The Work Force, 2001 November

ee ee pie Sond par et Same

Vol. 4 af No. 11 ae 2001

Onondaga ‘Comnty Aging and Youth Services
CSEA member Phil Graham and his wife,
Amy, comfort each other as they take in a
memorial gathering in Syracuse's Clinton
Square recently. The ceremony “brought us
some community awareness and a feeling
that we're all in this together,” Graham said.

In this issue:
Complete coverage
of CSEA members’
response to

Sept. 11 attacks
Running for their lives...

for relief workers.

fouch with the Work Force.
for those missing.......

CSEA leaders meet with NYC

Note: The comprehensive coverage of
World Trade Center-related news in this
edition left little room for The Work
Force's regular coverage. Readers can visit
CSEA's Web site at wwiw.csealocall000.net
for more union news.

Photo of the Month Pataki warns of $3B gap,

proposes hiring freeze

As this edition went to press, Gov. George
Pataki outlined plans for saving the state $3
billion the next 18 months in the aftermath
of the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade
Center.

Among the governor's proposals:

* A “hard” hiring freeze in state employment;
« An early retirement incentive for state
employees;

© Directing all state agencies to develop
plans for reducing spending;

* Eliminating all non-essential discretionary
spending;

+ Restructuring the state debt.

Numerous local and county governments
are also facing fiscal difficulties under the
baseline state budget state lawmakers
adopted this summer.

“These are times of unprecedented
difficulty and CSEA is highly concerned
about the ability to deliver essential services
at every level of government in this state —
especially at a time when needs are likely to
increase,” said CSEA President Danny
Donohue.

“It is our expectation that all state
agencies, as well as localities and other
public employers, will seek ideas and
suggestions from their front-line employees
on ways to better do the job rather than
simply imposing top-down cutbacks and
demands,” Donohue said.

State government officials said the hiring
freeze and early retirement plan would be
designed to cut 5,000 jobs from the state
work force.

Pataki said he would try to avoid any
forced layoffs or tax increases, although he
didn’t rule out delaying some already
approved tax cuts scheduled to take effect
over the next several years.

State Comptroller H. Carl McCall said the
state’s general fund receipts were already
about $528 million lower than expected for
the first six months of the state fiscal year
that started’April 1.

(See related story on the Fiscat Policy
Institute’s report on the economic Mallent,
Page 15.) .

Anthrax exposures demand
careful handling of mail

The state has issued these precautions for
handling mail in the wake of recent
exposures to anthrax.

General:
¢ Every business and organization should
assess and review their protocols for
handling mail. Common sense and care
should be used in inspecting and opening
mail or packages.
* Examine unopened envelopes for foreign
bodies or powder.
* Do not open letters with your hands — use
a letter opener.
* Open letters and packages with a minimum
of movement to avoid spilling any contents.
* Each organization should assess whether it
is a possible target for criminal acts. Based
on this assessment, you may wish to take
additional precautions such as wearing
gloves and restricting the opening of mail to
a limited number of trained individuals.

What Types of Letters May be Suspect:
* Any letter or package that hasSuspicious
or threatening messages written on it.
¢ Letters with oily stains.
* Envelopes that are lopsided, rigid, bulky,
discolored or have a strange odor.
* Envelopes with no return address.
* Unexpected envelopes from foreign
countries.
* No postage or non-cancelled postage.
* Improper spelling of common names,
places or titles.

More information may also be obtained by
calling the state Health it, Bureau
of Communicable Disease Control: 518-472-
1730 (day); 518-465-9720 (after hours).

In New York City, call New York City
Department of Health: 212-788-9830 (day);
Poison Control Center 212-764-7667 (after
hours).

Visit the CSEA Web site at

www.csealocal 1000.net.

Pere] THE WORK FORCE November 2001
New benefits for relief workers

CSEA marshals resources, members
to handle World Trade Center attack

CSEA continues to marshal its resources
and mobilize its members to help relief and
recovery efforts for the families of the
victims of the terrorist attack on the World
Trade Center.

Five CSEA members, all at the state
Department of Taxation and Finance who
worked in the trade center, are reported
missing.

The union is working closely with the
state Governor's Office of Employee
Relations (GOER) and other state and local
agencies to help state workers who are
affected by the devastation and speed
relief efforts,

“There are thousands of dedicated state
employees who are working to help make
sure everyone's needs are met,” said Gov.
George Pataki.

“New Yorkers have been strong and
courageous throughout this horrific ordeal,
but | want everyone to know they are not
alone during these troubling times,” the
governor added.

CSEA President Danny Donohue lauded
the governor's “strong leadership” during
the tragedy,

'Disaster funds

Two disaster relief funds have been
set up to help families of the victims
of the World Trade Center terrorist
attack.

Checks may be made payable to:
AFSCME September 11 Fund

MOURN

for the dead Send checks
to CSEA
Headquarters,
143 Washington
Ave., Albany, NY
12210 ATTN:
Disaster Relief
Fund

“It is at times like these when all New
Yorkers must come together, be strong and
defend our state and nation,” Donohue said
in letter to Pataki.

“Your actions have encouraged and
strengthened the resolve of all New
Yorkers and we are grateful,” Donohue
said.

Tighter security at state offices

Recovery and relief efforts continue as
Pataki announced stricter security
measures for state buildings and offices.

Donohue praised the heightened security
measures, saying: “These are
unprecedented events and we need to take
every measure we can to ensure safety and
security.”

Donate vacation days

State and local government workers can
donate either a half day or one unused
vacation day to the state, which will
convert the time to cash and donate the
sum to the relief effort,

As much as $37 million could be raised if
each state worker contributed one

On the Cover ]

ALAS . P’

Union members grieve during a
memorial service Oct. 11 at the state
Office Campus in Albany for state
Department of Taxation and Finance
and Department of Transportation
workers who were killed or remain
missing in the World Trade Center.

vacation day to the fund, union leaders
said. CSEA insisted local government

See RESOURCES, Page 18

Metro Region staff recall terror

By David Galarza
CSEA Communications
Associate

‘As | emerged from the
subway station the morning
of Sept. 11, 1 walked into a
nightmare.

The sight of the World
Trade Center on fire was
beyond comprehension.

Crowds of people stared in
disbelief while others waited
on long lines for public
telephones to call their
families.

l immediately raced to the
CSEA Metropolitan Region
office just down the street,

I recalled the many CSEA
members | had met on the
86th floor of the South Tower
during an information day
about a month earlier. | hoped
they had been evacuated.

From the 22nd floor of my
CSEA office only a few blocks
from the World Trade Center,
union secretary Evelina
Fernandez and office
assistant Denise Baker
watched the second plane
crash into the Southern
Tower.

“When we saw the second
one explode we knew it
wasn't an accident,” said
Fernandez. “You saw people
fly out of the building with
that explosion. It was
horrible,” she recounted.

Get everybody out

Just emerging from the

clogged midtown tunnel,

CSEA office manager Yolanda

Colon was frantically calling
the office.

“I just wanted to get to the

November 2001 THE WORK FORCE

office and get
everybody
out,” said
Colon. While
Colon's
husband, a
New York
City
detective,
raced to
report for
duty, she
managed to get a call through
to the CSEA office and
ordered everybody to
evacuate.

After evacuating our office,
I walked with Evelina on
Fulton Street toward the
subway station. We were
again overcome by the sheer
magnitude of the disaster. We

See STAFF, Page 18

Galarza

Page 3
ISSN 1522-1091

Official publication of
CSEA Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO
4143 Washington Ave.
Albany, NY 12210-2303
Danny Donohue, President

STEPHEN A. MADARASZ.
Communications Director & Publisher
STANLEY HORNAK
Deputy Director of Communications
RONALD S. KERMANI, Executive Editor
LOU HMIELESKI, Associate Editor
CATHLEEN HORTON
Graphic Design & Support Services
RALPH DISTIN, Graphic Artist
JANICE M. KUCSKAR
‘Communications Production Coordinator
BETH McINTYRE
‘Communications Secretary

The Work Force (USPS 0445-010) is
published monthly by The CSEA Publication Office:
449 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12210.
Periodical Mail Postage paid at Post Oftice,
‘Aipany, New York 12268,

Postmaster: Send address changes to:
CSEA, Attn: Membership Department,
143 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12210.
CSEA on-line: The CSEA web site
can be accessed at www.csealocal1000.net

Readers: ]
Sond any comments, complaints, aqpeations or iaaso: |
Puberer, The Work Force, 143 Washington Avenue,
‘Nts, NY 122102903.

COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATES

ROLANDO INFANTE. Long Island Region
(631) 462-0030
DAVID GALARZA Metropolitan Region
(212) 406-2156
JANICE MARRA Southern Region
(845) 831-1000
DAN CAMPBELL Capital Region
(518) 785-4400
MARK M. KOTZIN Central Region
(315) 433-0050
RON WOFFORD Western Region
(716) 886-0391
ED MOLITOR Headquarters
(S18) 257-1272

“oor aa

we

here is nothing more profound

that can be said about the
aftermath of Sept. 11 than the
message delivered by the actions and
labors of CSEA members.

CSEA members stand tall among
all those who serve and all those
who care.

The pages of this edition are filled
with outstanding examples of professionalism,
generosity and humanity Uthat speak volumes about your character
and resolve. No one can ever take that away from-you.

All of us are affected by these horrific events in so many
ways. Every day | hear new stories of personal tragedy and loss
from members of our CSEA family.

We must continue to remember that five CSEA brothers and
sisters — Yvette Anderson, Florence Cohen, Harry Goody, Marian
Hrycak, and Dorothy Temple, all employees of the state
Department of Taxation and Finance, remain among the missing.

I have seen the devastation at ground zero. I have met and
talked with members who escaped with their lives and those whose
heroic actions in the aftermath have saved lives and strengthened
our security.

It is hard to imagine what some of our brothers and sisters
have experienced.

We can never make it better for many of them — it is unlikely
that the pain will ever fully go away. But we must do our best to
share their grief and offer our support.

My sincere thanks and admiration to all of you, who are

making that unselfish contribution every day.

Peng THE WORK FORCE November 2001
42 empty chairs, thousands of heavy hearts

ALBANY — “On September 11, many lives changed forever. Mine
changed with the loss of my mother, Diane Moore Parsons,”

CSEA state Tax and Finance department member Frank
Tatum said, his voice choked with emotion.

Thousands of workers and union leaders who packed
an outdoor memorial service for the 42 state workers, 39
from the tax department and three
from the state transportation
department, killed in the World
Trade Center attack listened in
church-like silence.

They heard from one of their own — a fellow
worker who lost someone dear. He shared his
pain. They heard his wisdom.

“My mother was my inspiration,” Tatum told
the hushed crowd,

“She worked hard, lived honest and always put
others first,” he said.

Forty-two empty chairs, each
draped with the state flag, framed the
stage where Tatum spoke, a grim and
silent reminder of the loss that has
touched millions.

CSEA Executive Vice President
Mary Sullivat remenibered the five
CSEA members who worked at the
World Trade Center the day of the
attack and remain missing.
day, September 11, would be different for them and
sands of others,” Sullivan said.
hey were mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, sons and
daughters, friends and family. Part of us died with them.

“But a larger part of them lives on with us today and every day,”
Sullivan said.

Bagpipers delivered “Amazing Grace”
women wept.

“The world will never be the same again,” Tatum said softly.

“It's up to us to decide what kind of world we want it to be. We'd be
doing a disservice to the
memories of our loved ones

nto the crisp fall air. Men and

| A little table

It's a little table in the lobby of the state Department of

lost if we allowed ourselves to. | Taxation and Finance building in Albany.
66] feel horrible for be cold or hateful. Two or three employees at a time stop by and stare silently
all the families of “We owe it to them to do | at the table, whispering

our CSEA brothers good things.” | “Two children .

and sisters who died | “Great guy.”
in the Sept. I] —Dentel X. Campbell. | “What a laugh he had.”

tragedy.» “I can't believe it.”
: The table is decorated with mementos of
their 39 co-workers who are reported
cook, East Williston E missing in the World Trade Center attack.
School District, Long Island j : There's a bright red teddy bear about to
give a loving hug, a small créche celebrating
a family Christmas never to be.

There's a prayer card, a computer
drawing and a small array of photos from
happy times — weddings, parties and
birthdays.

No eulogy can better say what that little
table quietly proclaims: They were loved.

