The Public Sector, 1982 June 18

Official Publication of The Civil
Service Employees Association
Local 1000, American
Federation of State, County and
Municipal Employees AFL-CIO

Vol. 4, No. 18
Friday, June es 1982

SECTOR =

(ISSN 0164 9949)

Or

ALBANY — If you are one of the 300,000 New
York public employees participating in Tier [II
of the New York State Employees’ Retirement
system, it’s time to speak now or forever pay the
consequences.

Let's
Retire
Tier tll

Pay bill

Is signed

See story, page 2

Speak up

With less than twelve days remaining prior to
the expiration of the Tier ITI retirement program
at 11:59 p.m. on June 30, the state’s Senate and
Assembly are running out of time to decide the
future of what has been called, “. .. the worst

pay price forever —

public sector retirement system in the United
States.’ CSEA is urging all affected workers to
join its lobbying effort to reform the Tier II
system.

Why should you bother? There are two
reasons, according to CSEA.

Reason number one is a concerted effort by a
coalition of public employers and business
leaders to make the inequitable Tier II system
permanent. Up to now it has existed on a
temporary basis, requiring periodic legislative
extension or it, and its members, revert to the
much more reasonable Tier II retirement
system. If the business and management lobby
gets its way, the inequities of Tier III would exist
forever.

The second reason compelling member
interest is that it will be the members of the
system themselves who will be forced to live
‘with the final outcome of the present debate. If
the business lobby gets its way, Tier II’s future
retirees will be living with inadequate pensions
even after life-long contributions of three
{Continued on Page 20)

ALBANY. — Hugh L. Carey. signed the-CSEA-“‘pay
bill”.into. law June 15,. clearing the way. for State
employees represented by CSEA to begin collecting
bigger paychecks.

Te w a The legislation implements the Administrative,

Institutional and Operational Services contracts,

covering 107,000 state workers.

Approval had been stalled earlier when legislators
questioned non-salary provisions of the bill. Objecting to
the precedent of what would have been legislative
renegotiation of the contract, CSEA insisted on approval
of the full pay bill.

“We held fast and refused to barter away our
contract in bits and pieces,” CSEA President William L.
McGowan said.

Approval of the pay bill clears the way for payment
of 9 percent salary increases retroactive to April 1, as
well as payment of cost of living adjustments (COLAs.)

Pay increases of 9 percent were effective April 1
under the new contracts. Audit and Control anticipates
payment of the retroactive salary increase within four to
six weeks, with the 9 percent raise being added to
employees’ regular paychecks about that same time.

By the end of this month, eligible State employees

are expected to receive their COLA payments. This
payment will include the cost of living adjustment
provided for in the final year of the 1979-82 contracts, plus
the one-time 0.6 percent COLA payment authorized
under the new pacts.

For eligible workers who were employed throughout
the State’s 1981-82 fiscal year, the COLA payment would
equal 5.25 percent of their total year’s salary.

At press time the Department of Audit and
Control announced that cost of living adjust-
ment checks will be shipped by the depart-
ment for eligible employees on the ad-
ministrative payroll on Monday, June 21 and
to eligible employees on the institutional
payroll on Monday, June 28.

Retroactive salary checks will be paid to
eligible employees on the institutional payroll
effective Thursday, July 22, and to eligible
employees on the administrative payroll ef-
fective Wednesday, July 28, it was also
announced.

Several major union issues still pending
as legislative season draws to a close

ALBANY — This year’s legislative calendar is
rapidly drawing to an end as lawmakers, anxious to
begin their re-election campaigns, are heading for
adjournment at the State Capitol, but several major
issues of importance to New York’s public
employees still require action.

Top priority seems to be centered on meaningful
reform of the controversial Tier II retirement
system which deducts 3 percent from the gross
earnings of public employees hired after July 1,
1976, and then — as the result of coordination of
benefits with Social Security — gives those
employees about half the pension benefits paid to
pre-1976 public workers who make no direct
payments to their pension plan.

So important is this issue, CSEA President
William L. McGowan says, that in addition to the
union’s usual political action push, each CSHA
member is being asked to personally contact his or
her legislators and support CSEA’s efforts to
reform Tier III. (See related stories, pages 1 and
20.)

But pensions aren’t the only legislative matters
demanding CSEA’s attention.

Legislative attempts to restore appropriations to
local government financial aid, aid to education
and increased support for the state university
system are still expected. During this year’s budget
battle, the Legislature approved expenditures of
several hundred million dollars more in these areas
than Gov. Hugh Carey said was available in the
state’s financial plan.

As the result of impending state borrowing which
gave the governor authority to hold the
Legislature’s spending in check, the Legislature
has not yet attempted to override Carey’s vetoes of
their appropriations for which, they claim,
sufficient money is available.

But all of that is now changing. The borrowing is
done, the governor’s short stint in the political
driver’s seat on state spending is over, and the
Senate and Assembly, primed for re-election
campaigning, are ready to again take charge by
enacting their original spending proposals for
education, local government aid, and SUNY. After
an expected gubernatorial veto, a legislative
override would be attempted.

Citing the serious financial problems threatening
CSEA members in schools, local government and
the state university system, CSEA is supporting
these legislative initiatives.

The union has also been unusually delayed this
year in gaining legislative enactment of the
provisions of its recently negotiated contract
settlement with the State of New York, normally a
virtual formality.

This year the process was greatly delayed by
persistent roadblocks put up by the state Senate’s
finance committee staff that raised endless

Pages?

TIER Il DEBATE — CSEA Political Action
Director Bernard J. Ryan, right, and New York
Chamber of Commerce Vice President Morton
Getman, engage in a fiery debate over the future
of the contributory Tier II retirement system
scheduled to expire June 30. While both officials
agree Tier IM] is an administrative nightmare,
the two part company over the merits of the

questions about the CSEA pay bill, but not until
three months after it was negotiated, thus
gumming up legislative review of the contract.
Finally, a direct discussion between CSEA
President William L. McGowan and Senate
Majority Leader Warren M. Anderson was needed
to break the deadlock by an agreement to allow
legislative observers to be continually updated on
activities of labor-management committees and
other non-salary provisions of the CSEA-state
agreement.

The delays produced considerable anger among
CSEA’s state employee membership. The 9 percent
salary increase due on April 1 has been delayed as a
result of the legislative inaction.

But the state employees aren’t the only CSEA
members whose lives have been affected by the
bottleneck in the state legislature in this election
year.

Numerous other bills which CSEA has sponsored
this year also remain undecided while the

THEIPUBLIC:SECVOR, Friday) Yun 48, 11982

svstem. Getman, chairman of a high-powered
business coalition whose sole purpose is to make
Tier UI permanent, claims the system is
“generous to retired state workers.” Ryan
refuted these claims with facts and figures from
legislative commissions and the New York State
Comptroller’s office. The debate was aired on an
Albany television station earlier this month.

Legislature continues to be occupied with
controversial matters like the debate over the
bottle bill to require deposits on disposable
beverage containers, the death penalty proposals,
legislative redistricting of state election districts
and the continuing state budget saga.

With mid-June sliding past the Legislature and
the pressure growing for summer adjournment to
allow the legislative candidates to hit the re-
election trail, political observers were expected
another legislative “end of session crunch,” a
traditional practice involving final resolution of
important legislative issues during the final hours
of the session before lawmakers leave for their
home districts.

Despite the crush and the many controversial
issues attracting lawmakers’ attention, CSEA
lobbyists are continuing efforts to see to it that.
when the smoke finally clears in Albany, public
employees won’t have been victims of the state’s
political process.

THERE WAS A FULL HOUSE to hear noted psychologist Herbert Freudenberger discuss his
theories on burnout. Later he autographed, right, copies of his book, “Burn Out: How to Beat
the High Cost of Success,” for therapy aides Darcilla Weaver and Vince Panetta.

“Lecture on. ‘burnout’
draws big audience

WINGDALE — ‘‘Burnout’’ — when your brain says go but
your body says no — afflicts an estimated 15 to 20 percent of
human services workers. So there was an understandably
large turnout on June 2 when Dr. Herbert Freudenberger, the
noted psychologist who first applied the word ‘‘burnout”’ to the
workplace, spoke at Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center.

Wendy Acrish, director of the psychiatric center,
introduced him to approximately 300 people present, and
revealed that while a recent study there found the problem at
“low to moderate levels,’’ she stressed its prevention is “‘a
collaborative effort where union representation is important.”
Meanwhile, the reaction of three therapy aides from
Middletown Psychiatric Center who were present is

enlightening.

“Vince Panetta, second vice president of CSEA Local 415,
and co-workers Darcilla Weaver and Shirley Wick, all agreed
the lecture was meaningful. They were impressed by what
they learned because it can be applied to their daily lives.

Ms. Weaver felt it “heightened my awareness and made
me more conscious of what’s going on,” while Ms. Wick said,

down to us.”

urges Reagan to use

WASHINGTON — The AFL-CIO has called on Presi-
dent Reagan to use his authority under the Credit Control
Act to reverse the tight money, high interest rate policies
which it called ‘‘ruinous”’ to the economy.

“It is time to turn the economy around, to reverse the
Regan recession and to put people back to work,”
declared the AFL-CIO Executive Council at its spring
meeting here.

AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland said that, in addi-
tion to lowered interest rates, labor also wants the Presi-
dent and the Congress ‘‘to develop with all possible speed
a realistic, workable economic program to bring
America back to full employment, to balanced economic
growth and to fairness in taxation with concern for those
who have least.”

The council said the tight-money policy endorsed by
Reagan and imposed by the Federal Reserve Board “thas
brought havoc to the housing, auto and farm sectors and
dozens of supplier industries, as well as thousands of
small businesses and thrift institutions.”

Under the Credit Control Act of 1969, the council said,
the President can authorize the Federal Reserve to chan-
nel credit away from speculation and corporate
takeovers towards such constructive investments as
housing, farming and industrial production.

The brief use of credit controls in 1980 helped move
the economy out of recession, the council recalled,
noting:

“After credit controls took effect in 1980, interest
rates on new mortgages declined from a peak of 16 per-
cent to about 12.5 percent in July. The annual housing
starts rose from the May low of 938,000 to about 1,550,000
toward the end of 1980.

“The prime rate charged by banks declined from
19.5 percent in April to 11 percent in July when the
decline in industrial production was reversed and the
economy began to pick up.

The council also warned that the Credit Control Act
expires June 30. It urged passage of bills to continue the
authority, H.R. 6124 sponsored by House Banking Chair-
man Fernand St. Germain (R.I.) and S, 2526 sponsored
by Senate Minority Whip Alan Cranston (Calif.).

