The Public Sector, 1988 May 30

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A twinkle in George’s eye .

Eugene Nicolella, 70

ROTTERDAM — Eugene Nicolella, 70, a
longtime CSEA activist, died recently after
a short illness.

Nicolella formed the first Schenectady
County CSEA Local 23 years ago and served
as its president. He was the first
Schenectady County representative to the
statewide Board of Directors and served on
the board for more than 20 years.

After retiring from the Schenectady
County Department of Social Services where
he worked as a utility person, Nicolella
formed the first retiree local for
Schenectady county and city CSEA retirees.

Nicolella is survived by his wife,
Josephine, two sons, two brothers and three
grandchildren.

© Public
SOCTOR

Official publication of The Civil Service
Local 1000,

Employees Association, Inc.
AFSCME, AFL-CIO, 143 Washington Avenue,
Albany, New York, 12210

AARON SHEPARD
ROGER A. COLE
KATHLEEN DALY

2

Publisher
Editor
Associate Editor

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

REMEMBERING STEVEN — Family,
friends and co-workers gathered recently in
the garage at the West Seneca Developmental
Center to dedicate a plaque in memory of
Steven A. Guzzo. Guzzo, a 28-year-old father of
three, was killed in a workplace accident last
December. The plaque was dedicated “‘in
memory of our friend and co-worker Steven
Guzzo. May it be a constant reminder of the
love, dedication and hard work Steve exhibited
in his life. May its presence in our workplace
stand as a challenge to us to continue to
emulate Steve’s zest for life, not only through
the quality of our work, but in the sincere
earing for each other as we work together.”

ALBANY — Ballots were mailed May 16
for the election of CSEA statewide
officers.

Replacement ballots are now available
between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. by
contacting Bernadette Ford at the
Independent Election Corporation of
America (IECA). Call IECA collect at
(516) 437-4900, ext. 310. Ballots will be
counted Wednesday, June 15, following the
noontime deadline for their return to P.O.

=\

Box 8007, Lake Success, N.Y. 11043-9907.

Only candidates, or a proxy with
written authorization from a candidate,
may be present on June 15 to hear results
of the count. Written proxy forms must be
first obtained by contacting Marcel
Gardner at CSEA Headquarters, 143
Washington Ave., Albany, N.Y. 12210. Call
toll-free 1-800-342-4146.

The election protest period ends June
27.

A

Danny F. Jinks, 44, a collective
bargaining specialist in CSEA’s Western
Region, died May 19 in Portland,
Chautauqua County, where he resided.

Mr. Jinks joined
CSEA in March 1970
as a field
representative and
was promoted to a
collective bargaining
specialist in
November 1971.

No

Veteran staffer Danny Jinks dies

He served as president of the Field
Staff Association (FSA) union of CSEA
staff employees from 1984 to 1988 and also
served as secretary and grievance
chairman of FSA.

He is survived by two sons, his parents,
three brothers, a sister and paternal
grandmother.

Funeral services were held May 23 in
Gloversville, Fulton County, where Mr.
Jinks was born.

Memorial contributions may be made to
the Gloversville Lions Club or the

American Heart Association. 4

The Public Sector (445010) is published every other Monday by The Civil Service
Employees Association, 143 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12210. Publication
Office: 143 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12210. Second Class Postage paid at

Post Office, Albany, New York.

Address changes should be sent to: Civil Service Employees Association, Attn:
Membership Department, 143 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12210.
= COMMUNICATION ASSOCIATES

SHERYL CARLIN Region |

(516) 273-2280
Region Il

(212) 514-9200
Region til

(914) 896-8180
Region IV

(518) 489-5424
Region V

(315) 451-6330

LILLY GIOIA
ANITA MANLEY
DAN CAMPBELL

CHUCK McGEARY

RON WOFFORD Region VI
(716) 886-0391
Headquarters

(518) 434-0191

STEPHEN MADARASZ

May 30, 1988

Some employees still work alone

months after murder of co-worker

Understaffed workforce at
peril yet at Rockland PC

Compiled by Anita Manley
CSEA Communications Associate

ORANGEBURG — The brutal murder last
July of Rockland Psychiatric Center
Therapy Aide Clara Taylor, working alone
at night on a ward with two dozen patients,
sent shock waves throughout the state’s
mental health community. Serious
understaffing had taken its ultimate toll — a
human life.

But despite official promises following the
death of Taylor that no one would ever
again be expected to work alone on a ward
at Rockland Psychiatric Center, very little
has actually changed here in the 10 months
since her death.

On paper, things look great, with as many
as four therapy aides assigned to a ward.
But that’s not the true picture, according to
Rockland Psychiatrie Center CSEA Local
421 President Glenda Davis, who insists
employees are still working alone at the
facility.

Being fully staffed on paper is one thing,
Davis points out, but when large numbers of
employees are out at any given time with
injuries received on the job, the reality is
that the facility is actually dangerously
understaffed.

“You may have three or four people
assigned to a ward,” a nursing supervisor
agrees, “‘but they’re usually detailed out’’
with one or two therapy aides sent to a local
hospital to accompany patients and another
perhaps assigned exclusively to monitor a
suicidal or dangerous patient.

“Then you’ve got maybe one or two

employees left to work on a ward with 24
patients.”

A therapy aide who has worked at
Rockland Psychiatric Center for 10 years
says therapy aides definitely are working
alone.

“You have six wards in a building. Two
wards are next to each other, and if you
only have one therapy aide on a ward you’re
told to call the adjoining ward if you need
help,” he says. Usually the adjoining ward
is also understaffed and unable to provide
assistance.

Davis said staffing is being accomplished
with smoke and mirrors by forcing
exhausted employees to work double shifts.

“As soon as therapy aides comes in the
morning, they’re asked to work overtime,”
Davis said. ‘‘If they refuse, they’re brought
up on charges.”

Employees, because of understaffing, are
being refused personal or vacation leave,
which further burns out the already
overworked staff.

Therapy Aide Larry August, who lives
over an hour away from the facility, says
overtime really takes a toll. He works extra

shifts frequently. : ‘
“Chances are, another therapy aide will

be hurt,” he says. ‘‘We’re on the front lines.
There’s no one to protect us. I feel we’re not
safe.”

Conditions at the facility are remarkably
similar to those 10 months ago which
contributed to the death of Clara Taylor,
says Davis. Understaffing, mandatory
overtime and double shifts continue to
increase the risks for everyone.

A PLAQUE AND PORTRAIT of Clara Taylor will hang in the “Clara Taylor House’? community
residence. Admiring the portrait and plaque unveiled during dedication ceremonies are CSEA Local
421 President Glenda Davis and Rev. Elvey Taylor, Clara Taylor’s husband.

May 30, 1988

ROBERT DUMAS, right, talks with CSEA Local
421 Grievance Chairman Vernon Cason. Both
Dumas and his wife work at Rockland
Psychiatric Center. He complained when he
heard his wife was left alone on a ward with 27
young patients but, “They told me it was not my
concern.” Dumas says he frequently works alone
also with occasional help from a trainee part of
the day.

( Accused murderer >

found incompetent

Larry Logan, who was a patient in
the transitional ward at Rockland
Psychiatric Center the night Therapy
Aide Clara L. Taylor was murdered,
has been found incompetent by a
Rockland County grand jury to stand
trial for her murder.

