Pay raise due in August
" s t a t e „ w o r k e r s in t h e t h r e e m a j o r u n i t s r e p r e s e n t e d by C S E A will
^ receive their first salary increase under the new 3-year CSEA-State cont r a c t s plus a l u m p s u m r e t r o a c t i v e t o April 1 in t h e i r f i r s t p a y c h e c k s in
A u g u s t , it h a s been a n n o u n c e d by CSEA P r e s i d e n t William L. M c G o w a n .
P a y m e n t of t h e i n c r e a s e s w a s held up b e c a u s e t h e S t a t e L e g i s l a t u r e
r; did n o t a p p r o v e t h e n e c e s s a r y a p p r o p r i a t i o n bill until J u n e 16. P r e s i d e n t
; McGowan said employees on the administrative payroll will receive their
i n c r e a s e on Augtist 1 a n d t h o s e on t h e institutional p a y r o l l will s e e t h e i r
f i r s t i n c r e a s e on A u g u s t 8,
|
T h e union l e a d e r said e m p l o y e e s will r e c e i v e a l u m p s u m to c o v e r t h e
p e r i o d r e t r o a c t i v e to A p r i l 1. And, h e s a i d ; C S E A h a s w o r k e d out a n
^ a g r e e m e n t w h e r e b y t h e S t a t e will c o m p u t e t h e t a x d e d u c t i o n on t h e
r € t r o a c t i v e > m o u n t on a p r o r a t e d b a s i s r a t h e r t h a n a l u m p s u m b a s i s to
minimize the tax withheld f r o m that check.
Official Publication of The Civil Service Employees Association
Vol. 1, No. 38 25'
(ISSN 0164 9949)
Wednesday, June 27, 1979
AFSCME INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT
JERRY
WURF, center, discusses the varied p r o g r a m for CSEA's
r e c e n t 3-day County D e l e g a t e s Workshop held a t Monticello. W u r f , who a d d r e s s e d d e l e g a t e s d u r i n g t h e
p r o g r a m , is shown with M a r y Sullivan, p r e s i d e n t of
H e r k i m e r County CSEA Local 822 a n d c o - c h a i r m a n of
C S E A ' s County Division, a n d J o s e p h L a z a r o n y , County
Division c h a i r m a n . F o r a c o m p l e t e r e p o r t on t h e
w o r k s h o p , t u r n to p a g e s 5-8 of this i s s u e .
Prescription, dental programs start July 1
ALBANY - ' C S E A
President
William L. M c G o w a n said this w e e k
t h a t s t a t e e m p l o y e e s in t h e Administrative, Institutional and
O p e r a t i o n a l b a r g a i n i n g u n i t s c a n exp e c t to r e c e i v e t h e i r f i r s t p r e s c r i p t i o n
d r u g c a r d s a n d d e t a i l s on i m p r o v e d
dental insurance within the next
week.
P r e s i d e n t M c G o w a n , c h a i r m a n of
t h e CSEA E m p l o y e e B e n e f i t F u n d ' s
B o a r d of T r u s t e e s , a n n o u n c e d t h a t t h e
F u n d will b e m a i l i n g p r e s c r i p t i o n
drug cards and dental insurance
p r o g r a m d e t a i l s to e m p l o y e e s in t h e
three bargaining units starting this
week.
" T h e m a i l i n g will p r o v i d e t h e eligible e m p l o y e e s in t h e u n i t s w i t h t h e i r
first prescription drug insurance
c a r d s , " t h e union p r e s i d e n t s a i d ,
" W i t h t h i s c a r d , t h e e m p l o y e e a n d his
or h e r d e p e n d e n t s c a n go to v i r t u a l l y
any d r u g store in New York, present
a p r e s c r i p t i o n ^ n d h a v e it filled f o r
j u s t one d o l l a r . T h i s is a m a j o r b e n e f i t
won d u r i n g t h e n e g o t i a t i o n s f o r o u r
new contract."
Fund Administrator Thomas P.
Collins e x p l a i n s t h a t t h e d r u g c a r d ,
a b o u t t h e size of a s t a n d a r d c r e d i t
c a r d , will b e s e n t to all f u l l t i m e
e m p l o y e e s in t h e t h r e e u n i t s w h o a r e
participants,in the CSEA E m p l o y e e
B e n e f i t F u n d b y v i r t u e of t h e
negotiated a g r e e m e n t with the state.
Blue C r o s s of N e w Y o r k a d m i n i s t e r s
t h e d r u g p r o g r a m w h i c h h a s a b o u t 95
per cent participation among the
state's pharmacists.
"Participating pharmacists simply
t a k e t h e c a r d , give t h e e m p l o y e e a
f o r m to fill out a n d t h e p r e s c r i p t i o n is
provided f o r j u s t one d o l l a r , " M r .
Collins explains, " b u t if t h e e m p l o y e e
wishes to get a prescription filled by
a non-participating
pharmacist,
then the employee pays for the
prescription directly, submits a
r e c e i p t to us a n d w e will r e i m b u r s e
t h e e m p l o y e e f o r t h e cost of t h e
p r e s c r i p t i o n less one dollar. I t ' s a
v e r y fle^fible s y s t e m . "
T h e B e n e f i t F u n d will a l s o b e m a i l ing full d e t a i l s on t h e i m p r o v e d d e n t a l
i n s u r a n c e p r o g r a m which in addition
t o i m p r o v e m e n t s in s c h e d u l e d
b e n e f i t s , e l i m i n a t e s t h e f o r m e r $50
d e d u c t i b l e u n d e r t h e old plan p r o v i d e d
by t h e s t a t e . C l a i m f o r m s f o r t h e
F u n d p r o g r a m a r e being s e n t to all
state personnel offices, CSEA
R e g i o n a l a n d S a t e l l i t e o f f i c e s , a n d to
all CSEA State Division Local
P r e s i d e n t s to allow t h e m to a s s i s t if
a n y e a r l y s h o r t a g e of c l a i m f o r m s
should o c c u r .
Both t h e p r e s c r i p t i o n d r u g p r o g r a m
a n d t h e d e n t a l p r o g r a m will b e r e a d y
to go into e f f e c t on J u l y 1 w h e n t h e
p r e s e n t s t a t e - p r o v i d e d d e n t a l insurance program expires. Presently
t h e r e is no s t a t e p r e s c r i p t i o n d r u g
p r o g r a m e x c e p t w h a t is r e i m b u r s a b l e
under m a j o r medical insurance
benefits.
P r e s i d e n t McGowan said all
p r e s e n t full t i m e e m p l o y e e s in t h e
three bargaining units
are
a u t o m a t i c a l l y included in c o v e r a g e by
the Benefit Fund's prescription drug
and dental programs. Employees
h i r e d a f t e r J u l y 1, h o w e v e r , will w a i t
90 d a y s b e f o r e b e i n g eligible f o r p a r ticipation. This waiting period
represents a " significant reduction
f r o m the f o r m e r state p r o g r a m which
r e q u i r e d a 180 d a y w a i t i n g p e r i o d f o r
eligibility.
In addition to e m p l o y e e s in t h e
t h r e e units, s p o u s e s of t h e e m p l o y e e s
a n d d e p e n d e n t c h i l d r e n u n d e r 19 y e a r s
of a g e ( a n d u n d e r 25 y e a r s of a g e in
t h e c a s e of f u l l - t i m e s t u d e n t s ) a r e
covered.
" T h i s is t h e single b i g g e s t i m p r o v e m e n t in b e n e f i t s in m a n y y e a r s
f o r o u r m e m b e r s in s t a t e s e r v i c e , "
P r e s i d e n t M c G o w a n said, " b u t t h i s is
only t h e b e g i n n i n g . In f u t u r e
n e g o t i a t i o n s w e will s e e k to e x p a n d
the. p a r t i c i p a t i o n in t h e CSEA B e n e f i t
F u n d a n d w e will s e e k to i m p r o v e t h e
benefits provided."
CSEA
PRESCRIPTION
^PROGRAM
BLUE t
CSEQ
M M n » » » « « ' ™ " " " '
GROUP *0
palm code
IDEHTriCAION HUMEB
name of PIA*
„^ME Of SU»SCRB
IE«
YOUR NEW PRESCRIPTION CARD - - State employees represented
by C S E A in t h e t h r e e m a j o r b a r g a i n i n g u n i t s will s h o r t l y b e r e c e i v i n g
c a r d s s i m i l a r to this. T h e p r e s c r i p t i o n d r u g p r o g r a m is a m a j o r n e w
b e n e f i t won by t h e union d u r i n g r e c e n t l y c o n c l u d e d n e g o t i a t i o n s w i t h
the State.
* .
CSEA blocks reclassifications
A L B A N Y — CSEA h a s won a v i c t o r y o v e r 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 by blocking a n a t t e m p t by O E R to h a v e 154 positions
removed f r o m CSEA-represented bargaining units and reclassified as
management-confidential.
J o s e p h J . Dolan, J r . , E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r of t h e s t a t e ' s l a r g e s t public
e m p l o y e e union, a n n o u n c e d t h a t following a c o n f e r e n c e b e f o r e t h e P u b l i c
E m p l o y m e n t Relations Board, O E R w a s denied its application for
r e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n of t h e positions.
T h e decision by t h e s t a t e t o a b a n d o n i t s a t t e m p t t o r e m o v e t h e positions
f r o m the bargaining units c a m e a f t e r CSEA R e s e a r c h Director William Blom
p r e s e n t e d t h e u n i o n ' s c a s e a g a i n s t t h e a p p l i c a t i o n b a s e d on r e s t r i c t i o n s in s u c h
p r o p o s a l s c o n t a i n e d in t h e s t a t e ' s T a y l o r L a w .
