McGowan going on road
to meet, talk, listen
ALBANY — CSEA President William L.
MeGowan, who likes to roll up his sleeves
and meet members one-to-one, is taking to
the road in a statewide program to allow
members across New York to sit down and
talk with the highest elected officer of
CSEA.
“Effective communication is the
lifeblood of a responsible labor union,”’ the
union leader said in announcing the tour,
“but this is a two-way street. I want the
rank and file to let me know one-on-one
about their concerns and their problems.
We have a network of elected officers to
communicate members’ concerns, but
sometimes there is no substitute for a face-
to-face talk and that is what we are after.”
Plans are being drawn now by the Office
of the President for a series of meetings
across the state during August and
September.
“Nobody who sits in a big office every
day of the year can ever claim that they
know what our members need and what
they want,’ comments Mr. McGowan.
“Things change from year to year and even
on a daily basis people change their
opinions. It’s important that the leaders of
a union stay in touch with the rank and file
personally and I hope this opportunity will
be used by our members to get their
feelings across.”’
Mr. McGowan, who travels extensively
across the state on a regular basis through-
out the year, said that while his norm-
al appearances at union meetings and
work locations provide him with a lot of in-
formation on the feelings of the
membership, he feels there is no substitute
for an open discussion in an informal set-
ting.
“We want to do the best job that we can
to represent our people,” the union
president said, ‘‘and we can’t do that
without a lot of input from the grass roots
level. I hope this series of meetings will be
as successful as the last, because com-
munication between the rank and file and
leadership is what this union should be all
about.”
Union to kick off its
political action with
early endorsements
___ ALBANY — The November general elections may be still a long way
off, but most politicians” criss-crossing the state or-election districts ©
between now and then will know whether they’re seeking office with or
without the support of the state’s largest public employee union.
In fact, says Bernard J. Ryan, Director of CSEA’s Legislative and
Political Action Department, CSEA may begin announcing endorsements
of known legislative candidates as early as this week, and more than 75%
of the anticipated endorsements should be made public by as early as
mid-August.
Ryan said the statewide Political Action Committee has decided to
begin the union’s political action efforts very early this election year,
starting with immediate recommendations for endorsements from
regional political action committees. Interviewing of candidates seeking
CSEA endorsement has already begun, and as a result CSEA will be a ma-
jor factor in the campaigns from the very start.
On another note, however, Ryan said the statewide PAC has approv-
ed a stance that CSEA will not issue any endorsements in the various con-
gressional primary races in the state. CSEA will, however, be active in
congressional races following the primaries, he noted.
Ryan said the union is depending heavily upon membership par-
ticipation in this year’s election process. ‘‘We will be sponsoring
numerous ‘meet the candidates’ programs this year, and I urge every
_ member to turn out when one is held nearby. While the union will be con-
tributing financial aid to endorsed candidates, our real strength for can-
didates we support lies in our ability to obtain member volunteers to
work on campaigns and to get our members and their families and
friends to actually go to the polls and vote on election day,” Ryan said.
He said an outline of the union’s political action plans for this im-
portant election year will be unveiled in a future issue of The Public Sec- _
tor, and that reports will be issued on a continuing basis to inform the —
membership of activities as the campaign progresses.
Unusual decision in Troy
splits stolen items cost
TROY — A “Solomon-like decision” by an arbitrator has resolved a
grievance filed by CSEA against the City of Troy by dividing the cost of replac-
ing stolen tools on a 50/50 basis.
Burglars visited Troy’s central garage in 1977 and stole personal tools
belonging to two garage mechanics, who were required to provide their own
tools and who always left their tools in the garage.
Subsequently, the City of Troy refused to pay for the tools, and judgments
were filed.
_ “The case cries out for a Solomon-like solution,” arbitrator Irving Sabghir
said, ruling that a 50/50 settlement is “proper, fair and equitable.’’ He directed
that the City and the two employees will each be liable to 50 percent of the cost
of the tools.
SECTOR
Official publication of The Civil Service Employees Association
Vol. 2, No. 40 (ISSN 01649049) Wednesday, July 30, 1980
Lattimer appointed chairman
of affiliation study committee
ALBANY — With less than a year remaining before the expiration of the
affiliation agreement between CSEA and AFSCME, CSEA President William
L. McGowan has announced the appointment of a top level committee to study
the affiliation between the two giant public employee unions.
Robert Lattimer, President of CSEA’s Western Region, is the chairman of
the seven member panel created at the request of the union’s Statewide Board
of Directors. Representation on the Committee includes all Regions of CSEA
and the union’s State and County Divisions.
The Committee will examine all circumstances surrounding **e historic
affiliation agreement signed in April 1978 by the Civil Service nployees
Association — the largest independent public employee union in une United
States — and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal
Employees, AFL-CIO, the largest public employee union in the labor
federation. i me
The agreement was for a three year trial period during which time both
unions would explore the merging of their energies and resources for the
betterment of their combined membership.
CSEA’s Board of Director and Delegates will have to approve any
decisions to be made about the affiliation. The role of the Special Committee to
Study the Affiliation is to research the circumstances which led to the af-
filiation, examine the experiences encountered by CSEA during the affiliation
and analyze future benefits of a continuing relationship between CSEA and
AFSCME. :
No decisions concerning the relationship of the two labor unions will be
made for some time and no action on this matter will be taking place at the up-
coming Statewide Delegates meeting scheduled for September 29 through Oc-
tober 3.
Serving on the panel with Regional President Lattimer will be: Michael
Curtin, of Region One, president of the Copiague Custodial Unit, CSEA, and
County Educational Representative to the CSEA’s Board of Directors; Felton
King, president of the Staten Island Developmental Center Local and Mental
Hygiene Representative to the Board of Directors from Region Two; Patrick
Mascioli, president of Westchester County Local CSEA in Region Three and
that county’s representative to the Board of Directors; Dolores Farrell,
president of Civil Service Department Local CSEA in Region Four and that
department’s representative on the Board of Directors; Maureen Malone, of
Region Five, president of the Madison County Local CSEA and that county's
representative to the Board of Directors; and Paul Christopher, president of
the J.N. Adams Developmental Center Local and Mental Hygiene Represen-
tative to the Board of Directors from Region Six.
i
;
|
Keep the
Special Olympics Torch
Burning...
3
HELPING THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS — Syracuse
City CSEA Local 013 helped raise funds for the
Special Olympics with a raffle of. this afghan. All’!
proceeds from the raffle have been contributed to
the Special Olympics by Local 013. The winner was
selected during Local 013’s annual clambake July
11. Local 013 President Claire McGrath, center,
holds box of tickets as CSEA Statewide Secretary
Irene Carr, second from right, picks the winning
ticket. Displaying the afghan are, from left, CSEA
Statewide Executive Vice President Thomas Mc-
Donough, CSEA Region V President James Moore,
and, right, CSEA Statewide Treasurer Jack .
Gallagher.
Sponsor an Athlete.
The Special Olympics is truly Special.
During the International Special Olympics held last year at
Brockport, some two-hundred New York Special Olympians
represented our state.
CSEA is proud to have been a continuing sponsor for the
Special Olympics — for the International jal Olmptes
alone, we raised over $12,000. But now the Special Olym-
pics need you to become personally involved. There are over
40,000 Special Olympians here in New York who continue to
need your support.
You can personally sponsor a Special Olympian in the 1980
program of training and competition for only $19.50! Think
of it... for roughly the price of dinner out for two, you can
make a very real contribution to those who need it most.
