Office of Children
& Family Servieas
4 SOUTH BUILDING:
€ WEST Guiibing
NORTH BUILDING
SOUTH PARKING
Photo by Ed Molitor
See Page
Photo of the Month
hauls a cable aboard a Canal Corp. derrick boat recently.
Hewitt recently became a U.S. citizen. Story, Page 13.
OCA TALKS BEGIN — CSEA’s Office of Court Administration
negotiating team meets with OCA negotiators in Albany recently
to begin contract talks. The OCA contract expires April 1. For
more information, visit www.csealocal1000.org/ca/oca.php
Nery
_ bs lf
CSEA President Danny Donohue to meet
Western Region members on May 17
CSEA President Danny Donohue will visit the CSEA Western Region on May 17 to meet with members. The
meetings will be held at the Holiday Inn Batavia, 8250 Park Road, Batavia.
Donohue will meet with union members from 1 to 7 p.m. Please call the Western Region office at (716)
691-6555 or 1-866-568-7734 for an appointment and directions.
HEN ORK)
LEADING UlOr!
Sanitation worker dies
after collapsing on job
HEMPSTEAD — After nearly three
decades of working for the town,
sanitation
worker John
™ Hollman died
| on the job Feb.
trash pick up
and had just
thrown a load
into the truck
when he
collapsed in the
street.
“There was no inkling when he
went to work that morning that he
Hollman
wouldn’t come home. It was just so
sad, both for the family and for the
guys who worked with him for so
many years,” said A.J. Smith, qth
vice president of the Town of
Hempstead Local.
Hollman suffered a heart attack.
“We collected nearly $500 for the
family,” said Smith. “Guys were
coming around and contributing
whatever they could. He was a
great guy, hardworking, very
dedicated. Nobody had a bad word
to say about him. He was just a
great guy.”
Hollman was two weeks shy of
completing 30 years of service. He
leaves a wife, Dorothy.
Activist Bette James, 54
OYSTER BAY — The Town of Oyster
Bay Local is mourning the death of
Bette James, its 2nd vice president
and devoted activist, on Feb. 14 at
age 54.
“She was such a large part of
everything in the local,” said
Executive Vice President Bobby
Rauff. “Her death has devastated
the local.”
A town employee for 25 years,
she was a management information
specialist supervisor for the
Intergovernmental Affairs division at
the time of her death.
James had served as a shop
steward before being elected 5th
vice president in 2002. She was
elected the local’s 2nd vice
president last year.
“She was probably the most
energetic woman in our local,” said
Rauff. “She came to every event we
ever had. What she brought to our
members was a lot of family feeling.
She made us feel more like a family
than a union.”
James is survived by her mother,
Rebecca; two children, Donald
Chandler, who works for the town’s
highway department, and Jennifer
Marie Chandler-King.
Spitzer appoints GOER director
ALBANY — Gov. Eliot Spitzer has
named Gary Johnson to serve as the
Director of the Governor's Office of
Employee Relations (GOER). GOER is
the state’s labor relations agency
responsible for negotiating and
administering the state employee
contracts with CSEA.
The appointment sends a signal
that the state may shortly be
prepared to begin negotiations on a
new contract to succeed the
agreements that expire April 1.
Johnson has most recently served
as Associate Counsel for the New
York State United Teachers and
previously served as Associate
Counsel and Director of Litigation for
the New York State Public
Employment Relations Board (PERB),
the agency responsible for the state’s
public employee fair employment
law.
CSEA’s bargaining team has been
prepared to begin negotiations since
the beginning of the year.
Page 2 THE WORKFORCE April 2007
Deaf ears at OCFS
( ™ at continues to have concerns
that the state Office of Children
and Family Services is an agency
in crisis unable to serve those in need of
services and unwilling to develop clear-
cut policies and procedures to help its
employees do their jobs.
The union repeatedly raised concerns
about staffing
levels and
policies during
the Pataki
administration.
Most recently
things took a turn
for the worse
when new OCFS
Commissioner
Gladys Carrion
refused to meet
with CSEA
President Danny
Donohue so
Donohue could express the union’s
concerns and discuss ideas for
improvement.
“Simply closing the door doesn’t make
the problems go away,” Donohue said.
“Our members continue to have valid
concerns about lack of direction from
the agency in how to do their jobs,
unclear policy, and a changing
population at youth facilities.”
Donohue
Concerns for youths
CSEA members have expressed
concerns that youths coming into some
facilities need mental health services
the agency is not prepared to provide.
The front-line youth division aides say
the intake phase of a youth’s entry to
the system is most critical, because it
determines how the client will be
placed.
There are other concerns as well.
“The biggest problem is with labor
management. There is no trust between
the parties. | am really concerned for
the employees and also it’s detrimental
to the kids who are supposed to be
rehabilitated. Our labor-management
meetings are a real mess. It’s impossible
to get information. It’s just a mess,” said
Brookwood Center Local President Mark
Davis.
Lack of communication
“The day before OCFS shut down
Camp Cass, I was at a statewide labor
management meeting where OCFS told
us Cass was not being shut down and
that kids would be returning. The NEXT
DAY I see on the news that is being shut
down. I’ve been working here for 17
years and I can’t remember a time when
morale has been this low,” Davis said.
CSEA Tryon School Local President
Joe Melita has
similar concerns.
“The biggest
problems are
with morale,
staffing and
mandates.
Morale is low,
interrogations
are up, the
members feel
@) they are losing
“ control of the
floor. The kids
know and
manipulate the system. They taunt the
staff, are verbally abusive and at times
violent,” he said.
“We are dealing with staff shortages
and scheduling screw-ups that are
Davis
adding to the problems. The mandates
are a big problem when you are
mandated you work two shifts for 16
hours straight. I talked to someone the
other day who was mandated nine times
in one month,” Melita said.
More emphasis is needed on
individual youths, and improved
communication between staff and
supervisors would help immensely in
best serving youths in need, union
members have said.
Longstanding criticism
Unfortunately, OCFS as an agency is
giving the appearance of being unwilling
or unable to come to terms with the
need for change, a criticism the agency
has faced for the past 12 years.
Meanwhile, recent polling by Zogby
International
shows the public
supports
rehabilitation and
treatment for at-
risk youths,
rather than
prosecution in
the adult court
system or
incarceration in
adult jails or
prisons.
“The public
and the people
caring for youths in the OCFS system
can’t both be wrong. They know what
they want and know what they need. It’s
too bad the agency itself can’t grasp
these fairly simple
realities,” Donohue
eT
he public and the people caring for
youths in the OCFS system can’t both
be wrong. They know what they want
and know what they need. It’s too bad the agency
itself can’t grasp these fairly simple realities. 99
April 2007
said.
— Lou Hmieleski
THE WORK FORCE Page 3
ISSN 1522-1091
Official publication of
CSEA Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO
143 Washington Ave.
Albany, NY 12210-2303
Danny Donohue, President
STEPHEN A. MADARASZ
Communications Director & Publisher
STANLEY HORNAK
Deputy Director of Communications
LOU HMIELESKI
Executive Editor
JANICE MARRA
Associate Editor
CATHLEEN FEBRAIO
Graphic Production Specialist
JANICE M. KUCSKAR
Graphic Production Specialist
BETH McINTYRE
Communications Assistant
The Work Force (USPS 0445-010) is
143 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12210.
Periodical Mail Postage paid at Post Office,
Albany, New York 12288.
Postmaster: Send address changes to:
CSEA, Attn: Membership Department,
143 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12210.
CSEA on-line: The CSEA website
can be accessed at www.csealocal1000.0rg
published monthly by The CSEA Publication Office:
Readers:
Send any comments, complaints, suggestions or ideas to:
Publisher, The Work Force, 143 Washington Avenue,
Albany, NY 12210-2303.
COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATES
RACHEL LANGERT Long Island Region
(631) 462-0030
DAVID GALARZA. Metropolitan Region
(212) 406-2156
JESSICA LADLEE Southern Region
(845) 831-1000
‘THERESE ASSALIAN Capital Region
(618) 785-4400
MARK M. KOTZIN Central Region
(315) 433-0050
LYNN MILLER Western Region
(716) 691-6555
ED MOLITOR Headquarters
(518) 257-1272
The Publications Committee
LONG ISLAND REGION Jane D'Amico
METROPOLITAN REGION Annie Campbell
SOUTHERN REGION Deborah Downey
CAPITAL REGION Helen Fischedick
CENTRAL REGION Doreen Gilbert
WESTERN REGION Mary Jo Tubbs
yack com 2
tc —_ pf
Page 4 THE WORK FORCE April 2007
CSEA President Danny Donohue
Good is not good enough when caring for
individuals with developmental disabilities
here’s been a lot of focus in recent weeks on the care of
individuals with developmental disabilities in New York
state. It’s with good reason. The tragic life of 13-year-old
Jonathan Carey in both public and not-for-profit facilities
should serve as a reminder that we must all do more to
improve the quality of care for individuals with
developmental disabilities no matter where it’s provided.
Carey, diagnosed with autism, died while in the
care of a state facility. He was there because of
allegations of abuse and mistreatment while in the care
of a not-for-profit operation.
CSEA has a long history advocating for better care for our
state’s most vulnerable citizens. Nearly 40 years ago, C0EA members
helped expose the horrors of intolerable conditions at Willowbrook and set
New York on the path to meaningful reform. Since that time, CSEA has
worked tirelessly with the state Office of Mental Retardation and
Developmental Disabilities to improve care. For more than a generation
New York has a good record of addressing needs of individuals with
developmental disabilities. But as the Jonathan Carey case demonstrates,
good is not good enough.
There is clearly a need for more resources, better and specialized
training, improved oversight and transparency in OMRDD facilities and not-
for-profit contractors. The alarming staff turnover rates in the not-for-profit
sector continue to undermine quality and continuity of care and cannot be
ignored.
Last year CSEA launched the Quality Care Campaign to begin
addressing these issues. We remain committed to its objectives and will
continue our efforts to advance it. We have a moral duty to do no less.
Nursing home residents potentially at risk
Workers stop electrical fire
ELMIRA — Several
CSEA members working
for Chemung County
recently moved quickly
to stop an electrical fire
that was a potential
threat to the health and
safety of county
nursing home
residents.
The small electrical
fire started in the
county Health
Department’s dental
clinic. CSEA members
working in the building
complex, which houses
the 200-bed county
nursing home, were
among the first
responders.
As fire and rescue
vehicles from three
counties worked
quickly to extinguish
the blaze, some smoke
spread through the
ventilation system,
leading the county to
initiate a
“They're my patients.
I came to help,” off-duty
aide and CSEA member
Geraldine Bauman told
a local newspaper.
Firefighters were able
to use fans to clear the
smoke and the
disaster “They’re nursing home
: a a be evacuated.
As patients. “Everyone
ennlovers Feame | inv dia
inside to to help. ” and they all ’
prepare to deserve
move residents, several
off-duty workers who
were nearby rushed
back to the scene to
offer assistance and
aid.
recognition,” said CSEA
Chemung County Unit
President Mary
Buchanan.
Central Region
President Jim Moore,
who was to retire at the
end of March, agreed.
“The response of
those who were both
on and off-duty shows
the high level of
dedication,
professionalism and
care that is typical of
our county work force,”
Moore wrote in a letter
to the editor. “To them,
we all owe a debt of
gratitude and thanks.
Kudos for a job well
done.”
— Mark M. Kotzin
Of\O/ The Mental Health Foundation
AN
Depression does not
discriminate
Depression is a serious illness that
affects individuals of all ages, races,
status and abilities. It’s a lot more than
just feeling blue and it does not go away
by itself.
While depression is treatable, most
people suffering from depression do not
seek the help they need.
Local 1000
Members
iy
LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM f
‘ ATS
This members-only Renee program
provides attorney representation for
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION; SOCIAL
SECURITY DISABILITY; PERSONAL
INJURY and PERSONAL LEGAL MATTERS
for members AND their dependents.
To learn more about depression, visit
the Mental Health Foundation’s website:
www.mentalhealthfoundation.net.
and Follow Prompts for
CSEA Legal Services Program
Z
April 2007
NEW. YORK'S:
LEADING UNION)
Represents 60,000 Workers in
LEAUL CARE
SERVICES
“The response of
those who were
both on and off-
duty shows the
high level of
dedication,
professionalism
and care that is
typical of our
county work
force.”
CSER Voices
“We have suffered lots of
losses due to no
increases in funding. We used
to have all sorts of supplies
for children’s programs. We've
also lost home delivery and
adult and children’s services
due to low staff. There has
been a progressive loss. 99
— Dianne Hunt, president,
Nioga Library System Local,
on libraries’ need for more
public funding.
THE WORK FORCE Page 5
265,000 Members Strong
LABOR TINTS
“We've fought hard
to win these
benefits, and we’re
not going to let
them be challenged
without more
fighting.”
66 [wish there were more
room for advancement
within our titles. We don’t
want to lose CSEA members,
but for those individuals who
get advanced training and
education, there is no
advancement. 99
— Chery] M. Perkins,
Library Clerk, SUNY Health
and Sciences Center,
Brooklyn, on need for more
state funding for libraries.
Page 6 THE WORKFORCE April 2007
Retiree benefit challenges fought
SYRACUSE — CSEA is fighting to stop a move by the
city to take more money out of the pockets of retirees
for their health insurance coverage, telling the Common
Council the city has a “legal and moral obligation” to
continue their benefits unchanged, as provided for by
the union contract.
Recently, the union filed a class action grievance to
protect the retirees’ rights.
CSEA has had several challenges to retiree benefits in
other parts of the state, and has been successful in
beating them.
“This is an issue that’s critical to our membership,
because it involves the security of their future. We've
fought hard to win these benefits, and we’re not going
to let them be challenged without more fighting,” said
CSEA President Danny Donohue.
“I find it awesome that CSEA is bringing forth their
legal and other staff to assist in this situation,” said
CSEA City of Syracuse retiree activist Lee Fordock, who
retired in 1997 as a Civil Engineer 2 for the City Water
Department after 35 years of service.
The issue arose when the city Common Council
passed a law to amend the City Charter to increase
contributions of retired city workers and their
dependents toward their health insurance premiums, as
well as increasing co-payments for office visits and
prescription drugs.
