Official Publication of
The Civil Service Employees
Association
Vol. 3, No. 23
Wednesday, March 18, 1981
(ISSN 0164 9949)
1981 CSEA Spring
Delegates Meeting
March 22-24
Syracuse, N.Y.
Agenda - page 5
'How • • , is the state's problem,' McGowan says, but • , ,
'We expect our people to be paid'
ALBANY C S E A P r e s i d e n t W i l l i a m L.
M c G o w a n h a s told s t a t e o f f i c i a l s , " H o w t h e s t a t e
m e e t s i t s p a y r o l l is t h e s t a t e ' s p r o b l e m , w e e x p e c t
o u r p e o p l e to b e p a i d a n d t h a t is w h e r e t h i s union
stands."
Mr. M c G o w a n w a s r e a c t i n g to the possibility that
the s t a t e m a y not be able to m e e t its institutional
p a y r o l l o b l i g a t i o n s t h i s w e e k a s t h e r e s u l t of a continuing deadlock between the Carey Administration
and the Legislature over the state's "deficiency
budget."
E a c h y e a r in a d d i t i o n t o t h e e n a c t m e n t of a n official budget for the coming fiscal year, the
L e g i s l a t u r e generally a c t s upon deficiency budgets
t h a t p r o v i d e f o r p a y m e n t of s t a t e o b l i g a t i o n s n o t
p r o v i d e d in t h e g e n e r a l b u d g e t . L a s t y e a r t h a t
d i d n ' t h a p p e n t h e w a y it s h o u l d h a v e a n d n o w t h e
s t a t e s a y s it h a s n ' t g o t t h e m o n e y to p a y s t a t e
w o r k e r s u n l e s s a d e f i c i e n c y b u d g e t is e n a c t e d .
C S E A w a s b r i e f e d on t h e p r o b l e m by t h e Division
of t h e B u d g e t a n d 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 Relations, but following the briefing,
M r . M c G o w a n s a i d t h e u n i o n ' s p o s i t i o n is s i m p l e :
CSEA m e m b e r s provided service to the s t a t e and
a r e c o n t r a c t u a l l y entitled to r e c e i v e r e i m b u r s e m e n t f o r it.
a g r e e m e n t w i t h l e g i s l a t i v e l e a d e r s could b e r e a c h ed to b r e a k t h e d e a d l o c k on t h e d e f i c i e n c y b u d g e t
legislation and approve needed funds.
" W e a r e obviously v e r y c o n c e r n e d a b o u t t h i s
situation," Mr. McGowan said, " b u t how the s t a t e
m e e t s i t s p a y r o l l is t h e s t a t e ' s p r o b l e m . We h a v e a
c o n t r a c t a n d t h e y m u s t h o n o r it. O u r p e o p l e p r o v i d e
a s e r v i c e in e x c h a n g e f o r s a l a r y a n d b e n e f i t s . I t ' s
s a d t h a t t h e p e o p l e w h o c a n a f f o r d it l e a s t g e t held
h o s t a g e in t h e s e kind of p o l i t i c a l h a s s l e s . B o t h s i d e s
should sit down a n d g e t t h i s p r o b l e m w o r k e d o u t . "
T h e union l e a r n e d t h a t d e s p i t e t h e p r o b l e m s o v e r
the s t a t e payroll, the legislative payroll has enough
f u n d s so t h a t l a w m a k e r s a n d t h e i r s t a f f s will not
m i s s a p a y c h e c k . C S E A p o i n t e d t h i s f a c t out to t h e
n e w s m e d i a in a p r e s s s t a t e m e n t i s s u e d by M r .
McGowan.
" A s f a r a s I a m c o n c e r n e d if t h e L e g i s l a t u r e exp e c t s to b e p a i d o u r p e o p l e e x p e c t to b e p a i d a n d
t h a t is o u r position, p e r i o d , " h e s a i d .
CSEA officials w e r e monitoring the situation late
in t h e w e e k w h i l e l a w m a k e r s c o n t i n u e d to m e e t in
a n a t t e m p t t o r e s o l v e t h e i r d i f f e r e n c e s w i t h t h e administration.
State officials said late last week that there was
still a c h a n c e t h e p a y r o l l could b e m e t if a n
Union likes some
retirement plan
changes proposed;
caution Is urged
A L B A N Y - B e r n a r d R y a n , h e a d of C S E A ' s
Legislative and Political Action office, joined
o t h e r N e w Y o r k S t a t e public e m p l o y e e union
s p o k e s p e r s o n s l a s t w e e k t e s t i f y i n g on p r o p o s e d c h a n g e s in t h e P u b l i c E m p l o y e e
R e t i r e m e n t S y s t e m s that would a f f e c t Tier III
e m p l o y e e s , t h o s e h i r e d a f t e r J u l y 1, 1976.
R y a n told t h e P e r m a n e n t C o m m i s s i o n on
Public Employee Pension and Retirement
Systems that although he c o m m e n d e d t h e m
for recommending that the mandatory three
percent contribution for Tier III employees be
a b o l i s h e d , h e h a d r e s e r v a t i o n s a b o u t s o m e of
their other proposals.
