ee
ges
peas
Official Publication of Council 82. AFSCME - AFL-CIO)
8 Holland Gives Pension Testimony In NYC.
Tier Ill Pension Fails Workers, Holland Says
that provides
rection oli
for New York State's ¢
ery who were hited after 1976 hay
failed! all state employers,” Thom
Holland, Council
tor, told members of the Perm:
Commission on Public Employee Pen-
son and Retirement Systems in mid
March,
m
Holland, testifying before the com
anission in New York City, explained
that the Tier I yystem has failed, "but
its most severe effects have been felt by
my brothe
nl sister officers whovach
day put their liveson the Hine to make
the corrections system work.” He
a
called fe tic changes inthe
system,
Under the Tier I syste
it will
tion officer to work behind the walls
he noted,
‘not be unusual” for a correc
for 40 years before he can retire at full
benefit,
1 is physically impossible for our
to work in the system u
til age 62," Holland warned the cor
mission members, He relerred to the
“graying of the foree,” ay correction
officers. will be forced to work far
beyond what is reasonable in the kind
of
The
which they work “leads to higher rates
of heart disease, hypertension,
lism,
those of police officers,” he stated.
and family problems than even
(Continued on page 2)
New York Will Be One
of Hardest Hit of
States in U.S. Cuts
The proposed federal budget cut
Dnacks will hit hardest at states such ay
New York, which provides widerange
of public services and which suffer
from slow economic growth and high
unemployment, according to AFSCME
officials in the New York State news
letter for union leadership,
the newsletter states,
“AL present
New York State receives more federal
aid than any other state27 cents for
every dollar raised locally
Under the proposed federal budget
cutbacks, state and local governments
throughout New York could lowea to
{al of approximately $2 billion in fed
eral aid, There could be a staggering
loss of public employees’ jobsand vital
public services
Prepare for your Contract Talks,
Members Urged by Union Director
Membery of Council 82 will receive
sometime in the second week of May a
survey designed to determine the set
iments of the rank-and-file about the
most important concerts to be dis
cussed in the coming negotiations
According to’ Thoxas Holland, Coun
executive director, when the un:
speak up for the specific needs of all
Security and Law Enforcement en
ployees. That’s why we need to know
what sour priorities are for the new
conmract
Each member will heasked talist his
or herp
the form to council headquarters in
Albany
es by number, and retin
Holland noted that the tae, through
ity bargaining agent, the Governor's
Hill Named Staff Director of
Work Quality Committee
Chris Hill
The Governor's Office of Employee
Relations-Couneil. #2 commitiee on
the quality of working life hay hired
Chris A. Hillof Vakaticas staff director
of the committee
Hill, who most recently served six
yearson thestaff of the New Vork State
Assembly, will coordinate proposals
and carry out the progeams of the
committee, the official name of which
is the Committee on Continuity of
Employment, Perfor
Productivity, and Qu
Life
ince Evaluation,
of Working
(Continued on page 5)
Office of Fanployee Relations, already
is working on its positionon a number
of issues that will be brought to the
bargaining table fom the manage
ment side
Members’ lists of priorities will he
tallied by the union and, Holland sad
will “serves guide” to the negotiat
ing committee when the union goes to
the bangaining table with the state
Vhe list of priorities on the survey
includes: wages, dental optical plan,
legal protection, and grievance atbi
u
aaypace
procedures, Also, thete will he
aceon the form for any other prior
ity thought to he important by a
rember
Holland asked for cooperation from
all nen
and returning the postpaid survey
hery in completing the forns
UNION’S ATTORNEY
KILLED IN 2-CAR
CRASH IN ALBANY
Pansick B. McNamara, AESCME
Council 82 general counsel, way
killed in a two
Albany on Apuil
years old.
Although he had worked as i
house comme! for the union lor
only about fou months, he had
Ficers, stalf members, and
and-Lile members toa few yea
samayo iat in the hu finn of
Rowley and Forest, PAC. of
Alban.
There will be more complete
information in the May isue of
The Review
In St. Patrick's Day Foot Race With Buick, Slattery Loses —But Wins, Too
I isn’t often that a correction
officer—or anyone else, for that
matter —gets into a foot race with a
Buick,
That, however, is what Bob Slattery,
4 CO from Sing Sing did om a brisk St.
irick’s Day just a few short weeks
ago.
It started out as a shopy
Hip to
Yonkers to buy set of tites for his car
As he way driving along, however,
shortly before noon, at white Buick cut
him off, and he had to swerve into the
left lane to avoid a collision.
ly, such an action would
Ondi
have caused him considerable conster-
nation, andit probably, but just for
4 momtent
Slatery, president of the Ossining
local of Council 82, thought th
would just edge alongyide the white
car and give the driver a piece of his
mind, but when he drew even with the
other auto, he was shocked to discover
that there was no driver.
Atleast, there was no driver evident
Acloser inspection, however, showed
that th
them way in an infant's car seat, and
the other one—the “driver —was sit
(Continued on page 6)
were two occupants. One of
COUNCIL 62 REVIEW
Director’s Corner
By TOM HOLLAND
Executive Director
Project Staffers to Boost Servicing
AFSCME International
ners will he better served throughout the
Ou
for three mon
so that the m
ras of Labor=
The two stafers will be assigned to specific a
agement relations, labor-management meetings, membership meetings
processing grievances, and other servicing to locals
ive assigned to the
John Wyrough, an international union represent
Albany field office of AESCME, isthe first project staffer assigned t Council
82. The other, yet 1 be named, wil start working in the early pat of May:
[think that this will be a great help in being able to actually reach out to
the membership, to hear their complaints, and, hopefully, to service the
Such a project and will
help the locals in many ways.
toe oe
Fm sure that, by the time you read this column, you will have received
your retroactive check and, therelore, realize that your raise is not 3
percent, but isa full 7 percent,
igs of the executive board of the
executive board members, I dis
Over the last month, F've attended me
Attica Correctional Facility local. With th
first-hand the actions that we have taken on some of their grievances, It wast
f
local which requests our presence at meetings.
that we are seeking with
April
Erie County Deputies’ Local Settles
For 10.25% in First Year of 3-Year Pact
Negotiators for AFSCME Council
cal 2060, Erie County Deputy
Sheriff's Employees, havereached agree
rent with county representatives that
provides a wage increase of 10.25 per-
cent in the first year of a three-year
contract.