The ruling means that Logan will be
incarcerated in a secure facility until
such time as he is declared competent
to stand trial on charges he beat Clara
EME to death last July 17.

Community
residence named
in memory of
Clara Taylor

The first state-operated community
residence on the grounds of Rockland
Psychiatric Center has been officially
named the ‘Clara Taylor House” in
memory of the therapy aide murdered on
July 17, 1987, while working alone on a night
shift at the facility.

The 24-bed Clara Taylor House community
residence provides a transitional setting and
support program enabling clients to return

to the community.

yy

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

By Anita Manle
CSEA Communications Associate

YONKERS — Working in downtown
Yonkers has not been easy for any of the
Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV)
ers in Mid-Hudson State Employees
JSEA Local 009. Last year, the roof of the
DMV building leaked, there was no heat and
state officials were dragging their feet to
find a new office location.

A new office was finally found and is
scheduled to open this summer, but
employees are concerned because the new
building is located in a run-down
neighborhood, and parking will not be

enclosed. A i 5
Another serious concern is the design of

the the counters inside the office. In the
current building, at least half of the clerks
are safely stationed behind glass partitions
because they must handle hundreds of
dollars in cash.

“Now the state says they’re not going to
install glass partitions in the new building
because they’re not cosmetically
appealing,” said Region III Field
Representative Dolores Tocci. ‘“‘And there
are no plans for a security guard, either.”

Counter design is important. Just ask
Deon LaVigne. When a client became angry
over paperwork that had to be completed,
LaVigne found her life in danger.

She was behind a counter with no glass
partition. The angry client easily leaped
over the counter and attempted to strangle
and beat her. Petite in stature and pregnant,
LaVigne said that only two co-workers saved
her from more serious injury. As it was, she
was out of work for more than two months

Dangers in DMV

after the incident.

Worse, the irate client ran out of the
building and was never apprehended
because there is no security guard assigned
to DMV on a regular basis.

Shop Steward Tina Pastorek said incidents
with unruly customers occur regularly.

“Our clerks and supervisors are verbally
abused and threatened constantly,” she
said. ‘You never know who is carrying a
knife or a weapon.”

Security guards are brought in for two or
three days a month, but they spend most of
their workday directing traffic in the
parking lot, Pastorek said.

Recently, a security guard came in and
spotted a man carrying a gun. The police
were called to escort the man out of the

building.

Pastorek is not looking forward to the
move to the new building.

“We've already been told that the
commissioner expects us to have more
contact with the customers,” she said. ‘Our
booths have no partitions and the money will
be right out in the open. They’re not the
least bit concerned for our safety.”

Tocci and Region III President Pat
Mascioli say they are extremely concerned
for the state employees and will push for
changes in plans for the new office before it
opens.

“T’m furious that ‘the powers that be’
would sacrifice security and safety for
aesthetics,” Mascioli said. ‘“The priority
should be protection for our members.”

MOTOR VEHICLE CLERK Deon
LaVigne, center, shows Region III
Field Representative Dolores Tocci
and Region III President Pat

iia me

CSEA: ‘Stop that tax?

The response has been overwhelming — nearly 60,000 CSEA members
have signed petitions protesting Internal Revenue Service plans to tax
the leave time accrued by public employees. CSEA Lobbyist Damaris
McGuire and President William L. McGowan plan to present the
petitions to Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan. Meanwhile, McGuire, left,
CSEA statewide Political Action Committee Chair Joseph Conway,
center, and Political Action Director of Operations Joyce Dimitri are
thrilled with the response. The union hopes to convince legislators that
the IRS plan should be quashed.

( OCA contract progress slow >

ALBANY — Contract negotiations between CSEA and the state
Office of Court Administration are progressing slowly, according
to Deputy Contract Administrator Donald Kelly.

The CSEA negotiating team has tried several times to set up
meetings, offering more than 20 possible dates during May and
June. However, only three days were then scheduled, Kelly said.

“CSEA will continue to use its best efforts to conclude
negotiations and arrive at an agreement within the shortest time
possible,” Kelly said. ‘However, we will not sacrifice employees’

Kents and benefits in order to enter into an early settlement.” 94

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

May 30, 1988

- America works best

Say:

No matter where you live, chances are
you're going to be seeing and hearing a lot
about unions in the near future.

The AFL-CIO recently launched a two-
year $13 million communication effort called
the UNION, YES campaign.

The campaign is designed to improve
organized labor’s public image by stressing
the benefits unions have achieved for all
working people.

The AFL-CIO is particularly concerned
that this message reach young people who
may not be aware of the positive role that
unions can and do play.

By improving the public’s understanding
of how unions work to gain fair treatment
and respect for people on the job and in the

The UNION, YES campaign will be a
strong positive influence on CSEA
organizing drives according to CSEA
Director of Organizing Larry Scanlon.

“The most important thing we do in an
organizing drive is help workers
understand the many ways CSEA can
help them improve their lives, working
conditions and wages,’’ Scanlon said. “‘It
takes a lot of work because very often the
workers don’t know a lot about unions and
management uses union-busters to scare
them with misinformation.

“Having the AFL-CIO undertake a
major campaign like this is a big help. It
lays the groundwork for us by
emphasizing the good that unions do.
Then when we come in and reinforce that
message it’s more easily understood,”’ he
added.

If recent events are any indication,
CSEA is already doing a good job getting
that positive message out to unorganized

May 30, 1988

community, the campaign will encourage a
new generation of American workers to say
UNION, YES when they have the
opportunity.

But there is another dimension to the
campaign as well. Under the banner of
UNION, YES AFL-CIO locals and affiliates
will launch their own communication efforts
to strengthen the labor movement and
energize individual members.

You can
star!

If you’d like to appear on TV with actor
Jack Lemmon to tell the world what
CSEA’s done for you, then here’s your
chance,

The UNION, YES campaign is now
airing broadcast spots across the
country with TV stars Tyne Daley and
Howard Hesseman among others,
promoting the positive role of unions.

But you could be the real star come
next fall.

In 25 words or less, tell how CSEA
helped you solve a problem on the job
and send it to the AFL-CIO. If your
entry is selected, you'll appear with
Lemmon in the TV campaign.

Send your story along with your
name, address, telephone number,
name and number of your local and the
job you perform to: Why I say
UNION, YES c/o AFL-CIO, P.O. Box
27543, Washington, D.C. 20006. Your
entry must be postmarked no later than
July 4.

%

ms ps ad 6 EA Director of Organizing
i Larry Scanlon

workers. Over the past few months CSEA
has organized hundreds of new members
in more than a dozen new units.

“We're making gains because it’s
getting across to people that CSEA is
interested in helping them as a whole
person. We’re not just there to negotiate
better wages and benefits — we’re there
to help with family issues like child-care,
make sure there’s pay equity and protect
their safety and health on and off the
job,” Scanlon explained.

Scanlon is also encouraged by the

involvement of rank and file union
members in the UNION, YES campaign
to help tell the story: ‘It’s very important
to have the first-hand comments of
members telling others about what the
union has done for them — it has much
more impact than any organizer can hope
to have alone.”

