a budget blunder
of enormous consequences;
restoration of funds urged
ALBANY — A budget proposal by the Carey Ad-
ministration to gut the state’s Division of Alcoholic
Beverage Control would be financially and socially
harmful to the people of New York State, CSEA
President William L. McGowan has told legislative
leaders.
In letters to Senate Majority Leader Warren Ander-
son, Assembly Speaker Stanley Fink and other
legislative leaders, the president of the state’s largest
public employee union said, ‘‘Abolition of the
regulatory and enforcement functions of the Division
of Alcoholic and Beverage Control (ABC) will open the
door for a new wave of alcohol-related problems in our
society and allow a multi-billion dollar industry to
operate without effective control.’’
The union president issued his statements in
response to a proposal by Gov. Hugh L. Carey in the
proposed state budget for fiscal 1981-82 that would vir-
tually abolish ABC and its 652 jobs. CSEA represents
about 230 ABC employees. The budget plan would shift
some jobs to another state agency, but practically all
other functons of the Division would be abolished by
July, 1981.
“There are several reasons why this plan is
ridiculous;’’ Mr. McGowan said. ‘‘First, there isn’t the
slightest indication 6f what happens to the industry
after July 1: Apparently, it would just do whatever it
wants to do concerning distribution and sale of
alcoholic beverages. Second, the Division happens to
be one of the most ‘profitable’ that the state operates.
With an annual budget of just over $7.5 million. ABC
collects between $35 million and $40 million per year
in licensing fees and fines.”’
‘There is an increasing recognition in our society of
the dangers posed by alcohol to the individual and for.
the enormous costs of alcohol-related health care and
the death and destruction it causes on our highways. It
seems strange that at the same time that the Carey
Administration is cracking down on drunk drivers, its
effectively deregulating the industry that profits from
the sale of alcoholic beverages,” he said.
“With sales taxes, excise taxes, licensing fees and
fines, the State of New York realizes more than $300
million each year from thé alcoholic beverage in-
dustry,” President McGowan said. “Spending $7 or $8
_ million to regulate that industry seems very
reasonable when weighed against the potential harm
to our society from deregulation.”
The Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control has
responsibility for issuing licenses and permits to ~
anyone operating in the industry within New York
State. It enforces the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law
by investigating applications for licenses and permits,
investigating complaints of violations from police
agencies and individuals, and suppresses unlicensed
sale of alcoholic beverages. The Division is also charg-
ed with regulating sale and distribution through con-
trol of licensing, wholesale profit margins, price
schedules and affirmations; minimum consumer price
statutes and credit laws.
“Clearly the Governor’s proposal to fiscally abolish
the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control is an ill ad-
vised effort at petty cost reduction that poses an enor-
mous threat to society’s newly begun efforts to control
the threat of alcohol abuse,” Mr. McGowan con-
cluded.
Official publication of
The Civil Service Employees
Association
Vol. 3, No. 18
Wednesday, February 11, 1981
(ISSN 0164 9949) %
Victory in Erie
CWP... hse 6
it’s working
... bulletin... bulletin...
- BUFFALO — CSEA has scored a landslide
victory as Erie County employees voted
overwhelmingly to continue CSEA as their
long-time union of choice in a representation
election decided as this issue of The Public
Sector went to press.
Unofficial results show CSEA scoring a
better than 2-1 margin of victory in turning
back an independent challenge effort by a
group of dissident employees in an election
supervised by the state Public Employment
Relations Board.
CSEA officials attributed the union’s
strength through affiliation with AFSCME
and the AFL-CIO, along with demonstrated
ability to deal successfully with complex con-
tractual and non-contractual matters, as ap-
parent major factors resulting in heavy sup-
port for CSEA.
Complete details of this impressive victory
will be reported in the next issue of The Public
Sector. ae
Legislative breakfast opens
channel of communications
ALBANY — The 1981 legislative campaign
of the Capital Region of CSEA began recently
with an early morning Legislative Breakfast ©
for State Senate and Assembly represen-
tatives, hosted by union officials and
members of the regional Political Action
Committee.
Assemblymen Clark Wemple, Clarence
Lane, Richard Conners, and Robert D’Andrea
joined Assemblywomen Joan Hague and Gail
Shaffer at the CSEA breakfast session. State
Senators Joseph Bruno and Hugh Farley also
shared breakfast with the CSEA Political
Action Committee members and various
Capital Region Officers. Senators Howard
Nolan and Ronald Stafford and Assemblyman
Glenn Harris sent representatives to the early
hour session
John Francisco, CSEA Capital Region
Political Action Committee Chairman, called
the concept for the Capital Region a success.
“‘CSEA has to make its presence felt in many
different ways. This breakfast gave us an op-
portunity to bring forward union goals and ob-
jectives in a relaxed atmosphere. Last minute
lobbying efforts do pay off, but planning and
sessions such as this breakfast can do a lot to
establish a channel of communication in the
long, grueling legislative session.”
Major features improve
new Wallkill contract
WALLKILL—Salary hikes tagged, in part, to rises in the cost of living, are
one of the features of a new four-year contract recently ratified by town
employees here, according to Unit President Edward T. Young, Sr.
The wage package starts with an eight percent boost this year. Annual
hikes the next two years will be five percent supplemented by extra increases
each year which reflect one-half the rise in the Consumer Price Index above
five percent. In 1984, the increase is six percent, plus one half the CPI rise
above that rate.
Other features include:
° major improvement in retirement system, going from plan ‘‘75C’’ to
“5G” in 1982, and to ‘'75L"’ in 1983:
* town contribution of $50 for optical plan, paid one time within two year
period;
¢ increase in meal allowance, and
® town payment of full statewide hospitalization premium for all
employees including those who have worked there at least ten years and
retired under the New York State Retirement System.
_ ISTE TE OE TN
on
or sates
mame om
csc Svicern enna lay
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, February 11, 1981
\ Fe -
BOARD OF DIRECTOR members Dolores Herrig, County Educational Employees
representative from Region 5, and Suffolk County representative Edwin Garcia
were among those considering the important question of permanent affiliation.
seacoast olan:
NEW OFFICERS of the Department of Public Works Section of the Monroe
County CSEA Unit were sworn in recently by Unit President Florence Trip
left. Officers are, from left, President Charles J. Aleese, Vice President Paul
Utz, Corresponding Secretary Barbara Dzialo, Sgt. at Arms Thomas Schulz,
Second Vice President Bleecher Smith, Third Vice President Ange Anello,
Vice Presidential Assistant Michael Dodsworth, and Treasurer Frank Man-
cuso.
A eS SPO ET TIE PROC RTS RTE NIN
nance
THERE ARE FOURTEEN Mental Hygiene representatives
elected to CSEA’s Board of Directors. Among them are Sue
Buerzinski from Region 5 and Robert Thompson from Region 3.
Ahistoric session for
CSEA’s Board of Directors
ALBANY — The January meeting of CSEA’s statewide
Board of Directors was, typically, busy with a wide variety
of union matters to discuss and act upon. Among those
matters was the question of permanent affiliation by CSEA
with AFSCME, After careful consideration, Board
members voted overwhelmingly in favor of permanent af-
filiation, and action repeated a week later when CSEA’s
delegates met in Albany and also voted heavily in favor of
the permanent affiliation measure. Here are photos of some
of the Board members present at the historic January
session.
a a
| AMONG COUNTY LOCAL representatives on CSEA’s Board of Directors are
' Leland A. Winchell of Allegany County, left, and Richard Reno of St. Lawrence
/ County.