In addition t o e n d i n g t h e s t a t e ' s e f f o r t s a s f a r a s t h e C S E A - r e p r e s e n t e d
b a r g a i n i n g units, t h e u n i o n ' s p r e s e n t a t i o n will s e t a p r e c e d e n t to p r e v e n t
s i m i l a r m o v e s by O E R in t h e f o u r t h m a j o r s t a t e b a r g a i n i n g unit.
T h e s t a t e ' s T a y l o r L a w p r o v i d e s t h a t no positions c a n b e r e m o v e d f r o m a
b a r g a i n i n g unit t h e l a s t y e a r of a p e r i o d of u n c h a l l e n g e d c e r t i f i c a t i o n by an
e m p l o y e e union. Since t h a t p e r i o d will not o c c u r in C S E A ' s t h r e e s t a t e b a r g a i n ing u n i t s until 1981, t h e a p p l i c a t i o n s f o r t h e c h a n g e w a s denied.
Legislature passes 3 laws
a|iproving contracts, pay
ALBANY — T h r e e m a j o r bills
spelling g r e a t e r financial security for
thousands of CSEA-represented court
employees passed during the last
hours of the 1979 s t a t e legislative
session, thanks to union lobbyists and
t h e g r a s s - r o o t s e f f o r t s of t h e
employees themselves.
One was the bill implementing a
long-awaited plan reclassifying all
10,000 employees of the s t a t e ' s 12
j u d i c i a l d i s t r i c t s to t h e s a l a r y
schedule of the Unified Court System.
The plan allocates f o r m e r city and
county court w o r k e r s to the salary
schedule of the s t a t e Office of Court
A d m i n i s t r a t i o n (OCA), which is
higher than that of the local jurisdictions. CSEA's judiciary m e m b e r s
stand to gain thousands of dollars
f r o m the plan. T a r g e t date for
p a y m e n t of t h e m o n i e s due t h e
employees is the last payroll period in
August, according to the OCA.
" T h i s bill passed by the smallest of
m a r g i n s . It just squeaked by, thanks
to i n t e n s e e f f o r t s by t h e c o u r t
w o r k e r s we r e p r e s e n t throughout the
s t a t e , a s well as our professional lobbyists in Albany," said CSE A Collective Bargaining Specialist P a t
Monachino. " E v e r y o n e worked hard
for the bill's passage, and this shows
what the union can do when everyone
pulls t o g e t h e r . " The legislation had
been opposed by employee groups in
New York City who did not stand to
gain as much as the others by its
passage.
The second m a j o r bill passed g r a n t s
p e r m a n e n t Civil Service s t a t u s to
those Unified Court
System
employees c u r r e n t l y classified as
competitive. This will a f f e c t about
1,000 employees statewide.
" S o m e t h i n g like two-thirds of all
CSEA-represented court" employees
had been provisional appointees, so
this bill was desperately needed by
t h e m , " Mr. Monachino noted. The bill
was sponsored by Sen. J a y P . Rolison,
J r . of Poughkeepsie.
This " g r a n d f a t h e r i n g " bill excludes
court employees in New York City,
except uniformed court officers.
The third m a j o r bill gave legislative
approval to CSEA-negotiated cont r a c t s for court employees in the
cities of White Plains, Peekskill and
Mt. Vernon.
"CSEA had recently won representation elections in those cities, and I
think this bill's p a s s a g e d e m o n s t r a t e s
what political clout we c a r r y , " Mr.
Monachino noted. " O t h e r jurisdictions in that region w h e r e the court
employees do not have CSE A as their
union, also do not have their c o n t r a c t s
negotiated and i m p l e m e n t e d . "
CSEA Local presidents a c r o s s the
s t a t e had conducted a m a s s i v e
telephone c a m p a i g n on all t h r e e bills,
calling legislative l e a d e r s of both
houses as well as their local
legislators. In a combined 2-prong attack, CSEA lobby specialists confronted legislators at the s a m e t i m e
in Albany.
CSEA'S MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET is constantly monitored
not only by the union's professional accounting staff» l>ut also by a
standing budget committee which meets at least monthly to review the
accounting operation. Audits by outside accounting firms are also part of
the system of checks and balances on the budget. Shown above at this
month's budget committee session are, from left, committee member
Beatrice McCoy, staff member Joseph Salvino, Statewide Treasurer
Jack Gallagher, committee member Howard Cropsey and John Weidman, and CSEA's Comptroller David Stack.
Union defeats several had bills
N o l e s s t h a n n i n e p i e c e s of
The f i r s t half of the 202nd annual
legislative session is now history, and legislation to allow for Initiative and
while a n u m b e r of significant pieces R e f e r e n d u m w e r e introduced. With
of legislation w e r e passed that benefit the Proposition 13 m e n t a l i t y running
public employees, this session m a y r a m p a n t , any sort of legislation t h a t
well be r e m e m b e r e d a s the y e a r would allow for g o v e r n m e n t funding
CSEA turned back an onslaught of by emotion r a t h e r than reason could
bills t h a t would have crippled t h e only result in a significant cut in
unions effectiveness in its role as an revenues with a resulting loss in jobs
for CSEA m e m b e r s . P r e s i d e n t
advocate of the public employee.
F r o m Proposition 13 f e v e r to the McGowan s t a t e d the position of the
many so-called civil
s e r v i c e union well when he said, " I t should be
" r e f o r m " proposals, the list of bills r e m e m b e r e d t h a t public e m p l o y e e s
that would have adversely e f f e c t e d pay taxes j u s t like everybody else,
CSEA m e m b e r s w a s a l m o s t endless. and CSEA will not stand by and w a t c h
Elections Timetable
Statewide Officers and State Executive Committee
The following d a t e s a r e to be used as a guideline for the 1979 CSEA Election. To the e x t e n t possible, e a c h d a t e
will be complied with unless intervening c i r c u m s t a n c e s beyond the control of CSEA m a k e compliance with
the e x a c t d a t e impractical.
July 9—Final day for Nominations to Fill Declinations
July 9—Final day for Petitions to be Filed
July 13—Request to each candidate for spelling of n a m e a s it will a p p e a r on Ballot. To be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested. Deadline for changes is July 20, 1979
July 13—Drawing for Position on Ballot — 10:30 a . m . , CSEA H e a d q u a r t e r s C o n f e r e n c e R o o m . Candidates (or proxies) m a y a t t e n d a s o b s e r v e r s
July 13—Mailing of printed copies of Rules and Regulations for the Election to all c a n d i d a t e s and local
presidents
July 25—Publication of N a m e s of all c a n d i d a t e s in the Official CSEA N e w s p a p e r
August 6—Ballots delivered to P o s t O f f i c e for Mailing
August 16—Replacement ballots m a y be requested a s of this d a t e if Original Ballot has not been
delivered
August 30—Return of ballots — 6:00 p.m. Deadline
August 31—Ballots to be removed f r o m envelopes to p r e p a r e for counting. Ballots which cannot be
machine-counted will be counted manually during this period
September 7—Return of R e p l a c e m e n t Ballots — 6:00 p . m . Deadline
S e p t e m b e r ' 7—Ballots to be Counted. Candidates to be notified by t e l e g r a m by S e p t e m b e r 11
September 7—Official Results Announced
September 17—End of P r o t e s t Period (10 days a f t e r Official R e s u l t s a r e announced)
N O T E : Those eligible to vote shall be dues paying m e m b e r s in good standing as of J u n e 15, 1979
aKZaBEBBH
Page 2
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, V^ednesday, June 20, 1979
local g o v e r n m e n t t a k e a m e a t ax
approach to g o v e r n m e n t spending a t
the expense of the public s e r v a n t s and
their f a m i l i e s . " Happily, w e can
r e p o r t that, a s a result of intense lobbying on t h e p a r t of C S E A , no
Initiative and R e f e r e n d u m bills w e r e
passed this y e a r .
Another f r o n t a l a t t a c k was launched against the public employee under
the guise of civil s e r v i c e r e f o r m .
Mayor Koch, a m o n g others, led this
assault. Various proposals were
o f f e r e d , including bills to expand the
e x e m p t c l a s s , to i n c r e a s e the
m a n a g e r i a l class, to allow for the ind i s c r i m i n a t e consolidation of bargaining units and to allow for the a r b i t r a r y t r a n s f e r of public e m p l o y e e s
at the whim of m a n a g e m e n t . While all
of these proposals w e r e supposed to
lead to increased g o v e r n m e n t efficiency, the a c t u a l result would have
been to r e t u r n p u b l i c s e r v i c e
e m p l o y m e n t to the " B o s s T w e e d " e r a
of g o v e r n m e n t by spoils s y s t e m .
Again, a f t e r constant e f f o r t , CSEA
was able to turn back t h e s e outrageous ideas, and none of the civil
s e r v i c e " r e f o r m " bills w e r e e n a c t e d
into law.
It is impossible to list all of the
legislation introduced during this
session that would h a v e a d v e r s e l y
e f f e c t e d CSEA m e m b e r s if enacted.