At the same time, the campaign has
tremendous internal organizing value by
bringing out the union pride in all
members. And that can go a long way
toward making CSEA stronger.

5

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

BEACON — At first they thought they
found a pot of gold at the end of the
rainbow. Instead, what Anthony Verdile and
George Wells found was an old paint can
packed full of counterfeit money under the
Newburgh-Beacon Bridge.

The two were walking on the catwalk
under the bridge recently when Verdile
spotted the dented, rusty paint can on a
beam. The two members of Bridge

Pail of cash turns out to be ‘funny money’

Authority CSEA Local 050 thought they had
discovered the answer to their dreams.

“Tt looked like there was money sticking
out of it,” said Verdile. “I wasn’t sure. As I
moved toward it, I could see it was jammed
full of $20 bills.”

But their dreams of instant riches faded
quickly. Wells looked through the cash and
compared it to a $20 bill he had in his
pocket. He discovered the bills in the paint
can all had the same serial numbers.

Without hesitation Wells used his radio to
call a co-worker to inform state police of the

NOT FOR REAL — Anthony Verdile, George Wells
the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge, on which Verdile and
money recently.

and Local 050 Vice President Joe Seeley stand on
Wells found a rusted paint can full of counterfeit

i

discovery. i
In all, police counted nearly $40,000 in
counterfeit money in the old paint can.

State police later said the can was among
several that have been found near the
Hudson River, all filled with the “funny
money” and linked to a counterfeit
operation in New York City.

Bridge Foreman Joe Seeley says Wells
has a problem now.

“No one will cash a $20 bill from him
anymore!”

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but money in

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS sent a story on the
“funny money” find across the wire service to

Learning the facts about high blood
pressure and how it can be treated and
controlled is important to your health and
well-being. High blood pressure affects
millions of Americans, perhaps yourself or
someone you know. But until you find out,
what you don’t know can hurt you. To find
out about blood pressure and what it means,
send for a FREE copy of the booklet ‘‘High
blood pressure and what you can do about
\ it” Send the coupon at right today.

( Send for your FREE blood pressure information booklet

|

| SEND TO:
1 Name ses Sues
| Address:
|

I

|

!

|

|

L

Mail coupon to: Communications Department, CSEA Headquarters, 143

Washington Ave., Albany, N.Y. 12210

news media.

SL aVYAG :

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

May 30, 1988

Abrams details workplace dangers

You are at risk!

ALBANY — Thousands of people die
from occupational disease in New York
every year, but most cases go unreported
so the situation isn’t taken as seriously as
it should be.

At the same time, health department

officials believe that given higher priority,

all occupational disease could be
prevented.
That was just part of the startling

information presented at a recent seminar

sponsored by state Attorney General
Robert Abrams, CSEA and other unions.

“Whether you work in a factory or an
office or a laboratory — in the private or
public sector — you deserve to know
about the hazards in your workplace,”
Abrams told the participants.

Unfortunately, Abrams explained, many

workers are in the dark about their rights
and benefits where occupational disease
and injury are concerned. And more
needs to be done to correct that problem.
The attorney general pointed out that

unions like CSEA can play an important
role in getting information out to people.
He added that unions can also help create

pressure on issues that need to be pursued

more aggressively.
Among them:

* More vigorous enforcement of worker
protection laws;

* Assuring better worker access to
occupational disease diagnosis;

* Improving medical screening benefits;

* Encouraging employers to improve
safety and health conditions.

Attorney
General
Robert
Abrams

_ CSEA OSH Director James Corcoran,

_ Region III OSH representative Bob
O’Conner and Region I OSH

_ representative Dan Mora.

“You're our eyes and ears — let us
know about the problems to point us in the
right direction,’ Abrams said.

“Having the attorney general set up a
program like this sends out a very good
message that more needs to be done on
worker safety and health,” said CSEA
Director of Occupational Safety and
Health James Corcoran.

“But when we do bring problems to his
attention we’re going to have to see some
real action,’ he commented.

A large portion of the session detailed
the plans for a network of occupational
health clinics across the state. Programs
are already operating at SUNY Stony

Brook on Long Island; Mt. Sinai Medical
Center in New York City; and the Union
Occupational Health Center in Buffalo.

Additional funding passed as part of the
new state budget will be used to get
clinics off the ground in Albany,
Rochester and Syracuse.

The programs provide workers with a
place to receive diagnosis by professionals
trained to investigate links between illness
and workplace causes. It is also hoped
that the network will provide meaningful
information on the extent of occupational
illness across the state — information
that, until now, has been available only
through estimates.

SUMMERSCAPE. AT SIN

SUMMERSCAPE, a unique and inexpensive
vacation and education program, is again being
offered exclusively for CSEA members or
retirees and their families at three State
University of New York (SUNY) college
campuses.

SUMMERSCAPE will operate from July 16 to
Aug. 6 at SUNY at Buffalo, SUNY at Plattsburgh
and SUNY Maritime College. You may
participate in SUMMERSCAPE for a single night
or for up to a week or longer. For details,
complete the coupon below and send to the
appropriate campus at which you are interested
in staying.

{ SUNY MARITIME
COLLEGE

FOR INFORMATION AND RESERVATION
FORMS, CONTACT
Richard Bizar
Vice President for Administration
Fort Schuyler
Bronx, New York 10465
(212) 409-7200

SUNY AT
BUFFALO

FOR INFORMATION AND RESERVATION
FORMS, CONTACT:
Office of Housing/Residence Life
479 Red Jacket Quad
Buffalo, N.Y. 14261
(716) 636-2171

SUNY AT
PLATTSBURGH

FOR INFORMATION AND RESERVATION
FORMS, CONTACT
Kate Chilton
106 Hawkins Hall
Plattsburgh, N.Y. 12901
(518) 564-2050

SUMMERSCAPE,

Send the coupon below to the campus you are interested in visiting through SUNY

I’m interested in visiting your campus this summer as a participant in the
SUMMERSCAPE Program. Please send me information regarding reservations, seminars,
campus activities and local attractions. (PLEASE PRINT)

May 30, 1988

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

WORKING ON LAUNDRY EQUIPMENT is mechanic Charles Louis, a member of CSEA Local 406.

QUEENS — A skull and crossed bones
aren’t stamped on everything that’s
dangerous to your health and safety on the
job. That’s why CSEA workers at the state’s
world-class metro area laundromat were
anxious to learn more about toxic
substances they use every day.

CSEA Creedmoor Psychiatric Center
Local 406 members employed at the massive
Office of General Services (OGS) laundry
were among the first state laundry workers
to be trained in how to read Material Safety
Data Sheets. They are also learning safer
procedures for handling bleaches,
detergents, softeners and germicidal agents.
Washing thousands of pounds of institutional
laundry annually from metro area mental
health and retardation facilities that include
Manhattan, Bronx and Queens Children’s

AN EMPLOYEE operates a drying maching in the

huge laundry at Creedmoor Psy: ric Center.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

psychiatric centers, Bronx, Kingsboro,
Manhattan, Creedmoor and South Beach
psychiatric centers, as well as Downstate
Medical Center linens, they are New York’s
supreme ring-around-the-collar experts.