MENTAL HYGIENE reps on the statewide Board of Directors
also includes Region 2’s Felton King, left, and Region 3's Richard
J. Snyder.
THIS TRIO OF BOARD MEMBERS (left photo), includes Elisa
Bursor of the Law Department, left, June Robak of the
Education Department, center, and Social Service Department
representative Alan Siegel.
"Rg rome eS SE TREE
2S ERAS NDEMML AS ARE BRLAO Sed a yciith aaN aetNCa
Selective merit raises ruled improper
ee a
ALBANY — The County of Ulster committed an improper
practice when it awarded merit increases selectively to certain
employees.
The PERB issued that ruling Jan. 20, overturning a previous
hearing officer's decision in the county’s favor which the union
appealed
In its unanimous decision, the three board members stated,
“Merit increases are a subject of negotiations. A public
employer violates its duty to negotiate in good faith when it
unilaterally decides to award merit increases.”
In the ten years before 1980, the county gave out 24 increases,
and awarded 20 more last yearCSEA was never informed of the
fact, and PERB held that it would have been unreasonable for the
union to have discovered the past merit increases by conducting
a line-by-line budget analysis of salaries paid to more than 1,000
employees.
The county argued that its actions were a past practice, but
PERB found, ‘‘The fact that Ulster County committed such a
violation for ten years does not mean that it is privileged to con-
tinue to do so.”
PERB ordered the county to post for 30 days notices that:
“1, The County of Ulster will not refuse to negotiate with CSEA
concerning merit increases.
“2. The County will not unilaterally award merit increases to
ULSTER COUNTY INFIRMARY WORKERS Bessy Seaman, John VanEtten and CSEA unit employees.”
Section President Shirley Blum go over the PERB decision which ordered the county to end
its practice of unilaterally awarding merit increases.
Moczydiowski
named intern
for Region V
SYRACUSE — The new Public Sec-
tor communications intern for
Central Region V is Thomas A. Moc-
zydlowski, a senior at the S.I.
Newhouse School of Public Com-
munications of Syracuse University,
majoring in magazine journalism.
Moezydlowski, a native of Pitt-
sburgh, has been a stringer for the
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the
North Hills News Record in Penn-
sylvania and has been a writer and
editor for the Syracuse University
daily newspaper, student magazine
and honor student newsletter.
He succeeds Public Sector Intern
Thomas Foster, also a student at
Syracuse University.
Thomas A. Moczydlowski
When notified of the decision, Unit President Sean Egan
described it as, ‘“‘a positive move.’’
Havestraw contract boasts
several major benefits
HAVESTRAW — Wage increases, an eye glass plan, and an extra holiday
are among features of a new three-year contract recently ok’d by CSEA
members here.
The agreement, according to Unit President Jose J. Alfonso, grants total
salary hikes of 21 percent split equally over each year and retroactive to last
July. It also gives employees their birthdays off, and establishes a new eye
glass plan effective June 1, 1981. The Village of Havestraw, according to
Collective Bargaining Specialist Manny Vitale, will contribute $100 to the plan
this June, and increase that to $150 next year. Employees and their dependents
will participate, and eye examinations and corrective lenses covered.
Other provisions include granting Civil Service Law ‘‘Section 75”
protection (as it relates to removals and disciplines) to unit members after 18
months of service, permitting payroll deductions for all authorized CSEA in-
surance programs, and extending bereavement leave to include anyone the
employee lives with and has a significant relationship. Finally, the pact
provides that the village pays the full premium for a $15,000 life insurance
program for all workers, increases the clothing allowance to $125, and makes it
possible for a retiring employee to receive a cash payment in the final
paycheck that includes all accumulated sick leave if the village is notified six
months in advance of the planned retirement.
The negotiating committee included the unit president as well as T.A.
Eurie and Anthony Santora.
~
Irving Flaumenbaum
memorial established
Everyone knows the late Irving Flaumen-
baum worked hard to make life easier for the
public employee. What few realize is ‘‘Irv’”’
also fought for those much less fortunate —
those 31 million Americans crippled by
arthritis.
In honor of his generous contributions in this
field, CSEA is pleased to announce the es-
tablishment of the Irving Flaumenbaum
Memorial Fellowship. The fellowship will be
awarded to a physician specializing in
arthritis research.
Flaumenbaum, president of CSEA Long
Island Region I and International Vice
President of AFSCME until his death last
August, spent many of his 70 years working on
the Stop Arthritis Campaign.
A member of the New York Arthritis Foun-
dation’s Board of Directors, he helped raise
hundreds of thousands of dollars to support
arthritis research and patient programs.
\_ Through his efforts, thé Arthritis Foun-
dation today is better equipped to serve the
more than 31 million Americans, both young
and old, who suffer from the disease — our
nation’s biggest crippler.
“Irving Flaumenbaum will be remembered
as one of the great builders of our union,” said
CSEA President William L. McGowan. “‘It is
an honor for us to unite to continue building on
his important work in the field of arthritis.’”
“Irv gave 30 years of his life to our
organization,’ said Danny Donohue,
Flaumenbaum’s successor as Region |
president. ‘‘Let us show our gratitude by giv-
ing something in his name in return.””
Letters explaining the new memorial
fellowship were mailed to all CSEA local
presidents last week.
Donations may be sent to: Irving Flaumen-
baum Memorial Fellowship Fund, c/o CSEA,
Attention: Danny Donohue, President, Long
Island Region I, 740 Broadway, North
Amityville, N.Y. 11701. ).
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, February 11, 1981 Page 3
®Public
SSECTOR
Official publication of
The Civil Service Employees Association
33 Elk Street, Albany, New York 12224
The Public Sector (445010) is published every Wednesday
weekly except for Wednesdays after New Years, Memorial
Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day for $5 by the Civil Service
Employees Association, 33 Elk Street, Albany, New York
12224.
Second Class Postage paid at Post Office, Albany, New York.
Send address changes to The Public Sector, 33 Elk Street,
Albany, New York 12224
Publication office, 75 Champlain Street, Albany, New York
12204. Single copy Price 25¢
Thomas A, Clemente—Publisher
Roger A. Cole—Executive Editor
Dr. Gerald Alperstein—Associate Editor
Gwenn M. Bellcourt — Associate Editor
Deborah Cassidy—Staff Writer
Dawn LePore—Staff Writer
John L. Murphy—Staff Writer
Arden D. Lawand—Graphic Design
Dennis C. Mullahy—Production Coordinator
4 BOR PRI » oe
Published every Wednesday by Clarity Publishing, Inc. Publication
Office, 75 Champlain Street, Albany, N.Y. 12204 (518) 465-4591
DISTIN
TRICKS DONE WITH MIRRORS ?
Perdue cited as unfair
Perdue Farms Inc. of Salisbury,
Maryland, has been placed on the
AFL-CIO ‘Unfair List’? pending
further action by the AFL-CIO Ex-
ecutive Council on a formal boycott
request. This action is an interim
measure until such time as formal
documentation will permit the es-
members of UFCW Local 117 honored
a drivers’ picket line and 57 of its
members were ‘'permanently
replaced.’’ The National Labor
Relations Board has issued a com-
plaint in the situation and an unfair
labor practice strike is currently go-
ing on at the plant.
tablishment of a fully sanctioned
national boycott in mid-February.
In requesting this action, President
William H. Wynn of the United Food
and Commercial Workers Inter-
national Union, pointed out that the
UFCW hag already ‘‘launched many
activities throughout Perdue’s
primary market areas — especially in
the New England, New York,
Philadelphia, Baltimore and
Washington, D.C. areas.”
