Official publication of
The Civil Service Employees
Association
Vol. 3, No. 3 (ISSN 01649949)
Wednesday, October 22, 1980
Demand campus closing impact tailcs
ALBANY — CSEA has demanded that SUNY negotiate on a campus-bycampus basis concerning the impact of closing of campuses on days following certain holidays. Collective Bargaining Specialist Paul Burch said that
CSEA wants the negotiations to begin with the Fredonia campus, which
closed August 15, 1980, forcing most employees to use accumulated leave
credits.
The negotiations demand follows a recent PERB decision regarding
SUNY closings on the day following Thanksgiving. In response to that "confusing decision," the union has filed an Article 78 petition contesting and
appealing the decision.
The issue goes back to 1975 when SUNY presidents directed the absence
of employees the day following Thanksgiving. Employees directed not to
report to work were told to charge the absence to accumulated leave credits
or be placed on leave without pay for the day. Similar directives were issued
in following years.
The recent PERB decision appears to hold that the directing of
employees not to come to work is not a mandatory subject of bargaining and
is, therefore, an action which the employer can take unilaterally.
However, the PERB decision goes on to say that when the employer has
directed absences from work, the union may demand negotiations in the impact of those directed absences on the terms and conditions of the
employment of the affected employees.
PERB states: "Whether the affected employees will be paid for the day
or not, whether they must charge the day to leave credits or not, clearly
must be negotiated upon proper demand."
CSEA attorney Marge Karowe commented: "Based on this language, it
is our feeling that when the employer directs an absence. Local presidents
should immediately contact their field representatives and put in a written
demand to negotiate the impact of the directed absence."
Training by botii sides
performance rating icey
SAFETY CONFERENCE — CSEA President William L. McGowan, left,
and Executive Director Joseph J. Dolan Jr., center, confer with Jack
Suarez, area representative of the National Safety Council during a meeting
of the New York State Association of Counties at GTossingers Hotel.
President McGowan addressed NYSAC members on the subject of OSHA
legislation, scheduled to go into effect on January 1. The union president told
local government officials that CSEA was willing to cooperate with implementation of OSHA regulations by New York public employers, but
CSEA's first priority is a safe working environment for its members.
Public Sector
winner of two
ILPA awards
In journalism
ALBANY — "Training is the key to successful reimplementation of the
employee performance evaluation system — training both for State supervisors who will be implementing it and for CSEA officials who will be monitoring it," said Marty Langer, CSEA's representative on the joint
labor/management Committee on the Work Environment and Productivity
(CWEP).
His remarks kicked off a two-week period of intensive training during
which representatives of CSEA State locals will attend 19 day-long instructional sessions throughout the state.
"The State will be training some 23,000 supervisors in the next few weeks,"
Langer explained. "We plan to reach more than 1,000 CSEA members who are
Local presidents and CSEA representatives on the performance evaluation
appeals boards and labor/management committees."
Basically the CSEA orientation sessions outline the same information that
State supervisors are receiving. Covered are discussions of the revised
CSEA/State agreement on performance evaluation, background and benefits
of the program, and key points in the de'Sign of the program including task identification and the rating process itself.
"In addition to giving our members the same basic background in the
program as the State supervisors, we also give them hints on how to monitor
the State's system effectively, what trouble spots to look for, and what kinds of
action they can take to head off problems or resolve conflicts," Langer said.
The original series of 19 orientation sessions will be followed in several
weeks by more in-depth training for those serving on performance evaluation
appeal boards and on labor/management committees.
The third step in the training process, both for State supervisors and CSEA
representatives, will come early next year. At that time, training focuS will be
on task identification and the rating system itself.
"No one is claiming that reimplementation of the performance evaluation
system will be perfect," Langer commented. "But two things ought to be
working in our favor this time to keep the problems to a minimum. The first is
the training that both sides are receiving. And the second is that we have
mechanisms and processes, through the appeals' boards and the
labor/management committees, to handle problems on the local level."
An original editorial cartoon depicting organized
labor's outrage against the J.P. Stevens Company, and
an extensive series of articles depicting health and safety
hazards in the work place and the need for OSHA standards for public workers have won a pair of awards for
The Public Sector in the prestigious 1980 International
Labor Press Association (ILPA) Journalistic Awards
Contest.
Public Sector cartoonist Ralph Distin, whose wit
with pen and ink is evident in editorial cartoons published
in each issue of The Public Sector, created a take-off on
the advertisement for the movie "Norma Rae" that
caught the judge's eye and won first place for The Public
Sector in the best original cartoon category.
A year-long series of articles showing unsafe and unhealthy working conditions, and stressing the necessity
of extending OSHA protection to public workers in New
York State, was honored with the Award of Merit in the
best series category.
The 1980 contest was for publications during 1979 and
The Public Sector won the pair of awards in its first year
of eligibility.
Formal Improper Practice charges filed with PEBB
Union accuses state of violating
rights of Staten island officers
ALBANY — The continuing battle between the State of New York and
CSEA Local 429 at the Staten Island Developmental Center moved onto a
new front last week when the union filed improper labor practice charges
against the state for its threats against local officers trying to represent
union members.
In documents filed with the Public Employment Relations Board
( P E R B ) , CSEA charged that the Office of Mental Retardation and
Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) had violated the Taylor Law by
suspending seven officers of Local 429 and threatening them with arrest if
they attempted to enter the grounds of the developmental center to
represent union members.
The move was the latest step in a struggle that began for Local 429 on
September 11 when Local President Felton King and other CSEA officials
were served with charges in connection with an alleged job action in July
and a subsequent demonstration that occurred in August as a result of
what the local said was discrimination by OMRDD against institutional
employees allegedly involved in the July incident.
Mr. King was suspended and ordered off the grounds under threat of
arrest along with Local Vice Presidents Tyrone Daniels, Michael Hicks,
Roy Hargrove and Terry Rouse. The state is also seeking suspension of
shop stewards Otis Daymond and Mini Fan. Local 429 Vice Presidents
John Jackson and Barbara Farrell were also served with disciplinary
charges but are not under suspension.
Union r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s , m e e t i n g at CSEA's recent Statewide
Delegates Convention at Niagara Falls, voted support for Local 429 and
its officers in their struggle against the state.
In its charges with P E R B , CSEA said the disciplinary actions against
the local officers were begun, "solely because of their status as union officials." Further, CSEA charged, "The conduct on the part of the (state)
constitutes discriminatory actions intended and designed to coerce and
interfere with said employees in the exercise of their rights to participate
in employee organization activity in violation of (the) Civil Service
Law."
CSEA told P E R B that it is essential for the elected officials of the
local to be on the grounds of the facility to represent membership needs
while the disciplinary provisions of the union's contract with the state
take place. By threatening Local 429 officials with arrest for criminal
trespass should they enter the grounds of the Staten Island Developmental Center, the union charges that the state is attempting to "interfere
with, restraint, coerce and discriminate against employees in the exercise of their rights to participate in, and be represented by the duly certified collective bargaining agent of their choice."
Niagara white
coiiar training
taiics in session
CELESTE ROSENKRANTZ,
dinator for Region VI, points
CSEA union structure during
session of the Niagara County
Collar Employees.
a training coorto a graph of the
a recent training
Local 832's White
SANBORN - The first of three
training sessions for members of the
W h i t e Collar E m p l o y e e s of the
Niagara County Local 832 was held
recently at the Niagara County. Community College campus here.
About two dozen employees attend. ed the session, conducted by Region 6;
Field representative Tom Christy and
Training Coordinator Celeste
Rosenkrantz.
CSEA structure and the Taylor Law
were covered during the meeting.
'Other topics will be taken up at the
second and third sessions, to be held
October 9 and November 13. All interested members are encouraged to
attend.
k
PILGRIM PSYCHIATRIC CENTER LOCAL 418
First Vice President Jean Frazier, right,
demonstrates her own technique for passing the
football to Robert Campos at the Local 418 picnic.
CSEA to review
affiliation with
AFSCiVIE during
a series of
open meetings
Page 2
The first in a series of open meetings by CSEA's
Committee to Study the AFSCME Affiliation will be held
October 2*1 in Batavia, followed by meetings October 29
and 30 in CSEA Region III, and November 3 in New York
City. CSEA Region VI President Robert Lattimer heads
the special committee.
CSEA and AFSCME affiliated in 1978 under a 3-year
affiliation agreement that expires next April.
The October 25 meeting will be held at the Treadway
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, October 22, 1980
m j
TOM CHRISTY, a Region VI field representative expounds on
Civil Service Law during the first of three training sessions for
members of the White Collar Employees unit of the Niagara
County Local 832.
ATTENDING THE PILGRIM PSYCHIATRIC CENTER
LOCAL 418 picnic held recently are, from left, President
Bill Chacona, board member James Finnegan and picnic
chairman Mary Reid.
