Official Publication of
The Civil Service Employees Association
Vol. I, No. I
Wednesday October 4, 1978
25c/per copy
CSEA & State face-to-face
ALBANY — The opening scene in the first act of
what promises to be a long, difficult scenario
leading up to new contracts for some 145,000 state
w o r k e r s r e p r e s e n t e d by t h e Civil S e r v i c e
Employees Assn. has taken place in Albany.
Officials of CSEA and the State's Office of
Employee Relations met across the table last
week to discuss "ground rules" for the actual
negotiating sessions scheduled to get underway in
earnest later this year. In the above photos, the expressions of Acting OER Director J a m e s B.
Northrop, left, and CSEA President William L.
McGowan and CSEA Chief Counsel J a m e s
Hello!
This is the first edition of
"The Public Sector," the
new, official, weekly
publication of the Civil Service E m p l o y e e s Assn.
CSEA m e m b e r s will
receive each weekly
edition as part of the services provided by your annual union dues.
With this first edition,
CSEA enters an era of expanded
communication.
"The Public Sector"
utilizes a modern format,
an expanded staff and a
f u l l 50% m o r e p a g e s
d e v o t e d e x c l u s i v e l y to
CSEA.
All t h i s in a n e w
economic framework that
brings added benefits to
CSEA and the m e m bership.
Roemer seem to reflect a somber, serious mood in
anticipation of what promises to be tough bargaining to reach accord on new labor pacts to replace
those which expire March 31, 1979.
Representing CSEA at the rules session, in addition to Mr. McGowan and Atty. Roemer, were
Executive Director Joseph J . Dolan, four union
collective bargaining specialists assigned to each
of the four m a j o r bargaining units involved, and
the acting chairpeople of the four units.
. Two y e a r s ^ g o an agreement was reached at the
eleventh hour, averting a certain strike by the
145,000 state employees in the Administrative,
Operational, Institutional, and Professional,
Scientific and Technical bargaining units. Difficult as those talks were, the ones beginning later
this year are anticipated to be even more difficult.
In p r e p a r a t i o n for the long fight ahead,
m e m b e r s of all four bargaining teams, recently
n a m e d by P r e s i d e n t McGowan, have been
scheduled for intensive union orientation sessions
this week and last.
In the next issue of "The Public Sector" we'll
review those orientation sessions to indicate just
how well prepared the union teams will be.
Court, AFL-CIO move PS&T to next step
ALBANY — The hotly disputed April
representation election for some 45,500
state employes in the PS&T bargaining
unit, still tangled in lengthy formal
objections by both unions involved, has
moved into new legal grounds.
Oct. 24 decision
In Washington last Wednesday, a 3m e m b e r special panel named by AFLCIO President George Meany decided
not to make a decision as to the merits
of an earlier AFL-CIO arbitrator's
decision in favor of the Civil Service
Employees Assn. Instead the panel
elected to send the matter on for final
resolution by the national AFL-CIO
Executive Council, comprised of 35
union chiefs. That group will meet in
Washington on October 24 and is expected to make a final, non-appealable,
decision the same day.
The arbitrator had earlier ruled that
the organization which challenged
CSEA for the PS&T unit earlier this
year, the Public Employees
Federation ( P E F ) , had violated Article 20 of the AFL-CIO, the no-raiding
c l a u s e , when it opposed C S E A ' s
representation rights. In effect, the
decision said P E F should relinguish
any claim to the PS&T unit or face the
s e v e r e p e n a l t y of losing A r t . 20
protection itself, making P E F subject
to nationwide raiding by b r o t h e r
unions. P E F appealed, leading to the
latest action last Wednesday.
Goes to court
Meanwhile, in Albany the m a t t e r
moved into state courts on Thursday
a f t e r the full P E R B board ruled the
same day that P E F was the legal and
recognized winner in last April's ballot
count in which P E F outpolled CSEA in
the election to represent the big block
of state workers.
CSEA, which h a s c o n t i n u e d to
represent the PS&T workers during
the various appeal steps, had appealed
the election results to P E R B claiming
gross irregularities on the part of P E F
during the challenge. This led to one of
the longest hearings in P E R B history,
and ended in July when P E R B hearing
officer Harvey Milowe ruled in favor of
P E F . CSEA appealed that determination to the full P E R B Board,
resulting in last Thursday's decision.
CSEA chief legal counsel J a m e s
Roemer, immediately following the
P E R B announcement last week, moved the m a t t e r into the civil courts when
he sought a State Supreme Court injunction barring certification of P E F .
The m a t t e r automatically goes on to
the Appellate Division and the injunction sought seeks to prevent certification by P E R B pending a final
d e t e r m i n a t i o n of the issue in the
courts. The court action was necessary
since the P E R B board action was the
final step leading to certification of a
bargaining agent under administrative
procedures for such matters.
ROME DEVELOPMENTAL C E N T E R I N V I T E S
COMMUNITY SUPPORT Ray P r i t c h a r d
(left),
President
of
Rome
Developmental Center Local
422, admires a toy chest built
by a resident at the facility,
while Shannon Tilbe (center),
and Jim Vaccaro, vocational
rehabilitation counselors,
describe the craftsmanship.
Through the community service efforts of Pritchard and
fellow employees at Rome
Developmental Center, an
a p p e a l h a s been m a d e to
townspeople
in
the
Rome/Utica area to call for information regarding residentmade items for sale. Through
the sponsorship of local high
school football game broadcasts, P r i t c h a r d utilized
available radio spots to invite
work orders. All profits are
returned to the residents.
16,400
in one
group
Credit unions keep growing in state
By Deborah Cassidy
ALBANY — O f f e r i n g t h e convenience of payroll deductions for
savings and loan repayments and a
lower interest rate on loans, than most
banks offer, the employee-run credit
union is a rapidly growing institution
among State and local government
e m p l o y e e s in t h e Civil S e r v i c e
Employees Assn. these days.
The purpose of a credit union, as set
up by the Federal Credit Union Act and
the Federal Credit Union Bylaws, is
"to promote thrift among its m e m b e r s
by affording them an opportunity to accumulate their savings, and to create
f o r t h e m a s o u r c e of c r e d i t f o r
provident or productive purposes."
Though all credit unions operate as
non-profit organizations under these
two sets of rules, they may vary in what
they establish as loan limits, co-maker
policies, and m e m b e r s h i p requirements.
In accordance with the Act and
Bylaws, the organization is run by an
employee elected Board of Directors,
which in turn elects its own officers.
The board enforces policies set down
by these two and sets its own policies by
voting when these laws are, in whole or
part, optional. A credit committee, appointed by the board and headed by a
loan officer, reviews loan requests.
The laws also require that periodic
reports on finances be filed with the
federal government and t h a t the
federal government do a yearly audit
of each credit unions records.
Individual savings, up to an amount
specified by the particular credit union, a r e insured by the National Credit
Union Administration. Funds are coordinated through and deposited in a
local bank, and extra funds may be invested.
With a total membership of approximately 16,400, one of the largest credit
unions among public employees is that
run by New York State workers in
Albany and the connecting counties of
Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer,
Saratoga, Schenectady and Schoharie.
"More and more employees a r e realizing the advantages of belonging to the
credit union," says Board of Directors
m e m b e r Paul St. John. " F o r the
average person, we can offer almost
0
®8 g ^ f i i i m r s
I n f o r m a t i o n for the C a l e n d a r of C o m i n g Events m a y b e s u b m i t t e d directly to THE PUBLIC S E C T O R . Include t h e d a t e ,
l i m e , p l a c e , a d d r e s s a n d city for the event. S e n d to THE PUBLIC S E C T O R , C l a r i t y Publishing Inc., 7 5 C h a m p l a i n S t r e e t ,
Albany, N.Y.
12204.
OCTOBER
4 — L o n g island Region 1 O p e r a t i o n a l Unit workshop: 5-11 p.m., site to be announced.
8—Rescheduled O n o n d a g a County Local 8 3 4 mixed clam bake: 1-6 p.m.,
Jamesville Lokeshore Grove, Jamesville.
1 0 — C r e e d m o o r Psychiatric Center Local 406 general membership meeting: 5:30
p.m., Creedmoor basement chapel.
1 3 - 1 4 — W e s t e r n Region VI meeting: Holiday Inn, Batavia.
17—Livingston County unit of Rochester Retirees Local 912, 2 p.m.. Youth Center,
M a i n Street, Mt. Morris.
1 7 — C a p i t a l District Retirees Local 999 general membership meeting: 1 p.m., Polish
Community Center, Washington Ave. Ext., Albany.
1 7 — N e w York Metropolitan Retirees Local 910 meeting: 1 p.m., 2 W o r l d Trade
Center, Room 5890, M a n h a t t a n .
1 8 — L o n g Island Region 1 PS&T Unit workshop: 5-11 p.m., site to be announced.
19—Nassau Local 830 b o a r d of directors meeting: 5:30 p.m., Salisbury Club,
Eisenhower Pork, East M e a d o w , L.I.
2 1 — N a s s a u Local 830 30th Anniversary dinner-dance: Carl Hoppl's M a l i b u Club,
Lido Beach, L.I.
2 2 — S t a t e w i d e Board of Directors meeting: 1 p.m.. Concord Hotel, Kiamesha Lake.
, 2 3 - 2 7 — S t a t e w i d e Delegates Convention: Concord Hotel, Kiamesha Lake.