— Daniel X. Campbell

hohe

Thingy November 2001 THE WORK FORCE
Union leaders discuss World Trade Center
aftershocks with CSEA metro members

CSEA’s top statewide leaders met
with more than 100 Ls

leaders from New York City shortly
after the World Trade Center attack to
listen to their concerns and see how
the union can help members cope with
the disaster.

President Danny Donohue, Secretary
Barbara Reeves and Treasurer Maureen
Malone met with union activists and
leaders to discuss the aftershocks of
the terrorist attack,

“These are extremely difficult times
for our members and their families in
New York Cit:
can to help them with the stress and
anxiety this terrorist attack
has created,” Donohue said.

Hundreds of union members
who work for state
government offices in and near
the World Trade Center have
been relocated to other offices
in the metropolitan area.

‘Ads, CoRnenOrane =
poster honor heroes
and lives lost

MOURN

for the dead

| A CSEA tribute honoring
| the victims of the World
Trade Center attack —
including the five CSEA
members who remain
among the missing — and
those who have responded
is airing on radio and TV
stations statewide.
The television spots are
being broadcast in every
major city around the state
and the radio spots are
being broadcast during the
morning drive time on the
top news and information stations in every market.
Additionally, a print ad was published in The Chief
and the Legislative Gazette newspapers
‘The print ad uses CSEA’s award-winning staff
illustrator Ralph Distin’s rendering of the World Trade
Center which graced the cover of the October edition
of The Work Force.
| Copies of Distin's Work Force cover are being
reprinted as a commemorative poster for distribution
at the CSEA annual delegates meeting in Ruffalo

|” ‘The posters will also be sent to the six CSEA

| regional offices and will be available in mid-November,

cal and Unit

and C. will do all it

These relocations have
created problems with
child care, commuting,
and related workplace
issues, union leaders said.

“These trying times will
again test the strength
and resolve of our union,”
Donohue said

“All CSEA members are
profoundly affected by the attack,
and we're committed to helping
rebuild New York in any way we
can,” he added.

66 A sa new immigrant, I
feel both frustrated
and scared. Living in fear is
not the version of the
American dream I came

seeking.99

Clockwise from top left: CSEA President
Danny Donohue meets with CSEA
| member Cecilia Richards; CSEA Metro
| Region President George Boncoraglio
and Donohue meet with CSEA members;
| CSEA Treasurer Maureen Malone, right,
| meets with NYC Local President Vincent
| Martusciello; CSEA Secretary Barbara
Reeves, center, meets with Tax and
Finance activist Wanda Simmons, left,
and CSEA Labor Relations Specialist
Barbara Moore, right.

— Richard Fernandez,
groundskeeper, Nassau
County Department of Parks
and Recreation

Etsy November 2001 THE WORK FORCE
Pataki consoles CSEA tax members

Gov. George Pataki made
several trips to New York City
to survey the World Trade
Center destruction, the
recovery efforts and meet with
A members who work at
the state Department of
Taxation and Finance.

Five CSEA members from the
department's World Trade
Center office are listed as
missing. Dozens of other tax
department workers are also
unaccounted for.

Pataki told CSEA
Metropolitan Region President
George Boncoraglio and other
leaders and members at a
recent meeting he was proud
he state work force and
members’ continuing
efforts to help the families of
victims.

“As we direct our prayers
and thoughts to the victims of
these catastrophic events,
thousands of men and women from state
agencies and local governments across the

Gov. George Pataki meets with state Tax Department
workers in New York City.

Empire State continue helping their friends

and neighbors in New York City,” Pataki said.

CSEA members rise to crisis, keep lines open

‘The Japanese embassy was calling with $5
million.

An Australian rescue team was on the line,
begging to help.

A 6-year-old girl called, her words muffled by

mother works at the World Trade Center,
and she hasn't come home yet.”

More than 350 CSEA members who work in
the state Department of Taxation and Finance's
call center immediately started handling
emergency calls from New York City after the
terrorist attacks, as part of the State
Emergency Management Operation (SEMO).

During the seven days after the attack, union
members fielded more than 160,000 phone
calls, with more than 30,000 calls one day.
Emergency workers were requesting more

heavy equipment,
MOURN work gloves, body
for the dead bags and a list of
. funeral directors,
among other
necessities for the
rescue efforts.

“Our members went
above and beyond the
call of duty,” said
CSEA Local President
Ed Wysomski.
Realizing tax
department
co-workers were

Fight
he

Living

killed when two airliners el d inte the
World Trade Center, union members focused
on the task at hand — helping
the state’s emergency network
come up to speed.

“We were distraught at the
loss of our co-workers, but
when the phones beg
ringing, we realized we were
part of it, part of the state
emergency response effort,
part of the effort to fight Vanbuskirk
back,” said CSEA member
Andy Vanbuskirk, a phone operator.

Wysomski and department officials
applauded CSEA members’ selfless dedication
to their important jobs on the phone banks.

“They're giving up their time with their own
families to take care of the tax and

| move forward in the wake of the tragedy at the
World Trade Center, let us reflect on the seeds of
goodness that have been left behind,

For there has been much goodness in the wake
of this horror, as we have responded with
kindness, courage, generosity and determination.
g I've been struck with awe at the
courage of the employees directly
} affected by this terrible event.

I've been overwhelmed by the
generosity of employees who made
contributions of all kinds of disaster
relief.

I've been inspired by the skill,
compassion and dedication of
employees throughout the

As we at the state Tax Department begin to |

Roth

department in providing services to the victims |
and their families, and in staffing the State
Emergency Management Office phones. ]

Just as importantly, | am grateful to those who
have so calmly and competently kept our
‘operations afloat in the midst of this crisis.

‘And as I list just a few of these extraordinary
contributions, I know there are many, many more.

The 39 men and women from the Tax /
Department who were lost in this tragedy nave
left behind a legacy that we dare not squander,
and | invite you to join me in celebrating their
lives with the gift they have given us.

‘We have bonded together and learned to care |
about and support one another in a way that we
never have before. |

We have put aside petty differences and worked |
together as one, and have to focus on
things in life that are really important — the love
we have to share, our health, our children, and |
each other, |

Our lives have been changed forever, but it's
less about airport security and Wall Street than it
is about becoming the best that we can become,

As we move forward — for we must — we have
an obligation to those we have lost to embrace
the future with renewed vigor, unity and
compassion for one another and those we serve.

Arthur J. Roth |

Commissioner

New York State

Department of Taxation and Finance

finance families and the families of all
the victims,” Wysomski said.

“That's typical of what the tax and
finance workers often do, and they go
unnoticed and unrecognized,”
Wysomski added, noting union
members worked 16-hour shifts.

— Daniel X. Campbell
(See story about SEMO effort
‘on Pages 10 and 11)

room surgical technician, Nassau

“We were preparing to receive
survivors from the World
Trade Center, but the wait made it
clear to us that the loss of life was

going to be great.99

November 2001 THE WORK FORCE

— Jeanine Gutt, operating

University Medical Center

Page 7
Labor marches to remember, honor NYC
victims and heroes

CSEA President Danny Donohue lead a memorial march in late
September in Albany to honor the victims of the New York City
terrorist attack.

Hundreds of CSEA members joined union members from across the
Capital Region to remember those who died in the World Trade Center
attacks and honor those who toil in the recovery and relief efforts,

“The march was originally scheduled as a labor parade show:
the accomplishments of labor in the Capital District,” explained cee
Capital Region President Kathy Garrison, parade organizer.

“But we promptly refocused the meaning of the parade to honor
those lost in the horrific events of Sept. 11,” she added.

“Pm proud of our Capital Region CSEA members who turned out in
force to honor the workers killed in the attack and pay tribute to the
thousands who are involved in the relief efforts,” Garrison added.

Led by Donohue, the parade marshal, the throng marched past
cheering spectators who waved flags and sang patriotic tunes.

“There is much left to be
done,” Donohue said about the
recovery. efforts in New York City
which CSEA members are helping
with.

“CSEA members stand ready,
willing and able to help in any way
we can. Together we can rebuild
and heal this great state,”

Donohue added.

Originally

wi intended asa
labor parade,
organizers quickly
turned the Sept.
22 event into a

* memorial march.

» CSEA members
and their families
responded by
joining their union
brothers and
sisters from across
the Capital Region
in a display of patriotism, to
remember those who died in the
attacks and to
honor those who BM teluh iy)
work in the

America the beautiful...

Patriotism was abundant at the

Memorial March in Albany on Sept.
22 as union members came out to

honor the victims of the terrorist
attacks on Sept. 11. Above, a
marching band played music
appropriate for the day.

THE WORK FORCE November 2001
At right, CSEA President Danny Donohue talks with CSEA
member Willie Terry, center, of the state Tax and Finance
Department in Albany and another parade marcher.

Below right, Local 660 was one of many Capital Region
Locals that marched.

Below, a member assists CSEA Statewide Secretary
Barbara Reeves with an armband worn in remembrance
of victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Decades later,
it’s still true

“| know that America will
never be disappointed in its
expectation that labor will
always continue to do its
share of the job we now face and do it

| CSEA member Sharon
Majkut, a clerk at the state
Office of Family and Children

font : Services in Albany,

patriotically and effectively and IG Got

unselfishly. State Emergency
Management Office (SEMO)

MOURN support staff, &é

v — President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Majid heastocrieed inithe :

in a speech on Sept. 23, 1944, state forest rangers and finds the SEMO
three months after the Allied Forces work busy, tiring and worthwhile.
landed in Normandy “I definitely think people feel proud of
America and that they want to do what they
can and give what they can,” Majkut said.
Fight”

ie

f Lig

Page LO THE

= sss HE WORK FORGE

At ground zero and 150 miles away

ALBANY — There’s a second ground zero in New York State,

Strategically buried under yards of concrete and steel near
the State Police headquarters, the state Emergency Management
Office (SEMO) may be 150 miles from ground zero at the World
Trade Center, but it was the nerve center of the state’s response
to the terrorist attack.

CSEA members who work at SEMO have handled natural and
man-made disasters over the years, but their feverish work that
started at 9 a.m. Sept. 11 was unparalleled.

Gov. George Pataki lauded the hundreds of SEMO workers
who hunkered down for restless shifts, saying they responded
“heroically to a horrific situation,”

Weeks after the attack that
changed New York City’s landscape
and the nation’s psyche, CSEA
members continue to coordinate

relief efforts for emergency workers
at the World Trade Center.

“We're winding down, but not
winding up,” said Ken Bergmann,
the CSEA Capital District Local
president, his voice flat but with a
sharp edge of deep resolve.

“We've got to begin planning for
the next one. There will be a next
one — a flood, a hurricane, an
ice storm, something
unexpected, someplace,
somewhere, at sometime,” the
SEMO planning section chief
said.

SEMO coordinates the
response of 22 state agencies
to make sure the most
appropriate resources are dispatched to the disaster.

SEMO works with the local governments, volunteer
organizations and the private sector throughout the state to
develop disaster preparedness plans and provide training
and simulated disaster response exercises.

The unexpected arrives at New York's door with
unhalting regularity.

Since 1995, SEMO workers have shepherded New York
State through 15 federally declared disasters or
emergencies.

The $247 million in federal and state aid distributed by

Ken Bergmann

WORK FORCE

November

2001

SEMO during these emergencies before Sept. 11 will pale when
compared to the billions of dollars SEMO will administer and
oversee as the New York City skyline is rebuilt.

First response

“[ was an hour out of Westchester County heading for a
training session when I first heard that an airplane had crashed
into one of the WTC towers,” Bergmann said.

“I saw the second plane smash into the other tower on a TV
at a rest stop. I traveled on to the Westchester County
Emergency Management Office and helped there.”

Heavy with sadness, Bergmann recites the blur of dates and
times which are burned into his memory.

“The New York City Emergency Management Office was right
next to the World Trade Center. It was gone when the buildings

collapsed. Westchester County was sending in volunteer
firefightore to help the New York City fire dcpartment which had

suffered losses of over 300.

“Everybody (at SEMO) knew they had lost friends, family,
co-workers, but they knew that a system was in place to respond
and they knew they were the ones trained to do so. And they
did,” Bergmann said.

Inside the bunker

Inside the SEMO operation is the State Emergency
Coordination Center, the state’s 9-1-1
emergency response dispatch unit
staffed by CSEA member Dan Searless.

“The first call was about an air
hijacking and the second was about
the plane crashing into the building,”
Searless said about the first official
notice of the attack.

Searless and his colleagues in the
fortified subbasement began calling
the 22 state agencies representatives,
which are the SEMO front line.

