LOCAL GOVERNMENT
NEWS ° PAGES 1-8
THE
PUBLIC
Official Publication of The Civil Service Employees Association, Local 1000, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO
Beast runs wild on Long Island
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COUNTIES || CITIES
SCHOOL
TOWNS || VILLAGES ||DISTRICTS
Local Government News
News stories, articles and items of information of
interest to CSEA Local Government members
Local Government
PAGE INDEX
PAGE 3
CSEA files a lawsuit on behalf of
taxpayer and CSEA Nassau County
Local 860 President Rita Wallace over
contracting out in the county.
PAGE 4
CSEA fights for local government early
retirement and budget restorations. A
battle in Rockland County continues.
PAGE 5
A round up of important information:
CSEA fights local governments who
are overstepping the bounds of the
local government ethics law;
CSEA EBF offers analysis of benefit
plans to local government locals and
units.
PAGES 6&7
News from CSEA school districts
across the state.
PAGE 8
A round-up of CSEA local government
grievance and arbitration wins and
contract settlements.
PEOPLE
IN THE NEWS
Food for the hungry
The members of CSEA Lewis County
Local 825 recently completed the local’s
bi-annual food drive to help fill area
food bank cupboards. Activist Sandi
Krokowski, a social welfare examiner,
organized the effort in which members
set up dropboxes at each county
worksite to collect the food.
Keeping busy
According to CSEA Schuyler County
Local 849 President Lore Oswald, the
local has been very busy. The local
recently affiliated with the
Tomkins/Cortland Labor Councils,
hosted a membership meeting and put
out its first newsletter, Local activist Sue
Brill, a senior caseworker with the
county Department of Social Services, is
the editor. Anyone with information for
the newsletter should send it to her at
RD 2 Moreland, Beaver Dams, NY
14812.
—He lives up to his name —
When a fugitive took refuge in a
junkyard, CSEA Clinton County
Sheriff's Unit member Deputy Sheriff
Todd Law didn't give up. He tracked the
fugitive there, exchanged gunfire and
still managed to arrest him before
anyone got hurt.
Law won the 1991 Deputy of the Year
Award from the state Sheriffs
Association. The award is given
annually to a deputy who has displayed
outstanding courage and heroism in the
line of duty.
New Westchester Unit Officers
Newly-elected officers of the CSEA
Westchester County Unit of
3 1 : Tat
CSEA WESTCHESTER COUNTY UNIT officers were recently installed in a ceremony
by CSEA President Joe McDermott. They are, from left: Unit Secretary Irene Amaral,
President Cheryl Melton, First Vice President Bill Mairs, Treasurer Cheryl McCoy,
Second Vice President Anne Smyth, Third Vice President Garfield Dorsey, Fourth
Vice President Tony Rock and Sergeant-at-Arms Alphonso Williams.
f
Westchester County Local 860 were
installed recently. The election and
installation of officers followed a win by
CSEA in a highly charged decertification
campaign.
CSEA President Joe McDermott
installed the unit officers in a formal
ceremony, telling them that together
they can accomplish whatever they set
out to do. He also urged them to take
advantage of all CSEA resources.
Unit President Cheryl Melton said she
plans to visit members at their worksites
and become a familiar face,
The new officers were preparing for
their first unit meeting as this issue of
The Public Sector went to press. They
hoped to schedule a calendar of events,
including lunchtime meetings at
worksites and a summer picnic.
Va
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Employees Association, Inc., Local 1000,
AFSCME, AFL-CIO, 143 Washington
Avenue, Albany, New York, 12210
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ROGER Ay COLE Nos yas pane sires Editor
KATHLEEN DALY......... Associate Editor
STANLEY HORNAK.........+ Asst, Dir. of
Communications
THE
The Public Sector (445010) is published monthly by The Civil Service Employees
Association. Publication Office: 143 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12210.
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coMMUNICs,
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2 June 1991 i a
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LOCAL GOVERNMENT NEWS SECTION
CSEA FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST NASSAU COUNTY
Trying t
hs | a
how these subcontractors are being
paid without the appropriate review
and approval by the county executive
and the board of supervisors,"
Wallace said. ‘‘We are in the midst of
a fiscal crisis and the county is
throwing money out the window by
hiring private contractors to do work
hat can be done better and less
MINEOLA — CSEA has filed a
taxpayer's lawsuit on behalf of CSEA
Nassau County Local 830 President
Rita Wallace objecting to the county's
practice of hiring private contractors
to do public work without appropriate
review and approval.
CSEA attorneys filed the lawsuit in
state Supreme Court. The suit, which
names Nassau County, the county
executive, county comptroller and
members of the Nassau County Board
of Supervisors, addresses illegal
practices of contracting out millions of
dollars of work in the Nassau County
Medical Center (NCMC). Contracting
out has been a problem at NCMC for
many years.
The lawsuit requests a temporary
injunction stopping the county
comptroller from paying any
contractors until a decision is
rendered on the case.
“As a taxpayer and labor leader in
this county I want some answers as to
contracting
expensively by using county
workers."
“CSEA has taken on this lawsuit
because the union opposes all back-
door efforts to bypass the system and
hire private contractors to do public
work that is done best by public
employees,’ said CSEA President Joe
McDermott.
Most recently NCMC chose to
contract out ambulance services at
the hospital, a service which has been
provided by county employees since
the hospital opened.
LOTT Tree TTT
June 1991
1000 AFSC
“Ch
| New York
Works
Because
We Work f
CSE, g&
CSEA fights for
local governments,
school districts
TAX THE RICH — CSEA Ulster County Local 856 President
Betty Gordon and First Vice President Joe Van Dyke joined
more than 100 state and local government employees and
other workers who demonstrated in Kingston to protest the
proposed state budget. Yelling ‘‘Tax the rich,’ and ‘Tax the
corporations,"" the deomonstrators echoed CSEA's call for a
fair tax system that produces enough money to keep the
state running and keep aid to local governments and school
districts at an adequate level. As this issue of The Public
Sector went to press, the state Legislature had yet to settle
on a state budget plan. The Governor's budget proposal
would devastate school districts and local governments by
slashing vital aid that would make it difficult if not
impossible for them to provide services. CSEA was
continuing pressure on the Legislature to restore that aid.
Legislature looks at early retirement
ALBANY — The state Senate's early
retirement bill for local governments
introduced last month has also been
introduced in the Assembly, and CSEA
is pushing its passage.
Local governments, hit hard by cuts in
state aid, more proposed cuts and delays
in receiving aid because of the state
budget stalemate, could use early
retirement incentives to lower their
payroll costs without layoffs.
The bill, for employees who are at
least 50 years of age with 10 years’
service, offeres one month of credit for
every year of service up to 36 months.
The Assembly also is considering a
different early retirement bill that would
enable workers to get the maximum
36-month credit more quickly.
The incentives would be available to
employees who are at least 50 years of
age with 10 years of service or
employees with 30 years of service. The
bill offers one month's retirement credit
for each of the first five years of service
and two months’ credit for every year of
service after that, up to a total of 36
months’ credit.
However, CSEA has problems with
provisions that would allow for unfair
treatment of local government
employees. CSEA is now negotiating to
try to get those provisions changed.
If the Assembly bill passes and is
signed into law, it would allow local
governments to choose whether to offer
a targeted or non-targeted incentive.
“We are concerned that the targeting
option may be used to exclude our
members, and we are fighting for a fair
bill by removing the targeted option,”
said Larry Scanlon, CSEA political action
director. ‘‘As it stands, we prefer the bill
which originated in the Senate. Right
now, local governments need all the
help they can get.”
r
CSEA’s
Rockland
County
fight will
continue
L
NEW CITY — Despite CSEA’s best
efforts, 171 Rockland County
employees face layoffs and more than
100 vacant positions have been
abolished.
CSEA waged an intensive campaign
for weeks, including informational
pickets, meetings and budget analysis
by CSEA staff to fight the layoffs.
County officials say the layoffs are
necessary because of budget problems
and more may occur next year, CSEA
Budget Analyst Kathy Albowicz
presented alternative solutions, but
the county rejected them,
“Shifting priorities may not mean
easy choices, but it is far preferable to
laying people off,’ said CSEA
President Joe McDermott. He blamed
the ‘state budget mess"’ for creating
problems for localities across the
state,
Political Action Coordinator Steve
Alviene encouraged CSEA members
to continue to fight by lobbying for
their jobs and attending legislative
and budget meetings.
“It's our job to ensure that they
don't forget CSEA is out there," he
said, “ that the legislators remember
the victims of their haste have faces
and names, families and
responsibilities."
Many demonstrations and meetings
did little to change lawmakers’ minds,
although three who promised they
would vote against layoffs approved at
the last minute the measure that
would put 171 workers out of their
jobs.
Alviene reminded county employees
that the county executive has
promised at least another 100 layoffs
after the first of the year if the
county's financial situation doesn't
improve.
“To save jobs, to maintain the
services county taxpayers deserve and
to keep Rockland County the kind of
place you would want to live in, CSEA
will have to continue its political
activism," he said.
“Our members will have to organize
and fight harder than we ever have if
we hope to stop the short-sighted
solutions proposed by the county's
myopic leaders."
a
A. une 1991 ¢gZ ?
ea
LOCAL GOVERNMENT NEWS SECTION
LOCAL GOV’T
ETHICS LAW:
Who files,
who doesn’t
Some CSEA-represented local |
government employees are now
required to file complicated financial
disclosure statements under the state's
Ethics in Government Law.
The law was approved in 1987 after
scandals marked the state Legislature
and New York City government and
initially applied to many state
employees beginning in 1989. Another
set of requirements for municipalities
took effect this year.
But the law does not apply to all CSEA
local government employees. Depending
on their size, municipalities have
different options for complying with the
ethics law. Those with populations of
more than 50,000 must adopt the
financial disclosure requirements
detailed in the law or establish their
own which must conform with
guidelines set by the law.
Counties, cities, towns and villages
with populations of less than 50,000
may either adopt the law's financial
disclosure requirements, establish their
own conforming to the guidelines or do
nothing. If the municipality does
nothing, officials and employees do not
have to file financial disclosure forms.
All other municipalities, such as
school districts, public libraries or urban
renewal agencies, may adopt their own
financial disclosure requirements or
they may choose not to adopt any
financial disclosure requirement.
Under state law, some CSEA local
government employees would have to
file financial statements. Any employee
in a policy-making position or serving as
a deputy or assistant to a department
head would have to file.
If a municipality where CSEA is the
collective bargaining representative
chooses to adopt financial disclosure
requirements which are more restrictive
than the law’s, the issue must be
negotiated with CSEA as a term and
condition of employment .
CSEA has already filed improper
practice charges against five
municipalities that imposed more
restrictive guidelines on their CSEA-
represented employees and refused to
negotiate the issue (see related story).
The state law's financial disclosure
statement is lengthy, detailing the
individual's finances and outside
business and political interests and in
certain instances, those of the filer's
spouse and children, Most of the
material contained in the form becomes
a matter of public record.
