The Public Sector, 1994 August

_ CSEA President Danny Donohue enthusiastically _
_ endorses H. Carl McCall, right, for state
_ Comptroller in the November election

‘

State Government News Pages 6-8

State Police dispatcher honored;
Last chance to return contract survey forms: Page 6

Prison workers at risk; inmates have access to weapons: Page 7

Emergency room and home care services benefits improved: Page 8

General News Pages 4-5, 9-13, 17-19

Your chance to tell President Donohue what's on your mind: Page 4

CSEA pushes several bills through state Legislature: Page 5

CSEA continues push for health care reform: Page 9

Areport on the recent AFSCME Convention: Pages 10-11

Lee Pound is Rockland County Senior Citizen of the Year: Page 12
CSEA awards $14,000 in scholarships: Page 13

PEOPLE Project 10,000 PLUS well on way to goal: Page 18

Empire Home Mortgage Program can help you own a home: Page 19

Local Government News Pages 14-16

Nassau County Local gets five-year contract;
Westchester County approves agreement: Page 14

CSEA fights privatization of Nassau County Medical Center: Page 15

Several school district units facing contract problems: Page 16

for you.

August 25 September 5
‘Syracuse

Visit President
Danny Donohue

| and other statewide
officers at CSEA’s
Family, Friends
and Neighbors
display on CSEA Day at The
Fair in Syracuse on Saturday,
Aug. 27 - and get in for half
price as well: Page 20

i

For retirees, a COLA would be
refreshing: Page 5

HOW CAN CSEA HELP ME?
See how in A Reference Guide to CSEA Memberervices & Benefits - Page 17

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Albany, New York 12210 ANITA MANLEY Region III
Danny Donohue, President (914) 831-1000

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CAPITAL REGION Marguerite Stanley
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2 August 1994 ¢g 4

1|Page Three

‘McCall for comptroller

enthusiastically endorsing Carl

McCall for state comptroller in

the November election.
Donohue announced CSEA’s

real friend whose actions match
his words,” CSEA President
Danny Donohue is

| ALBANY — Calling him “a

Pe

State Comptroller H. Carl McCall talks with CSEA retirees at a
rally for a cost of living adjustment (COLA) for New York's retired
public employees.

support at a recent news
conference where he was joined
by McCall.

The CSEA President explains
that McCall has reached out to
the union in many ways during
his 14 months in office.

He sided with the state's
public employee unions in their
fight against the governor and
state Legislature over a change
they made in how the
Retirement System is funded.
The change, known as the
Projected Unit Credit (PUC)
method of funding pensions,
was later declared
unconstitutional by the state’s
highest court.

It allowed the state and local
governments to postpone $3
billion in payments.

McCall has
since

of pension payments to keep up
with inflation and believes
“public employees who have
devoted their lives to public
service should have pensions
that allow them to live in
dignity.”

Donohue says that CSEA’s
decision to endorse McCall was
“easy to make because he
shares our vision.” He adds that
what really impressed him was
when union members
themselves who work directly
under the Comptroller — and
belong to CSEA Audit and
Control Local 651 — told him
personally that “McCall has won
their respect and deserves our
support.”

— Stanley P. Hornak

reinstituted
the previous
funding

“method used

for 70 years
prior to the
change in
1990. He also
put together a
payment
schedule
which will
eventually
return the $3
billion.

McCall
actively
supports CSEA
efforts to win a
permanent
cost of living
allowance for
retired public
employees. He
understands
the
unhappiness
with the failure

Carl McCall: a friend

whose actions match

his words

THEY'RE ON HIS SIDE — CSEA members who
work for Comptroller H. Carl McCall fully support

his re-election effort. With him and CSEA
President Danny Donohue are CSEA Audit and
Control Local 651 President Georgianna Natale
and Local 651 Executive Vice President Pat

Plunkett.

THE PUBLIC GENERAL NEWS ,

first month in office. In fact, I
can honestly say that I have
} never been busier or happier
in my life.
lam especially inspired by

all the good will which has
been extended to me. .
Wherever I go, members have
come up to me, shaken my

hand, and wished me well. They
know that if I succeed, they
succeed. We are all in this
together.

I want this union to return to
f its roots. I will be a visible leader
: who goes out directly to our rank
and file. That's why in my July
column I promised to visit each of
our six region offices.

Here is the schedule of my first
round of visits. I will be at your
CSEA region office between noon
and 7 p.m. on the date indicated.
If you need directions, call your
region office:

Long Island Region 1
Monday Sept. 12
Metropolitan Region 2
Tuesday Sept. 13
Southern Region 3
Friday Sept. 16
Capital Region 4
Monday Sept. 26
Central Region 5
Tuesday Sept. 27
Western Region 6
Wednesday Sept. 28
The visits are part of my open
door policy to hear directly from

you. You are invited to come to
the office nearest you and tell me
what is on your mind.

Too often people complain that
the union is out of touch, But
communication is a two-way
street. This is a real opportunity
for you to communicate directly
with me.

Iam ready, willing and eager to
hear from you.

Come visit me. And tell me
what is on your mind.

Depending on the number of
people present, time may be
limited to give everyone present a
chance to speak with me one-on-

4 August 1994 ; g h

: Ch
AT RNS

. 7S =

y,
: ut pREsineny/f

aes lid ff

GENERAL NEWS

Political

Action

: Legislation will help CSEA members

ALBANY — CSEA pushed a
variety of bills through the state
Legislature this year that are
important to public employees.

Anumber of those bills are
still waiting for the Governor to
sign them into law.

CSEA President Danny
Donohue is urging all CSEA
members to write to Gov.
Cuomo and ask him to sign
these bills.

“Our hard-working political
action team has done all it can
to shepherd these bills through
the Legislature,” Donohue said.
“Now it’s up to the grassroots
power of CSEA members. Let's
tell the Governor loud and clear
what we want as constituents

CSEA supports new laws

ALBANY — A number of bills that CSEA
supported have already been signed into law.
Some of the new laws CSEA supported include:

OA law which temporarily prohibits reductions

and public employees. Write or
call today!”

Gov. Mario Cuomo can be
contacted at:

The New York State Capitol
Albany, New York 12224
518-474-8390

Here's a list of the legislation
CSEA wants the Governor to

sign.

Independent Hearing Officer
S. 8014A/A. 11841A
This bill requires the
appointment of an independent
hearing officer in disciplinary
actions if the penalty may be
suspension without pay for

more than a month, demotion
or dismissal.

Injunctive Relief
S. 8591A/A. 11851A
This bill gives PERB the
authority to allow petitioners to
seek injunctive relief in state
Supreme Court pending a final
decision in an improper practice
charge filed by the employer or
employee organization.

Thirty/Fifty-five
S. 8682/A. 11904
This bill allows employees
with 30 years service who are at
least age 55 to retire without
reduction in benefits and allows
Tier 4 members to retire prior to

age 62 with a reduced pension,
but with no Social Security
offset upon reaching age 62.

Deputy Sheriff Retirement
S. 8652/A. 12153
This bill gives counties the
option of offering a 25-year
retirement plan at half pay to
sheriffs, undersheriffs, deputy
sheriffs and corrections officers.

Transportation Contingency
S. 3755/A. 11665A
This bill makes
transportation costs an ordinary
school district expense, which
means they would be covered
under a contingency budget.

in health insurance benefits for retirees of school
districts, boards of cooperative educational services
and vocational education and extension boards —
unless they make a corresponding reduction in the
benefits of active employees;

A law which provides that the names of people
who successfully appeal disqualification from civil
service eligible lists or rank on the list be restored
to special eligible lists at the appropriate rank or be
put on a special list if the appropriate list has
expired;

OA law which excludes activities covered under
the National Labor Relations Act from the definition
of harassment under the state’s anti-stalking law;

OA law which designates June 12 as Women's
Veterans Day; and

OA law which allows charitable organizations
across the state to purchase commodities through
the state Office of General Services.

is ai =
THE FIGHT FOR COLA — CSEA retirees and active members joined a rally at
the state Capitol to make sure lawmakers knew the importance of a permanent
cost-of-living adjustment for retired public employees. Although the
Legislature went home without approving COLA legislation, CSEA is continuing
the fight by endorsing one of COLA’s staunchest supporters, Carl McCall, for
state comptroller. See page 3.

Union fights laws that

ALBANY — CSEA works hard
to stop proposed legislation that
could harm CSEA members.