Inn. Batavia beginning at 11 a.m. The October 29
meeting will be held at the Westchester County Health
and Welfare Building, 85 Court Street, White Plains,
beginning at 7 p.m. On October 30 the committee meets
at the Holiday Inn, Newburgh at 7 p.m.
On November 3 the committee will meet in Room
5809 at Two World Trade Center, New York City, at 1
p.m.
Other meetings will be scheduled throughout the
state and announced in advance in The Public Sector.
Gripper defends
labor on WCBS
ELIZABETH HESSION, chosen as the counselor
for the state Department of Transportation's
Employees Assistance Program, seated far left,
confers with Transportation Commissioner William
C. Hennessy and Joan Tobin, president of the Civil
Service Employees Assn. Local €87. Bekind them,
standing from left to right, are Capital Rcgioii
CSEA President Joseph McDcrmott, Albert
Dickson, Director of DOT'S RcgioB 8, a ^ Sovtheni
RegioB CSEA PresideBt James
Professional couiiseling tar the
problemed worker underway at DOT
CSEA Metropolitan Region President James
Gripper recently replied to a Labor Day editorial
on New York City's WCBS-Radio criticizing the
quality of American workmanship. In his
response. Region II President Gripper cited the
impcNTtant role public employees play in coping
with the "blizzard of paperwork" New York
State creates, in caring for the mentally ill and
retarded, and in providing vital services such as
unoiqiloymait compensation for jobless New
Yorkers.
"Working people," he reminded WCBS
listeners, "in public service and private industry
— keep America running. We deserve respect for
dmng our jobs. We deserve respect on Labor
Day. And every day."
A program of professional counseling for New York State Department of
Transportation employees whose work may be suffering from personal
problems such as alcoholism, drug addiction, family or financial difficulties
was signed recently by Transportation Conmiissioner William C. Hennessy and
John Tobin, President of CSEA Local 687, DOT Main Office, Albany.
Proposed and planned by a DOT Employees Assistance Committee of
labor and management representatives, the new Employees Assistance
Program (EAP) features a full-time, licensed coanselor who will provide
direct, individual assistance to DOT employees. Complete confidentiaUty
between counselor and employee is a key element (rf the program.
This experimental, one-year pilot program, is being fmanced undera ^ ^ t
from the Conunittee on the Work Environment and Productivity — a joint
labor management group created by a provision of the current State-CSEA
contract.
The program will serve employees at the agency's Main Office on the
Campus at Albany and DOT's Region 8 employees in Columlna, Ulster,
Orange, Dutchess, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties.
Program results as well as the efforts of an Employees Assistance Coordinators program presently operating in several state agencies will be
evaluated. The evaluation wiU note the benefits obtained through oofrowiie
counseling in terms of dollar savings in time, productivity, work quality and efficiency.
Attending the signing ceremony in addition to Commissioner Hennessy and
Joan Tobin were Albert E. Dickson, Director of DOT's Region 8, Employee
Assistance Committee Representatives; Lyndon Moore, Judith Daniel and
Esther Swanker representing DOT management ; Shirley Humphrey and Joan
Cassidy representing CSEA and James Sheedy representing DOT's
Professional, Scientific and Technical Employees. Also at the signing were
James Murphy of the CSEA "Hot Line," Joe McDermott President of CSEA
Region 4, James Lennon, President of CSEA Region 3 and Sandra Koss of the
Quality of Work Environment and Productivity conmiittee.
ASKING A QUESTION OF CSEA Assistant Director of Legislative and
Political Action Thomas Haley, back to camera, is Kiki Rosarky of the
Kings Park School District Unit during the recent political seminar in
Region I.
—CalendarOS EVENTS
October
23— Saratoga County Local 846 general mennbership nwefirtg. Solar Building, Batisten
Spa, 7:30 p.m.
24—Westchester County Local 860 annual dinner-dance, 8 p.m.. Colony Club, New
Rochelle.
25—^Broome County unit of Local 804 co-sponsorship of Conference on Working Women,
8:30-4:30 Roberson Center, Front Street, Binghamton.
29—Special Committee on CSEA-AFSCME affiliation meeting, 85 Court Street, White
Plains, 6-10 p.m.
30—Special Committee on CSEA-AFSCME affiliation meeting. Holiday inn, Newburgh, 710 p.m.
31—Town of Brookhaven Highway Ünit annual dinner donee; proceeds to tfte Irving
Floumenboum Union Scholarship Fund; 8 p.m., Andrea Doria Lodge, 37 College
Road, Seiden.
31—Nov. 1—Region V Workshop, LeAAoyne Manor, Old Liverpool Rood, Liverpool.
November
7-9 —Ad Hoc Wonn»n's Conference, Granit Hotel, Kerhonkson.
/I-23—Southern Region III workshop, Thayer Hotel, West Point.
MEMBERS OF LONG ISLAND REGION I, in preparation for the fall
political campaign, attend a seminar led by CSEA Assistant Director of
Legislative and Political Action Thomas Haley, left. Haley and George
Kuyava, Suffolk County Local 8S2, act out a political canvassing during the
semuiar.
THE PUBUC SECTOR, Wednesday, October 22, 1980
Page 3
SPublic—
SSECTOR
Official publication
The Civil Service Employees
33 Elk Street, Albany,
New
of
Association
York
12224
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 the Civil Service
Employees 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 Champlain Street, Albany, New York
12204. Single copy Price 25f
Thomas A. demente—Publisher
Roger A. Cole—Executive Editor
Dr. Gerald Alperstein—Associate Editor
Gwenn M. Bellcourt — Associate Editor
Deborah Cassidy—Staff Writer
Dawn LePore—Staff Writer
John L. Murphy—Staff Writer
Arden D. Lawand—Graphic D e s i ^
Dennis C. Mullahy—Production Coordinator
Published every Wednesday by Clarity Publishing, Inc. Publication
Office, 75 Champlain Street, Albany, N.Y. 12204 ( 518 ) 4654591
Rev. Forker chosen by Pope
to be a Reverend Monsignor
Rev. Thomas S. Forker, Chaplain of
P i l g r i m P s y c h i a t r i c Center since
July, 1954, and formerly a member of
CSE A for 25 years, has been elevated
by Pope John Paul II to the position of
Honorary Prelate to His Holiness,
with the title of Reverend Monsignor.
An Investiture Ceremony was held at
a Holy Mass on October 12 in the
Assembly Hall at Pilgrim Psychiatric
Center and w a s attended by administrative and staff employees and
clients.
Rev. Forker was born in Brooklyn
and educated in the public and
parochial schools of Freeport and in
the Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception and the Im-
maculate Conception Seminary. He
was ordained May 30, 1942.
Father Forker has been active in
the setting-up of the Chaplaincy
Program for the State of New York
and has been a Member of the Interfaith Coordinating Committee on the
New York State Chaplaincy Program
since 1955. Father Forker has been
active in national organizations dealing with chaplaincy matters. He has
been a member, since 1955, of the
Association of Mental Health Clergy
and was president of the organization
in 1969.
He was one of the founders of the
National Association of Catholic
Chaplains and was president of that
Communications jobs offered
ALBANY — The CSEA Communications Department has two immediate
staff openings — one in Albany headquarters and one in Region 2.
The Communications Associate in Albany would be responsible for answering media queries on statewide CSEA issues, arranging news conferences and
interviews, preparing articles for the Public Sector, and assisting in the
production of publications.
Qualifications include a degree in journalism or related subject and two
years of satisfactory newspaper, magazine, broadcasting or public relations
experience which regularly involves writing or editing responsibilities. A candidate lacking college training must have five years of such experience.
The Communications Specialist in the Metropolitan Region would be
responsible for establishing contacts with area news media, writing news of
the Region for the Public Sector, and preparing flyers, posters and other
printed materials. In addition, duties would include helping locals within the
Region develop public relations programs.
Qualifications for this position include a journalism or related degree and
three years of the kind of experience described above. A candidate lacking
college training must have six years experience in the field.
Resumes should be forwarded to the CSEA Personnel Director, 33 Elk
Street, Albany, NY 12224
FATHER FORKER
organization in 1974/75. He also wrote
the c h a p t e r on M e n t a l H o s p i t a l
Chaplaincy for the "Apostolate to the
Sick," published by the United States
Catholic Conference. He has published over fifty articles in different
professional magazines dealing with
m e n t a l h e a l t h and c h a p l a i n c y
matters. He is also a charter member
of the A s s o c i a t i o n for Clinical
Pastoral Education.
In addition to his work with Pilgrim
Psychiatric Center, Father Forker
has also been the Catholic Chaplain to
the Suffolk County Police Department
since 1962. Because of this position, he
is also the Chaplain of the Police Holy
Name Society of Suffolk County; the
Police Benevolent Association, the
Superior Officers Association and the
Detective Association of the Suffolk
County Police Department. He is also
the Chaplain of the Police Association
of Suffolk County and the Suffolk
County Police Conference.