However, to indicate the m a g n i t u d e
of the anti-union e m p l o y e e e f f o r t , t h e
CSEA legislative office identified
over f i f t y bills that w e r e introduced
which, if enacted into law, woulji have
had a negative e f f e c t on all of us. This
y e a r we w e r e able to turn a w a y this
undertaking, and CSEA will continue
this fight until that t i m e when it is put
to r e s t f o r e v e r . To quote P r e s i d e n t
McGowan, " I don't know when the
legislature will show its appreciation
for the public s e r v a n t , but until and
unless they do, CSEA will be around
every c o r n e r to remind t h e m that the
public employee is not a burden for
the s t a t e to c a r r y , but t h e m o s t efficient, cost-effective work force New
York State has t o d a y . "
N e w contract for East Hudson Parkway
CONTRACT S I G N E D — CSEA-East Hudson P a r k w a y Authority c o n t r a c t s
a r e signed by, f r o m left seated, CSEA Bargaining Specialist Manny Vitale,
CSEA Local 051 P r e s i d e n t Charles Zoffer, Authority E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r
R a y m o n d Radzirila, and Arthur P a s c o , Supervisor-Division of Adm i n i s t r a t i v e Services. Looking on a r e union negotiating c o m m i t t e e
m e m b e r s William B e r n a r d , Alanna Hoey, c h a i r m a n R a y Celentano; and
CSEA r e p r e s e n t a t i v e John Deyo.
PLEASANTVILLE — The Civil Service E m p l o y e e s Assn., which
r e p r e s e n t s 350 employees of t h e E a s t Hudson P a r k w a y Authority, h a s announced a one-year c o n t r a c t h a s been signed by r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of t h e
union's E a s t Hudson P a r k w a y Local 051 and t h e P a r k w a y Authority.
The new pact, r e t r o a c t i v e f r o m April 1,1979, contains a general s a l a r y
a d j u s t m e n t of seven p e r c e n t across-the-board to be incorporated into t h e
b a s e pay of employees and into t h e new s a l a r y schedule.
E m p l o y e e s hired a f t e r April 1,1977, who did not r e c e i y e t h e five p e r c e n t
and four p e r c e n t i n c r e a s e s during t h e 1977 fiscal y e a r , will be brought up to
t h e hiring r a t e of t h e new schedule, t h e r e b y receiving a 16 p e r c e n t i n c r e a s e .
Other c o n t r a c t benefits include:
• Institution of a new s a l a r y schedule, i ^ r f o r m a n c e a d v a n c e m e n t ,
a w a r d s , and a p e r f o r m a n c e evaluations c o m m i t t e e .
• An improved Health I n s u r a n c e P l a n , including increased m a t e r n i t y
and surgical benefits, and e s t a b l i s h m e n t of a B e n e f i t T r u s t F u n d (Union
Welfare Plan).
• New language r e g a r d i n g allowed m e a l units, vacation buy-back t i m e ,
w o r k e r ' s compensation leave, sick leave, j u r y duty leave, and d r i v e r ' s
license leave.
• The a g r e e m e n t also includes new language changes f o r out-of-title
work, u n i f o r m s for toll collectors, f r e e p a r k w a y toll c h a r g e s for employees
to and f r o m work and f o r e m p l o y e e s with 15 y e a r s of s e r v i c e or niore.
• An i n c r e a s e in m i l e a g e allowance f r o m 11 to 17 c e n t s p e r mile.
The new c o n t r a c t w a s negotiated by chief negotiator E m a n u e l e Vitale,
CSEA Collective Bargaining Specialist; R a y m o n d Celentano, C h a i r m a n of
t h e Negotiating C o m m i t t e e ; C h a r l e s Zoffer, P r e s i d e n t of CSEA Local 051
and a c o m m i t t e e m e m b e r . Alanna Hoey, William J . B e r n a r d , and C h a r l e s
Allen also served a s c o m m i t t e m e m b e r s .
Union halts
Long Beach
layoff plans
Lyons unit
wins 7%
LYONS — Workers of the Village of
Lyons, r e p r e s e n t e d by Wayne County
CSEA Local 859, will r e c e i v e r a i s e s of
7% in e a c h y e a r of a new two-year
c o n t r a c t e f f e c t i v e J u n e 1, 1979.
Also under t e r m s of the pact, shift
differential h a s been increased f r o m
$200 to $400 m i n i m u m of 3 hours pay
on callout, up to $1 million coverage
for long t e r m illness and fully paid
Blue C r o s s / B l u e Shield on r e t i r e m e n t
for individual c o v e r a g e and a f t e r 15
y e a r s of service for f a m i l y coverage.
The Village also a g r e e d to m a i n t a i n
Social Security coverage, new
seniority job posting language and
vacation i n c r e a s e s .
CSEA Field R e p r e s e n t a t i v e Vincent
Sicari was chief
negotiator.
Negotiating t e a m m e m b e r s included
P r e s i d e n t Bob Wykle, Vice P r e s i d e n t
E d w a r d Muir, G a r y B a r c l a y , G a r y
L e s t e r , J a c k Dayton, and S e c r e t a r y T r e a s u r e r P e t e r Zacharilla.
MARY JAROCKI H O N O R E D — M a r y J a r o c k i is all smiles upon being
presented a special m e r i t o r i o u s a w a r d a t a r e c e n t p a r t y m a r k i n g her
r e t i r e m e n t f r o m s t a t e s e r v i c e and union offices. At left is CSEA E x e c u t i v e
Director Joseph J . Dolan, and a t right is CSEA E x e c u t i v e Vice P r e s i d e n t
T h o m a s McDonough. At t i m e of her r e t i r e m e n t , M r s . J a r o c k i w a s president of
SUNY Albany CSEA Local 691. She w a s a very active m e m b e r of CSEA, and a t
one t i m e served a s t r e a s u r e r of Region IV.
Palmyra pact
includes many
job upgradings
CSEA victory
in Hudson vote
HUDSON — T h e Civil S e r v i c e
E m p l o y e e s Assn. has gained the right
to r e p r e s e n t the aides and monitors in
the City of Hudson School District by
a vote of 23 for CSEA r e p r e s e n t a t i o n
to 2 for no r e p r e s e n t a t i o n . CSEA plans
to begin negotiations with the School
District in the n e a r f u t u r e .
J o h n D. C o r c o r a n , J r . C S E A
Regional D i r e c t o r c o m m e n t e d on the
victory, " T h e employees saw through
the a d m i n i s t r a t i o n s p r o m i s e s and
want a legally binding c o n t r a c t r a t h e r
t h a n j u s t a p i l e of w o r t h l e s s
promises."
CSEA has filed an i m p r o p e r practice c h a r g e against the employer concerning the conduct of School Administration officials during the
r e p r e s e n t a t i o n election period.
LONG BEACH - The jobs of 25-35
CSEA m e m b e r s w e r e saved in t h e
city of Long B e a c h a s a r e s u l t of a
d e m o n s t r a t i o n of strength and unity
by N a s s a u County CSEA Local 830,
a c c o r d i n g to Local P r e s i d e n t
Nicholas Abbatiello.
M o r e than 800 m e m b e r s of t h e local
d e m o n s t r a t e d in support of t h e Long
Beach Unit and attended t h a t c i t y ' s
council m e e t i n g recently to oppose
the proposed layoffs and the
e l i m i n a t i o n of t h e L o n g B e a c h
R e c r e a t i o n D e p a r t m e n t , Abbatiello
said.
Published r e p o r t s c l a i m e d t h e council had voted 3-2 in p r i v a t e session to
e l i m i n a t e the r e c r e a t i o n d e p a r t m e n t .
However, following the CSEA show of
strength, t h e budget, including t h e
recreation department,
was
approved.
NON-INSTRUCTIONAL M E M B E R S of Vestal Unit of CSEA Local 866 m a k e
presentation of one of eight f a n s to the Vestal T e a c h e r s Association in
recognition of t e a c h e r s f r o m all Vestal schools. F r o m left to right a r e Angie
Ford and R e t a Kriska, P r e s i d e n t and Vice P r e s i d e n t of Vestal School CSEA
Unit; and P a t Huda and Connie Eno, P r e s i d e n t and President-elect of the
Vestal T e a c h e r s Association. The fans w e r e a w a r d e d a s p a r t of Appreciation
Day for Vestal t e a c h e r s , and one fan will be distributed to each of eight faculty
rooms in the district.
(Photo by Tony Rossi, J r . )
P A L M Y R A - W o r k e r s of t h e
Wayne County Village of P a l m y r a ,
r e p r e s e n t e d by CSEA Local 859, will
receive r a i s e s of 5.5% e f f e c t i v e J u n e
1, 1979 and another 6.5% on J u n e 1,
1980 under t e r m s of a new two-year
a g r e e m e n t ratified recently.
More than half of the w o r k e r s will
benefit f r o m job upgradings. They
will a l s o h a v e a n e w v a c a t i o n
schedule, an added floating holiday
and in the second y e a r two added sick
leave days. A s t r e a m l i n e d grievance
p r o c e d u r e rounds out c o n t r a c t
language changes.
M e m b e r s of the negotiating t e a m
l e d by U n i t P r e s i d e n t
Fred
Trowbridge were David Shulters,
Charles Young and Finley Cox.
Nayman wins
in Tompkins
ITHACA - Tompkins County CSEA
Local 855 election results have been
announced by President-elect Lou
N a y m a n . He said the winners w e r e :
P r e s i d e n t — Lou N a y m a n .
F i r s t Vice P r e s i d e n t — J a m e s
Morris.
Second Vice P r e s i d e n t — J a m e s
Hennerty.
S e c r e t a r y — Antoinette Napier.
T r e a s u r e r — Ruth Morris-Doane.
B o a r d of D i r e c t o r s — J o h n
Wy rough.