Based on the 1980 salaries, the
agreement will provide a 5 percent in
crease in pay, effective Jan. 1, 1981, and
increase, effect
contract, a7 percent pay increase will
become effective Jan, 1, 1982, and 7
petcent on Jan. 1, 1983
All members of the bargaining unit
will receive line-up pay, according to
John Evans, Local 2060 president,
‘who also noted that the uniform allo-
‘wance will be inereased to $350.
language will provide for “overtime
only after 40 hours of work.”
Other gains made by Local 2060 in-
ude increases in the shift differential
pay fortheevening and midnight shift
employees, and payment of the time-
and-one-half for deputies who work
the Rich Stadium detail, for every hour
actually work on that detail
Management agreed to “use its
best efforts” to create a new Civil
Service title and job classification
of Deputy Sheriff Officer, to encom.
pass those duties now being performed
by personnel and the Civil Service las-
sifications of Holding Center Guard
and Deputy Sheriff-Criminal Court,
Evans said that the other terms and
conditions of the previous agreement
will continue, except as modified by
agreement of the two parties.
TI C
pay,all
references to compensatory time off
will be removed from the contract, ac-
cording to the agreement, Instead, the
tive director, was among the union re-
presentatives who negotiated the con-
Holland Testifies on Pensions in NYC
(Continued from page 1)
Current New York State prison sys-
tem conditions are making it difficult
to keep good officers, explained Hol-
land, noting that the prisons are over-
crowded and understaffed, and that
They have to remain on the job, in
many cases, more years fora lesser be-
refit, compared with their fellow
officers.
“This concern is not only critical to
the union,
services department,” Holland said. "I
“A major factor is ‘Tier III," he as-
serted. “The Tier IIE officer has no
Tight at the end of the tunnel. After six
ths inthe facil
call upon this committee to sit down
with the commissioner of corrections
and ask if he has problems with the
he New York Ci
Aprilat the AFSCME
Also,
lof New York City for the
sin thatare
central locals of Council 82 in the near future
‘On May 5-7, the two-for-one hearings will be held at Green Haven, On.
May 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, and 21 hearings will be held at Auburn; on May 19, 20,
and 21 at Ossining, and on May 26-28 at Ossi
employees who need assistance and who work in the three places where
Tier HI system will find
not last 40 years. Unlike the officer yg
next to him in Tier I, the Tier II of
ficer pays a 3 percent contribution 10
qualify for a cost of living adjustment,
which is below the rate of inflation
““Lask the committe to look specifi-
cally at the needs of New York State's
they serve.
“Also, unlike the Tier 1 officer, the
‘Tier III officer's pension is further
ceaten away by a Social Security inte-
gration. This offset becomes more and
‘more threatening.as the Social Security
system moves closer and closer to fir
ial disaster
“Only if the officersare returnedtoa
25-year, hall-pay system, can the sys-
tem function adequately. Without dra-
matic changes, we are all courting a
potential disaster.”
sf these problems were not
enough, the Tier HL officer has noabil-
ity to plan for his future retirement,
EAPisoflered, ta availabletoa
members, y New York St
services are offered and local union represe
tatives are trained to participate
system can not
compute his probable retirement be-
|
fits. Most importantly, when the —V)- by — By
Tier 111 officer looks at the Tier I of-
ficer, he knows that his friend will be -
cut after25 ears. Withtheaverage life | GET. ACTIVE IN YOUR UNION
JimSipe
the Employee Assistance Program. He has really put himself out to make the
program a success and has worked long, hard hours in cooperation with
in the program, Many thanks
{o Jimmy for his contribution
+ oh ke
‘The members of the Capital Police unit, through a labor-management
agreement reached after talks between myself and Meyer Frucher, director of
The
agreement, signed in early April, also will provide the bulletproof vests to
members of the State Park Police and the Environmental Conservation
Officers
Sometime in May, I hope we will be able to put together, along with
AFSCME International, an OSHA program which will pertain particularly
to Council 82
all kinds of facilities across the state, including the ECOs, and others, who
work with toxic substances.
expectancy of a5
Trew OFFER TO
BECOME A
SHOP STEWARD
In every way, Holland declared, the
Tier IIL system fails to provide incen-
tives for Tier III officers because of, in
effect, considerably reduced benefits.
PROTECT YOUR BENEFITS
R
Aprit COUNCIL 82 REVIEW
cently-named salt director of
QUALITY COMMITTEE EXPLAINED—Chris Hill,
From the President
By JOHN BURKE
Council 62 President
Community and Public Relations
Important to Locals and Council 82
We ate in the process of developi
the locals of Council 82
As many of you know, to start us off
publicand community relations, we i
r
Time,” that was produced by AFSC
The film was designed to show
officers deal with on a daily basis.
Some of the locals have shown the film to the wives af correction officers,
andl the response to the presentation
iments have inulicated that some of the spouses:
‘public relations progam forall of
ving program of both
Tve Liveda Lot li My
conti
cea fil titled
E International
some of the problems that conection
erable, Some of the coms
did some of the officers,
been
then they first sa
said that they fel
de the
more hard-hitting,
Inn Town In Albar
‘ects In the first year of a proposed two-year program.