" W e t h o u g h t it w a s a m i s t a k e in 1976 w h e n
t h e N e w Y o r k S t a t e r e t i r e m e n t p l a n w a s int e g r a t e d with the Social Security L a w ' s
p r o v i s i o n f o r e s c a l a t i o n of b e n e f i t s , " R y a n
c o m m e n t e d . " T h e formula used at that t i m e
s e e m e d e x t r e m e l y c o m p l e x , if n o t i m p o s s i b l e
to fully i m p l e m e n t . "
'
" N o w you a r e a w a r e of t h e p r a c t i c a l
p r o b l e m s with this particular formula and
h a v e r e c o m m e n d e d a c h a n g e in it. B u t u n f o r t u n a t e l y , in t h e p a s t f i v e y e a r s t h e Social
S e c u r i t y p r o g r a m h a s g o n e downhill a n d h a s a
very bleek f u t u r e for today's workers.
" I think that now, m o r e than ever, we
s h o u l d p r o c e e d v e r y c a u t i o u s l y in t r y i n g t o
develop an overall retirement benefit package
w h i c h w o u l d r e l y on s u b s t a n t i a l S o c i a l
Security benefits," Ryan continued.
Members responding generously
to IMcGowan's call for pennies
to send Carey to Binghamton
ALBANY — Public employees throughout the
Albany a r e a responded immediately, and
generously, when CSEA P r e s i d e n t issued a call
l a s t w e e k f o r union m e m b e r s t o c o n t r i b u t e a
penny a m e m b e r to finance a trip to Binghamton
by G o v e r n o r H u g h L. C a r e y .
Carey had earlier stunned a press conference
g a t h e r i n g by c l a i m i n g c h e m i c a l c o n t a m i n a t i o n
of t h e B i n g h a m t o n S t a t e O f f i c e B u i l d i n g h a s b e e n
" o v e r b l o w n " b e c a u s e of " t h e u n i o n , " a n d
v o l u n t e e r e d h e w a s willing to go t o B i n g h a m t o n
a n d " d r i n k a g l a s s of P C B s . " T h e building h a s
b e e n c l o s e d s i n c e it w a s c o n t a m i n a t e d in a
F e b r u a r y 5 t r a n s f o r m e r explosion a n d h u n d r e d s
of s t a t e w o r k e r s a r e w o r k i n g in t e m p o r a r y
l o c a t i o n s in t h e B i n g h a m t o n a r e a ( s e e r e l a t e d
f e a t u r e on P a g e s 6 & 7 of t h i s i s s u e ) .
President McGowan reacted quickly and
h a r s h l y to t h e g o v e r n o r ' s c o m m e n t s , s a y i n g
C a r e y could d r i n k all t h e P C B s h e w a n t e d a n d
t h a t a p e n n y a m e m b e r c o n t r i b u t i o n would ins u r e t h e g o v e r n o r ' s t r i p a t no e x p e n s e to s t a t e
t a x p a y e r s , but t h a t no C S E A m e m b e r s would
re-enter t h e c o n t a m i n a t e d building until it h a d
been declared safe.
Albany a r e a CSEA m e m b e r s responded to the
p§nny a m e m b e r c o n t r i b u t i o n in a big w a y , a n d
w i t h i n a d a y s e v e r a l union local p r e s i d e n t s
d r o p p e d off l a r g e c o n t a i n e r s of p e n n i e s cont r i b u t e d by m e m b e r s . In t h e a b o v e photo, C S E A
Executive Vice President Thomas McDonough,
second f r o m right, accepts the donations at
CSEA headquarters. Among those making the
p r e s e n t a t i o n w e r e , f r o m l e f t f r o n t . Division of
P a r o l e L o c a l 669 P r e s i d e n t Alicia F i s h e r Y a r t e r ;
r e t i r e e M a r y J a r o c k i ; Civil S e r v i c e L o c a l 653
P r e s i d e n t D e l o r e s F a r r e l l , c e n t e r ; M r . McD o n o u g h ; a n d W o r k e r s ' C o m p e n s a t i o n L o c a l 671
P r e s i d e n t B r i a n R u f f , r i g h t . I d e n t i f i a b l e in t h e
b a c k r o w a r e Audit a n d C o n t r o l L o c a l 651
P r e s i d e n t B a r b a r a Skelly, l e f t , a n d D e p a r t m e n t
of C o r r e c t i o n a l S e r v i c e s L o c a l 656 P r e s i d e n t
S u s a n C r a w f o r d , r i g h t . N o t s h o w n , but p r e s e n t ,
w a s Social S e r v i c e s L o c a l 688 P r e s i d e n t Alan
Siegel.
C o n t r i b u t i o n s a r e still b e i n g a c c e p t e d a t C S E A
h e a d q u a r t e r s , A l b a n y , a n d will b e d e l i v e r e d
s h o r t l y to t h e G o v e r n o r ' s M a n s i o n to let h i m
k n o w h o w p u b l i c e m p l o y e e s f e e l a b o u t his r e c e n t
remarks.
Otsego County Rep. claims employees
'ought to go to Poland and work'
By Charles McGeary
CSEA Communications Associate
COOPERSTOWN — F o r g e t the thousands of m i l e s between Cooperstown and W a r s a w , Poland. An Otsego County r e p r e s e n t a t i v e has found a
way to bridge the gap.