NOVEMBER
2 9 — L o n g Island Region 1 special elections seminar: 5-11 p.m., site to be announced.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, W e d n e i d a y , October 4, 1978Pofle9
the same services that any bank offers.
And as the membership grows our services are expanding." Membership is
o p e n , not only to e m p l o y e e s
themselves but, to family members
living in the s a m e house and to
employees who have retired.
According to Mr. St. John, savings or
share accounts may be opened with an
i n i t i a l d e p o s i t of $5 p l u s a $1
registration fee, and deposits after that
may be in any amount specified by the
individual. The amount may be changed up to three times a year. In addition
to the payroll deductions, a member
may m a k e direct deposits in any
amount. "The rate of dividend we pay
depends on the earnings for that year
and is paid quarterly," said Mr. St.
J o h n . " C u r r e n t l y we pay seven
percent, an amount which is slightly
higher than some banks o f f e r . " If the
credit union shows a large profit at the
end of the year, the money is returned
to the members in the form of a bonus
credited to their accounts. " I t ' s not the
credit union which benefits from the
profits, but the members themselves,
the shareholders," he explained.
Share certificates, which require
that the money remains on deposit for a
certain time limit and pay seven and
three quarters percent interest are
also now being offered. All savings are
insured to $40,000.
"Members can borrow money for a
variety of reasons," said Mr. St. John.
"This includes the purchase of an
automobile or household appliance, to
finance medical bills, vacations or to
refinance a high interest loan. At this
point we do not offer mortgage loans,
but we soon may be allowed to. The
money for loans is now plentiful and we
encourage our m e m b e r s to feel free to
borrow if they need it." In order to be
eligible for a loan, an employee must
have permanent payroll status and
have been employed for no less than six
months. The amount of the loan
depends on salary, length of State service, purpose, the debt to income ratio,
and the individual's credit rating.
There is a limit on personal loans of
$5000 over the amount the individual
has in share balance and it must be
repaid in up to three years. Car loans
are limited to $6000, not to exceed three
quarters of the total cost of the car, and
must be repaid in up to three and one
half y e a r s . Share secured loans,
without a co-signer, are limited to
share balance. Otherwise, loans over
$4000 must have a co-signer. Loans of
$1000 or less a r e required to be paid
back in one year. "Any loan must be
repaid by 50 p e r c e n t before it is
refinanced and we don't penalize for
lump sum payments," commented Mr.
St. John. Interest is charged at the r a t e
of one p e r c e n t above the c u r r e n t
dividend rate per month on the unpaid
balance for secured loans, one percent
for unsecured or co-signed loans and
5/6 of one p e r c e n t for c a r loans.
Automatic insurance for death and
prolonged illness is granted for all
loans.
There a r e offices of the State credit
union in building eight of the State
Campus on Washington Avenue and in
the Empire State Plaza. Run by a staff
of 14 parttime and fulltime employees,
the offices a r e open Monday through
Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
More recently established, and "still
growing" according to Board of Directors member Joan Murray, is the City
of Troy employees credit union. "Our
membership has hovered around the
250 mark since we were first established in 1975. Growth has been slow, due to
a high turnover rate of employees, but
it is steady," commented Ms. Murray.
For now, this one offers savings or
share accounts paying a five percent
semi-annual dividend based on share
dollars and small personal loans.
Membership is limited to employees
only, but a spouse may be listed as a
joint owner on an account.
An initial deposit of $5 is required to
open an account and subsequent weekly deposits from $1 to $99 may be made.
Withdrawals in any amount can be
made, as long as $5 remains on account, and can be picked up within a
week. Deposits a r e insured up to
$20,000.
Personal loans are limited to $1500
secured by a share account or cosigned by another member of the credit
union and a r e payable at an interest
rate of one percent per month on the unpaid balance. "Though at this point the
lending rate is low, our loans are good
for employees who need a small
amount of cash for any reason and
don't want to pay a high amount of interest," said Ms. Murray.
CSEA loses Thruway unit election
ALBANY — The Civil S e r v i c e
Employees Assn. said at presstime it
w a s r e v i e w i n g t h e r e s u l t s of a
September 28 representation election
which s a w 2,343 toll c o l l e c t o r s ,
maintenance and clerical personnel of
the State Thruway Authority come under a rival labor union. But officials in-
dicated CSEA probably would not file
any objections to the results.
The S t a t e P u b l i c E m p l o y m e n t
Relations Board announced that the
2,343 Thruway employees in bargaining
unit 1 had voted 1,033 for Teamster
Local 456 to 626 for CSEA in a bitterly
fought representation election that
spanned the last several weeks. There
were also a small number of "no
union", void and challenged ballots cast.
CSEA, which continues to represent
t h e s m a l l e r b a r g a i n i n g u n i t of
professional, technical and scientific
employees of the Thruway Authority,
had represented the toll collectors.
maintenance and clerical employees
since the inception of the Thruway
Authority. But they were the focal
point of numerous r e p r e s e n t a t i o n
challenges down through the years,
with CSEA turning back time and time
again heated raids from other rival
unions.
Suffolk deputies
get full support
RIVERHEAD - The Civil Service
Employees Assn. has announced it
will defend 32 Suffolk County deputies
who, on September 28, were all charged with misconduct under Article 75
of the Civil Service Law by Sheriff
John P. Finnerty.
Sheriff Finnerty charged the 32
deputies with, he said, refusing to
follow a new rule that only one officer, and not two, guard prisoners in
courtrooms. Law enforcement officials in Suffolk reportedly agreed to
the new rule in order to free deputies
for other duties.
William Lewis, president of Suffolk
CSEA Local 852, pledged full union
support of the accused deputies.
CAFITÄLRlSGIÖN MEMBERS AND STAFF review a special flyer pertaining to the region's political action programs at
a regional meeting last week in Schenectady. CSEA public relations associate Daniel Campbell, center, prepared the flyer
being inspected by, from left, Joan Tobin, Jean Myers, Shirley Brown and Stanley Polansky, all members of the region's
Political Action Committee, chaired by Ms. Myers.
Support dues increase,
CSEA files LP.
for 3 0 in S.L
NEW YORK - The Civil Service
Employees Assn. has filed an improper practice charge against the
director of employee relations in the
N.Y. Office of Mental Retardation and
Developmental Disabilities, accusing
Director Sheldon Kramer of denying
employees at Staten Island
Developmental Center their contractual right to a 3rd step grievance
hearing.
The case involves more than 30
employees, each of whom had filed
their own grievances after receiving
notices of discipline. CSEA field
representative Bart Brier calls
K r a m e r ' s action "especially vile"
because, in a letter to Staten Island
CSEA Local President Felton King
denying the employee grievances,
K r a m e r " d i d n o t r e f e r to t h e
employees by name, but lumped them
together under the label OER File A
1013".
B r i e r said r e f e r r i n g to the
employees by file number rather than
by name " w a s grossly disrespectful"
and that K r a m e r ' s rejection of the
e m p l o y e e s ' r i g h t s to a 3rd s t e p
grievance de.iied them a chance to
present evidence and arguments in
their own defense.
Also denied the employees. Brier
said, was "their right to enjoy the
benefits of union organization and
membership". Brier charged Kramer,
through his actions, "discriminates
against CSEA m e m b e r s and is unilaterally ignoring the CSEA contract
and trying to destroy the integrity of
union contract grievance procedures''.
In filing the improper practice with
the Public Employee Relations Board,
CSEA is charging violation of the
Taylor Law and is asking P E R B to
schedule a hearing in the case.
ALBANY - At a September 25
meeting of the Capital Region officers
and delegates, held at the Holiday Inn
in Schenectady, Region president
Joseph McDermott voiced his support
for two m a j o r issues to be considered
at the Civil Service Employees Assn.
statewide delegates convention
scheduled for October.
Urging the Region delegates to
"carefully review and consider" the
matters, he spoke of a proposed dues
i n c r e a s e to o n e p e r c e n t of t h e
m e m b e r ' s salary per year, not to exceed $125 per year. "We must face the
r e a l i t y t h a t a d u e s i n c r e a s e is
necessary and view this as a fair way to
assess dues," he said.
Another proposal would set Local
rebates at a flat $16 per member, per
year, instead of the current 25 percent
based on the number of members,
reflecting an increase of approximately $1.50 per member. Mr. McDermott
advocated the proposal in light of the
possibility of another proposal "lifting
the burden of some other expenses off
the Locals."
In a n o t h e r m a t t e r . P r e s i d e n t
McDermott told his members that he
differs with a proposal by Statewide
president William McGowan calling
for the creation of Regional committees to work on problems concerning employees of the Comprehensive
Employees Training Act in State and
local governments. Mr. McDermott
said that he would not form a committee in the Capital Region because
he sees no real need for it at this time
and feels that any problems can be
m o r e e f f e c t i v e l y handled by t h e
rebates
Statewide CETA committee which is
currently in existence.
The delegates voted on some changes
to the Capital Region constitution. Information on the changes may be made
by contacting the Region office at 1215
Western Avenue, Albany, New York
12208.
An eight page political action flyer,
compiled by the Capital Region public
relations staff and the Capital Region &
statewide political action committees,
for the purpose of detailing guidelines
for endorsements on all levels was distributed. The flyer also contained a list
of candidates endorsed on the Region
level, with reasons for each endorsement, and other information on
political action. The flyer may also be
obtained from the Region office.