Delegates — Bonnie B a r b e r . Claude
Colleyacme, Mitch G r a y , Hennerty,
Dana Morgan and N a y m a n .
Nominees named
for Local 350
NEW YORK CITY - Nominations
for officers of Labor D e p a r t m e n t
CSEA Local 350 have been announced
by Nominating C o m m i t t e e C h a i r m a n
John Gianguercio. He said the
nominees a r e :
P r e s i d e n t — George Caloumeno.
F i r s t Vice P r e s i d e n t — K a t h e r i n e
E. Melfi and Betty L. M a t t h e w s .
Second Vice P r e s i d e n t — L e a h
Winstein and Steven A. Tanzer.
Third Vice P r e s i d e n t — Queen E .
Dickens, Dolores A. Lipari and Dennis J . Tobin.
T r e a s u r e r — Gladys F . R i t t e r and
Celestine G. Asbury.
Recording S e c r e t a r y — Pina L.
P a c k e r and Dorothy M. Daniels.
Gianguercio said the deadline for
filing petitions to run for office in
Local 350 was July 9.
Health insurance plan developed
As a result of r e c e n t F e d e r a l m a n d a t e s and negotiations between the
State of New York and its various
employee unions, the D e p a r t m e n t of
Civil Service has developed a new
Health Insurance Plan for State
KEEP CSEA INFORMED ON MAILING ADDRESS
In the event that you change your mailing address, please fill out the below form and send
CSEA, Inc., P.O. Box 125, Capitol Station, Albany, New York, 12224.
This form is also available from local presidents for CSEA members, but is reproduced here
for convenience. It is to be used only by those CSEA members or agency shop payors who
are currently employed as civil service workers or by those retirees who a r e paying full
active membership dues.
Change of Address for 'The Public Sector'
M y present label reads exactly as shown here
Local
Number
Street
City
State
Zip
State
Zip
MY NEW ADDRESS IS:
Street
City
A g e n c y w h e r e employee)
M y social security no.
SPublic—
SSECTOR
Official publication of
The Civil Service
Employees Association
33 Elk Street,
Albanv, New York 12224
. — Agency
No.
employees and local government.
P a r t i c i p a t i n g Agencies to be imp l e m e n t e d no l a t e r than J a n u a r y 1,
1980. Benefits available f r o m the GHI
Option will also be improved.
The revised Statewide P l a n will
consist
of B l u e C r o s s
for
hospitalization, a Major Medical
Plan, and a s e p a r a t e prescription
drug p r o g r a m which r e q u i r e s the
e m p l o y e e to pay $1.00 f o r e a c h
prescription. P a y m e n t for physicians'
services, previously provided by Blue
Shield, will be available under the
M a j o r M e d i c a l p o r t i o n of t h e
Statewide P l a n , s u b j e c t to deductible
and coinsurance provisions.
C a r r i e r s have been notified of all
the changes in m a t e r n i t y benefits
and, e f f e c t i v e back to April 1, 1979,
a r e paying c l a i m s in a m a n n e r which
m o r e than satisfies F e d e r a l requirements.
Calendar
of EVENTS
JUNE
28—Local 804, Broome County Unit Installation Dinner 5:30 p.m. at The Fountains Restaurant, Vestal, N.Y.
30—Herkimer County Local 822 Installation Dinner 6:30 p.m. at Manor House,
Herkimer, N.Y.
JULY
14—Region V AFSCME Leadership Training Workshop, Hotel Syracuse,
Syracuse.
20—22—Region IV Summer Workshop, Sagamore Hotel, Lake George.
21—Franklin County Local 817 Annual Picnic, noon at Recreation Park,
Malone, N.Y.
22—Buffalo Local 003, annual family picnic, Kloc's Grove, 1245 Seneca Creek
Road, Gardenville.
Published every Wednesday by Clarity Publishing. Inc.
Publication Office. 75 Champlam Street, Albany. N.Y. 12204 (518) 465-4591
Thomas A. demente—Publisher
Roger A. Cole—Executive Editor
Dr. Gerald Alperstein—Associate Editor
Oscar D. Barker—Associate Editor
Deborah Cassidy-Staff Writer
Dawn LePore-Staff Writer
John L. Murphy-Staff Writer
Liz Carver—Staff Writer
Arden D. Lawand—Graphic Design
Dennis C. Mullahy—Production Coordinator
The Public Sector (445010) is published
every Wednesday weekly except for
Wednesdays after New Years, Memorial
Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day for $5
by t h e Civil S e r v i c e E m p l o y e e s
Association, 33 Elk Street, Albany, New
York 12224.
Second Class Postage paid at Post Office, Albany, New York.
Send address changes to The Public Sector, 33 Elk Street, Albany, New York
12224.
Publication office, 75 Champiuiii Street,
Albany, New York 12204. Single copy
Price 25c.
CSEA P R E S I D E N T
W i l l i a m L. McGowan, who participated in a n u m b e r of
p r o g r a m s during the
workshop, this t i m e
sits back and listens
d u r i n g o n e of t h e
sessions.
CSEA E X E C U T I V E VICE P R E S I D E N T T h o m a s McDonough, right, and his wife Pauline, a r e shown with P a t
Mascioli, left, P r e s i d e n t of Westchester County CSEA Local
860.
County Workshop attracts
400 delegates, staff, guests
MONTICELLO — More than 400
persons attended the annual County
Delegates Workshop at K u t c h e r ' s
Country Club July 13 to 15.
Thirteen workshop sessions w e r e
held, including:
• Affiliation, with William
H a m i l t o n , a s s i s t a n t to the
president, AFSCME International.
• Leadership Development, with
Celeste Rosenkranz, chairman,
CSEA Education C o m m i t t e e ; and
R o b e r t M c E n r o e , d i r e c t o r of
training, AFSCME New York
State.
• CETA, with P a u l Burch, CSEA
Collective Bargaining Specialist;
and M a r g e K a r o w e , CSEA a t torney.
• Probation Committee, with
Joseph Reedy, staff coordinator.
• Non-Teaching School P e r sonnel C o m m i t t e e , with Arne
Wipfler, staff coordinator.
• Social S e r v i c e s C o m m i t t e e ,
with Timothy Mullens, staff coordinator.
• Local G o v e r n m e n t N u r s i n g
C o m m i t t e e , with Timothy Mullens,
staff coordinator.
• State Health
Insurance
Coverage with John Carey, CSEA
d i r e c t o r of m e m b e r s e r v i c e s ;
Michael Carroll, director CSEA ins u r a n c e p r o g r a m s ; and T h o m a s
McCracken, State d e p a r t m e n t of
Civil Service.
• Organizing for the Crisis, with
N i c h o l a s A b b a t i e l l o , L o c a l 830
p r e s i d e n t ; B e r n a r d Ryan, CSEA
l e g i s l a t i v e and p o l i t i c a l a c t i o n
d i r e c t o r ; William Griffin, acting
Region I d i r e c t o r ; and G a r y F r y e r ,
CSEA c o m m u n i c a t i o n s director.
• Women in Public E m p l o y m e n t ,
with I r e n e C a r r , CSEA s t a t e w i d e
s e c r e t a r y , and m e m b e r s of the
CSEA statewide w o m e n ' s committee.
M o d e r a t o r s of the workshops inc l u d e d : M a u r e e n M a l o n e , Sid
G r o s s m a n , Carlo Guardi, J a m e s
B r a d y , Hugh C r a p s e r , G r a c e
Vallee, Regina Nemcek, Mary
Sullivan, Ellis Adams, Millicent
DeRosa and William McTygue.
The delegates also heard
s p e e c h e s by A F S C M E I n t e r national P r e s i d e n t J e r r y Wurf and
AFSCME District Council 37 Executive Director Victor G o t b a u m .
STATEWIDE CSEA S E C R E T A R Y I R E N E CARR, right, applauds a
s p e a k e r during workshop p r o g r a m on " W o m e n in Public E m p l o y m e n t . "
Millicent DeRosa, left, P r e s i d e n t of P u t n a m County CSEA Local 840, was
m o d e r a t o r for the p r o g r a m . Both a r e m e m b e r s of CSEA's Statewide
Women's C o m m i t t e e .
CSEA
TREASURER
JACK
G A L L A G H E R , left, and CSEA Collective Bargaining Specialist Nels
Carlson. Carlson presented a p r o g r a m
on the occupational safety and health
a c t (OSHA) during the workshop.
E x t e n d e d c o v e r a g e of
CSEA's County Delegates
Workshop held June 13-15 at
Kutsher's Country Club, Monticello is contained on pages
5, 6, 7 and 8 of this issue.
i 'V
iWlitl^
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday. June 27, 1979
Page 5
County
growth
noted
County delebates meet
How to meet a local crisis
MONTICELLO — The growth of C S E A ' s County Division was noted by
Long Island Region I P r e s i d e n t Irving F l a u m e n b a u m , the union's highest ranking County Division m e m b e r .
F l a u m e n b a u m said with the continued growth of the County Division and
with the loss of PS&T f r o m the S t a t e Division, for the first t i m e in the history
of CSEA the m e m b e r s h i p of the County Division w a s equal to the m e m b e r s h i p
of the State Division.
The workshop delegates passed a resolution urging the equalization of
CSEA Board of Director r e p r e s e n t a t i o n c r i t e r i a for county and s t a t e representation.
At present, the c r i t e r i a for the s t a t e is one board m e m b e r for every 3,000
m e m b e r s . The c r i t e r i a for the county is one board m e m b e r for every 10,000
members.
