The Public Sector, 1980 August 20

Official Publication of
The Civil Service Employees Association

Vol. 2, No. 43
Wednesday, August 20, 1980
(ISSN 0164 9949)

Statewide

tour by
President
McGowan
to begin
next week

CSEA President William L. McGowan takes to the
Toad next week, opening a statewide tour designed to ex-
pand communications with rank and file union members.
The tour will cover all six CSEA regions betwéen then
and mid-September, repeating a highly successful tour
initiated last year.

Mr. McGowan has often said ‘“‘communication is the
lifeblood of a responsible labor union,’ and said the
series of informal meetings which will comprise the
statewide tour are ideal for rank and file members to dis-
cuss their concerns and problems on a one-to-one basis
with the union leadership. Although President McGowan
travels extensively throughout the state on a regular
basis, he said there is no substitute for frank, open dis-
cussions in an informal setting such as the upcoming tour
will provide.

All meetings are scheduled in CSEA regional or
satellite offices, and all are on a first come, first served

The tour then moves to CSEA Region Ili, where a
change in locations has been made from the previously
announced schedule. On Thursday, August 28 the meeting
will be held at the satellite office in White Plains, and on
Friday, August 29, President McGowan will meet with
members at the Fiskill regional office.

The complete schedule of visits is as follows:

* Region 1—September 4 and 5 in the Regional Office,
Amityville.

Region 2—September 15 in the Regional Office, New
York City.

¢ Region 3—August 28 in the Satellite Office, White
Plains; and -
August 29 in the Regional Office, Fishkill.

* Region 4—September 17 in the. Regional Office,
Albany; and September 18 in the Satellite
Office, Plattsburgh.

* Region 5—September 8 in the Satellite Office, Utica;

basis with no appointment necessary.

First stop on the tour will be the Region VI regional
office in Buffalo on Tuesday, August 26, followed by a
session on Wednesday, August 27, in the satellite office in
Rochester,

and September 9 in the Regional Office,
Syracuse.

Region 6—August 26 in the Regional Office, Buffalo;
and August 27 in the Satellite Office,
Rochester.

. Commissioner’s promise becomes sham _

NEW YORK CITY — “The promised turning of Manhattan Psychiatric
Center (MPC) into a model institution is no more than a public relations sham
by the commissioner of Mental Health,” CSEA Field Representative Bart
Brier charged.

Brier said in the five months since Commissioner James Prevost stated he
would turn MCP. into a model institution, there has been no indication that the
State Office of Mental Health (OMH) has made any effort to increase staffing
at the badly understaffed hospital on Wards Island in New York City.

Brier, MPC Local 413 President Ismael Lopez and Grievance Chairman

e Mohammed Hussein were informed by OMH Regional Director Sarah Connell

on Aug. 12 that there was no request for significant staffing increases at MPC
in the 1980 State Supplimental Budget. Connell also indicated to the CSEA of-
ficials that she knew of no plans for significant staffing increases in the yet to
be proposed 1981 State Budget.

“It would better:serve all parties if OMH and its commissioner — Prevost
—would cut out the bureaucratic double-talk and either seek a significant in-
crease in MPC staff or publicly admit that the statement about making MPC a
model institution is a public relations sham,” Brier said.

Earlier this year, MPC failed its accreditation inspection. The first short-
coming listed in the accreditation report was the understaffing at MPC.

A State report proposing a reorganization of MPC has recommended 400
additional staff.

. Connell indicated that some reorganization of staff at MPC is being con-
templated without major staffing increases,

Lopez bitterly denounced reorganization plans without increased Staffing.
“Shuffling bodies around and changing titles, pass days and shifts ac-
complishes only one thing — the disruption of the lives of our members.

“Without MPC hiring a lot more staff, a reorganization would not change
conditions at the hospital,’ Lopez said.

| 844 has lined up against a_
ity’s personnel officer with a

CONTRACT TALKS involving the second-largest Local within CSEA will begin
shortly. The present contract covering the more than 12,000 members of Suf-

folk County CSEA Local 852 expires on December 31, 1980. Preparing for those
important negotiations are, from left, CSEA Region I Field Representative
Irwin Scharfeld, Local 852 President Ben Boczkowski and CSEA Collective ~
Bargaining Specialist Nels Carlson. “

TRAINING SPECIALIST Ramona Gallagher, right, of the CSEA-AFSCME
Legislative Office, meets with, from left, Legislative and Political Action
Committee member Eleanor McDonald; Southern Region III President
James Lennon; and Legislative and Political Action Committee Co-
Chairman Carmine DiBattista. The meeting was in White Plains.

Insurance conversion plan

The Civil Service Employees Assn. has announced that certain
members who are insured under the Basic Group Life Insurance
Program are eligible to convert part of their coverage (without medical
information) to an individual form of insurance with the Travelers In-
surance Company. The Basic Group Life Program is a term insurance
plan which provides for in-service conversion privileges.

The in-service conversion privilege allows any actively employed
member participating in the Group Life Program, who is age 50 or older,
to convert up to $5,000 of their term insurance to an individual form of
coverage, other than term insurance. Application must be made by
August 31, 1980. The amount of the group term insurance the employee is
insured for will be reduced by the amount converted.

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I Those interested may request information on the conversion
| privilege by returning the coupon on this page. The effective date of tl

| converted insurance will be November 1, 1980. Premium payments for
! the converted insurance will be made directly to Travelers Insurance
H Company.

I The Civil Service Employees Association

I 33 Elk Street

I Albany, NY 12224

I Please send me information concerning the Conversion Privilege for the
| CSEA Basic Group Life Insurance Program.

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[es

NAME:

Last First Middle Initial Maiden

HOME ADDRESS:

Street City State Zip Code

PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT:

SOCIAL SECURITY NO:

SEX: DATE OF BIRTH:____

t——_—_-__—__-_—__— Ee nS

= e 2
Ex-Niagara president dies
NEWFANE — William M. Doyle, 66, former president of CSEA Niagara

County Local 832, died recently after a long illness.

Mr. Doyle had retired 1975 after 35 years service as a senior lab technician
at the Mount View Health Facility. He was president of Local 832 for ten years,
from 1967 to 1977, but he had worked for the union many years before that

Those who knew him personally and professionally feel his loss greatly,”’

said Joan Knowles, Secretary of Local 832. ‘‘We salute this quiet reserved man.
He served his union well.”

Region IV lists schedule

ALBANY — The Region IV Activities Committee has selected its lineup of
events for the fall

Sept. 18 is the date for a trip to Belmont Park Racetrack, with roundtrip
transportation, admission, a program and a full dinner going for $27. Checks
should be made payable to CSEA Region IV

The group will leave at 8 a.m. from Building 8 on the State Office Building
Campus. The deadline for applying for this trip is Aug. 29, according to Ac-
tivities Committee Chair Hileen Salisbury.