According to the councilor behind the legislation, the
city wanted to lessen their “unfounded liability” from
retiree health insurance commitments, due to the new
Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB)
reporting requirements to which municipalities must
soon begin adhering. CSEA represents retired city
Almost
time to
retire?
Your local may pay the first
year of CSEA retiree dues,
which is only $24!
CSEA retiree members
enjoy many of the benefits
and discounts of belonging to a union. In return, you
get access to a wide variety of money-saving
benefits such as:
+ Access to insurance plans at CSEA’s low group
rates.
+ Travel discounts.
CSEA Political Action Coordinator Rick Noreault, left,
discusses the union’s opposition to changing retiree
health insurance contributions with retiree Lee
Fordock.
white-collar administrative workers, but at this point, it
is unclear how many would be affected.
In filing the grievance, CSEA is arguing the city
promised retirees they would have no contributions
toward health insurance premiums, and that the
workers gave up other benefits to maintain that
promise. Fordock agrees.
“Having negotiated contracts and knowing some of
the players, I’m upset that they think they can get away
with it. I think it’s foolish on their part because we
negotiated for years to maintain that benefit and now
they’re just unilaterally changing it,” he said.
— Mark M. Kotzin
+ Adiscounted consumer items buying service.
+ Discounted dental and vision care programs.
+ A personal legal services referral network.
+ The Retiree News quarterly
Being a CSEA retiree member also makes you part
of a growing statewide body that can effectively
advocate on your behalf:
+ Legislative and political action programs
designed to enhance and protect retiree pension
and health benefits.
+ Participation in a CSEA Retiree Local.
+ Effective lobbying against Social Security
reform.
+ Three informative publications.
For more information, visit www.csealocal1000.org
and select “retirees” from the “Member Benefits”
menu item.
CSEA efforts save county jobs
KINGSTON — CSEA-
spearheaded efforts last
fall have resulted in 22
members of the Ulster
County Unit being placed
in different county jobs
after their original job
titles were eliminated
during budget season.
CSEA Ulster County
Local President Kevin
DuMond lobbied county
legislators to find
alternate county
positions for the workers
after officials announced
the cuts.
“It was spread out
across the county,” said
DuMond of the cuts. “It
affected the Department
of Social Services, the
employees of the
Alternative Sentencing
Department and the
Buildings and Grounds
employees.”
Now, all but one of the
full-time workers has
been placed, and DuMond
said he expects the final
full-time worker to have a
new position shortly.
He said morale has
improved since the initial
announcement of layoffs.
“Unfortunately, making
an announcement to
employees shortly before
the holidays that they
may be without a job
come April 1 is not only
disheartening to the
employee, but also the
family, especially when
there were single mothers
involved,” said DuMond.
CSEA has actively
lobbied the county over
the past year to consider
other cost-savings
measures before resorting
to elimination of jobs.
DuMond said cost-
saving ideas from a
county employee
suggestion program have
not been fully used, while
the county instead opted
to double employee co-
payments for doctor
visits and prescriptions.
CSEA has an improper
practice charge pending
on that issue.
— Jessica Ladlee
Fighting for libraries
ro
Several CSEA members and their library directors
recently traveled to Albany to take part in Library
Lobby Day with other unions and the New York Library
Association, to urge lawmakers to provide critical
DMV cashier’s winning suggestion
funding for public libraries. Pictured here are CSEA
member Ove Overmeyer, a member of CSEA's Western
Region Political Action Committee and a Rochester
Public Library worker, at left; CSEA member Janet
Scheuering, a Rockville Centre Public Library worker,
second from left Christa Lucarelli, a CSEA member in
the Nassau County Local, fourth from left; and Robert
Mannion, a CSEA Westchester Local member working at
Warner Library in Tarrytown, second from right. Kathy
Miller, New York Library Association Legislative
Committee Chair, is at right. Several library directors
are also pictured.
AUBURN — Sometimes it takes a
mistake to realize there must be a
better way of doing things.
That’s exactly what happened to
CSEA member Krista Neville, a
cashier who’s worked for the Cayuga
County Department of Motor Vehicles
for 30 years, who came up witha
brainstorm when processing
snowmobile registrations earlier this
year.
Her confusion stemmed from the
fact that there are two registration
rates for snowmobile owners — a $45
discounted fee for those belonging to
snowmobile clubs, and a $100 fee for
everyone else.
Unfortunately, there was nowhere
on the statewide Department of
Motor Vehicles’ computerized
snowmobile registration system that
asked whether registrants belonged
to a club. DMV workers would
manually enter the proper fee.
After Neville realized she had
mistakenly overcharged a club
member, she went to her supervisor
with an idea.
“After I charged somebody too
much, I said there should be
something on here (the computer
system) that asks whether they
belong to a club,” she said. “My
supervisor said I should suggest that,
so I did.”
Neville’s suggestion was recently
adopted statewide in the form of a
new pop-up screen that asks about
Neville on the job.
club membership for snowmobile
registrants and automatically
calculates the correct fee.
Asked about her winning entry,
Neville humbly takes pride, but still
chuckles over how it came about.
— Mark M. Kotzin
April 2007
THE WORK FORCE
SUCIAL SERVLG!
ADWURISTRTIVE
SEWVICES
CSEA has actively
lobbied the county
over the past year
to consider other
cost-saving
measures before
resorting to
elimination of jobs.
66 A muhere they want to put
additional state money,
we would certainly use it to the
best of our ability for the public.
The circulation and registration
area in our library does need
upgrading. We’re behind the
times back here, but we are
always in need of more funding,
so it would go to good use
anywhere. 99
— Evelyn Sokel, principal
clerk, New Rochelle Public
Library, on libraries’ need for
more state funding.
Page 7
NEW. YORK'S
LEADING UNION
‘Represents
WASTE Ws
IWIATNG EE WANG Es
IKELUASTRUCTULES:
Wood is the
only material that
can hold up
against the
elements, lasting
20 years or more.
CSEF Voices
ad Bete have been
underfunded for so
many years. CSEA members
in particular have been
working so hard at the
grassroots level not only on
the local level but on the
state level as well to get the
vital funding that is so
important.99
— Ove Overmeyer,
Rochester Public Library
employee, on libraries’
need for more state
funding.
Page 8 THE WORKFORCE April 2007.
oa
FPyyig courtesy of John a -
Thomas Schroeder, a chief lock operator and vice
president of the state Canal Corp. Local, waits for
installation of steel miter gates at Erie Canal Lock 4
in Waterford on March 7. Schroeder and other CSEA
members employed at the Canal Corp. played a key
role with the gate replacement project at the lock.
inion, Albany
New gate for old canal
WATERFORD — State
Canal Corp. employees
at the canal shop here
recently played a key
role in a gate
replacement project at
Lock 4.
The project, part of
routine maintenance of
the canal system,
involves the transport
and installation of two
50-ton, 50-foot gates.
While the gate transport
and install are handled
by contractors, the job
could not be completed
without the help of canal
workers at the sawmill in
Waterford.
“We're doing the
quoins and miter work,”
Canal Corp. Local
President Walter Sprouse
said. “That involves
taking a giant piece of
oak and shaving it down
to size.”
The milled oak
becomes a key
component of the new
gate. The wood is fitted
to prevent water from
leaking out of the lock.
Sprouse said the
wood is the only material
that can hold up against
the elements, lasting 20
years or more.
— Therese Assalian
Union members
take part in fast’s
vigil for justice
MANHATTAN — Members of the Greater New
York Labor-Religion Coalition, workers and
activists demanded “Justice for Security
Officers” during an interfaith vigil in front of
the Time Warner Center.
The vigil was part of the 12th Annual 40
Hour Fast sponsored by the Greater New
York Labor-Religion Coalition. Under the
theme of “Let Justice Surge Like Water ...”
the Fast invites all
New Yorkers to go
without solid food
for 40 hours. During
this experience of
hunger, Fast
participants are
asked to hunger for
justice by petitioning
elected officials to
stand for dignity and
a living wage for the workers who help keep
New York City secure.
The vigil was one of many events taking
place across the state to raise awareness of
exploited and mistreated workers.
“The 40-Hour Fast is a call to conscience
—a time to stand for justice for low wage
immigrant workers in our communities,” said
Rabbi Michael Feinberg, executive director of
the Greater New York Labor-Religion
Coalition.
The Time Warner Center has is one of
several companies in New York that contract
with Guardsmark, a privately held security
company which operates in more than 400
cities. A survey of workers in June 2006
found that Guardsmark, the sixth largest
contractor in the city, paying its workers far
less than what most security workers are
paid.
“This year, we focus on the situation of
security guards in New York, who keep us all
safe but lack basic economic security for
themselves and for their families,” Feinberg
said. “We join them in their demand for
dignity and a living wage.”
265,000 Members Strong
[AOR CLINT.
— David Galarza
Members get education
with WORK Institute programs
SARATOGA SPRINGS —
CSEA-represented support
staff at the Saratoga
Springs School District
recently got an education
of their own when they
participated in a staff
development day
coordinated by the union's
WORK Institute.
The district hosted the
training and released
support staff from their
regular job duties to
attend.
CSEA members attended
workshops on topics that
included dealing with
difficult students,
improving communication
skills and gang awareness.
Attendees said the
trainings were beneficial
and should continue.
“Even if I learn just one
thing that I can take back
to work with me, it will be
worthwhile,” said Rachel
Thorne, a secretary at the
high school who attended
all three sessions.
Real life lessons
In addition to learning
valuable information,
attendees also got a
chance to share real life
experiences and strategies
for increasing effectiveness
at work.
“It’s nice to get feedback
from others,” said Lorraine
Montgomery, a computer
Left,
Saratoga
Springs
School
| District
Bonnie
Wilson attends a training
session on how to deal
with difficult students.
T
\ ie
plans to schedule more
training sessions for school
employees across the
state. The institute has
also sponsored similar
workshops in the Geneva
City and Greenwich Central
school districts, both with
positive results.
“CSEA’s WORK Institute
is looking forward to
| facilitating more training
- around the state and is
Effective Communication Facilitator Elizabeth Heilpern,
left, discusses real-life strategies for workplace
communications with Saratoga Springs School District
employees Lorraine Montgomery, middle, and Rachel
Thorne, right.
support technician who
has worked at the district
for more than 10 years.
“This is the first training of
this type that I’ve been to.”
“We are pleased to be
able to partner with the
school and with the WORK
Institute to do this training
and we look forward to
doing more,” said Unit
President Gerry
Weatherwax.
Unit Steward Don
Woodward, who also
played a key role in
coordinating the event,
was pleased with the
turnout. Weatherwax and
Woodward have been
working with the school to
schedule more workshops.
“Professional
development like this is
more common for
teachers, yet all district
personnel benefit from it,”
Capital Region President
Kathy Garrison said. “By
providing these trainings
and release time so
support staff can attend,
schools show that they
recognize and respect the
important role that
support staff play in school
districts.”
Teacher Aide Bonnie
Wilson, who works at
Geyser Road Elementary
School in Saratoga Springs,
found the sessions to be
informative and necessary.
“We need more of these
types of trainings; we are
the ones down in the
trenches.”
regularly expanding
available training as more
topics are requested,” said
WORK Institute Director
Liz Asadourian. “This is
really a win-win situation
for CSEA-represented
school district employees
and the for the districts
they work in. Members
really appreciate the
recognition and
professional development,
and districts are getting
great public relations
benefits as well.”
More programs planned — Therese Assalian
The WORK Institute
To set up a training session ...
nterested in setting up a professional
development day at your school district with
training sessions provided by the WORK
Institute?
Training sessions include:
¢ Dealing with Difficult Students
¢ Gang Awareness
¢ Effective Communication
¢ Disability Awareness
e Emergency Preparedness and Evacuation
¢ Retirement Planning
For more information, contact Liz Asadourian
at the WORK Institute by e-mail at
asadourian@cseainc.org, or by phone at
(518) 782-4427 or (866) 478-5548.
Represents 55,000 Workers in
ERUCALION SULEOKT
SELVICES
“Even if I learn
just one thing
that I can take
back to work with
me, it will be
worthwhile.”
CSE Voices
sep Pelicve it is vital we give
libraries enough financial
support to maintain patron
services. Our staff has been cut
to bare bones; on a daily basis
we scramble to fulfill the
promise of opportunity libraries
represent to our communities. 99
— Laura Krzemien, senior
library clerk, Nioga Library
System, on libraries’ need for
more state funding.
April 2007 THE WORK FORCE Page 9
yw
Dealing with all manner of creatures
SEA members across the state are often unsung heroes in
C coming to the rescue of abused or neglected animals, while at
the same time keeping the public safe from wild and feral
creatures that pose a threat. Here, three such members talk about
their jobs and more importantly to them, their love of animals.
GRAND ISLAND — On Grand Island,
located on the Niagara River
between Buffalo and Niagara Falls,
Animal Control Officer and CSEA
member Greg Butcher and his two
part-time deputies respond to
domestic pet and wildlife calls.
Butcher's duties stretch far
beyond the civil service
responsibilities of “dog warden.”
Butcher is a peace officer who wears
the uniform of the Grand Island
Police Department.
In addition to the police academy,
he has also graduated from an
animal control academy and he is
qualified to investigate animal
cruelty cases.
“We are a suburban setting; we
have dense population clusters and
vast open areas,” Butcher said. “The
animal control officer title addresses
the needs of the community beyond
just dogs. In the open areas, we
have fox and coyote. In the
neighborhoods we have a lot of calls
about companion animals.”
Much of Butcher's time is spent
on “neighbor relations,” smoothing
over occasional disputes between
neighbors about roaming pets.
As the island is developed and
housing stock increases, wildlife will
Page 10 April 2007
mn
cE
§
Grand Island Animal Control
Officer Greg Butcher deals with
homeowner's pets in suburban
settings and would animals in
more remote reaches.
sometimes move into the
communities, creating concern
among residents. Butcher
encourages residents to be
responsible pet owners who keep
their animals safe by not letting
them roam.
— Lynn Miller
SMP (single male python) seeks ‘right match’
TROY — An 11-foot Burmese
python is calling the city
Department of Public Works
garage home.