Local 406 President Mickey Cruz, who
observed the safety training program, said
it’s important to “know what chemical you
are dealing with, what it can do to you and
how to protect yourself. Speaking for the
union, we are elated that the state is finally
supplying this needed information to
workers as required by the Occupational
Safety and Health law. I remember how
long and hard CSEA fought to get this law
through and now laundry workers are
getting some of the benefits.”

Catherine Barthel, Albany-based OGS
trainer who conducted the program, said
that OGS is going over “‘every product in
use at the laundry.”’ The first employees to
be trained would be supervisors and
mechanics because they give guidance to
other workers and use more chemicals, she
said.

Laundry Supervisor and CSEA member
Robert Moore had his initial eye-opening
toxic substance experience more than 20
years ago when he first joined the
washroom crew. Bead-like bleach crystals
(sodium metasilicate) fell on his sneakers
and ate holes right through them.

“For the last eight or nine years now we
have had rubber gloves and rubber shoes to
wear when using this escolide bleach, but in
the years before the state provided gloves, I
remember how this stuff really burned your
hand if you had any kind of a cut,’’ Moore
said.

Moore described sodium metasilicate as
fine, bead-like crystals, similar to rock salt,
that cause tearing eyes. ‘‘Inhaling this stuff
can cause sneezing, nasal irritation, running

nose and colds,” he went on, recalling
respiratory problems he had over the years
as a result of exposure to laundry
chemicals. He required care from his family
physician to deal with the symptoms.

Today the state supplies masks to wear.
Moore observed that newer laundry
employees are generally receptive to using
the protective masks. ‘“‘They don’t want to
take any chances inhaling the chemicals like
the older employees have done for years,”
he added.

Assistant Mechanic Jose Hernandez, who
has serviced the mammoth washers, dryers
and ironing machines for five years, agreed
that ongoing safety training is vital.

“The dust masks used by the washroom
crews are not made to screen out the
chemicals that mechanics routinely spray,”
he said. “I am more worried about getting
chemicals in my eyes and always use safety
goggles.”

The training was thorough, Hernandez
said, and it’s important for employees to
understand that “you have the right to know
what you’re using and you're not going to be
fired if you refuse to do work when
management hasn’t provided you with the
proper safety gear.”

“We should have had this safety training
20.years ago when I first started work in
Creedmoor,” added Robert Moore. ‘‘We
were just happy-go-lucky kids then and
didn’t know any better or realize that we
had to be so careful about the way we
handled this stuff. Nobody told us anything
back then.

“We have a right to know about all these
chemicals and after 20 years here, this is
the first and only training about this I ever
had.”

May 30, 1988

Mill towns oe take their case to Big Apple

The tough, gritty struggle of
beleagured strikers against the giant
International Paper Company moved
from the paper mill towns to New
York’s posh Fifth Avenue this month.
There, strikers from Maine and
Pennsylvania were joined by angry
union activists, including CSEA
members, to picket the annual Avon
stockholders’ meeting at the exclusive
Hotel Pierre. The unionists marched
under the AFL-CIO-endorsed “‘Jobs
With Justice” banner. Under the “Jobs
With Justice” campaign, union
members pledge solidarity with other
unionists involved in disputes with
management.

By Lilly Gioia
e CSEA Communications Associate

“T’m here because ‘Jobs With Justice’ is
standing with these strikers. If they lose, we
all lose. It’s as simple as that,”’ said Denise
Berkley.

Berkley, first vice president of CSEA’s
Metropolitan Region, pounded the pavement
around the Hotel Pierre on New York’s
famous Fifth Avenue, site of the annual
meeting of Avon stockholders. She joined
other union activists from throughout the
metropolitan area and a group of striking
employees of the International Paper
Company who came by bus from Jay,
Maine, and Lockkaven, Pa.

The strikers and their union supporters
called for Avon to remove Stanley Gault
from its board of directors because Gault is
also a director on the board of International
Paper. Employees are engaged in a bitter,

@ Protracted strike against International
Paper.

Berkley expressed deep support for the
strikers, members of the United Paper
Workers International Union, in their year-
old dispute against the corporate paper
giant.

“Why is International Paper insisting on
contracting out jobs, destroying seniority
and hiring scabs in the face of the °

@ company’s biggest profits in history?” asked

Strikers need your help

United Paper Workers International
Union officials say donations of money
and food are needed to aid families of
striking employees at plants in
Lockhaven, Pennsylvania; DiPierre,
Wisconsin; Jay, Maine; and Mobile,
Alabama.

Individuals who wish to contribute
may send checks, payable to “‘I.P.
Strike Fund,” to:

United Paper Workers
International Union
P.O. Box 1475
Nashville, Tennessee 37202

e
May 30, 1988

DENISE BERKLEY, first vice president of CSEA’s Metropolitan Region I, joins striking
International Paper workers Albert Landry, center, and Bert Plante, both from the Maine plant,
outside the Hotel Pierre in New York City.

It’s about time we stood with each other to show
labor solidarity. That’s what ‘Jobs With Justice’ is

all about.

Berkley. “‘This is a horror story of
incredible greed with no conscience at all.’

Albert Landry, a maintenance worker at
International Paper’s Jay, Maine, plant,
said the strikers remain committed to their
cause. Before the strike, he said, ‘“‘lots of
people didn’t go to the union meetings. They
were kind of complacent. Now we get over
1,000 people every week to our union rallies
in Maine. Nobody takes the union for
granted any more.”

Landry’s case is somewhat typical of
strikers from the one-industry paper mill
towns affected by the strike. A father of six,
he has 34 years of service with the
company. Three of his children are still at
home and one is in college. The strike has
taken a bitter toll on everyone, he said. His
wife is now forced to work in a town
laundromat to help make ends meet. His
24-year-old son who worked at the Maine
plant is also out on‘strike.

He said the workers had no choice but to
reject a company offer.

“Tf we had accepted their offer we would
have agree to sub-contract out half the jobs
in our local, signing off on almost 500 of our
fellow workers,” Landry said. ‘‘They wanted
to eliminate seniority and put everybody on
a point system.’’ He said the company

mailed all strikers letters advising them
they’ve been permanently replaced and to
find jobs elsewhere, but that the strikers
remain resolute.

“I’m proud that CSEA members support
the ‘Jobs With Justice’ idea,” said Berkley.
“It’s about time we stood with each other to
show labor solidarity. That’s what ‘Jobs
With Justice’ is all about. I know that union
women who hear about Stanley Gault will
want to think twice before buying Avon
cosmetics when this company is so closely
associated with blatant union busters.”

Berkley said CSEA “Jobs With Justice”
activists are mailing postcards to Avon,
asking the corporation to remove Stanley
Gault from the board of directors.

Join ‘Jobs With Justice’

To join the CSEA “Jobs With Justice”
activist list and be notified when your
participation is needed at future actions

in the metropolitan area, write:
JOBS WITH JUSTICE
c/o CSEA Metropolitan Region IL
11 Broadway, 15th Floor
New York, New York 10004

9

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

The withholding of labor services under
certain conditions by going on strike is an
accepted and legal action for millions of
working men and women, such as the
striking employees of International Paper
Company described on page 9 of this issue.

The right to strike, however, is largely
limited to private sector workers. Public
employees are rarely seen walking picket
lines on strike, particularly in New York
state where the tough (and unfair)

Taylor Law prohibits public employee
strikes and extracts harsh penalties for any
one who does.

