in the
Working
For a Better
entury America
Photo of the Month
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| Photo by Donald MaComi &
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CSEA RECOGNIZED AS A GOOD NEIGHBOR — Red Cross of
Northeastern New York CEO William Delia makes a
presentation to CSEA President Danny Donohue and
WNYT-Channel 13 General Manager Steve Baboulis at a
recent Red Cross awards and recognition program in
Albany. CSEA and WNYT were presented with the Good
Neighbor Award for their help in mounting a tsunami
telethon following the devastation that ravaged south Asia
late last year. The telethon raised more than $100,000 for
relief efforts in one day.
Monroe County OKs contract
ROCHESTER — CSEA members in the Monroe County
Employees Unit have ratified a new five-year contract by a
better than 2:1 ratio.
The agreement, retroactive to Dec. 31, 2004, includes raises
in the last four years along with some significant changes in
health insurance.
Crash claims activist’s husband
NORTH BABYLON — CSEA activist Rutha Bush’s husband,
Czar, was killed on June 12 in a crash on Sunrise Highway
that left three other people dead.
As the Work Force went to press, police were still
investigating the crash.
Rutha Bush is past treasurer of Long Island Developmental
Center and a leading recruiter in CSEA’s PEOPLE program.
Czar Bush was 62 and is survived by two grown children.
ALERT
CSEA President Danny Donohue
to meet Central Region members Aug. 9
‘SEA President Danny Donohue will visit the CSEA Central Region office on
‘Aug. 9 to meet with members.
The meetings will be held in the region office at 6595 Kirkville Road, East
Syracuse.
Donohue will meet with union members from 1 to 7 p.m. Please call the
Central Region office at (315) 433-0050 for an appointment and directions.
NEW ORK)
LEADI TG UNOr)
oa aC, 1.0
Erie OKs sales tax hike
BUFFALO — Erie County lawmakers
approved raising the county’s sales
tax by 1/4 cent to help close a $118
million deficit in this year’s budget,
bringing an infusion of badly needed
money to help maintain county jobs
and services.
Already ravaged by layoffs and
service cuts, the county faced dire
financial straits without raising the
sales tax — an amount that totals one
penny on every $4.
“The county legislature came to its
senses. There was nothing left to cut
without essentially shutting down the
government. Let’s hope this move
gets Erie County back on the road to
recovery,” CSEA President Danny
Donohue said.
CSEA continues to fight to keep the
Erie County Home and Infirmary a
public facility after the county
threatened to sell the home (see
story, Page 5).
The county has already laid off
1,500 workers, 800 of whom are CSEA
members, to close an unprecedented
budget gap.
Along with the sales tax hike,
legislators also voted to borrow $130
million to get through the year. The
measures come a week after state
Comptroller Alan Hevesi
recommended the state install a
control board in upstate’s most
populated county to solve a financial
crisis he blamed on “colossal
mismanagement.”
A budget review by Hevesi's office
projected a $118.4 million deficit for
the current fiscal year, despite the
massive layoffs and job cuts.
Westchester Medical Center
workers mobilize for jobs
VALHALLA — Union activists at
Westchester Medical Center recently
mobilized again as they distributed
and returned thousands of postcards
telling Gov. George Pataki time is
running out in the fight to save the
hospital.
CSEA members reached out to
friends, family and even strangers to
return as many signed postcards as
possible. Some members hit several
local parades to ask the public to
sign postcards.
The union is mobilizing to
convince Pataki to cooperate with
state Senate and Assembly efforts to
find continuous funding for the
hospital before the legislative session
ends June 23. While a $20 million
cash infusion from Westchester
County has temporarily tided over
the hospital’s shaky finances, a
steady stream of cash is the only
answer to permanently saving the
debt-ridden hospital.
“Governor Pataki has been the
missing link throughout our fight to
save Westchester Medical Center,”
President Danny Donohue said. “With
the majority of Senate and Assembly
members on board, it is critical we
remind the governor of his
responsibility to the residents of the
Hudson Valley.”
— Jessica Stone
Thruway talks reach impasse
ALBANY — CSEA declared impasse in
contract negotiations with the New
York Thruway Authority on behalf of
620 technical, professional and
supervisory employees in Unit II.
The main sticking point in the
negotiations is an arbitrary
management demand that would
force about 110 bridge and highway
maintenance supervisors to switch to
night shifts and possibly different
work locations on short notice during
the summer months.
The parties have been meeting
since March 2003. The CSEA contract
expired on June 30, 2003.
Syracuse football discounts
Discount tickets again will be available for CSEA members to all Syracuse
University football games this season including CSEA Day for the SU-West
Virginia football game Labor Day weekend. Look for more details next
edition.
Page 2 THE WORK FORCE July 2005
AFSCME initiative targets future strategy
Union moving forward
Ihe world is not standing still and neither
is CSEA or its international union,
AFSCME (American Federation of State,
County and Municipal Employees). With
strong ideas from CSEA, AFSCME is
proceeding with an
intensive self- ¢
examination to help q ~
strengthen the union for
the future.
The “AFSCME in the
218t Century” initiative “* war
was established at last in the |
year’s AFSCME :
Convention. The project
has a mandate to
examine every aspect of AFSCME’s
constitution, as well as review all
committees called for under the
constitution to best focus their purpose and
activities; analyze the dues structure;
evaluate programs, priorities,
representational structure, and methods of
operation. The purpose is to recommend
changes to make the union more effective,
stronger, and ensure that AFSCME is on the
offensive and serves as the leader of the
labor movement.
Comment from the union
The 21st Century Committee is
conducting hearings, surveys and other
research to challenge the whole union to
engage in this vital exploration and will
report to the 37th International Convention
in 2006 on its findings and
recommendations.
CSEA President Danny Donohue, along
with CSEA’s other AFSCME vice presidents,
st century America
Mary Sullivan and George Boncoraglio, all
have a role with the initiative. Just as
important to the project is the interest and
involvement of CSEA members.
AFSCME recently devoted a significant
portion of its legislative
conference to hands-on
workshops seeking ideas
and discussion among
leaders, staff and
activists. The program
also included a town hall
style meeting providing
a forum for questions,
comments and
observations.
“This is an exciting opportunity to take a
thorough review of what we do, and why
and how we do it,” Donohue said. “We can
make our union even better and more able
to prepare for what’s ahead. But it will only
work if you offer up ideas about what needs
to be done.”
Working
For o Better
Workshop ideas
CSEA brought the project to the next
level during the union’s recent spring
workshop, with two “roll up your sleeves”
working sessions to focus on the challenges
CSEA and AFSCME confront daily. An
overview of the discussions was presented
to nearly 900 CSEA activists at the event.
The results will also be shared with the 215t
Century Committee.
“There were some excellent discussions
and some difficult issues in debate during
our workshop sessions,” Sullivan said. “We
need to hear lots of different points of view
to make the right decisions.”
ic al Photo by Rick Reinhard
CSEA Executive Vice President and
AFSCME International Vice President
Mary Sullivan listens during a town hall
meeting in Washington, D.C., during a
recent AFSCME conference. Sullivan
chairs the 21st Century Committee’s
politics subcommittee.
“CSEA has always helped lead the way in
AFSCME and that means we need to tap
into the full knowledge, talent and energy of
our members to come up with new
approaches,” Boncoraglio said.
For more information about the AFSCME
in the 21St Century Committee and its
outreach visit www.afscme.org.
ths A
Yvette De La Cruz, assistant director of
AFSCME’s Women’s Rights Department,
presents an overview on the AFSCME in
the 21st Century initiative during CSEA’s
recent spring workshop.
Left, CSEA Westchester County activist Karen Percora reports on group discussions from
the AFSCME in the 21st Century workshop during the recent CSEA combined Workshop
in Lake Placid. At right, Broome County Educational Employees Local activist Deb
Denney reports on her group discussions.
July 2005 THE WORK FORCE Page 3
ISSN 1522-1091
Official publication of
CSEA Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO
143 Washington Ave.
Albany, NY 12210-2303
Danny Donohue, President
STEPHEN A. MADARASZ
Communications Director & Publisher
STANLEY HORNAK
Deputy Director of Communications
LOU HMIELESKI
Executive Editor
JANICE MARRA
Associate Editor
CATHLEEN FEBRAIO
Graphic Production Specialist
JANICE M. KUCSKAR
Graphic Production Specialist
BETH McINTYRE.
Communications Assistant
The Work Force (USPS 0445-010) is
published monthly by The CSEA Publication Office:
143 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12210.
Periodical Mail Postage paid at Post Office,
Albany, New York 12288.
Postmaster: Send address changes to:
CSEA, Attn: Membership Department,
143 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12210.
CSEA on-line: The CSEA website
can be accessed at www.csealocal1000.org
Readers:
Send any comments, complaints, suggestions or ideas to
Publisher, The Work Force, 143 Washington Avenue,
Albany, NY 12210-2803.
COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATES
RACHEL LANGERT Long Island Region
(631) 462-0030
DAVID GALARZA Metropolitan Region
(212) 406-2156
JESSICA STONE Southern Region
(845) 831-1000
‘THERESE ASSALIAN Capital Region
18) 785-4400
MARK M. KOTZIN Central Region
(315) 433-0050
LYNN MILLER Western Region
(716) 691-6555
ED MOLITOR Headquarters
(S18) 257-1272
The Publications Committee
LONG ISLAND REGION Jane D'Amico
METROPOLITAN REGION Abraham Benjamin
SOUTHERN REGION Robert Lorenc
CAPITAL REGION Helen Fischedick
CENTRAL REGION Bruce Damalt, Chair
WESTERN REGION Mary Jo Tubbs
208 COMMUN c,
ou 7, EB
Et
Page 4 THE WORK FORCE July 2005
NC
SUERNATIONA
Zeetoossy S
7 +AFLCIOICLE *
Court ruling OKs use of your tax
dollars to undermine you
SEA’s efforts to strengthen our own bargaining
position while helping other working families
gain fairness and respect recently took a blow. A U.S.
District Court judge has overturned a law that CSEA
worked long and hard to put into effect, which was
intended to prohibit not-for profit employers from using
public funds to stop union organizing efforts.
This event set me to thinking about the
misguided business interests that continue their
relentless drive to undermine your rights. As you
should be aware, big business in New York, perhaps
emboldened by the obvious anti-worker animus of the Bush administration,
has been waging a campaign to roll back your wages, pension benefits and
other rights because they’re “too generous” compared to non-union,
private sector workers.
The union neutrality law was an attempt to stop a misuse of the
public’s money — your tax dollars — while setting some limit on
employers’ ability to intimidate and coerce during organizing campaigns.
The law was necessary because in reality, many not-for-profit operations do
indeed use public funding to hire law firms whose sole purpose is to
prevent union organizing. They do it by training managers how to identify
and crush activism at the first sign of a union. Tactics include
misrepresenting the truth about what a union is all about, captive audience
meetings with personnel to control and indoctrinate, intimidating one-on-
one counseling and outright firings intended to send a chilling message to
other workers.
These were the abuses CSEA was attempting to end through the law.
And to be sure, they continued in spite of the law being on the books.
Several recent CSEA organizing drives have seen heartbreaking split votes
where employer threats apparently poisoned enough minds against the
union to tip the balance against us. It is very clear that the results would
have been different if workers had been able to exercise their right to
choose in a more neutral environment.
CSEA does not agree with the court’s decision and we will fight back.
In the meantime, it’s just more evidence of the attempt to further erode the
power that working people have left.
Western Region mounts major
nursing home fight
BUFFALO — Western Region activists
are mobilizing to fight the sale or
closure of nursing homes throughout
the 14-county area.
Area lawmakers are putting fiscally
struggling public homes at risk for
sale or closure by seeking a quick,
one-time infusion of cash.
Western Region members aren’t
alone in facing public health care
woes. CSEA members across the
state are fighting for the future of
public health care.
“Selling or closing county nursing
homes is not the right move,”
Western Region President Flo Tripi
said. “It has a long-term negative
impact on the frail elderly. Those
most in need are left with nowhere to
turn for care. CSEA will do everything
possible to make sure that does not
happen.”
Erie County Home and Infirmary
The Erie County Home and
Infirmary, home to about 600
residents and 650 workers, may
become a victim of the ongoing Erie
County budget crisis.
Administrators at Erie County
Medical Center, which operates the
facility, threatened to close the home
if the county legislature chopped any
more funding from the hospital's
subsidy. Following a successful CSEA
rally, lawmakers agreed the home is
vital and withdrew a proposal to
slash more from the budget.
Medical center leaders are now
considering selling. The county
legislature is also faced with closing a
projected $118.4 million deficit for
2005.
“The Erie County Home faces all of
the same challenges as other homes
across the state,” said CSEA Erie Unit
President Joan Bender. “But Erie
County is in dire financial straits. The
Erie County home has the added
obstacle of a county with no money
that’s on the verge of a control board.
The likelihood of an effort to sell is
probable. CSEA will be there ready to
fight.”
Mount View Health Care Facility
CSEA activists continue an
18-month fight to stop the Mount
View facility in Niagara County from
being closed or sold.
Activists packed a recent public
hearing held by a community
taxpayer association, which hosted
the forum after the county's
legislative majority refused.
“Mount View is home to frail
elderly of Niagara County who have
paid their taxes all their lives,” said
Melanie Carr, a CSEA activist. “Aren’t
they entitled to a nice place to stay in
their final days? Niagara County took
their money, now it is the county's
turn to take care of them.”
The county received only one
private bid, a total well below the
estimated value of the property.
Lawmakers continue to consider the
sale.
Wayne County Nursing Home
About 60 CSEA activists mobilized
last month following a newspaper
report of an unsolicited bid by a
private company to buy the brand
new Wayne County Nursing Home.
“Wayne County is a major battle,”
said CSEA Western Region Director
Roger Sherrie. “We would expect
more unsolicited bids to come in.”
CSEA has formed committees and
issued news releases. The CSEA
Wayne County Unit has also begun a
newspaper and radio advertising
campaign to block the sale.
“County nursing homes are a
safety net for people who cannot
afford or who would not be accepted
into private care,” said Mark Braccio,
president of the Wayne County Unit.
“Our members provide skilled, loving
care to these residents. It is
important that we continue to have
this resource in the community.”
The fight in Wayne County is
especially critical, Sherrie said. CSEA.
activists across the state will need to
closely monitor this situation.
“If the Wayne County Nursing
Home is sold, it will give other
counties the green light to dump
their new facilities,” he said.
