The Work Force, 2011 September

Members ratify state contract, page 3.

Work Force

September 2011 Vol. 14 No. 9

ALWAYS
REMEMBER.

CSEA members Yvette Anderson,

Florence Cohen, Harry Goody, Marian “Marty”
Hrycak and Dorothy Temple were among the
2,753 people who lost their lives at the

World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

SERS STS

its)

We honor their memory. Now and forever.

See commemorative 10th anniversary
retrospective inside.

==

Inc. Local President Deb Hanna, Jacqueline Stanford,
Mary Harmon, Angelina Black and Damaris Rodriguez join
Communication Workers of America (CWA) members on
the Verizon picket line in Lower Manhattan. Harmon’s son
is a Verizon worker. CWA members and the International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) struck Verizon
for two weeks in August over the bargaining terms for a
new contract. The unions and Verizon have returned to the
bargaining table.

Stay informed at
csealocal1000.org, and
follow our news on
Facebook, Twitter and
YouTube.

From the Office of President Danny Donohue

NEW YORK’S
LEADING UNION

Local 1000 AFSCME, AFL-CIO

CSEA President Danny Donohue
to meet Southern Region
members on Oct. 12

resident Danny Donohue will visit the CSEA
Southern Region on Oct. 12 to meet with members.
The meetings will be held at the Southern Region
Office, 568 State Route 52, Beacon.
Donohue will meet with union members from 1 to
7 p.m. Please call the Southern Region office at
(845) 831-1000 or 1-800-757-CSEA for an
appointment and directions.

CSEA

adds 1,000

members, targets
1,000 more

Me: than 1,000 hourly and seasonal
employees of Westchester County
recently voted by an overwhelming (7:1)
ratio to become a part of CSEA.

The newly organized workers include
some seasonal workers working at the
county’s parks, pools, golf courses and an

election and handed over representation
of the workers.

This is the second group recently to
decertify from UPSEU and join CSEA.
Twenty adult nursing instructors at
Eastern Suffolk BOCES represented by
UPSEU joined CSEA last spring.

amusement park, and some year-round

employees who work on an hourly basis

with no benefits.

“Thousands of full-time and part-time
public sector workers work alongside
us without representation around the
state. In recent times local and state
governments are increasingly tempted
to lay off full-time union members and

replace them with
non-union, temporary
and part-time workers.
We are committed to
making it harder for
them to exploit these
workers and undercut
our union. This is a
major step in the right
direction. By coming

together with CSEA, all the employees
of Westchester County are now made
stronger,” said CSEA President Danny

Donohue.

“This is so exciting for us. Many of us
work side-by-side CSEA members, working
the same jobs and same hours for less
money, no benefits and no opportunities
for advancement. We were treated like

1,000 Oneida County workers
look to CSEA

With a strong will to organize and the
help of numerous volunteer member
organizers, nearly 1,000 Oneida County
workers want to return to CSEA.

The group filed a petition recently
seeking to decertify UPSEU and certify
CSEA as the exclusive

6 e are committed to

making it harder for
them to exploit these workers
and undercut our union. This
is a major step in the right
direction.”

bargaining agent for
nearly 1,000 Oneida
County workers in

the blue- and white-
collar units. A hearing
with the state Public
Employment Relations
Board (PERB) is

scheduled for mid-
September.

The group decertified in 1995 only to
find their current organization simply
not strong enough to help them fight to
maintain benefits and standards.

“They are working their way back to
CSEA because of its strength in numbers,
our skill, and our commitment to a
democratic union,” said Donohue.

second-class employees and now this will

change,” said Jorge Vasquez, a County
Center recreation attendant. “We now
have a voice on the job and this means
the power and respect we deserve to have
our place at the negotiating table.”

Another UPSEU unit switches to CSEA

Food service workers from Cold Spring
Harbor School District on Long Island
recently decided to join CSEA and dump
UPSEU (formerly known as Local 424).
The workers filed to decertify UPSEU and
began with the election process to join

CSEA.

In other organizing news

Several other organizing campaigns
have reached a majority and have filed
for recognition with PERB; a unit of bus
drivers, teacher aides, food service
workers and maintenance/custodial
employees in the Poland Central School
District; front line supervisory employees
in the Village of Rockville Centre; part-time
employees at the Baldwin Public Library
and substitute bus drivers in the Bath-
Haverling School District are all on their
way to becoming part of CSEA.

— Jill Asencio

UPSEU suddenly withdrew from the

2 | THe Work FORCE

September 2011
CSEA
members
ratify state
contract

ALBANY — CSEA-represented state
Executive Branch employees have ratified
a contract with New York state that keeps
people working and protects rights and
benefits.

Each of CSEA’s four bargaining units
(Administrative, Institutional, Operational
and Division of Military and Naval Affairs)
individually approved the agreement.

The agreement was approved by a total
vote of 16,896-11,856, nearly a 60 percent
approval with more than 28,000 votes cast.

“These are not ordinary times and CSEA
worked hard to reach an agreement that
we believed would be in everyone’s best
interest,” said CSEA President Danny
Donohue. “CSEA members agree that this
contract is reasonable and responsible for
the long term. CSEA will move forward as
we always have.”

66 NG a time when collective

bargaining is under attack
all over the country, the CSEA
vote demonstrates that collective
bargaining can work for the
common good. The way both
parties handled this process
should serve as an example for
the rest of the country.”

— New York State AFL-CIO
President Denis Hughes

From left, CSEA Statewide Treasurer Joe McMullen, Statewide Secretary Denise
Berkley, Executive Vice President Mary E Sullivan, President Danny Donohue and
Director of Contract Administration Ross Hanna take part in a news conference
announcing CSEA’s state contract ratification.

Job protection

The five-year agreement includes
strong job protection provisions to keep
CSEA-represented state employees on the
job delivering essential services to New
Yorkers.

The agreement includes money in each
of the last three years.

It preserves step increments and
longevity increases and holds the line on
health insurance, increasing employee
premium contributions based on salary
level while keeping co-payment changes
minimal.

Meetings across the state

The tentative agreement was reached
in June. The 23 members of the team
conducted dozens of meetings across
the state to explain the details of the
agreement to CSEA members and respond
to their concerns.

“First of all we tried to actually engage
them and let them know that we were
members too,” said Abraham Benjamin,
Bronx Psychiatric Center Local president
and negotiating team member. “Then we

explained the process and gave them
some comparison with the circumstances
that other union workers are facing in
other places.”

The union also provided every member
with the contract language and full
explanation, and had other information
available on the CSEA website before
ballots were mailed.

66 | [pes Danny Donohue for
his leadership and vision
in this negotiation. This vote
demonstrates their commitment
to seeing this state get back on
the right track. In these difficult
financial times, shared sacrifice
is needed, and CSEA members
have shown willingness to do
their part.”