Summing up the council’s economic statement,
Kirkland told a press conference that the recession is

AFL-CIO calls tight money ‘ruinous,’

credit controls

“the direct product of the Administration’s policies.”

He said those policies were ‘“‘the combination of tight
money, high interest rates and irresponsible tax pro-
gram that in effect borrows money in order to cut taxes
for the rich, coupled with drastic attacks on those social
and economic programs which shelter those who are the
weakest... .”

The council statement on ‘the Reagan recession”
assailed the President’s “supply-side” economics as ‘“‘a
disaster for America and American workers.”

Now is the time, it said, for Congress to enact a
realistic budget which includes anti-recession, job-
creating programs, and stimulation of the private sector.
It also is time for tax reform, the council said.

The council endorsed this legislative program:

¢ A tax reform bill, H.R. 6257 sponsored by Rep.
Thomas Downey (D-N.Y.), which would raise $150 billion
over a three-year period and remove tax inequities.

* A job creation bill, H.R. 6250 sponsored by Rep.
Augustus Hawkins (D-Calif.), which would provide for a
five-year program of grants to employ the long-term
jobless on public works projects.

¢ Mortgage interest aid as embodied in the House-
passed H.R. 6294 sponsored by Rep. St. Germain, which
would help moderate-income homebuyers; also H.R.
6296 by Rep. Henry Gonzalez (D-Tex.) to provide rental
aid and mortgage relief for the unemployed.

« Anew Reconstruction Finance Corp. to rebuild the
nation’s industrial base, as called for by H.R. 6000 spon-
sored by Rep. Frank Guarini (D-N.J.).

« Adomestic content bill, H.R. 5133 by Rep. Richard
Ottinger (D-N.Y.) and S. 2300 by Senator Wendell Ford
(D-Ky.), to restore jobs in auto and auto-related
industries.

In other areas, the council urged Congress to extend
the current 39-week maximum jobless benefit program
to at least 65 weeks for those who have exhausted their
extended benefits. The Ways and Means Committee
recently approved an extension to 52 weeks. The council
also wants the national trigger restored and other
restrictions adopted in the past year rescinded.

The job training legislation now pending ‘falls far
short’’ of the needs of millions of workers and also calls
for business domination of the program, the council said.

Sylvia Weinstock,
Local 418 member,
dies following
lengthy iliness-

_ WEST BRENTWOOD — Sylvia Weinstock, a long-time CSEA ac-
tivist from Pilgrim Psychiatric Center Local 418, died May 27 after
a long illness.

Ms. Weinstock was active in many capacities within the union, and
most recently she was a member of the Region I social committee, and
served as a coordinator for CSEA’s participation in Solidarity Day in
Washington last fall. ;

“previously burnout was only a word.’”’ Meanwhile, Mr.
Panetta added hereafter he will be looking for signs of burnout
especially among managers, ‘‘because their attitude filters

State workers
honored for
blood donation

ALBANY — Sixteen state
employees were singled out for
special recognition during the annual
Red Cross awards luncheon here
earlier this month.

But, noted Civil Service Commis-
sion President Joseph A. F. Valenti,
presentation ceremonies will be stag-
ed later for 662 state employees in 67
different State agencies who reached
the milestone of contributing a gallon
or more of blood during the past year.

Valenti was main speaker at the
luncheon and shared a congratulatory
message he had just received from
the White House in which it was noted
that the Northeastern New York
American Red Cross Blood Services
Chapter has nominated New York
State employees for the 1982 Presi-
dent’s Volunteer Action Award for
their long-time successful par-
ticipating in the blood donor program.

Special donor recognition awards
‘were made to Albert Robbins and
Steven Pardee, both of the Depart-
ment of Transportation; Marjorie
Levesque of Tax and Finance, Keith
Rayner of Civil Service, Ida Alwaise
of Motor Vehicles. Also, Joseph
Richardson of the Department of
Labor, William Goodwin of the
Thruway Authority, Wayne Lake of
Parks & Recreation, Mark Palmer of
the Education Department, and Roy
Couture of the Higher Education Ser-
vices Corporation.

Six people also received plaques
recognizing their special efforts on
behalf of the Blood Donor Program.
They are Diane Pelky, who started
with the Blood Program at the
Syracuse office of the State Insurance
Fund and has remained very active in
the program in the four, years she’s
been in Albany; Helen Butrym from
Tax and Finance; Candy Fuoco from
SUNYA; Chuck Schampier from
OGS; Grace T. Wade from the In-
surance Department; and Lenore
Heisman from Transportation.

THE PUBLIG SECTOR, Friday, June 18,1982 Page 3

Publi
SECTOR

Official publication of

The Civil Service Employees Association
Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO

33 Elk Street, Albany, New York 12224

The Public Sector (445010) is published every other
Friday for $5 by the Civil Service Employees
Association, 33 Elk Street, Albany, New York 12224.

Second Class Postage paid at Post Office, Albany,
New York.

Send address changes to The Public Sector, 33 Elk
Street, Albany, New York 12224.
Publication office, 1 Columbia Place, Albany, New
York 12207. Single copy price 25¢.
Gary G. Fryer—Publisher
Roger A. Cole—Editor
Tina Lincer First—Associate Editor
Gwenn M. Bellcourt—Assistant Editor
Published every other Friday by Civil Service
Employees Association, 33 Elk Street, Albany, N.Y.

INFLATION, UNEMPLOYMENT, BANKRUPTCY...

12224 (518) 434-0191.

POLITICIANS

They know whar scares you,
BUT WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT ?

WASHINGTON — The keagan
Administration has repealed the
Davis-Bacon Act through ad-
ministrative action, AFL-CIO
President Lane Kirkland charged
here.

The AFL-CIO Executive Council,
at its spring meeting, said the Ad-
ministration informed the federa-
tion beforehand of the final regula-
tions issued May 28. ‘Our worst
fears have been exceeded,” the
council said after seeing the new
Labor Dept. regulations.

The council noted that when the
proposed changes in Davis-Bacon
were announced last year, organiz-

ed labor was ‘‘shocked and
angered.’’ Labor was assured its
views would be considered and sub-
mitted its position in detail, the
council recalled.

The final regulations not only
adopt the original proposals, the
council said, ‘‘but also have added
additional anti-worker proposals
which will guarantee that any last
vestige of protection workers enjoy
under the statute will be
destroyed.”’

Kirkland told a press conference
that, despite President Reagan’s
pledge not to seek repeal of Davis-
Bacon as some of his supporters

AFL - C10 ‘shocked’ by Reagan repeal

uged, “‘he effectively repealed it”
with these changes.

Kirkland said most of the
changes were “rather horren-
dous,” ‘‘guts the law” and makes it
“a farce, and shell and shadow.”
“Tt is repeal of the law by ad-
ministrative action,” he added.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce
announced it was “pleasantly sur-
prised” by the final Davis-Bacon
regulations because they went
beyond the proposals of last year.

Labor Secretary Raymond J.
Donovan, in announcing the final
regulations, said they will produce
savings of about $600 million a
year.

The regulations drop the ‘‘30 per-
cent rule” under which the prevail-
ing wage was set at the wage paid
to 30 percent of workers in a trade.
The new rules define the prevailing
wage as the rate paid a majority of
workers in the area doing similar
work.

Another key regulation permits
contractors to use two helpers for
every three journeymen. Other
changes provide that urban wage
data will not be mixed with rural
data in developing wage levels.
Another change permits contrac-
tors to submit a simple compliance
statement instead of complete
payroll records.

The AFL-CIO said these regula-
tions will depress prevailing wage
rates, lead to violations of the law,
and undermine bona fide appren-
ticeship training programs.

CSE

CSEA
Region I
President
Danny
Donohue

\eZ
c= PSE
Donohue named to
Federation Board

HAUPPAUGE — CSEA Region I
President Danny Donohue has been
elected a vice president of the Long
Island Federation of Labor, suc-
ceeding Nick Abbatiello as the CSEA
representative on the Federation’s
Board.

The Long Island Federation of
Labor represents 150,000 unionized
workers on Long Island. The
organization was created 23 years ago
through a merger of the Nassau-
Suffolk councils of the AFL-CIO.
Among the organization’s objectives
is to focus on politics representing
labor’s viewpoint to politicians and
the news media.

Supports
Special Olympics

Calendar

JUNE
20-25—AFSCME Convention, Atlantic City, New

Centers, 11 A.M., Crestwood Golf Club, Marcy
Campus, Marcy, NY.

JULY

16—Local 505 NYSDOT Annual Picnic, 1-4 P.M.,
Roselawn Restaurant, New York Mills.

16—Syracuse City Local 013 Annual Clambake, 5-10
P.M., Hinerwadel’s Grove, Fay Road, North
Syracuse.

30—Syracuse City Local 013 Annual Golf Tourna-
ment, 8 A.M., Westvale Golf Club, Camillus.

Jersey.

27-29—County Executive Committee Workshop,
The Granit Hotel, Kerhonkson.

26—Local 615 Upstate Medical Center 1st Annual
Pig Roast, 1-6 P.M., Spinning Wheel
Restaurant, Thompson Road, North Syracuse.

30—Combined Annual Picnic for Employees of
Utica, Marcy, Central New York Psychiatric

of EVENTS

Calendar items should be mailed to The
Public Sector, 1 Columbia Place, Albany,
New York 12207. Items must contain the name
and telephone number of the sender for
verification purposes.

Page.4.,  THE,PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, June 18, 1982,

PRESIDENT HONORED — Jacqueline Sutton-Mansir smiles
after receiving a plaque of appreciation from Suffolk County
CSEA Local Preident Charles Novo. The award was made in
recognition of her six years as president of the East Hampton

Town CSEA unit.

County consultant
can’t hear
disciplinary case,
court rules

HOLBROOK — CSEA Suffolk
County Local 852 has won a court
order barring a hearing officer who
holds a consultant’s contract with
Suffolk County from being appointed
to a disciplinary case involving a
county employee.

The implication that a conflict of
interest might exist was enough for
Justice George F. X. McInerney in
Supreme Court at Riverhead to order
the employer to find another person to
act as hearing officer.

CSEA had protested earlier to the
Town of Smithtown over the selection
of Robert Jones to disciplinary
charges against a CSEA shop steward
in the Highway Department. Jones is
under contract with the town to act as
occupational safety and health.
e officer. CSEA went to court when the
town refused to withdraw the
selection of Jones.

Justice McInerney ruled that ‘all
elements with respect to a fair trial
are applicable in an administrative
proceeding.” He also noted, ‘“‘Not only
must there be no prejudice, actual or
implied, but even the appearance of
prejudice must be avoided.”

e The case was handled by CSEA
Regional Attorney Lester B. Lipkind.

