Official publication of
The Civil Service Employees
Association
Vol. 3, No. 27
Wednesday, April 15, 1981
(ISSN 0164 9949)
Eviction notice, car seizure at
center of pair of union efforts
to prevent'unilateral clianges'
"Unilateral change" attempts in terms and conditions of employment come in many forms. And
while an eviction effort and loss of a car may not appear too usual, one of them already is fairly common and the other could become so, as the twp stories below suggest.
I
Hght eviction notice
I I
NEW YORK CITY - An Improper Practice
charge has been filed against Manhattan
Psychiatric Center (MPC) in an attempt by
CSEA to prevent the eviction of MPC Local 413
member Milan Cais from his State-owned
residence.
According to Metropolitan Region II Director
George Bispham, if MPC succeeds in evicting
Cais, it would set a precedent for the eviction of
other State employees who live in State-owned
residences.
Cais has resided on the grounds of MPC
without interruption since he was hired by the institution in 1972. His rent of approximately $35
per pay period is deducted directly from his pay
check.
In the IP, CSEA maintains that the MPC
management has ''no substantial reason" for
revoking what is a significant benefit of Cais'
employment, and that the eviction "constitutes a
unilateral change in the terms and conditions of
Cais' employment" without negotiations.
"The fact that MPC has provided a residence
to Cais and charged him for it for the past 9
years certainly constitutes a past practice that
cannot be changed without negotiations,"
Bispham said.
Car ordered restored
OSSINING - Ossining's Assistant Building
Inspector Louis Caraisco will get his Village^
supplied automobile back, thanks to a recent arbitrator's decision. His case is just the latest in a
string of recent decisions in which New York
public employers have been ordered to restore
use of vehicles to CSEA members.
When Caraisco was hired as assistant building
and plumbing inspector of Ossining in 1978, he
was told that he would be furnished with a
village vehicle as part of the compensation of the
job.
Last November, the Village Manager informed
him of a "change in policy" and directed him to
give up the car.
CSEA filed a grievance, asserting that the furnishing of a vehicle to Caraisco qualified as a
benefit under the contract and that the Village
was obligated to keep the benefit in full force and
effect. The union also argued that the grievant
was entitled to receive compensation for out-ofpocket expenses incurred since he was deprived
of the vehicle in November.
Arbitrator Martin Scheinman agreed, ordering
the Village to return the Vehicle and compensate
Caraisco for his expenses.
State employees
paid in scrip;
hassle continues
ALBANY — State employees are continuing to
receive "scrip" as payment for earnings as the
result of the continuing deadlock between the
Legislature and the Governor over a state budget
for the fiscal year that began on April 1.
Already the state has issued "scrip" to state
employees on the Administrative and Institutional
payrolls and until the deadlock is resolved, the
problem will continue. CSEA lobbyists are working
between the legislative and executive branches to
try and enact an acceptable state budget.
For some state employees, the problem is even
worse. Employees of "temporary commissions"
and agencies not proposed for funding in the Governor's budget proposal are receiving nothing. The
state Department of Audit and Control says state
law does not allow issuance of "scrip," essentially
a promissory note, unless there is an expectation
that an employee's item will continue to be funded.
Some state workers have found cashing "scrip" a
time consuming process at banks and often impossible at grocery stores and check cashing services. Most bänks in the state do, however, honor
"scrip."
Retirees local, 3000-members strong,
holds its inaugural event in Florida
NEW PORT RICKEY, FLA. - CSEA
retirees from throughout the Sunshine State
gathered here April 4 to participate in the
inaugural event of CSEA's newest retirees
local, the 3,000-member Florida State
Retirees Local 950.
Some'400 members from as far away as
Miami and Jacksonville attended the event in
the Tampa Bay area,
"With so many CSEA retirees now living in
Florida, it's only natural that a local be
established in the popular retirement state,"
commented Executive Director Joseph
mite
or Call
Dolan, who officiatied at the swearing-in
ceremony. "And judging by their tremendous
turn-out at this inaugural event, their interest
in CSEA is active and enthusiastic."
Officers installed at the gathering were:
Louis P. Colby, President; Howard Anderson,
First Vice President; Owen Thomas, Second
Vice President; Anita Disanti, Treasurer;
Benjamin Buyer, Corresponding Secretary;
and Rose Kunzie, Recording Secretary.
Also in attendance at the ceremony was
special guest Melba Binn, CSEA's Statewide
Retirees Committee Chairperson.
JOINT LABOR-MANAGEMENT tours of state mental
hygiene facilities, begun last fall, continued recently
with visits to both Monroe and Newark Developmental
Centers in CSEA's Western Region. CSEA President
William L. McGowan, right, talks with an employee in
above photo while Western Region President Robert
Lattimer looks on. Story on page 7.
YOUR SENATORS, CONGRESSMEN
CSEA is asking every member to write or call their U.S. Senators and
Congressmen from New York to protest the projected loss of federal aid to
New York State under the proposed 1982 Federal Budget. Send letters to
Senators D'Amato and Moynihan at Senate Office Building, Washington,
D.C. 20515; and to your Congressman at House Office Building,
Washington, D.C. 20515. See last week's Public Sector for list of
Congressmen. Call both your Senators and Congressman at (202) 224-3121.
Do it today, you can make a difference.
Labor-management both attend reception
Syosset celebrates new DOT facility
S Y O S S E T - T h e r e c e n t o p e n i n g of t h e n e w S t a t e
D e p a r t m e n t of T r a n s p o r t a t i o n f a c i l i t y in S y o s s e t w a s
celebrated with a joint l a b o r - m a n a g e m e n t gettogether at the new facility.
The new
f a c i l i t y r e p l a c e d a n old, a n t i q u a t e d
f a c i l i t y l o c a t e d in t h e s a m e y a r d .
DOT L o c a l 508 P r e s i d e n t Louis M a n n e l l i n o h a i l e d
t h e o p e n i n g of t h e n e w f a c i l i t y a s a g r e a t i m p r o v e m e n t
in w o r k i n g c o n d i t i o n s f o r t h e C S E A m e m b e r s w o r k i n g
at Syosset DOT. He said CSEA has been working for
m a n y y e a r s to i m p r o v e t h e w o r k i n g c o n d i t i o n s a t
Syosset.
THE OLD — The former Syosset DOT facility, above, is located in
the same yard as the new one.
AND THE NEW — Syosset's new DOT facility gets the once over
from State Department of Transportation Local 508 President Louis
Mannellino, right, and Local 508 Safety Chairman Phil Bertuglia.
The two men view the creation of the new facility as a great improvement in working conditions at the Syosset DOT.
ON HAND FOR THE OPENING of the new DOT Syosset facility are Local 508 members, from
left, John Biddle, Treasurer Vincent LeDonne, Joseph Simeave, Donald Holley, Charles
Eidenweil, James Miller and Richard Rose.
LOCAL 508 PRESIDENT Louis Mannellino, above right,
shakes hands with Resident Engineer Raymond Cordes
at the opening of the new DOT facility in Syosset. Joining
them are Assistant Resident Engineers, from left, Peter
Jakltsch and Richard Ivery.
ATTENDING THE OPENING OF THE new DOT
facility in Syosset left, are, from left, Andrew Krigsman,
Annie Uran, Dorothy Stingley, Maria Brace and Richard
Lamb, all of Local 508.
Pag^ ?
THE PUBLIC, SECTOR., Wednesday, A p r i l 1 • 19Q1
Worker reliability
precedent set
in Plattsburgh
P L A T T S B U R G H — M a n a g e m e n t ' s unstated concerns about an
e m p l o y e e ' s possible unrealiability, based on previous undisciplined tardiness,
c a n n o t be used a s a b a s i s to d e n y p r o m o t i o n to a p o s t e d n o n - c o m p e t i t i v e
c l a s s position, when t h e d e t e r m i n i n g f a c t o r s a r e s e n i o r i t y a n d t e c h n i c a l
ability.
So r u l e d a r b i t r a t o r M a u r i c e B e n e w i t z in a d i s p u t e b e t w e e n C S E Ä L o c a l
612 a n d t h e S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y a t P l a t t s b u r g h .
In April 1979, C S E A m e m b e r M a r t i n Selby a p p l i e d f o r t h e position of
m o t o r e q u i p m e n t r e p a i r m a n , g r a d e 12, a n d w a s t h e only " i n s i d e " c a n d i d a t e .
T h e U n i v e r s i t y i n t e r v i e w e d Selby, b u t f a i l e d to a p p o i n t h i m to t h e p o s t e d
v a c a n c y . When C S E A filed a g r i e v a n c e on behalf of t h e e m p l o y e e , t h e f i r s t
s t e p a n s w e r s t a t e d t h a t t h e w o r k e r ' s s u p e r v i s o r s " f e l t his a t t e n d a n c e a n d
r e l i a b i l i t y w a s of s u c h a n a t u r e t o p r o h i b i t a p r o m o t i o n a t t h i s t i m e . "
C S E A r e s e a r c h into t h e g r i e v a n t ' s w o r k r e c o r d found t h a t h e h a d n e v e r
been d i s c i p l i n e d n o r given w r i t t e n c o u n s e l l i n g c o n c e r n i n g t i m e a n d a t t e n d a n c e . E v a l u a t i o n s of S e l b y ' s p e r f o r m a n c e in J a n u a r y 1978 a n d F e b r u a r y
1979 found t h e g r i e v a n t a v e r a g e o r a b o v e a v e r a g e in all f a c t o r s .
T e s t i m o n y d e s c r i b e d a s e r i e s of e v e n t s w h i c h led to t h e g r i e v a n t ' s
r e s i g n i n g his j o b a t P l a t t s b u r g h f o r a s h o r t p e r i o d of t i m e . H e w a s l a t e r
rehired and passed a second probationary period before applying for the
g r a d e 12 p r o m o t i o n a l o p p o r t u n i t y .
A p p a r e n t l y , local m a n a g e m e n t d o u b t e d S e l b y ' s r e l i a b i l i t y a t t h e t i m e of
t h e s e c o n d h i r i n g ; h o w e v e r , t h e y f a i l e d to b r i n g t h i s i s s u e to h i s a t t e n t i o n
during the promotional job interview.
In t h e a r b i t r a t i o n h e a r i n g , C S E A held t h a t t h e a c t i o n of t h e e m p l o y e r in
CONGRATULATIONS — Joseph E. McDermott, CSEA Capital Region
president, left, extends congratulations to CSEA member Martin Selby as
CSEA greivance chairman Barbara Duesberg looks on . . . Selby's case may
be precedent-setting in various ways.
f a i l i n g to p r o m o t e Selby m e e t s t h e C o u r t of A p p e a l s d e f i n i t i o n of a r b i t r a r y
c o n d u c t : t h a t w h i c h h a s no sound b a s i s in f a c t . T h e j u d g m e n t on S e l b y ' s
reliability was " a personal judgment, a subjective judgment, completely arb i t r a r y , " according to CSEA attorney Michael Smith.
A r b i t r a t o r B e n e w i t z n o t e d in his d e c i s i o n : " S e l b y w a s n e v e r a s k e d f o r
a n e x p l a n a t i o n of his a b s e n c e s e i t h e r a t t h e t i m e t h e y o c c u r r e d o r a t t h e
t i m e of his c a n d i d a c y . H e w a s n e v e r d i s c i p l i n e d f o r t h e m e i t h e r , a n d h a d no
r e a s o n to b e l i e v e t h a t t h e a b s e n c e s w e i g h e d a g a i n s t h i m . "
B a s e d on t h e u n i o n ' s c a s e , B e n e w i t z r u l e d t h a t t h e r e w a s a n a r b i t r a r y
d e c i s i o n . H e r u l e d t h a t S e l b y b e a p p o i n t e d t o t h e position e f f e c t i v e M a y 24,
1979, a n d be a w a r d e d f u l l b a c k p a y , s e n i o r i t y a n d b e n e f i t s .
