The Public Sector, 1986 July 14

’ WHEN TRAGEDY
HITS HOME

Plans progress
for VDT policy

ALBANY — After some unexpected delay, CSEA and New York
state are finally moving forward with plans for the development of
a consistent health and safety policy for video display terminal
operators. The project, called for in the Administrative Services
Unit contract, is expected to be completed by mid-fall with
implementation of recommendations to follow, agency by agency.

Dr. Robert Arndt of the Department of Preventative Medicine
at the University of Wisconsin has been selected as special
consultant on the project. He will be reviewing a previous study
completed for the state and CSEA by the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health last year. From those findings,
Arndt will suggest policy guidelines.

“This is really long overdue,” says CSEA statewide Secretary
Irene Carr. “But even though the progress has been slow, I think in
the long run everyone will benefit because we’ve taken the time to
do a thorough job.”

Carr adds that in working in coalitions with other unions on
VDT safety, it is clear the CSEA efforts have sparked considerable
interest: ‘Everyone else is looking at us and where this project is
headed because when it’s complete, no one else will have anything
so detailed.”

Carr’s remarks are echoed by CSEA Director of Occupational
Safety and Health James Corcoran: “‘There were problems in
getting this project off the ground, but now that we have a
nationally renowned expert on VDT safety working with us, there’s
no doubt that the policy that’s developed will be the comprehensive
in the nation.”

Plans call for the VDT policy to be adaptable to changing

NATIONALLY PROMINENT EXPERT ON VDT SAFETY —
Dr. Robert Arndt of the University of Wisconsin will
formulate recommendations for a comprehensive state policy
over the next few months. Arndt is pictured here confering
with CSEA statewide Secretary Irene Carr during a recent
meeting at CSEA headquarters in Albany.

technology and work environment, so that it will be serviceable for
years to come. NIOSH, which conducted the original study will
continue to monitor and review VDT use by the state workforce to
determine the effectiveness of the policy.

“Having a consistent policy will be the best thing that’s ever
happened to VDT operators,” claims Carmine Bagnoli, a member of
the joint CSEA-state VDT committee. ‘‘The sooner we get
something into writing, the better-off we’ll all be.”

Greenburgh gets contract — finally!

Greenburgh.

According to Unit President Sheila Tyler-
Harrison, solidarity was the primary factor
that convinced town officials that CSEA
members were determined to settle the year-
and-a-half-long impasse.

Union solidarity clinches it

GREENBURGH — An 18-month-old
contract dispute has ended with a three-year
contract for 180 employees in the town of

granted to town officials and administrators
in the past year.

A major bone of contention was a “lump
sum”’ pay increase that the town negotiator
offered to workers for the first year of the
contract. “Such a bonus would not change
our base pay for future raises or for your
life-long pensions,”’ said Harrison.

The new contract provides for pay

SOLIDARITY PAYS OFF —
President Pat Mascioli
demonstrators last month.

Region 3
marching with

Official publication of The Civil Service
Employees Association Local 1000, AFSCME,
AFL-CIO 143 Washington Avenue, Albany,
New York 12210

AARON SHEPARD
ROGER A. COLE
BRIAN K, BAKER -

Publisher
-- Editor
-- Associate Editor

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

Harrison said she was grateful to co-
workers who joined informational picket
lines held every day before and after work
hours and during lunch hours for the past
month.

Demonstrators distributed handbills with
information on substantial pay increases

Communication Associates

SHERYL CARLIN on |
273-2280

LILLY GIOIA-----

2) 514-9200

ion Ill

4) 896-8180

ANITA MANLEY

DAN CAMPBELL--

8) 489-5424
Region V
(315) 451-6330
Region VI
716) 886-0391

CHUCK McGEARY
RON WOFFORD

increases of 5 percent, retroactive to Jan. 1,
1985; 3 percent effective Jan. 1 of this year, 3
percent effective July 1 of this year and 4
percent as of Jan. 1, 1987.

Harrision emphasized that health
insurance will continue to be paid for by the
town.

The Public Sector (445010) is published every other
Monday by The Civil Service Employees Association,
143 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12210.

Publication Office: 143 Washington Avenue, Albany,
New York, 12210. Second Class Postage paid at
Post Office, Albany, New York

Address changes should be sent to: Civil Service
Employees Association, attn.: Membership Depart
ment, 143 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York

12210.
Be

July 14, 1986

’ Thinking
_ of Sue

Local shows concern,
starts fund drive for
daughter of member

By Charles McGeary

CSEA Communications Associate

DRYDEN — For Sue Watkins, the
attractive 18-year-old daughter of Wayne
and Carol Watkins, 1986 held every promise
of being a happy, prosperous new year. A
recent honors graduate of Dryden Central

® School where she was active in sports, the
school band and chorus, Sue had been
accepted by three New York State
universities and was looking ahead to
college life and a possible career in
anthropology or political science.

Then, last spring, misfortune struck. After

a prolonged illness, Sue learned from
doctors that she had a malignant tumor on

@ her liver. Later, they found that the cancer
had spread to other parts of her body. When
they were told that neither surgery nor oth-
er available therapies held much hope, the
Watkins’ world turned upside down.

Now, Sue and her family battle daily
against time and despair, soberly awaiting
word on an experimental treatment that
might steer her back on the road to health.

@ Meanwhile, helping them in their fight are
friends of the family and Wayne’s fellow
employees at SUNY Cortland Local 605 who
have been busy promoting a fund drive to
defray the teen’s medical costs.

.And despite her own ordeal, Sue has
begun a campaign of her own: to get more
people to donate organs upon their deaths to
save the lives of others.

&We've been
overwhelmed by
the encouragement

e and financial
support we've
received from
CSEA members 9

July 14, 1986

AN ENDORSEMENT — CSEA President William L. McGowan
throws his support to the fund drive to benefit Sue Watkins as he

Watkins, a Vietnam veteran who has been
employed at SUNY Cortland for 14 years
says he is moved by the gesture of concern
on the part of his fellow CSEA members,
especially Ray Roberts and Gary Goddard
who began the effort.

“Carol and I have been overwhelmed by
the encouragement and financial support we
have received,” said Watkins. ‘‘We are also
grateful to the management at SUNY
Cortland for allowing me time away from
work on many occasions to be with my
daughter.””

To date, the drive has raised more than
$2,000 from SUNY employees and Carol’s co-
workers at Grand Union.

