Local 1000, AFSCME. AFL-C1O. a.
6 And you can quote me on that J
“Gov.
Pataki
Should be
ashamed.’
-Local 009 President
Vinny Lord
Page 4
it’s important
- that we keep
investing in skill
enhancement for
all our public
employees.’
-- Local 438 President
Mary Greenman
Page 4
‘It was unfair to expect people to
make a life-altering decision in a few
days with such limited information.’
-- CSEA President Danny Donohue
Page 5
‘We can
arrest and
fingerprint
troublemakers
right here.’
-- Sgt. Tom O'Connell,
Ulster County Deputy Sheriff
Page 6
‘King Andy
keeps on trying
and the taxpayers
keep on paying.’
— Region 3 President
Carmine DiBattista
Page 6
The April 1 start of the state's
new fiscal year was just around
the corner as this edition of The
Public Sector went to press, but
there appeared to be virtually no
prospects that a new state budget
would be agreed upon any time
soon. The Legislature has adopted
a late budget for more than a
dozen consecutive years.
CSEA lobbyists, member
activists and staff have been
working the halls of the state
Legislature for weeks urging
lawmakers to adopt a new state
budget that is fair and equitable to
CSEA members and all New
Yorkers. The union has
simultaneously directed a flood of
phone calls to legislators.
CSEA will continue to turn up
the heat and ratchet up the
pressure on lawmakers right up to
the moment a tentative budget is
finally adopted.
“There's a lot to like in Gov.
Pataki’s proposed state budget,
but also an awful lot to dislike,”
CSEA President Danny Donohue
said. “We definitely have some
major concerns and we're using all
our resources to get that message
to lawmakers and the Governor.”
CSEA is outraged over Gov.
Pataki’s proposal in the budget to
privatize Roswell Park Cancer
Institute (RPCI) in Buffalo and
Helen Hayes Hospital in West
Haverstraw. CSEA represents 800
Roswell Park workers in RPCI
Local 303, another 500 workers in
RPCI Health Research Local 315,
and about 350 workers in Helen
( Budget likely late, again
>
Hayes Hospital Local 302.
Also raising concern is a
proposal to reduce the state work
force by another 1,700 positions
during the new fiscal year. While
the Governor says he believes no
layoffs will be necessary, Donohue
says fewer people on the job
means a greater work burden for
the rest of the work force and
could result in service reductions
for the general public.
As to Gov. Pataki’s plan to
reduce taxes by $1.9 billion in his
proposed budget, CSEA asks
“What's the real cost, and who
pays?” The union believes tax
reform is commendable (after all,
CSEA members are taxpayers, too)
but the cost should not be at the
expense of essential public
services or the employees who
provide them.
The union's position is the same
on a proposal to provide school
property tax relief, an issue that
CSEA has raised for years. Rising
school taxes and other pressures
on local governments are the
direct result of inadequate state
aid and shifting tax burdens
mandated by the state Legislature
over many years, CSEA is making
it clear that school tax reform
must not be at the expense of
educational opportunities and
school district employees.
Welfare reform is anoiher hot
issue, one that CSEA supports
provided no existing workers are
displaced and welfare reform
legislation contains strong worker
protection language.
The Public Sector (USPS 0445-010) is published monthly by The Civil Service Employees Association.
Publication Office: 143 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12210.
Second Class Postage paid at Post Office, Albany, New York 12288.
Postmaster: Send address changes to: Civil Service Employees Association,
Attn: Membership Department, 143 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12210.
CSEA on line: The CSEA web site can be accessed at www.cseainc.org
TH
PUBLIC
ecto...
Official publication of
The Civil Service Employees
Association, Inc. Local 1000, AFSCME,
AFL-CIO
143 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12210-2303
Danny Donohue, President
STEPHEN A. MADARASZ,
Communications Director & Publisher
STANLEY HORNAK,
Asst. Director of Communications
ROGER A. COLE, Editor
KATHLEEN DALY, Associate Editor
CATHLEEN HORTON
Graphic Design & Support Services
RALPH DISTIN, Graphic Artist
JANICE NUSBAUM, Secretary
Readers: Send any comments, complaints, suggestions or ide:
Publisher, The Public Sector, 143 Washington Avenue, Alba
COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATES
SHERYL C. JENKS Long Island Region RON WOFFORD
(516) 462-0030
Metropolitan Region
(212) 406-2156
Southern Region
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Capital Region
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Central Region
(315) 433-0050
Western Region
(716) 886-0391
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DAN CAMPBELL
MARK M. KOTZIN
TERNATIONAL
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T+ AFL-CIOICLS
The Public Sector Committee
LONG ISLAND REGION John C. Shepherd CAPITAL REGION Marguerite Stanley
METROPOLITAN REGION Jimmy Gripper, Chairman CENTRAL REGION Bruce Damalt
SOUTHERN REGION Diane Hewitt WESTERN REGION James V. Kurtz
Page 2 The Public Sector ¢ April 1997
Shame on Schuyler.
Editor’s Note: On an autumn
day in 1992, an angry
“deadbeat dad” gunman
walked into the Schuyler
County Department of Social
Services Support Collection
Unit offices, murdered four
CSEA members and then
committed suicide.
The horrific act exposed in
a raw, savage way the
vulnerability of public
employees in public places.
Within those few tragic
minutes on Oct. 15, 1992,
Schuyler County became the
symbol of the need for
increased worksite security
in public places across the
nation. The Schuyler County
tragedy provided a lesson
that should last forever,
never to be forgotten.
Apparently, in four short
years, that lesson has been
forgotten by Schuyler County
itself.
Remember all
workers who died
on the job on
WORKERS
MEMORIAL DAY
APRIL 28
— see page 13
We will not forget
Florence A. Pike
Phyllis K. Caslin
Denise Miller Van Amburg
Nancy J. Wheeler
WATKINS GLEN — Four years ago,
worksite security improvements were
put in place at the Schuyler County
Office Building following the tragic
slaying of four CSEA members
working in the County Department of
Social Services.
Now, union officers and members
are up in arms over a proposal that
could lessen building security and
increase the potential for danger to
workers and the public.
CSEA Central Region President Jim
Moore reacted with a strong letter of
warning to County Legislature Chair
Barbara Halpin when he learned of
her proposal to remove the metal
detector from the county office
building entrance and make other
changes. He said the union could not
accept any plan that would reduce
building security.
“CSEA will not tolerate any
reduction in security that will place
any segment of our members or the
public they serve at greater risk,”
Moore wrote.
The workers in the building
overwhelmingly
oppose Halpin’s
proposed
reductions.
CSEA Schuyler
County White Collar
‘Barbara Schriefer talks with Sheriff's Deputy
Bob Covert, who is stationed outside the DSS
offices.
COVER STORY
Unit President David Wood said claims
of public complaints over the use of
metal detectors are exaggerated.
“If the public has a problem going
through metal detectors, why don't
they voice their opinions at meetings of
the Legislature?” he asked. “No one
ever has to my
knowledge, and
no one has ever
contacted CSEA
with a
complaint.”
For many
workers, it's a
very personal
issue, having
witnessed the
tragic outcome
of what
happens when
security is not
in place.
Blaine Morehouse
was an eyewitness |
to the murders
four
co-workers.
Charlene Pelow demonstrates
how doors to the DSS offices
can only be opened with keys
Page 1: The
tree planted
outside
Schuyler
County office
building in
memory of four
slain employees
stands as a
stark reminder
of the tragedy.
“Twas within 15 feet of the whole
incident,” said Child Protective
Caseworker Blaine Morehouse. “I have
to deal with that every time I walk into
the building. Everyone can and should
do their best to see that a tragedy like
this never occurs again.”
Others, like Supervising Caseworker
Mary Barnes, recognize that the
potential for workplace violence has
not decreased over the years since the
tragedy. She expects an increase due
to federal welfare reform.
“Why couldn't it happen again?” she
asked. “There's more violence in
society these days, and with the new
proposals for welfare reform, I believe
there’s going to be more angry and
frustrated clients due to the changes
and lack of services.”
And the reduced security would not
just affect DSS workers. Anyone
entering the building could move
around the first floor or the basement
without being screened for weapons.
That worries Department of Motor
Vehicle workers whose offices are on
the first floor.
“I think we need the security here,”
said DMV Clerk and CSEA Unit
Secretary Sue Lynd. “We're in the
position now where we have to take
away people’s licenses. Those people
could get just as irate or violent.”
Supervising Support Investigator
Charlene Pelow, who came to work for
the county after the murders, said she
has talked to DSS workers from other
counties who say their own worksites
have gotten safer because of Schuyler
County’s example. Pelow says the
county has an obligation to continue
as a role model.
“Unfortunately the tragedy
happened here, and it led to improved
security across the state. Now, in the
county where it happened, they want
to reduce the security, What kind of
message does that send?” she asked.
Caseworker Barbara Schriefer, who
says she still has problems coping
with the tragedy, scoffs at those who
say passing through the metal
detectors is inconvenient.
“This could happen again. If passing
through a metal detector one time a
day saves one life, I'd walk through 50
times a day,” she said. “Perhaps if we
had a metal detector in 1992 we might
have four women who could be alive
today.”
— Mark M. Kotzin
The Public Sector + April 1997 * Page 3
New child care benefit for OMH, OMRDD members in Suffolk County
Like most working parents, CSEA Local 418
member Vickie DiBenedetto has to make tough
decisions about who will care for her child while
she works.
Now she and other employees who work for the
Offices of Mental Health and Mental Retardation
and Developmental Disabilities in Suffolk County
have a new resource to help
them make those decisions.
Thanks to a labor-
programs. It also offers information on resources
for families with children who have special needs,
financial resources and parenting advice.
The service is funded through the state Labor-
Management Child Care Advisory Council.
CSEA OMH or OMRDD members working in
Suffolk County can call the Child Care Council at
516-462-0303 in Commack
or 516-283-1838 in
Southampton.
All CSEA members can save money
on child care through the Dependent
management agreement,
OMH and OMRDD
employees working in
Suffolk County can now
call the Child Care Council
of Suffolk Inc.
The council offers
resource and referral
Care Advantage Account.
By using a DCA account, you can
lower your taxable income by paying for
child care with pre-tax dollars.
CSEA members interested in more
information on this benefit should call
1-800-358-7202 for more information.
For DiBenedetto, the
as she looks for summer
camps and kindergarten.
“I'm really glad this is
available,” DiBenedetto
half-year-old child and
services, listings of a wide
variety of child care programs including family
care, child care centers, home care, pre-
kindergarten, summer camps and holiday
Got questions
about your education
or career?
Call the LEAPline at
1-800-253-4332
for answers!
CSEA Labor Education Action
Program (LEAP) advisers
answer the LEAPline and
provide advice and assistance
to CSEA-represented
state employees between
8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
(8:30 p.m. on Thursdays).
Leave a message at other times
to receive a call back.
LEAP advisers will work with
you on such areas as:
© Educational Opportunities
© Career Planning
© Job Search Assistance
© Academic Advisement
© Financial Aid
© Basic Skills and
© GED Preparation
LEAPline
1-800-253-4332
You’ve got questions,
we've got answers.
Page 4 April 1997 * The Public Sector
are so important, I'll definitely call with
questions.”
PEEKSKILL — The Moior Vehicle office in the hometown
of the Governor and the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles
should be a showplace.
Instead, it is dark, dreary and dirty with water-stained
or missing ceiling tiles, filthy air ducts, little or no
ventilation, inadequate lighting and biting red ants.
The state took over the office in 1984, 11 years after
Westchester County opened it.