Kevin Kraus, the CSEA Local
treasurer, is normally an associate
planner in SEMO but his role
changes to operation section chief
in a disaster.

“I'm a pit boss. | get a call
requesting 1,000 cots, I tell the floor
where the 22 agency reps sit what I

Kevin Kraus

DANNY
DONOHUE

STATEWIDE
PRESIDENT

he world changed
for all of us on
Tuesday Sept. 11.

An event of this kind
brings us all closer as Americans. For those
of us in the CSEA family, it was especially
meaningful.

Even in the early days following the
attack, the response of CSEA members, like
all of the labor movement, was tremendous.

‘There were blood drives, monetary
contributions and let us not forget the many
CSEA members who were involved either
directly or indirectly in the rescue and
recovery efforts. The outpouring of
self-sacrifice and generosity to the victims of
this horrific tragedy was inspiring.

In light of events of this magnitude,
everything else pales in comparison, but life
is more powerful than death, Little by little
we must all get on with the business of living.

To paraphrase the great labor organizer
Mother Jones, as we mourn for our dead we,
aS UNIONISTS, MUST Turn thls tragedy fnity aa
opportunity to renew and redouble our
commitment to fight for the living.

‘This time last year CSEA had a lot to
celebrate. It was our 90th anniversary and a
year in which CSEA members were mobilized
like never before throughout our 90-year
history. Because of member mobilization,
because of member participation because of
SHEER MEMBER POWER we won a good state
contract, a COLA for retirees and sweeping
pension reform that benefits all our members.

That was last year.

We must build on our past successes and
strive to build a better, even more effective
union,

Activism Matters

We have seen what member power at the
grassroots level can do so we have to tap into
that member power even further.

Our goal is to have the best trained group
of union activists you can find to ensure that
we can pursue CSEA's priority areas of
organizing, representation and political
action,

Our future depends on getting our
membership — the rank-and-file — to take

Supple

THE WORK FORCE

CSEA's 91st

Complete coverage of the convention
will be featured in the December edition
of The Work Force

ownership in their union, We have to change
the way CSEA members view, think, feel and
care about their union. That means we as
leaders also have to change. It cannot be
business as usual. We face new and
unprecedented challenges as workers and
unionists and must confront them in new
ways.

91°
\S aN MEETING

BUFFALO
2001

With the launch of the Leadership
Development Institute earlier this year, we
have already begun to lay the foundation for
amore powerful, more effective, more
inclusive CSEA. With the Leadership
Development Institute, CSEA leaders are
gaining the next generation of skills they need
to confront the critical challenges we face as
CSEA evolves as a union.

So far, nearly 100 CSEA activists and staff
have participated in this intensive, week-long
program, and every one has emerged with
new-found energy and enthusiasm about the
new direction this union is taking.

That new direction is a CSEA that grows
and thrives on maximum member
participation, a CSEA that offers something of
value to every member and a CSEA where
members have the power to set the union's
agenda based on the issues that matter to
them.

Nov

mb oo1

acne

Mobilizing Around Issues

CSEA must have maximum member
participation because our strength comes not
from the number of members we can count,
but from the number of members we can
count on.

Size does matter, but CSEA’s power comes
from the commitment and passion of our
members, not just numbers alone. So we
have to find new ways to engage our
members in activities and around issues they
care about.

For instance, there are about 700
members in CSEA's Oswego County
Administrative unit. It is not our smallest
unit, but by no means is it our largest either.

When the county chose to ignore a pay
equity issue that was close to their hearts, it

seemed there were closer to 7,000 Oswego
County members than 71

Angry over the county's refusal to deal in
negotiations with a five-year-old Civil Service
study that showed a majority of county
workers deserved pay upgrades, the
members took to the streets. They marched,
they chanted, they handed out brochures to
the public. They even wore stickers to show
management they were “sticking together” in
their fight for fairness.

They had already been without a contract
for more than a year because of this issue,
but they did not care if it took another year
more. They were united, they were
empowered and they were committed to the
fight

It didn't take another year, of course. The
county saw our members’ resolve, saw public
opinion firmly on our side, and today these
members have a new five-year contract that
includes pay upgrades. They made a
difference by standing up for what they
believed in.

continued on page 8

Page L
Mary E.
SULLIVAN

EXECUTIVE VICE
PRESIDENT

lhe world has
changed a lot
since the last time

we met in Buffalo for our Annual Delegates
Meeting in 1997, Certainly in the last two
months it has changed in ways that cannot be
considered for the better.

But we must accept the challenge of these
unspeakable acts to become stronger and
more united than ever before. As union
leaders, all of us gathered here must
rededicate ourselves to building a better, more
inclusive and effective union that can truly
represent the hopes of working people on and
off the job and to building a stronger America.

When we met here in 1997, we were just
beginning to define a new level of
consciousness in the labor movement. We
were just opening our eyes to how we in CSEA
could rise to the challenges before us.

The facts were clear - mobilize and grow or
face an inevitable decline in membership and
clout.

There is still much work to do but we
have made tremendous strides! We're building
a union that’s more relevant to its members,
Change doesn’t come easy, but in the last four
years, we have changed a lot. Look around you
and see how different things are from 1997.

Consider the Leadership Development
Institute — a brand new initiative designed to
help develop the talent and skills of a new
generation of activists. They represent the new
lifeblood of our union.

Those who have participated in the initial
programs have enthusiastically embraced the
message of taking ownership of their union and
passing that message of ownership on to the
rank and file members.

How do we make the union more relevant
to our members if we don’t spend the time
with them to find out what is relevant and
work to get them active?

There is no substitute for activism - getting
out and getting results - and CSEA is making
progress in doing just that in representation,
political action and organizing.

rym Supplement to THE

Representation
We have activists and rank-and-file
members taking active roles in contract
negotiations like never before — bringing to the
table what they need and bargaining directly
for it and walking picket lines when
management doesn’t listen.

We all took to the streets two years ago in
an unprecedented state contract fight and look
how it paid off - the state contract, the COLA
for retirees and pension reform for all our
members.

Your brothers and sisters in places like
Oswego, Onondaga and Cortland counties
know what mobilization meant for them in the
past year, in terms of getting members
involved and producing results at the
bargaining table.

We are proud, we are loud and we can
make it happen.

Political Action

Time and again CSEA has demonstrated its
ability to mobilize its members across the state
when it comes to supporting the union's
candidates for elected office. That's never been
truer than right now with members in every
part of this state working the community on
behalf of individuals that union members have
judged to be the best candidates. Especially in
local races, it does make a difference who we
elect and the involvement our members have
will make a big impact.

Organizing

Our members have long been involved in
community activities but we have stepped up
our efforts to proudly remind those
communities and organizations that we're from
CSEA, and we care about the cities, towns and
villages we live in. It's time for everyone to
recognize all the good things that unions and
union members do for their neighborhoods
and for their communities. When you collect

WORK FORCE

donations for the disaster fund, when you give
blood, when you do all of the good work you
do, wear your CSEA T-shirt and let your
community know that union workers are and
always will be the backbone of America.

Activism and union pride send an
important message in our efforts to organize
workers, that message is essential to show
them the benefits of union membership and
solidarity. We, as union leaders, need to speak
up and speak-out, encouraging unorganized
workers to join us.

The most effective union organizer is a
union member. CSEA has established an
apprenticeship program that helps to develop
the skills of CSEA members who want to speak
to workers about what it means to be
empowered through union Involvement.

It’s not easy, but it's worth the effort. Just
ask your brothers and sisters at Fisher Bus in
the Buffalo suburb of Hamburg, a relatively
new Local in the private sector. Faced with
extremely difficult negotiations, they came
together with a singular purpose and that
solidarity produced a great contract, a
stronger union and inspiration for all of us.

They found that speaking with one voice
can produce tremendous power... union
power. We need to see that more and more in
our Units and our Locals, new and not so new,
as we work to solve work place problems.

CSEA is truly New York's leading union
because we go out and prove it every day, in
every worksite, in every part of this state. God
bless our great union and our great
America. @

BARBARA REEVES

STATEWIDE SECRETARY

he first Labor Day, according to one

account, occurred in 1882 when

workers marched up New York's
Broadway with signs that read: “Eight Hours
for Work, Eight Hours for Rest, Eight Hours
for Recreation!”

Such protests might seem quaint at this
distance, but people still want to have their concerns heard.
And one major concern I hear all the time is the need for quality,
affordable health care for all.

The day of horror, when the World Trade Center was
attacked, is a testament to our solidarity. People in both the
public and private sectors responded. The situation was
extraordinary and it prompted an extraordinary response.

While we often exalt individualism, we learned human beings
grow and achieve fulfillment in community, The needs of the
injured were addressed because people worked together, The
common good and well-being of all was primary. The sense of
community gave us a common purpose.

The same principle — working together for the common
good — best defines CSEA. All working people need economic
security, social justice and human dignity. And, when health care
is inadequate or even non-existent, the message sent is no one
cares when we get sick or old.

It is our responsibility as union members to lift up working
people, And the best way to accomplish this goal is through
organizing unorganized workers.

Labor once spoke for one-third of the work force. Today, we
speak for 15 percent of all workers. We must do better. We must:
Organize! Organize! Organize!

The CSEA Agenda for health care makes a powerful
statement that is especially relevant for both organized and
unorganized workers.

Our goals are thus:

*All people should have access to quality health care. No
one should be denied access because of their ability to pay or
their sickness.

“Prescription drug costs must be regulated. Otherwise,
insurance premiums and co-pays will continue to skyrocket.
(Pharmaceutical companies spend more on public relations and
marketing than on research and development.)

*Quality care means more staffing and more funding for
facilities ranging from nursing homes to hospitals to mental
health institutions to community homes.

“We need a Patients’ Bill of Rights that guarantees medical
decisions are not based on money. It must also protect health
care workers who blow the whistle on improper care in their
workplace.

After the events of Sept. 11, the world is not the same. It can
no longer be “me.” It has to be “us.” Together, we can lead the
way. =

upplement to HE WORK FORCE Nov

Maureen S. MALONE

STATEWIDE TREASURER

s I write this annual message to you,

the AFSCME Organizing Convention is

just concluding. Usually the deadline
for submitting this article makes it difficult
to discuss current topics but union
organizing is always timely,

The day-to-day work of being a CSEA
officer is important and in many cases, vital to the smooth
operation of our union. But, | cannot tell you how great it is to be
reinvigorated and re-energized to continue on with the CSEA
mission to organize.

Ed Asner, you remember Mary Tyler Moore's boss, Lou Grant,
spoke to the assembly and has renewed my faith and continued
commitment to our union and the job of bringing worker equity
and justice to all.

Organizing the unorganized is a national movement in the
realm of labor unions but is an issue vital to each of us as
workers,

The gap between the have and the have nots, the wealthy and
the middle class, big business and the working families in this
country is becoming wider and wider. The shrinking percentage
of organized workers is lowering worker salaries, making work
sites less safe, increasing the hours of the work week, to name just
a few serious issues.

By organizing the unorganized, unione work to stabilize a living
wage. Unions give workers, regardless of race, creed or color, a
place to rely on for justice in the workplace. Organizing the
unorganized gives workers a voice in political action, a voice in
job security, a voice in health care issues, a voice in
environmental issues, a voice in their lives. Ed Asner reminded
me of all this and the fact that union leaders need to work
relentlessly to continue the organizing of the unorganized going on
in this country.

CSEA has increased the Organizing Department, has worked
across New York State to organize home health care workers, bus
drivers, cafeteria workers, hospital workers and other groups of
employees who need a voice. But the “union” cannot be
successful without you.

Each member of CSEA can assist workers who need our help and
protection. Organizing workers is a basic one-on-one program
where you can share your personal experience at the worksite, the
protections you have, the grievance procedure in place that keeps
your rights protected.

CSEA needs your help to volunteer just 1-2 hours a week to help
fellow workers gain dignity and equity. CSEA needs to move
forward and your help is the only way that can happen.

Your voice can make a difference. Talk with your elected
officers, volunteer to help. Working to further the organizing
drives in your area, supporting your union brothers and sisters,
buying goods produced in union shops, made in America is the
best way to keep this country strong. We all need to help.

2001

Page 3
Nick
LaMortTe

LONG ISLAND
REGION PRESIDE)

reetings from
Long Island
Region One!

Congratulations to all Local and Unit Officers
on their election to their respective
positions.