Correction Policy Committee Head
Stresses Community Activities by
Members in their Hometowns
James Young, a Metropolitan Lite
The importance of the involvement
state's prisons,
But, we pointed out to correction officers last year, ancl 10 the wives this
1, thatthe film program was designed to be shown to people who ate not
familiar with life inside a prison.
Locals could use this film to show to community groups, along with a
duties of, and dangers to, correction officers in prisons around the United
States
Hof you will take adv
Thope
and keep i
mind the positive aspects of using it to let your Criends and
neighbors know what your life ay a correction office is like.
ge of the film, use it wherever you ca
of correction offices in community a-
tivities was discussed at length during
the Correction Policy Committee meet-
ingheldattheend of March in Albany.
according to James Morrissey, com-
mittee chairman.
“1 recommended to the committe
that such involvement would help 10
improve our image and reduce any
mystery the public has about correc:
tion officers,” Morrissey said.
Early inthe two-day meeting, Chris
Hill, staff director of the State-Council
Quality of Work Life Commitee,
explained to the members the function
of his committee and some of the
proposals and projects that the labor
‘management unit has begun
He also answered questions about
the use of any physical facility that
might result from the expenditure of
the $1 million per year for two years of
the project. For example, he assured
members that, ifthe money is used for
construction or renovation of a place
for social gatherings and an exercise
facility, i will befor theuseof those in
the union's jurisdiction,
‘The committee and its programs
and projectsare under the direction of
aboard which consists of two members
from the Governor's Office of Em-
i ,
Electrical Workers Charge Defense Department
Purchases Are Eroding U.S. Auto Industry
WASHINGTON (PAI)—The lt
national Union of Electrical Workers
said that the U.S, Army iscontributing
to the erosion of the American auto
industry by purchasing Japanese-made
trucks,
‘when so many A\ rk
are unemployed is “cruel, senseless,
shortsighted, and sickening.”
Bywater urged Weinberger to cancel
the truck purchase deal and to make
sure that "American goods and servi-
Ina letter to Defense Secretary Cas-
T ces, not foreign good
par Weinberger, IUE S
turer William
ing army trucks from Japan at a time
Air Force,
and Marines.”
p
cil 8.
Insurance Company representative,
answered thequestionsof local officers
about the union's health insurance.
Young also offered to attend any local
union meeting, to answer in detail the
questions that individual members
migh ibout their health insurance.
Morrissey asked members ofthe pol:
icy committee for a sub-committee
which would set goals for the com-
mitte.
“These goals would be in all areas,”
Morrissey said. “That is, pay grade,
level of grate and date grade is at-
tained, type of legislation we should
push for, retirement, cost of living,
class for retirement, changes in de
partment, and working conditions. 1
firmly believe we should have a plan
and time frame in which these goals
should be met
The Correction Policy Committee
chairman also told members that the
January labor-management mectings
the statewide level was the “Fast
productive... [have ever chaired,
and, he added, “I eel the meet
held only as a pacification measure 10
Correction Policy. [ will be asking for
4 statewide labor-management meet
ing as soon as 1 receive items for an
la from the local presidents.”
jempting to enlighten the public that we are public servants
em ‘omplish the impossible without the tools ot staffing levels
that would allow us to do an adequate job.
Local leaders have to develop a rapport andl credibility with local nes
snedia, Locals should be involved alyo with labor assemblies of their particu
Larcities or counties. Allof this would be ditected to getting members of the
press thinking about our view when stories ate written about prisons oF the
prison system, ‘The things we do in the local communities all help everyone
remember that we are their friends and neighbors, not a nameless, faceless
guard.
4s union locals, sponsorship of athletic teams such as Little League of Pop
Warner, throwing parties for children an other people in need, and just
participating in community activities in general
When Council 82h B
ofthese things, we'l let you know. Inthe meantime, there's nothing stopping
yon your own
you from statti
“People” are not Entitled to
Services, According to Stockman
serted the government had no business
providing social services.
“I don't believe that there is any enti-
WASHINGTON (PAI)—"I don’t
think people are entitled to any servi
ees,” David A. Stockman, President
Reagan's budget chief, told a reporter Jement, any basic rights to legal servi=
here after appearing on the ABC-TV ¢es or any other kinds of services,
programm, “Issues and Answers Stockman said. "Wereject that notion,
Stockman said he supported a cash
floor to help the very neediest, but as
On criticism of Administration cut-
backs in aid to below-poverty families,
“"Tjustdon’t accept the
assumption that the federal govern-
To SIMPY THE FIGHT WERE PLANNING AN “THE FARMERS CAN TAKE on “THE WINNER GETS To ment has a responsibility to supple-
eee 60 ONE-ON-ONE
OVER THE BUDGET CUTS, [BUMINATION TOURNAMENT. ‘Tsuen, THE mess a raTheoN wnt ment the income of the working poor
coat
WES
VS. THE seHeaURi0s, ETC.
through a whole series of transfer
payments.”
ATTEND
MEETINGS
acemamiow
SEERA ARYAN IAEA
Sas
i
COUNCIL 82 REVIEW
‘April
COUNCIL 82 REVIEW
OPINION
We're grateful for President
Reagan's Recovery...
