The Public Sector, 1984 September 7

ePublic

Official Publication of The Civil Service Employees Association Local:1000,
American Federation of St and Municipal Employees AFL-CIO.

r> 4 Vol. 5, No. 50
Friday, September 7, 1984

FAIR WEATHER
OR FOUL,

A SHINING
SUCCESS

Members
on the march

e
s
in Albany
and NYC,
Pages 9-12
e@
e
©
LABOR HAS ITS DAY — CSEA President
William L. McGowan, above, addresses
unionists, pictured at left, at Labor Day rally |
in Albany. In photo at top left, members |
march in style down Fifth Avenue in New |
York City at America’s biggest Labor Day
e |

An early retirement bill for local government
workers was signed into law recently by Gov.
Mario Cuomo. Part of a package of union-backed
labor bills which CSEA President William L.
McGowan had described as the union’s ‘number
one priority,” the measure will help prevent
layoffs in localities facing financial difficulties.

Now that the bill is law, here are answers to
some of the most frequently asked questions
about it.

Q: Who is eligible?

PXe Employees of local governments, school
districts, public authorities, public corporations,
libraries and cooperative extension associations.
Also eligible are some state employees (such as
State University of New York, SUNY construc-
tion fund, Education Department, Unified Court
System, state-supported schools for the deaf and
blind) who were not eligible for the 1983 early
retirement program. Not eligible are state
employees who had the early retirement option
last year.

Q: Why is it called an early retirement option?
A: It’s called an option because local govern-
ments, school districts, etc. have the right to
choose whether or not they will offer their
employees incentives to retire early.

: What are the incentives?

A: The incentives are an extra three years of
pension credits as a bonus for retiring early.
Q: Are there any other eligibility
requirements?

EARLY RETIREMENT OPTION

What's it all about? Here are Q's and A's for finding out

A: Yes. You must be at least 55 years old, in
paid service on June 1, i984 and otherwise eligi-
ble for retirement under the plan in which you
are enrolled.

Q: When is the early retirement program in
effect?

A: Sept. 1, 1984 to Dec. 31, 1986. But, local
governments, school districts, etc. must decide
ais or not to exercise the option by Dec. 31,
1985.

Q: How do they exercise the option?
A: They must adopt a legislative
resolution. The law also requires that
before the legislative resolution is
passed, your employer must estimate
the total number of potential early
retirees as well as the approximate
costs of early retirement incentives.

Q: What happens after the local law
is approved?

A: An open period of 50 to 90 days is
established during which eligible
employees may apply for early retire-
ment incentives. The open period
must take place between Sept. 1, 1984
Dec. 31, 1986.

Q: How can I get a legislative resolu-
tion passed by my employer?

: The same way CSEA managed to
get the early retirement program
through the state legislature — by
political action!

New bill for parttime workers

ALBANY — Gov. Mario Cuomo has signed a bill which allows retired

Prior to going to work for any public agency, retirees must first get per-

public employees to earn up to $6,960 in parttime public employment without mission from the New York State Employees Retirement System, which

a reduction in their pension. 1
CSEA had lobbied for the legislation, which takes effect immediately.

For more info

Local government CSEA members consider.
ing the early retirement option can take advan:

Schenectady, NY 12301

Service offered through Jardine Insurance §f
Brokers Inc. Additional information, appoint.

Name

(EE CE ET RL a eT NAN Ua kL UE A NL i PS
SEND TO: CSEA Retirement Counseling, Jardine Insurance Brokers, Inc., 433 State Street,

tage of the free CSEA Retirement Counseling | Please send me additional information on how to maximize my retirement income [©

will inform them of exactly how much they will be allowed to earn before a
reduction in or stoppage of their pension occurs.

ments and booklets on how to maximize your
retirement income may be obtained by using the Be sadeess

coupon provided below or by calling Jardine at
1-800-342-6272.

Send coupon to:
CSEA Retirement Counseling

Telephone ‘(work)

433 State Street

Schenectady, NY 12301 (home)

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i]
a
Jardine Insurance Brokers, Inc. a
a
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a

TROY — Senior Rensselaer County employees may soon be able to take
advantage of an early retirement incentive program similar to the program
state employees participated in last year.

Following passage of the CSEA-backed local government early retire-
ment bill, Rensselaer County Executive William Murphy and William
Walsh, chairman of the county Legislature, indicated that a local law will be
presented to the county legislative meeting Sept. 11 to allow for early
retirements.

This legislation, if adopted, ‘twould allow county employees the option
of early retirement and would recognize their outstanding contributions to
the residents of this county,” said Walsh.

Rage 2 THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, September 7) 1984

Rensselaer County seeks early retirement law

Murphy, who backed the early retirement concept last year, said the
law “would enable the county to reward long-term employee contributions
with a retirement incentive while bringing in newer employees with a lower
pension cost.””

If the county Legislature adopts the early retirement plan, a public
hearing will be held before the plan becomes law.

“We plan to attend that hearing,’’ CSEA Rensselaer County Local Presi-
dent Carol Larpenteur said. ‘‘CSEA has already informed County Executive
Murphy of our support for this plan and our desire to have a union official
serve on a committee to oversee the program's eventual implementation.”

0 ‘
reanng wen r Yeates r
of Military and Naval | A

heels of OSEA'S v

jertal fete

; Gurentiy, ae ¢ than, 59 percent of DMNA. workers are dea
ars of Beat joined for insurance benefits and ‘“‘out of loyal-

ae Bu te sedan: Mor Gentcoseantus Gack
agent { loyees. More than two years ago, CSEA .
PERB and DMNA immediately moved to

“We had a major fight at PERB over whether the language in the

m from yee Law regarding public employees’ right to ‘union Tepresentation ap-

: te SEA. also io ivaidapand hae GOER aud aon ead ofa few
bargaining unit —

Operational units — to Ve oe e
those who work in armories

ministrative capacities.

Seti Included would be

requested recognition of CSEA as the “exclusive collective negotiating

representative of a bargaining unit consisting of all employees” of DMNA.

“T've asked for aor ee ee but I haven't wtiyes said i

separate from the Administrative, Institutional and —
‘essional, clerical and ad-
Tha letter to GOER Director Thomas Hartnett dated Aug. 18, Kinsella

plies to DMNA workers,” explains Kinsella.
“We argued that the workers were not part of the organized militia and

therefore entitled to union representation.” :
_ PERB’s director of Public PON Practices and Representation
agreed. DMNA then made an appeal to the full PERB board, which affirmed
_ the director’s decision. DMNA’s subsequent appeals to the New York State
Supreme Court (last winter) and to the New York State Appellate Division
(in June) also both met with failure.
___ CSEA made its recent demand for recognition as bargaining agent for
the workers when DMNA did not request an a of the eae court’s
decision within the allotted 30-day period, :

Early retirement urged
in plan to avert possible
layoffs in Suffolk County

HOLTSVILLE — CSEA Suffolk County Local 852 Acting President Lynn
Martins has urged the Suffolk County Legislature to use the early
retirement option as part of an overall plan to avert possible layoffs in the
county.

The Legislature is considering making the option a local law offering
eligible county employees three years retirement credit.

“CSEA was the driving force behind the state legislation creating the
option for local governments,” said Martins. “‘At the state level, the option
was a way to stop massive layoffs. The county can do the same.”

Layoffs have been threatened in Suffolk as a possible solution to the
county’s projected $52 million budget shortfall. Martins met with Deputy
County Executive Howard MeMartini earlier this week seeking alternatives
to the layoffs.

“The county executive says Suffolk County is facing a budget gap,”
Martins said. ‘The early retirement optan: is a tool to help reduce that

gap.”

RECOMMENDING to the Suffolk County Legislature early retirement as
part of a comprehensive plan to reduce the county’s budget gap and avert
layoffs is CSEA Suffolk County Local 852 Acting President Lynn Martins.

DEER PARK — The recent evacuation of the

system. The state Department of Labor, acting on a

monoxide
fumes force

evacuation
of Babylon

Center

Department of Social Services Babylon Center due to
carbon monoxide fumes has led to CSEA’s lobbying of
legislators for safeguards at the hazard-plagued facility.