'EAP coordinators are there to help'
S Y R A C U S E — T h e w e i g h t of p e r s o n a l t r o u b l e s
c a n be s h a r e d t h r o u g h t h e c o u n s e l i n g s e r v i c e s of
the Employee Assistance P r o g r a m ( E A P ) , says
Stanley E. Watson, CSEA Region V's new E A P
representative.
E A P is a s t a t e w i d e p r o g r a m e s t a b l i s h e d by C S E A
under a special grant f r o m the New York State
Division of A l c o h o l i s m a n d Alcohol A b u s e . E A P
coordinators help employees work out and cope
w i t h p r o b l e m s w h i c h a r e d e e p l y a f f e c t i n g t h e i r life,
and thus affecting their job p e r f o r m a n c e .
W a t s o n , w h o w a s a M e t h o d i s t m i n i s t e r f o r 13
y e a r s and an alcoholism c a s e w o r k e r for Oneida
C o u n t y f o r 12 y e a r s , e n c o u r a g e s all C S E A l o c a l s
a n d u n i t s to look into s t a r t i n g E A P s e r v i c e s a t t h e i r
workplaces.
" W h a t e v e r t h e p r o b l e m , w h e t h e r it b e a l c o h o l o r
drug-related, emotional, financial, f a m i l y or
marital, or medical — the E A P coordinators a r e
t h e r e to h e l p , " W a t s o n s a i d .
CSEA Region V m e m b e r s can contact Stanley
W a t s o n a t R e g i o n V ' s h e a d q u a r t e r s in L i v e r p o o l by
phoning (315) 451-6300, o r by p h o n i n g t h e o t h e r
Region V satellite offices. Other CSEA m e m b e r s
should c o n t a c t t h e i r r e g i o n E A P r e p r e s e n t a t i v e .
T h e r e is a l s o a s t a t e w i d e t o l l - f r e e n u m b e r p r o v i d ed by C S E A w h i c h is open to a n y e m p l o y e e in n e e d
of help. T h a t n u m b e r is 1-800-342-3565.
CENTRAL REGION V Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Representative Stanley Watson, right,
joins with EAP Director John Quinn and Long Island Region I EAP Representative Maureen Duggan at
a recent EAP seminar.
5 to 1 vote wraps up St. Lawrence contract
C A N T O N — A n e w t w o - y e a r c o n t r a c t a f f e c t i n g m o r e t h a n 650 St. L a w r e n c e
County e m p l o y e e s w a s r e c e n t l y r a t i f i e d by a v o t e of m o r e t h a n f i v e to o n e by
m e m b e r s of t h e St. L a w r e n c e C o u n t y U n i t of C S E A L o c a l 845.
S t e p h e n A. R a g a n , C S E A F i e l d R e p r e s e n t a t i v e a n d chief n e g o t i a t o r f o r t h e
Unit, a n n o u n c e d t h e n e w a g r e e m e n t is r e t r o a c t i v e to J a n u a r y 1, 1981.
T e r m s of t h e p a c t i n c l u d e s a l a r y i n c r e a s e s f o r e m p l o y e e s on t h e i n c r e m e n t
s c h e d u l e of s e v e n p e r c e n t (7%) t h e f i r s t y e a r , s e v e n p e r c e n t ( 7 % ) e f f e c t i v e
J a n u a r y 1, 1982, plus a n i n c r e a s e in t h e s e c o n d y e a r b a s e d upon t h e C P I .
E m p l o y e e s off t h e i n c r e m e n t s c h e d u l e r e c e i v e d a n e i g h t p e r c e n t (8%) inc r e a s e r e t r o a c t i v e to J a n u a r y 1, 1981, e i g h t p e r c e n t (8%) e f f e c t i v e J a n u a r y 1,
1982, plus an i n c r e a s e in t h e s e c o n d y e a r b a s e d upon t h e C P I .
The new contract also includes a two-step, lump s u m longevity p a y m e n t
s c h e d u l e f o r e m p l o y e e s w i t h s e v e n a n d 15 y e a r s of County s e r v i c e .
C o n t r a c t l a n g u a g e w a s a l s o c h a n g e d to p r o v i d e f o r a n i m p r o v e d s a l a r y a d j u s t m e n t f o r e m p l o y e e s who a r e p r o m o t e d , o r f o r s o m e o t h e r r e a s o n r e c e i v e a
c h a n g e in g r a d e .
Additional b e n e f i t s i n c l u d e a n a d j u s t m e n t u p w a r d in t h e m e d i c a l exa m i n a t i o n f e e p a y m e n t f r o m $15 to $30, a n d a f i f t y p e r c e n t (50%) r e i m b u r s e m e n t by t h e C o u n t y f o r a d d i t i o n a l m e d i c a l t e s t s .
E m p l o y e e s r e q u i r e d to u s e t h e i r p e r s o n a l v e h i c l e s f o r C o u n t y b u s i n e s s will
b e n e f i t f r o m a n e w m i l e a g e a l l o w a n c e of 23 c e n t s p e r m i l e , a d j u s t e d to 24 c e n t s
p e r m i l e J u l y 1, 1981, a n d 25 c e n t s p e r m i l e J a n u a r y 1, 1982.
A n e w h o u r l y r a t e f o r on-call e m p l o y e e s , a n d n e w l a n g u a g e r e g a r d i n g w o r k
c l o t h i n g d a m a g e d w h i l e on t h e job, a r e a l s o c o v e r e d by t h e a g r e e m e n t .
St. L a w r e n c e C o u n t y a l s o a g r e e d to s p o n s o r t r a i n i n g c o u r s e s a n d allow
e m p l o y e e s to a t t e n d j o b - r e l a t e d c o u r s e s or w o r k s h o p s d u r i n g r e g u l a r w o r k i n g
h o u r s on a c a s e - b y - c a s e b a s i s , p r o v i d i n g e m p l o y e e s r e i m b u r s e t h o s e h o u r s a t
another time.
T h e n e w a g r e e m e n t c o n c l u d e d n e g o t i a t i o n s w h i c h b e g a n in O c t o b e r , 1980,
a n d followed a n e a r l i e r s e t t l e m e n t i m p o s e d by t h e C o u n t y in J u l y of 1980.
In a d d i t i o n to R a g a n , o t h e r m e m b e r s of t h e Unit N e g o t i a t i n g T e a m included R i c h a r d R e n o , P r e s i d e n t of L o c a l 845, F l o r a J a n e B e a t o n , J o e S e a v e y , J e r r y
M a r t i n , Ada W a r n e r , I r v Stowell, a n d J a c k O ' C o n n o r .
THE PUBLIC .<?ECTOR-; W e t f n e i d a y , A p r i l - ' f ^ r ' 1 ^ 5 1
fiPublic—
SSECTOR
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If not equality, at least comparable worth!
F o r t y - t w o (42) p e r c e n t of t h e f e m a l e w o r k
f o r c e a r e t h e sole s u p p o r t of t h e i r f a m i l i e s ! P r o j e c t i o n s a r e t h a t by 1990, 14 million w o r k i n g
w o m e n w i t h young c h i l d r e n will b e in t h e l a b o r
m a r k e t , both public a n d p r i v a t e s e c t o r s . In 1970,
43 p e r c e n t of t h e a d u l t w o m e n w o r k f o r c e w o r k e d
o u t s i d e of t h e h o m e ; in 1981, t h e r e c o r d is up to
51 p e r c e n t a n d c l i m b i n g ! As t o t h e e a r n i n g g a p ,
50 p e r c e n t o r m o r e w o r k i n g w o m e n e a r n
U N D E R $200.00 p e r w e e k . While b e t t e r t h a n 60
p e r c e n t of t h e w o r k i n g m e n e a r n O V E R $250.00
per week!
W h a t is t h e c a u s e of t h i s e c o n o m i c s e g r e g a t i o n
and w h a t is a p o s s i b l e s o l u t i o n ?
T h e c a u s e c a n b e a t t r i b u t e d to t r a d i t i o n a l
economic discrimination. Women's jobs have
paid less than m e n ' s jobs simply because
women were performing them. Many employers
believed t h a t t h e s e j o b s w e r e not w o r t h a s m u c h
a s t h e j o b s d o n e by m e n ; t h a t w o m e n a r e u s u a l l y
s e c o n d a r y e a r n e r s in a t w o m e m b e r household
a n d , t h e r e f o r e , t h e i r s a l a r y w a s s e c o n d a r y to t h e
m a l e in t h e t r a d i t i o n a l h o u s e h o l d unit.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following are excerpts
from a lengthy speech prepared recently by
Joseph E. McDermott, President of CSEA's
Capital Region IV and an International Vice
President of AFSCME. Originally prepared for
delivery to a relatively small audience, the
speech is excerpted here to give vi'ider distrubution of its content.
We live, w o r k a n d f u n c t i o n in a s t a t e t h a t u s e d
to p r i d e itself on b e i n g c a l l e d " E m p i r e " — f i r s t
a m o n g m a n y ! B u t , d u e to e s t a b l i s h e d s o c i a l ' a n d
e c o n o m i c t r e n d s , NYS h a s f a l l e n p r e y to t h e
v u l t u r e of d e c a y .
In s p i t e of its h a r d t i m e s a n d c a s h f l o w
p r o b l e m s , N Y , unlike m a n y o t h e r s t a t e s , h a s
looked upon its public e m p l o y e e w o r k f o r c e cont r a c t s a s a n a r e a w h e r e positive s o c i a l i d e a s c a n
a n d should b e piloted.
I n n o v a t i v e i d e a s c o n c e i v e d a n d a d v a n c e d by
our union h a v e b e e n i n t e g r a t e d into t h e public
e m p l o y e e d o m a i n by N Y S m a n a g e m e n t w h i l e
o t h e r s t a t e s only look on. L e t us e x a m i n e j u s t one
of t h e s e n e w i d e a s in s o m e d e p t h .
T o d a y , d e s p i t e t h e E q u a l P a y A c t of 1963 a n d
T i t l e 7 of t h e 1964 Civil R i g h t s Act, w h i c h m a k e s
d i s c r i m i n a t i o n in w a g e s illegal u n d e r t h e l a w s of
this g r e a t land, t h e a v e r a g e e a r n i n g s of full t i m e
f e m a l e w o r k e r s a r e only 59 p e r c e n t of t h e e a r nings of full t i m e m a l e w o r k e r s .
L e t ' s look a t tiie i m m e n s e s i z e of t h i s
economic bondage problem —
•
Page 12
t
V V.
>i { V A '
»"J. t
A n o t h e r f a c t o r in t h i s e c o n o m i c d i s c r i m i n a t i o n
w a s t h e f a c t t h a t m e n w e r e m o r e likely to
o r g a n i z e into unions, w h i l e w o m e n w e r e not so
inclined. W o m e n w e r e not e v e n c o n s i d e r e d d u r ing o r g a n i z i n g e f f o r t s by u n i o n s in t h e e a r l y
y e a r s of o r g a n i z e d l a b o r ' s v i o l e n t b i r t h .
P u b l i c e m p l o y e e u n i o n s f o r m e d in t h e e a r l y
1900's did r e c o g n i z e t h e t r u e w o r t h of w o m e n a s
full p a r t n e r s in t h e union m o v e m e n t , h o w e v e r ,
d i s c r i m i n a t o r y w a g e p a t t e r n s h a d a l r e a d y been
e s t a b l i s h e d . Such p a t t e r n s c o n t i n u e b e c a u s e
jobs, both m a l e a n d f e m a l e o c c u p i e d positions,
a r e not päid a c c o r d i n g to t h e i r r e l a t i v e v a l u e to
t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d j o b s of e q u a l v a l u e a r e not
g e n e r a l l y a s s i g n e d s i m i l a r w a g e levels. M a n y
studies have shown that w o m e n ' s jobs a r e often
u n d e r p a i d r e l a t i v e to m e n ' s j o b s , e v e n w h e n t h e y
a r e of c o m p a r a b l e v a l u e o r w o r t h t o t h e
employer.