CSEA nails five
municipalities on
disclosure issues
CSEA has filed improper practice
charges (IPs) with the Public Employment
Relations Board (PERB) against five
municipalities that imposed financial
disclosure requirements on union-
represented employees who otherwise
would not have been required to file.
In some cases the IPs center on
inconsistencies that place an unfair burden
on CSEA members and mangement's
refusal to negotiate the issue with CSEA.
The situation for municipalities and
CSEA members is confusing at best.
CSEA‘s IPs filed against Clinton, Herkimer
and Orange counties, the town of Colonie
and the city of Gloversville are aimed at
clearing up some of the confusion while
protecting CSEA members’ rights.
“The county was approaching the
situation very haphazardly,"’ said CSEA
Clinton County Unit President Joe Musso.
“We had different situations in different
departments and the county never
negotiated the requirements with CSEA.
Hopefully, the IP will clear this matter up
and everyone will know what's required
and why.”
“Our biggest problem has been in the
Department of Social Services,’ said CSEA
Orange County Local 836 President Dave
Score. ‘Whoever came up with the list of
employees required to complete the form
went off the deep end. It's crazy. I met
with the county and they're willing to take
a look at it.”
CSEA maintains that any municipality
with a population under 50,000 is required
to negotiate if it intends to require any
financial disclosure. Municipalities with a
population greater than 50,000 may be
required to negotiate if they choose to
create their own financial disclosure forms
CSEs
EMPLOYEE
BENEFIT FUND
A new service is being offered by
the CSEA Employee Benefit Fund
(CSEA EBF) for local government
CSEA members,
The CSEA EBF Marketing and
Communications Department will do
program comparisons of a local
government CSEA unit's dental, drug
and vision benefit plans. This service
is available to all CSEA local
government and schoo! district units.
This new CSEA EBF service can be
used by unit officials at any time,
A free comparison of your benefit plan
whether they are facing contract
negotiations or are already in the
middle of a contract and would like to
review the programs currently in
place. The service can also be used by
units considering adding a new
benefit.
In essence, the service can help
units with comparison shopping before
they settle on a program provider. If a
CSEA unit, for instance, has dental
coverage that is not through the
CSEA EBF but wants to compare their
coverage with the fund's dental plans
or with other providers, the CSEA EBF
staff will make a comparative study
and evaluate the quality of all dental
plans, and report to the union on the
specific strengths and weaknesses of
the plans reviewed. Similar analysis
can be made for vision care and
and requirements.
prescription drug programs.
The CSEA EBF dental, vision and
prescription drug programs provide
many options on all plans. Since no
two bargaining units are the same, all
program areas are developed to meet
the varying needs of CSEA units in
local governments,
Unit officials wishing to take
advantage of this new service should
call the CSEA Employee Benefit Fund
marketing department, 1-800-323-2732
or (518) 463-4555, There is no
obligation and units do not have to
contract with the fund to take
advantage of this new service. A
thorough explanation of benefits
available to local government units
from CSEA EBF is just a phone call
away.
iS
June 1991
5
LOCAL
GOVERNMENT NEWS SECTION
School District Affairs
CSEA fights plan to cut school retirees’ health insurance
As school districts across the state
twist and squirm under worsening
budget problems, some are thinking
about the unthinkable to relieve the
presure — reducing or eliminating
health insurance coverage of district
retirees.
CSEA recently convinced the
Comsewogue School District board on
Long Island to table a proposal reducing
retiree benefits.
Two demonstrations and leafleting by
members of the Comesewogue School
District Unit of CSEA Suffolk County
Educational Employees Local 870 helped
fight off temporarily a proposal to
diminish and in some cases eliminate
retiree health insurance.
“After the second demonstration, the
school board voted to table the issue,"
said Unit President Lucy Jackson.
The union will continue to fight for
retiree health insurance, said CSEA
Labor Relations Specialist Toni Soucie.
“These are loyal employees who have
earned that health insurance coverage
in their retirement,’
she said.
CSEA Retiree Programs. Director
Kathleen Cahalan urges retirees to
actively oppose any attempt to reduce
their benefits by attending meetings at
which those proposals are being
considered.
“School districts do have the legal
authority to do this,"
they have to decide what is legal and
what is moral. I'm afraid this could set a
precedent not only for school districts
but for other local government also."’
Cahalan said. ‘’But
KEEP RETIREE BENEFITS — CSEA members and other Comsewogue School District
employees march to protest plans to diminish and, in some cases, eliminate health
benefits for retired school district employees.
CONTRA
Agreement
BETWEEN
THE CIVIL SERVICE
EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, INC.
AND
S ——_—————— East Meadow School Monitors ——————————
The members of CSEA East Meadow
School District Monitors Unit have a
new three-year contract.
The 40-member unit is part of CSEA
Nassau County Local 830.
The new contract provides that all
vacant unit positions in the district
be posted. It also increases longevity
Kings Park School District Unit
A new two-year contract for the CSEA
Kings Park School District Unit
provides a number of increased benefits
for its members.
The 225-member unit is part of CSEA
Suffolk County Educational Employees
Local 870.
The contract includes: a long-term
disability plan; a retirement plan;
additional bereavement leave; increased
sick time for teacher aides and
assistants; the CSEA optical plan;
improved life insurance; increased
longevity payments; and differential for
buildings and grounds and clerical
employees.
The members of the negotiating
committee were: Unit President Marge
Higgins, Joe Merola, Betty Lattanzi,
Barbara Stuart; Dee Spinelli, Tom
Dolan, Jane Tulhy and CSEA Collective
Bargaining Specialist Irwin Scharfeld.
~
Bill adds essentials
CSEA is supporting three bills in the
state Legislature which would allow
school districts to include
transportation and cafeteria service in
an austerity budgets.
Under current law, school districts
which must adopt austerity budgets
because voters fail to approve
proposed budgets cannot include
many items that are considered non-
contingent.
CSEA, however, maintains that
getting children to school and feeding
them are essential services. One bill
would allow districts to include
cafeteria expenses, another
transportation costs and a third would
allow inclusion of various items now
considered non-contingent.
If passed and signed into law, they
would allow school districts to keep
providing vital transportation and
cafeteria services even under an
austerity budget.
— Criminal history ——
A proposed bill which would require
school districts to fingerprint and do
criminal history checks of all school bus
attendents is unfair, CSEA says.
The union is opposing the bill in the
state Legislature because the hiring
practices schools now use, including
employment references and personal
interviews, are sufficient.
steps in each year of the agreement.
Unit President Shirley Kammelman
and CSEA Collective Bargaining
Specialist Jim Walters negotiated the
contract.
——Nassau County BOCES—
The 800 members of CSEA Nassau
County BOCES Unit recently signed a
new contract.
The unit is part of CSEA Nassau
County Local 830.
The new contract includes: a revised
salary scale, a retirement plan,
increased life insurance and conversion
of unused personal time to sick leave.
The negotiating team members were:
Unit President Joe Campione, Caroline
Thiem, Victoria Mayer, Gayle Wenchel,
John Lobianco, Joan McCressom, Rita
Carny, Mary Donahoe and Sal Auletta.
G June 1991 QGotee.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT NEWS SECTION
CSEA members provide ee
at Sullivan County BOCES
By Anita Manley
CSEA Communications Associate
LIBERTY — Special children need
special attention, and that's just what
math game for
BOCES children.
Arhitrations,
Grievances,
IPs, Lawsuits
rity yheld ag
teacher aides and assistants at Sullivan
County BOCES provide.
Toni Keesler, unit president and a
member of CSEA Sullivan County Local
853, is a teacher aide. Most of the pupils
in her class are between 8 and 11 years
old and have communications disorders
— problems with speech, hearing or
vision. Some have behavioral problems
and are on medication.
“T love my job," Keesler said. ‘‘I
always wanted to work with children
and I have an opportunity to work with
special kids. It takes a lot of patience."
Children come from 10 different
districts to the Sullivan County BOCES
for special classes geared to their
individual needs.
Classes are small; some have only six
students. In Keesler's class, a speech
therapist comes in each day to work
with the teacher and the two aides.
Exercises are geared to the children's
needs. A lesson on making paper
airplanes, for instance, tested their skills
Starpoint Community School District
violated the contract with CSEA
Niagara County Educational Local 872
when the district required a CSEA
member to serve a 12-week
probationary appointment as a
groundsman at a reduced salary, an
arbitrator has ruled.
The school district applied the
probationary requirement and set the
salary at a substitute’s rate following an
arbitrator's award that the union
The concept that seniority is the
determining factor in promotions
when other considerations are equal,
was upheld again in an arbitrator's
ruling involving the Harrison Central
School District.
The school bypassed a senior
custodian with seniority to promote
someone else head custodian,
An arbitrator agreed with CSEA
Westchester County Local 860 claims
that it was a violation of the contract
not to appoint the individual with the
greatest seniority after determining
other qualifications were equal among
the candidates.
The arbitrator ordered the district to
appoint the most senior candidate,
provide back pay and adjust the
seniority date to the original
appointment date.
Se
The Hudson Central School District
acted improperly when the district
assigned a non-CSEA unit clerical
employee to attend certain school
functions in the district, the director of
the state Public Employment Relations
Board (PERB) ruled.
CSEA Columbia County Local 811
filed an improper practice charge
against the district, saying attendance at
such school functions were the
responsibility of school aides
in listening and following directions,
The ultimate goal, Keesler said, is to
mainstream the children into public
schools, Many stay for a short time;
some will go on to a vocational or
technical program. Some severely
disabled will remain in the program until
they are 21 and move to a sheltered
workshop or other intermediate care
facility.
Keesler feels she is making a real
contribution through her work.
“The teacher couldn't do it without
us,’ she said. ‘The teacher teaches us
and then we teach the children. We do a
lot to save the teacher time.”
member be appointed to the
groundsman position.
CSEA argued that the Civil Service
Law and regulations are the exclusive
rule-making authority and that since
neither prescribed a probationary term,
much less a reduced rate of pay, none
was allowed.
The arbitrator agreed, directing the
district to pay the member for the loss
of all wages and benefits resulting from
the district's violation of the contract.
rs a no-no
represented by CSEA at the Middle
School.
The PERB director ruled the district
had for years posted and hired aides for
that work, and that a discernible
boundary had been drawn between the
aides and other clerical and secretarial
employees when it came to attending
such functions. PERB ordered the
district to stop assigning attendance
functions at the Middle School to non-
unit personnel and assign unit members
to this work.
CSEs
REN protecting and preserving
the rights of our members
June 1991 7
re
CSEA MONROE COUNTY EMPLOYEES
UNIT members recently ratified a new
three-year contract, retroactive to Jan. 1,
by a 4-to-1 margin. Unit members, above,
discuss details of the contract during
ratification meeting.
Saratoga Deputy Sheriffs Unit
Members of the CSEA Saratoga
County Deputy Sheriffs Unit have a
new contract. Unit President William
Marshall said negotiations went well
and, unlike many other years, there was
an absence of confrontation overall.