— Gov. Andrew Cuomo

September 2011

THe Work FORCE
ISSN 1522-1091

Official publication of
CSEA Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO
143 Washington Ave.
Albany, NY 12210-2303
Danny Donohue, President

STEPHEN A. MADARASZ
Communications Director & Publisher
STANLEY HORNAK
Deputy Director of Communications
LOU HMIELESKI
Executive Editor
JANICE GAVIN
Associate Editor
CATHLEEN FEBRAIO
Graphic Production Specialist
JANICE M. KUCSKAR
Graphic Production Specialist
BETH McINTYRE
Communications Assistant

The Work Force (USPS 0445-010) is
published monthly by The CSEA Publication Office:
143 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12210.
Periodical Mail Postage paid at Post Office,
Albany, New York 12288, and additional mailing offices.

Postmaster: Send address changes to:
CSEA, Attn: Membership Department,
143 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12210.
CSEA on-line: The CSEA website
can be accessed at www.csealocal1000.org

Readers:
Send any comments, complaints, suggestions or ideas to:
Publisher, The Work Force, 143 Washington Avenue,
Albany, NY 12210-2303.

COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALISTS

RICH IMPAGLIAZZO.
DAVID GALARZA,
JESSICA LADLEE

Long Island Region
Metropolitan Region
Southern Region

(631) 462-0030
(212) 406-2156
(845) 831-1000

THERESE ASSALIAN Capital Region (618) 785-4400
MARK M. KOTZIN Central Region (315) 433-0050
LYNN MILLER Western Region (716) 691-6555
ED MOLITOR Headquarters (618) 257-1272
JILL ASENCIO Headquarters (618) 257-1276
The Publications Committee
Ron Briggs
Brenda Chartrand
Ramon Lucas
Robert Pazik
Liz Piraino

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CSEA President Danny Donohue

Always remember

o many things in our world were very different before
Sept. 11, 2001.

The term 911 had a very different meaning.

New York City’s skyline had a different outline.

We didn’t have to take off our shoes or have a
body scan to enter an airport.

Torture and personal rights were not matters of polarizing public debate.
Al Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden were not familiar household names.

Tens of thousands had not died in military actions in Iraq and
Afghanistan.

Two thousand, seven hundred and fifty three people, including five of our
CSEA brothers and sisters, went about their lives never imagining they would
become a tragic part of history.

We were all more innocent then.

For these reasons — and so many more — always remember.

Carmen

4 | THe Work FORCE

September 2011

NEWS ITEM:

Was Robin Hood
really just a thug?

REINVENTING ROBIN HOOD

21st CENTURY VERSION —

LETS SEE...
"ROB FROM THE POOR
AND KEEP THE RICHES,"
YEA, THATS 17!

American workers lose ground

while CEOs line their pockets

ccording to the Federal
Reserve, U.S. corporations
held a record $1.93 trillion in cash
on their balance sheets in 2010.
But they are not investing to
expand their companies, grow
the real economy or create good
middle-class jobs. Corporate
CEOs are literally hoarding their
company’s cash — except when
it comes to their own paychecks.
In 2010, Standard & Poor’s 500
Index company CEOs received,
on average, $11.4 million in total
compensation — a 23 percent
increase in one year.
Based on 299 companies’ most
recent pay data for 2010, their
combined total CEO pay of $3.4

billion could support 102,325
median workers’ jobs.

Fortunately, the 2010 Dodd-
Frank Wall Street Reform and
Consumer Protection Act
contains new tools to help limit
runaway CEO pay. Shareholders
now have a “say-on-pay” vote
on executive compensation, and
companies must disclose the
ratio of CEO-to-worker pay at
each company.

Learn more at:
http://www.afl-cio.org/
corporatewatch/paywatch/

GAINS AND LOSSES, 2007-2009

Americans’
home equity

Wall Street Unemployment
profits rate

Sources: New York State Comptroller, Federal Reserve, Bureau of Labor Statistics

AVERAGE CEO PAY VS. AVERAGE WORKER PAY

CEO
(185 times bigger) WORKER

2009 data.
Source:
Economic
Policy Institute

Ss
The Work FORCE Bi

September 2011
Better
New York

FOR i by gi

—

Fair for All * Help for All
Sacrifice from All

On this page are
details about
Labor Day parades
and other events.
More events and
details will be
listed at CSEA’s
website at www.
csealocal1000.org
as they become
available.

Erie County Local activist
Alison Schoonover
marches in the 2010
Buffalo parade. Photo

by John Normile.

CSEA members will mark Labor Day through
parades and other events. Please join an event
near you to support workers.

Long Island,
Metropolitan and
Southern regions:
Manhattan: Saturday,
Sept. 10: New York
City Central Labor
Council Labor Parade,
Manhattan. CSEA and
AFSCME members will
assemble at West 48th
Street between 5th and
6th avenues, 11 a.m.
March time at 1 p.m.
Members, families and
friends are welcome.

This year’s march will
be held on the eve of the
10th anniversary of the
Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
CSEA will honor the
victims and all workers
at the parade. Members
wishing to honor all of
those lost in the Sept.
11 attacks are strongly
encouraged to join in the
parade.

Members planning
to march should
contact their region
communications
specialist for more
details (see Page 4 for
contact information).

Capital Region:

Colonie: Monday, Sept. 5:
Solidarity Committee of
the Capital District Labor
Day Celebration & Picnic,
Cook Park, Colonie, noon-
5 p.m. Picnic is free, but
is a potluck. Please bring
a main dish, salad or
dessert. The committee
will provide hamburgers,
hot dogs, vegetarian

burgers, fixings, coffee
and beverages. The event
will include music and
awards for labor and
community leadership.

Albany: Friday, Sept.

9: Michael L. Burns
Capital District Labor
Day Parade, 4 p.m. The
parade will kick off at
Albany City Hall and

will end at the Corning
Preserve, where a picnic
and other events will

be held from 6-10 p.m.
There will be free food,
fireworks, music and
kids’ activities, including
a bouncy-bounce and
pony rides. All are
welcome.

Central Region:
Syracuse: Monday, Sept.
5: Greater Syracuse
Labor Council Labor
Solidarity March, New
York State Fairgrounds,
Geddes. Line up for the
march at 10 a.m. between
fair entry gates 4 and 5.
The march will start at
10:30 a.m. CSEA members
and their families can get
free admission tickets
from the Central Region
Office by stopping by
6595 Kirkville Road in
East Syracuse or by
calling (315) 433-0050.
Tickets are available on
a first-come, first-served
basis for those who
march. Free T-shirts to
the first 200 members
who attend.

CSEA President Danny Donohue leads the union’s
parade delegation in Rochester in 2010.

Ithaca: Monday, Sept.
5: Mid-State Central
Labor Council and

the Tompkins County
Workers’ Center Labor
Day Picnic, Stewart
Park, Ithaca, 11 a.m.-3
p.m. The picnic includes
music, free burgers, hot
dogs, veggie burgers,
beverages, and ice
cream, and the Friend/
Goat of Labor Awards,
Mother Jones and Joe
Hill Awards. All are
welcome.

Massena: Monday,

Sept. 5: Labor Solidarity
Parade, Massena.