Obviously, t h e solution to t h e p r o b l e m is a s
m u l t i f a c e t e d a s t h e p r e s e n t c o m p l e x s i t u a t i o n of
male/female employees.
O n e solution is i n t e g r a t i o n of t h e w o r k f o r c e
a t t h e w o r k p l a c e . If m e n a n d w o m e n w e r e evenly and e q u a l l y d i s t r i b u t e d a m o n g all o c c u p a t i o n s ,
t h e e a r n i n g g a p b e t w e e n m e n a n d w o m e n should,
in t h e o r y , close.
But, t h e o r y d o e s not q u i c k l y b e c o m e r e a l i t y ;
t h a t t r a n s i t i o n will t a k e m a n y y e a r s b e f o r e t h e
e m p l o y m e n t p a t t e r n s of m e n a n d w o m e n
b e c o m e s i m i l a r . And, of c o u r s e , t h e r e a r e
s t u m b l i n g blocks in t h e j o u r n e y .
F i r s t , t h e c u r r e n t e x p a n s i o n of e m p l o y m e n t
I M U Ml,
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, March 15, 1981
o p p o r t u n i t i e s is p r i m a r i l y in t h e c l e r i c a l a n d s e r vice occupations, w h e r e women a r e a l r e a d y
highly c o n c e n t r a t e d . E m p l o y m e n t in t h e h i g h e r
paid b l u e c o l l a r o c c u p a t i o n s , m a n u f a c t u r i n g
c r a f t s a n d c o n s t r u c t i o n is not g r o w i n g . B e c a u s e
of t h i s l a c k of o p p o r t u n i t i e s , w o m e n w h o w a n t
the higher paying m a l e dominated jobs m a y have
to w a i t unlil t h e blue c o l l a r m a r k e t is
r e v i t a l i z e d . C o n v e r s e l y , s i g n i f i c a n t n u m b e r s of
m e n will h a v e to e n t e r t r a d i t i o n a l l y w o m e n ' s occ u p a t i o n s . T h i s is unlikely to h a p p e n w h i l e w a g e s
for w o m e n ' s jobs remain depressed.
A n o t h e r f a c t o r is t h a t w o m e n will b e f a c i n g
social b a r r i e r s w h e n e n t e r i n g n o n - t r a d i t i o n a l
fields. T h e s e b a r r i e r s w i l l ^ o t fall easily or
q u i c k l y d e s p i t e t h e b e s t e f f o r t s of i n t e r e s t
groups, Equal E m p l o y m e n t Opportunity Commissions and the courts. Certainly, as s o m e
w o m e n r a p i d l y t a k e up t h e c h a l l e n g e of c h a n g e ,
o t h e r s will s e e k to c o n t i n u e in* t h e p r e s e n t l y est a b l i s h e d c a r e e r a r e a s w h i c h t h e y find p e r s o n a l ly p l e a s a n t a n d s e l f - s a t i s f y i n g .
If a n y union could d a r e c l a i m m e m b e r s h i p
equality f r o m its very beginning then the
A s s o c i a t i o n of Civil S e r v i c e E m p l o y e e s , f o r m e d
in 1910 a n d l a t e r known a s C S E A should c l a i m
that honor.
W o m e n h a v e p l a y e d a m a j o r r o l e in t h e h i s t o r y
of public s e c t o r u n i o n i s m a n d t h e y o f t e n a r e t h e
b a c k b o n e s of o u r C S E A L o c a l s a n d U n i t s . C S E A
h a d its f i r s t f e m a l e S t a t e w i d e P r e s i d e n t in 1934
and currently, CSEA has numerous important
p o s i t i o n s filled by f e m a l e m e m b e r s .
B u t , l e t ' s s p e a k f u r t h e r of j o b t r a n s i t i o n a n d
j o b c h a n g e — a c t i o n s w h i c h will e v e n t u a l l y l e a d
to p o s i t i o n s of c o m p a r a b l e v a l u e , c o m p a r a b l e
worth.
In t h e 1979-82 A d m i n i s t r a t i v e U n i t C o n t r a c t
b e t w e e n C S E A a n d t h e S t a t e of N e w Y o r k , a conc e p t of t r a n s i t i o n , of d e v e l o p i n g e q u a l o p p o r t u n i t y f o r w o m e n , w a s put into u s e a n d b e c a m e a
m i l e s t o n e or n a t i o n a l c e n t e r p i e c e of f i r s t t i m e
c o n c r e t e a c t i o n in t h i s a r e n a .
T h e ASU c o n t r a c t c o v e r s 33,000 m a l e a n d
f e m a l e e m p l o y e e s . It w a s h a m m e r e d o u t by a
n e g o t i a t i o n t e a m of 18 CSEA m e m b e r s (14
f e m a l e , 4 m a l e ) . It i n c l u d e s h i s t o r i c a d d e n d u m
establishing a Clerical and S e c r e t a r i a l
Employees Advancement Program,
the
CSEA/P.
In s u m m a t i o n , C S E A is c o n t i n u i n g its t r a d i t i o n
of b r e a k i n g n e w g r o u n d in t h e public e m p l o y e e
union a r e n a . C S E A e x i s t s to s e r v e t h e n e e d s of
its m e m b e r s . C r e a t i n g n e w c o n c e p t s t h a t i t s '
m e m b e r s n e e d to f o r g e a h e a d , c a r e e r - w i s e , f i t s
this p o s i t i v e i m a g e t h a t o u r Union h a s long enjoyed.
By Ron Wofford
CSEA Communications Associate
GOWANDA — Many Mental Health T h e r a p y Aides at the Gowanda
P s y c h i a t r i c C e n t e r f a c e a p e r p l e x i n g s t a t e of a f f a i r s — including p o o r
m o r a l e , u n d e r s t a f f i n g a n d f o r c e d o v e r t i m e a s t h e y a t t e m p t to c a r r y out
t h e i r daily d u t i e s , C S E A local 408 m e m b e r s a n d o f f i c e r s h a v e r e p o r t e d .
O n e of t h e m o s t d i s t u r b i n g a s p e c t s of t h e i r plight, t h e y s a y , is t h e s e e m ing i n d i f f e r e n c e by m a n a g e m e n t t o e m p l o y e e s ' c o m p l a i n t s .
" T h e r e u s e d to be a t i m e w h e n t h e d i r e c t o r ' s d o o r w a s a l w a y s open f o r
us to c o m e in a n d d i s c u s s a n y p r o b l e m s w e h a d , " said L o c a l 408 P r e s i d e n t
D o r i s S m i t h . " B u t l a t e l y h e s e e m s to h a v e b e c o m e a r e c l u s e a n d is l e t t i n g
others speak for h i m . "
P r e s i d e n t S m i t h w a s joined in o u t l i n i n g a " t r u c k l o a d " of p r o b l e m s a t
t h e p s y c h i a t r i c c e n t e r by f o u r o t h e r s : G r i e v a n c e C h a i r w o m a n Ada R a m s e y ,
T r e a s u r e r R a y S m i t h , C h a i r m a n of t h e O p e r a t i o n a l Unit, D e n n i s Wilson,
a n d C h a i r w o m a n of t h e A d m i n i s t r a t i v e U n i t , Sue Wilson.
O n e of t h e m o s t c o n t r o v e r s i a l d i r e c t i v e s r e c e n t l y issued by t h e psyc h i a t r i c c e n t e r is a r e q u i r e m e n t t h a t e m p l o y e e s h i r e d or t r a n s f e r r e d to t h e
F o r e n s i c Unit sign a c o m m i t m e n t to s t a y w i t h t h e unit " f o r a t l e a s t t w o
years."
" T h i s a m o u n t s to involuntary servitude or s l a v e r y , " said R a y Smith, a
F o r e n s i c aide. " S e v e r a l of us had reluctantly signed the a g r e e m e n t , una w a r e t h a t it w a s n ' t legal until C S E A C o l l e c t i v e B a r g a i n i n g S p e c i a l i s t P a u l
B u r c h i n f o r m e d u s a n d m a n a g e m e n t . T h e y v e r b a l l y a g r e e d to c e a s e listing
s u c h a j o b r e q u i r e m e n t , but t h e v e r y n e x t j o b p o s t i n g h a d t h e e x a c t s a m e
commitment as a qualification."
A c c o r d i n g to R a y S m i t h , t w o i n d i v i d u a l s w e r e r e m o v e d f r o m t h e unit
f o r r e f u s i n g to sign t h e c o m m i t m e n t , " b u t t h e y filed a n d won a g r i e v a n c e on
t h e m a t t e r a n d w e r e quickly t r a n s f e r r e d b a c k to t h e u n i t . "
In a d d i t i o n to t h i s a n d o t h e r w o r r i e s , s u c h a s u n d e r s t a f f i n g a n d i n a d e q u a t e f i r e s a f e t y m e a s u r e s , R a y S m i t h is v e r y c o n c e r n e d a b o u t t h e o v e r l o a d
of p a t i e n t s on t h e F o r e n s i c Unit.
" T h e unit w a s o r i g i n a l l y s e t up f o r 30 p a t i e n t s , " h e said. " R i g h t n o w w e
h a v e 34 — all m a l e s e x c e p t f o r one. T h i s c a u s e s a d d i t i o n a l p r o b l e m s b e c a u s e
t h e r e a r e no f e m a l e b a t h r o o m f a c i l i t i e s . T h i s t y p e of s i t u a t i o n , of c o u r s e ,
d o e s n o t h i n g to a l l e v i a t e a n y of t h e p a t i e n t s ' p r o b l e m s . "
On f i r e s a f e t y . S m i t h h a d t h i s to s a y : " I f a f i r e e v e r s t a r t e d a t night,
t h e r e would b e no w a y out b e c a u s e of t h e w a y t h e d o r m a r e a is laid out.
W e ' v e s u g g e s t e d s e v e r a l r e m e d i e s , b u t so f a r t h e r e h a s n ' t b e e n a n y p o s i t i v e
response."
P r e s i d e n t D o r i s S m i t h said t h e s i t u a t i o n R a y S m i t h d e s c r i b e s is t y p i c a l
of a n u n d e r l y i n g m o r a l e p r o b l e m a t G o w a n d a .
" L o w m o r a l e is h o s p i t a l - w i d e , " s h e s a i d . " I t all c o m e s b a c k t o t h e s a m e
thing — they ( m a n a g e m e n t ) don't c a r e about the problems. They proved
t h a t d u r i n g a r e c e n t r e o r g a n i z a t i o n t h a t w e r e f e r t o a s the ' T h a n k s g i v i n g
D a y M a s s a c r e . ' D e s p i t e all kinds of o b j e c t i o n s b a s e d on c o n c e r n a b o u t t h e
t r a u m a t i c u p r o o t i n g of p a t i e n t s a r o u n d t h e h o l i d a y s , t h e y m a d e a b o u t 500
p a t i e n t m o v e s w h e n t h e y could h a v e a c c o m p l i s h e d t h e s a m e r e s u l t w i t h
a b o u t 200."
P r e s i d e n t Smith noted that m a n a g e m e n t had reopened w a r d s that w e r e
not c l e a n — " p a i n t e r s w e r e still w o r k i n g , no p r o p e r toilet f a c i l i t i e s , no
sheets, towels and other necessities. P a t i e n t s had to sit on the floor until
furniture arrived."