Troy Animal Control
Officer and CSEA member
Kevin McDonough is caring
for the snake in his office
until he finds a good home
for him.
A friend turned the snake
over to McDonough after
deciding he could no longer
care for it. The snake's
original owner gave the
snake to McDonough's friend
when the man moved.
The 70-pound snake is
housed in a large metal crate
with wood walls. A lamp is
placed on top of the crate to
provide extra warmth for the
snake, which normally
prefers a much warmer
climate.
Every three weeks, the
snake is fed three rats,
which must be fed to him
one at a time.
“They won't eat dead
ones; they have to kill the
food themselves,” said
McDonough, who has
experience handling snakes
and gets about five calls per
year about snakes.
When the snake first
|
Troy Animal Control Officer Kevin McDonough holds an 11-
foot Burmese python the city shelter received after the
snake outgrew its owner. Though the python is up for
adoption, McDonough said it will only go to someone he
feels is competent to care for the animal.
arrived, he was agitated and
McDonough figured he was
hungry. “After he ate, he
calmed down and was able
to be handled,” said
McDonough, who now
describes him as “really
mellow.”
McDonough’s comfort and
knowledge with snakes and
other exotic animals comes
from a lifelong love and
interest in animals combined
with on-the-job experience.
As the city’s only animal
control officer, McDonough
is on the go constantly,
especially in the summer
months where he could
easily put in 70 hours a
week. He is on call 24 hours
per day, seven days per
week doing investigative
work, including finding
owners, issuing tickets and
tracking the outcome of the
cases in which he is
involved.
A love of animals is at the
core of his work. “I help out
the animals and will check
on them to make sure they
are OK,” he said.
McDonough said he is
excited to be part of a
county-wide task force that
is forming to prevent animal
abuse.
As far as his new office
mate, McDonough said he
will work hard to find the
proper home for the snake.
He's had a few inquiries but
hasn't found the right match
yet.
“[ don't do it for the
money,” he said. “I do it to
help animals.”
— Therese Assalian
THE WORK FORCE
Shelter’s dogs ‘spoiled rotten’
PUTNAM VALLEY — For
Patricia Smith, caring for
her community’s
homeless dogs isn’t a 9 to
5 job; it’s a career built on
her lifelong love of
animals.
Smith, a CSEA member
with the Putnam Valley
Unit, doesn’t just put in
the 40 hours per week her
job as dog control and
code enforcement officer
requires. Her love for her
canine charges is so fierce
that she makes extra night
and weekend trips to the
dog shelter across from
Town Hall, ensuring the
dogs receive as much
hands-on care as possible
following their stints with
homelessness or abuse.
“When these dogs are
here, they are spoiled
rotten,” said Smith, who
uses skills from her side
job as a dog behavioral
trainer to help dogs at the
town pound become more
adoptable.
When she’s not taking
care of the eight or so
dogs at the shelter, Smith
is responsible for
enforcing animal codes in
the town, whether the
issue is dogs barking
constantly, suspected
animal abuse or vicious
dogs.
One memorable case
that turned out for the
best occurred when, on a
garbage pickup route,
several local sanitation
Putnam Valley Animal Control Officer Patricia Smith
with one of her canine charges. Smith often spends off
hours at the shelter making sure the dogs get extra
hands-on care.
workers heard barking
after dumping a load of
trash in their garbage
truck.
They retrieved a
garbage bag, which
contained three newborn
puppies.
“We found the owners
and they were
prosecuted,” Smith said
with a smile. “The owner
had decided to cull the
litter because the mother
was unable to feed all the
puppies.”
Smith doesn’t just
adopt her shelter dogs out
to anyone. She conducts
an interview and often
insists on a brief waiting
period before placing a
dog with a new owner,
mainly so she is sure the
dog behaviorally is ready.
‘As happy as Smith is to
find homes for the shelter
inhabitants, it's tough to
see them go.
“But it’s so rewarding
taking these broken little
dogs, rehabilitating them
and finding them better
homes than where they
came from,” she said.
— Jessica Ladlee
April 2007 Page 11
Spitzer signs workers’ comp reforms
ALBANY — Gov. Eliot Spitzer
recently signed legislation to
reform New York's workers’
compensation system.
The new law, which was
supported by business and labor
leaders, will increase benefits for
injured workers while reducing
costs to employers.
“This landmark legislation is a
victory for workers and
employers alike,” CSEA President
Danny Donohue said. “It is an
outstanding example of what can
be achieved when the labor and
business communities work
together for what’s in the best
interest of the people of this
state.”
The law raises the maximum
weekly benefit for injured
workers from $400 to $600 over
three years, and to two-thirds of
the average weekly wage in New
York in the fourth year.
Once the maximum benefit
reaches two-thirds of the
average weekly wage, it will be
indexed annually. In addition,
the law more than doubles the
minimum benefit from $40 to
$100 per week.
Meanwhile, the law is
expected to reduce employer
CSEA to honor fallen members
on Workers rere Day
Crs
members
Cr join
other AFL-CIO
labor unions
April 28 in
remembering
for He,
were killed on if ving!
the job. CSEA mourns six
members who died on the job this
past year.
Fig
Dean Norris, 37, a CSEA-
represented Orange County
Department of Public Works
employee, died June 10, 2006,
after being struck by a vehicle
when flagging traffic away from a
county road crew working to
improve sight lines of the road.
Robert L. Batt, 56, a Wyoming
County Department of Public
Works employee who died on the
job in July 2006, after a forklift he
was picking up from a job site slid
from a flatbed truck and struck
him.
Michael Len, 45, a state Canal
Corp. worker, died Dec. 7, 2006,
Page 12 THE WORK FORCE
after losing his footing and falling
into the Mohawk River at Lock 9
of the Erie Canal in Rotterdam.
Ryan Thomas Brady, 31, an
Allegany State Park employee and
CSEA activist, died Dec., 16, 2006,
when the truck he was driving
while on a work assignment
struck a tree in a remote section
of the park.
Michael J. Russo, 47, a Medina
Department of Public Works
employee and CSEA activist, died
Jan. 31, 2007, after falling out of a
bucket lift while trimming a tree.
John Hollman, 54, a Town of
Hempstead sanitation worker,
died Feb. 14, 2007, from a massive
coronary while doing a trash
pickup.
For more information about
Workers’ Memorial Day events in
your region, contact your local or
unit president or CSEA region
office, or visit the events calendar
page on CSEA’s website at
www.csealocal1000.org for
updates.
April 2007.
costs for workers’
compensation
premiums by 10 to
disability can seek an
extreme hardship re-
determination to
15 percent primarily Wise HY extend benefits.
by capping the LEADING UNION The law also
number of years 265,000 Members Strong contains anti-fraud
claimants with GBGEETY and measures
permanent partial ef, REMY and recommended by the
disabilities can HEA ETE CSEA-supported Fiscal
receive cash
benefits. Medical
coverage will continue for life
after the cap is reached. A safety
net will be established to help
these workers return to gainful
employment and workers with
an 80 to 90 percent or greater
Safety fair
Policy Institute. It
increases sanctions
against businesses and
employees who commit workers’
compensation fraud and closes a
loophole that allows some
insurance carriers to avoid
paying claims.
Tioga County Department of Social Service Foster Care Caseworker
Andrew Kneller gives a CSEA balloon to 4-year-old Jaclyn Farr of
Apalachin at the Tioga County Safety Fair sponsored by CSEA. The
event focused on safety education and accident prevention. More than
100 area children took advantage of the Child Identification Program
(CHIP) from the Free and Accepted Masons, which records pictures,
fingerprints and other identifying information onto a CD for parents in
case their child goes missing. The county Health Department donated
bicycle safety helmets that were given away, and the Owego Police
Department gave away 20 approved car seats. CSEA member Dan
Young, an adult protective caseworker in the county Department of
Social Services, even dressed up as McGruff the Crime Dog to greet
children. Event organizer Joan Kellogg, a principal account clerk in
the Health Department, developed the project through her
participation in the CSEA LEAD program and plans to hold a similar
event next year.
U.S. citizenship more than a test
for CSEA member!
WATERFORD —
State Canal Corp.
employee and CSEA
member John Hewitt
recently took time
off from his work to
study for a very
important test —a
test to become a
United States
citizen.
It’s a test he’s been
practicing for since 1978, when
he first came to the United
States from Guyana, in South
America.
He discovered Albany while
on vacation visiting his sister
and fell in love with the Capital
District.
“I never looked back,” said
Hewitt.
In 1997, he started asa
seasonal employee at the Canal
Corp. and in 2000 became a
full-time worker as a
EAIMIRWIERTE
KELERE GUS
maintenance
assistant marine. He
works on a Derek
boat that dredges
and cleans up debris
from the canals.
Life as a non-
citizen with a green
card had continued
for years until
Hewitt decided to become a
US. citizen.
He wanted to make his
citizenship official to be able to
visit his brother in Canada
without a hassle. So, last
summer, he started the process
and filled out an application
and began studying for his test.
“The guys here at work
helped me study,” Hewitt said.
Hewitt took a verbal test
during which he had to answer
10 questions about U.S. history
and government, getting nine
of the questions correct.
John Hewitt, shown here at work for the state Canal Corp.,
recently passed a U.S. citizenzhip test and was sworn in as a
citizen.
He was then mailed a form
giving him the date for the
official swearing-in ceremony
that took place in Albany in
late February.
“I was very happy that day,”
said Hewitt. “It’s a day I will
never forget.”
— Therese Assalian
AFSCME sponsors Presidential candidate forum
ore than 800 AFSCME members and
Mites: recently attended the
union’s Democratic Presidential
Forum, which was broadcast live on C-
SPAN and ABC News Radio, and online at
C-SPAN’s and ABC News’ websites.
The forum was the first that AFSCME,
CSEA’s affiliate union, has ever hosted.
The forum, held in Carson City, Nev.,
focused on issues affecting working
families and featured eight Democratic
presidential candidates, including Sen.
Hillary Clinton. ABC News’ George
Stephanopoulos moderated the AFSCME-
sponsored forum.
In addition to Clinton, Sen. Joe Biden,
Sen. Chris Dodd, former Sen. John
Edwards, former Sen. Mike Gravel, Rep.
Dennis Kucinich, New Mexico Gov. Bill
Richardson and former Iowa Gov. Tom
Vilsack participated in the forum. Vilsack
has since withdrawn from the race. Sen.
Barack Obama did not attend the forum
because of another commitment.
“As America's public service union, the
1.4 million members of AFSCME have
always led the way when it comes to
fighting for working families,” ASFCME
President Gerald McEntee said. “Today is
the first step, the first step in rolling back
the damage done by this administration;
the first step in taking back this country
for the people who built this country and
make it work every single day. “
Each candidate took the stage
individually, and began and ended their
presentations with a brief statement. After
their introductory two-minute speeches,
the candidates sat with Stephanopoulos
and answered questions from AFSCME
members and retirees that included:
¢ Will they pledge to support a vibrant
public sector work force?
¢ What will they do to protect Social
Security and ensure that every American
retires in dignity?
¢ How will they make college more
affordable for poor and middle class
families?
For more information or to watch the
forum online, visit the presidential
forum page on AFSCME’s website at
www.afscme.org/nevadaforum.cfm.
April 2007 THE WORKFORCE Page 13
I year ago ...
On June 28, 2006, severe flooding ravaged parts of the Central,
Capital, Southern and Western regions, damaging many homes and
highways. The most widespread damage occurred in the Central
Region, where floodwaters rose to more than 3 feet in some areas.
While CSEA members spent weeks repairing damage to roads
and public buildings and providing food, shelter and relief to affected
residents, many members also saw their own homes severely
damaged.
During the summer and fall last year, CSEA members, especially
in the Central Region, held numerous events to raise money, and
efforts to help extended to union members statewide.
During the 2006 Annual Delegates’ Meeting, AFSCME President
Gerald McEntee presented CSEA with a $50,000 check to be used
toward flood relief efforts.
7 |
Mark Hoffman, a Montgomery
County mail clerk, views
damage to the County Annex
office building in Fonda
following the flooding in 2006.
Central Region President Jim Moore, who has served in that
office for nearly 30 years, is recently interviewed in
| Syracuse on his long, distinguished union career for the
CSEA 100 History Project. A profile wii
upcoming edition of The Work Force.
appear in an
Also in 2006 ...
2& London Metropolitan Police make 21 arrests in
connection with an apparent terrorist plot that involved
aircraft traveling from the United Kingdom to the United
States.
2k After midterm elections, Democrats win the majority of
seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate for
the first time since 1994. Rep. Nancy Pelosi becomes the
first woman elected as Speaker of the House.
2 Former President Gerald Ford dies at 93.
2 The | billionth song is purchased from the Apple iTunes
Store.
2 Golfer Tiger Woods clinches his 12M victory in the
majors after winning the PGA championship. Only
legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus has won more titles.
3k Pluto is “demoted” from one of nine planets in the solar
system to a “dwarf” planet.
Page 14 THE WORK FORCE April 2007
Treasurer Maureen Malone
retiring from office
fter 33 years as a CSEA
activist, statewide
Treasurer Maureen Malone is
retiring from her union office as
well as her state job.
As she was preparing to
leave office, Malone recently
looked back on her 33-year
union career.
“CSEA has given me so many
opportunities,” she said. “I went Malone
to a Presidential (Bill Clinton’s
1997) inauguration and
consider Hillary Clinton a friend. It’s beyond my
imagination of what I’ve been able to achieve.”
Looking at a framed collage of Clinton and Vice
President Al Gore from the 1997 inauguration,
Malone said, “This is my career, right here.”
A look back
An Oneida native, Malone’s CSEA activism
began in 1974 when she faced an injustice at her
job as a Madison County medical laboratory
technician. She began her union career by
attending a Central Region meeting and soon
joined the CSEA Board of Directors as the
Madison County representative.
“The only way to
correct the problems
at work was to become
a CSEA activist,” she
said.
Before being elected
as statewide treasurer
in 1994, Malone served
in numerous elected
offices for the Madison
County Local and
Central Region. She
eventually left county
employment to work
for AFSCME and own a
yarn shop for several
years before once again
becoming a CSEA member in 1983 when she
began working at Mohawk Valley Psychiatric
Center. She most recently worked at SUNY Health
Science Center in Syracuse.