Casework supervisor Fred Jackman was overcome
by the fumes from machines being used in the building,
which clients and employees evacuated on the morning
of Aug. 24.

The five-story building which houses the center has
been criticized by CSEA for health and safety violations
since July 17, when Shop Steward Beverly Delaney filed
a grievance about the building’s inoperable elevator. The
unusually heavy rainfall in late May and early June
caused the water table in the area to rise, flooding the
basement of Babylon Center.

The flood knocked out the elevator and heating

CSEA complaint, cited Suffolk County for four violations
of the Public Employee Health and Safety Act on Aug. 10.

Local 852 also requested a third-party hearing to end
flood-related problems at Babylon Center.

“Local 852 filed a grievance with the county and a
complaint with the Department of Labor about the
deplorable conditions at the center,” said Grievance
Representative Sue Carbone. “In addition, we have
brought the center’s problems to management’s atten-
tion many times, but nothing seems to get done.”

CSEA Suffolk County Local 852 Acting President
Lynn Martins urged County Executive Peter F. Cohalan
to relocate the center or close it until all safety and health
violations have been corrected.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR \Friday, Septemberi7) 1984 Page, 3

SORRY, THAT
U.S. MARSHAL JUST
TOOK THE LAST OF IT. BUT
WAIT, I THINK J MIGHT
HAVE SOME SALTED
PEANUTS IN THE BACK.

Official publication of x

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 by the Civil Service Employees
Association, 33 Elk Street, Albany, New York
12224.

Publication office, 1 Columbia Place, Albany,
New York 12207.

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

MICHAEL P. MORAN — Publisher

ROGER A. COLE — Editor
TINA LINCER FIRST — Associate Editor
BRIAN K. BAKER — Assistant Editor

Address changes should be sent to Civil Ser-
vice Employees Association, The Public Sector,
33 Elk Street, Albany, New York 12224.

e e
CSEA wins case against °
c sector | former local president
4 ®@ NEW YORK CITY — CSEA won its case in U.S. District Court when Judge
receives awd I. Leo Glasser ruled last month the union had not violated the Labor-Management
Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959, as had been charged by Joe Johnson, form-
er president of CSEA Local 010.
Johnson had alleged that CSEA officials violated their fiduciary duty by fail-

e e ing to rebate the appropriate amount of agency shop fees owing to the New York e
r ourmnd Sr City area local. He claimed that CSEA procedures followed from 1978 to 1980
caused harm to Local 010 because of its unusually high percentage of agency

shop fee payers.
| The Public Sector has been named a winner in the 1984 Journalistic Awards However, in granting summary judgment in favor of CSEA, the judge
Contest of the International Labor Press Association (ILPA). noted: ‘. . . the procedure adopted clearly constituted a reasonable interpreta-
tion of their obligations under the union bylaws.”
The court also noted that Johnson had not alleged any bad faith on the part
of the statewide union or a specific intent to deprive Local 010 of monies owing
to it.
‘ : The judge cited a policy applied by federal courts in adjudicating challenges
This year’s contest drew 942 entries from 135 member publications through- to the conduct of union affairs, stating: ‘The policy is based in part on the e

A Second Award in the Best Original Cartoon Category for editorial cartoons
went to staff artist Ralph Distin for his picture of ‘Rabbit Reagan,’’ which is
reproduced below. Distin has been awarded by the ILPA for his cartoons on two
other occasions.

out the United States and Canada. presumption that most unions are honestly and efficiently administered and are
This marks the third year The Public Sector has entered the competition, and | ™much more likely to continue to be so if they are free from officious intermed-
the third time it has been a winner. : dling by the courts.”
CSEA was represented by William Wallens of Roemer and Feather-
stonhaugh.

Nominees named to Region ll MH seat

_ ALBANY —Nominees have been announced for the election to fill the Region
II Mental Hygiene vacancy on the statewide Board of Directors. Those members
nominated are: Frederick J. Daniels, Robert Gripper, Roy Johnson, AdrianR. @
Mitchell, Henry Reese, Harold L. Robertson Jr. and Richard J. Moccia.
Deadline for receipt of independent nominating petitions is close of business
Sept. 10, and the drawing for ballot position is scheduled for Sept. 15 at CSEA
Headquarters.
The Statewide Election Procedures Committee has scheduled ballots to be
mailed Sept. 20 to members eligible to vote in the election. Ballots will be counted
Oct. 11.

WMHT-TV to rerun exam series C

SCHENECTADY — Public television station WMHT-Ch. 17 will re-
run “How to Prepare for a Civil Service Test’’ beginning Sept. 15 at 11
a.m. The four half-hour programs will run Saturday mornings through
Oct. 6.

The videotape series, produced jointly by CSEA, Cornell Universi-
ty and the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations, covers in general
terms how to prepare for a civil service promotional exam. Booklets
which accompany the series are available through the CSEA Educa-
tion Department for $1.50 per copy.

Page 4 THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, September 7, 1984

DELEGATES MEETING

Set for
Lake Placid
Oct. 27-26

CSEA’s 1984 Annual Delegates Meeting will be held
Oct. 21-26 at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid.

While details are still being worked out, a tentative
agenda calls for Board of Directors registration and lunch-
eon meeting, and delegates certification and registration
Oct. 21.

Oct. 22 has been set aside for opening ceremonies and
orientation, certification and registration of delegates, and
information tables and exhibits, as well as standing com-
mittee forums, education seminars, bargaining unit meet-
ings and state departmental meetings.

The schedule for Oct. 23 includes educational seminars
and divisional meetings. On Oct. 24, there will be certifi-
cation and registration of delegates, information tables
and exhibits, and a general business session. A PEOPLE-
thon is also scheduled. (See story below.)

ery <a 4 hibit at the Dutchess County Fair recently. Giving him a hand are Dutchess County Local 814
Oct, oan session bes clove Political Action Chairman Carl Mathison and Region III Director Thomas Luposello. The union’s
iG exhibit, which was sponsored by the Dutchess local, included the sale of hats for the benefit of the

As convention plans are finalized, they will be updat- AFSCME PEOPLE fund. Another activity, the PEOPLEthon, which will take place at the annual
ed in future editions of The Public Sector. Delegates Meeting in October, will also raise money for the fund.

Gear up now for PEOPLEthon

Delegates should plan now to par-
ticipate in the PEOPLEthon sched-
uled for Oct. 24 at Lake Placid. The
2.8-mile race around picturesque
Mirror Lake will begin at 5 p.m.,
and runners can turn in their entry
forms (below left) and pledge
sheets at the PEOPLE table at the
Olympic Center up until noon.

As usual, the entry fee is a mini-
mum of $30 in pledges for PEOPLE
— Public Employees Organized for
Legislative Equality. Money will be
used to make our impact felt in up-
coming federal elections. Par-
ticipants should begin now to sign up
pledges.

In addition to the important polit-

ical action goals of the race, the

| event will also be a fun event for
participants and spectators. Awards

i PEOPLETHON will be presented to the top three
| male and female finishers, and the
I entrant receiving the most money in
| NAME pledges will receive a special
award. All entrants will receive
either a PEOPLE T-shirt or tote

bag, and refreshments will be
ENTRY DONATION Check Amount: $. Cash: $. served to participants following the

race.