GEARING UP FOR

‘in “firs

a

ALBANY — A recent court decision
has confirmed a CSEA member's right
to a salary based on her past
employment with the state.

The member, Laura Craven, began to
work for the state in 1969 and left 10
years later. When she was rehired a year
and a half later as a grade 5
stenographer, Department of
Environmental Conservation officials
said she was not entitled to a higher
salary based on her decade of state
employment. They insisted that an
employee who leaves state employment
for more than a year loses any salary
credits.

CSEA challenged EnCon’s rule. “‘If the
Legislature had meant that people had
to return to state service within a year in
order to maintain credits earned for
their salaries, they would have said so in
the (Civil Service) law,” said William

*s seniority upheld
-of-its-kind’ decision

Wallens, the CSEA attorney who argued
the case.

“But the law says that employees who
are reinstated at any time get to keep
their salary based on seniority.”

The Supreme Court justice agreed,
saying that EnCon had interpreted the
Civil Service Law ‘in an unreasonable
and irrational manner.”

Wallens said Craven will be paid the
difference between her present salary
and the salary she would have earned
with her seniority. Although the state
may appeal the case, Wallens said he is
optimistic about the outcome.

“I’m very pleased,” he added. “It’s a
clearcut case, and it opens the door for
other people who return after more than
a year away from the state. It’s the first
decision of its kind, and it’s a very big
issue.”

Pre retirement brochure
to be reprinted

ALBANY — Because of the tremendous response to the recent invitation in
the Public Sector for retirees to join CSHA, the pre-retirement brochure will be
reprinted, said Thomas A. Gilmartin, director of the CSEA Retirees Department.

There will be some delay in responding to requests for information while the

booklet is being updated and printed.

Anyone wanting additional information about retiree membership should
contact Gilmartin at CSEA Headquarters, 33 Elk St., Albany, N.Y. 12224 or call

~ (818) 434-0191.

a

THE DEMOCRATIC
PRIMARY, Lt. Gov. Mario Cuomo recently opened
up a headquarters in Scarsdale. On hand to give his
gubernatorial campaign a boost were, from left to
right, Marie Baci, member of the Town/Green-

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, June 18,1982

burgh CSEA Unit executive committee, Region IT
Treasurer Eleanor McDonald, Cuomo, Greenburgh
Councilwoman Lois Bronz, and Region III Presi-
dent Ray O’Connor.

Page 5

Schedule set for CSEA County Workshop

Array of seminars has
something for all

KERHONKSON — A full schedule of
seminars, covering topics ranging from labor
relations in the National Football League to the
impact of public assistance work programs, plus
an opportunity to meet AFSCME President
Gerald McEntee and gubernatorial candidate
Mario Cuomo, will highlight the CSEA County
Workshop June 27-29 at the Granit Hotel here.

Delegates to the Irving Flaumenbaum
Memorial Workshop will begin registering Sun-
day afternoon before attending seminars spon-
sored by the statewide committees on Probation,
Non-Teaching School Employees, Social Ser-
vices and Minorities.

These afternoon seminars will cover:

@ Current Status of Probation Legislation,
presented by Thomas Callanan, Division of
Probation;

@ Unions and Equal Employment, by Ronnie
Steinberg, Center for Women in Government;

@ Political Action in School Districts, by
Ramona Gallagher, CSEA political action train-
ing specialist;

@ Will Public Assistance Work Programs
Take Away Your Jobs?, by Paul Burch, CSEA
director of field services; and

© Affirmative Action and You, by Joseph
Tortelli, director of affirmative action for
Westchester County.

Two after-dinner seminars should provide
something of interest to everyone. Doug Allen of
the National Football League Players Associa-
tion will discuss NFL bargaining, strikes and

Lane Kirkland,
Edward Kennedy,
Walter Mondale
among speakers

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ — CSEA
President William L. McGowan and
CSEA Capital Region President
Joseph E. McDermott, both Interna-
tional Vice Presidents of AFSCME,
will be leading CSEA’s 223 AFSCME
delegates when they arrive here June
20 for the start of AFSCME’s 25th In-
ternational Convention.

CSEA and AFSCME, the AFL-CIO’s
largest public employee union, were
affiliated in 1978, but this will only be
the second major AFSCME conven-
tion attended by a full delegation from
CSEA, or Local 1000 as it is officially
known within the ranks of AFSCME.

And while some people may look
upon this resort city location as an ex-
citing spot for a meeting, AFSCME’s
delegates are preparing for a week of
long business meetings, workshops
and committee discussions to steer

Page 6

1982 COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE WORKSHOP

IRVING FLAUMENBAUM
MEMORIAL WORKSHOP 1982

SUNDAY TO TUESDAY
JUNE 27 - 29, 1982

HOTEL AND COUNTRY CLUB
Kerhonkson, New York 12446

the course of the piemllen member
International for the next two y

Having to travel to CSEA’s
tion headquarters at the Sands Hotel
on Father's Day is just the beginning

public image. And the Women’s Committee will
conduct a workshop on the concept of com-
parable worth, featuring Cathy Collette of
AFSCME, Ronnie Steinberg of the Center for
Women in Government, CSEA Secretary Irene
Carr, and Attorney Marjorie Karowe.

Six seminars are scheduled to be held Mon-
day at 9:30 a.m., and repeated Monday after-
noon. Topics include: the Employee Assistance
Program; Negotiations in Political Subdivi-
sions; Utilizing Staff Internal Communications
for Services; an Overview of Civil Service Pro-
cedures; and Political Action — Grass Roots
Involvement.

The three-day seminar concludes with a
general business meeting beginning at 9 a.m.,
Tuesday. Scheduled to speak are AFSCME Inter-
national President Gerald McEntee and Lt. Gov.
Mario Cuomo, CSEA’s endorsed candidate for

-AFSCME

‘Delegates will be wrestling

with major topics,

including the national economy,
Reaganism, and the growing
political encroachments in areas

of labor interest. 2

of some of th
ars. elected AF
largest single
will he

AFSCME
e to bear during the five day
convention

THE PUBLIG SECTOR, Friday, June 18, 1982

sacrifices that CSEA’s

Get ready to run
in PEOPLETHON

KERHONKSON — On your mark. Get set. GO
sign up for the “PEOPLETHON” scheduled to
be run June 28 during the CSEA County
Workshop at the Granit Hotel.

Race participants must obtain “entry fees” of
at least $20 in pledges to be contributed to PEO-
PLE — Public Employees Organized to Promote
Legislative Equality — the political action arm
of AFSCME. Monies are used to support can-
didates in federal elections.

According to Ramona Gallagher, race
organizer and CSEA political action training
specialist, awards will be given to the first three
male and female finishers in the run-a-thon.

“We'll also give a special award to the en-
trant who collects the greatest amount of money
in PEOPLE pledges,” Gallagher explained.
“Plus, we want this to be a fun event. Everyone
who enters to run or walk the course will receive
PEOPLE T-shirts, and refreshments will be
served after the run.”

Any delegate, family member or staff
member attending the County Workshop may
enter the PEOPLETHON. Locals and units are
being encouraged to sponsor runners and collect
pledges before the race.

Pledge sheets are available by contacting the
CSEA Legislative Office in Albany. Pledge
forms will also be available at the PEOPLE in-
formation table at the workshop beginning Sun-
day, June 27.

Ms. Gallagher said pledge checks should be
made payable to “PEOPLE.” In accordance
with federal law, contributions to PEOPLE will
be accepted from members of AFSCME and
their families.

25th

"International Convention begins

On several days, convention
business begins at 7 a.m., with
workshops on major subjects, con-
tinues through five straight hours of
delegate meetings starting at 10 a.m.,
and ends with committee meetings
which get under way late in the
afternoon.

And if the hours aren’t enough,
delegates will be wrestling with ma-
jor topics, including the national
economy, Reaganism, and the grow-
ing political encroachments in areas
of labor interest.

Speakers for the meeting will in-
clude AFL-CIO President Lane
Kirkland, U.S. Senator Edward Ken-
nedy, former Vice President Walter
Mondale, and a host of other promi-
nent labor and political figures.

This convention will be the first
chaired by International President
Gerald McEntee, elected by the
AFSCME International Executive
Board to fill out the four year term of
AFSCME’s late President Jerry

Wurf.
In addition to the 223 ©, EA
Delegates at the Convention, C
the sponsoring a marathon race for con-

delegation, vention participants to raise funds for
PEOPLE, AFSCME’s political fund

raising operation.

CSEA, Motor Vehicles in‘head-on clash

over sudden turnabout in safety issues

ALBANY — CSEA and the state Department of Motor Vehicles are at odds
over recent changes the department has initiated which the union feels
adversely affect motor vehicle license examiners represented by CSEA.

The controversy began with a unilateral order by DMV that the inspectors
would no longer be given uniforms which they have traditionally worn when
giving driving tests to license applicants. The state and the union are continu-
ing negotiations over this issue in an effort to resolve the matter.

But the uniforms were only the beginning, according to Tom Byrne, a DMV
license examiner who served on CSEA’s statewide negotiating team in the Ad-
ministrative Services Unit, the state bargaining unit to which the grade 12 ex-
aminers are assigned.

DVM issued directives, Byrne says, that prohibited inspectors from check-
ing the license and registration of the licensed motorist accompanying the ap-
plicant taking the driving test and, until CSEA objected about the safety of its
members, DVM even told inspectors to stop checking to see if the vehicles in
which the tests were given were properly inspected.

“Examiners always used to check the license and registration of the
motorist accompanying the applicant,” Byrne said. ‘‘We felt it provided an ex-
tra check on compliance with the vehicle and traffic laws. It also helped us pre-
vent a licensed motorist from posing as an applicant to take the test for the ap-
plicant. We just can’t provide that check anymore.”

While the union is still conferring with DMV on most of its recent changes,

Voter registration drive

VOTE ay Be
porn
Rimany

CHECKING some voting materials at a recent voter registration drive con-
ducted by CSEA Labor Local 670 is Patricia Hathaway, left. With her are
Joan Markes, center, and Barbara Charles.

PY Ah en on ete ae
REGISTER AND

EXPLAINING a registration form to Margie Lemiex, right, is Doris Bour-
don, left. Patrick Jennings and Joan Markes look on,

on the issue of vehicle safety, CSEA drew the line. ‘‘We don’t think it is fair or
safe to ask an unprotected license examiner to get into a motor vehicle that
may not be safe enough to be on the road,” comments CSEA Collective
Bargaining Specialist Robert Guild.

“As a result of our complaints on this issue, DMV reconsidered and is
allowing examiners to make sure the vehicle in which they must ride to give a
license examination is, in fact, in compliance with the safety requirements of
the Vehicle and Traffic Law,” Guild said.