Still, the sight of public employees, often
in very large numbers, walking lines is not
unusual these days. But instead of ‘“‘hitting
the bricks’ on strike picket lines, public

Erie members apply heat
to unthaw a job freeze

BUFFALO — More than 400 members of
Erie County CSEA Local 815 used a lunch
period to picket instead of picnic recently.

They picketed the offices of the Erie
County executive to protest a newly-imposed
job freeze at a time when 140 Social
Services jobs remain unfilled, causing
delays in delivery of services to the needy
and an unfair workload to understaffed

department employees.

ability to deliver services, ignores

employees on the picket line.

Unit President David Wilbur said up to 90

10

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

percent of the jobs are funded by state and
federal budgets and that the county should
not hide behind a claim of a budget deficit.
“The public should not be penalized for a
short-sighted policy which threatens the

substantial outside funding and needlessly
burdens county workers,” said CSEA Region
VI President Robert Lattimer, who joined

employees are most often seen walking
informational picket lines. And they’re likely
to be doing so on their own time during
lunch hours or at night outside buildings
where government officials may be meeting
or at other designated target areas.

Informational picketing has been
credited with causing many politicians and
legislative bodies to re-think and alter
positions which public employees had found
intolerable and worthy of public
demonstrations of protest.

On these pages are photos of a number
of recent demonstrations conducted by CSEA
members to protest a variety of issues.

Wfiadtene NO
lite
lees

NO
Semcé

46 i.
Whuce 7)

PUBLIC EXPOSURE of concerns and problems
is one benefit from informational picketing. In
above photo, Erie County Social Services Unit
President Dave Wilbur is interviewed by Buffalo
television reporter Marie Rice about issues raised
by the union. Some of the 400 county employees
who conducted the informational picketing are
seen in the photo at left.

IE MAYOR OF MT. VERNON was conspicuously absent from a
ent city council meeting, but more than 150 CSEA members showed
to protest an impasse in negotiations with the city. Shown
thd&ing in the mayor’s vacant parking spot are Field
ppresentative Glenn Blackman, Unit President Paul Sousa and CSEA
ember Vicki Urban. The members and supporters demonstrated
ith an informational picket before and during the council meeting.

au @F a4 * ae
ae

” "rs

1988

MORE THAN 150 CS9EA MEMBERS turned out on a rainy night to
demonstrate their solidarity with an informational picket line outside the
Chemung County Office Building.

Can’t dampen their spirit

ELMIRA — A rainy night failed to dampen the spirits of 150
Chemung County CSEA Unit members and supporters who turned out
ata meeting of the county legislature to protest the lack of a contract.

Unit President Larry Habecker said the protest was designed to
send a message to the legislature that county employees are angry
over lack of a contract. County employees have worked without a
contract since Jan. 1.

The union president warned county legislators to respond positively
to the demonstration.

“We will remain united and grow stronger until we get a contract,”
he promised. ‘‘We have been assured of CSEA’s total support ...(and
have the help of) hundreds of state employees who also live, work and
pay taxes in Chemung County.”

socal 658 members march

for state salary parity,
better health insurance

ALBANY — Angry over a lengthy impasse in their contract talks,
members of NYS Teachers’ Retirement System CSEA Local 658 recently
conducted the first informational picketing in the local’s 25-year history.

Several hundred retirement system employees walked picket lines
around the retirement system headquarters recently prior to the start of
the normal workday. The primary issues involved in the impasse are
increasing salaries to state employee wage levels and health insurance
coverage.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR 1 1

Political action at work

CSEA keeps the wheels turning
for legislative, political gains

ALBANY — Legislative and political
action are invaluable tools that CSEA uses
to achieve important goals for the members,
goals that otherwise might be impossible.

For example, the union is in the midst of a
major legislative campaign to overcome an
Internal Revenue Service plan to tax public
employees’ accrued leave. CSEA’s
Legislative and Political Action Department
has led a petition and letter-writing drive
asking New York state’s legislators in
Washington, D.C., to defeat the plan.

At the state level, letters, petitions,
testimony and a demonstration at the state
Capitol helped prevent proposed staff cuts in
mental hygiene facilities and even won some
additional jobs.

Every year, CSEA has a package of bills
that it supports and succeeds in seeing
many of those proposals become New York
state law.

That’s the primary concern of Damaris
“Demi” McGuire, CSEA’s lobbyist. She
spends a great deal of her time working
with legislators and their staff to be sure
lawmakers are aware of the union’s
concerns. In addition, she is involved in
reviewing hundreds of bills that go before
the state legislature to see if CSEA will
actively support or oppose them.

Using political action, CSEA adds to its
influence by helping elect lawmakers who
are sympathetic to union concerns. For
example, CSEA endorsed the new county
executive in Suffolk County and the
incumbents in Nassau and Dutchess
counties.

The union is well equipped to help out in

Joe
Conway

12

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

campaigns, explained Joyce Dimitri,
director of operations for the Political
Action Department. First of all, CSEA has
members who are willing to help a
campaign at the grassroots level by staffing
phone banks and stuffing envelopes.
Secondly, using its direct mail
capabilities, CSEA can send letters to all of
its members encouraging them to vote and

reminding them who the union has endorsed.

To some politicians, those kinds of
services can be more valuable than a
campaign contribution, Dimitri said.

Endorsements for state and federal offices
are made through the statewide Political
Action Committee (PAC), said Chairperson
Joseph Conway. The only full-time statewide
committee chair, Conway said his
committee must review politicians’ records
and listen to what regional and local PACs
say.

In the end, though, the real political and
legislative power of CSEA rests with the
members. To be sure CSEA makes the most
of its biggest asset — a membership of
250,000 potential voters — the department
has made voter registration a priority,
Dimitri said. She oversees CSEA PRIDE, a
program that works on the local and
regional level. The six regional political
action coordinators work with member
activists who encourage fellow members to
register to vote. The more voters CSEA
represents, the more political clout the union
wields, she explained.

For example, in Onondaga County last
year, the county legislature was holding up
contract talks. Using political action
resources, it was learned that 200 members
of the county unit were not registered
voters.

A major drive resulted in 150 of those
members registering to vote, giving CSEA
that much more clout when it approached
county officials and reminded them that
CSEA members whose contract was being

In the
regions...

Below are the names of CSEA’s
regional political action
coordinators, the professional staff
members who help organize
political action.

RegionI Stephanie Teff
Region II Dominic Masters
Region III Doris Mason
Region IV Ed LaPlante
Region V. Dwight Evans
Region VI Roger Sherrie

Joyce
Dimitri

stalled had long memories at election time.
Without a decent contract, they would vote
those officials out of office.

Then, again using political action
department resources, the union sent letters
to all CSEA members in the county, urging
them to support the county unit members.

All the pressure worked, winning the unit
a good contract and more influence with
county government.

And that is the goal of CSEA’s legislative
and political action department — to win
on individual issues and to win the right to
be heard by lawmakers.

Demi
McGuire

May 30, 1988
If your employer asked you
to take a lie detector tes

MICHAEL MONGELLI
Nassau County
Educational

Local 865

JENNIFER E.