! especially want to thank those of you
in my region for stepping up and getting
involved in your union. With your help, we
can do great things together. By getting
involved, you are the voice for our members
on your job. | know you will represent them
to the best of your ability. CSEA has a great
wealth of resources and training to help us
perform our duties, Good luck on making a
difference,

I can't believe a year has passed and we
are all here in Buffalo for another
convention. | know our solidarity will
continue to grow while we debate issues and
make decisions to strengthen our union, This
is the time of year when we all come
together from every part of our state to work
hard. | hope you get to mingle with others,
from different regions and divisions within
our union, Network and ask questions of
each other and take important information
back to your Local. Pick each other's brain
and challenge each other on the issues
before us on the convention floor.
Understand our differences, but be mindful
of our common goal. Respect each other's
ideas and support them when you can. CSEA
is a great union made up of diverse people
all working together to raise the quality of
life, to give a voice on your job and to help
our members pay the rent and raise a family.
There is no other union as democratic, nor
as tolerant of members who disagree and
challenge those in power. This is what makes
us GREAT!

We are also a union that cares. With the
tragic events in New York City which cost
thousands of lives, five from CSEA, we
worked together to help. We had volunteers
and workers from many CSEA-represented
jurisdictions working around the clock at
ground zero.

continued on page 6

Page 4 OIE

METROPOLITAN
| REGION PRESIDENT

n the morning of
e Sept. 11, during
the most vicious

terrorist attack on the United States, the
Metropolitan Region of CSEA lost five
members who worked for the State
Department of Taxation and Finance on the
86th and 87th floors of World Trade Center
Two.

Thousands more, including hundreds of
rescue workers, perished as these world
famous New York City icons were reduced to
rubble before a dumbstruck worldwide
audience.

With no time to spare, and even before
the soot, dust and debris settled, CSEA
members and countless union activists
around the country sprang into action.
Throughout the state, members raised funds,
donated blood, and gathered supplies.

At ground zero, members from the State
Emergency Management Office, law
enforcement and transportation agencies
braved the flames and constant threat of yet
another building collapse as they searched
desperately for survivors. Sadly, there were
so few.

The determination, courage and tenacity
demonstrated by so many union members,
from all walks of life, during this national
tragedy should and will serve as an enduring
testament to the labor movement in America
for many years to come,

While people were racing away from
danger, firefighters and police officers and
other rescue workers were racing in. After
the unbelievable collapse of both towers
even more firefighters, laborers, electricians,
welders, and medical personnel hurried in to
help those in need.

We should all be proud of these
courageous men and women, They
represent us and exemplify the ideals that
should always govern the trade union
movement. We should always be willing to
lend a hand to our brothers and sisters, But
in a time of crisis, we should be prepared to

continued on page 6

vemb

CARMINE

DiBAaTTISTA
SOUTHERN REGION
PRESIDENT

‘ello. | would like to

welcome all of you

to this year's
Annual Delegates:
Meeting. Unfortunately, we are all gathered here in
Buffalo in the aftermath of a tragedy that not only
affected our nation, but many of our CSEA
brothers and sisters. Our hearts in the Southern
Region go out to the loved ones of all of the
people killed in these insane and cowardly attacks
on Sept. 11, especially to those CSEA members
who were killed or lost family or friends on that
terrible day.

Despite our shock and mourning for the
victims, our members in this region have
resoundingly risen to the call to help our nation
and our state recover from the World Trade
Center attacks. They have contributed mightily to
the recovery and relief efforts in the days and
weeks following the attacks. Many of our
members were at the devastating ground zero site
within hours of the collapse of the World Trade
Center towers, and they worked day and night to
help restore New York City to some semblance of
normal, CSEA members in the Hudson Valley,
reeling from the attacks, have given to the efforts
financially as well. They generously contributed
their money, their blood and their professional
and personal supplies and resources to the relief
efforts, No one had to ask them, no one had to
goad them to help the victims and the relief
workers. This terrible tragedy has brought out not
only the best of CSEA as a whole, but the best of
the 40,000 members in the Southern Region. |
sincerely thank all the CSEA members who have
contributed to the relief efforts. You all make me
proud.

While this tragedy has redefined many of our
roles as working men and women, the business of
labor — as well as its goals — goes on, CSEA
fights for working families in any way that we can,
and we will continue to fight for the interests of
working men and women in the Hudson Valley.
The region has had a very active and successful
year in working for the interests of working
families.

As a region, we have had to contend with
issues during the past year that not only
jeopardized the financial security of our members,
but the security of the communities that surround
us. One continuing issue that is at the forefront of
the region's priorities is a contract battle for our
members in the Ulster County Unit. Our members
working for Ulster County are seeking “truth,
equity and fairness” from county leaders after the
county misrepresented to CSEA the fiscal health

continued on page 6

CAPITAL REGION
PRESIDENT

reetings from the

Capital Region! The

Capital Region has
been very busy trying to
make the union relevant to all of our members.
Most of this report will focus on some of the new
initiatives the region has implemented to
encourage member involvement.

Through our Community Outreach Committee,
we have signed up more than 125 members to
volunteer for different community-based
organizations. We have also identified more than
500 of our members who have participated in
different fundraising events. The members in the
region are very enthusiastic with regard to our
involvement and commitment to our neighbors.

The focus of the committee has not been to
solicit funding from our own members, but to.
volunteer our services to help these organizations
raise money through their own fundraising drives.
Members of CSEA throughout the state already
generously donate money to a variety of
not-for-profit organizations through the United
Way and the SEFA campaigns, The committee is
looking to identify all of the volunteer work our
members do to help the public.

The committee helped approximately 24
different organizations to raise in excess of
$20,000. The region has also created a database of
these organizations and the employees who have
asked us to help with their fundraising efforts.
CSEA members have always been very generous
with both their time and money; and when we
need the help of these organizations in some of
our own battles, we will call on them for their
help.

The Community Outreach Committee has also.
played an important part in helping our fellow
union members. In Warren County, the Finch
Pruyn Company will not negotiate a contract with
its employees. The workers have been on strike
for several months, and without income those
workers have had a difficult time providing some
of the basic necessities for their families. CSEA's
Capital Region has walked in solidarity with those
workers and our committee has collected money,
school supplies, food and clothing for those
families. Hopefully, by the time this report is
published, the workers will be back on the job
with the wages and benefits that they deserve.

‘This past spring the region held its first Local
Government and School Committee Workshop.
Topics included Civil Service Law, Teacher Aides
vs. Teacher Assistants, Charter Schools, NYS
Retirement System and Bus Driver Safety. The

continued on page 7

nt to THE

WORK FORCE

) Jim
| Moore

CENTRAL REGION
PRESIDENT

nd the world will
never be the
ame. Can we

ever forget the minutes
following the World Trade Center crashes and
the destruction of offices at the Pentagon.
The hours that turned into days as we, as a
nation, searched for answers to the reasons
for such an action. Surely, we have all been
touched by this horrible incident. | cannot
recall how many times | heard the word hero
used. The police, the firefighters, the
emergency medical workers, the thousands of
professionals and volunteers who searched
the ruins day after day with the smoke and
dust clouds choking their throats and
burning their eyes. Yes, each of them was a
hero. All of them performed their
responsibilities, proud to be helping out and
steadfast in their commitment to show the
world that evil cannot win over good. That
amid all of the heartache, each of them had a
desire to participate in the healing.

I choose to devote my report to the
heroes who were not so visible. To the
thousands of workers who, without consent
or a vote of approval, found themselves part
of a cornerstone, a blueprint if you will, for
the next generation. Some of them were our
union members, all of them were our
brothers and sisters. They all entered their
workplaces prepared to work. Some with
perhaps a keyboard or pen, others with their
hands and sweat. | would imagine all were
proud of their accomplishments, Each of
them leaves friends and family that mourn
their deaths. So many have asked, “How can
we ever get beyond this tragedy?” As we
have so many times in the past, we can look
to our history to produce the roadways for
the future.

It has not been uncommon for America’s
workforce to affect our society in positive
and productive means. Abraham Lincoln
once told a crowd gathered, “All that harms
labor is treason to America. No line can be
drawn between these two. The strongest
bond of human sympathy, outside of the
family relation, should be one uniting all
working people of all nations, tongues and
kindreds,”

The solidarity we share with our lost
brothers and sisters should be the guidepost
in defining our work sites of the future. All
workers are heroes. No employee should

continued on page 7

FLo
TRIPI

WESTERN REGION
PRESIDENT

t hardly seems

possible that

another year has
passed and it is
convention time again. What is very clear
is that this has been a particularly busy
year in the Western Region. With the help
of our region officers, a dedicated staff, a
strong and active committee structure and
many dedicated, hard-working activists,
The region is on the move. We have held
region conferences, a successful Women's
Conference, a wonderful region picnic for
our members and their families, and have
offered training for our members both
through CSEA’s Education and Training
Department and the Workplace
Development Institute through our labor
councils. Elections for our CSEA Locals and
Units were held, and we welcomed all our
new officers at our recent Fall Region
Conference in Niagara Falls. A CSEA
Carnival, which we called the “West Fest,”
provided a fun orientation for our
newly-elected officers followed by officer
training. It has been a busy year and we
are looking forward to future activities and
projects that will keep us just as busy.

With all of the above-mentioned
activities, we are ever mindful of the
struggles that workers all over the world
experience every day. That is why we must
organize workers. Even with the
protections that our great union provides,
we all know how difficult it is to keep those
benefits and job securities that we have
fought so hard to achieve. Imagine what
workers experience who have no union to
bargain for them and protect them and
have no rights at all! We must continue to
spread the word and unionize the
unorganized.

On that thought, the statewide officers
of CSEA have been meeting to discuss and
plan for the future of this great union,
CSEA. I have been a part of several
dynamic sessions where each of us has
shared our opinions and ideas and are
beginning to put those ideas into an agenda
for the future of CSEA. Many of those ideas
came from you, our members, through the
surveys that were printed in The Work
Force, and we will be sharing that
information with you shortly. This is an
exciting time for CSEA.

REGION President's Report contin

We had many more who worked
behind the scenes doing clerical and
support work to help those of us working or
needing relief aid. No one can change the
events of that terrible day, but we will be
the union that helps rebuild a city and the
lives of those devastated.

Ihave a heavy heart for those of us
affected in Region One. I have heard from
too many members who have suffered a
loss or who know someone close who has.
Our prayers went out to Local 919 Retiree
President Nicholas Pollicino on the loss of
his oldest son and to Local 418 President
Jim Wall for his brother-in-law. Words
cannot express our sorrow, but our actions
will express our determination to move
forward and rebuild our lives. It is with this
in mind that we as a union work together to
make those changes, to never forget our
past and build a future for our children and
grandchildren that is better than what we
now have. May God bless everyone of you
and your family. i

lement to THE

ORK FORCE N

METRO REGION President's Report continued

do whatever is necessary.

In the aftermath, our members have
helped survivors and the families of victims
obtain the services they need. Members at
agencies that include the Crime Victims
Board, Department of Labor and Workers
Compensation have worked feverishly to
supply them with answers, applications
and, at times, comfort.

After the recovery effort, it will be time
for New York City, and indeed America, to
rebuild. You can count on our brothers and
sisters in the labor movement to play an
integral role in that effort as well, It is a
role we know all too well. It is a role we
relish. @

BUFFALO
2001

vember 2001

SOUTHERN REGION President's Report continued

of the county. We are seeking earlier implementation
of our salary raises, as well as increased health
benefits for our workers, to complement what the
county proudly gave to its management employees
after telling CSEA that it did not have the money for
large raises or benefit increases. We are taking to the
streets to demand these things from Ulster County,
and CSEA will not quit until our workers are treated
with dignity. This mobilization effort, however,
would not have been possible without the expertise
of CSEA Labor Relations Specialist Shayne Gallo, or
the leadership of CSEA Ulster County Unit President
Kevin DuMond and CSEA Ulster County Local
President Sandra Reynolds. I thank them for their
tireless and continuing efforts.

CSEA members in the region, however, were not
only jeopardized at the local government level. The
union also fought hard against two state budget
proposals that would have left hundreds of CSEA
members without jobs, and thousands of Hudson
Valley residents without access to essential services.