Otsego County CSEA Local 839 is c u r r e n t l y in the midst of c o n t r a c t
negotiations and recently received the S t a t e ' s f a c t finder report with
r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s which included s a l a r y increases, an agency shop clause,
a m o n g other benefits.
Following the r e l e a s e of the f a c t f i n d e r ' s r e p o r t , R e p r e s e n t a t i v e Joseph
Kenyon, C h a i r m a n of the Otsego County B o a r d ' s P e r s o n n e l C o m m i t t e e ,
o f f e r e d s o m e interesting c o m m e n t s r e g a r d i n g the report.
" I would r e j e c t all of the f a c t f i n d e r ' s r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s except the
m i l a g e a l l o w a n c e , " he said. " I ' m not in a g r e e m e n t with the p e r c e n t a g e pay
i n c r e a s e or with the agency shop, or the other i t e m s . "
"Look at what happened in Poland. Workers t h e r e a r e trying to get the
40-hour week, hoping they can get what the County (Otsego) w o r k e r s had ten
y e a r s ago. Maybe s o m e of our County w o r k e r s ought to go to Poland and
work."
The o f f e r to " g o to P o l a n d " brought a quick, whimsical response f r o m a
score of County employees. As though by m a g i c , signs, tags, buttons, and
m a k e - s h i f t Polish flags a p p e a r e d a s symbols of " s o l i d a r i t y " with their
fellow w o r k e r s in Poland.
" I t w a s a h a r m l e s s , but e f f e c t i v e way to show our r e s e n t m e n t of his
(Kenyon's) r e m a r k s , " said Mabel W a n n a m a k e r , Local 839 President, with a
smile.
"When I saw those signs reading " B u s to P o l a n d " , " W e a r e P R O U D to
be aligned with our Polish f r i e n d s " , and "SOLIDARITY for Otsego County
Workers, t o o ! " , just to mention a few, I sensed a feeling of togetherness
a m o n g the m e m b e r s h i p , " Mrs. W a n n a m a k e r continued.
"Without realizing it, the c o m m e n t s by Mr. Kenyon triggered a sense of
" s o l i d a r i t y " in our Local. P e r h a p s I should thank him for his help," she said
with a twinkle in her eyes.
R e g a r d l e s s of the outcome of the negotiations, m e m b e r s of CSEA Local
839 will always c a r r y a compassionate feeling for those million of unknown
w o r k e r s in Poland.
TJhank you Mr. Kenyon, w h e r e v e r you a r e !
Labor coalition to liost Buffaio woricsliops
B U F F A L O — A coalition of over 45 labor unions concerned with job safety
and health will convene in the Buffalo a r e a next week. Topics include the m a n y
concerns w o r k e r s should be a w a r e of and " t h e d a n g e r s ahead under R e a g a n . "
The Western New York Council on Occupational Safety and Health
(WNYCOSH), of which CSEA Region VI is a m e m b e r , will hold its third
annual winter c o n f e r e n c e M a r c h 27 and 28 in Norton Hall, SUNY Buffalo,
A m h e r s t Campus.
D r . E u l a Bingham, f o r m e r head of the f e d e r a l OSHA p r o g r a m and credited
by Region VI P r e s i d e n t R o b e r t L a t t i m e r as being the " a p r i m e m o v e r of the
national OSHA a w a r e n e s s m o v e m e n t " , will be honored a t a reception on
M a r c h 27.
Workshops covering a broad r a n g e of OSHA concerns will be offered during the two-day period. They will be r e p e a t e d in o r d e r t h a t participants will
have the opportunity to attend a s m a n y a s desired.
C S E A ' s OSHA e x p e r t Nels Carlson will conduct a workshop in public sector OSHA law, and 14 other workshops of vital concerns will be offered.
Region P r e s i d e n t L a t t i m e r called the broad r a n g e of topics, " a positive
foundation for all w o r k e r s to a s s u r e their rights to work a r e a s f r e e f r o m potential h a z a r d s to their health and s a f e t y . I hope as m a n y of our m e m b e r s a s possi-
ble will t a k e a d v a n t a g e of these w o r k s h o p s . "
Labor Attorney Lee Smith, WNYCOSH Executive Director, said the
workshops will offer, " m u c h vital information that m a n y would not n o r m a l l y
be a w a r e of. F o r e x a m p l e the video display t e r m i n a l s workshop will a d d r e s s
the potential hazards of working with display t e r m i n a l s such as cumulative eye
d a m a g e or sight loss that m a y develop over a period of working with this new
office technology."
A $20 registration fee for the c o n f e r e n c e will cover the following: A kit of
c o n f e r e n c e m a t e r i a l s ; the reception for Dr. Bingham on F r i d a y ; the luncheon
on S a t u r d a y ; coffee and doughnuts and admission to all workshops.
Registration f o r m s m a y be obtained f r o m the WNYCOSH office a t 209
D e l a w a r e Ave., Buffalo, N.Y., 14202.