CSEA members should
assemble at Willow Street
in Massena, by Coaches
Corner Restaurant at 10
a.m. The parade begins
at 11 a.m. and will end

at Springs Park with
events, refreshments and
drawings to follow. All
CSEA members and their
families are welcome.
For more information,
contact the CSEA Central

Region office (see Page
4) or Amy Simmons at
the Jefferson, Lewis and
St. Lawrence Counties
Central Trades and Labor
Council at 315-486-8123.

Western Region:
Buffalo: Monday, Sept.
5: Buffalo Labor Day
Parade, noon. CSEA
members wishing to
march should meet the
group at 11 a.m. at the
Buffalo Irish Center at
Abbott and Stevenson.
The parade route

runs down Abbott and
Cazenovia.

Rochester: Monday, Sept.
5: The Rochester Labor
Day parade begins at 11
a.m. and runs down East
Avenue and Main Street.
CSEA members and their
families should meet at
East and Strathallen by
10 a.m. The parade route
is about 1.5 miles.

September 2011

THE WorK FORCE 6 |
Proposed amendments to

CSEA’s Constitution and Bylaws

The Committee has, amongst its
functions, the duty to review proposals and
make recommendations to the Delegates
regarding amendments to the CSEA
Constitution and By-Laws. Committee
recommendations are presented to the
Delegates, together with the reasons for the
recommendations. This report addresses
proposals submitted for the 2011 ADM. (New
language is underlined; deleted language is in
[brackets].)

THE FOLLOWING ITEM IS PRESENTED
TO THE DELEGATES BY THE COMMITTEE
AS A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE BY-
LAWS. IF PASSED AT THIS MEETING, THIS
AMENDMENT WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE
IMMEDIATELY.

Proposal

The following By-Laws proposal
was submitted by Region 4 President Kathy
Garrison, Region 1 President Nick LaMorte,
Region 2 President George Boncoraglio, and
Region 6 President Flo Tripi:

ARTICLE I - OFFICERS

Section 1. TEXT REMAINS THE SAME.

Section 2. EXECUTIVE VICE
PRESIDENT. There shall be an Executive Vice
President who shall assume the duties of the
President if the President is unable to act for
any cause whatsoever or if the office becomes
vacant. If the office becomes vacant and the
next regularly scheduled election is more
than 1 year from the date the office became
vacant, the Statewide Board of Directors
must approve a special election at the next
scheduled Board of Directors meeting. If the

regularly scheduled election is more than

1 year from the date the office became
vacant, the Statewide Board of Directors
must approve a special election at the next
scheduled Board of Directors meeting. If the
regularly scheduled meeting is more than 45
days from when the position became vacant
a Special meeting of the Statewide Board

of Directors must be called to approve the
special election. Vacancy in the office of the
Executive Vice President [shall] may be filled
by the Board of Directors by electing any one
of the six Vice Presidents, the Secretary or the
Treasurer. If the office becomes vacant and
the next regularly scheduled election is more
than 1 year from the date the office became
vacant, the Statewide Board of Directors
must approve a special election at the next
scheduled Board of Directors meeting. If the
regularly scheduled meeting is more than

45 days from when the position became
vacant a Special meeting of the Statewide
Board of Directors must be called to approve
the special election. Any member in good
standing would be eligible to run in the
special election. The election for the vacated
office of Executive Vice President must be
completed no later than 6 months from the
date the office was vacated. A vacancy in
the term of any of the Vice Presidents shall
be filled according to the Constitution and
By-Laws of the respective Region. Vacancies
in the office of Secretary and Treasurer may
be temporarily filled [for the remainder of the

term] by the Board of Directors. If the office of

Secretary or Treasurer becomes vacant and

regularly scheduled meeting is more than 45
days from when the position became vacant

the next regularly scheduled election is more
than 1 year from the date the office became

a Special meeting of the Statewide Board

vacant, the Statewide Board of Directors

of Directors must be called to approve the

must approve a special election at the next

special election. The election for the vacated

scheduled Board of Directors meeting. If the

office of President must be completed no later

regularly scheduled meeting is more than

than 6 months from the date the office was

45 days from when the position became

vacated. REST OF TEXT REMAINS THE SAME.

Sections 3-5. TEXT REMAINS THE
SAME.

Section 6.

(a) TEXT REMAINS THE SAME.

(b) Vacancy in the office of President
shall be filled by the Executive Vice President.
If the office becomes vacant and the next

THe Work Force

vacant a Special meeting of the Statewide
Board of Directors must be called to approve
the special election. The election for the
vacated office of Secretary or Treasurer must
be completed no later than 6 months from
the date the office was vacated. No person
elected to a position as an officer of the
Association shall remain an officer of a Local

or Unit.
REST OF ARTICLE REMAINS THE SAME.

EXPLANATION: This proposal was
submitted with the following justification:
“This Amendment is a result of numerous
conversations throughout 2010 when
our Statewide President was nominated
to serve as the Secretary/Treasurer of
AFSCME. Many concerns were expressed
about the leadership of our union during
that year. As leaders we often boast about
our democratic process and the rights of
our members to run for any position within
CSEA. This amendment allows for temporary
appointments prior to a special election. It
also allows for reasonable timelines. If there is
opposition to this amendment based on cost
delegates should know that this situation has
only occurred once in the past 12 years and
the cost is minimal compared to our priorities
to remain as democratic as possible.”

The Committee does not support
this proposal. The basic rationale suggested
for this proposal is to preserve democracy
with regard to how potential vacancies in
CSEA statewide offices are filled. However,
this proposal inaccurately suggests that
the process already in place is somehow
undemocratic. Currently, our Statewide
Constitution provides that the “officers of the
Association shall be a President, an Executive
Vice President, six Vice Presidents to be the
six Region Presidents, the Secretary and
Treasurer. Our Statewide By-Laws provide
for how vacancies occurring during a term
are to be filled. A vacancy in the Office of
Statewide President occurring during the
term is automatically filled by the Statewide
Executive Vice President. A vacancy in
the Office of the Statewide Executive Vice
President is filled by the Board of Directors
electing a new Statewide Executive Vice
President from any one of the other eight
sitting Statewide officers, that is, one of the
six Vice Presidents or the Statewide Secretary
or the Statewide Treasurer. A vacancy in the
Office of Statewide Secretary or Statewide
Treasurer may be filled by a Board of

Continued on Page 8

September 2011

Proposed amendments to CSEA’s Constitution and Bylaws

Continued from Page 7

Directors’ election from any qualified member
candidate seeking to fill that position. For
the six Vice President positions, a vacancy

is filled under the Region Constitution by the
highest ranking Region Vice President moving
up to become Region President and, hence,
also a Statewide Vice President.

This current structure for filling
vacancies at the statewide level is paralleled
in the mandated constitutional succession
rules for the Region, Local and Unit levels.
Thus, at every level of CSEA a vacancy in the
president position is filled in the same way,
by the highest ranking vice president moving
up. In most democratic forms of governance,
the duly elected vice president succeeds
to the presidency automatically, without
the need for an intervening election. In
democratic forms of governance, this system
provides for the orderly transfer of power
when a vacancy occurs and for a stable
governing body during a transition.

