The Public Sector, 1985 September 6

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@ Labor struts its pride — pages 10-11 ©

Official Publication of The Civil Service Employees association Local 1000,

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees

AFL-CIO.

Vol. 8, No. 18

>
9949) Friday, September 6, 1985

CSEA's Joan Tobin calls on DOT to end understaffing

DOT commissioner on.

over contracting out proposal

CSEA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBER
JOAN TOBIN has taken the new DOT
commissisoner to task for suggesting the
use of private contractors to do routine
highway maintenance work.

ALBANY—Already troubled by understaffing
in the state Department of Transportation,
union officials are taking little comfort from the
first public address by the new DOT
commissioner.

Franklin White told the New York State Coun-
ty Highway Superintendent’s Association
recently that he may boost the use of private
contractors for routine maintenance to free up
workers to do pavement maintenance “where
backlogs are the greatest.”

But CSEA Board Member Joan Tobin, who
represents DOT employees, says DOT needs
more employees, not more private contractors.
“Let's put the current staffing situation in
perspective. The workforce has declined 14.3
percent since 1978 even though our workload
has increased. Today, we're maintaining 1,562
more miles with 1,401 fewer employees. In
other words, the department is using
significantly fewer workers to maintain a larger
number of highway miles.

“And,” she continues “temporary employees
are increasing at the same time permanent
positions are being reduced.” Tobin also
questions the commitment. temporary
employees have to their jobs.

Arecent CSEA study reveals DOT has a 16
percent vacancy rate while funds for temporary
services skyrocketed 120 percent. Examples
of vacancy rates include: canal structure
operators, 13 percent; clericals, 18 percent;
maintenance assistants, 22.4 percent; and
laborers, 32.2 percent.

Tobin_ believes that with improved staffing
DOT could better handle pavement
maintenance and acknowledges ‘while we
were never meant to do bigger jobs, it’s more
realistic to put our people on the smaller jobs

“With all the Rebuild New york bond money
we have, private industry doesn’t have to come
after our jugulars.”

She especially resents that the Associated
General Contractors of America recently put
out a bulletin urging its members “to report
situations where the state DOT, Thruway
Authority or local governments are undertaking
major construction, repair or resurfacing
projects with their own forces” so that they can
“oursue any and all cases aggressively on
behalf of the private sector.”

Tobin warns the new DOT commissioner
“private contractors just want to get,rich.””

CSEA’s statewide headquarters, which since 1968 hat
been located at 33 Elk Street, Albany, has been rel
_ to new, more Spacious. quarters at 143 Washington Av
enue, Albany effective Monday, Sept 2. CSEA' has been”
__ renovating the four : @ since purch: last
_fall from. the New York State C
_ System, whic! i
a anew

HEADQUARTERS

is now located at

143 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12210

Our number remains
(518) 434-0191

THE CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, INC.
Local 1000 American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees, AFL-ClO

William L. McGowan
PRESIDENT

Very specialized ministry takes a lot of heart

Unlike most clergymen who
trend to an ill parishioner
only occasionally, most of
their flock is made up of
the critically ill and dying

VALHALLA — They are a unique group of CSEA members. Their
title is “Chaplain.” Their “tools of the trade” are prayer, understanding
and love. Their “parish” is the Westchester County Medical Center.

Unlike most clergymen who tend to an ill parishoner only occasion-
ally, most of their flock is made up of the critically ill and the dying.

“It's a very specialized ministry,” Rev. Robert Hamlyn explained.

Hamlyn, a Sr. Chaplain, coordinates the programs for all seven
chaplains at the center. One program he takes great pride in is the Clergy
Residency Program in Cancer, a three-day training session which fo-
cuses on the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of cancer patients.
An additional objective of the program is to give physicians and other
members of the health care team a chance to become more aware of
the contribution of the clergy in the care of cancer patients. The pro-
gram originated in the Midwest and currently, Westchester Medical Cen-
ter is the only facility on the East coast to offer it.

“It's one particular illness that touches so many,’’said Hamlyn.

Father Ernest Reardon, an Oncology Specialist, agrees that seri-
ously ill patients need more than prayers from their clergymen. “The
program makes it possible for the patient to find understanding and ac-
ceptance,” he explained. “The family is too close and-friends may des-
ert him. This patient is facing death and disillusion. Even if he has ne
spiritual background, he’s looking for a meaning.”

Other specialized training has been made available to the chaplains
including dealing with drug and alcohol abusers and with AIDS patients,
the latter, explained Fr. Reardon, ‘‘to overcome our own fears as well
as to comfort those who suffer.”

“You have to have the ability to work with doctors and nurses,” Rev.

THESE CSEA MEMBERS are a unique grou
Westchester County Medical Center is Region Ill President Pat Mascioli, left. The
chaplains are, Fr. Ernest Reardon, Rev. Robert Hamlyn and Rev. Donald Bane.

With three of the chaplains from

Hamlyn pointed out. “You have to be knowledgeable. You couldn't put
a parish person into this hospital.”

“The chaplains here are a crucial part of people’s lives,” said Rev.
Donald Bane. “Unlike a parish clergyman, we don't always know the
whole story. It can be frustrating, but it’s satisfying.”

The patients at WCMC are not the only concern of the chaplains.
Also on the campus are other county facilities including a county jail and
a psychiatric center. Inmates and patients, as well as the employees
find their way to the chaplains for spiritual counseling and referrals for
other services they may need.

The coordinated program is one of very few unified and structured
programs in the state. According to Hamlyn, there are a number of larg-
er complexes similar to the Westchester campus, but the chaplains are
not involved in an integrated program.

Rev. Hamlyn, a Westchester County employee since 1963, was
ordained in 1953. Coming from a religious family—his father was a
minister—his vocation was a natural choice. His first parish was in Ft.
Lee, New Jersey. From there he moved to a New York City chureh and
then to Westchester County. He is currently the only Sr. Chaplain in
the state. ‘ .

Fr. Reardon is a linguist who spent his first 10 years of his priest-
hood in a leper colony. He later served as pastor of St. Michael’s Church
in east New York City and came to WCMC in 1973.

Rev. Bane was finishing his Masters degree in Pastoral Counseling
and was serving as acting rector of the Church of St. Barnabus in Ir-
vington when he was given the opportunity to come to WCMC in 1971.

The Chaplains are appointed by the county executive.

Study

ALBANY—With a slew of civil service tests coming up in September
and October, the release of some new exam preparation booklets by
CSEA's Education and Training Department comes just in time for
members to get the edge they may need.

The new exam prep guides were produced to be used in conjunction
with five CSEA video tapes which have been available through the
regional offices. The materials offer assistance in the following areas:

*“How to Prepare for a Civil Service Exam” (in general);

**“How to Take an Oral Exam” (two parts);

*“Mastering the Math on Civil Service Exams’ (arithmetic reasoning);

*“Mastering the Math on Civil Service Exams” (tabular reasoning).

CSEA Education and Training Specialist Anne Rokeach, who wrote
the booklets based on the videos, says that using the prep materials
can increase test scores by giving takers more knowledge and self-
confidence.

She noted that requests for exam prep materials generally have been
on the increase due to the fall schedule of tests

“We're getting a lot of requests for civil service preparation materials.
They know about the many different booklets we have. We want them
to be aware of the videos and the brand new booklets that go along
with them,” said Rokeach.

aids available for Civil Service exams

The video tapes were produced last year by Cornell University and
are available on half inch VHS (three-quarter inch by special request)
through regional offices. Each tape runs for approximately half an hour
and includes information on the subject matter as well as problems for
practice.

Rokeach estimates that a training session using the tapes and
booklets would take about an hour when the video is stopped to allow
time to work out problems. She recommends that a local or unit using
the training materials make use of a facilitator for each session.

“The facilitator usually ends up being someone who is not familiar
with the tape. He or she doesn’t have to know anything about the subject,
just how to present the program,” said Rokeach.

In order to facilitate the facilitator's job, Rokeach has included along
with each prep booklet a guide for those presenting the programs.

In addition to information directly relating to each subject, the booklets
also contain supplementary materials that help civil service test takers.
Among them are tips on preparing for a state civil service exam and test
tension relievers.

Requests for use of prep videos and materials should be made by
local presidents to the communications associate in the respective region.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR September 6, 1985

_ Laborimanagement

New chairwoman
appointed to head
Region Ill EAP)

By Anita Manley
CSEA Communications Associate

ORANGEBURG—Doris Josephson, a member of CSEA for seven
years, has been appointed Region Ill Employee Assistance Program
(EAP) chairwoman.

Josephson, who also serves as EAP chairwoman for Rockland
Psychiatric Center, explained that each regional chairperson meets
regularly with EAP coordinators, union heads, supervisors and facility
directors to discuss mutual problems and ideas for programs and training
for coordinators.

Rockland Psychiatric Center EAP Coordinator Al DeVonish Jr. says
his facility averages about 15 referrals for services each month. Prob-
lems including alcoholism, financial, housing, and spouse and child abuse
have been prevalent among employees.

DeVonish, a psychologist by profession, notes that Rockland’s EAP
has been in place about seven years, making it one of the oldest in the
state.