Interested CSEA members should contact Dave Parkis at (518) 474-0763.

Ms. Salisbury said the committee has decided, on the basis of requests
from locals throughout the region, to include a deep-sea-fishing trip on Oct. 18,
and a shopping trip to New York City on Noy. 15, among future activities for
Region IV CSEA members,

Details on these and other Region IV activities will be appear in future
editions of the Public Sector.

Page 2

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, August 20, 1980

Gallagher discusses training
program with regional heads

WHITE PLAINS — Ramona Gallagher, training specialist in the CS9EA-
AFSCME Legislative Office in Albany, recently met with Southern Region
III President James Lennon and with two Region III members of the
statewide Legislative and Political Action Committee, Carmine DiBattista
and Eleanor McDonald.

Ms. Gallagher also has met with the regional presidents and members
of the statewide committee in Regions I, IV and V. She plans to also hold
similar meetings in Regions II and VI.

She said the purpose of the meetings is ‘‘to gather information to help
formulate a statewide training program.

Lennon said: ‘The idea of having a training specialist is key to a
successful political action program.

“In Region III, the political action program has been extremely
successful. CSEA played a key role in Lucille Pattison’s upset victory for
Dutchess County Executive and in other races in the region.

“With the assistance of a training specialist, the program can become
even more successful.”’

LINDENHURST LIBRARY UNIT of Suffolk County Local 852 officers, from
right, Treasurer Elsie Barry and President Lucille Knap are sworn into office
by Unit Vice President Sandra Purins.

Calendar
of EVENTS

August

16—Rensselaer County Local 842 annual steakroast, 1 p.m., Krause’s Halfmoon Beach,
Crescent.

17—Dutchess County Local 814 first annual outing, noon-6 p.m., rain or shine, Wilcox
Park, Route 199, Pine Plains.

18—Saratoga County Local 846 Executive Committee meeting, 7 p.m., Solar Building,
High Street, Ballston Spa.

20—Nassau County Local 830 Executive Committee meeting, 5:30 p.m., Salisbury Inn,
Eisenhower Park, East Meadow.

23—Brooklyn Development Center Local 447 disco and fashion show in honor of James
Gripper, 10 p.m.-3 a.m., Midwood Terrace, 1143 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn.

14—Saratoga County, 846 Shop Stewards Meeting, Solar Building, High Street Ballston
Spa 5:00.

September

11—Saratoga County, 846 Shop Stewards Meeting, Solar Building, High Street, Ballston
Spa 5:00.

13—Saratoga County 846 Annual Clambake 12:00 noon Eagles Club, Lake Lonely.

13—Metropolitan Region Il annual meeting, 9-11 a.m., Playboy Resort, McAfee, N.Y.

13-——Long Island Region | legislative and political action seminar, 8:30 a.m.-noon, Holi-
day Inn, Hauppauge.

15—Saratoga County 846 Executive Board Meeting, Solar Building, High Street, Ballston
Spa 7:00 p.m,

17—Bulfalo Local 003, general membership meeting, 5:30 p.m., new Buffalo Hilton on
the waterfront.

19—Local 335 all-holiday dinner dance, Town and Country Restaurant, Walden and
Union Road, Cheektowaga. Cocktails 6:30 p.m., dinner 7:30 p.m.

19-20—Region VI meeting, Sheraton inn East, Walden Avenue, Buffalo.

20—Hudson Valley Armory Employees Local 252, Annual Banquet and Awards Dinner,
Capri Il restaurant, 152 Washington Street, Peekskill, New York 8:00 p.m.

Rensselaer deputies offer own pact,
feel imposed contract an unfair one

TROY — Representatives of the Civil Service Employees Assn. have
presented the union’s version of a one-year contract to the Rensselaer County
Executive and County Sheriff for their signatures, the latest move in a tense
situation that has been boiling since the Rensselaer County legislature last
month imposed a one-year contract on 77 employees in the sheriff's
department represented by CSEA.

The union document contains a list of several key items that the union con-
tends were agreed on by both sides prior to declaring an impasse in
negotiations, which led to a factfinder’s report being rejected by the county and
ultimately, the imposition of the one-year contract by the legislature on the
CSEA deputy sheriffs unit. CSEA says those previously agreed to items were
left out of the contract imposed upon the employees by the legislature.

CSEA Collective Bargaining Specialist Harman Swits said the union’s
version must be signed by management in order to “‘establish a basis for
worker dignity and future negoitations.’’ It was Swits, along with Unit
President Gary Bryer, Rensselaer County CSEA Local President Richard
Evans, and other union staff members, who presented the union contract ver-
sion to management. Swits told news media representatives who covered the
controversial presentations, ‘‘What we now have is a complete, comprehen-
sive, one-year contract which includes the one-year salary figure decided by
the county legislature and all of the other items which the parties agreed to
prior to submitting four issues to fact finding.’ He said acceptance by
management ‘‘could serve as a basis for a stable and professionai
relationship.”’

CSEA Deputy Sheriffs Unit President Bryer commented, ‘‘Forcing the
membership to take a giant step backwards at this point in time could be a very
bad decision on management’s part.”

Rensselaer County Local President Richard Evans concluded, ‘‘Every
public employee in Rensselaer County is upset with the treatment that these
employees are receiving at the hands of management. CSEA unites when any
of our members are threatened by a bullying management. That unity will see
us through this problem.

NEED HELP?
Call
EAP

1-800-342-3565

AID FOR SOVIET JEWRY. Members of the Long Island Committee for Soviet
Jewry put the finishing touches on plans for a fund-raising dinner at the Sands
Restaurant in Atlantic Beach. The Committee, composed of political, union
and cultural leaders from Long Island, is working to help Jews who want to
emmigrate from Russia. Standing are, from left, Joseph Margiotta, Nassau
County Republican Committee Chairman and Honorary Chairman of the
Dinner Board; Norman Levy, New York State Senator and Chairman of the
Advisory Board; Irving Flaumenbaum, President, Long Island Region of the
Civil Service Employees Association and AFSCME International Vice
President, Honorary Chairman of the Labor Committee. Seated from left are
Francis T. Purcell, Nassau County Executive, who will be honored at the
dinner; Lynn Singer, Director, Long Island Committee for Soviet Jewry; and
Joseph Colby, Oyster Bay Town Supervisor and Chairman of the dinner.

: ae: i -

CSEA COLLECTIVE BARGAINING SPECIALIST Harmon Swits tells news
media representatives that CSEA-represented Rensselaer County deputy
sheriffs were badly short-changed when the county legislature imposed a one-
year contract on them last month but left out many key contract items
previously agreed on by both sides.

rot esnom”

Ceiitral forensic unit
said being considered

NEW YORK CITY — A suggestion to establish one central forensic
unit on Wards Island for all of New York City is now under consideration
by the State Office of Mental Health (OMH), Metropolitan Region II
Director George Bispham reported.