Perdue ‘“‘has an aggressive anti-
union philosophy” and has bought out
“union processing plants, closed them
for ‘modernization,’ and then reopen-
ed them non-union,” according to
President Wynn. UFCW's bow
boycott and the request for an unfair
listing was precipitated by an
organizational attempt at Perdue’s
Accomac, Virginia, plant where
MAUREEN DUGGAN, the new
Region I Employee Assistant
Program (EAP) Representative, is
welcomed by CSEA Region I Director
oa Voova William Griffin, ¢)~ t¢cx
Page PUBLICS SECTOR, Wedaqetys eprepriad es beaUiaiii7 11
es a ie
of EVENTS
February
11—Capital District Retirees Local 999 General Membership Meeting, 1 p.m., Best
Western Inn Towne Motel, 300 Broadway, Albany.
11—Saratoga County Local 846 stewards meeting, 5 p.m., Solar Bldg., High Street,
Ballston Spa. .
14—Long Island State Parks Local 102 dinner dance, 8 p.m., Huntington Towne House,
Huntington
15—Onondaga County Local 834 Annual Membership “Get-Together,” 8:30 p.m., Hotel
Syracuse, Syracuse, New York
17—Saratoga County Local 846 Executive Board meeting, 7 p.m., Solar Building, High
Street, Ballston Spa
18—Buffalo Local 003, Executive Committee meeting, 5:30 p.m., Plaza Suite, Buffalo.
20-22—Region V Winter Conference, Hotel Syracuse, Syracuse.
KEEP CSEA INFORMED ON MAILING ADDRESS
In the event that you change your mailing address, please fill out the below form
and send it to:
CSEA, Inc., P.O. Box 125, Capitol Station, Albany, New York 12224
This form is also available from local presidents for CSEA members, but is
reproduced here for convenience.
Change of Addrass for ‘The Public Sector’
Please allow 3-4 weeks for change to take effect.
My present label reads exactly as shown here (or affix mailing label)
T Nome
{
1 Street
|
MY NEW ADDRESS IS:
Street —
City
Agency where employed
My social security no. _ Agency No. a
Par at bases } pods iy
+ Set
Loan
(ee they say It’s too cold, IT IS TOO COLD’:
| Workers brave cold of new heat oe
POUGHKEEPSIE — It all started with the cold wave which crept in
during the holidays. Typewriters wouldn’t work, ballpoint pens wouldn't
write, inside temperatures hovered around 50 degrees, a pipe froze in the
boiler room, and Welder Dick VanVoorhis reported that there was even a
thin layer of ice on a ‘‘temper tank.”’
These near impossible work conditions occurred at the state Office of
General Services (OGS). As Local 507 President Jack Cassidy explains, a
new heating system was installed in 1979 in the shop which houses about 40
workers, mostly mechanics — and a few clerical workers too. They’ve been
freezing ever since.
The new “‘hot air’’ system replaced a ‘‘steam heat’’ operation which
was in need of a new boiler. But why put in a boiler when you can spend $68,-
000 to install a brand new system?
In accordance with an agreement reached last year by CSEA and
Regional DOT Director Al Dixon, when temperatures get too low mechanics
may either go home or go work at another site. The clerical people can go to
a nearby administration building. In any case, the mechanics lose because if
they chose to go home, they have to write up the time as personal leave, and
if they decide to work elsewhere, they must drive their own cars there,
despite gas costing more than $1.30 a gallon. And they aren’t covered by
state insurance when in transit, although admittedly DOT does try to
relocate them near where they live. Of course, if the heating system
worked, all this would be unnecessary, but it doesn’t, so the men are penaliz-
ed for someone else's mistake.
Regional Equipment Manager, Pat Roberts, who himself has a quartz
heater in his office at the shop admits the situation, ‘“‘knocks the hell out of
production’’ which means repairing broken down cars and trucks. He adds
that the mechanics aren’t complainers, ‘‘so when they say it’s too cold, IT IS
TOO COLD.” The only bright spot is they’re using less fuel because one of
the three units always seems to be down.
What exactly is the problem? It can be summed up in a few words by
Field Rep. John Deyo. ‘‘The new system is inadequate, it just can’t meet the
demands on it, and it’s always breaking down.” Cassidy noted that ‘‘OGS”’
authorized the design and approved the installation, and puts the blame
squarely on them. In the meantime, the state spent $4,000 last year on
repairs and improvements, and just one day’s bill alone this year came to
$700. It’s still not any warmer.
Cassidy sees the new system as, ‘‘a total waste of money,’’ and has
fears that it also contributes to, “‘hazardous working conditions by blowing
fumes all around the shop.”’ Since heat rises, slow-moving ceiling fans were
installed to blow it down but, as one mechanic says, ‘‘it also blows
everything else on top of you and some days it looks like a fog in here.”
A solution is the state’s responsibility. Though there are plans to replace
the building, workers can realistically expect one, more like two, more
winters there. They look wistfully back to the ‘‘good ole’ days of steam
heat’’ before the Office of General Services spent tens of thousands of
dollars to put in a new heating system that doesn’t work.
Filing reminder
for candidates
to region posts
_. Any CSEA Region 4 member
who is interested in seeking a
Regional Office: President,
First Vice President, Second
Vice President, Third Vice
President, Secretary or
Treasurer, must submit a ‘“‘re-
quest to be a candidate’ form
prior to February 26, 1981, The
forms are available from CSEA
- local presidents or from the
CSEA Capital Region Office,
Suite 308, 1215 We Avenue,
Albany, New York 12203.
Completed forms are to be
sent to CSEA Capital Region
Nominating Committee %Carol
Snyder, Committee Secretary,
611 Pawling Avenue, Troy, New
- York 12180,
inthe publicservice
ALBANY — The CSEA ‘Employee
Benefit Fund (EBF) has expanded its
Board of Trustees, adding Capital
Region IV President Joseph E.
McDermott and Westchester County
Unit President Ray O’Connor to the
policy-making board.
Originally the EBF was set up to
serve the insurance program needs of
Joseph E. McDermott
the three statewide bargaining units.
But it has subsequently added 15 other
units to its ranks and today serves
112,000 people.
McDermott, who also serves as
International Vice President of
AFSCME, was elected to the EBF
Board by CSEA’s statewide Board of
Directors.
“The present board members have
done an outstanding job,” McDermott
said. ‘I look forward to helping in the
establishment of new benefits, such
as vision care programs, hearing aid
programs, and perhaps pre-paid legal
services. The Fund can be a great
benefit to the members, since it is
totally administered by the union for
the union’s participating members.”
CSEA President William L.
McGowan appointed Ray O’Connor to
the Board, marking the first time that
the EBF has had a county unit
representative on its policy-making
body.
The Westchester unit joined the
EBF last year. With 6,000 people, it’s
the largest county unit to join the
fund, which has been growing steadily
since its establishment in 1979.
O'Connor described his ap-
pointment as ‘‘a great step forward
for both counties and the trust fund,”’
and saw it as ‘‘a good move in the
LOCAL 507 PRESIDENT JACK CASSIDY, left, and Field Rep. John Deyo
look over the heating system’s control panel . . .
. and discuss with Mechanic Tommy Doarn conditions in the shop.
Two join EBF Board of Trustees
sense that I hope other counties will
take an interest in the benefit fund,
look into like we did to see what it
offers, and then join up.””
President McGowan chairs the
Board. Other trustees are: elected
members Irene Carr and James
Moore, and appointed members
Elaine Mootry and Louis Mannellino.