Early this year, Gov, Pataki proposed to close
Middletown Psychiatric Center and move its
patients to Rockland Psychiatric Center, over one
hour away. This closure would have left Orange and
Sullivan counties, both growing in population,
without convenient access to long-term mental
health services. The mobilization efforts of Diane
Hewitt and her Local members, including a “Day of
Rage” and a “Speakout,” contributed immensely to
the eventual backing that CSEA got from numerous
State and local elected officials who opposed the
closure. While nothing has been finalized, CSEA
helped to rally the entire community against this
senseless closure,

Another state proposal that jeopardized the
security of CSEA members was the consolidation of
‘Taconic and Capital District DDSOs. This plan called
for the facilities’ catchment area to span from
Putnam County to Warren County, and west to
Montgomery County, Not only is this coverage area
extremely large, but it put our members at risk for
involuntary transfers to work sites hours away from
their homes. This proposal also put the community
members who rely on these services at risk. For
these reasons, CSEA lobbied state leaders against
this consolidation, and this proposal has died
because of the efforts of our representatives in
Albany.

‘The region has also had a successful year in
contract negotiations. When we met at this time last
year, CSEA workers in the City of White Plains had
been without a contract for three years and there
was no end in sight. The continued efforts of former
CSEA City of White Plains Unit President Howard
Pinchbeck and his members, as well as CSEA
Westchester Local President Gary Conley and other
Local officers and members, helped the Unit to ratify
a contract in late November. Earlier this year, over
2,000 workers in the Rockland County Unit also
casily ratified a coutract because of the cooperative
relationship that Unit President Georgia Gentile and

continued on page 7
CAPITAL REGION Presid

region officers and the region's Local
Government and School District Committee
chairs received positive feedback from the
members who attended. Next year the region
will hold a one-day event to keep the cost as
low as possible so that even the smallest Units
will be able to send all their activists and
members who want to attend.

In an effort to help minimize costs to the
Locals and Units, the region officers and I have
made a commitment to keep region workshops
within our region. This should save the Locals
and Units a substantial amount of money in
travel expenses. There are 14 counties in the
region where there are a number of locations to
hold region meetings.

Through the Political Action Committee, we
have formed county coalitions in some of our
most northern counties. In Clinton and Essex
counties, Local and Unit presidents are meeting
periodically to discuss not only political
endorsements, but to talk about issues that
affect their members. The region has made a
commitment to these coalitions to bring the
staff and the resources to them so that they are
not required to travel long distances to obtain
the same information that the region
committees discuss at meetings. In many cases
it is not always possible for the members in
these most northern counties to participate on
region committees simply due to the time it
would take them to travel. Through a
consolidated effort from the officers, the staff
and the committee chairs, these counties will
have the input and information that is essential
to best serve their members,

In August we held our first region
Information Day. Every region committee had
information available to hand out to our
members. The committee chairs and members

SOUTHERN REGION Pi

rt continued

her negotiating team had with county leaders.

The region is continuing to work on several
large contracts, including the Dutchess County
Unit, which recently declared an impasse with the
county over differences in salary raises. CSEA has
also recently begun contract negotiations for the
Westchester County and Westchester Medical
Center Units, both of which are among the region's
largest bargaining units.

Tam also proud to say that the Southern
Region is growing, not only in population, but in
representation. This spring, CSEA won an
organizing drive for 25 food service workers at the
Harrison Central Schools in Westchester County.
What distinguishes this win is that the district's
food services are managed by the Aramark
Corporation, a private sector firm. These food
service workers mobilized themselves, and they

Supplement to

CENTRAL REGION Pr

give his life in exchange for a paycheck.
For over 30 years, | have been proud to
serve our membership; and, with very few
exceptions, | have enjoyed and have taken
great pride in working on issues and
projects that affect our members. | have
never learned to deal well with the death of
one of our members, It is the part of my
job that haunts me and leaves me feeling
that I have let someone down. | make it
personal.

Let us never forget the loss of our
fellow employees. Today join me ina
pledge that work site safety and health
contract language will become a
cornerstone in every bargaining unit we
negotiate, God bless American
workers. Mf

WESTERN REGION Presid 's Report continued

I would be remiss if | did not mention
the recent events in New York City that
have affected each of us so deeply. We all
listened and watched, horrified at what was
happening before our very eyes. We
watched, we cried and we prayed for those
we lost. Then, the realization of what we
lost took hold. The realization that each of
those victims are members of our family. A
family that encompasses more than blood,
more than union and brings us together as
Americans and as children of God. Let us
never forget the emotions we feel, and the
toll we paid to experience those emotions.

We in this region are pleased to host the
delegates meeting in Buffalo and look
forward to seeing many of you here in
Western New York. I wish you safe travel
and Godspeed.

of the committees were available to answer
questions for approximately 700 of our members
who attended, The goal of the committees was
to share with the newly elected officers and
membership exactly how the region committees
could assist the Locals and Units. The Program
Committee worked countless hours to
coordinate this successful event, There were
more than 25 tables with information to
distribute which made our information day an
overwhelming success. In previous years a
similar event was held at the region office. It
was an open house which gave members a
chance to walk through the offices that are
located at the region Headquarters. | believe
that “our union house” is an OPEN HOUSE
EVERY DAY — not just one day a year. To
accommodate every single member who wanted

to participate, we moved the event off the
premises and primarily focused on the
distribution of information.

A special thanks to all of the region officers,
the region committee chairs and the members
who actively participate on those committees
for your dedication and commitment over the
past year. Without your help, the many
accomplishments that we have achieved as a
union would not have been possible. As your
new region president, | thank you for making
my transition as smooth as possible.

There are still some changes that the region
can implement over the next couple of years to
make our union more relevant to our members
as possible, With your continued help and
commitment, we will make those changes
together.

THE WORK FORCE

were determined to join our union. Additionally,
they just ratified their first contract. I want to
thank those members and the staff who
spearheaded this organizing effort, and to welcome
‘our new members to CSEA,

Our region's committees have also been very
active this year and are continuing their efforts.
The region's Political Action Committee, led by
Micki Thoms, has been very busy with CSEA’s
campaign efforts for the upcoming local
government elections. Day and night, our members
have been working the phones, meeting with
candidates and distributing campaign materials to
make a difference in our communities.

The region's Education and Programs
Committee, led by Barbara Ritchie, organized an
extremely successful region workshop in West
Point this August. The committee is again working
on more programs for our members, including an
upcoming leadership training program and

mber 2004

assisting In women's and school district
conferences, The Community Action Committee,
led by George Henry, is working actively on raising
funds for the New York Central Labor Council
Disaster Relief Fund through the sale of flag pins,
Additionally, Jeff Howarth and the Corrections
Committee are meeting regularly to work on issues
that concern all of our members employed in state
correctional facilities.

Although the days ahead will be difficult for all
of us as members, as well as for all Americans,
CSEA is determined to never stop representing
working families. The Southern Region Is planning
to remain active in our efforts to give labor an
increased voice at all levels of government, despite
our involvement in the disaster relief efforts. As
union members work endlessly in relief efforts at
ground zero, we are reminded that the business of
labor will always goon. i
PRESIDENT’S REPORT continued

Making CSEA More Relevant

To increase member participation in CSEA,
we have to make our union more relevant to
the lives of each and every one of our members
and their families. We have to offer something
to every member, not just those with a
grievance or a disciplinary problem.

Winning and protecting good contracts will
always be important, but we also have to learn
how to identify workplace and community
issues members are concerned about so they
can get involved, come up with solutions and
take control of the situation.

Take, for example, the CSEA members
working at SUNY Plattsburgh who wanted to
make sure apparel being sold to the college is
not made by children toiling in Third World
sweatshops.

Working in coalition with students,
members of UUP and the Northeast Central
Labor Council, they pressured college officials
to adopt anti-sweatshop guidelines and sign a
resolution asking apparel’mercharits to make
sure clothing sold on campus is made by
responsible employers and not in sweatshops,

Their efforts, along with those of CSEA.
members, students and teachers at other
schools across the state, paved the way for the
historic sweatfree schools legislation Gov.
Pataki signed into law just last month.

Likewise, when CSEA members learned of
the ill-conceived and short-sighted proposal to
close Hutchings and Middletown Psychiatric
Centers, they fought like hell.

Lobbying, letter-writing campaigns, phone
calls to government leaders, informational
pickets and public “speakouts” were among the
vast arsenal of weapons used by thousands of
member activists, many of whom were getting
involved with their union for the first time
because of something that mattered to them.

‘They were not fighting just to save
buildings, they were not fighting just to save
jobs. They were fighting to save mental health
services vital to their communities. They were
fighting for a sane mental health policy in New
York state and for everyone who cares about
that.

While CSEA leaders and activists certainly
played a vital role, the majority of those who
took on this fight were ordinary, everyday
members with a shared cause they could rally
behind. As a result of their efforts, patients at

Page 8 pplement to THE

WORK FORCE

Hutchings and Middletown Psychiatric Centers
are still receiving the services they need. CSEA
members are still providing those services, and
we can all take pride in what they have
accomplished.

Setting a Member-Driven Agenda

Key to making CSEA more relevant to our
members is encouraging all of us to help set
our agenda, to put into writing where we stand
on the issues that affect us. | have convened a
workgroup of the statewide officers to begin
the process of drafting the “CSEA Agenda” to
guide this union through the next few years.
The agenda will be developed with the input of
our activists as well as our greatest resource,
our rank-and-file members.

We must learn to listen and to take
advantage of the ideas and suggestions the
members give us — we must learn to involve
and delegate to make CSEA a better union.

Just ask our state DOT members working at
the Sign Shop in Hamburg. Proud of the job
they do making signs for our state highways,
they thought it would be a good idea to sell the
signs to other agencies and municipalities
throughout the state.

When they discovered they were not
allowed to under state law, that did not stop
them. As a result of their initiative, the law was
changed and now localities can get
inexpensive, high-quality traffic signs made in
New York instead of paying much more to
private, out-of-state companies. It means
greater job security for the workers and a
better deal for all taxpayers,

But most important is the sense of purpose,
the sense of accomplishment and the sense of
pride these members have because CSEA
listened and helped them make their vision a
reality.

Building Our Union

As we commit to these changes to build a
better, more effective union, we must not forget
our commitment to organizing. Organizing is
the life blood of any union, and the future of
this union depends on it. With growth comes
strength, and with every new member who
finds their voice with us, our voice grows
stronger,

The bus drivers in CSEA’s Fisher Bus
Transportation Local are a perfect example.

November 2001

These men and women belong to one of CSEA's
newest private sector locals, having been
organized just a few years ago. At the time, a lot
of them were not sure they wanted a union. In
fact, to put it bluntly and honestly, a lot of them
wanted nothing to do with a union and it was a
very close vote.

That dissension prevailed throughout their
first contract negotiation. Management saw it,
and, once again to put it bluntly and honestly,
they did not wind up with a great contract to
say the least. It, too, was ratified by a very
close vote.

Then unionism took hold. With negotiations
for their second contract going nowhere but
backwards, the members mobilized. They
started working together, they got behind their
negotiating team, and out of many dissenting
voices they forged one unified and powerful
voice.

It was a voice that management could not
help but hear, and when the workers
demonstrated their solidarity by authorizing
their team to call a strike if a fair agreement
could not be reached, management listened
very carefully.

Today they have a contract they can be
proud of because they took ownership in their
union, and we are all stronger for their efforts.

From Hempstead to Hamburg to
Plattsburgh, from Middletown to Syracuse to
Oswego, CSEA members have a renewed spirit
and a new sense of power. It is up to us to
harness that power and help that spirit flourish
and grow.

It is up to us to build a better union, one
member atatime. &@

need. They put
it together.
They find the
cots, they find
the best way to
get them to the
location and
they tell me it’s
done so that | can move on down the list of needs, heavy
equipment, gloves, face masks with respirators,” Kraus
said.

“You need it, we get it,” he said about his role in
disaster response.

The SEMO central command room is flanked with giant
projection TV screens, rows of computers manned by one or two
workers, and the incoming message center staffed by a cadre of
volunteers from state agencies.

“We work 12-hour shifts and we went 10 days straight before we
had a break,”
Bergmann said

“Actually it’s a
13-hour shift
because you have
to brief your
replacement so
that takes about an
hour. And you
really don’t want
to leave because
you know you're
doing something
that needs to be
done,” Bergmann
said.

Dan O’Brien

Mapping a nightmare

In the command center, several maps reporting the latest hot

zones at ground zero hang for all the workers to see.

“This allows us to be on the same page with the police, fire,
medic units down there,” CSEA member Dan O'Brien, a SEMO
geographic information system program manager, said.

By using the latest computer technology and working with a
private company, Earthdata, SEMO can share current maps and
related data.

“We can put together numerous levels of information in different
formats together on a photo or map that relates all the needed
information to all the different parties at one time. These

Mapping hot zones using infrared technology

illustrations are worth more than the proverbial thousand words,”
O'Brien said.