The Prelates to His Holiness from
middle ages, were those members of
the Papal Household who assisted the
Pope in carrying-out the tasks of
directing the Roman Catholic Church.
In more modern times, this has also
been a title of Honor given by the
Pope to priests on the recommendation of their Bishop, to recognize
special service to the church.
KEEP CSEA INFORMED ON MAILING ADDRESS
In the event that you change your mailing address, please fill out the below form
and send it to:
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.
Change of Address for The Public Sector'
Please allow 3-4 weeks for change to take effect.
My present label reads exactly as shown here (or affix mailing label)
-Local Number.
Name
Street
I Cit^
State-
Jip.
Region IV safety woricshop
ALBANY — The Capital Region CSEA Education Committee is sponsoring
a one day workshop entitled "Safety Awareness," on November 1 from 9:30
a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Sheraton Inn in Glens Falls. Reservations should be sent
to Betty Collins at Box 204, Waterford, NY 12188, no later than October 28.
The focus of this session, according to Betty Lennon, chairman of the
education committee, will be the new Occupational and Safety Hazards Act
(OSHA) now in effect for places of public employment.
Due to space limitations only 110 people can attend. According to Lennon, the
committee expects to hold similar workshops during the coming months for
those who are not able to attend this one.
Page 4
THE PUBLIC S E C i r
W e d n e s d a y , O c t o b e r 22, 1980
MY NEW ADDRESS IS:
Street
City
State.
-Zip-
Agency where employed.
My social security no.
_
• Agency No.
»Tito^r J^HTTT:*»') 'J »"«W».?"«*
New Rochelle crossing guards
given commendation by city
NEW ROCHELLE - The New Rochelle City
Council recently passed a Commendation of the
"City of New Rochelle School Crossing Guards
for their devotion to duty, their diligence and
alertness in safeguarding the school children of
this community."
The crossing guards are a unit of the New.
Rochelle Unit of Westchester County CSEA
Local 860.
The Commendation, in part, reads: "Whereas,
the School Crossing Guards . . . evidence a
strong sense of responsibility . . . their devotion
to their important assignment is seldom publicly
or officially acknowledged . . .
"They fulfill their protective roles during inclement weather , . . they are entrusted with the
safety of the school children . . . and fulfill that
obligation with a full measure of expertise and
often with great courage in the face of heavy and
complex vehicular traffic . . .
"Resolved by the Council . . . to express to
them the profound appreciation of parents,
children and all citizens of New Rochelle."
The Commendation was presented by Councilman Rocco Bellantoni to Unit President
Margaret Eustis at a recent meeting of the unit.
i
And excellent grievance work
keeps veteran guard on job
NEW ROCHELLE — Decisive grievance work
by New Rochelle Unit President Anthony Blasi
prevented the City of New Rochelle from illegally terminating School Crossing Guard Mary
Benz.
"This is another instance where the union intervened to protect an employee's rights against
harassment by some insensitive management
employees," says CSEA Field Representative
Larry Sparber.
Blasi told the following story:
In late August of 1980, Ms. Benz, a school
crossing guard in New Rochelle for 21 years,
received a form in the mailing notifying her that
she was terminated. No reason for the termination was given.
Ms. Benz went to the Police Department and
then to City Hall to find out why she was terminated. She was not given any information.
That same day, Ms. Benz went to Blasi in
tears. After hearing her story, Blasi started his
investigation of the situation.
Blasi's investigation discovered that Ms. Benz
as a competitively appointed employee was entitled to a hearing under Section 75 of the State
Civil Service Law.
A grievance was filed in Ms. Benz's behalf.
The supervising police lieutenant (Step I) and
the police commissioner (Step H) ignored the
grievance.
When the grievance reached the city's personnel director (Step HI), he ordered Ms. Benz
reinstated with full back pay for the few days she
had missed at the beginning of the school year.
The New Rochelle Unit is part of Westchester
County CSEA Local 860.
CITY OF NEW ROCHELLE COUNCILMAN
Rocco Bellantoni, second right, congratulates
New Rochelle School Crossing Guards (CSEA)
Unit President Margaret Eustis for the job the
m e m b e r s of the unit perform. Bellantoni
presents Ms. Eustis with the Commendation
approved by the City Council.
CITY OF NEW ROCHEH.E UNIT P R E S I D E N T Anthony Blasi, second right, saved the job of
School Crossing Guard Mary Benz, second left, by preventing the city from illegally terminating her.
Crossing Guards Unit President Margaret Eustis and CSEA Field Representative Larry Sparber join
Ms. Benz and Blasi at a recent meeting on the crossing guard unit.
DIVISION FOR YOUTH LOCAL 550 members, from left, Ronnie
Domenech and Thomas Atkins.
CSEA FIELD REPRESENTATIVE Ross Hanna, left, joins Carlos Ramsey and Anne
Spero at the Division for Youth Local 550 pipnic in Highland.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, October 22, 1980
Page 5
• •»'fWTtiyMr • ••tT-.T-v^
••
Safety and the law are key
topics of Region V woritsliops
Jüti
LEGISLATIVE AND POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
for Central Region V Moira Greiner of SUNY Oneonta Local 635, reports
to the region's fall conference on CSEA's political endorsements in the
region. To Ms. Greiner's left is Region V First Vice President Ralph
Young of Oneida County Local 833.
BINGHAMTON Educational
workshops dealing with safety
a w a r e n e s s , toxic c h e m i c a l s and new
laws affecting public employees
highlighted the recent CSEA Central
Region V fall conference here. Some
200 union m e m b e r s f r o m t h r o u g h o u t
the Central Region attended.
F r a n k F a l e j c z y k , c h a i r m a n of t h e
s t a t e w i d e S a f e t y C o m m i t t e e , conducted the safety a w a r e n e s s portion
of t h e w o r k s h o p . S t e v e n F a n t a u z z o ,
A F S C M E s a f e t y a n d h e a l t h coordinator, gave separate presentations
of i d e n t i f i c a t i o n of t o x i c c h e m i c a l s
and the Toxic Substance Act.
CSEA Collective
Bargaining
Specialist Nels Carlson instructed the
d e l e g a t e s on t h e n e w p u b l i c s e c t o r
OSHA L a w w h i c h b e c o m e s e f f e c t i v e
J a n . 1, 1981.
O t h e r c o n f e r e n c e a c t i v i t i e s included s e p a r a t e w o r k s h o p s f o r s t a t e a n d
county employees, a Regional
Legislative and Political Action Comm i t t e e m e e t i n g , c u l m i n a t i n g in t h e
recommendation
to
endorse
President J i m m y Carter and other
federal and state candidates, a
retirees meeting and a business
meeting.
CSEA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Joseph Dolan speaks to
the membership of Central Region V at the region's fall
conference recently in Binghamton.
Two pronged issue:
Safety awareness
and toxic cliemicais
Text and photos
of the Central
Region fall conference are by
Region V Public
Sector Intern
Thomas Foster.
LEARNING TO USE THE chemical slide rule at the Region V fall conference are, from left, Marsha Coppola and Shirley Richardson, both of
Jefferson County Local 823.
Crucial OSHA law takes effect Jan. 1,
B I N G H A M T O N - S t a r t i n g t h e f i r s t d a y of 1981
t h e O c c u p a t i o n a l S a f e t y a n d H e a l t h A c t (OSHA)
will a p p l y to N e w Y o r k S t a t e p u b l i c e m p l o y e e s .
In a n t i c i p a t i o n of t h i s , C S E A C o l l e c t i v e
Bargaining Specialist Nels Carlson explained
t h e h e w s t i p u l a t i o n s to m e m b e r s a t t h e R e g i o n V
Fall Conference.
C a r l s o n , h e r a l d e d a s i n s t r u m e n t a l in s e c u r i n g
t h e n e w OSHA l e g i s l a t i o n by c e n t r a l R e g i o n V
President J a m e s Moore, presented an extensive
a m o u n t of m a t e r i a l to t h e m e m b e r s .
An e m p l o y e e or union c a n n o t b e c i t e d f o r a
violation u n d e r t h e a c t , a c c o r d i n g to l i t e r a t u r e
d i s t r i b u t e d by C a r l s o n d u r i n g t h e p r o g r a m . T h e
w o r k e r s do, h o w e v e r , h a v e r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s ,
though it is t h e e m p l o y e r ' s d u t y to p r o v i d e a s a f e
and healthy workplace.
U n d e r t h e a c t , t h e e m p l o y e e s m u s t follow all
employer safety and health rules and
r e g u l a t i o n s , r e p o r t h a z a r d o u s c o n d i t i o n s a n d jobrelated illnesses or injuries, w e a r and use
prescribed protective equipment and exercise
e m p l o y e e r i g h t s u n d e r t h e a c t in a r e s p o n s i b l e
manner.