As we know, under the best of
circumstances elections can cause political
division and unrest within the Union. Under
this proposal, the Union could be faced
with conducting four statewide elections,
over a two-year period, leaving no stable
governance in place for that entire period
while “everyone” is running for office.
Imagine this: The Statewide Presidency
becomes vacant. The Executive Vice
President successfully runs for Statewide
President, thereby creating a vacancy in
the Executive Vice President position. The
Statewide Treasurer successfully runs for the
Executive Vice President vacancy, thereby
creating vacancy in the Treasurer position.
The Statewide Secretary then successfully
runs for the Statewide Treasurer position,
creating a fourth statewide vacancy and the
need for yet another statewide election to fill
the Secretary position. While we cannot say
with any certainty that this would happen,
we cannot say with certainty that it would
not happen either. And, depending on the
timing of the first vacancy, this series of four
successive replacement elections could run
right up against the commencement of the
next full term election cycle for the statewide
officer positions.

Such circumstances could have
devastating effects on the Union as a whole.

September 2011

The period of instability and uncertainty
could last a year or more. The Committee
notes that such a situation, particularly
detrimental during difficult economic times
such as we are experiencing now, would be
damaging to our place in the trade union
movement, our place across the negotiating
table in collective bargaining, and particularly
damaging to our relationship with our own
membership which, not so long ago, was
demanding that we have fewer, not more,
elections.

By potentially adding up to four
additional statewide elections, this proposal
also comes at a significant cost: each
statewide election in today’s dollars costs
the Union approximately one-quarter of a
million dollars. This proposal pretty much
insures that at least two additional elections
would take place: statewide president and
statewide executive vice president, for a cost
of half a million dollars. While it is possible
that a Vice President/Region President
would run for and be elected to the vacant
statewide presidency and no further election
would be necessary, that scenario is less
likely than a scenario wherein the Executive
Vice President succeeds in the first election
to become President and a Vice President/
Region President is then elected in a second
election to the position of Executive Vice
President.

Further, pursuant to By-Laws Article
I, Section 2, the main reason we elect an
Executive Vice President is to “assume the
duties of the President if the President is
unable to act for any cause whatsoever or if
the office becomes vacant.” This proposal
would act to disenfranchise the Executive
Vice President from the purpose of being
elected as an Executive Vice President in
the first instance and is completely contrary
to By-Laws Article I, Section 2. Absent the
purpose as now spelled out in the By-Laws,
the Executive Vice President position, unlike
any of the other statewide positions, would
be a position without a function.

Notwithstanding the proposal’s
limited reach which would change the
Statewide By-Laws, our history tells us
that this type of change may well have
a cascading effect on the way in which
president vacancies are filled in the Regions,
Locals and Units. A similar succession

scheme wherein every officer vacancy
will require a special election at every
subdivision level of the Union will potentially
enmesh us in continuous election cycles, with
unimaginable costs in terms of dollars and in
terms of finding candidates willing to run for
office.

Further, the proposal, if applied
as written, creates an exception for how a
vacancy in the six Vice President positions
is filled. The proposal leaves untouched
the existing “succession rules” in the Region
Constitution to fill a vacancy in a Region
President position, even though that position
serves as a Statewide Vice President as well.
This dichotomy creates a disparity between
the Statewide Executive Vice President and
Region Executive Vice President positions.
A Region Executive (or Region First) Vice
President would automatically become
Region President without the need for an
election. Yet, the Statewide Executive
Vice President, duly elected by the entire
membership, would have to run again to fill
the vacated Statewide President position.
The Committee is unsure as to the rationale
for leaving this automatic succession in place
for purposes of Region President vacancies,
while dismantling the same approach at the
Statewide level. This is particularly odd
in that several vacancies have occurred in
Region President positions in the recent
past and another vacancy is to happen
shortly after close of the Annual Delegates
Meeting. No concerns for our democratic
process arose then, when Region Vice
Presidents moved up to fill those vacancies
to become Region President and Association
Vice President without having to run in an
election.

Stability in governance at every
level of the Union is necessary to insure
that our mission and our responsibilities
as bargaining agent are continued with
minimal disruption or breach in the face
of a change of leadership at the Statewide
President level. The current succession rules
insure the least disruption and smoothest
transition in leadership when a Statewide
President position becomes vacant. The
number two statewide officer moves— almost
seamlessly— into that position to serve out

Continued on Page 9

THE WorK FORCE 8 |

Proposed amendments to CSEA’s Constitution and Bylaws

Continued from Page 9
the term. This proposal creates just the
opposite of a smooth transition: it insures a
sustained period of disruption, uncertainty,
and unnecessary expense.

The Committee believes that this
proposal is neither necessary nor workable.
The current succession rules have proven
to work and to work well over many years
at every level of the Union, allowing smooth
transitions at no extra cost. Should the
Office of Statewide President become vacant
in the near future or ever, these rules will
work well again, and provide a smooth
transition, placing into the Office of the
Statewide President a person elected by the
membership with the common understanding
that this is a person who could be “a heart
beat away” from being Statewide President.
That is the common understanding in any
election for vice president and nothing in
our CSEA history or our future makes that
untenable today or tomorrow.

Furthermore, the delegates should
also realize that should this amendment

be approved, it could not be effective until
the 2016 election cycle. The 2012 election
cycle has already begun; candidates have
petitioned for placement on the ballot

with the understandings of possible
responsibilities as they currently exist.
Members have signed nominating petitions
with those same understandings and

the nominating period closed before any
consideration of this amendment by the
Delegates. The duties and responsibilities of
the positions running in the current election
cannot be changed during an election cycle.
Such changes can be prospective only and in
this case that means effective with the 2016
statewide election cycle.

FOR THE PURPOSE OF PLACING THIS
AMENDMENT BEFORE THE DELEGATES,
ON BEHALF OF THE COMMITTEE, I MOVE
THE ADOPTION OF THIS AMENDMENT. THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS A “NO” VOTE.

All correspondence regarding
proposed amendments to the Statewide

Constitution or Statewide By-Laws received
by the Committee as of the constitutional
deadline of May 15, 2011, have been
reviewed. The Committee wishes to thank
its advisors, Nancy E. Hoffman, Steven A.
Crain, and Daren J. Rylewicz, as well as the
Committee Coordinator, Amee Camp, for
their guidance, attention and hard work.

Respectfully submitted,

Casey Walpole, Chair, Region 5
Mary D’Antonio, Region 1
Lester Crockett, Region 2
Sabina Shapiro, Region 3

Kim Wallace-Russo, Region 4
Lori Nilsson, Region 5

Robert Ellis, Region 6

Victor Coster, Retiree Division
Denise Berkley, Officer Liaison

PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS for
consideration by delegates attending
CSEA’s 101St Annual Delegates Meeting,
Oct. 3 to 7 in New York City:

Members wishing to see copies of any
resolution should contact their delegate.