President
an assassination attempt iscscthing x wich we allcan be thankful. His
carly return to the WI a. sign that
fecoveey wil roe Io hae bern ata,
k 7 that any
ii ditt i in
of ides That the attack
on President Reage y had nothing to do with ideology or politics
makes it even mote shocking,
We wish the president and the others who also were shot in the at
speedy full recovery, However, our srg over polit, ex
social ide a
compromise—in the tna of ideas
. . » However
Proposals by the Reagan Administration to cut the Federal budget have
shown in the past several weeks that Candidate 's position on many
iss was not ely wha had in mina doa he sme
David
Hewnsy
jue on most issues, but his dim-viewed em butch
that ‘mode aid to the poorest of American cites, while the greatest
inereases—and there are great increases in the federal budget—got to defense
contractors
A large increase is being proposed for the defense budget without any
assurance that it will create more jobs or slow inflation, or be good for the
‘cconom
‘The administration is asking us to believe in them, to believe in their
program, to believe in their “trickle-down” theory. It is a program that
promises nothing in concrete t uher strange tack for an administ
ton that prides ive on being pragmatic, rien in dealing with he
purse sr money :
ms, a
: ‘They're asking us to buy their product. ‘They're asking us to be true
believers in a faith they haven't yet invented
In the meantime, our school programs are being cut, There are fewer
teachers for more students in many schools. There are no more sports pro:
special attention because of physical, emotional, or mental handicaps, or
earning disabilities will find it difficult to get that attention, if they ever do
gett
Free school lunches for some children will, under one proposal, be
subtracted from the total income assistance for the family of those children,
thus reducing that family's ability to provide for its members.
James Sipe o
View Praident ‘Ontermeter ‘Secretary
Monald Runsll
shard Bschen
Executive Board
mes Morrisuey vin Jatrey Tata
Leonard Welch Wiliam Poole and
Bernard Sith Harvey Barth David Smith
‘Hayward Beverly Randall Lyons Mgnt! John Evans
Micheal Kely 5 mreonn usw mes Eswars Dean
i
Vol 18, No.4 ‘Council 82 Review Apri
ee theretired,
th
that helped make their
climinated,
All of these th
ance the budget,’
igs are being done by the Reagan Administration to
while, at the same time, vastly incre:
defense. isdifficult to determine the necd for such
went Lives richer, have been greatly reduced or
ing real spending for
tly increased spending,
allegedly to keep up with the other superpower, since even the “experts” ate
unable to give us any factual information about the arms buildup by the
Soviets
Again, we've asked 10 tl
it all on faith, Have faith in us, the Reagan
ts, and we will not only p
pe
with tax cuts—at least
180 tax cut per year for
provide y
mily of four earning
$15,000annually, W
amount would last two weeks during a cold spell next winter,
A study released by the C
ngressional Budget Oifice in mid-April indi-
cated that 20 million vo 25 million Am
ans would have their incomes cut
under Reagan's budget cutting proposals, because of reductions in food
stamps, welfare, school lunch programs,
‘That doesn't sound like the “trickle-down” theory. I's more lik
public service jobs.
‘can pay big dividends. More than 70 activiats from Council 82's mid-Hudson locals
Legal Update
By Patrick B. McNamara
Counell 82 General Counsel
Problems with Prescription Drugs
Could be Solved Through Arbitration
succeed in bringing the prescription drug card issue to arbitration.
jevance filed by Bernard Smit
ional Facility, and a correction officer the
th, president of Local 1447 at
Council 82 is
Section 12.6
ofthe Security Series Unit conn
‘when it refused to provide a $1 co-pay
HL members of the Security Servis
of
the employes, the st
origi
t's attomeys have challe
grievances filed in January, 1981, and the arbitrability of the issue
od the timeliness of the
sore re Counel &2 members Donn MacDonald steward Mlé-Hudoon P
Valley Payclare Corer Harold Hunter,
Center; Richar
locals, Pictured
ciate
rd, Hark
tecutve boar Mid-Hudson Paychlac Cenler Willem Carll steward Bear Moun:
Ea
in State
1 Gilmore, steward, Ossining Correctional Foamy, ead dota
‘ett.
Dowing, AFSCME aslant education grectr(clockwie trom the
Council 82 Members From Various Hudson Valley
Locals Discuss Problems, Seek Solutions
By FRANK STELLA
Correction officers are caught in a
society that can’t decide what prison
should do,
The need to tell security officers’
story to the public, improve commun-
ication among union members, in-
volve more members in union busi-
ness, and build confidence in the
union were just a few of the topics
ui
old, or sick, of a combination of all three.
What ig in the federal budget fight id
part
or lose,
pation, or lack of i, will show whether we, as workers, pass oF fail—
\
The late Senator Hubert H. Humphrey, in his last appearance before
Congress, put it most succinctly: “The moral test of government is how it
treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the
twilight of life, theaged,a
needy, and the handicapped.”
life, the sick, the
‘Those about whom Senator Humphrey spoke are our own—our family
‘members and our friends and neighbors,
‘We will not abandon them because federal funds are cut off from their
programs so we wl bored toi ee ways pay oss programs
Either that, or
diminish
T
own families’ lives, i
s the loss of public service jobs. Inevitably, our jobs are
threatened by such massive cuts in fede
nd state budgets,
’stime we started becoming involved. Write, call, of visit your Congres-
slashers,
“OILERS” Supportive of President
‘The Reagan White Howe is ie ne
ing fast that “oiled”— J
haps, old~rends ae good friend
Te may just be a coincidence, but 28
high-ranking oil industry executives
ponied up $270,000 for Nancy Rea-
gan’s fund to redecorate White House
living quarters
The contributions came just four
weeks after a $2 billion windfall was
dropped into the oil industry's lap by
the president's action decontrolling oil
prices
I's not just the oil industry, though,
that threw itself with enthusiasm into
White House redecoration, A whole
bbunch of well-to-do folks pumped in
big contributions, and, in justa couple
of weeks, a total of $822,640 was
collected.
For that, Pah could build a whole
new White
day
March 18-19 for Council 82's mid:
Hudson locals at the Fishkill Holiday
Inn.
More than 70 correction officers, se-
curity treatment assistants, park po-
lice, and safety officers from 13 locals
ed ideas, aired their problems,
and viewed aside show, “I've Lived a
Lot In My Time,” prepared by
AFSCME International.
Council 82 Presidemt John Burke
summed up the purpose of the ses-
sions: “Our main thrust is to build
stronger locals by helping stewards
sind waysto become better
leaders.”