The resolution a s k s that both s t a t e and county m e m b e r s h i p be based on
3,000 m e m b e r s .
NORTH COUNTY w a s
Division Workshop by|
County Local 823.
11 r e p r e s e n t e d at the County
Ichard Grieco of J e f f e r s o n
•ii ^ ' < '
In
REGION 1 P R E S I D E N T IRVING
F L A U M E N B A U M (right) m a k e s a point
with George Caloumeno, State Labor
D e p a r t m e n t Local 350. Caloumeno was
one of a small group of State Division
m e m b e r s who a t t e n d e d t h e County
Division Workshop.
MAKING T H E MOTION requesting the
change in County Division Board of
Directors representation is Nicholas Abbatiello (left). He and Kenneth Cadieux,
a r e f r o m Nassau County Local 830.
MONTICELLO — Utilizing the r e s o u r c e s of CSEA/AFSCME to m e e t crisis
situations w a s one of the sessions at the County Division Workshop.
. The p a r t i c i p a n t s in this session explained how the various services of
CSEA and of AFSCME c a m e together to assist N a s s a u County CSEA Local 830
during the winter when it was t h r e a t e n e d with 2,000 layoffs and a miniscule pay
increase.
Taking p a r t in the session w e r e Local 830 P r e s i d e n t Nicholas Abbatiello,
Acting Region I Director William Griffin, Field R e p r e s e n t a t i v e George P e a k ,
CSEA Legislative and Political Action Director B e r n a r d Ryan and CSEA Communications D i r e c t o r G a r y F r y e r .
The s p e a k e r s told how the union's political, budget analysis and public
relations capabilities combined with local organization to a v e r t d i s a s t e r in
N a s s a u County.
" W e didn't realize how powerful we were, w e could b e " until the union was
faced with the crisis. P e a k said.
H e said two of the keys w e r e alerting all the union r e s o u r c e s that you
might need their help and making sure your m e m b e r s h i p is a w a r e of the potential crisis.
CSEA A T T O R N E Y RICHARD BURSTEIN
(right), discusses a recent court decision
with F r a n Miller, Oswego County Local
838.
STATEWIDE PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATE
Kenneth Cadieux (left) chats with Rick P a r a d i s o of
Westchester County Local 860. Cadieux is f r o m
Nassau County Local 830.
SARATOGA COl
Miller (left) chats v
elect L a r r y O ' B r y a n .
)C^L 846 P r e s i d e n t John
that local's vice president-
A L A R G E N U M B E R of delegates f r o m Nassau County Local 830 attended the
County Workshop, including (from left) John Alioso, P a t D'Alessio, Nick Abbatiello and Tom Gargiulo.
iKING NOTES at a workshop
i s s i o n is P e g g y C o o m b s ,
)rtland County Local 812. Also
the session was Robert
[ihalvi, Oswego County Local
(8.
SUFFOLK COUNTY LOCAL 852 was r e p r e s e n t e d by Charlie Novo, Kitty Sexton,
Rose Orenda, John Desmond and Sylvia C h e a t h a m .
f
T H E BRAVERMANS, otherwise known a s Mike and
a r e m e m b e r s of Nassau County Local 830.
\
' .1
i
COUNTY DIVISION CHAIRMAN Joseph Lazerony checks with the registration
desk personnel of CSEA h e a d q u a r t e r s s t a f f , ( f r o m left) Marcel Gardner,
R o s e m a r y Redmond and Mary Bingham.
WHAT A COINCIDENCE! The president ot R e n s s e l a e r County Education Local
871 is Ed E v a n s (left). The president of R e n s s e l a e r County Local 842 is Dick
Evans.
DURING THE
COUNTY
WORKSHOP, word c a m e that
( f r o m left) J a m e s ' Hennerty,
Lou N a y m a n and John Wyrough
had been elected second vice
president, president and Board
Representative
of
their
Tompkins County Local 855.
Page 6
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, June 27, 1979
1'
CSEA S T A F F E R Manny Vitale (center) gives some
pointers to Raymond O'Connor, Westchester County
Local 860; and to H a r r y Mcintosh, Rockland County
Local 844.
CORTLAND COUNTY Local 812 had Virginia Colton as
one of its delegates.
CO-CHAIRMAN O F T H E COUNTY
DIVISION M a r y Sullivan ( r i g h t ) of
H e r k i m e r County Local 822 speaks with
P a t Crandall of SUNY Cortland.
WESTCHEST E R COUNTY L O C A L
860 w a s represented by
Eleanor McDonald (left)
and
Grace
Ann Alioli.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, June 27, 1979
Page 7
Gotbaum warns delegates
of rough road ahead
MONTICELLO — Victor G o t b a u m , executive director of AFSCME
District Council 37 of New York City, warned the delegates to the CSEA
County Workshop of a rough road facing public employee unions in the
n e a r future.
G o t b a u m , speaking of the Proposition 13 mentality, said: "You m u s t
analyze w h a t is going on. We a r e going to take a b e a t i n g . "
He said s e r v i c e s w e r e being cut back to those who need g o v e r n m e n t
service. He said in California 25,000 public service jobs have been
eliminated.
The c u r r e n t tax m e n t a l i t y is: " G o v e r n m e n t that services the other
guy is bad. They only want what helps t h e m , " G o t b a u m said.
On a hopeful note, G o t b a u m said public sector e m p l o y m e n t w a s
growing. Today, 17 p e r c e n t of the w o r k f o r c e a r e public employees; and
by the turn of the century, the p e r c e n t a g e should be 20 p e r c e n t , he said.
To m e e t t h e p r o b l e m s ahead, G o t b a u m urged unity, cooperation and
responsibility f r o m public employee labor unions.
" T h e negative conditions can be turned around. We a r e on the verge
of a t r e m e n d o u s b r e a k t h r o u g h , " he said.
AFSCME
INTERNATIONAL
PRESIDENT Jerry
Wurf
w a s o n e of
many
AFSCME
representatives at the County
Division Workshop. He
spoke to the delegates,
urging t h e m to utilize
the technical capab i l i t i e s of A F S C M E
to help m e e t t h e i r
problems.
Wurf urges utilization
CSEA P R E S I D E N T WILLIAM L. McGOWAN (center) joins AFSCME
District Council 37 E x e c u t i v e Director Victor G o t b a u m (left) and CSEA
E x e c u t i v e Director Joseph Dolan in conversation at the County Division
Workshop.
MONTICELLO AFSCME
International P r e s i d e n t J e r r y Wurf
urged the d e l e g a t e s to the CSEA
County Workshop to utilize the
technical capabilities of AFSCME
to m e e t the p r o b l e m s facing CSEA.
Wurf said that capability includes the a r e a s of CETA, pensions, health insurance, budget
analysis, political action and
legislative actions.
He said CSEA and the other
AFSCME a f f i l i a t e s a r e not using
the technical capabilities as much
a s they should.
" T h e a f f i l i a t e s a r e only
s c r a t c h i n g t h e s u r f a c e of our
capabilities," Wurf said.
Those capabilities a r e needed to
meet the problems
public
employees face from the
Proposition 13 mentality.
Wurf was critical of t h r e e lobbying ^groups — League of Cities,
C o n f e r e n c e of M a y o r s
and
Association of Counties — which
a r e supported by tax money " y e t
criticize union m e m b e r s h i p . "
He called upon the collective
strength of CSEA and AFSCME to
counter the strength of the t h r e e
lobbying groups both in Albany and
in Washington, D.C.
COUNTY DIVISION WORKSHOP delegates w e r e a d d r e s s e d by Victor
G o t b a u m (left), executive director of AFSCME District Council 37 of
New York City. Listening attentively to his speech a r e CSEA P r e s i d e n t
William L. McGowan and s t a t e w i d e S e c r e t a r y Irene C a r r .
ASSISTANT TO T H E A F S C M E I N T E R N A T I O N A L P R E S I D E N T
William Hamilton spoke on the affiliation at the County Division
Workshop. Maureen Malone, Madison County CSEA Local 827, introduced
Hamilton a t the workshop.
CSEA R E G I O N A L P R E S I D E N T S a t t e n d e d t h e County Division
Workshop, including ( f r o m left) J a m e s Lennon, Region III, Sol Bendet,
Region II, and Irving F l a u m e n b a u m , Region I.
T H R E E CSEA regional presidents at the County Division Workshop w e r e
( f r o m left) Robert L a t t i m e r , Region VI; Joseph M c D e r m o t t , Region IV,
and J a m e s Moore, Region V.
Page 1979
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, V^ednesday, June 20,
1979
Scholarship awarded
by Greenburgh Unit
E L M S F O R D — The Robert Bason Memorial Scholarship has
b e e n a w a r d e d t o N i c h o l a s P . S a u t e r , s o n of P e t e S a u t e r , a s e n i o r
c i v i l e n g i n e e r f o r t h e T o w n of G r e e n b u r g h .
T h e a w a r d w a s a n n o u n c e d b y E l e a n o r M c D o n a l d , p r e s i d e n t of
t h e T o w n of G r e e n b u r g h U n i t of W e s t c h e s t e r C o u n t y C S E A L o c a l
860.
S a u t e r g r a d u a t e d M a y 27 s u m m a c u m l a u d e a n d c o v a l e d i c t o r i a n f r o m F o r d h a m C o l l e g e w i t h a B a c h e l o r of S c i e n c e
d e g r e e in B i o l o g y . H e s u c c e s s f u l l y c o m p l e t e d t h e H o n o r s P r o g r a m
and h a s received the Biology A w a r d . H e plans to a t t e n d the Univers i t y of C h i c a g o P r i t z k e r S c h o o l of M e d i c i n e in t h e f a l l .