The workshops to be offered include: Basic and Advanced OSHA
P r o c e d u r e s ; Information-How to G e t I t ; Access to Medical Records; Noise &
Walkaround P a y ; Public Sector OSHA L a w ; Collective Bargaining for Safety
and H e a l t h ; E d u c a t i n g t h e M e m b e r s ; W o m e n ' s O c c u p a t i o n a l H e a l t h
P r o b l e m s ; Legislation and Political Action and the Right to R e f u s e Hazardous
Work.
Sliffollc strilce settled
SAYING GOOD BYE TO Willie Trotman as president of the
Rockland Children's Psychiatric Center CSEA Unit are from
left, Unit Secretary Patricia Tager, Unit Grievance Chairman
Glenda Davis and Rockland Psychiatric Center Local 421
President Eva Katz. Trotman received a promotion which
puts him in another bargaining unit.
Page
1295
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, February 18, 1981
S E L D E N — L e a d e r s of Suffolk Educational Local 870, who had opposed a two-day
wildcat s t r i k e a t the Middle Country School District ended it with a s e t t l e m e n t that w a s
applauded by the striking employees.
Local 870 P r e s i d e n t Walter Weeks, Middle Country School District CSEA P r e s i d e n t
Robert H u n t e r and CSEA Field R e p r e s e n t a t i v e J a m e s Walters, h a m m e r e d out a six-point
s e t t l e m e n t with school negotiators on M a r c h 10, which included a promise, in writing,
f r o m the Middle Country School District to stop subcontracting, to submit to i m m e d i a t e
arbitration of longstanding grievances; to r e t u r n a bus route to CSEA, and to prohibit
unauthorized school personnel f r o m driving school buses. The employees returned to work
at 6 a . m . the next morning ending the walk out which began at 6 a . m . , March 9.
The four units of the CSEA coalition — buildings and grounds, maintenance, heads
and chiefs and transportation — voted to strike on M a r c h 8, a f t e r the school district broke
its p r o m i s e to t h e m stating only authorized e m p l o y e e s would drive buses on weekends.
The incident which caused the spontaneous job action occurred when a teacher checked a bus out on F r i d a y afternoon to drive students to a chess tournament. But it also uncovered other smoldering issues between the CSEA and the Mid(Jle Country School
District.
The s t r i k e vote w a s taken despite warnings by CSEA leaders that the union could not
sanction a strike because it was prohibited by the Taylor Law.
" W e j u s t couldn't hold t h e m b a c k , " said Mr. Hunter. " I t wasn't just that the school
was violating our c o n t r a c t by letting t e a c h e r s and coaches a c t as bus drivers, they w e r e
also t r a n s f e r r i n g custodians f r o m night to dgy shifts or f r o m one school to another and
refusing to sit down to a r b i t r a t e the grievances we filed about it. Also, we feel the district
is trying to s u b c o n t r a c t a w a y our j o b s , " he added.
During the next two days, CSEA leaders Mr. Weeks, Mr. Hunter, Danny Donohue,
Regional P r e s i d e n t , Nick Abbatiello, Regional F i r s t Vice P r e s i d e n t , William Griffin,
Regional D i r e c t o r , and Mr. Walters worked to get the m e m b e r s back on the job. P E R B
m e d i a t o r H o m e r L a R u e was also i n s t r u m e n t a l in helping d r a f t the settlement.
Even though the a g r e e m e n t stipulated that the school district has the right to pursue
Taylor Law penalties, the school board only approved it by a 5 to 4 vote. CSEA m e m b e r s ,
who considered the s e t t l e m e n t a victory, applauded wildly, unanimously approving the
settlement.
" T h i s a g r e e m e n t gave our m e m b e r s back their pride and dignity," said Mr. Weeks.
" T h e Middle Country School District knows now they a r e dealing with a strong union."
'We really don't mind driving, but
MHTA's ponder out-of-title duties
By Ron Wofford
NEWARK - Should a Mental Hygiene T h e r a p y Aid (MHTA) do the
work of a Motor Vehicle Operator (MVO)? How does insurance coverage
apply if a MHTA is functioning as an MVO and an accident occurs? What
should a MHTA do if patient p a s s e n g e r s get unruly and need attention
while the MHTA is trying to drive down the highway?
Many MHTAs at Newark Developmental C e n t e r wonder if m a n a g e m e n t
has thought out the a n s w e r s to these and other questions.
MHTA job classification s t a n d a r d s don't list driving as a job
qualification, but m a n y a t N e w a r k have been asked or ordered to transport
patients and have been threatened with loss of their jobs for refusing to do
so.
M a n a g e m e n t has also insinuated t h a t if m o r e MVO's a r e hired, it will be
at the expense of m o r e MHTA's whose levels a r e a l r e a d y severely unders t a f f e d , despite e a r l i e r promises by m a n a g e m e n t to r e m e d y the situation.
" W e don't really mind d r i v i n g , " said one MHTA who asked to r e m a i n
anonymous, " b u t this situation is getting out of hand. A short e r r a n d run
with a patient or client is one thing, but it's not untypical for one of us to be
ordered to drive several patients to Geneva or R o c h e s t e r or other places a s
far.