The program is necessary, the coordinator emphasized. “We've
saved valuable employees from losing their jobs,” he said. “I've had some
of the workers say | was a ‘pain’ for keeping after them to go for help.
But later they admitted that they were grateful | intervened.”

“It's a consuming job,” added DeVonish. “It’s supposed to be a 20-
hour-a-week appointment, but | spend more than 40 hours here. | try
to make the program as available as possible.”

Future plans for the Rockland facility's program include a “health
club” that will provide classes in exercise, how to stop smoking, Weight
Watchers and Gamblers Anonymous. Volunteers from the community
will teach the classes. DeVonish and the EAP committee will also
participate in a “wellness fair’ next May at the facility.

Josephson stressed that confidentiality is a key to the success of
the program. “The only one who knows a Client's name is the
coordinator,” she said. “We've never had a breach of confidentiality.”

DORIS JOSEPHSON AL DEVONISH JR.

SYRACUSE—CSEA Central Region V has
workshops”) on_la-
bor/management committees for Sept. 14 in the

scheduled three

following locations:
POTSDAM:

(College Union)
SYRACUSE:

SUNY Potsdam Campus, Fireside Lounge

Programs
expanding

The programs are popping up all over.

“Over 250 and still growing, and we're setting up about two new
ones each week,” says Jim Murphy, director of CSEA’s Employee
Assistance Program.

Murphy emphasized that CSEA set the pace with its involvement
in EAP. “We got involved six years ago when no one else knew what
it was.” Currently, there are more than 250 programs in place including
state facilities, counties and towns.

In addition to confidential referrals for troubled employees, health
fairs, workshops and “‘brown bag lunch” classes are being made
available in such diverse topics as weight watching, nutrition, exercise
and stress management.

Best of all, the EAP, which is administered by joint committee made
up of labor as well as management, has provided an opportunity for
employees and employers to work together as a team toward a
common goal.

Some of the newest programs include Clinton County, town of
Clarkstown (Rockland County), and SUNY Purchase.

Anyone interested in more information should contact Murphy at
CSEA Headquarters, Albany.

Over 250
programs and
still growing.

EAP Director
Jim Murphy

The workshops will be conducted by three
CSEA training specialists from Albany head-
quarters and will focus on:

*The Purpose and Composition of La-
bor/management Committees;

*Matters that Can be Considered ina La-
bor/management Forum;

*Elements Necessary for Successful

workshops set
for Region V

September 6, 1985

Sheraton Motor Inn, 7th North Street at
Electronics Parkway (Thruway exit 37, Liverpool)

BINGHAMTON:

Howard Johnson’s, Front Street

Registration at each location will begin at 9
a.m. The workshops will be conducted from 9:30
a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with a lunch period from noon
to 1 p.m

Committees;

* Agenda Design;
*Methods of Decision-making.

Members interested in attending one of the
workshops should contact their unit or local

president

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

aeuitic
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

AARON SHEPARD — Publisher
ROGER A. COLE — Editor

BRIAN K. BAKER — Associate Editor
NAN HANNA — Assistant Editor

Adaress changes should be sent to; Civil Service Em-
ployees Association, The Public Sector, 33 Elk Street,
Albany, New York 12224

AMAZING ! You CAN
SAYS HE CAN PO BE SURE THERE J
Your JOB FoR LESS MONEY ARE STRINGS
AND STILL MAKE A ATTACHED.

PROFIT !

Region V endorses
Nicoletti in bid
for Mayoral seat

SYRACUSE — Region V President James Moore recently
announced CSEA’s endorsement of Joseph Nicoletti in his race
for the mayor of Syracuse. é

Nicoletti, former Common Council member, was cited for
his sensitivity to the needs of the working people. ‘‘We need
his proven ability to get things done, his thorough understand-
ing of the workings of city government, and his skills as a city-
wide vote-getter,’’ Moore stated during a press conference.

“We believe that Joseph Nicoletti is the most qualified can-
didate to take charge of City Hall and lead the City of Syracuse
into the future,’’ he concluded.

Moore, left, congratulates Nicoletti during press conference
in which Moore announced CSEA’s backing of the Nicoletti can-
didacy.

Mt. Kisco contract agreement raises pay

A recently signed three-year contract for
employees who are members of the newly
organized Village of Mt. Kisco clerical unit
will result in 5.5, 5.5 and 6 percent salary
increases.

According to Region Ill Field Representa-
tive Dolores Tocci, the agreement, retroac-
tive to June 1, 1984, also provides other
gains for the employees. Added to the sala-
ry increases are bereavement leave, clarifi-
cation of vacation policy, a longevity sched-
ule and agency shop.

Witnessing the signing of the three-year
agreement are Village of Mt. Kisco Unit
President Theresa Sinocchi (seated), and Vil-
lage Manager John Pierpont. Looking over
their shoulders is Region Ill Field Represen-
tative Dolores Tocci and Unit Vice President
Josephine Bay.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

September 6, 1985

BASICally

ALBANY—For your information, it’s been
more than a year.

More than a year that is, since the opening
of the Albany Information Processing Center
Last April, the center began offering courses
in word processing as part of the Clerical and
Secretarial Employee Advancement Program
(CSEAP), a program established by the state
contract in 1979.

The courses are available to state employees
in the ASU bargaining unit and have been so
popular in Albany that the program has
expanded to include workers in New York City
and Buffalo.

According to Collective Bargaining Special-
ist Jack Conoby, CSEA is the only union to of-
fer such an opportunity to its members. He
calls the program's center on Central Avenue

your job horizons?

your way toward your career goals.

are free for ASU employees.

responsibilities.

New training centers

the final word
in word processing

If you're a state employee in the ASU bargaining unit, you can take
advantage of CSEAP'’s Transition Training Courses this Fall and work

E Not only are there a number of choices, the classes are being held
in 12 different locations throughout the state. Best of all, the courses

While the courses are intended for clerical employees, they are not
intended to sharpen clerical skills. The purpose of the program is to broad-
en knowledge so that such workers are capable of taking on new

in Albany a “model training center.

“It's got the newest equipment,” he said. “It's
a model in terms of the way a word processing
office should be set up. The lighting, the
computer screens, even the furniture all are
placed to make work efficient and
comfortable.”

Nearly 1,000 state employees in Information
Processing titles have taken the CSEAP
courses. This year, night classes will be offered
to state employees interested in word
processing.

Other plans for the near future include
courses in the operation of personal
computers. Presently, the Albany center has
7 computers which will be used for training in
BASIC language

CBS JACK CONOBY wit!
Information Processi
Trainer Tammy Zitz!

At left, students i
Information Proce
Center in Albany.

ma it

Conoby says that a primary goal of the
program is to expand word processing and
computer training into more locations in the
state.

Although there is no title for state employees
who operate personal computers, Conoby
pointed out that Information Processing titles
in state service were a result of union
negotiations. “We hope to do something similar
with personal computer operators,” he said
“That's the direction the state is going in.”

Conoby credited the CSEAP statewide
committee with promoting the program.
“They've been a very active committee and
they've made the program a success.”

ASU state employees interested in enrolling
in the program should contact their local
presidents for information.

Sick of clerical work? Consider this

ALBANY—Are you in the midst of a career change? Do you want
to go beyond routine clerical duties? Are you interested in broadening

Titles of some of the courses to be offered this fall are:
*Coping with Job Stress;

*Managing Your Time;

*Public Speaking;
*How to Have Productive Meetings;
*Effective Problem Solving;

*Fundamentals of Writing;
*Beginning Accounting;

*How to Tackle a Research Project;
*Overview of State Government;

*How do Managers Manage?;
t] ag’
*Grammar and Punctuation;

457-6306.

*Basic Math: A Skills Refresher.
For more information on registration and courses offered, contact
your local president or Employee Advancement Section at (518)

CSEA staff opening in Research

ALBANY — CSEA is accepting resumes from
candidates interested in being considered for
the vacant position of Assistant Director of Re-
search.

The position is the second line of supervi-
sion in a department of 10 employees, and the
successful candidate will have responsibility for
directing and supervising the staff.

September 6, 1985

CSEA’s Research Department is responsi-
ble for the development of statistical data and
organizational policies in support of union col-
lective bargaining proposals.

Candidates must possess a Bachelors De-
gree with a major in economics, math or statis-
tics, and a minimum of five years of experience

in an appropriate field, including supervisory ex-
perience.

Qualified applicants should submit a resume
with salary history no later than Sept. 23 to
Director of Personnel, Civil Service Employees
Assn., P.O. Box 125, Capitol Station, Albany,
N.Y. 12224,

THE PUBLIC SECTOR 5

Irene Carr invades management's turf, tells ‘em

‘machinery has been

emphasized

over

machinery’

HOT SPRINGS, ARK.—CSEA statewide
Secretary Irene Carr admits to having felt a
little bit like a lamb walking into the lion’s den
when she addressed delegates to the 17th
annual meeting of the National Association of
State Information Systems here recently.

Speaking on the subject of “Ergonomics,”
Carr told the group of information systems
management representatives that “machinery
has been emphasized over the people oper-
ating the machinery,” and that the quality of life
for people working with new technology must
be properly addressed.