B e f o r e t h e e m p l o y e e s ' r i g h t s c a n b e u s e d in a
responsible m a n n e r , the w o r k e r s m u s t be a w a r e
of t h e i r r i g h t s . C a r l s o n ' s p r o g r a m w a s a i m e d a t
this goal.
T h e d e l e g a t e s w e r e guided t h r o u g h a flow
Page 6
c h a r t , w h i c h e x p l a i n e d t h e p r o c e d u r e s u s e d und e r t h e a c t . C a r l s o n s t r e s s e d t h a t t h e union could
file a c o m p l a i n t a n d a n individual e m p l o y e e d o e s
not h a v e to s u b m i t his n a m e on a c o m p l a i n t .
A f t e r a c o m p l a i n t is filed, a S t a t e i n s p e c t o r
will c o n d u c t a n u n a n n o u n c e d i n s p e c t i o n . C a r l s o n
said it w a s a b a t t l e t o i n c l u d e t h e " u n a n n o u n c e d "
s t i p u l a t i o n in t h e l e g i s l a t i o n . Without it, h e s a i d ,
t h e a c t would b e l e s s e f f e c t i v e .
O t h e r t e r m s of t h e i n s p e c t i o n i n c l u d e
n o t i f i c a t i o n of t h e e m p l o y e r a n d union of t h e ins p e c t o r ' s p r e s e n c e , s e p a r a t e m e e t i n g s of t h e
e m p l o y e r a n d union w i t h t h e i n s p e c t o r , a w a l k a r o u n d t o u r of t h e w o r k a r e a by t h e i n s p e c t o r
a n d r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of t h e e m p l o y e r a n d union,
t h e r i g h t of t h e i n s p e c t o r . t o t a l k w i t h o t h e r
e m p l o y e e s a b o u t h a z a r d s a n d t h e g u a r a n t e e of
regular pay for those employees accompanying
the inspector.
Carlson discussed the enforcement process,
noting that employees m a y r e f u s e to work a s a
l a s t r e s o r t if t h e r e is a n i m m i n e n t d a n g e r a n d t h e
e m p l o y e r h a s f a i l e d to c o m p l y within 48 h o u r s
a f t e r h e w a s o r d e r e d t o do so.
The p r o g r a m ended with a question and
a n s w e r s e s s i o n . M a n y d e l e g a t e s c o m m e n t e d on
t h e i n f o r m a t i v e a n d u s e f u l n a t u r e of t h e
p r o g r a m , s a y i n g it g a v e t h e m a n e d u c a t i o n a l
j u m p on t h e a c t b e f o r e it b e c o m e s e f f e c t i v e .
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, October 22, 1980
CSEA COLLECTIVE BARGAINING SPECIALIST
Nels Carlson, left, and statewide Safety Committy
airman Frank Falejczyk speak about the new OSHA
w ^ the Region V fall conference.
THE REGION V STATE DIVISION meeting
at the Central Region V fall conference is led
by its chairman. Dale Dusharm of SUNY
diswego Local 611.
BINGHAMTON — " S a f e t y awareness begins the
f i r s t d a y on t h e j o b , " said F r a n k F a l e j c z y k , c h a i r m a n of
t h e s t a t e w i d e S a f e t y C o m m i t t e e , d u r i n g his p r e s e n t a t i o n
at the Central Region V fall conference recently.
F a l e j c z y k s p o k e b r i e f l y on g e n e r a l s a f e t y a w a r e n e s s
on t h e j o b b e f o r e S t e v e n F a n t a u z z o of A F S C M E n a r r o w ed t h e f o c u s to his s p e c i a l i t y : toxic c h e m i c a l s .
T h e C S E A s a f e t y e x p e r t said a p p r o x i m a t e l y 6,000
public e m p l o y e e s a r e i n j u r e d e a c h y e a r . His p r e s e n t a t i o n
included a film showing the safety p r o b l e m s a t a particular job site and how they w e r e dealt with.
F a l e j c z y k , n o t i n g t h e v a r i e t y of t h e d e l e g a t e s '
w o r k p l a c e s , r e f r a i n e d f r o m t a l k i n g in p a r t i c u l a r s a n d
e m p h a s i z e d t h e i m p o r t a n c e of t h e a t t i t u d e s of b o t h
employers and employees toward safety.
T h e p o r t i o n of t h e w o r k s h o p d e v o t e d to t o x i c
c h e m i c a l s w a s m o r e d e t a i l e d . F a n t a u z z o used a t h r e e p a r t f i l m p r e s e n t a t i o n a n d a c h e m i c a l slide r u l e t o give
t h o s e a t t e n d i n g a c r a s h c o u r s e on t h e d a n g e r s of w o r k i n g
with s o m e substances.
F a n t a u z z o said s o m e of t h e m o s t d a n g e r o u s h a z a r d s
a r e not i m m e d i a t e l y i d e n t i f i a b l e . " E v e r y b o d y k n o w s
t h e y s h o u l d n ' t t a k e a big s w i g of a c i d , " h e said. M o r e
h a r m c a n c o m e f r o m c h e m i c a l s in t h e a i r or s u b s t a n c e s
thought to be safe.
T h e g o v e r n m e n t a s s i g n s a v a l u e to t h e f u m e s of m o s t
chemicals, called the P e r m i s s a b l e Exposure Limit
( P E L ) , so t h a t t h e r e l a t i v e d a n g e r of e a c h s u b s t a n c e c a n
be d e t e r m i n e d .
" I f you c a n s e e t h e m i s t , you should p r o b a b l y g e t it
c h e c k e d out. P E L only r e f l e c t s c u r r e n t s c i e n t i f i c i n f o r m a t i o n . T h e only s a f e level of c o n t a m i n a t i o n is no cont a m i n a t i o n , " he said.
T h e d a n g e r s of a c c e p t i n g s c i e n t i f i c i n f o r m a t i o n a t
f a c e v a l u e b e c a m e obvious a s F a n t a u z z o l i s t e d s e v e r a l
dangerous substances once thought to be safe.
In a s e p a r a t e p r o g r a m , F a n t a u z z o outlined t h e p a r t s
of t h e T o x i c S u b s t a n c e Act, s e t to go into e f f e c t J a n . 1,
1981. T h e l e g i s l a t i o n , a l s o r e f e r r e d to a s " T h e R i g h t t o
K n o w L a w , " p r o v i d e s p e n a l t i e s f o r e m p l o y e r s w h o do
not i n f o r m w o r k e r s of t h e i d e n t i t i e s a n d h a z a r d s of t h e
c h e m i c a l s u s e d on t h e job.
E x p l a i n e d in t h e p r o g r a m w e r e e m p l o y e e r i g h t s , t h e
t y p e s of i n f o r m a t i o n a v a i l a b l e , e d u c a t i o n a n d t r a i n i n g ,
t i m e r e q u i r e m e n t s a n d p e n a l t i e s involving t h e a c t .
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, October 22, 1980
Page 7
Creedmoor staff shortage at issue
CREEDMOOR PSYCHIATRIC CENTER LOCAL 406 President Dorothy
King shows the letter she received from the Queens Deputy Borough
president that her local's request is being considered by the Queens
Deitiocratic Party caucus to, from left, CSEA Field Representative Bart
Brier and Local 406 First Vice President Charles Bell.
N E W Y O R K CITY — T h e Q u e e n s D e m o c r a t i c P a r t y c a u c u s h a s p l e d g e d
to c o n s i d e r t w o s p e c i f i c r e q u e s t s f r o m C S E A L o c a l 406 a t t h e C r e e d m o o r
Psychiatric Center regarding the present understaffing at Creedmoor.
L o c a l 406 P r e s i d e n t D o r o t h y K i n g said s h e h a s b e e n n o t i f i e d by D e p u t y
Q u e e n s B o r o u g h P r e s i d e n t C l a i r e S h u l m a n t h a t t h e D e m o c r a t i c c a u c u s will
c o n s i d e r t h e r e q u e s t s in r e s p o n s e to a l e t t e r Ms. K i n g s e n t to Q u e e n s
Borough P r e s i d e n t and D e m o c r a t i c leader Donald Manes; and Republican
Senator F r a n k Padavan and Republican Assemblyman John Esposito.
The two requests were:
• An a d d i t i o n a l 310 i n - p a t i e n t c l i n i c a l s t a f f a n d 30 s u p p o r t staff a t a c o s t
of $4 milliofi f o r C r e e d m o o r P s y c h i a t r i c C e n t e r to m e e t t h e 1:1 s t a f f i n g r e quirement.
• N o a d d i t i o n a l f u n d i n g f o r t h e u n o f f i c i a l f o r e n s i c unit a t C r e e d m o o r ;
t h e u n o f f i c i a l unit b e s h u t d o w n w i t h t h e p a t i e n t s t r a n s f e r r e d to m o r e s e c u r e
f a c i l i t i e s ; a n d t h e a d d i t i o n a l f u n d i n g r e q u e s t e d f o r t h e unit be used f o r add i t i o n a l s t a f f i n g of t h e i n s t i t u t i o n .