“It still looks the same as it did in ‘73,” said Local 009
President Vinny Lord. “They haven't even painted the place
since then,”
Motor Vehicle Clerk Patty Frey said she and her co-
workers often become sick.
“It's disgusting,” she said. “We have a dentist upstairs
and every time he uses his drill, we can hear it and then
water leaks from the ceiling. God only knows what's in
that water!”
CSEA Health and Safety Specialist Dan Morra inspected
the office in October. State officials said the building is
privately owned and there has been no lease in five years.
“They say they're undecided as to whether they're going
to stay here,” Morra said, “but meanwhile, the employees
have to continue to work under these conditions. This
leaves me no alternative but to file complaints,”
“Gov. Pataki should be ashamed,” Lord said.
— Anita Manley
decisions about child care
— Sheryl C. Jenks
council will come in handy
said. “I have a four-and-a-
CSEA member Vickie D:
the child care referral program.
fe
Enhancing their skills
In an intensive hands-on program, 14 CSEA
members in the Operational Service Unit were
trained in everything from electrical safety to
motors, pumps, boiler safety and steamline
maintenance. The program was arranged by the
NYS/CSEA Labor-Management Committee, the
Office of Mental Retardation and
Developmental Disabilities and SUNY Maritime
College. The 14 participants were from the
state Institute for Basic Research, Staten Island
DDSO and Queensboro Correctional Facility.
Nee
Sie ss et ee eS
STATE GOVERNMENT NEWS
CSEA seeks fairness in tax worker relocation
I didn’t think I'd have CSEA and the Governor’s Office of
Employee Relations have also agreed
CSEA Local 460 member William
McGowan never expected the state
McGowan said
to do this again.”
Department of Taxation and Finance
to treat him as cavalierly as the
private sector had
But the New York City wor!
one of 170 employees who must
decide whether to transfer to Albany
or look for another state job locally —
and at first, the decision was due in
less than two weeks.
The employees had no warning
about the transfers, McGowan said.
He was convinced he would be
unable to uproot his wife and children
within four weeks and in the middle of
the school term,
“IT worked in private industry that
got bought out by another company,”
CSEA wasted no time in trying to
help the employees. The union
immediately went to court and won a
consent agreement that gave the
employees more time. Initially they
were told to decide by March 5.
The consent agreement gave
employe
binding interest in the transfers and
March 10 to indicate non-binding
interest in early retirement and until
March 31 for a final decision.
CSEA has convinced the state to
negotiate a later move date with
individual employees who can’t move
immediately. The decision will be
made based on the employee's
situation and agency needs.
Joint ComMitTEE ON
HealthCall is the Empire
Plan’s Hospital and Medical
Benefits Management
Program.
To protect your Empire Plan.
benefits you must call HealthCali
at 1-800-992-1213:
* Before a scheduled (non-
emergency) hospital admission.
* Before a maternity hospital
admission, Call HealthCall as soon
as your pregnancy is confirmed.
* Within 48 hours after an
emergency or urgent hospital
admission.
After you call HealthCall for pre-
admission certification, your
HealthCall nurse will speak with
your doctor or the doctor's staff for
information about your medical
condition. If the information
indicates that the hospital setting
is medically necessary, the
admission will be pre-certified
assuring that Empire Plan benefits
will be available to you to the full
extent for covered services.
If you do not call, or if
HealthCall does not certify the
hospitalization, a $200 in-patient
deductible will be applied to the
charges, There is also a $100 co-
payment per hospital day that is
not medically necessary.
* You must call HealthCall
before having a scheduled (non-
emergency) magnetic resonance
HealthCall
UPDATE
imaging (MRI), unless you are
having the test as an in-patient in
a hospital. If you do not call, you
will pay the entire cost or a large
part of the cost. If you go ahead
with the MRI after HealthCall has
determined that the MRI is not
medically necessary, you will be
responsible for the entire cost.
In certain situations, you must
call HealthCall again:
* Admission postponed: call to
change the date
* Re-admission for the same
problem
* MRI postponed: call to change
date
* MRI repeated for same
problem
HealthCall also helps coordinate
services for serious conditions
through the voluntary Medical
Case Management and High Risk
Pregnancy Programs.
You may also request a
voluntary specialist consultation
{second opinion) for any scheduled
procedure. HealthCall will give you
a list of three physicians whose
specialty is similar to your
doctor's, HealthCall will arrange
for the specialist consultation at
no cost to you.
STATE GOVERNMENT NEWS
until March 17 to give non-
to revive a reimbursement program for
some expenses related to relocation
“Expecting people to make a life-
altering decision within such a few
days and with such limited
information was unfair,” CSEA
President Danny Donohue said. “We
are happy to have negotiated a little
more breathing room for our
members.”
The transfer could affect about 80
clerical’‘employees and 90 tax
compliance representatives in New
York City, Nassau, Suffolk and
Westchester counties and in
Binghamton, Buffalo, Rochester,
Syracuse and Utica.
William McGowan
The workplace is silent, but
hands and fingers are talking
ALBANY — The classroom is
quiet, the hands and fingers are
speaking. Eyes are intensely
watching as American Sign
Language (ASL) teacher Kathleen
Losert helps OGS Print Shop
Manager Dixon Ross and Evelyn
Valentino tell various students
where the duo hid their
wristwatches, pens, checkbooks,
ete. earlier in the one hour fifteen
minute class.
The 10 students, employees in
the OGS and DOT joint print shop
in Building 18 on the State Office
Building Campus, ask in sign
language for directions to the
hidden item, Then a student finds
his watch on the shelf behind the
coffee pot. His success is greeted
with laughter, the first sounds that
fill the previously silent classroom.
“When Tom O’Hea came to us
from Economic Development we had
a unique communications problem,”
Ross said. “If a new employee didn’t
speak English we could have helped
him learn the languags he did
his job. Tom knows English but is
deaf. He speaks only American Sign
Language. We needed to learn his
language.”
While Ross was seeking a private
sign language course for himself two
of Tom’s new co-workers Kevin
Devenpeck and Bill Trombley
approached him about the same
concern and told him that perhaps
the CSEA Labor Education Action
Program (LEAP) could be of help.
“Tt was the easiest thing I have
ever done,” Ross said. “Through our
CSEA local I called and asked for
help and CSEA LEAP came through
with the series of classes. Twenty
OGS print shop workers were
interested in learning how to
communicate with Tom and
participated in the first course.”
“Our vocabular small
compared to Tom's,” Evelyn
Valentino said.
“But our understanding grows
each time we communicate with
him. The ASL class is one of the
most challenging classes I have
taken. I appreciate LEAP giving me
the opportunity to take the class
because it has enabled me to
communicate through ASL with my
co-worker Tom O'Hea.”
Since last April two courses have
been completed and the third
course is under way. Class size has
decreased to 10 co-workers. While
certification in ASL is a possibility,
the motivating factor for these OGS
and DOT employees was learning a
new way to communicate with a
fellow worker.
O'Hea who is active in the Capital
District Civil Association of the Deaf
stands between the duo explaining
his feelings about the efforts of his
coworkers to communicate with
him. His fingers move quickly. “He
feels good, very good about his
friends, his co-workers,” Ross said
with due pride in the successful
labor/management effort.
— Daniel X. Campbell
The Public Sector April 1997 * Page 5
CSEA Ulster County Local 856 President
Sandra Reynolds, right, is joined by Sergeant
Tom O'Connell holding a metal detector — one
of many CSEA-initiated security improvements
at the county DSS office.
Ulster DSS office beefs-up security
KINGSTON — An in-house security force of
deputy sheriffs has made the Ulster County Social
Services office a safer place to work.
Security has been a problem for years, Ulster
County Local 856 President Sandra Reynolds, a
DSS employee, said. An earlier DSS location had
more exits and entrances than two security
guards could cover.
After a client armed with a tire iron chased an
employee around the building, one guard said, “I
don’t get paid enough to do this job.”
Reynolds proposed the formation of a Security
Committee with labor and management
representatives. Based on recommendations from
CSEA Health and Safety Specialist Wendy Hord,
the county stationed two sheriff's deputies in the
DSS office.
More recently, DSS moved to a new, much
larger building, and the committee succeeded in
getting a five-person security force, panic buttons,
a metal detector and entrances that can be
activated only with a special badge.
Sgt. Tom O’Connell and his colleagues have a
full sub-station in the DSS office.
“We can arrest and fingerprint troublemakers
CSEA leaders get on County Exec’s case
CSEA delivers another blow
against privatization spree
WHITE PLAINS — A state Supreme Court
recently gave CSEA the go-ahead to continue a
class action lawsuit on behalf of Westchester
County employees who were laid off in 1995 asa
result of County Executive Andrew O’Rourke’s
privatization initiatives,
Acting Supreme Court Judge John R. LaCava
ruled that the union’s case for damages is timely
and also indicated that laid off
employees may be owed up to two
months back pay.
Most of the employees worked in
housekeeping and laundry at the
Westchester County Medical Center
and Ruth Taylor Institute. The courts
have previously ruled that such layoffs
were illegal because they were not
authorized by the county Legislature.
CSEA Southern Region President
Carmine DiBattista described the
decision as one more defeat for
O'Rourke's privatization spree that will
leave taxpayers footing the bill.
“King Andy keeps on trying and the
taxpayers keep on paying,” he said.
CSEA Westchester Local and Unit President
Cheryl Melton echoed DiBattista'’s remarks and
added “Will the county executive ever learn that
he is not above the law?”
“King Andy
keeps on trying
and the taxpayers
keep on paying”
Carmine DiBattista
“Will the
county executive
ever learn that he
is not above the law?”
Elected official slammed
for acting like a king
In a related case, DiBattista called a decision,
spearheaded by O’Rourke, to rebid a
contract for dietary services at the
County Medical Center and Ruth
Taylor Institute “arrogant and high-
handed.”
“Once again, Mr. O'Rourke acts like
a king who believes that he has a
divine right to privatize these services
even though a court has ruled such
efforts illegal,” the union leader said.
County Legislature Chair George
Oros said that any action to rebid
would violate the spirit of a recent
court decision which ruled that such
expenditures were illegal because
county lawmakers did not appropriate
funds to privatize dietary services.
“Unfortunately, the county executive believes
that he is above the law,” DiBattista said. “CSEA
is more than willing to sit down with the county
executive and work out a solution but O'Rourke is
more interested in confrontation than
cooperation.”
Cheryl Melton, president of both the CSEA
Westchester County local and unit, urged the
county executive to “start acting responsibly and
remember that he is still accountable until Dec.
31 when his term expires.” — Anita Manley
right here,” he said. The office is also equipped
with a computer which is connected to the
sheriffs department.
O'Connell also counsels employees on how to
safely deal with a potentially unruly client, how to
report an emergency and how to leave the
building at night.
— Anita Manley
Town shows
its appreciation for
a job well done
TOWN OF CHESTER — When the Town of
Chester needed its landfill capped, rather than
turning the job over to private sector profit-
driven contractors, the town turned to its own
public employees, While the job was one of the
biggest, if not the biggest, the employees had
ever performed, it was also one of the best.
The town featured the employees’ efforts in a
news release about the extension of their
current contract for four years including average
salary increases of 3.9 percent per year from
January 1998 to Dec. 31, 2001.
“The Town, in the negotiations, considered the
excellent work of bargaining unit members in
capping the town landfill and saving the
taxpayers of the town many hundreds of
thousands of dollars,” the release stated. “The
town is proud of their accomplishments in the
challenging capping project, which involved their
efficient and effective operation of much heavier
equipment than normally used in town projects,
in their willing work on many town building and
sidewalk construction projects, and in the
excellent job they do in promptly clearing town
roads of snow and ice each winter.”