Bispham said he made the suggestion to OMH officials at a meeting
on Aug. 4. Representing CSEA at the meeting Bispham, Field Represen-
tative Bart Brier and Creedmoor Local 406 President Dorothy King.

The OMH officials said the suggestion would be considered and they
would get back to the union officials, he said.

Brier said in New York City at present there is an official forensic
unit as part of Manhattan Psychiatric Center on Wards Island.

Unofficial forensic units are in operation at Bronx Psychiatric
Center, Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens, Kingsboro
Psychiatric Center in Brooklyn and South Beach Psychiatric Center on
Staten Island, Brier said.

A forensic unit is where mentally ill patients who have committed
violent crimes are kept.

Bispham said one of the vacant buildings of Manhattan Psychiatric
Center (MPC) could easily be made into a secure facility for a forensic
unit. :

“Wards Island presents no danger to any residential area and there
are only two bridges off the island, which makes security a relatively
simple matter,’’ Bispham said.

He said MPC Local 413 has no objections to a central! forensic unit be-
ing established on Wards Island.

Bispham’s suggestion came out of a discussion about the unofficial
forensic unit at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center (CPC) which Region II
and Local 406 would like to have removed from the Creedmoor grounds.

Ms. King said the removal of the Creedmoor forensic unit as well as
opposition to a State Supplemental Budget proposal to beef up the unit is
based on the location of Creedmoor in a residential neighborhood, the
drain of funds which could be used for the other 1,500 patients at the
hospital and that Creedmoor forensic unit employees are inadequately
trained and equipped.

Safety Hotline
800-342-4824

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, August 20, 1980 Page 3

® Public
SSECTOR

Official publication of
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33 Elk Street, Albany, New York 12224
The Public Sector (445010) is published every Wednesday
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THE FOLKS °OU7T THERE wouLp

vow WHICH 15 Tee
C000 GUY" WHICH
VS THE BAD Guy!

7

L/KE To

Check your retirement system status

Are you a participating member of the New York State Employees
Retirement System? Are you sure?

As hard as it may be to believe, some public employees find out too late
that their employer has neglected to enroll them as members of the Employees
Retirement System.

CSEA has recently won retroactive retirement payments on behalf of

ready to retire that they were never enrolled in the System by the
Usually the problem can be resolved, but there is no need to take the risk of
starting off your retirement with that type of hassle.

The New York State Employees Retirement System can provide you with
specific information on your status as a Retirement System member. To check
on your status as a member of the Employees Retirement System, complete
and mail the coupon below. Please print clearly.

To: The New York State Retirement System

Governor Smith Office Building

Albany, New York 12244
lam requesting information on my status as a member of the New
York State Employees Retirement System.

Nome Date of Birth
City
State Zip.

OTB HANDSHAKE — Easa Easa, right, President and Chairman of the Board
of the Nassau Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation, shakes hands with
Nicholas Abbatiello, President of the Nassau County CSEA local following the
formal signing of a three-year pact for the more than 400 CSEA members in the
Nassau OTB unit.

Page 4. THE PUBLIC SEGTOR, Wednesday, August 20,1980). 1!

Nassau OTB signs labor pact

Nassau County Off Track Betting
CSEA Unit President Frederick T.
Gropper has announced the
ratification of a three-year: labor
agreement with Nassau Region Off
Track Betting Corporation.

members who thought they had a pension coming but found out when th ial Ios i ; iati
ua Poms ces i ayes niné months of negotiations,

fact-finding, the new
contract for the 450 full and part time
employees calls for salary increases
of 9.5 percent for 1980, 9.5 percent for.
1981 and open end negotiations for
1982.

In addition, the salary package in-
cludes a three year step plan for part
time cashiers attaining $6.00 per hour
wage by September of 1981, also, a
graded salary increase for shift
managers after 18 months of service.

George Peak, CSEA collective
bargaining specialist and chief
negotiator for the Unit. which is part

of the Nassau County Local 830, said
that in addition to the salary package,
54 new changes were written into the
new contract effecting working con-
ditions, transfers leave and sick time.

In March of this year, the
membership rejected a proposed con-
tract by a 3 to 1 margin creating an
impasse with management
necessitating the assignment of a
mediator-factfinding by P.E.R.B. to
resolve the issues. After three months
of mediation and factfinding, changes
were made in contract language,
transfer policy, medical leave and a
controversial sick leave plan.

In addition to Peak, the negotiating
team consisted of Edward Smith,
team Chairman; Fred Gropper, Unit
President; Andrew Sauer, Betty
Coulon, Roy Schaaf, Fran Conway,
Norma Murray and Ann Habeeb.

and send it to:

reproduced here for convenience.

KEEP CSEA INFORMED ON MAILING ADDRESS

In the event that you change your mailing address, please fill out the below form

CSEA, Inc., P.O. Box 125, Capitol Station, Albany, New York 12224,
This form is also available from local presidents for CSEA members, but is

Change of Address for ‘The Public Sector’

Please allow 3-4 weeks for change to take effect.
My present label reads exactly as shown here (or affix mailing label)

f a Ri SE
| Street
1
{aes See a ey
MY NEW ADDRESS IS:
Street, —_
City reall State. Zip.
Agency where employed —__ ee
My social security no. s Agency No.

MENANDS — Relief from hazardous and overcrowded working con-
ditions is in sight for the more than 300 employees of the New York State
Workers’ Compensation Board, housed in a renovated factory at 1949
Broadway in Menands, now that the state has agreed to a ten-year contract
to lease new quarters for them.

Across the street from the board’s present location, the new sight is the
building once occupied by Topp’s Department Store. The building is in the
process of being purchased by the Garry Mid-City Realty and Development
Corporation, which will make renovations on it before leasing it to the state.
the state.

Robert Foley, president of the Workers’ Compensation Local CSEA
greeted the news of the planned move with the comment, ‘‘It’s about time.”’

Foley says the union has long been in favor of the move because it feels
the flaws in the Broadway location are too complicated and too numerous to
be corrected. He added that the staff has outgrown the space, causing much
inconvenience for all:

“The building is old and generally rundown — there’s no way the state
can fix it up. There’s no way to make it safe,’’ he said.

In addition to a safer environment and more space, the new location will
provide the employees with abundant parking and restroom facilities,
separate from those serving the general public using workers’ compensation
offices.

The employees are also pleased, according to Foley, that they will be

New, Safer location for 300 workers

located in the same area and will not have to alter their transportation
arrangements to get to work.

Though the state has not given the CSEA a specific date for the an-
ticipated move, it is keeping the local informed of all developments, and has
allowed Foley to see a copy of the plans for structural changes.