I. the undersigned, take sole responsibility Jor any: injuries. illness, ete.. incurred by me as a result of my participation in the CSEA Delegates
Meeting PEOPLEthon and hold harmless from further liability, the Civil Service Employees Association Ine.. Olympic Center, AFSCME, or any Pledge sheets are available by
person associated with the PEOPL Ethan Committee contacting the CSEA Legislative

T understand this money will be used in federal elections, (Checks should be made payable to: PEOPLE) Office in Albany at 518-436-8622. Or

stop by the PEOPLE table at the
SIGNATURE convention.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, September 7, 1984 Page 5

Sing SE

: <
HUNDREDS OF STATE aN

WORKERS from around New
York turned out in Albany last

week to demonstrate against

planned layoffs in the Depart- WE'RE
ment of Labor. State officials MEqioS si

say the layoffs are needed be- dijo ih BEF = 7
cause of federal budget cuts but : ; wy

union leaders blamed them for CSa FAMILY OF ca

not finding more ways to keep &i
employees working, and say a HELP PkopiE FIND JOBS._
ripple effect will be created by FIND JOBS. KEEP US
the cutbacks. The rally was held ar

at the Ww. Averell Harriman KEEP US” WORKING! ‘
State Office Building Campus. WORKING! CSECI

On CSECES!

CSEA EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Joseph
McDermott, in photo at left, was among the many
unionists who showed their support at the rally. Be-
low, Region IV President C. Allen Mead is pictured
at podium addressing the crowd.

6 Gevenenicnes main concern
should be jobs — jobs for the
unemployed and jobs for the
people who help the unem-
el ene TF ae
ploved find work @

y

— Capital Region President C. Allen Mead

Page 6 THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, September 7, 1984

Cuts will hurt ‘everyone,’ CSEA leaders warn

ALBANY — ‘“‘We have a president who wants every-  -.
body to lift themselves up by the boot straps,” said CSEA
President William L. McGowan, addressing participants
at a Rally for Jobs last week. ‘But now he’s cutting the
loops out of the boot straps. And that’s not fair.”

The noontime rally was held to protest the proposed
layoffs of 252 state Department of Labor employees who

® work in job training and placement service offices across
the state.

More than 200 workers from Albany, Syracuse, Buffa-
lo, New York City and the Mid-Hudson area showed up at
the department’s Albany headquarters on the newly-
renamed W. Averell Harriman State Office Building Cam-
pus. Joining McGowan at the podium were CSEA Capital
Region President C. Allen Mead and CSEA Labor Local
670 President Jeanne Lyons.

“We're ready to save the jobs of workers,”’” McGowan
told the crowd. ‘‘But before we start the battle, we want a

e commitment from the Department of Labor that any
money we get from the federal level or that we find in
their budget will be used for jobs for public employees
and not perks for management.”

Labor Department officials have said the layoffs and
the loss of another 118 jobs through attrition were forced
on the state because of an $8 million federal budget cut.
While attacking Reagan for the cuts, McGowan also blast-
ed state officials for not doing more to keep employees on
the payroll.

e He said the effects of the planned job cuts will ripple
throughout the state.

“Because of these cutbacks, more than 150,000 unem-
ployed people will not be able to find jobs in this state,”
he said. “These cutbacks will hurt everyone, not just the
public employees.”

The Rally for Jobs was held at the same time as a
ceremony to rename the state office building complex in
honor of former New York governor and U.S. ambassador
W. Averell Harriman.

Region President Mead said, ‘‘There are more impor-

@ tant things for our top national and state elected officials
to be doing than deciding whose name is going to be chi-
seled on the side of this building.

“Government’s main concern should be jobs,” he con-
tinued. ‘‘Jobs for the unemployed and jobs for the people
who help the unemployed find work.”

Local President Lyons said labor and its allies must
deliver the message to save jobs to top state and national
officials.

“We, the workers and the people we help — the un-
employed, the minorities, the veterans, the working

e@ mothers, the returning workers and all the supposedly eco-
nomically recovering businesses, industries and
employers — have got to flood Washington, D.C. with the
message: Help people find jobs. Keep us working.”

DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE
EMPLOYEES, above, marched behind the CSEA
banner. In photo at left, David Biddle of the Region
IV Political Action Committee, second from right,
and CSEA Organizer Mike Sheldon, right, joined

A ® the line.
Tell it to
° Washington
Page 8
scheint

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, September 7, 1984 Page 7

Page 8

6

We, the workers and the people we help — the
unemployed, the minorities, the veterans, the working
mothers, the returning workers and all the supposedly
economically recovering businesses, industries and
employers — have got to flood Washington, D.C. with our
message: Help people find jobs. Keep us working. 9

—Jeanne Lyons, President, Department of Labor Local 670

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, September 7, 1984

/CSEC

THE CIVIL SERVICE
EMPLOYEES ASSOC. |

MORE THAN A QUARTER
OF A MILLION members
from hundreds of unions
marched down Fifth Avenue
in Manhattan under sunny
skies on Labor Day. Pictured
clockwise from above: a
large CSEA contingent falls
into the parade from 28th
Street; Mondale and Ferraro
flag waving at parade’s start;
an electronic billboard at
Times Square flashes CSEA’s
logo in a graphic display for
the holiday.

“TH!

Sedat

... IN NEW YORK CITY

Mondale, marching bands, millions and mania

parade, Walter Mondale and Geraldine Ferraro. They helped Kirkland kick
off the nation’s largest labor day rally and then they exited, leaving behind a
swarm of marchers who brandished placards and shouted slogans that
made it obvious the parade was a party for the Democratic running mates.

Nearly 200 march presenting CSEA joined the procession off 26th
Street at around 11:30 a.m. Set back an hour past their scheduled time to fall

: Seas Bate Teta aie Baa Ik es asa ns eA : into line, members and officers alike exploded into a burst of energy when
few blocks from Central Park, lasted as long as a workday for most they finally hit the road. A six-piece | ; marching band called the “9th

marchers. The first of them stepped out bright and early at 9a.m., having — g ” oun a) ”
5 “ i oe Street Stompers” blasted out ‘When the Saints Come Marching In’ and

a hear onde r sntral Labor sil Preside: Te
got a hearty send-off from Central Labor Council President Harry Van — Qgia members moved out. Before the song was over, they were dancing in
Arsdale and AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland. It was past 5 p.m. before iheatreet
anyone saw the end of the long line of union marchers wind up in “I don't get tired marching,” said State Insurance Fund Local 351
Manhattan's downtown

Police estimated that by afternoon more than half a million people had
gathered for the event, the number about equally divided between
participants and spectators. But most of the crowd missed the stars of the

By Brian Baker
Assistant Editor
NEW YORK CITY — CSEA’s largest contingent ever marched, cheered
and danced its way up Fifth Avenue in one of the longest, most enthusiastic
labor day parades this city has seen.
The parade, which followed a course from 26th Street to 54th Street a

» all the way sides, I'm
wing that we've got to get

member Regina Maxwell, * ‘cause I dan

fighting for my union by being here — and

Mondale in there for the working people
(Continued on page 10)

ase

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, September 7, 1984 Page 9

TOOTING THEIR HORNS FOR LABOR — A six-piece brass
band called the “9th Street Stompers” kept CSEA members
moving to music during the almost 30-block march up the
avenue. Trailing the CSEA crowd was a float, at right, the
union’s first ever to appear in New York’s Labor Day parade.

POSING FOR PICTURES — CSEA activist:
take time out for a photo with Queens}
Assemblyman Leonard Stavisky. Pictured fro)
left are: Ron Mazzola, Region II director;

DANCIN’ IN THE STREETS — Region II Director Ron Mazzola falls into a fancy step with State
Insurance Fund Local 351 member Regina Maxwell. At far right is Darlene Hess, parade coordinator

George Boncoraglio, Region II president;
Stavisky; Pat Mascioli, Region II president;
and Robert Nurse, president of Kingsboro|
Psychiatric Center Local 402.

Continued from page 9

That kind of sentiment was epidemic among the CSEA group. Before long,
Region II President George Boncoraglio and Region III President Pat
Mascioli, who began the march sedately flanking the CSEA banner, were
dancing with other marchers to the delight of onlookers. When marchers
reached the reviewing stand in front of the public library near 42nd Street, the
band played ‘In the Mood” and, clearly, everyone was.

Some spectators even joined in the fun, sticking with the CSEA group for
the entire length of the parade.

“Every year we get a few strays,” said Boncoraglio, laughing at the antics
of one dancing man and another on roller skates.

But he indicated he was most impressed with the turnout of the union’s
members who marched sporting CSEA caps and T-shirts.