CSEA Unit President Beecher LaPrairie said
the workers were pleased with the contract
extension and the town’s recognition of the
important role they played in the capping
project.
“We're looking forward to the next challenging
project we can help the town with,” LaPrairie
said with due pride.
— Daniel X. Campbell
McCall wants to help localities
State Comptroller H. Carl McCall announced a
plan to help financially struggling localities before
their problems get out of hand.
The comptroller’s office has created a Financial
Awareness Strategy Team (FAST) to provide
hands-on technical assistance to localities
developing fiscal difficulties, McCall will use the
fiscal plans localities must file with his office to
identify warning signs in a municipality's
finances,
McCall said the plan will require legislation to
establish a standardized process for his office to
step in to help. He currently has the power, under
the state constitution, to intervene when a
locality's finances are already in bad shape.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT NEWS
Page 6 « April 1997 * The Public Sector
They’ve come a long way in the Connetquot School District...
Female workers win pay equity
BOHEMIA — CSEA members in
the Connetquot School District
Clerical Unit recently ratified a four-
year contract which calls for pay
parity for the female work force
(EBF local
| government
dental plans
improvements
effective April
A number of improvements
took effect this month in the
CSEA
Employee
Benefit Fund
(EBF) local
government
dental plans.
New plan booklets are being
mailed to local government EBF
members who are enrolled in
dental plans listed below.
“These improvements mean
reduced out-of-pocket expenses
to our EBF members when they
or their dependents obtain
dental care, and increased
payments help to bring new
dentists to the EBF Panel of
Participating Providers,” EBF
Chairman Danny Donohue said.
The following EBF local
government dental plan
improvements became effective
April 1:
Sunrise
Payments for nearly every
procedure will be increased by
approximately 20 percent.
Annual maximum will be
increased from $1,200 to
$1,800 per person
Horizon
Annual maximum will
increase $600 to $2,400 per
person
Equinox
Annual maximum will
increase $600 to $2,760 per
| person.
Dutchess
Annual maximum will
increase $600 to $2,760 per
person.
es
The fight for pay parity was the
toughest part of negotiations.
Clerical Unit President Dianne
Dane said.
Her unit of 85 female
clerical employees
received retroactive
increases of 4 percent
plus increment for
1994; and 4 percent
plus $1,000 parity
payment plus increment
for each of the following
three years.
Other highlights of the pact
include paid health insurance for
retirees with 20 years or more
service and a 41J retirement plan
“We
are grateful
that the board card of education
of education
recognized the
pay parity issue
in the clerical
workforce”
incentive.
The money received by women in
her unit was enough to change
some of their lives, Dane said.
“We are grateful that the
recognized the pay parity
e in the clerical work
force.” she said.
Negotiations were led
by CSEA Labor Relations
Specialist Kenneth
Brotherton, The committee
members were: Chairperson Betty
Pinzerone, Dane, Ellen Silvestrie,
Dawn Altner, Janet Johnson and
Gayle Callegari.
— Sheryl C. Jenks
= Saat y
Union building at A. Holly
As part of an effort to build
union awareness, CSEA hosted
a Member Benefits Fair at the
A. Holly Patterson Geriatric
Center auditorium. Hundreds of
members collected information.
“We are strengthening our
union with the help of a union-
building team comprised of
activists and staff,” CSEA
AHPGC Unit President Les
Eason said. “We want our
members to be aware of the
many benefits available to
them through CSEA.”
The unit is part of CSEA
Protesting in Poughkeepsie
CSEA-represented Poughkeepsie School District employees recently
demonstrated to protest the lack of a contract. Employees say the
district’s demands for givebacks during negotiations are unfair. The
previous contract expired last July.
CSEA files improper practice charge
over town’s refusal to vote on contract
ROTTERDAM — CSEA has filed an
improper practice charge against the
Town of Rotterdam for bad faith
bargaining and failure to vote on a
tentative agreement
CSEA representatives and the
town supervisor signed the tentative
agreement Jan. 31, and it was
ratified by the membership by a vote
of 64 to 1 on Feb. 5. However, the
town board refused to vote on the
agreement because it wanted to add
new items to the negotiations.
“We hope that the town council
will fulfill its responsibilities and vote
to ratify the agreement as required
by the ground rules,” Ed Catrine,
CSEA labor relations specialisi, said.
“Our members have been without a
new contract for 14 months, We have
complied with the laws, rules and
regulations of negotiations, and we
expect the town representatives to do
the same.”
A conference on the charge was
scheduled with The Public
Employment Relations Board at
press time.
— Daniel X. Campbell
LOCAL GOVERNMENT NEWS
hasan Local 830.
He’s a good scout
HEMPSTEAD — Mike Moriarity,
second vice president for CSEA Town
of Hempstead Local 880, was the
recent recipient of the AFL-CIO.
George Meany Award from the Boy
Scouts of America.
The award, named after former
AFL-CIO President George Meany, is
bestowed on a union member who
has given notable backing, time and
commitment to scouting.
Moriarity’s scouting awards
include Den Leader Award,
Cubmaster Award, Webelos Den
Leader Award and the God and
Service Award. The 20-year CSEA
member is also actively involved in
his community and church
“We are very proud of Mike and
his never-ending commitment to the
scouts, his community, his church
and his union,” said CSEA Long
Island Region President Nick
LaMorte when he gave Moriarity his
medal.
The Public Sector * April 1997 * Page 7
~ In touch with
you
On Workers Memorial Day, remember ...
CSEA fought hard to secure
safety and health protections
For decades, the fight for safety and health
protections on the job has been a CSEA priority.
And with good reason.
Each April 28 we renew our commitment to
safer work sites when we observe Workers
Memorial Day. Since last Workers Memorial Day
we lost three members who died on the job (see
page 13). We honor their memory and recognize
that more must be done to maintain and improve
workplace safety standards, ensure adequate
training of workers and, most importantly,
demand vigorous enforcement of laws and
regulations to protect working people.
The fact is that public employment can be
dangerous work. State DOT and local
government highway crews know that doing road
work in traffic poses very real risks. All kinds of
corrections and law enforcement employees put
themselves on the line every day.
Mental health and mental retardation
employees must deal with difficult and
sometimes violent clients in dangerously short-
staffed circumstances. Other health care workers
confront disease and injury as a daily reality.
Operational employees often deal with dangerous
chemicals and may lack the tools and training to
complete jobs safely.
Even public employees who work in offices are
at risk. Let’s not forget that hundreds of public
employees died in Oklahoma City simply because
they were public employees.
CSEA has also had its own office tragedy in
1992, when a gunman brutally took the lives of
Schuyler County Social Services workers
Florence Pike, Denise Miller VanAmburg, Phyllis
Caslin and Nancy Wheeler simply because he
was angry at their department.
LET'S JUST
WATER THIS
"GAPETY
AND HEALTH
ON THE
BACK BURNER”
wee
hs Mitten
OF
IF YOU WOULD
JUST FOLLOW
EQ: A -@O:
LET'S Just
TURN THE
HEAT
DOWN ON
THIS .-.
ern
ae
WELFARE REFOR
a
(See related story on page 3).
CSEA is continuing to keep
the pressure on the state
Department of Labor to adopt a
Worksite Security Standard to
guide security improvements in
public work sites statewide. The
commissioner has appointed a
task force to address this
problem but action is needed
now.
The welfare reforms now
moving toward implementation
will mean thousands more people
will be denied benefits and in
most cases CSEA members will
have to deliver that message. As
the state demands personal
responsibility from welfare
recipients, it must also accept
responsibility to protect public
employees on the front lines.
The issues of safety and health
go beyond just work site security.
CSEA fought long and hard to
secure safety and health
protections for public employees
through the enactment of the
Public Employee Safety and
Health Act in 1978. We are not
about to see those protections
eroded, Workers Memorial Day
should serve as a reminder why.
fe
Page 8 « April 1997 * The Public Sector
THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Members of the
Syracuse City School
District Cleaning
Team use
environmentally
responsible chemicals
and efficient
equipment to keep
their schools
healthier and safer.
Above is John Melfi
and at right is Willie
Thomas.
CSEA supports
healthy schools,
healthy kids
healthy workers
See pages 10 & 11
CSEA joins
campaign for
healthy schools
SEA is working with
New York State
Healthy Schools
Network to promote
environmental health
in schools.
Healthy Schools Network is a
statewide coalition of parent,
environment, education and
public health groups dedicated to
assuring every child and school
employee an environmentally
healthy school.
Founded in 1994, the
network's organizational
membership reaches well over
one million public school
building occupants
CSEA is joining the campaign
by printing posters for statewide
distribution (see page 11). The
posters are being printed on
recycled paper using
environmentally-friendly soy-
based inks, said CSEA Labor
Relations Specialist John
Phillips.
“The goals of the network have
a direct effect on our members
working in schools,” Phillips
said. “We're very happy to be
involved with the network on
such important issues.”
Phillips, who acts as CSEA
liaison to the Healthy Schools
Network, noted that CSEA
members are often the catalyst
for safer, healthier schools. For
example, >
District, CSEA members led the
way to a cleaning system that
uses fewer, safer chemicals to
clean schools more efficiently
(see adjacent stories).
The Healthy Schools Network
convinced the state Board of
Regents to adopt new
environmental principles for
school facilities, establish an
oversight committee to advise the
Education Department on facility
reforms and hold public hearings
on public school conditions.
“CSEA supports the Healthy
Schools Network because its
work is so important,” CSEA
President Danny Donohue said.
“We agree with its goals of
healthy schools for all children,
and we'll do what we can to
help.”
Page 10 * April 1997 * The Public Sector
Cleaning plan is healthier
SYRACUSE — The Team Cleaning
For Health Program in the Syracuse
City School District is growing so fast,
the team is having a hard time
keeping up!
The innovative project, based on a
program originated in Las Vegas, uses
system of cleaning tools,
and procedures to clean
school buildings for health reasons,
not just appearance.
The program was spearheaded by a
team of four CSEA members who
work as head custodians for the
district, John Melfi, Bob Seeley, Ray
Wentworth and Willie Thomas, Dr.
Tom Cappa, now district
superintendent, led management
support for the project.
In October, The Public Sector
reported the team had 12 of the
district's 40 buildings using the new
program, Now, about 20 buildings
have adopted the program, Melfi said.
The district is not only getting cleaner
and healthier buildings, but is also
saving money, he said.
“Our average for daily cleaning
products used to be anywhere from
$700 to $1,800 a year per school,” he
said. “Now, the schools that are on-
line with the program have an average
cost of $776 a year. We've also
reduced the custodial supplies
budgets for those schools.”
The schools continue to show
increases in attendance, which shows
that the program is eliminating germs
in the schools, Seeley said.
The team is involved in a
cooperative venture between the
district, the City of Syracuse and
Onondaga County, to train inmates at
the Syracuse Justice Center in a
“Building Maintenance and Custodial
Program,” based on the team-cleaning
concept.
The seven-week program gives the
inmates 50 hours of class instruction
and 50 hours of hands-on training.
The first class of 12 recently
graduated from the program, funded
by a state grant.
Between the new program, their
continuing duties as head custodians
and training to get the rest of the
schools on-line, the team is finding
their time spread thin. They recently
added Head Custodian Marilyn
Henson to their ranks and are hoping
the district will soon create two, and
ultimately four, permanent “trainer”
positions.
“We need more time to devote to
the program,” Wentworth said.
Despite many requests from other
districts, some out of state, they have
not yet taken the program outside
Syracuse.
“We're dedicated to the Syracuse
City Schools first,” Melfi said.
“There's a lot of opportunities out
there for us," Thomas added.