M s . M c D o n a l d s a i d : " I t is d e e p l y g r a t i f y i n g t o p r e s e n t t h i s
a w a r d t o a y o u n g m a n of s u c h g r e a t p r o m i s e . " T h e S c h o l a r s h i p
C o m m i t t e e , u n d e r t h e d i r e c t i o n of F l o r e n c e N o r t h , n a m e d t h e
scholarship after Robert "Robbie" Bason, who was General
F o r e m a n of t h e G r e e n b u r g h S a n i t a t i o n D e p a r t m e n t a n d a m e m b e r
of C S E A .
SCHOLARSHIP AWARD R E C I P I E N T NICHOLAS P. S A U T E R , second f r o m right,
r e c e i v e s t h e a w a r d f r o m T o w n of G r e e n b u r g h U n i t P r e s i d e n t E l e a n o r M c D o n a l d , s e c o n d
f r o m left. Attending the c e r e m o n y were, f r o m left, P e t e r Sauter, Nicholas' f a t h e r ; and
scholarship c o m m i t t e e m e m b e r s Florence North, Joan Giampoli and Russ Imlay. Comm i t t e e m e m b e r F r a n k A m o d e o , G r e e n b u r g h U n i t v i c e p r e s i d e n t , i s n o t in p i c t u r e .
CSEA program bills
All bills on this status report are supported by CSEA
C S E A P r o g r a m Bill N u m b e r
S u m m a r y of P r o v i s i o n s
P-79-1, Agency Shop—Agency shop would
become permanent and mandatory.
Bill N u m b e r ,
Sponsors
Status
A'-6748 Barbaro
S-4458 Rules
Civil Service Comm.
P-79-2, OSHA—Minimum health and
safety standards for public employees
would be established.
A-6619 Weprin, DelToro,
Marchiselli, et al
S-Eending
Ways & Means
Comm.
P-79-3, Two-for-One-The fine for striking would be reduced from two day's pay
for each day struck to one day's pay for
each day struck.
A-4169 Connor, Greco,
Barbaro
S-4457 Rules
Governmental
Employees Comm.
Civil Service Comm.
P-79-4, Injunctive Notice—Unions and
employees would be required to receive
notice and have an opportunity to be
heard before a temporary restraining
order could be issued against a strike.
A-4167 Barbaro, Greco,
Johnson,et al
S-4452 Rules
P-79-5, Presumption of Arbitrability—
The presumption of arbitrability for contract grievances would be restored.
A-4168 Connor, Johnson,
Marchiselli, et al
S-4451 Rules
Passed
Civil Service Comm.
Vote expected
Civil Service Comm.
P-79-6, Limited Right to Strike—Strike A-6423 Barbaro
would be redefined to mean a work stoppage that threatens irreparable injury to S-7588
the public health, safety and welfare.
Governmental
Employees Comm.
P-79-7, 1979 Contract—The provisions of A-8246
the CSEA-State contract would be im- S-6235
plemented.
P-79-8, Triborough—A public employer A-4165 Greco, et al
would be required to continue an expired
contract until a new agreement is S-4454 Rules
reached.
P-79-9r Redefine Daily Rate of P a y - A-4171 Connor, Finneran,
Strikers assessed a two-for-one penalty
Nme
would be fined based on net take-home
'S-4456 Rules
pay, not on gross pay.
Passed
Passed
Vote expected
fcivil Service Comm.
Governmental
Employees Comm.
Civil Service Comm.
P-79-10, A l t e r n a t i v e D i s c i p l i n a r y
Procedures—Unions, including subdivision employers, would be allowed to
negotiate disciplinary procedures.
A-4166 DelToro, Greco,
Governmental
Finneran, Barbaro, Employees Comm
etal .
Civil Service Comm.
S-4453 Rules
P-79.11, Retirees Death Benefit—State
employees who retired before Sept. 30,
1966, would be eligible for a $2,000 death
benefit.
A-4416 Greco
Passed
S-3221 Flynn
Passed
P-79-12, Permanent Cost of Living- A-6618 Rules
Starting in 1980, retirees would receive
an increase in the retirement allowance S-4158 Rules
based on increases in the cost of living
for the previous year.
P-79-13, Extension of Supplementation- A-4509-A Barbaro
Pension supplementation would include those who retired before April 1, S-3361-A Flynn
1969, would be extended to those who
retired before Jan. 1, 1970, and would
increase supplements to reflect increases in the cost of living.
Governmental
Employees Comm.
Civil Service Comm.
P-79-14, Education Law Parity—The
financial advantage school districts
receive when contracting out for student
transportation would be eliminated.
P-79.15, Division of Youth T r a n s f e r Division of Youth employees transferred
to a non-profit corporation would not lose
benefits of State service.
A-4877 Orazio
S-3441 Donovan, et al
Ways & Means Comm.
Passed
A-2519 Budget
S-1719 Budget
Ways it Means Comm.
F inance Comm.
S-Senate
^^SEgnsaKan
Passed
Passed
Week of June 18, 1 9 7 9
C S E A P r o g r a m Bill N u m b e r ,
S u m m a r y of P r o v i s i o n s
Bill N u m b e r ,
Sponsors
P-79-16, Office of Court Administration- A-6194 Connor
Unified Court System employees would
be transferred to the State payroll as of S-4142 Rolison
April 1, 1977, and would receive permanent status in their competitive class
if they have performed the duties of their
positions for one year prior to the effective date of this law.
P-79-17, Employee Indemnification- A-5963 Greco
Additional instance in which public
employees should be indemnified from S-2766Schermerhorn
suit by the employer for acts which arise
in the course of performing their duties.
P - 7 9 - 1 8 , S h e r i f f ' s R e o p e n e r — A-Pending'
Approximately eight employees of the S-Pending
Sullivan County Sheriff's Department
would be allowed to choose the
provisions of the Retirement and Social
S e c u r i t y Law (optional 20-year
retirement).
P-79-19, State University Unclassified A-3836 M. Miller
Service—The power to remove State
University employees from classified S-3754Cook
service would be returned to the Civil
Service Commission from the State
University Chancellor.
P-79-20, University of Buffalo Buy- A-7559 Rules
Back—State employees working at the
University of Buffalo before it was acquired by the State would be allowed to S-4928 Volker
purchase retirement credits for the time
they were employed by the University.
P-79-21 (a), Veterans Buy-Back-World A-Pending
War II veterans would be allowed to S-Pending
purchase up to three years of credit
toward retirement.
P-79-21 (b), Veterans Buy-Back—Korean A-Pending
War veterans would be allowed to S-Pending
purchase up to three years credit toward
retirement.
P-79-22, Sanitarians—Sanitarians work- A-Pending
ing for public and private employers S-Pending
would be certified by the Department of
Education.
P-79-23, Suffolk County Retirement-The A-4204 Hochbrueckner
Suffolk County contract allowing investigators to elect 20-year retirement S-3079 Johnson, Lack,
would be implemented.
Trunzo
P-79-24, Pension Advisory Board—Power A-Pending
to invest pension funds would be vested S-Pending
in a board of trustees with meaningful
public employee representation.
P-79-25, Correction Officers-Ccyrection A-Pending
o f f i c e r s employed by Westchester S-Pending
County would be eligible to ele^t participation in a 20-year retirement plan.
P-79-26, Showing of I n t e r e s t - T h e A-Pending
procedure for verifying a showing of in- S-Pending
terest in a representation determination
would be changed.
P-79-27, Court Employees Contract—The A-1773 McCabe, et al
collective bargaining agreement for S-1304 Barclay, et al
employees of the Unified Court System
be implemented.
P-79-28, Employer Improper Practice— A-4170 Greco,. Barbaro.
An employee organization would not be
Lehtol, et al
determined to be guilty of violating the S-4455 Rules
no-strike provision when the strike was
caused, in whole or in part, by an improper employer practice.
Status
Passed
Passed
Governmental
Employees Comm.
Judiciary
Governmental
Employees Comm.
Civil Service Comm.
Ways & Means Comm.
Rules
Ways & Means Comm.
Passed
Passed
Passed
(Ch. 4, Laws of
1979)
Ways & Means Comm.
Civil Service Comm.
J
I
OPEN CONTINUOUS
STATE JOB CAlENDAR
Title
Pharmacist (salary varies with location)
Assistant Sanitary Engineer
Senior Sanitary Engineer
Clinical Physician I
Clinical Physician II
Assistant Clinical Physician
Attorney
Assistant Attorney
Attorney Trainee
Junior Engineer
(Bachelor's Degree)
Junior Engineer
(Master's Degree)
Dental Hygienist
Licensed Practical Nurse
Nutrition Services Consultant
Stationary Engineer
Senior Stationary Engineer
Occupational Therapy Assistant I
Occupational Therapy Assistant I
(Spanish Speaking)
Vocati<»ial Rehabilitation Counselor
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Trainee
Medical Record Technician
Histoloßr Technician
Professional Positions in Auditing and Accounting
Computer Programmer
Computer Programmer (Scientific)
Senior Programmer
Senior Computer Progranmier (Scientific)
Mobility Instructor
Instructor of the Blind
Health Services Nurse
(salary varies with location)
Seni6r Heating and Ventilating Engineer
Senior Sanitary Engineer (Design)
Senior Building Electrical Engineer
Senior Building Structural Engineer
Senior Mechanical Construction Engineer
Senior Plumbing Engineer
Assistant Stationary Engineer
Electroencephalograph Technician
Radiologic Technolopst
(salary varies with location)
Medical Record Administrator
Food Service Wörker I
Mental Hygiene Therapy Aide Trainee
Mental Hygiene Therapy Aide Trainee
(Spanish Speaking)
Associate Actuary (Casualty)
Principal Actuary (Casualty)
Supervising Actuary (Casualty)
Assistant Actuary
Nurse I
Nurse H
Nurse H (Psychiatric)
Nurse II (Rehabilitation)
Medical Specialist II
Medical Specialist I
Psychiatrist I
Psychiatrist II
Social Services Management Trainee
Social Services Management Specialist
Social Services Management Trainee
(Spanish Speaking)
Social Services Management Specialist
(Spanish Speaking)
Industrial Training Supervisor
(salary varies depending on specialty)
Physical Therapist
Physical Therapist (Spanish Speaking)
Senior Physical Therapist
Senior Physical Therapist (Spanish Speaking)
Speech Pathologist
Audiologist
Assistant Speech Pathologist
Assistant Audiologist
Dietician Trainee
Dietician
Supervising Dietician .