“This is the most we’ve ever had,” said Boncoraglio, calling CSEA’s
involvement in this year’s Labor Day parade a ‘great success.

“We usually get 20, 30 marchers tops. But we put out an extra effort this
year and it worked.”

and president of Division of Housing and Community Renewal Local 258.
NEW YORK CITY...

Participating in the parade were members from New York’s Metroplitan
Region II as well as adjoining Regions I and III. And pulled by a jeep that
followed CSEA marchers was a float decorated in red, white and blue with the
union emblem and names of the three regions. This was the first time for a
CSEA float to appear in the parade, which had more than 150 this year.

Darlene Hess, parade coordinator and president of Division of Housing and
Community Renewal Local 258, said the month-long preparation for the parade
this year was ‘‘time-consuming but worth it.

said.

After falling out of the parade at around 1 p.m., CSEA members met for a
picnic and more music and dancing in Central Park.

“I’ve never seen such a long parade,” said one CSEA member, as he
finished up. The parade was still to come up the avenue for another four hours
before it ended.

“Tt was some parade this year,’’ admitted Boncoraglio, ‘“‘and I’m glad
CSEA could be a big part of it.”

Page 10 THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, September 7, 1984

“We felt we had decent support, much better than in previous years,” shes

\!

ION BABY — Two-year old Jessica Terry,
les the float with her dad, Willie, a member
'Tax and Finance Local 460.

i

ee ee

egion MA

LocaL 1000
AFSCME, AFL-CIO.

ISOLIDARITY IV — Members from several labor unions in the Albany area rally in Capitol Park.
Despite drizzling rain, nearly 500 people were on hand.

By Daniel X. Campbell
CSEA Communications Associate

Street east to Capitol Park for a noontime Labor
Day rally. Billed as ‘Solidarity IV,” the rally
reflected the sentiments of unionism in an

ALBANY — Several hundred members of inamicable era.

public and private sector unions endured the
drizzle and proudly paraded down Central
Avenue here on Labor Day, as labor leaders
made pleas for workers to rout the Reagan
administration.

Rain-drenched public employees, mail
carriers, ironworkers, carpenters, plumbers,
electricians and other trade union members
marched in a cold, steady rain from Partridge

Speaking before a crowd of almost 500
gathered in front of the Alfred E. Smith Building,
a string of union leaders, including CSEA
President William L. McGowan, called for the
election of the Mondale-Ferraro ticket as an
answer to union woes.

“I’m confident we can beat Ronny and his
friends before he outlaws our next Labor Day,”

Continued on page 12

CAR HOPPER
- Brian
Campbell, son
of CSEA Com-
munications As-
sociate Dan
Campbell,
hitches a ride in
an antique car
driven by
War 26, 3,
Motoney, a
member of
SUNY Albany
Local 691.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, September 7, 1984

4%
i OCA

nde
rere wl
a a

ROUT REAGAN RALLY — Paul Cole, secretary-
treasurer of the state AFL-CIO, was keynote

speaker for the Solidarity IV rally at Capitol Park.

down Central Ave.

AN UMBRELLA DAY — Members of one of CSEA’s locals carried rain-drenched banner

His barbs against the Reagan administration set
the mood for the noontime forum.

| ALBANY...
Continued from page 11

said William Hoffman, vice president of the International Union of Elec-
trical, Radio and Machine Workers.

Said McGowan: ‘‘This is great, great because unions are coming
together and acting like a family.”

Then he took the chance to get a few things off his chest about abuses
suffered by laborers in America.

“We've been had by management,” he said.

“When management told us that the auto workers caused the recession

we believed them. When management told us that the workers were
borrowing too much from banks and causing the banks to go bankrupt — we
believed them.

“But now,’’ McGowan said poking his finger into the cold s
cars selling like hot cakes, now after the workers have cut their
their benefits, increased their pr ‘oductivity — now management is taking all
the credit. Now management is giving themselves millions of dollars worth
of bonuses.

“And the workers are getting nothing but the blame,” he complained.

POUNDING PAVEMENT FOR UNIONS — Parade
marchers included Region IV President C. Allen
Mead and CSEA statewide Secretary Irene Carr.

4
ptt >
pow

Paul Tonko.

SPEAKING FOR CSEA — Susan Waltz, first vice president of Motor Vehicles Local 674, took
the podium at one point. In background are local state Assemblymen Richard Conners and

tae A PRUE A a TUT

esas
1984

—

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, September 7,

Page 12

Major AFL-CIO communications

campaign kicks off September 10

“Campaign for America’s Future,”
a major national advertising campaign
prepared by the AFL-CIO, will be
launched Sept. 10.

The campaign is a unique communi-
cations effort by the AFL-CIO and its
96 affiliated unions to use television, ra-
dio and newspapers to tell members
and the public about labor’s commit-
ment to issues important to all work-
ing Americans, and labor’s historic
dedication to democracy and building
better lives for all people.

The core of the coordinated commu-
nications effort is a series of televi-
sion commercials produced and
distributed by the AFL-CIO’s Labor
Institute of Public Affairs.

Based on the slogan, ‘‘Let’s fight for
the issues. Let’s care for the future,”
the campaign asserts labor’s commit-
ment to important public goals
such as education for children, affor-
dable health care, a good job for
everyone, fair trade and taxes.

It will run for three weeks on TV sta-

tions and networks. from the bargaining
In addition to the campaign, the table to the halls of & 7h
AFL-CIO has prepared its own TV ser- Congress, Labor (Braafl
ies, ‘“‘America Works,’ which fights for a better
premiered on more than 155 public tel- fas Ror every.
evisions stations over Labor Day 5 i y ET
weekend, including six stations in one. This message
New York state. : is the true story of 40
There are six new episodes of labor’s role in build-
“America Works,” which profiles un- ing a better America. 50

ion workers in a variety of different
jobs. Interested persons should check
stations or local listings for exact times
and dates.

America’s workers

are calling
for action
on the issues.

Issues that insure better opportunities for our-
selves and our children.

We believe all Americans deserve:
good public education, affordable
health care, fair taxes, justice and
dignity in the workplace, fair
trade policies, equal opportuni-
ties, a good job.

For over 100 years, work-
ing people and their unions
have stood up for America.

And we still do. From the
workplace to city hall,

\SSUES

We're fighting
for the issues be-
cause we care. Join
the 1984 Campaign
for America’s
Future. On radio
and TY this fall.
Presented by the
AFL-CIO. Produced by the Labor Institute of Public Affairs’

5)

Let’s Fight for the Issues.
Let's Care for the Future.

Meet the people
who make America work.
Tune in to AMERICA WORKS.
AMERICA

“A rare chance to hear authentic working people speak
their minds.” TV GUIDE

e “AMERICA WORKS wor
WASHINGTON POS:
Gay “Splendidly moderated.” Bees,
aie | NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Check your local listings for time and station.

Page 13

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, :° Jay, September 7, 1984

ry

STOP REAGAN'S RERUN

Democrats blame Reagan cuts

U.S. poverty rate increases to 15.2 percent
despite economic recovery in '83

WASHINGTON (PAI) — The nation’s poverty rate rose to 15.2 percent and
the number of poor Americans increased by nearly 900,000 last year despite the
economic recovery, the U.S. Census Bureau reported.

The increase from 15 percent in 1982 was the fifth consecutive annual rise
in the poverty rate. The number of persons living in poverty in America is the
highest since 1965, when the rate was 17.3 percent and the ‘“‘war on poverty”
programs began under President Johnson.

The number of poor people has increased by about 6 million since 1980, the
Bureau reported. In 1983, some 35.3 million people were living below the offi-
cial poverty line.

The Bureau said the increase in poverty was “unexpectedly high,” espe-
cially in view of its report that median family income, adjusted for inflation,
increased 1.6 percent last year to $24,580, the first such increase in four years.
In the past, the number of poor declined when there were increases in income.

At a Congressional hearing last November, White House Budget Director
David A. Stockman said, ‘‘I am absolutely confident that the poverty rate is go-
ing to decline dramatically for 1983.”