" T h i s of course entails t h r u w a y driving, which has its own special
hazards under the best of conditions. But when you have a group of patients
w h e r e one or m o r e is liable to a c t out unexpected or over-agressive
behavior, the potential dangers to all concerned a r e obvious. Many of the
vehicles we a r e asked to d r i v e , " he continued, " a r e vans or small buses, and
they a r e not a s easy to handle as c a r s . "
G r i e v a n c e C h a i r m a n Mike F l a h e r t y and Assistant C h a i r m a n Johnny
P a t t e r s o n said the facility does have a d r i v e r c e r t i f i c a t i o n p r o g r a m , but it's
very loosely operated. " T h e r e have been instances of driver qualification
t e s t s consisting of no m o r e than a drive to t h e c o m e r store with a transportation d e p a r t m e n t employee along for the r i d e , " F l a h e r t y said.
Other p r o b l e m s a r e the type of license t h e s t a t e D e p a r t m e n t of Motor
Vehicles r e q u i r e s for such driving and the m e c h a n i c a l condition of the
vehicles.
" A lot of the vehicles h e r e a r e in bad shape," s.tated Flaherty. Some of
t h e m , I ' m sure, wouldn't pass inspection. T h e r e a r e m a n y instances of
broken windshields, turn signals, poor a l i g n m e n t and so o n , " he continued.
" T h e y don't s e e m to have enough staff or t i m e to keep the vehicles up to
safety standards."
Johnny P a t t e r s o n described a situation t h a t could have ended much
VEHICLE INSPECTION — Newark Dev. Ctr. Grievance Chairman Mike
Flaherty checks vehicles which are the center of a dispute regarding driving
duties by Mental Hygiene Therapy Aides at the center.
m o r e unfortunately. " T h e r e was an accident r e c e n t l y with a mini-bus that
had a wheelchair lift a p p a r a t u s . The MHTA who was driving had let the lift
down when the bus kicked into gear by itself. The lift w a s torn off, but luckily no one was hurt,^' P a t t e r s o n said. " S t a t e troopers investigated the accident and a r e a w a r e that some of our drivers m a y not be properly licensed
to be driving patients around, so now they monitor us very closely when they
see a vehicle f r o m this facility."
G r i e v a n c e s have so f a r prqv^n to jbe inconclusive, the grievance o f f i c e r s
said. "We lost an out-of-title grievance," said Flaherty, "because the findings w e r e based on the p e r c e n t a g e of work t i m e that an MHTA was required to drive. They ruled that because only 16 per cent of work t i m e was
för driving in the case in question, the grievant was not actually working out
o^ the assigned t i t l e . "
I "Of course we disagree with those findings, but we'll take a different
taick in f u t u r e g r i e v a n c e s , " F l a h e r t y concluded.
i Local P r e s i d e n t Peggy Aldridge said " W e ' r e willing to cooperate with
nrtanagemerit on this because w e ' r e professionals and we want our patients
to have the best c a r e possible. But t h e r e a r e s o m e very important questions
h e r e that we m u s t have answered. And things will not get better until this
issue is resolved."
Fire victim seeics aid
' COLD S P R I N G — A plea for financial assistance is being m a d e by a
Southern region m e m b e r who lost most of his possessions in a Peekskill house
fire on Feb. 10.
Richard Gilleo is really a victim twice over; not only was he burned out in
the blaze, but also hurt while fighting it. He was hospitalized four days and expects to be out of work at least six-eight weeks. The C a m p Smith custodian
says he needs, "financial help till I get back on my f e e t , " and adds that he used
m o s t of his accumulated sick t i m e in 1980 recovering f r o m surgery.
Gilleo has temporarily relocated his wife and their two children to Cold
Spring. Anyone wishing to send him a contribution m a y mail it to: R i c h a r d
Gilleo, 3 F o r g e Gate Dr. Apt. 3B, Cold Spring, N.Y. 10516.
Safety of PPG workers improves
CITY OF TROY PLANNING DEPARTMENT employee David Woodin,
center, has been chosen as the first winner in the city's newly implemented
Employee Suggestion Award Program. Woodin suggested that the city close
down the parking garage, which serves the downtown shopping mall, on Sundays when the mall is closed. He was awarded a $50 savings bond for the idea
which saved the city $4000 in operation and maintenance costs. Woodin is being
congratulated by Oty of Troy CSEA Unit President Joseph Cassidy, left, and
Jackson Dennis, right, CSEA's representative on the suggestion award committee.
WEST BRENTWOOD — The s a f e t y of MHTAs, therapy a s s i s t a n t s and
L P N s at P i l g r i m P s y c h i a t r i c Center ( P P C ) is described as s o m e w h a t b e t t e r
following the recent settlement of a grievance.
Under the settlement of a class action safety grievance, m a n a g e m e n t
a g r e e d not to count therapy a s s i s t a n t s and L P N s when staffing the w a r d s for
t h e 4-12 and 12-8 shifts where the staffing level is one MHTA per ward, CSEA
Local 418 Grievance Chairman Paula Luvera said.
Local 418 President Bill Chacona said, " T h i s s e t t l e m e n t m e a n s a lot to the
institutional employees at P i l g r i m . They no longer have to work alone on the
w a r d s which is a dangerous situation."
Ms. Luvera said that under the old s y s t e m of one employee r e g a r d l e s s of
job title per ward, employees w e r e forced to work alone.
