 1943 CSEA was
instrumental in gaining overtime pay for
work beyond 48 hours, and in 1944 CSEA began
supplying members a regular weekly
newspaper, the forerunner of today’s Public
Sector. In 1945 the union won increases in
state emergency pay ranges, and secured a
measure permitting 10 percent additional pay
for hazardous work.

fk
|

ASSEMBLYMAN PAUL HARENBERG (D, Suffolk) and Region I Political Action Coordinator Gus
Nielson discuss the mental health issue and CSEA’s stance.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, February 22, 1985 Page 13

2 SS _ _ _eeeEr

MAMGM:
Region IV
PALS meet .
and greet
legislators
MAMAM.

Sen. Howard Nolan (D, 42nd District) and Joan Tobin, Region IV first vice president.

LEGISLATIVE

ALBANY — CSEA political action liaisons in
Region IV were busy renewing old acquaintances
and establishing new ones during the recent legis-
lative breakfast held here.

“This is a great opportunity to get an early pulse
of the tempo that the session will be operating un-
der,” said John Francisco, CSEA Region IV Po-
litical Action Committee chairman. @

“We have an early opportunity to introduce our
positions on numerous items without any type of
political pressure.”’

A dozen elected Assembly and Senate represen-
tatives attended the breakfast, and C. Allen Mead,

Region IV president, was busy table hopping to
make sure all of the officials were aware of the
region’s views on a number of topics — from
CSEA’s opposition to recent proposals to revamp
the‘ existing mental health system, to its support
for a permanent agency shop law. ®

“This breakfast is a tradition which has proven

its worth and must be continued,” said Mead.

).

li i :

PAL Carol Strokes, Region lV PAC Chairman John Francisco, center, and Sen. Hugh Farley (R, 44th)

ABOVE: Edward LaPlante, left, political action coordinator, Glenn Harris (R, 109th), center, and
Assemblyman Neil Kelleher (R, 100th)

LEFT: Assemblyman Robert D'Andrea (R, 108th) and C. Allen Mead, Region IV president

Page 14 THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, February 22, 1985

Sal a ae Xe

Sanford T. Tanksley, left, representative to Assemblyman Michael McNulty (D, 106th), Assemblyman Richard Conners (D, 104th) and Region IV Director John D. Corcoran

Region IV President C. Allen Mead and Assemblyman Andrew Ryan (R, |!0th). Jr.

BREAKFAST ==

ABOVE: Assemblyman Larry Lane (R, 102nd), PAL Gloria

Assemblyman Paul Tonko (D, 05th) and PAC Chairman John
Rutkey, and Assemblyman Jim Tedisco (R, 107th).

Francisco.
RIGHT: Assemblyman Arnold Proskin (R. 03rd) and Region

IV Third Vice President Barbara Skelly.

—— he
80r Ba 00; Fame:

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, February 22, 1985 Page 15

KNOW YOUR NEGOTIATORS

Profiles of some of the members of your union's
negotiating teams in the CSEA/state contract negotiations

SARAH JACKSON
Administrative Services Unit,

“T have a great concern for people and
it is a real challenge for me to be
part of seeking and approving what I
think is best for all my sisters and
brothers,” says Sarah Jackson.

A state worker and CSEA member for
22 years, Jackson is chairwoman of the
Administrative Services Bargaining Unit.
Secretary of her local, she is a member
of the statewide Board of Directors and
the CSEAP and Education committees,
and chairs the Human Relations Commit-
tee. She has trained in labor history and
labor law.

Jackson is just as involved in commu-
nity service. She is first vice president of
the New York State Board Association of
Community Action, chairwoman of the
Board of Directors of Rockland Commu-
nity Action Council, chairwoman of the
Spring Valley NAACP Membership Com-
mittee, and past chairwoman of the Wom-
en’s Auxiliary of the First Baptist Church
of Spring Valley.

This is her first time on the negotiating
team. “I feel I can be an asset because

of my leadership ability,” she says.

—

MADELINE C.
HARRISON

Institutional
Services Unit

“T have been actively involved in CSEA for the
past three years and in that time I have become
a staunch supporter of CSEA and the value of
negotiating for our members,”’ says Madeline C.
Harrison,

A union member for five years and currently a
shop steward, Harrison says she believes she is
in tune with the needs of her co-workers.