T h e P r e s i d e n t a l s o s a y s p a t i e n t s a r e still b e i n g m o v e d a r o u n d , w h i c h is
very difficult for them. " T h e y get used to the staff working with t h e m .
Nominations deadline nears
W E S T S E N E C A — T h e o p e n i n g of n o m i n a t i o n s f o r o f f i c e a n d n o t i c e
of n o m i n a t i n g d e a d l i n e h a v e b e e n a n n o u n c e d by W e s t S e n e c a
D e v e l o p m e n t a l C e n t e r C S E A L o c a l 427.
T h e o f f i c e s to b e filled a r e P r e s i d e n t , E x e c u t i v e V i c e P r e s i d e n t , 1st,
2nd a n d 3rd V i c e P r e s i d e n t , R e c o r d i n g S e c r e t a r y , C o r r e s p o n d i n g
S e c r e t a r y , T r e a s u r e r , t h r e e D e l e g a t e s a n d 12 E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e
members.
M e m b e r s w i s h i n g to r u n f o r o f f i c e o r n o m i n a t e a c a n d i d a t e m a y o b t a i n
a r e q u e s t f o r m f r o m E u l a S i m m o n s , Bldg. 26, E x t e n s i o n 214, o r K a t h l e e n
T h u s t o n , Bldg. 70, E x t e n s i o n 413 o r 323.
T h e d e a d l i n e f o r n o m i n a t i o n s is A p r i l 22. T h e e l e c t i o n will b e held on
W e d n e s d a y , M a y 27, t i m e s a n d p l a c e s t o b e p o s t e d . Any m e m b e r in good
s t a n d i n g f o r one y e a r is e l i g i b l e to r u n f o r o f f i c e .
408 PRESIDENT
Doris Smith o u t l i n e s a
"truckload" of problems for
employees at the Gowanda Ig;
Psychiatric Center.
'
a l m o s t like f a m i l y , a n d w h e n t h e y ' r e s e p a r a t e d i t ' s v e r y t r a u m a t i c , " s h e
said. " M a n y p a t i e n t s a r e still s u f f e r i n g t h e a f t e r e f f e c t s of t h e ' T h a n k s g i v ing D a y M a s s a c r e . ' T h e r e w e r e a l s o m a n y p e r s o n a l i t e m s m i s s i n g , s u c h a s
patients' dentures and clothing."
M a n y of t h e c h a r g e s h u r l e d a t t h e p s y c h i a t r i c c e n t e r a d m i n i s t r a t i o n
could c o m p r i s e a n i n d i c t m e n t of i n c o m p e t e n c y . T h e s e c h a r g e s i n c l u d e a
p e r s o n n e l d e p a r t m e n t " t h a t is so u n i n f o r m e d p e o p l e c o m e t o u s b e c a u s e
they can't get an a n s w e r t h e r e , " the Local m e m b e r s say.
S t a f f i n g p r o b l e m s voiced by t h e G o w a n d a e m p l o y e e s i n c l u d e c h a r g e s
t h a t t h e r e a r e not e n o u g h M H T A ' s to do d i r e c t c a r e w o r k , a t a t i m e w h e n
M H T A i t e m s a r e b e i n g c o n v e r t e d to o t h e r t i t l e s .
They also say employees a r e being denied vacations and personal leave,
a n d t h a t s o m e e m p l o y e e s h a v e h a d t h e i r v a c a t i o n t i m e split — so t h a t t h e y
m u s t w o r k one d a y in t h e m i d d l e of t h e i r v a c a t i o n p e r i o d . I n v o l u n t a r y o v e r t i m e and double s h i f t s a r e a l s o not u n c o m m o n , w i t h M H T A ' s r u n n i n g t h e
w a r d s on w e e k e n d s w h e n m o s t of t h e n u r s e s a r e o f f , t h e C S E A m e m b e r s
charge.
In a list of c o m p l a i n t s , t h e e m p l o y e e s w r o t e : " L o w e r - s a l a r i e d p e o p l e
a r e e x p e c t e d to do t h e w o r k f o r i n e x p e r i e n c e d p r o f e s s i o n a l - l e v e l e m p l o y e e s
who a r e s u d d e n l y t h r u s t into o u r m i d s t , a n d pick t h e b o n e s of o u r e x p e r i e n c ed people to t h e i r o w n a d v a n t a g e .
" T h e y u s e all t y p e s of t r i c k s to k e e p t h e d e s e r v i n g e m p l o y e e s f r o m
p r o m o t i o n s , but think n o t h i n g of going inside to fill p r e v i o u s l y h i g h e r level
positions with n e w l o w e r - p a i d e m p l o y e e s , " t h e C S E A m e m b e r s f u r t h e r
s t a t e d . " O p e r a t i o n a l i t e m s , s u c h a s G r a d e 12's, a r e b e i n g filled w i t h G r a d e
6's and 8's, r e d u c i n g t h e p r o m o t a b i l i t y of m a i n t e n a n c e w o r k e r s , p l u m b e r s ,
carpenters, etc.
" I t ' s a l m o s t u s e l e s s to h a v e t h e l a b o r / m a n a g e m e n t m e e t i n g s b e c a u s e
t h e y give lip s e r v i c e a t t h e m e e t i n g , t h e n go on doing a s t h e y p l e a s e , " t h e
e m p l o y e e s f u r t h e r c h a r g e d in t h e i r w r i t t e n c o m p l a i n t .
As t h e c h a r g e s m o u n t , e m p l o y e e m o r a l e a p p e a r s t o b e p l u m m e t i n g , in
t u n e with a p a t t e r n t h a t is e m e r g i n g a t m a n y s t a t e m e n t a l h e a l t h f a c i l i t i e s
today.
" A s e m p l o y e e m o r a l e c o n t i n u e s to slide d o w n w a r d , p a t i e n t c a r e — o u r
m a i n c o n c e r n — will c o n t i n u e to d e t e r i o r a t e , " t h e G o w a n d a e m p l o y e e s concluded. " M a n y of us h a v e b e e n h e r e f o r 10,15 a n d 20 y e a r s , a n d w e n e v e r h a d
t h e s e p r o b l e m s until t h e p r e s e n t a d m i n i s t r a t i o n took o v e r . "
Region III nominees
NEWBURGH Those persons
r e c e i v i n g n o m i n a t i o n s to r u n f o r off i c e in S o u t h e r n R e g i o n III w e r e ann o u n c e d by t h e R e g i o n III N o m i n a t i n g
Committee at a recent meeting •
The nominees,
nounced a r e :
in
the
President: R a y m o n d J .
and Eva Katz.
order
an-
O'Connor
First Vice President: Pat Mascioli
and R o b e r t Thompson.
Second Vice President:
Carolyn
Zappe and Harold Ryan.
Third Vice President: Rose Marcinkowski a n d E l l i s A d a m s .
Secretary: Grace
Glenda Davis.
Woods
and
Treasurer: E l e a n o r M c D o n a l d .
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday,February15, 1981
Page 3
Region II'« Chartas Bell Joiiw CSE A staff
Marathoner runs race off
key union representation
N E W Y O R K C I T Y - O n e of C S E A ' s n e w e s t
s t a f f field r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s is no s t r a n g e r t o
C S E A — h e w a s a n a c t i v e m e m b e r f o r n e a r l y 19
y e a r s a n d w a s a m o n g t h e m o s t a c t i v e of
m e m b e r s w i t h i n - t h e u n i o n ' s R e g i o n II, w h i c h h e
n o w s e r v i c e s . And h e should b e u s e d to t h e o f t e n
h e c t i c p a c e r e q u i r e d of a field r e p — h e ' s a l s o a n
accomplished marathon runner.
C h a r l e s Bell c a m e to t h e R e g i o n I I f i e l d
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e position a s t h e f o r m e r f i r s t v i c e
CSEA Field Rep. Charles Bell
p r e s i d e n t of C r e e d m o o r P s y c h i a t r i c C e n t e r
L o c a l 406, w h i c h h e a l s o s e r v e d a s L o c a l
g r i e v a n c e c h a i r m a n a n d a m e m b e r of t h e L o c a l
406 P o l i t i c a l A c t i o n C o m m i t t e e . And Bell h a s
b e e n a c t i v e in c o n t r a c t e n f o r c e m e n t a s f a r b a c k
a s 1971 w h e n h e f i r s t b e c a m e a shop s t e w a r d .
And, f o r e x p e r i e n c e , h e ' s b e e n c h a i r m a n ^ t h e
R e g i o n II P r e s i d e n t i a l T a s k F o r c e ofT-Perfo^^m a n c e E v a l u a t i o n ; c h a i r m a n of t h e R e ^ o n I I "
N o m i n a t i n g C o m m i t t e e , a n d a m e m b e r of t h e
R e g i o n G r i e v a n c e a n d Social c o m m i t t e e s a s
well.
Bell h a s b e e n a s s i g n e d t o r e p r e s e n t p a r t of
N e w Y o r k City L o c a l 010, i n c l u d i n g Division f o r
Y o u t h in N e w Y o r k C i t y a n d Y o n k e r s ; ^
D e p a r t m e n t of A u d i t a n d C o n t r o l , H a r l e m S t a t e
O f f i c e Building, S U N Y C o l l e g e of O p t o m e t r y a n d
the D e p a r t m e n t of Banking in M a n h a t t a n ; S U N Y
M a r i t i m e C o l l e g e in t h e B r o n x a n d t h e S t a t e
c o u r t s in N e w Y o r k City.
Since b e c o m i n g a F i e l d R e p r e s e n t a t i v e , B e l l
has continued his running and intends to run
a g a i n t h i s y e a r in t h e N e w Y o r k City M a r a t h o n .
I t would b e h i s t h i r d a p p e a r a n c e in t h e e v e n t .
Bell, in 1980, r a n t h e 26-miles, 385-yard r a c e in
4:08 a n d h o p e s t o b r e a k f o u r h o u r s t h i s y e a r .
H e r a n t h e 1979 r a c e on t h e o p e n i n g d a y of t h e
C S E A A n n u a l M e e t i n g a t t h e Concord a n d a r r i v ed a t t h e c o n v e n t i o n l a t e r t h a t d a y , r e a d y t o
t a c k l e key union b u s i n e s s .
T h e L o c a l 406 E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e - r e t e ö ^ l y
h o n o r e d Bell w i t h a f a r e w e l l d i n n e r w h e r e h e
w a s p r e s e n t e d w i t h a p l a q u e f o r his " y e a r s of
dedication and unselfishness to o t h e r s . "
H e expects to c o m p l e t e this y e a r in t h e L a b o r
S t u d i e s P r o g r a m of t h e N e w Y o r k S t a t e School of
Industrial and Labor Relations — Cornell
U n i v e r s i t y , a n d h a s s t a r t e d w o r k on a B a c h e l o r s
D e g r e e in L a b o r S t u d i e s .
Region I list
of candidates
AMITYVILLE The Region One
Nominating Committee, Carl Pugliese,
C h a i r m a n , h a s r e l e a s e d t h e list of c a n d i d a t e s f o r o f f i c e of t h e L o n g I s l a n d
Region. They a r e :
President:
Danny Donohue, P r e s i d e n t , Region One.
First Vice President:
Nicholas Abbatiello, president,
C o u n t y local 830.
Nassau
Second Vice President:
Billy C h a c o n a , p r e s i d e n t , P i l g r i m S t a t e
L o c a l 418.
A r t h u r Loving, p r e s i d e n t . L o n g I s l a n d
S t a t e P a r k s L o c a l 102.
J o h n M a d l o n , p r e s i d e n t , S u f f o l k S t a t e Off i c e B u i l d i n g L o c a l 016.