House Speaker Thomas P. O’Neill Jr. (D-Mass.) called a news conference
where he blamed the poverty increase on the Reagan-led cuts in programs for
ne poor: “Today we have the smoking gun of Reagan unfairness,”’ declared

"Neill.

Robert Greenstein, director of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities,
traced some of the rise in poverty to cuts in such programs as Aid to Families
with Dependent Children, unemployment insurance, public service employment,
and Social Security.

The Census Bureau offered what it called “‘at most a partial explanation
for the still high poverty level.’’ One reason, it said, could be “‘the lingering ef-
fects of the deep and lengthy 1981-82 recession.”’ It noted that the number of long-
term unemployed and the number who had exhausted their jobless benefits re-
mained high last year.

Other possible explanations the Bureau cited were increases in the number
of people living in families headed by women and in the number of adults not
living with any relatives. Both groups are more likely to be poor than the popu-
lation as a whole.

Rep. Robert T. Matsui (D-Calif.) charged at the Capitol Hill news confer-
ence that the large number of female-headed families in poverty is ‘‘directly
attributable” to the Reagan cuts in public assistance. The poverty rate for these
families was 36 percent in 1983.

About 37 percent of the increase in poor people was among children 6 years
and younger. The poverty rate in this group is about 25 percent.

But the Bureau said there also was ‘“‘no improvement among groups that
usually benefit from economic growth.” For example, it said married couple
families living in poverty “showed no significant change between 1982 and 1983,””
the rate staying unchanged at 7.6 percent.

The poverty rate for blacks was 35.7 percent in 1983, up slightly from 35.6
percent in 1982. The rate for Hispanic people was 28.4 percent last year, down
from 29.9 percent in 1982. For whites, the rate was 12.1 percent, up a notch from
12 percent.

The poverty rate declined in the South, rose in the Middle West and did not
change significantly in the Northeast or the West.

A family of four was classified as poor if it had cash income of less than
$10,178 in 1983.

Attacks on
Social Security
system aim to
destroy public
confidence

WASHINGTON — President Reagan apparently has
not given up on his goal of making Social Security volun-
tary and is “pounding away and pounding away”’ to un-
dermine public confidence in the program.

That’s how top spokespersons for the elderly interpret-
ed Reagan’s latest attack on Social Security.

Ina recent television interview in Texas, Reagan said
he would never ‘‘pull the rug out” from under current So-
cial Security beneficiaries and added: “There is a possi-
bility — well, probability — that many people, young
people now paying in, will never be able to receive as much
as they’re paying.”

Wilbur J, Cohen, co-chairman of the Save Our Secu-
rity coalition (SOS) and former secretary of Health, Edu-
cation and Welfare, said the “restructuring” alluded to by
Reagan and his appointees ‘‘is bad news for the Ameri-
can people.”

Cohen said Reagan’s attacks and remarks by Treas-

ury Secretary Donald Regan about “revising’’ Social
Security later in the ’80s lead him to believe that the
Treasury is working on changes in Social Security.

“T think there is a strategy behind it to constantly keep
on pounding away and pounding away,” Cohen said. He
said the effect, if not the aim, is ‘to destroy public confi-
dence in Social Security.”

Cohen noted that Reagan’s opposition to Social Secu-
rity dates back to his campaign rivalry with Senator Bar-
ry Goldwater in 1964. Reagan favors a voluntary approach,
arguing that people would earn more by investing what
they now pay into the federal system.

That may be true, Cohen said, ‘‘if you don’t get disa-
bled, if you don’t get sick, if you don’t get unemployed.”
He said Reagan ignores the fact that 42 percent of the So-
cial Security contribution goes for disability, survivors and
Medicare benefits; only 58 percent is for old-age pensions.

Reagan rule seen as ‘disaster’ for blacks, all workers

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — ‘‘The Reagan presidency has spelled disaster for
blacks and for all working people,” Norman Hill, president of the A. Philip Ran-
dolph Institute told over 750 black trade unionists and community leaders who
gathered here recently for the Institute’s 15th National Conference.

“The administration offers no programs that would serve to retrain black
and white workers displaced by the deep recessions which hit steel, auto and
manufacturing. It offers no concrete initiatives to deal with the rising rate of
black and white poverty. It offers no solutions to the flood of foreign goods which
are coming into our country,” Hill said.

Under such circumstances, Hill asserted, ‘The principal task for blacks and
the principal task for all workers must be to work for the defeat of Ronald Rea-
gan and for the election of a pro-worker, pro-civil rights, and therefore pro-black
administration.”

Paae 14 THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, September 7, 1984

Hill exhorted APRI leaders to go back to their communities and work as
never before to motivate black voters to get out and vote on Election Day. ‘‘We
must make sure that the enthusiasm with which blacks have thus far partici-
pated in the primaries is maintained through Nov. 6,” he said. ‘“The black com-
munity has been heard. But only if we vote in numbers greater than ever
before will we get rid of Reaganism and replace it with a humane, pro-worker
administration.”

AFL-CIO political education director John Perkins praised the institute for
its work of ‘advancing the well-being of millions of Americans through the po-
litical process.” Perkins sharply criticized the record of the administration, as-
serting that Ronald Reagan ‘“‘has been to the history of the presidency what
‘Wrong Way’ Corrigan was to the history of flight.”

|

(NEW CONTRACTS ———

Village of Liberty |

1 a
ae |
i |
e 3 |
| Signs 3-year pact
| LIBERTY — Public works employees in j
] this Sullivan county village will reap 19.5 per- |
el cent in pay increases over the next three |
J i years as a result of a recently ratified
contract.
RX According to CSEA Field Representative
% Steve Chanowsky, the workers, members of
dle Local 853, will receive 6.5 percent in pay in-
bats creases each year for the duration of the con-
ts tract, a new family vision plan and a paid holi-
a8 day for Martin Luther King Day.
a g 2 In addition, new contract language clarifies
s i ae yi " : distribution of overtime assignments and
SIGNED AND SEALED — Liberty Mayor Ida Frankel signs a recently ratified three-year contract posting of job openings and promotions.
for village employees who are members of CSEA Local 853. Seated with Frankel are Charles Tyler, a Serving on the CSEA negotiating team were
member of the negotiating team for the union; Unit Treasurer and team member Marvin Cox and Unit President Arthur Jersey, Charles Tyler,
Village Manager Jeffrey Carmen. Standing are Donald Watson of the village negotiating team; Leonard Mott, Bob McKay and Richard
CSEA Local 853 President Jim McNutt and Region III Field Representative Steve Chanowsky. Davis.
'~ 7 percent wage Sachem Library
: ike for Hunti he
hike forHuntington reaches agreement
¥
$ : ‘ R HOLBROOK — The Sachem Library Unit of
_ HUNTINGTON — The town of Huntington Unit, gis Suffolk County Local 852 recently settl-
CSEA Suffolk County Local 852, recently ratified ed negotiations for a new three-year agree-
% a three-year contract retroactive to Jan. 1, 1984. ment based on the PERB fact finder’s
The pact offers a7 percent increase each year and eecouimiendation
two new features. af ae :
» z _ Unit President Dorothy Goetz won additional Poe Mae Sanaa Seeman hal
| r increments for a number of elerks, clerk/typists An improved longevity award. Salaries vill be
e- and Stenographers. WS) agreement coe increased 6 percent, plus step, retroactive to
‘ Dresses sity scree uperadne ibe low July 1, 1984, 7 percent plus step, effective July
end. an =’s comparable wo : ae fa ee a BS
studies were a valuable tool in negotiations, ac- ea ae increase, plus step,
{ cording to Chief Negotiator George Peak and Th aise Z -
Hi i ‘ < i: e negotiating team was headed by Unit
| Field Representative Jim Walters. President Barbara Harrington along with
The unit also entered the Suffolk County Benefit Sharon Montalbano, and was assisted by
[
| f Fund under the new agreement. Z Irwin M. Scharfeld, field representative.
| 4 The unit also won the day after Thanksgiving
| ‘ a oa as a holiday, a night differential, an increase in
e |; “ ¥ ub the amount of accumulated sick leave allowed,
DOROTHY GOETZ, unit president, explains new Payment of 50 or more days of accumulated sick
contract at meeting of Huntington bargaining leave on death and the addition of accumulated
unit. sick leave to retirement service.
se a nv SRSA SNTRRE SEER SSA A TNE RSA TUNE RIT ETEENN DS NO
'S
e
ALL’S FAIR — Thousands of those who at-
tended the New York State Fair in Syracuse
recently stopped by the exhibit sponsored by
AFSCME, Staffing the booth at the pre-
Labor Day event were volunteers from AF-
SCME’s New York affiliates, including
e CSEA. Statewide Treasurer Barbara Faus-

er, right, and Onondaga County Local 834
President Pat Callahan put in a stint at the
union exhibit and put smiles on the faces of
youngsters who received CSEA/AFSCME
balloons.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, September 7, 1984