Steuben County Health Care Facility
CSEA played an instrumental role
last fall in stopping the sale of the
Steuben County Health Care Facility.
In response to CSEA’s efforts, county
legislators voted unanimously to
reject the sale of the county-run.
Legislators are now faced with the
next logical step, Sherrie said, the
construction of a brand-new,
state-of-the-art facility. Legislators
received a proposal in late May for
.
CSEA activist Jill Kwoka speaks at a
public hearing on the sale of Mount
View Health Facility. The forum was
held by the Concerned Niagara
County Taxpayers Association after
county legislators refused to call a
public hearing of their own.
the construction of a facility, with a
local share of $3.7 million and $15.7
million in state aid. The existing
facility is in need of repairs estimated
at $6 million.
Localities building new facilities or
undertaking significant
reconstruction can qualify for higher
funding reimbersent rates.
To let the public know the new
facility is the right choice, CSEA
activists launched an educational
campaign including a fact sheet for
members, brochures for the
community, a postcard mailing,
window posters and newspaper and
radio ads.
A vote on the new facility was
expected in late June.
Other counties
CSEA is also monitoring the
nursing home situation in other
Western Region counties as well as
statewide. Sherrie said a request for
proposals for the sale of at least one
other Western Region facility is
possible by the end of the summer.
To be ready, activists are
mobilizing and Sherrie recently held
a special training session for staff.
“We have experience in preventing
sales and closures,” Sherrie said. “We
commit all of the union’s resources to
campaigns such as this.”
— Lynn Miller
July 2005
Represents 60,000 Workers in
LEAL CAKE
SELVICES
“Our members
provide skilled,
loving care to
these
residents. It is
important that
we continue to
have this
resource in the
community.”
CSER Voices
(13
t one of the workshops, I
learned how the next time
we go to the table, we can fight for
access to Canadian prescription
drugs. It will not only save us
money but management as well.
The packets that they gave out
about Social Security made me
understand that privatization is
not going to be any good for me,
and I'm worried about what will
happen to Social Security for my
kids.99
— Susan Nakutavicius,
Treasurer/Judiciary Local 332
Dutchess County, more than 10
years as an officer, interviewed
at a recent CSEA workshop in
Lake Placid.
THE WORK FORCE Page 5
NEW (ORK'S)
LEADING|UNION
Represents 35,000 Workers in
CURRECTIONS end
LAM: EREORCENLERT
a gateway
TROY — A new court officer
training academy in Cohoes has
opened the doors to a new career
for many upstate residents.
In late February, the state
Unified Court System opened its
first officer training academy
outside Manhattan. Court officers
maintain order and help with
security in court facilities
throughout the state.
For 30 years, officer recruits
traveled to Manhattan for the
intensive 10-week training. The
distance and time away from
family once deterred many
qualified applicants, but not
anymore.
The first round of graduates,
dubbed the “Upstate Eight,”
completed their training in April
and now work in courts around
the Capital Region.
For Jennifer De Seve, one of the
“Upstate Eight,” the ability to train
locally was key to her starting her
new career.
The former stay-at-home mom
with twin daughters had long been
interested in a law enforcement
“I wouldn’t
be here if it
weren’t for
the academy
in Cohoes.”
CSER Voices
LAKE PLACID — Joseph Melita is
not known for compromising,
especially when it comes to
fighting for his members.
A straightforward, genuine style
matched by an unwavering
commitment to the employees of
the state Office of Children and
Family Services’ Tryon School has
earned Melita, president of the
CSEA local at the facility, this
year’s State Mission Achievement
Award.
President Danny Donohue
presented the award, CSEA’s
highest honor for activists, to
ty he workshop is a
great way to be
able to compare and
contrast what's going on
between facilities. It’s
helpful to find out that
other people are going
through similar situations
and we talk about ways
to hartfe them.
— Mike Raponi, aes
Otisville Correctional Melita in front of nearly 900 CSEA
on leaders and activists at the union’s
Facility Local,
a . State, Local Government and
interviewed at the Private Sector Workshop in Lake
recent CSEA workshop iv Pp
in Lake Placid. Placid.
Page 6 THE WORK FORCE July 2005
Court training center
to careers
career, but De Seve was unwilling
to spend 10 weeks in Manhattan
for the training. She took the
exam two years ago after hearing
the state was considering opening |
an upstate academy.
“I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t
for the academy in Cohoes,” De
Seve said. “I would have been
disappointed (if the upstate
academy had not opened), but I
would not have been able to
leave my family.”
Citing an increased demand for
court officers statewide, the
Unified Court System created the
upstate academy to attract more
upstate recruits. The court system
previously filled upstate job
openings by transferring
downstate staff.
“They can take the exam, access
the academy and then go right out
into the field,” said upstate courts
Chief Sean McCartney.
The next round of statewide
court officers exams is scheduled
for October and December.
Applications are available at any
courthouse.
Jennifer De Seve, one of the
“Upstate Eight,” had the ability to
train closer to home at the Unified
Court System’s new training center.
De Seve said she and other
upstate graduates are pleased with
their placements at courts close to
home.
“It’s the perfect job,” said De
Seve, who now works during
daytime weekday hours, with
weekends and holidays off, a rarity
in law enforcement. “I am moving
from being a stay-at home mom to
now having independence and a
career I’ve always wanted.”
— Therese Assalian
Melita’s dedication earns him honors
Joseph Melita accepts the state
mission Achievement Award at the
recent State Local Government
and Private Sector workshop in
Lake Placid.
A Johnstown resident, Melita is
a longtime activist who has
worked at Tryon since 1977. In
addition to serving as local
president, he chairs the Office of
Children and Family Services’
Labor-Management Committee.
Melita also serves on the Human
Services Committee and the CSEA
board of directors as the
Department of Family Assistance
representative.
“I'm deeply touched by this
honor,” Melita said. “It means so
much to me and I’m proud to be a
member of this great
organization.”
— Therese Assalian
United front fights for safe workplace
MANHATTAN — After
working tirelessly to force
the state to make numerous
health and safety
improvements at the lower
Manhattan building they
were forced to move into,
CSEA members are now
working with other unions to
demand the same
improvements.
“In the labor movement,
we often say an injury to one
is an injury to all,”
Metropolitan Region
President George
Boncoraglio said. “We will
always fight to protect the
safety and well being of all
workers. It’s something we're
entitled to and we will not
rest until these
improvements are made.”
CSEA members recently
demonstrated to support
members employed at 90
Church St., adjacent to the
World Trade Center site. The
building was heavily
contaminated with lead,
asbestos, mercury, dioxin,
mold and other dangerous
poisons during the Sept. 11,
2001 attack on the towers. It
took nearly three years for
90 Church St. to be
decontaminated and opened.
Faery’s leadership ‘the
LAKE PLACID — Fran Faery,
president of CSEA’s Niagara
County Unit, describes her
work every day on behalf of
unit members as the “right
thing to do.”
Faery works tirelessly to
ensure the best for her
members and every day,
Faery leads her unit through
challenges they overcome
together.
Although Faery considers
her activism simply the right
thing to do, her efforts have
not gone unnoticed. CSEA
awarded Faery with this
year's Local Government
Mission Achievement Award.
“Twas in shock when I
found out I had been
selected,” Faery said. “I
never did any of this for an
award. I am just a CSEA
member, no different than
anyone else.”
Faery has been
instrumental in the ongoing
fight for a fair contract for
her members. She also has
Building tenants include
the New York City Housing
Authority, the U.S. Postal
Service, the New York State
Department of Health and
the New York State Public
Service Commission. They
fear dangers posed by the
numerous environmental
hazards they face over the
next decade or more by
working next to the nation’s
largest construction site and
the demolition of several
extremely contaminated
buildings.
Some of the most heavily
contaminated buildings in
the city lie within a few
blocks from 90 Church St.,
including the Deutsche Bank
Building at 130 Liberty St.
and Fiterman Hall at West
Broadway and Barclay
Street.
Workers will be exposed
to toxic diesel fumes from
trucks and construction
equipment, harmful
particulates from the
demolition of contaminated
buildings and extremely high
noise levels noise through
the building's old, leaky
windows. Only four of 90
Church St.’s 15 floors have
double windows to shield
been leading the fight to try
to save the county's Mount
View Health Facility from
being sold or closed.
Faery’s advocacy of her
members was so strong that
she eventually was forced to
fight for her own survival on
the job she held for nearly
workers.
Workers are currently
circulating a petition
demanding double windows.
“It’s great that we all came
together from different
unions to form this
coalition,” said Marie Rogers
Granger, a CSEA grievance
representative at the state
Department of Health and a
leader in demanding a safer
work environment for CSEA
workers. “We can get so
much accomplished by
working together.”
— David Galarza
Is the Air Safe to Breathe
at 90,Church Street
Without Double wnlitews?
“I
Metropolitan Region Occupational Safety and Health
Committee Chair Frank Cosentino leads CSEA members
during a demonstration outside 90 Church St., whose
tenants fear health risks from Sept. 11 - related
contamination. CSEA got the state to address concerns for
its members, and joined the solidarity march in support of
other unions seeking similar remedies.
right thing’
30 years. “Fran Faery is such
a fierce union advocate that
management actually laid
her off a while back because
of her union activity,”
President Danny Donohue
said. “CSEA had to fight hard
to get her back to work and
thank goodness we were
ve
Niagara County Unit President Fran Faery addresses the
CSEA combined Workshop after receiving the Local
Government Mission Achievement Award.
successful.”
At the time of the layoff,
Faery was a Niagara County
Sheriff's Department
employee. She currently
works in the county's
Department of Social
Services.
“Despite her ordeal, or
maybe because of it, Fran
went straight back to work
helping others and she
hasn't stopped since,”
Donohue said.
Faery credits her parents
for her drive and
determination. Her mother
taught her the importance of
having a calm demeanor and
her father taught her to
remain non-judgmental in
every situation.
“[am just a regular
person,” she said.
— Lynn Miller
Represents 50,000 Workers in
SUCHAL SELWWLCES eld
ADIWINLS TATE
SELNVLCES
“We will always
fight to protect
the safety and
well being of all
workers. It’s
something we’re
entitled to and we
will not rest until
these
improvements are
made.”
CSERS Voices
66] learned that we have to
get copies of statements
or any evidence that
management could be
bringing up in a disciplinary
procedure. We are entitled to
that information under our
rights from the Taylor Law. I
think that everything I learned
at the workshop will help me
be an even better
representative for my
members. 99
— Meg Shutka,
Brookhaven White Collar
Unit President,
interviewed at the recent
CSEA workshop in Lake
Placid.
July 2005 THE WORK FORCE Page 7
Represents 30,000 Workers in
WASTES ANAC NG
IVIAINGE NANG Eeertes
IKERASTRUCTULES
“I decided to
organize these
workers so
they could
have a voice
and be
heard.”
CSERS Voices
“you come to these
workshops and they
really open up your eyes.
You get to hear about what
worked for other people
around the state, and you
come away with lots of
ideas.”
— Fred Hidde,
president, Montgomery
County Wastewater
Treatment Plant Unit,
attending CSEA’s recent
State, Local Government
and Private Sector
Workshop.
Page 8 THE WORKFORCE July 2005
DOT workers’ clever
ideas earn merit
CORTLAND—Necessity being the
mother of invention, state Department
of Transportation workers at the
Polkville residency have spawned
numerous innovations using spare
parts, elbow grease and know-how,
making their workplaces more efficient
and safer.
State officials recognized several of
the workers’ clever ideas with merit
certificates and small cash awards.
Local President Kathy Lewis praised
the workers’ creativity.
"These guys are terrific,” she said.
“It's nice to know that they take the
initiative and are encouraged enough
to come up with innovative ideas and
solutions to assist them and their co-
workers in getting their jobs done.”
Working safer
Bridge Repair Mechanic Jim
Barrows’ safety prompted him to
invent a new type of ladder for flatbed
“stake rack” trucks. His truck’s four-
foot high bed can be tricky to scale.
“The ladders that were built in were
either flimsy or hard to see under the
bumper,” he said. “People have fallen
and I wanted something stable and
safe to get on and off with, especially
when carrying equipment. I had a
picture in my mind of what might
work.”
His invention is an angled ladder
hinged to the truck’s rear that workers
can fold for storage. Barrows built the
Freckleton a
LAKE PLACID —Tireless efforts to
organize Sodexho food service
workers at Westchester Medical
Center earned Robert Freckleton this
year’s Private Sector Mission
Achievement Award.
President Danny Donohue gave
Freckleton the award at the recent
State, Local Government and Private
Sector Workshop in Lake Placid.
Freckleton, president of the private
sector laundry and housekeeping
worker local at the Valhalla hospital,
was the driving force behind the
organizing drive for 125 food service
workers.
Freckleton, a longtime Yonkers
resident who hails from Jamaica, has
long been active in CSEA. He served as
a shop steward before being elected to
ladder out of angle iron and steel rods.
He has since added the device to two
other trucks.
“I think all the trucks should have
them,” he said. “It’s just easier and
safer to get on and off of the trucks.”
Cleaner trucks, time & money saved
Highway Maintenance Supervisor
Ray Delaney invented a cleaning
device that makes workers’ jobs easier
and saves time and money.
His underbody pressure washer
quickly cleans a large truck’s
undercarriage, using a steel frame with
about 20 nozzles aimed at different
angles. The washer rides on wheels
and can slide under trucks. Bridge
Repair Supervisor Gregory Lee built
Delaney’s design.
“The mechanics would complain
that there was a lot of dirt under the
trucks and we wanted to find a better
way to get it out of there,” Lee said.
“The workers like the new washer a lot
because it’s quick and easy.”
Before Delaney’s invention, workers
washed the trucks by hand. The task
took about 20 minutes and workers
often failed to reach many
undercarriage parts. The new device
allows workers to cut the task down to
five minutes or less, with cleaner
results. Clean trucks also mean less
corrosion.
Another invention, designed and
built by Bridge Repair Assistants
Bridge Repair Assistants James
Marshall, left, and Richard Reddick,
right, stand next to the storage
bracket they invented which sits
inside a portable compressor,
allowing several pneumatic tools to
stand upright inside.
Richard Reddick and James Marshall,
prolongs the life of pneumatic tools
used with a portable air compressor.
The storage bracket they built has
three large rods to hold jackhammers
and three small rods to hold chippers,
storing them upright.
“It’s better for the equipment and
should prolong its life,” Marshall said,
noting that the equipment no longer
rattles together in transit.