1. Benefits for Our Military Veterans

Submitted by Lavarne (Lee) Pound
Delegate - Local 918

More than 75,000 veterans are living on
the streets or in temporary shelters and
virtually all of them served in Iraq and
Afghanistan. The resolution proposes
CSEA take up the cause to lobby the
federal government for shelter and
medical treatment for all homeless and
disadvantaged veterans.

The Resolutions Committee
recommends the resolution be adopted as
amended.

2. Domestic Violence Act of 2011

Submitted by Lavarne (Lee) Pound
Delegate — Local 918

The Domestic Violence Act would amend
criminal procedure law as it relates to “all
persons” with protective orders wearing
electronic devices and penal law as it
relates to non-support of a child or children.

The Resolutions Committee
recommends the resolution be defeated.
While it acknowledges the resolution was
written with good intent, the committee
believes there is a sufficient confusion
about its implications to merit a “no” vote.

3. Weakening Union Rights Weakens All
Workers’ Rights and Weakens America

Submitted by Shaun Chesley
Delegate — Local 814 and
Clarence Russell - Delegate, Local 651

Resolutions proposed for CSEA’s Annual Delegates Meeting

Unions protect the rights of American
workers who have helped grow the nation.
The resolution calls upon CSEA to lead the
way in educating both unionized and non-
unionized workers that attacking those
rights undermines our nation, our economic
health and our prosperity.

The Resolutions Committee
recommends this resolution be adopted as
amended.

4. Member Participation in Organizing —
2010 / 2011

Submitted by Nancy Janson
Delegate - Local 830

The resolution reaffirms CSEA’s
commitment to organizing the unorganized
and honors locals, units and members
who have participated in that mission, and
encourages all members to build our union.
The Resolutions Committee
recommends this resolution be adopted as
amended.

9 | THe Work Force

September 2011

Summary of July CSEA Board of Directors meeting

Editor’s Note: The

Work Force publishes

a summary of actions
taken by CSEA’s Board of
Directors. The summary
is prepared by CSEA
Statewide Secretary
Denise Berkley for union
members.

ALBANY — CSEA’s
statewide Board of
Directors met on July 21.
In official business the
board:

Berkley

¢ Appointed Amy Simmons (St. Lawrence
County) to the Board of Directors;
e Authorized a one-year pilot project
for a purchasing program through payroll
deduction offered by “Purchasing Power”
with Nassau County Local 830, which, if
successful, will be extended statewide as
long as employers allow payroll deduction;
¢ Created CSEA Private Sector Local
769 (Odessa — Montour Falls School
District Transportation Employees) and
CSEA Private Sector Local 771 (Monroe
Community College Campus Food Services);
¢ Approved the proposed 2011-2012
Election Schedule for Statewide Officers,

Region Officers, Statewide Board of
Directors and AFSCME Delegates;

¢ Endorsed new Critical Illness plan
with MetLife as part of the CSEA Insurance
Program; and

¢ Approved appointment of Karen Pecora
and Adele Herzenberg to the Southern
Region 3 Political Action Committee and
Delphine Moultrie to the Metropolitan
Region 2 Political Action Committee.

Questions concerning the summary should

be directed to Statewide Secretary Denise
Berkley, CSEA Headquarters, 143 Washington
Ave., Albany, NY 12210 (800) 342-4146 or
(518) 257-1253.

New York state, local government

agencies and the private sector have
opportunities to take Skills for Success
training courses offered by the NYS & CSEA
Partnership for Education and Training
(Partnership).

Course participation, as space permits,
by CSEA-represented employees in local
government agencies, school districts,
state authorities and the private sector is
sponsored by the CSEA WORK Institute.

Skills for Success courses help employees
prepare for the challenges and demands of
current and future jobs.

More than 100 classes are scheduled
statewide from Sept. 19 through Dec. 15,
2011. The training is available at no cost to
employees or agencies.

All courses are held at conveniently
located training sites. To increase
participation in courses while eliminating
time away from the office, the Partnership
is offering a select number of courses using
webinar formats.

Te fall, C9EA members employed by

Eligibility
Employees are eligible to participate in
Partnership courses if they are:
e A CSEA-represented New York State
(NYS) employee (ASU/02, OSU/03, ISU/04, or

State, local government and private sector CSEA members:

kills for Success courses offe

DMNA/47).

e A CSEA-represented employee working
in local government, school districts, state
authorities, or the private sector employee,
as space permits.

Available courses

Choose from 44 job-related and personal
development courses under the following
topics:

¢ Individual Development

¢ Interpersonal Communication

e Language Skills

¢ Math Skills

¢ Trades, Operations, and Maintenance

¢ Work Management

¢ Writing Skills

Employees may take any of the courses
offered, not just courses that typically reflect
the work they perform. Employees can
directly apply for these courses. However,
supervisory approval and signature are
necessary to attend without charge to leave
credits. Applications should be sent to the
Partnership as soon as possible as classes fill
quickly.

Apply today!
Classes fill
quickly.

NYS
Qe ership

for Education and Training

www.nyseseapartnership.org

For more information

A web catalog of the Skills for Success
courses is available on the Partnership’s
website at www.nyscseapartnership.org.
The catalog contains course descriptions,
course schedules, training locations and an
application form that can be downloaded and
printed.

For more information about Skills for Success courses, call (518) 486-7814
or, for areas outside the Capital Region, call (800) 253-4332, or email

at learning@nyscseapartnership.ors.

10 ig Work Force

September 2011

Sports fans: Save
on special CSEA
discounts for the
Buffalo Bills and

Syracuse Orange!

1:00'

1:00

December 24 1:00 BR 5 ~
timer subjects change. Tickets cubjectto maitabilty All gamer played at Ralph Wikon Stadium. “Game: Subject to Flex Scheduling

SAVE UP TO 50% ON REGULAR PRICES!

James Zielinski
Call 1-877-228-4257 ext. 8931
or email at james.zielinski@bills.nfl.net

LEAD THE

CHARGE
poe

Call or email for club seating options

Take advantage of your CSEA membership for a
special discount for all 2011 Syracuse University
Foothall Home Games at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse!

To get your $19 discount tickets (regularly $28), order online at:
www.suathletics.com/groupoffers - Click on the CSEA logo and select
the game you want to attend - Use special offer code: CSEA11 (no
spaces) - Create a NEW ACCOUNT (even if you have an account
already) - Follow the steps to purchase and check out. There will be a
processing and print at home fee. You can also call (315) 443-3212.

SU vs Wake Forest September 1, 2011 - 8:00 PM
SU vs Rhode Island September 10, 2011 - 4:30 PM
SU vs Toledo September 24, 2-11 - 12:00 PM
SU vs Rutgers October 1, 2011 - 12:00 PM *
SU vs. W. Virginia © October 21, 2011 - 8:00 PM

SU vs. South Florida November 11, 2011 - 8:00 PM
SU vs. Cincinnati | November 26, 2011 - Time TBA

** Please join us for our special recognition
on CSEA Game Day!

September 2011

The Work FORCE 11]

NYSHIP rate change brings Special Option Transfer Period

r [ he following information is intended

for CSEA represented Executive Branch

enrollees — enrollees employed by the state
of New York covered by one of the following CSEA
collective bargaining agreements: Administrative
Services Unit, Institutional Services Unit,
Operational Services Unit or the Division of
Military and Naval Affairs.