Stenographer
Typist
Senior Occupational Therapist
Senior Occupational Therapist
(Spanish Speaking)
Occupational Therapist
Occupational Therapist (Spanish Speaking)
Salary Exam No.
$14,388-$15,562 20-129
$16,040 • 20-122
$18,301 20-123
$27,942 20-118
$31,055 20-119
$25,161 20-117
$14,850 20-113
$12,397 20-113
$11,723 20-113
$12,890 20-109
The in depth, incisive articles concerning Masten
Park, its employees, its
clients, and its possible future were researched and
written by Public Sector
staff writer Dawn LePore,
who also took the Photographs accompanying the
articles.
Masten
Park
$13,876 20-109
$8,950
$8,051
$13,404
$10,042
$11,250
$9,029
$9,029
20-107
20-106
20-139
20-100
20-101
20-174
20-174
$14,142
^1,983
$9,481
$8,051
$11,250
$11,250
$11,250
$14,075
$14,075
$11,904
$11,250
$11,250-$12,025
20-1401
20-140
20-143
20-170
20-200
20-220
20-222
20-221
20-223
20-224
20-225
20-226'
$18,301
$18,301
$18,301
$18,301
$18,301
$18,301
$7.616
$7,616
$8,454-$10,369
20-227
20-228
20-229
20-230
20-231
20-232
20-303
20-308
20-334
$11,904
$6,456
$7,204
$7,204
20-348
20-352
20-394
20-394
$18,369
$22,364
$26,516
$10,714
$10,624
$11,904
$11,904
$11,904
$33,705
$27,942
$27,942
$33,705
$10,824
$11,450
$10,824
20-416
20-417
20-418
20-556
20-584
20-585
20-586
20-587
20-840
20-841
20-842
20-843
20-875
20-875
20-876
$11,450 20-876
$10,Ö24-$12,583 20-877
$11,337
$11,337
$12,670
$12,670
$12,670
$12,670
$11,337
$.11,337
$10,624
$11,250
$13,304
$6,650
$6,071
$12,670
$12,670
20-880
20-880
20-881
20-881
20-883
20-882
20-884
20-885
20-888
20-887
20-886
20-890
20-891
20-894
20-894
$11,337 20-895
$11,337 20-895
You may contoct t h * f o l l o w i n g offlcas of the N a w York State Deportment of Civil Service for onrrauncements, applications, a n d other details concerning examinations for the positions listed above.
Stote OHice Building Campus, First Floor, Building I, Albany, Nev^ York 12239 (518) 457-6216.
2 W o r l d Trade Center, 55th Floor, Nev^ York City 10047 (212) 488-4248.
Suite 750, Genesee Building, West Genesee Street. Buffalo, Nev/ York 14202 (716) 842-4260.
MASTEN PARK — This is the front entrance to Masten Park. The once
bustling facility is now empty, except for a handful of clients in the detoxification unit.
Drug treatment center
at Masten Park closed
BUFFALO — Just ten years ago, there were 14 drug rehabilitation
treatment centers operating across New York State. Six of those were
closed in 1972, five more were shut down in 1976. By early this year, only
two such centers reniained open. Now both are closed.
The Masten Park Rehabilitation Center was the last to go. In
operation since 1968 with 140 employees, the facility was phased out this
spring by state officials who said its $2.4 million budget was too expensive
in the face of a declining client population.
Plans to convert the center, once a home for wayward girls, into a
Division for Youth facility was held up in the State Legislature for nearly
all of this session as part of the supplemental budget. Then, in the closing
moments as the lawmakers rushed for adjournment, the DFY facility
concept at Masten Park was suddenly funded as a separate bill, with
CSEA getting it removed from the supplemental budget because of uncertainty that the budget would be acted upon before adjournment.
DESERTED
This hallway,
like the facility
itself, is e m p t y
and silent.
A rocky trip on the road to transition
from drug care center to youth facility
B U F F A L O — The clients — 150 inpatients and 400 o t h e r s on a f t e r c a r e —
a r e gone now f r o m the sprawling block-wide complex. But the f a t e of
Masten P a r k ' s employees and the complex itself a r e still up in the air.
" W e w e r e told in J a n u a r y that Masten P a r k would be going out of
business S e p t e m b e r I with no new o c c u p a n t , " said P e t e r Blake, president of
CSE A Local 269, which r e p r e s e n t e d Masten workers. " T h a t ' s when it
s t a r t e d . T h e r e w e r e r u m o r s that it w a s going to the Division for Youth a s a
correctional facility. On M a r c h 13, it was c o n f i r m e d . "
At a m e e t i n g in Albany attended by s t a t e and CSEA officials, the details
w e r e explained.
" W e w e r e a s s u r e d the facility would r e m a i n open under the Division for
youth. A n u m b e r of the employees would be kept and no one would lose a
j o b , " said R o b e r t L a t t i m e r , CSEA Region 6 president. " T h e s t a t e said it
would g u a r a n t e e jobs in Western New York for the p e r m a n e n t e m p l o y e e s . "
About t h r e e - q u a r t e r ' s of Masten P a r k ' s 140 employees w e r e on perm a n e n t status.
" J e r r y Anthone of the Budget Division said 'no one will hit the s t r e e t , ' "
Blake said. " E v e r y o n e was to get a job a t the closest c o m p a r a b l e title with
no loss of i n c o m e . "
" W e c a m e a w a y with the feeling that the transition would be smooth.
We w e r e very o p t i m i s t i c , " Blake said. " B u t what a p p e a r e d to be a tranquil
t r a n s f e r j u s t didn't happen. The whole thing has been totally d e s t r o y e d . "
E m p l o y e e interviews w e r e conducted a t the c e n t e r in late M a r c h to
d e t e r m i n e who would be qualified to fill the a p p r o x i m a t e l y 70 D F Y
openings. Those who couldn't be m a t c h e d to a position t h e r e w e r e to be
offered jobs within two pay g r a d e s of their p e r m a n e n t positions within
reasonable c o m m u t i n g distance of the e m p l o y e e ' s home, generally, within
50 miles.
The closing d a t e w a s pushed up to April 1, the clients w e r e evacuated,
but the staff stayed on, waiting for s o m e word.
" T w o weeks a f t e r the interviews, we hadn't heard a n y t h i n g , " Blake
said. " I called Albany and was told all bets w e r e o f f . "
The finance c o m m i t t e e of the s t a t e legislature had r e c o m m e n d e d that
no money be used to expand services. The D F Y ' s proposed budget of $2.2
million w a s frozen, to be considered l a t e r in the s t a t e ' s supplemental
budget. Then, just a few days ago, funding w a s approved for Masten P a r k
under a s e p a r a t e bill just a s the s t a t e legislature a d j o u r n e d for the s u m m e r .
All employees a t Masten P a r k w e r e to be m a i n t a i n e d on a t e m p o r a r y
basis until J u n e 30. The Budget Division c r e a t e d an excess of positions a t
several other state-run facilities in the a r e a for the displaced w o r k e r s .
" T h e budget and executive b r a n c h e s have bent over b a c k w a r d s to get
people employed or keep t h e m e m p l o y e d , " said P a u l Burch, CSEA Collective Bargaining Specialist. " I n other c a s e s w h e r e a facility is closing, they
simply give layoff notice and t h e people a r e usually thrown to the w o l v e s . "
" W e did interview 106 or 107 — j u s t about all of t h e m , " said P a u l E l i s h a ,
D F Y Director of Public Relations. " T h e r e a r e a p p r o x i m a t e l y 75 or 80
percent who a p p e a r e d to have qualifications w e could use. But the question
is moot, depending on the availability of f u n d s ; "
"A group of about 20 a d m i n i s t r a t i v e people have been o f f e r e d other perm a n e n t positions and have taken t h e m , " Blake said. " T e n or 12 m e m b e r s of
the t r e a t m e n t staff left for Buffalo P s y c h i a t r i c Center on loan. Another 15 or
18 went over to Roswell P a r k M e m o r i a l Institute, functioning a s nursing
aides — positions they had no training for. Seven or eight went to the West
Seneca Developmental Center. To the best of m y knowledge, everyone is
working s o m e w h e r e . "
Twenty-five employees, including Blake, stayed on a t Masten P a r k to
run the detoxification unit, which will r e m a i n in operation indefinitely, until
a r r a n g e m e n t s can be m a d e to t r a n s f e r the unit to another local facility,
possibly the E r i e County Medical Center.