At ee
(My
Ray O'Connor
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, February 11, 1981
Page 5
| Research studies indicate program is :
| on the right track to improve conditions
By Hugh O’Haire
The first results of an experiment in
government and employee
cooperation on improving working
conditions are in and the results are .
encouraging, say representatives of
both the State Government and
CSEA.
Both the labor and management
representatives of the Joint-Labor
and Management Committee on the
Work Environment and Productivity
(CWEP) were pleased with a series of
studies and scholarly papers that
were undertaken as part of the
CWEP’s 1980 Summer Small Grants
Research Program. Some of the
papers were read at a recent Sym-
posium at the Graduate School and
University Center of the City Univer-
sity of New York.
“The idea behind the summer
grants program, was to get university
level experts to examine issues
effecting the public sector from a
neutral prospective,” said Dr. James
Cohen, CWEP research director.
‘“‘Obviously, both labor and
management have their priority
issues as to what they want to look at.
The first crop of research that was
done was fair, and informative. While
we had only 12 grants in 1980, we plan
to increase the number in 1981.”
A Noble Experiment
“CWEP is a noble experiment and a
dialogue to solve the problems of the
work place outside the volitility of
negotiations,’’ Meyer Frucher, Direc-
tor of the Governor’s Office of
Employee Relations, said in opening
remarks before an audience of
scholars, union representatives and
government officials attending the
Symposium. ‘It is to the credit of
CSEA that they worked with the State
to get funding for this committee.”
Mr. Frucher explained that the idea
for. the committee is to reach out ‘‘to
the academic committee to see if we
could get some ideas to improve the
quality and conditions of work in New
York State. The first year’s results of
our: grants are very exciting.”
The first academic to present his
paper was Bruce M. Shefrin,
professor of Political Science at
LeMoyne College, who found that the
Utiea/Marcy Consolidation had been
‘poorly managed by the Office of
Mental Health and, to some extent, by
hospital administrators, and that the
LORE HAL ECA OY
* transition phase has been particularly
painful.” The Utica-Marcy case is
significant, Professor Shefrin said,
because ‘‘retrenchment’’ or
reductions-in-force of employee staffs
“threatens to be a major issue of the
1980's.’ As a result of layoffs, ‘‘fear,
not inflation, has become the gut issue
for many public employees,”
Professor Shefrin said.
He recommended that when cut-
backs in staff are to be made, the
State ‘‘must place more emphasis on
communications.”’ A no-layoff policy
can be developed by absorbing
employees in other governmental
agencies where they will be retrained
for new jobs. Early retirement rules
should be relaxed in cases like the
Utica/Marcy consolidation, and un-
ions should relax strict adherence to
job specifications and seniority that
‘“‘may inhibit job enrichment
programs” or ‘‘stifle merit.” “In
recognizing the State’s dilemma the
unions must be flexible and adjust
when necessary,”’ Prof. Shefrin said.
A Second Chance
“Utica/Marcy is a continuing
second chance, an invitation to
leaders to correct errors in the way
consolidation here has been im-
plemented,”’ the report concluded.
“The State, the unions and the
hospital administrators should seize
the opportunity to learn how to
retrench effectively and humanely.”
Stuart G. Koch, a professor of
political science at Vassar College,
studied the turnover rate at Wassaic
Developmental Center — 34 percent
for Mental Hygiene Therapy Aides —
and found that more than 87 percent
of those who resigned from Wassaic
said they did so for personal reasons
and ‘‘certain aspects of the job.”
However, they would not have resign-
ed if there had been more staff on
duty when they were working, if work
rules were fair and uniformly applied,
if they had received more support
from superiors, and could have spent
less time in housekeeping duties. Only
36.6 percent quit because wages were
too low. Wages again followed the
main causes of dissatisfaction among
MHYA and Trainees, Prof. Koch’s
study found, ranking behind com-
plaints about poor cooperation
between shifts, non-participation in
team meetings, unavailability of
PS RA SSB serosa
Page 6
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, ‘February 11, 1981
supplies ‘and unappropriate physical
conditions.
Prof. Koch suggested that Wassaic
and OMRDD improve ‘“Wassaic’s
training programs’’ and study ways to
deal with ‘‘disruptive or assaultive
clients,’’ one of the major needs .ac-
cording to the employees he inter-
viewed. He also recommended hiring
more therapy aides; a general review
of Wassaic and OMRDD’s work rules
and procedure; supervisors being
given more training and made
responsible for on-the-job training;
hiring more ward aides; increasing
the wage rate paid to MHTA’s and
trainees, and reassessing the
procedures under which ‘‘assaultive
clients” are assigned and handled, as
well as those rules regarding the way
in which therapy aides can respond to
attacks.
Prof. Koch also recommended that
mandatory overtime be ‘recognized
as an anachronistic and counter-
productive labor practice and (be)
avoided through proper staffing’ and
that the State and CSEA implement
the new evaluation system as quickly
as possible.
In his study of the transition ex-
perience of 175 employees moved to
other Developmental Centers from
Willowbrook because of court ordered
reductions in patients and workforce
there, Dr. Martin Hanlon, of the
Department of Urban Studies, Queens
College, CUNY, found that most
transferees were younger, had less
seniority than the general work force,
did not live on Staten Island, and took
jobs at developmental centers near or
in their boroughs of residence.
Stigma survives ©
Transferees suffered few ad-
justment problems, Dr. Hanlon said,
but the ‘‘stigma of Willowbrook
appears to have survived the reforms
brought about in the past half
decade.’’ Many transferees felt,
however, that they were “better
nent and a dialogue to solve the problems
ide the volitility of negotiations. It is to the
oe with the State to get funding for
trained, more experienced, and mor|
competent than employees at othe
facilities.”
Based on the assumption the
Willowbrook ‘‘will be reduced to iff
planned target census of 250 regider
tial clients’ eventually, Dr. Hanlo
projects a reduction in staff from tl
—Meyer Frucher
ear GOER
more than 3,000 employees present}
working at the Staten Island facili
to between 900 and 1,100 staff. D
Hanlon recommended: attempts
place employees in New Jers
Developmental Centers; retireme
after 20 years; placing counselo}
from the State’s Continuity
Employment Program to he
employees find private ct
employment; and retraining dire
care institutional staff for jobs
community-based facilities.
“It is our belief that without a cor
prehensive program for retrainit
and placing Staten Islan
Developmental Center staff in cor
munity settings, wide scale layoffs
the facility are inevitable. And it
virtually certain that many of those
direct care positions will not ba ab
to secure employment with wagt
benefits comparable to their prese
positions. For many, this wou
represent a severe personal dij
location. For the State, it woul
represent a needless waste of tl
skills and experience of its direct ca:
providers,” the study concluded.
The Symposium also heard a repo}
of the possible application of tl
“Scanlon Plan,’”’ a private indust
labor-management scheme »Whi
allows workers to make suggestio1
to increase efficiency and redu
costs for cash bonuses. Also, a repo}
on how 10 other public sector Joi
Labor-Management Committe
throughout the nation defined th
roles and what benefits for labor ai
management accrued from them, al
what innovations they introduced
their work forces. Another pape
read on the role of states as voli
Pee.
<i =.
JOANNA WILLIAMS, Women’s Committee co-
chairperson, discusses statewide goals of CSEA’s
women’s committees during a January meeting of the
eastern section of Region VI Women’s Committee in
DR. JAMES COHEN, Research
Director for CWEP, says the program
to improve working conditions is
showing encouraging results to date.
of goods and services and the
roblems and opportunities of
otivating and rewarding public sec-
tor employees.