“It's nice to break tradition in such a
positive manner,” he said.
Saratoga Unit fights for pay
CSEA is fighting for two members of
the CSEA City of Saratoga Springs City
Hall Unit the union says are being
underpaid. The union says Assistant
City Engineer Clyde Robinson and
Engineering Technician Nancy Poulson
are being paid below their grade levels.
The contract lists Robinson's job as a
grade 15, but he's been paid as a grade
14, CSEA says. That correction could
cost the city $40,000. Paulson, listed as
a grade 8, is being paid a grade 6 salary,
an $8,000 difference,
CSEA has filed for arbitration to
resolve the situation.
CSEA recently won $13,000 in back
pay for another member of the unit who
was in a title covered by the union
contract but whom the city has been
paying as an exempt employee.
Nassau COs win time, money
CSEA won back the full 40-minute
lunch break for corrections officers in
CSEA Nassau County Sheriff's
Department Unit and back pay for the
lunch time they lost, too.
When Unit President Dan Murphy
reported to CSEA that the warden had
unilaterally reduced the meal break
from 40 minutes to 30 for corrections
officers, the union filed an improper
practice charge, said CSEA Labor
Relations Specialist John Clahane. The
Public Employment Relations Board
ordered the 40-minute break restored
and lost time repaid.
The win affects about 600 corrections
officers in the security division of the
Correctional Center. Nassau County has
appealed the decision but Clahane said
he is confident the ruling will stand up.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT NEWS SECTION
Agreement
BETWEEN
THE CIVIL SERVICE
EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, INC.
AND
Rensselaer County Unit
Members of the Rensselaer County
General Unit overwhelmingly ratified a
new three-year contract. The new
agreement was reached after weeks of
informational picketing by unit
members.
Unit members pressed the county
legislature to support a bill before the
state Legislature which would allow
local governments to offer early
retirement incentives (see page 4).
“I think this is a fair contract for both
the employees and the county,” said
Unit President Tom Connell.
Grievances,
IPs, Lawsuits
Win back pay for aide
Thanks to CSEA, a nurse aide at the
A. Holly Patterson Geriatric Center
won back 10 days’ pay she lost when
Nassau County suspended her on an
insubordination charge that was later
dropped.
CSEA took the case to arbitration,
where the county dropped the charges
and withdrew the suspension of the
aide, a member of CSEA Nassau County
Local 830, said CSEA Labor Relations
Specialist Claude Ferrara.
Happy in Dutchess
Social welfare workers in Dutchess
County are celebrating an out-of-title
victory that means about $500 to each
of 11 employees.
Dutchess County Local 814 President
Helen Zocco said the employees, all
grades 10 and 11, were each asked to
provide testimony and documents for
Family Court hearings, the work of a
grade 13 employee.
CSEA argued they should earn the
salary of a social welfare specialist and
filed a grievance on behalf of the
employees, An arbitrator agreed,
ordering the county to pay $5,700 in
out-of-title pay to the 11 workers.
Saratoga County Unit
CSEA Saratoga County General Unit
President Corinne Daly is delighted that
her unit overwhelmingly ratified a new
four-year contract without the
traditional confrontation with
management that has marked previous
negotiations,
And more good news — more county
employees are signing up as CSEA
* members all the time, according to
CSEA Organizer Linda Sage.
“What a difference a timely contract
makes,’’ she said.
Village of Quogue
QUOGUE — The CSEA Village of
Quogue Unit has recently signed a new
contract.
The 15-member unit is part of CSEA
Suffolk County Local 852.
The new three-year pact includes
improved grievance procedure language,
improved overtime rates for the
midnight shift and the addition of an
employer-paid CSEA Employee Benefit
Fund dental plan and the CSEA vision
plan.
Unit President Richard Dyson, George
Knotoff and CSEA Collective
Bargaining Specialist Jim Walters
negotiated the contract.
Out-of-title win at NCMC
For nearly two years, CSEA member
Eileen DeLucia acted as director of
admitting at Nassau County Medical
Center (NCMC) while the director was
absent because of maternity leave and a
subsequent accident. Problem was,
DeLucia didn't get paid for the extra
work and responsibility.
It took CSEA to win her the salary she
deserved for doing the work.
The director trained DeLucia, a
member of the CSEA NCMC Unit, to
replace her during child care leave. The
NCMC administration requested that
she be paid at the director's salary level
while performing the job, but the
county Civil Service Commission denied
the request.
CSEA went to arbitration over the
issue, said Unit President George
Walsh, The arbitrator awarded DeLucia
back pay for the difference between her
salary and the director's for every day
she did the director's job.
“We fought the Civil Service
Commission on this one," said CSEA
Labor Relations Specialist Claude
Ferrara.
DeLucia thanked the union for
representing her and the administration
for backing her up.
“Administration is not always the bad
guy,"' she said. ‘In this case they went
out of their way to back me up. It was a
plus to have management working with
the union to get a very satisfactory
award for an employee. I really like that
it doesn't always have to be union
versus management.”
8 June 1991 Qoctor
se
News stories, articles and items of information of
general interest to all CSEA
State members
The more the merrier
Eight CSEA Region I activists who
signed up a total of 680 new members
received certificates recognizing their
work.
The recipients were: George Walsh,
Kathy Martinez, Grace Roy, Alfredo
Carlo, Nick LaMorte, Denis Midnet and
Ben Cummin Ardell.
General News
PAGE INDEX
PAGE 10
New York Works Because We Work —
a feature about CSEA members who
staff the Crime Victims Board in New
York City.
PAGE 11
Find out about the AFSCME
MasterCard and read the highlights
from the April CSEA Board of Directors
meeting.
PAGE 12 &13
Workers Memorial Day: CSEA mourns
the dead and fights for the living!
PAGE 14
The retirement page: CSEA activists
retire; CSEA locals help new retirees
join retiree locals; and CSEA lobbies
for important retirement-related
legislation.
PAGE 15
Now you can borrow against your
contributions to the retirement system,
thanks to legislation CSEA pushed
through last year. Governments’
approach to solid waste management
is still lacking, according to a task
force update.
Flags decals
John Famelette Jr. wants people to
remember the armed forces and is
delivering his message with free flag
decals.
“I just want to keep putting the
message across that there are still
service people on active duty in far
away places even though it's not being
flashed across our TV screens,"
Famelette said. He is president of the
CSEA Poughkeepsie School District
Unit. His father, John Sr., a World War
II veteran and former school district
employee, is sponsoring the flag
giveaway with his son.
Anyone who wants a free 3-by-5 inch
decal should send a self-addressed,
stamped envelope to John Famelette Jr.,
3 Wappingers Falls Trailer Park,
Wappingers Falls, NY 12590.
Women’s workshop
In putting on its workshop ‘‘—It
Happens, Deal With It," The CSEA
Region IV Women's Committee showed
they could face unforseen problems
successfully. With Chair Ellen Burke
nearly sidelined because of illness,
committee members Linda Swietlicki,
Helen Corna, Kathy Noack, Lynn
Stalker, Cathy Vallee, Vivian Semago
and Helen Askew stepped in to do extra
work to make sure the event went off
without a hitch.
Election results of
statewide officers
races available on
toll-free hotline
The election of CSEA statewide
officers was drawing to a conclusion
as this edition of The Public Sector
went to press.
The deadline for return of mail
ballots is 8 a.m. Wednesday, June 5,
Ballots were mailed May 15 to
members eligible to vote. Members
are electing a statewide president,
executive vice president, secretary
and treasurer.
Ballots will be counted on June 5
and results announced as soon as
available on CSEA’s toll-free hotline
1-800-342-4146. The election results
will be published in the July edition of
The Public Sector.
CSEA Calendar of Events
June 10
Operation Desert Storm Reception, Region II
office, two hours prior to New York City
tickertape parade. Uniformed CSEA members
and their families welcome.
June 13
CSEA New York City Local 010, Tax and
Finance Local 460 Information Fair, 55 Hanson
Place, Brooklyn, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
CSEA/NYS Safety and Health Committee
Seminar, “VDT Ergonomic Update,"’ Bernard
Fineson Developmental Center Hillside
Complex, for ASU members, pre-registration
required.
June 14-16
Region V Summer Conference, the Edgewood
Resort, Alexandria Bay
June 18
Local 910 Region II Retirees general
membership meeting, CSEA Region II office, 1
p.m.
OSU career and skill enhancement class,
“Preventive Maintenance: Pay me now or pay
me later," by pre-registration, SUNY Maritime
College, Bronx
June 19
OSU career and skill enhancement classes,
“Semi-conductors: digital electronics,"
“Advance refrigeration,’ by pre-registration,
SUNY Maritime College, Bronx CSEAP
Training, ‘Documents: The finishing touches,"
CSEA Region II office, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m
June 20
CSEAP Training, Region II office, 8:30 a.m. to
4:30 p.m.
OSU career and skills enhancement class,
“Advanced automotive computers,"’ by pre-
registration, SUNY Maritime College, Bronx
Safety and Health Labor-Management
Committee Training, “Safety for supervisors:
Blueprint for action,'’ Bernard Fineson
Developmental Center Hillside Complex,
Queens Village, pre-registration
June 24
Local Government Negotiations Workshop for
Delaware and Otsego County CSEA members,
Holiday Inn, Oneonta
June 28—June 30
CSEA Creedmor Psychiatric Center Local 406
workshop at Kutshers, call (718) 776-2269 for
information
July 9
Deadline for submission of recommendations
for changes in CSEA Constitution and By-Laws
to be considered at Annual Delegates Meeting
August 8
Deadline for submission of recommendations
for resolutions to be considered at Annual
Delegates Meeting
August 19—22
CSEA Retiree Convention, the Catskills
October 7—11
CSEA Annual Delegates Meeting, Niagara Falls
CSEA Locals or Units should send calendar
information to Public Sector Calendar,
Communications Department, CSEA
Headquarters, 143 Washington Avenue,
Albany, NY 12210. Include date, event,
location, time and contact person with phone
number, Allow at least 60 days to ensure
timely publication.
Geter June 1991 2]
GENERAL NEWS SECTION
Easing the pain
of crime victims
By Lilly Gioia
CSEA Communications Associate
NEW YORK — ‘Crime Doesn't Pay:
Crime Victims Do!" reads the sign on
the wall.
On the frontlines and behind the
headlines, no one sees the deadly
consequences of too many victims and
too much crime more than CSEA
members working at the NYS Crime
Victims Board (CVB) in Manhattan, Last
year, the worst year for crime in New
York City, 2,245 murders escalated the
homicide rate by 17.8 percent,
Helping survivors of crime try to put
the broken, battered pieces of their lives
back together is a full-time job. There
were 30,000 cases across the state last
year, including CVB's two other
locations in Albany and Buffalo.