What’s behind the sudden, and unpopular changes? According to CSEA, it
appears DMV is trying to speed up the examination process rather than pro-
vide sufficient examiners to make the traditional process faster.

One recent indication of this motive comes in a pilot program DMV has
underway at Riverhead, Long Island, where instead of the traditional notifica-
tion to applicants by mail on the results of the examination, inspectors are now
asked to tell applicants on the spot whether or not they have passed.

CSEA is seriously concerned that this practice could lead to confrontations
between applicants and examiners, particularly since the traditional ex-
aminer’s shield and uniform has now been eliminated.

“In some states examiners are uniformed peace officers and literally
carry sidearms,” CSEA’s Guild says, ‘“‘but in New York, the only protection
our people have ever had was the psychological authority from a uniform and
badge. Now they don’t even have that and DMV is toying around with another
change that we think will undoubtedly cause confrontations and might lead to
arguments, even violence.”

“License examiners always took pride in the work they did,” according to
Tom Byrne, ‘‘but we can’t help getting the feeling that the state just doesn’t
care about that anymore. Even under the old system we could do an examina-
tion every 12 minutes and ensure that a qualified, competent driver was given
a driver’s license. Now, I’m afraid, we’re not so sure.”

Needed: Names of stewards
eligible for organizational leave

ALBANY — If you are one of the hundreds of CSEA grievance represen-
tatives in the state’s Administrative, Institutional and Operational Bargaining
Units, time may be running out on your use of organizational leave unless your
local has informed CSEA of your status.

CSEA’s new contract with the State of New York, like its predecessors, re-
quires the union to formally notify the Governor’s Office of Employee Rela-
tions of the union’s representatives eligible to use organizational leave pur-
suant to the contract. In the case of grievance representatives, that time off is
granted to allow grievance “reps” to investigate and process grievances.

“The state has told us quite clearly that unlike in the past, they will not
authorize organizational leave for our people unless we notify them officially of
the names of the eligible people in advance,” said Jack Carey, CSEA’s director
of collective bargaining.

“With the start of each contract and then every three months thereafter,
we are required to update GOER on the identities of people authorized by
CSEA to use organizational leave for union business, but unfortunately some of
our locals have been lax in the past in providing us with this information,”
Carey said.

“Unless we get that information immediately so we can pass it along to
GOER,” he said, “‘some grievance reps could be denied organizational leave.
That hurts the rep, the local and most of all the members who need our help.”

In an effort to avoid any loss of time off, all state division local presidents
were sent a letter asking for the names of authorized grievance represen-
tatives from their local, but to date less than half have responded. CSEA sug-

gests that grievance reps check with their local officers to ensure that CSEA’s:

Office of Collective Bargaining has been notified of their status. If no notice has
been given, the local officer should do so immediately to avoid loss of organiza-
tional leave for that local’s representatives.

Vetoed aid to schools, upstate

ripe for legislative confrontation

ALBANY — The stage is now set for a confrontation between the Executive
and Legislative branches of state government over $320 million in legislative
appropriations vetoed by Gov. Hugh L. Carey.

The measures, including $218 million in aid to school districts, $80 million
in aid to upstate cities and $30 million for colleges and universities, were sup-
ported by CSEA and passed overwhelmingly in both the Senate and Assembly
as they had been earlier in the year.

And again, like earlier in the year, Carey vetoed the measures claiming
the state didn’t have the money to pay for them and citing the refusal of the
state Senate to agree to increased taxes and fees to pay for the programs.

Carey made his second veto late Tuesday, only hours before the measures
would have become law had he failed to act.

Now, political observers expect, the legislature will mount a full-scale
override effort and probably have sufficient votes to make their wishes stick.
Should this occur, Carey has threatened, he may be forced to take austerity
measures including job freezes or other action involving public employees.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, June 18,1982... Page 7

is united’ on

ALBANY — The Civil Servi mip]
2-million membe CIO labor fed
noon-hour

k the west end of Capitol P:
ed on the
jonized w

support of the demoi
11) ions, while

elimination. of Tier TIT reti

vant unemployment be:

ants the

prot
officials th

Dennis £
coordinator for the demonstration rally
politicians in this state know .o1 i
treatment of all unior

In the event of

Building (LOB) at the nearby Empire State plaza.

McEntee: CSEA/AFSCME must fight
to get right people in Washington

BUFFALO — CSEA and AFSCME, facing “the
most difficult times ever,” will continue to be in the
forefront of the fight for justice for working
Americans and the downtrodden, as well as public
sector workers.

That fight, according to AFSCME President
Gerald W. McEntee, will be in the political as well
as the collective bargaining arenas.

Speaking at the Region VI Spring Conference,
here, McEntee called the collective bargaining
process a time-honored tool for improving working
conditions of union members. ‘But as your leaders
have urged you in the past and will continue to do so
in the future, we must find a political solution.”
McEntee praised the political action education
process presently underway and growing in CSEA.

“We have got to fight and be effective in political
solutions. New York has a gubernatorial race
coming up and I thank you for making an
endorsement so we can play a role and participate
in selecting government representatives. We must
work even harder to send the right people to
Washington to support us,’ McEntee said.

CSEA is part of a “great trade union institution
and tradition,’ McEntee said, in describing the
affiliation of CSEA and AFSCME as a “natural
coalition.”

“You are the leaders that play a role and
participate. CSEA has won many of its major
battles, and you are always there in behalf of your
great membership and AFSCME stands with you
every step of the way.”

“Public employees everywhere have the same

issues
c
‘ation in mobilizing fo:

y demonstration in downtown Albany.
to overflowir

nel; has been appointed C

n against Tier III and for: fair

is joining

said CSEA

> paltert

tration

to mi sure the

ve Office

problems, the same concerns. They want the
opportunity to have a job and make a reasonable
living and have decency and dignity in that job as
they perform a public service. They want a better
future for their children and families. Also, the
AFSCME tradition means using the social
institution of the union to bring about equity and
fair play not only for public workers, but for the
poor, minorities and others in the country who do
not have a mechanism to work for them. This union
has always stood on that premise.

McEntee said probably half of the union’s
members voted for Ronald Reagan in the last
election. But a recent poll taken by AFSCME in 19
major American cities showed that Reagan would
be out of a job if an election were held today.

“Those who were fooled in the campaign are now
aware of Reagan’s unfulfilled campaign
promises,” said the AFSCME president. ‘‘If you
remember the theme of his platform, he talked
about getting government off the backs of the
people. His main theme was jobs, jobs and more
jobs.”

But instead, McEntee said, more and more
people are out of work and it’s Reagan’s brand of
government that has put them there. As an
example, he cited the more than 10 million
Americans out of work, including 660,000 in New
York State.

“In the public sector, things are now just as bad,”
said McEntee, in citing more than 850,000
unemployed public workers nationwide. ‘‘Some of

STATE CAPITOL
JUNE 29, 1982
12:00 NOON

A complete report on
the Region VI Spring
Conference, including
photographs, will be
published in the next
issue of The Public
Sector.

them used to work in New York.”

“We are faced with an incumbent president that
has two proposals: He favors the rich — individual
and corporate — and they are better than you and I.
And, the other is that government — federal, state
and local — is bad,’’ McEntee said.

After citing many millions of dollars in jobs,
educational cutbacks, corporate tax breaks, cuts in
Aid to Dependent Children, food stamps and child
welfare that ‘“‘will hurt thousands and thousands of
people,’ McEntee renewed the call for a concerted
battle against Reaganomics.

“Together we can do it. AFSCME has resources
because of people like you,’’ he said. “Those
resources of staff, expertise, programs and money
belong to you, not McEntee, McGowan or Lattimer.
Whatever is needed in these times we face, this
union stands ready, willing and able to provide it to
you,’”’ he said on behalf of AFSCME’s Executive
Board and Secretary-Treasurer, William Lucy

“In CSEA, ‘you are just coming off an election
process and debate. In this union, we can and
should have election and debates, but when the
election and debate is over, and the institution has
rendered a decision and course of direction, we
should unite to follow that direction and course. We
should have a single purpose and single course.”’

“People like you can do it. This is the most
difficult time we haye ever had to face. The future
of AFSCME is in the hands of people like you. The
future of almost all public sector workers in the
State of New York is in your hands. I think that
future is in good hands,” he concluded.

PCB-laden

roads lead

to request for
health screenings

Page 8

QUEENSBURY — Due to the
discovery of high levels of
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
along various dirt roads in the
Town of Queensbury, CSEA Field
Representative Michael White has
requested an immediate health
screening of all town employees
and recent retirees.

The roads may have been

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, June 18, 1982

contaminated by the spraying of
waste oil by public employees on
the dirt throughfares to keep the
dust down, The free oil may have
been provided by a manufacturer
who used PCB’s in the production
of various products,

Some of the roads have hot spots
which are 16 times higher than the

safe level of this supposed cancer
causing chemical. Contaminated
landfill areas have also been
discovered.

“We are very concerned about
the safety of our members and the
town residents and we expect full
cooperation from local officials in
this matter,” White said.

‘McGow

elected new statewide officers

ALBANY — CSEA President William L.
McGowan has won re-election to a third term as
president of the state’s largest public employee
union in balloting for the union’s four statewide
offices.

By a margin of more than two-to-one,
President McGowan defeated challengers
James J. Moore, president of Central Region V,
and Robert L. Lattimer, president of Western
Region VI, according to Election Procedures
Committee Chairman Gregory Sczurnicki, who
announced the results Tuesday evening from the
offices of the Independent Election Corporation
of America, Lake Success, N.Y., which
conducted the election under contract with the
CSEA’s Board of Directors.

The month long statewide balloting also ended
in victory for incumbent CSEA Executive Vice
President Thomas H. McDonough, who defeated
challenger Joseph E. McDermott, president of
Capital District Region IV, and for statewide
Secretary Irene Carr who was unopposed for re-
election.

In the election for statewide Treasurer,
incumbent F’. John Gallagher was defeated in a
three way race by Region VI Treasurer Barbara
M. Fauser. Also seeking office in that election
was W. John Francisco, Region IV political
action chairman and a CSEA local president.

Terms of office for each of the four statewide
positions begin on July 1, 1982. Each is a full-time
position.

Commenting on his victory, President
McGowan said, ‘“‘When I first ran for this office, I
promised the members a change from CSEA’s
old ways of doing things. Since then we have
affiliated with AFSCME and the AFL-CIO,
grown into a formidable political force, and won
many important battles for public employees.

“T see this re-election as a mandate to continue
the changes that I have begun to complete
CSEA’s transition from the social club that it
once was, into the tough labor union that its
members want it to become,’’ President
McGowan said.