“Carr told the delegates that while “all of us,
lam sure, have been impressed by these new
way to do old jobs...l wonder how many of you
have been concerned about the impact these
‘new ways’ have had on working people?”
Ergonomics, she told them, is a systematic way
of researching and designing workplace con-
ditions so that people and things interact most
effectively and safely.

Carr told the management representatives
from across the nation how CSEA and
AFSCME have aggressively sought ways to ac-
commodate new technologies while remaining
committed to being certain that video display
terminal (VDT) operators can work in safety and
comfort while improving productivity. She
noted how CSEA and AFSCME funded the
largest study of VDT operators ever undertaken
to determine problems associated with new
technology and how to correct them.

“| am not against the introduction of com-
puters and electronic display technology. Far
from it. | am excited about the potential for
increased productivity and creativity in the
world of information processing. But | think we
must temper our enthusiasm with realism. And
realism tells me that there are three major prob-
lem areas,” Carr said. Those problems which
must be addressed immediately, she said, in-
volve the lighting and visual orientation of the
work station for VDT operators, the physical
design of the VDT work station, and job stress
associated with VOT work

Carr pointed out that VDT work requires
operators to maintain near focus for long per-

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

iods of time, causing special visual problems.
Wearing conventional bifocals or contact
lenses both pose special concerns. Eye
checkups before starting work on VDTs and
regular checkups thereafter are a must, she
said.

She told the informational systems represen-

CSEA Secretary Irene Carr

tatives to pay special attention to lighting prob-
lems associated with VDT work stations. In
addition to the many variables associated with
VDT lighting concerns, Carr reminded the
delegates that ‘in the past 50 years, light
levels have dramatically increased. The eye,
however, has not changed.” Room lighting,
screen brightness and contrast, and light
reflection are among the most common com-
plaints from VDT operators.

As for design of VDT work stations, Carr ,
noted ‘‘the transition from typewriter to VDT
has happened so rapidly that VDTs are often
used on the same desks and the same chairs
designed for typewriters. Thus, operators are
forced to assume uncomfortable or unnatural
sitting positions which result in back, neck,
shoulder and leg strains.”

Carr spoke in great detail about the im-
portance of work station design and use of
proper equipment to the study of ergonomics.

As for the problems of stress; Carr said, “Job
stress strains both body and soul. Proper
attention needs to be paid as to how the work
station is set up as well as to what equipment
is purchased. And in making these decisions
it is important to touch base with employees
who will be doing the actual work. They should
be part of the decision making. They will be
using the equipment, they should be involved
in the process. Remember—involvement is the
best way to inspire workers so that they will
want to tap the technologies full potential.”

Carr said unions today, especially CSEA and
AFSCME, are anxious to participate at policy
levels to become active partners in forging new
frontiers in technology. She described how.
CSEA helped fund a unique work processing
training center in Albany (see page 5 for
related story) as a example.

Ergonomics—the study of people in relation
to their work— is good for business, Carr said.
Ergonomics ‘delivers higher output, more
accuracy, better morale, and less turnover.”

And, said Carr, ‘Its benefits include the
human factor- satisfied people use less sick
leave, are less fatigued, run up fewer medical
bills, and stay on the job longer.”

Concluded Carr, “Technology today is
progressing at a fantastic rate. Third-generation
computers are on the line. These advances put
special burdens on both labor and manage-
ment. We must be prepared to utilize the new
technology not simply for profits but also. to
improve our work lives.”

September 6, 1985

INTHE TIME
IT TAKES YOU TO

GET YOUR CHILD |
READY FOR SCHOOL

ANOTHER CHILD
WILL HAVE
DISAPPEARED.

LIST OF ITEMS COVERED BY
UNITED BUYING SERVICE

GBS may be able to help you obtain savings
on the following items:
*New Car Buying
*Long Term Leasing
*Tires
*China
“Crystal
*Flatware
*Typewriters
*Pianos
*Video Components
*Audio-Stereo Components
*Major Appliances
“Furniture
*Carpeting
\ *Televisions
* Jewelry
“Furs

September 6, 1985

Had

CHILD FIND
1-800-1 AM LOST

by one of their parents.

“The Public Sector” periodically publishes photographs and information about missing

- children registered with Child Find, Inc. of New Paltz. Child Find is a non-profit

organization which works with a national network of teachers, social service groups
and law enforcement agencies to help locate missing children.

Child Find maintains a toll-free number, 1-800-1 AM LOST, which persons with any
information about missing youngsters can call with complete confidence. According
to Child Find, the organization becomes involved with mostly parental abduction cases,
and that about 95 per cent of the children the organization is looking for were abducted

The child below, Audrey Vanessa Ruff, disappeared on June 12, 1984 from Tampa,
Fla, If you believe you have information relative to this or any other missing child,
immediately contact Child Find on the toll free number, 1-800- | AM LOST.

CF—3423

aie

Pi Be
Audrey Vanessa Ruff
Birthdate: 11-17-83
Abducted: 6-12-84

If you're in the market for a wide variety
of items, United Buying Service can help you

Tf you’re a CSEA member who is planning to
buy furniture, jewelry, a major appliance or an

-automobile in the near future, your purchasing

power has been substantially increased thanks to
United Buying Service.

Through UBS, the oldest and largest discount
buying service in the state, CSEA members can
obtain large discounts on a wide variety of
products and services.

This special discount buying service is being
made available to CSEA members at no cost and
no obligation of any kind to those members using
the program.

CSEA President William L.McGowan said that
while UBS has an excellent record for delivering

high-quality products and service at substantial
savings, “members should continue to be smart
shoppers by looking for the items they want at lo-
cal stores and shopping for sales first to be sure
that UBS is providing the best prices for those ma-
jor purchases.”’

To use the service, call the numbers pro-
vided.and give the make and model number
of the item you wish to purchase. You will be quot-
ed UBS’s lowest price and, if you wish, your or-
der can be placed by phone and delivered to your
home.

Brochures explaining the service are available
to members through your local or unit president.

The 1986 automobiles will be available in late September. Discounts are now available on
purchasing and leasing of these 1986 models. For complete information, brochures will be
available through your CSEA Local president during the last week of September.

To avail yourself of United Buying Service discounts, call this
number and identify yourself as a CSEA member:

LONG ISLAND NEW YORK CITY | WESTCHESTER and
(516) 488-3268 (212) 889-6338 UPSTATE NEW YORK
or 685-5252 (800) 522-3131

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

ALBANY — “A good opportunity to address the unique prob- _
lems and the future of retirees’ is the way CSEA Retiree Coor- ~ ~
dinator Leo Hope described the first CSEA Retirees Con.
vention to be held Sept. 30 through Oct. 3 at the Concord:
Hotel in Kiamesha Lake. :

sion, health insurance and “the political action necessary to not only
protect what we now have, but how we can use our political influence
to at least maintain our standard of living.” ~-

Hope says that a number of seminars are planned that will be of
special interest to retirees. They include: x

Legislative and Political Action Update: an update of legislation per-
taining to retirees and an overview of how a legislative bill is put together;

* Officers Training: How to conduct meetings, how to keep your
members interested and actively participating; t

* Preparation of the 1986 Legislative Program and the problems
which were encountered with the 1985 program;

® Election Procedures for retiree locals; and

* New Government Employee Health Program (Empire Plan): how
it affects retirees. ’

CSEA MEMBERS FROM REGION Il partici-
pated in a march against Apartheid held re-
cently in Rockland County. Pictured here from
left are Letchworth Local 412 members Sal
Greco, Sarah Jackson and Steve Edwards;
Region Ill Field Representative Chris Lindsay,
Rockland County Unit member Vicki. Burton;
Rockland Psychiatric Center Local 421 Presi-
dent Glenda Davis; Westchester Local 860
members Grace Ann Aloisi and Irene Amaral;
Region Ill President Pat Mascioli and Rockland
County Unit President Florence Kimmel.

8 THE PUBLIC SECTOR

CSEA Retirees set
first conference

Hope added that the annual meeting will include discussion on pen- ee

CSEA RETIREES COORDINATOR LEO HOPE

Speaker for this program will be Nelson Carpenter, associate direc-
tor of the Governor's Office of Employee Relations. _
Other major speakers will include Statewide President William McGo-
wan; statewide Secretary Irene Carr; and New York state Assembly-
man Paul Harenburg of Suffolk County who is Chairman of the Assem-
bly Aging Committee.
Hope says that the meeting will give the retirees a chance “to show
that they are a force to be reckoned with.” :
Those wishing more information on the convention should contact
Hope at CSEA headquarters.

RA llying

gainst
partheid

LETCHWORTH LOCAL 412 MEMBERS
marched with a number of local organizations
and churches in a rally against the apartheid
government in South Africa. Participants in-
cluded Sal Greco, Martin Sherow, Steve Ed-
wards, Local 412 President Bob Watkins and
Region Ill President Pat Mascioli.