3 contracts OK'd in Region 6
BUFFALO — Non-teaching
employees in three separate school districts of the Western Region of the Civil
Service Employees Assn. recently
ratified contracts containing wage increases and additional benefits.
A three year contract expiring in
June of 1981, in the Cleveland Hill
School District unit will grant some 80
employees an 11 percent pay increase,
plus increments, in each of the last two
years of the agreement. Health insurance and longevity benefits were
also increased. Unit president William
Lulek commented, "We a r e satisfied
with the results of the negotiating
process. Although not all proposals
have been met, it was the best that
could be arrived a t . "
Employees of the Richburg School
District accepted a one year contract
in which they will receive a five
percent increase. Also included in the
agreement, expiring next June 30, was
agency shop, an increase in the accrual
limitation of sick time to 130 days, the
right for members to review their personnel files and to be notified of any additions to it, the right of women — to
use sick leave prior to beginning
maternity leave and a new health plan
which will include life, Major Medical,
dental coverage a n d ^ r prescription
drugs at the employee's option.
A pay increase distributing monies
throughout the salary schedule, title
upgradings with corresponding increments and an increase to 15 cents
for the shift differential were included
in the one year contract settled by the
Dunkirk School unit. Other t e r m s call
for increased coverage under the
Western Blue Cross Health Plan, a Major Medical Plan with a $1,000,000 maximum, the addition of 4LJ to the
retirement plan and seven sick days
per year with a 50 day accrual for
library aides. Under the previous con-
tract the aides had only five sick days
per year and no accruals.
Representatives of 79 school dist r i c t s within the Western Region
attended a CSEA sponsored seminar on
union structure, unemployment insurance benefits, negotiating and contract language held at the Treadway
Inn in Batavia recently. The seminar
was chaired by Region president
Robert Lattimer, CSEA's coordinator
for school d i s t r i c t a f f a i r s Arnie
Wipfler, and Regional director Lee
Frank.
Assisting w e r e : field representatives Robert E. Young, Charles Bird
and Samuel J. Carman and research
analyst Mark Higgins. Representatives from the Erie and Niagara
Educational Locals were also present.
Speaking for the members. Region
President Lattimer t e r m e d the
seminar " f r u i t f u l " and suggested that
it be held "annually, more often if
needed."
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, W e d n e i d a y , October 4, 1978
Pofle 9
am
®Jp3QQa®QQ
CSEA Gubernatorial
endorsement still a possibility?
Welcome!
ALBANY — The appointment of
Roger A. Cole as executive editor of
"The Public Sector," official
p u b l i c a t i o n of t h e Civil S e r v i c e
Employees Assn., has been announced
by Thomas A. d e m e n t e , publisher.
Mr. Cole, formerly director of public
relations for CSE A, resigned that
position to a s s u m e his new responsibilities. He had served as director of
public relations for CSEA since April,
1977, and previously had served as
assistant director of public relations
since F e b r u a r y , 1974.
P r i o r to joining CSEA, he served as a
communications specialist with the
General E l e c t r i c Company in Schenectady, N.Y. and Columbia, Md. He was
e d i t o r of t h e " G E N e w s " at the
Schenectady facility for two years.
Prior to joining General Electric in
1969, Mr. Cole was assistant director of
public relations for General Telephone
Company of Upstate New York for
three years. He was a reporter and
weekly columnist with "The LeaderHerald" daily newspaper of Gloversville, N.Y. for four years before joining General Telephone.
Mr. Cole served in the Marine Corps
f r o m 1957 to 1961. He attended Ithaca
College, Ithaca, N.Y.
T h e Civil Service E m p l o y e e s
Assn. started out to m a k e a firsttime endorsement of a candidate for
governor, ended up with no end o r s e m e n t , and in the p r o c e s s
probably emerged stronger,
politically, at this point in time.
Nearly 800 elected delegates, undoubtedly reflecting the mood of the
m o r e than 300,000 public workers
they represent in setting official
CSEA policy, denied the union's official backing to both Hugh Carey
and P e r r y Duryea, and with it a substantial amount of political funds
and volunteer services that could
have been the difference in a r a c e
that is now rated a toss-up.
Both candidates took interesting
positions on key issues in seeking the
CSEA backing. But t h e union's
delegates obviously felt neither was
s t r o n g enough, nor e x c e p t i o n a l
enough, to overcome past personal
p e r f o r m a n c e s in the s a m e a r e a s .
With the latest polls showing a
tight r a c e shaping up, the potential
value of CSEA's endorsement, not to
mention funds for a last minute
media blitz, looms bigger than ever
for both candidates. And with CSEA
delegates scheduled to m e e t again
just two weeks before the big election. the possibility exists that Mr.
Carey and Mr. Duryea will try to
come up with progressive program
proposals that could g e n e r a t e a floor
debate leading, a f t e r all, to a formal
endorsement.
Whether that develops or not, it is
important for every public
employee to review the respective
positions as given by the candidates
in initially seeking CSEA's support.
You'll find them on p a g e s 6 a n d 7 . We
think these should influence how you
will vote in November, tempered by
any new positions that might be
forthcoming f r o m either candidate.
(R.A.C.)
In step with the times
We're proud of this, the first
edition of C S E A ' s new o f f i c i a l
publication. F o r one thing, we think
the f o r m a t s t y l e and o v e r a l l
a p p e a r a n c e compliments the
" n e w " image of CSEA, still in
creation but begun with a series of
important changes in concept and
direction over the past s e v e r a l
months.
Too, this first edition was created
under difficult time and policy constraints that provided a severe test
of the capabilities of many people in-
Sorry, you'll both have to run without these shoes
volved in its production. We believe
we have m e t the test of baptism under pressure to deliver the type of
product, on time, that we envisioned
when this new publication concept
was first considered.
We set out with several key goals
in mind. We wanted a publication
that reflects the status of CSEA as a
progressive, influential and large
l a b o r u n i o n . We w a n t e d a
publication that instills a sense of
pride in the people it is written for,
t h e m o r e t h a n 300,000 p u b l i c
employees throughout New York
State represented by CSEA. And we
wanted a vehicle that enables us to
present issues in detail without
sacrificing current news and inform a t i o n of g e n e r a l , o r e v e n
sometimes limited, interest. We
recognize the responsibility of expanding and protecting the main line
of c o m m u n i c a t i o n b e t w e e n the
rank-and-file and the leadership,
and we will not lose sight of the fact
^hat that is, above all, the p r i m a r y
role of this publication.
(R.A.C.)
Directory of Regional Offices
REGION 1 — Long Island Region ^516) 6 9 M 1 7 0
Irving F l a u m e n b a u m , President
Ed Cleary, Regional Director
REGION 2 — Metropolitan Region (212) 962-3090
Solomon Bendet, President
George Bispham, Regional Director
REGION 3 — Southern Region (914) 896-8180
J a m e s Lennon, President
Thomas Luposello, Regional Director
REGION 4 — Capitol Region (518) 489-5424
Joseph McDermott, President
John Corcoran, Field Director
REGION 5 — Central Region (315) 422-2319
J a m e s Moore, President
F r a n k r » I a r t e l l o , Fveld Director
REGION 6 —Western Region (716) 634-3540
Robert L a t t i m e r , President
Lee F r a n k , Field Director
Published every Wednesday by Clarity Publishing, Inc.
Publication Office, 75 Champlain Street, Albany, N.Y. 12204 (518) 465-4591
Otticial publication of
The Civil Service
Employees Association
33 Elk Street,
Albany, New York 12224
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, W e d n e i d a y , October 4, 1978Pofle9
Thomas A. demente—Publisher
Roger A. Cole—Executive Editor
Oscar D. Barker—Associate Editor
Deborah Cassidy—Staff Writer
Susan A. Kemp—Staff Writer
Arden D. Lawand—Graphic Design
Dennis C. Mullahv—Production Coordinator
The Public Sector is published every
Wedresday except D e c e m b e r 27, Jan. 3
July 4 and August 8 for $5.00 by the Civil
Service E m p l o y e e s Association, 33 Elk
Street, Albany, New York, 12224.
Application to mail at Second Class
Postage Rates pending at Albany, New
York.
Publication office, 75 Champlain Street,
Albany, New York, 12204 Single copy
Price 25'.
Combined strength evident in D.C
WASHINGTON - More than 70
Civil Service Employees Assn. off i c e r s and b o a r d of d i r e c t o r s
m e m b e r s participated in two days
of i n t e n s i v e w o r k s h o p s a n d
meetings covering a wide spectrum
of union m a t t e r s late last month at
the International headquarters of
the American Federation of State,
County and Municipal Employees
(AFSCME).
CSEA affiliated with AFSCME
last April as AFSCME Local 1000
and b e c a m e the largest local in the
largest labor union of any kind in the
giant AFL-CIO. Since then,
numerous CSEA staff m e m b e r s and
officers have gone to Washington for
orientation and i n f o r m a t i o n a l
sessions a s both o r g a n i z a t i o n s
began drawing upon each other's
resources in mutual projects m a d e
possible by the affiliation. But the
latest group f r o m CSEA was by far
the largest to gain exposure to
AFSCME's facilities and services
available to their Lpcals.
"The International union stands
ready to assist CSEA in carrying out
its p r o g r a m s . Our union is stronger
than ever, but the problems facing
public workers across the country
will severely test our s t r e n g t h . " —
AFSCME President J e r r y Wurf.