Whoever said you can’t buy joy has never looked into the
faces of Special Olympians as they run their races, jump
their jumps, do their pushups and win their medals. And the
joy won't stop there. Because everyone who helped — from
the volunteers to each financial contributor — shares a
special joy quite unlike anything else. -
Even If you can't afford the $19.50 by yourself, you can
SPONSOR AN ATHLETE with several co-workers or friends.
For example, It would cost only $9.75 aplece for two people;
only $3.90 each for five people. Of course, you can con-
tribute more.
Each sponsor will receive the name and address of his or
her athlete and information on when and where the Olym-
pian will compete. And so you'll have Something special to
remind you of your help, you'll receive a certificate from
eran NS CNN i SRM Bs:
New York Special Olympics, Inc. that you'll be proud to
Please help. For your convenience, use the attached
coupon. Send your tax-deductible contribution to:
CSEA Supports Special Olympics
33 Elk Street
Albany, New York 12224
We would like to Jpate In the CSEA “: in-
Athlete” program for the New York Special Onenie |
O Bronze Medal Club ($55)
| 0 President's Club ($360)
CO. Individual Sponsors ($19.50)
CO Gold Meda! Club ($185)
CO Silver Medal Club ($95)
LOCAL NAME and/or NUMBER.
ony STATE Zp |
Make checks payable to: “New York Special Olympics, inc.” |
Page 2
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, July 30, 1980,,,
Gains won
in Vestal
contract;
unit OKS
VESTAL — Members of the
Vestal School Unit of the Broome
Educational Local 866 of the Civil
Service Employees Assn. have
overwhelmingly ratified a new 2-
year contract, according to Jim
Corcoran, CSEA Field Represen-
tative and chief negotiator for the
non-instructional employees.
The contract, effective July 1,
1980, includes an $875 across the
board salary increase for salaried
employees the first year, and $925
pro-rated for the same group in the
second year.
Vestal school bus drivers will
receive an increase of 45 cents per
hour the first year, and 20 cents per
hour, plus increment where due,
the second year.
Food service employees will
receive 25 cents per hour, plus in-
crement where due, the first year,
and 15 cents per hour, plus in-
crement in the second year.
Cook managers will receive an )
increase of $600 across the board
the first year; $650 the second
year. Cook salaries will increase
$500 the first year; $550 the second
year.
New contract language for
custodians includes: a differential
of $250 for the 2nd shift and $375 for
the 3rd shift the first year; $275 for
the second shift and $400 for the 3rd
shift the second year.
A 8
ht aye
MEETING TO DISCUSS the final plans for a pilot employee orientation
program to be tested among New York State Office of Public Health
employees is, left to right, Guy Dugas, a CSEA representative to CWEP;
Stephanie Richardson, WRI staff member; Steve Kafka, WRI staff represen-
tative; Allen Mead, CSEA representative to CWEP; Jack Conroy, Employee
Relations Officer for the NYS Office of Public Health; Dorris Rabinowitz, a
member of the Health Department Labor/management committee; Allen
Reilly, a CSEA representative te CWEP; Denis Herron, WRI staff member;
Annette Barbaccia, WRI staff member, and Gary Lefkowitz, consultant to
CWEP.
Statewide orientation program tested
ALBANY — Employees of the New
York State Department of Health will
soon participate in an orientation
program being tested by the Com-
mittee on the Work Environment and
Productivity (CWEP) for eventual
statewide implementation.
CWEP, a joint NYS-Civil Service
Employees Assn. committee es-
tablished through contract
negotiations to study and act on issues
pertaining to the improvement of
state employment, is soliciting the
employee volunteers from Office of
Public Health sites in Albany, White
Plains and Helen Hayes Hospital,
According to Allen Mead, a CSEA
representative to CWEP, the
employees will be interviewed
beforehand to determine what their
expectations of such a program are;
then will go through the actual orien-
tation process, and finally be asked
for their reactions to it. If successful,
CWEP expects to extend the program
to all incoming state employees.
The original idea for the orientation
program was proposed to CWEP by
the health department labor/
management committee, whose
CSEA representatives are Mead and
Dorris Rabinowitz, president of the
NYS Department of Laboratories and
Research CSEA Local.
CWEP agreed to provide the
funding and hired Welfare Research,
Inc. to launch the pilot project within
the health department. Local
labor/management committees will
be assisting WRI in their own areas.
The union, says Mead, is pleased
with the plans for the program. “An
orientation program is sorely needed
in the health department, as well as
all state departments, and this test
project is a step toward establishing a
permanent one,”’ he said.
Mead and other CSEA local
representatives will be conducting the
portion of the program devoted to
union membership. Included will be a
message from President William L.
McGowan, an explanation of CSEA’s
structure and information about what
the union does for its members.
The final program is a comprehen-
sive one, covering all facets of state
employment, which can be tailored to
meet the special needs of employees
in each department.
Through the use of printed
materials and audio-visual presen-
tations information will be presented
on the workings of the health
department and the office of public
health, the facility in which the
employees are housed, safety,
benefits of working for the state and
other issues such as parking, working
hours, lunch breaks and obtaining
supplies.
a ™
PERB says Southampton )
may force employees
to use vacation time
SOUTHAMPTON — A PERB arbitrator, in a binding decision, has ruled
CSEA FIELD REPRESENTATIVE Ronald King, second left, discusses
problems of the Southampton Unit of Suffolk County Local 852 with, from
left, Brian Gilbride, Dave Ward and Fred Sieger; treasurer, president and
vice president, respectively, of the unit.
that the Town of Southampton has the right, even though it is not spelled out
in contract language, to close the Highway Department for one week this
summer, forcing employees to use vacation accruals.
CSEA had filed a grievance on the initial order to close the Highway
department for two weeks arguing that it would violate the member’s right
to use accrued vacation time at their discretion. Moreover, the CSEA said
that there was no specific management rights clause in the contract
authorizing such a new policy.
“One of the reasons that negotiations dragged on so long last year was
because the town insisted on a management rights clause. We kept it out,
however,”’ said Brian Gilbride, CSEA unit treasurer and a heavy equipment
operator at North Sea Landfill.
The grievance was prepared by Fieldman Ron King and filed by David
Ward, CSEA unit president after a March meeting of the unit.
Last week, however, PERB Arbitrator Nathaniel Cohen ruled that the
Town has a right in principal to close a department but limited the closing to
one week, Aug. 1 to 11. Originally, the town wanted to close from July 25 to
Aug. 11.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, July 30, 1980 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
Published every Wednesday by Clarity Publishing, Inc. Publication
Office, 75 Champlain Street, Albany, N.Y. 12204 (518) 465-4591
Anyone who watches late-night
television, or has glanced at adver-
tisements in magazines and even
on match-book covers, has prob-
ably come across a seller’s claim of
a money-back guarantee. But sel-
not always deliver what
they have promised. Consumers
should be aware of the laws which
protect them against false prom-
ises of money-back guarantees.
In 1977, the New York State
Legislature enacted two laws per-
taining to guarantees of refunds
when the buyer is dissatisfied.
These laws, §396-n and §396-0 of
the Generai Business Law, help to
protect buyers from entering into
an unfair “bargain.”
GBL §396-n provides that whe:
ever a seller offers or advertis
the sale of consumer goods (those
used primarily for personal, fam-
ily or household purposes) and
promises the return of the pur-
chase price upon return of the
goods, the seller shall be required
to return the full purchase price.
The only exception to being com-
pelled to provide a full refund is
when the seller specifically states
that he offers a “limited guaran-
tee.”