— Mark Kotzin
Members of the Syracuse team display safety stickers. They are, from
left, Ray Wentworth, John Melfi, Bob Seeley and Willie Thomas.
Capital Region school units look to Syracuse Plan
LATHAM — Keeping schools clean
has always been their goal, but now
they want to keep them cleaner and
safer.
CSEA locals in the Amsterdam,
Schenectady and Shenendehowa
School Districts in the Capital Region
are learning about a system that
cleans schools more efficiently and
safely, improves student and teacher
attendance and makes CSEA-
represented workers more valuable.
They hope to learn from fellow
CSEA members in the Syracuse
School District who have implemented
the plan (see story above).
“It's a no-brainer,” CSEA Labor
Relations Specialist Michael Campon
said. “Labor wins, management wins
and most importantly the kids win.”
The innovative program originally
developed by Barry Moore, custodian
in the Clark County School District in
Las Vegas, Nev., centers on using the
correct chemicals, tools, supplies and
training to provide a systematic team
approach to cleaning which results in
a healthier working, learning and
teaching environment.
CSEA Amsterdam CSD Unit
President Alex Beauchamp is very
interested in the healthy schools plan.
“If a clean and healthy building
improves attendance and attendance
increases trigger higher state aid
rates, I'm sure that the cleaners,
custodians and maintenance workers
will be interested in finding out how
they can use this program to benefit
the whole school system,” he said.
Mary Marino, Shenendehowa CSEA
Unit president, reports that cleaners
in her unit are interested.
“We are using water-based, non-
chemical cleansers now with good
results,” she said. “We have students
who are sensitive to chemicals and by
using water-based cleansers they
don’t have any problems.”
CSEA Schenectady City School
District Operational Unit President
Hal Gray wants to know how to get
management on board.
“I'd like to find out more, What
they did, how they did it and how
they got management to buy into the
program,” he said. “The program
sounds like it would be a great benefit
to all involved parties and it would
add job stability to the public
employees, that's for sure.”
The CSEA Labor Relations
Department is in the process of
setting up a visit to the Syracuse City
School District.
Interested CSEA School District
Units should contact Steve Alviene,
deputy director for local government,
for more information, \
— Daniel X. Campbell
THE CSEA
New York
Healthy Schools
Network
> Every child and school employee has a right to an environmentally safe and
healthy learning environment which is clean and in good repair.
> Every child, parent and school employee has a “right to know” about
environmental health issues and hazards in their school environment.
) Schools should serve as role models for environmentally responsible
behavior.
[Excerpted from the New York State Board of Regents’ “Guiding Principles”
for improving the conditions of public school facilities, adopted December 1994.]
Have a
4 Prevent ;
Provide for inje¥® Maintena
This message brought to
you by New York Healthy Schools Network,
a statewide coalition of parents, educators, health and
environment advocates.
FOR A FREE BROCHURE, write to:
we NEW YORK HEALTHY SCHOOLS NETWORK
ay c/o CEC, 33 Central Avenue
Albany, NY 12210
Is Your Schoo
Healthy?
Poor facility conditions can impair
children’s health and ability to learn.
The Public Sector April 1997 * Page 11
A publication for CSEA's Private Sector members
stronger
CSEA’s Private Sector Division is
growing larger and stronger all the
time.
With 40 locals representing
thousands of workers, the division is
gaining members, influence and
strength, all of which are welcomed
by CSEA as a whole.
“CSEA is not a public sector union
or a private sector union,” CSEA
President Danny Donohue. “We are a
union, and our goal is to organize
unrepresented workers wherever
they are and give them the best
representation they can get.”
In a union as large and varied as
CSEA, private sector locals find
something in common with many of
the union’s public sector locals.
“We represent every kind of
worker imaginable,” Donohue said.
“That gives us plenty of common
ground between members, no matter
where they work.”
Continued on page 2
The Private Eye
Photo by Mark Kotzin
CSEA powers change
DELHI — Using the union’s
strength can really pay off, as
food service workers at SUNY
Delhi’s College Association at
Delhi Incorporated (CADI),
CSEA Local 628 know.
They are seeing changes for
the better in their
workplaces, thanks to a
renewed effort to include
more members in the labor-
management process and to
deal with problems as a
group, rather than as
individuals.
Last year workers
complained to CSEA that
management was not
addressing their concerns,
Local 628 President Dorothy
Spiliotopoulos said.
The local called a meeting
and compiled a list of
problems and possible
solutions.
Continued on page 2
* April 1997
A Message from Private Sector
Division Chair Dan Vallee
Welcome to
the Private Eye
Communication
is where it
starts! Welcome
to the first issue
of The Private
Eye. This will be
an important
avenue of
communication
among our
brothers and
sisters within the Private
Sector Division of CSEA.
1 am confident you will find
this publication valuable and
informative as you read about
the activities and strides your
fellow members are making
across New York state.
The “union” truly does
begin with “u” and there
certainly is strength in
numbers, even more so when
we are united, standing
together and speaking with one
powerful vo This is key to
our success and essential in
meeting our goals and
objectives as union members.
Become active.
When your local has
meetings, ATTEND;
When your local has
elections, VOTE;
When your local seeks
action, ACT, be a part of the
union.
Stand shoulder to shoulder
with your union and be proud
to be a part of ONE powerful
voice, and they will take notice
and listen,
We welcome your input and
encourage you to share your
suggestions, successes and
activities to make this
publication effective.
As always, feel free to
contact me with any questions
or concerns that you may have.
I can be reached at
518-473-3705.
In Solidarity,
Daniel J. Vallee, chair
eS
Private Sector Division, CSEA
Page 2
A relatively new
CSEA activist,
Colleen Hayase is
vice president of the
CSEA Mid-Hudson
Library System Unit.
“CSEA provides us
with a way we can
negotiate with
management,” she
said. “CSEA provides
many benefits to our
members which is
nice. Through
negotiations we
finally have a dental
plan in place.”
CSEA brings solidarity, strength
Once you sign your CSEA
membership card, you get the
power of a union 265,000 strong.
CSEA has the experience and
expertise to offer top negotiating
skills to win you a solid contract
and superior representation.
The first contract is the most
important because it establishes a
base for future contracts.
If your employer fails to
respect your rights and the
contract, has the legal staff
to enforce those contracts.
Thanks to the legal department
and Legal Assistance Program,
members have won their jobs
back. Thousands have secured
deserved promotions, back pay,
overtime and other rights and
benefits unjustly denied.
CSEA’s Organizing and Member
Relations Department offers a
wide range of services, including
Occupational Safety and Health
Education and Training
and Member Benefits staff.
In retirement, CSEA members
can stay with the union that
offers political clout at the local
and state level and, through
AFSCME, at the national level.
CSEA’s Private
Sector is growing
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
is conducting a three-
day. Private Sector Institute for
CSEA field staff at Cornell
University in May.
“Many of our labor relations
specialists have private sector
experience, but we want to make
sure everyone is up to speed,”
Donohue said.
The Private Sector Division has
an annual workshop which gives
activists and leaders an
opportunity for education,
training and interaction with
other activists and statewide
officers.
Local presidents have input at
the workshop, through a survey
mailed last month asking for
ideas for training and events,
CSEA Private Sector Division
Chair Dan Vallee said.
The 1997 workshop will take
place July 11 and 12 in Syracuse.
“We have the workshops, the
staff training, board
representation, everything that
goes with being part of CSEA,”
Vallee said. “That’s because we
are a part of CSEA, and a very
important part.
Health, dental, vision benefits available to private sector
CSEA is committed to winning
health benefits for its members.
Through GHI, CSEA can present
a comprehensive medical benefits
plan. The employer must agree to
the plan in negotiations for it to
become available to members,
The plan offers hospital
benefits, outpatient benefits,
medical and surgical benefits and
optional prescription drug
benefits. It also offers choice of
network physicians and
reimbursement if you use non-
network doctors.
CSEA can also offer dental and
vision benefits through Jardine
Group Services.
You are eligible for these
benefits if your local has
negotiated for them with the
employer. Certain participation
requirements must be met in
order for the plans to be offered.
In some situations uu may be
able to directly participate in the
programs. However, certain
participation requirements must
be met for the plans to be offered.
If you would like more
information about private sector
employee benefit plans, contact
your labor relations specialist.
CSEA powers change for the better at SUNY Delhi Local
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
The local then pulled together a
group of workers representing
each worksite to meet with
management and present their
list.
“For the first time, it seems
like management has taken us
seriously, and really listened to
our concerns, and acted on them
Spiliotopoulos said.
One change is the weekly
updating of student meal plans to
give students the balance on their
accounts, Local Secretary Penny
Jo Curless said. This makes it
easier for students to budget and
saves the cashiers time.
The successful labor-
management effort has made the
workers realize that the union can
help, Curless said.
“T see a lot more members
coming to the union officers with
* April 1997
their problems now that they
know that the union can do
something about it.” Cashier Terri
Terry agreed.
Head Cook Brenda Wallace said
the goal is better service.
“We want to strive to make
improvements to better serve our
customers,” she said, “This new
forum makes us more comfortable
and allows us to share our ideas,”
— Mark Kotzin
The Private Eye
Phyllis Heannings of CSEA Local
628 dishes out food at SUNY Delhi.
CSEA comes through
for health care workers
with CSEA.
facility
several times.
When a
wanted them.
Let us know what you think about
The Private Eye and give us your
ideas for CSEA organizing efforts.
Bus drivers join
CSEA for strength
DELEVAN—Bus drivers for
Laidlaw Transit Inc. and the
Pioneer School District are
preparing to negotiate their first
contract as a CSEA local.
“Our members want fair
Why organizing matters
As private operators reap
profits by transporting school
children, CSEA is committed to
organizing unorganized drivers.
The goal is to raise the
industry standard. Private
companies cut costs by cutting
wages, benefits, safety training
and license preparation.
CSEA wants non-union
employers to give their
employees the wages, benefits
and training they deserve, to
build a stronger work force and
keep our children 5
EA also provides important
training that can help achieve
that goal.
treatment from the employer, and
we were aware of CSEA’s
reputation of working on behalf
of its members,” said Local
President Warren Schneider. “We
had been hit with too many
unilateral cuts in work days and
other benefits, so it was time for
us to come together and bargain
collectively under the union
banner.”
“A three-month CSEA
organizing campaign gave the bus
drivers plenty of opportunity to
see the value in joining together
and bargaining collectively,”
CSEA Organizer Robert Bradshaw
Jr. said.
“Our workdays had been cut
from 210 days not so long ago to
a projected 180 days in the next
few years,” Schneider said.
“They had cut out meals, and
there was favoritism in assigning
bus routes. A fair, negotiated
contract should change all that.”
Mark Higgins, CSEA Western
CATSKILL — CSEA
members at the Columbia
Greene Long-Term Care
Facility have a long history
In the 1970s when the
was the Greene
County Home and Hospital,
CSEA saved the public
facility from closure
iscal crisis
forced the county to stop
providing health care, CSEA
stuck by the employees
when the Columbia Hospital
took over the facility.
The 130 employees are
seeing the power of C
again. Management claims it
doesn’t have money to
negotiate wage re-openers —
even though management
CSEA went public early
to prevent a standoff. When
the union released a
statement announcing a
campaign to build public
support, management
became more flexible.
While the increases still
must be negotiated,
management is at least at
the table.
The workers know they
can count on the union.
“There have been many
times ... where CSEA
representation really
helped the workers,
recalled Nancy Bellens, a
3A CSEA member for more than
21 years. “It’s nice knowing
that the union is behind
you if you have a problem.”