John Dowling, AFSCME's assistant
education director, who helped lead
the discussions, described a major
theme of the sessions: “The union isn’t
Washington, or Albany, it’s the mem-
bers. Only they can make a difference
il they can do it
Local 1413 shop steward Earl Gil-
moe, a 10-year veteran correction of
ficer at Ossining, echoed Dowling’s
comment. “In the past, it seemed like
the union was ‘they, iow,
especially over the last year, the union
seems to be getting itself together
again.”
The key to this improvement is a
strong steward structure at the local
level, and the training sessions are
handle stations, negate wth
;nagement as ind organize
Thave fran ine
To Bob Slattery, Local 1413 presi
dent, the sessions took the
of the steward’s job. “This training,’
nystery out
si iations in 1979, the
Section 12.6 0f
all members of
uni recive the preipton dug bene fits provided by a $1-per- prescription
drug plan. Th
pharmacist,
epaysonly $1
under the “statewide” pl
who elected
ate entitle tothe prescription drug card and chat
the more than 1,000 members who elected the GHI or HMO plans are not
entitled t
a prescr
Hearings
mn drug car
Security Services Unit
This month, Council 82, with the assistance of Ronald Mugas
en scheduled for May and June of this year in the hope
that this matter may be resolved finally.
10 the benefit of all members of the
te int of Local 2744, Jones Beach Lifeguard Corps, successfully resolved an
rainst the
and Ri
a “4
Conn. before the Public Employment Relations Board. The sate
sid lar, “helms
who suis the contract and
Knows his job canbe ago steward.
Youdon’thavetohavealthe answers”
Officers and activists from the fol
Towing locals attended the sessions:
152, 399, 613, 1040, 1151, 1255, 1265,
M138, 1447, 1790, 1874, 2655, and 2718,
BUILDING BETTER LOCALS
“Why don’t they come to meetings?”
The question, inone form or another,
echoed through all the Fishkill tra
ing sessions.
The answer to the problem won't
come down carved in stone from any
‘mountaintop, but the two-day sessions
did come up with some sound ideas for
building stronger locals:
+ Focus on a single problem
that’s been bothering a lot of mem-
bers—a problem that the local ean
solve, Then, solve it.
+ Listen to the gripes and co
cers of the members, then set up
priorities for attacking the problems
4% Keep in touch. A newsletter
doesn’t have to be fancy. 1 just has
to appear regularly and get to the
bers, preferably in their homes
+ Share the power and the prob-
lems. Get members directly involved
in handling tough issues.
+ Tell the public about the jobs
security officers do. AFSCME has
prepared a special slide show on
ty the ment bers of the L
1s for returning senior nano he corps.
stringent esting require
‘The senior members had never before been subjected to such require-
ments, After negotiations a the local level, conducted by Mugavin, and
ie state level,
the state to arte job security fr our senior members when the new
testing regulations are implemented for future seasons,
In the City of Albany, with the a
istance of Hollis V. Chase, Council 82
umes Tull
U
Officer Leonard Ci
ion, Counci 82 succeeded in recovering more than $3,000 in back pay for
nimings, in full se
ement of a disciplinary charge in
which the city sought Officer Cumming’s dismissal from the Albany Police
Department.
Hill Hired By Quality Committee
(Continued from page 1)
In the Assembly, Hill, who will re-
ceive an annual salary of $83,000, was
director of research for the House Op-
erations Comr Before that, he
had been legislative coordinator and
program analyst on the program and
committee staff for the Assembly Com-
‘mittee on Governmental Employees.
Division of the Budget and the De-
partment of Civil Service.
So far, four projects, totaling nearly
$140,000, have been approved by the
jointly-operated committee. The four
ie: $10.00 the Employment Con.
tinui of the Department of
Givi ser icetocover the ¢provated cost
Council
eceived $1 mil-
lion for its programs and projects in
the first year of a two-year plan.
& ton for an employee attitude
survey at Green Haven to identity the
Another $1 million
joint committee's programs and pro-
jects in the second ye
Gurrenty, the committee is reciv-
ing proposals from the various locals
correction officers; $67,021 for the pi-
{ot project for a meeting space and re-
creational facility at Great Meadow,
and $20,713 to complete a two-year pi-
lot Employee Assistance Program at
‘one to convert a vacant school build-
(explain to
public just what prison life is like,
ing at Great Fa
cility in Comstock, to serve as a recrea-
aimed at laying
Don MacDonald, a security treat-
ment officer at Mid-Hudson Psychiat-
rie Center and a shop steward of his
local, endorsed the goal: “I've learned
‘more in the last few hours on how to
officers face. Members can boost
morale by getting that story to the
public.
‘The only limit on strategies is imagin-
ation.
tional facility
members.
holds bachelor's degree anda
master’s degre in labor relations and
labor economics from Albany State
University. He also worked for the
tional Services.
The latter program was fu
principally by the federal Law En-
forcement Assistance Administration,
and is designed to elpemploye wih
medical and personal prot
$20,718 grant will rie fun Tans or
the final six months of the two-year
program.
COUNCIL 82 REVIEW
Member of the Month Slattery Loses Race with Buick,
COUNCIL 62 REVIEW
KIRKLAND ON JOBS
Gary Hinkson
Jarome McDonald
Officers Reveal Method of Opening Safety
Razors by Inmates to Obtain Razor Blades
‘Two Downstate Correctior
ity officers, both members of Council
82 Local 399, have headed off poten-
tally dangeoussiutionsin jailsand
correctional all over New
York State with het doves of how
easy it is to open a state safety razor.
‘The pair, Gary Hinkson and Jerome
McDonald, found that the state safety
razors can be opened without the key
that is carried by some prison personnel.
“They can be opened with a plastic
ballpoint pen!
McDonald was issuing safety razors
tohis block in Downstate Correctional
Facility in Fishkill, when an inmate
informed him that the razors could be
‘opened withouta key
The correction officer said that the
inmate told him that, if he melted the
end of a plastic pen and stuck it into
the safety razor slot, the pen will
hharden and act as a safety razor key.