She took the calls

The reception desk at the main underground entrance to SEMO
is under the strict contro! of union member Ginny Collier, a
keyboard specialist and an eight-year SEMO veteran.

“This is unimaginable, unbelievable. Our world won't be the
same ever again,”
Collier said.

“We watched the
planes crash, the
buildings crumble. It
was so devastating —
so horrific,” she said
quietly,

Moments later
Collier and SEMO
were thrust into a
frenetic race with
time.

“The phone was
ringing with voices
pleading in languages

Ginny Collier

I couldn't understand,” Collier said.

“Is this name on the list? Is my daughter safe? My son works
there. Can you help me?™ the callers asked Collier.

Her eyes well with tears.

“[ left here at 12:30 a.m. on Sept. 12. My husband urged me to go
to bed to get some sleep before | had to come back.

“I went upstairs and knelt down and prayed. That's what I had to
do.

“I had to pray for the victims. | had to pray for the workers.”

— Daniel X. Campbell

THE

November 2001 WORK FORCE ROME E
DOT crews find ground zero

heavy with foul,

Surrounded by death, destruction and bad
air, Paul Staiger teased his 72-oot flatbed
trailer through narrow Manhattan streets,
knowing the 40-ton load of twisted steel
would not be his
last on this
22-hour shift.

Staiger and
dozens of other
CSEA members
who are truck
drivers and
mechanics for
the state Department of Transportation
(DOT) helped in the exhausting initial
recovery efforts at the

unhealthy air

to help our friends and neighbors recover
from this horrific event,” Pataki said

Unhealthy air

With the air thick with concrete dust,
smoke and asbestos, Staiger and his crew
wore respirators and protective glasses as
they neared ground zero.

“The smoke and the amount of twisted
metal was just unbelievable,” Staiger said.

“We thought there would be more safety
and health problems, and more potential
injury to us, but everything worked out fine,”
said the CSEA member and 17-year DOT big
rig driver,

“Health and safety

World Trade Center.
For two weeks, the
DOT crews hauled
thousands of tons of
twisted steel and
car-sized chunks of
concrete to nearby
dump sites, where
federal investigators
looked for evidence.
“Hundreds of men

of room to s

unreal.99

66] f our drivers had more than six inches
pare on either side of
those trailers, they were lucky.
probably spent as much time in reverse as
they did going forward to get through the
streets. These guys did some unbelievable
driving. The circumstances were just

— Jim McHugh, CSEA

were very
important,” Staiger
said, noting there
were two men ina
truck to make it
easier to jockey the
big rigs from the
demolished World
Trade Center to the
dumping ground on
Staten Island or a

They

Above, CSEA members from the state and
Westchester County departments of
transportation assist in the recovery
operation at ground zero.

highway maintenance supervisor at the
state DOT; one of two operations chiefs
sent to New York City

Below, CSEA members from left, Paul
Staiger, Bob DeJesus, Gary Sharinger and

Hudson River pier.
“Everyone did an

and women from state
agencies have toiled to

move personnel and

excellent job and did

equipment to New
York City and the surrounding area to help
expedite the recovery efforts,” said Gov.
George Pataki about the DOT crews at
ground zero.

“We will continue to do everything possible

Always use only OSHA-approved filter |
canisters for your respirator. |

Make sure your respirator fits properly
and has a tight seal: Cup your hand over
the air inlet, breathe in and exhale. The
respirator should tighten around its seal
and then puff out from your face.

Prolong filter life by covering the filter
canisters with duct tape when not in use.

Pree pa THE WORK FORCE

their best,” he said.

“We showed we could drive the toughest
assignments. State workers came through —
we're always there when we're needed,”
Staiger said proudly about the CSEA
members who drove and fixed the trucks at
ground zero.

Staiger’s idea of easy driving is a traffic-free
interstate. Instead, the narrow Manhattan

Bob King, all DOT workers.

streets tested his patience and driving skills.

When he couldn't weasel his loaded rig
past a parked car on a narrow street one
night, Staiger and his partner jumped from
the cab, hailed another truck driver and two
firemen, and lifted the car out of the way.

“Everybody down there was helping
everybody out,” Staiger said.

— Ronald Kermani

November 2001

MOURN

for the dead

Weeping and writing

When the television images of the World Trade Center destruction overloaded the
senses, some union members wrote poetry to channel their emotions.

“I knew what I had to write”

Crying hysterically as the World Trade Center
news cascaded over her, Diane Bermudez-Thrush
began to write, haltingly at first, on lined paper
while laying on her bed.

Bermudez-Thrush, a CSEA member and mental
health therapy aide at the Brooklyn Psychiatric
Center, let the words flow.

“I wrote it from my heart. It’s how I feel,” she
said quietly.

A personal journal writer for years, Bermudez-Thrush said
her “pride just soared when the firefighters raised the flag over
the rubble of the World Trade Center.

“That was the most inspiring moment,” she said about the
New York City flag-raising image that nearly replicated the
raising of the American flag by Marines on Iwo Jima in World
War Il.

“I started crying then, and I knew what I had to write,”
Bermudez-Thrush said.

To your left,
to your right,
Raising the Flag at the World Trade friends and comrades

Center: 2001 The Record (Bergen Co., NJ) : ;
Thomas E. Franklin, staff photographer Sell, beneath the rubble,
beneath your feet. gone forever.

Yet through it all,

Member turns to poetry to deal with tragedy you banded together,

BEAR MOUNTAIN — Jennifer Baran, a clerk at the Palisades Interstate ee enreehee penee tae
(Bear Mountain) Park in Rockland County, sat transfixed with her co- NaPY SATE GSO.

workers in front of a radio Sept. 11 listening to the horrifying, You raised what represents to us all,
unfolding news of the World Trade Center attack. freedom

As the day wore on, her feelings slid from shock to fear to worry, you raised her up high,
and finally, sadness. like an eagle she soared,

“| was worried about my brothe: jaw, who takes a train every day her spirits leading you,
near the World Trade Center,” C: member Baran said. “The train through the power of God,
had stopped after the first plane crash, and he saw the second tower anil ive: of haf

fall.”
The next morning, Baran expressed her emotions in a way that had — Diane Bermudez-Thrush
PrsWhen something happens in my Mey write to
“When something happens in my life, I write to help me S'
deal with things,” she said. “I write when I'm inspired.” Stronger than yesterday, Nothing but clouds of dust and |
Her inspiration found its way toa prominent space in Stronger than they all think. Mountains of rubble in the |
her local newspaper, the Middletown Times Herald You didn’t knock $e pa |
Record, where thousands read it a few OM: EE ERIE: IE ROW, streets, : s |
MOURN days later. | You Just stunned me. A gloom lingers in the air |
he de Publication of the poem is prompting | I'm picking myself up and People are mad
fs Baran, 20, to Dusting myself off. People are sad
‘yeas bere Rath: F You haven't seen nothing yet, People are scared
'm taking night classes for music eee ‘, 7 4
right now,” Baran sald, “Maybe 'm in | {Just preparing to fight back! be saa of aie
college for the wrong thing.” the day after has just begun a
Fight” — Janice Marra | But it’s a lonely one. — Jennifer Baran
forthe =

Ling November 2001 THE WORK FORCE

Page 13
Long Islanders rise to the challen

‘The skyline view from the Hudson
River sucked the breath from CSEA
member John Mulligan’s lungs.

“| saw flames headed in every
direction, the smell of the burning towers,
of death from the tremendous loss of life,
the smoke billowing,” said Mulligan, a
Hempstead, Long Island boat operator
who piloted his police boat to the World
Trade Center as it stood burning

“It was an unbelievable sight,” Mulligan
said, shaking his head.

Mulligan and hundreds of CSEA
members who work on Long Island
responded to the terrorist attack by
manning phone banks, coordinating
rescue crews, and shuttling emergency
workers at ground zero in golf carts from

Members of the Glen Cove Harbor Patrol, Harbor
Patrol Officer Billy Melillo, left, and Mike
tino.

WHITE PLAINS — When
terrorists struck the World
Trade Center, CSEA members
in neighboring Westchester
County immediately joined
relief effort:

‘A day after the towers lay
in ruins, county highway and
public works employees were
sending volunteers and
equipment to help New York
City sort through millions of
tons of debris from the
collapsed buildings.

“It was such a disaster and
we all wanted to help,”

“It looks worse than a war zone.”
‘County public works crews dig in

Bethpage State Park.

Glen Cove ferries transported supplies,
doctors and nurses to Manhattan and
brought back survivors and pedestrians to
Long Island, where public and private buses
were commandeered to take them home.

Glen Cove city employees, all CSEA
members, staffed a makeshift phone bank at
city hall,

‘Also working the phones were the police
and fire dispatchers who received calls
around-the-clock from across the continent.

“The phone lines were jammed with calls

said union member Kevin Monahan of the
Glen Cove Public Works Department.

Bethpage State Park workers set up five
weatherproof tents to protect rescue workers
in foul weather,

‘The Jones Beach Parks Department
donated a 24-foot boat to patrol the East
River and a ‘paddy wagon’ boat hauled
‘supplies to rescue workers.

“It was a total team effort from our
onboard emergency personnel, boat
operators, and mechanics,” said Hempstead
police Lt. Robert Powell.

but these CSEA members got the job done,”

— Rolando Infante

Members help convert facility
into staging area for NY Guard

POUGHKEEPSIE — CSEA members at Hudson River
Psychiatric Center opened their doors — and their
hearts — to New York National Guard soldiers and
legions of supplies shortly after the World Trade
Center terrorist attacks.

When Shea Stadium, the Jacob Javits Convention
Center and other large facilities in New York City
quickly filled with donated water, clothing, medical
supplies and toiletries after the attacks, the state
needed another facility to store tons of donated
items.

‘Two vacant buildings at the Hudson River
Psychiatric Center's Poughkeepsie campus became
the next staging facility for relief supplies.

While psychiatric center employees, including
CSEA members, handled the initial warehousing
efforts, the job was given to the New York Guard, a
group of reservist volunteers who have been
unloading, storing and transporting supplies for
weeks.

“Our members began many of the staging efforts
here,” CSEA Hudson River Local President Judy
Watts-Devine said.

Part of the relief effort
“We were working at these efforts day and night
and eventually turned everything over to the
soldiers, but our members are still volunteering as

rope 14

much as possible,” she added.

The Local also served the hard-
working soldiers food and beverages.

“The soldiers were unloading 16 large
trucks per day during those first days,”
Watts-Devine said.

“They were hungry, and it was the
least we could do for them,” she said.

And the soldiers involved in the
Hudson River effort said CSEA and
community volunteers have helped make
a difference in their 14 to 16-hour work
days.

“We've had up to about 60 local

people, most of whom are public employees,
volunteering to help us every day,” Major Bob
Peace, a New York Guard Officer from Rochester,

said.

“The people in the Hudson Valley are just
wonderful. This area has a lot of people to be very

proud of,” he said.

Water, clothing, dog food
The facility's two vacant buildings are

Assistant Superintendent for
Westchester County Road
Maintenance and 26-year

EA member Jim Cole said.
“We felt like we all had to do
something.”

In the days after the Sept.
11 attacks, more than 30
Westchester County CSEA
employees worked around
the clock clearing debris.

Many of the county workers
who went to New York City
had not only volunteered for

down to the site on county
time,” Cole said. “However,
most of the volunteers are
staying much later than the
normal work day.”

And like many volunteer
relief workers, Westchester
County employees were
stunned by the scope of the
disaster’s carnage and
devastation.

“Our guys say that the
disaster looks worse than a
war zone,” Cole said,

“And many of them have
actually been in war zones.
They're seeing bodies —
even body parts — and
they're just driving the
trucks.”

Also horrifying to the relief
workers is the odor
permeating from the site — a
combination of smoke, dust
and decomposing bodies

“I's so bad that many of
the guys have been
showering and changing their
clothes before they go into
their houses,” Cole said.

the task, but were allowed to
go on county work time.
“We're sending people

— Janice Marra

From left, NY Guard Major Bob Peace, CSEA activist Micki
‘Thoms, NY Guard Capt. Mike Wilson, NY Guard Major Denis
Uminski, Hudson River Psychiatric Center Local President
Judy WattsDevine.

“Trucks of supplies have been coming in here
from all over the country, especially from upstate
New York,” Watts-Devine said.

In late September, one eight-story building was so
packed with supplies that not
one more item could be
crammed into the structure.