If the seller only offers a “lim-
ited guarantee,” consumers should
be aware that the seller need only
refund a fraction of the total pur-
chase price. The law requires that
the terms of the limited guarantee
must be specified in the offer.
Consumers should always care-
fully scrutinize those those terms,
GBL §396-0 provides some ad-
ditional protection for consumers.
When a seller promises that a full
credit or refund will be made upon
return of the goods, the consumer
may himself choose whether he
wishes to receive credit or a re-
___Consumer Alert
Attorney General Robert Abrams
Money-Back Guarantees
fund. The seller cannot make that
decision for him
In addition to these New York
laws, the Federal Trade Commis-
sion has established guides for the
use of its staff in evaluating the,
fairness of certain representations“
made by sellers. The guides are
not all-inclusive and do not at-
tempt to define the exact lines be-
tween compliance and violation of
the law. Nevertheless, they may be
helpful to consumers who seek to
determine the terms of a particu-
lar offer. '
The FTC guides provide that a
guarantee must clearly and con-
spiciously state: (1) the nature and
extent of the guarantee; (2) the
manner in which the guarantor
will perform; and (3) the identity
of the guarantor,
A money-back guarantee, fur-
thermore, will not absolve a seller
of responsibility for the represen-
tations made within the guaran-
tee. For example, where a seller
guarantees that a product “will
kill weeds, or your money back,”
the seller will be liable if the pro-
duct fails to kill weeds, even
though he gives the consumer a
refund of the purchase price.
Although New York State laws
and the FTC guidelines provide
some help for consumers drawn
into unscrupulous “bargains,” they
do not fully protect -consumers
who are tempted by the appear-
ance that a purchase has “no
strings attached.” Consumer laws
have only begun to touch on the
numerous selling tactics which
work to the consumer's disadvan-
tage. The best protection, there-
fore, requires an awareness of our
rights and, of course, the practice
of good common sense. By so
doing, we can assure that the bar-
gain we find is, truly, a bargain, @
Page 4
TOWN WORKER HONORED — North Hempstead Town Supervisor Michael
J. Tully, Jr. recently presented Town Animal Shelter laborer Leo Foster, Jr.
with a “Certificate of Award”’ praising Foster’s heroic rescue of a 13-year-old
Hempstead girl from a burning house which he re-entered and crawled through
to rescue the girl. Foster, who was a boarder in the burning house, was cited
for his ‘‘courageous and unselfish” act.
Pawling oks pact
FISHKILL — Both labor and management have unanimously ratified a
new, three-year CSEA contract for 50 non-teaching employees of the Pawling
Central School District.
The pact calls for raises of 8 per cent per year, plus increments, for
clericals, custodians and bus drivers in the district, and for raises of 7 percent
per year, plus increments, for cafeteria personnel.
Other improvements in the contract include an extra holiday for bus
drivers; increased allowances for cafeteria workers’ uniforms; and, for
clericals, a $135 “‘snow-day increment,” which will be applied to the salary
schedule. The former snow-day payment was $117, and it was not added to the
schedule.
Also, bus drivers will now make an extra $25 for runs to New York City.
The contract, retroactive to July 1, expires on June 3U, 1983.
-‘The negotiating team did a good job of meeting the members’ needs, and
the members showed that by their unanimous ratification of the contract,”
said CSEA Collective Bargaining Specialist Emanuele Vitale, who assisted the
unit. Unit President Richard Buehler chaired the negotiating team, which in-
cluded Dorothy Osborne, representing clericals; Edward Kiernan,
representing custodials; Nancy Burhans, representing bus drivers; and Amy
Snowdon, representing cafeteria employees.
Personal diary on employees
causes furor at Hornell DOT
CSEA REGIONAL PRESIDENT
Robert Lattimer has taken strong ex-
ception to the keeping of a personal
diary on DOT employees at Hornell.
“Jt’s not only a poor personnel prac-
tice, but it’s downright wrong,” he
charges.
By Dawn LePore
HORNELL-CSEA, workers at the
Department of Transportation
facility here have — unknown to them
— had their actions, both on the job
and off, recorded in a personal diary
of a management employee, ac-
cording to CSEA Local 007 President
Harold Towner.
Region officials, who were sent
copies of the diary anonymously
vance notice, has the right to see that
file and respond to any derogatory
material. If unsubstantiated infor-
mation is found, it must be removed.
“What that means is that they're
not supposed to keep a personnel file
that you can’t see or have access to,”’
Towner said. ‘‘But that’s exactly
what they’re doing.”
Information in the diary, kept by a
resident engineer at the facility,
“It’s not only a poor personnel practice,
but it’s downright wrong.”
—Region Vi President Robert Lattimer
through the mail, have gone on record
in opposition to the keeping of such a
diary as a violation of employee
rights.
“It’s not only a poor personnel prac-
tice, but it’s downright wrong,”’ said
Region 6 President Robert Lattimer.
Lattimer said that in discussions
with management at Hornell and with
a member of the State Personnel Of-
fice of the Department of Transpor-
tation, ‘‘They didn’t feel anything was
wrong with it.”
Lattimer and Regional Director
Lee Frank have since written a letter
taking strong objection with the
practice of diary keeping, copies of
which have been posted on CSEA
bulletin boards at Hornell.
According to Article 18 of the
Operational Services bargaining
agreement, only one official per-
sonnel history folder may be main-
tained for any employee. The
employee, upon request and with ad-
recorded personal accounts of several
employees, often without substan-
tiation, which were later used against
the individuals during time of
promotion or grievance, Towner said.
“He would say to an employee dur-
ing an interview, ‘Remember when
we had to garnishee your wages a cou-
ple of years ago?’”’ said John
Wallenbeck, grievance chairman of
the local.
Another instance in the diary in-
timated that an employee had
borrowed a level (which he had done
with permission from a superior), in-
tending to steal the tool.
“He would say those kind of things,
but he, never took note when we
brought our own tools to the Job
because they're not available here,"’
said an employee. ‘‘It’s unbelievable
some of the questions he would ask
you. He asked me after I had had a
day off ‘Oh, too hungover to come to
work, huh?’’ — when I had taken the
day off for my child’s birthday,” he
said. ‘‘He was always jumping to con-
clusions.”’
Another employee was brought
before a disciplinary board and charg-
ed with drinking while on the job,
after a report came from the
engineer’s office. The man, however,
had not even been working when the
alleged abuse occurred, and he was
later exonerated.
Not one of the employees mention-
ed in the diary has been promoted
since being written about, although in
many instances, they’ve been well
qualified, Towner said.
“T was told’ twice by a supervisor
that I deserved a job I was up for, but
that I wasn’t going to get it because
(the engineer) didn’t like me,’”’ one
employee said.
The diary’s author retired from
state service earlier this year, but
local union officials agree that, unfor-
tunately, doesn’t end the problem.
“Maybe he’s gone, but how many
other people are doing the same thing
here and around the state?”’
Wallenbeck asked.
“They’re not supposed to keep a personnel
file that you can’t see or have access to.
But that’s exactly what they’
Local 007 President Harold Towner
Insurance conversion plan
Buffalo boycott successful
@ CLARENCE — Joined with
representatives from the
AFL-CIO, NOW, ACTU, the
UAW and local steelworkers,
members of the CSEA Buffalo
City Local 003 participated in a
demonstration July 11 against
the F. W. Woolworth store here.