She says she has been successful at settling
negotiations over safety, clothing requirements

(iE »
CSEA’S NEGOTIATING TEAMS

BOM STAT UE SERVICES UNIT Negotiating
‘eam

Region | — Elizabeth Holt and Barbara Reynolds
Region || — Elliot Bernstein and Ann Worthy
Region Ill — Carole Peets and Sarah Jackson
Region IV — Lee Johnson and Dann Wood
Region V — Chris Carletta and Claire McGrath
Region Vi — Sara Sievert and Dawn Lyman
Collective Bargaining Specialist Jack Conoby

OPERATIONAL SERVICES UNIT Negotiating Team
Region | — Arthur Loving and Lou Mannellino
Region Il — Benjamin:Hayes and James Wilson
Region Ill — Jack Cassidy and Richard Riley
Region IV — Milo Barlow and Leroy Holmes
Region V — Tom Ward and Chuck Eynon

Region Vi — John Wallenbeck and Thomas Petrone
Collective Bargaining Specialist John Naughter

INSTITUTIONAL SERVICES UNIT Negotiating Team
Region | — Joseph Noya and Anthony Ruggiero
Region |! — Joel Schwartz and Miguel Cruz
Region Ili — Jeff Howarth and Beatrice White
Region IV — Joel Falkenbury and Dominick Ruggieri
Region V — Madeline Harrison and Ruby Meyers
Region VI — Elaine Mootry and Kathy Pontillo-Button
Collective Bargaining Specialist Jim Cooney

~
-

CHARLES J. EYNON

Operational
Services Unit

President of his local, Charles J. Eynon has served
as an AFSCME delegate and has been involved in
EAP, helping to negotiate the EAP language into the
contract at the last round of negotiations.

Previously he was president of Binghamton State
Employees Local 002, and served as vice chairman
of the OSU negotiating team during the 1982-85 con-
tract talks,

“T see the need for some real important language
changes in the operational contract,”’ he says, not-
ing that current language inadequacies have ‘‘cost

and training with her supervisors. a

Ge many grievances.”

SS

Page 16

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, February 22, 1985

Two new prep books available
for political subdivision
tests for welfare examiner
and caseworker job titles;
stress management tapes now
available for all members

ALBANY — CSEA is offering members a
cassette tape that individuals can use to teach
themselves how to combat the effects of stress
through relaxation. The audio tape can be
ordered for just $2.50 by completing the coupon
below.

The relaxation tape was developed for CSEA by
Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations,
and is an extension of stress management work-
shops CSEA has been conducting at meetings
around the state.

One side of the cassette tape is especially
tailored to assist people in controlling stress relat-
ed to taking exams. The other side of the tape con-
sists of a 30-minute program of breathing
exercises and other relaxation techniques. Both
sides should be useful in helping overcome the ef-
fects of stress in a variety of conditions.

New exam prep booklets
available for caseworkers,
social welfare examiners

ALBANY — CSEA is now making available two new exam prepa-
ration booklets to workers in the political subdivisions. The new book-
lets, one for caseworkers and the other for social welfare examiners,
add to two already existing instructional series on secretarial and cus-
todial skills.

The new ‘“‘Social Welfare Examiner Series” contains review work
in the areas of supervision and administration, interviewing, and un-
derstanding social and human relations problems.

Principles and practices of social casework, interviewing and su-
pervision are included as part of the preparation in the ‘Caseworker
Promotional Exam Series.”

Still available through the CSEA Education and Training Depart-
ment are the “Secretarial and Typing Series” and the ‘Custodial
Series.”

The former booklet is for secretaries in the counties and munici-
palities and for non-teaching school district personnel. Designed for
employees holding typist, steno, and secretarial titles, it contains review
work in areas of supervision, secretarial and typing practices, spelling,
punctuation, and capitalization and usage.

The series for custodians contains review work in supervision, clean-
ing, building operations and maintenance as well as in ability to read
and follow written instructions.

Each booklet is available for the price of $1.50 from the union’s Edu-
cation and Training Department. Use adjacent coupon for ordering.