MITCHELL

@ New York City Dept.

» of Labor Local 350
Region II

| “TI have nothing to

hide, but I believe if lie

detector tests are not

H reliable, they should

not be used. A lie

Region I
“T couldn’t see why
not. However, I don’t

RALPH GELARDO
Westchester County

detector should not be
the determining factor
in.a person being
fired.”

think it’s necessary if Local 860
the personnel Region II : :
e department checks the __ “No, I don’t believe
background of the in them.
employees, as they do
here.”
JOHN HUTCHINS
Schenectady County
e Local 847
Region IV
“I'd check with my
union rep first. That’s
what the union is there
for — to help its
members in such
situations.”
e
e
6

RED CROSS CONTRACT RATIFIED — With smiles of victory on their
faces, members of the CSEA Red Cross bargaining team are joyful that a
13-month effort to negotiate a fair contract is over. CSEA Collective
Bargaining Specialist Donald F. McCarthy Jr. is surrounded by Pam
Willard, Jean McEvoy, Betty Duncan and Betty Taccone. Steve Cadalso
is missing from the photo.

May 30, 1988

RON SALESKI
Central Barge Canal
Local 503
Region V

“No, because it could
be intimidating. I know
from personal
experience the
machines are not
always reliable. A lot
depends on the skill of

JOHN PULITO
Niagara County
Local 832
Region VI

“Having taken four
lie detector exams in
the past for pre-
employment at various
jobs and having passed
them all, I would have
no problem taking
another, unless it
involved breaching the
confidentiality of one of
our clients here at the
hotline.”

the operator.”

Red Cross Unit
OKs contract

ALBANY — After more than a year of heated negotiations and
union pressure, CSEA members employed by the Albany chapter
of the American Red Cross have their first contract.

Members of the 13-month old unit approved the two-year pact
recently.

The contract provides 6 percent salary increases each year for
the 104 workers who are registered nurses, licensed practical
nurses, technicians, clerical staff and maintenance workers.

Starting salaries will also go up 5 percent to help attract new
staff.

The Red Cross employees voted in March 1987 to join CSEA.
Since then, they have been involved in pickets and
demonstrations to convince management to agree on a fair
contract.

To add pressure, the CSEA Board of Directors voted to
withdraw all statewide support of Red Cross fund-raising efforts
until the contract was negotiated and ratified. Now that the

contract is ratified, the resolution is no longer in effect.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

Worker afraid to return to job
after being beaten by visitor

MIDDLETOWN — A nursing supervisor
who was beaten by a visitor at Middletown
Psychiatric Center refuses to give his name
for publication, and Alex Hogg said he can’t
blame the man for being afraid.

Hogg, president of the center CSEA
Local 415, said the nursing supervisor fears
retaliation because the man who beat him is
walking the streets and could very well
return for round two because there is no one
to stop him.

The employee, call him John Smith, said
he was alone in his office when he heard a
female patient screaming.

“T went out into the hallway and a man
— not a patient, but a visitor — was
harassing a female patient,” he said. “I told
her to go back to her room and he went
after her.”

Smith then told the visitor to leave her

patient who heard the commotion and pulled
the man off. Smith then called for help.

“Tt took six men to hold him down, one
of whom was bitten in the process,’’ he said.

Although the man was arrested, he was
later released and is free to walk the streets
and the open, unsecured wards of
Middletown Psychiatric
Center.

“If that patient
hadn’t come to this
man’s rescue, we
would have had
another murdered state
employee,” Hogg said.
“There is no security
to speak of, people can
come and go as they
please and there’s no
one to question it.”

a

in
i

aun |

E|

itll

Middletown Psychiatrie Center

alone. Hogg asked
“He said he wasn’t a patient, so I told administrators to
him to leave the building. He raised his institute a screening
hand to me,” Smith recalled. process for visitors, security arrived.
Smith then went back to his office to but was told “we couldn’t do that because “Even a medical hospital requires visitors
call for help, but the visitor followed him this is not a prison but a psychiatric hospital. to have passes,”’ Smith pointed out.
and suddenly jumped him. It burns me up,” he said. Smith, a 30-year-employee, said he was
“He grabbed me from behind, knocked planning to retire soon, but has no intention
me over my desk and began punching me in of returning to work.
my glasses, scratching my face.” “T won’t go back,” he said. ‘I don’t want

Smith was lucky. He was saved by a to be alone in that situation again.”

‘Alex Hoge employees were attacked on wards before

“The administrators have a very callous
attitude. They don’t give a damn about us.”
In the last three months, two other

Workers march to protest staffing levels

According to data compiled from the acute service and geriatric
wards by Local President Pat Hahn, there were a total of 687
incidents resulting in injuries during the first six months of 1987.

The horrendous understaffing has become even more of a
problem because patients are being transferred to Pilgrim from
New York City. Each day, employees are being placed in dangerous
situations without adequate training. ®@

The danger increases as they are redeployed to other wards and
forced to work overtime and double shifts, Hahn said. The
undesirable conditions in the center have resulted in physical injury
and poor morale, thus cheating the employees and the clients they
are trying to serve.

“The facts are shocking, but what’s more shocking is the fact
that the state refuses to rectify this terrible situation,” said CSEA
Region I President Danny Donohue.

CSEA recently published a report, ‘Working in Fear,”
reviewing the injury rates of Office of Mental Health (OMH) and e
Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities
(OMRDD) employees. Based on the most recent data available, the
report shows that four times as many New York state health care
employees lose work time because of occupational injury than
similar workers nationwide.

“With all of this information in hand, there should be no more
excuses,’ Donohue said. ‘“‘We’ve alerted the state to the needs of
the employees and clients and now we must insist on some real
improvements.”

A letter to Donohue from Long Island Sens. Kenneth LaValle, ®
James T. Lack and Caesar Trunzo commended CSEA ‘“‘on its efforts
to bring this most serious problem to the attention of the Office of
Mental Health and the citizens on Long Island whom you serve.”

Assemblyman Paul Harenburg also commended the union.

2 “T both hear and echo your concerns,” he said. ‘My goal as
PROTESTING UNDERSTAFFING, members of Pilgrim Psychiatric Center always is to improve the quality of life in each psychiatric center
picket a state office. Leading the ranks are, from left, Stephanie Teff, through better conditions for the dedicated members of our staffs,
Region I political action coordinator, Local President Pat Hahn and Sheryl thereby enabling them to continue to deliver quality services to
Carlin, communications associate. their patients.”

1 4 THE PUBLIC SECTOR

BRENTWOOD — Members of Pilgrim Psychiatric Center CSEA
Local 418 marched with supporters at the entrance of the Regional
Office of Mental Health recently to protest understaffing at the
facility. The demonstration attracted local television and newspaper
coverage.

May 30, 1988

Eviction!

CSEA fights for MPC members’ homes

By Lilly Gioia
CSEA Communications Associate

© NEW YORK — “There was a letter under
the door when I came home from work.
When I saw it on the floor, that’s how I
found out the state was evicting me from
my apartment,”’ said Winifred Gamble.

A dental assistant and 12-year member of
Manhattan Psychiatrie Center CSEA Local
413, Gamble is one of 22 angry CSEA
members the state wants to evict from
facility housing on Ward’s Island.