“The tools are easier to get to, more
organized, and there’s less strain on
your back trying to get to equipment,”
Reddick said.
— Mark M. Kotzin
private sector achiever
union office. He has served as
president of the Housekeeping and
Laundry Employees Local for seven
years. Freckleton is also active in AFL-
CIO events in the Hudson Valley.
After learning of the workers’
difficult working conditions and low
wages, Freckleton launched a
campaign to help them organize a
union with CSEA.
The resulting organizing drive was a
quick success, with the Sodexho
workers winning in December
recognition from management through
card check neutrality.
“I decided to organize these
workers so they could have a voice
and be heard,” Freckleton said. “I
wanted them to be in the union so
they would have some job security.
~ 39
Robert Freckleton accepts the Private
Sector Mission Achievement Award at
the State, Local Government and
Private Sector Workshop.
Things have improved for them since
they were first recognized in
December.”
— Jessica Stone
Bayport school workers fight for respect
BAYPORT — Teacher’s
assistants and teacher's
aides in the Bayport-Blue
Point School District took
to the streets recently to
demand a fair contract.
Bayport-Blue Point
School District officials
have refused to negotiate
on any other contractual
issues until the unit,
which consists
exclusively of women,
takes the issue of health
care off the table
completely.
Carrying signs that
read ‘Be fair. We need
health care,’ CSEA
members sent a clear
message to the Board of
Education that its stance
was unacceptable. “It is
unconscionable that in
this day and age, working
women who are often the
sole support of their
families, cannot get health
insurance through their
full-time jobs,” Bayport-
Blue Point School District
Unit President Karen
Gugliotta said.
Teaching Assistant unit president Karen Gugliotta at
the recent protest at a school board meeting,
demanding a fair contract for teacher’s assistants
and teacher's aides.
Nine unit members
who work full time are
uninsured, largely
because of single
parenthood, divorce or an
uninsured spouse.
“The district seems to
think this is 1950 and we
are just working to get
out of the house,”
Gugliotta said. “On the
contrary, teacher
assistants and aides are
educated, and have
higher academic
standards to meet today
than ever before. If our
job of working directly
with the district’s
children does not merit
respect from our
employer, what does that
say about the district’s
priorities?”
The unit is waging a
spirited fight in the local
press as well. They took
out a hard-hitting
informational ad, filled
board meetings with
supporters and delivered
thousands of area
residents’ signatures on
petitions.
The board, however, is
refusing to budge.
“These women do a
»| fine job and an important
job every day,” Long
Island Region President
Nick LaMorte said. “They
deserve the same respect
for a job well done that
any man gets. The district
claims the assistants and
aides knew when they
took the jobs that they
didn’t have health
insurance.”
LaMorte said that
people’s lives change and
often need coverage.
“Their needs change,”
he said. “This district is
not being reasonable.”
Gugliotta also blasted
the school board for
laying off 10 greeters in
the school district. She
said in this post Sept. 11
climate, the greeters help
maintain order and
security in the schools
and the cuts are
extremely short-sighted.
— Rachel Langert
Fund-raiser honors memory of late custodian
LARCHMONT — Bill
Dorsey may be gone, but
in the hearts and
memories of the students,
faculty and staff in the
Mamaroneck School
District, the CSEA
member is definitely not
forgotten.
Dorsey worked several
years as a custodian at
Central School, an
elementary school in the
Westchester County
district. His death last
December, in a fire at his
home in nearby Harrison,
shocked and saddened
the school community.
The death also spurred
concern for Dorsey's
daughter Rachel, 13.
A desire to raise funds
for Rachel's education
and to remember Dorsey
led members of the CSEA
Mamaroneck School
District Unit and faculty
to organize a fund-raising
kickball game June 8 to
benefit the Rachel Dorsey
Fund.
“The fifth graders loved
him so much, they
wanted to do something
to remember him before
the end of the school
year,” said George Reed,
unit president. “The
younger kids didn’t know
him as long as the fifth
graders did, so the older
kids were especially hit
hard by his death.”
For a donation,
students and their
parents watched as
faculty and staff played,
the 90-degree heat not
deterring the students
from loud cheering.
Attendees entered for a
donation, and organizers
raised additional money
selling lemonade and
snacks.
Central School
staff and faculty
presented Rachel
Dorsey with a
plaque honoring her
father that will be
hung in the school.
“Billy was just a
wonderful person in
our Central School
community,” said
Jean James, the fifth
grade teacher who
organized the
kickball game. “We
had already wanted
to do something
students toward the
end of the school
year, so we thought we
could honor Billy in a way
that would help his
daughter.”
Reed and James said
Dorsey had a special way
with the students,
particularly a talent for
Mamaroneck School District
Unit President George Reed,
left, and Joe Alfano, right, are
among the many school district
staff members who have
supported Rachel Dorsey,
center, since her father’s
involving faculty and geath.
making them laugh.
Dorsey also made the
students feel good about
themselves, they said.
And for that, at Central
School, he won't be
forgotten.
— Jessica Stone
Represents 55,000 Workers in
ERUCATLON SUEEQLL
SELNVICES
“These women
do a fine job
and an
important job
every day. They
deserve the
same respect
for a job well
done that any
man gets.”
CSER Voices
“epee a refresher course
on civil service law.
That topic is important
because it talks about
seniority, transfers and the
laws that protect people in
promotions99
— Maryann Phelps,
SUNY Stony Brook Local,
interviewed at a recent
CSEA workshop in Lake
Placid.
July 2005 THE WORK FORCE Page 9
«Ss
First combined CSEA workshop builds strength
LAKE PLACID — More than 900 CSEA
members employed by the state, local
government and the private sector came
together for a weekend of unity and learning
during the union’s first combined spring
workshop.
CSEA members attended workshops on
topics varying from Social Security to health
care along with members employed in all
divisions. The union previously held
separate workshops each year, with one
geared to state employees and the other
aimed at local government, school district
and private sector workers.
Despite the change, the goal of this year’s
State, Local Government and Private Sector
Workshop remained the same as it had in
past years — preparing members to fight for
wn ol
CSEA President Danny Donohue welcomes
the crowd at the State, Local Government
and Private Sector Workshop.
working families’ rights, benefits and futures.
“Whether we work for the state, a local
government, a school district or in the
private sector, we share the same problems,
experiences, goals and agenda as we face the
challenges ahead,” President Danny Donohue
said. “We have a tough agenda ahead of us.”
Fights ahead
Donohue urged members to continue to
stand together and fight to save public
hospitals and nursing homes across the
state, many of which are facing contracting
out or closure threats because of fiscal woes.
The union’s efforts to secure health care
funding led to state lawmakers allocating in
the state budget $40 million for public
nursing homes.
“CSEA has led the fight to make sure our
public hospitals and nursing homes got the
urgent care they need to survive,” Donohue
said. “CSEA members will be able to continue
delivering quality public health care at
places like Nassau University Medical Center
and SUNY teaching hospitals.”
The union is continuing its fight to save
other public hospitals and nursing homes in
peril, including Westchester Medical Center,
Erie County Nursing Home and Mount View
Nursing Home. (See stories on Pages 2, 5.)
Donohue also stressed that CSEA members
need to fight attacks on workers by President
George W. Bush's administration and
business groups (See story, Page 15).
“We need to stand together and fight to
survive four more years of the anti-worker
Bush administration and its attack on our
workplace safety protections, overtime and
retirement,” he said. “Groups like the
Citizens Budget Commission are using false,
misleading information to call our wages and
benefits too generous. Bush wants to take
the security out of Social Security. We can’t
CSEA Treasurer Maureen Malone and Long
Island Region President Nick LaMorte share
a light moment while greeting participants.
sit still for this attempt by the business
community to undermine what we've fought
nearly 100 years to gain.”
Mission Achievement Award winners
CSEA also awarded the State, Local
Government and Private Sector Mission
UNION
RADIO
SURVEY SAYS... 100 CSEA Members were
surveyed and asked: Where do CSEA
Members currently get information
about candidates and laws?
Page 10 July 2005
THE WORK FORCE
CSEA Town of Oyster Bay Local members
John Anderson, left, and Salvadore
Cecere look over the workshop program.
Achievement Awards to Tryon School Local
President Joseph Melita, Niagara County Unit
President Fran Faery and Westchester
Medical Center Housekeeping and Laundry
Workers Local President Robert Freckleton.
(See stories, Pages 6, 7 and 8.)
Preparing for the 21t century
One of the weekend’s highlights centered
on CSEA’s work with AFSCME's 215 Century
Committee, of which Donohue is a member.
CSEA Executive Vice President Mary Sullivan
also chairs the committee’s politics
subcommittee and was active in the
weekend’s two workshops, when union
members broke into small groups and
brainstormed ideas on how to best move the
union forward (See story, Page 3).
CSEA members also competed in “CSEA.
Family Feud.” The union's political action
department presented the program based on
the long-running TV game show, in which union
members answered questions about CSEA and
other current affairs such as politics, sports
and even favorite foods.
The union generated the questions in classic
Family Feud style, by surveying 100 union
members and asking workshop attendees to
provide the most popular answers to
questions.
For instance, one question posed to 100
member asked “Where do CSEA members
problems at work.
currently get information about candidates and
laws?”
Survey says ~ the most popular answer was
“TV,” with 35 responses. “Newspaper”
generated 25 responses, and 18 members
answered “union.”
Other workshops included information on
Canadian prescription plans, civil service
law, retirement advice, school district career
goals, mobilization during contract
CSEA members brainstorm ideas to resolve safety and health
campaigns, organizing through card check
neutrality, the Family Medical Leave Act and
communicating messages to members and
the public and a dose of CSEA Family Feud.
— Janice Marra
: ST
me at |
I.
An
Security privatization.
ae —— A be
CSEA members learn more details about the Bush administration’s proposed Social
July 2005 Page 11
CSEA, PESH build
EAST SYRACUSE — CSEA is
hopeful a new collaboration
between union leaders and
activists, and the staff of the state
Department of Labor’s Public
Employee Safety and Health
(PESH) Bureau will give each side
a clearer understanding of how
the other functions and lead to
more productive interactions and
safer workplaces across New
York.
Throughout many dealings
between PESH officials and the
union over the years, it became
clear that underlying
communication problems and a
better understanding of both
sides’ roles and responsibilities
needed to be addressed.
“We are all in it to ensure
worker safety,” CSEA Central
Region President Jim Moore said.
CSEA proposed a closer
working relationship between the
organizations to PESH. Reviewing
common issues and
misconceptions, a joint training
program developed to benefit
CSEA activists and PESH Bureau
staff.
The training has moved
across the state, with CSEA
Region Safety and Health
Committees having the
opportunity to meet with PESH
staff and get a first-hand account
of what PESH does and how the
bureau and union can better
interact.
Recently, the CSEA Central
Region Safety and Health
Committee met with PESH Senior
Safety and Health Consultant
Franklin Watson, Safety and
Health Inspector Donna Haley and
Senior Industrial Hygienist Peter
Moles. Watson presented training
titled “What is PESH?” and “PESH
as a Resource.” Watson said the
training should prove valuable to
the union activists.
“We definitely got to meet
people we hadn’t known. As far as
the enforcement side, they'll
probably be able to file better
complaints in the future,” Watson
said. Central Region Safety and
Health Committee Chair Anthony
DeCaro said the training was well
received.
Page 12 THE WORKFORCE July 2005
“T think that PESH really put
the framework of the rules into
perspective for us, to allow us to
think about how our work can be
conducted with safety in mind,
reminding us that it’s everyone’s
responsibility, especially
employers, to ensure our work
environments are safe,” he said.
“All of us who were at the training
welcomed the opportunity to
hear from the PESH
representatives in a format that
allowed us to ask questions and
continue in the
future.”
lead to better
ensure safer
workplaces, said
Safety and Health
begin a dialogue that can
The enhanced
knowledge of CSEA’s
safety activists will
communication to
CSEA Occupational
Director Janet Foley.
“It is important for CSEA
Left, Senior PESH Consultant
Franklin Watson, standing,
gives a presentation to CSEA
Central Region safety activists
and staff at their recent
committee meeting. CSEA OSH
Specialist John Bieger is seated
foreground, and PESH
Inspector Donna Haley and
PESH Industrial Hygienist Peter
Moles are seated behind him.
members to be familiar with the
only law that protects them from
occupational hazards,” she said,
“It is important for PESH to know
the issues of CSEA members.
CSEA is a leader on occupational
safety and health because of our
activists. Keeping the
lines of
communication open
between the two is
7 (0! key,” Foley said she
UNION’ hopes CSEA and PESH
265,000 Members Strong will collaborate more
IS APE ane closely in the future
MEATS on joint safety
initiatives.
— Mark M. Kotzin
Tips for working in hot weather
Ue members working in hot weather should
remember their employers need to make sure
safe practices are followed, and provide you the
protections to prevent illness or accidents. Here
are some tips workers and employers should
follow:
Heat
¢Drink plenty of water before you get thirsty.
eWear light, loose-fitting, breathable clothing —
cotton is good.
eTake frequent short breaks in cool shade.
eEat smaller meals before work activity.
eAvoid caffeine or large amounts of sugar.
¢Find out from your health - care provider if your
medications and heat don’t mix.
¢Know that equipment such as respirators or work
suits can increase heat stress.
Lyme Disease
eWear light-colored clothes to see ticks more
easily.
eWear long sleeves; tuck pant legs into socks or
boots.
eWear high boots or closed shoes that cover your
feet completely.
eWear a hat.
Use tick repellents, but not on your face.
West Nile Virus
eApply insect repellent with DEET to exposed skin.
Spray clothing with repellents containing DEET or
permethrin.
Be extra vigilant at dusk and dawn when
mosquitoes are most active.
Sun
¢Use sunscreen. A sun protection factor (SPF) of at
least 15 blocks 93 percent of ultraviolet rays. Be
sure to follow application directions on the bottle
or tube.
eWear a hat. A wide brim hat, not a baseball cap,
works best because it protects the neck, ears, eyes,
forehead, nose, and scalp.
eWear UV-absorbent shades. Sunglasses don’t have
to be expensive, but they should block 99 to 100
percent of UVA and UVB radiation. Before you buy,
read the product tag or label.
eLimit exposure, if possible. UV rays are most
intense between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Child’s death creates
mission for toll collector
NEWBURGH — Violet Lyster has always
considered herself an advocate for
children, but it was the death of a little
boy named Xavier Lunan that led her toa
crusade.