Third Vice President:
C a r o l C r a i g , s e c o n d v i c e p r e s i d e n t , Suffolk E d u c a t i o n a l L o c a l 870.
Nick Dellisanti, a d m i n i s t r a t i v e assistant,
N a s s a u L o c a l 830.
Charles Sclafani, president, SUNY at
Stony B r o o k L o c a l 614.
^
Fourth Vice President:
J a m e s Forsyth, president, Central Islip
L o c a l 404.
J a c k Geraghty, m e m b e r , Nassau County
L o c a l 830.
E d Zurl, m e m b e r , SUNY a t Stony Brook
L o c a l 614.
Secretary:
M a r y Ansbach, s e c r e t a r y . Central Islip
Local 404.
D o r o t h y G o e t z , p r e s i d e n t , H u n t i n g t o n unit, S u f f o l k L o c a l 852.
Treasurer:
Jean Wichmann,
County L o c a l 830.
member,
Nassau
Education Representative:
M i c h a e l C u r t a i n , f i r s t v i c e p r e s i d e n t , Suffolk E d u c a t i o n L o c a l 870.
Frank Fasano, president, Nassau
E d u c a t i o n L o c a l 865.
Barbara Babcocic appointed
to executive secretary post
P O U G H K E E P S I E — Friends and f o r m e r co-workers turned
out r e c e n t l y t o h o n o r B a r b a r a B a b c o c k , w h o h a s b e e n n a m e d exe c u t i v e s e c r e t a r y t o t h e c h a i r m a n of t h e D u t c h e s s C o u n t y
Legislature.
M r s . B a b c o c k , w h o w a s v i c e p r e s i d e n t of D u t c h e s s C o u n t y
C S E A L o c a l 814 a n d e x e c u t i v e v i c e p r e s i d e n t of h e r unit, s a i d s h e
w a s g r a t e f u l f o r h e r union e x p e r i e n c e .
" I learned a great deal about m a n a g e m e n t and labor
r e l a t i o n s a n d m e t a lot of n i c e p e o p l e , " s a i d M r s . B a b c o c k , who
s t a r t e d w i t h C S E A a s a shop s t e w a r d in 1975.
" M y a p p o i n t m e n t as s e c r e t a r y to C h a i r m a n Louis Debiase is'
a r e f l e c t i o n upon m y w o r k w i t h t h e u n i o n . "
W h e n D e b i a s e r o s e to s p e a k of M r s . B a b c o c k , h e a g r e e d w i t h
h e r . " W e c h o s e B a r b a r a f o r h e r e x p e r i e n c e w i t h t h e union a s well
a s f o r h e r e x p e r i e n c e w i t h t h e d e p a r t m e n t s , " D e b i a s e said.
F O R M E R D U T C H E S S C O U N T Y LOCAL 814 V i c e P r e s i d e n t B a r b a r a B a b c o c k is f l a n k e d
by D u t c h e s s County C S E A U n i t P r e s i d e n t Scott D a n i e l s , l e f t , a n d L o c a l 814 P r e s i d e n t
E l l i s A d a m s d u r i n g a d i n n e r p r o g r a m h o n o r i n g h e r a p p o i n t m e n t a s e x e c u t i v e s e c r e t a r y to
t h e c h a i r m a n of t h e D u t c h e s s C o u n t y L e g i s l a t u r e r e c e n t l y .
M E T R O P O L I T A N R E G I O N II P R E S I D E N T J a m e s G r i p p e r a d d r e s s e s
C S E A m e m b e r s w h o w o r k in t h e H a r l e m S t a t e O f f i c e Building. At t h e h e a d
t a b l e a r e , f r o m l e f t , R e g i o n II E A P r e p r e s e n t a t i v e J o a n P h i l l i p s , C r e e d m o o r P s y c h i a t r i c C e n t e r E A P c c o o r d i n a t o r D r . Sy F i n e , R e g i o n II F i e l d
Page 12
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, March 15, 1981
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s A n d r e w C o l l i n s a n d C h a r l e s B e l l , R e g i o n 11 c o m m u n i c a t i o n s s p e c i a l i s t R i c h a r d C h e r n e l a , a n d L o c a l DIG s t a f f s u p e r v i s o r
Tony V e r i c e l l a .
Labor-management
inspection team
tours centers at
Newarii, iVionroe
A f a c i l i t y - b y - f a c i l i t y t o u r of s t a t e i n s t i t u t i o n s of t h e O f f i c e of M e n t a l
H e a l t h a n d O f f i c e of M e n t a l I ^ t a r d a t i o n b e g u n l a s t f a l l c o n t i n u e d t h i s
m o n t h when CSEA and C a r e y Administration officials visited the N e w a r k
Developmental Center and the Monroe Developmental Center.
T h e top-level l a b o r a n d m a n a g e m e n t t e a m s w e r e h e a d e d u p r e s p e c t i v e ly by C S E A P r e s i d e n t W i l l i a m L. M c G o w a n a n d M e y e r S. F r u c h e r , D i r e c t o r
of t h e G o v e r n o r ' s O f f i c e of E m p l o y e e R e l a t i o n s .
W h e n t h e t o u r w a s a n n o u n c e d l a s t f a l l it w a s d e s c r i b e d by both s i d e s a s
a n u n p r e c e d e n t e d j o i n t e f f o r t to i n v e s t i g a t e a n d s o l v e s e r i o u s p r o b l e m s in
the various state institutions. To d a t e the t e a m s have visited several
f a c i l i t i e s w i t h a goal of i n s p e c t i n g e v e r y f a c i l i t y . E v a l u a t i o n s of e a c h visit
a r e c o n d u c t e d a s follow u p to e a c h visit.
T h e p h o t o s on t h i s p a g e show s o m e of t h e atitivities a t t h e t o u r of t h e t w o
facilities.
NEWARK DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER employees, from left, Linda
Greule, Marty DeSanto, Orintha Orbaker, Mona Domke, Sharon Viddler and
Evelyn Simmons, were among those meeting with joint labor/management
team that visited facility this month.
i'-S-
rV.
DISCUSSING PROBLEMS at Monroe Developmental Center during tour of
facility are, from left, management team member Chuck Devane, CSEA
Chief Counsel James Roemer, and Judy Burgess, Executive Assistant to
CSEA President William L» McGowan.
EMPLOYEE CONCERNS at Monroe Developmental Center in Rochester
are discussed by CSEA Statewide President William L. McGowan, left.
Local 439 President Mary Cartwright, center, and Pearlina Moore.
President McGowan headed the union team in a joint labor/management
tour of the Monroe facility.
EMPLOYEES AT NEWARK DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER who discussed
conditions with the joint labor/management team included, from left,
Johnny Patterson, Local 417 grievance co-chairman; former Local 417
President Tony Cinquegrana, and members Debbi Barnes and Gail VanDerMortel.
^•gur^',
REGION VI PRESIDENT Robert Lattimer, left, was a member of the
union team touring both facilities in his region. Here he discusses some
preliminary findings with CSEA Collective Bargaining Specialists Paul
Burch and Jase McGraw.
'.»I- •!
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday,February15, 1981
Page 3
on or off
By Charles McGeary
CSEA Communications Associate
O S W E G O — If t h e r e is o n e t h i n g s t u d e n t s a t S U N Y O s w e g o m u s t l e a r n in
t h e i r f i r s t a c a d e m i c y e a r , it is how to c o p e w i t h h a r s h w i n t e r m o n t h s a l o n g t h e
lakefront campus.
T h e r e c o r d s n o w f a l l s a n d icy w i n d s t h a t blow in f r o m L a k e O n t a r i o b e c o m e
a w a y of life.
T h e w e a t h e r a l s o s e e m s to e n c o u r a g e a p o p u l a r i t y f o r t h e s p o r t of ice
h o c k e y t h a t b o r d e r s on t h e f a n a t i c .
" A s t h e P r e s i d e n t of C S E A L o c a l 611,1 a m m a k i n g a p e r s o n a l a p p e a l to all
CSEA brothers and sisters throughout Region V and Statewide, to support
d r i v e to r e n o v a t e R o m n e y F i e l d H o u s e . We w a n t G o v e r n o r C a r e y to know
m o n e y a l r e a d y b u d g e t e d f o r t h e p r o j e c t is vitally i m p o r t a n t t o t h e f a m i l i e s
youth of t h i s e n t i r e Osvvego C o u n t y a r e a , " D u s h a r m a d d e d .
" T h e w i n t e r s in O s w e g o C o u n t y a r e long and t o u g h , b u t w e n a t i v e s h a v e
l e a r n e d t h e r e is n o t h i n g like a good h o c k e y g a m e to p u m p up s p i r i t s a n d t a k e
t h e e d g e off a cold w i n t e r d a y o r n i g h t . "
" I f I t h o u g h t h e would a c c e p t a n i n v i t a t i o n , I would i n v i t e t h e ' G u v ' f o r a
f r i e n d l y g a m e of b r o o m ball on t h e ice with s o m e of his d e d i c a t e d S t a t e
e m p l o y e e s , " D u s h a r m said with a smile.
my
the
the
and
Students and hockey fans f r o m the e n t i r e Oswego County a r e a j a m into
R o m n e y F i e l d H o u s e on c a m p u s f o r e v e r y g a m e . At a r e c e n t playoff g a m e ,
m o r e t h a n 3,000 e n t h u s i a s t i c f a n s p a c k e d t h e m s e l v e s into t h e World W a r IIv i n t a g e drill hall built to s e a t 1,500.
A c c o r d i n g to D a l e D u s h a r m , P r e s i d e n t of C S E A L o c a l 611 a,t S U N Y
O s w e g o , t h e big p r o b l e m now f a c i n g t h e e n t i r e c o m m u n i t y is t h e condition of
t h e F i e l d H o u s e . It is t h e only h o c k e y f a c i l i t y w i t h s e a t i n g in t h e e n t i r e C o u n t y ,
a n d it is l i t e r a l l y f a l l i n g a p a r t .
" T h e S t a t e e m p l o y e e s on c a m p u s h a v e d o n e a f a n t a s t i c j o b in m a i n t a i n i n g
t h e building a n d e q u i p m e n t w i t h ' p a t c h e s a n d p r a y e r s , ' " D u s h a r m s a i d .
" I n a d d i t i o n to a s c o r e of b r o k e n w i n d o w s f r o m m i s d i r e c t e d h o c k e y p u c k s ,
t h e building a l s o s u f f e r s f r o m a l e a k y roof a n d w a l l s , poor d r a i n a g e , h e a v i n g
f l o o r s , f a u l t y b r i n e p u m p s , r u s t i n g cooling t o w e r s , a n d a n 18-year old Z a m b o n i
ice m a k i n g m a c h i n e t h a t is on its l a s t ' w h e e l s ' , " D u s h a r m a d d e d .
" T h e m a c h i n e h a s been p a t c h e d , r e p a i r e d a n d o v e r h a u l e d so m a n y t i m e s ,
we stopped counting," D u s h a r m said grimly.
" W h a t t h i s p l a c e n e e d s is a c o m p l e t e r e n o v a t i o n . And, a t t o d a y ' s i n f l a t e d
p r i c e s , it will p r o b a b l y r e q u i r e t h e full $400,000 t h a t h a v e b e e n b u d g e t e d f o r t h e
project."
" W e h a v e a l r e a d y been a s s u r e d of s u p p o r t f r o m S e n a t o r D o u g B a r c l a y ,
a n d A s s e m b l y m a n R a y C h e s b r o . M o r e t h a n 2,000 O s w e g o C o u n t y r e s i d e n t s a n d
400 S U N Y O s w e g o s t u d e n t s h a v e s i g n e d p e t i t i o n s e x p r e s s i n g t h e i r d e s i r e f o r
S t a t e a c t i o n . T h o s e p e t i t i o n s w e r e t u r n e d o v e r to t h e L e g i s l a t o r s . N o w it is in
t h e h a n d s of G o v e r n o r C a r e y f o r his a c t i o n , h o p e f u l l y in A p r i l , " D u s h a r m continued.