Interviewed at their home recently,
Wayne and Carol somberly recalled the
chain of events that led to the shock that
their oldest child had a serious form of
cancer.

Their story began last March when Sue
visited her local family physician because of
a lingering cold that had brought on some
unusual after-effects. After initial tests dis-
covered abnormal cholesterol, she was sent
to Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse for
further tests. A complete examination
revealed a tumor of the liver that further
tests determined was malignant.

In an attempt to pursue every avenue of
treatment, the Watkins made arrangements
to go to Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh
for an evaluation and possible treatment.
After three weeks of evaluation and tests at
the Pennsylvania health facility, a team of
specialists informed Sue and her parents
that a transplant could not be performed
because the tumorous growth had spread
outside the liver.

“We were told by the specialist that
chemotherapy and radiation would have
little effect. The team of doctors attempted
to remove a portion of the tumor, but it was
unsuccessful,” said Watkins.

Despite mounting medical bills and other
expenses, the Watkins family continues to
hold onto hope. Now, they are looking into

signs his name to a personal check.

experimental drug treatment being
conducted at Johns-Hopkins Medical Center
in Baltimore.

While Sue, Wayne, Carol and Sue’s
younger brothers, Wayne and Jason, await
news from Maryland, hope, faith and
prayers continue at the Watkins home.

As for Sue, she appears to be handling her
personal crisis with a large share of inner
strength.

“Her attitude is excellent,’ says her moth-
er. ‘She’s a strong-spirited and intelligent
young lady, fully aware of her condition and
prepared to accept whatever comes.”

Wayne noted that his daughter’s illness
has heightened her awareness of the critical
need for organ donors and spurred her on to
do something about it.

“Sue has put out an appeal to people —
especially the young — to become more
acquainted with organ donor programs to
give others the opportunity to live full and
happy lives,’’ he said.

Added Watkins: “She sincerely
appreciates the help and prayers from
hundreds of schoolmates, friends, neighbors
and scores of strangers.”

How you
can help

CSEA members at SUNY Cortland
Local 605—as well as union members
from other locals throughout the state—
who wish to help defray the Watkins’
mounting medical expenses may send
contributions to:

SUE WATKINS FUND
Box 2000

SUNY at Cortland
Cortland, New York 13045

For complete information about organ
donor programs, contact your local
hospital or medical facility.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR 3

Steps to safeguard your car

Park your troubles

ALBANY — The controversial decision by
the city of Albany to impose a residential
permit parking plan, leaves CSEA members
who work in the downtown area with few
options for getting to work — shell out the
money for paid parking in commercial lots,
using mass transportation if possible, or
parking in more outlying areas of the city.

It’s a problem that also plagues CSEA
members in other parts of the state.

According to Gordon McLean of the Crime
prevention unit of the Albany Police, as
CSEA members end up in more outlying
areas in search of free parking, they may
also become more vulnerable to crime. But,
there are some simple steps that can be tak-
en to help lessen the risk of becoming a
statistic.

McLean says that most people don’t even
think about theft or assault when they’re
going to work- for this reason, he suggests
that people recognize the risks where they
park, particularly if the neighborhoods are
unfamiliar.

He adds: “‘people don’t break into cars
looking for something to steal —
unfortunately, too many people leave all
kinds of items in plain sight in their cars
causing a temptation to thieves. “ Since
most of the time theft occurs by smashing a
window to get in, the cost and inconvenience
of making repairs may be greater than the
value of what is taken.

AVOID GIVING CRIMINALS A
CHANCE...Georgianna Natali
demonstrates one of the easiest ways to
stop a crime...when you park your car, be
sure to lock the door and take the keys.

OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND...Albany
Police Department’s Gordon McLean
explains some dos and don’ts to avoid
auto break-in to CSEA Albany Parking
Committee members Ellen Fontanelli and

Pn Georgianna Natali. Never leave items of

value such as cameras, briefcas
detectors, typewriters, etc. in plain
no matter where you park your car.
Instead, lock them safely away in your
trunk where they won’t be a temptation to
would-be thieves.

DON’T LOOK FOR TROUBLE...Ellen
Fontanelli shows how not to drive down
the street. Even in residential
neighborhoods, never drive with the
passenger window down and a handbag
within arm’s length...put it on the floor
for safekeeping.

4 THE PUBLIC SECTOR

July 14, 1986

Out of the headlines and into reality

Liability too great to be festive

Mt Lavine
D ychiils t Cole

Joseph Cosentino, inset, has been involved in CSEA activities for 23 years. While in state
service as a therapy aide at St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center, he was elected to every of-
fice in CSEA Local 423, and is currently the president of St. Lawrence County Retirees
Local 923. Cosentino has also been active in organizing the International Seaway
# Festival, pictured here, for 24 years. But this year’s event may be the last unless liabili-

ty insurance costs come under control.
ee -

Many events and activities run by local governments,
schools, and community groups face uncertain futures due to

skyrocketing liability insurance costs. This is the first in a_

ali

OGDENSBURG — For 26 years, this city on the majestic St.
Lawrence River has been the scene of the annual International
Seaway Festival, an event that draws hundreds of thousands of
spectators from the United States and Canada to 10 fun-packed days
of parades and entertainment.

According to Joseph Cosentino, chairman of the 1986 Festival
and a CSEA activist for 23 years, the huge. jump in liability
insurance costs, and the reluctance of insurance companies to
become involved in coverage, presents a bleak picture for the future
of the north country’s biggest entertainment event.

“T’ve taken part in the Festival for more than 24 years,”
Cosentino said, “and I’ve seen it grow from a three-day event witha
$3,000 budget, to its present size involving 4,000 volunteer workers
from the United States and Canada. Not only does the Festival
provide activities and entertainment for people of all ages, it helps
promote good fellowship with our friends and neighbors across the
border.”

This year, the international event will take place July 18-27, with
committee members volunteering 10-30 hours of service a week
since the conclusion of last year’s event.

series of stories the Public Sector will be
the crisis affects CSEA members on the jo

“We foresaw a problem in December 1985 when the city of
Ogdensburg started negotiations for self-insurance. The city’s plan
went into effect in January, leaving the Festival with no insurance.
We contacted scores of insurance brokers, made 23 long distance
phone calls, and only one agency agreed to accept a coverage policy
that will cost nearly $8,000, almost three times the cost of our entire
festival budget when we began over 26 years ago,” Cosentino added.