Workshop sessions included lec-
WILLIAM DE MARTINO, Labor Department
b o a r d representative from New York City,
makes a point during visit by CSEA b o a r d
members and officers to AFSCME headquarters
in Washington last month.
tures by AFSCME union experts in
the a r e a s of collective bargaining,
r e s e a r c h and publicity, with
emphasis on the variety of services
a v a i l a b l e to CSEA out of t h e
Washington I n t e r n a t i o n a l headquarters.
" N e w York state workers need both
AFSCME and CSEA. Neither
organization can do the job alone.
We a r e in AFSCME to s t a y . " —
C S E A P r e s i d e n t W i l l i a m L.
McGowan.
One of the highlights of the twoday p r o g r a m was a special
reception on Capitol Hill in which
CSEA people m e t with their
Congressional representatives. One
benefit of affiliation is the input into
l e g i s l a t i o n in W a s h i n g t o n t h a t
a f f e c t s public employees in New
York State, something that was difficult if not impossible before last
april.
Irving F l a u m e n b a u m , president
of CS?^A's Long Island Region and
also an International vice president
of AFSCME, found the two-day
session in Washington " e x t r e m e l y
useful."
He said, "Most importantly, we
have begun the process of using our
combined strength to work for the
rights of public workers in New
York State and across the nation."
AFSCME PRESIDENT JERRY WURF addresses CSEA representatives during a session at the Capital Hilton complex in
Washington, At left is CSEA President William L. M c G o w a n , who also serves as an AFSCME International vice
president.
'Begin the process'
Irving F l a u m e n b a u m , president of
CSEA's Long Island Region and also
an International vice president of
AFSCME, found the two-day session
in Washington " e x t r e m e l y useful"
He said, "Most importantly, we
have begun the process of using our
combined strength to work for the
rights of public workers in New York
State and across the nation".
CSEA OFFICERS A N D BOARD MEMBERS are shown durmg various meetings they attended in Washington to
learn greater details about the various services available to AFSCME Locals, of which CSEA is the largest in the
International.
JS ''
.. '.li
-xrs, »jiii
We encourage letters f r o m readers pertaining to items which
have appeared in THE PUBLIC SECTOR or which a r e of interest
to public employees. Letters must contain the name, address and
telephone number of the writer for verification purposes.
Telephone numbers will not be printed, and names may be
withheld upon request. Send all letters to THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Claritv Publishing Inc., 75 Champlain Street, Albany, N.Y.
12204
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, W e d n e i d a y , October 4, 1978
Pofle 9
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Answers leave
too many
By Roger A. Cole
ALBANY - When Gov. Hugh L.
Carey and P e r r y B. Duryea reached
out a few days ago for the brass ring
s y m b o l i z e d by t h e o f f i c i a l end o r s e m e n t of t h e Civil S e r v i c e
Employees Assn., both undoubtedly
expected to grab the prize. Neither did.
With a big chunk of the union's
$700,000 political action warchest at
stake, and the volunteer support and
services that goes along with such an
endorsement, the backing of CSEA
was sought vigorously by both candidates for governor.
CSEA's statewide legislative and
political action committee, mindful
that it was about to award the firstever endorsement of a candidate for
governor in the union's 68-year history,
grilled both candidates extensively on
p o s i t i o n s i m p o r t a n t to p u b l i c
employees. Carefully thoughtout
questions were asked of each candidate, with the written a n s w e r s
providing the basis upon which an endorsement recommendation would be
made by the committee.
The stated positions of both candidates proved interesting. And to the
surprise of many, the political action
committee c a m e away with a solid 14-4
vote favoring an endorsement of Gov.
Carey. In fact, in answers to a wide
ranging questionaire from CSEA, Gov.
Carey's positions reflected or closely
approximated CSEA's position more
often than did Mr. Duryea's. But, to the
surprise of the committee, the union's
delegates rejected the recommendation solidly, mounted a floor motion
to endorse Mr. Duryea that c a m e
r e a s o n a b l y c l o s e to g a i n i n g t h e
necessary two-thirds vote of support,
and in the end left the union divided and
neutral in the race.
In a r r i v i n g at their r e s p e c t i v e
positions, the statewide committee
and the d e l e g a t e s had w r i t t e n
r e s p o n s e s to t h e w i d e r a n g i n g
questions. Here are responses to some
of those questions of m a j o r concern to
public employees so you may form
your own opinions.
CSEA QUESTION: "Do you approve
of making agency shop permanent during the 1979 session?"
GOV. CAREY: "I would like to state
unequivocally that I support making
the agi^ncy shop permanent at the next
session of the Legislature. . . . I supported the permanent approach in 1975
and in 1976, but settled for the temporary measure in 1977 when it became
clear that that approach was the only
way the Senate would take up the concept."
MR. DURYEA: "I have supported
agency shop legislation and remain
committed to the concept. As Governor, 1 shall actively work to see that its
provisions a r e extended and, pending a
review of the current experience, see
no reason why it should not be made
permanent."
CSEA QUESTION: "Do you favor
making agency shop mandatory for
local government employees as well as
state employees?"
GOV. CAREY: "I must also tell you
that I can see no legitimate reason for
local government employees to be
treated differently than their
colleagues in State employment, and I
support agency shop legislation which
w o u l d be m a n d a t o r y f o r l o c a l
government employees as well . . . "
MR DURYEA: " I a m hesitant to
support a State mandate for local
agency shop which is currently a mandated subject of collective bargaining
without further consultation with local
governments and employee representatives."
CSEA QUESTION: " F o r several
years public employee pensions have
been a favorite target of ridicule by the
editorial writers in spite of the fact
that the average public employee
pension is l e s s t h a n $4,000. T h e
culmination of the attack was the
adoption of the so-called COESC plan.
CSEA favors the repeal of this plan.
Would you support such repeal?
GOV. CAREY: " . . . At the present
time, I cannot make a commitment to
support the repeal of this plan, but I am
prepared to review the recommendations of the Retirement Systems, the
Senate and Assembly c a r e k l l y with a
view toward providing equity to public
employees."
MR. DURYEA: " . . . I have been
strongly c o m m i t t e d to providing
e m p l o y e e s with a d e q u a t e pension
benefits . . . The enactment of the
COESC retirement plan has brought
with it some problems . . . Yet despite
these concerns, I would find it difficult
not to support legislation that would
continue the plan.
CSEA QUESTION: "Would you support modification of the contributory
aspect of the plan?"
GOV. CAREY: " . . . if the findings
indicate that the contributory feature
of the plan produces inequities without
m a j o r savings, I would not hesitate to
consider modification . . . "
MR. DURYEA: " . . . I would consider modifying the c o n t r i b u t o r y
aspect of the plan if findings indicate
that such changes were required to insure equity, were actuarially sound
and financing was available . . . "
C S E A Q U E S T I O N : " T h e 1978
legislative session saw a number of
bills calling for revision of the Constitution by providing for initiative and
referendum. CSEA believes that ini t i a t i v e and r e f e r e n d u m a r e
dangerous, but attractive gimmicks to
SOME 800 CSEA DELEGATES listen attentively to the positions of the candidates.
short-circuit the legislative system.
Do you support initiative and referendum for New York S t a t e ? "
GOV. CAREY:
. . I do not support
an amendment to the Constitution to
provide for the initiative and referendum for New York State because of
my faith in our legislative system and
our elected representatives. . . . I
favor an increase in local assistance as
the next priority for the State Budget.
Such increased assistance will be a
more effective way to stabilize the
real property tax s y s t e m . "
MR. DURYEA: " I n the face of a
spreading taxpayer revolt, I have
proposed a series of carefully reasoned
measures to address taxpayer concerns on both the State and local levels
. . . Included are . . . a constitutional
amendment to require that tax increases would need a m a j o r i t y of twothirds of a governing body for passage;
an i m m e d i a t e t e m p o r a r y S t a t e imposed cap on State and local tax
CSEA QUESTION: "Would you
favor the repeal of the 2 for 1 penalty
under the Taylor L a w ? "
GOV. CAREY: " I must tell you
frankly that at this time I do not support the blanket repeal of the 2 for 1
penalty, but I have supported, and will
continue to support the concept that
that penalty should not be imposed in
situations where the public employer
has engaged in e x t r e m e provocation which has caused a work stoppage . . . "
MR. D U R Y E A : " . . . I do not favor a
total r e p e a l , but I do support its
r e a s o n a b l e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n and
application. I believe that this penalty
has been abused in certain situations . . ."
CSEA QUESTION: "Would you
favor giving non-uniformed public
employees the right to s t r i k e ? "
GOV. C A R E Y : " I do not favor
granting non-uniformed public
employees the right to strike."
MR. DURYEA: "At this time, I do
not favor the right to strike for nonuniformed employees."
CSEA Q U E S T I O N : "Would you
favor binding arbitration for all public
employees?"
GOV. C A R E Y : " . . . I do not feel that
I could support binding arbitration for
all public employees at this time
without examining that process
further. I do believe, however, that the
time has come to take a hard and objective look at the possibility of arbitration for all public employees . . .
accordingly, I would propose to meet
with your representatives and seek
a g r e e m e n t s on procedures to submit
the next State contract negotiations
which will soon be commending to arbitration in the event both parties a r e
unable to reach an agreement. It is my
v i e w t h a t both p a r t i e s and t h e
negotiating process would be best served by an a g r e e m e n t to submit that contract to last offer binding arbitration in
the event agreement cannot be reached at the table . . . "
MR. DURYEA: " . . . I support an
extension of binding arbitration for the
uniformed services such as police and
firefighters . . . Pending additional
study and experience, it would be
p r e m a t u r e to consider an extension of
binding a r b i t r a t i o n for all public
employees."