" W e w a n t to m a k e one point v e r y c l e a r . T h i s f a c i l i t y is not only u s e d by t h e
s t u d e n t s / a t h l e t e s a t S U N Y O s w e g o . It is a l s o t h e p r a c t i c e i c e a r e n a a n d g a m e
s i t e f o r all local high schools, youth h o c k e y p r o g r a m s f o r b o y s a n d g i r l s of all
a g e s , a s well a s s e r v i n g a s field h o u s e f o r b a s e b a l l , s o c c e r , a n d l a c r o s s e t e a m s
to p r a c t i c e during bad w e a t h e r m o n t h s , " D u s h a r m continued.
Local women's committee agenda set
W A T E R T O W N - " L e g a l R i g h t s f o r W o m e n " will b e t h e t h e m e of a
s p e c i a l m e e t i n g of t h e W o m e n ' s C o m m i t t e e f o r B l a c k R i v e r V a l l e y L o c a l
015 of C S E A , s e t f o r 8 p . m . , A p r i l 23, a t t h e H o l i d a y Inn, W a t e r t o w n .
G u e s t s p e a k e r will b e C S E A A t t o r n e y M a r g e K a r o w e .
T h e m e e t i n g , o n e of s e v e r a l p l a n n e d f o r t h e c o m i n g m o n t h s , is o p e n
t o all m e m b e r s of C S E A R e g i o n V.
DALE DUSHARM, right, SUNY Oswego CSEA 611 president, discusses extensive deterioration of campus fieldhouse with Don Unger, Oswego State coach,
and Earl Wilmont, head fieldhouse maintenance worker, in fieldhouse compressor room. Fieldhouse is used by students and community groups from
morning until midnight, seven days a week during hockey and figure skating
seasons. Officials fear it may have to be closed.
Calendar
of EVENTS
April
15—Buffalo Local 003, Executive Committee meeting, Plaza Suite, Buffalo.
15—Hudson Volley Armories Local 252 meeting, 1 p.m., Kingston Armory, North Manor
Ave., Kingston.
20-22—Long Island Region 1 Annual Workshop, Gurney's Inn, Montauk.
21—Hudson River Psychiatric Center Local 410 meeting, 8 p.m., Cheney Building
Conference, Room 1-A, Hudson River Psychiatric Center.
23 Black River Valley Local 015 Women's Committee Meeting, 8 p.m. Holiday Inn,
Watertown. Guest speaker, Attorney Marge Karov^e.
23—Southern Region III SUNY locals meeting, 7 p.m.. Holiday Inn, Fishkill.
24—Rockland Children's Psychiatric Center recognition dinner, 7 p.m.. Holiday Inn,
Orangburg.
25—CSEA Region IV Women's Committee Meeting v/ith guest speaker attorney Marge
Karowe on "Women's Legal Rights," Best Western Thruwoy House, 9 a.m.
registration.
28—Southern Region III DOT locals meeting, 8 p.m., Howard Johnson's, Middletown.
29—Nassau County Local 830 Executive Committee meeting, 5:30 p.m., Salisbury Inn,
Eisenhower Park, East Meadow.
May
1—4th Annual White Plains Unit Retirees Dinner-Dance, 7:00 p.m.. Purchase Country
Club, Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase.
1—Pilgrim Psychiatric Center 25-year and retirees dinner dance, 8 p.m., Huntington
Towne House, Huntington. Pilgrim Psychiatric Center Local 418-sponsored cocktail
party, 7-8 p.m.
5—Southern Region III local and unit presidents and treasurers meeting on the changes
to the model constitutions, 7:45 p.m.. Holiday Inn, Fishkill.
6—Long Island Region I Mental Hygiene Task Force meeting, noon. Region I Satellite Office, Houppauge.
12—Suffolk County Local 852 women's forum, 7:30 p.m., Sheraton Inn, Smithtown.
13—Suffolk County Local 852 Executive Committee meeting, 7 p.m., 755 Waverly
Avenue, Holtsville.
20-22—State Delegates Workshop, Syracuse, N.Y.
Page
12
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, March 15, 1981
WILFRED MIGNEAULT, left, acting on behalf of CSEA Retirees Local 921,
presents a letter to Westchester County Executive Al DelBello petitioning
him on behalf of retirees to, "do everything within your power to reduce the
utility charges recently granted by the Public Service Commission to the
Consolidated Edison Co."
Union pressures state to reveal future plans*
'For Sale' sign for Central isllp?
Union battling for Job proteotlon
AMITYVILLE — Governor Hugh Carey has
a n n o u n c e d t h a t t a l k s will b e g i n t h i s m o n t h a b o u t
t h e f u t u r e of C e n t r a l Islip P s y c h i a t r i c C e n t e r , in-
c l u d i n g a bid to p u r c h a s e t h e 850-acre s i t e a n d
t u r n it i n t o a c o l l e g e c a m p u s .
New York Institute of-Technology, a private
CSEA REGION I President Danny Donohue, center, makes a point during meeting of special
planning group. From left are Assemblyman Robert Wertz, Pilgrim Psychiatric Center CSEA Local
418 President Bill Chacona, Kings Park Psychiatric Center CSEA Local 411 President Tony
Bentivegna, President Donohue, and Central Islip Local 404 President James Forsyth.
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING to discuss the proposed closing drew an overflow crowd of
Local 404 members. Local 404 President James Forsyth, lower left foreground, listens along with his
members.
v o c a t i o n a l c o l l e g e l o c a t e d on L o n g I s l a n d , h a s
e x p r e s s e d i n t e r e s t in p u r c h a s i n g t h e g r o u n d s a n d
buildings of C e n t r a l I s l i p P s y c h i a t r i c C e n t e r
f r o m t h e T o w n of Islip a n d t h e S t a t e .
The Governor's announcement c a m e after
s e v e r a l w e e k s of m e e t i n g s b e t w e e n C S E A
l e a d e r s — including P r e s i d e n t W i l l i a m L.
McGowan and Region I President Danny
Donohue — State Mental Hygiene officials and
S t a t e l e g i s l a t o r s in w h i c h t h e union p r e s s u r e d
t h e m to c o n f i r m o r d e n y r u m o r s a b o u t t h e
p u r c h a s e bid t h a t h a d c i r c u l a t e d t h r o u g h o u t
C e n t r a l Islip f o r w e e k s .
" W e h a d p i e c e d t o g e t h e r w h a t w a s going on
and the G o v e r n y m u s t have felt he couldn't keep
it a s e c r e t a n y l o n g e r , " s a i d D o n o h u e . " W e
r e m a i n very suspicious and w a r y about the way
this whole thing w a s c o n d u c t e d , " he added, " b u t
w e ' r e willing to d i s c u s s it. T h e b o t t o m line f o r u s
is t o p r o t e c t o u r m e m b e r s j o b s . "
A spokesman for the Governor confirmed what
Dr. J a m e s Prevost, State Mental Hygiene Commissioner, a d m i t t e d to P r e s i d e n t McGowan at a
s p e c i a l m e e t i n g a t C e n t r a l I s l i p in m i d - M a r c h :
t h a t it would t a k e f o u r t o f i v e m o n t h s t o d e t e r m i n e if it is f e a s i b l e to c l o s e C e n t r a l Islip. M r .
M c G o w a n told D r . P r e v o s t t h a t t h e C S E A
wanted to be kept informed "in w r i t i n g " a s to
a n y s t a t e p l a n s f o r C e n t r a l Islip.
T h e u p c o m i n g t a l k s , w h i c h will begin l a t e r t h i s
m o n t h , will b e b e t w e e n t h e D e p a r t m e n t of Ment a l H y g i e n e , Islip T o w n a n d N e w Y o r k I n s t i t u t e
of T e c h n o l o g y . H o w e v e r , following a m e e t i n g
with Danny Donohue and the Region I Mental
Hygiene Task Force, Assemblymen Paul
H a r e n b e r g and R o b e r t W e r t z a n n o u n c e d t h e f o r m a t i o n of a P l a n n i n g G r o u p f o r C e n t r a l Islip
P s y c h i a t r i c C e n t e r s t a f f e d by C S E A l e a d e r s a n d
m e m b e r s of t h e L o n g I s l a n d L e g i s l a t i v e
D e l e g a t i o n w h i c h will u n i f y political, union a n d
c o m m u n i t y opinion on t h e p r o p o s e d closing. T h e
C S E A m e m b e r s will b e c h o s e n f r o m a m o n g t h e
union p r e s i d e n t s t h a t m a k e up t h e M e n t a l
Hygiene Task F o r c e including: J a m e s Forsyth,
C e n t r a l Islip; Bill C h a c o n a , P i l g r i m ; Tony Bent i v e g n a , Kings P a r k ; a n d J o e L a V a l l e , Suffolk
Developmental.
A c c o r d i n g to a D e p a r t m e n t of M e n t a l H y g i e n e
s p o k e s m a n , c l o s i n g t h e h o s p i t a l would r e q u i r e
s t a t e legislation a n d would p r o b a b l y t a k e f i v e
y e a r s . In t h e c a s e of t h e C e n t e r ' s closing, all
p a t i e n t s would be t r a n s f e r r e d to n e a r b y P i l g r i m
a n d Kings P a r k P s y c h i a t r i c C e n t e r s , h e a d d e d .
" W e told t h e D e p a r t m e n t of M e n t a l H y g i e n e ,
a n d so f a r t h e y h a v e a g r e e d , t h a t if t h e r e is a
closing, no j o b s will b e lost a n d all e m p l o y e e s
will m o v e w i t h t h e p a t i e n t s to e i t h e r P i l g r i m o r
Kings P a r k , " Donohue said. " B u t until a
decision is m a d e on t h e f u t u r e of t h e h o s p i t a l a n d
w e g e t c o m m i t m e n t s f r o m s t a t e o f f i c i a l s in
w r i t i n g , w e d o n ' t a g r e e to a n y t h i n g . "
HIGH LEVEL MEETH>JG
between State and CSEA
officials was conducted at
Central Islip Psychiatric
C e n t e r in m i d - M a r c h
concerning state's plans for
the Center. Mental Hygiene
Commissioner
James
Prevost, left, peers across
table at union officials,
including
from
left.
Collective
Bargaining
Specialist Paul Burch, CSEA
Region I President Danny
Donohue, Central Islip Local
404 President James Forsyth,
CSEA Statewide President
William L. McGowan, and
CSEA Chief Counsel James
Roemer.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday,February1354,1981
Page 3
Day care center grant Improvements will
improve employees' quality of work life
Expansion to enaM8 more
cMMran of efnployoes at
nigrim to partiell^
SMALL WORLD DAY CARE CENTER Director
Leila Holmes shows Pilgrim Psychiatric Center
(PPC) Local 418 President Bill Chacona the area
which will be renovated to expand the capacity
of the center. The center, which is located on
PPC grounds has received a grant from the
Quality of Work Life Committee of CWEP for
improvements to the center.
WEST BRENTWOOD - The day care center
at Pilgrim Psychiatric Center ( P P C ) which
s e r v e s m a n y m e m b e r s of C S E A L o c a l 418
has received a g r a n t to improve and expand the
d a y c a r e f a c i l i t y , a c c o r d i n g t o L o c a l 418
P r e s i d e n t Bill C h a c o n a .