In discussing the problem, Cosentino offered some thoughts for
a remedy:

“It’s not only an Ogdensburg problem, but seem to be effecting
every city, town and village in the north country. Many communities
are feeling the insurance pinch. They just can’t afford to stage
events without liability insurance, and coverage costs keep spiraling
sky high. That means many communities may be forced to cancel
traditional events they have held for years. We simply have to pull
together and, through political action, community groups, service
clubs and private citizens, work to put a ‘cap’ on escalating liability
insurance. It’s also very important to CSEA units and local state-
wide because we may he forced to curtail our outings, rallies and
other group activities through the year.”

Caseworker
discovers
timing is
everything

July 14, 1986

WHITE PLAINS — A Department of
Social Services case worker has been re-
instated with full back pay and benefits
thanks to action by CSEA.

Lacy Johnson, a 17-year-employee, was
on Westchester County’s senior case-
worker list when he was placed in a
temporary position in Child Protective Ser-
vices in June of 1985,

Two months later, he was appointed from
the permanent list and started a proba-
tionary period.

But in October, an evaluation indicated
that the county intended to terminate him.

Johnson waited to receive notification
that he would be terminated as a senior
caseworker since according to the collec-
tive bargaining contract, an employee must

be given a week’s notice of this action.

On Nov. 13, Johnson finally went to his
district director and was given a copy of a
letter — dated Nov. 6 — that he was to
return to his old position of social case-
worker.

Attorney Arthur Grae argued that
Johnson did not receive sufficient notice of
his termination. “The county sought to ter-
minate his probationary period by giving
him a two day notice prior to the expiration
of the probationary period,” said Grae.
“The applicable county rule and regulation
required a one week notification.”

Following a negotiating session with
county officials, Johnson was re-instated as
a senior caseworker retroactive to August

of 1985.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

CSEA LOYALISTS PICKETED information meeting sites of not one, but two,
challenging organizations seeking to replace CSEA as union representative of Essex
County workers. One of the challengers apparently was even funded by Essex County.
funds and would have been headed by the county’s former negotiator. The second
invader was the Teamsters. CS9EA members sent both groups packing.

Corsa gy

REVIEWING BEST CONTRACT ever won in Essex County are CSEA negotiating
team members Carol Mends, Roberta Chandler, both seated, and Arlene Pogan and
Scott McDonald, both standing. The new contract was ratified overwhelmingly.

By Daniel X. Campbell
CSEA Communications Associate

ELIZABETHTOWN — This North Country
county seat in rural Essex County has a
pastoral look to it. ‘‘E-town,” as the natives
call their community, hardly looks like a
battlefield.

But recently E-town was the scene of a
multi-front war involving CSEA, the county
administration, an irate political boss, a so-
called ‘independent union,’ and what CSEA
says is management’s favorite puppet—the
Teamsters. When the smoke had cleared,
CSEA’s Essex County Unit had beaten them
all.

The major skirmish occurred at the
bargaining table between CSEA’s bargaining
team and the county administration. The
central issue of that battle was a
controversial salary plan, unilaterally
conceived and developed by management,
which failed dismally to address the needs
of the most senior employees. CSEA’s team
which stood tall against management
included Unit President Vic Putnam, Vice
President Arlene Pogan, Treasurer Scott
McDonald, unit members Roberta Chandler,
Janet Tyler and Carol Mends, and CSEA
Collective Bargaining Specialist Harm
Swits.

The next fight, which spawned all the
following confrontations, was a blantant
attempt to return employees in the county’s
Social Services Department to what the
union says would have been a spoils system
of salary increases rather one gained
through collective bargaining.

CSEA Field Representative Charlie Scott
said Social Services Commissioner Wally
Huchro, a local political boss, wanted to
grant a “special” salary increase to 23 of
his workers to the exclusion of other county
employees. ‘Fair treatment for all county
employees, special treatment for none,”
quickly became the union’s call to battle.

Scott charged, ‘‘Huchro wanted to get this
increase by using his political power. He did
not want to go through the administration or
the union... Wally wanted it his way no
matter what the law said.”

County Board of Supervisors Chairman
Gifford A. Cross became a casualty of the
fighting, resigning as a personal political
protest over Huchro’s actions. CSEA,
meanwhile, stepped up the fight through the
local news media and won in a state Public
Employment Relations Board (PERB)
action where the union’s position of ‘‘fair
treatment for all’ was upheld.

Two attempts to raid CSEA’s right to
represent the employees, one apparently
financed by the county, followed.

“When Huchro discovered that he wasn’t
going to end up getting his way, he wanted
to take over the union one way or the
other,” according to Arlene Pogan. ‘‘Our
members were not surprised when the idea
of forming an ‘independent’ county
employees union headed by the former

6 THE PUBLIC SECTOR

July 14, 1986

‘ CSEA COUNTRY

county negotiator developed almost
overnight.”

The members quickly spurned that idea,
and PERB again supported CSEA when the
union charged the county with spending
county funds to support the so-called
“independent union.”

“We were at peace for about three hours
after winning that one,” Scott McDonald
recalls. Then the Teamsters appeared on the
horizon.

That’s when Highway Department
employee Jeff Burres began turning out
original cartoons depicting ‘‘Fort CSEA”
under siege from all fronts by unsavory
types. The cartoons became very popular
among the members. Of the Teamsters,
Burres notes, “We just picketed their
information meetings and they got the
message — we're CSEA all the way!”

Through it all, CSEA’s negotiating team
made progress at the bargaining table. ‘I
was amazed at the atmosphere at the

JEFF BURRES, a highway department
employee and unofficial political
cartoonist of the Essex County CSEA
Unit, stands in front of the county office
directory. ‘We all stood together in
CSEA,” he says.

: y
Cher Ly
Tester F
K y SPRAKing Byy BABBLE

table,”says Pogan. ‘It seemed to be another
world. Each time we beat Wally we
expected to get into a battle at the table.
But that never happened. Actually, each
time we defeated Huchro, we seemed to win
more ground at the table.”

Finally, a hard-fought-for contract offer
came from the county, and it reflected the
power of the union. In place of the
unilaterially-developed salary plan which
did not address the needs of most senior
workers, CSEA negotiated an increase in the
first year to include three increments,
making the first year worth 9 percent. That
was nearly double the original management
proposal. CSEA was able to gain 6 percent
in the second year, and topped that off with
7.5 percent in the third, adding up to a
whopping 22.5 percent increase. It’s the
largest salary increase ever negotiatged for
Essex County employees. And many other
benefit areas were expanded and improved
as well.