A never-ending stream of suffering
humanity continues to find the way to
to the second floor waiting area at 270
Broadway since the CVB opened its
doors in 1966, the nation's first agency
devoted exclusively to assisting crime
victims.
A difficult job
“It's very difficult," said Kay Calabrese,
a member of CSEA New York City State
Employees Local 010 and a claims
investigator since 1981. ‘‘Certain cases
really hit you. I remember a mother
whose son was an innocent victim of a
shooting and when filling out the form I
realized that everything, the day, month
and year he was born, was the same as
my own 19-year-old son."’ Calabrese was
able to help the woman immediately
obtain burial expenses, a major service
offered to the families of innocent
victims.
a
|
“We now bury babies here,”’ said
CSEA member Sandra Mobley, a nine-
year employee. ‘There was an
18-month-old baby shot through the
door of an apartment, shot sitting in his
walker."
“Assault victims are unbelievable
sights,’ Calabrese said, describing the
daily emergency clients seeking
immediate assistance on a walk-in basis.
“Our agency can provide help with
uncovered medical bills and emergency
funeral funds.
How aid is determined
“We make determinations based on
information supplied by victims, police
reports, doctors, hospitals and employers
on exactly what financial losses were
suffered,’ she explained. ‘‘The board
can arrange for reimbursement of lost
oo
DISCUSSING A CRIME VICTIM'S CASE are Claims Investigators Jan Zyniewski, left,
and Emelina Mendez. In background, center, is Claims Investigator Ken Newman.
| ne eee
cl 1, Ine.
ones eres
One ina series of
stories about real
people who prove
that government, at
every level, works
e because public em-
ployees work.
earnings that are not reimbursable by
any other public or private source, and
loss of essential personal property up to
$500."
But the reality is far more horrifying
than lost income or property.
Emelina Mendez, a new investigator
on the job only six months, recalled a
victim scalded by a live-in lover who
poured boiling liquid on him while he
was sleeping.
“There in front of you sits this nice-
looking guy with all this pain and you
see how terrible his suffering is as the
bandages come off,’ she said.
Claims investigator Jan Zyniewski said
that grief support counseling for family
members and psychological counseling
for victims is a vitally important service
the CVB provides.
“As I evaluate each claim, I ask
myself: If this victim was my own
mother, would I be happy with the
service she’s gotten here?"
Employees under great stress
A seasoned claims investigator, Alan
Teitler worries about the stress CVB
employees endure, intensified by a
caseload that has grown 50 percent
while staff has been cut by 20 percent.
He believes the employees need
ongoing training to handle emotionally
distressed clients who often suffer
symptoms of post-traumatic stress
syndrome.
CSEA has raised concerns about better
security for CVB employees at labor-
management meetings, said CSEA Local
010 President Vincent Martusciello. One
guard is assigned to cover a 28-story
building, and it can take police as long
as 20 minutes to answer a call about a
violent client.
Barbara Leak, chair of the CVB and
former Bronx assistant district attorney
and Parole Board member, said the CVB
workers work in a criminal justice
system that is “stressed out at every
point,”
A highly dedicated staff
“This is the best group of people I've
ever worked with in my life because
they continue in spite of this conflict
and chaos to be the most dedicated
people,'’ Leak said.
“The staff here is doing a fantastic
job," said Claims Director Robert
Mascali. ‘‘While our productivity is up
every year, we are getting flooded with
emergencies and must juggle them along
with investigators now handling about
300 cases each. We've already been cut
to the bone and any more cutbacks will
increase processing time."
$< ———————
a ee a
———__—_
-=_ a
GENERAL NEWS SECTION
ANOTHER MONEY-SAVING BENEFIT FOR CSEA/AFSCME MEMBERS |
The AFSCME
Advantage MasterCard
194,000 AFSCME members have it;
apply for your MasterCard today!
MasterCard.
Tens of thousands of CSEA members
and their families already enjoy the
convenience and buying power of the
AFSCME Advantage MasterCard. CSEA
members are among of the 194,000
AFSCME members and their families
nationwide who hold AFSCME
Advantage MasterCards.
If you're not one of them, you can
apply today for your AFSCME
Advantage MasterCard. To obtain an
application form, simply call your
CSEA region office. A list of CSEA
region offices is published below.
The AFSCME Advantage MasterCard
is the best credit card for you. Here's
why:
- Only AFSCME/CSEA members can
get this special Mastercard.
* Union members save on fees and
finance charge rates that are lower
than other credit cards, leaving
AFSCME/CSEA members with more
money to buy the things you need.
* Its special benefits were negotiated
with the strength of your union and the
AFL-CIO under a Union MasterCard
program on behalf of 13.5 million union
members nationwide. The combined
purchasing power of 13.5 million union
members helps make this MasterCard a
better deal than most available to the
general public.
* There is no annual fee.
* It has one of the lowest interest
rates around — just 5 percent above
* You may be eligible for a personal
credit line from $1,000 to $5,000.
* It is backed by the nation’s oldest
and largest union-owned bank, the
Amalgamated Bank of New York, and
The Bank of New York (Delaware).
While not everyone who applies is
accepted, additional kinds of credit cards
are now being tested that would allow
more union members than ever before
to receive credit. Members with little or
no credit history might be offered a
special ‘‘Credit-Builder'’ account, for
instance. Also under consideration is a
secured account for members who do
not qualify for a regular account
because of credit reasons.
Credit qualifications are reviewed and
determined solely by the participating
banks. Your union has no involvement
in credit reviews concerning your
application for the AFSCME Advantage
Ls
MasterCard,
As an added incentive to hold an
AFSCME Advantage MasterCard, an
exciting Sweepstakes and Scholarship
Giveaway will be conducted from
October 1991 to May 1992. Member
cardholder names will be drawn at
random each month from October to
May and winners will have their
outstanding MasterCard balances paid in
full (up to $5,000 each). And up to
$75,000 will be donated to a Union
MasterCard Scholarship Fund which will
make scholarship available to
AFSCME/CSEA members and their
families. Details on the Sweepstakes and
Scholarship Giveaway will be available
soon.
Remember, to receive an application
form for the AFSCME Advantage
MasterCard simply call your CSEA
region office.
the prime lending rate.
Summary of actions
EDITOR'S NOTE: The Public Sector regularly
publishes a summmary of actions taken by CSEA’s
Board of Directors at the Board's official meetings.
The summary is prepared by CSEA Statewide
Secretary Irene Carr for the information of union
members.
In official actions at its April meeting,
the board:
*Adjusted the annual budget to reflect
a $208,000 increase in the union's
AFSCME grant;
* Increased by $6,000 annual budget
line item for payroll taxes and
insurance;
* Adjusted various line items in the
annual budget to reflect The Public
Sector new monthly publication
schedule;
* Transferred members of the
Johnstown ASACTC Correctional
To obtain a MasterCard application form, contact your
CSEA REGIONAL OFFICE
LONG ISLAND REGION 1
Hauppauge Atrium Building
300 Vanderbilt Motor Pkwy.
Hauppauge, NY 11788
(516) 273-2280
(516) 435-0962
METROPOLITAN REGION 2
Suite 1500
11 Broadway
New York, NY 10004
(212) 514-9200
Rural Route 1
(914) 896-8180
Suite 402
(518) 489-5424
SOUTHERN REGION 3
Box 34, Old Route 9
Fishkill, NY 12524
CAPITAL REGION 4
1215 Western Avenue
Albany, NY 12203
CENTRAL REGION 5
6595 Kirkville Road
East Syracuse, NY 13057
(315) 433-0050
WESTERN REGION 6
482 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14202
(716) 886-0391
taken by CSEA Board of Directors ——
Facility from Executive Local 569 to
Correctional Services Local 656;
* Changed name of Local 646 from
Downstate Medical Center to SUNY
Health Science Center at Brooklyn;
* Amended membership clauses of all
state correctional local charters to read
“Any employee employed at
correctional facility or any employee
employed at new correctional facility
located closest to the facility within the
same Region who is a member in good
standing of the Civil Service Employees
Association, Inc., Local 1000, AFSCME,
AFL-CIO shall be eligible for
membership in this Local. All members
in good standing of this Local, shall also
be members of Region ___
* Established election achedule to fill
various statewide Board of Directors
vacancies;
* Designated, as members of the
Region I political action committee,
John Anderson, Hank Jenney, John
Shepherd, Elizabeth Puttre and James
Madison;
* Authorized building of an office for
Region III at a cost not to exceed $1.3
million for land acquisition and
construction; and
* Approved leases to upgrade
computer equipment at Headquarters,
region offices and various satellite
offices.
Questions concerning this summary of actions
taken by CSEA’s Statewide Board of Directors
should be directed to CSEA Statewide Secretary
Irene Carr, CSEA Headquarters, 143 Washington
Avenue, Albany, NY 12210 1-800-342-4146 or
(518) 434-0191
Gn sune 1001 |
Se ayn Vee Mio
A BRONZE PLAQUE in memory of
public employees who lost their lives
on the job was dedicated and
permanently affixed on the
southwest exterior of CSEA
Headquarters in Albany.
Participating in the ceremony were,
from left, CSEA Secretary Irene Carr,
CSEA Treasurer Mary E. Sullivan,
CSEA Executive Vice President
Danny Donohue, CSEA statewide
Board of Directors representative
Joan Tobin, who proposed a
resolution creating the plaque, and
CSEA President Joe McDermott.
(putNam COUNTY employees remembered co-
workers who died during a Workers Memorial
Day ceremony at the highway department
building. CSEA Local 840 used the occasion to
present a plaque in memory of former county
CSEA Unit Vice President Pete Bruegger, who
died suddenly in January. Local 840 President
Alice May noted that while Bruegger did not
die as a result of a job related injury, the plaque
honors a dedicated union activist who will long
be remembered by those who worked with him.
Shown in photo at right are, from left, unit
member Pat O'Donnell, CSEA Labor Relations
Specialist Richard Blair, member Tom Johnston,
Pete Bruegger's brother Ron Bruegger, Local
President Alice May, Highway Commissioner
John Brusco, Deputy County Executive Don
Smith, Deputy Highway Commissioner Harold
Gary and member Michelle Powers.
CSEA METROPOLITAN REGION members joined
hundreds of union activists in a Workers Memorial
Day ceremony at Manhattan's historic Union Square
Park. CSEA Region II President George Boncoraglio,
left, and CSEA Region II Safety Committee Chair
Wendell Rachelle, right, hold the regional banner.
Boncoraglio endorsed the NYC Central Labor
Council's efforts to train 1,000 volunteers to survey
New York City worksites for OSHA violations.
] ‘A SUNY CORTLAND LOCAL 605
PF¥sident Willis Streeter Jr. speaks at a
orkers Memorial Day march and
mgenorial service program sponsored by
Tompkins/Cortland Labor Council.