Malone served on the blue ribbon panel that
studied CSEA’s 1978 affiliation with AFSCME.
“The affiliation was one of the greatest changes
in my time here,” she said. “It made us part of the
AFL-CIO. Our affiliation with AFSCME gave us a
national presence and standing that has been
positive for CSEA.”
Maureen Malone at a
Central Region meeting
in 1978.
“I take pride in CSEA’s operations, including
our training programs and how we spend our
membership dues,” she said. “We are head and
shoulders above other unions in this regard.”
She said the statewide treasurer's office is
important as the officeholder is responsible for
upholding the union's financial rules and
regulations.
To help unit and local treasurers adapt to their
offices and hone their skills, Malone travels
across the state twice a year to conduct treasurer
4 training. “I have tried to
be there for the members
whenever they need me,
and I'm always available
to them,” she said.
One of Malone's
proudest moments as
4 statewide treasurer was
| her work in developing
the CSEA flag quilt that
members and staff sewed
together during the 2001
Annual Delegates Meeting
in Buffalo.
The quilt, which
Secretary Barbara
Reeves and
Treasurer Maureen
Malone at the union’s features squares, stars and
tribute to Sept. 11,
2001, victims during
the 2002 Annual
Delegates Meeting in
New York City.
“helping hands” depicting
officers, locals and staff,
was especially poignant to
Malone in the aftermath of
the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist
attacks.
“The quilt represents a lot of our pride and
everyone pulled together and put it together,”
Malone’s service
Below is a listing of some of CSEA Treasurer
Maureen Malone's elected offices and committees
over the years.
Statewide Treasurer
CSEA Board of Directors, Madison County
representative and later as Central Region
mental hygiene representative
Central Region 2nd Vice President,
Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer
CSEA Judicial Board member
Statewide Constitutions and By-laws
Committee member
Chair, CSEA Methods and Procedures
Committee
Madison County Local President
Active in other efforts, including the CSEA
Women’s Committee
she said. “It was
awe-inspiring.
We had always
planned for it to
bea flag, but
Sept. 11 gave
more meaning to
the quilt.”
Another
accomplishment Malone is proud of is leading the
union’s ongoing efforts to build CSEA Street in
Louisiana, which suffered extreme damage from
hurricanes Katrina and Rita. To date, CSEA
members have raised more than $80,000 toward
the project.
One Katrina fund-raiser Malone spearheaded
was the “CSEA Cooks From the Heart” cookbook
consisting of recipes from union members and
staff.
Treasurer Maureen Malone
speaks at the union’s Women’s
Conference in 2006, standing in
front of the CSEA flag quilt she
helped create.
Looking ahead
Malone will serve CSEA members in a new way
as a business development liaison for Pearl
Carroll & Associates. She will work at increasing
the number of locals and units that can have
payroll deduction availability for CSEA sponsored
insurance programs.
“Tl still be working with CSEA activists, but in
a different setting,” she said. “We have some
wonderful insurance programs and it’s something
that I really believe in.”
— Janice Marra
Treasurer Maureen Malone sells “CSEA Cooks
From the Heart” cookbooks at the 2006 Women’s
Conference in Tarrytown to raise money to build
CSEA Street for Louisiana people whose homes
were damaged by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
April 2007 THE WORK FORCE Page 15
he CSEA
Employee
Benefit Fund
is pleased to
announce that all
vision plans were
enhanced as of April 1, 2007.
Information detailing the new
changes were mailed the last
week of March to all CSEA
members enrolled in any of the
EBF vision plans. An overview of
the enhancements is outlined on
this page.
State employees: The $25
co-payment for contact lenses
will be removed.
Local Government & Office
of Court Administration
employees: Polycarbonate
lenses will now be covered
under all plans.
State, Local Government and
Office of Court Administration
employees: Contact lenses
covered under the plan will now
include Planned Replacement
and Disposable lenses. A
Contact Lens Formulary will
now be included and will be
used for the initial supply of
many of the popular and
commonly prescribed brands of
soft contact lenses. Initial
supplies of contacts may vary
depending on the lens type,
wearing habits and prescribing
doctor’s instruction regarding
replacement schedule. If
specialty (not covered under the
plan) contact lenses such as
Toric, Multifocal or Rigid Gas
Permeable lenses are required,
the allowance will be applied
toward the total cost of the
contact lenses.
An Ever Better Future
Page 16 THE WORK FORCE April 2007
For You?
is in the air
BS
for all enrollees, only
AFSCME Local 1000, AFL-CIO
EMPLOYEE
BENEFIT FUND
New covered items
available at a
participating
provider's office,
include:
* Scratch Guard, which will
be added to all vision plans.
¢ Dilation will be covered
only when professionally
indicated without any additional
cost to the member.
The Employee Benefit Fund
also has a new discount
program, which entitles
members to buy various lenses
and coatings at a discount with
a fixed co-payment.
A fixed co-payment means
that lenses and/or coatings not
covered by your plan can be
purchased at a discount at all
EBF vision provider offices.
These items include anti-
reflective coatings, UV coatings,
polarized lenses, plastic
photosensitive lenses, premium
progressive lenses, and high
index lenses.
If you are interested in
buying any of these items
separately for a fixed co-
payment, discuss this with the
provider during the
examination.
For more information,
call the CSEA
Employee Benefit Fund
at (800) 323-2732
or visit EBF’s website
at www.cseaebf.com.
May 15 is deadline for submitting proposed
resolutions, changes to CSEA’s Constitution
& Bylaws
Proposed resolutions and proposed amendments to the CSEA
Constitution & Bylaws for consideration by CSEA delegates to
the union’s 2007 Annual Delegates Meeting must be submitted by
May 15, 2007.
Proposed resolutions and proposed amendments to the CSEA
Constitution & Bylaws may be submitted only by a delegate and
must be submitted on the proper forms. Forms for submitting
resolutions are available from CSEA headquarters and region
offices.
Proposed resolutions and proposed amendments to the
Constitution and Bylaws must be submitted no later than May 15
to Statewide Secretary Barbara Reeves, CSEA Headquarters, 143
Washington Ave., Albany, N.Y., 12210-2303.
The 2007 CSEA Annual Delegates Meeting will be held Sept. 17 -
21 in Lake Placid.
CS 1
NEWYORK
NOTICE » NOTICE + NOTICE + NOTICE » NOTICE [emecizecuarcene
EWECTION
WOLLCLE
REMINDER TO PRIVATE
SECTOR LOCAL PRESIDENTS
The term of office for current Private Sector Local officers will
expire on June 30, 2007. Elections for office must be conducted
and completed before the new term begins on July 1, 2007.
A letter was sent by the Statewide Election Committee (SEC)
on Aug. 15, 2006, to each Private Sector Local President
requiring each Local Executive Board to select an election
committee and chairperson prior to Oct. 15, 2006.
If you have not selected an election committee, please do so
immediately. Please refer to the SEC’s Aug. 15 letter for
procedural requirements.
If you did not receive a copy of the Aug. 15 letter, or have
questions pertaining to it, please contact the SEC at 800-342-
4146, ext. 1447.
NYSHIP biweekly premium rate
change effective April 1, 2007
In January 2006, the state
began requiring state
employees and retirees to
share in the cost of
reimbursing Medicare-primary
enrollees in the New York State
Health Insurance Program
(NYSHIP) for their Medicare
Part B premium contribution.
The state added the expense
for the Medicare Part B
premium reimbursement to the
NYSHIP premium rates. CSEA
and other state
The biweekly
employee unions HMie@alth premium
challenged this Benefits contribution for
action. A recent most CSEA
Appellate Court Division
decision ordered the removal
of the Medicare Part B expense
from the 2006 and 2007 Empire
Plan and HMO rates.
Because of the court’s
decision, the state is changing
the 2007 NYSHIP premium
rates effective April 1, 2007.
members will decrease.
However, for employees in
HMOs that are more costly
than the Empire Plan, their
biweekly premium contribution
will increase. This is because,
while the state pays 90 percent
of the cost for individual
coverage and an additional 75
NYSHIP April 1, 2007 Premium Rates
(For CSEA Executive Branch Active Employees)
Health Plan
Name
4/1/07
Individual
Premiums
4/1/07
Family Premiums
The Empire Plan (001)
$21.30
$89.59
Aetna (210)
56.84
250.61
Blue Choice (066)
14.77
66.78
CDPHP (Capital) (063)
17.50
86.12
CDPHP (Central) (300)
29.15
138.16
CDPHP (W. Hudson Valley) (310)
36,24
156.37
Community Blue (067)
17.54
132.30
Empire BC/BS (Upstate) (280)
28.08
144.52
Empire BC/BS (Downstate) (290)
45.10
189.07
Empire BC/BS (Mid-Hudson) (320)
64.90
240.83
GHI HMO (Albany Region) (220)
17.88
109.28
GHI HMO (Hudson Valley & Ulster) (350)
28.68
141.79
HIP (050)
18.92
89.42
HMO Blue (Central NY Region) (072)
59:39
179.53
HMO Blue (Ulica Regivn) (160)
79.07
271.24
Independent Health (059)
15.45
82.53
MVP Health Care (East) (060)
16.69
82.92
MVP Health Care (Central) (330)
24.20
111.08
MVP Health Care (Mid-Hudson) (340)
32.49
131.81
Preferred Care (058)
13.59
64,43
Univera Healthcare (057)
16.28
111.79
April 2007
percent for the cost of
dependents for family
coverage, the state’s
contribution for HMOs is
capped at the Empire Plan’s
premium.
Since the 2007 rates
currently in effect included the
cost of the Medicare Part B
component, the premium for
the Empire Plan was higher
than it should have been,
resulting in an overpayment of
the state’s share of the
premium for employees
enrolled in HMOs that cost
more than the Empire Plan.
Payroll Effective Dates
The April 1, 2007, rate
changes will begin on March
29, 2007, for Institution payroll
employees; on April 4, 2007, for
Administrative Lag payroll
employees and on March 21,
2007, for Administrative Lag
exempt payroll employees.
Retroactive Adjustment
In addition to the April 1,
2007, rate change, a retroactive
adjustment will be done to
account for the removal of the
Medicare Part B surcharge
from the rates that were
charged to enrollees between
Jan. 1, 2006, and March 31,
2007. This is a complex process
that will take several months to
complete. CSEA will work with
the state regarding the
retroactive adjustment.
If you have any questions
regarding this change, please
feel free to contact the Health
Benefits Department directly at
1-800-286-5242.
THE WORK FORCE Page 17
Fran Nantista has been a family daycare
provider for 11 years, operating Frannie’s
House in Albany. She is a founding VOICE
member, the Voice of Organized
Independent Childcare Educators, which
with CSEA is fighting for collective
bargaining rights for daycare providers
across the state. CSEA VOICE Local 100a is
poised to win that recognition. Work Force
Editor Lou Hmieleski recently spoke with
Nantista, who once said, “Children are half
the population and all of our future.”
Nantista spoke about concerns providers
have with the state Office of Children and
Family Services (OCFS) and how a union
voice can help providers.
WF: Why should day care providers such as yourself
have a voice?
FN: Because there’s always a problem with the state
regulations. The Office of Children and Family
Services cites a lot of us for strange things, but they
don’t always cite the same person with the same
thing. None of the registrars or licensors agrees with
themselves. They all have a difference of opinion in
issuing citations. We need to have the right to
respond.
WF: Two years ago, you challenged OCFS to change
terminology on its web site, do any concerns remain?
FN: The state needs to address the entire web site to
give us the opportunity as to whether we want to have
our specific information about our homes or not. I'm
willing to give directions to my home for someone who
wants day care, but | don’t want it out there for
everyone to see. It's a matter of security and common
sense.
WF: What is your greatest administrative challenge as
Page 18 THE WORK FORCE April 2007
a provider?
FN: Oh, | don’t have a single problem! | was an
administrator for a group of physicians for 25 years so
| know how to take care of everything.
WF: How could joining a union help you as a
provider?
FN: It would give us a bigger voice than as a single
individual. When | as an individual contact the state
about a single problem, they don’t heed my concerns.
| believe if a union representative contacts OCFS with
the same question | have, their response will be
different. I've been taken to task by different registrars
for different reasons on the same issue, which wasn't
an issue at all. When they come to inspect me now,
they send two people because they know how
defensive | am. I’m not going to have them shove me
out of business because this is my life. The union
would give us a louder voice, because they're not
listening to us each as individuals.
WF: The VOICE campaign has had great momentum
over the past year. Do you think success for the
campaign is near?
FN: Oh, I’m crossing my fingers — the need is great.
I'm hoping the union will help us. CSEA has been able
to find us insurance for our homes through the CSEA
program. There have been a number of us who have
had our homeowners insurance canceled because of
having a day care, even thought | wasn’t asking them
to cover anything for the day care. With health
insurance, | have to pay $1,100 a quarter. That's one
hope that we have. We just want someone to listen to
us and | think VOICE is the way to go. We just need
to speak louder and together we can.
WF: What are some of the rewards of being a
Albany day care provider and CSEA/VOICE founding
member Fran Nantista outside her home with some of
the children for whom she cares.
provider?
FN: Oh, it's the best thing in the world. It's a rewarding
occupation because it shows you what kind of
difference you can make to a child. If | had known
this, | would have done it 25 years ago! It's very
rewarding, especially for me, who has never had the
opportunity to have children. | think part of the
responsibility is to educate the parent as well. I’m just
as happy as | can ever be.
April CSEA calendar of events
Statewide:
April 12: CSEA Board of
Directors Meeting, 9 a.m.,
Desmond Hotel & Conference
Center, Albany
April 28: Workers’ Memorial
Day. Contact your local or unit
president or your CSEA region
office for details about
commemoration events in your
area.