“When things seemed the darkest, Jeff
just kept coming through,” says CSEA
Unit Vice President Arlene Pogan of Jeff
Burres and his original “stick character”
cartoons that kept spirits high among the
membership. “It seemed that every time
the opposition tried to divide and conquer
the union, a stick cartoon suddenly

Pen is mightier than...

‘ — ail
THE ONES CSEA REMEMBERED but
the county forgot! Veteran Essex County
employees Helen Brown and Evelyn
Hyde, above, really appreciate CSEA’s
efforts. “The longer you’re here, the less
the county seems to remember you,”’ says
Brown. “But CSEA took care of us,”
oxclaimed Hyde.

County employees applauded the union
achievement. ‘‘I’m one of the older county
employees that the county salary plan
forgot,’’ noted Helen Brown. “I’m glad to
see that my union won for me. I know
management won’t give me anything. The
longer we work here, the more management
seems to forget that we’re here.”

appeared making fun of the situation,”
Pogan noted.

‘T like to draw,” Burres responded,
‘and these sketches made a lot of people
see what was really going on.”

A couple of his cartoons are reproduced
here.

ESSEX COUNTY

S.E.A. Loca. *8it
WEEPS

Down STREAM

July 14, 1986

OPPOS)} TioN

7

Retirees’ Lobbying Day

An effort to

ena

ct equity

BRINGING THE MESSAGE TO THE CAPITOL...was what CSEA retirees did
during lobbying day activities in Albany. Clockwise from top- CSEA’s new
coordinator of Retirees Kathy Cahalen listens to the concerns of John and Lee
Crowley of Local 913; Local 923 President Joseph Cosentino confers with
Assemblyman John O’Neil; Participants receive briefing on their day’s assignment.

Nothing retiring
about new staffer

ALBANY — As CSEA’s new Coordinator
of Retirees, Kathy Cahalen is well
prepared for the challenges that the
position involves. In fact, it is a natural
step that combines important aspects of
her prior experience into one role.

Before joining CSEA, Cahalen served as
a research analyst for for the New York
State Council on Health Care Financing.
In that capacity, she became quite famil-
iar with the health care needs of all New
Yorkers and what services are available
to them.

Previously, she worked as an aging

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

services specialist for the Senior Service
Centers of Albany.

Cahalen, who holds a Master’s degree in
Social Work from SUNY at Albany, says
one of her first priorities is to help CSEA
retirees strengthen their political action
network. ‘‘We have close to 40,000 retirees
and that’s a tremendous resource. I think
there’s a potential to be very effective as
a lobbying force.”

Cahalen points out that many retirees
played a significant part in building CSEA
into a strong union and still have a crucial
role to play in keeping it strong.

ALBANY — Dozens of CSEA retirees
took to the offices and hallways of the
Capitol in the closing weeks of the
legislative session to press lawmakers on
the importance of three specific bills. The
activity coordinated by CSEA’s Political
Action department sought to ‘‘enact
equity’’ through the legislation.

The three measures targeted pension
supplementation, providing reduced cost
health insurance to the surviving family
of retirees, and establishing a mandatory
generic drug substitution law.

In a message to the participants, CSEA
President William McGowan stated:”We
ask for nothing more than fairness and we
will settle for nothing less.”

CAHALEN

July 14, 1986

Convention Report

JUIN
FOR AMERICA

CHICAGO, CHICAGO — Pictures here
capture various moods at the recent
AFSCME International Convention in
Chicago (skyline above) attended by some
200 CSEA delegates. Clockwise from right:
Delegate June Robak studies resolutions;
members become shutterbugs for guest
speaker Sen. Edward Kennedy; the
convention floor; and Sergeant at Arms
Barbara Skelly.

CSEA in Chicago

The AFSCME Convention

July 14, 1986

= - TEPER REPEAT
THE PUBLIC SECTOR

Convention Report

Kennedy blasts Reagan

Si Edward M. Kennedy, who declared
himself a candidate for chair of the Senate
Labor Committee, blasted the Reagan
administration and Republicans that
“have become the party of debt and
division.”

The Reagan administration has built a
false prosperity on the backs of workers
and the needy, the Massachusetts
Democrat told AFSCME delegates. ‘Their
policy accepts a farm depression, the loss
of jobs, homes, and hopes in energy-
producing states.”

“Tt’s time for the Republicans to move
over,’’ he said.

VICE PRESIDE

ott during a
e

Colleen Dewhurst, president, Actors
Equity

It is the union movement
that speaks for every
segment of our society. It is
the union movement that
keeps us together as a
nation and as workers.

DISCUSSING AN
ISSUE at a convention
meeting are Michael
Curtin and Kathy
Green, both from CSEA
Region 1.

REGION 4 PRESIDENT C. Allen Mead looks
over resolutions.

1 0 THE PUBLIC SECTOR July 14,
A FSCME International President Gerald
McEntee drew sharp parallels between
AFSCMEBE’s founding Convention and this
yeg’s meeting. And he called on the
delegates to ‘‘rearm and rededicate”’
themselves to the battles ahead: the fight
against privatization, the struggle to
organize in the West and in the Deep South,

McEntee: Time to ‘rearm’

xATE Glenda Jackson,

the need to breathe new life and militancy uff
into state federations and central labor
bodies.

He called for ‘new directions and bold
initiatives” to revive the fortunes of
organized labor.

“It won’t be easy. It won’t be cheap. And it
won’t happen overnight. But our day will

come,” the AFSCME leader predicted.

DELEG
ny Bentiv
ve

Dues amended

F inances topped the amendment agenda at
AFSCME’s 27th convention in Chicago. The
June 23-27 gathering made constitutional
changes setting minimum dues for
permanent part-time members at 50 percent os

of full minimums for those working 12 hours pa rtheid ra | | y

a week or less, and 75 percent for those
regularly working 13 to 20 hours. A second
amendment allows locals where a majority
of members have not gotten a pay raise for
at least two years immediately preceding a
dues increase to apply for a one-year
exemption from a minimum dues increase.

me

N early 1,000 AFSCME convention
delegates, led by Pres. Jerry McEntee and
Sec.-Treas. Bill Lucy, massed at the South
African consulate in Chicago June 26 to
protest apartheid. The previous week the
U.S. House of Representatives passed a
bill calling for an all-but-total embargo of
South African products and complete
divestiture within 180 days of South
African subsidiaries by U.S. companies.