Ms. K i n g ' s l e t t e r to t h e p o l i t i c a l l e a d e r s followed a m e e t i n g w i t h t h o s e
l e a d e r s in A u g u s t .
H e r l e t t e r t o t h e p o l i t i c a l l e a d e r s r e a d s in p a r t :
" C r e e d m o o r f u n d i n g is b a s e d on a p a t i e n t c e n s u s e x p e c t a t i o n of 1280 by
3/31/81. In r e a l i t y , C r e e d m o o r h a s o v e r 1,400 p a t i e n t s , a n d its n u m b e r is exp e c t e d to i n c r e a s e . 310 a d d i t i o n a l c l i n i c a l s t a f f will e n a b l e C r e e d m o o r to
m e e t t h e o n e to one s t a f f i n g r e q u i r e m e n t s of t h e M o r g a d o M e m o r a n d u m .
T h e f a c i l i t y will t h u s b e a b l e t o p r o v i d e p r o p e r c a r e f o r its p a t i e n t s on a 7
day/week, 3 shifts/day operation.
" B e c a u s e of a S t a t e h i r i n g f r e e z e , C r e e d m o o r lost 30 s u p p o r t s t a f f
through attrition during the last fiscal year. The facility requires these staff
f o r h o u s e k e e p i n g , food s e r v i c e , a n d m a i n t e n a n c e in o r d e r to p r o v i d e a c l e a n
and safe environment for the patients.
" A p p r o x i m a t e l y 45-50 c r i m i n a l s a r e r e f e r r e d by t h e c o u r t s to C r e e d m o o r P s y c h i a t r i c C e n t e r . T h e i r f r e q u e n t e s c a p e s a r e well d o c u m e n t e d by
t h e m e d i a . Since C r e e d m o o r is l o c a t e d in a r e s i d e n t i a l n e i g h b o r h o o d , t h e i r
p r e s e n c e is i n a p p r o p r i a t e to t h e w e l l - b e i n g of t h e c o m m u n i t y . A violent inc i d e n t c a n o c c u r a t a n y t i m e . T h e s e c r i m i n a l p a t i e n t s should b e s e n t t o a
s e c u r e m e n t a l h e a l t h f a c i l i t y built s p e c i f i c a l l y f o r t h i s p u r p o s e . T h e f u n d s
t h a t t h e O f f i c e of M e n t a l H e a l t h h a s r e q u e s t e d f o r t h e f o r e n s i c unit a t C r e e d m o o r should i n s t e a d be u s e d t o h i r e s o m e of t h e 340 s t a f f n e e d e d to c a r e f o r
o v e r 1400 p a t i e n t s . "
Ulster County workers once again demonstrate
to get legislators to correct safety hazards
By Stanley Hornak
KINGSTON — The mood w a s stoic. Ulster
C o u n t y e m p l o y e e s w e r e a t it a g a i n , d e m o n s t r a t i n g ,
trying to m o v e their county l e g i s l a t o r s into
r e s p o n d i n g to t h e i r n e e d s .
.
It w a s t h e s a m e i s s u e — w o r k i n g c o n d i t i o n s , a n d
e m p l o y e e s a t t h e c o u n t y ' s D e p a r t m e n t of Social
Services w e r e again telling their elected officials
that something needs to be done, they need m o r e
space, health and safety h a z a r d s needs to be
eliminated . . .
This t i m e , the CSEA m e m b e r s decided to m e e t
t h e c o u h t y l e g i s l a t o r s on t h e i r o w n g r o u n d by
demonstrating before their regular monthly
m e e t i n g a t t h e c o u n t y o f f i c e building. S o m e of t h e
o f f i c i a l s u s e d t h e i r k e y s t o go in b a c k d o o r s a n d
avoid the d e m o n s t r a t o r s , but the CSEA people later
took t h e i r c a s e d i r e c t l y to t h e m by a t t e n d i n g t h e
s e s s i o n ä n d r e a d i n g a s t a t e m e n t of n e e d s .
D o t t i e K u r d t , a DSS e m p l o y e e , s p o k e on behalf of
h e r c o - w o r k e r s , including S e c t i o n P r e s i d e n t N a n c y .
J a f f e r , a n d said t h e f o l l o w i n g :
" O n c e a g a i n , w e find o u r s e l v e s r e a c h i n g out to
a s k f o r h e l p in i m p r o v i n g o u r w o r k i n g c o n d i t i o n s .
" S o m e t i m e s , w e a l m o s t f e e l like w e a r e c r y i n g
out in t h e w i l d e r n e s s , b e c a u s e it s e e m s a s if you
n e v e r h e a r us. N e v e r t h e l e s s , I w a n t you t o know
that w e shall persevere, we shall continue to t a k e
o u r c a s e to t h e public in t h e h o p e s t h a t you will
e v e n t u a l l y r e s p o n d t o o u r n e e d s . T h a t is w h y , a n d
I ' m s u r e you n o t i c e d , s o m e of u s w e r e o u t s i d e a
while ago, with signs, doing informational
p i c k e t i n g . W e a r e t r y i n g to tell you s o m e t h i n g , e v e n
if you w o n ' t l i s t e n !
" O u r c a s e is s i m p l e . W o r k i n g c o n d i t i o n s a r e b a d ,
d a f t g e r o u s to o u r h e a l t h a n d s a f e t y a s well a s to t h e
• n e a l t h a n d s a f e t y of t h e p e o p l e w e s e r v e . In f a c t , I
would like t o i n v i t e all of you to c o m e in s o m e t i m e
a n d s p e n d a d a y w i t h us to find out w h a t i t ' s r e a l l y
like h e r e — t h e n w e m i g h t get s o m e a c t i o n .
.Page 8
" L e t m e r e m i n d you t h a t in t h e p a s t f i v e y e a r s ,
t h e a m o u n t of m o n e y w e a d m i n i s t e r h a s doubled,
a n d t h e n u m b e r of p e o p l e w o r k i n g h e r e i n c r e a s e d to
200. Y e t in t h a t s a m e t i m e f r a m e , w e h a v e n e v e r
had a n y S U B S T A N T I A L n e w s p a c e o p e n to us.
" L e t m e a l s o tell you t h a t , b e c a u s e of e x i s t i n g
c o n d i t i o n s , DSS r e g u l a t i o n s a r e b e i n g i g n o r e d a n d
t h a t could j e o p a r d i z e o u r f u n d i n g . C o n f i d e n t i a l i t y
d o e s n ' t e x i s t . R e c o r d s a r e n ' t a v a i l a b l e . I t ' s like a
m a z e in o u r o f f i c e s , p e o p l e h a v e b e e n h u r t , t h e r e
have been countless n e a r misses, but someday,
p e r h a p s , w e w o n ' t b e s o l u c k y a n d t h e n it will b e on
your heads and your consciences.
" L e t m e a l s o s a y t h a t t h i s is no w a y t o r u n a
b u s i n e s s , t h e r e is no p r o f e s s i o n a l i s m , a n d you
should w a k e up to t h e f a c t t h a t this is t h e 1980s, not
t h e 1880s.
" I would a l s o like to b r i n g to y o u r a t t e n t i o n OSHA
(Occupational Safety Health Act) which goes into
e f f e c t J a n u a r y 1, t h a n k s in l a r g e p a r t to t h e e f f o r t s
of C S E A . P l e a s e be put on n o t i c e t h a t u n d e r OSHA
you could b e l i a b l e to f i n e s , a n d o t h e r p e n a l t i e s , f o r
m a i n t a i n i n g u n s a f e w o r k i n g conditions, a n d m a k e
no m i s t a k e a b o u t it, w e will r e a c h out to OSHA on
our own behalf.
" Y o u r e m p l o y e e s d e s e r v e b e t t e r ; t h e p e o p l e of
U l s t e r C o u n t y d e s e r v e b e t t e r ; i t ' s a b o u t t i m e you
did s o m e t h i n g to i m p r o v e t h e s e c o n d i t i o n s . . . "
UNION MEMBERS greeted their county legislators in Kingston recently by demonstrating at the county
office building. Demonstrators later went to the legislative chambers where Social Services employee
Dottie Kurdt read a statement on behalf of her co-workers asking for better working conditions.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, October 22, 1980
Local officers resolve
performance pay snafu
A L B A N Y — T w o o f f i c e r s of t h e
N e w Y o r k S t a t e D e p a r t m e n t of T a x ation a n d F i n a n c e L o c a l of t h e Civil
S e r v i c e E m p l o y e e s A s s n . , w o r k i n g in
c o o p e r a t i o n with t h e d e p a r t m e n t ' s off i c e of l a b o r r e l a t i o n s , w e r e a b l e t o
s p a r e a n u m b e r of t a x a t i o n a n d
finance department employees the
h a r d s h i p of r e p a y i n g a s a l a r y inc r e a s e the state had mistakenly
awarded them through the perform a n c e evaluation system.