From what has been told, Foley says it looks like the move will be made
“‘by the end of the year.” ‘‘And for now,’’ he added, that’s a satisfactory
target date.”

The union has labeled the present building a ‘fire trap.” The exit doors are
difficult to open, the ceiling tiles are highly flammable, the wiring is out-
dated and overused and fire extinguishers at one point had gone for several
years without being inspected.

In addition the heating and air conditioning systems do not function ade-
quately, windows can not be opened for fresh air and there is a lack of
parking.

Employees also complain of having to cross a busy intersection daily to
use the resources in an annex building. This problem will be alleviated,
since the annex is right next to the new sight.

Though complaints from CSEA have brought about some changes over
the years, ‘it was never enough,” Foley says.

The state, according to Foley, is placing much emphasis on the safety
factor and making sure the building meets fire safety standards. He says,
however, he will probably request an inspection of the new facility before
the employees are moved in.

sane rast

Seneca woman wins Case

SYRACUSE — A spokesman for the
Civil Service Employees Assn. has
announced that the American Ar-
bitration Association (AAA) had
issued a decision in favor of Julianne
Crough, a Senior Case Worker for the
County of Seneca.

According to Jack Miller, CSEA

i Field rough filed for Local 850,

E * Ms. |Crough fi 1, grievance in

y f ania i # sips Seneca

“County Telused to include additional

money in Ms. Crough’s salary for a

job-related educational degree as
specified by the contract.

“The clause in the present contract

required the degree. But contract
language stated specifically that
monies were for securing the initial
position, and her initial position did
not require a four year degree,”
Miller said.

James Hancock, CSEA Regional
Attorney, handled the case for Ms.
Crough. In a comment following the
announcement, CSEA Field
Representative Miller said the
favorable decision should effect the
outcome of’ several other similar
cases.

“Although the money award was
not substantial in relation to the cost

AVE WERNER, left, and Bob
Massey, right congratulated each
other after PERB hearing officer
Debbie Sabin, center announced
the overwhelming vote of Ironde-
quoit employees to unionize under

AVID FISHERMAN — Local 834 President Tom
Murphy plans to vacation as a competitor in a
national fishing meet. ‘‘I can’t think of a better
way to enjoy a vacation,”’ Murphy said about his
trip to Oklahoma later this month.

the CSEA
President-elect of the Unit, which
will be part of the Monroe County
local; and Massey is CSEA
organizer in Region 6.

banner. Werner is

said.

effecting Ms. Crough and several
other employees was supposed to be
implemented January 1, 1980,” Miller

“Ms. Crough was denied the money
on the basis the position she now holds

of arbitration, it should strongly in-
dicate to Seneca County employees
that CSEA was basically concerned
with contract interpretation and will
fight to protect a principle,” Miller
said.

Murphy to drive 1200 miles, use a week
vacation to join B.A.S.S. competition

SYRACUSE — When Tom Murphy is not working
as an X-ray technician for the County of Onondaga,
or busy with his many duties as President of COEA
Local 834, he loves to enter professional bass
fishing competition.

As a matter of fact, Murphy enjoys the sport so
much he is planning to use a week of his vacation
time to drive more than 1200 miles and enter the
national competition to be held August 18-22, 1980 at
the Grand Lake of the Cherokee, in Oklahoma.

According to Murphy, plans now call for his six-
member team — which represents the New York
State Bass Federation — to depart Friday morning,
August 15 and drive to where 30 other B.A.S.S.
(Bass Anglers Sportmen’s Society) teams will
gather for the week-long meeting. The first two
days will be spent practicing and the final three
days devoted to the official competition.

The B.A.S.S. organization has grown so rapidly in
the past eleven years, it now includes thousands of
members across the country.

‘‘My wife and I live on the shore of Oneida Lake
— one of the best lakes for fishing in New York
State — and I have always considered myself a
better than average fisherman,’’ Murphy declared,
“but I never cease to be amazed by the skill of the
B.A.S.S. competitors. I have actually seen a winner
determined by the margin of one ounce. As you may
know, the winning team boat is decided by total fish
poundage within a prescribed time limit, The im-
portant factor is total weight, not number of fish.
Strict rules also specify that all fish caught must be

attendee on how x

presidents for more information,

kept alive and released after the official weigh in,”’
Murphy continued.

‘‘We will head west as defending New York State
champioons, but are fully aware we will be going
against some of the finest professional bass
fishermen in the world. It’s a great challenge, and
we will give it our best effort.”

“Win or lose, I can’t think of a better way to en-
joy a vacation,” Murphy said.

When you. see Tom Murphy at the CSEA
Statewide Delegates’ Convention in Niagara Falls,
be sure to ask him about the big one that got away.

Who knows, he might just happen to have a
photograph to back up his fish story,

— The Region One Political
e will hold a political seminar

nm rs who want to work
for | ites,
: be held at the Holiday Inn in
Hau to noon. CSEA Albany
Legislative Office staff members will instruct

; can participate in a ~
hit including the use of -

Interested members should contact their local

% " é

THE PUBLIG SECTOR) Wednesday, ‘August 20,1980" Page 5» °?2°

AASV PAN SA, RENEE

A TSN RATINGS A UNS RTOMROIERLETONE A TOROREN +

BOILER ROOM EMPLOYEES must use hand-
held containers in @ poorly ventilated room to
dispense highly caustic paraline from 55-gallon
drums. Paraline is added to the feed water to
help keep the pipes in the boilers clear.

the sign in the bus bars where 440 volt electricial lines carry 4,000 ampéres. Members of Local 646 said
there sometimes are panels missing from the bus bars exposing the live wires. (By comparison to the 4,000
amperes, electric chairs usually use 20-30 amperes for executions.)

Union charges m:
ignoring serious

cameNeRERTOA

A PLUMBER AT DOWNSTATE MEDICAL
CENTER wore this jacket while working with

i
NEW YORK CITY — “Patients come to Down- _ percent, there are no permanent shifts and fort In addition to the eye burns, some employees sodium hydroxide to clear drain pipes. Members i
state Medical Center to get well. However, if you overtime with the employees working 16 hog have fainted while working with paraline. of Local 646 said the plumbers are not issued &
are employed at Downstate, you may arrive onthe _ straight in 100 degree plus temperatures are cq There also are no safety precautions in the boiler protective clothing for working with the d
job healthy but you may not stay that way.” mon. room for dealing with an employee who is splashed dangerous chemical.
Those are the words of Frances DuBose, The.above conditions cause a vicious cycle wit] with paraline, such as chemicals to neutralize the

president of Downstate Medical Center CSEA Local
646, about a number of health hazards members of
Local 646 must face every day they are on the job.
CSEA Field Representative Bart Brier was ex- In spite of the 100-degree plus working conditig
tremely critical of Downstate vice presidents there are no salt tablet dispensers in th@boi
Howard Dorfman and James McEvaddy for their "oom.
“‘lack of sensitivity and concern for the health of Such inhumane operating procedures have
the hospital's employees. They are throwbacks to always been in effect in the boiler room.

high frequency of employee absenteeism — s|
time — being caused by and in turn causing m|
forced overtime.

paraline or a shower to rinse it off.