Lunan, who died at the age of 3 in 1999
after weeks of
beatings at the
hands of his
mother and her
boyfriend, was INEW YORK'S
buried in a grave LEADING) UNION)
with a plastic 265,000 Members Strong
marker He could | LAlilLY, GIERDS cud
KELEWE GLE
easily have been
another crime
statistic that faded
in the public’s memory, but Lyster
wouldn't allow it.
“The night after I read an article about
Xavier’s grave in the paper, I couldn’t
sleep,” she said. “I called the reporter
who'd written about him and asked what |
could do.”
Lyster, a mother and grandmother who
works as a toll collector at the New York
State Bridge Authority's Newburgh-Beacon
Bridge, began on a mission to ensure
Xavier Lunan received something in death
he got little of during his short life:
respect.
She worked day and night to raise the
money to buy Lunan a gravestone.
Co-workers from the five bridges making
up the authority were among the
contributors, with one maintenance
DDSO workers hailed as
ALBANY — Three CSEA members
employed at the Capital District
Developmental Disabilities Services Office
were recently honored by the state Office
of Mental Retardation and Developmental
Disabilities for helping 12 consumers
escape a February van fire unharmed.
Bus Driver John Parker and
Developmental Aides Ricardo Brown and
Noe Boilard had just left an Albany day
Violet Lyster works in her New York
State Bridge Authority office at the
Newburgh-Beacon Bridge. Lyster worked
to raise funding for a playground in
Newburgh.
worker at the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge
even coming up with donations he’d
collected from his bowling league.
“You couldn’t have asked for more,”
Lyster said of her co-workers. “They knew
I was under enormous stress with this.
Their little acts took so much off my
shoulders.”
She quickly met her fund-raising goal
for the gravestone and little Xavier Lunan,
and an uncle buried alongside him, now
have a recognizable grave in St. Mary’s
Cemetery in Kingston.
treatment center with the consumers on
board a 15-passenger van when they
began to smell smoke.
Shortly after the van’s battery gauge
began to discharge, all of the dashboard
gauges lit up. The van soon lost power
and coasted to the side of the road.
Within seconds, flames began to shoot
up the doors, soon engulfing the van.
Parker, Brown and Boilard quickly moved
July 2005
Honoring Xavier
Her initial goal accomplished, Lyster
pressed on. With the cooperation of the
Newburgh City Council, the street where
Lunan lived and died was renamed Xavier
Lunan Way.
Lyster soon worked toward a park for
children in the inner-city neighborhood
where Lyster had lived, which was
without a safe place for children to play.
Again working with city council members,
Lyster organized the building of a
playground next door to the Washington
Heights Community Center. It, too, was
named for Lunan.
Bridge Authority workers joined in the
park’s dedication last year, with some of
Lyster’s co-workers donating and cooking
food for the occasion.
Neighborhood children enjoyed months
of play before a fire in a nearby
abandoned building damaged the
playground equipment. Lyster is hoping
city officials will come through with
replacements for the damaged equipment,
as it was one of Newburgh’s few outdoor
play spots.
Lyster also is also hoping for another
accomplishment, to commemorate Child
Abuse Prevention Month.
“I would love to see the city have Xavier
as their poster child for that month,” she
said.
— Jessica Stone
heroes
the consumers to safety in a nearby
building. A passing police officer notified
the fire department and helped with
traffic control.
“We did what we had to do,” Parker
said. “The adrenaline definitely kicked in.”
— Therese Assalian
THE WORK FORCE Page 13
6I years ago ...
It might seem quaint today, but in 1944, the Civil
Service Leader, then CSEA’s official publication, gave tips
to the “civil service gal” on what to wear during the
summer. Women working in civil service at the time had
quite a dilemma when trying to decide whether to dress
for comfort or for appropriateness. “It is an
acknowledged fact,” claimed the Leader, “that a worker
should be dressed appropriately — comfortably, to attain
maximum efficiency.’ The publication noted that,
shockingly, some women had begun to wear halters to
work instead of their white-collar blouses to alleviate
the heat.
The paper's editor promptly assured readers they
were “not advocating halters — just reporting.” It
should also be noted halters of that era bear little
resemblance to halters of today.
Although the article gave no solid conclusions on the
decision between bobby socks and liquid hose, don’t
worry, they would “try to give you, in future issues, some
good ideas about what the well-dressed civil service girl
should wear this summer.”
Page 14 THE WORKFORCE July 2005
ap bY
We’ve come a long way ...
The women in this July 1944
photo were the finalists for the
Civil Service Leader’s “Miss Civil
Service” contest. Women in
civil service competed in the
newspaper’s beauty contest for
a fur coat. Mary Nelson, center,
won the title. She is described
as an “attractive, brown-haired
girl.” The paper unabashedly
also gave her height, weight
and measurements, a reminder
of that era’s chau’
Also in 1944 ...
2k On June 6, Allied troops invade Normandy, France,
in what would become known as D-Day. Later in the
year, they were bogged down in the Battle of the
Bulge in Belgium.
3 U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt is re-elected to
an unprecedented fourth term.
2k Oswald Avery isolates DNA at the Rockefeller
Institute.
2k Disney's “The Three Caballeros” becomes the first
film to combine live action and animation.
2k Anne Frank and her family are located by the
Gestapo on a tip and sent to concentration camps.
2k Hungarian journalist Laszlo Biro invents ballpoint
pens.
2 The Germans develop the V-2, the first long range
ballistic missile.
Big business attacks your rights and benefits
ALBANY — Public employee
wages and benefits are under
attack by big business groups
trying to cast all of New York’s
workers in a race to the bottom
for substandard pay and working
conditions.
A recent report by the Citizens
Budget Commission, a New York
City think tank that’s a front for
the business community, uses
false and misleading information
to claim public employee pay,
benefits and pensions are too
generous. Among other things,
the commission wants to increase
public employee pension
contributions, raise the
retirement age and convert the
pension system from a defined
benefit to a defined contribution
plan.
“Worker pay is at its lowest
level in nearly 40 years and
corporate CEOs are making 450
times what their average
employee makes,” said CSEA
President Danny Donohue. “It’s
outrageous that working people
should be under assault from
misnamed “citizens” associations
that have the nerve to call our
wages and benefits excessive.”
Respected economists and
public policy
experts from
AFSCME and the
SE,
performed so well
public employers
contributed nothing
Public Policy (NEW YORIS to their employees’
Institute have LEADING UNION: pension funds.
pointed out serious 265,000 Members Strong The Citizens
flaws with the
commission’s
report.
They say the
report uses flawed methodology
and inappropriate wage data to
compare public employee wages
with private sector wages. For
example, the commission
includes in its wage comparison
low-paying private sector jobs
such as waiters and waitresses
that have no public sector
counterparts. The report also
fails to take into account factors
such as qualifications and scope
of responsibility in its wage
comparisons.
As for retirement, the report
uses increased public employer
pension contributions to justify
slashing public employee
pensions without fully addressing
the role stock market declines
and corporate scandals have had
in those increases. The report
also ignores the fact that during
the 1990s the stock market
LATOR LINTS
Budget Commission is
not alone in its
assault. The Business
Council and the
Manhattan Institute, another
business-backed think tank, have
also been relentlessly advocating
rolling back rights, wages, and
benefits. Donohue said CSEA
won't sit still for this attempt by
the business community to
undermine what unions have
fought nearly 100 years to gain.
“Calling for lower wages and
benefits in the public sector
because wages and benefits in
the private sector are under
attack is like slashing your front
tire because your back tire has a
leak,” Donohue said. “We should
all be working together to fix the
leaking tire instead of slashing
the good one.”
— Ed Molitor
Save on summer fun with CSEA
You deserve a break from work and high
entertainment costs!
Through Working Advantage, union members can
use Union Plus Entertainment Discounts for their
summer fun, including theme park and movie ticket
discounts.
You can save on tickets at theme parks across
the country, including these great theme parks:
Adventure Island, Busch Gardens, Medieval Times,
Paramount’s Kings Dominion, SeaWorld, Six Flags
and Universal Orlando Resort.
You can also save on seeing newly released
summer movies through discounted movie tickets!
Participating theater chains include Loews, Regal
and Clearview Cinemas.
Order your tickets today by logging into the
information about
the discount. You can also order
tickets by calling Union Plus Entertainment
Discounts at (800) 565-3712, Monday through
Member Benefits entertainment discounts page
on CSEA’s web site at
http://www.csealocal1000.org/mem_bens/entertain
ment_discounts. You can also visit Working
Advantage’s web site at
Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
IMPORTANT: To receive the Union Plus discount,
union members must reference the Union Privilege
Member ID number of 744387769 when calling or
ordering theme park or movie tickets.
http://www.workingadvantage.com for more
July 2005
How the
commission’s
report attacks
CSEA
members
like you
10. Business groups like the
Citizens Budget Commission are
trying to cast workers in a race to
the bottom for substandard wages
and benefits.
9. Despite its name, the commission
is a front to advance the big
business agenda. It does not
represent typical New York
citizens.
8. The commission’s report bases
its conclusions on flawed
methodology and inappropriate
wage data.
7. At the same time President
George W. Bush wants to take the
security out of Social Security, the
commission wants us to pay more
into retirement with no guarantee of
getting more out.
6. The report ignores the fact that
during much of the last decade,
public employers contributed
nothing to employee pensions.
5. Corporate CEOs now make 450
times what their average employee
makes.
4. Worker pay is at its lowest level
in 40 years while corporate profits
are at the highest level ever
recorded.
3. More and more employers are
sending jobs overseas and workers
to the unemployment line.
2. Big business outspends labor
24:1 on lobbying.
1. Be aware — with the stroke of a
pen, the governors of Kentucky,
Indiana and Missouri recently
wiped out public employee
collective bargaining rights and are
refusing to honor existing worker
contracts.
THE WORK FORCE Page 15
Summary of April 2005 CSEA board of directors meeting
Editor's note:
The Work
Force
publishes a
summary of
actions taken
by CSEA’s
Board of
Directors. The
summary is
prepared by
CSEA
Statewide
Secretary Barbara Reeves for
union members.
Reeves
ALBANY — CSEA’s statewide
Board of Directors met April 29.
In official business, the board:
¢ Approved a tentative agreement
with the Headquarters Staff Union
and a retirement age amendment
to the staff pension plan;
¢ Authorized a five-year contract
with Pearl Carroll & Associates as
the union’s insurance service
team;
Allowed the CSEA President and
Treasurer to open and maintain
brokerage/bank accounts for
CSEA investments in accordance
with the CSEA investment policy
and amended this policy to
provide for up to 30 percent
investment in equities;
¢ Changed the “modification”
section of the CSEA investment
policy to state “This policy may
be modified or amended at any
time by the CSEA Board of
Directors;”
¢ Authorized various leases
including a one-year elevator
maintenance agreement for Local
860, office space for five years at
2545 Hempstead Turnpike, East
Meadow, for Local 865, and four
years for office space at 120 N.
Main Street, New City, for Local
844;
¢ Retained
PricewaterhouseCoopers as
accounting firm for the 2005 fiscal
year audit;
¢ Made several adjustments to
the CSEA budget as a result of
Headquarters Staff Union salary
increases and other mandatory
adjustments;
¢ Increased the capital additions
budget to fund the purchase of a
print shop server and buyout
option on computer processing
and information storage
equipment;
¢ Created a temporary charter for
Local 755 Head Start
(Schenectady/Capital Region);
e Added Al Luppo, Dominic
Ciaramella and Rudy Bruce to the
Long Island Region Political
Action Committee, and Carol
Bruno and Jay Ingoldsby to the
Capital Region Political Action
Committee; and
¢ Placed into administratorship
Oneonta State Employees Local
011, Genesee Valley Central
School District Unit 6061-00/Local
802, City of Cortland Water
Department Unit 6558-01/Local
812 and Waterford-Halfmoon
Central School District Unit 8465-
00/Local 864.
Questions concerning the
summary should be directed to
CSEA Statewide Secretary
Barbara Reeves, CSEA
Headquarters, 143 Washington
Ave., Albany, N.Y. 12210,
1-800-342-4146 or
(518) 257-1253.
CSEA announces winners of statewide, local scholarships
CSEA presented college scholarship
awards to children of CSEA members
from across the state. CSEA wishes
the students good luck in their
academic endeavors.
Pearl Carroll & Associates Award:
Amanda R. Stephens, whose father,
Patrick Feldman is an employee at the
state Department of Environmental
Conversation in the Buffalo area.
MetLife Insurance Award:
Sarah Birnbaum, whose mother,
Nancy Birnbaum, is an employee of
Westchester County.
Irving Flaumenbaum Scholarship
Awards (by region)
Long Island:
Hayley Elizabeth Curtis, whose father,
Gregg Curtis, is an employee of the
Town of Southhampton.
Lindsay Schare, whose mother, Terry
Schare, is an employee of the Syosset
School District.
Michael Szalay, whose mother, Janette
Szalay, is an employee of the Kings
Park School District,
Metropolitan:
Melissa V. Malapit, whose father,
Dwight G. Malapit, is an employee of
the state Liquidation Bureau.
Camille Manuel, whose mother, Olive
Belnavis, is an employee of the state
Taxation and Finance Department.
Nadira Persaud, whose father, David
Persaud, is an employee of the
Creedmoor Addiction Treatment
Center.
Page 16 THE WORK FORCE
Southern:
Megan Burnham, whose father,
Michael Stevens, is an employee of the
Washingtonville School District.
Heather Lynn Foss, whose mother,
Denise Foss, is an employee of the
Hudson Valley Developmental
Disabilities Services Office.
Jolynne Sannicandro, whose mother,
Linda Sannicandro, is an employee of
the Yonkers Public Schools.
Capital:
Carrie Douglas, whose mother,
Caroline Douglas, is an employee of the
AuSable Valley Central School.
Tara M. Nolan, whose mother, Monica
J.B. Nolan, is an employee of the
Cambridge School District.
Matthew Walsh II, whose mother,
Dawn Walsh, is n employee of the state
Taxation and Finance Department.
Central:
Katie Birchenough, whose mother,
Kathy Birchenough, is an employee of
the Lewis County General Hospital.
Randall Ellis Church, whose father,
Wayne Ellis Church, is an employee of
the Town of Webb School.
Brittney Vrooman, whose mother,
Christine Vrooman, is an employee of
the State University of New York at
Potsdam.
Western:
Nathan S. Haseley, whose mother,
Debora Haseley, is an employee of the
Starpoint Central School.