ORDER FORM

ATTN: CSEA Education Department
33 Elk Street
Albany, N.Y. 12207

Please send me the booklet(s) indicated. | understand the price is $1.50
(includes postage) for EACH booklet ordered

— Secretarial and Typing Series __ Social Welfare Examiner Series

— Caseworker Promotional Exam
Series

Please send me relaxation program(s) on cassette tape at the price
of $2.60 each

| have enclosed a check or money order in the amount of $.

to cover the cost of this order.

Please send booklet(s) to:

— Custodial Series

Name

Address

City State/Zip

Social Security Number CSEA Local

EMPLOYER

PLEASE NOTE: The relaxation tape is available only through CSEA’s
Education Department. Non-CSEA members can obtain the exam prep
booklets directly from Cornell University at the same price by contact-

ing: Cornell ILR, 112 State Street, Suite 1200, Albany, New York 12207.

Region IV workshop set

LAKE GEORGE — A workshop dealing with such
topics as domestic violence, legal rights of battered
women, rape, sexual abuse, self defense and legali-
ties will be held March 8-10 at the Ramada Inn, Lake
George, under sponsorship of the CSEA Region IV
Women’s Committee.

A discussion on alcohol and drug abuse and its rela-
tionship to domestic violence will be held Friday
night, March 8.

Saturday’s program will include discussions by ex-
perts of the effects of domestic violence on children,
the legal rights of battered women, and related
subjects.

Sunday’s program will discuss rape, sexual abuse
and self defense.

Information about the workshop can be obtained
by contacting the CSEA Capital Region office, (518)
489-5424,

y-

HAUPPAUGE — Three employees of the Islip
Career Center of BOCES II have received ap-
provals for upgradings which will represent an an-
nual increase in pay of at least $600 apiece.

The employees, members of Suffolk County Lo-
cal 852, will be upgraded to the title of Warehouse
Worker II. Currently, they work at the center in
Laborer and Driver/Messenger positions.

BOCES II Unit President Yvette Warren says
that CSEA petitioned the Civil Service Depart-
ment for the upgradings last fall after receiving
complaints from the workers that they regularly
were performing tasks not included among their
job specifications.

“Their duties called for them to move furniture,
stocks and supplies,” explains Warren. ‘“Howev-
er, these workers found themselves doing a lot of
inventory and clerical work like record keeping
and filing. They felt there was a lot more respon-
sibility to the job than there was supposed to be
for what they were getting paid.”

The Civil Service Department agreed that the

CSEA efforts get upgradings
for 3 Suffolk local members

a

three workers were performing some duties not
in their job descriptions. Recently, it selected an
existing title it believes better fits their responsi-
bilities.

The Civil Service Department decision for an
upgrading must go now to the BOCES II board for
approval. According to Warren, the board is ex-
pected to approve the upgradings.

“Each of the workers upgraded will receive up
to $630 more a year in addition to regular raises
which they are entitled to through the contract,”
said Warren.

Region I President Danny Donohue noted that
the BOCES workers’ upgradings is an example to
others who find themselves with added responsi-
bilities.

“A lot of these blue collar titles are getting ad-
ditional workloads and responsibilities. When a ti-
tle no longer fits the kind of work actually
required, then employees deserve and should go
after an upgrading and a title change,” said
Donohue. g

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, February 22, 1985

Page 17

Kids On ricteie) ae

for life

|.D. safety program
registers 300 children of

Broome D.C. employees

BINGHAMTON — The Human Relations Com-
mittee at Broome Developmental Center recent-
ly completed an identification program for
children of employees that photographed, finger-
printed and registered approximately 300 young-
sters in two Saturday sessions, according to Sue
Smacher, committee chairwoman and an officer
of CSEA Local 449 at the facility.

“We were absolutely delighted with the em-
ployees’ response to the program, and also want
to express our appreciation to management offi-
cials here at Broome D.C. for their cooperation,”
Smacher said.

The two-day event, sponsored by CSEA, PEF
and AFSCME Council 82, was conducted Feb. 2
and 9 in the main lobby of the OMRDD facility in
Binghamton.

Employees learned of the program through a
facility-wide campaign that included posted fliers
and extensive CSEA coverage .to area
newspapers, radio and television stations.

“The fliers explained the program and recom-
mended that the employees make reservations to
bring their children either Saturday. Thanks to
Sandi Slodki, Carl Stecker and other committee
members we were able to handle nearly 300 chil-
dren. After the first session we learned we need-
ed an extra fingerprinting kit to reduce waiting
time. The younger children may aot understand
the purpose of the program, but they surely en-
joyed the refreshments,” Smacher added.