When t h e N Y S D e p a r t m e n t of Audit
a n d C o n t r o l r e a l i z e d it h a d g r a n t e d
r a i s e s to s o m e f o r m e r s e a s o n a l hourly a n d p e r d i e m e m p l o y e e s , w h o w e r e
a c t u a l l y ineligible f o r t h e p r o g r a m , it
took a c t i o n t o r e d u c e t h e i r s a l a r i e s to
o r i g i n a l l e v e l s a n d to r e c o u p t h e o v e r paid a m o u n t t h r o u g h p a y r o l l d e d u c tions of t e n p e r c e n t p e r p a y p e r i o d .
Audit a n d Control o f f i c i a l s c h a n g e d
their minds, however, and allowed the
e m p l o y e e s to r e t a i n t h e i n c r e a s e s
a f t e r the CSEA officials m e t with the
l a b o r r e l a t i o n s b u r e a u to n e g o t i a t e on
behalf of t h e w o r k e r s . T h e l a b o r
relations bureau then convinced the
department that such m e a s u r e s
would cause serious
financial
problems for the workers.
A c c o r d i n g to Local P r e s i d e n t
C a r m e n Bagnoli a n d L o c a l o f f i c e r
J o h n Gully, t h e w o r k e r s , h i r e d f o r
temporary employment around June
1978, w e r e not a p p o i n t e d t o t h e i r p e r m a n e n t positions until s h o r t l y b e f o r e
o r a f t e r O c t o b e r 15, 1978. S i n c e a n
e m p l o y e e m u s t b e in a g r a d e d
position 120 d a y s p r i o r to t h e O c t o b e r
d a t e t h o s e in q u e s t i o n w e r e n o t eligible f o r t h e p e r f o r m a n c e e v a l u a t i o n .
H o w e v e r , w h e n d e t e r m i n i n g wjio
would r e c e i v e r a i s e s in 1979, a u d i t a n d
control inadvertently recorded the
J u n e d a t e a s t h e d a t e of p e r m a n e n t
employment for the individuals,
Carmen Bagnoli
p u t t i n g t h e m in t h e e l i g i b i l i t y
bracket.
" M o s t of t h e p e o p l e w e t a l k e d t o
had figured the i n c r e a s e into the
household b u d g e t s , a n d would f i n d it
d i f f i c u l t to m a k e t h e t e n p e r c e n t
John Gully
r e p a y m e n t s , " said G u l l y a n d B a g n o l i .
" T h i s w a s a u n i q u e c a s e a n d t h e union
is p l e a s e d w i t h t h e o u t c o m e , a c h i e v e d
t h r o u g h t h e e f f o r t s of t h e l a b o r
r e l a t i o n s b u r e a u , in t h e s o l e i n t e r e s t
of t h e e m p l o y e e s . "
Big turnout amasses support of
pnme issues at iVIarcy meeting
M A R C Y — M e m b e r s of C S E A L o c a l 414 a t M a r c y P s y c h i a t r i c C e n t e r t u r n ed out in l a r g e n u m b e r s f o r a r e c e n t G e n e r a l M e e t i n g c a l l e d by n e w l y - e l e c t e d
P r e s i d e n t Bud M u l c h y .
P u r p o s e of t h e m e e t i n g , a c c o r d i n g t o M u l c h y , w a s to c l a r i f y s e v e r a l i m portant issues concerning the state salary schedule, update the P e r f o r m a n c e
Evaluation System, review the CSEA affiliation with A F S C M E and the
proposed consolidation with the Utica P s y c h i a t r i c Center.
O t h e r Jtopics of d i s c u s s i o n i n c l u d e d t h e p r o p o s e d closing a n d c o n t r a c t i n g " "
out of l a b o r a t o r y s e r v i c e s .
M e m b e r s a l s o v o i c e s t r o n g o p p o s i t i o n t o a d m i n i s t r a t i o n p l a n s to cons o l i d a t e t h e C e n t e r ' s C r a i n e Hill school c h i l d r e n w i t h a d o l e s c e n t s , c l a i m i n g it
is b e i n g d o n e f o r f i s c a l r e a s o n s w i t h no c o n c e r n f o r individual c a r e .
M a r c y P . C. M a n a g e m e n t a l s o c a m e u n d e r f i r e f r o m s t a t e e m p l o y e e s f o r
i t s r e c e n t d e c i s i o n t o h i r e only f o u r m e n t a l h y g i e n e t h e r a p y a i d e s f o l l o w i n g t h e
l i f t i n g of t h e h i r i n g f r e e z e .
SULLIVAN COUNTY LOCAL 853 President Walter Durkin and Social
Services Unit President Estelie Schmidt lead a demonstration outside the
Town Hall in Liberty, protesting the imposed settlement by the County
Board of Supervisors.
Liberty workers protest
lousy sham of a contract'
L I B E R T Y — M e m b e r s of C S E A Sullivan County L o c a l 853 p i c k e t e d
outside Liberty Town Hall recently, continuing their protest against a
s e t t l e m e n t i m p o s e d on t h e m l a s t J u n e 21 by t h e c o u n t y .
L o c a l 853 P r e s i d e n t W a l t e r D u r k i n said t h e y w e r e d e m o n s t r a t i n g t o
" r e m i n d t h e County B o a r d of S u p e r v i s o r s t h a t w e h a v e n ' t f o r g o t t e n t h e
i m p o s i t i o n of a lousy, s h a m of a c o n t r a c t . "
D u r k i n said t h e y would t a k e t h e p r o t e s t to t h e d o o r s t e p s of a l l of
Sullivan C o u n t y ' s t o w n h a l l s , b u t t h e T o w n of L u m b e r l a n d w h o s e s u p e r visor, P a u l K e a n , v o t e d a g a i n s t t h e s e t t l e m e n t .
A n u m b e r of d e m o n s t r a t o r s w a l k e d in f r o n t of t h e K e l l e r M e m o r i a l
T o w n of L i b e r t y G o v e r n m e n t C e n t e r a l o n g N o r t h M a i n S t r e e t c a r r y i n g
s o m e signs r e a d i n g : " S u p e r v i s o r s u s e double s t a n d a r d s . "
T h i s slogan r e f e r s to a provision of t h e c o n t r a c t t h a t g i v e s
m a n a g e m e n t e m p l o y e e s p a r i t y w i t h t h o s e doing s i m i l a r w o r k in
n e i g h b o r i n g c o u n t i e s w h i l e not g r a n t i n g such p a r i t y f o r n o n - m a n a g e m e n t
employees.
A m e m b e r of t h e N e w Y o r k S t a t e T e a c h e r s A s s o c i a t i o n a l s o p i c k e t e d
in s y m p a t h y w i t h t h e c o u n t y e m p l o y e e s .
D u r k i n said t h e P u b l i c E m p l o y m e n t R e l a t i o n s B o a r d will hold inform a l h e a r i n g s on t h e u n i o n ' s i m p r o p e r p r a c t i c e s c h a r g e s a g a i n s t t h e county.
Meanwhile, the two sides a r e negotiating again for the next contract.
T h e f i r s t session took p l a c e in S e p t e m b e r .
MARCY P. C. REPS REVIEW PLANS — Newly elected Local 414 President
Bud Mulchy, center, reviews the agenda at a recent general meeting. Shown
left to right are Walt Dosnowski, Representative; Butch Ventura, CSEA Field
Representative; Mulchy; Sue Bucrzinski, Mental Hygiene Board Representative; and Kermit Pearl, Delegate.
CSEQ
the union that works for
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, October 2, 1980
you
Page 9
CSEA aalBwWe SMtf
committee REPOBT
Great gaHis made this year
in safety and lieaitli areas
ANNUAL
MEETING
T h e C S E A S t a t e w i d e Sstfety Comm i t t e e is p l e a s e d t o repiMt u l i a t w e
c o n s i d e r a v e r y s u c c e s s f u l y e a r in t h e
a r e a of h e a l t h a n d s a f e t y f o r p o b ü c
e m p l o y e e s . T h e e n a c t m e n t of OSHA
legislation f o r p u b l i c e m j r f o y e e s a n d
the Right-to-Know k ^ s i a t i a n knuh^ing toxic m a t m a l s . which
coders
public employees^ w e r e both p a s e d
a n d s i g n e d by t h e Gk)V)»7aor. T h e s e
two p i e c e s of legislation a r e t o t a k e
e f f e c t on J a n u a r y 1, 1981. W e e x t e n d
our d e e p e s t a p p r e c i a t i o n to t h e
Qienibers, officers and staff of CSEA
for their e f f o r t s in o b t a i n i n g w h a t w e
consider a m a j o r s t e p f o r p u b l i c
e m p l o y e e s . We a r e p l e a s e d t o r e p o r t
that a f t e r one y e a r of o p e r a t i o n of t h e
H o t l i n e t h e r e h a s b e e n v e r i f i c a t i o n of
o v e r 600 c o m p l a i n t s r e g i s t e r e d by
e m p l o y e e s on a b o u t 430 d i f f e r e n t
w o r k locations. Calls to t h e H o t l i n e
c a m e f r o m a l l a r e a s of p u b l i c
e m p l o y m e n t , schools, t o w n s , v i l l a g e s ,
counties and s t a t e o p e r a t i o n s . T h e
p e r c e n t a g e of c a l l s r e c e i v e d a s of
J a n e 1,1980 w a s 30 p e r c e n t f r o m l o c a l
gafvenunent and 70 percent from state
facilities. Investigation of these comfriaints w a s p r i m a r i l y c o n d u c t e d by
the local field r e p r e s e n t a t i v e and
local president. Their ingenuity in
resolving the vast majority of these
cases without any type of law or
O S H A r e g u l a t i o n is in i t s e l f
remarkable. T h i s C o m m i t t e e e x t e n d s
their deepest appreciation for these
efforts.