Mr. McDonough, recovering from an illness at
St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, said of his
victory, ‘I have always given CSEA everything I
had to give because I believe in this union and in
its members. Their continuing recognition and
support is really appreciated.”

Ms. Fauser will be the second woman holding
statewide office in CSEA when she is sworn into
office with Ms. Carr and the President and
executive vice president. As treasurer of the
Western Region and a former president of CSEA
Health Research Local 315, Ms. Fauser said she
knew what the treasurer’s job was all about and
she was eager to serve.

“Since I didn’t have the same time for
campaigning, I didn’t know if that would have
any effect. I’m overwhelmed by the response

that I received. I just feel that I must have gotten
my message across,” she said.

Ms. Fauser is the only candidate in the election
who won a place on the ballot by petition. Other
candidates were nominated by CSEA’s
Statewide Nominating Committee.

She said that upon assuming her new duties as
statewide treasurer, she plans to resign as
treasurer of the Western Region to devote all of
her efforts to her new post.

CSEA statewide Secretary Irene Carr ran
unopposed for re-election. Yet, Ms. Carr said
that she was happy not only about her victory,
but also about the unusually high rank and file
participation in this year’s election.

“My first reaction, of course, was that I was
pleased about the vote,” Ms. Carr said. “I had
urged people to vote during the campaign. Iwas
pleased with the turnout and pleased with the
support shown for me. Now 1 am looking forward
to working with the other statewide officers. I
believe that by working as a team, we can
accomplish a great deal.”

Voter turnout in this election was the highest in
recent memory, according to a check with CSEA
officials. In the last elections for CSEA’s
statewide officers, in 1979, only about 39,000
participated in the election process. This year,
more than 44,000 valid ballots were cast.

Under the election rules, results of the election
will not be final until the expiration of a protest
period within the next two weeks.

THE PUBLIC.SECTOR, Friday, June, 18, 1982

The results

These are the results in balloting for
CSEA’s four statewide offices as announc-
ed by the Independent Election Corporation
of America.

President
William L. McGowan 25,799
Jim Moore 11,681
Robert L. Lattimer 6,841
Executive Vice President
Thomas H. McDonough 22,944
Joe McDermott 20,039
Treasurer
Barbara M. Fauser 22,184
Jack Gallagher 13,120
John Francisco 7,810
Secretary
Irene Carr 41,400

ec
q.\

THOMAS H. McDONOUGH

”
y

IRENE CARR

Page.9

By Hugh O’Haire
CSEA Communications Associate

FORT SALONGA — Advocates of the theory that
private enterprise is more productive and can
deliver services cheaper than the public sector
should study how employees of the Long Island
Region of the State Parks Commission built a new
golf course sprinkler system for nine times less
than the lowest bid by a private contractor. The
public employees completed the job for $50,000,
compared to the private contractor’s low bid of
$450,000!

atest DIL NORMED

The problem that faced the management of the
Sunken Meadow State Park was how to replace an
antiquated watering system for its two nine-hole
golf courses located on 200 acres of rolling hills on
the shore of the Long Island Sound. The old system
was a manual one and the employees of the park
spent much of their time dragging hoses and
sprinklers around the course during the day.

When the region decided to seek bids for a
modern, automated system, the lowest bid they
received from private contractors was for $450,000,
well beyond the budget. However, the employees of
the State Parks Region studied the bids and plans,
did a little calculating, and came up with a plan to
build a better system for one-ninth the cost, ac-
cording to State Parks CSEA Local 102 President

can i a A NR a LANA as

Page 10

~~ THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, June 18, 1982

wibae by eG

The designer of the system, Ray Dobbins, supe]
visor of electricians for the State Parks Region,
said it took ‘‘a while for us to convince the commis-
sioner” to let the in-house staff try to come up with
an alternative system to those bid by the subcon-
tractors. The commissioner finally gave in, Dob-
bins said, alloting the employees a budget of only
$50,000.

Within three months, the employees had designed
and installed a complete electrical irrigation
system for the 200-acre facility.

Moreover, the employees were able to buildg
more elaborate system than the one the Region was
offered for $450,000, and were also able to purchase
machinery and equipment that the Region will be
able to use in other parks.

The new sprinkler system is fully automated by a
centrally-located master control panel. The system
also has satellite stations where the watering can
be locally controlled.

The system was installed in only 10 weeks. A crew
of plumbers including Charles Duggan, Ed Peters
and Forman John Wasnic, set up more than 2@
sprinkler connections, and George Walters and
Peter Muscara laid more than 450,000 feet of elec-
trical cable that controls the sprinkler heads.

In addition, the crew also built — within the
$50,000 budget — 16 satellite control stations, com-
plete with concrete slabs and cyclone fence
enclosures, which were not included in the $450,000
bid.

“We went even more elaborate than the subcon-
tractors,” Dobbins said. ‘Using the purchasin;
power of New York State, we were able to b
equipment and building supplies cheaper than
private subcontractors.”

One piece of equipment, an $8,000 machine which
digs trenches and simultaneously lays electrical
eable, will be used to install sprinkler systems in
other state parks on Long Island, Dobbins said.
Under the bids, the state would have paid for the
use of the machine from a subcontractor who would
have kept it when the job was finished, Dobbins
added.

The sprinkler system is more complex ar®@

Muscara, center, and George Walters.

phisticated for another reason. ‘We designed it
Irsefves for our own use and we wanted it to be
sy to operate, Dobbins said.

‘With this system the groundskeeper will be free
use the staff elsewhere rather than watering all
y,” said Loving. As he talked, sprinklers
roughout the rolling courses threw out bright,

DITCH WITCH machine proved invaluable in installing the electrical system for the automated
sprinkler facility. Electricians Supervisor Ray Hebbias, left, studies plans with electricians Pete

oe ‘*
ni? fst
force
|erret,

feathery plumes of water fifty feet in every
direction.

“We are understaffed here and our budget has
been cut. With this new system, employees will be
free to perform more productive work elsewhere,”
Loving noted.

‘We are understaffed here and our budget has been cut.

With this new system, employees will: be free to
perform more productive work elsewhere.’

ELL DONE — With sprinkler forming a Sackerannd. CSEA Local 102 President Arthur Loving, left, con-
tulates Ray Dobbins for the outstanding work done by parks employees in saving hundreds of thousands
d@ars. “Right on,” signal electricians Peter Muscara and George Walters.

SESS RL SERRE ER RRR Se PN PR

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, June 18, 1982

‘Nassau lawsuit

in last phase

MINEOLA — A long and complicated case that
has been going on since 1978 when Nassau County
illegally fired an employee will probably enter its
latest phase when the tangled case is heard in the
Appellate Division of Supreme Court in Brooklyn in

At one point, CSEA Nassau County CSEA Local
830 won a ruling that the employee had been
terminated without a hearing on charges of non-
residency in the county, and that the employee was

~ due some 38 months’ back pay. _

Now the union is fighting the result of a later
hearing that the employee was guilty of the charge.
CSEA has filed an appeal from that latest finding,
which will be heard in court in September. Union
Officials have pledged that the case will be pursued
until the employee is eventually reinstated to her
job with no loss of pay.

The employee had been fired without a hearing
after she left her job as a Licensed Practical Nurse
with the Nassau County Medical Center because a
request for leave of absence had been denied. CSEA
argued that overriding personal reasons justified
the leave, and that it should not have been denied,

The county claimed the employee had become a
resident of Florida during her temporary absence
from the job.

CSEA later won a court ruling directing the
county to grant a hearing on the non-residency
charge. A hearing was held, and the charge was
upheld.

But, the employee had not been reinstated
pending the second termination.

In two legal actions, CSEA (1) demanded back
pay up to the time of the second termination, and
(2) appealed the determination that the employee
had become a non-resident. :

In the first action, CSEA recently won a ruling -
granting back pay. The court said, “The law is
clear that when a determination imposing
sanctions is annulled, the employee is entitled to be
Benge until such time asanew determination is
Bi :

The second ction i ekpottod tobe heard by the
Shen otc of Supreme Court in Brooklyn in

ptember. é

Although the case has taken a long time, CSEA
officials said that the employee’s defense would be
pursued as long as necessary. They expressed
confidence that justice would be achieved.

eventually.

“The ease has been handled throughout by Barry
Peek of the law firm of CSEA Regional Attorney

- Richard M. Gaba.

THANKS FROM SENATOR — State Senator Michael
Tully, left, thanks Local 830 President Jerry Donahue for
the help the Local gave Tully in his recent successful
campaign for the vacated Seventh Senate District seat.

~ Page 11

” PILGRIM
PSYCHIAT Rt

AMONG UNION PROTEST LEADERS at Pilgrim Psychiatric Center were, from left,
Joe Lavalle, president of Suffolk Developmental Center CSEA Local; Vivian Land-

Within hours after Gov. Hugh Carey’s recent strom, treasurer of the Suffolk Developmental Center Local; CSEA Field Represen-
surprise announcement that he planned to im- tative Nat Zummo, and member Donna Landstrom.
mediately convert parts of three state mental
health facilities into medium security prisons,
CSEA had launched a strong counterattack.

While CSEA President William L. McGowan
was publicly denouncing the plan as “‘an overly
ambitious program that could have serious
security implications for state mental patients,
union members and unsuspecting com-
munities,” attorneys for the union were ini-
tiating efforts to file suit in State Supreme
Court at the earliest possible date to enjoin the
state from attempting to implement the
proposal.

And at Pilgrim Psychiatric Center, named
along with Gowanda and Utica Psychiatric
Centers as facilities planned for partial conver-
sion into medium security prisons, CSEA of-
ficials and members from several nearby loca-
tions conducted a protest demonstration to show
displeasure over the proposal.

Additionally, union representatives im-
mediately began contacting lawmakers from the
areas directly affected by the proposal, and
representatives of patient advocacy groups, to
as Ud for turning back the governor’s pro-

posal. CSEA LONG ISLAND
CSEA President McGowan said, ‘‘CSEA REGION PRESIDENT
members in each of these institutions have ac- Danny Donohue, above,
cepted the sacrifices and the risks of working tells members of the news
with the mentally handicapped and the mentally media why CSEA opposes
ill, but mandating an overnight program to place plans to convert parts of
criminals into these already understaffed Pilgrim Psychiatric
facilities may be courting disaster.”’ Center and other similar
facilities into medium

security prisons.

Page-I2 THE PUBLIGSECTOR, Friday; June 18,1982,

— e —— oo
MID-HUDSON BRIDGE AUTHORITY CONTRACT — From left to right,
Representative Ross Hanna, Local 050 President Herb Pel!