— Plumbers at Downstate use soldium hydroxide
and concentrated sulphuric acid to clear drain pipes
clogs in the kitchen and elsewhere in the hospital.
@ No protective clothing is issued to the plumbers
who are having their own clothing destroyed by
handling these chemicals.

These chemicals can cause damage to eyes, skin

19th century industrial America. In the summer of 1979, James McEwaddy becal and the respiratory system.
““McEvaddy, in particular, has totally ignoredthe assistant vice president for facilities and plann According to the federal OSHA standards, the
‘a : a many health hazards his leadership has allowed to at Downstate Medical Center. safe level for sulphic acid is no more than one
UNRESTRICTED ACCESS to the area of Down- fester.”’ He wrote a memorandum which changed miligram per cubie meter of air; and for sodium

Ms. DuBose, Local 646 Grievance Committee policy which orders the boiler room employees
Chairman Floyd Graham and committee member _ to leave the boiler room during their shifts.

Among the health problems caused by the
humane boiler room working conditions ar@fai
ings, heat cramps, excessive sweating, arate d
headaches.
Other safety hazzards associated with the boil
room are:

hydroxide, two miligrams per cubic meter of air.
Helfgott said: “I doubt anyone at Downstate
knows what the concentrations of those chemicals
@e when our members are breathing them in.”
— The west wing of the seventh floor of the Basic
Sciences Building at Downstate is where radioac-
tive materials are used. There is no security and
the rooms are accessable to anyone who walks in.

state Medical Center where radioactive materials
are used is demonstrated by Local 646 President Jay Helfgott said a number of grievances have been
Frances DuBose who is standing in the Cold Room, filed:and were rejected af the. firat ‘step. The
a place where radioactive materials are stored. 4) Ps

a : ‘ . grievance process is continuing.
ae ESR eee ee materials They said the local also has sent management a

number of memorandums on those health hazards
but have not received an answer to any of the

memos. ¢ Even though the boiler room contains five h: Signs warning of radioactivity are all over the

“T would like to see Downstate Medical Center _ pressure, super heated, steam boilers, the hospi area, thereby failing to really identify to employees
show a more humane attitute toward its administration does not prevent employees fi and visitors which particular spots do contain a
employees,” Ms. DuBose said. walking through the boiler room as a passagewa™l radioactive danger.

Ms. DuBose, Graham, Helfgott and Brier explain- © The railings on some of the catwalks, one 4 Radioactive waste is stored in 55-gallon drums
ed a number of the health hazards as follows: two stories high, are shaky. which are not always properly closed. At times, a

— The approximately 20 Downstate employees ¢ The boiler room is poorly lit. sidue is on the floor which is tracked through the
who work in the boiler room ‘‘are subject to the © The chemical paraline, which is highly caust] Bepitat, and cleaning personnel are exposed to the
most inhumane working conditions I have ever poisonous and is an irritant to eyes and residues.

seen,” Brier said. respiratory system, is added to the boiler fd
The floor-level temperatures are more than 100 _ Water to help clear the pipes in the boilers, himself, face exposure every time they are re-
degrees and the temperatures on the catwalks, one Instead of using a system which would syphon quired to work in that wing of the hospital.
and two stories higher, have reached 220 degrees. fataline directly inte the feed water fan Aner i — On ea He seinee of Lefty a and oth
f 7 imately eight employees are assigned the tas! asement of Downstate are bus bars — meta’
ae The cane Pee citric eapee onta wetaes pouring the chemical from 55-gallon drums img enclosed passages for 440-volt electrical lines
divelerdisock ister aie hand-held containers and then pouring it into carrying 4,000 amperes.
8 eh : i feed water tank. The drums are in a poorly v Open spaces in the bus bars and missing panels
_The employees are required to spend their entire _tilated room. ose employees to live wires. There are no signs
eight-hour shift, including lunch, within the boiler &:

if Employees working with paraline, 2 eq rning of the extremely high electrical power in
room. They are not allowed to leave the boiler room —_centrated ammonia, have had their own clothiflg the bus bars.

for breaks. Some employees have been written up destroyed and damaged. Downstate does By comparison with the 4,000 amperes, the
for stepping outside for a break. provide protective clothing to the employemm™ electric chair used 20°80 amperes for executions.
THE THERMOMETER IN THE BOILER ROOM The employees are not allowed to use the air- Gloves are provided but the paraline destroys — At Downstate, an incinerator is used to burn
of Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn reads 120 conditioned forman’s office. The office is off limits gloves. . the carcasses and by-products of animals used in
degrees. Members of Downstets Medical cent to the day shift and is closed during the second and NG facial Pivienin Way ; proven’ unit experiments involving cancer and contagious ill-
CSEA Local 646 point out that the thermometer is third shifts. * employee received burns to his eye in May, 19 nesses.

at floor level. Tanevecs have to work on catwalks i i The employees were issued one heavy, cumb The exhaust from the incinerator poses a poten- DOWNSTATE MEDICAL CENTER EMPLOYEES who work in the boiler room where fempecasart? ie
one and two stories high where temperatures Feach Because of understaffing by an estimated 25-33 some airpack with just one mask. tially dangerous condition for hospital employees __ Well over 100 degrees have only electric fans to utilized for cooling. Downstate Medical Center Local

as high as 220 degrees. age residents of the surrounding community. President Frances DuBose points out one fan without a protective grillwork.

Graham, an electrician, said employees such as

Page 6 THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, August 20, 1980 THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, August 20, 1980 Page 7

Tough in the ring,
his biggest joy is
working with kids,
helping his patients
back into society

By Hugh O’Haire
CSEA Communication Associate

BRENTWOOD — The heat hangs heavy in the basement of the
Brentwood Recreation Center after a hot summer day. It is evening now and
the large room is deserted except for a solitary figure dancing and shadow
boxing in a ring in the corner. Sweat is dripping from his glistening van dyke
and running down his muscular chest. As he throws punches at an imaginary
foe, the boxer’s gauze-wrapped fists blur into white streaks in the stale air
of the darkened ring.

There is nothing imaginary about John Mill’s punches, however. The
two-time National Golden Gloves middleweight champion and former
member of the United States National Boxing Team, is undefeated in nine
fights as a professional.

Mr. Mills, a recreational therapist at Pilgrim State Hospital in West
Brentwood, Suffolk County, works out every evening to keep in shape. He
has a bout coming up in the next two months but a contract has not yet been
signed, he says. .