Sifeeter, who is also a leader in the
‘ouncil, spoke about 100 yards from the
tt where his brother, Charles Streeter,
in a work-related accident last year.
emembering
is brother
ORTLAND — A Workers Memorial
Day ceremony and rally here had
cial significance for CSEA SUNY
Gees Local 605 President Willis
eeter Jr
Streeter spoke at the rally, eulogizing
brother, Charles Streeter, less than
yards from the spot where Charles
Streeter was killed in a work-related
ident last year.
Bees Streeter died when a 15-ton
mt-end loader he was driving crashed
through a guardrail on an interstate
hway overpass and crushed him on
highway below. Willis Streeter said
the loader was missing its right front
ke, which led to the accident.
Jie: Streeter’s employer, the Suit-
te company, was later charged with
four violations of federal safety laws by
k federal Occupational Safety and
alth Administration. Willis Streeter
told the crowd of union members that
as brother's death was unnecessary and
Beveniavie
‘After planting a tree at the site in
memory of Charles Streeter the crowd
arched to the Suit-Kote company's
badquarters. There several labor
ders, including CSEA Central Region
Psident Jim Moore, spoke out against
safe working conditions.
‘Two CSEA members in our region
pd needlessly in the past year,’ Moore
d, ‘We must remember Victor
anez, Richard Rezucha, Charlie
eeter and all the other workers that
pre killed or injured in the workplace
er the past year. We must fight for
‘onger regulations and increased
ety awareness so that their deaths
not have been in vain."
Union safety concerns lead to
discovery of hazardous chemicals
THIELLS — Concern by CSEA for the
health and safety of employees in a
building at Letchworth Developmental
Center led to the discovery of life-
threatening hazardous chemicals stored
there for more than two decades.
The building was closed and CSEA
charges that management has been
uncooperative and uncommunicative
during the crisis. Officials continue to
discover new batches of dangerous
chemicals stored in the building for years
but won't discuss the situation with union
representatives.
CSEA pressured management to
conduct air testing in the building after
employees attending a training seminar
became ill. A thorough search of the
building by safety officers revealed that
picric acid, along with other chemicals,
had been stored in the building since
1970. Picric acid has a shelf life of about
three years, after which it crystallizes and
becomes highly explosive.
CSEA Local 412 President Martin
Sherow said state police closed the old
hospital building and called in state
agencies to determine how to dispose of
the chemicals. It was decided the
chemicals were too dangerous to transport
and they were disposed of on the grounds
of the facility.
Further investigation turned up
numerous other chemicals stored in the
building and they were removed. Recently
more picric acid was discovered and was
also destroyed.
Sherow said the building remains
closed but management refused to disclose
any other information about the situation.
He pledged to pursue all legal avenues to
get the information he needs for his
members,
CSEA-REPRESENTED
stationary engineers
sharpened their skills on
handling boiler
emergencies at a seminar
sponsored by the Joint
CSEA-NYS Labor
Management Committees.
The seminars were held at
LaGuardia Airport,
Queens, after two major
emergencies at Creedmoor
and Kingboro psychiatric
centers,
BUFFALO — A tragic accident
claimed the life of CSEA member
John M, Wayne, a 42-year-old state
Department of Transportation (DOT)
employee, as unions across the nation
Wayne, an 18-year DOT veteran,
was supervising a brush-clearing
operation when he was struck by a
falling tree branch. According to co-
workers, Wayne's helmet was
knocked off by the falling branch and
ie
were marking Workers Memorial Day.
(John M. Wayne, 22, dies in on: the-job mishap
he fell and struck his head on the
pavement.
Wayne, a Vietnam veteran, was the
father of an 11-year-old son, He was a
member of CSEA Hamburg Shop DOT
Local 514.
Local 514 President Archie B.
Galloway, CSEA President Joe
McDermott and CSEA Region VI
President Robert Lattimer offered
condolences to the Wayne family on
behalf of all CSEA members.
POUGHKEEPSIE — April 26 was Workers Memorial Day
in Dutchess County by proclamation of County Executive
y
By proclamation, Lucille Pattison.
“Every year, more than 10,000 workers lose their lives on
Dutchess County the job. Tens of thousands more are premanently disabled due
observes the day to accidents which occur on the job and millions are victims
of temporary injuries,"’ Pattison said in presenting the formal
proclamation to CSEA Dutchess County Local 814 President
Helen Zocco.
June 1991 1 3
GENERAL NEWS SECTION
BEST WISHES!
Several CSEA activists are retiring
after giving union members years of
dedication and service.
Alex Hogg is retiring after serving as
president of CSEA Middletown
RETIREMENT
| AND RETIREES
Psychiatric Center Local 415 for 19
years. An employee of the center since
1970, he had served as Local vice
president for one year. He served on the
first CSEA statewide Political Action
Committee (PAC) and on the regional
PAC for many years. He also served on
the statewide CSEA-NYS Labor-
Management Committee and the CSEA
state negotiating team.
THANKS FOR THE HELP — Recently retired CSEA activists Guy
Marinello, left, and Tony Muscatiello received plaques from
CSEA Region IV President C. Allen Mead in recognition of
decades of involvement with CSEA. Muscatiello was president
of CSEA James E. Christian Memorial Health Department Local
664. Marinello was president of CSEA Office of Parks and
Recreation Local 699.
Several more CSEA Locals
now paying retirees’ dues
A growing list of CSEA locals across the state
are helping retirees join CSEA retiree locals.
A resolution passed at the 1990
CSEA annual delegates meeting
encourages locals to pay the first
year's retiree dues for local members
who have retired.
The April 29 issue of The Public
Sector listed more than 40 locals that
adopted the delegates’
recommendation. Below are a number
of additional locals also offering to
pay retiree dues.
Delaware Valley State Employees Local 004
President Robert E. Schelhas
Kings Park Psychiatric Center Local 411
President Michael Montanino
Utica State Employees Local 014
President Sheila J. Sears
Livingston County Local 826
President Tammy Macomber
Saratoga County Sheriffs Unit
President Bill Marshall
Erie County Educational Employees Local 868
President Mary Lettieri
Hogg's plans include travel to Florida,
Canada and his native Scotland and
active membership in CSEA Retiree
Local 917,
Francis “Skip” Dunham recently
retired after 14 years of CSEA activism.
A bus driver in the Geneva Central
School District, Dunham was president
of CSEA Ontario County Local 835 for
14 years and represented the local on
also a member of the Special School
Employees Committee for nine years.
fairness with the commercial drivers
licence regulations which affects
commercial motor vehicle drivers
(CMV), including school bus drivers.
CSEA's Board of Directors. Dunham was
Dunham was active in CSEA's fight for
with plaques for their activism. Jeanne Angulio, left, former
president of CSEA SUNY Farmingdale Local 606, and Alex
Center Local 415, receive their plaques from CSEA President
Joe McDermott.
ACTIVISM APPRECIATED — Two recently retired members of
the CSEA statewide Political Action Committee were honored
Hogg, right, former president of CSEA Middletown Psychiatric
‘RETIREE LEGISLATION UPDATE
CSEA supports Retirement Appeals panel
CSEA is supporting a bill in the state Legislature which would
create a three-member retirement appeals panel to review all cases
of retirement abuse and injustice.
New York's retirement laws are complex and complicated, and
many members don't learn about their benefit options and the steps
they must take to get those benefits.
e appeals panel would help remedy the abuse and inequities
that occur because members are confused by the system. It would
also provide a fair method to get those complaints heard and solved.
Getting you in the right tier
Many members of New York's Employee Retirement System and
Police and Firemen’s System were enrolled in the wrong retirement
tier through no fault of their own.
CSEA supports a bill in the state Legislature which would allow
them to be retroactively enrolled in the proper tier. Under current
state law, certain employees, called non-mandatory, are only
allowed into the system if they apply to the state Comptroller.
Many non-mandatory members were unaware they could apply
for membership in the retirement system and so didn’t apply when
they became eligible. In some cases, the employer didn’t inform the
employees they ad the option of applying. n others, applications
were misfiled, lost or never forwarded to the Comptroller's Office.
Passage of this law would allow those members to enroll
retroactively into the retirement system and assure them of some
Ni pension benefits when they retire.
=,
4
(Ail ee
GENERAL NEWS SECTION
)CSEA Updates
g Tier 3,4 members can borrow on contributions
contact your personnel office or the
New York state Employee Retirement
System.
years, and payments must be at least 2
percent of the borrower's salary.
For more information and to apply,
Solid waste crisis growing
CSEA's Solid Waste Task Force
recently concluded that state and local
government responses to New York's
garbage crisis is no better than it was a
year ago.
That's when the task force issued the
report, ‘Throwing Away Our Future,”
which called governments’ response to
solid waste problems well-intentioned
but inadequate.
The report urged immediate action
because delay would only make the
Free video tape loan program can help
raise health and wellness awareness
Beginning July 1, members of the
state Employee Retirement System (ERS)
can begin taking advantage of a
program CSEA pushed through the state
Legislature last year.
The new program allows Tier III and
Tier IV members to borrow against their
contributions to the ERS,
Members can borrow once a year and
must borrow at least $1,000 and the
loan cannot account for more than 75
percent of the individual's contributions.
Interest rates will be one percent less
than the rate of interest rate used by
ERS. For 1991-92, that interest rate will
be 7.75 percent. There is also a service
charge deducted from each loan.
The loans must be repaid within five
problem bigger and more expensive.
“That statement is even more true
today than when the report was issued,
said William Walsh, task force chair
and president of the CSEA Town of
Brookhaven Blue Collar Unit of Suffolk
County Local 852.
The solid waste crisis not only affects
CSEA-represented landfill workers,state,
Walsh said, but all CSEA members as
taxpayers. The task force is working for
more responsible government action.
zx
CSEA/NYS
JOINT COMMITTEE ON
HEALTH
BENEFITS
CSE
CSEA Headquarters.
143 Washington Avenue
Albany, N.Y. 12210
1-800-342-4146
518-434-0191
VIDEO TAPE
LIBRARY
PROGRAM
The CSEA/NYS Joint Committee
on Health Benefits (JCHB) offers a
free video tape loan program on
health and wellness topics for CSEA
locals and units.
The tapes can be used to enhance
members’ health awareness at
membership meetings, information
days, employee assistance programs
and more,
CSEA local and unit presidents
may reserve tapes on a first-come,
first-served basis or get more
information by calling Timothy
Vallee, health benefits
communications associate, at CSEA
headquarters, (518) 434-0191 or
1-800-342-4146 (toll free).
The tapes available are listed
at right.
* Living with Stress, 15 minutes
* How to Beat Cigarettes, 13
minutes
* Medical Effects of Alcohol Use,
12 minutes
* Exercise Should be Fun, 8
minutes
* Low Back Pain, 14 minutes
* Dietary Management of Fat and
Cholesterol, 12 minutes
* Understanding Common Breast
Problems, 11 minutes
* Mammography, 13 minutes
* AIDS, the Surgeon General's
Update, 32 minutes
* Facts About Aids, 11 minutes
* The Expanded Role of Nurses —
Legal Implications, 15 minutes
* Nursing Liability for ‘Doctor's
Orders" II, 10 minutes
* Medication Errors, 13 minutes
)
Reserve Aug. 31 on your
calendar now. The AFL-
CIO will conduct a
massive demonstration on
Aug. 31 in Washington,
D.C. “Solidarity Day '91"
will be held on the 10th
anniversary of labor's
historic Solidarity Day
march on Washington in
1981. Look for additional
details in the next edition
of The Public Sector.