P WILLIAM

‘Resolution

Danas to AFSCME’s Chicago
convention considered over 200 resolutions.
Highlights included:

¢ Setting up a blue-ribbon committee to
study the feasibility of AFSCME’s adopting
~ hourly or percentage minimum dues rate.
The committee will hold hearings and make
recommendations to the 1988 convention.

¢ Call for pre-primary consultation with
AFSCME members and cointinued support
for AFSCME participation in the AFL-CIO
1988 presidential primary endorsement, and
backing for a PEOPLE goal of $1 per
member per year between now and 1988,

¢ Support for continuation of the AFSCME
V@men’s Advisory Commitee, Local Union
Training Instructor Program, regional
women’s conferences, rank-and-file
education programs, members-only union
benefits, pre-retirement planning, and
institutional and issues advertising
campaigns.

* Backing for public hospitals and nursing
homes, career development programs, on-

C1O

WAN with

highlights

site child care, increased training for
corrections officers, tougher job safety and
health standards.

¢ Support for hospital cost containment,
national health insurance, an independent
Social Security agency, American, union-
made products, affirmative action (including
each affiliate’s designating and training an
individual to pursue equal rights protections
for all members), the Civil Rights
Restoration Act, added AIDS research and
education, pay equity, the ERA, deductibility
of all state and local taxes, a fair tax
system, state and local tax reform, a
reduced defense budget, and full
employment and price stabiity.

¢ Opposition to age discrimination,
mandatory drug, lie detector, and
psychological testing of workers, a
subminimum wage for youth, tests for the
AIDS antibody for employment or insurance
reasons, tax caps and spending limits, the
Balanced Budget amendment, Gramm-
Rudman, discrimination against gays, aid to
the contras in Nicaragua, the dictatorship in
Chile, and apartheid in South Africa.

Tom Donahue, secretary-treasurer,
AFL-CIO

Agitate, legislate, litigate,

negotiate. Do the job we've
always done — change our society,
for the better.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR 1 1

Convention Report

The 18-member “TEAM CSEA” entry in
the PEOPLE Fun Run held in conjunction
with the AFSCME convention raised $1,752
in pledges and direct contributions to
PEOPLE, the International’s legislative
and political action arm. Overall, the Fun
Run added $9,000 to the PEOPLE coffer.

CSEA was presented with a special
plaque in recognition of having the most
participants in the PEOPLE Fun Run
event.

Overall, delegates and guests contributed
a whopping $107,000 during the convention,
primarily through sales of PEOPLE items
and the Fun Run.

Darlene Hess, president of Division of
Housing and Community Renewal CSEA
Local 258, raised $173 in pledges to lead the
“TEAM CSEA” effort. She was followed by
Sherice Hart, a family member of state
insurance fund Local 351’s Harriet Hart,
who raised $122 in pledges, and by Oswego
County Local 838’s Judy Naioti, who raised
$103.

It was announced during the convention

that more than 11,000 members have joined
the PEOPLE President’s Club. To become
a Club member and receive a diamond lapel
pin and a PEOPLE jacket, CSEA state
division members can simply complete a
pledge card for $2 per payperiod to
PEOPLE, and local government members

can complete an application form and
donate $50 directly. Forms for both are
available from CSEA regional PEOPLE
Committee members or from Cheryl
Sheller in the PEOPLE Department of
CSEA headquarters in Albany, (518) @
434-0191.

Se i.

1 2 THE PUBLIC SECTOR

Applause as the curtain comes down on
50th anniversary convention

CSEA delegates from left to right, John

rances Bates: Carol Craig; and Carol

Guardiano.

July 14, 1986

PARTHED

N.Y.C. CSEA activists
= demonstrate support

“a Sending
4a clear
w| message to

| Pretoria

; 13
July 14, 1986 THE PUBLIC SECTOR

“Does serving on your unit's
negotiating committee hold
any special meaning for

Where asked: Central Region 5

o

i?
sad |

MARY BAKER JOE MORAN DENISE GRAMMATICO DAVID RUSSELL e@
Typist 11 Bus Garage Crew Leader Stock Clerk Motor Equipment Operator
“Very definitely! I’ve served on “Tm proud to say I’ve worked “T saw that our membership, “T’ve worked with eight
two negotiating teams and both with five negotiating teams, They unified, could achieve a common negotiating committees. Each of
| were very informative and have all been different, but they also —_goal. I learned that our strength those contracts provided additional
| rewarding. They let me express had one main purpose; to hammer depends on unity and with this salary increases and benefits that
| ways to improve salary and other out the best contract package. strength and unity, we can achieve —_ we now enjoy. Looking back on
benefits in the contract, and they Years from now I can look back anything we set our minds to.” those months of two-a-week
brought me into closer, more with a sense of accomplishment and bargaining sessions that sometimes
| personal relationship with my co- know I helped to improve salaries dragged into the morning hours, I
| workers. I learned firsthand how and other benefits.” can say they were worth it.”

| unity can achieve goals.”

CSEA staff opening

CSEA is seeking a field representative in the Long Island area. Posi- e
tion requires a working knowledge of labor-related issues,
handling, contract negotiations and general ince to members.

Qualifications include a bachelor’s degree or three years responsible

xperience in personnel, labor relations or related field.

Submit resume by Aug. 1 to: Personnel Director, P.O. Box 7125,
N.Y., 12224.
an equal opportunity employer.

tance Advisory Board is currently seeking candi-
nce Program (EAP) field representative
’s Metropolitan and Capital regions.

1 support and referral service. EAP field represen-

‘The Employee A.

tatives have
“helping establish EAP prog!
“maintaining existing programs;
*developing educational programs; and
*making emergency referrals.
Candidates need a high school education plus three years experience,
as above, or in union activities.

i aoben ieee ‘
poses Resumes should be submitted by July 25 to Personnel Director Den-

, 143 Washington Ave.
an equal opportunity employer

 ENTALPLAN a. Fy] nis Battle,

CSEA is

1 4 THE PUBLIC SECTOR July 14, 1986

CSEA-AFSCME’s
| Watch on Washington

The CSEA-AFSCME connection keeps a watchful eye on events in the nation’s
capital, particularly as they affect New Yorkers, in this periodic column.
Emphasis will be placed on New York lawmakers and on congressional
activities that impact upon New York residents, taxpayers and public
employees.