Now fighting under the name ‘General Mills,” John Mills started box-
ing in a Town of Islip Department of Parks and Recreation program in the
early 1960’s when he substituted in the ring for a boxer who didn’t show up.
He fought an experienced opponent to a draw and was encouraged to con-
tinue boxing by a Police Officer, John Thomas, who had experience as a
Police Athletic League coach.

“T began to work out at the Brentwood Recreation Center. Thomas was
an old Navy fighter and he taught me the basic Navy Boxing system which
was simple and made it easy to learn to throw combinations,”’ he said.

Mr. Mills won his next fight and then five others in a row. In/1970, he got
anew coach, Gene Moore, and made it to the Golden Gloy¢s semi-finalS'as.a
sub-novice middleweight losing in a decision in Madison Sq ite Garden.

The following year, he entered the Golden Gloves’as an open class
fighter, which meant that he had to fight three-minute rather than two-
minute rounds. He defeated his seponett Willie Classen — who was killed in
the ring earlier this year and who ‘fad defeated him the year before as a Sub-
novice for the championship. He won the Eastern Regional Golden Gloves
title for his weight class for two consecutive years. His record as an
amateur is an outstanding 192 wins and six losses.

Following his Golden Gloves victories in New York, Mr. Mills qualified
for the United States National Boxing team by beating other Golden Gloves
champions from other Regions. On the United States National Boxing team
he numbered among his teammates, Leon Spinkes, Howard Davis, Sugar Ray
Leonard and Eddie Gregory. In 1974, he toured Ireland, Italy, Germany,
Sweden, Czechoslovakia, Romania and Russia with the National Boxing
Team.

“The Europeans and the Russians have tremendous upper-body
strength and they come right at you. To fight them, you have to move out of
their way to the side and punch. Lateral movement is the best defense
against a straight-on boxer,’’ he said.

Under the guidance of trainer Howard Davis Sr., Mr. Mills turned
professional in 1975 and has won five of his pro fights on technical knockouts
and four on decisions. His most notable victory was a recent decision over
D.C. Walker of Boston who had fought and lost a decision to Marvin
Haggler, the number one contender for the middleweight championship.

When not in training, John Mills likes to help young people participate
in sports. He is currently sponsoring the Brentwood Sonderling High School
Varsity Basketball team in the Long Island summer league. He provides
them with transportation and uniforms. His team is currently tied for the
Summer League Championship for Eastern Long Island.

Mr. Mills also enjoys working with people as a recreational therapist at
Pilgrim where, “I work with old people, senior citizens, who have been in the
hospital for years. Many of them lack motivation or the confidence to do
things on their own. But age is a state of mind, and my job is to encourage
them to get back on their own feet. I really get a kick out of getting some of
them to leave the hospital to resume normal life in society,’ he said.

Having a full-time job has allowed John Mills to avoid the dangers of
boxing, he says, because he can pick his fights rather than to fight when he is
not in top physical condition or just for the money to survive. He is working
with other Long Island boxers to put on a fund-raising exhibition match
benefit for Johnny Wilburn who recently suffered a blood clot on the brain in
a boxing match and is unable to box any longer. Mr. Wilburn has three
children and was 26 years old when he was injured.

“He went into the fight with double vision from a rough fight he had
previously but he néeded the money. He was a fighter from the time he was
15,’ Mr. Mills said.

“You should never go into a ring unless you're 100%,’’ he said. ‘‘I’m
lucky, I don’t have to take every fight that comes along because I don’t need
the money to live.”

2 aR DRA SS PEE

ees THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday,

the crowd

The Civil Service Employees Assn. is
blessed with a wealth of dedicated and
capable activists, from the sroots
level to the highest echelon. sands
upon thousands of union members
across the State participate in the ac-

tivities of .CSEA at all levels and in
varying ways. It is this membership in-
volvement that provides the real, deep-
seated strength of the powerful union.
Periodically The Public Sector focuses
the spotlight on individual activists
who, because of their high-level con-
tributions on behalf of the membership,
are becoming recognizable ‘Faces in
the Crowd’ of the thousands of people
who help the union function effectively.

Career advancement
topic of CSEAP seminar

THE CSEAP SEMINAR IN Long Island Region I at the State Office Building
in Hauppauge is well attended by members of the 12 State locals in Region I.

AMONG THOSE AT THE CSEAP seminar for Southern Region III at SUNY
New Paltz are, from left, Glenda Davis, Rockland Psychiatric Center Local
421; Rose Marcinkowski, Walkill Correctional Facility Local 163; Rose
Clark, Mid Hudson Local 009; and Doris Josephson, Local 421.

HUDSON RIVER PSYCHIATRIC
CENTER LOCAL 410 members,
from left, Carol Zapp and Lorraine
Scutt attend the CSEAP seminar in
Southern Region III at SUNY New
Paltz.

ed

(CSEA COLLECTIVE BARGAINING SPECIALIST!
jJohn Conoby and Clerical and Secretarial
Employee Advancement Program Committee
member Elaine Todd lead a discussion at the
‘CSEAP seninar in Metropolitan Region II at the
World Trade center.

‘Education and training
opens windows to the world
in which you live and work’

ALBANY — The Joint State/CSEA Committee on the Clerical and
Secretarial Employee Advancement Program (CSEAP) help seminars in
each of the six CSEA regions during the summer.

Each CSEA State local was given the opportunity to send two members
to the.seminars where the new program was explained.

"The spiritof CSEAP was captured in a statement by Southern Region III
President James Lennon, given at the Region III seminar at SUNY New
Paltz. Lennon said:

“You are all very special people. You have come here today to participate
in this workshop and to help make the Clerical and Secretarial Employee
Advancement Program a reality in New York State.

“The purpose of the advancement program is to open up new oppor-
tunities for career advancement to employees whose career choices and op-
portunities were previously limited.

“Tam certainly pleased that our union — CSEA — is participating in this
program.

“Let me leave you with one final thought: Education and training opens
windows to the world in which you live and work.”

CSEA members on the joint committee are Mary Ann Bentham,
Patricia Crandall, Timothy Drew, Marie Romanelli, Joan Tobin, Elaine
Todd and Sylvia Weinstock.

CSEA Collective Bargaining Specialist Jack Conoby is joint chairperson
of the committee.

The Clerical and Secretarial Employees Advancement Program
was negotiated for CSEA’s statewide Administrative Services bargain-
ing unit for the current CSEA contract. It provides innovative training,
development and advancement opportunities for women, minorities
and the disadvantaged in the 38,000-member unit. CSEA’s Jack Conoby
helped negotiate the program and has been conducting the infor-
mational programs around the state for unit members.

DOWNSTATE MEDICAL CEN-
TER LOCAL 646 (left) has, from
left, Susan Kaplan and Barbara
Moore attending the CSEAP
seminar in Metropolitan Region II
at the World Trade Center.