The bills CSEA successfully
defeated include:

OA law that would have set a
precedent for contracting-out
procedures without considering
the cost and quality of service
issues that CSEA is demanding;

opened the door to

OA law that would have
created a negotiated rule-
making process that gave state
agencies the opportunity to
form a committee on rule
changes without including
proper union representation;

OA law that would have

discrimination against public
employees for their

would hurt public employees

Office of Mental Health and the
Office of Mental Retardation
and Developmental Disabilities;
and

duty activities by eliminating
their private right of action;

OA law which would have
relaxed standards that regulate
asbestos removal from public
buildings;

OA law which would have
required criminal history
checks and fingerprinting of
prospective employees of school
districts and boards of
cooperative educational

A law which would have
required criminal history
checks and fingerprinting of
prospective employees of the

legal off-

g August 1994
STATE GOVERNMENT NEWS

UMmovey

conn

has been named Troop F State Police Employee the the Year.

State Police Dispatcher Linda Roidl is

Troop F Employee of Year

LIBERTY — A CSEA member
is the Troop F State Police
Employee of the Year and a
recipient of the Troop
Commander's commendation.

Linda Roidl, a State Police
employee for nearly 27 years
and a dispatcher for the last 20
years, was recognized for,
among other things, her
assistance in solving a case of
bank fraud.

Roidl, a member of
Local 276, explained 6

earned you a Troop
Commander's commendation,”
said State Police
Superintendent James
McMahon in a letter to Roidl.
McMahon commended Roidl
for training other
Communications Specialists
and assisting Troopers in
training recruits and noted that
she had been formally honored
for her accomplishments when
she was selected Troop
F Employee of the

that a woman was You are Year.

opening bank “Throughout the
accounts under false truly 9 Past 26 years,” said
names in different deserving McMahon, “you have

banks and cashing
worthless checks on
the accounts.

“We had a description and a
lot of phony names,” Roidl said,
“but we didn’t have her real
name.”

Roidl suggested that police
enter her description in the
computer system with the name
“Jane Doe” and a list of the
aliases she was using. The
results were almost instant.

“Fifteen minutes later, we got
a call from the state of Maine,”
Roidl said. “They had her!” Roidl
also credited Investigator
William Whalen for the work he
did to put the case together.

“Your initiative helped to
bring this investigation to a
successful conclusion and

continued to be a
model employee and
display an exemplary work
ethic, evidenced by the
numerous letters of
commendation and
complimentary letters. You are
truly deserving to receive this
award.”

“I was surprised by the
award,” Roidl said. “There are a
lot of civilian employees in the
state police. This is a relatively
obscure area.”

Roidl said she was pleased
that the award had been
recommended by a new
lieutenant.

“That made it really special,”
she said.

— Anita Manley

_ LEAP Fall semester
vouchers mailed

Vouchers for the Fall 1994 semester of CSEA’s Labor
Education Action Program (LEAP) were mailed last month to
85 percent of eligible members who applied. CSEA LEAP
received a record 5,130 applications for the Fall semester
but because of budget constraints, about 15 percent of
eligible applicants did not receive a voucher.

“Members who did not receive a Fall 1994 voucher due to
budget constraints should not be discouraged,” LEAP
Director Ira Baumgarten said. “Members denied for budget
reasons may receive a higher priority for the Spring 1995
semester if they have not incurred a non-completion status
in the recent past.”

Members may also be eligible for the NYS/CSEA Tuition
Reimbursement Program or other financial aid programs
through their schools, Baumgarten said.

Spring catalogues, applications

available in September

LEAP catalogues and application forms for the Spring
1995 semester will be available at state agency personnel
and training offices during the first week of September.

The deadline for applying for the Spring 1995 semester
is Oct. 17, 1994.

If you have any questions about LEAP, Tuition
Reimbursement or other education and training programs
negotiated on your behalf, call the LEAPLINE at
1-800-253-4332. An advisor is available weekdays from 9
a.m. until 4:30 p.m. to assist you.

Last chance to return
contract survey forms

Time is running out for union negotiating teams.
CSEA members in the CSEA will compile the
union's five state survey information to
bargaining units to formulate the union's
return the contract overall bargaining
proposal survey forms strategy.
which were mailed in Contracts covering
May. state workers in the

Contract negotiations Administrative Services
between CSEA and the Unit (ASU), Institutional

state, affecting more than

Services Unit (ISU),
100,000 state employees,

Operational Services Unit

will begin later this year. | (OSU), Division of Military
The survey forms are and Naval Affairs (DMNA)
designed to allow CSEA and Office of Court

state division members to

Administration (OCA) all
give direct input to the

expire April 1, 1995.

South Beach Psychiatric Center to
celebrate 25th anniversary in October

South Beach Psychiatric Center is planning a celebration to
commemorate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the
facility. The program will be held on Thursday, Oct. 6, at
3 p.m. in the auditorium at the South Beach facility.

Staff alumni who are interested in attending the program or
dinner dance should contact the South Beach Psychiatric
Center Community Relations Department at (718) 667-2743.

August 1994 g .

STATE GOVERNMENT NEWS

, When inmates have knives, prison workers worry

EDITOR'S NOTE — Inmates who walk away from work crews in
public buildings are only one threat to public safety. Inside prison
walls, CSEA members every day face the threat of working with
inmates who have little supervision from prison guards and plenty
of access to tools that in the wrong hands become dangerous
weapons. This story describes what happens when saving money

gets a higher priority than the safety of public employees.

ONEIDA — “The environment
around here is dangerous.”

CSEA Oneida Correctional
Local 186 member Mark Hanna
sums up the feelings of CSEA

CSEA Member Tom Marchesane

shows one of the tools inmates are

allowed to use.

Job skills and safety training

Plaza, Suite 1117, Albany, NY
12260, (518) 473-3428.

Career and skills development
opportunities to help CSEA-
represented state employees
attain higher skill levels are
being offered statewide in
seminars this fall.

Sponsored by NYS/CSEA
Labor-Management Committees
and made possible through
funding in the NYS/CSEA
contracts, seminars will be held
October through December. The
registration deadline for all
seminars is Aug. 30.

Course brochures with
schedules are available from
your CSEA local president,
personnel and training offices or
NYS/CSEA Labor-Management
Committees, One Commerce

members who work in Oneida
Correctional Facility’s vast
“cook-chill” building.

About 30 CSEA members

work there with more than 45

inmates to produce pre-
cooked, quick-frozen
meals for more than 30
state facilities.

Only three corrections
officers are assigned to
the building, with two
only recently added after
an escape attempt.

The CSEA members
have no radios and
phones are often locked
up, so they can't call for
help if they need it.

They worry about
safety in the huge
building where inmates
use dangerous kitchen
knives and other
utensils.

When CSEA Central
Region President Jim
Moore walked through
the facility, Head Cook
Tom Marchesane pointed
to pipes with deep cuts
in their insulation, put
there by inmates.

“Those pipes could
have been any one of
us,” he said.

Some CSEA members
work with the inmates in
confined, remote rooms
that are virtually
soundproof if their doors
are shut. One employee

was working with an
inmate in a closed cooler

SAFETY AND HEALTH

Safety and Health seminars
are designed to provide CSEA-
represented employees, their
supervisors, and members of
labor-management committees
with the skills and information
needed to develop work
practices that safeguard
employees and maintain safe
work environments.

The fall 1994 program is
being expanded and organizes
seminars into three tracks:
Personal Safety and Health,
Occupational Safety and
Health, and Safety and

room when a fire alarm went
off, but neither of them heard it.

“It’s very high risk, you have
less control in here,”
Marchesane said.

CSEA Local 186 President
Carol Camacho said the union
is appealing the denial of
hazardous duty pay for the
workers. CSEA is studying the
criteria for hazardous duty pay
to see if it needs changing, said
CSEA Deputy Director of
Contract Administration
Mary Masterson-Allie.

CSEA Occupational Safety
and Health Specialist Wendy
Hord will recommend safety
changes that CSEA will pursue
to ensure that the facility is as
safe as possible for CSEA
members.

“We know there are
preventable dangers in this
building, and we're working to
correct those,” Moore said. “We
want to make sure our workers
are as safe as possible and don't
become statistics.”

- Mark M. Kotzin

Safety improving at Mid-Hudson PC

MIDDLETOWN — Despite
the escape of two dangerous
patients from the Mid-Hudson
Psychiatric Center, CSEA
Local 448 President Karen
Leeper says the facility is
becoming safer thanks to
cooperation between the
unions and management.

While the two escapees have
been caught, Leeper praised
the professionalism of the
Communications Department
team: CSEA members Marie
LaCroce, Marilyn Krekeler and
Pam Meikle. They handled
critical phone operations
during and after the crisis.

While local residents worry
about escapes, employees
have concerns for their own
safety inside the building.

“It was ironic that while the
state was busy improving
perimeter safety, we felt a
stronger emphasis should be
placed on staff safety,” Leeper
said.

An increase in patient
incidents involving CSEA and
PEF staff is compounded by
layoffs and a lack of self-
protection training, she said.

CSEA and PEF applied for
and received a training grant
for a Non-Abusive Physical
and Psychological Intervention
course. Because of the
program's success, another
training program has been
scheduled.