REGION ill
SEQ APSCME
LOCAL 1000

September 6, 1985

Cometo ,,, “ar
The Fair! |

Region | Membership Fairs |
celebrate CSEA's 75th Anniversary

NASSAU! 75th and 150th member to enter the Fair
will each receive a color television set

Information Booths

Feature
Handouts and Token Gifts

from
CSEA Staff Members, Committees

and CSEA authorized vendors

Donated by Our Providers

color television sets Davis Optical

Two $50 gift certificates N.Y. Diagnostic

Two automatic coffee makers Jardine Insurance Co.
Two clock radios Kotler & Vitale

Two gift certificates Vogue Jewelers Multiphasic

Two area rugs G. Fried Carpets

Two gift certificates Dr. Paritsky

Trip to Acapulco Center Travel ‘N Tours

Help us celebrate our 75th year of

g. SOLIDARITY =

Suffolk Thursday,September19 3-9p.m. Smithtown Sheraton
110 Vanderbilt Motor

Parkway, Hauppauge

Nassau Wednesday, September18 3-9p.m._ IslandInn
Old Country Road,

Westbury

September 6, 1985 THE PUBLIC SECTOR gy

MEltean tes! nr

REGION IV PRESIDENT C. Allen Mead marches in Albany’s Labor Day parad

le with other CSEA

activists. In background, right, is new CSEA Headquarters.

\ Ri

CSEA REGION IV FIRST VICE PRESIDENT Joan Tobin, left,
with Josephine Sano, president of the Albany County
Central Federation of Labor, on the air for Labor Day.

LABOR DAY

in Albany and New York City

Labor Day festivities in Albany and New
York City drew thousands of participants this
year, including scores of CSEA members
who marched in parades and took part in
rallies.

New Yorkers watched the traditional La-
bor Day parade up Fifth Avenue. Marching
this year were CSEA presidents
representing four different regions: Danny
Donohue, Region |; George Boncoraglio,
Region II; Pat Mascioli, Region Ill; Jim
Moore, Region V.

CSEA leaders took time out during their
march to mingle with union-endorsed
candidates, including mayoral hopeful Car-
ol Bellamy, and members waved placards in
support of the politicians.

In Albany, the day began with fiery debate
and ended with volleys of shooting-stars in
the sky. The air waves of radio station
WQBK crackled at 7 a.m. with a hot pro-
union/anti-union dialogue between Region IV
First Vice President Joan Tobin and an
anonymous adversary. “When President

People: the

ALBANY—‘Labor Day is a forgotten
holiday for the vast majority of the population
of this country. More people are busy
planning picnics today than honoring the
source of their economic viability—
UNIONS.”

John DiScipio shouted those words from
a podium outside the state Capitol during a
Labor Day rally here. DiScipio, a CSEA
striker, was the leader of a successful
weeklong campaign to save the jobs of 15
fellow members of Hudson Valley
Community College's Faculty Student
Association this year. In his brief remarks,

bottom. line

CSEA’S FLOAT down Fifth Avenue.

Reagan broke PATCO that was a signal tof
big business to do anything it want&® tq
organized labor,” Tobin held, sticking to het
guns.

Scores of CSEA activists participated i
a parade through Albany's downtown and 4
tally outside the Capitol. More than 2,50q
participants were still on hand later that eve}
ning as a spectacular show of fireworkg
illuminated the dusk sky over the Hudsoi
River

Paul Cole, secretary-treasurer of the gtatq
AFL-CIO addressed an enthusiastiq
audience at the Capitol rally. “Labor toda
is the most vital and potential power thi
planet has ever known, and its histori
mission is as certain of ultimate realization
as is the setting of the sun.

“The announcement of labor's death are
greatly exaggerated, Cole said, pointing ou
that the labor movement in New York statq
continues to grow and remain a vital force
for working people. e

DiScipio touched on the basic reason for 4
union’s existence—people.

“| have found that the major differencg
between labor and management is thei
respective view of something called tha
bottom line. Management looks aj tha
bottom line and sees numbers, profit an
loss margins, black and red ink.

“Unions look at the bottom line and seq
people. People who are raising families
paying taxes, working hard for a little food
clothing, shelter and, if they're lucky, a littl
bit of something called dignity,” said
DiScipio.

nacrLaAT a RR RAL AES

cL maa a sicnssemarmnrat ene

1 0 THE PUBLIC SECTOR

ONSEN ERG Ran Mea NS

TrTLCLO PEAS BEGGS!

MARY SULLIVAN, chairwoman of CSEA’s Local
Government Executive Committee, left, and CSEA
statewide Secretary Irene Carr in Albany.

LONG ISLAND ACTIVISTS William Maccaro and Barbara
Herrington of Suffolk County Local 852 on their way up
ifth Ave.

Septemffer 6, 1985

iy neni atts

VPRO a RT

South

TOTING SIGNS FOR CAUSES were Gloria Scott, left center, from Downstate
Medical Center Local 646, and John Cheslin of Retirees Local 910.

FOUR OF CSEA’S SIX REGIONAL PRESIDENTS spend Labor Day in New York
City. Pictured, from left, with politicians: Jim Moore; Peter King, backed for
Nassau County comptroller, Republican; Danny Donohue; Pat Mascioli; Carol
Bellamy, backed for New York City mayor; and George Boncoraglio.

FLORINE MARKS, Nassau Local 830, found the best way to take inthe sights |
and sounds of New York’s parade.
LN PEE RTE AA MAC TENA 52 CHARS NRE RM BP RO Sac |

THE PUBLIC SECTOR 1 1

NASSAU COUNTY ENDORSEMENTS
NASSAU COUNTY
County Executive Francis Purcell
County Comptroller Peter King
County Clerk Harold McConnell
Chair. Bd. of
Assessors Abe Seldin

: TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD .
Presiding Supervisor Thomas Gulotta
Supervisor James Bennett
Council Eugene Weisbein
Council Richard Guardino
Council Martin Bernstein
Town Clerk Daniel Fisher
Receiver of Taxes _—_ Robert Livingston

CSEA announces endorsements
in Nassau, Suffolk elections

HAUPPAUGE — Because ‘‘they've all either
shown CSEA consideration in the past or have
a strong inclination toward working with us in
the future,” CSEA has endorsed dozens of
candidates in Nassau and Suffolk Counties for
the Fall elections, according to CSEA Region
| President Danny Donohue.

“This list is representative of those candi-

TOWN OF NORTH HEMPSTEAD
Supervisor John Kiernan
Council Gerard Cunningham
Council Joseph Guarino
Town Clerk John DaVanzo

TOWN OF OYSTER BAY
Supervisor Joseph Colby
Council Angelo Delligatti
Council Howard Hogan
Council Kenneth Diamond
Council Douglas Hynes
Town Clerk Ann R. Ocker

dates whose philosophy is the same as the un-
ion’s. All of these people are willing to discuss
the needs and problems of working men and
women,” Donohue said.

The following gained CSEA endorsement
only after “the Political Action Committee in-
terviewed all the candidates in a hot-seat fash-
ion,” the regional president said.

CITY OF LONG BEACH
Supervisor Hannah Komanoff
Council Bruce Bergman
Council Kevin Braddish
Council Pearl Weill

CITY OF GLEN COVE
No endorsement

SUFFOLK COUNTY ENDORSEMENTS
TOWN OF BABYLON
Anthony Noto
Francine Brown
Ann Allmendinger
Town Clerk Ray D’Abramo
Supt. of Highways James Harrington
TOWN OF SMITHTOWN
Supervisor Patrick Vecchio
Town Clerk Victor Liss
Supt. of Highways James Dowling

Supervisor
Council
Council

TOWN OF HUNTINGTON
No endorsements

- TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN
Supervisor No endorsement
Council Donald Zimmer
Council Eugene Gerard
Council William Martin
Supt. of Highways Harold Maikmes
Town Clerk Stan Allen

TOWN OF ISLIP
No endorsement

TOWN OF SOUTHOLD
Supervisor Francis Murphy

Council Jeanne Cochrane
Council Raymond Edwards
Town Clerk Judith Terry

Supt. of Highways Ray Jacobs

SUFFOLK COUNTY

No endorsement
No endorsement
No endorsement

BS :
BABYLON CANDIDATES met with CSEA Political Action Committee members recently to
discuss endorsements. From left are Babylon Councilwoman Francine V. Brown, Babylon
Councilwoman Anne M. Allmendinger, CSEA PAC Co-Chairman Michael Curtin, PAC mem-
ber Catherine Green, Babylon Town Supervisor Anthony Noto, CSEA Region | President
Danny Donohue, and PAC member Eileen Ronayne.