The group spent about an hour
at Woolworth’s — one of a hand-
ful of stores in the Buffalo area
e which still carry J. P. Stevens
The Civil Service Employees Assn. has announced that certain
members who are insured under the Basic Group Life Insurance
Program are eligible to convert part of their coverage (without medical
information) to an individual form of insurance with the Travelers In-
surance Company. The Basic Group Life Program is a term insurance
plan which provides for in-service conversion privileges.
products — urging customers to
boycott the anti-union com-
pany’s goods.
The demonstration, given
local television and newspaper
coverage, went over so well, ac-
cording: to Local 003 President
Patricia Pfleger, that L. L.
Berger, another retail chain still
carrying Steven’s line, has
offered to drop the products im-
mediately.
PUBLIC EMPLOYEES...
Where Would You Be
: Without Them?
GEG
Civil Service Empl
e 33 Elk aes Abary NY 1 NY 1008
AFSCME LOCAL 1000
The ‘in-service conversion privilege allows any actively employed
member participating in the Group Life Program, who is age 50 or older,
to convert up to $5,000 of their term insurance to an individual form of
coverage, other than term insurance. Application must be made by
August 31, 1980. The amount of the group term insurance the employee is
insured for will be reduced by the amount converted.
a Gi
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! Those interested may request information on the conversion |
| privilege by returning the coupon on this page. The effective date of the |
| converted insurance will be November 1, 1980. Premium payments for |
! the converted insurance will be made directly to Travelers Insurance }
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Company. :
The Civil Service Employees Association
33 Elk Street
Albany, NY 12224
Please send me information concerning the Conversion Privilege for the
CSEA Basic Group Life Insurance Program.
NAME:
First Maiden
HOME ADDRESS:
Street State Zip Code
PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT:
SOCIAL SECURITY NO:
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, July 30, 1980
SET ES TT EIS
aioe
After just one year,
EAP network reaching
over 40 union locals
with specialized help
ALBANY — The joint Civil Service Employees Assn. New York State
Employees Assistance Program, established in March of 1979, to help troubled
state workers find guidance and counseling in their local communities, has ex-
panded its services to include help for employees with terminal illnesses, ad-
vice for planning retirement and the implementation of on-the-job blood
pressure clinics.
Terminally ill employees in the greater Albany area or employees who
have a family member suffering from a terminal illness, will be steered into
the Hospice Program operated out of St. Peter’s Hospital, Albany.
“Many of these workers would like to keep working, to keep making a.con-
tribution as long as possible, and through the hospice, the EAP wants to give
them the encouragement to do so,”’ said John Quinn, Director of the EAP’s Ad-
ministrative Office in Albany.
Through the pre-retirement planning program, Quinn and his staff hope to
make employees aware of what benefits are available to them through the NYS.
retirement system and to offer financial advice.
With support from the American Heart and Lung Association, the EAP of-
fice will show local coordinators how to implement high blood pressure screen-
ing clinics in the workplace.
After its first year of operation, the EAP has grown into a network of
more than 40 participating locals, servicing a total of approximately 35,000
workers.
Eighty percent of the employees who have sought the aid of the program so
far were found to have drinking problems, according to Quinn. The recovery
rate for these people, he said, is 70 to 80 percent.
Those with emotional, personal or family problems are also helped. ‘‘We
can and will assist the employee with any kind of problem which may affect job
performance or family life,’’ Quinn explained.
Where local programs have been implemented, Quinn says there is a
“definite tendancy on the part of the employer to use the program. Rather than
take disciplinary action against an employee who is consistently late or whose
output has decreased suddenly, the employer is now asking if the employee has
problems and recommending the EAP route.”’
Employees are also coming in on their own, before a problem shows up in
their job performance. ‘‘Actually these are the keys,’ Quinn pointed out.
“Early identification and self referral — eventually we hope to have all
workers use.the program in this manner.”
The EAP is funded by a grant from the NYS Division of Alcohol and Sub-
stance Abuse and administered by the CSEA, because it has a high degree of
credibility with the workers.
Local programs are established through a committee of local represen-
tatives and the particular agencies management representatives. After setting
up the initial program with assistance from the central EAP office, the two
sides begin the process of selecting a coordinator from among the employee
population.
The central office moniters local programs, provides coordinator training,
offers new directions and develops new programs based on input from the coor-
dinators.
Much emphasis is given to coordinator training, Quinn said. “The coor-
dinator must be a strong and caring person and must take the job seriously.
Confidentially is most important.”
Quinn also warned that the coordinator can suffer from “burnout,” in
which he internalizes the problems of those he deals with or experiences
frustration in attempting to.
In this case the central office immediately provides counseling. ‘The coor-
dinator can’t give his best unless he’s at his best,’’ Quinn said.
Page 6
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, July 30, 1980
PEORIA NNT DET
By Deborah Cassidy
Staff Writer
ALBANY — Evelyn W. lay curled up on the bed in
the darkened room, having shunned her family in
the hallway outside. She wouldn’t even
acknowledge the two visitors who sat at the foot of
the bed quietly talking to her.
She was trying to run away from the news she had
been given earlier that day — within a year
Hodgkin's Disease, a form of cancer that grows in
the body’s lymph nodes, would rob her of her young
life.
The visitors, staff members from St. Peter’s
Hospice, a program which helps the terminally ill
and their families deal with the adverse effects of
the illness and death, told her she could make the
last year the most meaningful in her life. They told
her it was even possible for her to continue working
at the job she so dearly loved.
When the visitors left to join the family, the
woman still made no move. After a few minutes,
however, she came out of the room and put her
hand out to her husband, seeking the comfort she so
badly needed.
That was just the beginning. Evelyn did die, near-
ly nine months later, but those months were spent
doing things she had always wanted to do, seeing
people she had not seen in years, and working on a
part-time basis.
St. Peter’s Hospice, under the direction of Drs.
Inger Corless and Michael Murphy, has recently
become linked with the Civil Service Employees
Assn, New York State Employees Assistance
Program.
“We have recently identified the need for such
counseling among some of our employees,” says
John Quinn, EAP Director. ‘‘One of our aims is to
help these employees keep working as long as
possible.””
ALBANY — Civil Service Employees Assn.
President William McGowan has appointed
Employees Assistance Program represen-
tative James Murphy as the CSEA’s represen-
tative on the Advisory Board for St. Peter’s
Hospice, a program which aids terminally ill
patients, and their families, get through the
final stages of life.
Through Murphy, the union will have some
impact on decisions affecting Hospice policies
and services.
All local EAP coordinators have been informed
about the Albany hospice and will refer employees
there as needed, he said.
Nes
one of new s
Basically, the programps the terminally ill
patient to put the rem@inisoni@s of life in order,
says Dr. Corless. ‘‘We ythe patient and the
family to look at those #hs not as a time of
dying, but as a time for & and growing.”
If the patient wants to working, the hospice
will encourage him to do gen if only part time.
“It’s so important for thfient to know he can
still be a contributing mento society. And there
may be unfinished businesWwork they won’t want
to leave behind,” said Q)
The flex-time system orph the state operates
is especially conducig td, h@pointed out.
As much as possible thgpice encourages the
patient to maintain norm@ patterns, to remain
With a growing voluntftaff, the hospice is
able to send individual wof out to talk and visit
with the patient as oftenfhe patient requires.
“One of the biggest fealf the terminally ill
person is that he will be afbned, he’ll die alone.
i i i@ never happen. We
ht in the beginning,”
where the patient can go tffrarily if he needs to
get away from the homeffronment. Transpor-
tation to and from the Inn is provided by the hospice
program:
The rest of the family is treated as part of the
program. ‘They must be able to handle their grief,
to know how to deal with the patient, and rid
themselves from any guilt over the death,” she
said. ‘‘We give them the courage and strength to
get through this rough period.”