The donations have ranged
from large-scale supply
shipments from corporate
donors to small boxes of items

MOURN

THE WORK FORCE November 2001

overflowing with more than 100,000 bottles of water,
clothing, medical supplies and even dog (vod.

“You name it, we've got it in these buildings,” she
said.

small groups.

— Janice Marra

donated by individuals or

“1 wish I could give more” _
Members support
relief with donations

When their arms
weren't outstretched
donating blood, their
hands were
outstretched donating
cash.

Nearly $30,000 was
collected by CSEA
members in Albany for
New York City relief
just days after the two
jets crashed into the World Trade Center, killing thousands |
s the USA. I wish I could give more,” said a union
member as he pressed money into a collection bin at the state
Department of Taxation and Finance building in Albar

CSEA members across the state dug deep into their wallets to
help the relief effort

“People are numb, shoc
something that will help,
Kathy Garrison.
siving is something they can do and will be doing for a long
time,” she added.

xed and frightened, but they want to do
said CSEA Capital Region President

— Daniel X. Campbell

Brothers and sisters help out

Fond. clothing. blood and money are some necessities union members
across,the nation are donating to the relief effort for families of victims
‘of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City.

While the outpouring of support from unions in New York State
continues, union brothers and sisters across the nation are helping the
survivors, the families of victims, and rescue and recovery workers.

Hundreds of Ford Motor Co. workers at an Ohio plant donated blood,
as did staff and members of national unions in Washington, D.C.

In addition to the blood drives, donations are pouring into the many
relief funds national and local unions have established. (See Page 3 of
this issue for details on donating to the relief funds.)

Unions continue to provide supplies for the recovery workers.

Workers in more than 50 unionized grocery stores in the metro New
York area have set up food and clothing donation bins in the stores,

Union workers in Connecticut organized a fund-raising motorcycle
ride, and the New York City Central Labor Council has set up a labor
support committee to help working families during the crisis.

AFSCME workers in Washington, D.
members in New York who have been affected by the World Trade
Center attacks. At left, CSEA’s Capital Region Outreach Committee.

meN} v3

Unions extend hand
to AFSCME DC 37

CSEA and other unions in the New York
City area are helping AFSCME affiliate
District Council 37 with office space and
other necessities since the World Trade
Center attack.

DC 37's offices on Barclay Street, two
blocks from the World Trade Center, are
closed It may he months before they are
reopened.

Meanwhile, CSEA and other unions are
helping with the n and office
space for about 500 DC 37 metropolitan
staff members who serve about 125,000
union members in New York City.

The Barclay Street offices were quickly
evacuated after the first plane hit the
World Trade Center.

No one from the DC 37 staff was injured,

although four union members were killed
in the attack, including a fire department
priest, two EMTs and an Off Track Betting
employee.

., send their support to CSEA

‘Federal aid
sought

CSEA and other unions +
across the nation are
lobbying Congress to pass a
broad relief package for
workers whose jobs were
lost as a result of the Sept.

11 terrorist attack on New
York City.

The unions and
congressional leaders are:
developing a worker reliel: |
package that responds to . |
the needs of laid-off,
workérs. ‘

“It's workers and their

| families who are bearing the
brunt of the impact from
the terrorist attacks — an
impact that will also have a
rippling, destabilizing effect
on the economy unless it is
addressed,” said AFL-CIO
President John Sweeney.

Attacks’ effect on state economy could last years :

‘An economic tidal wave of red ink may wash over New
York State because of the World Trade Center terrorist
attack, a labor-backed think tank has predicted.

The Fiscal Policy Institute (FPD), which is supported
by CSEA and other state labor unions, estimates more
than 108,000 New York City private sector and public
jobs will be lost within the first month after the Sept. 11
attack.

This number is about 2.4 percent of the total local
employment in New York City, the FPI survey said.

The hardest hit industries are securities, retail trade
and restaurants. Travel and tourism has shrunk
dramatically since the attack.

Consumer spending has dropped steadily since the

attack and government forecasters are warning a
nationwide recession may be on the horizon.

State and local governments will also be affected by
the loss of sales taxes, corporate taxes and other
revenues, financial experts said.

The total lost output to the New York City economy
from the World Trade Center attack is estimated at
$16.9 billion, the FPI report states.

The total lost value-added factor in the local economy
is estimated at $11.7 billion, or about 3 percent of the
total value-added in ;
the city economy last
year.

MOURN
t x¢

General Announcement:_

Notice of nomination and
election of 2002 AFSCME
Convention Delegates

Meetings will be held in all CSEA regions to nominate candidates
for the position of delegate to the 2002 AFSCME convention,
scheduled for June 2002 in Las Vegas.

‘The region nominating meetings kick off the AFSCME delegate
election process, which continues in accordance with the schedule
of election that will be presented to the CSEA Board of Directors on
Nov. 29,

EA delegates will be elected by region by the members in each
CSEA region. The number of delegates to which each region is
entitled is based on region membership strength, in accordance with
the AFSCME and CSEA constitutions.

Who is eligible

Any member in good standing will be entitled to be nominated to
be a delegate to the AFSCME convention.

‘Any member in good standing will be eligible to nominate
delegates. Any qualified CSEA member will be eligible to nominate as
many candidates for delegates as he or she desires, not to exceed
the total number of delegates to be elected from the region,
Nominees do not have to be at the nominating meeting.

Nominations may be'made by slates of (wo or more individuals
who will appear on the ballot as.running together under a particular
designation Candidates hominated as slates will appear on the ballot
in the order they are nominated, The baliot will also allow slate
candidates to be elected ifdividually, separate from the slate.

Expenses for transportation, room and board at the AFSCME
convention will-be paid-by CSEA.

More detailed information will be available in the December issue
of The Work Force.

Attention Empire Plan Enroliees

Discounted complementary and
alternative medicine program
available to state employees

A network of providers who specialize in massage therapy,
acupuncture and diet/nutrition is now available to CSEA-represented
state enrollees and thelr eligible dependents engolled in the Empire
Plan.-

in. as r
CSEA negotiated an agreement with the state which established a
discount-based program for alternative medicine providers under the

Empire Plan,

Effective Oct. 1, The Empire Plan's Complementary and Alternative
Medicine (CAM) Program became available to Empire Plan enrollees
and dependents,

The CAM Program is a discounted program administered by the
Managed Physical Network/ American Complementary Care Network
(MPN/ACCN).

‘The Empire Plan's CAM Program consists of a network of licensed
acupuncturists, massage therapists, and dietitians/nutritionists who
have agreed to accept a discounted fee from Empire Plan enrollees.

“This is an enrollee-pay-all program (affinity product), however, the
enrollee receives a 25 percent discount off the provider's normal
rates,

There is a network of providers established by MPN/ACCN.
However. if an enrollee has a provider they would like to nominate to
become a network provider, they can contact MPN/ACCN.

If you would like to find an Empire Plan CAM network provider in
your area or would like to nominate a provider, contact MPN/ACCN
at 1-888-447-2144.

Provider information and other information can be obtained on the
Internet at http://www.empireplancan.com.

— November 2001

Page 16 iE

Important reminders for state
workers from JCHB

November is annual option
transfer month

November is the annual option transfer
period, when state employees may change
their health insurance option and pre-tax
contribution status.

Employees who wish to change thelr plan
option must do so during the option
transfer period by contacting the health
benefit administrator, usually located in
their agency personnel office.

Note: When this article was going to
print, the 2002 New York State Health
Insurance Program (NYSHIP) premium rates
were not yet approved by the st
Insurance Department.

‘As soon as the 2002 rates are approved, a
Rates & Deadlines Guide will be sent to
enrollees’ homes so an informed decision
can be made about health insurance choices
for the 2002 plan year.

As always, members will have 30 days
from the date the rate information is
released to make changes.

Members who do NOT want to change
health insurance plans do not have to take
action,

Members who want to change health
insurance options must submit a signed
Health Iisurance Transaction Form PS-404
to the agency's health benefits
administrator by the deadline specified in
the Rates & Deadlines Guide.

Health Insurance Choices for
2001

During November, agency health benefits
administrators will receive a supply of
Choices for 2002, the guide to NYSHIP
health insurance options

If you are thinking about changing your
option, read the plan descriptions of plans
available in the area where you live and/or
work and compare the available coverage
that Is important to you and your family.

The Choices for 2002 publication
describes the Empire Plan and the New York
State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP)
‘approved HMO’s in your region and can be a
‘very important resource if you are
contemplating changing your health
insurance option.

If you would like to review your options
and the benefits available, you may obtain a
copy of the Health Insurance Choices guide
from your health benefits administrator.

‘As a reminder, the HMO offered by United
HealthCare will not be offered as an option
in NYSHIP in 2002.

For those members currently enrolled in
United HealthCare's HMO, contact your
health benefits administrator to switch to a
new option.

Pretax Contribution Program
@Tcp)

‘The pre-tax contribution program (PTCP)
allows you to have your health insurance
premiums deducted from your pay before
taxes are taken out.

This may lower your taxable Income and

give you more spendable income.

‘You were automatically enrolled in this
program when you became eligible for
health insurance, unless you declined to
participate.

Your paycheck stub shows if you are
enrolled in PTCP.

Regular Before Tax Health” will appear In
the Before Tax Deductions column if your
health insurance premium is deducted from
your wages before taxes are withheld.

“Regular After Tax Health” will appear in
the After Tax Deductions column if your
health insurance premium is deducted from
your wages after taxes are withheld,

Under Internal Revenue Service rules, by
participating in the PTCP you may change
your health insurance deduction during the
tax year only after a PTCP qualifying event
(le. change in family status)

Additional information on the PTCP is
included in the NYSHIP Health Insurance
“Choices for 2002"

If you wish to change your pre-tax
selection for the 2002 plan year health
insurance premiums, you must see your
health benefits administrator and complete
a health insurance transaction form no later
than Nov. 30.

No action is needed if you wish to keep
your current pretax option.

Flex ding Account: A
ay ts employee benefit that
puts money in your pocket

pes Health Care Spending
it

coun!

The Health Care Spending Account
(HCSAccount) is a benefit for eligible state
employees that saves you money by
allowing you to pay for out-of-pocket health
care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

‘The HCSAccount allows eligible CSEA
members to contribute pre-tax dollars to
pay for medically necessary health-related
expenses that are not relmbursed by your
health insurance or any other benefit plan
(ie. dental/vision).

The employee determines the amount of
pre-tax dollars contributed to the account,
after estimating 2002 anticipated out-of-
pocket expenses.

The maximum allowable annual
contribution Is $3,000 and the minimum
allowable annual contribution is $150,

The open enrollment period began in
September and will run through Nov. 9.

If you are enrolling for the first time or
reenrolling in the HCSAccount, your request
must be postmarked by Nov. 9.

Ifyou would like to know more about the
Health Care Spending Account program or
would like an enrollment kit, contact the
NYS Flex Spending Account Hotline at 1-800-
358-7202 or on the web at
http;//wwwélexspend.state-ny.us

You can also contact your agency's health
benetit administrator, located in the
personnel office.

All Navy hands are on deck in this war

ALBANY — She may be vacating her
comfortable office in Albany County
Surrogates Court for a stretch of desert, but
CSEA activist and Naval reservist Eileen
Mathena said she won't mind dressing for
the occasion.

“Every day | fumble about in my closet
looking for clothes to wear as a civilian, but
when I'm on duty, I don’t have to make that
decision,” she deadpanned.

“I look great in earth-tone camouflage.”

This dynamo's self-effacing humor
glosses the seriousness of her mission.

Mathena is a Navy diesel mechanic who
maintains electrical generators on the
battlefield. These generators power her
Navy unit's communications network, vital
to the success of their mission in the
Mideast.

Civilian life on hold
Mathena and other CSEA members who
are in the National Guard and military
reserve units have been placed on active
duty, putting their civilian lives on hold for

perhaps a year or longer as the United
States fights terrorism.
“My life gets put on hold,” Mathena said.
“No one looks forward to this, but that’s
what we've been trained for,” she added.
At 38, she’s pushed up her wedding date

before she travels on assignment and has
stuffed her civilian life into a 70-pound
duffel bag and a smaller toiletries bag.

Her job as senior court office assistant in
the Albany County Surrogates Court will
also be put on hold while she’s overseas.

engine into parts, put a bullet into a target
at 100 yards as a Navy sharpshooter, handle
the complex legal matters of Surrogates
Court, and mix it up with a male-dominated
Navy crew.