Hinkson, who was McDonald's es-
cort officer that day, with his fellow
officer, witnessed an on-the-spot experi
‘ment performed by the in
McDonald said that he gave the in-
mate a safety razor that he had just
locked tight with the safety key.
“The inmate, McDonald said, “melted
the end of the Bie pen and stuck it in
the safety razor key slot to let it harden,
He then turned the Bic pen in the
safety razor key slot until it had com-
pletely opened the safety razo
hhada safety razor key. The Bic pen was
then removed and tried in other safety
razors which it also opened without
any difficulties.”
A report on the device was written
immediately by MeDonald, who told
their supervisor that thematter should
be “looked into and considered very
carefully... (for) the welfare of the
mates and (of) my fellow correction
officers
Thooeh it might not appear s0 to
those unfamiliar with the inside of a
prison, the dangers represented by
Toose razor blades are well known 10
conection officers and other prison
nel. The concern of officers and
ir prompt action in reporting that
concer may well have prevented in-
juny 10, or the death of, inmates or of-
ficers somewhere within New York
State's prison system,
PuBLic SCHOOLS ARE.
Wins The Day for Two Tots
(Continued from page !)
ting thereasifa St, Patrick's Day drive
‘was an everyday occurrence.
nately, the car was not going
sery fast, but that di tslse the probs
‘of how to stop it, After all, there
eno reins, and Slattery couldn't
lean over and stop the Buick,
Complicating matters was, of course,
other traffic.
off on foot to run down the Buick
‘Observers later noted that Slattery was
lucky that he didn't swallow his ever-
present toothpick during the dash.
Resizing that he was losing the
ven tho the
was just poking along, Slattery de-
Cie thatthe best he col do was to
stop the wali in the other lanes, the
lanes where the white Buick v
headed as it crossed the median, sii
the two small occupants apparently
savored their joy ride
Slattery went screaming and waving
his hands toward the lines of waffic
and managed to stop the traffic in
plenty of time toallow the white Buick
to crossall three lanes, jump the curb
cover the sidewalk, and strike a metal
‘guard rail
When it was all over, it was disco-
vered that the two small occupants
were none the worse for the wear and,
in fact, came through it without a
scratch, Slattery may have been the
only one to have suffered somewhat,
not used todoing sprintsand handsig
nals at the same time, not to mention
racing, cars in a unique way.
The “driver” was thought to be just
abit under two years old, but neither of
the car's occupants were up t0 a de-
tailed description of their experience
A local police officer indicated that
the mother ofthe pair had parked the
car just for a minute (0 talk t0 her
husband, when the car, somehow, by
itselfor with alittle help froma friend,
shifted into gear and took off. He did
say, however, that, if t hadn't been for
Slattery's stopping of the traffic in the
fother lanes, the white Buick might
have collided with the other cars
For Slattery, it was all in avery un-
usual St. Patrick's Day.
No
KEEPAN EVE ONTAK
pee
MAKE SURE THEY ARE FAIR.
Answers to
YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE
Questions
Ina in kept mesh bee infoned sb tee roup
ih nthly basis
lemtify
ofthe benefits provided under the New Vork statewide plan
‘mat, we will
aveasp
ters in Albany. Your active participation is requesed on a continuing bass.
Any questions, however simple or seemingly complex, are solicited, in the
”
their health insurance coverage.
answer,
(b) Each question must be answered by a check mark or fi
)
claim,
r
prompt p 1
form.
of Be
calendar year,
(6) Plan pays 100 perc
(d) IMPORTANT: The
calendar year is $625.
(d) If you wish payments to be made ditectly to your doctor or
surgeon, you may authorize the Metropolitan to do so by completing
and signing the second page of the claim form entitled “Assignment
Q. How does the Metropolitan statewide major medical plan work?
A. (a) You ate responsible for the first $75 of covered expenses in a
(b) Plan pays 80 pecent of the next $2,000 of covered expenses.
calendar year maximum payment of $2
maximum any individual would have to
pay out of hisor her own pocket for covered expenses in any calendar
year is $75 deductible and 20 percent of the first $2,000 or $400, fora
total of only $475. Maximum family out-of-pocket expense in a
We ot cond expenses, up t0 a
[Washington 2, |
Linden pave
by Press Asociates, Inc
Legal Services, used by Elderly
and Poor, Due for Elimination by
President Reagan’s Budget Proposals
In the orgy of budgetcutting pushed by the Reagan Administration and
‘apitol Hill, I
given are the need to cut waste and fight inflation. So it seems odd that
1 Services Corpora-
tion, a model of efficiency and imtegrity in serving the poor
The idea of equal justice under law is part of the very foundation upon
which this nation rests, In 1963, the Supreme Court acknowledged
se lawyer can make some people mote equal than others. In
Gideon vs. Wainwright, the high court ruled that people charged
p ap
This decision ingpired the public defenders system in criminal law
However, the cost of legal aid still prevented some people from being equal
under civil aw. Recognizing this disparity, the American Bar Association, in
1965, under the leadership of its ther-president Lewis F, Powell—now Su-
C
preme Co t
civil eases. The ABA pledged at that time wo cooperate with the federal Office
of PP to make civil legal © 10 the poor.
‘Then Congress in 1974 created the Legal Services Corporation to “provide
“Ifyou believe that Madison Avenue
value in America. That is why even
in work are a substitute for the proper
tools, sufficient time todo the job, and
basic respect forthe dignity and worth
of the individual, then we have no-
thing in common.
“Work and pride in work still have
ing workers.”