The employee who has a family member with a
terminal illness, can also be aided through the
program. Such a situation would naturally affect
that person’s work habits, Quinn noted, so the sup-
port of the hospice is needed to keep that employee
on the job.
All parties involved, according to Dr. Corless are
encouraged to express their feelings whether they
be anger or joy. And they’re encouraged to keep
talking as the patient is actually dying — to affirm
«their love of one another and to review happy
memories.
Dr. Corress told of one mother whose two
daughters sang to her as she slipped into a coma.
She died peaceful and smiling.
“We offer compassionate care,’’ said Dr.
Corless. Since the needs and concerns of each
patient and each family varies, we work individual-
ly with them to fulfill their desires.”’
DR. INGER CORLESS, CO-
DIRECTOR OF ST. PETER’S
HOSPICE, far right, meets with, left
> to right, volunteer Christine
) Thompson and co-directors of
* volunteers Claire Bartlett and
ORRIN I SET
AMONG EAP STAFF members who help troubled f aapioges are, from left,
Thomas Haight, EAP Representative for Region III; program secretary
May Morgan; CSEA EAP Director John Quinn; EAP Training Specialist
Arne Wipfler, and EAP Region IV Representative Jim Murphy.
“There is a definite tendency _
on the part of the employer
to use the program. Rather
than take disciplinary
action against an employee
who is consistently late or
whose output has decreased
suddenly, the employer is
now asking if the employee
has problems and recommending
the EAP route.”
NEED HELP?
1-800-342-3565
The Em 9 ee Assistance Program (EAP) is
a free CONFIDENTIAL counseling service
fablished by CSEA under a special finan-
int from the New York pale Division
of Alcoholism and Alcohol
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, July 30, 1980 Page 7
ra
For this member,
like all others,
union was there
5
| Editor’s note: The adjacent letter from a grateful member to CSEA
| President William L. McGowan is self explanatory. It is being reprinted
» here not only as public recognition of those union people mentioned by the
i | writer, but also because it expresses as only a member in need could, the ex-
4 tent of effort and professionalism of service CSEA provides to its
_ membership. The story within the letter is not an unusual one; similar union
efforts to protect the rights of members occur on a daily basis across the
state. Fortunately, most members never encounter situations as severe as
this one, and thus remain generally unaware of the deep dedication the union
_ has to protecting every right its members possess. But John Lowery now
knows, as do many other members in similar situations the union aids an-
nually. And through his letter here he helps to remind all members that
CSEA is there, in force, if the need every arises.
— a
Order restoration
of unit positions
Rockland County should have
negotiated with CSEA before it
attempted to take ten positions out of
the bargaining unit and put them into
administration, State Arbitrator Joan
S. Kiok has ruled. The decision arises
out of a complaint the union filed last
year.
The case started when the county
abolished ten positions in ‘its data
processing department and
reestablished the same positions at
four levels within the broad category
of ‘‘management analysis and
programmer.” The action took away
from the employees their collective
bargaining rights, and the union filed
an improper practice charge,
although it later agreed to resolve the
matter in arbitration.
, In testimony taken during hearings,
it was established that despite the
title changes job duties remained the
same and, in fact, the county had in-
dicated that no additional Civil Ser-
vice testing be required.
CSEA maintained that the county
had no right to unilaterally take
positions out of the bargaining unit
and saw the change in titles as “‘a sub-
terfuge to remove the employees
from the bargaining unit without any
substantial change in the duties per-
formed.
ailaneieaiel
Pe ST TE ST ORDERS
nrc to eR
PR RT PREIS ESE SIS SES
CSEA’S HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE, one of several
union committees concerned with specific important
areas of interest to the union’s membership, meets
regularly to review current conditions and situations.
Shown at a recent committee meeting in Albany are,
from left, members William Rowe of Upstate Supply
2 SES ES
Troy employees are paving city streets
and saving taxpayers a lot of money
Dear Mr. McGowan,
I know:that you are a very busy person, but I Hope that you will take just
a few of your precious moments to read this letter.
In May 1979 I was dismissed from employment at the Goshen Center for
Boys, on some alleged charges. With a wife and two children (the oldest be-
ing 3 years old) this was to be one of the most trying periods of my life. After
some consultations and careful consideration I turned to the Civil Service
Employees Assoc. for help.
-Leontacted my local president and was told to get in touch with Mr.
Felice (Flip) Amodio, Field Representative, Region 3, because he was the
man who got Lae bya done, and right. After 1 contacted him the first thing he
did was to calm me down and explain the entire procedure of how he and I-as
a team would have to pursue this problem.
Mr. Amodio became relentless in his pursuit of a fair and just hearing
for me. When he began to work I saw the forces of the CSEA move into
action and rally behind and in front of one member, myself. I saw the extent
our Union was willing to go to for my rights. I was unaware of the Power,
Strength, and Resources possessed by the CSEA.
On June 20, 1980 I was granted a Consent Award because of the efforts of
Mr. Amodio and the CSEA Force. The award was not mine alone, but. it
represents a Victory for every member. We as a group have advanced one
more step. I feel I owe something, but I don’t think that a price could be put
on this service. After the expenses, the dues seem so small for what we have
access to.
I wish to think you and all State Officers of the CSEA. Also thanks to Mr.
J. Lennon, President Region 3 and all Officers and employees of this region.
Above all I wish to thank Mr. Amodio for his dedication, concern, and efforts
displayed in the handling of this grievance. Again thank you all very much.
Very truly yours,
et E. Lowery
Binghamton City CSEA Local 002.
CHEN NT
Support Distribution Center Local 444, Jean Frazier of
Pilgrim Psychiatric Center Local 418, Cassell Brockett
of Metro Area Armory Local 254, CSEA staff coordinator
Walter Leubner, and member Robert Taylor of
In her decision, Ms. Kiok ruled, “It
is axiomatic that an employer may
not transfer bargaining unit work out
of the unit during the contract term
and without negotiations’’ and noted,
“testimony taken overwhelmingly
supports the CSEA’s contention that
the duties of the employees substan-
tially remained the same although
their titles changed.”
The arbitrator added that taking
people out of the bargaining unit was
regarded as jeopardizing job security,
which is one of the reasons for union
representation.
Rockland County CSEA Local
President John Mauro called it “a
victory for collective bargaining and
a significant step in protecting our
membership.
The county has been. ordered to
restore the employees to their
previous titles.
TROY — At least one local
government official, it seems,
agrees with the Civil Service
Employees Assn.’s longstanding
contention that it is more costly,
and often less-productive, to con-
tract out work, normally done by
public employees, to private firms.
Troy City Manager John P.
Buckley recently stated that hav-
ing the Department of Public
Works crews, rather than private
contractors, repave city streets
this year ‘‘will result in a sizable
saving to Troy taxpayers.’’ The ac-
tual savings is more than $100,000
he said.
As part of an extensive spring-
summer repaving project, DP’
crews will reconstruct and widen
three major streets and apply a
new asphalt surface to 33 others
Page 8
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, July 30, 1980
this year, Last year’, according to
the DPW records 26 streets were
processed.
The union, says City of Troy Unit
President Joseph Cassidy, is pleas-
ed that the abilities of the
employees is being recognized.
“These men can do a quality job
and they certainly deserve the
credit,” he said.