REPRESENTING NEW YORK
CITY LOCAL 010 (right) at the
CSEAP seminar in Metropolitan
Region II are, from left, Josephine
Berkman and Ruth Joseph.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR; Wednesday, ‘August 20, 1980 ' Page 9°”

0 ee “i
MAKING A POINT IN A DISCUSSION at the Southern Region III women’s
workshop is Marie Romanelli of SUNY New Paltz Local 610. Also from Local
610 at the workshop is Elizabeth A. Kearney.

Union women speak up

NEWBURGH — Approximately 50 CSEA members, mostly women,
attended the recently held Southern Region III women’s workshop.

Region III President James Lennon welcomed the members to the all-day
workshop with these words:

“With or without ERA, this union is pledged to promoting the role of
women in the labor movement, and also in helping to open up opportunities in
all fields of endeavor.

“This workshop, then, is an important step in that direction, and certainly
one that gives rise to high expectations.

“I would, first of all, like to single out our regional women’s committee for
the role it has played in making this workshop a reality.

“I certainly think that these workshops are a real important tool in helping
us gain new knowledge and expertise.

“This day is an example of the CSEA in the Southern Region working for all
of us who are the union. And I know that when this day is over, we will all be
able to say that it was one that made a difference in our lives.”

Region III Director Thomas Luposello made the points that most of the

region who are women to be ‘‘very pragmatic and realistic?

The workshop was organized and planned with the combined efforts of the
Region II] Women’s Committee, chaired by Barbara Swartzmiller; the Region
III Education Committee, chaired by Janice Schaff; CSEA Education Director
Thomas Quimby and AFSCME.

Leading the discussions were Quimby and AFSCME’s Anita Patterson,
Marsha Anderson and Bailey. Walker. Also at the workshop were Lennon,
Luposello, Region III Communications Specialist Stanley Hornak and
AFSCME New York State Director Robert McEnroe.

After the opening statements, the film ‘“The American Woman, Portraits
in Courage” was shown to the workshop. The film depicted the achievements
of courageous women throughout American history.

The movie made the point that none of the women accomplished anything
by acting ‘‘ladylike.””

The remainder of the workshop was divided into sessions on determining
problems of women at the workplace, stress management and sexual
harassment at the workplace.

Some of the problems discussed at the worksplace were: political
favoratism; discrimination; salary differences; apathy; treatment by marital
status; promotional selections and deadend jobs.

During the session on sexual harassment, Ms. Anderson said: “It is our
fault by letting ourselves be brainwashed all the way from the cradle. We give
little boys trucks and little girls dolls. .. .’”

In addition to the members from Region III who attended the workshop, a
group of CSEA members from Long Island Region I also attended the
workshop.

| J eY
| ; ‘
GETTING TOGETHER AT THE SOUTHERN REGION III women’s
workshop in Newburgh Recently are, from left, Region II] Women’s Com-
mittee Chairman Barbara Swartzmiller, Region Ill Education Committee
Chairman Janice Schaff and women’s committee member Phyllis Kennedy,

ne 10 ——_—_sSTHE PUBLIC SECTOR. Wednesday. Auaust 20.1980 i.

Senior Medical Records Technician ...

Region III officers are women and that he has found the local presidents in the |

OPEN CONTINUOUS
STATE JOB CALENDAR

$10,624
= $14,388-$15,562
$16,040--

Pharmacist (salary varies with location)’.
Assistant Sanitary Engineer
Senior Sanitary Engineer
Clinical Physician I .
Clinical Physician II.
Assistant Clinical Physician
Attorney....
Assistant Attorney .
Attorney Trainee
Junior Engineer. .
(Bachelor's Degree)
POPS NDINBER steel he ots) gyieg at epeN eee ernestous waxes hLepN
(Master’s Degree)
Dental Hygienist ......
Licensed Practical Nurse
Nutrition Services Consultant.
Stationary Engineer ...
Senior Stationary Engineer .
Occupational Therapy Assistant I
Occupational Therapy Assistant I

(Spanish Speaking)
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor .. MS
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Trainee
Medical Record Technician .
Histology Technician ....
Professional Positions in Auditing and Accountin;
Computer Programmer
Computer Programmer (Scientific)
Senior Programmer ...
Senior Computer Programmer (:
Mobility Instructor ..
Instructor of the Blind
Health Services Nurse .

-(salary varies~with location)

‘Senior Heating and Ventilating Engineer
Senior Sanitary Engineer (Design) .

$18,301
$27,942
$31,055,
$25,161
$14,850

Senior Plumb
Assistant Stationary Engineer
Electroencephalograph Tec!
Radiologic Technologist .

(salary varies with loc:
Medical Record Administrator
Food Service Worker I .....
Mental Hygiene Therapy Aide Trainee .
Mental Hygiene Therapy Aide Trainee .

(Spanish Speaking)
Associate Actuary (Casualty) .
Principal Actuary (Casualty)
Supervising Actuary (Casualty)
Assistant Actuary
Nurse I
Nurse II
Nurse II (Psychiatric)
Nurse II (Rehabilitation)
Medical Specialist IT
Medical Specialist I
Psychiatrist I. 4
Psychiatrist [1 ‘4
Social Services Management Traine
Social Services Management Specialist . .
Social Services Management Trainee ...
(Spanish Speaking) _

Social Services Management Specialist
(Spanish Speaking)
Industrial Training Supervisor .
(salary varies depending on specialty

Physical Therapist . Ae
Physical Therapist (Spanish Speaking)
Senior Physical Therapist ...

Senior Physical Therapist (Spanish Speaking)
Speech Pathologist . 3
Audiologist ...

Assistant Speech Pathologis'

Assistant Audiologist

Dietician Trainee .

Dietician .

Supervising Dietician

Stenographer (NYC only)

Typist (NYC only)...

Senior Occupational Therapist .