Long Island Region:
April 4-5: Defensive Driving,
5:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m., Long Island
Region Office, Commack
April 5: Family and Medical
Leave Act workshop, 5:30 p.m.-
9 p.m., Hempstead Local Office,
Merrick
April 21: Defensive Driving,
9 a.m.- 3 p.m., Long Island
Region Office, Commack
Metropolitan Region:
April 3-4: Steward Training,
5:30 p.m. - 9 p.m., Metropolitan
Region office
April 18: Recruiting Activists,
5:30 p.m. - 9 p.m., Metropolitan
Region office
April 19: Sexual Harassment:
What Union Officers and
Activists Should Know,
5:30 p.m. - 9 p.m., Creedmoor
Psychiatric Center Local Office,
Queens Village
April 25: Family and Medical
Leave Act workshop, 5:30 p.m.-
9 p.m., Kingsboro Psychiatric
Center, Brooklyn
PEARL-CARROLL
& ASSOCIATES
1-800-697-2732
Same people, same great service
and now with in-state ownership!
Visit http://www.csesinsurance.com for more
information on available programs.
Southern Region:
April 4: Family and Medical
Leave Act workshop, 5:30 p.m.-
9 p.m., Westchester Local
Office, White Plains
April 10-11: Contract
Negotiations Workshop, 5:30
p.m.- 9 p.m., Holiday Inn,
Kingston
Capital Region:
April 14: Defensive Driving,
9 a.m. - 3 p.m., CSEA Capital
Region Office, Latham
April 18: Member Information
Day, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., Empire
State Plaza, Albany
April 24-25: Defensive Driving,
5:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m., CSEA
Capital Region Office, Latham
April 24-25: Contract
Negotiations workshop,
5:30 p.m.- 9 p.m., Queensbury
Hotel, Glens Falls
Central Region:
April 4-5: Local Government
Discipline & Interrogation
workshop, 5:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.,
CSEA Herkimer County Local
Office, Herkimer
April 12: Family and Medical
Leave Act workshop, 5:30 p.m.-
9 p.m., CSEA Binghamton
Satellite Office, Binghamton
Western Region:
April 14: Defensive Driving,
9 a.m. -3 p.m., CSEA Western
Region Office, Amherst
For more information on the
listed events or to participate,
contact your region office (phone
numbers are listed on Page 4), or
visit the CSEA calendar page or
your region page at CSEA’s
website at
www.csealocal1000.org. Please
note that additional events may
be scheduled in your region
other than those listed here, so
check your region calendar page
on the CSEA website.
PEOPLE PERSON —
The PEOPLE recruiter
of the month of
February is Susan
Balsano of the
Western New York
DDSO Local in the
Western Region. She
recruited 10 new
PEOPLE members.
CSEA’s PEOPLE program
protects and improves our
jobs, benefits and pensions in
Washington, Albany and in
your community. Your support
and participation in PEOPLE
strengthens CSEA’s clout in the
workplace, in the legislature, in
your community and in the
labor movement ... SEPT. 11
RESPONDERS: REGISTER FOR
WORKERS’ COMP — Many
Sept. 11 responders are now
eligible to receive Workers’
Compensation benefits under
recent changes to state law.
The state recently changed its
Workers’ Compensation Law to
allow people who worked at
Sept. 11 recovery efforts
between Sept. 11, 2001, and
Sept. 11, 2002, but who are not
ill, to be eligible to file a
workers’ compensation claim
should they become ill from a
Sept. 11-related illness in the
future. Many health experts
predict thousands of exposed
workers will become ill in the
future. Hundreds of CSEA
members across the state
worked as paid and volunteer
Sept. 11
responders. You
must register with
the state Workers’
Compensation
Board by Aug. 14,
2007, to be eligible
for Sept. 11
Workers’
Compensation
benefits at any time in the
future. For more information or
to download a registration
form, visit CSEA’s website at
www.csealocal1000.org and
follow the links for the New
York Committee for
Occupational Safety and Health
and the state Workers’
Compensation Board ... FIRST
AID TRAINING — CSEA
members working at Wallkill
Correctional Facility in Ulster
County are improving their first
aid skills. Members, who
previously were required to
have CPR training, will now
also be trained in the use of an
Automated External
Defibrillator (AED). The device
improves the chance of saving
the life of a victim of cardiac
arrest. Wallkill has several
AEDs throughout the prison ...
AUCTION FOR KIDS — The
CSEA Erie County Local
Women’s Committee held its
seventh annual theme basket
auction in March. Proceeds
from this year’s event will
benefit Kids Escaping Drugs, a
Buffalo-area organization.
CSEA scholarship applications available
Am 16 is the deadline for graduating high school seniors who are
the children of CSEA-represented employees to apply for
scholarships offered through CSEA. A single application covers three
scholarships.
Applications are available from local and unit presidents, CSEA
Headquarters, region or satellite offices, or may be downloaded from
the Member Benefits section at CSEA’s website at
www.csealocal1000.org.
April 2007
THE WORK FORCE Page 19
CSE Long IslandRegion | #
Kl
Ong Island Reporter
Shelter Island, Smithtown and East
Hampton have agreements
Above, CSEA members in
the Town of Shelter Island
vote on their first contract.
Right, Shelter Island
Assessment Clerk Sue
Klenawicus volunteered to
count the ballots.
Big landmark for small town
embers in the Town of Shelter Island Unit have
ratified their first CSEA contract by a 7 to 2
margin. It was their first contract since voting to
join CSEA over the strenuous objections of
management.
The new four-year agreement provides for raises retroactive to
2005, plus salary adjustments for some titles; and increases in the
next two years. It also provides personal leave, bereavement leave,
and 30 days a year sick time, though members can accrue no more
than 60 days sick time.
The collective bargaining agreement also guarantees that currently
employed CSEA Shelter Island workers will get 100 percent of their
health insurance paid for by the town when they retire. Employees
hired after 2007 will be guaranteed 85 percent of their health
insurance costs will be paid into retirement. Current employees will
receive employer-paid medical insurance coverage, but employees
hired after January 2007 would have to pay 15 percent of the
premium.
Perhaps most significantly, the contract institutes a new three-step
grievance procedure to address worker's disputes with the town
“This is a real landmark for a small but tough and determined
group of individuals who decided to put their foot down and demand
respect from management,” said CSEA Long Island Region President
Nick LaMorte. “They reached out to CSEA to represent them and we
have been with them every step of the way,” said LaMorte.
Labor Relations Specialist Guy DiCosola organized the group in
2005. “With this contract in place, we have developed a framework to
protect the rights of Shelter Island employees into the future. This is a
big thing for a group of employees who never had a union before,” he
said.
“Shelter Island is the fifth East End town that CSEA represents,
and we had to fight management all the way, even
Please see Shelter Island cont'd on Page 5
PHOTO OF THE MONTH
George Herbst, third from left, holds the plaque he
was given by the Town of Oyster Bay Local 881 on
his retirement recently. With him, from left, are Alex
Bard, 1st vice president, Augie Buckhardt,
president, and Bobby Rauff, executive vice
president. A town employee for 34 years, Herbst
served as shop steward for members in the Solid
Waste Division for five years.
G reetings brothers and sisters
When we change our clocks to Daylight Savings Time,
many fire departments use that time to remind us about the
importance of checking the batteries in our smoke detectors.
They can be lifesaving devices, but without occasional
updating, they are worthless. After all, a smoke detector
without a working battery just isn’t going to protect anyone.
Speaking of protection, when was the last time you
checked to see if you had the tools in place to protect your
family if something should happen to you? It's something
most of us don't like to face, but sometimes despite our best
efforts at taking care of ourselves, the unexpected happens.
We have car accidents. We fall off ladders while working on
our homes. A moment's distraction and we get caught in a
machine or a motor at work. One day, we're fine, and then
we get diseases we never saw coming and probably can't
name. These are the times we wish we had some kind of
insurance to protect our families.
The funny thing about insurance is that it's the thing we
need to get when we don't think we need it. That's when we
might actually qualify, and when the rates are at a rate we
can actually afford. If you wait until you need life or disability
insurance, it's probably too late.
The CSEA-endorsed insurance vendor is Pearl Carroll &
Associates. You've probably seen their representatives at an
information fair or at a work site near you. They have special
programs for life insurance, disability protection and so many
other products. They have been helping CSEA members
protect their families from the unexpected for many years.
Some of us live paycheck to paycheck. Many people say
they can't afford to buy insurance. What would happen
2 Long Island Reporter
Message from Long Island Region President
Nick LaMorte
to you, your home or your children
if the paychecks stopped? Could
you really afford to be without some insurance
protection?
If you want to reach a Pearl Carroll & Associates
representative, toll free 1-800-929-6656, or visit CSEA’s
website at www.csealocal1000.org and click on the
“insurance programs’ link on the left-side menu.
Remember to take care of yourself. I'm sure there are
people counting on you.
In solidarity,
Nick LaMorte, president
Long Island Region
Nps
Town of Oyster Bay Local
mourns loss of an officer
OYSTER BAY — The Town of Oyster Bay Local is
mourning the death of Bette James, its 2nd vice
president and devoted unionist, on Feb. 14 at age
54.
z “She was such a large part of
everything in the local,” said
Executive Vice President Bobby
) Rauff. “Her death has devastated
the local.”
A town employee for 25 years,
she was a management
information specialist supervisor
for the Intergovernmental Affairs
division at the time of her death.
James had served as a shop steward before
being elected 5th vice president in 2002. She was
elected the local’s 2nd vice president last year.
“She was probably the most energetic woman
in our local,” said Rauff. “She came to every event
we ever had. What she brought to our members
was a lot of family feeling. She made us feel more
like a family than a union.”
Terry Boryk, the local’s office manager, worked
closely with James on the local’s Women’s
Committee, which James started and has grown to
20 members.
“She was so active with the union. She worked
on the region's Women's Committee and the
Education & Training Committee. She started the
Women’s Committee here; she was our 2nd vice
president. She was such a good person,” Boryk
said.
James is survived by her mother, Rebecca; two
children, Donald Chandler, who works for the
town’s highway department, and Jennifer Marie
Chandler-King, and their spouses; Tia Goodrich,
her partner; four grandchildren and nine brothers
and sisters.
At the funeral services, hundreds of people
filled the Hood AME Zion Church in Oyster Bay,
while others stood outside.
“She made everything look beautiful,” said
Rauff.
“It's amazing how much we miss her,” said
Boryk.
Bette James
Long Island Reporter welcomes Nassau Educational Local 865
Editor’s Note:
During the nearly three years that the Long Island
Reporter has been published, we have made every
effort to get out to cover the events and issues that are
important to the members in each subscribing local, as
listed below:
Suffolk Municipal Local 852, Nassau Municipal
Employees Local 882, Town of Oyster Bay 881, Suffolk
Co-Op Library Local 701, SUNY Old Westbury Local
618, SUNY Stony Brook Local 614, SUNY Farmingdale
Local 606, Department of Transportation Local 508,
Long Island Developmental Center Local 430, Long
Island Judiciary Local 330, and Long Island State
Employees Local 016.
Now, we are very pleased to welcome Nassau
Educational Local 865 to the Long Island Reporter!
The Nassau Educational Local has about 5,000
members in the following school districts: Baldwin,
Bellmore, Bellmore-Merrick, Bethpage, East Meadow,
East Rockaway, East Williston, Farmingdale, Floral
Park-Bellerose, Franklin Square, Freeport, Garden City,
Hicksville, Island Trees, Jericho, Levittown, Locust
Valley, Lynbrook, Malverne, Massapequa, Merrick,
North Bellmore, Nassau BOCES, New Hyde Park,
North Merrick, Oceanside, Oyster Bay-East Norwich,
Plainedge, Port Washington, Rockville Centre,
Roosevelt, Seaford, Sewanhaka, Syosset, Valley
Stream and Wantagh.
Since this is a lot of ground to cover, it would be
very helpful if we could have your input. If you have a
Port Washington School District Custodial Unit
Members active in community, raise money for
Ea
Children’s Health Fund Mobile Unit
CSEA members from the Port Washington
School District Custodial Unit were instrumental in
a recent fund-raiser for their community.
They helped staff a basketball game to raise
money for the Children’s Health Fund Mobile Unit.
The CSEA members in the Port Washington
School District have been very involved in
community events. Last year through the Rotary,
they helped raise thousands of dollars for
numerous area charities.
They are pictured here with a sketch of the
mobile unit. From left, in front row, are Santos
Palacios, James Oldford, Unit President Richie
Acevedo and Mark Ell. In the back row from left are
Owen Steve Stalvey, Jerry D’Agostino, Tom
Garofalo, Long Island Region President Nick
LaMorte and Monte Vane.
story idea, please contact Executive Editor Lou
Hmieleski at (800) 342-4146 ext. 1273, or Local
President Monica Berkowitz at the union office.
We are pleased that the Long Island Reporter is
growing. It is an opportunity to share information,
support each other's struggles, share our victories and
build a better union.
LLU
Nassau Education Local
officers
The officers of Nassau
Education Local 865 are
Monica Berkowitz, 7
president; Linda DeMott, 1st |)
vice president; Ken Grant, *
2nd vice president; Jean
Ahlert, recording secretary, |)
and Lee Reynolds,
treasurer.
Allare longtime CSEA —_ Berkowitz
activists and leaders of the
county's educational employees. Ahlert is a
member of the CSEA Statewide Board of
Directors, representing school districts in Nassau
and Suffolk counties. Berkowitz, DeMott, Grant
and Reynolds serve on the Long Island Region
School Districts Committee.
Berkowitz is a teacher aide at Nassau BOCES
and president of the CSEA unit there.
DeMott, a stenographer at the
Bellmore/Merrick Central High School District, is
president of the district's clerical unit.
Grant, assistant head custodian in the Locust
Valley School District, serves as president of the
district's CSEA‘s custodial unit.
Ahlert, a teacher aide at Nassau BOCES, is
secretary of the CSEA unit there.
Reynolds is an account clerk in the
Farmingdale School District and serves as co-
chair of the region’s Social Committee.
Long Island Reporter 3
——
Three towns in Suffolk win contracts
Smithtown Takes a New Tack
SMITHTOWN — CSEA members in
Smithtown have overwhelmingly ratified a
new contract that was groundbreaking in
a couple of ways.
Itwas done in record time, The
memorandum of agreement was signed
Feb. 12, less than two months after the
ld contract expired. Of the 322 members
who voted, 264 gave the agreement a
thumbs-up.