Jack Corcoran, Regional Direc-
tor for the Capital Region of the
CSEA, said he hopes Troy's ex-
perience will provide an example
for other local governments who
think they will save money by con-
tracting out services of any kind.”
“It’s the union position that the
services of public employees
should be utilized for performing
public jobs. This has been our
position for many years and it’s
finally making sense to the
employer,” he said.
As a result Buckley says he will
continue to have DPW crews do
asphalt paving and plans to expand
their road construction. and
reconstruction capabilities,
“which definitely will save money
for the city.”’
DPW Commissioner Thomas
Murley agrees with the city
manager, saying, ‘Troy can sub-
stantially reduce its dependence on
contract paving by purchasing and
using much of its own equipment
and by doing more paving with
DPW personnel."’
Both Cassidy and Corcoran com-
mended Buckley for his actions and
the recognition he is giving: the
workers.
Richard Evans, president.
BEING HONORED FOR HIS ROLE in helping to establish the CSEA Unit at HVCC and for many years
of service to the union is Richard Slater, far left. Slater, who has served as first vice-president for two
years, a shop steward for three years and as an active member of many unit committees, was
presented with a plaque by Capital Region CSEA President Joseph McDermott, right, at a recent in-
stallation dinner for new unit officers. At center is Unit President Richard Evans.
THE NEWLY ELECTED OFFICERS of the Hudson Valley Community College Unit, Civil Service
Employees Assn., were installed recently by Capital Region CSEA President Joseph McDermott, at a
dinner given in their honor. From left to right are shop stewards Ann Keith, Joseph Owens, Ene Brandt
and Mary Ormsby (middle foreground) ; Pat Ibarreche, treasurer; Mille Delgado, vice president, and
Mark Beecher
‘promoted to
Chief Mediator
Mark H. Beecher, of Lewiston, has
been promoted to Chief Regional
Mediator for the New York State
Public Employment Relations Board
in its Buffalo office. Mr. Beecher has
been a Supervising Mediator with the
agency since 1975. He joined the
agency in 1969 as a Mediator.
Mr. Beecher’s promotion was an-
nounced by Harold R. Newman,
@ Chairman of PERB.
The Public Employment Relations
Board administers New York’s
Taylor Law, the statute that governs
labor relations in the public sector.
Mr. Beecher succeeds Eric W. Law-
son, Jr., who resigned last August to
enter the State University of New
York at Buffalo Faculty of Law and
Jurisprudence.
“ L.I. safety workshop held
MELVILLE — Long Island Region I
recently held a safety workshop
which concentrated on actions a local
safety committee could be involved
in, including inspections, labor-
management meetings, policy in-
volvement and publicity.
@ Main speaker at the workshop was
Paul Rosenstein of the AFSCME
Education Department and editor of
“Steward’’ magazine.
Among those at the workshop were
Region I First Vice President Danny
Donohue, Education Committee
Chairman Gregory Szurnicki, Safety
Committee Chairman Arthur Loving,
Regional Director William Griffin
and Field Representatives Rigo
Predonzan and Irwin Scharfeld.
(Left) AMONG THOSE AT THE
Region I safety workshop were
Marsha Mason and Joseph Clux-
ton, both SUNY Farmingdale
Local 606.
(Below) CSEA FIELD
REPRESENTATIVES, from
left, Rigo Predonzan and Irwin
Scharfeld attend Region I safety
workshop in Melville.
Calenda
CSEA pleased
with repairs
ALBANY — After finding a number
of fire safety violations during a
routine inspection tour of two New
York State Department of State
locations in Albany, Civil Service
Employees Assn. officials say they
are pleased with the progress being
made by state administrators to cor-
rect the problem.
According to June Scott, president
of the Department of State Local
CSEA, only three days after she and
Capital Region CSEA Field Services
Director Jack Corcoran toured offices
in Twin Towers Building at 162
Washington Avenue, repairmen came
around to test and make necessary
adjustments on fire extinguishers,
which had not been checked for
several years.
At both locations, the inspection
revealed boxes of papers blocking
corridors and electrical outlets being
overused.
In addition, it was discovered that
exhaust fans were not present in
certain rooms in the Twin Towers
where employees work with
chemicals.
At 162 Washington Avenue, the un-
ion found that the ventilation system
in the rest rooms and the air con-
ditioning system for some of the of-
fices were not functioning adequately.
State and union officials agreed on
an August 14 deadline for completion
of the repairs and clean up.
‘‘We are more than pleased with the
attempt already being made by the
state and, at this point, have no
reason to believe they will not meet
the August 14 deadline,” said Scott.
Yr
of EVENTS
Aug
just
2—DOT Local 508 first annual picnic, Belmont State Park, Babylon.
16—Rensselaer County Local 842 annual steakroast, 1 p.m., Krause’s Halfmoon Beach,
Crescent,
20—Nassav County Local 830 Executive Committee meeting, 5:30 p.m., Salisbury Inn,
Eisenhower Park, East Meadow.
23 — Brooklyn Developmental Center Local 447 disco and fashion show in honor of
James Gripper, 10 p.m.-3 a.m., Midwood Terrace, 1143 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, July 30, 1980
Page 9
Exam enrollments
reach record high
The number of State and local ex-
aminations completed last year was
at a five-year record high, according
to the 1979 State Department of Civil
Service Annual Report, which was
released last month. During the year,
4,849 State and local examinations
were completed. Of these, 759 were
for State titles and 4,090 were for
titles in municipal service. Five-year
highs also were set for the number of
State oral test candidates tested
(6,288), the number of character and
fitness reviews (9,821) conducted, and
the number of State and local can-
didates (15,499) rated on the basis of
training and experience.
Meanwhile, the Department’s
employee health insurance program,
which covers more than one million
people, was undergoing the most ex-
tensive changes in its 22-year history.
These changes (previously reported
in SPN), were required to carry out
new negotiated agreements between
the State and employee unions. The
changeover was conducted on a crash
basis with the highest Department
priority, and was completed on
schedule.
In other highlights covered in the
1979 Annual Report:
© More than 15,000 determinations
were made by the Classification and
Compensation Division concerning
appropriate titles and salary grades
affecting more than 64,000 State
positions. These determinations were
required as a result of agency
reorganizations, new programs, and
changes in the nature of jobs.
¢ The Career Opportunities
Division placed 926 individuals
through its various programs which
provide training and jobs for
minorities, women and the han-
dicapped. In its new “Steno Pool
Program’’ (See SPN, November
1979), individuals produce finished
work for participating ageucies as
part of their training.
e The Department’s network of
computer terminals was expanded,
bringing to 46 the number of State
agencies, facilities and institutions
which can retrieve computerized per-
sonnel data directly in their offices.
The information is from a central file
established and updated weekly by
Civil Service.
The Employee Relations Section
produced a special report on the ex-
perience of State agencies in
providing part-time jobs, flexible
hours and other alternative work
schedules (see SPN, December 1979).
° The Municipal Service Division
completed a study of local recommen-
dations for changes in the civil ser-
vice system, and adopted procedures
for more effective use of examination
services to localities.
¢ The Department’s State
Employment Continuity Center
helped place 251 employees and
offered jobs to 42 individuals.
SUGGESTIONS PAY OFF — Joseph Liotta, a senior computer programmer,
second from left, and Deborah Kazukenus, a medicaid claims examiner,
second from right, both of the Medicaid Management Information System
section of the State Department of Social Services in Albany, recently were
presented suggestion award certificates for ideas submitted under the state
employee suggestion program. The awards were presented by Bernard
Noonan, left, Director of the Implementation and Operations Section, MMIS,
and Fred Waite, right, MMIS Training Coordinator.