Threatened with homelessness, they
gathered in front of their staff residence
recently. Head housekeeper Sabina Carey
held a sign saying, ‘‘I need my apartment,”
to remind the state Office of Mental Health
that there is a severe housing shortage in
New York City.

She joined the center staff and moved onto
the grounds 30 years ago.

“T was here when the old buildings were
here,” Carey said. ‘How could they decide
to kick us out? We are not kids. They could
have called a meeting to tell us. It’s
unforgivable!”

Carey and her co-workers have begun a
letter-writing campaign to alert state
legislators to their plight.

“It’s very hard out there to find housing
and I was mad as holy hell,”’ she said.

@ Carey believes the CS9EA members are
being victimized by an Albany-conceived
plan to offer their apartments as
enticements to coax foreign doctors and
nurses to join the hospital staff.

CSEA believes top Office of Mental
Health (OMH) officials Bruce Feig and
Alice Lynn “dreamed up this gimmick
because federal courts recently decreed
New York state must hire more

@ professionals for its grossly understaffed
mental facilities,” said CSEA Field
Representative Barton M. Brier. In lieu of
decent salaries, the state intends to offer the
union members’ homes, he argued.

CSEA Local 413 President Mohammed
Hussain slapped management with
Improper Practice (IP) charges, contending
that MPC traditionally has provided housing
on grounds of Ward’s Island for facility

@ employees represented by CSEA. Residents
in staff housing include therapy aides,
stationary engineers, maintenance
supervisors and plumbers who are able to
be contacted easily in case of emergencies.

Manhattan Psychiatric Center
Local 413 will provide transportation to
any of the affected employees who want to

attend the IP hearing scheduled in May.
Hussain said management’s scheme is ‘“‘a

“This really hurts after
you’ve been on the job
so long. Besides ...
they could make room

for everyone.”
— Winifred Gamble

“It’s very hard out
there to find housing,
and I’m mad as holy

hell.” __ Sabina Carey

“IT was here when the
e| old buildings were
here. How could they
decide to kick us out?”
— Sabina Carey

e
May 30, 1988

change in the terms and conditions of
employment made without good-faith
negotiations with CSEA.”’

The union is petitioning the Public
Employment Relations Board (PERB) to
order that MPC continue to provide on-
grounds housing for the affected CSEA
members, Brier said.

If MPC does evict them, CSEA will seek a
PERB order to mandate that management
“reimburse the employees for any moving
expenses, provide them with comparable
off-grounds housing and reimburse them for
the difference between their current housing
rent and the rental cost of off-grounds
housing.”

Veteran MPC housekeeper Aithme
O’Donnell has lived in Ward’s Island staff
housing for 29 years. She grimly clasped a
placard stating, ‘Doctors and nurses can
afford to pay more rent than I can.”

“T can’t believe they’ve promised housing
that they don’t have just to bring in foreign
nurses and doctors who make some big
money compared to us,” O’Donnell said.

“This really hurts after you’ve been on the
job for so long,’”’ agreed Gamble. ‘‘Besides,
they have so much ground here, they could
build to make room for everyone.”

WORRYING ABOUT EVICTION, member of Manhattan Psychiatrie Center CSEA Local 413 picket to
protest state plans that would deprive them of their homes at the facility. Some workers have lived

there for 30 years.

15

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

Region IIIhosts_.
2 PAC workshops

Political action was in the spotlight at two of government and its employees working

workshops in Region III recently. together.

More than 50 Political Action Committee “Without the support of our employees,
(PAC) members attended a workshop in county government is just a collection of
Nyack. They took advantage of seminars on _ people,’’ Grant said. ‘With your support, we @
leadership styles, effective lobbying and the can be responsive.”’
role of politics in negotiations. He also stressed that the challenges that

Rockland County Executive John Grant, governments face are signs of progress.
the guest speaker, stressed the importance “Tomorrow will come no matter what we

do,” he said. ‘‘We can shape our tomorrows
or let them shape us.”

At the PAC workshop in Poughkeepsie,
activists heard Assemblyman Vincent
Leibell’s concerns about the privatization of
the state’s prisons, political appointments @
and the treatment of public employees.

“Government must live up to a social
contract in order that we may attract and
keep good employees,” Leibell said. ‘We
have to let them know that what they do is
important. It’s so easy to beat up on
people.”

Government also has a responsibility to
provide a safe, healthy environment and to
compensate its employees properly, he said. @

“The final step in the social contract is
retirement,” Leibell said. ‘God willing,
we'll all live long enough to collect.”

Admitting that the state pension system is
“not very good,” Leibell said, ‘‘We have to
be concerned with this. We’re not living up
to our social contract.”

Participants at the Poughkeepsie
workshop also learned about how to fight the
Internal Revenue Service plan to tax the e
accumulated leave of public employees.
AFSCME Legislative Department Assistant
Mike Kerr explained the plan and urged
members to write to their senators and
E iy representatives immediately. The legislators
ROCKLAND COUNTY LEGISLATOR Harriet should be urged to support the bill labeled
Cornell greets her constituents during the HR 4221, which would overturn the
Nyack PAC workshop. regulation.

ROCKLAND COUNTY EXECUTIVE John
Grant speaks during the Nyack PAC workshop.

STATE ASSEMBLYMAN William Larkin
addresses CSEA PAC members at the
workshop in Poughkeepsie.

STATE ASSEMBLYMAN Stephen M. Saland talks with Dutchess County Unit President Carl
Mathison at the Poughkeepsie PAC workshop.

e
1 6 THE PUBLIC SECTOR May 30, 1988

‘Region VI stresses political activism

NIAGARA FALLS — The importance of political education and
activism was the keynote message for CSEA Region VI
members at a recent two-day conference in preparation for
Election Year ’88.

‘Too many workers are not aware of the political process,”
said guest speaker Assembly Labor Committee Chairperson
Frank Barbaro.

“There’s got to be a union presence in Albany,”’ Barbaro
stated, adding that that happens only when unions get
information out to their members.

“Our members’ active participation and interest will
determine our unions success and survival,” commented CSEA
Region VI President Robert Lattimer.

The program was coordinated by regional Political Action
Committee co-chairpersons Flo Trippi and Tom Warzel and
regional Political Action Coordinator Roger Sherrie. It included
sessions on the background work that goes into making
political endorsement, targeting key races and involving the
membership in the process.

Barb Bienicki, Craeola Shelton and Terry Melvin review the is-
sues at the recent CSEA Region VI political action conference.

ORLEANS
NIAGARA

GENESEE

WYOMING

| Assembly Labor
Committee
fs Chairperson
CHAUTAUOUA cattanaucus (asehou te : Frank Barbaro

Long Island gets political update!

SMITHTOWN — The CSEA Region I
political action workshop held here
recently covered a lot of territory on
issues affecting members every day.

More than 100 CSEA members attended
the program which was presented by
several local presidents and union staff.
Among the topics of discussion; CSEA’s
statewide political action efforts —
including legislative activities and
candidate endorsement procedures; the
impact of the state budget on mental

. health and mental retardation facilities;
and contracting out.

“Political action is so important,’’ said
CSEA President Danny Donohue. “This
should be just the beginning of our
regional political activities. Togetherness
is what makes political action effective.”