, Steward John Brogks discuss.anew-threeyear.

negotiating committee consisted of Pelton, Brooks, Leonard Flynn, Roland
Kelly, Jack Priesel, Rossie Smith and Mike Viviano.

“ASK THE DOCTOR”

CSEA and the New York State Department of Health are sponsoring this
new column in The Public Sector. Its purpose is to compliment health preven-
tion programs around the state currently being conducted by the
CSEA/Employee Assistance Program. We invite all of our readers to write in
any questions relating to health issues. We’ll do our best to get your questions
answered in plain English by the best medical experts in the state.

Send your questions to:

“Ask the Doctor”
c/o CSEA/EAP

e 1 Columbia Place
6th Floor
Albany, N.Y. 12207

: Can aspirin be used by everyone?

: No. Aspirin, when used by some people in large doses, can upset
the stomach by irritating its lining. Also, some people are allergic
to aspirin and react with hives or asthma. And, more commonly,
the prolonged use of aspirin may lead to low blood sugar in some
people. Individuals who encounter any of these complications
while using aspirin should stop using aspirin in any form or
combination and contact their physician. A pregnant woman
should take no drug, including aspirin, without her doctor’s
approval.

. What causes the common cold?

. The common cold is caused by a group of viruses and is spread by
sneezing and coughing. The increased number of colds during

winter is due to people spending more time indoors where they are
exposed to other people with colds — and not due to low
temperatures.
. What is the best way to treat a sore throat?
: Take aspirin for general discomfort, gargle with a solution of
@ warm water and salt, and go easy with over-the-counter drugs.

Antiseptic gargles or medicated lozenges usually provide
temporary relief of the pain. If the sore throat is accompanied by a
fever and lasts more than a day or two, check with your doctor.

Q: Is it true that denture wearers should still have regular dental
examinations?

A: Yes, regular dental examinations are still essential. Your dentist
will check on how the dentures fit and also examine your mouth for
oral cancer.

Q: Iknow I shouldn’t take an over-the-counter drug or drink alcohol to
help me sleep, but what else can be done?

@ A: To help you fall asleep or sleep better, avoid napping in the
daytime or after dinner. Don’t take medications or beverages
containing caffeine for several hours before bedtime. Exercise
frequently. Get on a regular schedule for retiring and waking.
Learn to relax before retiring — try taking a hot bath. If you can’t
fall asleep, drink a warm glass of milk, turn on the TV or read. If
you still have trouble sleeping, consult your physician before
taking other measures.

: Ifa woman has had a hysterectomy, does she still need a Pap test?
: A Pap test to detect cancer of the vagina or other problems is still
required, even if the uterus has been removed. If the hysterectomy

e was due to a malignancy, it is even more important to have a
yearly Pap test to detect a recurrence as early as possible.

The unemployed

and the need —
for work

r years

Labor Statistics Commissioner
Janet Norwood recently urged
fellow economists to look behind
the jobless figures for a fuller
understanding of what they mean.

Typically, she pointed out, those
experiencing unemployment
sometime during the year is 2% to
3% time larger than the jobless
total in a given month. That means
that, with 10.5 million unemployed
in May, more than 30 million
people will suffer some
unemployment this year.

While the family serves as an
important support system for the
unemployed, the loss of income

weighs heavily on those in poverty.
About 17 percent of the
unemployed were in families below
the poverty line. Of those out of
work six months or longer, 30
percent were in families below the
poverty line.
Most married-couple families
have two or more earners, but an
unemployed husband causes
family income to drop by one-third
anda jobless wife brings an income
loss of one-fourth.

A disturbing phenomenon,
according to Norwood, is that
unemployment tends to “run in
families.” Because the education
and general skills of people in the
same family tend to be at
comparable levels, when one
parent has trouble in the labor
market, so does the other, In 1981,
the jobless rate for women whose
husbands also were unemployed
was 17.6 percent, triple the rate of
jobless wives with employed
husbands. There are an estimated
200,000 families where both
husband and wife are jobless.

Norwood said the most serious
financial distress caused by
unemployment is in families
maintained by women with no
husband present. A much greater
proportion of such families suffers
unemployment — 15 percent in 1981
compared with 9 percent of
married-couple families.

She said one of every six families
is maintained by a woman, and 18
percent of all children live in such a
family. The number of female-
headed families has soared from
less than 5 million in 1960 to nearly
10 million teday. More than half of
these families are below the
poverty line.

A Labor Department report on

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, June 18, 1982

Unemployment is going to be a
nS... YNEMPLOYMENT: RATE

10
T T

Percent of Labor Force

Seasonally Adjusted

wl

1979 1980, 1981 3902.

i I a if

worker earnings in the first
quarter of 1982 showed 7.6 million
families with an unemployed
member, up 16 percent over the
year. Of this total, 2.3 million
families lacked current earnings of
any kind.

The May unemployment report
showed the loug-term unemployed
— those jobless 15 weeks or longer
— soaring to 3,286,000.

To her credit, economist
Norwood reminded her audience
that no statistics can adequately
portray the emotional and psycho-
logical impact of unemployment.

Yet researchers at Johns Hopkins
University have done enough work
to show a relationship between
periods of high unemployment and
certain social problems. As
common sense and personal
experience can tell us, there <
increases in family brea!
mental health, crime and del:
cy, alcohol and drug abuse and other
social ills.

The working poor have suiiered
the most harm from federal budget
cuts, according to a new study at
Princeton which corroborated
earlier research. The middle class
also has not been immune to a
Reagan recession, which has
brought the nation record
bankruptcies as well as mass
unemployment.

There ismuch work to be «
America. There are con: B:
programs pending in Congress
which would help revive the
economy and put people back to
work, It is a time for action
because society will pay — one way
or another.

Page 13

Fulton health care to stay public

JOHNSTOWN — Home health care provided by
public employees will remain part of the Fulton
County Public Health Nursing Service program
after all.

The Public Health. Committee of the Fulton
County Board of Supervisors has killed a
controversial proposal to turn the county’s home
health care program over to Nathan Littauer
Hospital after Fulton County CSEA Local 818
objected to the concept. The proposal was killed in
committee and never reached the full board.

Originally, the Public Health Committee sought
to have 34 CSEA-represented employees
terminated and transitioned to a private health

care corporation which was to be formed by the
private sector hospital.

CSEA Local 818 charged that this proposal was
nothing more than a variation of contracting out
and immediately mounted an information
campaign to inform the county residents and
elected officials of the consequences of such an
action.

“We showed the public that home health care
provided by public employees through the existing
agency is the best way to serve the growing home
health care needs of the county,” iam Sohl,
CSEA Fulton County Local president, said.

“When a reporter told me of the committee’s

2 .
MEMBERS OF NEW REGION V DPW COMMITTEE stand with posters covering issues of concern to
committee during recent regional conference. From left are Region V Third Vice President Bruce
Nolan, committee advisor; Committee Chairman Robert Densmore, and committee members Kevin

Wilder and Mike Pisciotti.

action and asked my reaction I asked if the paper
could print a three-foot high ‘Whoopee’ on its front
page,’’ Nancy Denley, an involved member, said.

“When this concept first came up it took us all by
surprise. We thought we were going to lose
everything — our jobs, our pension rights, our
union. I am so happy that CSEA showed us how to
overcome this proposal. Our union really came
through for us.”’

The CSEA Capital Region office coordinated the
numerous activities involved in the successful
campaign. CSEA Field Representative Joseph
Bakerian filed a contract grievance with the Fulton
County Board and lodged improper practice
charges against the public health committee’s
actions with the state’s Public Employment
Relations Board, alleging that the employer had not
involved the union in any discussion on this change
in the terms and conditions of employment.

Communications Associate Dan Campbell
directed an educational media campaign and
helped coordinate the local’s grassroots
information campaign efforts.

“The key to the success of this effort lies with the
tremendous support of the local membership and
their willingness to work together to help one small
group within the large membership structure,”
John D. Corcoran Jr., CSEA Capital Region
director, said.

“Nancy Denley, an account clerk involved in
home health care billing; Helen Blakley, a public
health nurse, and Katherine Whitehouse, a home
health care aide, formed a speakers bureau and
spent hours of their own time talking to senior
citizens and interested parties. Their volunteer ef-
forts helped control a very successful signature
petition drive. They really helped resolve this pro-
blem in a positive manner.”

Noting that CSEA stands ready to take action
against any sudden loss of home health care
referrals from Nathan Littauer Hospital to the
county’s program, Corcoran warned, ‘Senior
citizens seeking home health care have a right to be
told that such a public service exists. Failure to do
so could cause CSEA to seek the revocation of their
license.”

Region V Public Works Committee created

‘A common background and the drive to get the job done’

ALEXANDRIA BAY — Members of
anew Region V Department of Public
Works Committee, appointed to study
the issues affecting fellow DPW
employees, took advantage of a re-
cent regional conference to discuss
committee progress and future plans.

The committee — the first of its
kind in the CSEA structure — was ap-
pointed by Region V President James
J. Moore with the hope that it will
eventually become part of a statewide
DPW committee involving other
regions with similar problems and
recommendations for improving
working conditions.

The Region V Committee has met
several times and has already sub-
mitted recommendations for DPW
job classifications, as well as a list of
such problem areas as contracting
out, poor working conditions, lack of
adequate job training, old equipment
and other safety-related factors.

The committee also recently sub-
mitted three resolutions to the
assembled regional conference

Page 14

delegates which were unanimously Bill Egloff, Onondaga County; and president, serves as an advisor.

approved,

The resolutions involved the recent-
ly vetoed CHIPS program by Gover-
nor Carey; a bill in the U.S. Senate
dealing with contracting out; and a
third resolution covering the inspec-
tion of municipal DPW equipment.

Two of the resolutions were turned
over to CSEA regional and statewide
political action committees for fur-
ther action.

At the conclusion of the resolution
voting, Moore praised the initial ef-
forts of the committee by remarking,
“T am very pleased by the early ac-
complishments of our new DPW Com-
mittee. Their recommendations are
outstanding examples of what can be
done by a committee with a common
work background and the drive to get
the job done.”

In addition to Chairman Densmore
of Broome County, other committee
members include: Richard Green-
wood, vice chairman, Oneida County;
John Mikalauskas, Oneida County;

Frank Zammiello, newly appointed
from NYSDOT Barge Canal Local meetings are planned for July and
502. Bruce Nolan, Region V third vice September.

-———_CSEA
Staff Openings

ALBANY — CSEA is cranking up its new Safety and Health Division,
which is expected to be in full operation by late summer with the
appointment of occupational safety and health specialists in each region.

According to Director of Field Services Paul Burch, the staff members
will investigate unsafe work conditions in accordance with the state’s public
sector OSHA law and the Hazardous Substance Act.