Page 15

Page 16

These Sullivan County workers

SLIM AND TRIM — Sullivan Coun-
ty Sheriffs Department Unit Presi-
dent Fred Rock, left, shows a
chart that recorded the 143 pounds
of weight lost by 14 employees who
participated in a recent weight con-
trol program. With Rock are three
participants: Sheriff Joseph Was-
ser, Lt. Julio Cabrera and Deputy
Jordan Marlin.

By Anita Manley
CSEA Communications Associate

LIBERTY — Fourteen Sullivan County Sheriffs Department employees
are 143 pounds lighter and the American Heart Association is $100 richer
thanks to a program conceived by a CSEA nember and the county sheriff.

The project began in February when Lt. Julio Cabrera, a member of
CSEA Local 853, received information from his boss concerning ideal body
weight in relation to stress and risk factors. His boss, Sheriff Joseph Wasser,
had just returned from an FBI law enforcement seminar where ‘‘they kept
emphasizing stress and risk factors in people working in the law enforcement
field.”

Armed with his statistics, Wasser distributed information and weight
charts to his employees. .

Cabrera, who was slightly overweight, decided he and his fellow workers
needed an incentive to lose those extra pounds and proposed a voluntary
weight control program. Participants would pledge to lose a certain number
of pounds within a set time frame. Those who did not reach their goal would
be fined $1 for each pound they did not lose. The monies collected would be
donated to the American Heart Association.

Of 15 employees who participated, five met or went beyond their goal,
five came very close, and one gained a pound. Cabrera lost the most weight
— 27 pounds. Sheriff Wasser, who's goal was 6% pounds, lost 10.

Cabrera credits the program for giving the participants the motivation
to lose the weight. Although no special diet was prescribed, each participant
took it upon himself to cut down on fats and sweets and to start some sort
of exercise program. Cabrera, who jogs daily, said he increased his daily run

2 recently lost an awfullot —
, but theyre happy about it

Sheriffs’ loss is
in weight control program promoting health

Heart Association’s gain

to 6% miles. He also cut down his meal portions, eating mostly salads, fish
and fowl — and no dessert.

“You need willpower,” Cabrera noted.

All participants benefited from the program, he added. More than $100
was raised for the American Heart Association (even those who lost all their
weight donated to the fund) and 14 formerly overweight CSEA members have
developed new and better eating habits. Cabrera says he is so pleased that
he plans on repeating the program next year for those who did not sign up
this year.

“Just think,” said one very happy loser, “‘if we get all the overweight
employees who sign up, we’ll have the trimmest looking sheriff department
in New York state.”

Carr testifies before House on day care

ee x WASHINGTON, D.C. — The on-worksite day care
J : program sponsored by CSEA and New York state was
the topic of testimony presented this week by
statewide Secretary Irene Carr to the U.S. House of
Representatives Select Committee on Children, Youth

and Families.

unions could follow.

stage.

“THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, September 7, 1984

Commending the committee for conducting hear-
ings on child care, Carr explained that CSEA and
AFSCME believe child care is a critical concern of all
working families and described the New York pro-
gram as a model which other public employers and

The system, which originated from contract
negotiations in 1979, now operates 18 day care centers
at state worksites and serves more than 1000 children
of employees. Two more centers are pending, and
after-school care for older children is in the planning

“Start-up costs and equipment are paid for froma
fund to which CSEA and the state contribute,” Carr
explained. ‘The state provides space and main-

tenance for the sites, but all operating costs are
paid from fees, which range from $39 to $55 a week,
based on a sliding income scale. Each of 18 existing
centers is in the black.”

The CSEA officer cited a recent survey that
underscores parents’ enthusiasm about the care pro-
vided at the centers, telling the representatives:

+ 88 percent of parents observed positive effect in
their children since they began attending the center;

¢ 83 percent of parents worry less about their
children;

+ 92 percent said their children were eager to go to
the center each day;

* and 45 percent of women said the center either
enabled them to.become employed, remain employed
or return to work sooner than otherwise would have
been possible.

“CSEA and AFSCME believe the New York State

ment and government cooperation which has produc-
ed sustaining benefits for all,” Carr concluded.

Day Care program is a fine example of labor, manage- -

- Pay equity legislation for government
employees on the books in 15 states

WASHINGTON — Fifteen states have enacted comparable worth legisla-
tion for government employees and another five states have passed resolutions
seeking enactment of such legislation, according to a recent report by the Bureau
of National Affairs (BNA).

e In New York state, the Center for Women in Government will launch a
comparable worth study this fall under the CSEA/New York state collective
bargaining agreements. The study, which is expectéd to be completed early
next year, will detail whether ‘New York state job titles filled primarily by
women and minorities are undervalued.

The states which have already enacted pay equity statutes are Alaska, Ar-
kansas, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Min-
nesota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee and West
Virginia.
goal for state, employees include California, Iowa, Montana, Oregon and
Washington. i

e The BNA said that while federal statutes requiring equal pay for equal work
have been law for many years, the concept of paying equal wages for jobs that
are not identical but that are determined to be comparable in terms of worth,
strikes ‘‘fear in the heart of many employers.”

Despite some recent landmark cases on the matter — most notably in the
states of Washington and Minnesota — women who work fulltime, year-round
are paid only about 60 percent of what the average fulltime working male is
paid.

KINGSTON — A number of problems in the payroll department at the
Ulster County Infirmary have been cleared up, thanks to the efforts of
Region III field staff and CSEA Ulster County Local 856 President Sean
Egan.

Payroll discrepancies — including workers not getting paid properly or
in a timely manner — had been escalating, adding to an already low morale
due to the usual stresses of shortstaffing and overtime work.

In addition, employees said they were met with patronizing attitudes,
evasive answers and endless red tape by administrators when they attemp-
ted to correct payroll mistakes. Payroll office workers complained they
were never properly trained.

Section President Shirley Blum said she met with frustration when she
tried to speak to infirmary administrators, who said they felt the problem
was ‘‘minimal.””

Egan and Field Representative Steve Chanowsky met with county of-
ficials numerous times but promises to straighten out the situation were
never kept. Blum warned CSEA staff that morale was low.

In an effort to bring about a resolution, Region III field staff and Egan
called 14 county legislators, and Ulster County Legislative Chairman Bill
West consented to meet with Egan and Personnel Commissioner Tom
Costello to try to solve the problems.

West agreed to confront the problems in several ways. Short term solu-
tions include the addition of a parttime staff person from the county person-
nel office to oversee operations in the payroll department; improved
documentation of personal and vacation leave and shift changes; and an in-
house training program for payroll staffers. He added that policies and pro-
cedures would be reviewed by the personnel commissioner at a later
meeting. As a result of that meeting, Costello proposed that employees be
given a printout of their payroll record three days before payday so that
they could review the printout and make any corrections before paychecks
were actually issued.

As for long-term solutions, West told Eagan and employees of the infir-
mary that a new payroll system was being considered by the county and
would be on line by next year.