C h a c o n a s a i d t h e S m a l l World D a y C a r e
C e n t e r r e c e n t l y r e c e i v e d a p p r o v a l f o r a $9,181.80
g r a n t f r o m t h e Q u a l i t y of W o r k L i f e C o m m i t t e e
of t h e C o m m i t t e e on W o r k E n v i r o n m e n t a n d
Productivity (CWEP).
T h e g r a n t will b e u s e d f o r t h e p u r c h a s e of
playground equipment, partitions, structural
modifications, radiator covers and carpeting, he
said.
T h e c e n t e r h a s 60 c h i l d r e n b e t w e e n t h e a g e s of
9 m o n t h s a n d 5 y e a r s a n d t h e r e is a w a i t i n g list of
100 c h i l d r e n , C h a c o n a s a i d .
Center D i r e c t o r Leila H o l m e s said the c e n t e r ' s
CHILDREN AT THE Small World Day Care Center stand in front of moveable
shelves which serve as room dividers. The shelves will be replaced by more permanent — and safer — room dividers thanks to a grant from CWEP.
Pöge^VO
THE p u b l i c ! SECTÖR; Wednesday, A p r i l " l 5 , 1981
c a p a c i t y will i n c r e a s e a p p r o x i m a t e l y 40 c h i l d r e n
a s a r e s u l t of t h e g r a n t .
She said t h e g r a n t will m a k e p o s s i b l e t h e exp a n s i o n of t h e e x i s t i n g f a c i l i t y , i m p r o v i n g t h e
s a f e t y of t h e e n t i r e c e n t e r , p r o v i d i n g a good outd o o r p l a y g r o u n d a n d allow c o m p l i a n c e w i t h
State regulations.
T h e Q u a l i t y of Work L i f e C o m m i t t e e g a v e its
a p p r o v a l f o r t h e g r a n t following a p r e s e n t a t i o n
t)y C h a c o n a a n d M s . H o l m e s .
C h a c o n a s a i d : " T h i s is a m a j o r s t e p t o w a r d
i m p r o v i n g t h e q u a l i t y of w o r k l i f e f o r S t a t e
employees at P i l g r i m . The c o m m i t t e e recognized t h e l e g i t i m a t e n e e d s of w o r k i n g m o t h e r s . "
T h e a p p r o v a l of t h e g r a n t c u l m i n a t e d t w o
y e a r s of e f f o r t by C h a c o n a to o b t a i n f u n d s f o r t h e
d a y c a r e c e n t e r . H e s t a r t e d w o r k on t h e q u e s t a s
L o c a l 418 f i r s t v i c e p r e s i d e n t a n d c o n t i n u e d his
e f f o r t s a f t e r b e i n g e l e c t e d p r e s i d e n t in 1979.
S m a l l World D a y C a r e C e n t e r o p e n e d in 1976
on t h e P P C g r o u n d s w i t h s p a c e d o n a t e d by t h e
State. The private day care center also received
s o m e f i n a n c i a l s u p p o r t f r o m L o c a l 418, h e s a i d .
I t o p e r a t e s f r o m 6:45 a . m . to 5:30 p . m . , Mond a y t h r o u g h F r i d a y . When s p a c e is a v a i l a b l e , it
handles e m e r g e n c y day c a r e requests, he said.
I n c l u d e d in t h e c e n t e r a r e a c e r t i f i e d
kindergarten and a parent training education
p r o g r a m , he said.
PILGRIM PSYCHIATRIC CENTER LOCAL 418 president Bill
Chacona and Small World Day Care Center Director Leila Holmes
check out the infant area of the center which will be wall-to-wall
carpeted as the result of a grant from CWEP.
Fulton County
workers win
fight for
saiary liiiie,
agency sliop
J O H N S T O W N — F u l t o n County e m p l o y e e s h a v e
a n e w c o n t r a c t — a n d a n e w i m a g e a s well.
In r e c e n t c o n t r a c t n e g o t i a t i o n s w i t h t h e F u l t o n
County a d m i n i s t r a t i o n the CSEA r e p r e s e n t e d
w o r k f o r c e took on a n e w unified i m a g e b e f o r e t h e
e y e s of t h e c o m m u n i t y a n d t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n .
T h e C S E A l e a d e r s h i p , c o n t a i n e d in i t s
n e g o t i a t i n g c o m m i t t e e , Bill Sohl, unit p r e s i d e n t ,
G r a c e B e v i n g t o n , M a r i e Wendell, B e v e r l y M i l l e r ,
D e n n i s Monk, R a l p h P r e s t o n , H a r r i e t H e n r y , L o n a
M o n t a n y e a n d B e t t y C o n r o y , w a s not a b o u t t o s e t t l e
for anything less than a fair and equitable contract.
T h e w o r k f o r c e n e e d e d a solid s a l a r y i n c r e a s e a n d
the union's m e m b e r s h i p had m a n d a t e d agency shop
to e n d t h e e c o n o m i c b u r d e n of n o n - m e m b e r
representation.
In t u r n , t h e c o u n t y w o r k f o r c e w a n t e d t o s h o w
T H E F U L T O N C O U N T Y W O R K F O R C E united f o r
a first-ever informational picket last month outside
t h e County C o u r t h o u s e . A f t e r s e v e r a l h o u r s , a ten-
t a t i v e p a c t w a s r e a c h e d . P r o v i s i o n s i n c l u d e a n 18
p e r c e n t s a l a r y i n c r e a s e o v e r t w o y e a r s , a n d t h e est a b l i s h m e n t of a g e n c y shop in nine m o n t h s .
t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n t h a t t h e y s u p p o r t e d t h e i r union
n e g o t i a t i o n t e a m fully, a s t h e t e a m w a s b e c o m i n g
involved in c o n t r a c t m e d i a t i o n . F o r t h e f i r s t t i m e in
F u l t o n C o u n t y , t h e m e m b e r s h i p m a n n e d a n inform a t i o n a l p i c k e t line o u t s i d e of t h e C o u n t y C o u r t
h o u s e a n d p i c k e t e d t h e s t a r t of a m e d i a t i o n s e s s i o n .
T h e i r r e q u e s t : a s a l a r y i n c r e a s e a n d a g e n c y shop.
S o m e 125 C S E A m e m b e r s w a l k e d t h e line in t h e
e a r l y e v e n i n g w i t h t e m p e r a t u r e s d r o p p i n g below
freezing.
The CSEA t e a m entered the mediation session
a m i d c h e e r s of s u p p o r t . T h e t e a m w a s r e a d y to go
all n i g h t if t h e y h a d to to s e t t l e t h e c o n t r a c t
p r o b l e m s . As t h e p i c k e t line d i s b a n d e d , t h e C S E A
t e a m b e g a n to a d d r e s s t h e i s s u e s . S e v e r a l h o u r s
later a tentative pact was reached.
On M a r c h 23, 1981 t h e e m p l o y e e s r a t i f i e d a n e w
c o n t r a c t w h i c h p r o v i d e s a n 18 p e r c e n t s a l a r y inc r e a s e over two y e a r s and establishes agency shop
in n i n e m o n t h s . S e v e n t e e n o t h e r i t e m s , r a n g i n g
f r o m s a l a r y r e a l l o c a t i o n to d o u b l e t i m e f o r h i g h w a y
e m p l o y e e s on t h r e e holidays, w e r e a l s o a c h i e v e d .
New York City bill package termed
ludicrous,' union-busting measure
C S E A is o p p o s i n g m o s t of t h e 26
bills c o n t a i n e d in t h i s y e a r ' s N e w
Y o r k City L e g i s l a t i v e P a c k a g e ,
C S E A a t t o r n e y S t e p h e n J . Wiley
reports.
" W e think t h e p a c k a g e a s a
w h o l e is so l u d i c r o u s a s not e v e n to
be t a k e n s e r i o u s l y , " said Wiley.
" B u t C S E A is p l p a s e d t h e M a y o r
h a s not t a k e n on h i m s e l f t h e b u r d e n
of r e f o r m i n g t h e Civil S e r v i c e L a w
f o r t h e e n t i r e s t a t e , unlike l a s t
year."
Wiley s a y s t h e bills w h i c h would
a m e n d t h e T a y l o r L a w or t h e Civil
S e r v i c e L a w in t h e City of N e w
York only a r e either "unionb u s t i n g bills o r t h e y e r o d e t h e cons t i t u t i o n a l p r i n c i p l e s of m e r i t a n d
f i t n e s s in p u b l i c e m p l o y m e n t .
" W e oppose t h e m f r o m a practical a n d a p o l i t i c a l s t a n d p o i n t . If
t h e y g e t p a s s e d in N e w Y o r k City
this y e a r , w e ' l l h a v e to p r e v e n t
t h e m f r o m g e t t i n g p a s s e d in t h e
r e s t of t h e s t a t e n e x t y e a r . "
F o l l o w i n g is a brief r e v i e w of
s o m e of t h e d r a f t bills s u b m i t t e d by
N e w Y o r k City M a y o r E d K o c h .
M o s t a p p l y t o N e w Y o r k City only.
The M a y o r ' s five-bill r e f o r m
p a c k a g e r e g a r d i n g Civil S e r v i c e
L a w is e s s e n t i a l l y t h e s a m e a s l a s t
y e a r ' s package. It calls for:
— t h e e x p a n s i o n of
the
Increased
group health
insurance
available
m a n a g e r i a l / c o n f i d e n t i a l c l a s s in
r e l a t i o n to City e m p l o y e e s ;
— t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of t h e " o n e of-ten" rule for m a n a g e r s ;
— t h e e x p a n s i o n of t h e e x e m p t
class;
— p e r m i s s i o n f o r t h e City P e r s o n n e l M a n a g e r to c l a s s i f y
positions n o n - c o m p e t i t i v e w i t h o u t
t h e a p p r o v a l of t h e S t a t e Civil Service Commission; and
— s e n i o r i t y to b e d e t e r m i n e d by
y e a r r a t h e r t h a n by d a t e of h i r e f o r
s u s p e n s i o n , d e m o t i o n a n d reinstatement purposes.
T h e M a y o r is s u b m i t t i n g a t o t a l
of 21 bills in t h e c a t e g o r i e s of L a b o r
Relations, Law, Pensions and P e r s o n n e l w h i c h , s a y s Wiley, " a r e so
draconian
and
anti-public
e m p l o y e e a s to b e insulting to
everyone's intelligence."
I n t h e c a t e g o r y of L a b o r
Relations, t h e r e have been five
bills p r o p o s e d , t h e f i r s t f o u r of
w h i c h a p p l y t o all e m p l o y e e s in
New York State. They would:
— m a n d a t e at least one-year
s u s p e n s i o n of d u e s d e d u c t i o n
privileges and agency shop
p r i v i l e g e s f o r u n i o n s d e t e r m i n e d to
h a v e e n g a g e d in a s t r i k e ;
— p e r m i t t h e Chief E x e c u t i v e Officer rather than the Public
Employment Relations Board
A f f B A N Y - G r o u p H e a l t h Ins u r a n c e I n c o r p o r a t e d ( G H I ) is
making available
increased
coverage
under
its
GHI
Comprehensive Benefits Package
(CBI) rider. Active
State
e m p l o y e e s in bi-weekly p a y r o l l
s t a t u s c u r r e n t l y e n r o l l e d in G H I
c a n sign u p f o r t h i s p r o g r a m d u r i n g
( P E R B ) o r t h e c o u r t s to s u s p e n d
d u e s check-off a f t e r a s t r i k e ;
— p r o v i d e f o r a u t o m a t i c oney e a r loss of c e r t i f i c a t i o n f o r a
union d e t e r m i n e d to h a v e e n g a g e d
in a s t r i k e ;
— reinstate the
one-year
probationary penalty CSEA repealed in 1978; a n d
— a l l o w N e w Y o r k City to m a k e
u n i l a t e r a l c h a n g e s in w a g e s , h o u r s
and working conditions when strike
a c t i v i t y begins.