“I do not wear nail polish,” she quipped
about her many skills.

“The Navy prepares you to handle any
situation and makes you feel confident
about any situation,” Mathena said.

Even going to the Mideast, destination
unknown.

Helping in and out of uniform

Helping others on the battlefield or at
work is part of her upbringing, she said.

“| first got involved in CSEA because I
thought everyone needs someone to
represent them and
be their voice,”
Mathena said,
adding she doubles
as a career
counselor in her
reserve unit.

The last decade
has been a series of
professional and
personal twists and
turns, taking
Mathena to Cuba,
Scotland twice, and
into the state court
system in Columbia and
Albany counties.

The mother of two
daughters can strip a diesel

— Ronald Kermani

Gi first got involved
in CSEA because I
thought everyone
needs someone to
represent them and
be their voice.

66° his is the saddest thing I have ever seen —
ail those innocent people. What is going on?
1 can't comprehend that hatred. It is just so blind.

— Rudy Bovie, equipment operator and
17-year CSEA member, Nassau County
Department of Public Works *

sad BD geo at its worst — being down there

at ground zero really hit home. I lost a good
friend from the Levittown Fire Department and my
thoughts are with his loved ones and everyone

Surrogates Court, standing, with Mary Magguilli, both CSEA
members,

affected by this tragedy.” Mathena and other CSEA
— Ken Zwerling, retired Nassau members who are in the
oe, County Sheriff's Department National Guard and military
Ss employee and member of the reserve units have been placed
CSEA Nassau Retirees Local

on active duty, putting their

— civilian lives on hold for
perhaps a year or longer as the

United States fights terrorism.

Page 17

THE WORK FORCE November 2001
Staff recall horror,
sorrow of Sept. 11

Continued from Page 3

had no idea we would soon be running for
our lives.

We passed shattered windows along Fulton
Street. The nonstop wail of sirens and horns
punctuated the air.

Looking up at the towers, against the
backdrop of a glorious clear blue sky,
millions of sheets of paper mingled with the
thick, black smoke spewing from the towers.

We stopped momentarily and joined a
small group listening to a radio in front of a
store. We heard an indescribable, terrifying
noise. We looked up, and ran for our lives.

Inthe chaos, I temporarily lost Evelina. As
I ran halfway down the street, I turned and
saw a tremendous, deadly cloud of soot, ash,
and debris closing in.

Luckily, I saw Evelina and called to her.
She grabbed my hand and with the soot
raining on us, we ran together toward the
Brooklyn Bridge.

At the time we had no idea that the South
Tower had collapsed. We thought we had
narrowly escaped another plane strike.

And, while thousands were already walking
over the Brooklyn Bridge, we feared a plane
would strike that too.

Instead, we continued north and looked
back to see the smoky void where the South
Tower once stood. Minutes later, the North
Tower would meet the same fate.

Grim realization

Political Coordinator
Matthew D'Amico was
ona bus on his way to
work when a woman
with a Walkman reported |
the World Trade Center
was under attack.

“I started to get tears
in my eyes because |
realized that a lot of
people must have lost
their lives just from that
initial impact,” D'Amico
said,

Metropolitan Region
Executive Director Alan
Jennings was stuck in
traffic and unable to get
into Manhattan. He hurried back to his
home and contacted Colon, who was already
reaching out to staff.

“Yolanda and | split the duties to make sure
that everybody got home safely,” said
Jennings.

“When we found out that everybody got
home safe, that was a moment of relief. But
then our emotions turned to the region and
our membership because we had members
who worked there also,” Jennings said.

Labor Relations Specialist Phyllis Babb,
who represents the workers in the South

/ , Z ; af
The view from near the Brooklyn Bridge on Sept. 11, as workers
fled lower Manhattan.

‘Tower, feverishly tried to reach the CSEA
regional office.

With telephone lines down and cellular
networks overloaded, it was impossible.

“| was depressed and sad because I really
didn’t know what was going on,” said Babb.

She eventually reached her counterparts in
the state and a former president of the Local,
who gave her the sad news about the
missing members. She's been busy helping
the survivors.

Resources, legislative action help state cope with disaster

Continued from Page 3

employees also be allowed to contribute
vacation days to the noteworthy program.

Military call-up benefits

In other efforts to bolster relief efforts,
CSEA and the state have agreed to expanded
benefits for workers who are called up for
military duty by the federal or state
governments.

The leave benefit package is the same as
the one provided to workers called to active
duty by the federal government for the
conflicts in the Persian Gulf, Bosnia and
Kosovo.

This benefits package for the World Trade
Center detail is available to employees
activated by the state or federal government.

Specifically, employees who have
exhausted their entitlement to paid military
leave will receive an extra 30 calendar days
or 22 workdays of leave at full pay, followed
by military leave a reduced pay.

page 18 EG

In addition, employees activated by the
state in connection with the World Trade
Center attack will receive the same family
health insurance benefits as provided in
their union contracts.

Red Cross disaster leave

Pataki, with the support of CSEA, also
recently signed a measure allowing state and
local government workers who are trained
Red Cross volunteers to take up to 20 days of
paid leave during a disaster.

The new program will help disaster
response teams mobilize more quickly and
put more Red Cross volunteers at a disaster
site.

CSEA President Donohue said, “Governor
Pataki is leading by example with this
initiative. It will enable more people to
provide the help that is needed without
additional hardship on their families.”

Other labor leaders concurred.

New York State AFL-CIO President Denis

WORK FORCE November 2001

Hughes said, “Since Sept. 11, Governor Pataki
has been front and center in making the city
and state whole. This is another example of
the governor's leadership, dedication and
commitment toward this objective.”
Currently, 41 states permit government
employees who are trained by the Red Cross
to take paid leave from their jobs to
volunteer as Red
Cross disaster relief
workers.
Experience has
shown this has
helped the Red
Cross respond to
disasters and
provide valuable
skills to employees
that can readily be
transferred to their
regular jobs.

MOURN

for the de

Reach Out and Touch U:
In November of 2000, the CSEA Employee
Benefit Fund expanded its operating hours to
to better serve our

BERNESE ES Representatives can be reached by contacting
the Fund at 1 (800) 323-273: 1 (800) EBF-CSEA. The fund also has
a TDD number for the hearing impaired at 1-800-532-3833.

When calling from a touch tone phone, follow these
computerized phone system instructions.

Press 1 Claim Forms, Provider Listings, Plan Booklets ... then
Press 1 - To use the Vision Benefi
Press 2 ~ Forms, Listings, Booklets
Dental ... then
Press 1 — Claims Forms, Listings

Press 2 ~ Personal Assistance

Other EBF Benefits .., then .

Press 1 — Enrollment Mailbox

Press 2 - Vision

Press 3~ Drug

Press 4— COBRA

Press 5 - Miscellaneous Benefits & Personal Assistance
Marketing Department... then

Press 1 ~ Patrick Regan, Marketing Manager

Press 2 ~ Colleen Switts, Member/Provider Liaison
Region 1 = Linda Sclafant dial 631-462-5224

Press 3 — Region 2~Chris Wright

Press 4 ~ Region 3 — Colleen Foley

Press 5 — Region 4 Kim Lucas

Press 6 - Region 5 - Dave Reed

Press 7 ~ Region 6 ~ Sarah Scanlon

Press 2

Press 3

Press 4

If calling from a rotary phone, please stay on the line and a
representative will help you.

When making inqutries, members should have their Social
Security number handy along with claim information, dates of
service, provider's name or other pertinent information. If our
representatives are unable to take your call at that time, you may
be forwarded to our voice mail system.

When faxing materials to the fund, please remember that this is
for administrative or enrollment use only and not for submission of
claims. The appropriate department fax numbers are:

Administrative Offices: 518-782-1234

Marketing Department: 518-782-9979

Dental: 518-782-7052

Member Services (enrollment, vision, mise. benefits); 518-786-
3658

CONGRATULATIONS
‘The EBF would also like to congratulate the following groups
which have recently joined the fund for dental coverage:
‘Town of Smithtown Fire District Village of Malverne

and these groups that have either added a new benefit or upgraded
an existing EBF plan:

Town of Rotterdam City of White Plains
East Meadow S. D. (Custodians) Town of Cornwall

Village of Goshen Oyster Bay S. D. (Clerical)
Byrum Hills $.D,

Are you missing out on something you really can't afford to
pass up? For more information about the CSEA EBF and their
programs, please contact the fund at 1-800-323-2
CSEA or visit the EBF web page at www.csealocal1000.net and click
on the Employee Benefit Fund in the Member Benefits section.

LEAVE DONATIONS
NEEDED — CSEA
member Cindy Staley
is battling esophageal
cancer and her
co-workers at the Camp
Georgetown correctional
facility in Central New York
need members’ help. Staley, a
mail and supply clerk at the facility, has
had major surgery and is undergoing
radiation and chemotherapy to battle the
disease, which has left her unable to
work, With all her leave accruals
exhausted, her co-workers across the
CSEA Mid-State Correctional Local,
including her daughter and her sister who
both work at DOCS’ Camp Pharsalia, have
already donated many hours to allow her
to stay on the payroll, Local Secretary
John Trinkaus is asking co-workers across
the state to donate leave accruals to keep
Staley on the payroll until she is able to
return to work. Those wishing to donate
time must have at least 10 days left after
making their donation. Leave donation
forms are available in the agency's
personnel office... ERIE COUNTY MONEY
MESS — About 4,500 CSEA members who
work in Erie County are gearing up for a
massive county budget fight. Erie County

«LOCAL 1000 AFSCME «ap,
019

265,000 mempens STRON

Executive Joel Giambra
said the county faces a
budget gap ranging
from $17 million to
almost $40 million,
caused by the sluggish
economy and the Sept.
11 terrorist attacks in New

York City.Giambra proposes
slashing pay raises, firing workers, and
making other cuts at the expense of
workers. CSEA ts fighting back, saying
Giambra hasn't talked of spreading the
burden to all county residents, instead
focusing only on its employees ...
UNIVERSITY PACT — About 120 clerical,
bookstore and library workers at St.
Lawrence University in northern New York
have a new three-year contract. Pay raises
and improvements in longevity, pension
and disability coverage are included. The
pact was ratified by a 10-1 margin.
PEOPLE PERSON — The PEOPLE
recruiter for September was Rose
MacBlane of CSEA’s Central Region. She
recruited 24 new PEOPLE members.
PEOPLE is AFSCME’s political action
organizing program aimed at getting
friends of working families elected to
Congress.

NYS & CSEA in Partnership
for Education and Training

During the last negotiations CSEA and the
state established a committee to study
education and training programs and services
funded in the agreement.

The goal was to develop a NYS
plan for their integration and
coordination.

Due to the historical
development of education and
training programs and services
over the past 20 or more years, their
administration was dispersed among three
organizational units: Clerical Secretarial
Employees Advancement Program (CSEAP)
located in the Department of Civil Service, the
Labor Education Action Committee (LEAP)
located in CSEA and the NYS/CSEA
Labor-Management Committees (LMCs).

The committee developed a plan that
promotes the integration and coordination of
the education and tré rogramns
administered by these distinct organizations
into a single new organization — the NYS &
CSEA Partnership for Education and Training
(Partnership).

Jim Hennerty and Guy Dugas, of the CSEA
Contract Administration Department, and Mike
McDonald and Jeannine Morell of GOER, have
been appointed to a Transition Board of
Directors that oversees and directs the
partnership.

Ira Baumgarten, longtime director of
CSEA/LEAP, and Alan Ross, director of the
LMCs, have been appointed partnership

for Education and Training

co-directors, “The partnership is a new,
exciting opportunity to better coordinate and
improve current programs and to create new
programs for our.members,”
said CSEA Pesident Danny”
Donohue,

“{ra Baumgarten’and Alair
Ross, both of whom know well
and understand the concerns
and! interests of CSEA members,
will provide dynamic, creative leadership for
the Partnership,” he added.

Programs and staff are being integrated and
programs responsive to CSEA members’ and
agencies’ needs and interests are being
developed.

Partnership programs include tuition
assistance and educational advisement,
training to help members in each of the
bargaining units develop their job skills and
advance their careers, and safety and health
training and technical assistance to improve
workplace safety.

Labor-management training and support
programs, including contract administration
workshops, labor-management committee
development, as well as the labor-management
grants program and personal development
Seminars, round out the partnership programs.

During this transition period all of the
services and programs of LEAP, CSEAP and the
LMCs continue and you may continue to deal
with your current contacts in these
organizations.