The facility has also
purchased personal alarms for
non-Council 82 staff, projected
funding for internal systems
security and Facility Director
Richard Bennett started a new
labor-management Health and
Safety Committee.

But the best security is
awareness and application of
job training, Leeper said.

“We have to cover each
others’ backs,” she said. “We
can’t be divided by unions or
titles, and we can't point an
accusatory finger and consider
that a solution in itself. We
have to support management
and in turn we expect them to
support us. Only then can we
continue forward toward a
safer and healthier future for
all.”

— Anita Manley

offered to state employees

Health Leadership. Topics will
include stress management/
reduction, CPR training, and
universal precautions/infection
control techniques for non-
direct care staff.

APPLIED SKILLED TRADES

Introductory and journey-
level skilled trades workshops
are offered to CSEA-represented
employees who operate the
state’s physical plants and
equipment. They provide job-
based training that emphasizes
practical, hands-on instruction.

Introduction to the Skilled
Trades workshops provide
basic theoretical and hands-on
instruction in areas such as

welding, plumbing/pipefitting,
boilers and burners, and small
engine repair.

Journey-Level Trades
workshops provide up-to-date
information and instruction on
operations and maintenance
topics such as anti-lock brakes,
landscape maintenance, energy
conservation and management,
and digital electronics.

Residential Building Skills
workshops will be offered for
employees responsible for
maintaining community-based
residences. Topics include
drywall installation and repair,
interior floor finishes and
general construction blueprint
and schematic reading.

g ti 4 August 1994

STATE GOVERNMENT NEWS

Committee improves health benefits

The CSEA/NYS Joint
Committee on Health Benefits
(JCHB) has successfully
improved the level of benefits
available for specific home care
services and emergency room
treatment.

Effective Oct. 1, 1994,
Empire Plan enrollees and their
covered dependents will be
eligible for “paid-in-full”
emergency room treatment
for “true emergencies” as
defined within the Empire Plan
certificate. The enrollees will
still be responsible for the
present $15 hospital outpatient

co-pay.

The following self-care
information is being provided
for your reference by the CSEA
Joint Committee on Health
Benefits and is based upon
various publications pertaining
to the subject matter. This
information is not intended to
provide a basis for diagnosis
and should not be used to
replace professional medical
care,

The Facts

Lyme disease was first
discovered in 1975 after a
mysterious outbreak of arthritis
occurred near Lyme,
Connecticut. For almost 20
years, this important public
health problem has continued
to perplex the medical
community as the disease often
goes unrecognized, and more
recently, is frequently
misdiagnosed.

Lyme disease is spread by the
bite of a deer (or bear) tick
which is infected with Borrelia
burgdorferi. For the most part,
ticks transmitting Lyme disease
to humans are in the nymph
stage.

Nymphs are more likely to
feed on a person (or host) since
they are rarely noticed because
of their small size (less than 2
mm). Thus, the nymphs
typically have sufficient time to
feed and transmit the infection.

Adult ticks can also transmit
the disease, but since they are
larger and more likely to be
noticed and removed within a
few hours, they are less likely
than the nymph to have ample
time to transmit the infection.

Ticks generally search for
their host from the tips of grass
or shrubs and transfer to
animals or persons that brush
against the vegetation. Ticks

Also effective Oct. 1, Empire
Plan enrollees and their covered
dependents will be able to
access MetLife’s Home Care
Advocacy Program (HCAP).

Individuals in need of:

* outpatient visiting and
private duty nursing;

¢ home infusion therapy;
and

¢ durable medical
equipment and supplies
will be entitled to paid-in-full
benefits by pre-certifying and
using HCAP providers.

Further details describing
these enhancements will appear
in the September issue of The

only crawl; they do not fly or

jump. Ticks which are found on

the scalp usually have crawled

from the lower part of the body.
Ticks feed on blood by

inserting their mouth parts (not .

their whole bodies) into the skin
of their host. They are slow
feeders and the complete
process can take several days.
As they feed, their bodies slowly
enlarge.

Campers, hikers, hunters,
and outdoor workers who
frequent wooded or brushy
places are commonly exposed to
ticks. The growth of the deer
population in the northeastern
United States has directly
affected the growing number of
reported cases of Lyme disease
since the adult tick prefers to
feed on these animals. Also,
since new homes are often built
in wooded areas, transmission
of Lyme disease near homes has
become an important problem
in some areas of the United
States. The risk of exposure to
ticks is greatest in the woods
and garden fringe areas of
properties, but ticks may also
be carried by animals into
lawns and gardens.

Symptoms

Early Lyme disease is usually
marked by a characteristic skin
rash which usually appears in a
red circular patch and often
expands to a much larger size.
This rash is usually
accompanied by fatigue, chills
and fever, headache, muscle
and joint pain, and swollen
lymph nodes. Some symptoms
may not appear for weeks,
months, or even years after a
tick bite. These symptoms may
include arthritis and nervous
system abnormalities. About 20
percent of victims will have no

Public Sector. The next issue of
the Empire Plan Report will
contain amended Empire Plan
Certificate language to reflect

the benefit enhancements. The
Report is scheduled to be mailed
to enrollees’ homes during the
first week of September.

BENEFITS
Take precautions against Lyme disease

skin lesions and some may
experience no early symptoms
at all.

Treatment

and Prognosis

Lyme disease is diagnosed by
recognition of a characteristic
clinical picture and confirmed
by blood tests. If diagnosed in
its early stages, it is
successfully treated with oral
antibiotics — usually
doxycycline and amoxicillin. If
the disease affects the nervous
system, intravenous antibiotic
therapy is usually
recommended. Few cases of
permanent damage to joints or
the nervous system have been
reported, and in most cases
these are patients in whom
Lyme disease was unrecognized
in the early stages or for whom
the initial treatment was
unsuccessful. Rare deaths from
Lyme disease have been
reported.

Unfortunately, all the
questions about Lyme disease
have yet to be answered. An
effective vaccine is currently in
development but many years of
testing need to be completed
before it may become available.
Lyme disease is difficult to
diagnose since the symptoms
are often confused with other
medical conditions such as
chronic fatigue syndrome or
fibromyalgia. The blood test for
Lyme disease isn’t foolproof or
standardized. False-negatives
and, more commonly, false-
positive results have been a
great problem, Therefore, it is
essential that people learn how
to protect themselves.

Prevention
First, it is important to

understand that not every tick
bite results in Lyme disease.
Sometimes redness may follow a
tick bite because of a harmless
allergic reaction or simple
irritation caused by scratching.
People should follow a few basic
guidelines to avoid contact with
deer ticks.

Precautions

¢ Avoid tick-infested areas,
especially during May, June
and July.

¢ Wear light-colored clothing so
that ticks can be spotted more
easily.

¢ Tuck pant legs into socks or
boots and shirt into pants.

¢ Tape the area where pants
and socks meet so that ticks
cannot crawl under clothing.

¢ Spray insect repellent
containing DEET on clothes
and on exposed skin other than
the face (also, do not use on
children), or treat clothes with
permethrin, which kills ticks
on contact.

¢ Wear a hat and a long-sleeved
shirt for added protection.

* Walk in the center of trails to
avoid overhanging grass and
brush.

After being outdoors, remove
clothing and wash and dry it at
a high temperature. Inspect
your body carefully and remove
attached ticks with tweezers,
grasping the tick as close to the
skin surface as possible and
pulling straight with a slow
steady force; avoid crushing the
tick’s body. In some areas, ticks
(saved in a sealed container)
can be submitted to the local
health department for
identification.

August 1994 ¢g s

GENERAL NEWS

: Do the write thing this summer

national health care reform. Today the

what must be included in any national

able to support.
That plan must provide universal

can never be taken away despite

retirement or even unemployment.
We need a fair system to pay for

it. Our health care should

not be financed out of the

pockets of workers and

their families. We strongly

oppose taxation of benefits.

In addition, we support

protections for our

members working in the

health delivery system,

equal treatment between

private and public

employers and continued

funding for frontline

hospitals.
AFSCME recently

co-sponsored a Capitol Hill

This is the make-or-break summer for
nation is at a crossroads as the issue is
debated in the media and on Capitol Hill.
We are clear about our priorities —- about

health care plan CSEA and AFSCME will be

coverage for all Americans; coverage that

pre-existing conditions, job changes, early

Health cai
domestic po!
critical to the

directly to

coming from CSEA members and their
families. No other union has ever set
such an ambitious goal. But that’s not
enough.

Winning this battle is important to each
and every AFSCME member. Over the past
ten years we have suffered at the
bargaining table because of skyrocketing
health care costs. Many locals have had to
accept contracts with limited wage
increases in order to protect their health
insurance benefits.