Sheriff
Treasurer
District Attorney

TOWN OF SOUTHAMPTON
Kelsey Marachal
SUFFOLK LEGISLATURE
1st Leg. District Remy Bell
2nd Leg. District John Knapp
3rd Leg, District John Foley
4th Leg. District Rose Caracappa
5th Leg. District Steve Engelbright
6th Leg. District Barbara Barnett
7th Leg. District No endorsement
8th Leg. District No endorsement
9th Leg. District Joseph Rizzo
10th Leg. District Philip Nolan
11th Leg. District Patrick Mahoney
12th Leg. District Sondra Bachety
13th Leg. District Peter Monaco
14th Leg. District Lou Howard
15th Leg. District Michael Schoenfeld
16th Leg. District Tony Bullock
17th Leg. District Jane Devine
18th Leg. District No endorsement

Council

“ Se a aaa HU tbls ti
NASSAU COUNTY EXECUTIVE FRANCIS T. PURCELL, third from right in front row, met
with these CSEA activists recently. From left are Region | President Danny Donohue, PAC
member Carol Craig, PAC Co- Chairman Michael Curtin, PAC member Catherine Green,
Executive Purcell, PAC member Robert Specht, PAC Co-Chairman Tom Stapleton, and
PAC members Al Henneborn and Rita Wallace.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR September 6, 1985

Dear CSEA member:

International Literacy Day on Sept. 8
draws our attention to a national tragedy.
More than 27 million Americans, one in five
adults, is functionally illiterate. They can’t
read job applications, street signs, labels or
the front pages of the newspaper.

Our work as public employees makes us
acutely aware of the devastating costs of il-
literacy to the public we come in contact with
and to society as a whole. Millions of adults
simply drop out of society in frustration and
shame. Poverty, unemployment, crime, and
human suffering cost each of us as mem-
bers of our communities.

Functional illiteracy also keeps some wor-
kers, including many of our fellow brothers
and sisters, from advancing in their jobs.

Once again, the Reagan administration has
turned its back on this national disaster that
can be corrected. While publicly supporting
the fight against illiteracy, it has hypocritically
advocated cutting needed government
funding.

Each of us can help alleviate the problem.
Although Sept. 8 focuses our attention on
illiteracy, programs need to be ongoing so
that we can help solve this problem al-
together.

GERALD W. McENTEE
President, AFSCME

WILLIAM LUCY
Secretary-Treasurer, AFSCME

WILLIAM L. McGOWAN
President, CSEA
Int. Vice President, AFSCME

JOSEPH E. McDERMOTT
Exec. Vice President,
CSEA Int. Vice President, AFSCME

DANNY DONOHUE
President, CSEA Region I
Int. Vice President, AFSCME

IT’S A FACT:

* One in five Americans cannot
read the front page of a newspaper.

* Approximately 13% of all 17-
year-olds in this country are consid-
ered functionally illiterate.

* Functional illiteracy costs the
government about $225 billion in wel-
fare payments, crime, mistakes on
the job, lost tax revenue and reme-
dial education. .

Functional illiteracy is the inabili-
ty to use reading, writing and com-
putation skills in everyday life situa-
tions. A functional illiterate person
cannot:

* read a medicine bottle,

* locate a telephone number in a
directory.

* use a bus schedule

* take a driver’s test

September 6, 1985

Union leaders call for efforts
to end the tragedy of illiteracy

Reading:
You and
Your Children

You are the most important teacher to your children. Your attitudes toward and values)
about reading, learning and school affect your children’s level of interest. Below are some sug,
gestions for encouraging your children to develop healthy interests in reading:

(1) Find books and magazines related to their interests — they will be more likely to read
them.

Subscribe to magazines in your children’s own names.

Make regular trips to the library with your children. Help them become familiar with
everything the library offers.

Set aside time on several occasions per week to read to and with your children.

Discuss with your children the books they have read — what they liked, didn’t like,
and what they would have changed if they had written the story.

Read signs and labels in your children’s environment.
same signs to you.
boxes.

Encourage them to read the
This includes road signs as well as toothpaste labels or cereal

Encourage your children to develop scrapbooks on topics of interest to them. In-
clude pictures, articles in magazines, etc., that relate to that topic.

Write notes to your child —— where you are going, a task that needs to be done, tele-
phone messages.

Encourage them to write letters to friends and relatives.

Offer to tape your children while they are reading. Many children enjoy hearing how
they sound on a tape recorder,

Keep the television set in a location away from the children’s reading area to reduce
distractions and temptations.

Buy children’s encyclopedias and dictionaries. Encourage your children to use them
to find out specific information or simply brouse through them to learn.

* Adapted from Coalition for Literacy ‘‘Help Your Child Succeed in Reading.”

COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM

inthe public service eg ,

Here’s how your Local can help

There are several community action projects that CSEA Locals can undertake to help reduce
functional illiteracy. .

(1) Sponsor an AFSCME Literacy Program for members and/or the community. Contact the
AFSCME Community Action Program at (202) 492-5097 for information and assistance.

(2) Join your area Coalition for Literacy. You can find the group nearest you by calling the Con-
tact Literacy Center at 800- 228-8813. As a member, your local will find out what kinds of help
you can provide to fight illiteracy in your area.

(3) Publicize the issue. Most Americans don’t realize how widespread illiteracy is in this coun-
try. The more the public is awere of the problem, the less stigma there will be and the more likely

people will be to seek help or volunteer.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

Career advancement and civil service promotional exams are never far from
the minds of public employees. And for public workers in either the state or lo-

rep oo e S can cal government arena, CSEA is offering self-study booklets that should help in-
dividuals improve their test scores in a wide range of civil service exam areas.

A dozen booklets are available to help individuals prepare for state exams.

) And CSEA has available four exam preparation booklets for employees in local
elp you achieve pola subaivsions

And the union is also offering something that should prove beneficial to
everyone—cassette tapes designed to help people combat the effects of stress

ca reer advancement Pane eget available from CSEA’s Education Department for CSEA

members. As indicated, non-CSEA members can obtain the exam prep book-
lets directly from Cornell University at the same price. Each booklet costs $1.50,

e while the cassette relaxation tape, available only through CSEA’s Education
FOUGH promotions — *eiccccicran
Interested individuals should use the proper order form below and mail the

completed form to CSEA, Education Department, 33 Elk Street, Albany, N.Y.
12207.

Local Government State Examinations

prep booklets prep booklets

CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ASSN.
ATTN: EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

P. O. BOX 125

CAPITOL STATION

ALBANY, NEW YORK 12224

Please send me the booklet(s) indicated. |
understand the price is $ 1.50 (which includes
postage) for EACH booklet ordered. | have
enclosed a check or money order, payable to
CSEA, for $_______ to cover the cost
of this order.

'
1
1
1
4
1
1

CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ASSN.
ATTN: EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
P. O. BOX 125

CAPITOL STATION

ALBANY, NEW YORK 12224

: Please send me the booklet(s) indicated.
H understand the price is $1.50 (which include:
H postage) for EACH booklet ordered. | hav
enclosed a check or money order, payable t
to cover the cost o

CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ASSN.
ATTN: EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

P. O..BOX 125

CAPITOL STATION

ALBANY, NEW YORK 12224

Please send me relaxation
program(s) on cassette tape at the price of
$2.50 EACH. I have enclosed a check or mon-
ey order, payable to CSEA, for $____ to
cover the cost of this order.

H this order.
7 Please send tape(s) to:

Secretarial and Typing Series for : Basic Math
Counties, Municipalities and Non- NAME H Arithmetic Reasoning
Teaching School District Personnel a Und 4 ae
. lerstandi a t eti
Custodial Series for Counties, ADDRESS ——— I females bas Bee

ABTA Tabular Material
Municipalities and Non-Teaching

School District Personnel

ITY STATE/ZIP Understanding and Interpreti

Written Material

—______ Social Welfare Examiner Series

OCIAL SECURITY # ; és .,
‘ Preparing Written Material
_______ Caseworker Promotional Exam

Series

SEA LOCAL Supervision

EMPLOYER - Ze eer ________ Purchasing and Payroll Practices

___ Basic Algebra
.
HME eS Concepts and Principles o
Hy Normalization for the Mentall
{oppress Retarded/Developmentally Disabled:
' .
'cITY : STATE/ZIP Therapeutic Approaches

Principles and Practices in thi
s SOCIAL SECURITY #.

Treatment of the Mentally 4

a Ill/Emotionally Disturbed
1CSEA LOCAL

4 ______ How to take an Oral Exam

: EMPLOYER ae Evaluating Conclusions in the Light:
H of Known Facts

i § Please send booklet(s) to:

'
| NAME
4

1 ADDRESS

‘
«CITY STATE/ZIP

PLEASE NOTE: Non-CSEA members can H

obtain the exam preparation booklets directly § Social Security # Ee aac

from Cornell University at the same price by 1

contacting: Cornell ILR, 112 State Street, 1 CSEA Local _ oe drei

Suite 1200, Albany, N. Y. 12207. The

relaxation tapes are available ONLY through Employer > a

CSEA’s Education Department.

1 4 THE PUBLIC SECTOR September 6, 1985

Monroe County moves closer to pay equ

Editor’s note: Comparable worth was dealt a blow this week when a
U.S. Circuit of Appeals iri San Francisco threw out a lower court rul-
ing that could have forced Washington state to pay $1 billion in
damages to 15,500 workers. But the struggle for women’s demands
for pay equal with men continues as Monroe County public
employees realize in this recent development.

‘Women are breadwinners, too, and
the work they provide is of equal

value.’
Florence Tripi

ROCHESTER — The goal of equal pay for work of equal value may
be a step closer to reality in Monroe County as a result of a preliminary
study by a county task force on pay equity.