The photographs and fingerprints were turned
over to the various agencies in the Binghamton-
Broome County area for future use in the event
of an accident or missing person.

CSEA locals interested in an I.D. program
may contact Sue Smacher at Broome Develop-
mental Center, (607) 770-0472.

RYAN MAKES HIS MARK
— Safety Officer Sgt. Carl
Stecker, left, fingerprints
year-old Ryan Smacher,
while Sue Smacher, his
mother, observes the ™

Brentwood school members win early retirement

HAUPPAUGE — CSEA-represented workers and other non-teaching em-
ployees of the Brentwood Union Free School District have secured an early
retirement option as a result of recent actions by CSEA’s law firm and
representatives of Region I.

The school district offered the retirement incentive plan to members of
CSEA and three other employee unions in the New York State Employees
Retirement System Feb. 6 as the Brentwood Teacher Aides Unit of Suffolk
Educational Local 870 went into a new round of negotiations. The offer came
after some heavy petitioning and on the heels of threatened legal action by
CSEA.

The controversy began last November when the Board of Education of
the Brentwood School District elected to participate in the early retirement
plan but chose then to extend the option only to teachers, principals and su-
pervisors in the New York State Teachers Retirement System. CSEA moved
to have its members included at that time on the ground that the program
must be instituted on an ‘‘all or nothing” basis according to Field Represen-
tative Jim Walters.

“As soon as we found out the teachers and adminstrators were getting
the retirement option, I checked with the school district to make sure it was
considering giving it to all of the units. We understood that the option was
an all or nothing proposition and therefore not negotiable,” said Walters.

However, Walters said he discovered through conversations with
representatives of the school district that their opinion differed. In Decem-
ber, he made a formal request to the superintendent of the Brentwood School
District for the inclusion of CSEA members. A denial came in the superin-
tendent’s response at the end of January. The difference of opinion centered

around interpretation of statutory language in Chapter 665 of the Laws of 1984
which concerns how employers can institute the option.

“T went to the law firm then, and had some legal papers drawn up,” said
Walters, who worked with CSEA Attorney Steven Wiley to file notices of claim
for seven Brentwood workers represented by CSEA. Named on the claims
again’t the school district were: Madeline Agricola, Fran Bisculca, Josephine
Chidichimo, Leonora Resseque, Teresa Stango, Marie Visco and Rose Waye.

The school district’s favorable response that it would offer the retirement
option to all units came within a week.

“It’s been our position that the structure and language of the optional
early retirement bill clearly dictates that an employer cannot choose between
groups of employees’’ when it offers the benefit, says Wiley.

“In the event that any situation contrary to this should come to our at-
tention, we are legally prepared to deal with it, as we have in the case of Brent-
wood,”’ he said.

Walters said he and union members in the school district were pleased
and impressed with the quick turnaround in the district’s decision.

“It’s basically because of the speedy action of CSEA and its law firm that
the district decided to move on this issue,”’ says Walters. ‘This was some-
thing it otherwise would have used as one of the plums in negotiations.”

Region I President Danny Donohue called the resolution of the issue ‘‘an
important win.

“What we’ve done in this case is send out the clear message to employ-
ers in the school districts and municipalities that if they’re going to give the
retirement option to one groups of employees, they’re going to have to give
it to CCEA members, too,” said Donohue.

eee eer) THE PUBLIC SECTOR. Friday, February 22, 1985

7

Two CSEA leaders address concerns about
training, wage scales in Mid-Hudson area

FISHKILL — A shortage of vocationally trained
workers and inadequate pay scales in local
@ government have created a serious problem in the
Mid-Hudson Valley, according to two CSEA offi-
cials there.

President Pat Mascioli and Director Diane
Campion of CSEA Southern Region III addressed
these concerns in a special edition of the Mid-
dletown Times Herald Record at the request of
the local daily newspaper.

While educational institutions in the area offer
the specialized training necessary to sustain the
local computer industry, say Mascioli and Cam-
e pion, ‘‘a by-product of ail our institutions of higher
learning is a workforce too well-trained and too
technically-oriented to meet the demand for blue
collar, clerical and basic service employees.