It was Unit President Kelly Brown's
idea to have CSEA negotiate directly with
the town supervisor for the first time in the
town’s history.
“1 had participated in the past
negotiations,” Brown said. "! had a good
relationship with the supervisor and | said,
‘Why don't we sit down together?” He
was a litte apprehensive at first, but he is
the chief negotiator for the town. So, we
went step by step from there.”
Brown, the units first female president,
said in the past, the town had always
hired an outside negotiator and a lot of
time and money was wasted in the
process.
“in the past, we got nowhere and the
negotiator never brought back anything to
the supervisor and the negotiator never
got the freedom to really negotiate,” she
said. “It just ended up wasting a lot of
time and money, and we usually had to
wait for our new contract.”
This time, Brown said they did all the
preparation well in advance.
"|had my negotiating team in place
back in May or June and we worked
through the summer putting the contract
requests together,” she said. ‘Nov. 1 was
ur first meeting with the town supervisor.”
CSEA Labor Relations Specialist
Jimmy Wall said the team knew what it
wanted and went right for it.
“The team set goals from day one, and
set out to meet those goals, including
getting a decent raise, demanding respect
and protecting health insurance. We also
wanted to protect the contract,” he said.
4 Long Island Reporter
“So, this is a home run. The membership
is protected for the next four years,”
Key provisions of the contract include
= Wage increases over the next four
years;
~ About 22 titles will be upgraded over
a four-year period, affecting more than 60
people;
= No change in the quality of the health
insurance.
Long Istand Region President Nick
LaMorte, who was on hand for the
signing, hailed the agreement.
“We're just blue collar and white collar
hardworking employees; people who just,
want to pay their bills and put their kids
through college,” he said. "This
agreement will be very helpful to our
members in Smithtown. They did a great
job.”
Wall also praised the negotiating team
“Itwas a lot of dedication for this
Present at the signing of the
agreement are, standing from lef
CSEA Smithtown Unit Vice
President Joni Peterson,
Smithtown Town Council member
Pat Biancaniello and CSEA
Smithtown Unit 4st Vice President
Joe Cannone. Seated from left are
Unit President Kelly Brown,
Smithtown Supervisor Pat Vecchio
and Labor Relations Specialist
Jimmy Wall.
Inside Reporter
team,” he said. “They
put in the time. They
worked hard and that’s
what allowed them to
put this agreement forward
to the membership.”
When asked
whether this was the
best way to negotiate a
contract, Brown said, “It's the only way!”
— Rachel Langert
Town of East Hampton agrees to five-year contract
EAST HAMPTON — The 249 CSEA
members of the Town of East Hampton
Unit voted overwhelmingly to ratify a
five-year agreement with substantial
wage increases and retention of 100
percent payment of medical insurance
premiums by the town.
“We feel we've gotten a very good
contract and one that they can be proud
of,” said Bob Pease, unit president and
a CSEA bargaining team member.
The pact, the unit's first that runs five
years, provides wage increases over the
term of the contract.
Next year, one half of 1 percent of
the total CSEA payroll will be set aside
for regrading of members’ ites.
Members Jeanne Hamilton and Gail
Feceto co-chair the committee that has
been working on regrading for several
months.
The agreement provides that the
spouse and dependent children of an
employee who dies in service will
receive medical coverage for a year
after the member's death.
Members hired after Jan. 1 of this
year will pay half of the increase in the
optical and dental coverage premiums.
“This is a small giveback in my eyes,”
said Pease. “Our medical coverage was
left untouched. | believe we are one of
the very few municipalities on the East
End that pays full medical coverage.”
Language in the new agreement
improves the crediting of vacation,
computation of overtime and release
time for union officers and corrects an
inequity in payout for retirees’ unused
sick time.
The contract states there will be only
one personnel fle for an employee,
located in the personnel office, which
employees may review once each year,
and that nothing derogatory can be
placed in the file without the employee's
knowledge.
Negotiations for the agreement
began in the fall of 2005. Negotiating
with Pease were John (JJ) Kremm, the
unit's 4st vice president, and Steve
Arkinson, treasurer, Tara Burke and
Christine Schnell, who recently left the
town’s employment. Assisting the
committee was Labor Relations
Specialist Stephanie Teff
“She did an outstanding job for us,”
Pease said. "She is a consummate
professional in what she does.”
To ensure members were informed,
everyone received copies of the expired
and proposed agreements well before
the ratification vote. There was a drop-in
four-hour meeting for any questions
before a general membership meeting at
which all the provisions were gone over
in detail.
On the day of the vote, the polls
were open from 5 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with
three-quarters of the members casting
ballots. Eighty-nine percent voted in
favor of the proposed contract. "Eighty-
nine percent is a pretty good indication
that our membership is happy with the
agreement,” Pease said.
He thanked Long Istand Region
President Nick LaMorte, Ron King, the
region director, Local 852 President Bill
Walsh and three other CSEA town unit
presidents — Matt Hatorf of Riverhead,
Pete Collins of Southampton and Tom
Skabry of Southold.
“This was my frst negotiations, so |
turned to them for guidance,” said
Pease, who is a network systems
specialist and has worked for the town
since 1994. “They were there for me as
a resource. When | called, they
responded and answered my questions.”
The members of the unit are a
diverse group of blue collar, white collar
and professional employees of East
Hampton: “Any job that makes the town
function day-to-day,” Pease said. “Our
members work hard to ensure all the
services provided by the town and
expected by the people who live in this
town are met in a timely and efficient
manner. Our 249 people represent some
of the best people this town has ever
employed.”
Shelter Island conta from Page 1
in court, to get to this point. But it shows that
CSEAis strong, resourceful and committed to
fighting for the betterment of its membership.
It shows we are willing to help the
disenfranchised,” said DiCosola.
During the contract fight, Shelter Island
was able to benefit from the experience and
support of other CSEA members, including
‘Town of Southold President Tom Skabry,
‘Town of Riverhead President Matt Hattorff
and Suffolk Municipal Local President Bill
Walsh.
“We are one local and we try to cooperate
and interact with each other and share our
experiences. So | would like to thank Tommy
and Matt, and all the other officers on the
East End who got involved, and lent their
time and experience, because that is what its
all about — teamwork!” said Suffolk Municipal
Local President Bill Walsh.
“The Shelter Island executive board did a
really fine job, especially for their first
contract. They did a great job. I'm proud of all
of them," said Walsh.
Unit President Linda Klenawicus said the
contract took a lot of work, but it was worth
the effort. "This is just the beginning,” she
said. “We hope that the next time we will be
able to build on this contract and move
forward for the betterment of our members.”
LaMorte agreed. ‘Like all cornerstones,
this contract lays the foundation for an
atmosphere of fairness and cooperation
between the union and the town. it's a win-
win for everyone,” he said.
“The town didn't want us in there at first,
and they fought hard against us, but now
they've come to accept us as partners and
that is a positive thing. We've established a
relationship with the town that is one of
courtesy and respect for the employees — for
the very first time. That's something to be
proud of,” said DiCosola.
At press time the agreement was due to
come up for a vote by the Town of Shelter
Island Town Board.
Right, Town of Shelter Istand Vice President
Linda Cass, President Linda Klenawicus,
Secretary Treasurer Beverly Pelletier and
CSEA Labor Relations Specialist Guy DiCosola
take a last look at the Memorandum of
Agreement prior to the vote.
Long Island Reporter i)
Members help Village get out the vote
HEMPSTEAD — Three dozen members of
Nassau Municipal Local 882 spent a recent
Saturday morning giving out campaign fliers
on behalf of two union-endorsed candidates
seeking re-election as Hempstead village
trustees.
The candidates, Don Ryan, a Republican,
and Perry Pettus, a Democrat, were re-elected
March 20.
“Both trustees have been in office for more
than one term and both have come to the aid
of labor in different Py
ways in the past,” said hfe
John Shepherd, who
chairs the Long Island
action coordinator, for her efforts in the
campaign for the two candidates.
Left, John Shepherd leaves a union flier at the
home of a Hempstead voter.
Below, officers and members of Nassau
Municipal Local 882 were among the three
dozen volunteers who went door-to-door giving
out fliers.
Region Political Action
Committee and serves
as president of the
local and its Village of
Hempstead Unit. “Both
Don and Perry have shown a willingness to
work with working people.”
The fliers were dropped at the homes of
residents who vote regularly in village
elections.
In addition to the literature drop, the union
set up phone banks and sent two mailings to
the 1,800 CSEA members who live in the
village. “We mailed voter registration cards to
every one of them,” said Shepherd. “We told
them if they were registered to give the card to
a family member or friend who wasn't.”
He thanked Gretchen Penn, region political
Below, Gretchen Penn, standing, region
political action coordinator, gives last-minute
instructions to union members before they go
out on the literature drop. Others in the photo
are, from left, Jacqueline De Silva, Nassau
Municipal Local 882 Treasurer Mike Delasant
and Steve Abramson.
Below, Hempstead member Moises Alou, left,
is thanked for his help in the campaign by Don
Ryan.
Jo
CORRECTION
An article on page 7 of
the March issue about the
region Veterans
Committee incorrectly
identified two members.
Jill Mallon is a member of
DOT Local 508 and Mike
Tanner is a member of
LIDDSO Local 430. We
regret the errors.
Long Island Reporter
Technology in Nassau County provides
efficiency for the courts
MINEOLA — An article by Judiciary Local 330 member Patrick Santos, “Nassau
County Court's Techology Courtroom,” describes how technology can
streamline litigation, increase jurors’ understanding of evidence presented to
them and provide efficiencies for the courts.
The article appeared in Nassau Lawyer, publication of the county bar
association, and was the basis for a presentation the author made at
ComputerFest 2005, held in Rochester.
“The Technology Courtoom has arrived in Nassau County,” wrote Santos, a
principal court analyst at State Supreme Court in Mineola and a court employee
for nine years. He set up the system in the courtroom of Supervising Judge
William Donnino and has been training staff in its use.
The Evidence Presentation System, one of two key elements, puts monitors
in the jury box, at the judge’s bench, at the lawyers’ tables and in front of the
courtroom. Attorneys can offer documents and three-dimensional objects as
exhibits, and can bring their own laptop computer in and plug into the console
that serves as a control center for all the equipment.
“It helps with evidence being presented,” said Santos. “For instance, instead
of passing around pictures, jurors can see them all at once on the displays.”
The judge retains the ability to decide what documents and exhibits jurors
view. “The judge can override the jury box monitors and projector with a simple
on-off switch to ensure that exhibits are not viewed by the jurors until ruled
admissible,” Santos wrote.
After they are shown on the monitors, the images of documents and three-
dimensional objects are scanned and saved for later reference or printing out.
The other basic feature of Santos’ system is the Interactive Pen Display,
which is set up on the witness stand. Using a special pen-like device, the
witness can highlight a section of a document or direct jurors’ attention to an
area of an exhibit without marking the original. The document is displayed on all
monitors and can be saved. “It ensures the integrity of actual evidence being
displayed,” said Santos.
Two upgrades are in the works. One will allow the court reporter's
transcription to be seen on all monitors in real time. The other will put monitors
in the jury room to speed up the deliberation process. “If the jurors ask to see
something, we can put it on the screen right away,” said Santos.
The technology can be brought into existing courtrooms at a relatively low
cost. “That was the whole idea of setting up this courtroom, so you can retrofit
existing courtrooms instead of starting from scratch,” Santos said.
In Nassau County, other judges have used the courtroom for presentation of
visual evidence, such as VHS and security monitor tapes, and several
prosecutors in the district attorney's office are interested in the Interactive Pen
Display.
Santos said that he hopes that the technology will be adopted in other
courtrooms. “If we can mainstream into each courthouse in Nassau County, we
can go into the digital age, where everything is paperless,” he said. “That's
where we want to go; where everything is stored in the computer in pristine
condition and for easy retrieval, without having to go to a file room and look for
the files. Instead we'd just pull it up on the computer.
“The technology courtroom is going to be more efficient, and that’s what we
want, more efficiency,” he said.
NEOuUTTed=the=Ke gion
Calendar of Upcoming Events:
April 2007
1- Member Action Team Committee — 5:30
p.m.
2-Human Rights Committee — 5:30 p.m.
4 ~ Defensive Driving — 5:30-8:30 p.m.
5 ~ Defensive Driving — 5:30-8:30 p.m.
9 — Education and Training Committee —
5:30 p.m.
10- PEOPLE Committee —5 p.m.
11 -Veterans Committee — 6 p.m.
11 -Local 920 General Membership meeting —
11 am.3:30 p.m.
46 Women's Committés — §:30 p.m.
47 - Safety and Health Committee —
5:30 p.m.
18~Local 430 Executive Board meeting —
3:30-5:30 p.m.
18~Local 430 General Membership meeting —
5:30-7 p.m.
21 — Defensive Driving — 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
24 — Political Action Committee — 5:
p.m.
25 — Member Action Team Committee — 5:30
p.m.
CSEA Occupational Safety
and Health Specialist Jeff
Hyman, standing, looks on
as John Pettway (seated,
center) completes his
answers. Other Local 618
members in photo are
Noakram (Nick) Mangra
and Clarence Johnson.
Two groups of members
took the health and safety
sessions, which were held
for five hours a day on two
consecutive days.
Custodian Falisha Medina
is at the far end of the
table.
Discussing the need to
use the proper tool,
teacher Douglas Miller tells a class on
tool safety that
“screwdrivers are not
chisels.” During the class,
students told a
photographer that standing
on a chair to take a photo
was not doing the job
safely.
he
wo, ‘#
Ny
4
SUNY Old Westbury workers attend
safety and health training
OLD WESTBURY — The job safety
training that 20 maintenance and custodial
workers at SUNY Old Westbury took
made them a lot more aware of hazards
at the workplace — as the college
administration discovered.
The training, 10 hours over two days,
impressed the students, members of
SUNY Old Westbury Local 618. “There
were a lot of good points,” said Falisha
Medina, a custodian who has worked at
Old Westbury for two years. “The teacher
explained everything and answered
questions. You learn a lot of things about
the job and how it could affect you.”