Wave of the future
The keynote speaker, Rosabeth
Moss Kanter, author of ‘“‘Men and
Women in the Corporation,’ told the
Symposium, ‘It’s clear that white
collar unions are the wave of the
future.’ Among the changes Ms.
Kanter observed were, ‘‘an increased
queen with fairness and rights as
ell as a desire to have the freedom
to work with autonomy and without
oppressive supervision.”
The Federal Courts, Ms. Kanter
said, have greatly increased the right
to privacy, especially for workers to
see what is in their personnel files.
Workers want jobs that ‘‘have
meaning and that lead somewhere —
to a future. “‘In my own research, I
aye identified two key elements in
‘oday’s work force; opportunity and
power. They want the opportunity to
grow and advance in their careers and
the power to exercise control over the
critical areas of their lives such as the
quality of work life,’ Ms. Kanter
said.
The challenge to employees, she
added, is to ‘‘close the gap between
the new work force with its demand
¢ opportunity and power, and by
mlarging the pool of ‘‘quality’’ jobs
, they are looking for.”
At the end of the Symposium, Harry
Weiner, Chairman of the Joint Labor
Management Committee on the Work
Environment and Productivity, said,
“T’m encouraged because academic
research is usually not of much use to
either management or unions; but to
see the academy paying attention to
he problems employees are facing is
ery encouraging. We look forward to
more of these studies.”
Dr. Cohen said that this year’s
grants were accepted and funded
from a pool of 62 proposals CWEP had
received, For 1981, CWEP expects to
receive approximately 300 proposals
and will fund more grants.
“We are very interested in having
rank and file as well as local CSEA of-
ficials bring ideas for study to our atten-
@on,” he said.
SYLVIA EBERSOLD, President
of Rochester City CSEA Local
012, conducts presentation on
parliamentary procedures dur-
ing Women’s Committee
meeting.
LISTENING TO PRESEN-
TATION (right), are these
members of the Region VI
Women’s Committee. From left
are Soundra Cooper, Josephine
Giangregorio and Rose Bonazza.
Rochester.
PARTICIPANTS (left), in Women’s Committee meeting
in Rochester included, from left, Elaine Manor, Irene
Simmons and Jackie Williams.
Region Vi women’s committee
briefed on statewide goals
Funds to move forensic unit
included in Carey's budget
NEW YORK CITY — The long and hard fight by
Creedmoor Psychiatric Local 406 to convince the state —
to move the facility's Forensic Unit to another
Jocation has finally paid off. Governor Hugh L.
Carey’s 1981 budget includes a request of almost $2.67
million to restore the Kirby Building at Manhattan -
Psychiatric Center for. use as a secure hospital for the
criminally insane. Hee ashi
Plans call for the Kirby Building to be-ready to
accept patients by late 1982. The facility will house
rh neues 300 criminally insane patients current-
ly held at psychiatric centers in downstate New York.
Since the opening of the Creedmoor Forensic Unit
more than three years ago, Local 406 has maintained’
that a forensic unit is inappropriate at a facility
located in a heavily populated residential area. Creed-
moor is located on 340 acres bounded by private homes
and several apartment complexes.
Numerous escapes from the facility's Forensic
Unit, nearly a dozen in 1980 alone, provided dramatic
support for the Local’s position and convinced com-
munity residents to join forces with CSEA to bring
pressure on the state to move the unit to another
location, _ ~ ‘
CSEA’s activities to get the Forensic Unit out of
Creedmoor included meetings with Department of
* Health officials, Creedmoor officials, legislators and
the press and cooperation with community residents
in a demonstration in front of the facility.
“At every step we were encouraged by the response
to our proposals to relocate the Creedmoor Forensic
Unit and to establish a regional forensic unit at
Manhattan Psychiatric Center,’’ said Local. 406
President Dorothy King. ‘‘But it wasn’t until the
Governor included the funds in his budget request that
‘we knew we were on our way toward our goal. Now we
must concentrate on political action to make sure the
legislator approves the necessary funds.”’
+t t+ doit ‘ THE PUBLIC SECTOR, ‘Wednesday, February 1:1,'1981
Page 7
Arbitrator throws out client abuse charges
NEW YORK CITY — Two members of Brooklyn: Developmental
Center (BDC) Local 447 charged with client abuse and threatened with
discharge by the facility’s management have been exonerated of the
charge by an arbitrator’s decision.
The case against the two employees was so weak that, in his decision,
the arbitrator stated that management ‘‘was unable to produce the
evidence required to meet even the minimal standards . . . necessary in
this proceeding.”” vg
Relying primarily on information provided by BDC patients, the
facility’s management claimed that two CSEA members abused a client
CSEA attorneys not only pointed out contradictions in the patients’
testimony and the inability of the patients to discriminate between fact
ang fantasy, but also cited the testimony of a translator who interpreted
the allegedly abused client’s remarks after it was learned that the client
had been assaulted. The translator stated that the client’s description of
his assailants in no way resembled the two employees and that the client
said the incident occurred outside of the facility.
“Clients in BDC are permitted to leave the facility,” said Local 447
President Brenda Nichols. “‘It is clear that the abuse inflicted on this par-
ticular client occurred in the community. Management has to accept
responsibility for the safety of clients in the community and not try to
in the institution.
(CSEA discovers q
retiree entitled
to bigger pension
NEW HYDE PARK — Detective work and
quick action by a CSEA field representative here
has resulted in increased benefits — a one-time
payment of $6,900 plus $81.99 a month for life —
for a retired employee.
Edward Muller, an employee from the Village
of New Hyde Park, retired several years ago and
was inadvertently placed in the wrong pension
plan by the village.
Before Mr. Muller retired, the CSEA had
negotiated 75g pension plan to replace the
former 75e plan. The 75g plan gives employees
higher benefits. However, when Mr. Muller
retired, a clerical error placed him in the old 75e
plan. It was more than a year before Mr. Muller
realized that he was not getting the full benefits
he was entitled to. He contacted the CSEA for
help.
After he was contacted by Mr. Muller, CSEA
field representive Mike Aiello, quickly traced
the error. He met with the Mayor of New Hyde
Park and other officials. The village agreed to
pay Mr. Muller the difference between what he
had received and what he should have received,
and to make up the difference monthly for the
rest of his life.
“Tt is a credit to the village officials that they
were sincerely concerned with correcting Mr.
Muller’s pension benefits, said Mr. Aiello. “I
hope Ed Mueller will have a happy and long
Newenent enjoying his well-earned pension.’
Committees improve
work conditions
Two key committees are hard at work for the in-
terests of CSEA Judiciary employees.
Judiciary Negotiating Committee members are:
Joseph C. Johnson, Jr. of Brooklyn, chairman;
Richard Szymanski, Getzville; Jerry Goetz, Utica;
William Johnson, Cheetowaga; Nancy Castaldo,
Henrietta; Kenneth Hoffman, Scotia; Julia Filipone
and Allen Hanley, Albany; Patricia Nealon, Goshen;
Nancy Roark, Binghamton; Victor Ort, Oyster Bay;
Mel Schnitzer, Brooklyn and Thomas Jefferson, White
Plains.
The Judiciary Labor/Management Committee is
chaired by Thomas Jefferson. Members include: Paul
Goodman, Binghamton; William W. Johnson, Joseph
C. Johnson, Jr., Nancy Castaldo, Victor Ort, Julia
Filipone, Kenneth Hoffman, Patricia Nealon and
Jerry Goetz. .