The fact that

June 16, 1994

i tant
i “5 most impor
form is today re
yey jnitiative, and the labor m'
success of this effort.

ement is

ity to help

you and your loved ones have good health
care coverage now does not mean you can
ignore this critical problem. Health insurance
costs doubled in the last decade. If allowed to
go uncontrolled, something will have to give —
possibly your wages or your benefits. This is
the battle of a lifetime, and our members are
the troops on the front line.

This is not the summer to take a vacation
from health care. Congress won't. Write a
letter to your U.S. representative and to each

of your senators. Tell them why health

care reform is important to you. If you
have a personal story to tell, share it
with your elected officials. If you’ve
already written, recruit your family,
friends, and co-workers.

Over the next weeks,
Congressional committees will be
trying to put together a piece of
legislation for the full Congress to
consider. Members of those

committees need to hear from you,
too.

We are up against strong, well-
financed opponents who are
profiting from the status quo. We
can't begin to match them with
dollars, but we do have people.
We have beaten them before, and

the critical

we can beat them again. If we do,
mbers-

millions of Americans — including
your children and grandchildren
- will thank you because your
efforts will make quality,
affordable health care a reality
for all.

CSEA and AFSCME have
materials and sample letters
you can use in preparing your
own letters to Congress. If you
already have the CSEA or
AFSCME materials for letter

writing, make sure to use

them now, today.
If you need additional

rally at which more than
15,000 health care workers
demanded support for these
concerns. Many rally
participants had taken
vacation time and driven long
hours to make their voices
heard.

We continue to meet with
Congressional leaders and key
committee members as we fight
to protect your interests. But
you have a role to play in this
struggle, too.

What Can You Do?

Individual hand-written

families, YoU
shape our na
importance oO

tion’s ful
f health care T

jth health

i d come with
: very job should jon members

I ee Cece mae and those
benefits. = w, their be’! i hanges-

A penefits now, ™ ise of job chang}
enjoy those ers — are at risk because » a premiums
of all America” compelled to pay higher P. id

Rare ”t provide

All employers are © ce employers don fits at
Co ee we guaranteeing health bene
coverage: portant.

work is so 1 affordable health

reading the ore

embers across

care. Lenc m to union ™

letters are the most effective
tools you can provide in this
fight for national health care.
AFSCME members and their
families are well on their way
toward a goal of sending 650,000
hand-written letters to legislators
in Congress, with the bulk so far

Write these

New Yorkers on
major Congressional
committees debating
health care reform

about hea
the nation. Together,
care for all of Americ

ensure affo
milies.

The following members of Congress from
New York are members of the major
committees debating health care in
Washington.

In addition to writing your individual U.S.
Representative arid both U.S. Senators from
New York, it is very important that you send
letters to each of these committee membe:
from the Empire State, expressing your desire
for universal health care coverage.

Write to Senator Moynihan (D), chairman of
the Senate Finance Committee:

The Honorable Daniel Moynihan
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

affordable health

materials or have any

questions, call CSEA’s

Legislative and Political
Action Department at

(518) 434-0191 Ext. 404 or
1-800-342-4146 or
AFSCME’s Health Care
Boiler Room at
1-800-94-REFORM.

Address correspondence to Representatives:
The Honorable (name)
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
House Ways and Means Committee
Charles Rangel (D)
Michael McNulty (D)
Amo Houghton (R)
House Education and Labor Committee
Susan Molinari (D)
Major Owens (D)
Eliot Engel (R)

House Energy and Commerce Committee

Thomas Manton (D)
Edolphus Towns (D)
Bill Paxon (R)

¢gZ h August 1994

GENERAL NEWS

GENERAL NEWS

CSEA makes its mark
at AFSCME convention

SAN DIEGO — Under the theme
“Proud of Our Past, Building our
Future,” 226 CSEA activists joined
with their union brothers and
sisters from throughout the United
States as participants in the 31st
annual meeting of the American
Federation of State, County and
Municipal Employees.

ToT LAL 127

International President Gerald
W. McEntee kicked off the five-day
meeting with a pledge that “When
we meet in Chicago two years from
now, AFSCME will not only be the
most powerful union in the AFL-
CIO, we'll be the biggest and the
best.”

He backed up this conviction by
announcing that AFSCME has
gained 10,000 new members this
year.

McEntee also stressed continued
support for national health care
reform.

“We've got to pull out all the
stops, we've got to pass it,”
McEntee said.

Delegates heard from an
impressive number of speakers

Reich and United Farm Workers
President Arturo Rodriguez.

Delegates took time out from
working sessions to march on City
Hall, rallying on behalf of union
workers there. Members of
AFSCME Local 127, they are
fighting a mayor who wants to
scuttle the civil service system and
force employees to make significant
givebacks in wages and health
benefits.

International Secretary-
Treasurer Bill Lucy best summed
up the message repeated by
various speakers at the rally when
he said: “We are here with you, and
we will be with you to the end.
AFSCME does not roll over, and
does not play dead.”

‘Every@)
time youg)
decide to
get
involved
with a
fight,
America
wins!?

It is a thrill to
be with the

CSEA Southern Region

President Maryjane
MacNair above left,
keeps her delegates
busy. They are Naomi
Kaplan, second from left
and Norma Condon,
right.

during the week, including Vice
President Al Gore, former
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff Colin Powell, Texas Gov. Ann
Richards, Labor Secretary Robert

eal
— Stanley P. Hornak ly important

neople in

|
| .,overnment?

‘We will

In the photo at left,
CSEA delegates Sue

7 Crawford, left, and Carol
continue Strokes, right, are hard
s at ‘k during th:
working AFSCME convention:
together

on the
issues that |

Y ioe’?

affect us
Lee Pound, vice
all? chair of the
CSEA Delegate Jimmy CSEA Retiree
Gripper listens to speakers Executive
CSEA President Danny Donohue during the AFSCME Committee,
marches for San Diego employees. convention. right, uses her

time well, calling
federal
lawmakers to
urge them to
support a
national health
care plan that
will include
universal
coverage,
protections for
health care
workers, etc.
America AFSCME
operated a phone
for bank during the
F é convention to
leadership’ | colin powell, former ; : : encourage the
- P Chairm: ‘| of Shpier : | 1 : lobbying effort.
CSEA member Lester Crockett, center, accepts Chiefs offst . Pound was also
congratulations from CSEA Metropolitan Region “ CSEA Ex: HI itige Vice . an alternate
President George Boncoraglio, left, and CSEA : Fresident tri og CSEA Treasurer Maureen Malone, right, greets CSEA delegate.
Preascnt Danny Denenus; Crockett came in third Bc : d Sullivan ad bates. delegates Bob Nurse, left, and Tony Bailous.
e un,

‘The world
looks to

August 1994 .— 1 1

August 1994

GENERAL NEWS

Rockland County
honors CSEA retiree

SUFFERN — Lee Pound is
Rockland County's Senior zen,
of the Year. Honored recently for
her untiring efforts as a
community activist, Pound served
as Rockland County Local 844
president until she retired after
21 years of service with the Town
of Clarkstown in 1989.

As a retiree, she once again
picked up the CSEA gavel as
president of Rockland Retiree
Local 918 and is vice chair of the
Retiree’s Executive Committee.

In addition to her union
involvement, Pound has served
her community in many
capacities. When Rockland
County Legislator Harriet Cornell
created a Womens’ Commission,
Pound was asked to serve and
still serves on the commission.
She is also co-chair of the
Rockland County Senior Health
Care Coalition and has
participated in rallies throughout
the state to demonstrate for state
and federal health care and
against Medicare assignment.
She is secretary to her town’s
Traffic and Traffic Fire Safety

Advisory Committee and is a
member of the County Advisory
Board to the Office for the Aging.

Senior citizens who were
adversely affected by last year's
floods in the mid-western part of
the U.S. benefitted from Pound's
involvement in a drive for money
and clothing.

As an active retiree president,
Pound has encouraged her
members to write letters to
lawmakers in Washington urging
them to support a single payer
health care plan and to Albany
lawmakers on behalf of a COLA.

At a luncheon in her honor,
CSEA Southern Region President
Maryjane MacNair noted that
with her retirement and her
increased community
involvement, Pound's
constituency has expanded.

“Yet,” she said, “she still
manages to attack every barrier,
every stone wall and any
politician who gets in her way.
Lee never met a challenge sh
was afraid to tackle.” :

— Anita Manley

BEACON — A golf
tournament to benefit the Pat
Mascioli Memorial Scholarship
Fund will be held Oct. 11,
1994, at the Otterkill Country
Club in Orange County.

Mascioli is the former CSEA
Southern Region president who
died suddenly in March.