Making a case against “workfare”’

On June 17, 1986 AFSCME blasted work-
fare in testimony before a congressional
committee. Testifying before the House Sub-
committee on Public Assistance and Unem-
ployment Compensation, the International
opposed stronger work requirements for wel-
fare recipients without an increase in funds
for training, education and support services.

Ideas for work and training activities for
welfare recipients have been the subject of
hearings by the Public Assistance Subcom-
mittee all spring in preparation for what is
expected to be a major welfare reform initia-
tive-from the administration early next year.
The Reagan Administration is likely to want
stronger work requirements but is likely to
oppose making additional resources
available.

Tighter work rules without additional
resources will produce a heavy emphasis on
lower cost activities, such as job search and
workfare. An expansion of workfare, warned
the union, would create a subclass of em-

ployee, further erode decent paying jobs
through the displacement of civil servants by
unpaid workers, and reduce the quality of
public services through the cycling of people
in and out of public work.

To demonstrate this point, the testimony
drew heavily on New York’s experience with
the Public Works Project (PWP). It cited
CSEA’s 1985 report, “‘A Public Disservice:
An Evaluation of the Public Works Program
in New York State,” to show how workfare
can actually impede movement off of welfare
when supervisors try to block good welfare
workers from finding paid jobs. The state-

- ment also described how over a ten year peri-

od, PWP workers came to be a permanent
feature of New York City’s workforce and
how the city clearly used large numbers of
PWP workers in low or unskilled entry-level
functions instead of hiring civil servants.
The union urged the Subcommittee to with-
draw federal support for workfare and to cre-
ate a voluntary program which builds on
individual assessments of the recipients’

needs and interests and offers a wide varie-
ty of services, including job search, remedi-
al, vocational, and higher education, job
training, wage subsidies at equal pay and
benefits and transitional day care and health
care.

A
A PUBLI
DISSERVICE

s

:
Arie vanaise
Public Wonks yet te

NewYork State

- - before it’s too late
for real alternatives

WASHINGTON, D.C. — 37 states now impose ‘‘workfare”’ rules,
forcing welfare clients receiving AFDC, general assistance, or food
stamps to ‘“‘work off their grants” as a condition of eligibility in one
or more of these programs, according to a recent AFSCME report.

“This increasing prevalence of so-called ‘workfare’ deeply dis-
turbs me, as it should the nation,” declared Gerald W. McEntee,
President of the 1.1 million-member public employees union. “This
is 1986, not 1586 when in Elizabethan England paupers were sentenced
to earn their subsistence keep in work houses.”

Welfare recipients need real jobs,’’ McEntee continued. “They
need support services and bona fide training to qualify for these jobs.
But workfare provides neither.”

.. quick fixes
won’t end
welfare dependence!

e
July 14, 1986

Major findings of the AFSCME report indicate:
¢ 28 states require participation in a workfare component (commu-
nity work experience, public works projects, pre-employment assign-
ments) either in traditional or demonstration Work Incentive (WIN)
programs for AFDC recipients.

In most of these states, workfare is limited to selected counties
or to designated categories of recipients, such as unemployed parents.

Ten of the states have a statewide mandatory requirement in their
AFDC programs. (California, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, Oklahoma,
Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia).

* 19 states assign employable general assistance, or home relief,
recipients to workfare programs. 8 or these states also include work-
fare in their AFDC programs (Illinois, lowa, Kansas, Michigan, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Utah, and Virginia).

¢ 8 states have workfare requirements in the Food Stamp pro-
gram (Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin).

McEntee pointed to successful job training, educational, job de-
velopment, job placement, and support services for AFDC recipients
in Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maryland. “These pro-
grams reject workfare,”’ said McEntee, ‘‘and they work.”

“We should know by now that quick fixes won’t end welfare de-
pendency. What would is a genuine commitment at the federal, state
and local level to invest in the worth of our dependent people by de-
veloping, and qualifying them for, decent jobs.”

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

vil Service Employees Associatio
cal 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO

CENTRAL REGION V

Moe H.
McDonough

| SUMMER
|

CONFERENCE

>>

An ideal mix

of training,
workshops and
seminars for
the activists

Camaraderie
prevails at
Region 5
summer meet

Annual Region 5 Summer e
By Charles McGeary Conference is named in honor
CSEA Communications Associate of the late CSEA executive

CONGRATULATIONS JOE — Regional President Jim Moore, sec-
ond from left, congratulates former Frankfort-Schuyler School
CSEA Unit president Joe Torchia upon Torchia’s recent election to
the F-S school board. At left is Region V Political Action
Chairperson Dorothy Penner, and at right is Regional Political
Action Coordinator Tim Burns.

1 6 THE PUBLIC SECTOR

Thomas H. McDonough.

vice president.

ALEXANDRIA BAY — Tom McDonough would have really
enjoyed the recent 3-day Region 5 Summer Conference here. Named
in honor of the late Thomas H. McDonough, former CSEA executive
vice president and union activist, it offered an ideal mix of
seminars, workshops, committee reports, educational sessions and a
political action update, all served up in a perfect setting for union @
camaraderie.

Region 5 President James Moore opened the weekend program
with his customary recognition of Mr. McDonough for his
achievements over many years on behalf of all CCEA members.

An educational training program conducted by CSEA Education
Specialist Peg Wilson concluded the first day of the conference.

Saturday sessions were highlighted by a two-part seminar on
“Harassment in the Workplace,’ conducted by CSEA Attorneys
Michael Smith and Claudia McKenna. They cited major gains CSEA
has made during the last decade in dealing with various forms of @
harassment in the workplace.

e Smith and McKenna both stressed the importance of negotiating
anti-harassment language into labor contacts, and responding to
complaints or requests for information regarding harassment.

“The topic of harassment in the workplace holds a very high
priority in the CSEA Legal Department,” Smith stated. ‘“‘And with
the help of the CSEA Education Department, we will do everything
we can to make CSEA members aware of their rights under the
law, and suggest what steps should be taken if they feel their rights
have been violated.”

A political action update was offered by Regional President

CSEA ATTORNEY Claudia McKenna, at podium, and Attorney
Mike Smith, seated, conducted seminar dealing with harassment in
the workplace.