Company.
( 1982 Mass. budget prohibits |
purchase of Stevens products
BOSTON — For the second successive year, the state of
Massachusetts is refusing to purchase any products of the J.P. Stevens
The state’s fiscal 1982 budget, approved by the legislature and signed
by the governor, specifically forbids the use of any state funds to buy
Stevens goods, which are also the target of a nationwide consumer
boycott called by the Clothing & Textile Workers.
OPEN CONTINUOUS
STATE JOB CALENDAR
Senior Medical Records Technician .......-.
Pharmacist (salary varies with location).
Assistant Sanitary Engineer .
Senior Sanitary Engineer
Clinical Physician I ..
Clinical Physician I
Assistant Clinical Physician .
Attorney...
Assistant Attorney
Attorney Trainee .
Junior Engineer. :
(Bachelor’s Degree)
Junior Engineer
(Master's
Dental Hygienist
Licensed Practical Nurse.
Nutrition Services Consultant
Stationary Engineer ..
Senior Stationary Engineer
Occupational Therapy Assistant I .
Occupational Therapy Assistant I .
(Spanish Speaking)
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor ...
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Trainee ...
Medical Record Technician
Histology Technician .
Professional Positions in Auditing and Accounting
Computer Programmer . s
Computer Programmer (Scientific) .
Senior Programmer
Senior Computer Progr:
Mobility Instructor .
Instructor of the Blind .
Health Services Nurse
.(salary varies~with location)
Senior Heating and Ventilating Engineer .
Senior Sanitary Engineer (Design)
Senior Building Electrical Engineer .
Senior Building Structural Engineer
Senior Mechanical Construction Engineer
Senior Plumbing Engineer
Assistant Stationary Enginee:
Electroencephalograph Technician
‘Radiologic Technologist ...
(salary varies with location)
Medical Record Administrator
Food Service Worker I |...
Mental Hygiene Therapy Aide Trainee
Mental Hygiene Therapy Aide Trainee .
(Spanish Speaking)
Associate Actuary (Casualty)
Principal Actuary (Casualty) .
Supervising Actuary (Casualty
Assistant Actuary . fF
Nurse I
Nurse II
Nurse II (Psychiatric) .
Nurse II (Rehabilitation)
Medical Specialist II .
Medical Spezialist I
Psychiatrist I
Psychiatrist II.
Social Services ge
Social Services Management Specialist .
Social Services Management Trainee ...
(Spanish Speaking)
Social Services Management Specialist
(Spanish Speaking)
Industrial Training Supervisor :
(salary varies depending on specialty)
Physical Therapist . iaelatias ,
Physical Therapist (Spanish Speakin
Senior Physical Therapist
Senior Physical Therapist (Spanish Speaking)
Speech Pathologist i
Audiologist ......
Assistant Speech Pathologist .
Assistant Audiologist .......
Dietician Trainee 2
Dietician
Supervising Dietician .
Stenographer (NYC only) .
Typist (NYC only)
Senior Occupational Therapist
Senior Occupational Therapist . .
(Spanish Speaking)
Occupational Therapist
asecentecen $10,624
$14,388-$15,562
«$16,040
$11,250
- $11,250-$12,025
AnGoRERRCnOS . $11,450
$10,624-$12,583
. $11,337
$11,337
$12,670
$12,670
$12,670
$12,670
. . $12,670
.. $11,337
Massachusetts AFL-CIO President Arthur Osborne called the state’s
action a “‘courageous step which will insure that no taxpayer’s dollars
will be used to support the illegal and inhumane practices of the J.P.
Stevens Company.’’
Stevens has been the target of similar action by the state of Califor-
nia, Connecticut and Maine.
& | s
Occupational Therapist (Spanish Speaking) $11,337
You may contact the following offices of the New York State Department of Civil Service for an-
nouncements, applications, and other details concerning examinations for the positions listed above.
State Office Building Campus, First Floor, Building |, Albany, New York 12239 (518) 457-6216.
2 World Trade Center, 55th Floor, New York City 10047 (212) 488-4248,
Suite 750, G ilding, West Genesee Street, Buffalo, New York 14202 (716) 842-4260.
HARRY DUTCHER, left, accepts a special plaque in recognition of his con-
tributions to unionism from.CSEA Regional Director John Corcoran during
ceremonies recently at a dinner in Mr. Dutcher’s honor.
Dutcher
honored
SARATOGA — Harry Dutcher, who
has served as local vice president,
member of the Board of Directors,
and a shop steward, was honored with
a retirement dinner last month in
recognition of his long years of union
services.
Mr. Dutcher recently retired from
Saratoga County’s Health Care
Facility. Actively involved with
CSEA since the mid-1960’s, he is
credited with being one of the
founding leaders of Saratoga County
CSEA Local 846.
Among the more than 75 friends
who turned out to honor the union ac-
tivist upon his retirement were CSEA
Executive Director Joseph J, Dolan;
CSEA Regional Director John Cor-
coran; Saratoga County Social Ser-
vices Commissioner Joseph Gemmit-
ti, and Saratoga County Clerk Kermit
Plummer.
Morrisville retirees
MORRISVILLE — Eleven
employees who recently retired
from the State University Ag &
Tech College at Morrisville have
been honored by SUNY
Morrisville CSEA Local 609.
Local 609 President Stephen
| M. Zarod listed those recent
retirees honored as David J.
Jones, William C. Dorrance,
Laurence S. Smith, Laurence W.
Crumb, Hazel E. Rosbrook,
Stanley J. Frederick, Norman L.
Harter, Dorothy E. Howard,
Kathryn G. Gerbig, Paul
Marlett, and Archie F’. Bartlett.
WASHINGTON — A new AFL-CIO
pamphlet encourages union members
to write to their elected represen-
tatives and gives specific suggestions
on effective letters.
“‘When You Write Your
Legislator,’ can be ordered from the
Pamphlet Division, AFL-CIO, 815 16th
Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20006.
Retirement System? Are you sure?
Retirement System.
Check your retirement system status
Are you a participating member of the New York State Employees
As hard as it may be to believe, some public employees find out too late
that their employer has neglected to enroll them as members of the Employees
CSEA has recently won retroactive retirement payments on behalf of
members who thought they had a pension coming but found out when they were
ready to retire that they were never enrolled in the System by their employers.
Usually the problem can be resolved, but there is no need to take the risk of
starting off your retirement with that type of hassle.
The New York State Employees Retirement System can provide you with
specific information on your status as a Retirement System member. To check
on your status as a member of the Employees Retirement System, complete
Proclamation
@
Name Date of Birth.
CASE RETIRES — In honor of his retirement after 31 years with North
Hempstead Town, Russell Case of Port Washington is presented with a city
proclamation from Town Supervisor Michael J. Tully, Jr. Case started with the
‘own as a laborer in March, 1949 and recently retired from his Automotive State Zip.
hop Supervisor II position at the Roslyn Highway garage.
The New York State Employeés’ Retirement System provides a regular City or
schedule of visitations by counseling representatives of the Retirement System
to various areas of the state.
The service is intended for personal visits on a ‘first come-first served’’
basis, and no appointments are necessary. Telephone calls, however, cannot be Mayville Chautauqua County Health and First Mon.
{ accepted. Persons who wish to call for certain information should call the Social Service Bldg.