Tournament Chair Jeff
Howarth said the full-day
outing will include a
continental breakfast, lunch on

Tournament to raise funds
for Mascioli scholarship

the turn and a sit-down roast
beef dinner in the evening.
Prizes will be awarded also.
Anyone interested in
sponsoring a hole for $100 or
organizing a foursome at $85
per person should contact
Howarth after 5 p.m. at
914-651-7591 or CSEA
Southern Region Office
Manager Judy Morrison from
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at
914-831-1000.

Kelly Scholarships available

to children of

Local President attends
inauguration at SUNY Alfred

Sheri Furlong, president of the 200-member SUNY
College at Alfred CSEA Local 600, donned cap and gown
for the formal inauguration of new college President Bill
Rezak. Sheri joined state Lt. Gov. Stan Lundine and a
host of prominent educators in wishing Dr. Rezak best
wishes.

J.J, KELLY SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

deceased or

disabled CSEA members

Children of deceased or
totally and permanently
disabled CSEA members may
now apply for the J.J. Kelly
Memorial Scholarships if their
parent or guardian was killed
or totally and permanently
disabled while on the job or
died while an active CSEA
member.

CSEA will award two college
scholarships from the J.J. Kelly

1 2 August 1994 g

fund this year. The Kelly
scholarships are continuing
four-year grants of $500.
Individuals who meet this
criteria should fill out the
application at right to receive a
scholarship application, The
coupon should be mailed to
CSEA headquarters at the
ndicated on the
coupon. The deadline for
applications is Oct. 10.

Name:

Address:

Phone:

Name of parent/guardian killed/permanently disabled on the
job:

Date of incident:

Mail to: CSEA Memorial Scholarship Committee
143 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12210

GENERAL NEWS

CSEA awards $14,000 in scholarships
to sons, daughters of union members

Twenty graduating high school seniors,
sons and daughters of CSEA members,
have been selected to receive a total of
$14,000 in college scholarships.

Two will receive one-time $2,500
scholarships each and 18 will each receive
one-time scholarships of $500.

The winners were selected on the basis of
academic performance and personal
achievements from nearly 1,000 applicants.
Winners were selected by CSEA’s Special
Memorial Scholarship Committee, chaired
by Diane Lucchesi. Other committee
members are Willie Allen, Nevada Solano,
Boni Pellicciotti, Helen Fischedick, Sandra
Delia and Janice Mazurek.

This is the fourth year of a 10-year
program in which CSEA, with the financial
backing of the Travelers Insurance
Company and Jardine Group Services
Corporation, is awarding two special
$2,500 scholarships.

JARDINE GROUP SERVICES AWARD

The Jardine Group Services Award of
$2,500 is named in memory of Charles
Foster, a longtime CSEA activist who began
his career with CSEA in the 1930s and was
also the first business officer of the SUNY
System. The recipient must attend a SUNY
school.

The winner is Jeffrey LaBonte of
Levittown, Long Island. His mother,
Rosemary LaBonte, is a clerk typist in the
Levittown School District and a member of
Nassau County Educational Employees
Local 865. Jeffrey plans to attend SUNY
Binghamton.

TRAVELERS INSURANCE
COMPANY AWARD

The Travelers Insurance Company Award
of $2,500 is named in memory of Joseph D.
Lochner, who was CSEA’s first employee
and who spent more than 40 years in
service to the union. Known as “Mr. CSEA,”
he was a longtime executive director of the
union.

The winner is Eugene A. DeAngelis of
Glasco in Ulster County. His mother,
Gaetana Ciarlante, is a social worker with
Ulster County and a member of Ulster
County Local 856. Eugene plans to attend
Harvard University.

CSEA IRVING FLAUMENBAUM
MEMORIAL AWARDS
The Irving Flaumenbaum Memorial

Scholarship Awards of $500 each are
named in memory of Mr. Flaumenbaum, a
longtime CSEA activist who helped organize
CSEA's largest local and served for many
years as president of CSEA’s Long Island
Region. There are three winners in each of
CSEA's six regions. The winners are:

LONG ISLAND REGION I
Wendy Elizabeth Sulc of Miller Place,
whose mother, Noreen Sulc, is a reading
tutor in the Miller Place Public Schools and
a member of Suffolk County Educational
Employees Local 870.

Michael P. Murphy of Patchogue, whose
mother, Maureen Murphy, is a teacher aide
in the Patchogue Medford School District
and a member of Local 870.

Kari Brice Dallin of Bellport, whose
mother, Kathleen Dallin, is a secretary in
the South Country School District and a
member of Local 870.

METROPOLITAN REGION II
Marie DeCicco of Brooklyn, whose father,
Peter DeCicco Sr., is retired on medical
disability and is a member of Creedmoor
Psychiatric Center Local 406 and New York
Metropolitan Retirees Local 910.

Aluko Akini Hope of Brooklyn, whose
mother, Auril Hope, is a patient service
clerk at University Hospital, Brooklyn, and
a member of SUNY Health Science Center
Local 646.

Rushabh Doshi of Flushing, whose mother,
Hema Doshi, is an underwriter with the
State Insurance Fund and a member of
State Insurance Fund Local 351.

SOUTHERN REGION II
Deborah A. Dahigren of Highland Mills,
whose mother, Virginia Dahlgren, is a typist
with Goshen Central School District and a
member of Orange County Local 836.

Amy Todd of Stony Point, whose mother,
Karen Todd, is a calculations clerk-payroll
at Helen Hayes Hospital and is a member of
Helen Hayes Hospital Local 302, and whose
father, Douglas Todd, is a mechanic with
the Town of Stony Point and a member of
Rockland County Local 844.

John P. McPhillips Jr. of Parksville, whose
mother, Patricia Ann McPhillips, is a

teacher aide with Sullivan County BOCES
and a member of Sullivan County Local
853.

CAPITAL REGION IV
Amy M. Carey of Keene, whose mother,
Susan Carey, is a keyboard specialist with
the Adirondack Park Agency and a member
of High Peaks State Employees Local 017.

June Yoshinari of Albany, whose mother,
Hiroko Yoshinari, is a laboratory aide with
the State Department of Health and a
member of Wadsworth Center of
Laboratories and Research Local 665.

Richard Augustus Hathaway II of
Keeseville, whose mother, Diana Hathaway,
is a teacher aide at Keeseville Elementary
School and a member of Clinton County
Local 810.

CENTRAL REGION V
Christy Hite of Camden, whose mother,
Susan Hite, is a secretary at McConnelsville
School and a member of Oneida County
Educational Employees Local 869.

Ronak R. Shah of Syracuse, whose mother,
Kokila Shah, is an account clerk with
Onondaga County and a member of
Onondaga County Local 834.

Benjamin J. Johnston of North Bangor,
whose mother, Laurie Johnston, is a
monitor at BOCES and a member of
Franklin County Local 817.

WESTERN REGION VI
Rebecca R. Boyer of West Seneca, whose
mother, Rosemary Boyer, is a library aide
with West Seneca Schools and a member of
Erie County Educational Employees Local
868.

Stanley Chad Velk of Dunkirk, whose
mother, Grace Velk, is a library media
specialist with Dunkirk Public Schools and
a member of Chautauqua County Local
807.

Renee Sanders of Depew, whose mother,
Margaret Sanders, is a licensed practical
nurse at the Erie County Medical Center
and a member of Erie County Local 815.

OUCH by calling the CSEA Current Issues Update regularly

A recorded message providing current information about union issues, activities and priorities

Simply call 1 -800-342- 4 1 46 on a touchtone phone and Press 1 and then 5
¢g s August 1994 1 3

LOCAL GOVERNMENT NEWS

Nassau County Local members
ratify five-year contract

MINEOLA — Members of
CSEA Nassau County Local
830 ratified a five-year pact
which includes salary
increases of more than 15
percent over the life of the
contract and fully paid health
insurance through June 1998.

“Fifty-five percent of the vote
was in favor of this contract,”
Local 830 President Rita
Wallace said. “The negotiating
committee led by Collective
Bargaining Specialist Harold
Krangle worked long and hard
for this agreement.”

The membership, with
12,000 people in titles from
corrections officers to clerical
to doctors, agreed to a wage
freeze for the first 18 months,
which have already passed.

The county legislature was
to vote on the contract Aug. 1.

If the legislature approves it,
the contract will provide a 4.75
percent raise retroactive to
July 1. Another 4.75 percent
will be due Sept. 1, 1995, and
5.50 percent will be paid Nov.
1,;1996;

Other highlights include:

increments where due,
increase in county's dental
contribution, increased shift
differential, a new HMO option
and payroll deduction for the
PEOPLE program.

“We couldn't get everything
we wanted but it is a contract
we can live with,” Wallace said.

Wallace said that member
surveys prior to negotiations
overwhelmingly showed
retention of health insurance
and a fair salary increase as
top priorities.