— Daniel X. Campbell
Write us at:
The Private Eye, c/o Communications
143 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12210
New officers of the new CSEA
Laidlaw Transit Pioneer School
District Local 734 are: seated
from left, Secretary Donna
Schnieder and Treasurer Ellie
Riber; and standing from left,
President Warren Schneider,
Second Vice President Rich
Tobin and First Vice President
David Stimely.
Region director, is helping the new
local negotiate its first contract.
* April 1997 «
“A Message from CSEA
President Danny Donohue
CSEA meets the
members’ needs
I am always
proud to say
that CSEA is the
best union
around.
This first
edition of The
Private Eye is
another way to
prove it.
No union can
match the range and quality of
services and benefits that
CSEA provides to its members.
Just as important is CSEA’s
commitment to meeting the
needs of all our members as
best we can, in whatever way
we can.
Many people have asked for
more information on our
Private Sector efforts and I
know The Private Eye will
meet this need, with periodic
publication
CSEA represents more than
265,000 men and women
across New York in every
conceivable kind of job. Our
diversity is a great part of
our strength, but so is our
solidarity.
It doesn’t matter where you
work or what kind of work you
do. We live in an era of
downsizing, when economic
fairness is lacking, and
working people find it harder
to make ends meet.
CSEA is committed to
organizing and representing
working people so they are
treated with dignity.
It’s not easy. But when
CSEA members join together
as we have time and again, we
ruly can make a difference.
‘A works hard to win good
contracts and protect our
members’ rights and benefits.
We also build on our strength
by organizing new members.
I hope all of you will get
involved in helping CSEA to
grow. Please read these pages
and let me know about any
suggestions you have to make
CSEA even better.
CRebe
It pays to belong to CSEA — Member Benefits give you a break ca:
When you sign a CSEA membership card
you get tremendous benefits — and not just
in the workplace. Here’s a list of a few
consumer benefits you are eligible for as. a
CSEA member.
AFSCME Advantage Mastercard
Features one of the lowest interest rates
— 5 percent above the prime lending
rate. No annual fee,
AFSCME Advantage Mortgage Program
Makes buying a home or refinancing
your mortgage more affordable.
AFSCME Advantage Legal Services
You can obtain quality, affordable
legal services through the AFSCME
Advantage Union Privilege Lega!
Services Program.
Insurance
Care Program.
The Buyer’s Edge
AFSCME Advantage Loan Program
Unsecured personal loans from $2,500 to
$15,000, with affordable monthly
payments, are available to credit-
qualified applicants.
A buy-by-phone service designed to save
you money on major purchases.
CSEA offers several insurance programs
at low group rates with the convenience
of payroll deduction: CSEA Security
Life Plan, Disability Income Protection
Program, Hospital Income Insurance
Plan, Family Protection Plan, Auto
Insurance, Homeowners/ Renters
Insurance and the CSEA Long-Term
AFSCME Advantage Flower Service
Savings on long-distance flower delivery.
No processing charge or handling fees.
AFSCME Union Driver and Traveler Program
The AFSCME Union Driver and
Traveler Program is a motor club, travel
service and auto repair service all in one.
AFSCME Advantage Dental Program
A discount dental program (not dental
insurance) that may help lower your out-
of-pocket expenses.
Disney World, Theme Parks Discounts
Discount admission to Disney World in
Florida, Disney Land in California, Six
Flags Amusement Parks and Anheuser
Busch Theme Parks Clubs.
soma To get more information on these benefits, call the CSEA Membership ===
Benefits Department at Headquarters, 1-800-342-4146, ext. 307 or 224
Health Research Inc. Local 315
President James Jayes, 716-845-5866
LRS Jim Gleason, 716-495-6514
Health Research Inc, Local 316
President Daniel J. Vallee, 51
LRS Kate Luscombe, 518-785
Alfred State University Local 620
President Thomas N. Drumm, 607-587-4243
LRS Thomas Finger, 716-886-0391
SUNY Buffalo Faculty Student Association Local 621
President Kathryn M, Leber, 716-636-2336
LRS Vincent Sicari, 716-886-0391
Oswego Faculty Student Association Local 622
President Natalie J. Waters, 315-341-4115
LRS Thomas Dupee, 315-785-9128
Brockport Faculty Student Association Local 624
President Freida E, Byers, 716-395-2574
LRS Pat Domaratz, 716-272-0800
Potsdam College Food Service Local 625
President Penny A. Bond, 315-267-2661
LRS Charlie Bird, 518-483-7630.
State University College at Fredonia FSA Local 627
President Judith A, Gizowski, 716-673-3534
LRS Richard Maggio, 716-753-5290
FSA at Delhi Technical College Local 628
President Dorothy Spiliotopoulos, 607-746-4780
LRS Chuck Gregory, 607-772-1750
Geneseo Faculty Student Association Local 629
President Sandra Bartholomew, 716-245-5675
LRS Candy Saxon, 716-355-9727
St. Lawrence Unive Local 630
President Edna R. Dana, 315-379-5500
LRS Stephen Ragan, 315-386-8131
Suffolk Cooperative Libra: tem Local 701
President JoAnne Cuccia, 516-286-1600
LRS Shayne Gallo, 516-462-0030
Mid Hudson Library System Local 702
President Mary L, Kochik, 914-471-6060
LRS Art Fleischner, 914-831-1000
Ramapo-C. ill Library System Local 703
President Margaret M, Trentacosta, 914-343-1131
LRS Colleen Davies, 914-831-1000
Peekskill Cafeteria Unit - ARA Services Inc. Local 706
President Deborah Daniels, 914-788-0164
LRS Evan Echenthal, 914-831-1000
Hudson Valley Community Colleg
President Jane E, Brantigan, 518:
LRS Kate Luscombe, 518-785-4400
Mohawk Valley Libra: ssociation Local 708
President Sue Z. Rokos, 518-355-2018
LRS Ed Catrine, 518-785-4400
Watkins Glen - Laidlaw Transit Inc. Local 709
President John W. Lutomske,
LRS Joseph Maratea, 607-772
Zoological Society of Buffalo Inc. Local 710
President Lee Wroblewski, 716-837-3900.
LRS Don Wood, 716-886-0391
Hopevale Inc. Local 712
President Deborah A. McNaughton, 716-648-1964
LRS Don Wood, 716-886-0391
Geneya B, Scruggs Health Care Facility Local 713
President Sandra D, Grant, 716-896-7111
LRS Dean Adams, 716-886-0391
Helmuth Day Care Inc. Local 714
President Karen L, Schinzel, 716-532.
LRS Thomas Finger, 716-886-0391
Niagara County Head Start Local 715
President Kelly A, Ketch, 716-778-5802
LRS Lou DalPorto, 716-886-0391
Lockport Memorial Hospital Local 716
President Stephene A, Sanmarco, 716-434-9111
LRS Lou DalPorto, 716-886-0391
Nioga Library System Local 717
President Diane M. Hunt, 716-434-6167
LRS Lou DalPorto, 716-886-0391
Service America Inc, Local 721
Administrators: Robert L. Lattimer, 716-886-0391
Mark Higgins, 716-886-0391
LRS Don Wood, 716-886-0391
Bethpage USFD Cafeteria Employees Local 723
President Eileen J, Musgrave, 516-733-3815
LRS Ken Brotherton, 516-462-0030
Know your local president and CSEA labor relations specialist
Pius XII Holy Cross Campus Local 724
President Julia E. Roundtree, 914-831-1000
LRS Art Fleischner, 914-831-1000
Pius XII Chester Campus Institutional Unit Local 725
President Diana R. Oliver, 914-469-2121
LRS Art Fleischner, 914-831-1000
Pius XII Chester Campus Professional Unit Local 726
President Ronald S$. Dobson, 914-343-7487
LRS Art Fleischner, 914-831-1000
St. Joseph’s Nursing Home Local 727
President Richard P. Chevrier, 315-393-3780
LRS Stephen Ragan, 315-386-813
Schenectady Family Health Services Local 728.
President James Reedy, 518-377-2954
LRS Ed Catrine, 518-785-4400,
Oneida County Community Action Agency Local 729
President Rhonda L, Hoehn, 315-942-5598
LRS Richard Toth, 315-433-0050
Yank Waste Recycling Workers Local 730
President Roger Althister, 518-456-2345
LRS Michael Campon, 518-785-4400.
Westchester Housekeeping and Laundry Employees Local 731
Administrators: Carmine DiBattista, 914-831-1000
Mary Williams, 914-347-6064
LRS Alisa Cagle, 914-831-1000
Alcohol and Drug Dependency Services Local 732
President Edward L, Turner, 716-854-2977
LRS Jim Gleason, 716-495-6514
Amsterdam Head Start Local 733
President an Battaglia, 518-842-8.
LRS Ed Catrine, 518-785-4400
Laidlaw Transportation/Pioneer School District Local 734
President Warren Schneider, 716-886-0391
LRS Thomas Finger, 716-886-0391
Nassau Library System Employees Local 735
President Rochelle Jordan, 516-292-8920
LRS Stanley Frere, 516-462-0030
Columbia-Greene Medical Center Inc. Local 888
President Donna M, Caltabiano, 518-943-9380
LRS Andrew MacDonald, 518-785-4400
St. Mary’s School for the Deaf Local 891
President Paul M, Sabato, 716-834-7200
LRS Don Wood, 716-886-0391
Page 4
* April 1997 «
The Private Eye
Show that
we are all
Big Labor
Opponents of labor try
to disparage the
movement using the
term “big labor” to
paint a portrait of
fat powerbrokers Pe
trying to use their
influence and dues 3
money to their own
advantage. ,, L e
The truth is, “Big &
Labor” is the working
people of this country fighting high-
powered, well-financed interest groups
who really do try to manipulate the
democratic system for their own ends.
Now there is a campaign to change
the negative connotation of “Big Labor.”
“Big labor is not just union
presidents. It's everyone who belongs
to a union or who would like to. It’s
broom Buse wrench turners,
nurses, computer
operators, airline pilots and many
others. We are all a part of big labor,”
campaign organizers say.
‘A group of us, union members,
scholars and other friends of labor
have launched a national campaign to
inform our detractors of how BIG and
PROUD we really are. We're going to
send them a message that will induce
nightmares, AND, at the same time,
raise money to help the Detroit
Newspaper strikers.”
All proceeds from sale of the buttons
goes to the locked out workers.
To support the campaign, you can
order 2 1/4 inch buttons that say “I
am Big Labor.” They are red and black
on a white background. You can see it
in color and get more information on
the worldwide web at
http://www.natcavoice.org
/biglabor.htm.
You may use cash, check or money
order, Please make checks out to
“NATCA Voice.” Call for credit card
information, Send orders to;
Bryan Thompson
c/o The NATCA Voice
112 Juliann Drive #5
Wood Dale, IL 60919
Buttons are $1 each. Include
postage of $1 for 1-8 buttons, $2 for 9-
16 buttons, $3 for more than 16
buttons.
If you have questions, call or write:
e-mail staff@natcavoice.org or call
630-860-7423.
te
)
a)
Page 12 ¢ April 1997 * The Public Sector
Strawberry workers
take a stand with UFW
On April 13, thousands of
people will converge on
Watsonville, CA., to march in
support of strawberry workers.
They are at the heart of the
largest organizing campaign ever.
Strawberry workers stoop over
plants for 10 to 12 hours a day.
They suffer frequent back
injuries and the effects of
working amid toxic pesticides,
yet they have no health
insurance.
Two or three families
crowd into a small
apartment. Others live
in cars and makeshift
shacks in the fields.
Women are sexually
harassed, and child
labor laws are violated.
Workers average only
$8,000. Too many are paid
less than the minimum wage.
Labor, civil rights,
religious and
environmental groups
have started a national
campaign to improve the lives of
20,000 strawberry workers in
California.