“Tt becomes more difficult to attract these em-
ployees to public service because of salary com-
petition from the private sector.”

In the special edition, titled ‘Mid-Hudson at
Work,” the two cited a reluctance to reward pub-
lic employees for their services.

They also attacked the attitude of those local
e government officials “who prefer to balance their
budgets on the backs of employees rather than
looking to top-heavy administration.

“Public employment will continue to expand out
of necessity. The state prison system is expand-
ing locally. State officials are also being forced to
look at the plight of the homeless and the de-
institutionalized mentally ill,” they said.

“The shortage of a workforce to address these
problems is a critical one,” they concluded, “one
that the taxpayer will bear when government fi-

G nally salives Gat in order to Dene fate and ‘A by-product of all our institutions of higher learning is a workforce too
ly wage ul geeea ake wn foe well-trained and too eee cosstes to meee the demand for blue-
\ these people.” collar, clerical and basic service employees. S,
ROCHESTER SATELLITE OFFICE
SATELLITE OFFICES | saz,patine
3699 W. Henrietta Road
e Rochester, NY 14623
= -7140
BINGHAMTON SATELLITE OFFICE | MAYVILLE SATELLITE OFFICE 7'°°°*
Sulte 218, Executive Office Bidg. P.O. Box 225 UTICA SATELLITE OFFICE
Binghamton Plaza Mayville, NY 14757 ania gicet
33 W. State Street 716-753-5290 : jenesee Stree’
Binghamton, NY 13901 hepa vis Hed
plillot lied PLATTSBURGH SATELLITE OFFICE
CANTON SATELLITE OFFICE Broad Street Professional Bidg. WESTCHESTER SATELLITE OFFICE
P.O. Box 488 53 Broad Street 222 Mamaroneck Avenue
Canton, NY 13617 (Plattsburgh, NY 12901 White Plains, NY 10601

@ 315-386-8131 or 8132 518-563-0761 914-946-6905 or 6906

Nassau local VP to speak at workshop on ‘fair play’

HEMPSTEAD Nassau County cane [ieccise mer ices oh hea eee mem on ere eminent te reo eeieS Pe ne NOG IPR TDUN SET Tw I “Al

Prealdent Rita M. Wallace wil be ADVANCE REGISTRATION FORM

President Rita M. Wallace will be
among an impressive list of

|
| |
|
panelists participating in ‘A Confer- | Name WORKSHOP PREFERENCE }
@ sence on Fair Play at Work” on =! Address |
Saturday, March 16 from 8:45 am Zip Please number all four workshops in your |
to 1 p.m. at Hofstra Law School, order of preference. i
ratte i
Pabfocula AVENE, ee | Organization Cl What the Boss Can and Cannot Do |
by several groups, including the Daytime Phone (_—_) (1 When Equal Opportunity Isn't Enough |
New York Civil Liberties Union, | There will be a $5 pre-registration f ble by March 9. |
4 e 2 a $5 pre-registration fee payable by March 9. Making F the Law
Nassau County Human Rights Com- | Registration at the door will be $7.50. Please detach and ¢ sea ee a ne Oe |
mise ad the LongIslandFeder- | yeturn check or money order payable to: C) Equal Pay for Comparable Worth
ation o! or. I
Participants planning to attend | NYCLU Nassau : : ss !
@ should complete the registration | 210 Old Country | For more information call (516) 741-8520 |

| Mineola, New York 11501

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, February 22, 1985 Page 19

form at right.

UNION ON OFFENSIVE TO REVERSE

A PAIR OF NEGATIVE SITUATIONS

( 1M RENSSELAER COUNTY:

TROY- A resolution strongly backed by CSEA,
urging the state to retain the current system of
service delivery for the mentally ill and disregard
recommendations contained in a report by the
Select Commission on the Future of State-Local
Health Systems, has been passed by the Rens-
selaer County Legislature.

The Rensselaer County resolution calls upon the
state to conduct additional studies before im-
plementing any phases of the commission’s
report. CSEA’s local and regional political action
organizations had urged the Rensselaer County
Legislature to take action rejecting the report.

CSEA has been battling the findings of the com-
mission’s report, claiming implementation would
in effect destroy the system and eliminate many
state and local jobs without any improvments to
the mentally ill.