— Sheryl C. Jenks

Brookhaven

CORAM - Despite certified
invitations, the Brookhaven
town supervisor and town
council members were no-
shows at a CSEA town unit
meeting on contract talks.

“The supervisor and council
members declined,” CSEA Long
Island Region President Nick
LaMorte said. “They know the
members are upset and angry,
and they probably don’t want to
face them.”

The 350 members of the

politicians are no-shows

highway department have been
without a contract since Dec.
31, 1991, CSEA Collective
Bargaining Specialist Rigo
Predonzan said.

CSEA filed an improper
practice charge against the
town supervisor for failing to
support a contract proposal he
promised to endorse.

Unit members praised CSEA
for an advertisement in a local
newspaper.

“The ad headline ‘Is There

CSEA member subdues

armed

NEWBURGH —
CSEA member
Joe Crisci
wanted to relax
with some of
his friends after
work, but he
wound up with
much more
excitement than
he had
planned, and
he has an
award to prove
it.

“Iwas ina
local pub
talking to a
friend of mine
who is a police
officer when
these two

man in bar dispute

called for back
up.

Concerned
that the patron,
who was drunk,
would hurt
someone, Crisci
grabbed him
and held him
for the police.

The man, who
was arrested,
was wanted on
other charges.

Crisci was
given an award
by the City of
Newburgh
Police
Department. A
truck driver for
the Town of

patrons began
arguing,” he
said, and one of
them had a
gun.

Crisci tried convincing the
man with the gun to leave the
bar while the police officer

14 August 1994 ¢g ‘

CSEA member Joe Crisci

Newburgh
Highway
Department,
Crisci is a nine-
year employee and member of
Orange County Local 836.

— Anita Manley

Highway Robbery in
Brookhaven?’ certainly got the
attention of the union
members, taxpayers and
politicians,” Brookhaven
Highway Department Unit
President Ray Santora said.

The CSEA ad challenges
hundreds of thousands of
dollars worth of questionable
expenditures made by the town
supervisor,

— Sheryl Jenks

CSEA mourns death of
former Long Island
activist Michael Curtin

CSEA mourns the loss of
Michael Curtin, former
president of Suffolk
Educational Local 870, Long
Island Region Political
Action chair and a member
of CSEA’s Board of

Directors.

Mike is survived by his
wife, Ellen and two children.
His brother Pat is a CSEA
labor relations specialist.

Curtin, 60, died of a
sudden heart attack.

Curtin was the director of
General Services for the
Town of Huntington at the
time of his death. Prior to
that he worked as the
Suffolk County labor
commissioner.

“Mike was a tremendous
president and political
action chair. He knew how

Legislature
approves
Westchester
contract

WHITE PLAINS — Political
action works! Westchester
County lawmakers approved a
contract for 6,500 CSEA
members who work for the
county.

The vote was 16-1, with the
chair of the Budget and Finance
Committee the lone dissenter.

Members overwhelmingly
approved the contract in June
with a vote of 2,903 to 168.

The 16 legislators who voted
for the contract lauded the
package and praised CSEA
team members for their
professionalism at the
negotiating table, CSEA
Westchester County Unit
President Cheryl Melton said.

In the last two years,
Westchester County legislators
have rejected two other union
contracts. CSEA Political Action
Coordinator Stan Merritt
assisted members in a letter-
writing campaign to lawmakers
to urge them to accept the
contract.

— Anita Manley

to work hard and make
things happen,” said CSEA
Political Action Coordinator
Stephanie Teff, who worked
closely with Curtin and
other CSEA activists in
getting former Suffolk
County Executive Pat
Halpin elected.

“Mike will be sorely
missed,” CSEA Region I
President Nick LaMorte
said. “He was a great guy
and a real champion of the
people.

“Mike was a tremendous
activist and a real credit to
CSEA.” he added. “Our
sympathy goes out to his
family where there will
surely be a void.”

— Sheryl C. Jenks
LOCAL GOVERNMENT NEWS

MINEOLA — CSEA is taking
on Nassau County Executive
Thomas Gulotta over his plan
to seek bids to privatize
Nassau County Medical
Center, A. Holly Patterson
Geriatric Center and nine
community health centers.

“CSEA is a national leader
in fighting privatization, and
we will oppose this ill-
conceived initiative in every
way possible,” CSEA Nassau
County Local 830 President
Rita Wallace said. “The
taxpayers and employees of
Nassau County would be far
better served if the executive
focused on working with
county workers to improve
NCMC and the other
operations instead of resorting
to this knee-jerk political
response.”

Gulotta unveiled his plan as
he advertised for privateers to

CSEA fights privatization at
Nassau County Medical Center

take over the health care
operations.

CSEA's strong opposition to
privatization or contracting out
of public services is based on
case after case of privateers
failing to deliver on their
promises, as well as repeated
examples of privateers bilking
taxpayers through cost over-
runs, bid-rigging, kick-backs
and poor service.

“Over and over again CSEA
has indicated we will work
with the county so NCMC can
better serve the needs of
Nassau residents,” Wallace
said. “We will not stand by and
see our members’ jobs sold to
the low bidder. We will hold
the executive and the county
leaders accountable and fight
every step of the way for public
services.”

— Stephen A. Madarasz

Principal Librarian Mary Pascale c!

hecks out books for Smithtown

Library patron Chris Brown. “I think the library staff do an

extremely good job,” Brown said.

Smithtown Library at impasse

SMITHTOWN — As Librarian
Arlene Lesser firmly told the
trustees of Smithtown Library of
dissatisfaction with their lack of
support during contract
negotiations, Principal Librarian
Mary Pascale serves the public
with a smile, as she has for 17
years.

The CSEA Town of Smithtown
Library Unit, with 102
members, is at impasse. Their
contract expired last December.

“I'm very sad about it. I love
my job and | love my library,”
Pascale said.

Unit President Pat Fisher and
her members filled the trustees
meeting room, sporting “CSEA
Contract Now!” buttons.

“Our salaries, professional
and clerical, are well below

those of surrounding libraries
our size,” Lesser said. “We work
nights with little or no
differential, and the majority of
us are taxpayers here,” she
said. “We request a fair and
equitable settlement on our
contract - now!”

When the applause subsided,
the trustees said there was no
money for unit members.

The library has received
millions of dollars that has paid
for such things as automation
and adult programming, with
little thought to staff, CSEA
Collective Bargaining Specialist
Irwin Scharfeld said.

“These people work hard and
want their efforts realized,”
Scharfeld added.

— Sheryl Jenks

Troy district loses
rights to DMV records

TROY — When the
Troy School District
tried to improperly
use its access to
state motor vehicle
records, CSEA
fought back.

As a result, the
district is the first
public sector entity
to be disconnected
from access to state
Department of Motor
Vehicles computerized motor
vehicle records programs.

CSEA Troy School District
Unit President Linda Hillje
challenged the district’s use of
the computer records after
custodians called her because
the district wanted them to
produce driver license numbers
for checks of their driving
records.

Hillje told them not to
provide this information to the
district because none of them
were required to drive to do
their jobs for the district.

‘They had
been
accessing
these
records with
no reason to
do it?

When Hillje asked
DMV about the
legality of such
searches, she
discovered that her
own name had been
put through the
computer program
without her
knowledge or
permission.

“They (the district)
had been accessing
these records with no reason
to do it,” Hillje told the local
media. She said this was an
invasion of privacy and a
misuse of the system.

Included in the names
improperly searched by the
district is Gov. Mario Cuomo
and a local news reporter.

Tom Apple, a spokesman
with DMV, agreed with Hillje
that “someone had indeed
misused the system.”

— Daniel X. Campbell

Member suffers when

sick leave bank halted

PLATTSBURGH —
CSEA Clinton County
Local 810 member
Helen Bast has seen
both sides of the
benefits of CSEA’s
sick leave bank
program.

First, through the
informal efforts of
CSEA Clinton County
Unit, Bast received time to
recover from a liver transplant.
Then, when the county
discontinued the informal
arrangement, Bast was forced
to seek social services from her
own employer, Clinton County.

When Bast needed a liver
transplant, both the employees
and the employer realized that
her recovery would take longer
than the normal recovery time.
Bast did not have adequate
accruals to cover her absence
and continue her health
coverage.

Working informally, CSEA
Unit President Joe Musso
asked Bast's co-workers to
donate time for her. This
covered part of her absence.
When donated time began to
run out, Musso generated
contributions totaling 210
additional days from other
employees in the unit, more

Union's
efforts to
help
Local 810
member
are stalled

than enough to get
Bast to her September
return date.

But after allowing
this informal
arrangement to go on
for several months,
the county
discontinued the
program with more
than 190 days left to
be donated to Bast in 20 day
increments.