After discovering a wide income disparity between male and female-
dominated county job titles, recommendations for correcting the disparity
have been made by the task force. Serving on the task force were Flor-
ence Tripi and Patricia Gooden, activists and officers in Monroe County
Local 828 and the county employee unit. Community health nurses Ur-
sala Hage and Jan Wall from Local 828 were also on the task force.

The eight-month study showed the job-pay disparity exists even
though minimum education and experience requirements are greater for
the female-dominated job titles, according to Gooden, who chaired a
committee on salary and job evaluation.

“Where education and experience requirements are equal,” Goo-
den continued, “incumbents in male-dominated job classes earn between
21 and 35 percent more than incumbents in female-dominated job class-
es. That's unfair.”

According to Tripi, president of the 2400-member County Employee
Unit, positive and prompt action on the recommendations “would be a
big step toward bringing the county's workforce fully into the reality of
today’s awareness that women are, breadwinners, too, and the work they
provide is of equal value.”

“Opponents of pay equity,” added Gooden, “frequently invoke the
sanctity of the free market. That silly argument was used to maintain
child labor, slavery and the exploitation of immigrants.”

The Monroe County wage differentials are consistent with studies
made in other jurisdictions across the country, the report said, on the
basis of full-scale job classification and compensation studies.

As CSEA has urged in its studies on comparable worth or pay equi-
ty,the task force called for action to close the gaps, especially in entry-
level positions, where pay differences are “considerable.”

The task force called for a full-scale evaluation study to be conducted
by an independent, outside consulting firm, to analyze the county's ex-
isting job classification and compensatoin system.

‘Opponents of pay equity frequently in-
voke the sanctity of the free market.
That silly argument was used to main-
tain child labor, slavery, and the ex-
ploitation of immigrants.’

Patricia Gooden

The recommendations of the task force were referred to the Coun-
ty Legislature by legislators Nan Johnson and minority leader Kevin Mur-
ray, both of whom served on the task force.

™ i

MONROE COUNTY LEGISLATOR and Minority Leader Kevin Murray County Unit President Florence Tripi, Region VI President Robert Lat-

(far right) joins with CSEA activists on release of pay equity study.
Also pictured (from left) are Local 828 President George Growney,

timer, and Pat Gooden, who chaired the study committee.

@ September 6, 1985

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

Concess

Integrated Mental

ons won by

union will protect

ers and clients

By Ron Wofford
CSEA Communications Associate

ROCHESTER—A pilot mental health
program, revised to meet CSEA concerns for
its members’ jobs and clients they serve, is
scheduled to begin operation in Monroe and
Livingston counties in early 1986.

The five-year experiment, now called
Integrated Mental Health, was known as the
Monroe-Livingston Demonstration Project
when CSEA successfully fought against its
inclusion in the state budget earlier this year

However, negotiations between CSEA and
the state continued, and a plan emerged from
those talks that guarantees that any clients
discharged from the Rochester Psychiatric
Center will continue to receive needed
treatment, including readmission to RPC or a
community residence.

CSEA also pushed for and gained the
inclusion of about 300 area mentally ill persons,
presently outside of the network of mental
health services, into the plan. These may be
“street people,” or aged individuals unable.to
seek skilled psychiatric attention

The plan, with an overall goal of discharging
as many RPC patients as possible to
community care facilities, will now include the
state, through the Office of Mental Health, on
its board of directors.

4 State has a

responsibility
to care for
mentally ill.7

The state workforce will also be provider of
50 percent of the community care facilities that
will be established under the plan, by the third
year of the agreement.

The jobs of current CSEA-represented RPC
staff are guaranteed secure under the
agreement, in that certain staffing levels will be
maintained through the life of the agreement.
And should any job shifting be deemed

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

necessary, employees affected will be offered.
state employment at a work location within 25
miles of RPC or the employee’s home

A training and retraining program to assist
current inpatient staff in their transition to

“providing community care has also been

agreed to by the state and CSEA. It is intended
that the program will demonstrate the feasibility
and economy of retraining state inpatient
psychiatric staff providers for service in
community programs. The agreement calls for
complete design of the training project by Jan.
1, 1986.

In the likely event of RPC staff being
transferred to community care residences,
those employees will continue to work for the
state, under current CSEA-state bargaining
agreements, and not for private mental care
providers.

“Our union assured that CSEA workers will
go into the community as state workers,
maintaining their contractual benefits, when
psychiatric center clients are released to
community care residences,” according to
CSEA Director of Collective Bargaining Bruce

Wyngaard

This will take place through the CSEA-state
program that will train psychiatric center staff
for community residence jobs, so they can
accept them as they become available

While there are currently community
residence job titles in the OMRDD field, there
is presently no state training for psychiatric
community care facilities.

“This is clear example where the.union has
aggressively addressed matters that were
outside the collective bargaining agreement to
secure employment security for its members,”
said Wyngaard. He had earlier served on a
state commission studying the future of mental
health services. “Direct negotiations and strong
Political action by the membership and staff
were responsible in this becoming possible.”

Wyngaard said, “The state has a
responsibility to care for the mentally ill, wheth-
er they are in the community or a state facility.
This agreement shows that CSEA can take an
active and responsible role in the decision-
making affecting mental health clients and our
members. Our success is a reflection of our
taking issue on the merits of the original
proposals as well as our political action effort.”

Bruce Wyngaard

4 This is a clear
example where
the union has
aggressively
addressed
matters that P
were outside the
- +. agreement
fo secure
employment °
security for
its members. 7

September 6, 1985 s

Monroe County moves closer fo pay equity

Editor’s note: Comparable worth was dealt a blow this week when a
U.S. Circuit of Appeals in San Francisco threw out a lower court rul-
ing that could have forced Washington state to pay $1 billion in
damages to 15,500 workers. But the struggle for women’s demands
for pay equal with men continues as Monroe County public
employees realize in this recent development.

‘Women are breadwinners, too, and
the work they provide is of equal

value.’
Florence Tripi

ROCHESTER — The goal of equal pay for work of equal value may
be astep closer to reality in Monroe County as a result of a preliminary
study by a county task force on pay equity.

: According to Tripi, president of the 2400-member County Employee
Unit, positive and prompt action on the recommendations “would be a
big step toward bringing the county's workforce fully into the reality of
today’s awareness that women are. breadwinners, too, and the work they
provide is of equal value.”

“Opponents of pay equity,” added Gooden, ‘frequently invoke the
sanctity of the free market. That silly argument was used to maintain
child labor, slavery and the exploitation of immigrants.”

As CSEA has urged in its studies on comparable worth or pay equi-
ty, the task force called for action to close the gaps, especially in entry-
level positions, where pay differences are “considerable.”

The task force called for a full-scale evaluation study to be conducted
by an independent, outside consulting firm, to analyze the county’s ex-
isting job classification and compensatoin system.

‘Opponents of pay equity frequently in-
voke the sanctity of the free market.
That silly argument was used to main-
tain child labor, slavery, and the ex-
ploitation of immigrants.’

Patricia Gooden

The recommendations of the task force were referred to the Coun-
ty Legislature by legislators Nan Johnson and minority leader Kevin Mur-
ray, both of whom served on the task force.

County Unit President Florence Tripi, Region VI President Robert Lat-

MONROE COUNTY LEGISLATOR and Minority Leader Kevin Murray 1
timer, and Pat Gooden, who chaired the study committee.

(far right) joins with CSEA activists on release of pay equity study.
Also pictured (from left) are Local 828 President George Growney,

@ September 6, 1985 THE PUBLIC SECTOR

However, negotiations between CSEA and
the state continued, and a plan emerged from
those talks that guarantees that any clients
discharged fron the Rochester Psychiatric
Center will continue to receive needed
treatment, including readmission to RPC or a
community residence.

4 State has a
responsibility
to care for
mentally

The state workforce will also be provider of
50 percent of the community care facilities that
will be established under the plan, by the third
year of the agreement.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

Concessions won by

ers Gn

By Ron Wofford
CSEA Communications Associate

Integrated Mental H

necessary, employees affected will be offered
state employment at a work location within 25
miles of RPC or the employee’s home

A training and retraining program to assist
current inpatient staff in their transition to

“providing community care has also been

This will take place through the CSEA-state
program that will train psychiatric center staff
for community residence jobs, so they can
accept them as they become available.

While there are currently community
residence job titles in the OMRDD field, there
is presently no state training for psychiatric
community care facilities.

“This is clear example where the.union has
aggressively addressed matters that were
outside the collective bargaining agreement to
secure employment security for its members,”
said Wyngaard. He had earlier served on a
state commission studying the future of mental
health services. “Direct negotiations and strong
political action by the membership and staff
were responsible in this becoming possible.”

Wyngaard said, ‘‘The state has a
responsibility to care for the mentally ill, wheth-
er they are in the community or a state facility.
This agreement shows that CSEA can take an
active and responsible role in the decision-
making affecting mental health clients and our
members. Our success is a reflection of our
taking issue on the merits of the original
proposals as well as our political action effort.”

yngaard

4 This is a clear
example where

Bruce W:

the union has :
aggressively
addressed

matters that F

were outside the
... Ggreement

fo secure
employment °
security for

its members. 7

September 6, 1985 :

* Unique experimental mental health program
begins operation in Rochester area in '86

° How CSEA convinced state to change
its plan to one union could accept

ROCHESTER—The route to an agreement on
the experimental Integrated Mental Health plan,
formerly called the Monroe-Livingston
Demonstration Project, was detailed recently for
CSEA activists by CSEA Region Vi President
Robert L. Lattimer.