CSEA QUESTION:
"Public
employees a r e frequently the first people to be cut and the last tc be restored
when government faces a so-called
f i s c a l c r i s i s . What would you
r e c o m m e n d to p r o v i d e a m o r e
equitable sharing of the burden in a
fiscal c r i s i s ? "
GOV. CAREY: " . . . The only way in
which public employees can be assured
of an equitable sharing of the burden
during times of crisis is to have in place
machinery which will allow the kind of
input into the operation of government
tliat can p r o t e c t t h e m . We have
attempted, in concert with your union,
to c r e a t e that type of m a c h i n e r y
t h r o u g h t h e C o n t i n u i t y of E m ployment Committee on which four
of your officers service. I a m committed to expand and continue to
develop this kind of decision-making
machinery with the representatives of
the employees regardless of the fiscal
conditions of the State."
MR. DURYEA: " T h e r e is no easy
answer to this question. As Governor, I
will insure that budget recommend a t i o n s would m a i n t a i n a d e q u a t e
levels of service and will retain the
public employees necessary to provide
those s e r v i c e s . Decisions on the
number of required public employee
j o b s will be b a s e d only on t h i s
philosophy which I believe would insure equity. That decision making requires managerial skills which reflect
a degree of creativity, imagination and
f l e x i b i l i t y . T h e s e would be
characteristics that I would look for
and expect in the people I appoint in my
administration."
And there you have it. There were
many, manv more questions covering
o t h e r i m p o r t a n t a r e a s of p u b l i c
employment. But these were some of
the questions and some of the answers
t h a t d e t e r m i n e d the positions of
CSEA's committee and the delegates.
Support
Union strength backs vote
When 800 delegates of the Civil Service Employees Association met in
Albany on September 18 to announce
their first-ever endorsements for candidates in statewide elections, the
strength of the union's political muscle
was soon to be felt as plans for a
massive campaign to support those
chosen were set into motion.
While the delegates would not endorse incumbent Governor Hugh L.
Carey nor Republican contender P e r r y
B. Duryea, they did grant formal endorsements to the Democratic candidate for Comptroller, Harrison J .
Goldin, and to R o b e r t A b r a m s ,
Democratic candidate for Attorney
General.
A valuable commodity that money
can't buy in any m a j o r political campaign is the special help of volunteers
working on behalf of the candidate. As
appreciated
" T h e Civil S e r v i c e E m p l o y e e s
Association has mad« i m m e a s u r a b l e
contributions to the growth of public
employee unionism in New York State,
and I ' m very gratified to have CSEA's
strong support in my race for Attorney
General.
Throughout my career as a threet e r m s t a t e A s s e m b l y m a n and a s
Borough President, I have never been
ashamed of my commitment to the
tenets of public employee unionism
and I have been proud to join public
employee unions in fighting every
a t t e m p t to relegate public employees
to second class status.
If elected Attorney General, I w>ll
m a k e sure that the powers of that office a r e used to their fullest to protect
the rights of all working people in New
York State."
—Robert Abrams
Sept. 28, 1978
"Your endorsement is both a high
honor and a powerful boost in my candidacy for State Comptroller, especially since the endorsement of a statewide
candidate is a new and historic step for
CSEA. I will be mindful that you have
placed your confidence in m e and I
assure your m e m b e r s that wherever I
serve in government, I will invite their
views and be understanding of their
problems and needs. I will view the
protection of their pension funds as a
sacred trust and responsibility and will
resist efforts from any source to make
any investment which is less than absolutely safe and prudent. In the spirit
of shared responsibility in which I
believe, I will urge and promote the off i c i a l p a r t i c i p a t i o n of m e m b e r
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s in t h e d e c i s i o n making process for pension fund investments."
— Harrison J . Goldin
Sept. 27, 1978
a result of their endorsements, Goldin
and Abrams' campaigns will be aided
by hundreds of CSEA volunteers in
each of the union's six regions.
Volunteer workers across the state
will be asked to maKe phone calls, distribute campaign m a t e r i a l s and assure
large turnouts at political rallys held in
support of Goldin and Abrams. The
volunteers will also attend to a host of
other activities designed to turn a candidate into an elected official.
Coordinators
C o - o r d i n a t o r s for Goldin and
Abrams will be selected to supervise
the activities in each CSEA region by
the c h a i r m e n of CSEA's regional
political action committees. The coordinators — one for each candidate ~
will also work with the candidates'
" a d v a n c e " persons to schedule dates
for appearance at all m a j o r CSEA
meetings in their regions. In addition
to obtaining bumperstickers, buttons,
and other campaign materials to be
distributed, the co-ordinators will have
the responsibility of mobilizing the
volunteers in every CSEA local and
unit within their region to place phone
calls to their fellow m e m b e r s asking
for their support in the campaign by
contributing their personal time or
money — or both — Jto support the endorsee's race for office.
$20,000 for Each
On the statewide level, substantial
monetary contributions will be given
to the endorsed c a n d i d a t e s ' campaigns. $20,000 for Goldin and $20,000
for Abrams has been alloted by the
Political Action Fund. The sums given
to a campaign a r e usually used to buy
media time before the election to increase the candidate's exposure
statewide. Because the media
demands "cash up f r o n t , " the readily
available monies are promptly used
for this purpose in most cases.
CSEA will also provide the money
necessary for statewide mailings to its
membership on behalf of the candidates. The mailings will explain each
candidate's platform and why the
union has selected t h e m for endorsement. It will also appeal to the
m e m b e r s for their help and support of
the candidates endorsed.
CAST T H E I R VOTES for or against endorsing, failing to give the necessary
two-thirds vote to either Gov. Carey or Mr. Duryea.
- TifwrmTTT-Tj'.tws.'j'
Poge 6
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, October 4, 1978
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, October 4, 1978
Page 7
Region ill leaders hear call
for realistic demands
Nearly 200 Civil Service Employee
Assn. activists participated in a 3-day
leadership workshop on such topics as
collective bargaining, political action,
and local labor-management committee activities September 22-24 at
the Great Gorge Playboy Resort and
Country Club at McAfee, N.J.
The highly successful workshop
p r o g r a m was sponsored by CSEA
Region III and featured a number of
experts in the labor relations field. In
addition to local CSEA leaders from
the Southern Region, the program
attracted many CSEA staff members
and officers from throughout the state.
Puzziferri Honored
One of the highlights of the program
was the presentation of a Presidential
Award to Nicholas Puzziferri, a past
president of the Southern Conference
and presently a member of both the
CSEA Board of Directors and the
Southern Region CSEA executive
board. Regional President J a m e s
Lennon made the presentation to the
long-time union activist who recently
retired after more than 40 years of service with the State of New York.
Noting that Mr. Puzziferri is a past
p r e s i d e n t of C S E A ' s R o c k l a n d
P s y c h i a t r i c C e n t e r Local 421, a
m e m b e r of the c o m m i t t e e which
planned the workshop, and long active
in t h e u n i o n ' s m e n t a l h y g i e n e
association in addition to his other
many union-related activities, Mr.
Lennon cited the recipient of the
«
presidential award for " y e a r s of outstanding service to CSEA."
"The Union's Role in Political Action " w a s the topic presented as part of
the program by Normal Adler, adjunct
professor at the New York State School
of Industrial and Labor Relations at
Cornell University, and also political
and legislative director of AFSCME
D i s t r i c t C o u n c i l 37. N Y S S I L R
s p e c i a l i s t s Bill H o l c o m b and
Professor Ron Donovan conducted
specialized p r o g r a m s during the
sessions as well.
Main Address
The main address to those attending
came from Dr. Joel Douglas, associate
director of the National Center for
Collective Bargaining and Higher
Education at Baruch College, CUNY.
A P E R B mediator during a recent
strike by CSEA's unit against the
Yonkers Board of Education, Dr.
Douglas gave his assessment of the
current labor relations market.
He said the CSEA has made tremendous evolutionary progress in recent
years, citing the Yonkers strike as an
example, and said he knew of nothing
else like CSEA's progress.
Dr. Douglas advised the union
leaders to be concerned about many
f a c t o r s , including that P r e s i d e n t
C a r t e r m a y block an i n c r e a s e in
minimum wages, and said unions will
be asked to take a lead in supporting
wage and price controls.
Drawing on his personal experience
DUTCHESS COUNTY LOCAL PRESIDENT and CSEA Board member Ellis Adcms, left, and O r a n g e
County Local President AI Ruggierio were among the nearly 200 union a<tivists attending.
'^^ItiMfc*!-•!• .-Wim' "jj^^SffsnHBw:^'.'
Page 8
THE PUBLIC b t ^ T O R , Wednesday. October 4, 1978
as a mediator, he advised against
bringing too many demands to the
bargaining table, saying "five or six
demands a r e plenty these days," and
warned about the dangers involved in
trying to open up a full contract to
negotiations. "Preservation of the
contract you have now is a m a j o r victory today," he stated.
The workshop planning committee
c o n s i s t e d of M a r i e R o m a n e l l i ,
chairperson; Sandra Deyo, Trisha
Graff, Seymour Katz, and Mr. Puzziferri.