Bast was then forced to apply
for social services from the
county. Now Medicaid is
determining if it would be more
beneficial for social services to
pay for Bast’s health insurance
from the county, a $500 per
month charge, or if Medicaid
should pay her $1,000 per
month costs directly.

CSEA Labor Relations
Specialist Ken Lushia noted
that the Clinton County unit is
in negotiations, and this might
have affected the situation.

“This is a unique situation
where a sick leave bank was
working and now has been
discontinued because
management wants to make
some points in negotiations,”
Lushia noted.

— Daniel X. Campbell

g . August 1994 2

LOCAL GOVERNMENT NEWS

School

Bellmore-Merrick members
picket over lack of contract

CSEA members in the Bellmore-Merrick School
District were met with a lot of support when they hit
the pavement to protest working without a contract
for a year.

More than 200 people joined the demonstration,
many coming in from area school districts to show
their support.

A factfinder has been appointed to help settle the
contract, and one meeting has been held with the
clerical unit.

“The custodial unit has been put off by the
district,” CSEA Collective Bargaining Specialist Larry
Borst said. “The district has yet to come up with a
date to meet with these people.”

Although the district operates year-round, officials
have refused to set any dates to meet in the summer,
CSEA Custodial Unit President Larry Novak noted.

The district met clerical unit prior to the
demonstration, Clerical Unit President Linda Green
said.

“We came out to demonstrate anyway, in support
of the other unit,” she explained “We all want the
same thing: a fair contract as soon as possible.”

— Sheryl C. Jenks

PICKETING
FORA
CONTRACT

MEMBERS OF CHEEKTOWAGA SCHOOLS UNIT of
Erie County Educational Employees Local 868
picket outside a polling place during budget vote
to impress taxpayers with the their contract
dilemma. Contract talks are at impasse and unit
members have been working without a contract
for more than a year.

District

Affairs

PICKETING FOR A CONTRACT in Lindenhurst School District are, from
right, CSEA Long Island Region President Nick LaMorte, CSEA Labor
Relations Specialist Toni Soucie, Lindenhurst Clerical Unit President
Valerie Deasy, Lindenhurst Buildings and Grounds Unit President Stan
D'Andrea, CSEA Collective Bargaining Specialist Kenny Brotherton and
Suffolk County Educational Local 870 President Tom Corridan.

Lindenhurst members picket Board
in push for long-delayed contract

CSEA members in the Clerical and
Buildings and Grounds Units in
Lindenhurst School District picketed
outside a school because they have
been without a contract for more than
a year.

The units, which were joined by
supporters from area school districts,
are in mediation.

At the demonstration, held prior to a
Board of Education meeting, members
handed out fliers to taxpayers saying
they are “family, friends and neighbors
who also pay taxes and support the
local economy.”

Both units have lost people through

attrition and layoffs. The custodial unit
has dropped from 110 people to 94
people and the clerical unit has gone
from 56 people to 51.

“We are shouldering more and more
responsibilities and a heavier
workload, and the thanks we get is no
contract,” CSEA Lindenhurst Clerical
Unit President Valerie Deasy said.

“We work hard and we take pride in
our jobs. We want something fair that
we can live with,” CSEA Lindenhurst
Buildings and Grounds Unit President
Stan D'Andrea added.

— Sheryl C. Jenks

Newark may finally have a contract

NEWARK - After three years without
a contract, CSEA Newark School
District Unit members may have an
agreement for ratification soon,
according to Unit President Jim Foster.

The 112-member unit is comprised
of clerical, maintenance, custodial, bus
drivers and cafeteria workers. The unit
is part of Wayne County Local 859,

“We do finally have an outline of a
proposal, that after we fine tune it,
may be something that the members
can live with,” Foster said. “The board
seems to have finally shifted on some
items that are very important to the
membership, such as health care. It’s
been far too long for gaining a fair deal,
but we think there’s light at the end of
the tunnel.”

Both Foster and CSEA Collective

Bargaining Specialist Debbie Lee
estimate a formal ratification vote will
take place by early August.

“We've waited this long, so a few
more days to make sure of certain
aspects is going to be well worth any
additional delay,” Foster said. “It’s just
a shame that our members have had
to endure without a contract for so
long through no fault of their own.”

Members of the unit have waged an
untiring struggle to gain a contract,
including picketing at school board
meetings, picketing against the school
budget, passing out fliers to the public
on fairness for school workers and
responding to erroneous articles in the
local press about the union's position.

— Ron Wofford

16 August 1994 ¢g h

serene

How Can CSEA Help Me?

A Reference Guide

Get In Touch With
_ Headc uarters — Toll-Free —
. 800-342-4146,
pea the extension number you want

Your Toll-Free Connection
To The Employee Benefit
Fund — 1-800-323-2732.

In the 518 area, call 782-1500. For answers
regarding the Dental Care, Vision Care, Prescription
Drug and Package 7 Benefits for state employees and
participating local government employees. TDD for
hearing impaired only: 1-800-532-3833. Mailing
address: CSEA Employee Benefit Fund, One Lear Jet
Lane, Suite One, Albany, NY 12110-2395.

Grievances & Discipline
Report any grievance immediately to your local

grievance representative or shop steward. If they are

unavailable, tell your CSEA Unit or Local President,

or your CSEA Labor Relations Spe

region office. Don’t delay if you believe you have a

problem — grievances must be filed on a timely basis.

Insurance

CSEA offers several insurance programs at low
group rates and provides the convenience of
automatic payroll deduction.

For details on CSEA Security Life Plan, Income
Protection Program, Hospital Indemnity Plan and
Family Protection Plan, call toll free: 1-800-697-
CSEA.

For details on Auto Insurance and Homeowners/
Renters insurance, call toll free: 1-800-366-7315.

Health Insurance

For answers to your specific questions about:

Blue Cros ims: 1-800-342-9815 or (518) 367-0009
Metropolitan Cla . 1-800-942-4640
Participating Provider -800-942-4640
Hospital admission approval/ surgical review:

Empire Plan Health Call. 1-800-992-1213
Metal Health & Substance

Abuse Hotline... 1-800- 446-3995

Education & Training

CSEA provides workshops and training programs
for union activists. For more information, call toll-
free 1-800-342-4146. On a touch tone phone, press
O, then extension 294. On a rotary phone, ask the
operator for extension 294.

Union-oriented videotapes are available from
your CSEA region office.

Civil Service Exam Help

The Labor Education Action Program (LEAP) can
help you prepare for civil service exams with low-
cost study booklets.

Call toll free: 1-800-253-4332.

Safety Concerns

Report serious accidents, unsafe and unhealthy
working conditions to the CSEA Labor Relations
Specialists at your region office.

For occupational safety and health information,
call CSEA Headquarters at 1-800-342-4146. Ona
touch tone phone, press O, then extension 465. On a
rotary phone, ask the operator for extension 465.

Retirement

For general information about retirement and
retiree membership, call 1-800-342-4146. Ona
touch tone phone, press O and extension 363, On a
rotary phone, wait for the operator and ask for
extension 363.

Talk to a CSEA-provided retirement counselor if
you are retiring soon. It’s important that you select
the proper option from the Employees’ Retirement
system, so you can plan the lifestyle that you want to
enjoy. Call toll free, 1-800-366-5273.

CSEA Member Services & Benefits

AFSCME Advantage
Mastercard

Features one of the lowest interest rates - 5 percent
above the pririe lending rate. No annual fee. For an
application form, call your CSEA region offic

If you apply and there is no response within four
weeks, call the issuing bank, the Bank of New York,
toll free: 1-800-942-1977.

AFSCME Advantage

Legal Services

You can obtain high quality, affordable legal
services for many personal legal matters through the
AFSCME Advantage Union Privilege Legal Services
Program. For details and a list of participating
lawyers in your area, call your CSEA region office.

AFSCME
Magic Kingdom Club

Another benefit from the AFSCME Advantage
program — discounts to both Disney World in Florida
and DisneyLand in California. Membership
verification requirements: your Social Security
number and your local number (AFSCME Local 1000).

Contact the AFSCME Research Dept., 1625 L St.
NW, Washington, DC 20036. Phone: (202) 429-1215.

AFSCME Advantage
Mortgage Program

Makes buying a home or refinancing your
mortgage easier and more affordable. Savings for
buyers and sellers. Special help for first-time
buyers. 1-800-848-6466.

AFSCME Advantage Career
& Academic Planning

Tuition savings planning. Financial aid
projections. Counseling and seminars for career
decisions. $10 annual fee. 1-800-733-GRAD.

The Buyer’s Edge

It’s your buy-by-phone service designed to save
you money on major purchases. The Buyer's Edge
negotiates extra discounts and lowest price
guarantees individual buyers don’t get. The
appropriate information and toll-free numbers are in
your Buyer's Edge brochure, and they’re published
regularly in The Public Sector. To receive a
brochure contact your CSEA region office listed
below. For other information call 1-800-342-4146.
Ona touch-tone phone press O and 297 or ask the
operator for extension 297.