“You deserve an explanation of how ‘we
reached this point,’’Lattimer told a group of OMH
and OMRDD CSEA local leaders and members

Robert L. Lattimer

4 Your energetic
pursuit and

persistence
paid off ... 7

September 6, 1985

of the union’s Rochester-area regional political
action committee.

Lattimer thanked the union activists for their
“tireless efforts’ to help defeat the inclusion of
the Monroe-Livingston Demonstration Project in
the state budget earlier this year. He said letter
writing efforts, phone calls and visits to area state
legislators turned the tide

“Your energetic pursuit and persistence paid
off by showing that our opposition to this plan in
its original form was based on more than just a
concern for our jobs,” Lattimer stated. “It showed
your sincere concern for the well-being of the
clientele you serve, as well as those in need of
treatment now and in the future, but not presently
documented or planned for by any mental health
agency.”

And while he said the program “has along way
to go before proving itself,” Lattimer said
safeguards are now in-place to prevent a collapse
of the system while the experiment goes forward.

He also outlined the history of CSEA’s
involvement from an early observer role as
planning began for the project. Lattimer noted that
the resignation of then CSEA Associate Research
Director Bruce Wyngaard from the Governor's Se-
lect Commission on the Future of Mental Health
drew attention to the faulty state proposals. He
said Wyngaard resigned when the commission
made far-reaching recommendations that “would
have dismantled the mental health system as we
know it in favor of an unproven plan that had too
many gaps in it, and that would have left many,
many more mentally ill wandering the streets with
no means of recovery.”

CSEA Mental Health Consultant Marty Langer
told the activists, ‘Now we have addressed our
concerns in a positive way, with safeguards for
the public and CSEA members, and a stronger,
better project has emerged.”

Langer noted, “Capitation issues
notwithstanding, the program policy now provides
for readmission of any patient in need of it, back
to the Rochester Psychiatric Center or a
community care facility. They will not be
abandoned and left with nowhere to go. As
originally proposed, capitation funding might have
created significant problems for patients who may
have been inappropriately discharged.” He
continued, “This is because capitation funding,
itself, requires that economic considerations be
put at the forefront of any treatment plan. This
would have translated to a hesitancy on the part
of lead agencies to readmit patients for long-term
care at RPC.”

Langer noted, “Our new agreement requires
the existence of a clinical dispute resolution team,
empowered ,if necessary, to readmit any patient
clinically in need of readmission within a 72-hour
period.”

Capitation translates to a deliver of services
based on economics, and not necessarily the
best course of treatment, according to Langer.
“Capitation categorizes patients into group—
types, and then provides services for the cate-

gories based on a predetermined economic
outlay. The categories of patients are; the ‘hard-
core’ clients, with a small chance of near-future
discharge to the community; the ‘come-and-go’
client, who is attempting to make it into the
mainstream of society but needs periodic support
and treatment away from everyday society; and
the outpatient who lives in the community but is
able to come in periodically for evaluation. Each
category of client would have been treated under
the economic considerations projected at the
outset of the budget plan, with no deviation
allowed for various unforeseen circumstances,”
according to Langer.

“No CSEA-represented employee will lose a job
as a result of this program, and RPC will not be
gutted and emptied in the process of this
experiment,’ Langer assured.

The training program for community care
facilities will be established in conjunction with
CSEA and the state, further insuring that the
union’s expertise will go into the program at the
“ground floor level,” noted Langer

iit showed
your sincere

concem ...J

“| think it’s time for us to neutralize our negative
feelings of the past about this project,” Langer
said, ‘now that we are guaranteed a presence
at all levels of the project. And you can be sure
than CSEA will monitor every aspect to see that
the terms of the agreement are carried out.”

Attending the information session were,
Florence Tripi and Tom Warzel, co-chairs of the
Region VI Political Action Committee; RPC Local
President Herm Parson and Local officers Eric
Spencer, Betty Williams and Wilma Hassar. Also,
Monroe Developmental Center Local President
Creaola Shelton and officers Ruby Everette,
Charles Banks, Betty Humphrey; Craig
Developmental Center Local President Kathy
Button and officer Debbie Dennison; Newark
Developmental Center Local President Sharon
Vidler; and Monroe County Local President
George Growney.

IMH Executive Director Phyllis Marshall
attended the meeting at the invitation of Regional
President Lattimer, and answered questions
about the treatment philosophy of the project.

“We would like to begin with a good
atmosphere and we know we'll have to prove
ourselves to you and to the public,” Marshall said.

CSEA staff members attending included Region
VI Director Robert Massey, Field Representatives
Charles Bird and Debbie Lee, and Regional
Political Action Coordinator Joseph Martin.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR 1 7

It is estimated that more than 15 million students and one million employees
are being exposed to asbestos in more than 30,000 schools across America.
Many of those students probably are sons and daughters of ours, and some of
the workers may be CSEA members in school facilities across New York state.
The following article, ‘‘Why is EPA stalling on asbestos in schools?’ is provid-
ed by Press Associates, Inc. of Washington, D.C. and published under the
“Washington Window”’ column which appears periodically in The Public Sector. D

EPA STALLING?

From the 1940s to the 1970s, asbestos
was considered just about the greatest build-
ing material since the discovery of brick be-
cause of its fireproofing, electrical, thermal and
acoustical insulating properties.

Asbestos cement was used for halls, ceilings
and storm drainage pipes. Asbestos-containing
materials were sprayed and plastered onto ceil-
ings, walls and structural supports. Asbestos
jackets were wrapped around boilers, pipes
and ducts.

Consequently, more than 30,000 schools
housing 15 million students and over one mil-
lion employees contain asbestos. Some
700,000 other public and commercial build-
ings contain asbestos that is now deteriorating.

All it takes to send a cascade of microscop-
ic asbestos fibers through the air is a basket-
ball hitting a gym wall, or a custodian moving
ceiling panels during routine maintenance.

Maybe a child playing basketball in the school
gym will be lucky. Maybe he or she won't in-
hale a single asbestos fiber, because that's all
it takes to cause lung or other cancers 20 to
40 years after the fiber lodges in the body.

But how many parents encourage their chil-
dren to play Russian roulette? Surely, for par-
ents informed about the very real dangers of
asbestos exposure, that must be what it seems
their children are risking.

For school and building custodians, the risk
is even greater. Their higher exposure levels
not only increase the cancer risk for them, but

also the risk of the lung disease asbestosis.

In 1979, the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency promised to take action against haz-
ards from flaking asbestos in schools.

Since then, the EPA has required schools
to inspect for asbestos hazards and notify par-
ents and employees of inspection results. But
it has not required schools to get rid of as-
bestos hazards nor established required proce-
dures for abatement.

A poll of regional EPA officials estimated that
about 75 percent of asbestos abatement has
been done improperly. Testimony by a New
York PTA vice president before a House of
Representatives panel recently demonstrated
why.

Sheila Cohen said that her Baldwin, N.Y.
school district made an early commitment to
get rid of asbestos hazards and spent several
hundred thousand dollars to clean it up. Private
contractors were brought in to do the work so
school employees were not at risk.

“The contractors had to be monitored, be-
cause...the contractor arrived at one of the
schools, never having filed the necessary
papers with the EPA. They were made to leave
and file the papers; they said, ‘nobody files,’”
Cohen reported.

“Our people had an uphill fight; very little help
from federal or state agencies...All the agen-
cies seemed to be waiting for somebody else
to write up some specific rule so they could
say what schools ought to do; ‘this is the mini-

WasHinigto

i"
da. iz

mum standard required of a school district’ or
‘this is the standard; this is an acceptable lev-
el of asbestos.”

A related problem noted by Cohen is that the
lack of uniform federal standards governing as-
bestos cleanup is making it virtually impossi-
ble for contractors to get insurance for as-
bestos cleanup. Insurance companies say they
are unable to calculate risk without standards,
and without insurance, many of the best con-
tractors will not perform the work.

During the last year, the EPA has taken some
steps to provide technical assistance and de-
velop model contractor certification programs
for states.

These programs are praiseworthy, as is the
EPA's decision to issue a protection rule for
asbestos abatement workers not covered by
the Occupational Safety and Health Adminis-
tration’s asbestos exposure standard or by
state OSHA plans.

An EPA official told the House panel that he
changed his mind about issuing asbestos
cleanup rules because he thought current pro-
grams would provide more immediate help to
school districts

But reports from parents, teachers and
school employees nationwide during the EPA’s
hearings on asbestos last year, and continu-
ing reports such as Cohen's, contradict this ex-
cuse. A federal standard on asbestos cleanup
is urgently needed, and the EPA knows it.

the state.