Calendar of EVENTS
March
18—Buffalo Local 003, General Membership Meeting, 5:30 P.M.. Buffalo Aud CSub.
18—Nassau County Local 830 Executive Committee meeting, 5:30 p.m., Salisbury Inn,
Eisenhower Park, East A^adow.
19—Long island Region 1 Clerical, Secretarial Seminar, 7-11 p.m.. Holiday Inn, Hauppauge.
20—Locol 432 Shop Steward Workshop on "Grievance Process and Procedure," 11:30
a.m. Satellite Office, 222 Momaroneck Ave., White Plains.
23—L.I. Region I executive board meeting. Hotel Syracuse, Syracuse.
23—Southern Region III delegates meeting, 7 p.m.. Ambassador Room, Hotel Syracuse,
Syracuse.
22-24—CSEA Delegates Meeting Syracuse.
April
1—Long Island Region I Mental Hygiene Task Force meeting, noon. Region I Satellite Office, Houppauge.
8—Pilgrim Psychiatric Center Local 418 open house, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.. Assembly Hall,
Pilgrim Psychiatric Center, West Brentwood.
10—-Central Islip Psychiatric Center Local 404 open house, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Club House,
Central islip Psychiatric Center, Central Islip.
I 20-22—Long Island Region I Annual Workshop, Gurney's Inn, Montauk.
10-11—Region 6 Women's Committee Seminar, Rowntowner, Rochester.
15—Buffalo Local 003, Executive Committee Meeting Plaza Suite, Buffalo.
May
20—Buffalo Local 003, Executive Committee Meeting, Plaza Suite, Buffalo.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR. Wednesday, March 18. 1981
Paae 3
SPublic—
SSECTOR
Official publication of
The Civil Service Employees
Association
33 Elk Street, Albany, New York J 2224
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 25<r
T h o m a s A. d e m e n t e — P u b l i s h e r
R o g e r A. C o l e — E x e c u t i v e E d i t o r
Dr. Gerald Alperstein—Associate Editor
G w e n n M. B e l l c o u r t — A s s o c i a t e E d i t o r
D e b o r a h Cassidy—Staff W r i t e r
Dawn LePore—Staff Writer
J o h n L. M u r p h y — S t a f f W r i t e r
A r d e n D. L a w a n d — G r a p h i c D e s i g n
D e n n i s C. M u l l a h y — P r o d u c t i o n C o o r d i n a t o r
^
LABOR P R E S S m
Published every Wednesday by Clarity Publishing, Inc. Publication
Office, 75 Champlain Street, Albany, N.Y. 12204 ( 518 ) 465-4591
Onondaga social
a prime exampie
of union soiidarity
SYRACUSE - To the tune of "Union Solidarity", nearly 800 CSEA
m e m b e r s of Onondaga County Local 834 g a t h e r e d for a m e m b e r s h i p gettogether recently at the Hotel Syracuse ballroom.
"Since our local has about 4,000 m e m b e r s , we thought a social night of fun
would be a good way of bringing m e m b e r s together and strengthening our
s o l i d a r i t y , " Local 834 P r e s i d e n t T h o m a s Murphy said.
Local 834 T r e a s u r e r P a t r i c i a Callahan designed a four-color brochure announcing the event to local m e m b e r s .
Many of the Local 834 m e m b e r s who attended the ballroom festivity called
it a success.
" I t w a s a good way of pulling everyone together. I m e t people who I didn't
even know belong to our local," said Lois Rinn, a physical therapist at Van
Duyn H o m e and Hospital.
ON HAND F O R T H E ONONDAGA COUNTY LOCAL 834 get together a r e a t
right, f r o m left, Onondaga County Unit P r e s i d e n t Connie Bissi, Local 834
Corresponding S e c r e t a r y Ventina Cerutti, Onondaga County R e p r e s e n t a t i v e to
the CSEA Board of Directors Marie Kalbfleisch, Local 834 P r e s i d e n t T h o m a s
Murphy and Local 834 T r e a s u r e r P a t r i c i a Callahan.
Nassau Jail problems led to wildcat
EAST MEADOW — A f t e r p r o c r a s t i n a t i n g over t h e p r o b l e m for
y e a r s , County E x e c u t i v e F r a n c i s P u r c e l l , faced with a two-day wildcat
s t r i k e on F e b . 25-26 by correction o f f i c e r s , finally a g r e e d to do something
about overcrowding and u n d e r s t a f f i n g a t the N a s s a u County Jail.
He m e t with CSEA l e a d e r s Nicholas Abbatiello, N a s s a u Local 830
P r e s i d e n t , and Correction O f f i c e r s Unit P r e s i d e n t J e r r y Donohue, who
have been complaining bitterly about conditions in the jail,and said he would:
hire 30 to 60 m o r e correction o f f i c e r s ; u p g r a d e s a l a r i e s in line with pay
levels for correction o f f i c e r s in Suffolk, New York q i t y and W e s t c h e s t e r ;
relieve crowded conditions a t the j a i l ; waive retribution penalties
for the wildcat action; and consider firing N a s s a u County Sheriff Michael
Seniuk, who subsequently resigned.