Meanwhile, reserve the
date.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
AUGUST B1kk¢¢nuX
WASHINGTON, D.c.
ae sane 101 5
saa TT Wass Wl ai, 20 ee es Rese nk AC ae Ode als AME ba ccd NT blame
STATE NEWS SECTION
DOT heroes save baby
By Daniel X. Campbell
CSEA Communications Associate
Somewhere in the Capital Region, a
baby is alive and well because of the
quiet heroics of four CSEA Department
of Transportation (DOT) bridge repair
crew members.
The four men from CSEA DOT Local
676, John Napper, Ray Elliott, Ed Smith
and Roger Fisette, were heading into
Albany one morning as rush hour traffic
clogged the highway. Elliott spotted a
car pulled off the road with a baby lying
on the hood and two women trying to
get help.
“I knew something was wrong so I told
Fisette to back up and stop," Elliott said.
“Ed Smith jumped out and started
flagging traffic around us and it was
John Napper who really deserves the
credit."
The baby was limp and blue by the
time they got to it. Napper, a volunteer
firefighter in the Westport Volunteer
Fire Department and emergency team
member, went to work.
“There was something wrong with the
baby, it had a tube in its stomach,"
Elliott continued. ‘The mother said the
child had trouble swallowing and had in
the past, stopped breathing for a few
seconds only to start up on its own. This
time that hadn't happened.”
“The mother was trying to clear the
baby's airway,”’ Napper said, ‘‘but she
was doing it wrong. I just helped do it
right and the baby started breathing
right way. We told the ladies, who by
went to work."
then were so happy, to get the child to
Albany Medical Center right away.
Then we got back into our truck and
The four workers did not seek any
recognition for their heroic efforts to
help strangers.
“We were all just raised to be helpful
to people in trouble,"’ Elliott said. ''The
cars were just passing those people by,
ignoring their situation. That's life in the
fast lane, I guess. It's not for us."
They don't know how the baby fared
after it left them.
“We know when we left the child was
breathing and alive. We told the ladies
to get to a hospital as soon as possible,”
Elliott said. ‘‘But we don’t know what
happened, and we'd like to.”
Arhitrations,
es «Grievances,
(@ Ps, Lawsuits
A breath of air
Members of CSEA SUNY at Stony
Brook Local 614 who work in the print
shop are celebrating a simple thing —
fresh air.
Unfortunately, it wasn't easy to come
by. It's been several years since CSEA
filed the original grievance over the
print shop's poor air quality. Budget
constraints put installation of a new air
circulation system on hold until
recently,
Local 614 President Phil Santella
praised his members for their patience.
You've got to negotiate
CSEA recently forced management at
Binghamton Psychiatric Center to
negotiate a dress code policy with the
union.
Management tried to unilaterally
impose the dress code that could be
enforced through disciplinary
procedures, so CSEA filed an improper
practice charge, said CSEA Binghamton
Psychiatric Center Local 441 President
Keith Zulko,
In a settlement with the state, CSEA
agreed to the policy, providing that T-
shirts would not be prohibited as in the
original code and that the facility would
post the code in writing and give
employees 30 days written notice before
implementing the code.
Employee's rights protected
An arbitrator cleared CSEA O.D. Heck
Developmental Center Local 445
member Phil Turner of insubordination
charges that stemmed from a shouting
match started by a supervisor.
The decision was based on
management's failure to prove
insubordination," said CSEA attorney
Paul Bamberger.
“Management had three witnesses
who said they saw the alleged
insubordination, but that didn't make
Phil Turner guilty,'’ Bamberger said.
“After hearing their testimony and then
hearing them answer under cross
examination, the arbitrator said the
evidence didn't prove Turner was
insubordinate.
“This case proves that the system
works," he added. “‘CSEA members are
entitled to confront their accusers. They
shouldn't be intimidated if management
says, ‘we have witnesses,’ They should
go through the process and let the
process determine who's right."
The arbitration developed when
Turner called in to tell his supervisor he
might be late because the buses were
running on a holiday schedule, He'd had
some time and attendence problems in
the past, and he was trying to comply
with regulations.
He also believed his call would
prevent O.D. Heck from docking his pay
for tardiness. However, he and his
supervisor argued over the phone
because the supervisor disagreed and
unilaterally decided Turner would be
docked if he was late,
When Turner arrived, he reported to
his supervisor and they argued a second
time. O.D. Heck management tried to
suspend Turner for 10 days over the
incident.
In the arbitration, however, CSEA
showed that O.D, Heck management
was not only anit-employee, but anti-
Phil Turner, CSEA introduced evidence
that Turner's job evaluations were far
better than those finally issued and
recorded,
“We pointed out that after the original
performance evaluations were made and
signed by Phil Turner's front-line
supervisor, ‘corrections’ were made,"’
Bamberger said. ‘Then the arbitrator
questioned the statements of the
supervisor involved in the call-in
incident, concluding that the supervisor |
told the grievant he would dock his pay
when he did not have the authority to
do so."
Satisfied with his victory, Turner is |
considering filing civil rights and
discrimination charges against O.D.
Heck's personnel department because of
continued problems. CSEA is reviewing |
Turner's claims and may investigate
other allegations of discrimination and
civil rights abuse at the facility. |
“T like my job, I want to do it,'’ he
said. ‘‘Why can't management
understand that?"
Promotional victory
An arbitrator has ruled that a 12-year
state Department of Transportation
(DOT) employee should have been
appointed to a promotional position in
1989 and is entitled to back pay if he
passes his probation in the new job.
Manny Snelling applied for the Grade
12 title and was told that because of past
notices of disciplines he was not
qualified for the job. He filed a
grievance.
“Manny did his job and did what was
required,’’ said CSEA state DOT Local
Vice President Jack Shaw. ‘They didn't
give this man a chance, His seniority
rights were taken away. You can't use
disciplinary charges against a person. He
wasn't given the opportunity for the
title.
CSEA Labor Relations Specialist
Michael Hogg said there was ‘nothing
documented to prove he wasn't
qualified."
The arbitrator agreed and ordered that
Snelling be appointed to the job and be
awarded back pay, seniority and
benefits if he passes probation.
1 & June 1991 Qoctox.
wal
STATE NEWS SECTION
Editor's Note: Although a news
blackout continued to exist in
CSEA/State negotiations as this
edition of The Public Sector went
to press, both parties agreed to
make the following information
public. It affects contract Article 9
(health insurance) and goes into
effect July 1, 1991.
costs are putting the squeeze on
everyone.
One area where costs have really
gone through the roof is prescription
more than doubled in cost in the last
five years. A prescription for 100
five years ago costs $48.49 today.
ways of holding down expenses while
negotiated $6.1 million in Empire Plan
cost saving measures that New York
state has agreed to put into the CSEA
Employee Benefit Fund (CSEA EBF).
That will enable CSEA EBF to spend
benefits from the ravages of hyper-
inflation.
Here is an outline of the plan that
goes into effect July 1, making the
additional $6.1 million available now,
when it is needed.
ALBANY — Skyrocketing health care
drugs. For example, the drug Valium has
Valiums, 5 milligrams, that cost $22.36
CSEA is strongly committed to finding
maintaining benefits. The union has just
an extra $62.40 for each covered state
employee, thus sparing prescription drug
The $5 fee for office visits to Empire
(Health insurance changes effective July 1, January 1
$6.1 million in cost-saving measures
keeps prescription benefit stable
Plan participating providers remains
unchanged. (By comparison, PEF and
management/confidential employees pay
$8.) No change in the fee was a top
CSEA priority. In addition, the $5 fee
will be waived for well child care office
visits or when you get chronic care
services such as chemotherapy, radiation
therapy and hemodialysis.
But, a $5 fee will be charged when
you go to hospital outpatient services
to be treated for alcohol or substance
abuse. There will also be a
$15 fee for hospital
outpatient services such as
emergency room visits. The
fee will be waived if you are admitted
to the hospital at that time or if you
go there for such outpatient services
as chemotherapy, radiation therapy,
physical therapy or hemodialysis.
The dual eligibility benefit is
discontinued. All employees will
contribute either 10 percent (individual)
or 25 percent (family) for either Empire
Plan or HMO coverage.
Also, fees paid for various health
services — the so-called major medical
reasonable and customary allowances —
will be hereafter updated annually
rather than every six months.
Additional cost saving measures will
go into effect Jan. 1, 1992.
At that time the Empire Plan Major
Medical annual deductible amount
changes from $130 to $161 while
maximum co-insurance out-of-pocket
expenses (individual or family) go from
$625 to $776 annually. Remember, you
can reduce major medical out-of-pocket
expense increases by using
participating providers. Deductibles will
be calculated at the start of each
calendar year. Expenses incurred in the
final quarter of the previous year will
no longer be rolled over into the next
year to calculate the new year's
deductible.
Finally, employees will be able, when
they retire, to suspend health insurance
coverage and use of unused sick leave
credits for up to five years if you can
prove coverage under another health
insurance plan. Sy
duty pay for state Department of
has been introduced in the state
Assembly at the request of CSEA.
on and adjacent to highways is
them state and local highway workers
and the remainder drivers and
and maintenance zones since 1980 in
New York state,
Assemblyman Francis J. Pordum of
Buffalo, a member of the Assembly
Transportation Committee, introduced
duty pay for state Department of
Transportation (DOT) employees who
work in close proximity to traffic.
the director of the budget to establish
Transportation (DOT) highway workers
The dangers associated with working
indisputable. Ninety people, a quarter of
passengers, have died in motor vehicle
accidents in and around highway work
the bill which would provide hazardous
Pordum's bill (A.8394) would authorize
premium pay for those DOT employees,
Bill would add DOT hazardous duty sl
A bill which would provide hazardous citing ‘‘unavoidable, clear and direct risk
and hazard to safety and health.”
“CSEA supports the Pordum bill
because it recognizes the risks DOT
highway workers face,’’ said CSEA
Legislative Counsel Fran Turner. ‘The
dangerous nature of the work is obvious
and we feel strongly that hazardous
duty pay is warranted,”
Hank Jenny, president of CSEA state
DOT Local 508 in Babylon, Long Island,
said hazardous duty pay for state DOT
workers is long overdue. Jenny has
been campaigning for the premium pay
since a member of his local was killed in
an on-the-job accident two years ago.
“Fifteen DOT employees have been
killed in the last 10 years,"’ Jenny said.
“We are averaging one accident every
working day."
Turner said CSEA is seeking
introduction of a similar bill in the state
Senate.