DR. JOEL D O U G L A S was
speaker during the p r o g r a m .
featured
REGIONAL PRESIDENT JAMES LENNON
presents the Presidential A w a r d to
Nicholas Puzziferri, who was honored
during workshop banquet for his long
years of union service.
CSEA STATEWIDE SECRETARY IRENE
CARR, right, was a m o n g a number of
statewide office- present. Millicent D»»
Rosa, president of the CSEA Putnam
County Local, engages in a lively discussion with Mrs. Carr.
CSEA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JOSEPH J DOLAN, the union's highest ranking staff member, was
master of ceremonies at the workshop banquet. He is shown discussing the p r o g r a m with Marie
Romanelli, regional first vice president and chairperson of the conference.
W^TItWflltirlH'ilWItFiligi^
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Radio campaign backs new DMH policy
A L B A N Y — The Civil Service Employees
Assn. has launched a major statewide radio
advertising campaign designed to create a more
favorable public image and acceptance of the
state's new policy of releasing patients from
state institutions into community settings, a
cnange which C S E A helped greatly to achieve
v»'ith a massive media blitz earlier this year
against the state's former policy.
"We took a bold step earlier this year when
we elected to attack publicly through media
advertising the state's then poor and disgraceful
policy of deinstitutionalization. C S E A did such
a tremendous job of gaining public support that
in late, summer Gov. Carey and the state
legislature reversed policy and created a
program now that is in the best interests of the
patients, our employees, and certainly the
public at large," says C S E A President William
L. McGowan.
"NoW we feel it is necessary to promote the
great change that we helped bring about, to inform the public that the bad policy we so bitterly
attacked earlier has been eliminated. We want
the general public to understand how the new
policy will work and to create an atmosphere of
acceptance, and that's precisely why C S E A has
taken to the radio airwaves," Mr. McGowan
stated.
The media campaign began on September 22
on 28 radio stations around the state and is
scheduled to cover a 4-week period. The campaign was budgeted at $50,000, but, the union
president said, "the new policy must be
Oswego
endorses
OSWEGO — The Oswego a r e a
political action c o m m i t t e e which
represents m o r e than 3,000 public
employee m e m b e r s of the Civil Service Employees Assn. (CSEA), Local
1000, AFSCME/AFL-CIO, today announced the coalition endorsement of
J a m e s McCarthy, candidate for the
117th Assembly District of the New
York State Legislature.
" T h i s e n d o r s e m e n t not only
represents our pledge of voter support
for J i m McCarthy, it also indicates
that, if requested, m o r e than 3,000
s t a t e , county and school d i s t r i c t
employees in Oswego County and the
entire n 7 t h District, a r e fully
prepared to offer financial and other
aid to further his campaign e f f o r t s , "
a c c o r d i n g to D a v i d S c h w a r t z ,
c h a i r m a n of the Oswego a r e a political
action committee.
m
J a m e s McCarthy
accepted or it may not work properly, and it
means jobs to our people and much better service to the patients if it works, so we'redoing our
best to give it the positive image it needs."
S h o r t l y a f t e r the c o m m e r c i a l s b e g a n
appearing, news media people began trying to
tie the campaign to union support of a candidate
for governor. "It's absolutely not an endorsement of Gov. Carey for governor, it's not
an endorsement of anyone. It is our endorsement of the state's new policy of deinstitutionalization, period," Mr. McGowan
said. "The C S E A campaign is underway now
because the new policy is starting to take effect
now, and public acceptace is a must. The fact
that politicians are also campaigning for the
November election now is in no way related to
our campaign."
Dolan confirmed in post
t
Joseph J. Dolan
ALBANY — The appointment of
Joseph J . Dolan, J r . to the position of
executive director of the Civil Service
Employees Assn. has won final confirmation by the union's Board of Directors at its September meeting. Mr.
Dolan has been serving as acting executive director, the union's highest
staff position, since being appointed in
July by CSEA President William L.
McGowan.
In his new position Mr. Dolan heads
up CSEA's professional staff of more
than 200 full-time employees. The big
union is the largest public employee
l a b o r union in N e w Y o r k S t a t e ,
representing m o r e than 300,000 public
workers at all levels of government.
Arbitrator ignored, Schenectady charges
ALBANY — Schenectady County
CSEA Local 847 has charged county officials with willfully violating the
order of an a r b i t r a t o r to negotiate reinstatement of four custodians who the
arbitrator had concluded were improperly reclassified by the county.
The Civil Service Employees Assn.
c a m e to the aid of five custodians at the
county's Glendale Home when they
were suddenly reclassified by the
county a f t e r a new heating system was
installed at the facility.
T h e union s u c c e s s f u l l y a r g u e d
before Arbitrator Irving Sabghir that
the reclassifications in J a n u a r y , 1978
violated provisions of t h e CSEASchenectady County contract since the
employees were still doing the s a m e
work that they had done prior to the
reclassification.
In finding for CSEA, the arbitrator
ordered the county to immediately
r e i n s t a t e o n e of t h e a f f e c t e d
employees and to negotiate with CSEA
for reinstatement of the other four
employees. CSEA Local President
Alfred F a r o n e said that while the
county did reinstate one custodian as
o r d e r e d , it c o n t i n u a l l y d e l a y e d
negotiating r e i n s t a t e m e n t of the other
four positions and finally refused to
negotiate the r e i n s t a t e m e n t s when the
union demanded action.
Mr. F a r o n e said the county's refusal
to discuss the issue with the union is a
8 months pregnant, ordered to w a s h walls
NEW YORK - The Civil Service
Employees Assn. has come to the side
of one of its m e m b e r s who was served
two separate notices of discipline a f t e r
refusing orders to wash down walls
while 8 months pregnant. The case involves Madeline Zavala, a food service
worker at Manhattan Childrens'
Psychiatric Center on Wards Island.
CSEA field r e p r e s e n t a t i v e B a r t
Brier noting that the employees at
Manhattan Childrens' recently formed
their own local, stepped into the case
quickly and accused the Manhattan administration of "showing an anti-union
attitude toward the new local by trying
this funny g a m e , not only asking
The Albany native was serving as
director of CSEA's Office of Collective
Bargaining and Field Services at the
time of his promotion. At press time,
no replacement had been named. He
joined CSEA in 1966 as a field representative and later was named Director of
Local G o v e r n m e n t A f f a i r s and
Assistant Executive Director-County
Division.
Mr. Dolan attended Albany Law
S c h o o l , h o l d s a BS d e g r e e in
E c o n o m i c s f r o m Siena C o l l e g e ,
Loudonville, and a Masters degree in
Political Economy f r o m the State
University of New York at Albany. He
is very active politically and currently
serves as an Albany County Legislator
f r o m the 14th District.
Zavala to do out of title work but to do
so while 8 months p r e g n a n t . "
To compound the situation, Brier
said, Zavala, who went on maternity
leave soon a f t e r the incident, was called in to the facility while on leave to be
served a notice of discipline. Then, for
refusing to come in while on leave she
was served a 2nd notice for insubordination.
CSEA Metropolitan Regional Director George Bispham calls it a " c l e a r
case of a set-up, or planted operation
because the administration must have
a s s u m e d t h a t a w o m a n , 8-months
pregnant would refuse an order to
wash down walls. F u r t h e r m o r e , "
Bispham added, " if they had any intentions of bringing c h a r g e s a g a i n s t
Zavala they should have brought them
before, not a f t e r , she went on maternity leave."
CSEA Region 2 President Solomon
Bendet, in reviewing the case, said, he
is "convinced the administration at
Manhattan Childrens' tried to trip up
the grievant expecting her to file only
one appeal, then terminating her on the
second notice of discipline.'' But CSEA
has filed two grievances, protecting
the full rights of m e m b e r Madeline
Zavala.
clear violation of the directives of the
a r b i t r a t o r and CSEA has petitioned the
a r b i t r a t o r to intervene and direct reinstatement.
The reclassification dispute began
when the county installed a new boiler
system in the Glendale Home which
did not require 24 hour supervision as
the previous system had. Subsequently
the county notified the five custodians
that they would be reclassified. But
CSEA found that while the custodians
were no longer in the boiler room with
the system, the work they performed
had not changed. It argued that since
the work was the same, the
classification should not have been
changed.
After hearing the evidence in the
case, Mr. Sabghir ruled, "The arbitrator is (thus) constrained to conclude that the prior custodial job
tasks a r e still being performed in all
m a j o r essentials. As a consequence,
the job has not, in fact, been abolished
although the classification has been
eliminated. Inasmuch as the job still
e x i s t s , t h e e l i m i n a t i o n of t h e
classification was i m p r o p e r . "
The a r b i t r a t o r concluded, however,
that he could not determine how many
custodians were needed so he sent the
case back to the parties for discussion. He retained jurisdiction until
the lour positions a r e resolved and
based on the c o u n t y ' s r e f u s a l to
negotiate, CSEA has asked the arbitrator to intervene again.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, W e d n e i d a y , October 4, 1978
Pofle 9
Proposition 13 is 'hard luck/
Nassau legislators convinced
By Hugh O'Haire
MINEOLA — A strong showing of Civil Service
Employees Association members last week helped
defeat a proposed 25 per cent slash in county taxes
and an initative and referendum proposal that CSEA
leaders felt would hasten Proposition 13-type
legislation in Nassau County and result in layoffs of
thousands of employees.