The information f r o m the Hotline
tally s h e e t h a s b e e n u s e d in b o t h
Senate and Assembly Hearings, local
p r e s s r e l e a s e s , a n d a s a n a i d in e x t e n -
sive lobbying by our legislative office.
THESE D E L E G A T ARE, from left, Nancy Gowales of New Yarii Gity
Local 010, and Itörothy King and Qinton Thomas, botli r ^ m t a / ä a ^ Oree*moor Psychiatric,€enter Local 406.
The C o m m i t t e e believes that the
Safety Hotline played an i m p o r t a n t
part in i d e n t i f y i n g h e a l t h a n d s a f e t y
hazards c o n f r o n t e d d a i l y b y p u b l i c
employees throughout the s t a t e and
played a p a r t in e s t a b l i s h i n g O S H A
protecticm for public e m p l o y e e s . T h e
C o m m i t t e e is a l s o p l e a s e d t o r e p o r t
that CSEA P r e s i d e n t Bill M c G o w a n h a s
indkaded his intention of continuing t h e
Occupational safety and health
courses have traditionally taught that
if w o r k e r s w o u l d o n l y b ^ m o r e
c a r e f u l , a c c i d e n t s would not h a p p e n .
B u t in f a c t , t h e m a j o r i t y of all jobr e l a t e d a c c i d e n t s a r e not c a u s e d by
w o r k e r " c a r e l e s s n e s s " n o r a r e all
w o r k e r s afflicted with diseases
b e c a u s e of " h y p e r s e n s i t i v i t y " . T h e s e
a c c i d e n t s and d i s e a s e s can be
p r e v e n t e d by e l i m i n a t i n g w o r k p l a c e
hazards.
A p r o g r a m to e l i m i n a t e w o r k p l a c e
a c c i d e n t s a n d d i s e a s e s m u s t begin
w i t h w o r k e r s who know t h e s c o r e —
m e n a n d w o m e n who c a n i d e n t i f y t h e
h a z a r d s in t h e i r w o r k p l a c e s . You do
not h a v e t o b e a n e x p e r t t o look o u t f o r
y o u r o w n h e a l t h a n d s a f e t y on t h e j o b .
All you n e e d is s o m e b a s i c i n f o r mation.
T h e o b j e c t i v e s of t h e p r o g r a m a r e
v a s t . T h e p r o g r a m will p r o v i d e you
w i t h t h e b a s i c i n f o r m a t i o n a n d skills
you will need to r e c o g n i z e and
evaluate workplace hazards — those
injury-and-disease causing conditions
t h a t t h r e a t e n y o u r life a n d well being.
The program stresses Occupational
S a f e t y a n d H e a l t h Act s t a n d a r d s , b u t
it g o e s beyond t h e s e to d i s c u s s
h a z a r d s not c o v e r e d by t h e OSHA
s t a n d a r d s . S e c o n d , t h e p r o g r a m will
p r o v i d e you w i t h m e t h o d s f o r a c t i n g
upon y o u r n e w l y - g a i n e d k n o w l e d g e
a n d skills in o r d e r t o c o r r e c t h a z a r d o u s w o r k p l a c e conditions. C S E A h a s
established an extensive library and
r e s o u r c e m a t e r i a l w h i c h is a v a i l a b l e
to the C o m m i t t e e and m e m b e r s
throughout the state.
Hotline service.
AMONG DELEGATES were June Ferner of Erie Coaaty ErfMatiMi
Employees Local 868 and John Chesslin of New York Metro Retirees Local 91«.
T h e C o m m i t t e e would like t o r e p o r t
that C S E A h a s e s t a b l i s h e d t h r o u g h i t s
safety office three training p r o g r a m s
f o r e m p l o y e e s . O n e of
these
programs. Safety Awareness, has
b e r a c o n d u c t e d in m a n y of t h e
Regions. The other two remaining
p r o g r a m s a r e in p l a c e a n d a r e
a v a i l a b l e t o t h e R e g i o n s upon t h e i r r e quest. T h e s e p r o g r a m s a r e T o x i c
Material and Hazardous Substances
and OSHA R e g u l a t i o n s
and
C o m p l i a n c e . It is i m p o r t a n t t o n o t e
that on a n y given w o r k i n g d a y a t l e a s t
22 of y o u r fellow A m e r i c a n w o r k e r s
will d i e f r o m on-the-job a c c i d e n t s ,
a n d o v e r 22,000 will s u f f e r j o b - r e l a t e d
i n j u r i e s a n d illnesses — m o r e t h a n 8,000 of t h e m s e r i o u s e n o u g h to r e q u i r e
t i m e lost f r o m w o r k .
The Committee recommends that
t h e D e l e g a t e s and CSEA officials cont m u e to support public e m p l o y e e s w e
r e p r e s e n t by m a i n t a i n i n g a v i a b l e
s a f e t y d e p a r t m e n t within CSEA. T h e
C o m m i t t e e r e c o m m e n d s to the
D e l e g a t e s a n d CSEA o f f i c i a l s t h e
vigorous e n f o r c e m e n t of t h e newly passed OSHA Act for Public E m p l o y e e s and
a l s o t h e Right-to-Know l e g i s l a t i o n
which covers public employees.
As CSEA P r e s i d e n t Bill McGowan
s t a t e d over two y e a r s ago in His Policy
S t a t e m e n t w h i c h d e m a n d e d OSHA
protection for public employees,
"Superficial activities and m i n i m a l
compliance cannot be considered a
viable s a f e t y p r o g r a m . " T h e Comm i t t e e u r g e s the Delegates and elected
officials to support and e n c o u r a g e the
expansion of the safety e f f o r t s by this
Union.
Respectfully submitted,
LOCAL 423, St. L a w r e n c e P s y c h i a t r i c
Center, delegates are, f r o m left,
G e o r g e M c C a r t h y , S u s a n Solon a n d
J o s e p h Cosentino.
Page 10
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, Octobei 22. 19Ö0
C S E A S T A T E W I D E S A F E T Y COMMITTEE
Frank Falejczyk, Chairman
Alex Bozza
Hugo F o r d e
Robert Harris
Joseph Laviano
David S h o r t s l e e v e
Dale Hatch
BWMUML ••
Region III PAC activities typical of union efforts
Political Action Committees in Icey role
. . CSEA endorsement
is a coveted prize'
FISHKILL — Regional Political Action C o m m i t t e e Chairman Carmine
DiBattista likes to tell people, "candidates' night in CSEA Region III a l w a y s
cause quite a sensation and are always well attended.
"That response," he adds, "is a sign of our vitality, and the reaction w e
always get from candidates, soliciting our support, tells m e something, too:
the CSEA endorsement is a coveted prize."
P a s s a g e of the OSHA Bill this year w a s an e x a m p l e of CSEA's clout,
says DiBattista, and the upcoming legislative agenda includes such issues a s
reform of the Taylor Law, Agency shop, understaffing at state institutions,
as well as lobbying strongly at all levels of government on behalf of the
"bread and butter issues that concern our public e m p l o y e e s . "
S O U T H E R N R E G I O N III Political Action C o m m i t t e e C h a i r m a n C a r m e n
D i B a t t i s t a , r i g h t , looks o v e r s c h e d u l e of c a n d i d a t e i n t e r v i e w s with
W e s t c h e s t e r County P A C C o - C h a i r m a n E l e a n o r M a c D o n a l d .
S E N A T O R L I N D A WINIKOW, l e f t , who h a s C S E A ' s e n d o r s e m e n t f o r reelection, is shown c h a t t i n g with J o h n M a u r o , R a y Z e r b a r i n i a n d E v a K a t z of
Rockland County.
WESTCHESTER
ASSEMBLYMAN Nicholas A. Spano t a l k s openly a b o u t his positions on v a r i o u s
issues d u r i n g C S E A " c a n d i d a t e s
night" program.