Unemployment benefit
Another proposed bill getting a lot of
CSEA support would allow laid-off state
employees to collect unemployment
benefits while they are receiving
accrued vacation or holiday pay.
Many of the employees who are
facing layoffs this year have accrued
vacation pay which is a legitimate
benefit. CSEA believes it should not be
considered salary because that prevents
the employees from collecting
unemployment benefits even though
they are not employed.
Socto #7 June 1991 1 7
STATE NEWS SECTION
Attendance units don’t add up
Despite CSEA's evidence that state
Office of Mental Health (OMH)
employees lost 147,603 workdays to
occupational injuries in 1990, OMH is
failing to improve conditions and even
contributes to the problems.
“OMH simply refuses to recognize
that understaffing and the lack of a
comprehensive safety program to
prevent injuries in the first place are
major reasons employees get hurt,"’ said
CSEA President Joe McDermott.
A prime example of confused priorities
are the Overtime and Absenteeism
Control Units (OACUs) established at six
psychiatric centers last year over CSEA
protests.
Some OACUs have had little negative
effect. Others, however, have created
intolerable conditions. Employees are
facing more disciplinary charges,
harassment when on leave because of
on-the-job injuries even if they have
clean records and maximum penalties
for minor infractions.
But the real problem is the misplaced
priority the OACUs represent.
“At best the OACUs are redundant; at
worst, they're creating a ‘reign of
terror’ for workers already under
extreme pressure,’ McDermott said.
“The money would be better invested in
Some OMH actions are actually
making a bad safety situation worse.
For example, OMH has systematically
cut in half the secure ward capacity in
psychiatric centers across the state.
Those units, which handle the most
difficult and violent patients, are now
severely overcrowded. That leaves
employees more vulnerable to
patients’ attacks and other injuries.
To complicate matters, when back-
up staff is assigned to help out, they
are usually from non-secure units and
\ handle secure care situations.
(Secure units aren’t |
do not have appropriate training to i)
PROTESTING PROBLEMS WITH OMH Overtime and Absenteeism Control Units,
members of CSEA Creedmoor Psychiatric Center Local 406 rally outside the facility's
gate.
solving the real problems — staffing and
safety.”
Although OACUs were supposed to
improve attendance, the facilities with
the units had a percentage increase of
lost workdays more than seven times
greater than the rest of the system last
year,
While the number of lost workdays
increased six percent over 1989 for all
OMH employees, the OACU facility
employees lost 52,435 workdays last
year, up from 36,217 the year before —
a 44 percent jump.
The increase was greatest at the
facility where the OACU has caused
the most turmoil. Creedmoor's lost
workdays jumped 163 percent from
1989 to 1990.
“Tf OMH can hire staff for OACUs it
has no excuse for the lack of safety and
health specialits,'" McDermott said.
Kingsboro CSEA Local 402 President
Robert Nurse agreed.
“We need a safety and health program
here because people are getting hurt
and management won't acknowledge
that on-the-job injuries are a safety and
health problem, "he said.
At Creedmoor, employees are facing
severe problems,
“There is a complete lack of
consideration for the employees at
Creedmoor and these workers are
victimized by high-handed tactics
pursued with a vengeance,’ CSEA Labor
Relations Specialist Marcia Schiowitz
said.
CSEA Creedmoor Local 406 President
Miguel Cruz said that 18 grievances and
255 time and attendance disciplines at
the facility in 10 months are an
indication of management's harassment
of employees,
“It's like the Inquisition,’ Cruz said.
Workers comp project
not a safety program
CSEA believes the only way to improve the horrendous
on-the-job injury rates in OMH is to develop a
comprehensive safety and health program.
A comprehensive program would include ongoing staff
training, review of staffing patterns and re-design of work
practices, all designed to reduce employees’ risk of injury.
CSEA and OMH cooperated on a Workers Compensation
pilot project on Long Island which achieved some
improvement in lost workdays by facilitating workers
compensation filings and helping people get back to work
But OMH has done little to develop a system-wide
“CSEA will continue to pound away on this issue until we
get improvements,"’ CSEA President Joe McDermott said,
“Aside from the pain that people are experiencing, the cost
Facility Number of Lost Workdays Percentage Change
‘89 ‘90
kings Park 12,044 ~—-*12,009~‘Unchanged
Creedmoor 4,280 11,266 + 163%
Kingsboro 4,594 10,936 + 138 %
Manhattan 5,612 5,036 * 10% faster following injuries.
Bronx 4,097 4,226 + 3% commitment to on-the-job safety.
Rockland 5,590 8,922 + 60%
Totals 36,217 52,435 +44%
to the state alone leaves OMH no excuse for letting the
problems continue."
5 | Bux 1991 Qctor.
STATE NEWS SECTION
Gowanda crusade continues
CSEA is continuing to push its plan for
the future of the Gowanda Psychiatric
Center as a humane, affordable and
cost-effective alternative to the Office of
Mental Health 's (OMH) intention to
close the facility without adequately
providing for the needs of the region's
mentally ill people.
But in the meantime, the union's
message about OMH deficiencies has
apparently had impact on state
legislators. The Senate and Assembly
included language in their state budget
that would prohibit the closing of
Gowanda Psychiatric Center unless the
OMH Commissioner provides a
satisfactory justification for closure.
The Legislature would require detailed
analysis of services that would be
needed to fill gaps created by the
proposed closure; an overview on the
availability of services in the area;
potential costs a closing would mean for
other levels of government; and
recommendations to minimize the
impact on the affected communities and
the state workforce, including
alternative state employment
opportunities and possible retraining.
While the legislative budget action is
positive, at press time it was unclear
whether Gov. Cuomo would go along
with the agreement. The Governor had
publicly threatened to veto parts of the
Legislature's budget he didn't like.
But even before the legislative budget
agreement, state Sen. Jess Present (R-
Jamestown) and Assemblyman Francis
Pordum (D-Blasdell) had introduced
separate legislation requiring similar
justifications and employee protections.
“This is a responsible step forward by
the state Legislature,'’ said CSEA
President Joe McDermott. ‘‘It holds
OMH accountable for their actions and
insists that they live up to their
responsibility to seriously mentally ill
HERE'S THE PLAN — CSEA representatives present the union's Gowanda plan to state
lawmakers in Albany. At left are CSEA Region VI President Robert Lattimer and
CSEA Local 408 President Wayne Jones. CSEA Director of Political Action Larry
Scanlon is seated center.
people. But further steps have to be
taken to make sure that OMH doesn't
just dump patients out of the system
without providing for necessary
alternative care.”
CSEA's multi-dimensional plan,
presented to lawmakers last month, is a
comprehensive proposal that would
provide for improvement of care and
services now delivered by the
psychiatric center while enabling the
state to save money by streamlining
administrative costs.
It would better utilize the skilled state
workforce at Gowanda and the facility's
existing resources by focusing on
services for the elderly mentally ill who
cannot be deinstitutionalized, providing
a safety net of admissions for seriously
mentally ill people and saving money by
CSEA GOWANDA PSYCHIATRIC CENTER LOCAL 408 members protest the arrival of
out of work.
an OMH bureaucrat to be paid $90,000 a year, newly assigned to the facility.
Meanwhile, the state is trying to close the facility and put frontline CSEA workers
streamlining administrative costs,
CSEA's proposal stemmed from the
union's report No Compassion, No Care:
Abandoning the Mentally Ill, released
earlier this year. That report portrayed
the attempt to close Gowanda
Psychiatric Center as a microcosm of
everything that's wrong with the
administration of OMH.
“The issue is not as simple as closing
Gowanda versus keeping it open; the
issue is assuring access to care for
people who need it,'’ McDermott said.
“OMH would like the public to believe
there is a declining need for its services.
The need has not declined; OMH is not
admitting patients who need care and at
the same time it is dumping the mentally
ill out of institutions. These people do
not just go away and help is not
available elsewhere.”
CSEA's recommendation for cutting
administrative costs by consolidating
Gowanda administration with Buffalo
Psychiatric Center could save $2.5
million annually.
Another component of the CSEA plan,
the development of a skilled nursing
facility to serve a specific group of the
elderly mentally ill, would ultimately
allow the state to save $1.5 million
annually in Medicaid costs.
CSEA's plan also calls for the
development of state-operated
community residences for the mentally
ill within the four-county Gowanda
service area. Treatment provided in
these settings is cost-effective and would
provide placement options that don't
exist elsewhere. These residences,
depending on their size and location,
could qualify for all appropriate federal
reimbursement.
“We recognize the state's financial
problems,’ McDermott said. ‘‘But our
plan provides a cost-effective way to
make sure that needs are met without
wasting resources.’
EEE See |
Thomas H. McDonough
MEMORIAL
STATE WORKSHOP
Useful programs
fill workshop
BUFFALO — The Thomas H.
McDonough Memorial Workshop offered
the more than 600 participants a wide
variety of educational programs about
CSEA services, programs and progress on
important issues.
One program, “It's not Jazzy — It’s
Generic and It's in the Mail,’ discussed the
mail-order drug business and how it is
saving CSEA members money in handling
costs while increasing their benefits.
“Conducting a Safety and Health
Walkthrough” examined the role of union
representatives in conducting a
walkthrough and filing the proper Public
Employee Safety and Health (PESH)
complaints.
“Understanding the Fiscal Crisis in New
York" was a panel discussion that explored
the many implications of the state's fiscal
problems.
“Layoffs in the State Workforce — How
They Affect Us All examined the civil
service classification system, seniority and
retention rights, the layoff process,
preferred list rights and the leadership role
and responsibilities of union activists
during layoffs.
In “Playing at the Political Process,"
activists learned how labor relations is
New York works
because we work!
POLITICS IS THE NAME of this game used as a teaching tool during the Political Action
workshop, “Playing at the Political Process.” CSEA statewide Political Action Committee
Chair Sean Egan moderates the program, modeled on the game show “Jeopardy.”
influenced by the political process.
“The Advisory Committee on Minority
Issues Forum” allowed participants to meet
Committee Chair Rebecca Lawson and
committee members. The forum gave
participants the opportunity to submit their
ideas on issues and concerns of minority
members for the committee's
MISSION ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER Carmen Bagnoli, left, accepts his award from
CSEA President Joe McDermott.
20 June 1991 Cotnn
consideration.
“Labor-Management Commitments in
Times of Fiscal Crisis’ examines the
actions available to local union leadership
when management stops honoring labor-
management agreements.
Update meetings were held for members
of the four state units.
Carmen Bagnoli wins Mission award
BUFFALO — Carmen Bagnoli, president
of CSEA Tax and Finance Local 690, was
presented with the second annual CSEA
Mission Achievement Award at the annual
Thomas McDonough Memorial State
Workshop.
“As a leader, Carmen excels in all that
he does,’ said CSEA President Joe
McDermott in presenting the award. ‘‘He
maintains an effective communications
network among the local's 3,000
members. He willingly reaches out to help
those in need while finding the time to be
an energetic statewide Board member who
also serves on the Board's personnel
committee.”