The Labor/Management Committee currently ha:
numerous items on its agenda to help enhance working
conditions for employees in the Judiciary. Among
these are the Employee Assistance Program and
programs involving flexible time schedules, safety
and health, education and training.
Members of both committees are appointees of
CSEA President William L. McGowan and represent a
wide range of Judiciary employees. Patrick J.
Monachino, Collective Bargaining Specialist, has been
named coordinator of the two committees.
blame employees unjustly for this kind of incident.”
Local 852 folio
released soon
HOLTSVILLE — An easy-to-use portfolio of
the many benefits of the Suffolk County-Local
852 CSEA Benefit Fund is being compiled and is
expected to be distributed in the spring.
The fund provides dental, optical, legal,
prescription, maternity and hearing aid benefits
to CSEA-represented employees of Suffolk
County and to CSEA-represented employees of
political subdivisions of the county who negotiate ;
joining the fund with their management. fs
The CSEA members who are trustees of the
fund are Chairman Ben Boczkowski, Frank Gior-
dano, Edward Valder and Norman Bohrer. The
management personnel who are trustees of the
fund are Frank R. Jones, Martin R. Ashare, Jack
Farneti and Lou Tempera.
The portfolio will be made with four sleeves.
The portfolio will be approximately 9 x 17 inches
opened and 9 x 4 inches when folded. Three of the
sleeves will contain booklets and cards on the
various benefits, space for a new benefit and
general information on the fund, including how
to contact it and membership and beneficiary re-
quirements.
The portfolio inserts will replace three
booklets of 24, 24 and 16 pages, respectively.
Each program will have its own insert and can
be replaced as a program is improved without
having to reprint any other benefit insert or the
entire fund plan.
The fourth sleeve will contain other important
information to CSEA members, including con-
tractual and retirement benefits, Suffolk
Federal Credit Union information and the.collec*.”
tive bargaining agreement.
In the spring, the portfolios will be distributed
“to Suffolk County employees at job sites and
through personnel offices of local subdivisions.
After the initial distribution to county
employees, new employees will receive the port-
folios at their required orientation.
Sos
SUFFOLK COUNTY LOCAL 852 CSEA Benefit
Fund Trustee Norman Bohrer displays a mockup
of a portfolio of fund benefits which is expected
to be distributed to covered employees in the
spring. The portfolio will replace three
publications with 64 pages on the six benefits of
the fund.
a" y in
NEW OFFICERS OF THE Suffolk County Local 852 DPW Unit are sworn in by Local 852 President
Ben Boczkowski, right, including from left, Steve Kemster, Edgar Ostrander, Fran Gregg, President
Nicholas Marrano, Stanley Isaksen, Joe Brown and Martin Berguson.
Page 8
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, February 11, 1981
ROGER WILLIAMS
Civil rights activist
with a renewed purpose
By Gerald Alperstein
Associate Editor
WHITE PLAINS — While members of CSEA receive frequent
promotions and job changes, probably few of those are as personally
meaningful as the new job of Roger Williams, a member of the Westchester
County CSEA Unit.
On Jan. 1, 1981, Williams became the first community worker for the
Westchester County Office of Affirmative Action. Williams, as community
worker, will be involved in the enforcement of the county’s Affirmative
Action Plan.
Civil rights involvement is nothing new to Williams, who in 1962-63 was
Northern Westchester coordinator for the civil rights March on Washington,
and has been actively invalved in fighting housing discrimination in his
home town, the Village of Ossining, N.Y.
Joseph A. Tortelli, director of the Office of Affirmative Action and
Williams’ new boss, explained the workings of the office as follows:
The office, which is part of County Executive Alfred DelBello’s
department, wes established in 1975. The county’s affirmative action plan
was filed in 1976 with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Com-
mission.
The plan establishes the county as an equal opportunity employer and
establishes goals for each of the more than 40 departments of the county
government. The office helps the department meet those goals.
The goals are based on a reflection of the available workforce in the
county of 50 percent women and 14 percent minorities.
The office also handles all complaints by county employees involving
promotions, jobs, terminations, etc., when discrimination is alleged based
on sex, age, disability and race (blacks, hispanics, American Indians and
Asians).
The office investigates complaints, may hold hearings and makes
decisions on the complaints. Approximately 60 complaints a year have come
through the office. And less than 10 become formal complaints.
The office consists of a director, assistant director, secretary and com-
munity worker. The latter position was added to the office in the 1981
Westchester County Budget on DelBello’s recommendation.
The community is the more than 8,000 employees of Westchester County
of which almost 6,000 are represented by CSEA.
The office is in County Office Building 1, 148 Martine Ave., White Plains.
Telephone: 682-3133.
“T can think of nobody more qualified for the job than Roger,”’ Tortelli
said. He listed those qualifications:
— Williams, as a former shop steward of the Westchester County Unit,
knows the contract. Many times an employee’s alleged problem is on the
border line between discrimination and contract violation.
— He understands the county’s resources, including the Employee
Assistance Program for personal problems.
— Some employees may find it easier to speak with Williams because he
is a minority.
— He can relate to many employees as a rank-and-file employee
himself. Williams has been a motor equipment operator and special laborer
during his 13 years of employment with the county.
— Williams knows the workings of the office as a member of the office’s
Advisory Committee.
A-yas-aperdionn,
ORANGE-\JLSTER-SULLIVAN CO.
RETIREES Local
Gordon Hobbs, right, above, confers
with First Vice President Albert
Tweedy and Agnes Durantino, a
member of
retirees committee, during a recent
Local 917 meeting in Wallkill. In photo
at right,
Schoonmaker rises to ask a question
during the meeting. Retirees remain
active in union affairs through
membership in 15 CSEA retirees
i lqeaks across :the stateysjo! 13!
ogeteel prsuse
FACES in
the crowd
Periodically The Public Sector focuses
@ the spotlight on individual activists
who, because of their high-level con-
tributions on behalf of the membership,
are becoming recognizable ‘Faces in
the Crowd’’ of the thousands of people
who help the union function effectively.
WESTCHESTER COUNTY Community Worker Roger Williams, left, dis-
cusses his new position with the office’s director, Joseph A. Tortelli.
Williams started in his new position on Jan. 1, 1981.
Williams and Tortelli met in 1975 as original members of the com-
mittee. At that time, Tortelli was director of the County Office of the Aging.
Both were appointed by DelBello, Williams on the recommendation of
the then Westchester County CSEA Unit President Michael Morella.
Tortelli praised the support the Affirmative Action Office has gotten
from the CSEA Westchester County Unit, initially from President Morella
and more recently from President Raymond J. O'Connor.
He said one of William’s duties will be to go to the many county job sites
to speak with the members to let them know about the Affirmative Action
Program, to discuss problems and give the office more visability.
“With Roger in the field, an employee won’t have to give up time to
come to the White Plains office. Roger will be able to correct some
situations before there is trouble. He also will investigate complaints which
come into the office,” Tortelli said.
Tortelli said that until now, most of the complaints to his office have
come from high level jobs. He expects with Williams in the field making the
office more visible, the problems of more lower-ranking employees will
reach his office.
Williams, a CSEA activist, in addition to having been a shop steward, is
the fourth vice president of the Westchester County Unit, is a member of the
Westchester County Local 860 Executive Committee and has been a
delegate of Local 860.
He and his wife Janet, have four children, ages 30, 29, 22 and 12.
During his previous 13 years as a county employee, he was an employee
of the departments of Public Works and General Services.