The Rensselaer County resolution notes,
“although the report presents an analysis of the
historical and current problems and issues
regarding the organization of services, policy is-
sues, funding issues, and systems management is-
sues, it does not give specific solutions.”

The resolution further states that ‘even though
many of the objectives of the report have been ac-
complished in Rensselaer County under the Uni-
fied Services format, it is critical that these gains
which have been made in the County as well as
many other jurisdictions throughout the State
should not be compromised by premature im-
plementation of new and sweeping legislation
which does not preserve the strengths of the cur-
rent system.”

Additionally, according to the resolution,‘‘the
commission’s findings relate only to mental health
and not to the other mental hygiene disabilities
groups,” and therefore “unilateral implementa-
tion by OMH would fragment in Rensselaer
County an integrated services and management
system.”’

CSEA officials have been appearing before lo-

ing in opposition to implementation of any portion of
the commission’s recommendations. The union’s
theme is echoed in the statement by Marty
Langer, CSEA’s consultant on mental health is-
sues, who has said time and time again, ‘“‘We can-
not let the state use this report to walk away from
its constitutional responsibility for mental health
care and foist it and all of its problems onto the
counties.””

eal and county groups all across the state work-

CSEA CAPITAL REGION PRESIDENT C. Allen Mead, second from left, congratulates Rensselaer
County Legislator Paul Mindiole, chairman of the county health committee, after the county legisla-
ture passed a resolution calling for more study of a report on revising mental health services before
implementation. Among those who worked to convince members of the legislature to take that action
were Rensselaer County CSEA Local 842 President Marianne Herkenham, left, and Ed LaPlante, right,

CSEA’s political action coordinator for the Capital Region.

IN WESTERN NEW YORK:

CSEA gains wide support in bitter battle
against Workers’ Comp hours change

BUFFALO — A bitter battle which began last
month in New York City against night working
hours for Workers’ Compensation Board em-
ployees has spread across the state to western
New York, where CSEA activists say they plan to
take to the streets to conduct information picket-
ing in protest of the work hours change.

Pat Froebel, a steward in CSEA’s Buffalo State
Employees Local 003 and a WCB employee, says
CSEA is joined by members of other unions affect-
ed as well as representatives of several private
firms that do business with the WCB in adamant-
ly opposing the change to night hours. She says
she has gathered a long list of signers from those
groups to petitions stating strong opposition to the
change.

“We also have signatures of many claimants
who are opposed to this change,” Froebel said. “In
fact, we haven't heard of anyone speaking out in
faver of the move, which was unilateral and is a

violation of the CSEA-state contract, article 32
among others.”

Froebel says claimants, employees, attorneys,
insurance carriers and self-insured employers
have all signed the petitions, along with members
of ten other area labor unions,

The Board began initiating hearings on week
nights earlier this month, and employees assigned
the extra hours are receiving time off the follow-
ing day under the plan. Even before the new
schedule took effect, angry protests erupted
among WCB employees in New York City, who cit-
ed the plan as unacceptable and a violation of the
union’s contract,

Workers supporting CSEA’s fight against the
change have mounted a pair of heated demonstra-
tions in New York City, and according to Froebel,
“we're not stopping with the filing of a grievance
and the petitions. We plan on joining the initiative
of our brothers and sisters in New York City in in-
formational picketing to further inform the pub-
lie of the hazards of this order. And our Local 003

Page 20 ‘THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, February 22, 1985

President, Kathy Fetzer, is planning to testify be-
fore a state commission that is investigating the
entire WCB program.”

That hearing, by the Temporary State Com-
mission on Workers’ Compensation and Disabili-
ty Benefits, was scheduled for Feb. 21 in Buffalo,
as this issue of The Public Sector went to press.
Froebel said many CSEA members planned to
use their lunch break that day to carry signs into
the hearing area to show displeasure with the
hours change. And, she said, an advocacy group
for claimants called “Victims of Compensation”
has “declared war” on the WCB.

“The hardships on working mothers and disrup-
tion of workers’ personal lives by this unilateral
order are unbelievable,” says Froebel. “And
what’s so disgusting, so far only about 35 percent
of the scheduled night hearings have been held be-
cause the claimants aren’t showing up. So
there’s a big waste of taxpayers’ money going on
here.”

J