Lane Kirkland, AFL-CIO presi
dent, 1980, in aspeech presented in his
behalfata conference of the American
Productivity Center, Houston, Texas
Two IP Charges Against the State
Claim Unilateral Changes of Duties
Council 82 has filed two improper
practice charges against two state
agencies involving refusal vnegotiate
in good faith, and charging that man-
agement made unilateral changes in
the terms and conditions of employ-
ment
The Department of Correctional
Services has been charged with desig
nating a number of sergeants as “act-
ing lieutenants,” directing them to
perform lieutenant duties on a regular
unilaterally change the ermsandcon-
ditions of employment of a number of
building guards and Capital Police
offices
In both cases, Thomas Holland,
Council 82 executive director, sai
the state has refused t0 negotiate in
rood faith regarding the changes in
terms and conditions.
Under the guise of reorganization of
the building guards and members of
the Capital Poli
basis without receiving p
toplace these me the security
tions.
In the charge, Council 82 contends
that such actions constitute a unilat-
cral change in terms and conditions of
‘employment for the members who are
being subjected to the duties and re-
a
adequate legal counsel.”
1 egal
needs of poor people in housing problems, consumer disputes, family law
matters and other civil law problems,
In 1981, the more than 6,000 lawyers employed in 328 local andl state
programs handled ove 15 milion aes, The fea appropriation tr the
$521 million.
inthet'S, Only
about 3 percent ofits budget goes for administrative costs
The maximum income levels to qualify for help from Legal Services are
$4,738 per year for an individual or $9313 for a family of four.
A p of problemsL.
ally handle
+ Joseph Velardoof Boston hi
without any of the contractual benefits
that go with them.
Also, the Office of General Services
hhas been charged with attempting to
BIG CHICKEN AND FRIENDS—"Super-
chicken” and his triends kicked off
‘boycott of Perdue poultry In front of
‘suburban Maryland grocery store. The
Unlad Food and Commercial Workers
has charged Perdue with ut
practices in closing plants and rai
Ing workers to fight Mmlonlaaon The
A in
his ayarincn released fumes which aggravated his breathing meme,
charged the company with untar trade
an eviction notice and refused to fix the heater
Alva Smith
. I. ove,
‘are: Mike Fusco, UFCW Local 400 busl-
‘ness agent (Superchicken); Dave Laws,
Local 400;
5 aemonth San Francisco apartment, She and her daughter, who has
ung cancer, were threatened with eviction from their apartment so the
tan ‘could supposedly fix up the building and raise the rents
4 Adam Krantzof Denver, Colo,, isan oldman whodoesn'tread or write
very well. He says a salesman offered him a free wall insulation for his
to be used as. prosp
‘customers. After signing some papers, he was presented with a bill for
{$1,800 for wall insulation. If he doesn't pay, he could lose his home
Legal Services helps poor people with problems like these—often without
having to go to court.
100 President Tom McNutt, a
Bradley, president of Maryland-District
‘of Columbia AFL-CIO. (Via PAI Photo
Service)
supervisors unit, “inanattempttocit-
‘cumvent the seniority and bidding
rights these employees have
uunder the security unit contract," Hol-
land said.
Holland declared that the union is
“committed to protect all contractual
rights of our members and will take
whatever steps are necessary to redress
these violations of the Civil Service
plans
poverty la
to-cut back on welfare programs.
_ he sal Reagan's people remember what happened in Sacramento, and
Le
secking to destroy the corporation?
Some ate convinced the motive is political
to the poor. Ci Les
I Services
Vike us around.”
T
cy wanted todo. They don't want people
the poor. Rather itis lumping funds for that and dozens of other programs
the job: th id
the job over:
i]
localities, They woh
The
forced 21 counties
stamp and schoo! lunch program an to restore the cuts
Following his loss in this bate in 1970, Reagan vetoed a $1.8 million
agency
on behalf of the poor.
that
One doesn't ha
that
Assi
ance om the grounds thatthe proverty law agency had “misused taxpayer
funds and... failed in its mandated purpose of serving the true civil legal
needs of the poor
However, a blue-ribbon commission appointed by OEO to investigate
Reagan's claims called the California Rural Services agency “competent,
efficient and exemplary,” with not a “shred of evidence showing actual
misconduct.” The grant was restored
peop s bea repeat
of the California Situation, Ralph Abascal, general counsel of California
Rural Legal Assistance, said in a recent New York ‘Times interview that
peop
the redefin-
ibility in the states. The only recourse of the poor would be legal
ng of
services. So shoot the lawyers
a ha ‘must be one ofits proudest moments, the very conservative Ame
Bar Association came to the defense of Legal Services. ABA President
William ReeeeSmith Yi tokda press conference in the nation’s capita:
d
cava nd justice ‘i all its people.
that
some, not just to those who can alfordit, but ial of our people.”
COUNCIL 82 REVIEW
Legislative Report
By Ralph Kent
Council 82
Legislative Director
A
Good Relations With Legislators
Result of Council Lobbying Day
The March lobbying day in support of the 25-year, half-pay corrections
bill proved to be one of the best the council can remember,
We' d mail Senate and Assembly
fon our visits during that time, and Libink that our members who were
involved made favorable impressions on all those they came into contact
with during the lobbying effort
The New York State conection officers can be proud of their efforts and
the outstanding presentation they made. You were welhreceived and the
Senate and Aysembly know there are a lot of concerned people out in the
facilities
personally aay that yourelforts, "
yy members of both the Senate and Assembly
We will be moving forward on a bigger tarnout for the month of May
K Ed
Lack of CO Staff Causes Great
Problems for Council 82 Members
Who Work in Manhattan
& conection officer was mugged
ton his way to work on the HL panic?
a.m. shift in a New York City tempo
rary release facility of the State De-
partment of Correctional Services last
December
*Th hon April 12, at about
put forth much extra effort, with no
compensation or appreciation ex-
pressed by management.”