July 14, 1986

TOWN OF RYE Supervisor Don Gioffre congratulates City of
Rye Unit President Glen Steele for a job well done restoring a
Civil War cemetery. The graveyard, a burial ground for black
veterans, had fallen into disrepair and was restored thanks for
the efforts of CSEA members from the City of Rye. Third and

fourth from right are Collective Bargaining Specialist Larry
‘Sparber and Region 3 President Pat Mascioli, respectively.

CSEA members restore
Rye Civil War cemetery

By Anita Manley
CSEA Communications Associate

CITY OF RYE — A cemetery with gravestones dating back
to the Civil War has been restored, thanks to the efforts of
CSEA members who work here.

CSEA members were concerned with a cemetery that was
overgrown with weeds and had fallen into disrepair. Unit
President Glen Stelle told Region 3’s President Pat Mascioli
that he wanted to help to clean up the historical burial ground,
but there was a problem . . . no one knew who owned the
cemetery, the city or the town of Rye.

Mascioli and Steele met with city and town officials and it
was determined that the land had been deeded to the town in
1860. But when part of the town became the city, no
governmental body was specifically named to take
responsibility for the property.

Town Councilman Don Gioffre brought the issue before the
public and it was agreed that repair and perpetual care of the
cemetery would be taken care of by the city once it was cleaned
up by a group of volunteers led by CSEA members.

Gioffre, who now serves as the Supervisor of the town, led
the dedication of the cemetary in a recent ceremony at which
he thanked the volunteers for their many hours of work, all on
their own time.

City of Rye employees who participated in the weekend
clean up sessions included Glen Steele, Bruce Fornander, Vito
Calo, Pat Moroney, Glenn Stroezel, John Atkinson, Caesar
Santonastaso, Gerarno Molinaro, Dominick Cerosoli, Craig
Cansterella, Mildred Nandel and Patricia Conway.

REGION 5 PRESIDENT JIM MOORE, standing, looks on as
Agency Specific Labor-Management Chairperson Mary Lauzon
reviews notes with committee members Mike Matthews, left, of
Upstate Medical Center Local 615, and Rick Galbally, right,
president of Auburn Correctional CSEA Local 153.

.Camaraderie prevails

(Continued from Page 16)

Moore, who stressed the need for political action committees in
every unit and local. Regional Political Action Chairperson Dorothy
Penner and Coordinator Tim Burns offered insight into the political
process before turning the program over to CSEA Legislative and
Political Action Director Tom Haley.
“We have the equipment, information and know how to win
elections,’ Haley said, ‘‘but we can be much more successful when
@ every unit and local in the state plugs into the system. Get involved
and you will be surprised by what we can do working together,”
Haley added.
A series of regional committee and retiree locals meetings
rounded out the program, along with general business sessions.
During the program, Moore announed the resignation of
regional Third Vice President George McCarthy, who was
applauded for his many years of service to the union membership.
Broome Developmental Center Local 449 President Mark Smacher
was unanimously elected to fill the vacancy.
e The next Region 5 conference was scheduled for Oct. 10-12 in
Syracuse.

FRANKLIN COUNTY LOCAL 817 representatives included, from
left, First Vice President Mary Hanna, Recording Secretary Joan
Marshall, and delegate Jean Kelley.

July 14, 1986 THE PUBLIC SECTOR 1 7

LEAP helps
get his BS

ELMIRA—The phrase ‘‘better late than
never” was never more appropriate than
for Mental Hygiene Therapy Aide Charles
Hughes, a CSEA member at the Elmira
Psychiatric Center.

And CSEA’s Labor Education Action
Program (LEAP) couldn’t have come
along at a more opportune time, because
LEAP is a part of Hughes’ personal
success story.

The 54-year-old Hughes, a member of
CSEA Local 437, recently completed four
and one-half years of part-time evening
studies at Elmira College in order to earn
a Bachelor of Science Degree in Human
Services. It completed the cycle he began
back in 1950 when he attended Niagara
University and earned 59 credits toward a
degree. ‘I then changed career directions
and decided to become a mortician. I
have been a licensed New York State
funeral director since 1955,’’ Hughes
notes.

“During all those years I never lost
sight of my goal to earn a four-year
Bachelor’s Degree. I finally made it, but
it took me nearly 40 years to
accomplish,” he said with a smile.

“Naturally, I’m pleased to have reached
another important plateau in my life, but
I'll never forget the struggles to get there,
and the friends and fellow employees who
supplied the encouragement, incentive
and financial assistance. If anyone wants
to know what unionism is all about, he or
she can call me. The CSEA Labor
Education Action Program financed 20

A success story

c 1 - s
A GLAD GRAD — Charles Hughes, left, shows highlights in the Class of ’86 school
yearbook to CSEA Local 437 President Tom Ward. The 54-year-old Hughes recently
completed four and one-half years of night studies toward his Bachelor of Science
Degree from Elmira College. He credits CSEA’s LEAP program with making it
possible to reach his educational goals.

hours of my required courses. I’m not
sure I could have managed without
partial sponsorship from CSEA,” Hughes
stated.

A state Mental Hygiene Department
employee since 1979, Hughes said his new
degree is important to him. ‘‘Absolutely.
That prize ‘sheepskin’ makes me eligible
to take examinations for jobs at higher
state grade levels. And like the young
movers and shakers say today, ‘I’m going
for it.”

A great way to quench
a thirst for knowledge

LEAP is the Labor Educ:
Service Employees Ass
courses at two and four-
, BOCES and various state faciliti

ion Action Program of the Civil
ion. It offers tuition-free

year publi colleges,

York state.

LEAP is available only to CSEA-represented state

employees in the Operational Service:
Services and Institutional Services
Inc., SUNY Construction Fund and Divi

Administrativ
Health Research
mn of Military and

CSEA Local 437 President Tom Ward
calls Hughes a very conscientious
employee. ‘‘He is used to giving extra
effort to reach his goals, and it carries
over into his work and extra curricular
actitities. In addition to being a full-time
state employee, he helped raise and
educate four children,” noted Ward.
Hughes is also active in the Knights of
Columbus, Hibernians, Eagles, Elks and
several other fraternal and religious
groups.

Naval Affairs. CSEA/LEAP courses art designed to in-

Labor Education Action Program ¢rease upward career mobility in state service, and im-
_—————————prove the quality of life on and off the job.

CSEA/LEAP
Fall Semester
18

CSEA/LEAP is now accepting applications for the 1986
Fall Semester of more than 1,200 courses at 88 colleges
throughout the state. LEAP 107 application forms are
available to eligible state employees through your agency
personnel or training officer.

APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED IN THE
LEAP OFFICE BY JULY 22, 1986.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR July 14, 1986

AND THE OTHER THING

Bowled over —

d&knockin’
"em over

ALBANY — A team from the Public
Service Commission in Albany, compris-
ed to two CSEA and three PEF members,
won the top prize of $820 in the fifth an-

qual public employees bowling tourna-
ent held in Albany recently. Team
members were Jeff Stockholm, Doratia
Garneau, Ann Marie Long, Hank Finn
and Edwin Badillo.

Law Department CSEA Local 672
member Margaret Fox won the $150 prize
in the singles event, while Department of
Motor Vehicles CSEA members Ray
Ernst and Gary Cooper took home $160
for winning the doubles competition.

Tom Luther, a former CSEA shop
steward and now project assistant in the
New York State Retirees System,
organized and directed the event, which
attracted 114 teams and hundreds of
bowlers from across the state this year,
since its inception five years ago.

Out-of-title
pay dating to
1982 won for
CSEA member

PORT CHESTER — The meter ex-
pired quite some time ago that was
clocking Dominick Cervi’s out-of-
title work here. Cervi, a parking
meter maintenance repairman, was
Petoraing some of the duties of a

oreman ever since his immediate
supervisor retired way back in
November, 1982. Only problem was,
he didn’t get paid for the extra
responsibilities,

So CSEA took his case to arbitra-
tion, and won. The Village of Port
Chester was ordered to pay Cervi
approximately $1,800 in back pay for
the time he worked out-of-title per-
forming some duties normally
assigned to a foreman,

®
July 14, 1986

JAN HARRIS — bringing some
cohesiveness into the picture
along with some new members.

Real PEOPLE

A slight detour
past cash register

pocketbook she saw in one of
the store windows.’’ Added
Local 852 President William
Maccaro, ‘‘Dorothy Goetz? I
think she’s still walking |
somewhere in Lake Placid.”

Some people enter PEO-
PLE races to win and raise
money for AFSCME’s
legislative and political ac-
tion arm. Others enter to
raise the money, but not
always necessarily to win.

During CSEA’s County
Workshop in Lake Placid,
Suffolk Local 852 Treasurer
Barbara Harrington and
Local 852 Vice President
Dorothy Goetz both set out
together on the 2.7 mile walk-
ing event as part of the PEO-
PLE Fun Run.

Harrington wound up winn- |
ing the walking event in a lit-
tle under 33 minutes, but |
Goetz didn’t cross the finish
line for “quite some time.”

“She stopped to shop,”
laughed Harrington. Dorothy
“came back, much later,
describing this beautiful

ae
BARBARA HARRINGTON —
coming home first.

DOROTHY GOETZ — “still
walking somewhere in Lake
Placid?”

signs

Speaking of PEOPLE, Judy
Naioti of Oswego County Local 838
is building up quite a record in
raising money through PEOPLE
Fun Run pledges. Judy won the »
women’s division of the PEOPLE
Fun Run at Lake Placid and
raised $309 in pledges for her ef-
forts. And as a CSEA delegate to
the AFSCME Convention in Chi-
cago, she raised another $103 for LH
the PEOPLE Fun Run there. {

ANAC

Ita
‘OO Crip

JUDY NAIOTI — running up
the PEOPLE total.

One big family

DUNKIRK — Dunkirk Schools Unit President Jan Harris
has drawn special praise for her internal organizing effort that
has greatly strengthened the unit that is a part of Chautuaqua
county CSEA Local 807.

_ Harris’ efforts resulted in 22 teacher aides being
incorporated into the non-instructional unit, strengthening the
bargaining power and cohesiveness of the employees.

CSEA Field Representative Penny Bush noted, ‘‘Jan’s
efforts show there are opportunities for further CSEA
membership growth in existing bargaining units. Jan’s role as
unit president has not been an easy one, as there were divergent
groups in her unit. However,” says Bush, ‘‘she worked
diligently to unionize her group while tending to the day-to-day
problems that crop for any unit president.” Harris is, according
to Bush, “‘an example of the commitment that typifies CSEA

leaders.”

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

Piddebee

related
feature
page 4

DOESN’T SEEM TO MATTER
YOU’RE COMING OR GOING
. . as far as parking in Albany is
oncerned, confusion and
difficulties are the order of the
day now that the city has
instituted a residential permit
system that limits parking access
for state employees and others
who work downtown.

‘ gh we've b “Both
discriminated against by the city of Albany ese continues |
decision

“Madigan says pointing out that stal
cape rees do support the various

ALBANY — Thousands of public employees
have taken a judicial step down the ladder in the
state Retirement System. But that descent could
mean money in their pockets. A state Supreme
Court justice has ruled that those who entered the
retirement system between July 1, and December
31, 1976, should be in Tier II rather than Tier III.

Tier II provided that participants contribute 3
percent of their gross salaries toward retirement,
while Tier II in noncontributory.

The decision by Judge Edward Conway said the
action by the State Comptroller was
“unconstitutional as it diminishes and impairs the
rights and benefits’ or Retirement System
members who entered the program during that six
month period. Judge Conway also ordered that
those affected be placed in Tier II with the
stipulation that a refund, plus interest, be returned
to those members.

20

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

A two-tier victory

“This decision means that a long overdue
injustice will be finally corrected,” said CSEA
President William McGowan. CSEA initiated the
law suit on behalf of two members. Bernard E.
Nogas of Oneida County, and William C. Water-
house a State University worker at Oneonta.

The case hinged on the fact that although the
state enacted the Tier III system in July 1976, it did
not go into effect until January 1, 1977.

The case is being pursued by Attorney John
Mineaux of CSEA’s law firm of Roemer and
Featherstonhaugh.

Mineaux indicates that there’s a possibility that
the state may appeal the decision, and as such any
refunds will have to wait until the state makes the
next move. “I am confident that in the end we will
win,”

bs

EA AN BSS i a YS Se RN a ate nca ee ta a

Empire Plan
Notice A

Empire Plan participants
who are eligible for prescription
drug benefits through the New
York State Prescription Drug
Program (Equitable Paid
Prescriptions) may learn where
nearby participating pharma-
cies are located by calling:

Albany area — (518) 869-0400 ®
or — 1-800-272-PAID
Toll Free — 1-800-445-9707

The telephone numbers
should only be used by
beneficiaries not covered by the
CSEA Employee Benefit Fund.

July 14, 1986