Prior to working for the county, he operated a taxi business in Ossining
917 President
the CSEA statewide
Local 917 member John
2IELVTERIUL e avr seul
233-444 yb
OTA TTREBUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday,.February.11, 1981. --
Page %
i
30137
e
e
ean IN f e
Sa ST 'S OFFICIAL — As expected, the International Ex- International Secretary-Treasurer William Lucy,
Affiliation ets ecutive Board of AFSCME has approved the affiliation AFSCME International President Jerry Wurf, CSEA
g between AFSCME and CSEA. The IEB action came President William L. McGowan and CSEA Capital
AFSCME Board ok last week in Washington following affiliation approval Region President Joseph McDermott. Both McGowan
by CSEA’s Board of Directors and delegates. Obvious- and McDermott are also AFSCME International Vice
SEE ly pleased with the action are, from left, AFSCME Presidents and members of the IEB. cf
Volunteers open Troy MV nights
7 ee ar A @
TROY — The Rensselaer County Unit of the Civil union will be supportive. Presently, our members
Service Employees Association has reached an in this Department believe this concept will be
agreement whereby the Troy Motor Vehicle Office beneficial to all involved — the public, the
will remain open one evening a week for the con- Department and the workers.”
venience of the public. Ruth Dennis, an employee volunteer and a CSEA
According to John Buono, Rensselaer County member, expressed her thoughts on the extended
Clerk, the extended hours required the approval of _ hours: “I can accomplish more work at home in the
the CSEA Rensselaer County Unit. Buono had ask- morning rather than after dinner in the evening and
ed his employees to volunteer to work the evening Will have more time to enjoy my family during the
hours. Similarly, CSEA and the employees were evening.
commended for working to provide this service at Karen M. Clickner, also an employee volunteer e
no increased cost to the taxpayer. comments, Ve Chor for Hransacting molar .
“at is important the public have access tothe VOCE business on Thursday evenings showd be 0)
Motor Vehicle aaciceas we offer, at their con- great convenience to the employed public.
é t's.’ Buono said. “All too ‘ustomers may visit on route home, saving time
VemenCe: not BOVETMEND S: and gasoline, rather than rushing on lunch breaks
often, it is impossible for people to get time off or tenet TE from the job. N -
from work to take care of their motor vehicle tas 2 8 hee a (Saale Seg
business. By utilizing a volunteer flex time customers have expressed their desire for more
nee ae oe ;, flexible motor vehicle hours. My hope is that the
schedule, the office will now be open Thursday until bilewill take advan’ f the flexible h ‘d
8 p.m. These extended hours will begin on Thurs- PUDIIC WI e advantage of the flexible hours an
pay 9th.” visit Troy on Thursday evenings. The flexible hours
day, Rebruary 19th. afforded by the Motor Vehicle Dept. being open on e
Carol Larpenteur, CSEA Rensselaer County Unit
President, expressed the union's position on the
program: ‘As long as the concept remains volun-
tary and serves the needs of the working public, the
Thursday evenings will provide the opportunity for
me to schedule appointments and business transac-
tions on Thursday mornings, thereby not requiring
me to take time off from my job responsibilities.”
o
i
)
hy
CSEA’s MENTAL HYGIENE CABINET specializes in dealing with com-
plex problems confronting CSEA’s membership employed in the state Office.
of Mental Health and the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental
Disabilities. Pictured at a January 29 Cabinet meeting are (left to right):
James Roemer, Chief Counsel; Gary Fryer, Communications Director;
Walter Leubner, Research Analyst; CSEA President William L. McGowan;
John McGraw, Collective Bargaining Specialist, OMRDD: Dan Donohue,
Chairman, Mental Hygiene Local Presidents; Paul Burch, Collective
Bargaining Specialist, Mental Health; Thomas Coyle, Assistant Director,
Research Department; Frank Abbey, Research Analyst; Paula Lambert,
CSEA Consultant. Other members of the Cabinet are James Feather-
stonhaugh, Chief Lobbyist; Pauline Rogers, Counsel; and John Carey, Ad-
ministrative Director, Collective Bargaining.
Page 10 THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, February 11, 1981
|
Psychiatric
labor problems
on the mend
‘After years of neglect,
these institutions aren’t
going to turn around over-
night. But we’re en-
couraged by the very real
progress we’re seeing’
—CSEA President
William L. McGowan
ALBANY — Although the many
deep-seated problems facing the
state’s psychiatric centers and
developmental centers aren’t being
solved overnight, real progress is
being made, thanks to un-
precedented efforts by CSEA.
A hard-hitting joint effort
between CSEA and State officials
has been dealing with the critical
understaffing problem at the Office
of Mental Health (OMH) and
Office of Mental Retardation and
Developmental Disabilities
(OMRDD) facilities. As a result of
this effort, there will be more than
3,400 additional people caring for
clients in these facilities this year.
The latest jobs announcement is
a joint state/union plan to dis-
tribute 830 new inpatient jobs
among the psychiatric centers. The
plan was announced last month by
CSEA President William L.
McGowan and State Commissioner
of Mental Health James A.
Prevost.
“Staff shortages not only hurt
CSEA members, but they hurt the
patients we care for,” President
McGowan said. “While these new
jobs do not solve all the understaff-
ing problems, they represent a
dramatic improvement from con-
ditions that existed a year ago.”’
The new positions, which will be
phased in over the remainder of the
fiscal year ending March 31, will be
funded from a $2.8 million
supplemental budget appropriation
supported by CSEA and approved
by the Legislature in December.
The announcement of the new
positions is only one of the strides
made in recent months since CSEA
and the Carey Administration
agreed to a joint effort to tackle the
massive, perennial problems in
OMH and OMRDD.
The agreement included a plan to
confront institutional problems in a
top-level facility-by-facility tour.
Heading up the effort to end
7A ILC ROR ERNE LAUR TAU ECR A ARE
several years of labor relations
chaos in the agencies are President
McGowan and Meyer S. Frucher,
Director of the Governor’s Office
of Employee Relations.
Top-level teams under their
leadership have already visited six
institutions, meeting with facility
administrators and local CSEA of-
ficials. Additional visits are being
scheduled.
“This is an unprecedented
cooperative effort by labor and
management, and CSEA is com-
mitted to making it work,”
McGowan said. ‘‘After years of
neglect, these institutions aren’t
going to turn around overnight. But
we're encouraged by the very real
progress we’re seeing.”
Progress has been real in terms
of alleviating the critical under-
staffing problems in OMH and
OMRDD facilities.
e In September, the State an-
nounced it had agreed to a CSEA
demand to end the hiring freeze in
OMH and OMRDD and immediate-
‘ly fill 1,700 jobs vacated through
attrition during the freéze.
© Also in September, the Gover-
nor announced that in addition to
the ‘‘backfilling’’plan, he was
authorizing the immediate hiring
of 700 OMRDD employees for in-
stitutional service by transferring
appropriations for positions in in-
complete outpatient programs,
e Backed by CSEA, the Ad-
ministration also obtained from
the Legislature additional
appropriations for new direct
patient care jobs in OMH (830) and
OMRDD (944),
Most of the new jobs are targeted
for Long Island, with 321 jobs to be
shared by Central Islip, Kings Park
and Pilgrim psychiatric centers. A
total of 134 positions will be shared
by Binghamton, Hutchings, Utica,
Marcy and St. Lawrence psy-
chiatric centers in OMH’s Central
region.
Other allocations include:
Western New York, 67 positions;
New York City, 156 positions; and
Hudson River, 152 positions.