CSEA has long been actively involved in identifying, track-
ing and pushing for removal of asbestos from school build-
ings and all public buildings throughout New York state. This
effort has been hampered by many factors, including a lack
of state and federal guidelines and procedures. In an upcom-
ing issue of The Public Sector, we’ll explore CSEA’s involve-
ment in the asbestos controversy and detail the union’s
efforts to remove asbestos from public buildings throughout

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

e
September 6, 1985

Fulton members learn to cope

with volatile public tempers

JOHNSTOWN — “Hold your breath for ten seconds,” came the com-
mand. Fulton County employees, members of Local 818, drew a breath
in unison. Suddenly, a shot rang out in the courthouse, an angry fist
crashed on the podium, a dagger flashed menacingly in the air and was
plunged into a block of wood.

“Your time is up,” shouted the perpetrator as the room released
a collective breath. “See? A hell of alot can happen in ten seconds.”

This scenario was not the work of some madman standing trial in
the Fulton County Courthouse, but rather one of the hard-hitting tech-
niques employed by Dr. James Clark, director of Monroe County's Mental
Health Clinic for Socio-Legal Services. Dr. Clark’s workshops are
designed to teach those who work directly with the public how to avoid
injury or dangerous situations in the everyday performance of duty. Phys-
‘ical attacks occur frequently, and strong verbal abuse is an almost daily
occurence for many. Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, Ful-
ton County management cooperated with Local 818’s sponsorship of
Dr. Clark's workshop by providing county employees with release time
to attend either of two presentations he made during the day.

Interwoven in his animated presentation and theatrical demonstra-
tions were cold, hard facts concerning violence in America during this
decade. “One out of every 100 people in this country will be a victim
of a violent crime;:10.3 out of every 100,000 people in this country
will be the victim of death by homicide,” said Clark. “Last year, 2.2 mil-
lion people in this country were disabled in job-related injuries and there
were 390,000 cases of people who contacted a disabling disease on
the job,” he emphasized in an effort to make people aware that these
mishaps don’t just strike ‘other’ people.

Those employees who work in agencies such as family court, pro-
bation, family services, social services, substance abuse, and mental
health are most likely to be exposed to the kind of situation which could
lead to violence. Clark stated that many times the public employee can
create a situation which is capable of being controlled if they possess
a few basic skills

“The most important defense is to be alert, awake, aware and ‘on’
el all times. Simple observation can usually provide the necessary sig-

‘The most important
defense is to be altert,
awake, aware, and on at
all times. Observation can
usually provide necessary
signals of change in some-
one's emotional state and
should be watched at all
times.’

eee

Dr. James Clark

eee

CSEA FULTON COUNTY
Local 818 President
William Sohl. He arranged
presentation after becom-
ing concerned over poten-
tial for harm to his
members who come in
contact with the general
public.

nals of a change in a person’s physical or emotional state indicating a
situation which could become volatile,” said Clark. ‘Hands can be the
most obvious indicator of a person's emotional state and should be
watched at all times.”

The attentive class received other suggestions from Dr. Clark rela-
tive to stance, speech patterns, tone of voice and level of cooperation,
which can change the mood of an irate client and create an atmosphere
where the work at hand can be continued.

Fulton County District Attorney William Gritsavage also spoke at the
workshop, explaining procedures which can be used in the event a coun-
ty employee is injured on the job. “The best advice | can give is to em-
phasize the importance of observing as much as you can during the in-
cident. Every detail is important in the prosecution of those who attack
one of our employees,” he said. “The policy of Fulton County is to make
every effort to bring such people before the court with the cooperation
of the victim, law enforcement officers, attorneys and judges,” stated
Gritsavage. “There is no circumstance under which such action will be
tolerated.”

In case of injury, Gritsavage urged that the police be contacted and
the incident reported immediately, because quick police response results
in the collection of evidence. Again, he stressed the importance of notic-
ing details such as whether the person was under the influence of alco-
hol or drugs

The final recommendation was to report to a hospital or health of-
fice immediately, even in the case of seemingly minor injuries. ‘There
have been cases of employee injury where people waited to complete
a shift before being examined,” he said. “It is extremely important to
have any injury reported and examined immediately,”’ he concluded

The workshop was arranged by Local 818 President William Sohl
at the suggestion of Bunny Grahn of the County Building Unit.

September 6, 1985

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

Union hammers out 3-year contract for court_employees

Tough ‘no cap, no way’ posture
turns aside management attempt
fo apply discretionary wage cap

ALBANY—Having successfully turned aside
a concerted effort by management to cap sal-
ary increases, CSEA said it anticipates a strong
ratification vote in favor of a 3-year contract
covering some 3,500 members in the union’s
judiciary locals.

CSEA and the state Office of Court
Administration (OCA) have reached tentative
agreement on a 3-year contract that will
provide salary increases of 5 percent, 5.5
percent and 6 percent over the life of the
agreement. CSEA is scheduling a series of
information meetings across the state that will
precede the ratification vote by the judiciary
local members. (See meetings schedule
below).

The old contract expired March 31, but
negotiations went to impasse after CSEA took
a strong stand against OCA’s efforts to place
a cap on salaries of members in the highest
pay brackets.

“No union worth its salt would ever give up
the right to negotiate salary increases for its

members, and no union would ever agree to
a discretionary cap. which would let
management decide which employees should
receive a salary increase, and what that
increase should be,” said CSEA Collective
Bargaining Specialist Joseph Reedy.

The tentative agreement was forged after
both sides agreed with Fact Finder Robert
Rabin’s recommendation for a compromise to
the state’s demand that employee salaries be
capped at $70,000. While that figure would
have affected only a few of the members, “the
union bargaining team looked upon this as
being a serious threat to the right of court
employees to bargain collectively, and would
not agree to any pact that contained a
discretionary cap on salaries,” Reedy said. He
said that initially, OCA, which oversees the
State’s unified court system, sought to put
discretionary caps on the salaries of all 3,500
CSEA-represented court workers.

Reedy noted that even after the salary
increases were agreed to, OCA continued to

seek the discretionary cap on salaries of
$70,000. “Apparently the OCA negotiator
assumed that CSEA would not be concerned
about a fiscal limit being placed on salaries of
a few unionized workers who are at or
approaching that plateau.” Management was
wrong, said Reedy. “We have broken the
concept of a discretionary cap on all bargaining
unit salaries, even those in the $70,000
range.”

Fact Finder Rabin noted his disagreement
with the OCA’s position, saying, ‘‘The prem-
ise of my salary recommendations is that the
union should retain its traditional collective
bargaining role in jointly engineering the sala-
ry structure at all levels. This led to my
recommendation that there be some negotiated
increase beyond $70,000, as well as my
conclusion that the state have no discretion to
alter those negotiated amounts.”

Reedy concluded, ‘This agreement will ben-
efit all of our judiciary members and they should
be well informed of its contents before voting
on the agreement.”

DEADLINE FOR RETURN OF RATIFICATION BALLOTS IS SEPTEMBER 30

Ratification ballots were scheduled to be mailed to eligi-
ble judicial local members on Sept. 6. Ballots must be returned
not later than Sept. 30 to be considered valid. Ballots will be

counted on Oct. 1.

434-0191.

Eligible members who have not received a ballot by Sept.
17 should immediately obtain a replacement ballot by calling
the Office of Collective Bargaining, CSEA headquarters, (518)

Schedule of informational meetings
for CSEA-represented court workers

Following is the list of OCA ratification information meetings

CSEA has scheduled across the state to explain details of the
tentative agreement. Additional meetings were being considered as
this issue of The Public Sector went to press. If your region does
not appear on the following schedule, contact your Local president
to determine when and where your informational meeting will be held.

REGION Il
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10—5:30 p.m. Appellate Division—Second
Department, 45 Monroe Place, Main Court Room, first floor, Brooklyn,
N.Y.

REGION Ill
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13—5 p.m. Supreme Court—Westchester
County, 111 Grove Street, 8th Floor—Room 800, White Plains, N.Y.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16—6:30 p.m. Dutchess County Court House
Annex, Central Jury Room, 236 Main Street, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17—5 p.m. Orange County Government Cen-
ter (Comm. Seitman), 255-275 Main Street, Goshen, N.Y.

REGION IV

State Plaza Judicial Building, State Street, Albany, N.Y.

REGION V
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11—7 p.m. City Court -Court Room Mu-
nicipal Building, 245 Washington Street, Watertown, N.Y.

ABS DB SEPTEMBER 12—5:10 p.m. County Court House, Utica,

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12—8 p.m. Commissioner of Jurors Room,
Room 104-A, Montgomery Street Entrance, Onondaga County Court
House, Syracuse, N.Y.

- WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18—5:15p.m. Court House, Room 214
Binghamton, N.Y.

REGION VI

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19—12:30 p.m. Court of Claims, Empire TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19—7 p.m. Treadway Inn, Batavia, N.Y.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

September 6, 1985

Se Saas

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Civil Service Employees Association, Inc. (CSEA), American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1000 Records, 1918-2015

Collection ID	apap015
Total components	6990
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Last indexed	2025-10-14

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Civil Service Employees Association, Inc. (CSEA), American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1000 Records, 1918-2015

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