The CSEA collective bargaining agreement
ratified on Aug. 15, 2011 will result in a NYSHIP
rate change effective Oct. 1, 2011.

For Empire Plan and HMO* enrollees who
are represented by CSEA Grade 9 and below,
the state pays 88 percent of the cost of the
premium for enrollee coverage and 73 percent for
dependent coverage.

For Empire Plan and HMO* enrollees who
are represented by CSEA Grade 10 and above,
the state pays 84 percent of the cost of the
premium for enrollee coverage and 69 percent for
dependent coverage.

* The state's dollar contribution for the non-
prescription drug components of the HMO premium
will not exceed its dollar contribution for the non-
prescription drug components of the Empire Plan
premium.

The new rates listed below (shown along
with the increase from the current rate) will be
in effect through the end of 2011. As a result of
these rate changes, there will be a Special Option
Transfer Period from Sept. 1 through Sept. 30,
2011.

If you wish to change your health insurance
plan, see your health benefits administrator
(HBA) as soon as possible and ask for a Health
Insurance Transaction Form PS-404. Return the
completed form to your agency HBA by Sept. 30,
2011.

The NYSHIP Rate Change Flier, which includes
the Oct. 1, 2011 rates, as well as additional
information regarding the date of the earliest
paycheck in which a deduction change will be
made, will be sent by the NYS Department of Civil
Service directly to enrollees’ homes.

No action is required if you wish to keep your
current health insurance option. The annual rate
change and annual Option Transfer Period for
2012 will occur later this year as usual.

Health Plan Name

Individual/(Increase)

Effective October 2011
Grade 9 and Below

Family/(ncrease)

New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP)
Biweekly Employee Cost Schedule

Individual/(Increase)

Grade 10 and Above

Family/(Increase)

The Empire Plan 001

$ 32.09 ($4.08)

$128.08 ($10.34)

$

42.79 ($14.78) $153.00 ($35.26)

Aetna 210 $109.56 ($7.69) $465.59 ($12.35) $119.92 ($18.05) $490.22 ($36.98)

Blue Choice 066 $ 25.54 ($4.26) $104.92 ($10.14) $ 34.05 ($12.77) $125.19 ($30.4)
CDPHP Capital 063 $ 31.01 ($6.31) $134.02 ($12.01) $ 40.83 ($16.13) $157.94 ($35.93)
CDPHP Central 300 $ 68.17 ($7.45) $227.26 ($12.08) $ 78.05 ($17.33) $251.34 ($36.16)
CDPHP West HV 310 $ 77.81 ($7.44) $251.19 ($12.05) $ 87.67 ($17.30) $275.22 ($36.08)
Community Blue 067 $ 30.43 ($5.07) $182.10 ($13.01) $ 40.57 ($15.21) $208.01 ($38.92)
Empire BC/BS Upstate 280 $ 84.33 ($7.79) $300.44 ($13.05) $ 94.88 ($18.34) $326.46 ($39.07)

Empire BC/BS Downstate 290

$132.00 ($7.79)

$425.05 ($13.06)

$142.56 ($18.35)

$451.09 ($39.10)

Empire BC/BS Hudson 320

$132.83 ($7.80)

$427.27 ($13.08)

$143.40 ($18.37)

$453.34 ($39.15)

GHI HMO Albany 220

$112.29 ($7.93)

$384.57 ($13.36)

$123.14 ($18.78)

$411.23 ($40.02)

GHI HMO Mid-Hudson 350

$140.75 ($7.93),

$461.90 ($13.36)

$151.60 ($18.78)

$488.55 ($40.01)

HIP 050 $ 54.94 ($7.67) $185.34 ($12.57) $ 65.26 ($17.99) $210.40 ($37.63)

HMO Blue CNY 072 $ 88.79 ($7.51) $272.64 ($12.11) $ 98.78 ($17.50) $296.76 ($36.23)
HMO Blue Utica 160 $ 71.04 ($7.34) $254.88 ($11.80) $ 80.71 ($17.01) $278.41 ($35.33)
Independent Health 059 $ 29.44 ($4.91) $126.53 ($12.11) $ 39.25 ($14.72) $150.72 ($36.30)
MVP Rochester 058 $ 25.29 ($4.22) $107.95 ($10.35) $ 33.72 ($12.65) $128.62 ($31.02)
MVP East 060 $ 26.55 ($4.42) $113.43 ($10.85) $ 35.40 ($13.27) $135.15 ($32.57)

MVP Central 330 $ 41.07 ($7.33) $158.29 ($11.78) $ 50.72 ($16.98) $181.79 ($35.28)

MVP Mid-Hudson 340 $ 36.92 ($7.30) $147.58 ($11.71) $ 46.50 ($16.88) $170.91 ($35.04)
MVP North 360 $ 78.30 ($7.42) $251.98 ($12.01) $ 88.11 ($17.23) $275.90 ($35.93)

THe Work Force

September 2011

CSEA’s notice of nomination and election

lections for the following positions
will take place from January 18, 2012
= February 14, 2012.

Statewide Officers:
President, Executive Vice President,
Secretary, Treasurer

Region Officers:

Region 1: President, Executive VP, Ist
VP, 2nd VP, 3rd VP, 4th VP, Secretary,
Treasurer

Region 2: President, Executive VP, Ist
VP, 2nd VP, Secretary, Treasurer
Region 3: President, Executive VP, Ist
VP, 2nd VP, 3rd VP, Secretary, Treasurer
Region 4: President, Executive VP, Ist
VP, 2nd VP, 3rd VP, Secretary, Treasurer
Region 5: President, Executive VP, Ist
VP, 2nd VP, 3rd VP, Secretary, Treasurer
Region 6: President, Executive VP, Ist
VP, 2nd VP, 3rd VP, Secretary, Treasurer

Statewide Board of Directors:

The Statewide Board of Directors
consists of representatives of the State
Executive Committee and the Local
Government Executive Committee. The
Private Sector Executive Committee
Board of Directors seat is automatically
the Chair of the Private Sector
Executive Committee.

CSEA Election Schedule for Statewide

Officers, Region Officers, Statewide
Board of Directors

Aug. 31, 2011: First day of the

petitioning period. Nominating

petitions will not be released until this

day.

Sept. 30, 2011: Deadline for

nominating petitions to be received

at CSEA Headquarters, Membership

Department (5:00 p.m.)

Oct. 24, 2011: Deadline for review of

invalid signatures.

Nov. 7, 2011: Deadline/declinations
and name confirmation.

Nov. 16, 2011: Ballot position drawing:
Local and Unit President labels
available.