ASSEMBLYMAN
WILLIAM
F I N N E R N A N of t h e 89th A s s e m b l y
District s t a t e s his position on an
i m p o r t a n t l a b o r i s s u e d u r i n g his
a p p e a r a n c e b e f o r e t h e regional
Political Action C o m m i t t e e .
A S S E M B L Y M A N R I C H A R D C.
ROSS of t h e 88th A s s e m b l y D i s t r i c t
told union m e m b e r s how he s t a n d s
on issues of c o n c e r n to labor and
e a r n e d C S E A ' s e n d o r s e m e n t for
re-election.
A S S E M B L Y M A N P E T E R M.
S U L L I V A N , 92nd
Assembly
D i s t r i c t , s p o r t s C S E A OSHA a n d a
CSEA Local 860 b u t t o n s d u r i n g his
a p p e a r a n c e b e f o r e union m e m b e r s .
He, like all c a n d i d a t e s p i c t u r e d on
this p a g e , h a s CSEA b a c k i n g f o r r e election.
A S S E M B L Y M A N S T E V E SALAND, right, is i n t r o d u c e d by Scott D a n i e l s of
CSEA's P o l i t i c a l Action C o m m i t t e e during a p r o g r a m in P o u g h k e e p s i e .
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, November 12, 1980
Page 11
^r^i iwimw'in »•^»g
' gj-^' y w-^^Bwy^wiwwwwwifc^'W^"
Support these
union endorsed
candidates Nov. 4
MJfa^« • •Iii'- '.-li '-V .,
Congressional
DIST. NAME
1 William Carney
2
Thomas Downey
3 Jerome Ambro, Jr.
4 Norman Lent
5 Karen Berstein
6 Lester Wolff
7 Joseph Addabbo
8 Benjamin Rosenthal
9 Geraldine Ferraro
10 Mario Biaggio
11 James Scheuer
12 Shirley Chisholm
13 Stephen Solarz
14 Frederick Richmond
15 Leo Zeferetti
18 Mark Green
PARTY
Jl-C
D
D
R-C
D
D-C
D-L-R
D
D
R-D-L
D-L
D
D-L
D-L
D-C
D
DIST. NAME
19 Charles Rangel
20 Theodore Weiss
21 Robert Garcia
22 Jonathan Bingham
23 Peter Peyser
25 Hamilton Fish
26 Benjamin Gilman
27 Matt McHugh
28 Samuel S. Stratton
29 Rodger Hurley
30 Mary Ann Krupsak
32 Jeffrey Brooks
34 Frank Horton
36 John LaFalce
37 Henry Noak
39 Stanley Lundine
PARTY
D-L-R
D-L
D-L-R
D-L
D
R
R
D
D
D
D
D
R
D
D
D
/
Senate
DIST. NAME
1 Kenneth LaValfe
2 James Lack
3 Caesar Trunzo
4 Owen Johnson
5 No Endorsement
6 No Endorsemjent
7 John Caemmerer
8 Norman Levy
9 Carol Berman
10 Jeremy Weinstein
11 Frank Padavan
12 Gary Ackerman
13 Emanuel Gold
14 Anthony Gazzara
15 Martin Knorr
PARTY
R
R-C
R
R
R
R
D
D
R
D
D
D
R
DIST. NAME
16 Howard Babbush .17 Major Owens
18 Thomas Bartosiewicz
19 Martin Markowitz
20 Donald Halperin
21 Christopher Mega
22 Martin Solomon
23 Vander Beatty •
24 John Marchi
25 Martin Connor
26 Roy Goodman
27 Manfred Ohrenstein
28 Leon Bogues
29 Franz Leichter
30 Olga Mendez
PARTY
D
D
D
D
D
R
D
D
R
D
R
D
D
D
D
DIST.
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
NAME
Israel Ruiz
Joseph Galiber
No Endorsement
John Calandra
John Flynn
Joseph Pisani
Mary Goodhue
Linda Winikow
Jay P. Rolison
Richard Schermerhom
Joseph Bruno
Howard Nolan
Ronald Stafford
Hugh Farley
H. Douglas Barclay
PARTY
D
D
R
R-D-C
R-C
R-C
D
R-C'
R-C
R
D
R
R
R-C
DIST. NAME
46 Michael Simpson
47 Warren Anderson
48 No Endorsement
49 Rosemary Pooler
50 Alex Hersha
51 No Endorsement
52 Paul Kehoe
53 Stephen May
54 Philip Fedele
55 David Collins
56 Ray Gallagher
57 Jess Present
58 Dale Volker
59 No Endorsement
60 John Daly
PARTY
D
R
D
D
R-C
R
D
R
D
R
R
R-C
Assembly
DIST., NAME
1 John Behan
2 George Hochbrueckner
3 I. William Bianchi
4 Robert Wertz
5 Paul Harenberg
6 John Cochrane
7 John Flanagan8 Antonia Rettaliata
9 Louis T. Howard
10 Lewis Yevoli
11 Philip Healey
12 Frederick Parola
13 Thomas Gulotta
14 Joseph Reilly
15 Angelo F. Orazio
16 May Newburger
17 Kemp Hannon
18 Armand D'Amato
19 Dean Skelos
20 Arthur Kremer
21 George Madison
22 Gerdi Lipschutz
24 Saul Weprin
25 Vincent Nicolosi
26 Leonard Stavisky
27 David Cohen
28 Alan Hevesi
29 Andrew Jenkins
30 Ralph Goldstein
31 Anthony Sifeminerio
32 Edward Abramson
33 No Endorsement
34 Ivan Lafayette
35 John Lopresto
36 Denis Butler
37 Clifford Wilson
38 Frederick Schmidt
39 Stanley Fink
. P a g e 12
PARTY DIST.
R-C
D
40
D
41
R
42
D
43
R
44
R-C
45
R-C
46
R-C
47
D
48
R-C
49
R-C
50
R-C
51
R-C
52
D-L
53
D-L
54
R
55
R-C
56
R
57
D-L
58
R
59
D
60
D
61
D
62
D
63
D
64
D
65
D
66
D
67
D
68
D
69
70
D
71
R
72
D
73
D
74
D
75
D
76
NAME
Edward Griffith
Helene Weinstein
No Endorsement
Rhoda Jacobs
Melvin Miller '
Dan Feldman
Howard LasherFrank Barbaro
No Endorsement
No Endorsement
No Endorsement
Joseph Ferris
No Endorsement
Woodrow Lewis
Thomas Boyland
Thomas Fortune
No Endorsement
Harvey Strelzin
Joseph Lentol
Victor Robles
George Hartigan
Elizabeth Connelly
Paul Viggiano
Sheldon Silver
William Passannante
Steven Sanders
Mark Alan Siegel
Richard Gottfried
Alexander Grannis
Jerrold Nadler
Edward Sullivan
Geraldine Daniels
Angelo Del Toro
No Endorsement
Herman Farrell
Jose Serrano
Charles Johnson
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, October 22, 1980
PARTY
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
DIST. NAME
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
9a
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
Armando Montano
No Endorsement
Louis Nine
Guy Velella
Eliot Engel
Sean Walsh
George Friedman
G. Oliver Koppell
John Dearie
Vincent Marchiselli
Nicholas Spano
Richard Ross
William Finneran
Gordon Burrows
John Perone
Peter Sullivan
John Fossel
Willis Stephens
Eugene Levy
Robert Connor
William Larkin
Raymond Kisor
Steven Saland
No Endorsement
Maurice Hinchey
Clarence Lane
Michael Hoblock
Richard Conners
Gail Shaffer
Neil Kelleher
Clark Wemple
No Endorsement
Glenn Harris
Joan Hague
Andrew Ryan
John O'Neil
Anthony Casale
PARTY
D
D
R
D
D
D
D
D
D
R-C
R-C
D
R
R-C
R-C
R-C
R
R
D
R-C
R-C
R-C
D
R
R
D
D
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
DIST. NAME
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
H. Robert Nortz
William Sears
Nicholas Calogero
No Endorsement
Michael Bragman
Hymari Miller
Melvii I Zimmer
William Bush
Clarence Rappleyea
James McCabe
James Tallon
Lloyd Riford
No Endorsement
No Endorsement
Deborah Dietrich
Frank Talomie
No Endorsement
Gary Proud
Audrey Cooke
Andrew Virgilio
Roger Robach
James Nagle
James Emery
Steven Hawley
Joseph Pillittere
Matthew Murphy
Robin Schimminger
John Sheffer
Steve Greco
Arthur Eve
William Hoyt
Richard Keane
Dennis Gorski
Richard Kennedy
Vincent Graber
Dan Walsh
Roland Kidder
PARTY
R
R
R
D
R-C
D
R
R
D
D
R
D
R-C
D-L
R
D-RTL
D-C
R-C
R-RTL
R
D-RTL
D-C
D
R-C
D
D-L
D
D-C
D-C
R-C
D
D
D