Albany office of the State Employees’ Retirement System at (518) 474-7736. ‘
| ‘The following is the monthly visiting day schedule for the counseling ser- Mineola 222 Willis Ave. First and Fourth Mon.
e vice at the various locations around the state: Plattsburgh County Center ‘Third Thurs. 4
i
City or Village Address Monthly Visiting Days Pomona County Health Complex - Bldg. A First and Third Fri. i
i]
albany Gov, Smith State Office Bldg, Every Business Day Pouaibnersie..Cossty, otica Bigg: doce nde
Riverhead County Center Third ;
Binghamton State Office Bldg. First-and Third Wednes- yore y Wed.
day Rochester 156 W. Main Street (Rm. 518) Second and Fourth Thurs.
Buffalo Gen. Wm. Donovan Office Bldg. First, Second, Third, & | syrac if
(125 Main Street) Fourth, Wed, and Fri, Byeacine County Courtine Second and Fourth Fri.
Uti State Office Bldg. Third i
Canton County Courthouse First Thurs, fa Ne te Office Bldg. First and Tues. '
Gk Gouiy Geile beep Sasi ha A Watertown State Office Bldg. First Fri.
} 36 White Plains Westchester County Center Second and Third Mon,
Hauppauge — State Office Bldg. First and Fourth Wed. ” (except July) ihe
State Office Bldg. 270 Broadway First and Third Tues.
Horseheads _Village Hall Second and Fourth Tues. New York City] (28rd Floor)
Little Valley County Office Bldg. Second and Fourth Mon. TI World Trade Ctr. (44th Floor) Second and Fourth Tues.
Lockport Municipal Bldg. Third Mon.
cece toceeettaneivaeros onenecearentia ie melee: celgseactapraiet = — ——— —
Albany, New York 12244
and mail the coupon below. Please print clearly.
To: The New York State Retirement System
Governor Smith Office Building
1am requesting information on my status as a member of the New
York State Employees Retirement System.
City or Village
Address Monthly Visiting Days
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, July 30, 1980 .
i Cerrar iar Tava! E
Page 11
Westchester County
corrections officers
WHITE PLAINS — More than four
years of union effort to win upgraded
reclassification for approximately 280
Westchester County corrections of-
ficers culminated on July 7 when the
Westchester County Legislature pass-
ed the upgrading and County Ex-
ecutive Alfred DelBello signed it into
law the same day.
Westchester County CSEA Unit
President Raymond J. O’Connor said
the corrections officers were
reclassified upward one grade —
approximately $1,700 a year — in
salary.
Unit Business Agent/Chief Shop
Steward Carmine DiBattista said the
upgrading on July 7 culminated more
than four years of work by the unit
and its corrections officers.
WESTCHESTER COUNTY UNIT PRESIDENT
Raymond J. O’Connor, left, looks on as Westchester
County Executive Alfred DelBello signs into law the
| reclassification of county’s corrections officers. The
LOBBYING ON BEHALF OF THE upgrading of |
Westchester County corrections officers is
Westchester County Unit Business Agent/Chief Shop
Steward Carmine DiBattista, right. He is meeting ©
The corrections officers work in the
Westchester County Jail, Prison,
Women’s Prison and Hospital, all in
Valhalla.
we
approximately 280 officers received a one grade in-
crease which amounts to approximately $1,700 a year
in salary, O’Connor said.
NEW YORK — The Classification Review Board of the State Unified
Court System last week issued its ‘Rules of Procedure” for hearing
appeals from administrative determinations made under the personnel
classification structure.
The classification structure was mandated by the Unified Court
Budget Act of 1976. Under that act, the State assumed responsibility for
full funding of the Unified Court System, and all local court employees
were transferred to the State payroll. The classification structure
created, for the first time, uniform job titles, qualifications, job descrip-
tions, and salary grades for almost 10,000 nonjudicial court employees,
many of whom are represented by CSEA. It also provided for a review
board whose members would all come from outside the court system.
Harry G. Himber, a lawyer, was appointed Review Board chairman
by Harold R. Newman, chairman of the Public Employment Relations
Board. The two other members of the board are Peter J. Costigan, a
lawyer and former State Assemblyman from Port Jefferson, who was
named by State Comptroller Edward V. Regan; and Nicholas Vagianelis
of Albany, a classification and pay specialist with the State Civil Service
Department, who was appointed by Victor S. Bahou, president of the
State Civil Service Commission.
Following are the ‘‘Rules of Procedure’ for appeals to the
Classification Review Board as announced last week:
1. Appeals by non-judicial employees and former non-judicial employees
of the Unified Court System from determinations of the Chief Ad-
ministrator of the Courts effective May 28, 1979, pursuant to 22NYCRR
$25.45 may be made to the Classification Review Board (CRB). Such
appeals may include any one or more of the following: position
classification (title); allocation (salary grade level); and jurisdic-
tional classification (competitive, non-competitive or exempt). Any
determination by the Chief Administrator that is effective subsequent
to May 28, 1979, shall be excluded from this review procedure. Such
appeals must be taken to the CRB within sixty (60) days of receipt of
notice of the action of the Chief Administrator.
. Appeals to the CRB can be taken by an individual employee, an
employee organization acting on behalf of such employee, or by an
employee organization acting on behalf of more than one employee
provided all employees so represented have the same interests and are
named in the appeal.
3. A notice of appeal to the CRB shall contain the employee’s name,
Page 12
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, July 30, 1980
with, from left, Andrew P. O’Rourke and Andrew A.
Albanese, chairman and vice chairman of the ©
Westchester County Legislature, respectively.
Court workers may appeal classification
under procedures set by Review Board
current title, court or agency, the appeal number and a brief statement
of the nature of the appeal.
. CRB will promptly acknowledge receipt of the notice of appeal. The
acknowledgement will include instructions with respect to perfection
of the appeal. Instructions will include the date by which relevant
material in support of the employee’s appeal must be served upon the
Chief Administrator and filed with the CRB. A copy of the
acknowledgement will be sent simultaneously to the Chief Ad-
ministrator.
. The CRB may, on notice to the affected parties, on its own motion or on
application of any party, consolidate more than one appeal in a combin-
ed proceeding, if in its opinion there is similarity of issues.
. The appellants or their representatives may submit in support of their
appeals any relevant materials. The Chief Administrator shall be given
a reasonable opportunity to respond and to submit relevant supplemen-
tary materials, a copy of which shall be furnished to the appellants or
their representatives. In addition the CRB may require any party to
submit or make available material or information that it may desire to
consider in resolving the appeal.
. If any new material or information is submitted to the Board that had
not been submitted to the Chief Administrator for his consideration in
the initial review, the Board at any time may remand the matter for
reconsideration by the Chief Administrator.
. The CRB, in its discretion, may hold a hearing with relation to any
aspect of an appeal. A hearing may be conducted by the entire CRB or
by one or two members hereof or by a hearing officer appointed by the
CRB. If a hearing or any adjournment thereof is scheduled, notice of
date, time and place will be sent to the appellant or representative and
to the Chief Administrator. The Board shall not be bound by the rules of
evidence or formal rules of procedure. Hearings wili be conducted in
such manner as the CRB or hearing officer deems compatible with the
substantial rights of the parties. All parties shall be afforded full op-
portunity to present such facts and arguments as may be pertinent.
Upon consent of the parties, evidence supplemental to that introduced
at the hearing may be made part of the record.
. A determination by the CRB must be concurred in by at least two
members after review of the written submissions and of transcripts of
hearings, if any, and of any report and recommendations of a hearing
officer. Determinations of the CRB shall be issued as soon as prac-
ticable. Each determination shall constitute an administrative order.