The workers are organizing
with the United Farm Workers.
This is not the first time
workers have tried to organize,
but the industry crushed those
efforts, plowing under crops and
poll Wo, abandoning workers.
This time, the union
Ge is enlisting public
o support for the
workers.
The campaign is
asking for “5 cen|
> for fairness” because
& an increase of only 5
® cents per pint of berries
picked would boost the
workers’ piece rate by at least 50
percent.
The goals of the campaign are:
BA living wage
@ Clean drinking water and
bathrooms in the fields
@ Job security
@ Health insurance
@ An end to sexual
harassment and other abuses.
The campaign is asking
supermarkets to pledge for
strawberry workers’ rights and
endorse the goals of the
organizing campaign. You can
help by asking your store
manager to pledge.
Call the UFW at
212-219-0022, ext. 7198, to find
out more,
American Labor Link Briefs
Downsizing Government Style
You can take a look at how
government looks at what is
euphemistically called
“downsizing.”
Government Executive, billed as
the independent business
magazine of government, has put
a comprehensive report on
government downsizing on the
worldwide web.
“The Downsizing Report” is a
compilation of more than 50
articles from the past four years
that the magazine calls “an easy-
to-use guide to government
downsizing.”
You can access “The
Downsizing Report” at:
http: //www.govexec.com /
reinvent/downsize.
AFL-CIO provides updates
How can you keep up with all
the issues and events in the labor
movement? Well, if you have a
fax, you can get a weekly report
from the AFL-CIO,
“Work in Progress; This Week
in America’s Unions” is faxed to
all activists who would like to
receive it. It contains updates,
information and other news
about unions across the country
and around the world.
To receive “Work in Progress,”
call the AFL-CIO at
1-202-637-5010.
NATCA offers info online
Another link to labor
nationwide is the NATCA Voice
Online.
The National Air Traffic
Controllers Association has an
extensive website with
information on labor, legislation
and history and downlinks to
other labor-related web sites as
well as NATCA-specific
information. You can find NATCA
Voice Online at
http: / /NATACAVoice.org.
Detroit Newspaper Update
Last year, “American Labor
Link" featured a first-person story
of the Detroit newspaper strike.
Now, 20 months after it began,
the strike is a lockout. Striking
workers offered unconditionally to
go back to work. The newspapers
agreed — except they won't fire
strikebreakers. Workers will only
be rehired as vacancies occur.
Unions representing 2,000
employees are continuing their
campaigns against Knight Ridder
and Gannet, owners of the two
Detroit newspapers.
Labor-Religion Coalition goes
international in Guatemala
The New York State Labor-
Religion Coalition and Witness for
Peace are sending a delegation to
Guatemala June 11 to 22.
The delegation will meet with
Guatemalan workers, religious
leaders, church groups, business
leaders and government officials,
stay with poor families, take part
in the annual Unions’ Meeting
and Remembrance and create
bonds of solidarity in the
common struggle against
transnational corporate greed.
The cost will be about $1,275,
Application deadline is April 30.
For more information, contact
Maureen Casey at 518-272-8275.
Labor-related Websites:
CSEA:
http://www.cseainc.org
AFSCME:
http: / /www.afscme.org
AFL-CIO:
http://www.aflcio.org
GENERAL NEWS
MEMORIAL DAY - APRIL 28
CSEA members across the state are urged to pause for a moment of
silence on Workers Memorial Day, April 28, and reflect upon the tragic
loss of lives and the injuries and illnesses inflicted on workers by unsafe
working conditions, exposure to toxic substances, explosions and other
hazards in the workplace.
Workers Memorial Day is a national observance day to remember those
who were killed or injured in the workplace and to collectively pledge to
fight for the living to make worksites safer and healthier places for
working men and women.
Each day in the United States more than 20,000 workers are injured
and many are killed on-the-job. More than 100,000 more workers die
each year from injuries and disease contracted on the job during their
working days.
CSEA locals are encouraged to mark Workers Memorial Day by wearing
black arm bands, observing a moment of silence, conducting a memorial
service or organizing other local activities. For more information contact
the CSEA Communications Dept.
We remember...
On April 28 CSEA will be remembering three members who
died on-the-job since last Workers Memorial Day.
June 1996
Daniel Van Benschoten, Mid-Hudson Bridge Authority. He
died after falling nearly 200 feet while cleaning steel girders
on the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge.
John Mangino, SUNY Binghamton. He was found
unconscious shortly after mowing grass, and later died.
July 1996
Martin Grenzhauser, City of Middletown. He died in a
trenching accident while working at his second job.
Lives worth millions in California
are worth pennies in NY courts
Bills in state Legislature would change that
If Ron Goldman, a part-time
waiter, and Nicole Brown Simpson, a
housewife, had been murdered in
New York state, their survivors would
have received very little in
compensation. In California, the civil
verdict totaled $8.5 million.
That’s because New York's archaic
wrongful death law, passed in 1847,
Says jurors can consider only a
deceased's income, and not the love
and guidance they gave their family
nor their family’s emotional loss,
when setting the value of a person’s
life. In New York, if a drunk driver
killed a child, a housewife, or a
senior citizen, their lives would be
worth virtually nothing because they
had no income.
S lobbyists
political action
activists are
dropping by state
legislators’ offices
constantly, u
support for C
legislative pre
bills during the
current session of
visits are
followed up with
ry telephone
on cal
Now a coalition of advocate groups
and other organizations, including
the NYS AFL-CIO (which includes
CSEA), is joining with the New York
State Trial Lawyers Association to
lobby the state Legislature to amend
that ancient law. Bills (S.585 and
A.4553) in the Legislature would
modernize the law by allowing
recovery by loved ones for their “grief
or anguish, loss of love, society,
protection, comfort” when they lost a
family member as a result of a crime
or other unlawful act.
You can help by calling your state
legislators and urging them to pass
S.585 in the state Senate and A.4553
in the state Assembly.
Lookherin 4
the face
ncer.
WE’RE TURNING UP THE HEAT (iggaete
es are
Assembly Majority Leader Michael J.
Bragman, left, receives information from
Central Region Political Action
Committee members Sally Heater and
Rick Noreault and CSEA Political Action
Coordinator Gerald Fidler. The activists
expressed support of a bill sponsored by
Bragman that would allow SUNY
hospitals to compete effectively in the
health care market. They also urged
legislative support of CSEA legislativ:
program bills. :
prevention of
privatization of
it
that adt
il principles
nt to labor
and several other
topics important to
workingmen and
women:
Two CSEA local presidents from Roswell Park
Cancer Institute (RPCI) in Buffalo flank a union-
sponsored bus stop shelter ad supporting keeping
the world-renown RPCI a public-owned facility.
The ads are co-sponsored by CSEA and PEF.
Brian J. Madden, left, is president of CSEA RPCI
Local 303 and Jim Jayes, right, is president of
CSEA Health Research, Inc. (Buffalo) Local 315.
The union-sponsored ads appear on several bus
stop shelters, about 60 public transit buses and a
billboard in the Buffalo area as part of a union-
sponsored media advertising campaign in the
Buffalo area. CSEA is also airing radio and
television ads.
Lobbying state Sen. Joseph R.
Holland, right, to help prevent
the privatization of Helen
Hayes Hospital in West
Haverstraw are CSEA Southern
Region Political Action
Committee members Caroline
Osinga, left, and Diane Hewitt.
The union activists also
lobbied for a fair state budget
and adoption of CSEA
| legislative program bills.
GENERAL NEWS
The Public.Sector ¢ April 1997 * Page 13
From left, CSEA Metropolitan Region President George Boncoraglio,
Brotherhood Committee Chairwoman Lily Smith, President Donohue
and State Assemblymember Catherine Nolan.
Labor and religion make a powerful combination
ALBANY — “Labor and religion
together become a potent force to
question the morals of government
or business actions that hurt
workers or the truly needy,” CSEA
President Danny Donohue said.
He spoke as a new member of the
New York State Labor and Religion
Coalition's Advisory Board, joining
state Federation of Labor President
Ed Cleary and other union and
religious leaders.
CSEA is proud to stand with
concerned clergy who are criticizing
New York State's budget priorities
that cut aid for colleges, hospitals,
nursing homes, affordable housing,
child care and civil service jobs.
Albany Catholic Diocese Bishop
Howard J. Hubbard told Labor and
State coalition calls for
responsible welfare reform
New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness, a public policy
group, recently sponsored an educational forum called
‘Real Welfare for All: Linking Corporate and Personal
Responsibility.’ The theme of the
forum was that welfare reform
can work as long as corporations
demonstrate some leadership by
creating real jobs for real people.
Participants included Frank
Mauro of the Fis
Institute, Anne Erickson of the
Greater Upstate Law Project,
Marie Monrad of AFSCME and
Eliot Seide, chair of New Yorkers
for Fiscal Fairness.
for Fiscal Fairness
Frank Mauro
New Yorker
Religion Coalition members, “at no
time in recent history has the fate of
working persons and the poor and
unprotected members of society,
particularly the mentally ill, been so
imperiled.
“We must not sacrifice to the false
gods of greed and vested self-
interest.”
Advisory Board clergy included
Protestant ministers, Catholic
priests, Muslim imams and Jewish
rabbis. ;
“Years ago it was the Church that
stood with workers when they had
nowhere else to go,” Donohue said.
“We are very hopeful that CSEA
members will support the Labor and
Religion Coalition and make a real
difference by enlisting the help of
Donohue receives Brotherhood award
MANHATTAN — The New York
State Employees Brotherhood
Committee presented CSEA
President Danny Donohue with the
prestigious Bertram Harris Civil
Service Award at their 43rd annual
meeting.
In presenting the Harris award,
CSEA Metropolitan Region President
George Boncoraglio praised
Donohue’'s reputation for fairness
and supporting human rights.
“Danny Donohue surely lives the
principles of brotherhood every day,
standing up for the rights of all
people regardless of their race, creed,
color or religion,” Boncoraglio said.
Donohue emphasized in his
acceptance remarks that union
their pastors and spiritual leaders.”
Bishop Hubbard said he was
“doubly hopeful that the Labor and
Religion Coalition can make a
difference, that it can reach down
into labor and religious traditions
and reintroduce compassion into the
public debate and have the
government exercise its
responsibility.”
“When our faith communities
stand together with us, there will be
a powerful voice saying people are
more important than profits and
property,” Donohue said.
For more information about how
you can help the Labor and Religion
Coalition, write to: NYS Labor-
Religion Coalition, 159 Wolf Road,
Albany, New York 12205.
1 Policy
AFL-CIO
oe
.is a statewide organization that was created to shape
and encourage solutions to restore fiscal stability to
New York State. It includes religious, community-
based, human service and labor organizations and
individuals concerned with the state’s current tax
structure and the public policies that are derived from
it.
Flo Tripi, president of Monroe County employees
unit of CSEA Local 828 and CSEA Western Region
first vice president, was honored as a Labor Leader of
the Year by the Rochester AFL-CIO Labor Council.
With Tripi are John Lemback, program committee
chair, and Council President Ron Pettingill.
members and people of good will
everywhere must work together to
set the example of brotherhood and
tolerance that can heal our nation.
State Assemblymember Catherine
Nolan, who also received
Brotherhood Committee recognition,
also saluted Donohue for his
dedication to the labor movement
and the issues of working families.
— Lilly Gioia
Summary of
March meeting of
Board of Directors
Editor's note: The Public Sector
publishes a summary of actions taken
by CSEA's Board of Directors at the
board's official meetings. The summary
is prepared by CSEA Statewide
Secretary Barbara Reeves for the
information of union members.