Nov. 28, 2011: Deadline for campaign
literature submission for printing.
Dee. 1, 2011: Deadline for candidates
who qualify for Statewide, Region

or Board of Directors to submit for
publication in The Work Force their
picture, the entity they work for, and
the CSEA office they are seeking.
Dee. 19, 2011: Voter lists inspection
available.

Jan. 18, 2012: Ballots mailed.

Jan. 25, 2012: Replacement ballots
available.

Feb. 14, 2012: Deadline for receipt

of ballots (8:00 a.m.). Ballot count
commences (9:00 a.m.)

Election results will be announced
after the ballot count is complete

and certified. Protest period ends

10 days following Statewide Election
Committee's certification of results.
Candidates will be notified by mail

of the results. Election results will be
published in the March 2012 edition of
The Work Force.

Individual or Slate Petitions

Persons seeking an office may
petition individually or as part of a
slate to appear on the ballot.

No person may be a candidate for
Statewide and Region office during the
same election year. No person may be
a candidate for more than one Region
office.

In Statewide elections, the slate must
contain a candidate for each of the
Statewide offices listed herein.

In Region elections, the slate must
contain a candidate for each of the
Region offices listed herein for the
particular Region.

For the Board of Directors elections,
slate petitioning is available in those
departments or political subdivisions
which, in accordance with the CSEA
Constitution and Bylaws, are entitled
to more than one Board seat. In such
instances, to constitute a slate there
must be a candidate for each of the
seats to which the department or
political subdivision is entitled in that
election.

Voting Eligibility Date

Only CSEA members in good standing
as of Dec. 1, 2011 will be eligible to vote
in the election.

Rules on Running for CSEA Statewide
President, Executive Vice President,
Secretary, Treasurer

To be eligible to seek Statewide office,
a candidate must be at least 18 years
of age, a member in good standing
of CSEA since Jan. 1, 2011; shall not
have been a member of a competing
labor association or union since Jan. 1,
2011; shall not currently be serving a
disciplinary penalty imposed by CSEA’s
Judicial Board; and must not have been
the subject of a bonding claim by the
Association or disqualified from being
covered by the Association's surety
bond.

Any CSEA member who meets
the above criteria may become a
candidate and have his or her name
placed on the ballot for a specific
Statewide office by obtaining on
official nominating petition forms the
printed name, signature, and 10-digit
CSEA ID numbers of at least 1,000
CSEA members eligible to vote in the
upcoming election.

Nominating petition signatures must
be of CSEA dues-paying members
who are not serving a Judicial
Board suspension and who have no
delinquent dues.

The terms will start March 1, 2012
and shall be for a single term ending
Feb. 29, 2016.

Rules on Running for Region Office

To be eligible to seek Region office, a
candidate must be at least 18 years old;
a CSEA member in good standing of
the Region since Jan. 1, 2011; shall not
have been a member of a competing
labor association or union since Jan. 1,
2011; shall not currently be serving a
disciplinary penalty imposed by CSEA’s
Judicial Board; and shall not have been
the subject of a bonding claim by the
Association or disqualified from being
covered by the Association's surety
bond.

Any CSEA member who meets
the above criteria may become a
candidate and have his or her name
placed on the ballot for a specific
Region office by obtaining on official
nominating petition forms the printed
name, signature, and 10-digit CSEA ID

numbers of at least 500 CSEA members
eligible to vote in the upcoming
election. All signatures must be from
the Region where the person is seeking
office.

Nominating petition signatures must
be of CSEA dues-paying members
who are not serving a Judicial
Board suspension and who have no
delinquent dues.

The terms will start March 1, 2012
and shall be for a single term ending
Feb. 29, 2016.

Rules on Running for Statewide Board
of Directors

To be eligible to seek office, a
candidate must be at least 18 years
old; a CSEA member in good standing
of the voting jurisdiction within the
Division he or she seeks to represent,
since Jan. 1, 2011; shall not have
been a member of a competing labor
association or union since Jan. 1,

2011; shall not currently be serving a
disciplinary penalty imposed by CSEA’s
Judicial Board; and shall not have been
the subject of a bonding claim by the
Association or disqualified from being
covered by the Association's surety
bond.

Any CSEA member who meets the
above criteria may become a candidate
for a Board seat and have his or her
name placed on the ballot by obtaining
on official nominating petition forms
the required number of printed names,
signatures, and 10-digit CSEA ID
numbers of CSEA members eligible to
vote in the election.

Nominating petition signatures must
be of CSEA dues-paying members
who are not serving a Judicial
Board suspension and who have no
delinquent dues.

The terms will start March 1, 2012
and shall be for a single term ending
Feb. 29, 2016.

THe Work FORCE

September 2011

NOTICE OF NOMINATION AND ELECTION

2012 AFSCME Convention Delegates

Delegate nominating meetings to be held
Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011

In addition to our own CSEA elections, the
year 2012 also has an AFSCME Delegates election.
Meetings will be held in all CSEA Regions on
Saturday, Oct. 15th to nominate candidates for
the position of Delegate to the 2012 AFSCME
Convention scheduled for June 18 - June 22,
2012 in Los Angeles, California. The date, time
and location of Region nominating meetings are
printed at right.

These Region nominating meetings kick off
the AFSCME Delegate election process, which
continues in accordance with the schedule of
election, printed at right, approved by CSEA’s
Board of Directors.

CSEA members in each CSEA Region will
elect Delegates from their Region. The number
of Delegates to which each Region is entitled
is based on Region membership strength,
in accordance with the AFSCME and CSEA
Constitutions.

Who is eligible?

Any member in good standing as of Oct.
15, 2011 will be entitled to be nominated as a
delegate to the AFSCME Convention. Any member
in good standing as of Oct. 15, 2011 will be eligible
to nominate Delegates. Any qualified CSEA
member will be eligible to nominate as many
candidates for Delegates as he or she desires,
not to exceed the total number of Delegates to be
elected from that Region. Nominees do not have
to be at the nominating meeting.

Nominations may be made by slates of two or
more individuals who will appear on the ballot
as running together under a particular slate
designation. The ballot will also allow slate
candidates to be elected individually, separate
from the slate.

CSEA REGION
NOMINATING MEETINGS
AFSCME Convention
Delegates Election

SATURDAY, Oct. 15, 2011
ALL MEETINGS WILL START
AT 11 A.M.

LONG ISLAND REGION 1 (41 delegates)
Region Office, 3 Garet Place, Commack

METROPOLITAN REGION 2 (14 delegates)
Region Office, 125 Maiden Lane, 5" Floor,
New York City

SOUTHERN REGION 3 (38 delegates)
Region Office, 568 State Route 52, Beacon

CAPITAL REGION 4 (33 delegates)
Ramada Inn Plaza Hotel, 3 Watervliet
Avenue Extension, Albany

CENTRAL REGION 5 (39 delegates)
Region Office, 6595 Kirkville Road, East
Syracuse

WESTERN REGION 6 (39 delegates)
Rochester Satellite Office, 3495 Winton
Place, Building E, Suite 3, Rochester

Expenses for transportation, room and board

at the AFSCME Convention will be paid by CSEA.