Clip and save this page for future reference.

_ REGION
OFFICES ~

Motor!
G16) oe '3-2285.

"METROPOLITAN REGION Il OFFICE
40 Fulton Street, 22nd Floor, New York, NY

es ee @ 12) a 2156,

LONG ISLAND] REGION I OFFICE
juppauge Atrium Building, 300 Vanderbilt
uige, NY 11788.

SOUTHERN REGION ig OFFICE
735 State Route 52, Beacon, NY ous
914) #201000,

Lear Jet Lane, Sui
es ey 785-4400.

CENTRAL REGION v OFFICE
6595 Kirkville Road, ee NY 3057,

¢gZ A August 1994 17

GENERAL NEWS

CSEA activists
talk with lawmaker

CSEA members and staff met recently with
U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey (second from right) to
discuss union issues. Lowey invited a number
of Westchester County union officials to the
breakfast meeting. With Lowey are, from left,
CSEA Southern Region President Maryjane
MacNair, Political Action Coordinator Stan
Merritt and Westchester County Unit President
Cheryl Melton.

Project 10,000 Plus
is a winner for
CSEA PEOPLE

PEOPLE's Project 10,000 Plus is succeeding thanks
to membership involvement.

The goal of Project 10,000 Plus is to raise $500,000
annually for PEOPLE (Public Employees Organized to
Promote Legislative Equality}, the political action
committee of AFSCME, CSEA's international union.

Project 10,000 Plus offers any CSEA member who
signs up for PEOPLE a chance at winning a $5,000
U.S. Savings Bond. It also gives any member who
signs up a co-worker a chance at winning a second
$5,000 U.S. Savings Bond.

Members are learning about and joining PEOPLE.
Whether it’s signing members up at an Intermediate
Care Facility on Long Island with Rutha Bush or in
the Erie County Office Building with Marcia
Olszewski, for example, CSEA members are becoming
involved and aware of the importance of PEOPLE.

CSEA’s PEOPLE is achieving its best year ever. May
was our biggest recruitment month ever, with 486
applications processed. So far CSEA has sent
$222,118 to PEOPLE
this year.

Members of the
CSEA Region PEOPLE
committees are the
key to success.
PEOPLE recruitment
is planned for picnics, Adarees
health fairs and
information days.

Name _

(e) Se ees

Social Security No.

CSEA PEOPLE PROJECT 10,000 PLUS is at work in Erie County. From left
are: Dean Adams, Ann Marie Hawes, Barbara Smith, Marcia Olszewski and
CSEA PEOPLE Chair Cheryl Rosenzweig.

*LOCAL GOVERNMENT MEMBERS*

Name

De oeTAN Fiat Mile
Apt. #/ Floor Address ____ Apt. #/ Floor __

ZIP City State ZIP

Social Security No

If you would like to

become involved in Work Phone( =) Home Phone( —_) Work Phone() te Home Phone (

the program that Job Title _

Job Title

works to have your
voice heard in
Washington 365 days
a year, take a moment | Number of months employed annually
and fill out the Deduction per pay period: 1.50 ($1.50 0
application at right In addition to my Civil Service Employees Associ
and join PEOPLE.

Send the
application to:

PEOPLE

Name of Employer

Region Local Agency #

Payroll Item # _ Region____Local_ Department
Name of Employer
Number of months employed annually

($300 CIOTHER: Enclosed is my personal check, money order or credit card contribution in the
amount of: [35.00 1150.00 [175.00 O OTHER

Dvisa MASTERCARD Expiration Date

ACCOUNT NUMBER

SIGNATURE 22 DATE

1f $50.00 or more is contributed, circle jacket sizes X-Small | S 1 MIL. | XL 1 XXL

CSEA Headquarters

SIGNATURE

143 Washington Ave. 1 1752.00 or more is checked above, circle jacket size

Albany, NY 12210

X-Small 1S /M/L {XL / XXL

18 August 1994 ¢g .

TO

ad and START owning

2¥ a home of your own

THE EMPIRE HOME MORTGAGE PROGRAM

“Through the Empire
Home Mortgage Program,
CSEA is committed to
enabling its members to
achieve the dream of

( homeownership.”

Al —CSEA President Danny Donohue

The design of the Empire Home Mortgage Program originated from a joint
venture between Excelsior Capital Corporation, a state agency, and CSEA.
Together with the funding provided by Amalgamated Bank of New York,
“America’s Labor Bank,” and services provided by GE Capital Mortgage
Services Inc., Empire Home brings you one of the most accessible member
mortgage programs in the country.

Excelsior Capital was formed by Gov. Cuomo to help public and private
unions and the business community work together for social and economic
development in New York. The chairman of Excelsior Capital is Vincent Tese,
the state Director of Economic Development.

WHAT’S STOPPING YOU FROM BECOMING A HOMEOWNER?

CSEA realizes that for many of you, it's not the monthly payment - it’s the large amount of money
required for the down payment and closing costs that makes getting a mortgage so difficult.

NOW THERE’S A WAY TO OVERCOME
THESE OBSTACLES TO HOMEOWNERSHIP

THE. MANY ADVANTAGES OF THE EMPIRE HOME MORTGAGE PROGRAM

@ Just 5% down is all that’s needed. In fact, if you're
a low to moderate income earner or first-time buyer,
you may be eligible for the “3/2 Option” - you'll need
just 3% of your own funds and the remaining 2% can
be a gift from a relative, or even a grant or unsecured
loan from a non-profit organization or public entity.

@ Closing costs may also be funded with a gift froma
relative, or a grant or unsecured loan from a non-profit
organization or public entity - sosyou can further reduce
the amount of actual money you'll need at settlement for
your home.

™@ Borrow with peace of mind - as the low interest
rate mortgage is fixed for the entire 15 or 30 years
(whichever you choose), your rate will never go up. Plus,
should you ever wish to pay your mortgage off early,
you'll never pay a prepayment penalty.

@ Qualifying for your mortgage will be easier - due
to relaxed guidelines on the total amount of debt you
may have.

@ Competitive interest rates - meaning lower, more
affordable monthly payments.

@ A waiver of the two months Mortgage Payment
Reserve is available for qualified applicants,
eliminating the need for the additional funds normally
required in your checking or savings account.

@ Homeowners and private mortgage insurance
available - getting your mortgage is a “one-stop”
shopping experience!

@ Education through a Home Study Guide provided
at no cost to you.

@ Affordable priced strike, unemployment and
disability insurance benefits available.

@ Act Now - a Free 90-Day Rate Guarantee is
currently being offered. This means you can “lock in”
for 90 days the rate available when you call to apply -
even if interest rates go up!

@ No points mortgages are available.

@ And even if you're thinking about refinancing
your home, you can benefit — refinance plans are also
available through the Empire Home Mortgage Program.

Call 1-800-377-2989 today

CSEA Members Can Take Advantage of This Unique Program Now Just by Calling 1-800-377-2989.
Experienced, professional and courteous mortgage representatives are available now to answer any
questions you may have, handle your mortgage application and assist you through every step of the
mortgage process. And they can do it in 140 languages, right over the phone. Plus, the program is
committed to making the entire process hassle free. And use of the Union Privilege Legal Services Plan,
accessed through your CSEA region office, can further reduce your closing costs. Call today and you'll
see how CSEA members can make the dream of homeownership a reality.

YOU'VE GOT THE

CSEs&

ADVANTAGE

Call the EMPIRE HOME MORTGAGE PROGRAM

1-800-377-2989

8:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday
8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Friday
9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday

¢g A ; August 1994 19

=
oe i for $
This coupons SOF <5. Clip the cou

Join me 2!
new

Augys' 2
for half price

— TL
—_ or a - I
es ch adult family member
Ma Si ny fait gate.

Children under

Half Fare Fair.

Visit The New York State Fair for Half Price On Aug. 27
& Meet Danny Donohue at CSEA's Family, Friends,
Neighbors Display.

Saturday, Aug. 27 is CSEA Day at The Fair in Syracuse — and
that means half-price admission for all CSEA members and
their families. It's the day your newly-elected CSEA President
Danny Donohue and the other statewide officers will be there
—at the CSEA booth in the Center of Progress Building —

to be in touch with you.

Clip the coupon, save money, and bring the family to The
Great New York State Fair on your day — CSEA Day.

Something special RO

LOCAL 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO
Danny Donohue, President
August 25 -September 5
Syracuse

The New York State Fair is at the Empire Expo Center located off exit 7
of Interstate 690, 3 miles west of Syracuse. Hours of operation are
10:00 am to 10:00 pm daily. Stop by the CSEA booth in the Center of
Progress Building at any time during the fair.