ALBANY — CSEA's statewide Board
of Directors met here on March 6,
1997. In official action, the board:
*Approved the appointment of John
Shepherd to fill a vacancy on the
Public Sector Committee;
*Approved the appointment of Bill
McMahon to fill a vacancy on the
Director's Committee;
_ “Approved granting a Local Charter
to Laidlaw Transit, Inc. /Pioneer
School District Transportation Local
734;
*Approved CSEA Region II Tax and
Finance Local 460 entering into a
three-year lease agreement for copier
equipment with HI-TECH Business
Systems;
*Approved New York City State
Employees Local 010 entering into a
five-year lease for office space effective
April 1, 1997;
“Approved the Standing Legal
Committee Report as amended;
*Approved a recommendation of
insurance company to adopt “Multiple
Options Service” program providing
more choices and options for coverage
and rates for long-term care
insurance; and
*Approved upgrading and modifying
various staff positions.
Questions concerning this summary
of actions taken
by CSEA's
statewide Board |
of Directors
should be i
directed to CSEA
Statewide
Secretary
Barbara Reeves,
CSEA
Headquarters,
143 Washington
Avenue, Albany,
NY 12210,
1-800-342-4146 CSEA Statewide
Secretary
or
(518) 434-0191, Barbara Reeves
Page 14 « April 1997 * The Public Sector
GENERAL NEWS
7
=\ Sept. 22 through Sept. 26 in Buffalo.
IMIPORTANT NOTICE *\
May 15 is deadline
for submitting both
~ Proposed resolutions
<> Amendments to CSEA’s
Constitution & By-Laws
May 15, 1997 is the deadline for submitting both proposed
resolutions and proposed amendments to the CSEA Constitution
& By-Laws for consideration by CSEA delegates to the union’s
1997 Annual Delegates Meeting.
PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS
Proposed resolutions may be submitted only by a delegate
and must be submitted on the proper forms. Forms for
submitting resolutions are available from your CSEA local
president or CSEA headquarters and region offices.
Proposed resolutions must be submitted no later than May 15
to Statewide Secretary Barbara Reeves, CSEA Headquarters,
143 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12210-2303.
CONSTITUTION & BY-LAWS AMENDMENTS
Proposed amendments (accompanied by the rationale for same)
to the CSEA Constitution & By-Laws must be submitted no later
than May 15 to Statewide Secretary Barbara Reeves, CSEA
Headquarters, 143 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12210-2303.
The 1997 CSEA Annual Delegates Meeting will be held
CSEA local, unit secretary/treasurer
training scheduled for April, May
Training will be conducted for local and unit secretaries and treasurers
during April and May, according to an announcement by CSEA Statewide
Treasurer Maureen Malone and CSEA Statewide Secretary Barbara Reeves.
z
The CSEA Advantage
Cellular Phone
Discount Programs
CELLULAR ONE
Service Areas: Tompkins, Cortland,
Chenango, Seneca, Cayuga, Yates,
Schuyler and *Oswego
Monthly access charge: $12.00
Per minute charge: $.21 peak/off
peak
Activation fee: Waived
Contract term: 12 months
Discounted equipment
For more information, call:
Stephanie Togni
1-800-524-2351
607-273-0400 or 607-280-0606
*For Oswego County, call
Carol Haynes
FRONTIER CELLULAR
(Special Plan Features Available)
County Service Areas: Erie, Niagara,
Chautauqua, Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming,
Cattaraugus, Allegany, Monroe, Livingston,
Steuben, Wayne, Ontario, Chemung, Tioga,
Onondaga, Broome, Oneida, Madison, St.
Lawrence, Jefferson, Lewis and Herkimer.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL
1-800-440-1894
1-800-541-8890 ext. 5130
Some restrictions apply. 315-439-5130 or 315-447-4004
Must credit qualify.
CELLULAR ONE
Service Areas: Ulster, Sullivan,
Dutchess and Orange
Monthly access charge: $15.95
Per minute charge: 100 bonus minutes
upon activation, $.35 peak, $.25 off peak,
$.55 NYS roam
Activation fee: Waived
Contract term: 2 years
Discounted equipment
CELLULAR ONE
Service Areas: Columbia, Greene,
Otsego, Schoharie and Delaware
Monthly access charge: $8.95
Per minute charge: 100 bonus minutes
upon activation, $.19 peak,
$.16 off peak, $.45 NYS roam
Activation fee: Waived
Contract term: 2 years
Discounted equipment
For more information, call:
ED FRATZ 607-434-1128, 607-434-1129, 914-399-1129 or 914-389-9000
GENERAL NEWS
RON BROWN 914-389-9000
The secretary-treasurer training dates are as follows:
Long Island Region — May 28 —
Plainview Plaza
Metropolitan Region — April 29 — Region 2 Office
Southern Region — April 30 — Fishkill Holiday Inn
Capital Region — May 12 — Best Western, Wolf Road, Albany
Central Region— April 16 — Sheraton Liverpool
Western Region — May 6 — Marriott Buffalo
May 7 — Marriott Rochester
Local and unit secretaries and treasurers will receive notices of the
training schedule and related information. Secretaries and treasurers who
do not receive a notice five weeks prior to the appropriate training date
should call 1-800-342-4146 ext. 253 or 254.
Sandra Grant earns PEOPLE recruiter honors for February
Sandra Grant, a member of CSEA Geneva B. Scruggs Health Care
Facility Local 713 in western New York earned PEOPLE Recruiter of the
Month honors for February by recruiting 24 new PEOPLE members.
PEOPLE (Public Employees Organized to Promote Legislative Equality) is
the CSEA/AFSCME lobbying program that operates at the federal level.
Are you protected
against flood damage?
CSEA-sponsored flood insurance program
available through Jardine Group Services Corp.
When it comes to flood insurance,
it's important to keep in mind that
many homeowners insurance plans
do not cover damage that results
from floods.
As part of the CSEA-sponsored
Personal Insurance Program,
members can purchase complete
flood insurance through the National
Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Offered through Jardine Group
Services Corp., the union's
insurance programs administrator,
this special plan features solid
coverage to help you protect your
property and assets from the
destruction of flood waters.
As the seasons change from
winter to spring in New York State,
the need for flood insurance often
grows stronger. Especially after last
year’s widespread flooding, when so
many of us saw firsthand the
damage a flood can cause.
Aside from complete insurance
coverage, NFIP says the best way you
can prepare for a flood is by listening
to all the storm warnings and
followirig evacuation procedures. For
example, board up windows, store
outside items in the house, shut off
utilities, prepare an emergency kit
with such items as food and water,
blankets, flashlight, portable can
opener, first-aid supplies and a
battery-operated radio.
It's also recommended to keep a
list of your possessions and their
value in a safe deposit box. If your
property is damaged, you will have a
quick way to find out the value of
what was destroyed.
For more information on
CSEA-sponsored flood insurance,
call Jardines'
Personal Insurance
Program Hotline
at 1-800-833-4657.
Check with a CSEA customer
service representative today, so you
don't leave yourself open to financial
loss.
Call Jardines for all your insurance needs!
The Public Sector April 1997 * Page 15
NOTICE OF NOMINATIONS, ELECTIONS
Elections for CSEA statewide PRESIDENT,
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY,
TREASURER to be held in 1997
Ballots in mail May 15, due back June 5
The offices of CSEA statewide
president, executive vice
president, secretary and
treasurer are scheduled for
election in 1997. CSEA
members will be electing
officers to fill those statewide
offices for a three-year term
effective July 1, 1997.
The nominating petitioning
period began Feb. 10 and the
deadline for nominating
petitions to be received at
CSEA headquarters was
Campaign statements and
photos submitted by candidates
will be published in the May
edition of The Public Sector.
Ballots will be delivered to
the Post Office for mailing on
May 15, replacement ballots
may be requested on May 23 if
the original ballot was not
received by an eligible voter,
and the deadline for receipt of
ballots at POB is 8 a.m. June
5.
Persons seeking a statewide
March 21. office may appear on the ballot
individually or as part of a statewide offices is below.
slate. A slate must contain a
candidate for each of the
statewide offices: president,
executive vice president,
secretary and treasurer.
The election process is being
overseen by the union's
Elections Committee. The
balloting will be conducted by
an independent election agency
approved by the union’s
statewide Board of Directors.
The remaining schedule for
the 1997 election for CSEA
Any CSEA member
may obtain information
regarding the election
process by contacting the
Elections Committee at
CSEA Headquarters
1-800-342-4146,
Ext. 477
Schedule of election of CSEA statewide officers
April 14 © Deadline for candidates to decline
nomination (8 a.m.).
© Deadline for candidates to submit
campaign statements and photos for
publication in The Public Sector.
© Due date for receipt of candidates’
campaign literature at CSEA
headquarters for distribution or candidates’
Notice of Intention to Distribute Campaign
Literature (5 p.m.).
April 16 © Drawing for candidates’ positions on the
ballot (headquarters).
© Membership list available for inspection
by candidates (headquarters).
May edition of
The Public Sector
© Publication of campaign statements and
photos submitted by candidates.
© Ballots delivered to Post Office for
mailing.
May 15
May 23 & Replacement ballot may be requested if
original ballot was not received.
June 5 © Deadline for receipt of ballots (8 a.m.).
Election results will be announced after the ballot count.
Candidates will be notified by mail.
July edition of
The Public Sector © Election results published.
< os
A break in union membership status can have
long-term future implications, Your membership
status affects your eligibility with respect to:
© seeking or holding union office;
© signing nominating petitions for
potential candidates;
© voting in union elections, and;
© voting on collective bargaining
contracts
Only members “in good standing” -can
participate in these activities. To be in “good
standing,” your dues cannot be delinquent.
If you go on unpaid leave or for any other
reason have a break in your employment status,
your dues will not continue to be paid through
payroll deductions, You must make
arrangements to pay your dues directly to CSEA
to continue your membership status. If you are
either laid off or placed on leave without pay
status due to becoming disabled by accident,
illne: maternity or paternity, you may be
eligible for dues-free membership status for a
=
(Membership break affects eligibility to seek union office, vote
period not to exceed one year.
Note, however, you must continue to pay dues
to run for office. Dues-free or gratuitous
membership allows members to continue their
insurance coverage while out of work. It does
not protect your right to run for or hold office.
You must notify the CSEA Membership
Records Department at 1-800-342-4146, Ext
327, of any change in your status and what
arrangements you are making to continue your
membership in CSEA.
a
Page 16 © The Public Sector * April 1997
————— GENERAL NEWS
PART 3 IN A SERIES in conjunction with
the 20th anniversary of The Public Sector,
exploring, through the eyes of CSEA
members, significant events in CSEA’s
history during the past two decades.
Safety, health
CSEA priority
for decades
For decades, CSEA has been a leader in the
fight for safe and healthy working conditions
for its members.
In 1980, The Public Sector hailed passage
of the Public Employees Safety and Health
Act. Just four years later, The Sector proudly
announced the establishment of CSEA’s full-
time Occupational Safety and Health
Department’ as CSEA blazed a trail to save
lives and prevent injuries.
In the 1970s, CSEA established a toll-free
telephone number for members to report
unsafe working conditions.
The CSEA statewide Safety Committee
invented the “CREEP” award to negligent
employers. The March 7, 1979, Public Sector
displayed the award as a “Citation for
Reckless Endangerment of Employees of the
Public,” or “CREEP.”
Whether you are:a white-collar employee
using white-out or a blue-collar worker using
chemicals, you have had the right to know
about chemical exposures since June 1, 1987,
when the Right To Know/Toxic Substance
Information Act took effect, thanks to CSEA
leadership.