“They came out of the class saying
we've got to be sure our surroundings are
safe,” said Mary D'Antonio, president of
SUNY Old Westbury Local 618. “They
became aware of chemicals they mix and
really concerned with their environment.”
One hazard affecting the safety of
dozens of young children was soon
brought to the union's attention. The
youngsters attend the college's day care
center, which is run by AHRC, a nonprofit
organization. “Our students work there,
our students’ children go there and staff
members’ children and grandchildren go
there, so it's a great combination for all of
us,” said D’Antonio, who has two
grandchildren, ages four and three,
attending the center.
Parents bring children into the campus
center on staircases and walkways 30 feet
or more above the ground floor, where the
day care center is located. There are large
horizontal spaces between the handrails,
large enough for a child to fall through and
drop to the floor below.
D’Antonio asked Jeff Hyman, a CSEA
occupational health and safety specialist,
to check on the railings. Hyman found the
railings did not meet federal
safety standards.
When D’Antonio brought the
union's concerns to the college,
the administration told the day
"| care center to fix the handrails.
“Instead of fixing it, they
» = dumped the problem in the day
care center's lap,” she said. “To me, that's
irresponsible. There are always children
on campus. Any child can go right through
the railing. How in good conscience, when
someone tells you this is the situation
there, can you not fix it?”
She said the college may hire a safety
and health specialist. “When that
happens, | hope to work with that person,”
said D'Antonio. “Hopefully, that person will
hear our complaints and listen to us. I'll
bring in all the things we've complained of
over the years.”
Medina offered one suggestion to
improve the safety and health training —
bring the bosses in, too. “Maybe
supervisors should have a class like that
so they know what workers are going
through,” said Medina, who worked at
SUNY Stony Brook for six years before
moving to the Old Westbury campus.
“They tell you ‘do this’ and ‘do that.’ They
don't realize you have to be trained. They
just tell you ‘do that,’ tell you to do a job
without training. You know something is
unsafe but supervisors say ‘do it,’ and will
write you up if you don't.”
The course was presented by the joint
state-CSEA Parnership for Education and
Training. Douglas D. Miller of
Occupational Safety Consultants was the
teacher. Stephanie S. Rockmacher, a
program associate at the Partnership,
supervised the classroom sessions.
Long Island Reporter
Mt. Sinai School District workers approve contract
CSEA members in the Mt. Sinai
School District Non-Instructional Unit
have ratified a new agreement by a
ratio of 2:1.
The agreement was reached only
after the membership got fed up and
kicked off a contract campaign to
demand respect from management
and took their story to the local press.
“The contract expired last June,”
said Labor Relations Specialist Guy
DiCosola. “We declared impasse, and
had a couple of mediation sessions,
but it really wasn’t until the
membership started attending school
board meetings and word got out
about the situation, that the district
started to budge. So, the members in
Mt. Sinai deserve a lot of credit for
stepping up to the plate. They showed
what pulling together for the common
good can accomplish.”
Once the contract campaign was
launched, so many members turned
out that the district had to move the
school board meeting to a new, larger
location. “They really put the pressure
on and they hadn’t done that before,”
said DiCosola.
The new contract provides for a 9
percent wage increase over three
years as well as numerous
enhancements including additional
money through step increases and an
increase in night differential for
custodians.
Aides will receive two paid floating
holidays and an additional two days
during Thanksgiving week. CSEA will
receive 20 workdays notice in advance
of any future layoffs. For the first time,
members will also have the right to
arbitration if CSEA has a dispute over
an employee's evaluations.
Other changes include the following:
members can accumulate more leave
time, up to 275 sick days; the buy-back
has increased; and upon retirement
any unpaid sick days will count toward
retirement credit, which will mean an
increase in longtime members’ pension
checks.
“One of the biggest things was the
health insurance,” said Unit President
Dorette Christiansen. “Those who had
to pay 15 percent now only have to
pay 8 percent. They'll get to keep
more of their money, and that’s always
a good thing.”
“The contract is a solid one, and it’s
fair to the membership as a whole,”
said Christiansen. “Did we get
everything we wanted? Of course not;
no one ever does. But this is a good
start, and a real step forward for our
members because for the first time we
took a stand and management had to
take us seriously.”
At the contract meeting, members
were also introduced to school board
candidate Lynn Jordan, a nurse and a
former unit member. The unit's
executive board is backing Jordan's
candidacy and will be working to get
another union supporter on the school
board. That too, is a first for the unit,
which has not participated in political
action in the past.
— Rachel Langert
Below, some of the unit membership
listens to a presentation by Labor
Relations Specialist Guy DiCosola and
Unit President Dorette Christiansen on
the details of the contract.
Above, some of the Mt. Sinai School
District employees who packed a
recent school board meeting.
Left, school board candidate Lynn
Jordan tells members they deserve
better treatment than they have been
getting from management. She vows
to help if elected.
8
Long Island Reporter
YOUR UNION
NEWSLETTER
KX)
April 2007 + Vol. 12, No. 4
e have arrived at the point in time
when my concerns will soon be yours.
At this point, | am speaking specifically
about the county's compensation title
review. | was never fully satisfied or happy that all of
our job titles would come under scrutiny by an
outside vendor who would make recommendations
to the county regarding their findings. The county
likes to state that CSEA was in favor of this review
when it was first conceived. But, since my first day in
office, | have been on the record about the multitude
of issues which can arise from such a study.
Let me tell you now that this is a big issue. This
audit stands as a major event in the entire timeline of
Nassau County workers. The last time our titles were
updated was during the 1960s! | have spoken to
many people about this audit, both county and union
Officials alike. In many ways it is apparent that some
kind of review is needed because we have such
antiquated titles such as ‘copy machine operator,’
‘keypunch operator’ and ‘stenographer,’ to name a
few.
It is not my intention to frighten my members with
this article. Instead, | believe we have hit a point in
time when | need to tell you what | know about the
process, the possible outcomes and most
importantly, what your union plans on doing. By the
time you have read this article, you will have most
likely completed that long questionnaire. The
lengthiness in and of itself has posed problems for
me. However, | advised all of our unit presidents to
tell our members to answer the questions honestly
and in great detail.
Let's face it, most of our county employees work
‘out-of-title’ to some extent. What that means is that
you are performing duties that should be performed
by somebody in a higher graded title. Sure, you are
Looking Deeper Into the County’s Out-of-Title Audit
( Sure, you are probably doing your own
job, but over the years as people retired
and left service you have been forced to
pick up their work as well. Some people
have been working out of title for so long
they don’t even know it}
probably doing your own job, but over the years as
people retired and left service you have been forced
to pick up their work as well. Some people have
been working out of title for so long they don’t even
know it. They just assume that this is actually their
job as defined by civil service. We want you to be
painfully honest about everything you do during the
course of your workday. Do not leave anything out,
because we want the vendor to be able to evaluate
all your duties, whether they are right or wrong.
During our many meetings with the county on this
issue, | expressed my strong demand that no current
members be adversely affected by the outcome of
this audit. | was assured by the county that no
members would go down in salary or grade. That still
holds true today, but as we move forward | am
concerned that certain situations could become a
problem.
There are so many aspects of this audit that could
pose problems such as the broad-banding issue.
Under broad-banding, career ladders would be
consolidated into fewer titles. | always use the clerk's
title as an example. Instead of Clerk |, II, Ill, and IV,
we may wind up with Clerk Supervisor and Clerk.
Under my demands, most of those titles would need
to be raised in grade. If Clerk IV became the Clerk
Supervisor, then Clerks |, Il and IIl must become a
Clerk. At best, the county would have to raise Clerk |
and Il to a Clerk III's salary!
So you might ask, why am | so concerned about
EXPHESS
Message from CSEA Local 830 President Jerry Laricchiuta
this? Well, it's my job to be concerned about
something as important as this review. Rest assured
that | will never sit down and agree to allow any of
my members to lose anything they have built up in
their careers. Maybe we will get updated, more
accurate job specifications, resolve the out-of-title
issue and actually get some people the promotions
they have honestly deserved and worked toward for
such a long time. | plan on visiting our units about
this audit, and we will continue addressing this in
future columns and on our website,
www.csealocal830.org. Stay tuned.
Yours in Solidarity,
Dery Lanriechiuta
WHAT'S INSIDE
April 2007 Express
t= Pages 4 and 5
« New AMT and BMU/Fleet Service
Unit Presidents
« Before and After at D.A.’s Office
te Page 6
« Update on Handicapped Parking
at 240 Old Country Road
“Meet the Leaders” is Great
Success
2 EXPRESS
the ‘Nassau County Local 830
ee,
April 2007 + Vol. 12 No. 4
‘AMonthly Publication of CSEA Nassau County Local 830,
JERRY LARICCHIUTA, President
Ryan Mulholland, Editor
(616) 571-2919 Ext. #13
ww. csealocal830.org
CCSEA Long Island Region Communications Associate Rachel
Langert (631) 462-0030
NASSAU LOCAL 830
Executive Officers:
JERRY LARICCHIUTA, President
DIANE RUSS, Executive Vice President
RON GURRIERI, tst Vice President
ROBERT CAULDWELL, 2nd Vice President
DEBRA IMPERATORE, 3rd Vice President
‘SCOTT MULHOLLAND, 4th Vice President
TIM CARTER, Sth Vice President
EARL STROUGHTON, 6th Vice President
DEBBIE O'CONNELL, 7th Vice President
BARBARA LANG, éth Vice President
ROBERT McLAUGHLIN, Sth Vice President
JOHN ALOISIO, 10th Vice President
PETER KIERNAN, 11th Vice President
‘SUSAN COHEN, Secretary
BETH LUTTINGER, Treasurer
Unit Presidents/Executive Board:
CHUCK ALBERS, Fire & Rescue Services
JOHN ALOISIO Ill, Treasurer's Office
ROB ARCIELLO, Deputy Sherifs
STANLEY BERGMAN, Comptroller's Office
LISA SINAGRA-TIRPAK, Public Safety
ROBERT CAMPO, Public Works Department
RAY CANNELLA, Civil Service Commission
ROBERT CAULDWELL, Social Services
STEPHEN COHEN, Medical Examiner's Office
CAROL CONTI, County Clerk
CAROL CROSTON, Nassau Community College
VIVIAN CROWLEY, General Services
KENNETH DASH, SR., Board of Elections
MARY DELMARE, Crossing Guards
ROBERT CONTI, Police Communications Operators
ALICE BARRON, A. Holly Patterson
HEDRY PRESIDENT, Senior Citizens Affairs
ROSE SACCHETTI, County/District Attorney
NANCY IANSON, Drug & Alcohol
DEBRA IMPERATORE, Police Civilian
ROBERT JOHNSON, Health Department
LARRY LOISELLE, AMTS
KEN HAMEL, Sheriffs Support
PILAR MILLER, Assessment Department
JOHN RINALDO, Parks, Recreation & Museums
MARLA ROWE, Probation Department
DIANE RUSS, Consumer Affairs
EARL STROUGHTON, Nassau University Medical Center
RUDY WATSON, BMU/Fieet Services
JOSEPH WHITTAKER, Fire Marshal Office
(CSEA NASSAU COUNTY LOCAL 830 UNION MEMBER NEWS
Fight Age Discrimination in the Workplace
Editor's Note: This is one in a series of
discrimination articles that provide
valuable information regarding
important areas of protection available
through the CSEA Legal Assistance
Program (LAP). The Legal Assistance
Program covers employment and labor
issues involving disciplinaries, contract
grievances and arbitrations, court
litigation and agency proceedings. Get
more information about legal services in
the LAP by calling CSEA headquarters
at (800) 342-4146, ext. 1443, or by
visiting www.csealocal1000.org, and
clicking on the legal programs and
services menu item.
This article provides an overview of
age discrimination in the workplace and
is reprinted from the March, 2006,
edition of The Work Force.
Under the federal Age Discrimination
in Employment Act (ADEA), it is illegal
to discriminate against an employee
because that employee is 40 years of
age or older. The ADEA prohibits
discrimination with respect to
compensation, retirement, or other
employer actions, which materially
impacts an employee's employment
(ie. forced early retirement, age-based
harassment). In addition, it prohibits
employers from applying age-based
classifications on employees in any
manner that would deprive them of
employment opportunities or otherwise
negatively affect their employee status.
Under the ADEA, in certain narrow
circumstances, an employer may act
based on an employee's age where the
employer can demonstrate that age is a
bona fide occupational qualification.
Moreover, the ADEA permits
employers to use a seniority system as
long as it is not a mask for
Workers’
Compensation
and Social Security
discrimination. The seniority system am Disabil Miners
must be based on the length of service Matters Personal Injury
as the primary criterion. Matters
New York state law contains similar
but more detailed protections against
age discrimination. Unlike the ADEA,
New York protects individuals 18 years
of age or older from age discrimination.
As a labor union, CSEA remains
committed to fighting unlawful
discrimination.
1-800-342-4146
or
Go to the CSEA website at
www.csealocal1000.org and
click on the Legal Services
menu item.
We welcome reader suggestions: Please address your
comments to Ryan Mulholland, Editor, Nassau County
EXPRESS at CSEA Nassau Co. Local 830, 400 County
Seat Dr., Mineola, NY 11501-4137.
ATTENTION
Anyone suffering from
diabetes and in need of
supplies:
Call National Diabetic
Pharmacies
HCAP network supplier
for diabetes supplies
1-888-306-7337 ext. 3
This Month in
Labor History
April 14, 1930
More than 100 farm workers were
arrested for their union activities in
Imperial Valley, Calif. Eight were
subsequently convicted of
“criminal syndicalism.”
They Said It:
@uote of the M ty
“| have a great deal of respect for you
and CSEA and all the labor leaders |
have dealt with over the past several
years. | want to be apprised of what's
going on and if there’s any way that
we can make it better.”
— 13th District Legislator Norma Gonsalves
on “Talkin’ Labor with Local 830” on Feb. 28
CSEA NASSAU COUNTY LOCAL 830 UNION MEMBER NEWS
EXPRESS 3
Take Part in CSEA Local 830’s
Defensive Driving Course!
CSEA members can take part in defensive
driving courses being offered frequently
throughout March and April.