- $10,624-$12,583

- $11,337
- $11,337
- $12,670
- $12,670
- $12,670

$12,670

- $11,337
- $11,337

« h
Special Olympics Torch
: 6 :
Urning...
e
e
e
e The Special Olympics is truly Special. Hadad York Special Olympics, Inc. that you'll be proud to
ep.
During the International Special Olympics held last year at
Brockport, some two-hundred New York Special Olympians Please help. For your convenience, use the attached
represented our state. coupon. Send your tax-deductible contribution to:
CSEA is proud to have been a continuing sponsor for the 33 Elk Street
Special Olympics — for the International Special Olympics Albany, New York 12224
alone, we raised over $12,000. But now the Special Olym- uy
pics need you to become personally involved. There are over Og ae ee ieee ee
40,000 Special Olympians here in New York who continue to I
e need your support. We would like:to coats ie the CAE hee |
Athlete” program for low pecial pica.
You can personally sponsor a Special Olympian in the 1980
program of training and competition for only $19.50! Think C President's Club ($360) O Bronze Medal Club ($55) 4
of it... for roughly the pice of dinner out for two, you can O Gold Medal Club ($185) C. Individual Sponsors ($19.50);
make a very real contribution to those who need it most. | CO Sliver Medal Club ($95) |
Whoever said you can’t buy joy has never looked into the i
faces of Special Olympians as they run their races, Jump NAME |
their jumps, do their pushups and win their medals. And the |
joy won't stop there. Because everyone who. helped — from
the volunteers to each financial contributor — shares a
e special joy quite unlike anything else.
Even If you can’t afford the $19.50 by yourself, you can TOGAL NAME and/or NUMBER
SPONSOR AN ATHLETE with several co-workers or friends. | |
For example, it would cost only $9.75 aplece for two people; AOoRESS |
only $3.90 each for five people. Of course, you can con-
tribute more. |
Fach Sponsor “will receive the bane and soarese, ee bp or ory STATE ae
er athlete and information on when and where the si 7
plan will compete. And so you'll have something special to | Make checks payable to: “New York Special Olympics, ino.’ H
temind you of your help, you'll receive a certificate from ——
e

ee A ee)

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday; August 20, 1980 Page 11

Union charges
department
with having

a calculated
policy of
intimidation

By Gerald Alperstein
Associate Editor

NEW YORK CITY — When one thinks of a
union battling management for the right to
represent employees, the noble efforts of the
Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers
Union against the criminal J.P. Stevens textile
firm in the southern United States may come to
mind.

However, one does not have to travel south of
the Mason-Dixon line nor even leave CSEA to
find a pitch battle for union representation going

whether those CSEA-represented employees of
the Administrative Services Unit will become
the victims of a vindictive management in much
the same way that the employees of anti-union
i companies such as J.P. Stevens are treated.

Those approximately 2,500 Department of

on.

At stake is whether the employees of the New
York State Department of Labor in CSEA
Region I, II and the southern part of Region III
will receive proper union representation or

i

| Labor employees are represented by CSEA
| Local 350, a Metropolitan Region II local.

ff Region II Director George Bispham said the
+ | extent of anti-union harassment and intimidation

| against Local 350 by the Department of Labor
has forced the region to devote considerable
resources to fight for the representation of those
2,500 employees.

Bispham said he and three field represen-
tatives are working with Local 350 President
George Caloumeno to put a halt to the anti-union
tactics of the Department of Labor.

“The chief tactic of the Department of Labor
— being carried out by Employee Relations
Specialist Joseph Kearney — is what appears to
be a calculated policy of attempting to deny
Department of Labor employees union represen-
tation by the harassment and intimidation of
Caloumeno and Local 350 Grievance Committee
Chairman Michael Isaacoff,’’ Bisham said.

He said Kearney’s chief weapon against
Isaacoff is denying him access to employees
through Kearney’s total disregard for the CSEA-
State contract.

Isaacoff, who works for the Unemployment In-
surance Appeals Board, has been placed on the
calendar to excess since becoming grievance
chairman less than one year ago, has been charg-
ed for leave without pay for spending more than

PREPARING FOR THE AUGUST 18 meeting with State Industrial Commissioner Philip Ross are

a er

Metropolitan Region II Director George Bispham, CSEA Field Representative Bart Brier and
Department of Labor Local 350 President George Caloumeno. The three CSEA officials are meeting

in Bispham’s office at Region II quarters.

30 minutes a day on grievance-related telephone
calls; and has been harassed with a number of
memos, Bispham said.

“Tn less than one year, Isaacoff, an employee
with an unblemished record, has seen his per-
sonnel file grow from nothing to two-and-one-
half inches thick with memos from Kearney and
his (Isaacoff’s) supervisors,”’ he said.

An Improper Practice against the Department

Meeting scheduled
with commissioner

NEW YORK CITY — The requested
meeting by Department of Labor CSEA
Local 350 with State Industrial Com- -
missioner Philip Ross was tentatively
scheduled for the World Trade Center on
Aug. 18, it was announced at press time.

Representing CSEA at the meeting were
to have been members of Local 350 led by
its president, George Caloumeno, and
members of the Metropolitan Region II
field staff led by Regional Director George

Bispham.

of Labor for its activities against Isaacoff has
been filed with the Public Employment
Relations Board.

Caloumeno said: ‘‘This IP is so important. The
representation of the entire membership of
Local 350 is at stake. The only settlement of this
IP can be the enforcement of the contract.”

Bispham said the Department of Labor also
has attempted to deny Caloumeno access to
employees by sending memos to Caloumeno’s
supervisor trying to curtail the local president's
use of contractual organizational leave.

A few months ago, Caloumeno wrote to State
Industrial Commissioner Philip Ross about the
anti-union tactics of Kearney.

CSEA Field Representative Bart Brier said:
“Tt is now up to Commissioner Ross to put a stop

publicly that the Department of Labor is the
most anti-union agency of New York State
government.”

Brier has a number of questions which CSEA
deserves answers from the Department of
Labor, including:

© Kearney appears to have been chosen to do
the dirty work for some higher-ups in the
Department of Labor. Who is Kearney doing his
dirty work for?

* Who does Kearney really report to and get
his orders from?

* Why has the Department of Labor singled
out Local 350?

¢ Does the Department of Labor plan to first
destroy the large downstate local arid then plan
to take on the smaller upstate locals one at a
time?

© Why is it that Kearney is allowed to operate
as a misguided missle, out of the control of his
supposed superiors of deputy and assistant in-
dustrial commissioner rank?

e Why does the Department of Labor
management resist sitting down in constructive
labor-management discussions?

Brier said, ‘‘Most of my work for CSEA is with
Mental Hygiene locals of roughly the same size
as Local 350. The representation problems of
Local 350 are worse than any I have encountered
in Mental Hygiene.”

Bispham, attempting to understand tha anti-
union activities of Kearney and the Department
of Labor, believes for many years Local 350 fell
more into the definition of ‘‘Association’’ rather
than labor union as were most CSEA locals at
one time.

In 1979, Caloumeno, Isaacoff and a new local
executive committee came into office and, to the
surprise of management, started vigorously
defending the rights of the employees they
represent, he said.

Bispham believes that when Local 350 started
filing more grievances and standing up for its
members, the Department of Labor reacted by
disciplining more employees and by harassing
Caloumeno and Isaacoff.

“T just want Kearney to know that he is no
longer harassing one isolated CSEA local. The
strength of CSEA Region II stands behind Local
350 to see that its members are represented as
guaranteed in the Taylor Law and as agreed to
by New York State when it signed the contract,”’

:
|

to Kearney’s anti-union activities or to declare Bispham said. j

Page 12

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, August 20, 1980