Hilary Osborn, whose mother,
Kathleen Osborn, is an employee of
Erie County.
Elizabeth Panfil, whose mother,
Maryanne Paniil, is an employee of the
Dunkirk City School District and whose
father, Carl Panfil, is an employee of
Chautauqua County.
Albany County Local Awards
Joseph Handen, whose father, David,
is an employee of the Albany County
Department of Social Services.
Jason Flatley, whose mother, Theresa,
is an employee of the Cohoes
Department of Public Works.
Westchester County Local Awards:
Daniel Adams, whose father, Leonard
Adams, is an employee of the
Pocantico Hills School District.
Douglas Bicknese, whose mother,
Jeanine Bicknese, is an employee of
the Mount Vernon School District.
Rachel Cleary, whose father, William
Cleary, is an employee of Westchester
Medical Center.
Douglas Ellman, whose mother, Diane
Ellman, is an employee of the Yonkers
Public Schools.
Sarah Greenbaum, whose mother,
Beatrice Greenbaum, is an employee of
Westchester County.
Lindsay Macri, whose mother,
Christine Macri, is an employee of the
Port Chester School District.
Luciano Ranallo, whose father, Ennio
Ranallo, is an employee of the
Edgemont School District.
Jolynne Sannicandro, whose mother,
Linda Sannicandro, is an employee of
the Yonkers Public Schools.
Francesca Santa, whose mother, Gina
Pelliccio, is an employee of
Westchester County.
Andrew Seicol, whose mother,
Lorraine Seicol, is an employee of the
White Plains School District.
John Soychak, whose mother, Linda
Soychak, is an employee of the
Lakeland School District.
Selena Watkins, whose parents, Judith
and Robert Watkins, are employees of
the Yonkers Public Schools.
Westchester County Local Grace Ann
Aloisi Scholarship
Beth Anne Croughan, whose mother,
Francine Croughan, is an employee of
the City of White Plains.
Cayuga County Local Scholarship
Sarah Rindfleisch, whose mother,
Mary Rindileisch, is an employee of the
Cayuga County Department of Motor
Vehicles.
Natalie Holak, whose mother,
Alexandra Holak, is an employee of the
Cayuga County Human Services
Department.
Carrie Shaw, whose mother, Susette
O'Connor, is an employee of the
Cayuga County Sheriff's Department.
Stephanie Dann, whose mother, Maria
Dann, is an employee of the Moravia
Central School.
Alexander Baker, whose mother,
Martha Baker, is an employee of
Weedsport Central School.
Alexis Parsons, whose father, Allan
Parsons, is an employee of the Cayuga
County Sheriff's Department.
July 2005
What’s In It For You:
You asked for it ¢ Higher fee schedule
NYSHIP enrollees to receive
benefit statement in mail
... dental plan
allowances with specific focus
on cleanings, examinations,
fillings, root canal therapy,
enhancements dentures, crowns and
extractions
are here ¢ Partial banding
can be covered under
The CSEA each of the plans
Employee Benefit AFSCME Local 1000, AFCO. except for the Retiree
Fund is pleased to EMPLOYEE = P«tal Plan, which
announce that
effective July 1,
2005, your dental
plan will be better than ever!
EBF staff enhanced the plans
based on suggestions made by
members, dentists and dental
consultants. The
recommendations led to
upgrades for state employees,
including ORDA and the New
York State Liquidation Bureau,
as well as local government
employees covered under the
Sunrise, Horizon, Equinox, and
Dutchess plans.
EBF has also enhanced the
EBF Retiree Dental Plan.
Improvements to the plans
include:
e Annual plan maximums for
members and their dependents
have increased by the following
amounts:
State plan: $2,500 (up from
$2,200)
¢ Sunrise: $2,500 (up from
$2,200)
Horizon: $2,850 (up from
$2,550)
¢ Equinox: $3,210 (up from
$2,910)
¢ Dutchess: $3,210 (up from
$2,910)
n Ever Better Future
BENEFIT FUND
does not include an
orthodontic benefit.
The EBF will mail
new plan booklets the week of
June 20. Should you have any
questions or concerns about
your EBF dental plan, please
contact your marketing
representative. Unless otherwise
noted, you can reach
representatives at (800) 323-
2732.
State employee
representatives are:
Long Island, Metropolitan,
Southern and Capital regions —
Charles Guild
Capital, Central and Western
regions — David Reed
Local government employee
representatives are:
Long Island Region — Linda
Sclafani (631) 462-5224
Southern Region — Geoff
Switts
Capital Region — Carisa
Haberl
Central Region — Meghan
Pastiglione
Western Region — Mike
Wagner (716) 691-6555, ext. 5131.
Your Insurance Service Team
at JLT Services Corporation is now...
PPC
PEARL:CARROLL
& ASSOCIATES
1-800-697-2732
Same people, same great service
and now with local ownership!
In June, all What do I
NYSHIP enrollees Hearth 2 need to do with
who are in the enefits this statement?
Empire Plan or a Department It is
health
maintenance
organization (HMO) will
receive a 2005 Benefit
Statement in the mail from the
New York State Department of
Civil Service.
What is a 2005 Benefit
Statement and what kind of
information will be on it?
The statement will show you
and your dependent(s)
medical information as it
appears on the New York
Benefits Eligibility and
Accounting System. It will
include medical benefit
information such as your
name, dependent name(s),
eligibility dates, birth dates
and Social Security numbers.
Protecting Your Benefits
important that
you confirm if
the information is either
correct or incorrect. If the
information is correct, you
don’t need to take any action.
If the statement is incorrect,
you need to make changes on
page three, sign it and return it
to your health benefits
administrator.
When do I need to return
the statement?
You must turn in your
corrected statement to your
health benefits administrator
by July 15.
Who can I call if I have
questions?
You can call your agency’s
health benefits administrator
for assistance.
Empire Plan offers new
meningitis vaccine coverage
The Empire Plan covers
vaccinations and
immunizations in accordance
with recommendations of the
Centers for Disease Control
and the American Academy of
Pediatrics.
The CDC and the Academy
of Pediatrics recently released
a statement endorsing the
meningitis vaccine for
pre-teens ages 11 and 12 and
high school and college
students in dormitories.
Effective July 1, the
meningitis vaccine will become
a covered pediatric
immunization under the
Empire Plan for the following
categories of children and
young adults in the targeted
population:
¢ Dependent children up to
19 years old will be eligible to
receive the meningitis vaccine
through a participating
provider or from a non-
participating provider (basic
medical coverage — subject to
deductible and co-insurance)
of the Empire Plan.
¢ Full-time dependent
students age 19 and over will
be eligible to receive the
meningitis vaccine under the
adult immunization benefit,
which is through a
participating provider ONLY.
July 2005
THE WORK FORCE Page 17
ALBANY — Few people even come close to
matching the experience and knowledge
John O’Keefe earned during his 53-year
career.
O'Keefe started working at Wadsworth
Center for Laboratories and Research in
1952. Shortly after that, CSEA gave a charter
to the Wadsworth Center Local, making the
local one of the longest existing chartered
locals in the union.
In 1989, after serving as vice president,
O’Keefe became local president, an office
he’s held since. For more than 50 years,
O’Keefe has played an active role ina
changing labor movement. He remains
steadfastly committed to members of his
local and has earned the respect of fellow
union activists.
O'Keefe did not seek re-election as local
president and said his retirement will likely
happen this year. The Work Force’s Therese
Assalian caught up with O’Keefe to learn
more about his tenure at Wadsworth Labs
and his union involvement.
fi
John O'Keefe points to a family tree of three
generations of the Byrne's and O'Keefe's who have
worked at the Wadsworth Lab.
Page 18 THE WORK FORCE July 2005
WF: What was your first job and how did you get
it?
JO: Right here at the lab. After graduating from
the Vincentian Institute in Albany, my father, Daniel,
who worked here spoke for me and | started as a lab
helper, a grade 1 in 1952. He was a good Irishman
from the old country. He loved the lab and he was a
great union guy.
WF: What's this about a family connection to the
lab?
JO: My mother, Hannah, worked as a maid for Dr.
Wadsworth, the founder of the lab. When my father
53-year Career
coming to a close
John O'Keefe at work in the CSEA office at
was laid off from the West Albany Shops, she went to Wadsworth Labs. O'Keefe's pending retirement will
Dr. Wadsworth. He gave my father a job doing
gardening and grounds work. He was able to provide
for his family of four kids. That Blue Cross card and
the benefits that card represented were very
important. Both sides of my family, the Byrnes and
the O’Keefes, have worked at the lab for three
generations. A few years ago, our co-workers
presented us with a plaque citing 350 combined
years of service including aunts, uncles and cousins.
My brother Dan and | met our wives working here.
My wife, Linda, still works here and my cousin
Michael runs the mailroom. So, yes, you could say
there is a family connection. We were all very happy
with state service.
WF: Did you think you'd be working in public
employment this long?
JO: No, | didn’t. | did leave for two years in 1957
for the U.S. Army. When | returned, | took an exam
and passed it and returned to the state as a Grade 9
Lab Technician. I've been here ever since.
WF: What changes in the labor movement or in
CSEA are most noticeable since you began your
career?
JO: Our union has grown much larger. When |
bring a 53-year career at the Wadsworth Labs to a
close.
was first involved in the union, CSEA was only state
workers. Now, we have local government and private
sector members. | also remember when we joined
AFSCME.
WF: Any advice for younger activists?
JO: Get involved and remember your first
responsibility is to your members. Learn as much as
you can about your contract — that's the (union)
bible. If you don’t know that, you know nothing. Also,
learn the labor laws.
WF: What do you plan to do when you retire?
JO: Well, | have a big family. We have a lot of fun
when we get together. So, | plan to enjoy my family. |
also plan to play bad golf and to join the retirees
local.
Elder
Law
CSE
Workers’
Compensation
and Social Security
Personal Disability Matters
Legal
Matters Personal Injury
Matters
PEOPLE PERSON — The
PEOPLE recruiter for the
month of May is Maureen Ford
Encyclopedia of New
York State, published by
' the Syracuse University
1-800-342-4146
or
Go to the CSEA website at
www.csealocal1000.org and
then log on to the members-
only area where you will
find the link for the Legal
Services Program.
This material is copyrighted by
CSEA and may not be reproduced
without their written permission.
CSE
Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO
143 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12210
Danny Donohue. President
NEW YORK'S) Press, now available.
LEADING UNION) Busou A&P to zebra
265,000 Members Strong mussels, the new ,
encyclopedia contains
thousands of facts on
of the Ulster County Local in
the Southern Region. She
recruited 12 new PEOPLE
members. PEOPLE is CSEA and Acre
AFSCME’s political action Cs EA
the culture and history
program. It is responsible for TO) Ly
raising money and collecting 1 Q DAY of New York state.
voluntary contributions from the Copies can be ordered at the
membership so CSEA can effectively encyclopedia’s web site at
promote our interests at the state and www.syracuseuniversitypress.syr.edu/e
federal level ... FROM ‘A’ to ‘Z’ — CSEA _ ncyclopedia. CSEA is also featured in
and the New York State Senate are the publication with a substantial entry
among the sponsors of The in the public employee section.
CSEA remembers soldier and activist
COMMACK — Long Island Region members
recently held a ceremony to honor the late
Tom Byrne, a CSEA activist who proudly
served his country and his union.
Union members dedicated the flagpole
outside of the Long Island Region office in
Commack to Byrne after he died last year.
Recently, CSEA members raised the
POW/MIA flag to honor Byrne's.
Byrne, the former president of the Long
Island State Employees Local, was also
active in the region Veteran’s Committee
and took great pride in his military service.
“Tom was a champion for his members,”
LaMorte said. “He would meet with them at
all hours and any day of the week if they
needed his assistance. Tom loved this union
and all the people in it, and we are grateful
for his many years of service.”
“I'm very proud and honored that this
was done for Tommy,” Jeannie Byrne,
Byrne’s wife, said. “I really appreciate this,
and I know that if Tommy’s around he’s up
there and his Irish eyes are smiling in
approval.”
Long Island Region President Nick
LaMorte, far right, with, from left,
Jeannie Byrne and Long Island Region
Veteran’s Committee Chair Steve
Abramson, raise the POW/MIA flag in
honor of Byrne’s late husband, Tom
Byrne.
¢ Want the latest on safety & health laws?
* Concerned about asbestos at work?
¢ Want information on CSEA safety and health
training programs such as ergonomics?
Visit the Occupational Safety and
Health page on the CSEA web site at
www.csealocal1000.org/osh.php for
the answers to these and many
other safety and health questions.
Also, watch soon for a new Canary flying into CSEA!
(The Canary is CSEA’s safety & health newsletter!)
July 2005 THE WORK FORCE Page 19
You know what works
best for all of us?
2, New York’s
|= Leading
Union.
: learn more at
www.csealocal1000.org/career_resources
CSEA has a long history of providing
union members with the tools
necessary to advance their careers in
civil service and the private sector.
CSE Long Island Region o
oe
Ong Island Repo
DOT Local members working on Ocean Parkway are, kneeling, from left, Antonio Flores, Ed Torrez and
Bo Hernandez and, standing, from left, William Berthold, Ralph Vingo Ill, Mark Palleschi, President Bill
Stodolski, Joe Agell, Charles Meimhold and R. Allen. At right, the crew at work tightening bolts that attach
the guard rail to its supports.
ILGO BEACH — It was a beautiful day for the beach. The rain earlier that
morning had ended. The sun was warm, the sky blue. Hundreds of cars
roared by, carrying beach-goers to Long Island’s fine South Shore beaches.
Two men in wet suits carrying their surfboards crossed Ocean Parkway when the flow of cars and motorcyclists eased.
Although the state Department of Transportation Local members were quite close to the ocean, it was not a beach day for them. They were
on the median of the parkway readying guard rails for heavy summer beach traffic. The temperature was in the mid-70s and the gnats were
biting.
Please see DOT workers, continued on Page 3
DOT workers
continued from Page 1
“For all outdoor workers, the fall and the
spring are the best seasons,” said Bill Stodolski,
a highway maintenance supervisor who is
president of the local. “Summer and winter you
have extreme temperatures, either freezing or
sweating.”
The 600 members of the local maintain
thousands of lane-miles of state roads, ramps
and interchanges from the Queens line to the
end of the Island — the Long Island
Expressway, Montauk Highway, Sunrise
Highway, Jericho Turnpike, Route 25A and all
the named parkways.