The Sept. 25 meeting of the Nassau Board of Supervisors was marked by angry confrontations between
groups of tax cut advocates and civil servants. But in
the end, the board turned down an initiative and
referendum law and refused to put a proposal for a 25
per cent cut in the general fund tax rate on the
November ballot.
Members Demonstrate
More than 400 CSEA members took time off from
their jobs to attend the meeting. They gathered in
front of the county executive building near the CSEA
Mobile Unit chanting "Proposition 13 is a hard luck
number" from 9 a.m. until 10:15 when an announcement was made by a spokesman for the
county that the meeting would be moved f r o m the
fifth floor meeting hall with its capacity for 190 to the
police auditorium across the-street which holds
about 290 people.
Approximately 1,000 tax cut advocates and civil
servants made a rush for the police building causing a
human log j a m at the doors which led to later charges
by tax cut advocates that they were shut out by the
CSEA as part of a union and county government
stragety.
"In effect it was a lock-out by the civil servants,"
said George Nager, an attorney for one of the taxpayer groups. He was joined by other tax r e f o r m
leaders. David Peirez and Richard Kessel who
claimed that CSEA members were given advance
notice of the change of meeting halls and had packed
the police auditorium before tax advocates could get
in.
"That's utter nonsense. They got the news about
the change of meeting at the same time as we did,"
said Nicholas Abbatiello, president of Nassau County
CSEA local 830.
Wildcatters
at Lynbrook
end job action
LYNBROOK - A 5-day wildcat strike by 49 m e m b e r s of the
Village of Lynbrook Department
of Public Works, who walked off
t h e i r jobs against the orders of
their union, ended last week after
M a y o r F r a n c i s X. B e e c k e r
agreed to meet with the disgrunted employees.
The men, represented by the
Civil Service Employees Assn.,
went out on the wildcat during
factfinding proceedings in which
the union is seeking a 6 per cent
raise over two years. Factfinding
is the latest step in negotiations
which have been in progress
since last April.
Page 10
The tax cut advocates went back to the regular
board meeting room and demanded that the Board of
Supervisors meet them there. Francis Purcell,
Nassau County Executive, said that the group could
"wait there until next May," and conducted his
meeting in the police hall. The tax cut advocates
remained all day in the other hall and did not present
the 120,000 signatures on petitions calling for the 25
per cent cut they claim t/iey have collected.
Abbatiello Speaks
The Board of Supervisors heard from speakers for
and against the proposals but the majority were in
agreement with Mr. Abbatiello. "Taxing by a meat
ax approach or by referendum is wrong and a
simplistic response to a complex problem," Mr. Abbatiello said.
The union leader told the board that two thirds of
the county budget is made up of mandated costs for
such services as welfare and medicaid and that the 25
per cent cut would come out of areas vital to the
county and would result in "massive layoffs."
4,000 Jobs
"A tax slash of 25 per cent would eliminate the jobs
of almost 4,000 employees and would just about
eliminate our health and social service programs,
would mean the end of road maintenance, legal aid
for the poor and would make second rate citizens out
of the elderly. Real estate values would plumet and
the quality of life in Nassau which we cherish — and
which is provided through the services our members
perform — would disappear," he added.
Mr. Abbatiello brushed off charges by tax groups
that the county had pressured the union into packing
the meeting. " I t doesn't take a genius to know that
it's in his own interest to demonstrate when his job is
threatened," he said.
Says Politics Flaumenbaum
I r v i n g F l a u m e n b a u m , CSEA R e g i o n o n e
president, charged that civil servants were caught in
a political fight. Many of the tax groups leaders are
promiment Democrats. Mr, Peirez is the former
Democratic candidate for County Executive.
CSEA m e m b e r s demonstrated against a proposed 25
per cent cut in Nassau County taxes, then j a m m e d
the police auditorium, where the meeting had to be
moved due to an overflow crowd to watch as county
legislators turned down the proposal. Those that
couldn't make it inside waited outside, picket signs
and all, until the news that the disasterous proposal
was defeated.
— Photos By Tony J e r o m e
"If this was such an important issue why did they
wait until just before election time to bring it up,"
Mr. Flaumenbaum asked. Both Mr. Flaumenbaum
and Mr. Abbatiello called for a committee made up of
civil servants, tax cut advocates, politicians and taxpayers to study tax reduction and make recomendation to the board of supervisors.
The Board voted along party lines against initative
and referendum, four of the republican m e m b e r s
against it and two democrats for the referendum
measure. But the board was unaminious and bipartisan in saying that it could not legally place the 25 per
cent tax cut proposal on the ballot without the State
Legislature's approval.
N e w health benefit in Syracuse
The State Department of Civil Service has announced that the Surgical
Consultation Program, an employee
benefit established a s a result of
negotiations between the State and the
Civil Service Employees Association,
is now available in the Syracuse area.
Under the program, an individual
whose physician has recommended
elective (non-emergency) surgery
may request a "second opinion" from
another doctor. The service is offered
at no charge to the individual. It is
available to active and retired State
and local employees and dependents
e n r o l l e d in t h e New York S t a t e
Government Employees' Health Ins u r a n c e P r o g r a m . The health insurance program is administered by
the Employee Insurance Section, State
Department of Civil Service.
The Surgical Consultation Program
began in 1973 in Albany and was extended to the New York City area in 1976.
R e q u e s t s for a second surgical
opinion in the Syracuse area should be
made by phoning the surgical con-
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesdoy, October 4, 1978
sultation program office in Albany
(518) 457-3198. Prompt arrangements
will be made for consultation by a
Syracuse area physician. Such a consultation may be requested by any
covered individual who finds it more
convenient to travel to Syracuse than
to Albany or New York City.
Medical "second opinions" either
provide assurance that surgery is adv i s a b l e , or o f f e r a l t e r n a t i v e
recommendations. In 1977, 259 consultations were completed under the
program. The need for surgery was
confirmed in 180 of these cases and not
confirmed in 79 cases.
Next week . . .
Constitution and By-Law changes affect you directly. Some important
ones will be considered by CSEA delegates later this month. Next week
we'll report on what changes will be considered.
The public image of the public worker is important. CSEA spends a
considerable amount of money to enhance and improve the way in
which the public perceives the union and its members. Much of that
work is done by CSEA's advertising agency, and we'll take a look at the
agency and its creative people.
And we'll also take a look at the union orientation and training sessions
to prepare the members of the negotiating teams for upcoming contract talks affecting some 145,000 state employees.
Get out
vote drive
in Dutchess
The increased political awareness of
public employees was in evidence in
Dutchess County this week when a
voter registration drive was scheduled
to be held by t h e Civil S e r v i c e
E m p l o y e e s Association, Dutchess
County Local 814.
According to Local President Ellis
Adams, CSEA members on personal
leave t i m e manned tables at six
locations throughout the County on
Monday, Oct. 2, and Tuesday, Oct. 3.
He said the effort was not limited to
CSEA members. "The public was also
welcome to take advantage of the
availability of registration forms and
assistance in filling them out," he said.
"We assisted anyone who wanted to exercise his or her democratic right to
vote."
Mr. Adams pointed out that many
people did not realize that they might
need to re-register because they had
moved since the last election or
because they did not vote in the last
election.
P a t Robins, former president of the
Dutchess County Unit of CSEA, coordinated the nonpartisan drive. She said
the registration tables were located in
the City of Poughkeepsie in the main
mental health building, the social services building, and the main floor of the
Dutchess County office building; in the
Town of Poughkeepsie at Dutchess
Community College, and the Dutchess
County Department of Public Works
garage; and in Millbrook at the infirmary.
CSEA conducts statewide
President William L, McGowan is just one of several
thousands of people who have registered to be eligible to vote in the November general election under a
statewide voter registration drive being conducted
by CSEA as part of the union's political action activities. Jean Myers, chairperson of the CSEA
Capital Region Political Action Committee, signed
up Mr. McGowan, who relocated from a Buffalo sub-
voter registration
urb to near Albany since the last general election but
did not re-register previously. Drives are still cont i n u i n g in all CSEA Regions through the registration
deadline of next week. Incidentally, President
McGowan was one of more than 3,000 new voters
registered in the Capital Region by Ms. Myers' committee.
Capital goal: 1 0 0 % registration
ALBANY — Three thousand new
voters have been signed up by the
Political Action Committee of the
Capital Region of the Civil Service
Employees Association and the pace
seems to be picking up as Election Day
nears.
The Capital Region has had voter
registration campaigns throughout the
fourteen counties which a r e served by
the Capital Region staff. Booths have
been operating in the County Office
Building in P i t t s b u r g h , at the Fonda
Fair in Montgomery County on the
Concourse of the E m p i r e State Plaza
and at the cafeterias at the State Office
College staff wins arbitration right
TROY Faculty
Student
Association employees represented by
the Civil Service Employees Assn., at
Hudson Valley Community College
have approved a three-year contract
providing several new benefits and
substantial salary increases, according to Joseph Bakerian, CSEA
field representative.
One of the most important benefits
acquired under the new contract, said
Mr. Bakerian, is the right of binding arbitration with the American Arbitration Association. Previously arbitration matters went before a 3-
drive
member panel consisting of one union
representative and two management
representatives. "This set up was obviously unfair," said Mr. Bakerian. He
noted that the FSA employees a r e not
civil service employees and are not
protected under the Taylor Law, so
binding arbitration is their means of
protection.