“The division staff will also be responsible for handling the complaint
process, and they’ll get very involved in health and safety training,” he said.

Qualifications for the positions include three years experience in an
investigatory position, preferably in the field of health and safety. A
bachelor’s degree or a combination of education and appropriate work
experience may be substituted. A valid driver’s license and car for business
use are also required.

Resumes and preference of work location (CSEA region) should be
submitted to the CSEA Personnel Director, 33 Elk Street, Albany, NY 12224.
Deadline for applications is July 2.

According to Densmore, future

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, June 18, 1982

In Suffolk County:

DIX HILLS — When an antique parlor car
was delivered to the Long Island Expressway
rest area in Dix Hills between exits 51 and 52 last
month, it brought traffic to a standstill and caus-
ed several delays in the days following, accor-
ding to the Suffolk County Police Department.

“Rubberneckers”’ still slow up to gawk, occa-
sionally causing traffic backups, and drivers still
pull over to question the Suffolk County
employees working to turn the 1913 Long Island
Railroad car into an information office for
tourists. But commuters are getting used to see-
ing a railroad car parked alongside the LIE.

The car, located at the ‘‘gateway to Suffolk,”
will replace a Long Island Tourism and Conven-
tion Commission Information trailer that was
located farther east on the island in Yaphank.

While the car has proven to be an attention-
getter, few commuters realize the county was
able to save considerable money by using its own

employees instead of outside contractors to ~

refurbish the parlor car, says Charles Novo,
Local 852 president.

On the day Novo visited the site, carpenters,
painters and welders from the division of
buildings, Department of Public Works, were
busy hammering, sawing and painting as sparks
flew from the rear platform of the car, where a
welder was fastening brackets for a stair.

“Our department is made up of experienced
handymen and we can do a better job than out-
side contractors,”’ said Chuck DeMartino, divi-
sion unit president.

DeMartino and Novo said that county
employees have both the equipment and the
skills to perform — cheaper and quicker — vir-

tually any building service the county could con- ~

tract from outside vendors.

their employees and the skills they possess.”’

1913 parlor car turns tourism center

A FACELIFT — Painter Al
Matteo puts the “Island”
in Long Island, one of the
many touches involved in
refurbishing the railroad
ear. With him is Chuck
DeMartino, Department of
Public Works maintenance
unit president.

me i
Said Novo: “The county should be proud of ANTIQUE ATTRACTION — Looking over plans for and trade shop manager Charles Edhar, right.

VISITING SITE — Chuck DeMartino points out a few things to Suf-
folk Local President Charles Novo, who visited the Dix Hills site of
the parlor car-turned-tourism office recently.

the 70-year-old car are welder Ray Steffan, center, Seated on ladder is mechanic Marco Laterza.

‘n Westchester County:

Village = toca a.

Other contact highlights:

PORT CHESTER — A two-year contract was recently ratified °
here by village employees who belong to Westchester County CSEA

Negotiations were led by Unit President Virginia Telesca,

workers Charles Bombace, head of the supervisory unit, and Field

Representative Larry Sparber.

The pact, dated on April 1, awards an 8 percent pay hike this year

ratify
pact

and 7.5 percent next year. In addition, longevity payments will now
be added to the salary schedule. A new longevity step, with a $700
payment, will also be made after 23 years service. Moreover, both
parties agreed to upgrade seven positions and add two new titles to
the bargaining unit.

vision care benefits through the CSEA Employee Benefit Fund
effective April 1, 1983;
maintaining seniority as a factor in promotional
opportunities;

use of compensatory time to require consent of both parties
so employer can no longer unilaterally dictate when time must
be taken;
supervisory employees to be paid 50 percent of unused sick
leave, maximum 120 days, upon termination; and
clerical employees guaranteed out-of-title pay, retroactive to
first day of assignment, after five or more consecutive days
working at higher grade.

THE RUBLIC. SECTOR, Friday, June, 18, 1982 Page 15

EDUCATIONAL
SESSION — Region V
President Jim Moore
speaks at a session on
“How to Get the Vote
Out.” Commenting
on the interest in
political action
topics, Moore said,
“Political action has
come a long way ina
few short years.”

COUNTY. PARTICIPANTS — Richard Grieco,
pss is pictured with unidentified companion
at the county workshop, _
eT :

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, June 18, 1982 j

Page 16

TAKING NOTE — Merwin “Stubby” Stevens of
Syreee Local 013 jots down a few notes at the state

ALEXANDRIA BAY — Three days of rain
failed to dampen the political action spirit of
nearly 300 CSEA delegates to the Region V
Summer Conference held recently in the pic-
turesque setting of the St. Lawrence River.

A record number of state, county, school
and retiree members from the 20-county
region turned out for the weekend sessions,
keyed to all aspects of legislative and political
action.

Current legislation headed the Friday eve-
ning slate of topics with CSEA Counsel Steve
Wiley explaining the Tier III pension plan and
answering questions from concerned
members.

Following a Saturday morning meeting of
the regional political action committee,
delegates heard Ramona Gallagher,
statewide political action trainer, suggest
techniques for organizing and training
political action committees. The effects of the

jeneee budget came under fire in a hard-

hitting talk by Region VI President Bob Lat-
timer, who served as a PAC spokesperson for
the second educational session.

Saturday afternoon the delegates, including
scores of one-day visitors from the North
Country, attended a session on how to get out
the vote.

Commenting on the excellent turnout of
delegates, and the high interest shown in all
political action topics, Jim Moore, Region V
president, said, “CSEA political action has
come a long way in a few short years. Our
PAC groups are better organized, more team-
oriented, more intense in the fight to elect can-
didates who are sympathetic to the problems
and needs of public employees.”

“We can see many improvements in our
Region V PAC force,”’ Moore said. “We are
flexing our muscles, and with productive con-
ferences and workshops like this one, we will
surely improve.”

~ a L ee

CENTRAL REGION 5

POLITICAL POSTCARDS — Kicking off a
posteard drive to state and federal legislators are,
from left to right, Tom Haley, assistant director,
CSEA Legislative and Political Action office;
Steve Wiley, CSEA attorney; Kathy Collins,
Region V PAC chairwoman; Ramona Gallagher,
PAC training specialist; and Robert Lattimer,
Region VI president and PAC spokesman.

OFFICER SPEAKS
— Joan Brower,
president of the
Broome County
Local, is caught in an
animated moment,
above, during the
county workshop.

LEGISLATION TOPIC — Linda Bailey,
left, and Rose Ditch are a study in con-
centration during a workshop for state
employees on current legislation.

INTENT LISTENER — Frank
Zammiello of Barge Canal West,
District 2, Local 502 in Utica is

shown at the state workshop.
OFFICERS GATHER — Pictured from left to right Gallagher, Statewide Secretary Irene Carr and
during the conference are Region V Executive Vice _ Region V President Jim Moore. :
President Pat Crandall, Statewide Treasurer Jack : sect 3
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, June 18, 1962 Page 17

Suffolk
talks on
schedule

HOLTSVILLE — After getting
off to a late start because of a
dispute with the county over the
1981 contract, negotiations for a
new contract for Suffolk County
employees are on schedule,
Charles Novo, Suffolk Local 852
president said last week.

Negotiations were delayed until
March when a dispute over the
percentage amount of promotional
raises was sent to arbitration. The
Local 852 negotiating team was
picked and ready to go by last
November, Novo said.

“Now we're on schedule but that TER BUSH & POWELL Representative Alan Christianson explains CSEA’s in-
schedule has been delayed by the surance programs to members attending the Region I, II and III workshop AFSCME Staffer ] Kathy Collette leads
county,” Novo said. recently. a session on comparable worth.

The Suffolk CSEA leader warned
Local members not to listen to
rumors which he said have been
spread deliberately.

“Most of the rumors are being
spread by management who would
like to stampede us into a
contract,” Novo said. ‘In the past,
we have had contracts that were
less than adequate because people
were impatient.”’

Novo said that the negotiating
committee is meeting with the

: the economy and turned it into the worst state of affairs governments lost $11.1 billion in federal funds in 1982,” @
comnty at a Regular ae i since the depression.” he said. ‘‘And they stand to lose another $16.5 billion in
rere iv ww bee sl at i McEntee noted that Reagan’s campaign for the 1983 under the proposed Senate compromise budget. New
SU ue ae . ill be presidency was based on ‘“‘jobs, jobs, jobs” and a York State lost $1.3 billion in revenue in 1982 and may
said that the oe th penis f promise to reindustrialize America. He cited Reagan _ lose $1.8 billion more in 1983.”
kept ees 4 betel aera campaign appearances in Ohio, a state with 230,000 As bleak a picture as he painted, McEntee noted that
Bees ons Gaal oe unemployed, where Reagan promised, “Elect me through political action, “we can save jobs and preserve

lore any package 18 appraved. president and I will create jobs.” our quality of life. We have to elect people to congress
: & i a ier ‘ho will represent our interests, who will regain control
“ ‘i Today,” McEntee said, “there are 440,000 wi 8 A i
final decision” Nevo said, “Butt {J unemployed people in Ohio and 350,000 in Towa. In ¢f,2 Republican senate that has tried to decimate and
ask that all members be patient in addition there are now 850,000 public employees out of years.” P
the meantime.” work nationwide. As a result, services to the public are To a thundering ovation, McEntee concluded by
being cut in city after city, state after state.” saying, “CSEA and AFSCME are partners in this
gov Mek re ee eae a struggle. Whatever resources CSEA needs and AFSCME
. 2 rich are better than you and me.” can provide gph han
Mich i an suffers : McEntee’s speech kicked-off the workshop attended
g Referring to the Reagan-sponsored Tax Reform Act _ by nearly 500 CSEA members from Region I, II, and III.
. =e, which permits corporations to buy and sell tax credits, The workshop featured small group seminars,
indefinite layoffs McEntee reported that some of the nation’s largest addressing a variety of topics including, Comparable
corporations, including Occidental and the Chase eos aueyanee eet Noe ;Pompensstion;
ae i Manhattan Bank, paid no income tax last year. ivil Service Law; the Employee istance Program,
e DANSING: Men Wiis Hey “Buying and selling tax credits is big business,” and CSEA Insurance Programs. e
threatened by furloughs of one day a
every other week, employees in : ‘
Michigan are facing indefinite
layoffs.
Michigan Gov. William G. Milliken
has ordered the layoffs for about
16,000 civil service employees. The
executive order came after the gover-
nor denounced the 29,400-member
Michigan State Employees Associa- e

tion as ‘‘totally intractable” on con-
cessions at the bargaining table.