They clear snow in the winter, patch holes in
the surface, maintain the landscaping around
the roads, paint the lines, make the signs and
keep the lights burning. And keep the guide
rails, which save many lives from being lost in
head-on crashes, in good order.
Operational members work from DOT
residencies at Garden City, Syosset, North
Merrick, Riverhead, Melville and Central Islip.
There are also specialized units such as the
Equipment Management crew in Central Islip,
the major repair facility for the department's
hundreds of vehicles and machines.
Acrew headquartered in Babylon maintains
the bridges. There is a paint crew, a crew that
trims trees, mechanics who maintain the traffic
lights and a parkway lighting crew that replaces
burned-out bulbs.
The main clerical unit, located at the State
Office Building in Hauppauge, handles the
payroll and employee records, purchases and
training.
On Page 1 and on this page are photos of
the DOT crew at work.
At left, Bill Stodolski, left, uses a
crowbar to hold a guide rail in
place while Joe Agell, center,
lines it up for bolts.
Below left, Bo Hernandez hand-
tightens one of the bolts that
keep guide rails in place.
Below, R. Allen wrenches a bolt
tight.
Willaim Berthold, left, and Charlie Meimhold keep rails in place while
other workers prepare to bolt them in place. Each of the steel rails
weighs about 60 pounds.
/ =
William Berthold, left, adjusts one of the wood supports while Mark
Palleschi holds a bolt in place.
Fresh from riding the waves at Gilgo Beach, surfers cross
Ocean Parkway where DOT members are working.
Long Island Reporter ©
PHOTO OF THE MONTH
Participating in the ceremony are, from left to right, Dominic Ciaramella, president of
the CSEA Nassau Retirees Local; Steve Abramson, Veteran's Committee Chair;
Nick LaMorte, Long Island Region President; Maryann Phelps, a Veteran's
Committee member and CSEA member Valerie Ciaramella.
G reetings Brothers and Sisters,
Because CSEA is the most democratic union
around, every four years we give each member
the opportunity to elect the people who will
represent his or her best interests.
So, to the newly elected unit and local officers,
welcome to the fold! To the veterans who have
been re-elected, welcome back! To everyone who
has served his or her fellow members, a sincere
thank you for what is often a challenging and
seemingly thankless job.
Now, we have an opportunity for new
beginnings. With that in mind, | will be meeting
with your local presidents in what | hope will be a
positive exchange that will result in better ways of
serving you. This is an awesome responsibility.
With responsibility comes accountability, and
that involves holding regular membership
meetings; returning phone calls; visiting work
sites; getting involved in the political process and
making it work for the members, and
communicating effectively with the members.
In this region, one essential tool we use to
communicate with the membership is this paper,
the Long Island Reporter. Through the work of our
tegion Communications Associate Rachel Langert
and reporter Charlie Michaelson, the paper deals
exclusively with events and issues that affect
locals like yours in the Long Island Region.
Through this paper, we highlight the work our
members do, showcase our victories and keep
the members informed about the challenges we
face. It is through resources like the Long Island
2
Long Island Reporter
Message from Long Island Region President
Nick LaMorte
Reporter that we tackle
our challenges
together.
We all know you
can’t have a union
without solidarity, but we also can’t
have an effective union without frequent, open
communication with our members. After all, no
matter how much good work we do for our
members, it won't amount to very much if the
members don't know about it.
In solidarity,
Nick LaMorte, president
Long Island Region
Ne nls
Region Committee
honors veterans ...
On Memorial Day weekend, the Long
Island Region Veteran’s Committee
honored deceased CSEA members
and their family members who are
buried at Calverton National
Cemetery. The committee visited
about 50 graves, decorating them
with U.S. flags.
Veterans Committee Chair Steve
Abramson gathers the flags to be put at
the gravesites.
... and a champion
for the union
The Veterans Committee was also instrumental in the dedication of
the Long Island Region’s new POW/MIA flag in honor of Tom Byrne.
Byrne, the former president of the Long Island State Employees
Local, was also active in the region's Veteran's Committee and took
great pride in his military service.
“Tom was a champion for his members,” Long Island Region
President Nick LaMorte said. “He would meet with them at all hours,
and any day of the week if they needed his assistance. Tom loved
this union and all the people in it, and we are grateful for his many
years of service.”
CSEA members, officers and staff joined members of the Byrne
family, including his widow Jeannie, to honor Byrne for his years of
service to members. CSEA members in the region dedicated the
flagpole outside of the CSEA Long Island Region office to Tom
Byrne after his death last year.
Long Island Region President Nick LaMorte and Jeannie Byrne
(center) join Region Veterans Committee members (left to right)
Nelson Gutierrez, Maryann Phelps, Frank Campbell and committee
chair Steve Abramson, at the dedication for Byrne's late husband,
Tom.
—
——>_=
Inside Reporter
ae i members study hard at first combo workshop
Long Island Region Director Ron King (standing)
conducts workshop on the Benefits of Belonging to the
House of Labor. Also on the panel were (left to right)
Jon Premo — Capital Region LRS, Mandy Ellis from Field
and Member Services, and Capital Region Director Kate
Luscombe.
CSEA MEMBERS from the Long Island
Region were well represented at the State, Local
Government and Private Sector Workshop recently.
It was the first time the State and Local
Government Workshops were held together.
Attendees came away armed with the
knowledge and tools they'll need to “Fight the Good
Fight” for worker's rights, political clout, and
benefits, making CSEA even more of a force to be
reckoned with.
They worked hard at meetings dedicated to hot
issues like: Discipline in the Workplace; Negotiating
a Canadian Prescription Plan; Identifying Injuries,
Hazards and Health and Safety Problems; and
Building Union Power.
“Llearned all about FMLA (The Family and
Medical Leave Act), but all the workshops were
very informative and they were extremely well
done,” said Carol Low of SUNY Stony Brook Local.
“One thing | learned was that we have to get
copies of statements or any evidence that
4 Long Island Reporter
Deputy PAC Director Adam Acquario conducted
several packed workshops regarding how the
proposed plan to privatize Social Security will mean
financial insecurity for CSEA members.
management could be bringing up in a disciplinary
procedure. We are entitled to that information
under our rights from the Taylor Law,” said Meg
‘Shutka from Local 852. “I think that everything |
learned at the workshop will help me be an even
better representative for my people,” she said.
The Town of Oyster Bay Local made sure its
officers and shop stewards attended. “We want to
make sure they learn everything they can so they
can provide the very best service,” said Oyster Bay
Executive Vice President John Anderson. “We need
new people who are dedicated because (local
President) Augie, (local 1st VP) Bobby and | won't
be here forever. We have to make sure that we all
LIDC member Verna Morant distributing information about
the PEOPLE program.
CSEA members from around the state work together to
identify workplace safety hazards.
(clockwise) Don Larson (drawing) from Suffolk Municipal
Local, Bob Barile, Kerry Mincher, Debbie Nappi-
Gonzalez from SUNY Stony Brook, Kevin Smith and
Mark Patterson.
work together to keep our local and our union
strong,” said Anderson.
— Rachel Langert
Long Island Region holds an
This year’s Long Island Region Workshop drew members and officers
from state and local government as well as private sector locals and units
throughout Nassau and Suffolk.
In his opening address, statewide President Danny Donohue said, "The
Long Island Region's strength has always been its diversity. You may not
realize it, but we all need each other. The strength of this union will always
be its people. That's why we need you to stay involved, and work through
and for your union.”
Participants stayed busy honing their skils, sharing information and
preparing to better represent their members.
“Lwant to better understand how the whole system works," said DOT
Local Secretary Stacey Pagan. “We work just as hard as the private
contractors and | can't understand why the governor and his people can't
see that. It's at gatherings like this one, that | get to talk about things lke this
with other officers,” she said.
With 32 years on the job, Brookhaven Blue Collar unit shop steward Tom
Osmanski had some advice for the newer activists. “They should make sure
they do whatever they can to protect their health insurance,” he said. ‘We
have a 10 year contract, but even with us management is already making
‘noise about the cost of our benefits, so people really have to stay alert,”
“At these workshops we get to learn a great deal about a number of
different things, and bring this information back to our stewards and
activists,” said Education and Training Committee member Bobby Raut.
The Civil Service Law workshop, conducted by CSEA Research Director
Don Kelly, was especially well attended, and the Ed and Training Committee
chair found that gratifying.
“We work hard to bring the members and officers the information and
tools they will need to be more effective advocates,” said committee Chair
Jeannie McGinty. “We conduct surveys all the time, and civil service is the
most requested class, so we're glad to be able to present an in-depth
session,” she said.
Long Island Region President Nick LaMorte was glad to see so many
people who are willing to learn, grow and participate.
“These workshops bring a wealth of valuable information to everyone,
repeat participants and newcomers alike,” he said. “Its when we all get
together that people come to understand that the problems and challenges
we face are very similar, if not the same, no matter where we work. By
sharing our experiences and knowledge, by remaining curious and
committed, we make CSEA a stronger, more cohesive union,” said LaMorte.
— Rachel Langert
Clockwise from top right, Don Kelly, Director of the CSEA Research Division
conducted the highly acclaimed workshop on NYS Civil Service Law; Chair
Jeannie McGinty discusses the workshop materials with committee member
Bobby Rauff; some region education and training committee members
attended for the very first time, like (left to right), Garden City Schools
Executive Vice President Judy Weis and new unit President Pat Dino; (left to
right) Tom Osmanski, Shop Steward for Brookhaven Blue Collar unit,
Maureen Wahl, Brookhaven Highway 2nd vice president and Stacey Pagan,
secretary from the DOT compared notes at the workshop; the Nassau
Municipal Local was well-tepresented by Kathleen DeBari, Eleanor Amost,
Madeline Home and Steve Abramson from the City of Long Beach; State
Employees Local President George Kalamaras and Andre Sigmone worked
hard in the civil service law class; Statewide CSEA President Danny
Donohue shares a lighthearted moment with Long Istand Region President
Nick LaMorte at the region workshop.
nual workshop
Long Island Reporter 5
Holding awards for longtime service |_
at SUNY Old Westbury are, left to
tight, Penny Kurlan, Tom Noble, first
vice president of the local; Millie
Marsicano, Scott Fisher, Local
President Mary D’Antonio, Ruth
Pessin and Diane Carbocci.
Carlen-Murray, Student Affairs; Scott Fisher,
Custodial Services; Alix Florestal, Facilities; Meryl
Hiller, Teacher Education; Penny Kurlan, Accounts
Payable; Gregory Lee, Grounds; Mary McPherson,
Custodial Services; Marianne Orobello, School of
Business; Mamie Plersch, Library; Allen Rice,
Custodial Services, and Joseph Ruckel, Business
Affairs.
5 Years: Teresa Branch, Custodial Services; Traci
employees honored are members of the Public
Employees Federation and United University
Professions, which represents faculty and
professional staff; managerial and confidential
employees, the Research Foundation and the
University Police.
Cruz, OSSD; Travis Green, Grounds; Alfonso
Haynes, Custodial Services; Malini
Kumar, Visual Arts; Ella Pearsall,
Custodial Services; Owen Scott,
Custodial Services, and Jayashree
Thiruverhadu, Chemistry/Physics.
Dr. Calvin O. Butts Il completed
five years as president of the college
and was among those cited.
Thirty-six CSEA members 4
2”: Congratulations
during May 17 ceremonies
honored.
25 Years: Nancy Bonilla,
/) Academic Affairs, and Regina
Ike Bryant ;
15 Years: Donald Forsythe, Facilities; Arthur
were among the 85
An
on the campus.
CSEA members who received the
Math/CIS; Idrian (Ike) Bryant,
Rudowski, Sociology.
Foure, Grounds; Carmela Marsicano, Library; Viola
employees honored for
Two CSEA Local officers, President
awards are:
Facilities; Helen Patricia Cheshire,
20 Years: Carol Brenneman, Copy
Smith, Custodial Service, and Victor Watson,
36 honored at SUNY Old Westbury
long service to the SUNY
Mary D’Antonio, and Secretary Karen
30 Years: George Dudek, Heat Plant, and Ruth
First Year Experience Program; Leila
Center; Deborah Butler-Hughes, Custodial Services,
Facilities.
OLD WESTBURY — tr ST
College at Old Westbury
Carlen-Murray, were among those
Pessin, Student Activities.
Crayton, Facilities; Mary D’Antonio,
and Anne Silverman, Registrar's Office.
10 Years: Diane Carbocci, Student Affairs; Karen
Malini Kumar
COMMACK — Certified results of local union elections
were not available at presstime and will appear as they
become available.
The other
Fire destroys marina ud
0: Summer fun with CSEA
You deserve a break
«£0 from work and
Participating theater chains include
Loews, Regal and Clearview
NY x Za) )¥ high Cinemas.
\S ) X\~ entertainment Order your tickets today by
4 x\x Vs 4% al 4 4|| costs! visiting the Member Benefits
wel Ohe Through entertainment discounts page on
Working Advantage, CSEA’s web site at
Joe Kozikowski Ill, a member of the Town of Oyster Bay Local, clears
debris of a fire that destroyed the marina building at Theodore
Roosevelt Park on Oyster Bay Harbor on May 18. The fire, one of
three recent suspicious fires, is under investigation by Nassau
County's arson squad and fire marshal. The building housed offices
for the marina, bay constables and Parks Department employees and
a workout room for the parks workers. John Venditto, Oyster Bay
supervisor, estimated it would cost the town $1 million to replace the
structure and the equipment destroyed by the blaze. No suspects
have been identified by the police.
union members can use Union Plus
Entertainment Discounts for their
summer fun, including theme park
and movie ticket discounts.
You can save on tickets at theme
parks across the country, including
these great theme parks: Adventure
Island, Busch Gardens, Medieval
Times, Paramount's Kings Dominion,
SeaWorld, Six Flags and Universal
Orlando Resort.
You can also save on seeing newly
released summer movies
through discounted
movie tickets!
at
: MOVIE
http://www.csealocal1000.org/mem_
bens/entertainment_discounts. You
can also visit Working Advantage’s
web site at
http://www.workingadvantage.com
for more information about the
discount. You can also order tickets
by calling Union Plus Entertainment
Discounts at (800) 565-3712,
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6
p.m.
IMPORTANT: To receive the
Union Plus discount, union
members must reference the Union
Privilege Member ID number of
744387769 when calling or ordering
theme park or movie tickets.
TICKETS <
yy
Long Island Reporter 6
ANWEOUNG=the=ke gion
Calendar of Upcoming Events: wuly 2005
4.