Other significant benefits include an
improved discharge and discipline
procedure, an employee evaluation
program, increased holiday and sick
leave time, increased uniform
allowances, a more defined overtime
Madison local elects
SYRACUSE — In a special September election, Maureen Malone was
elected president of the 450 member Madison County Local of the Civil
Service Employees Assn. and Donna McGranaghan was elected third
vice-president. Ms. Malone has considerable experience on all levels of
the CSEA and is currently serving as the Region V program chairperson.
She succeeds former president Karen French.
schedule and the establishment of two
new job titles. In addition the administration has agreed to pay 100
percent of the cost for individual health
insurance policies and 85 percent for
dependent policies.
"Most of these are benefits that
these employees have never had
before so it is especially important that
they have now been obtained" commented Mr. Bakerian.
New minimum rates for employees
were established in conjunction with
the wage and equity laws and those
falling below negotiated minimums
were brought up to the standard. In addition all employees were granted a 25cents per hour increase in each of the
three years, in addition to longevity increases. "This means a seven to ten
percent increase for some employees
in the first y e a r , " said Mr. Bakerian.
Members of the negotiating team
were Nancy Williams, unity president;
Emily Hoffman, Madeline Butler and
Diane Guyer.
Building Campus.
Jean Myers, CSEA Capital Region
Political Action Chairperson commented on the campaign. " I t ' s great,
but CSEA will not achieve its goal of
100 percent member registration if
there is one public employee member
who can not vote on Election Day."
WILTON - The Wilton
Developmental Center has
recently become the first center
of its kind in the state to be
accredited by the Joint Comm i s s i o n on A c c r e d i t a t i o n of
Hospitals.
According to Henry Kucsynski
of the Wilton CSEA Local, the
development center will receive
a certificate stating that the
hospital meets the highest standards of service.
"This is something that many
of our members have been involved in for the past four years and
that the Civil Service Employees
Assn. has encouraged and supported. It will have important implications for the employees,"
commented Mr. Kucsynski.
CSEA, according to Mr. Kucsynski, expects that the
accreditation will aid in contract
negotiations because the center
will need to m a i n t a i n high
professional standards. At this
point, no changes in job titles or
descriptions are expected.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday^,, October 4, 1978 ^
Paqe 11 ,
• wL^wewirpr-'• •:-yvr<'VK^nm-ff* w.wij.Mimiwm»* • -«HT"- • r-•pia^wiwtrfrw^''^
By Roger A. Cole
ALBANY - The Civil Service
Employees Assn. for years has been
one of the very last m a j o r labor
unions in the country trying to meet its
financial responsibilities on a flat
d u e s s t r u c t u r e . But t h e f i s c a l
realities of that outmoded system in
combination with the erosion effects
of a faltering general economy has
brought the giant labor union to a
point in time that has long been viewed as inevitable.
Faced with a $285,000 deficit for the
f i s c a l y e a r j u s t ended and t h e
likelihood of a more than $1,800,000
deficit in the current fiscal year that
began October 1, CSE A delegates will
be asked to completely revamp the
union's dues structure during the annual statewide delegates meeting Oct o b e r 22-27 a t K i a m e s h a L a k e ,
Sullivan County.
Calling the proposed new dues
system based on a percentage of the
m e m b e r ' s annual salary up to a maximum amount "an equitable dues
structure that is fair to all," union
leaders are united behind the change.
The proposal has the strong backing
of CSEA P r e s i d e n t William L.
McGowan, Comptroller Thomas P.
Collins, and statewide Treasurer
Jack Gallagher, all of whom state
their support and reason why in a
phamplet to be handed to all of the
some 1,300 delegates who will decide
the issue in late October.
The proposed dues s t r u c t u r e
change, which will require a change
in the union's Constitution and ByLaws and which would take effect
next April 1, calls for members to pay
dues based on 1 per cent of the individual's salary up to a maximum of
$125 annually. Such a percentage dues
system is the most common among
labor unions throughout the nation.
Dues proposal faces
fiscal realities
In a unique arrangement not common to most other unions, CSEA has
always returned a percentage of dues
received back to the union Local to
which t h e m e m b e r belongs f o r
grassroots union activities. Under
the proposed change, the r e b a t e
would be $16.00 per member per year,
up from the existing $14.63 rate.
Although the new dues structure is
necessary in view of the otherwise
fiscal crisis that would grow rapidly,
any dues change is controversial and
this should be no exception when the
delegates get the important issue on
the floor of the meeting. Two years
ago CSEA also faced a fiscal crisis,
and delegates then granted a modest
$13.00 a year boost to raise dues to the
current $58.50 per year flat rate, unrealisticallv low even then in com-
parison to dues payment of nearly
every other union in existence. And
that stop gap increase came only
a f t e r long, heated debate.
In urging p a s s a g e of the new
proposal. President McGowan calls
the present system "antiquated and
u n r e a l i s t i c . . . u n f a i r to t h e
membership." The new proposal, he
says, "would be equitable and fair to
all, without overburdening m e m b e r s
in higher .«salary brackets."
CSEA Comptroller Collins supports the percentage system as being
"very sound financially" while labeling the flat dues system "inadequate
and unfair to the m e m b e r s and the
union."
Treasurer Gallagher, meanwhile.
/
Thomas P. Coliins
Jack Gallagher
said the modest increase two yeari
ago was only a "bandaid solution" to
an ongoing problem, while the new
proposal "will enable us to operate
with a balanced budget even though
the change will not take effect until
midway through the current fiscal
year."
Under the present $58.50 flat dues
rate, the union has projected the
$285,000 b u d g e t d e f i c i t a s of
September 30 will grow to $1,853,000
by the end of this fiscal year, and
mushroom to $7,136,000 for fiscal
year 1979-80 and $12,168,000 for fiscal
year 1980-81.
The projected budget deficit total
over a four-year span would total a
whopping $21,422,000. The percentage
dues s y s t e m , which has been
suggested over the years and which
conforms with common union practice, appears to be the sensible alternative.
Eleanor Roosevelt home a 'perfect setting'
HYDE PARK - The first statewide
meeting of women labor union leaders
was held Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at Hyde Park,
N.Y., the home of Eleanor Roosevelt.
The conference, sponsored by the
Irene Carr, CSEA Statewide Secretary
. . . delivers welcoming remarks to
historic women labor-leaders conference at Val-Kill.
Civil Service Employees Assn. and the
Center for Women in Government,
brought together 50 women from CSEA
and the American Federation of State,
County and Municipal E m p l o y e e s
(AFSCME), of which CSEA is Local
1000.
It was the first confer^Snce to be held
at Val-Kill, the Hyde Park home of
Mrs. Roosevelt from 1926 until her
death in 1962.
"Val-Kill was the perfect setting for
this historic meeting of labor union
women," said Irene Carr, Chair of the
CSEA Statewide Women's Committee,
noting Mrs. Roosevelt was an active
supporter of both the women's rights
and labor movements.
Mrs. Carr, Statewide Secretary of
CSEA, d e l i v e r e d t h e w e l c o m i n g
remarks at a dinner-reception Friday
night, Nancy Perlman, director of the
Center for Women in Government, and
Linda Tarr-Whelan, administrative
d i r e c t o r of t h e New York S t a t e
D e p a r t m e n t of Labor, also were
featured speakers.
Saturday's program consisted of a
series of workshops; "Identifying and
Developing Leaders," "Planning and
Running Meetings" and "Career Planning." Workshops were run by Ms.
Tarr-Whelan; Robin Gerber of the
Cornell School of Industrial and Labor
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, W e d n e i d a y , October 4, 1978Pofle9
Relations and Linda P a r r of the
Department of Labor. On Saturday
evening, the movie, " S a l t of the
E a r t h " was shown. It is a true account
of a miners' strike in the southwestern
United States, in which many women
union activists were jailed.
On Sunday, two w o r k s h o p s —
"Planning a Strategy for Change" and
"Where Do We Go from H e r e ? " —
were held. They were followed by a picnic and a tour of the grounds at ValKill.
"This opportunity to trade ideas and
strengthen the role of women in our
unions will result in an immediate
benefit to labor," Ms. Carr predicted.
CSEA's Women's Committee,
c r e a t e d last J a n u a r y , a i m s to
safeguard women's rights in public
employment; to contribute to contract
negotiations regarding promotional
opportunities to elevate women from
the "clerical ghetto" of civil service;
to help women public employees in
training, counseling and education
problems; to research the needs and
desires of women regarding their jobs;
and to attend meetings such as the one
at Val-Kill to share problems and accomplishments with other women's
labor groups.
This committee reports directly to
CSEA S t a t e w i d e P r e s i d e n t Bill
McGowan, and has a c c e s s to the
union's legislative and political action
committee for recommendations for
bills affecting women in the public sector.
Besides the chair, Ms. Carr, the
committee includes co-chairs Mary
Moore, representing the Board of
Directors, and Stella Williams, from
Region II; and Geri Cadieux of Region
I, Janice Schaff of Region III, Nonie
Johnson of Region IV, Barbara Reeves
of Region V, and Joanna Williams of
Region VI, and Maureen Malone and
Millicent De Rosa, both of the Board of
Directors.
All CSEA w o m e n m a y s u b m i t
questions and suggestions to the committee in care of Ms. Carr at CSEA
headquarters, 33 Elk St., Albany, N.Y.
12207.
CSEA & Women
• 3 4 on Board
of Directors
• 8 0 are Local
Presidents
• 5 0 % of M e m b e r s
are W o m e n