T h e t h r e e bills p e r t a i n i n g to P e n sions w o u l d :
— p r o v i d e t h a t a v e t e r a n of t h e
New York City
Employees'
R e t i r e m e n t S y s t e m m u s t be in s e r v i c e a t t h e t i m e his a p p l i c a t i o n f o r
r e t i r e m e n t is m a d e ;
— a m e n d the State Constitution
to p r o v i d e t h a t a n e m p l o y e e conv i c t e d of a c r i m e r e l a t e d to his
e m p l o y m e n t could h a v e his p e n s i o n
benefits reduced or eliminated;
and
— a m e n d t h e N e w Y o r k City a d m i n i s t r a t i v e c o d e to allow a g e n c y
h e a d s to r e d u c e or t e r m i n a t e t h e
p e n s i o n r i g h t s of a r e t i r e d
e m p l o y e e who is c o n v i c t e d of a
c r i m e r e l a t i n g to his public o f f i c e .
I n c l u d e d in t h e
Personnel
c a t e g o r y a r e bills t h a t w o u l d :
— permit temporary
ap-
a special, extended
open
enrollment period, through April
30.
C B P i n c r e a s e s t h e s c h e d u l e of
allowances
for
surgery,
anesthesia, in-hospital doctor's
care, radiology, maternity and
other care. For example, maxi m u m payment for a normal
CSEA attorney Stephen J. Wiley
p o i n t m e n t s f o r t h e d u r a t i o n of a
F e d e r a l or State grant, without
r e g a r d to e x i s t i n g eligible l i s t s ;
— allow the City P e r s o n n e l
D i r e c t o r to e s t a b l i s h s e p a r a t e units
f o r s u s p e n s i o n or d e m o t i o n w i t h o u t
t h e a p p r o v a l of t h e S t a t e Civil Service Commission;
— a m e n d t h e OSHA l a w to allow
N e w Y o r k City to s u b m i t p l a n s to
the Industrial
Commissioner
proposing a " r e a s o n a b l e " schedule
f o r p h a s i n g in OSHA, a n d a m e n d
O S H A t o p r o v i d e a s y s t e m of
"voluntary compliance" for New
York City;
— e x t e n d t h e d u r a t i o n of
provisional appointments f r o m
nine m o n t h s to 18 m o n t h s in t h e
City; and
— p e r m i t t h e City to u s e t h e disc i p l i n a r y p e n a l t i e s of f i n e s up. to
o n e y e a r ' s s a l a r y a n d loss of a n n u a l
l e a v e by s t a t u t e r a t h e r t h a n by
stipulated settlement as at present.
C u r r e n t l y , t h e s t a t u t e only p e r m i t s
t h e p e n a l t i e s of
dismissal,
d e m o t i o n , 60-day s u s p e n s i o n o r
$100 fine.
d e l i v e r y would i n c r e a s e f r o m $225
to $450.
Bi-weekly cost for the C B P
would b e $1.28 f o r i n d i v i d u a l s a n d
a n a d d i t i o n a l $5.60 f o r f a m i l i e s .
T o sign u p f o r t h i s i n c r e a s e d
coverage, existing GHI enrollees
m u s t fill o u t f o r m PS404, w h i c h is
a v a i l a b l e in t h e i r p e r s o n n e l o f f i c e s .
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, W e d n e ^ a y , April
1981
Pqge 11
;saults upon employees are frequent
ifies
By Stanley P. Hornak
Communications Associate
P O U G H K E E T ^ S I E - T h e f i r s t d a y s of S p r i n g
in t h e H u d s o n V a l l e y a r e r e f r e s h i n g , w i t h
t e m p e r a t u r e s b r e a k i n g in t h e 60s a n d t h e sun
finishing off t h e w i n t e r ' s cold. On t h e g r o u n d s of
t h e Hudson R i v e r P s y c h i a t r i c C e n t e r , T h e r a p y
Aide M a r g a r e t H o r a n a n d L o c a l 410 P r e s i d e n t
C o n r a d R e i l l y t a k e a d v a n t a g e of t h e w e a t h e r to
go o u t d o o r s a n d t r y a n d f o r g e t , f o r a while, w o r k ing c o n d i t i o n s . O n c e a g a i n , b e c a u s e of u n d e r s t a f fing, a t h e r a p y a i d e h a s b e e n a t t a c k e d a n d
seriously i n j u r e d . T h e latest incident o c c u r r e d
M a r c h 15.
H o r a n w o r k s in w a r d 402 of t h e C h e n e y
M e m o r i a l B u i l d i n g , t a k i n g c a r e of a c t i v e c l i e n t s
who a r e c h r o n i c a l l y d i s r u p t i v e , in a s e n s e t h e
m o s t t r o u b l e d of t h e t r o u b l e d . She is on t h e 4:00
o ' c l o c k to m i d n i g h t s h i f t w h e n , m o r e o f t e n t h a n
not, only t w o a i d e s a r e on d u t y . A c l i e n t , on t h e
night in q u e s t i o n , pulled t h e f i r e a l a r m a n d s i n c e
it w a s a f a l s e a l a r m , t h e w a r d ' s 25 r e s i d e n t s
w e r e g a t h e r e d in t h e d a y r o o m . O n e of t h e m
(suspetfted of p u l l i n g t h e a l a r m ) a s k e d to go o u t
f o r a d r i n k of w a t e r . H o r a n s a i d OK, a n d w h e n
the w o m a n didn't i m m e d i a t e l y return, went out
to g e t h e r . W h e n t h e a i d e s a i d , " l e t ' s go b a c k , "
t h e r e s i d e n t y e l l e d , " A l i c e , you'll n e v e r do t h a t
t o m e a g a i n , " t h r e w a g l a s s of w a t e r a t
M a r g a r e t Horan, and s t a r t e d swinging. The
result: one t h e r a p y aide with a cracked j a w and
a n o s e b r o k e n in t w o p l a c e s . T h e r e a s o n : only
t w o a i d e s on d u t y .
T h e a i d e u s e d t e c h n i q u e s l e a r n e d in " c r i s i s int e r v e n t i o n " t o pin d o w n t h e r e s i d e n t a n d c a l l e d
f o r help. I t c a m e f a s t e n o u g h , b u t not b e f o r e s u f f e r i n g t h e i n j u r i e s w h i c h would p u t h e r o u t of
conmiission f o r four weeks. T h e resident, m e a n t i m e , w a s t a k e n a w a y , i n t e r v i e w e d by a d o c t o r
a n d a f t e r s e t t l i n g d o w n l a t e r told H o r a n , " I
t h o u g h t you w e r e A l i c e . "
On t h e j o b i n j u r i e s a r e n o t h i n g n e w to H o r a n .
This w a s t h e t h i r d s u c h i n c i d e n t in a s m a n y
years. Just last October, for example, she went
to h e l p a r e s i d e n t w h o w a s b e i n g a b u s e d by
another, and suffered serious back injuries
w h i c h r e q u i r e d s p i n a l f u s i o n s u r g e r y . N o w , on
the w a r d , H o r a n w e a r s a back brace, " a s a
precaution so if anything happens, the m e t a l will
absorb it r a t h e r than m y b a c k . "
Despite the incidents, Horan enjoys her work
and s a y s c o n v i n c i n g l y , " w h e n I s e e a n i m p r o v e m e n t , I ' m r e a l l y h a p p y to know t h a t I h a d a
hand in i t . " S h e l i k e s t a l k i n g to t h e r e s i d e n t s , a n d
h a s a n open w a y a b o u t h e r t h a t b r i n g s t h e m o u t .
At t h e s a m e t i m e , s h e r e g r e t s c u t s in p e r s o n n e l
b e c a u s e t h e y a f f e c t t h e level of s e r v i c e s . S h e
c o m p l a i n s l a c k of s t a f f m a k e s it d i f f i c u l t , on
m a n y n i g h t s , t o t a k e t h e r e s i d e n t s out to bingo,
dances, holiday p a r t i e s and other such events
a n d s a y s , " t h e y ' r e h e r e 24Chours a d a y , s e v e n
d a y s a w e e k , a n d s o m e t i m e s n e e d a b r e a k . " She
likes to s e t up r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s " o n t h e
f l o o r " so t h e y c a n p a i n t , d r a w , a n d do a r t s a n d
c r a f t s to wiie a w a y t h e t i m e , b u t is a l w a y s
m i n d f u l to b e " o n m y g u a r d " a n d t r i e s t o k e e p
h e r b a c k to t h e wall. When p r o p e r l y s t a f f e d , s h e
n o t e s , t h e y c a n t a k e a s m a n y a s 20 p e o p l e out in
one evening.
R e i l l y e x p r e s s e s c o n c e r n , too, a b o u t " b a r e l y
c u s t o d i a l c a r e , " a n d s a y s h e ' s " n o t looking f o r
U t o p i a , j u s t a n o p p o r t u n i t y to do o u r j o b s
p r o p e r l y . " H e r e g r e t s the, " c o n s t a n t p a p e r w o r k
to m a k e t h i n g s a p p e a r g o o d , " a n d H o r a n a d d s ,
" i t ' s unfortunate that the people detailing
policies have never worked the w a r d s . "
Field Rep. John Deyo remarks,
"At
labor/management
meetings, CSEA
has
r e p e a t e d l y b r o u g h t up t h e i s s u e of s t a f f i n g . W e
s e e m to be in a g r e e m e n t on t h e p e r c e n t a g e of
s t a f f i n g f o r e a c h s h i f t , but s h o r t l y a f t e r w a r d s
m i d d l e m a n a g e m e n t c i r c u m v e n t s it a n d m a k e s
r e a s s i g n m e n t s to t h e d a y s h i f t l e a v i n g e v e n i n g
and night shifts short s t a f f e d . "
N o w a d a y s , life f o r a t h e r a p y a i d e c a n b e a
v i c i o u s c i r c l e . T h e solution — m o r e s t a f f .
M a r g a r e t H o r a n ' s e x p e r i e n c e is a c a s e in point
of a " T A " t r y i n g , a n d w a n t i n g , t o d o h e r b e s t ,
b u t s o m e t i m e s j u s t d e f e a t e d by t h e s i m p l e f a c t
of h e r h u m a n i t y , " I c a n ' t b e all o v e r t h e w a r d a t
one t i m e . "
says she's been a victim
of assaults by patients primarily because
understaffing creates dangerous situations.
MARGARET HORAN
T H E R A P Y A I D E M A R G A R E T H O R A N d i s c u s s e s t h e p r o b l e m s of u n d e r s t a f f i n g a t H u d s o n R i v e r
P s y c h i a t r i c C e n t e r w i t h C S E A L o c a l 410 P r e s i d e n t C o n r a d R e i l l y , w h i c h R e i l l y s a y s r e s u l t s in
" b a r e l y custodial c a r e " for the patients and constant danger for the employees.
OMR-OMH CENTRAL O F F I C E S SIGN E A P PACT - Commissioner J a m e s Introne, left, and OMH
C o m m i s s i o n e r J a m e s P r e v o s t , r i g h t , w a t c h a s C S E A L o c a l 673 P r e s i d e n t W a n d a Lubinski s i g n s a n
E m p l o y e e A s s i s t a n c e P r o g r a m policy c o n t r a c t c o v e r i n g O f f i c e of M e n t a l R e t a r d a t i o n a n d O f f i c e of
M e n t a l H e a l t h C e n t r a l O f f i c e e m p l o y e e s r e p r e s e n t e d by t h e C S E A . Most e m p l o y e e s of O M R - O M H a r e
now c o v e r e d by a n E A P p r o g r a m .
Page 12
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, March 1357, 1981