Region office closed — 4th of July
- Human Rights Committee Meeting —
6pm
- Health and Safety Committee Meeting —
5pm
- Defensive Driving — 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Defensive Driving — 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m
Women's Committee Meeting — 5:30 p.m
A 3 je
“5:30 pm. ba
Political Action Committee Meeting —
JULY 4, 1776
= Region Executive Board Meeting —
5:30 p.m 28 - Local 430 Shop Steward Meeting —
5:30 p.m. — Ronnie Oliver 495-1802
- Women's Health Fair & International Day —
t1am.-3p.m. 30 - Defensive Driving — 9 a.m. -3 p.m.
Saturday
JULY 23, 2005
SEFA honors LIDDSO member
COMMACK — Willie Gwynn of the Long Island Developmental Disabilities
Services Office has been honored with a Beacon Award for his outstanding work
on behalf of the State Employees Federated Appeal.
This year, Long Island state employees contributed more than $460,000 to
the 400 local and national charities that participate in the SEFA drive. Long
Island Region President Nick LaMorte serves as campaign co-chair on Long
Island.
A SEFA volunteer for the past eight years, Gwynn’s efforts this year raised
more than $9,000.
“The Long Island Developmental Disabilities Services Office is very proud of
Willie and thankful for his outstanding work,” said Ben Calderone, a member of
SEFA’s Long Island Committee.
Beacon Award winner Willie Gwynn, center, is congratulated by Ben Calderone, left,
of Long Island Developmental
Disabilities Services Office and
Long Island Region President
Nick LaMorte, Long Island
SEFA co-chairperson.
May 25 executive board meeting
COMMACK —President Nick LaMorte announced the selection of Christine
Urbanowiecz of the Suffolk County Educational Employees Local as the Long
Island Region treasurer at the May 25 Executive Board meeting at the region
Office.
Urbanowiecz, a former president of the Longwood School District Unit, has
an extensive accounting background and is a member of the region's
Education and Membership committees.
She replaces Barbara Allen-Lemp, who retired in April after 18 years as the
Long Island Region treasurer.
LaMorte also named the members of the region’s Special Memorial Plaque
Committee, which will honor deceased Long Island Region members who
have given outstanding service to the union by helping to advance its goals.
LaMorte appointed four other region officers to the committee — Carol
Guardiano, executive vice president, Les Eason, ‘st vice president, Bobby
Holland, 3rd vice president, and Lee Reynolds, secretary. LaMorte also named
Suffolk Retirees Local President Barbara Reynolds to the committee as a
retiree representative.
In other board business, Dr. Ray S. Naghavi, medical director of the Sleep
Improvement Center in Rockville Center, addressed board members about
treating sleep apnea, an ailment that prevents many people from getting a
good night's sleep.
Region President Nick LaMorte, right, thanks Dr. Ray S. Naghavi, center, after
Naghavi's presentation on sleep apnea at the May 25 executive board meeting. At
left is Lee Reynolds.
7
Long Island Reporter
atthe CSEA Long Island
Region 1 Office
3 Garet Place, Commack, NY
CSE
Human Rights
Committee
Mark your
calendar!
LONG ISLAND REGION
Family & Friends ctre Welcome!
Come Share Ethnic Traditions with Us!
PLEASE R.SV.R by July 8, 2005
(631) 462-0030
WOMEN’S
COMMITTEE
) dit] pra Long Island Region
~ae THE FOURTIL ANNUAL International Day
Women’s HEALTH Farr Festival
an
CSEA Long Island Region Office
3 Garet Place, Commack, New York
11:00 a.m. — 3:00 pm.
Saturday, July 23, 2005
Members, Friends & Family Are Welcomel
-.-4ND MUCH MORE!
Phone: (631) 462-0030 / Fax: (631) 462-0039
www.csealocal1000.org
Women’s Health Fair
Saturday,
July 23
¢ Blood Pressure Screenings :
© Education & Information at the Long Region
° Massages Office
* Chiropractor 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
e Face Painting
e Raffles - Prizes
8
Long Island Reporter
YOUR UNION
NEWSLETTER
KX)
July 2005 * Vol. 10, No. 7
EXPHESS
Fight Continues to Protect DSS Workers;
Lag Payroll Money to be Issued
CSEA has taken a very aggressive stance in protecting the health and safety
of the Department of Social Services members who the county will move in
September to a remodeled building at 60 Charles Lindbergh Blvd. in Uniondale.
The issue remains, as it has since the move was first announced 18 months ago,
the county's refusal to recognize CSEA’s demand that protective barriers and
partitions be placed between the workers and Social Services clients. We have
filed a grievance, received legal approval and will expedite an arbitration date.
We also consulted with our CSEA attorneys in Albany. We have filed an
improper practice charge which is currently deferred to the arbitration process.
Our attorneys are prepared to seek immediate injunctive relief in court in the
event the partitions are not in place at the time our members are transferred.
CSEA has documented numerous incidents in which Social Services workers
have been verbally abused and physically attacked by irate clients, including
several cases involving serious injuries to our members. Administrative Assistant
Rich Breusch has compiled extensive data and incident reports to be presented
at future legal proceedings. We encourage members to continue to contact
Breusch at (516) 571-0755. We will not allow the county to compromise our
members health and safety.
toe 8
| am expecting that by the time you read this column you will have received
the money owed to you as a result of a settlement with the county regarding the
lag payroll. Money resulting from the impact on delays in cost of living and step
increases was to be paid to each employee, retroactively to Jan. 1, 2001.
According to the county, this money was to be paid on or about June 17. Other
details relating to the completed settlement were to be addressed at a court date
scheduled for June 24, after this issue of The Express went to press. You will be
provided with an update in our next issue. Meanwhile, an additional case
involving the lag payroll, which would eliminate it in its entirety, may impact us
upon settlement.
toe 8
The request for proposals has gone out for a company to conduct the first
audit of all civil service job titles in 45 years. The company selected will
specialize in salary compensation analysis. | will be part of the committee to
select the appropriate company and to review the process and results.
soe 8
As a result of continued negotiations with the county, | am pleased to
announce the approval of 58 promotions in the Department of Social Services.
Eligible employees were to be canvassed in accordance with existing
procedures. The promotions, which will be processed as soon as possible,
include the following titles: Social Welfare Examiner II (15); Caseworker II (14);
Multi Keyboard Operator II (11); Child Support Investigator II (9); Clerk Il (8) and
Clerk/Typist II (1). We will continue to press for hiring in all county departments.
toe 8
The checks have started coming on Nassau Local 830’s largest ever
grievance victory. This issue stems from the incorrect manner in which the
county calculated raises for CSEA members who were promoted since 2001. |
have been pressing for the completion of salary awards and I'm advised that a
few departments have already been issued checks. The rest are in the budget
office prior to being sent to the comptroller's office for checks to be issued. The
process should be completed shortly. Thanks for your continued patience.
+ oe ¢
An improper practice charge CSEA filed has resulted in the withdrawal by the
county of its demand that Parks Department workers be held “solely responsible”
for Nassau County-owned and issued cell phones. In a July 19, 2004, letter to
employees, a Parks Department deputy commissioner told workers that they
would be liable for the $90 purchase price if the phones were lost or damaged.
On June 1, as a result of our charge, the county agreed to withdraw the
memorandum.
soe 8
At the Nassau Health Care Corporation, a memorandum of understanding
regarding domestic partner coverage has been negotiated and signed. If any of
our health care corporation members would like to take advantage of this
provision, they should see their department's human resources representative.
toe ¢
| would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a safe and healthy and
enjoyable summer season.
Yours in unionism,
Jane M. D'Amico, President
CSEA Nassau Local 830
2 EXPRESS
July 2005 + Vol. 10 No. 7
‘A Monthly Publication of CSEA Nassau County Local 830
JANE D/AMICO, President
Tony Panzarella, Editor
(616) 571-2919 Ext. #13
www. csealocal830.org
CSEA Long Island Region Communications Associate Rachel
Langer (631) 462-0030
NASSAU LOCAL 830
Executive Officers:
JANE D'AMICO, President
LES EASON, Executive Vice President
GEORGE WALSH, fst Vice President
ROBERT CAULDWELL, 2nd Vice President
RAYMOND CANNELLA, 3rd Vice President
JEWEL WEINSTEIN, 4th Vice President
RON GURRIERI, Sth Vice President
MARY DELMARE, 6th Vice President
TIM CORR, 7th Vice President
NANCY IANSON, 8th Vice President
RUDY BRUCE, Sth Vice President
KATHLEEN VITAN, 10th Vice President
BOBBI EISGRAU, Secretary
STANLEY BERGMAN, Treasurer
Unit Presidents/Executive Board:
CHARLES ALBERS, Fire & Rescue Services
JOHN ALOISIO lll, Treasurer's Office
ROB ARCIELLO, Deputy Sherifis
STANLEY BERGMAN, Comptroller's Office
RICHARD BREUSCH, Public Safety
RUDY BRUCE, Department of Public Works
RAY CANNELLA, Civil Service Commission
TIM CARTER, Health Department
TIM CORR, Recreation & Parks
VIVIAN CROWLEY, General Services
KENNETH DASH, SR,, Administrative Unit
MARY DELMARE, School Crossing Guards
LES EASON, A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility
BOBBI EISGRAU, County Clerk
RAYMOND FLAMMER, Assessment Department
ROBERT GILIBERTI, Senior Citizens
SUSAN GRAHAM, County/District Attorney
NANCY IANSON, Drug & Alcohol
DEBRA IMPERATORE, Police Civilians
RON KAHL, AMTs
JERRY LARICCHIUTA, Sheriffs Support Unit
DIANE RUSS, Consumer Affairs
MICHAEL TIMMONS, Social Services
GEORGE WALSH, Nassau University Medical Center
JEWEL WEINSTEIN, Nassau Community College
PETER WRBA, Probation
JOSEPH WHITTAKER, Fire Marshal
The
Work Force
“Eo Nassau County Local 830
AFLFIL SS
We welcome reader suggestions: Please address your
comments to Tony Panzarella, Editor, Nassau County
LL EXPRESS at CSEA Nassau Co. Local 830, 400 County
Seat Dr., Mineola, NY 11501-4137.
LEGAL UPDATE
(CSEA NASSAU COUNTY LOCAL 830 UNION MEMBER NEWS
At Last, One for the Good Guys!
Nancy Hoffman, Esq.
CSEA General Counsel
FINALLY, A PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS
BOARD DECISION WE CAN CHEER! A PERB
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE (“ALJ”) HAS HELD
THAT WITNESS STATEMENTS IN DISCIPLINARY
CASES MUST BE TURNED OVER TO UNIONS, EVEN
WHEN PATIENT ABUSE IS ALLEGED.
This recent decision from a PERB ALJ greatly
enhanced union rights to obtain information from
employers. PERB has held in recent years that unions
are entitled to receive witness statements from
employers in regard to disciplinary charges against
unionized employees. CSEA recently demanded the
employer's investigative files, including witness
statements, in a contractual disciplinary arbitration. The
employee had been charged with patient abuse. The
employer attempted to withhold the information from
CSEA, claiming that both the Mental Hygiene Law and
the Education Law protect reports and witness
statements gathered in the course of investigations
involving allegations of patient abuse.
The employer claimed that these files and
statements need to remain confidential to promote “the
quality of care through self review without the fear of
legal reprisal.” The employer argued that maintaining
uniform.”
CSEA UPDATE
Attention AMT Unit Members
Uniforms
As a result of recent negotiations with Nassau County, we have
received the administration's support for the institution of a ‘work
Your unit president has submitted for review a suggested
uniform, which is more conducive to job performance “in the field.”
Completion of the process and adoption of uniform specifics is
subject to the approval of the Police Department's uniform
committee, which was expected to meet in June.
confidentiality, “encourages frank
and open discussion concerning
the conditions that lead to
[patient care] incidents and the
means to correct them, by
shielding the facility from adverse
inferences that can be drawn if
such statements were made
available in action against it.”
CSEA argued, to the contrary,
that the Mental Hygiene Law and
the Education Law could not be
used to prevent employees,
faced with discipline for patient
abuse, from seeing the evidence
against them. CSEA relied upon
the law governing collective
bargaining, specifically arguing
that the Taylor Law entitlement to
information needed to administer
the contract should override any Mental
Hygiene/Education Law protections. The ALJ agreed and
ordered release of the requested information.
The ALJ specifically held that the Education Law and
the Mental Hygiene Law prohibit only the disclosure of
information in cases where the public employer is being
sued or the request is being made under the Freedom of
Information Law. The Education Law and the Mental
Hygiene Law do not prohibit disclosure of the information
requested by CSEA to assist representing an employee
in a disciplinary matter. The decision by the ALJ,
however, is not final. As we have come to expect in
these difficult political times, the employer has appealed
the ALJ decision to the full PERB board which will have
the opportunity to review these issues and either affirm
or reverse the ALJ decision. The board decision can also
be reviewed by the courts.
The ALJ cautioned unions to be careful about the way
we phrase demands for information. Generally, a union
request for “documentation of interviews of witnesses,
and witness statements” will be granted. However,
requests that are too vague, such as for any other
relevant information obtained during the investigation, will
be denied. “Any other relevant information,” while
standard language in litigation discovery demands, is not
specific enough for PERB and PERB will not require an
employer to provide information in response to such a
vague request. Based on this PERB ALJ thinking, then,
requests for “employer's investigative files” relating to the
individual grievant, in addition to “all employee interviews
and witness statements,” presumably will be enforceable.
At least until the appeal is decided, we have won
an important point here. Let’s just hope that the full
PERB board sustains the decision to allow unions to
obtain this important information from employers
regarding the employer's investigations of employee
conduct resulting in disciplinary action by the
employer.
We will keep you posted!!
CSEA NASSAU COUNTY LOCAL 830 UNION MEMBER NEWS
Former AMT Jeff Wiener
Killed in Action in Iraq
Jeffrey L. Wiener, former Nassau Police
Department Ambulance Medical Technician, gave his
life in the service of his country in Iraq on May 7,
2005.
Wiener was a
member of the
CSEA Police
Civilian Unit when
he served as an
AMT. He resigned
in 2002 to join the
Navy. He was a
Hospital Corpsman
2nd Class
assigned to the
Marines.