Mr. P u r c e l l also assured CSEA that the personnel r e c o r d s of correction o f f i c e r s a t the jail would r e m a i n confidential. The disclosure t h a t
personnel files w e r e being turned over to a Legal Aid a t t o r n e y
r e p r e s e n t i n g an i n m a t e who alleged he had been beaten by correction off i c e r s kicked off the wildcat strike. The files include h o m e a d d r e s s e s ,
telephone n u m b e r s and information about the o f f i c e r s ' families.
" T h e o f f i c e r s w e r e concerned t h a t a disturbed i n m a t e could use t h a t
information in seeking r e v e n g e , " Mr. Donohue said.
Word that the personnel files w e r e being released spread quickly
through the correction o f f i c e r s ' r a n k s artd they walked off the job a t the 4-
Page 12
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, February 1297, 1981
to-midnight shift on F e b r u a r y 25. Once on strike, the correction o f f i c e r s
quickly e n u m e r a t e d the other p r o b l e m s that had helped c a u s e the
walkout. Mr. Donohue said t h a t the o f f i c e r s w e r e exhausted f r o m continued m a n d a t o r y o v e r t i m e s h i f t s caused by shortages of personnel and
overcrowding. T h e r e w e r e 940 prisoners c r a m m e d in the jail t h a t w a s
built to hold 612 at the t i m e of t h e objection and both CSEA and County officials h a v e expressed f e a r s for y e a r s t h a t a minor incident could explode
into a riot at any m o m e n t .
As Mr. Abbatiello and Mr. Donohue m e t with the county executive
and presented him with their complaints, CSEA employees f r o m o t h e r
d e p a r t m e n t s r e f u s e d to c r o s s correction o f f i c e r s ' picket lines. Sheriff
Seniuk ordered t h e o f f i c e r s on duty locked in the jail and N a s s a u County
Police ringed the facility.
At first Mr. P u r c e l l r e f u s e d to negotiate while t h e o f f i c e r s w e r e on
strike, but he l a t e r relented and a g r e e d to resolve the issues. CSEA
leaders felt that the solidarity of CSEA correction o f f i c e r s and other
CSEA employees helped change Mr. P u r c e l l ' s mind.
As the strike was ending, U.S. District Court J u d g e G e o r g e P r a t t
ordered the j a i l ' s population reduced by 400 within 60 days or he t h r e a t e n ed to intervene and appoint a f e d e r a l r e c e i v e r who would run the facility.
On March 10, Mr. Abbatiello m e t with the Office of E m p l o y e e
Relations and Jielped t h e m p r e p a r e a report on c o m p a r a t i v e s a l a r i e s of
corrections o f f i c e r s in other Counties that was presented to Mr. P u r c e l l .
Special Delegates
MFFTINr:
March 22, 23, & 24, 1981
HOTEL SYRACUSE /
SYRACUSE CMC CENTER
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK
SYRACUSE — About 1,000 CSEA d e l e g a t e s a r e preparing to p a r t i c i p a t e
in the 1981 CSEA Spring Delegates Meeting scheduled for Sunday, M a r c h 22
through Tuesday, March 24 in Syracuse.
The agenda opens with a m e e t i n g of the s t a t e w i d e Board of D i r e c t o r s a t
1 p.m. on Sunday in the Hotel Syracuse and closes a f t e r the general business
session Tuesday afternoon at the Syracuse Civic Center, and in between a r e
a wide r a n g e of workshop and educational p r o g r a m s .
The f i r s t general business session of the D e l e g a t e s Meeting will open a t
5 p.m. Sunday afternoon in the Hotel S y r a c u s e BaHroom. Sunday night f r o m
7 to 9 p . m . delegates have a choice of attending workshops on Social
Security, Workers' Compensation and P a r l i a m e n t a r y P r o c e d u r e a t various
sites within the Hotel Syracuse. A r e t i r e e d e l e g a t e s m e e t i n g is also scheduled f r o m 7 to 9 p.m. a t the D i r e c t o r s R o o m in the Hotel Syracuse,
The f i r s t general business session a t the S y r a c u s e Civic Center will be
held f r o m 9 a . m . to 3 p.m. on Monday. A special briefing session for
delegates on the potential i m p a c t of P r e s i d e n t R e a g a n ' s budget proposals on
New York S t a t e ' s economy and public e m p l o y e e s and p r o g r a m s will be conducted by AFSCME personnel f r o m 3:30 to 5 p . m . a t the Civic C e n t e r t h e
s a m e day.
T u e s d a y ' s general business session is set to begin a t 9 a . m . and run until
conclusion t h a t afternoon. A n u m b e r of proposed Constitution and By-Laws
changes, published in last w e e k ' s edition of The Public Sector, will be considered during the business sessions.
I n f o r m a t i o n tables will be s t a f f e d by union r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s a t the Civic
Center f r o m 8:30 a . m . to 3 p.m. on Monday, M a r c h 23. A r e a s to be
r e p r e s e n t e d include Field Services, E d u c a t i o n D e p a r t m e n t , E m p l o y e e
Assistance P r o g r a m , R e t i r e e s , P E O P L E , School Districts, Legal Services,
E m p l o y e e Benefit Fund and T r e a s u r e r ' s D e p a r t m e n t .