AFSCME DELEGATES
ELECTION YEAR 2012

The approved schedule for the election is as

follows:

Oct. 15, 2011: Region Nomination
Meetings

Nov. 7, 2011: Deadline/declinations and
name confirmation

Nov. 16, 2011: Local and Unit President
labels available

Nov. 28, 2011: Deadline for campaign
literature submission
for printing

Dec. 19, 2011: Voter lists inspection
available

Jan. 18, 2012: Ballots mailed

Jan. 25, 2012: Replacement ballots
available

Feb. 14, 2012: Ballots due 8 a.m.; Tally
commences 9 a.m.

Ten (10) days

following Statewide

Election Committee

Certification of

Results: End of protest period

March 2012: Results published in The
Work Force

Balloting for the AFSCME Delegates election
will take place at the same time and as part
of the CSEA elections for Statewide officers,
Region officers and Board of Directors.
Members are urged to carefully read the
election information contained in The Work
Force throughout the Year 2012 election
cycle as well as the instructions, which will
accompany each mail ballot.

Break in membership affects eligibi

ity for union office, voting privileges

A break in union membership status can
have long-term future implications. Your
membership status affects your eligibility
with respect to:

* seeking or holding union office;

* signing nominating petitions for
potential candidates;

© voting in union elections, and;

* voting on collective bargaining
contracts.

Only members “in good standing” can

THe Work Force

participate in these activities. To be in “good
standing,” your dues cannot be delinquent.
If you go on unpaid leave or for any other
reason have a break in your employment
status, your dues will not continue to be paid
through payroll deductions. You must make
arrangements to pay your dues directly
to CSEA to continue your membership
status. If you are either laid off or placed on
leave without pay status due to becoming
disabled by accident, illness, maternity

or paternity, you may be eligible for dues-
free membership status for a period not

to exceed one year. If you are called up for
active military duty you may also apply for
dues-free status.

Note, however, you must continue to pay
dues to run for office. Dues-free or gratuitous
membership allows members to continue
their insurance coverage while out of work.

It does not protect your right to run for or
hold office. This does not apply to members

who are on leave due to being called up for
military duty. Members on active military
duty, upon return, are considered to have
had continuous membership status for all
CSEA election purposes.

Please notify the CSEA Membership
Records Department at 1-800-342-4146, Ext.
1327, of any change in your status and what
arrangements you are making to continue
your membership in CSEA.

September 2011

Mims is PEOPLE Recruiter of the Month

HEMPSTEAD — Ruby Mims of the Erie County Local
in the Western Region is the PEOPLE Recruiter of
the Month for June. She recruited 45 new PEOPLE
members at the MVP level.

“The PEOPLE program helps protect CSEA’s
interests in the political arena,” Mims said. “When
legislation is proposed that is bad for CSEA and for us
as union members, PEOPLE helps us fight it and stop
it before that legislation becomes law. We don’t want
to become the next Wisconsin. Today the PEOPLE
program is more important than ever before.” Mims

CSEA’s PEOPLE program protects and improves
our jobs, benefits and pensions in Washington,

Albany and in your community. Your support and participation in PEOPLE
strengthens CSEA’s clout in the workplace, in the legislature, in your
community and in the labor movement.

Child going to school? Don’t forget a CSEA
EBF Student Proof Form

tis almost that time a regionally accredited
of year again when college or university
summer comes to and working toward

an unhappy ending; AFSCME Local 1000, AFL-CIO a bachelor’s degree,
the days start feeling EMPLOYEE master’s degree or

a little shorter and the BENEFIT FUND associate’s degree.
all so dreaded “back

to school” mind set
comes to focus.

It is this time of year that
children get their requested
school supplies, new schedules
and new clothes, so be sure
you do not forget the CSEA EBF
Student Proof Form.

All students returning to
college who are age 19 and over
need to have this form filled out
by their school’s registrar’s office
and sent back to: CSEA EBF, P.O.
Box 516, Latham, N.Y. 12110

Requirements are a minimum
of 12 undergraduate or six
graduate credit hours, enrolled in

must be provided
annually. Full-time students
can be covered up to their g5th
birthday.

CSEA EBF office every August, or
you can download one from our
website at www.cseaebf.com.

not a full-time student in school,
or dependents that graduated
from college can still obtain
EBF benefits thru COBRA for a
maximum of 36 months. You
must contact the CSEA EBF at
1-800-323-2732 for your COBRA
application.

The state Department of Labor and NYS Zero-Lift
Task Force are sponsoring a Safe Patient Han
Conference in Albany Oct. 18-19.

The conference website is now LIVE!

Visit the site at http://labor.ny.gov/sphconference to
learn more and get updates about the conference.

Current proof of status

Forms will be sent out from the

Dependents age 19 or over and

Are you a CSEA member taking the New York
State Principal Clerical, Head Clerical and/or

Payroll Examiner exams on Oct. 15, 2011?

CSEA is offering workshops in all regions!

Long Island Region: Sept. 24, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.,
CSEA Long Island Region office, Commack

Metropolitan Region: Sept. 13-14, 5:30 - 9 p.m.,
CSEA Metropolitan Region office, Manhattan

Southern Region: Sept. 19-20, 5:30 - 9 p.m.,
CSEA Southern Region Office, Beacon

Capital Region: Oct. 1, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.,
NYS Nurses Association office, Latham

Central Region: Sept. 17, 8:30 a.m. — 4:30 p.m.,
CSEA Central Region Office, East Syracuse

Western Region: Oct. 8, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.,
CSEA Western Region Office, Amherst

Topic Areas to Be Covered:
* General Test Taking Tips & Strategies
e Understanding & Interpreting Written Material
e Understanding & Interpreting Tabular Material
e Preparing Written Material
¢ Scheduling/Inventory Control
© Office Record Keeping
© Supervision
¢ Administrative Supervision

WVORK
INSTITUTE

Cost is $15.75. You can
register online using a credit
card at www.csealocal1000.
org/wi or you can call the
CSEA WORK Institute at
1-866-478-5548 to register.
We cannot take credit cards
over the phone. If you register by phone, you will have to mail
in a check or money order. YOU MUST REGISTER for these
workshops as space is limited and will be first-come, first-
served.

CAN’T MAKE THESE WORKSHOPS? Our Online Learning
Center has seven of these courses available. Take a FREE
DEMO at www.csealearningcenter.org. If you like what you
see, CSEA members get one month of 24-hour/day access from

September 2011

any computer for only $9.99.
THe Work FORCE 15
Work Force

Published by CSEA
143 Washington Ave * Albany NY * 12210
Danny Donohue, President
(518) 257-1000 * (800) 342-4146
CSEA * Local 1000 AFSCME * AFL-CIO

CSE#s On the line

New York’s LEADING Union

LOCAL 1000 AFSCME, AFL-CIO d

We're family, friends and neighbors
doing the work that matters.