AtLincoln last month, there wasan
escape of an inmate who was awaiting
disciplinary transfer, he pointed out,
8:40 pamn..aman walked up tothe half
inch, bullet-proof glass on the inmate
entrance door at Fulton Correctional
Facility in Manhattan, carrying «two:
by-four. He beat on the glass for some
time until it broke
Inmates in temporary release fa
cilities—which are merely buildings
inaneighborhood.withoutanysectare
perimeter—let down their “fishing”
lines, and accomplices attach various
items of contraband to the line so that
the inmate can retrieve the lineand the
contraband through the window,
sometimes as high as the 10th floor
All of the
rection officers in Co
Our thanks goto Tom Holland, John Burke, Jim Sipe, J
Draves and his staff for their efforts and assistance.
John Evans, our new Council 82 secretary, is moving on the binding
ueiffs,and Dave Smith h *
‘on the peace officer amendment for safety officers, Steve Wood of the envir:
‘onmental conservation officers and his cew are working on the transfer bil.
We've had meetings with campus police on legislative problems, meet
ings with the State Office of General Services about secusity officers, with the
Department of Mental Hygieneon thequestion of on-duty peace officers, and
wwe have been following-up on the State Penal Law anel Criminal Procedure
Law which affect Council 82's police units
On another legislative matter, we're shooting fora per
one that doesn’t have to be voted on every few years. Like to explain the!
Dill to our members, as a majority are’assuming, it will give you a three
quarter disability pension if you have a heart attack,
Basically, the bill says: If you have a heart attack or a beartrelated
disability, on oroff duty, the heartattack isjob-related, On oroff duty isnot an
issue, That isa q De assured that
ages of staff at the three faciliti
Manhattan where the local members
work—Edgecomb, Lincoln, and Ful-
ton Correctional Facilities, according
to Wendell Hill, local president.
“Overtime has been drastically in-
creased,” said Hill, explaining, “Last
October, the state cut eight people out
‘of Edgecomb's staff and sent them to
Bayview to staff parole violators unit
there, and they refused to replace these
people, Management's
‘our type of facility don't call for any
increased amount of staffing, but this
is pure nonsense. There have been in-
juries to officers both inside an
side the facility.”
it’s an uphill fight from that point on, ay the state does not freely give
three-quarter pensions
flicers for
security rounds, fire checks, or safety
checks, either inside or outside, At a
’ a the job,
and they found that itis one long process. Getting you a heat hill is just
stating that it is job-related, nothing more
THE UNION_LABEL = FOR SAFETY ON THE JOB
lab meeting in mid
April, he added, Edgecombe's man-
agement agreed that the staff is inade-
quate in size, but that the super
imtendent is unable to secure more
officer,
“The officers feel that they have
been slapped in the face by manage-
ment,” said Hill, “because they have
p
have happened if there had been ade-
quate correction officer staffing 10
cover all housing units
At Fulton, Hill said, "We have the
same problem, We have to worry not
only about what happens inside, but
‘wealso have to worry about vandalism
and terroristic acts outside the perime-
ter. It is ongoing,”
Another problem is the influx of
New York City prisoners into state pris
cons such as Edgecombe, Lincoln, and
Fulton
Hill said that the"weekenders” who
are arriving atthe thee facilites every
Friday night are predominantly white-
collar criminals who are se
on weekends. They spend the weekend
in the state prison, and leave Sunday
evening, 48 hours alter arrival,
The state contends, said Hill, that
they do not take much more effort to
1 the regular inmates, since
they are only there for two full days.
According to Ron Brown, Council
£82 staff representative, the “weekend
ers" requite 48 hours of supervision
‘each week, while the “regulars,” who
are on work-release at least five days
per week, only require 50 hours of su
pervision per week.
Allofthisis done, said both Hill and
Brown, with the same number of offi
cers, because the state dos not see the
additional inmates as a problem. Both
‘of them observed that the officers are
shorthandal, even without the influxof
“weekenders.” ‘The weekly population
c, for example, is about
“weekenders,” said Hill.
Officers at Edgecombe and Fulton
have filed cross action grievance,
claiming that conditions are not safe
because of lack of adequate staffing,
said Hill,
ae
MG
"
A
.
:
we
. Study: Aid Cuts Destroy Incentive of Poor
ne
ee
oe i Ke ?
EO Mo /
a ae : | bog
Rl
MEANS UNION STANDARDS = FORMASAFETY COMMITTEE
COUNCIL 82
APSCME~AFL-CiO
68 Colvin Avenue Wa. 113
Albany, New York 12206 Non ral Or
US. Postage
PAID
Subscribers who wish to change theit Mailing Address please complete and
return to COUNCIL 82.
WASHINGTON (PAI)—The com-
bined effect of Reagan Administration
‘cutbacks in federal ai programs would
working poor to work harder 10
make up the difference. This is a
departure from the policy of pre-
and leave them little betier off than
those on welfare, thus destroying the
incentive to work, according to a re-
cent study
The report, by the University of
Chicago Center for the Study of Wel-
fare Policy, shows the impact of pro-
posed reductions on working and non-
‘working poor families in 10 states,
After considering the impact of cuts
to the Aid to Families with Dependent
Children (AFDC), food stamps, Medi-
‘aid, public housing, and emergency
fuel assistance and job programs, the
center concluded:
%& The Reagan
to build work incentives into the
welfare system by supplementing
the income of low-paid, poverty-
workers in order to increase
differencesin disposable income be-
tween earners and non-carners
4 In some states, the proposed
budget reductions would make the
differences in disposable income be-
‘tween earners and non-carners al-
most negligible, Forexample, based
fon average monthly income of a
mother with two children, the dif-
ferences between earners and non-
carers would be reduced from $64
under the current system, to nodif-
ferenceunder
hheld that the cuts will hurt low in-
come workers only modestly and,
rather than reducing the incentive
towork,
In Utah, the difference would be re-
duced from $11610§8. In New York,
thedifference woulddrop from $162
to $15.