Expertise key factor
of state facility tours
ALBANY — Top-level teams headed by CSEA President William L.
McGowan and OER Director Meyer Frucher have met to date with
facility administrators and CSEA local executive boards at Binghamton,
Utica, Marcy, Manhattan and Creedmoor Psychiatric Centers and at
Broome Developmental Center. And this week the teams will visit both
the Monroe and Newark Developmental Centers.
The idea behind the facility tours is to bring to the work site the ex-
pertise and authority that is needed to resolve as many problems as possi-
ble on the spot. oo
Describing these meetings as highly successful, CSEA Collective
Bargaining Specialist Paul Burch said, ‘It was obvious to everyone in-
volved in these meetings that here was an honest attempt by both labor
and management to face these pressing, thorny issues head on. Already
the majority of the agenda items discussed have been resolved.””
Understaffing was the root of many of the problems, including man-
datory overtime, shift changes and pass day assignments. So recently an-
nounced backfilling and new jobs automatically relieve many issues.
“But in addition, these meetings have been a tangible demonstration
of how effective our union can be and how labor and management can
cooperate,”’ Burch said. ‘I think we've established a good base on which
CSEA local officials can build.””
Broome Developmental Center Local 449 President Mark Smacher
expressed his pleasure at the results of the meeting at his facility:
“Problems and grievances that had been dragged on for four to five years
were resolved within a week after the top-level meeting.
“Communication had been a key problem here,’ Smacher added. ‘'Of
the 15 agenda items we've discussed, I'd say 90 percent of them have
either been resolved or there is a promise of resolution.”’
Utica Psychiatric Center Local 425 President John Giehl said that a
number of local issues have been resolyed as a result of the
labor/management meetings, but expressed deep concern about the
future of his institution, which has been threatened with closing.
“We have been promised there would be no more attempts to con-
solidate us with Marcy PC until the Legislature approved,” Giehl ex-
plained. ‘‘Yet our director seems to be ignoring this promise and
proceeding with consolidation plans.”
Marcy PC Local 414 President Bud Mulchi echoed many of Giehl’s
concerns and called for another labor/management meeting to “get rid
of some foot-dragging on promises.”’
Binghamton PC Local 441 President Clara Pruitt also cited improved
‘,.. these meetings have been a
tangible demonstration of how
effective our union can be and
how labor and management can
cooperate.’
—CSEA Collective Bargaining
Specialist Paul Burch
AQ
communications between her Local and management since the top-level
visit.
“We've been discussing Grade 11 and 13 deployment and pass days
for employees, and both sides have agreed to a more careful scrutiny of
each client before release back into the community,’’ she noted.
Appalling conditions at Manhattan Psychiatric Center have been the
focus of investigative reporting by the media and last year resulted in
denial of the facility's accreditation. The major deficiency cited by the
accrediting body was ‘‘an insufficient number of clinical and support
staff.”
Local 413 grievance chairman Mohammed Huessin recites a litany of
meetings with management, despite which conditions at Manhattan PC
remained intolerable, particularly in terms of staffing.
We pushed hard for at least 100 positions above the filling of 50 long-
standing vacancies here,’’ Huessin said. ‘‘At the top-level meeting,
Prevost agreed to add 44 new positions. But we thought that since the
pressure had been building for a year, the intensity of our negotiations
would get us more.”
Huessin was right. Authorization has now been granted for 100 new
positions at the facility, plus the backfilling of 40 vacancies, In addition,
Prevost pledged to undertake a review of the staffing situation by April 1
“to determine if these resources are appropriate.”’
So although all the problems plaguing the institutions haven't been
erased, real progress has been made and foundations have been laid tor
future progress. The efforts of CSEA and State officials are paying off —
for clients, the public, and for CSEA members.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, February 11, 1981
Page 11
Alert brings
response from
all quarters
By Dawn LePore
Staff Writer
EVANS — When a Norfolk and
Western train derailed here last
month, overturning four tank cars
filled with potentially explosive li-
quid gas, local officials were quick
to order an evacuation of families
living in the immediate area.
And because the town’s disaster
preparedness committee had done
its homework, that evacuation
order placed in motion the efforts
of many CSEA members along
with scores of others who
responded.
Within a half hour after the mis-
-hap, a shelter area was set up in
the Lake Shore Central High School
here. Cafeteria workers, members
of the Lake Shore Unit of Erie
County CSEA Educational
Employees Local 868, were on the
job within 15 minutes of the initial
emergency alert.
And a familiar face to CSEA
members across the state, Sam
Mogavero, was given the respon-
sibility as shelter manager during
the derailment emergency. A
strong CSEA activitist since 1960,
when he helped to organize the
Erie County Educational
Employees Local 868, Sam has just
retired from the Lake Shore School
system on January Ist. He had
served for many years as president
of Local 868; was elected chairman
of CSEA’s County Division a few
years ago, and has also served as a
member of the CSEA statewide
education committee.
But on January 9, as a member of
the Evans-Angola Disaster
Preparedness Committee,
Mogavero was one of the first to
be called when 29 freight cars
jumped the rails, including the four
filled with liquid gas.
“You know, we (the committee)
had been planning on having a drill
sometime in February,’’ Mogavero
noted. “But we never dreamed
we'd be practicing on the real
thing.”’
Working together with
Superintendent of Schools William
Houston, Lake Shore Central Mid-
dle School Principal Clifford
Swyer, Transportation Supervisor
Linda Jensen and others,
Mogavero set up an emergency
shelter complete with dormitories,
food service, medical facilities
and even entertainment.
“We had coffee and cookies
waiting for the people as they came
in, everything went as though we
had been in the business for
years.”’ By the time the state of
emergency was relaxed at 10 p.m.
that night, more than 275 meals had
been served.
Many other CSEA members
were playing key roles during the
emergency situation as well. Town
of Evans employees Daniel Wright
and Roland Bergan, both members
of Erie County CSEA Local 815,
volunteered to plow snow from the
disaster site to enable workmen to
reach the derailed cars to deter-
mine damages.
Meanwhile, nine school bus
drivers, all members of CSEA
Local 868, stood by in the event a
mass evacuation was ordered.
Page 12
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, February 11, 1981
Union members tackle key roles during
train derailment emergency in Evans
They included Carol Braegis, Mar-
jorie Zolcer, Mary Lou Smith, Ruth
Collura, Tom and Joanne
Steenberg, Lois Wolfgram, Ed Van
Cheri and Charles Arrigo. And
Charles Collura of the grounds
department and Shirley Beck of the
school’s office staff pitched in to
help in a variety of ways,
Mogavero said.
Current Local 868 President Jack
Schlenker spent hours picking up
and delivering food and other
supplies.
Fortunately, none of the four
cars carrying propane and
butadiene were damaged in the
mishap, and families were allowed
to return home that night.
Schlenker said he wished to
recognize the many other CSEA
members who worked with the
volunteer fire department during
the emergency situation, tran-
sporting persons to and from their
homes.
RELAXING AFTER EMERGRNCY situation
passed are long-time CSEA activist Sam Mogavero,
seated, and Local 868 President Jack Schlenker.
BUS DRIVERS of the Lake Shore Central School
system stood by to swing into action in the event of
a full scale evacuation. From left, front, are Marge
Zolcer, Mary Lou Smith and Ruth Collura, From
left, rear, are Carol Baregis, transportation
superintendent Linda Jensen, former Local 868
President Sam Mogavero, Lois Wolfgram, Local
868 President Jack Schlenker, and Charles Arrigo.