There is a $22 member fee and $27 for non-members
for the courses taking place:
March 24, April 14, and April 25-26
Completing the course will give you 10 percent off
your insurance premium for the next three years
and a four-point reduction on your driving record.
Call Alice at 571-2919 ext. 10, for more information
Bethpage C
Federal Credit Union
Sign up today for
Bethpage@Work Program
Exclusive benefits available to members
of CSEA Local 830 and their families!
CSEA Local 830 has partnered with Bethpage to offer you
and your family these exclusive Bethpage services:
Bethpage@ Work — Bethpage offers all the same services as a bank,
but with lower fees and better service. Bethpage representatives are available
to open accounts, help you apply for loans and answer questions
about products and services first hand at your business site.
Special rates on loans and savings — Get discounts on loans, higher rates
on savings accounts and other promotional offers simply by joining Bethpage
through the Bethpage@work program
Be sure to include the direct deposit form indicating full direct deposit
to receive your $75. You must open a new Bethpage savings account or
checking account and have direct deposit of your paycheck.
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE CSEA LOCAL 830
OFFICE IN MINEOLA OR BY LOGGING ON TO WWW.CSEA830.O0RG .
MAYS
4 Express
Longtime CSEA Member Becomes
President of New BMU Unit
More Long-time Members Take Over at AMT, Health Department
and Senior Citizens
BETHPAGE — Thirty-five-year CSEA member Rudy Watson has taken over as president of the new
CSEA Fleet Services/Building Maintenance Unit, which consists of 70 members from Fleet Services
and 15 from the BMU.
Previously Fleet Services and BMU were under the Police Civilians Unit under Debbie Imperatore.
Watson, a shop steward at Fleet Services for 20 years and vice president of the Police Civilians Unit
on three different occasions, is very excited to take on the role as president of this new unit. He was
‘sworn in at the CSEA Executive Board meeting March 1.
Over at the Ambulance Medical Technician (AMT) Unit, Larry Loiselle has assumed the reins of the
150-member unit. Loiselle has been an ambulance medical technician for 16 years and has been
involved in the union for six years as vice president of the AMT Unit. He had also served as a unit
secretary.
In other news, Robert Johnson has taken over as president of the Health Department Unit and
Hedry President has taken over at Senior Citizens Affairs.
We would like to wish luck to Rudy Watson, Larry Loiselle and Bob Johnson in their new positions
and thank them for their many years of dedicated service to CSEA. If you would like to contact any unit
president, sign up for www.csea830.org. Phone and fax numbers are available for all of them under the
‘contacts’ link.
CSEA NASSAU COUNTY LOCAL 830 UNION MEMBER NEWS:
Jerry Laricchiuta with AMT Unit President Larry
Loiselle.
CSEA members at the Fleet
Services Bureau in
Bethpage.
CSEA NASSAU COUNTY LOCAL 830 UNION MEMBER NEWS EXPRESS 5
CSEA Officials Attend Annual Long Island Federation of babor
Dinner and Irish-Americans Luncheon
WOODBURY — March 8 marked the annual Long Island Federation of Labor Dinner at the Crest
Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, which was followed a day later by the Irish Americans in
Government annual luncheon at the Carltun on the Park restaurant at Eisenhower Park.
The two events gave a great opportunity for CSEA Local 830 President Jerry Laricchiuta,
along with his executive board, to meet with various government officials, while supporting the
250,000-member Long Island Federation of Labor, of which Local 830 is a member, and the well
respected Irish Americans in Government organization.
CSEA thanks both organizations for the invitation to
these wonderful events and looks forward to working with
both in the future.
Clockwise from top right: From left, CSEA Nassau
Local administrative assistants Tim Corr and Susan
Cohen, vice presidents Ron Gurrieri and Scott
Mulholland and President Jerry Laricchiuta; the
Nassau Police Emerald Society played the bagpipes;
Jerry Laricchiuta and Vice President Ron Gurrieri meet
with various government officials.
Before & After Remodeling at D.A.’s Office
MINEOLA — The Nassau County Department of Public Works, in association with CSEA Local
830, is in the process of a complete overhaul of much of the workspace at the district attorney's
offices in Mineola.
Public Works employees have already completed some of the renovations.
As seen in the pictures on this page, there has already been a complete remodeling of some
rooms at the offices at 272 Old Country Road. CSEA members employed as members of the
district attorney's support staff in the county court trial room now have
brand-new, uniform office furniture, cabinets and carpeting.
This is just the tip of the iceberg as far as renovations go, said Jeff
Stein, chief of administration for the Nassau County district attorney's
office.
“We are working our way down the hall to remodel more offices
here,” Stein said. When there are more finished products in the
coming months at 262 and 272 Old Country Road, the Express will
show you more “before and after’ features.
6 Express
CSEA NASSAU COUNTY LOCAL 830 UNION MEMBER NEWS
“Meet the Leaders” Appears 50 times in March; Also on CSEA830.org
WOODBURY — As mentioned in last
month’s Express, CSEA Local 830
President Jerry Laricchiuta joined
Nassau County 10th District Legislator
Lisanne Altmann for the latest
installment of Cablevision’s half-hour
show, “Meet the Leaders.”
The show aired 50 times in March
in Nassau County, as well as 12 times
in Suffolk County. If you were unable
to tune in, excerpts of the show will be
available in April on www.csea830.org
in the Special Features section.
Topics on the show included an in-
depth discussion on where your tax
money really goes accompanied by a
pie chart that illustrates it, as well as
discussions about county health care
and Nassau University Medical Center.
Altmann spoke about her initiative for
electronic voting machines.
From left to right, “Meet the
Leaders” host Pat Halpin, Nassau
County Legislator Lisanne Altmann
and Jerry Laricchiuta
UPDATE!
Accessibility for People with Disabilities to ies Improved at
240 Old Country
MINEOLA — In the April
2006 edition of the Express
we broke the news of CSEA
Local 830 working closely
with the Nassau County
Office of the Physically
Challenged to improve
accessibility for people with
disabilities at 240 Old
Country Road, which houses
departments such as the
county comptroller's,
assessor's and clerk’s
Offices.
At that point, CSEA Local
830 President Jerry
Laricchiuta followed through
on a campaign promise of
securing a reserved space
near the building's door for a
CSEA member who had two
broken legs and previously
had to cross County Seat
Drive on occasion to get to
work.
In addition to that was the
initiative to reconfigure the
whole parking lot and
interior for increased
accessibility for people with
disabilities. This initiative is
still very much in the works,
a0 Old Country Road
fos
as CSEA is staying in
constant communication
with Don Dreyer, director of
the Nassau County Office of
the Physically Challenged.
Despite no real
construction to speak of yet,
there is a plan of
progression for the future.
“These things tend to take a
while,” Dreyer said. “The
next step is the contract
bidding process and getting
this onto the legislative
agenda.” That could come
in April.
There still needs to be
further investigation of the
“teal needs’ at the building,
and seeing how many
employees are actually in
need of increased
accessibility for people with
disabilities. The design plan
for this project is nearly
complete and will be done
once this investigation is
completed.
The first phase of the
remodeling will be all
exterior, including parking lot
refurbishment, a ramp on
the south side, electric
doors, and signs large
enough to indicate
handicapped parking spots.
The second phase will
include interior work such as
restrooms and door
hardware.
CSEA is adamant about
more steadfast progress on
this project, and Dreyer is
willing to comply, and said,
“This is certainly a top-of-
the-list, front-burner issue.”
Scenes from the March 15
A. Holly Patterson Info Fair
Above, Nancy
lanson shows a
CSEA member the
great benefits of
joining the PEOPLE
committee.
Above, CSEA
Member Benefits
Specialist Delores
Carter helps a member
with member benefits
information.
Right, CSEA Local 830
President Jerry
Laricchiuta speaks with
CSEA representatives of
the PEOPLE committee.
CSEA NASSAU COUNTY LOCAL 830 UNION MEMBER NEWS
Veteran’s Corner
By Debbie O’Connell
Members are invited to join CSEA Long Island Region leaders for
the union’s Veterans Recognition Day on May 19 from 9:30 a.m. to
noon at the region office at 3 Garet Place in Commack.
Any CSEA Long Island Region member who has served in the
armed forces and would like to be recognized should call the region
office to participate. Registration is required, so call (631) 462-0030
before May 8. Breakfast will be served, and all veterans will be
awarded a certificate of merit for their service.
If you want CSEA to put an American flag at the gravesite of a
deceased veteran this Memorial Day, please contact Debbie
O'Connell at (516) 571-2919 ext. 22.
Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi joined veterans and
Officials from veterans’ organizations at the Cradle of Aviation Feb.
14, to announce a new federally funded county Vet Center aimed at
helping those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The center will
offer readjustment counseling, marital and family counseling, alcohol
and drug education and referral and help in securing employment and
education. Center staff will also treat combat veterans suffering from
post traumatic stress disorder and help families cope with military
deaths.
U.S. Veterans Affairs officials were very impressed with the active
and cooperative nature of Nassau’s veterans’ organizations, which
made their decision to place a veterans’ center in Nassau an easy
one.
The Northport VA Medical Center now has a “My Healthevet”
website at www.myhealth.va.gov. On the site, veterans can submit
prescription refill orders online, check status of refill orders and view
and track prescription histories among many other features.
Dennis O'Connell of the Blinded Veterans Association said any
veteran who loses his or her sight for any reason should call Ed
Richards at VAMC Northport at (631) 261-4400 ext. 2113, for the
latest in benefits assistance.
Coming up Aug. 4 at Eisenhower Park will be the Salute to
Veterans, with Gary Pucket being the featured act. Also part of the
show will be the USO Troupe, a military equipment display, antique
car show and the swearing in of our nation’s newest recruits.
WrRovubvm
BE To
‘Serve’
ExPREsS 1
February 2007 Nassau
University Medical Center
Employee of the Month
Ata reception hosted by the employees of the
Nassau University Medical Center, Foy Salmeron,
an admissions officer, was honored as the February
Employee of the Month. Salmeron, of Hempstead,
exemplifies the true meaning of a dedicated
employee. She greets everyone with a warm smile
that helps put many of the patients’ fears aside and
offers compassion and dignity to all NUMC patients.
Foy Salmeron
A. Holly Patterson February and
March Employees of the Month
At a reception hosted by the employees of the A.
Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility in Uniondale,
Cheryl Scott-Marshall, a pharmacy assistant, was
honored as the February Employee of the Month.
She is always pleasant, professional and goes
out of her way to assist the residents of the nursing
home. Scott-Marshall, of Elmont, accepts new tasks
with a positive attitude and is very deserving of this
recognition.
In March, McKay Williams, a certified nursing
aide, was recognized for his dedication in providing
care to the residents of the
nursing home. Williams, of
Hempstead, is a very well-
liked employee who goes out
of his way to ensure the
residents are well taken care
of and who shows
compassion and commitment
to their needs.
McKay Williams
8 ExPRESS
CSEA NASSAU COUNTY LOCAL 830 UNION MEMBER NEWS
A Message From Long Island Region President Nick LaMorte
Greetings brothers and sisters
When we change our clocks to
Daylight Savings Time, many
fire departments use that time
to remind us about the
importance of checking the batteries in our smoke
detectors.
They can be lifesaving devices, but without
occasional updating, they are worthless. After all, a
smoke detector without a working battery just isn’t
going to protect anyone.
Speaking of protection, when was the last time
you checked to see if you had the tools in place to
protect your family if something should happen to
you? It's something most of us don't like to face, but
sometimes despite our best efforts at taking care of
ourselves, the unexpected happens.
We have car accidents. We fall off ladders while
working on our homes. A moment's distraction and
we get caught in a machine or a motor at work. One
day, we're fine, and then we get diseases we never
saw coming and probably can’t name. These are the
This Month from “Talkin’ Labor With Local 830”
If you want to reach a Pearl Carroll &
Associates representative, call toll free
1-800-929-6656, or visit CSEA’s website
at www.csealocal1000.org and click on
the “insurance programs” link on the
left-side menu.
times we wish we had some kind of insurance to
protect our families.
The funny thing about insurance is that it's the
thing we need to get when we don’t think we need it.
That's when we might actually qualify, and when the
rates are at a rate we can actually afford. If you wait
until you need life or disability insurance, it's probably
too late.
The CSEA-endorsed insurance vendor is Pearl
Carroll & Associates. You've probably seen their
representatives at an information fair or at a work
site near you. They have special programs for life
MINEOLA — “Talkin’ Labor with Local
830" had another busy month welcoming
many guests including Nassau County
legislators Norma Gonsalves and Diane
Yatauro; AIG Valic representatives who
specialize in deferred compensation and
financial planning at Nassau Health Care
Corp., Don Goldstein, and Danielle
Faldetta; and Suffolk County Democratic
Committee Chairman Rich Schaffer.
Gonsalves and Yatauro spoke with
CSEA Local 830 President and “Talkin’
Labor” host Jerry Laricchiuta about many
issues including sub-contracting, quality of
life and the Nassau County Hub.
Goldstein and Faldetta shed light on the
services that AIG Valic offers to CSEA
members at Nassau University Medical
Center and A. Holly Patterson. Schaffer
discussed some of the differences and
similarities between Nassau and Suffolk
politics.
If you missed these shows, they can
be accessed by clicking on the “Talkin
Labor” icon on the front page of
www.csea830.org. For more information
on AlG Valic, please sign on to be a
member of csea830.org, and click on the
benefits link under “members” on the top
toolbar.
Right, Jerry with Nassau County
Legislator Norma Gonsalves.
Below, Jerry with Don Goldstein and
Danielle Faldetta.
Can you Really Afford to be Without Insurance?
insurance, disability protection and so many other
products. They have been helping CSEA members
protect their families from the unexpected for many
years.
Some of us live paycheck to paycheck. Many
people say they can’t afford to buy insurance. What
would happen to you, your home or your children if
the paychecks stopped? Could you really afford to
be without some insurance protection?
If you want to reach a Pearl Carroll & Associates
representative, call toll free 1-800-929-6656, or visit
CSEA’s website at www.csealocal1000.org and click
on the “insurance programs’ link on the left-side
menu.
Remember to take care of yourself. I'm sure there
are people counting on you.
In solidarity,
“
Ni f nt
Long Island Region
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