The most recent struggle is for a workplace
security standard. That fight gained urgency
after the murders of four CSEA Schuyler
County Social Service workers on Oct. 15,
1992. CSEA has vowed the union will not rest
until all workplaces are as safe as they
possibly can be.
The battle is far from over.
CSEA OSH Director Jim Corcoran warns
that Pataki administration policies are
jeopardizing all the safety and health gains
made over the past 20 years. The
administration sees worker protection as a
“burden on the employer,” Corcoran says. The
number of safety inspections and citations for
violations are way down, he charges.
“People have to realize that the rights
which they have had for a long time are in
peril,” Corcoran says. (See President
Donohue’s column, page 8)
GENERAL NEWS
1918 1962 2000
199 1931 yo50 9 1997
TEM,
— THE SAFETY
OF THE PUBLIC AND THE
TOWN OF UNION
PUBLIC EMPLOYEES:
18 PLACED JN JEOPARDY
EVERY DAY BECAUSE oF c
UNSAFE & OBSOLETE EQUIPMENT | "|
2 LY 98 PP AVES
from The
Public Sector
Nov. 7, 1979
John Aloisio
CSEA Nassau Loca:
Assistant to the
make §|
| ay ‘ , we
“with CSEA in place major happen
; before something
\problene Morra
-epresentative Dan aoe
| His knowledge of the laws and contac!
| doubt about it, we nee
| safety and health.
|
_—_—
ie ‘Richard Moccia :
NYS Psychiatric Institute
Local 419
“As far as fm
concerned, the
hospital looks
the other way
on safety and
health issues
until an
emergency
happens.
There is no on-
going dialogue
about safety.
efinitely needed
me ction is d 2
aster actio! ute.
at the Psychiatric Institi
1 830
esident, Occupational
raesaien Representative
county is
ure the javing OSEA staff OSH
F 3 jon is extreme
here in the es matched. There’s no
d CSEA in there fighting
1 Safety and
responsive to
ly important.
for the members’
Velda Sealy
NYS Psychiatric Institute
Local 419
gw “Asa housekeeping
Supervisor here 13
years, I think we
received a lot more
training after the
AIDS epidemic,
7) especially how
: housekeeping staff
should deal with
7 spilled blood,
\] needles and red bag
medical waste. The
housekeeping staff has been cut roughly
in half. There’s much more work to do
and oe are scared of catching things
‘0 we need to always b i :
era YS be reminded to be
(els
The Public Sector ¢ April 1997 * Page 17
Deadline May 9 to apply
for NYS AFL-CIO
$8,000 scholarship
The New York State AFL-CIO will
award a four-year scholarship to a
1997 graduating high school senior
who intends to pursue a career in
labor relations or a related field at
an accredited institution of higher
education in New York State.
Sons and daughters of CSEA
members who meet the criteria are
eligible to apply. Application
deadline is May 9, 1997.
The scholarship will be for $2,000
a year for four consecutive years for
a total of $8,000, Applications are
available by contacting:
New York State AFL-CIO
Scholarship Committee
c/o Dr. Lois Gray
Cornell University, ILR School
16 East 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Applications must be
accompanied by a letter of
recommendation from the
applicant’s school; an official
transcript and SAT scores; and an
essay of 400-500 words describing
the difficulties faced by U.S. workers
who want to form unions and how
empowering workers through unions
would enhance democracy in the
United States.
AFSCME
Women’s
Conference
The 1997 AFSCME
Eastern Region Women’s
Conference will be held
June 20 through 22 at the
Regal Cincinnati Hotel,
Cincinnati, Ohio.
Registration and hotel
reservation deadline is
May 19.
No organizational leave
will be provided and no
reimbursement will be made
to locals or units by CSEA,
This is a legitimate
expense for locals and
units. For registration/
housing forms and other
information, contact your
CSEA local or unit
president, or call Kathleen
Cahalan at CSEA
Headquarters, 1-800-342-4146
or (518) 434-0191 Ext. 306.
CSEA dental provider
list a to expand
ei
BENEFIT FUND
Nine new dental providers have
joined the CSEA Employee Benefit
Fund recently, adding to the more
than 1,300 dentists who comprise
the dental provider panel for
eligible CSEA members. Dentists
joining the CSEA EBF panel
recently were:
Long Island Region
Nassau County
Peter A. Lucchese, DDS
70 Glen Cove Road
Suite 204
East Hills, NY 11577
(516) 621-1788
Suffolk County
John Barnett, DDS
1366 Stoney Brook Road
Stony Brook, NY 11790
(516) 751-8338
Metropolitan Region
Brooklyn
George Manolarakis, DDS
2148 Ocean Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11229
(718) 645-1367
Manhattan
Seth M. Black
Oral & Max. Surgery
521 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10021
(212) 593-2930
Ali Askari, DDS, PC
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 1521
New York, NY 10165
(212) 973-1126
Staten Island
Dentistry for Children, DMD
739 Woodrow Road
Staten Island, NY 10312
(718) 317-8524
Southern Region
Westchester County
Stanley Ahn, DDS
475 White Plains Road #28
Eastchester, NY 10709
(914) 961-4911
Orange County
Ira H. Elman, DDS
215 Route 32, PO Box 615
Central Valley, NY 10917
(914) 928-8842
Western Region
Tompkins County
Bharat Patel, DDS
Tompkins Dental Health
North Triphammer Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 257-8065
How your dentist can join the panel
The CSEA EBF panel of dental providers changes regularly, so always
check with your dentist to confirm that he or she is still a plan
participant before service is actually rendered.
If your dentist is not a CSEA EBF participating dentist and you would
like him or her to consider participating, simply fill out the request for
information below and return it to the EBF. Your dentist will be supplied
with information and an application to become an EBF participant.
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FORM
for dentists interested in participating in the CSEA EBF Dental Provider Panel
NAME of Dentist
Address
ZIP County
Please return this form to:
City
Telephone
Marketing Department
CSEA Employee Benefit Fund
1 Lear Jet Lane, Suite 1, Latham, NY 12110
Deadline April 15
to apply for
CSEA scholarships
valued at $14,000
Application forms are available
now for $14,000 in scholarships
being offered by CSEA. A single
application covers three scholarship
programs.
Eighteen $500 Irving
Flaumenbaum Memorial
Scholarships will be awarded to
graduating high school seniors.
One $2,500 Jardine Award will
be given to a graduating high school
senior entering higher education in
the SUNY system. The top 2 percent
of scholastic achiévers, based on
high school average, class rank and
SAT scores, will comprise the
eligibility pool for this scholarship.
One $2,500 Travelers Award
will be given to a graduating high
school senior and is not limited to a
student entering the SUNY system.
Application deadline April 15
Application forms are available by
contacting your CSEA local and/or
unit president. Applications may
also be obtained by contacting your
CSEA region office. For additional
information, contact Denise Futia,
CSEA Headquarters, 1-800-342-
4146 or (518) 434-0191 Ext. 319.
Bey, 2 aes:
Coalition of
Black Trade
Unionists to
meet May 22-26
in New Orleans
The Coalition of Black Trade
Unionists annual meeting will
be May 22 to 26 at the
Hyatt Regency Superdome
in New Orleans.
For more information or to
coordinate convention
registration and hotel
accommodations, contact
Portia Given at
1-800-342-4146,
extension 210.
Page 18 * April 1997:* The Public Seotor
—_
GENERAL NEWS
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING
NEW YORK STATE’S
HEALTH CARE REFORM ACT OF 1996
The state enacted the New York State Health
Care Reform Act (HCRA) last June and it went
into effect on Jan. 1, 1997. This law made many
changes in the way health care is financed in the
state. Among other provisions, HCRA changed the
method by which hospitals are reimbursed and
the method by which Graduate Medical Education
(GME) and charity care (which helps fund the
public hospitals) are financed. GME and charity
care were previously financed through surcharges
on in-patient hospitalization under the former
law, New York Prospective Hospital
Reimbursement Methodology (NYPHRM).
There has been considerable confusion among
hospitals, providers, laboratories, regulating
authorities, employers and insurers on how the
new law’s numerous provisions apply.
We do know that the law expands the services
covered by the surcharge to any health care
expenses for:
* hospital services, both in-patient and
outpatient (including emergency room);
* services of diagnostic and treatment centers
that provide comprehensive primary health
services (this does not include private physician
offices);
* Ambulatory Surgical Centers;
* services of freestanding clinical laboratories.
Under the new law, the amount of the
surcharge can vary from 8.18 percent to 32.18
percent depending on how the surcharge is paid.
Most health care plans have chosen to pay this
surcharge directly to the NYS Department of
Health. Because of this choice, the surcharge
under these plans is the lowest possible — 8.18
percent.
This surcharge is added to the entire charge
incurred by patients receiving care, including the
portion of the bill you must pay. Please note,
however, that your health care plan pays the
surcharge on all reimbursed benefits including co-
payments and deductibles on your behalf.
Beginning with any claims for expenses
incurred on or after Jan. 1, 1997, you will be
charged an 8.18 percent surcharge on the out-of-
pocket expenses you normally pay (co-insurance
and any amounts considered non-covered
expenses), excluding any applicable co-payments
and deductibles as noted above. Your provider will
forward your portion of the surcharge amount, if
any, directly to a fund maintained by the NYS
Department of Health.
If you have any questions or you are being
billed for a surcharge that you feel is not your
responsibility, you should contact your health
insurance plan directly for further clarification.
Breast cancer legislation supported by CSEA passes
The state Senate and Assembly both passed
bills in March expanding health insurance
coverage for breast cancer victims. The bills now
go to Gov. Pataki for action.
CSEA and the union’s Women's Committee
supported the proposed legislation, and CSEA
delegates last October adopted a resolution
supporting federal and state legislation that
“will maintain and increase funding for breast
cancer research, education, outreach and early
detection programs.”
One bill amends the insurance and public
health law to expand required health insurance
coverage by providing in-patient hospitalization
following breast cancer surgery techniques and
coverage for second medical opinions. A second
bill passed by both houses would require every
policy providing medical/major medical or
comprehensive coverage to include coverage for
breast reconstruction and related procedures
following a mastectomy.
Buyers Edge
brings already discounted Travel Deals to
CSEA
Members & their Families
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The. Public. Sector * April 1997,« Page. 19,
_GRNERAL NEWS.
DON’T DESTROY SUNY [SUNY
Gov. Pataki’s proposed state budget for fiscal year
1997-98 would reduce SUNY funding by $164 million,
the third consecutive year that looks to t
funding for the university Ty cu
system has been cut.
The proposed budget : : | .. 300 jobs
fails to provide adequate
funding to maintain essential , :
services at SUNY campuses on i In any
and continues to prevent | }4
SUNY from becoming the great @ The positions, all in downtown
university system it could be. | & ” headquarters, would be eliminated
Y or moved elsewhere under a
proposal developed by the
university’s board
“For years CSEA members
have been trying to hold these t
campuses together with spit ig
and glue, and with each new : j
budget they are expected to
more with less.”
— Excerpt from CSEA testimony
before Legislative Committee, February, 1997
Call 1-800-SOS-6336
Tell the Governor
and your State Legislators
to restore adequate funding for SUNY
Official publication of
The Civil Service Employees Association, Inc.
Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO
143 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12210-2303
2.
INSIDE THIS EDITION
@ SCHUYLER COUNTY WANTS TO LOWER WORKSITE SECURITY - Page 3
@ STATE GOVERNMENT NEWS ~ Pages 4 and 5
@ LOCAL GCVERNMENT NEWS - Pages 6 and 7
@ CSEA PROMOTING HEALTHY SCHOOLS NETWORK - Pages 9, 10 and 11
@ AMERICAN LABOR LINK — Page 12
@ WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY APRIL 28 ~ Page 13