State fails in attempt to dismiss employee

ALBANY — New York state's at- The employee was suspended for

According to the BNA, a private, bi-partisan research group, ‘despite all
the media attention devoted to the issue, the Supreme Court has not issued a
single substantive ruling on comparable worth and Congress has not passed one
piece of comparable worth legislation.”

The organization says prospects for enactment of federal legislation this
yee are dim, as the Reagan administration continued to review its policy on
the matter.

REMINDER: Register now for |
women’s studies program in NYC

NEW YORK CITY — Applications for the fall semester are now being
accepted for the Public Service Women’s Studies program of the Institute
for Women and Work, sponsored by the New York State School of Labor and
Industrial Relations at Cornell University.

Courses are being offered in effective writing and interpersonal relations,
and are open to women in salary grades 3-12.

Clases begin Sept. 13 and will be held on Thursday evenings from 5 to
8 p.m. at the Cornell facility at 15 B. 26th St. Both the date and time were
incorrectly listed in a previous edition of The Public Sector.

Payroll problems in check at county infirmary

tempt to terminate an employee
who was brought up on disciplinary
charges was denied in a recent
Supreme Court decision.

In the case, a senior motor vehi-
cles license clerk pleaded guilty to
the charges, and the state proposed
a penalty of termination.

An arbitrator found the employee
guilty of the charges, but deter-
mined, based upon the employee’s
record of employment and evidence
at the hearing, that termination was
not an appropriate penalty.

10 months and then reinstated
without back pay.

The state moved to vacate the
award, arguing it was a breach of
publie policy to retain an employee
who has been found guilty for violat-
ing the Penal Law relating to the
performance of his duties.

Justice Con G. Cholakis upheld
the arbitrator’s decision, calling it
“entirely reasonable and justified.’’

CSEA Attorney William M.
Wallens of the law firm of Roemer
and Featherstonhaugh handled the
case.

TALKS PAY OFF — Ulster County Legislative Chairman Bill West, left,
talks with Local 856 President Sean Egan about methods of dealing with
numerous payroll problems at the Ulster County Infirmary.

Region III staff members went a step further. On the following payday,
four field representatives were assigned to the infirmary to meet with any
employees who were improperly paid. Not only were there fewer discrepan-
cies this time, but the problems that did exist were easily resolved.

While Region III staff members are pleased with the progress made,
they are still disturbed that it took county officials more than five months to
take the situation in hand and resolve it. And, they ask, why have the infir-
mary comptroller and the administrator not been held accountable for not
training their staff and for their lack of action when the problems began?

Until the answers come, Region III will not consider the case closed.

Political action rebate on dues

ALBANY — CSEA members and agency fee payers who object to the ap-
propriation of a portion of their dues or agency shop fees for political or ideo-
logical purposes unrelated to collective bargaining can obtain a rebate. The
CSEA political rebate amounts to $3.92.

The union’s procedures call for rebate applications to be submitted by
certified or registered mail addressed to the statewide treasurer. Applica-
tions will be accepted during the month of October.

Individual applications should be submitted; lists of members and fee
payers are not acceptable. ach application for reimbursement must include
the individual’s Social Security number.

AFSCME’s Constitution also includes a rebate procedure. The Interna-
tional secretary-treasurer calculates the portion of per capita payment or
service fee equivalent that has been used for partisan political or ideological
purposes during the fiscal year and rebates that amount upon proper appli-
cation.

Individuals applying to CSEA for political action rebate are not required
to file separate applications to the International. CSEA will forward requests
it receives to the AFSCME secretary-treasurer.

THE PUBLIG SECTOR, Friday, September 7, 1984 Page 17

The Union Label and Service Trades Department, AFL-CIO has placed
the following employers on its unfair list. Please do not use their products
or services.

American Buildings Co., metal structures — United Steelworkers of
America;

Capital Cities Communications, Inc., owner of the Kansas City Star —
International Typographical Union;

Foss Launch and Tug Co., Seattle, Wash. — International Organization
of Masters, Mates and Pilots;

Liberty Glass Co., Sapulpa, Oklahoma, soft drink bottles — Glass, Pot-
tery, Plastics & Allied Workers International Union;

Mapco Petroleum Inc. (Delta Refinery) gasoline, diesel and other petrole-
um products — Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers International Union;

Michelin Tire Corp. ., automobile tires — United Rubber, Cork, Linoleum
& Plastic Workers of America;

Nevada Resort Association, 26 Las Vegas hotel-casinos — Hotel Em-
ployees and Restaurant Employees International Union, American Federa-
tion of Musicians, International Alliance of ‘Theatrical Stage Employees,
Associated Actors and Artists of America;

New York Air, scheduled airline — Air Line Pilots Association;

Perdue Farms, dressed chicken and chicken parts — United Food & Com-
mercial Workers International Union;

R-Way Furniture, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, furniture — United Furniture
Workers of America;

Sanderson Farms, Miss Goldy chickens, Southern Beauty chickens — In-
ternational Chemical Workers Union;

Sinclair Oil of Wyoming, oil and gasoline, hotels and resorts — Oil,
Chemical and Atomic Workers Union;

United Artists & Syufy Enterprises, motion picture theaters — Service
Employees International Union;

U.S. Marine Corp., Force marine engines and Bayliner boats — Allied
Industrial Workers.

SHEILA MAGEE,

Mental Health Worker Ill,

Rockland County Community Mental Health Center, Pomona
“CSEA is vital in promoting unity among its members. | am grateful to

my unit president, who has been extremely helpful in advising me of

available union resources.”

ALBANY The New York state
‘that

TO: CSEA Research Department

a]
d
=)
1
d
a PROMS ote ee
|
q

CSEA Research Department gathering info
on abusesi in Civil Service appointments —

Describe any incident(s) which you believe demonstrates an abuse engaged in by your local civil service com- | |
mission or personnel office, either affecting you or your co-workers.

eee

CSEA Civil Service Questionnaire f
t
(Name) t

(Address)

Personnel Officer:

vice commission or pers
fice, please fill out the adjacent |

pet SS See

Name of Civil Service Commission/

questionnaire. Send to: CSEA Research Department, 33 Elk St., Albany, N.Y. 12207
All responses will be kept
confidential, es ym cence ye eer sen nme ere nen seems a nn —n——cscnnen
Page 18 THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, September 7, 1984

RECEIVING AWARDS — It is a happy day for Martha Ann Falk and
David Argen, third and fourth from left, two of the five 1984 winners of
scholarships from CSEA Local 833 Oneida County. On hand for the presen-
tation at a recent local outing were, left to right, Marge Maxon, chair-
woman for the scholarship committee; William Falk, Martha Ann’s

UTICA — CSEA Local 833 Oneida County has announced the names of
five students to receive a total of $1,000 in scholarship awards for 1984.

Dorothy Penner, president of Local 833, along with scholarship commit-
tee members Marge Maxon and Joanne Melisko, announced the winners at
a recent local outing near Utica.

The awards are presented annually to sons or daughters of parents or
guardians who are members of CSEA Local 833.

The 1984 winners:

Terry Stein, a 1983 graduate of Sauquoit Central School, will continue her
education at Mohawk Valley Community College. Her mother, Darlene Stein,
works for the Oneida County Purchasing Department.

David Knox, son of Patricia Knox, an employee with the county Social
Services Department, is a 1984 graduate of John F’. Kennedy High School,
in Utica. He also plans to attend Mohawk Valley Community College.

Martha Ann Falk, daughter of William Falk, an employee of the Oneida
County Planning Department, is a 1984 graduate of Clinton Central School.
Nae will continue her education at SUNY Oneonta.

Oneida Local 833 awards scholarships

~

father; winners Falk and Argen; Victoria Argen, David’s mother; Dorothy
Penner, president, CSEA Local 833 Oneida County; and CSEA Region V
President Jim Moore. Other 1984 winners were Terry Stein, David Knox
and James Benedetto.

David Argen, son of Victoria Argen, an Oneida County Social Services
employee, is a 1984 graduate of New York Mills Senior High School. He has
also enrolled for the fall term at Mohawk Valley Community College.