Blake said he had been o f f e r e d one job as a G r a d e 9 Mental Health
T r e a t m e n t Aide a t the R o c h e s t e r P s y c h i a t r i c Center. He has worked a t
Masten P a r k since the facility opened in 1968, as a G r a d e 14, until the
position w a s reclassified a s G r a d e 11 in 1977. His vocational counseling c l a s s
was one of the most popular a t the c e n t e r .
Some employees had been o f f e r e d jobs in F r a n k l i n County — a t the
other end of the s t a t e , Blake said. Those who h a v e n ' t taken p e r m a n e n t jobs
by J u n e 30 will be placed on p r e f e r r e d lists to continue waiting.
" I ' v e been on one p r e f e r r e d list since 1977," Blake said. " I h a v e n ' t had a
call once. If nothing fits, you can wither and die on a p r e f e r r e d l i s t . "
Where are the clients?
SILENT NOW, the Masten P a r k r e c r e a t i o n room and auditorium once was the
scene of activities, movies, weekly meetings.
MASTEN P A R K CLIENTS w e r e tested for aptitude skills a t this vocation
evaluation c e n t e r upon entering and leaving the facility. Now everything
stands still and unused.
B U F F A L O — With the closing of the l a s t d r u g rehabilitation
c e n t e r in the s t a t e , m a n y of t h e f a c i l i t y ' s w o r k e r s w e r e left wondering
what would happen to t h e i r jobs. But a n o t h e r question also e x i s t s :
what has happened to the 150 clients who lived a t M a s t e n P a r k and t h e
400 m o r e , who r e g a r d e d t h e c e n t e r a s a " h o m e b a s e " f o r d r u g and
vocational counseling?
" W e had a m a j o r evacuation plan. Twenty-five or thirty a week —
going back to their h o m e towns or to probation o f f i c e r s ~ w h a t e v e r —
it w a s catch a s c a t c h c a n , " said P e t e r Blake, CSEA Local 269
president.
" T h o s e people on a f t e r c a r e w e r e f a c e d with the possibility of being
totally cut loose. S o m e w e r e . We r e c o m m e n d e d counseling t h a t w a s
available but w e didn't h a v e any jurisdiction to send t h e m t h e r e , " h e
said.
"Throughout this whole thing, I h a v e n ' t seen one instance w h e r e
anyone gave any thought to t h e c l i e n t s , " said R o b e r t L a t t i m e r , CSEA
Region 6 president. " N a t u r a l l y , our f i r s t concern is our m e m b e r s and
employees, but I ' m j u s t wondering w h a t the hell is going on?
" I guess somebody j u s t decided t h e r e w a s n ' t a d r u g p r o b l e m , " h e
said.
" I don't think they should h a v e closed it in t h e f i r s t p l a c e , " said
P a u l Burch, CSEA Collective Bargaining Specialist. " W e tried to fight
it but no m a t t e r what w e said, it w a s going to close. I t h a s l e f t W e s t e r n
New York without a d r u g t r e a t m e n t c e n t e r . I ' m s u r e t h e s t a t e had
s o m e reason for closing it, but I don't know w h a t it w a s . "
According to M a s t e n P a r k ' s d i r e c t o r , A. Louis Cid, t h e cost p e r
client w a s lower than keeping a person in jail.
" W e a r e very sensitive t h a t t h e r e is a v a c u u m in t h e a r e a and I
would hope s o m e agency would c o m e in, recognizing t h a t need, and
pick it u p , " said P a u l Elisha, a s p o k e s m a n f o r t h e Division f o r Youth,
which plans to t a k e over the facility. " I t ' s v e r y i m p o r t a n t to understand that w e a r e not trying to push t h e c e n t e r out. We w e r e given
to understand that f u n d s w e r e being cut o f f . "
"When someone is a r r e s t e d on a drug-related c h a r g e now, he is
taken to the holding c e n t e r , detoxified, and depending on the n a t u r e of
the c r i m e , t h e r e is t h e slight c h a n c e he would be sent to t h e Allentown
Counseling Center or something like t h a t , " Blake explained. " B u t if its
anything other than a m i n o r offense, he will be a r r a i g n e d , detoxified
and be sentenced.
" I t ' s either walk in to a satellite c e n t e r and say 'Hi, I think I h a v e a
problem' or it's Attica. T h e r e ' s no in between a n y m o r e . "
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, June 20, 1979
Page 346
'The most dangerous employer
is the State of N e w York.'
•
•
•
ALBANY—The president of the state's largest public employee union
told an Albany press conference June 18 that the continuing failure of the
state's Legislature to extend occupational safety and health protections
to New York's public employees was costing taxpayers millions in
needless compensation claims and costing public workers pain and suffering that can be prevented.
William L. McGowan, president of the 220,000-member Civil Service
Employees Assn., said that while the state refused to extend occupational
safety protections covering all private sector workers in America to its
own employees, thousands of public employees are being injured,
maimed, even killed in on-the-job accidents that in many instances are
preventable.
"The plain fact of the matter is that the most dangerous employer to
work for in the State of New York is the State of New York," McGowan
said.
"In recent weeks a public employee in Westchester County was
electrocuted while performing out-of-title work, three laborers with the
Department of Transportation were killed by a runaway truck in Newburgh, and a major state facility ignored the orders of its own "safety officer" and dumped toxic chemicals in an open pit, yet no one points a
finger at the State of New York and yells about its safety practices,"
McGowan said.
CSEA is leading a fight in the state Legislature to extend the protections of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act to public
employees. Presently the OSHA protections that have been directly
responsible for a drastic decline in the number of job-related injuries In
the private sector are not extended to public employees unless state
legislatures adopt them. To date, New York has failed to extend those
protections to its own employees.
"In an era when all private sector American working men and
women are protected by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act,
it is a disgrace that the State of New York continues to keep its head in
the sand and allow sloppy management habits and hazardous working environments to threaten public employees and fleece the taxpayers,"
McGowan said.
"The Legislature has to date asked for and received three state
Labor Department studies of the need for an occupational safety statute
to protect New York's public employees and every single study has
recommended extension of OSHA protection to our people. Yet the
Legislature still refuses to move and the injuries continue," McGowan
said.
CSEA supported legislation which it had hoped to get through the
Senate and Assembly in this legislative session to extend occupational
protections to public employees, but early Saturday the Legislature adjourned without dealing with the subject. Opponents of the legislation
claim OSHA protections for public employees would be too expensive, but
the union believes the costs would be more than covered by the savings in
compensation claims.
Joe
W YORIC STATB LARGEST mUC m Q i i m ^
CSEA PRESIDENT WILLIAM L. McGOWAN tells members of the news
media that the union will request a special session of the state legislature, it
necessary, to deal with extending health and safety standards to public
workers in New York State. At left is CSEA Collective Bargaining Specialist
Nels Carlson. Next to President McGowan is CSEA Region IV President
Joseph McDermott, and at far right is Region IV Director John Corcoran.
CSEA Safety Hotline
The Civil Service Employees Assn. has
established a toll-free 800 hotline to
receive information relative to unsafe
working conditions and reports on jobrelated mishaps. If you Believe you
know of any unsafe work conditions,
please call:
800-342-4824
Page 12
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, June 27, 1979
McDermott:
Asbestos exposure
has been verified
ALBANY - Joseph E. McDermott, President of CSEA's Capital
Region, contributed a regional
view of the need for safety
legislation and air quality.
McDermott explained that the
Capital Region has been concerned
with the overall safety of 50,000
public employees, who live within
the limits of the Capital Region, especially with the air quality at all
public employee work locations.
"Recently, the press has been
filled with numerous stories of the
reports of the dangers of asbestos.
Surveys have been conducted,
results have been released and then
additional surveys have been announced which supposedly contradict the former research
reports," McDermott stated.
"However, nothing has yet been
done to change the situations which
exist. Areas where potential
asbestos exposure have been
verified are still in existence. The
state has done nothing to correct
the situations except to reiterate
that it will study the situation,"
McDermott continued.
The regional president then
r e v e a l e d that the
State
Department of Education had
issued a bulletin on asbestos contamination to the superintendents
of public schools throughout New
York State on April 5, 1979, but so
far the CSEA president stated that
there has not been a follow-up
report on just how many public
school buildings were found to have
asbestos used in their construction,
nor how many areas were found to
have asbestos contamination, nor
what was done to correct the
situation.
McDermott then issued his air
quality safety demands, "as a vice
president of CSEA and as the
regional president in this area, I insist that positive, protective action
to prevent the development of
asbestos related lung diseases be
initiated now."
"I insist that the State of New
York implement an immediate
medical examination program for
all workers in each building where
asbestos contamination has been
verified. I demand that all
buildings in the public sector from
the new Troy City Hall to the
Clinton County Government complex and, more importantly, every
public school in the State be inspected for possible asbestos
material use and contamination."
McDermott explained that
research has indicated that
asbestos contamination sources
can be treated with plastic sprays,
glue-based paints to stop the flaking and deterioration of the
asbestos material and also, in
some cases, the asbestos material
can be removed.
The regional president ended his
press statement with a note of concern for the ongoing air quality
p r o b l e m s in t h e
Health
Department Labs area. He noted
that several lab employees showed
positive tuberculosis tests, and that
this situation developed after
another labs employee nearly dies
from an exposure to a rabies
serum. "The excuses such as the
area being overcrowded with
equipment, etc. will never satisfy the
family of a deceased public
employee."
"Rhetoric on the part of the State
of New York is no safety device,"
McDermott concluded.