The award is given to honor one CSEA
member employed by the state and one
by a local government who each
exemplify the CSEA Mission Statement
spirit, “to represent our members as best
we can in any way we can; and to
continue our role as a leader among labor
union.”
STATE NEWS SECTION
CSEAP
CLERICAL & SECRETARIAL EMPLOYEE
ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM
The Clerical and Secretarial Employee Advancement Program
(CSEAP) was established in 1979 by agreement between the
State of New York and the Administrative Services Unit (ASU)
of CSEA. As part of CSEAP, the Transition Training Program
offers courses to employees appointed to titles created by the
program and state employees represented by CSEA in the
Administrative Services Unit. These job-related courses are
designed to help ASU members acquire general knowledge
and skills in a wide variety of areas, including communications,
mathematics, office automation, secretarial practices anbd
work management. The course deadlines for the immediate
future are listed below
COURSE LOCATION DATE HELD ENROLL BY
BASIC MATH ALBANY JUNE 19 & 20 CALL CSEAP
DOCUMENTS: THE FINISHING ALBANY JUNE 17 & 18 CALL CSEAP.
TOUCHES HAUPPAUGE JUNE 12 & 13 CALL CSEAP
NEW YORK CITY JUNE 10 & 11 CALL CSEAP
NEW YORK CITY JUNE 19 & 20 CALL CSEAP
INTERMEDIATE MATH: A ALBANY JUNE 10 & 11 CALL CSEAP
SKILLS BUILDER
JOB INTERVIEWING FOR ALBANY JUNE 25 CALL CSEAP
CAREER MOBILITY POUGHKEEPSIE JULY 9 JUNE 18
UTICA JUNE 18 CALL CSEAP
MANAGING THE WORK FLOW ALBANY JUNE 27 & 28 CALL CSEAP
THE ORGANIZED SECRETARY SYRACUSE JUNE 11 CALL CSEAP
PLANNING MEETINGS: THE ALBANY JUNE 21 ‘CALL CSEAP
SECRETARY'S ROLE
PRINCIPLES OF GOOD. HUMAN NEW YORK CITY JUNE 10, 17 & 24 CALL CSEAP
RELATIONS IN THE
WORKPLACE LEVEL I (PATT)
RESUMES: A TOOL FOR CAREER ALBANY JULY 12 JUNE 24
MOBILITY POUGHKEEPSIE JULY 10 JUNE 19
TELEPHONE TECHNIQUES HAUPPAUGE JUNE 26 CALL CSEAP
USING AND INTERPRETING ALBANY JUNE 12 & 13 CALL CSEAP
TABLES AND GRAPHS MIDDLETOWN JUNE 10 & 11 CALL CSEAP
Applications and course
descriptions can be
found in CSEAP course
catalogs sent to your
Personnel Office,
Affirmative Action
Office, Training Office
and your CSEA Local
president. For
additional information
on CSEAP courses, call
(518) 457-6306.
‘Budget cuts slash
operating hours of
barge canal system
The New York State Barge
Canal system opened
recently for its 166th season
with reduced operating hours
and fewer employees, a
victim of the state's budget
crisis.
Gov. Cuomo’s proposed
state budget hacked $2
million from the canal's
operating budget, leading to
reduced operating hours, the
elimination of an entire P
shift of lock and bridge
operators and less
supplies and materials to
maintain and operate the
system. CSEA represents
most canal employees
who operate and
maintain the system.
The 57 locks and lift
schedule is down from 16
hours. Commercial vessels
may use the system around
the clock with 24 hours
notice.
The state's only underwater
dredge, used to keep the
channels open, has also been
pulled from operation
because of budget cuts.
While the system's annual
operating budget has been
slashed, a five-year $90
million capital project to
reconstruct portions of the
canal system remains intact.
In photo below, 20-ton upper
lock gates are being installed
as part of a two-year
restoration project on the old
Erie Canal section at Lock 4
in Waterford. Several locks
bridges on the 524-mile 4 are in various stages of
canal system will operate 4 t ¥irestoration to keep the
from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. aye ffi aging system in operating
season, The 10-hour dail be a
LWyat
"WAN
afavan way
Sector June 1991 21
STATE NEWS SECTION
\\\ Sn
LOUD AND CLEAR — CSEA members rallied in Buffalo to
protest proposed cuts in the state budget that would devastate
state services. CSEA has been fighting for a fair tax system that
would require the wealthy and big corporations to pay their
fair share of taxes. That would provide enough money to
sustain vital state services and aid to local governments and
school districts. As this issue of The Public Sector went to
press, the Legislature had yet to settle on a state budget. CSEA
is continuing to fight for more money in the state operations
budget to keep New York working. Meanwhile, CSEA members
across the state have been rallying to protest the budget. In the
last month, demonstrations have been held in New York City,
Binghamton, Albany, Kingston and Long Island.
CSEA blasts
budget plan
DALITION TO SAVE
“WE'RE FIRED UP, CAN'T TAKE NO MORE — CSEA members
joined thousands who jammed the streets of lower Manhattan
to protest Gov. Cuomo's proposed budget cuts, demanding that
the wealthy and big corporations pay their fair share of taxes.
Above, CSEA Region II President George Boncoraglio addresses
the crowd at the World Trade Center Coalition Rally. At left, a
woman translates his speech into sign language. He said the
proposal is *‘ cutting the heart right out of New York.” Leading
the march with Bancoraglio were AFSCME International
President Gerald McEntee and CSEA Executive Vice President
Danny Donohue. The Rev. Jesse Jackson also spoke to the
crowd,
Unwise spending
SUNY wastes money on contracting out
ALBANY — In testimony before the
State University of New York Board of
Trustees, CSEA charged that SUNY is
adding to its budget problems through
wasteful practices.
“In the face of this desperate fiscal
picture, CSEA is wondering why SUNY
still relies on ouside contractors for
services that can be provided less
expensively and more efficiently by
employees already on the job,’ CSEA
Deputy Director for Contract
Administration James Hennerty said.
For example, at SUNY Health Science
Center in Syracuse, a $500,000 contract
involving electrical, plumbing, carpentry
and painting work was recently let to
outside contractors, SUNY Stony Brook
let a renovation contract to an outside
bidder who could not complete the job
and was dismissed, but only after the
university paid for a month's work.
(Citic
Outside printing at SUNY Plattsburgh
costs 50 to 100 percent more than work
done on campus by SUNY employees.
Hennerty noted that recently the
president's house at SUNY Geneseo was
remodeled to inclued a jacuzzi and a
$1,500 vanity.
A number of high ranking SUNY
officials received raises as high as 30
percent during the past three years.
State buys cars during budget crisis
ALBANY — Shhhh ... They're
being delivered under tarps, at night,
directly to agency parking lots one at
a time so as not to draw attention.
But you can't really hide the 428
new cars with a $5.7 million sticker
price, plus interest, that New York
state is buying in the middle of a fiscal
crisis with a $6 billion deficit.
The new cars range in size from
sub-compacts to full-size station
wagons and vans. The vans vary from
eight-passenger to 15-passenger
vehicles. And nearly 80 of the new
vehicles are designed to use alcohol-
based tuel as well as gasoline,
The cars range in price from $7,299
for the sub-compacts to $15,856 for
the 15-passenger vans. The 1989 and
1990 multi-fuel Ford LTDs have
sticker values in the $17,000 to
$18,00 range.
Among the state agencies getting
the new vehicles are the departments
of Transportation, Environmental
Conservation, Corrections and State,
as well as the Office of Parks,
Recreation and Historic Preservation.
These agencies laid off 1,800
employees over the past few months.
State News
News stories, articles and items of information of
particular interest to CSEA State members
State News
PAGE INDEX
Page 16
A round-up of CSEA grievances and
arbitrations.
Page 17
Health insurance changes take effect
July 1 for state members.
Page 18
Time and attendance units are
cracking down in various Office of
Mental Health facilities — but the plan
is backfiring.
Page 19
CSEA continues fight to keep
Gowanda open.
Page 20
CSEA holds the annual Thomas
McDonough Memorial State Workshop
in Buffalo.
Page 21
The state Barge Canal is open for the
season, but not all is going
swimmingly.
Page 22
State budget — protests continue
during budget impasse.
PEOPLE
INTHE NEWS.
EAP at Department of State
CSEA Region IV President C. Allen
Mead and CSEA Department of State
Local 689 Acting President Brian Burris
represented the union at the
implementation of the new Employee
Assistance Program (EAP) at the
Department of State.
Three part-time, trained coordinators will
refer individuals who need assistance with
a variety of problems, including financial
and drug abuse, to professionals who can
help them, Department of State and PEF
representatives were also at the kickoff.
Health Fair held at Wassaic
Hundreds of employees attended the
CSEA Health Fair held at Wassaic
Developmental Center recently.
Information was available on nutrition,
health, insurance and programs for
children and senior citizens.
LEAP: It’s new
LEAP is the Labor Education Action
Program of CSEA. It offers tuition-
free courses at two- and four-year
public and private colleges, BOCES
and various state facilities across the
state.
What’s ‘‘new and improved?”’
— You can choose your own
course from the school’s
catalog.
— You have more providers
to choose from.
— You'll find it easier to
pursue degrees.
— You can choose courses
based on your schedule.
— You can try independent
study degrees and course
options.
— You have more time to
apply with a longer
application period.
and improved
LEAP is available only to CSEA-
represented state employees in OSU,
ASU, ISU and DMNA bargaining units,
Health Research Institute, SUNY
Construction Fund and NYS Teachers
Retirement System.
Application period:
May 1 to July 15
Catalogs and applications
will be available this month
from your
Personnel/training office or
your local president.
For advice and information,
call the LEAPline toll-free at
1-800-253-4332
Take a LEAP
into your future —
Check it out!
LEARNING THE ROPES —
Stewards for CSEA NYS Tax
and Finance Local 460
attend training on Article 33
disciplinaries at their new
Brooklyn office. CSEA
Education Director Maureen
Rizzi conducted the
training. At the training
were, from left, tax
compliance agents Barbara
Williams, Avon Bowry,
Edward Diaz and Thomas
Tortorella.
Winning worker
CSEA SUNY at
Albany Local 691
President Ellen Faust
has been honored with
the 1991 University
Award for Excellence
in Support Services.
CSEA activists and
Local 691 officers Ellen
Burke and Delores
Tacobelli received the
award in 1986 and
1987, respectively.
Member elected to school
board in Queens
With the support of CSEA and AFSCME,
CSEA Public Service Commission Local
450 President Steven Pezenik was elected
to a three-year term on the Community
School Board 25 (CSB 25).
According to Pezenik, CSB 25 students
rank highest in New York City
mathematics and reading scores,
The district encompasses Whitestone,
Bayside, College Point, Elechester and
Flushing, Queens, overseeing 29 schools
that have a total enrollment of more than
21,000 students,
eee June 1991 ad
STATE NEWS SECTION
PAGES 16 - 24 I
THEPUBLIC q