_ The fifth 1984 winner is James Benedetto, a 1983 graduate of Notre Dame
High School, in Utica. He is currently studying at Wagner College, Staten Is-
wae His mother, Mary Benedetto, works for the Department of Social

ervices,

Local 833 President Dorothy Penner said the 1984 scholarships mark the
10th year the local has made the awards to deserving children of Oneida
County Local 833 members.

“As president of the local, I want to express my gratitude to the mem-
bers of the scholarship committee for their time and effort in reviewing the
candidates,” Penner said.

“T can think of no better way to utilize a portion of our union treasury
than to help defray educational expenses for deserving students and their par-
ents who are dedicated county employees and members of CSEA.” oD

Agreement
wraps up year
of bargaining
for Oneonta

city employees

ONEONTA — After nearly 12 months of negoti-
ations that included delays for mediation, fact-
finding and charges of improper practice by both
sides, 66 city of Oneonta employees finally have
a new contract.

Gerald Phelan, CSEA field representative and
chief negotiator for the Oneonta City Unit of Otse-
go County Local 839, said the main dispute was
resolved by a compromise regarding “‘on call”
language.

Explaining terms of the new two-year agree-
ment, Phelan pointed out that both sides had
reached a tentative agreement twice after medi-
ation in December and again in June. However,
when CSEA noticed several important omissions
in the city of Oneonta’s version of the pact, an im-
proper practice charge was filed which forced
negotiations to continue for an additional eight
months.

“In my opinion,” Phelan said, “‘the filing of the
IP charge was important in terms of obtaining
retroactive pay and hammering out the final

agreement. It took a lot of patience and determi-
nation.”

The two-year package includes:

e An increase of 6 percent for all employees,
retroactive to Jan. 1, 1984.

@ An increase of 5 percent for all employees ef-
fective Jan. 1, 1985.

@ All promoted employees shall receive a mini-
mum increase of 3 percent.

© Both sides agree to submit the dress code
question to a labor/management committee
chaired by a PERB mediator.

e Improvements in the “‘on call” procedure
that include employee input into ‘‘on call’ hours
scheduled and hours off while ‘‘on call.”

@ Use of a city vehicle will also be provided for
“on call” employees.

In thanking his negotiating team, Phelan said,
“T want to express my sincere appreciation to Unit
President and Committee Chairman Mike Naples,
George Smith, Charles Scarzafava, Claudia Nara-
gon and Otto Butz.”’

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, September 7, 1984

Page 19

EELS RE EC TE

By Anita Manley
CSEA Communications Associate
i KINGSTON — Ulster County officials and members of CSEA have re-
| cently agreed that county highway department employees should discontinue
» the use of wood treated with pentachlorophenol and creosote pending recom-
"| mendations from the New York State Department of Health and the Depart-
|) ment of Labor.
al According to Region III OSHA Specialist Linda Siccardi, the workers were
} concerned about the safety of chemicals used to treat the wood.

CSEA Local 856 Shop Steward Joseph Van Dyke said the wood, used for
the last three years for bridge work and other construction, has caused skin
/ irritation by contact and a burning sensation of the throat from fumes. In
) asurvey taken by Siccardi, the men noted that the symptoms disappear when
|) they stop working with the wood.

HORROR STORY — Ulster
County Highway Department
worker Joseph Van Dyke looks
over an EPA draft on treated
wood. “It reads likes a horror
story,” says Van Dyke.

LINDENHURST—The Highway Department Garage
in this Long Island village has been made safer
thanks to cooperation between labor and
management.

In response to a CSEA recommendation that an

(ULSTER HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT HALTS
USE OF TREATED WOOD PENDING REPORT

dbyt Bocids

Van Dyke added that although precautions have always been taken not
to burn the wood because of the danger of toxic gases, no recommendations
ever have been made for handling it. Van Dyke said he was concerned about
possible long-term ill effects.

Siccardi has requested a lab analysis of the wood to determine the exact
quantities of the chemicals used to treat it.

Meanwhile, the issue is currently being addressed by the Federal
Register. In a proposal drafted by the Environmental Protection Agency, the |
following excerpted precautions have been recommended:

© ‘Dispose of treated wood by ordinary trash collection or burial. Treated
wood should not be burned in open fires or in stoves or fireplaces because toxic
chemicals may be produced as part of the smoke and ashes. Large quanti-
ties of treated wood from commercial or industrial use may be burned in com-
mercial or industrial incinerators in accordance with federal regulations. |

e “Avoid frequent or prolonged inhalation of sawdust from treated wood.
When sawing and machining treated wood, wear a dust mask. Whenever pos-
sible, these operations should be performed outdoors to avoid indoor accumu-
Jations of airborne sawdust from treated wood. ig

e ‘Avoid frequent or prolonged skin contact with pentachlorophenol- |
treated wood. When handling treated wood, wear tightly-woven coveralls and |
use gloves impervious to the chemicals (for example, gloves that are vinyl- |
coated).

e “When power sawing and machining, wear goggles to protect eyesfrom |
flying particles.

e “Wash exposed areas thoroughly after skin contact, and before eat:
ing, drinking or use of tobacco products.

@ “If oily preservatives or sawdust accumulate on clothes, launder be-
fore reuse. Wash work clothes separately from other household clothing.

e “Urethane, shellac, latex epoxy enamel and varnish are acceptable |
sealers for pentachlorophenol-treated wood.” f

This proposal will become law on Feb. 1, 1985 if it is not challenged. |

Siccardi suggested that anyone working with treated wood should ask |
their supervisor or employer for information on how the wood is treated so |
that proper precautions can be taken.

Members should contact their safety committee chairman or regional
oN eta ie more information. |
CPL MONT a SON rf ~ NOREEN

Health office fights
bugs on homefront

emergency exit be provided at the rear of the garage,
the village has installed a door. Unit President Tony
Polidino was responsible for convincing manage-
ment of the importance of the safety precaution.

FISHKILL — The Region Ill Safety and Health Com-
mittee will sponsor an asbestos seminar Sept. 20 at
7 p.m, in the Region Ill Office, Old Route 9.

Guest speaker will be Samuel Syrotynski, chief of
the Indoor Air Quality Section of the New York State
Bureau of Toxic Substances. Topics will include
asbestos-related diseases, unnecessary exposure,
personal protective equipment and managing
asbestos in buildings. Questions and answers will
follow the presentation,

The meeting is limited to 50 participants, so early
enrollment is urged. For further information, contact
Linda Siccardi, Region Ill OSHA specialist, at (914)
896-8180.

Page 20

THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, September 7, 1984

By Daniel X. Campbell
CSEA Communications Associate

ALBANY — State Health Department em-
ployees, who are normally involved in battling
bugs in other public and private sector worksites,
have a little pest problem of their own.

Paper fleas — “psocids”’ as they are more com-
monly known among bug experts — have invad-
ed a health department keypunch room and a
paper storage area as well as other heavy paper
work areas in the 34-story building.

The tiny bugs, approximately 1/3 of a mil-
limeter long, are ‘‘non-parasitic’’ and don’t nor-
mally bite humans as do mosquitos, for example.
But they do crawl and when hit on the skin release
an irritant which causes a rash when scratched

‘alth Department is on top of the situa-
tion,’’ CSEA Local 664 President Anthony Mus-
catiello said. ‘It’s acting very professionally, even

ina relatively minor case such as this and we are
getting to see how the department functions when
it responds to a bug problem.”

The health department has overseen the spray-
ing of the problem areas and is attempting to cor-
rect the situation. But the elimination of the
problem will take time.

“Unfortunately, due to a lingering ceiling water
problem, the recent spate of humid weather and
an abundance of paper supply, the data entry
room seems to have offered a perfect haven and
breeding ground for these tiny creatures,” a
department memo reads.

“To say the department is bugging OGS about
correcting the various problems would be an un-
derstatement,”’ Muscatiello quipped. ‘But the
department has put its chief entomologist, Dr.
Thomas Best, in charge of resolving the problem
and he is known for getting the job done and done
right.”