CSEA Region I Political Action Coordinator Stephanie Teff, AFSCME Political Represen-
tative Zena Sternback and CSEA Political Action Director of Operations Joyce Dmitri
prepare for a Long Island political action seminar recently.

May 30, 1988 THE PUBLIC SECTOR 1 7

Learning:
You can
get ahead too!

By Stephen Madarasz
CSEA Communications Associate

Empowered

Kosakoski

Labor Education Action ram

Empowered Learning will be offered again
in locations across the state as part of
LEAP’s fall semester of courses. The new
LEAP course catalog will be available for
review at your worksite personnel or
education & training office in mid-June.

Cheskey

So you’re not quite sure what you want to do with the rest of
your life. The choice really is yours!

But sometimes it is difficult to discover what your options
really are. Not to worry — under a new pilot program offered
through the CSEA Labor Education Action Program (LEAP) you
can get the help you need to make the right decisions.

The program — Empowered Learning: Unleashing Your
Career and College Potential —- was offered at eight locations
across the state this past spring and is included in LEAP’s course
offerings for next fall.

“This program is about opening doors for people,”’ explained
CSEA acting LEAP Director Debbie Baum. “‘It’s designed to give
them a realistic assessment of their strengths and weaknesses
and help them set and reach career goals.”

“T wanted to see where I’m at and where I want to be,” said
Shirley Cheskey, a long-time state employee who now works for
the Division of Housing and Community Renewal in Albany. “I
really got a lot of personal help and that built up my confidence.”

“Tt shows you your potential and motivates you to do more,”
offered Richard Giordano, a new employee with the Office of
Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities central office.
Giordano is starting fresh with a new career in state service after
years of work in the private sector.

Giordano added that he would like to take more college
courses and through the Empowered Learning program he has a
much better idea about selecting schools and classes that could
benefit him.

The program focuses on other practical information as well,
such as resume writing, tips on preparing for civil service
examinations and navigating through the civil service system.
Aptitude tests taken during the sessions identify individuals’
abilities, which can help in setting new career directions.

Still, having the information and ability to make the right
choices only puts you on the road toward new opportunities.

“T’ve always had career goals and I took this course because
I wanted to find shortcuts — but I discovered they may not be out
there,’’ said Florence Recupero, a CSEA member from the state
Education Department.

“T have to go to school to get the background I need — I’ll
probably just chip away through LEAP courses toward an
associate’s degree,” she added.

“The important thing for me was discovering that I have a
number of options, even if my immediate plans don’t work out,”
commented Bruce Kosakoski, a mechanic at SUNY Albany.
“Most people don’t really plan career change, but I learned it
works out much better if you do.”

While the participants had high praise for their instructors
and the materials they worked with in the course, they
discovered two even more important resources during the
sessions.

The first was their fellow participants. Coming from a variety
of backgrounds and numerous workplaces, they could offer
unique perspective on career issues and form a supportive
network to help with information about job opportunities — a
network that is expected to continue outside the classroom.

Finally, and most importantly, the participants said they
learned about themselves — uncovering hidden interests,
aptitudes and aspirations. And that can make a big difference in
their efforts for the future!

1 8 THE PUBLIC SECTOR

ero @

May 30, 1988

Florida Retirees local
marks decade of service

More than 500 members were on hand for the 10th annual
convention of the CSEA Florida Retirees Local 950 held recently in
New Port Richie, Fla. The event brings together members from
throughout the ‘Sunshine State’’ for information and updates on
CSEA services and activities.

Among the highlights from this year’s program: presentations
by representatives of the New York State Retirement system and

of the local’s annual scholarship.

AFSCME Retiree Director Steve Regenstrief also briefed the
group on union efforts to address long-term health care financing
issues.

The local also honored retiring CSEA President William

health care providers, including the Empire Plan; and the awarding

Florida Retirees CSEA Local 950 First Vice President Pauline
Fitchpatrick addresses members at the local’s annual convention. To
her right is Local President Lou Colby.

McGowan for his years of service.
a

Love those
Mets!

CSEA Region I is sponsoring a trip to see the New York Mets
vs. the Cincinnati Reds, on Tuesday July 5th at Shea Stadium.

The cost of $23 per person includes ticket, transportation and
refreshments on the bus.

The seats are located in the first two rows of the upper boxes.

Buses will depart from 300 Motor Parkway in Hauppauge at 4:45

If you have an item of interest for This, That & the other thing, bring it to
the attention of your CSEA regional communications associate. Their phone
numbers are listed on page 2.

p.m., and from 1101 Stewart Avenue in Garden City at 5:30 p.m.
Checks should be made out to L.I. Region CSEA and mailed to
Barbara Harrington’s attention at:
CSEA
300 Motor Parkway
Hauppauge, New York 11788
Please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope for the return
of the tickets.

people in raising $650,000 during the March of Dimes Walkathon to
fight birth defects. CSEA members also ran a table where walkers
were greeted with hats, donuts and juice before beginning their
25-kilometer trek through Hauppauge.

NEWSDAY COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
HIGH SCHOOL OF THE YEAR”

Making

i
CSEA school district employees always
take a lot of pride in the work they do to
make their schools better places for the stu-
dents. But it’s understandable if CSEA
members at three Long Island high schools
are ‘really busting their buttons’ these days.
The three schools — Kings Park,
Massapequa and Lindenhurst — were among

the award, outright.

May 30, 1988

Act now for better child care

Rockland County CSEA members are making sure their
congressional representatives know how they feel about the Act
for Better Child Care.

The act, which is one of the top federal legislative priorities
of CSEA and AFSCME, would establish federal guidelines for day
care centers and provide money to states to establish local
centers.

According to Rockland County Local 844 President Lee
Pound, who also serves on the CSEA statewide Women’s
Committee, members have already sent about 650 letters of
support for the act to Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan and U.S.
Rep. Benjamin Gilman.

Pound also sent off a letter of her own to the Rockland
Journal News emphasizing that the act would make child care
more affordable for low- and moderate-income families.

“We in CSEA actively support this act,” she
wrote. ‘‘We believe that quality and affordable
child care is necessary to enable parents to work |
without stress and problems, knowing that their }
children are safe and well cared for.”

The act, which is supported by a broad
coalition of people and organizations across the
country, may come up for a vote in Congress in
the next couple of months. CSEA members and
locals are urged to take a cue from Rockland’s
efforts and blitz your own representatives with
letters of support.

the four public school finalists in Newsday’s
“Outstanding Long Island High School of the
Year’’ competition. To make the
achievement even better, Kings Park won

So to the winners and the runners-up,
CSEA says congratulations and keep up the
good work — it’s showing.

New Region III Safety & Health Specialist

Robert O’Conner, Jr. has joined the CSEA
staff as occupational safety and health
specialist in Region III.

O’Conner graduated from Marist College
in Poughkeepsie with a degree in personnel
management.

New unit elects officers
The newly formed Town of Penfield
Unit of Monroe County CSEA Local 828
recently elected its first slate of
officers. They are President William
Verhagen, Vice President Bruce Norton
and Secretary-Treasurer Jim Ferguson.

19

THE PUBLIC SECTOR

20 THE PUBLIC SECTOR May 30, 1988