McEntee calls Reagan incompetent;
notes importance of political action

DOWNINGTON, PA — Charging that President
Ronald Reagan is ‘“‘an incompetent idealogue who cannot
be classified as a Republican,’”” AFSCME President
Gerald McEntee launched a blistering attack on Reagan
in a speech before CSEA members attending a recent
Regions I, II, and II workshop here.

“In 18 months,” McEntee said, “‘Reagan has taken

McEntee said. ‘‘The General Electric Corporation made
a profit of $2.7 billion last year and then turned around
end bought tax credits which got them a $100 million tax
refund.”

McEntee charged that while the wealthy are
thriving, state and local governments and, therefore, the
general public are suffering. ‘State and local

Milliken said he wants to save $5
million in- payroll costs in order to
help reduce Michigan’s state budget
deficit.

Under the recent Michigan order,
1,600 workers will be laid off in-
definitely; 642 employees will be out
for 11 days; and 13,758 workers will
lose three days’ pay.

EDUCATION SPECIALIST SEAN
TURLEY, left, uses a cassette film
. to illustrate grievance handling
" while Nassau Co. Local 830
member Terrance Harris takes
notes.

Page 18 THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, June 18, 1982

‘We have to elect people

to Congress who will
represent our interests,
who will regain control

of a Republican Senate that
“has tried to decimate

and destroy whatever
organized Labor

has won in the

past 25 years.’

—AFSCME President
Gerald McEntee

ATTORNEY ELLIOT OLIN makes a point about Worker’s Compensation at a group seminar.

tN)

EPRESENTAIVE Don |

5 1 eG

/REGION Ul FIELD

Patrick leads a session on handling grievances at _
L me combined regional workshop in Downington,

RHE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, June, 18.

AFL-Cl0O warns
OSHA standards
in jeopardy

WASHINGTON —. Organized
labor has expressed fear for
worker safety and health after the
Occupational Safety and Health
Administration proposed killing
194 general industry standards that
it claims are unenforceable.

The standards use the word
“should,” which is considered ad-
visory, instead of ‘‘shall,” which is
mandatory, contended OSHA
officials.

In announcing the proposal,
Thorne G. Auchter, assistant
secretary of labor for Occupational
Safety and Health, said violations
of these standards could be pur-
sued under the “general duty
clause” until separate regulations
are drawn up for some of the stan-
dards. The general duty’ clause
allows OSHA to cite employers for
hazards not covered by specific
standards.

George H: R. Taylor, director of
the AFL-CIO Department of Oc-
cupational Safety and Health, said
that the proposal threatens “‘im-
portant and necessary standards
‘on safety and health.”

OSHA’s decision to revoke these
standards without simultaneously
proposing replacements is of
special concern, he said, because
the Administration already has
weakened the general duty clause.

Taylor said he feared this OSHA
proposal is another instance of the
agency ‘weakening worker stan-
dards for the benefit of
management.” .

The standards cover such areas
as explosives, flammable
materials, gases, hazardous
materials, ladders and scaffolds,
radiation protection, respirator
use, noise control, machinery and
tools,

Most of them were adopted in
1971 in the interest of expediting
worker protection when OSHA was
established. Congress instructed
the agency to adopt verbatim
already-existing industry consen-
sus standards. OSHA used stan-
dards from such groups as the
American National Standards In-
stitute and the National Fire Pro-
tection Association. Since these
standards were voluntary, they
‘used the word “‘should.”

According to OSHA, the Occupa-
tional Safety and Health Review
Commission and appellate courts
have repeatedly sided with in-
dustry appeals on enforcement
cases concerning these “should”
standards.

OSHA gave the example of a 1978
ruling by the Third Circuit Court of
Appeals that said ‘‘should’’ stan-
dards were merely advisory and
not mandatory.

The deadline for submitting writ-
ten data, reviews, arguments, ob-
jections or requests for a hearing
on the proposal is‘duly 27.

nge\i deh? age?

ALBANY — What’s all the fuss about the Tier III retirement system?

Basically the controversy centers around an attempt by state
lawmakers several years ago to “reform” the state’s pension system.

On the one side are public employees unions and their members,
arguing the “reform” went too far and has created an inequitable pension
system that literally can take more from an employee through payroll
deductions then it ever will return in pension benefits. In some cases,
CSEA says, a retiree might receive nothing from Tier III!

Opposing public employees on this issue is a coalition of business and
public employers. They point to the costs of the state’s former pension
plans, now known as Tier I and Tier II, and then claim that Tier III cut
costs tremendously and is, therefore, justified despite its inequities.

In the middle, for the moment, sits the New York State Legislature. It
created Tier III in the midst of the mid-70’s fiscal calamity. Under that
legislation, however, Tier III was “renewable” and periodically it must
be reviewed for needed reform. CSEA says that reform is badly needed
now. The business lobby says that-Tier III should be made permanent or
renewed in its present form.

Adding to the stakes in this contest is the New York State Constitution
which forbids pension benefits to be reduced for any incumbent
employee. If public employees are successful in improving Tier III this
year, the improvements would be permanent for the affected employees.

Up to now the legislature has simply renewed the legislation when its
“expiration” approached and created study commissions.to examine it.
Despite several subsequent recommendations for improvements, the
legislature has opted to extend the existing legislation. This year,
however, there are two compelling reasons to make a final decision, one
way or the other.

First, as time goes by and more and more public employees join the
Tier III system (some 300,000 public employees hired after July 1, 1976
are now part of that system) any improvements to be made in benefits

(become more urgent. Like all pension plans, contributions to fund
benefits should be made on a continuing basis. The longer the delay in
correcting the inequities, the more the correction will cost.

The other major factor in this year’s push for real reform of Tier III
is the impending legislative elections in November.

While the Tier III issues is wrought with complex facts, the issues can
be simplified to understandable terms.

Unlike Tiers I and II, Tier III participants must pay into their pension
plan at the rate of three percent of their before tax income. Tier I and Tier
II require no contribution at all because CSEA had led negotiating
strategies in past years that resulted in employers picking up employee
contributions in lieu of additional salary increases. CSEA and other
unions advocating change in Tier II, point to this discrepancy in
contribution.

Making matters even worse, CSEA contends, is the vastly inferior
pension benefits for Tier III retirees. Tier Il requires an employer
contribution on behalf of Tier IT employees of 13.8 percent of that
employee’s earnings. Tier III, however, only requires an 8.8 percent
contribution by the employer, plus a three percent payment by the
employee. Even combined, the Tier III total payment is substantially
lower than Tier II.

Then there is the matter of CO-ESC. Tier III benefits, unlike benefits
in Tiers I and Il, are “‘offset’”’ by a factor related to the retirees Social
Security benefits. This ‘‘coordination”, plus provisions for very modest
“escalation”? of Tier III benefits created the “Coordinated Escalator” or
“CO-ESC”’ tag that is the basis of calculating Tier III benefits.

The problem with this, CSEA and other public employee unions
argue, is that effectively Tier III penalizes employees for receiving Social
Security benefits which they also paid for through payroll deductions.
After very complex calculations that even the state Employee
Retirement System’s actuaries say are unworkable, a Tier III retiree’s
pension benefits will be ‘“‘offset” by half of their Social Security benefits.

In the case of a 65-year-old employee who retires with a final salary of
$12,000 after 20 years of service, for example, the difference in pension
benefits between Tier II and Tier III is incredible. Under this example, a
Tier II benefit would be $4,639 per year according to the Employee’s
Retirement System, hardly an exorbitant amount in today’s economy.
But under Tier IIT, that same employee would receive only $1,862 in Tier
Ill pension benefits, less than half of the Tier II benefit!

If that same employee had worked 30 years, the Retirement System
calculates, the Tier II retiree would receive an annual pension of $6,958,
but the Tier I retiree would receive only $3,988!

CSEA and other public employee unions are pressuring state
lawmakers to take a stand this year and improve the benefits for Tier III
members. Specifically, CSEA is advocating an end to the three percent
contribution and the elimination of the CO-ESC offset, effectively
returning Tier III members to the much better Tier II retirement system.

With Tier III requiring reform or renewal prior to June 30, 1982, the
stage is set for a major battle over the issue.

Members must speak out or pay the price . . . forever

(Continued from Page 1)
percent of their gross earnings into the Tier II
system.

Just how bad is the Tier III benefit? According
to New York State Retirement System actuaries,
if you have a final salary of $15,000 after 20 years
of service and retire at age 65 under Tier II of the
pension system, you would receive a retirement
benefit of $5,798. Under Tier III, however, that
benefit would be only $2,554, less than half the
Tier II benefit.

Making matters even worse, in order to
receive less than one-half the benefit of a similar
Tier II worker, the Tier III worker used in our
example would have been contributing three
percent of his or her gross earnings into the Tier
III system while the Tier II worker contributed
nothing!

If that sounds like an inequity, then consider
that two people doing the exact same jobs at the
exact same rate of pay can work side by side
with one worker qualifying for Tier II benefits
and the other worker qualifying for Tier III
benefits based solely upon the date that they
began their employment. While they could have

the same gross earnings, the Tier III employee
will receive a far lower pension benefit, plus lose
three percent of his or her gross earnings to get
it.

‘Pier III is an injustice of epic proportions,”
says CSEA President William L. McGowan, “‘but
like so many other injustices in this world, the
fact that it is wrong won’t be enough to force the
legislature to make it right. What is needed is
political push and while your union is pushing as
hard as it can for improvement, it’s in every
member’s interest to personally invest a few
long distance phone calls to their legislators to
protect their futures.”

In addition to CSEA’s own intense lobbying
effort, President McGowan is urging union
members to call their state Senator and
Assemblyman and urge action to convert Tier III
pension members to participation in Tier II.
Legislation to accomplish this change, supported
by CSEA, is currently pending in the legislature.

But the legislature so far has been reluctant to
take a stand in view of the heavy lobbying by big
business and public employers. At Public Sector

Page 20. ‘THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, June 18, 1982

press time, it was beginning to look like the Tier
TI issue would be resolved in the final, hectic
hours of this year’s legislative session before
lawmakers head home to face the voters.

“T know that many public employees have so
many demands on their time that they often
don’t take the time to write their lawmakers, but
in this particular case, the people who don’t
invest a few phone calls to Albany to help us
improve Tier III, may literally find themselves
paying for that decision for the rest of their
lives,” McGowan said.

“Tt’s really as simple as using the phone
numbers we've provided in this story, asking for
your legislator by name and telling them that
you’re a CSEA member, you know about the Tier
TM controversy and you want them to know
personally that you support CSEA’s efforts to
reform your inadequate pension plan. It may
take a few minutes of your time, but with unions
prevented by law from negotiating public
employee pension benefits any more, those few
minutes could pay you benefits for the rest of
your life,” he said.