Wiener, a
former resident of
both Lynbrook and
Valley Stream, and
an 11-year veteran
and ex-captain of
Lynbrook’s Tally-Ho Volunteer Fire Company, was
killed in what Pentagon officials described as a
“combat-related incident.” Subsequent reports indicate
that Wiener was killed during a four-hour firefight that
erupted after insurgents used a suicide bomb to level
a civilian hospital. According to Michael Ciaramella, a
close friend of Wiener's, reports from the scene
indicate that Wiener was killed rendering aid to
several Marines.
Wiener leaves his wife and high-school sweetheart,
Maria, and their two daughters, Mikayla Lynn, 5, and
Theodora Rose, 2.
Wiener was born on May 26, 1973, and grew up on
Hutcheson Place in Lynbrook. He displayed a passion
for volunteer work at age 14, when he joined the
Former Nassau County AMT
Jeffrey Wiener
“An American Hero”
Lynbrook Junior Fire
Department. In 1991,
shortly after turning 18
and graduating from
Lynbrook High School,
Wiener joined Tally-Ho.
His dedication took him up through the ranks
quickly, and he was elected 2nd lieutenant of Tally-Ho
in April of 1997 and captain in 2000.
Wiener was so affected by the events of Sept. 11,
2001, that he joined the Navy and became a
corpsman. In the Navy, Wiener showed the same
dedication he displayed as a firefighter.
“He was the closest thing to a brother | ever had,”
said Ciaramella, who serves as a Paramedic for the
Nassau County Police Department Ambulance
Service and whose mother, Valerie, works for the
Police Building Maintenance Unit. “He made a huge
impact on everyone who met him, even for five
minutes. People were incredibly moved just by his
presence,” Ciaramella said. “A huge part of my heart
has been torn out,” he said.
Ciaramella said that Wiener's motto essentially was
to always strive to be the best you could be and that
he felt our soldiers deserved the best of support from
the people back home.
“| never knew Jeff personally, but | have learned
much about him since his death,” said Local 830
President Jane D'Amico. “Jeff was a true American
hero. He will be remembered as a man who was
motivated by his love for his country and his fellow
human beings. We extend our deepest sympathy to
his grieving family and friends,” D'Amico said.
as UA A, Sp
EXPRESS 3
In Memoriam
Carolyn Jones;
CSEA Activist
CSEA Nassau Local 830 is mourning the
passing of Carolyn Jones, an outstanding union
activist and a warm, caring person.
Before retiring from her
nursing position in 2002,
Jones served as executive
vice president of the Nassau
University Medical Center
Unit. She was also active on
several CSEA committees,
including the unity and
women's committees and
helped each year in
organizing the Martin Luther
King luncheon. She also served as a shop
steward and a grievance representative at the
medical center.
Jones was a founding member of the Long
Island chapter of the Coalition of Black Trade
Unionists (CBTU), serving as a trustee since the
chapter's inception.
Jones began her career at the medical center
in 1989, where she worked as a recovery room
nurse for many years before being assigned to
the medical center's home care unit at the
Department of Social Services.
“Carolyn’s concern for her fellow workers was
always the motivation for her outstanding service
to CSEA, which she continued even after retiring.
She was a wonderful asset to our union and will
be sorely missed,” Local 830 President Jane
D'Amico said.
Jones was stricken with a heart attack on a
plane en route to a CBTU convention in Arizona,
where she was to serve as a delegate
representing Long Island.
“Even to the end, Carolyn was busy helping to
improve the lives of working people,” Long Island
CBTU Chapter President Rudy Bruce said. “She
was a shining example of what it means to be a
union activist as well as a simply wonderful
human being. Our deepest sympathy and our
prayers go out to her family and to her many
friends.”
Carolyn Jones
4 Express
Fighting Breast Cancer
The Nassau University Medical Center
participated last month in the “Long Island
Two-Day Walk to Fight Breast Cancer,” a
35-mile walk beginning and ending at
‘Smith Point Park in Shirley. For the
second consecutive year, a portion of the
funding raised will be donated to the
renovation of the hospital’s new breast
health center. Pictured near the end of the
route are, from left to right, Michael Ade,
vice president for dsevelopment; Howard
‘Schwartz, an event volunteer from
Ultimate Cruise Planning; Yuwanna
Landau, a walker from the hospital; Ginny
Salerno, walk founder and director; and
Christine Mancuso, director of the
hospital's breast screening program.
CSEA NASSAU COUNTY LOCAL 830 UNION MEMBER NEWS
(CSEA NASSAU COUNTY LOCAL 830 UNION MEMBER NEWS
MAMMOGRAPHY
SCREENING PROGRAM
Fact Sheet
The “Mammography Screening Program” is a benefit negotiated by CSEA for
all Nassau County government employees, regardless of insurance carrier or
coverage. This benefit allows you to go to the Nassau University Medical Center BREAST IMAGING
CENTER on your work time and with no out-of-pocket cost to you. You will stay as long as it takes to
get a proper diagnosis and you will meet personally with the doctor to discuss the results.
1. Call the NUMC Breast Imaging Center at (516) 572-5700 any weekday afternoon to schedule an
appointment. Identify yourself as a county employee. Appointments for county employees will be held on
Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
2. When you call, you will reach the CSEA Mammography Program “Hotline” Voice Mail System. Please
leave your name, daytime phone number and best time to be reached. A scheduler from the Breast Imaging
Center will promptly return your phone call and schedule your examination.
3. Fill out a departmental time and leave slip; check “other,” and write “mammography screening.” Submit it
to your supervisor.
4. Mammography screening will be given with no out of pocket expense to you. Your insurance company will
be billed. If you have insurance, bring your insurance card with you, and an employee ID card if you have
one. Also bring your prior mammographic films with you, if you have any.
5. A parking map is available upon request. Designated parking spaces on the map will be free of charge or
you may park at your own expense in the paid parking lot. Inside NUMC,
follow the rose-colored “Breast Imaging Center” signs.
6. Upon returning to work, you will be required to submit documentation to
your department. The documentation will be supplied by NUMC at the
time of the examination.
7. You will be excused with authorization and will be granted leave without
loss of time or pay for travel and examination.
Matt Brosnan prepares a ball field at Mitchel Park Athletic Complex.
Groundskeeper Mitchel Brumberg gets the field in shape for evening
softball league games at Eisenhower Park.
me agen
coe ae ss hasta Se
Keeping Eisenhower Park's 14 ball fields in fine playing condition is the
job of workers such as Jerry Williams, shown here preparing the infield of
a heavily used softball field.
EXPRESS 5
KF.n A Ark Mot Dre
por poe Koell Vone +
No One Does the Job Better
Than Parks Ball Field Unit
If you want to know how to build and maintain a ball field, just ask the
members of the Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation &
Museums’ Athletic Field Maintenance Unit
They have been maintaining ball fields for years and nobody does it
better.
“Our workers can do field reconditioning, rebuilding and maintenance
better and more efficiently than anyone around,” said Tim Corr, CSEA
Nassau Local 830 Vice President and former Parks Unit President. “They
can do it at far less cost to the taxpayers.”
Corr and current Unit President John Rinaldo have been praising the
unit in the face of rumors that management had considered contracting
out the field maintenance operation.
“This work should not be contracted out under any circumstances,”
Rinaldo said. “Over the years, our crews have developed a knowledge
not only of maintenance and conditioning techniques, but also of field
layout and construction.”
To emphasize his position, Rinaldo pointed to the recent reconditioning
of four ball fields at Cantiague Park in Hicksville. Despite being
understaffed, parks workers gutted and rebuilt the fields and finished the
task in time for the spring season.
“It simply makes no sense to contract this work out,” Corr said. “Our
men can to the job better than anyone.”
Rinaldo said taxpayers don’t have to pay any extra money for the field
experts at the Parks Department because the workers are already on
staff.
“Hiring outside contractors will not get the job done any better and it
would cost the county hundreds of thousands of dollars in the process,”
he said.
“Our hats are off to unit members for the great job they do day in and
day out,” Corr said.
The unit members include 83 SS ‘ } *
Don Link, Vinnie LaBella, Frank i _
3 Crews
Cava, Don Howell, Mitchel
Brumberg, Matt Brosnan and
Jerry Williams.
6 Express
CSEA NASSAU COUNTY LOCAL 830 UNION MEMBER NEWS
CSEA Members Save Women From Burning Building
Quick action by CSEA members Vinny Monteforte
and Sal Natale, lead carpenters of the Police
Department Building Maintenance Unit, saved two
women’s lives May 25.
Monteforte and Natale were en route to the Sth
Precinct when they noticed smoke coming from an
apartment complex at 651 Front St. They
immediately approached the building, where they
saw a woman screaming for help from a second floor
window.
Monteforte and Natale got out of their truck and
instructed a pedestrian to call 911 to report the fire.
Realizing there was no way for the trapped woman
to escape, they instructed other pedestrians at the
scene to look for an extension ladder.
The two men found a couch by the curb and
carried it to the window as a safety net in case the
woman fell. They also comforted her, telling her they
were going to bring her to safety.
Meanwhile, a truck was flagged down, a ladder
was removed from the vehicle and brought to the
scene. With the help of a landscaper working nearby,
Monteforte and Natale raised the ladder to the
window and brought the woman down to safety.
The woman then told them her roommate was still
inside a bedroom in the apartment.
The rescuers immediately moved the ladder to the
bedroom window and Monteforte broke the glass to
try to get into the room.
He faced intense smoke and heat. He shouted
through the broken window to the woman, but there
was no response. They moved the ladder to a
balcony and climbed onto it. Kicking in the door, they
again yelled into the smoke filled room.
When the Hempstead Fire Department arrived a
short time later, Monteforte and Natale told
firefighters about the woman trapped inside.
As firefighters extinguished the blaze, Monteforte
and Natale moved the ladder to the roommate's
window. Natale climbed the ladder to the window and
told firefighters the woman was inside the room.
Firefighters found the woman unconscious and
unresponsive. Both women were transported by
ambulance to Nassau University Medical Center.
One was listed in satisfactory condition, while the
other was revived and listed in critical condition.
Hempstead fire officials praised Monteforte and
Natale’s efforts, noting that if not for their quick
thinking and putting their own lives in danger, the
result would have been much more tragic.
Following the daring, courageous rescue,
Monteforte and Natale reported to work.
“Sal and Vinny are true heroes in every sense of
the word,” Nassau Local President Jane D'Amico
said. “Because of their clear thinking, quick action,
and their disregard for their own safety, two women
were spared a horrible death. | am extremely proud
of them. They deserve the highest of praise for their
valiant deed.”
THUMBS
UP
Nurse of Excellence
Vinny Monteforte, left, and Sal Natale of the
Police Department Building Maintenance Unit
congratulate each other on a job well done
following their daring rescue of two women from
a burning building. Behind them is the police van
they were driving when they discovered the fire.
Earning Recognition
Donna Duffy, a registered nurse, and perinatal nurse specialist in the
maternity unit of Nassau University Medical Center, is the hospital's
nominee for the Nassau Suffolk Hospital Council “Nurse of Excellence”
award. As a seasoned nursing professional, Donna has a varied
background spanning several
clinical areas, with perinatal
nursing specialty. From left to
right are Maxine Wolfse, chief
nursing officer at Brookhaven
Memorial Hospital Medical Center
and chair of the Nassau Hospital
Council Nurse Administrators
Committee, Duffy and Vice
President for Patient Care
Services Bill Torio.
Ann German, a CSEA member and nurses’ aide at A. Holly
Patterson Extended Care Facility, was honored in May as
the facility's “Employee of the Month.” Nassau Health Care
Corporation officials said
German, who resides in West
Hempstead, is an exceptional
employee who works well with =
other employees and residents
and is a fine example of the
work ethic that nursing home
and hospital officials value.
8 ExPRESS
(CSEA NASSAU COUNTY LOCAL 830 UNION MEMBER NEWS
A Message From Long Island Region President Nick LaMorte
Greetings Brothers and
Sisters,
Because CSEA is the most
democratic union around,
every four years we give each
member the opportunity to
elect the people who will
represent his or her best
interests.
So, to the newly elected unit officers, welcome to
the fold! To the veterans who have been re-elected,
welcome back! To everyone who has served his or
her fellow members, a sincere thank you for what is
often a challenging and seemingly thankless job.
Now, we have an opportunity for new beginnings.
With that in mind, | will be meeting with your local in
what | hope will be a positive exchange that will
result in better ways of serving you. This is an
awesome responsibility.
With responsibility comes accountability, and that
involves holding regular membership meetings;
returning phone calls; visiting work sites; getting
involved in the political process and making it work
for the members, and communicating effectively
with the members.
In Nassau County, one essential tool we use to
communicate with the membership is this paper, the
We hope to see you there!
In solidarity,
Nigk Li es nt
Nassau County Express. The paper deals
exclusively with events and issues that affect
Nassau County Local 830.
Through this paper, we highlight the work our
members do, showcase our victories and keep the
members informed about the challenges we face.
It is through resources like the Express that we
tackle our challenges together. We all know you
can't have a union without solidarity, but we also
can't have an effective union without frequent, open
communication with our members.
After all, no matter how much good work we do
for our members, it won’t amount to very much if the
members don't know about it.
Speaking of things the members should know
about — it's time once again for the CSEA event of
the summer! On July 23, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.,
all members and their families are invited to the
International Day Festival and Women’s Health
Fair at the Long Island Region office in
Commack.
This free event is an opportunity for us to share
our diversity — through international foods and
entertainment — and get health information for our
families at the same time. We will also have free
blood pressure screenings, massages — even
face painting for the kids.
—
* Biot a.
oon py
* deat et 800 Sep,
ion getting
ation
Nassau Credit Union
Changes Its Name
Nassau County Federal Credit Union (NCFCU)
has changed its name to Nassau Financial Federal
Credit Union, effective immediately.
Originally chartered in 1936, the 69-year-old credit
union's name change follows the credit union’s recent
adoption of a community-based charter opening
Nassau Financial’s membership to people who live,
work, worship, volunteer or attend school in Nassau
County, as well as members of their immediate family
or household.
The credit union will roll out its new name to
members July 1. The credit union will implement the
new brand throughout its operations in the next
several months.
atthe CSEA Long Island
Region 1 Office
3 Garet Place, Commack, NY
CSE
Human Rights
Committee
(Family & Friends Are Welcome!
Come Share Ethnic Traditions with Us!
Saturda'
JULY
PLEASE R-SW.P by July 8, 2005
(631) 462-0030
y :
23, 2005S
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
CSEA Long Is!
Nek Latforte
CC BY-NC-SA 4.0