Court transcript bill
vehemently opposed
ALBANY — CSEA is aiming its lobbying guns to shoot down Governor C a r e y ' s budget-linked proposal which would m a k e t r a n s c r i p t s of
court proceedings provided by OCA court r e p o r t e r s the p r o p e r t y of the
State, with r e v e n u e f r o m the sale of t r a n s c r i p t s a c c r u e i n g to the State.
" W e v e h e m e n t l y oppose this bill, which is nothing but a c r a s s a t t a c k
by OCA on its employees and on accepted p r a c t i c e , " said Collective
Bargaining Specialist P a t r i c k Monachino. " T h i s a t t e m p t is a first. It is
contrary to past p r a c t i c e s and to established policy of court r e p o r t e r s not
only in New York, but throughout the entire c o u n t r y . "
Monachino pointed out that the State is ignoring the thousands of
dollars worth of e q u i p m e n t and supplies that r e p o r t e r s h a v e had to invest
to get out speedy t r a n s c r i p t s . " S o m e hire their own s t a f f s for transcribing and typing so t h a t the productivity is there. The proposal would cause
hardship both in t e r m s of the income and i n v e s t m e n t losses by court
r e p o r t e r s and in the jobs of the people they h i r e . "
He said that the increased cost to the S t a t e of i m p l e m e n t i n g this
proposal has been e s t i m a t e d at $31 million a y e a r . Studies of the Court of
Claims, w h e r e the S t a t e provides t r a n s c r i b e r s and typists, have shown
that the money spent on providing t r a n s c r i p t s is f a r m o r e than the n o r m a l
cost of court r e p o r t e r s producing their own t r a n s c r i p t s .
"What responsibility the State would a s s u m e in r e g a r d to the typing
and transcribing is unclear at this t i m e , " Monachino said. " I t would
cause a t r e m e n d o u s delay in completion of t r a n s c r i p t s , and would
psobably end up eliminating the r e q u i r e m e n t to have t r a n s c r i p t s completed by the following day, thereby h a m p e r i n g the e n t i r e judicial
process.
Judiciary Labor/Management Committee Chairman Thomas
J e f f e r s o n c o m m e n t e d : " M a n y , many r e p o r t e r s spend their holidays,
nights and weekends to complete transcripts. Reducing their incentive
would have a d v e r s e e f f e c t s on productivity. I think this m o v e would be
d e t r i m e n t a l to the reporting profession."
Court r e p o r t e r s r e p r e s e n t e d by CSEA a r e encouraged to write or call
their s e n a t o r s and a s s e m b l y m e m b e r s to e x p r e s s their opposition to the
bill (S.3115 and A.4015).
UNITED WAY AWARD — George H. Clark, right, president of Erie County
Home and Infirmary CSEA Unit of Local 815 receives the United Way Silver
Award on behalf of CSEA members who donated to the annual United Way
Fund Drive. Presenting the awards are Deputy Commissioner James Smith,
left, and Commissioner James Kuechle.
Trustees overseeing Local 010
NEW YORK CITY — Local 010 of the Civil Service E m p l o y e e s Association
has been placed in trusteeship by CSEA P r e s i d e n t William L. McGowan pursuant to the CSEA's Constitution and the r e s u l t s of a union audit of the local's
records.
M e m b e r s of the local have been notified by mail of the trusteeship and all
employees r e p r e s e n t e d by the local a r e advised to contact the local office (212732-4534) or the Metropolitan Region Office (212-962-3090) for services n o r m a l ly provided by local officers.
In a c c o r d a n c e with the CSEA Constitution, P r e s i d e n t McGowan has appointed t h r e e t r u s t e e s to oversee operation of Local 010 pending action by a
c o m m i t t e e of CSEA's Board of D i r e c t o r s . The t r u s t e e s a r e : T h o m a s H. McDonough, E x e c u t i v e Vice P r e s i d e n t , CSEA; F . John Gallagher, T r e a s u r e r ,
CSEA; and J a m e s Gripper, J r . , Metropolitan Region II P r e s i d e n t .
Under CSEA's Constitution, any local officials suspended a s the result of a
trusteeship a r e considered innocent of any alleged violations of the union's
Constitution and By-Laws until a d e t e r m i n a t i o n is m a d e by an a p p r o p r i a t e trial
board following a full hearing involving all p a r t i e s .
Disciplinary actions against Local 429 officials upheld
NEW YORK CITY — A r b i t r a t o r s have upheld disciplinary actions against
several officials of CSEA Local 429 at the Staten Island Developmental Center
in connection with p r o t e s t s of m a n a g e m e n t action against employees alleged
to have participated in a job action at the facility.
CSEA Local 429 P r e s i d e n t Felton King and Local Vice P r e s i d e n t s Michael
Hicks and Roy H a r g r o v e w e r e disciplined by the s t a t e l a t e last s u m m e r following d e m o n s t r a t i o n s protesting the " d o c k i n g " of paychecks for employees
alleged to have p a r t i c i p a t e d in a sick out to p r o t e s t staff shortages at the
facility. In each case, termination was the penalty sought by the s t a t e and in
each c a s e s e p a r a t e a r b i t r a t o r s have upheld the c h a r g e s and the penalties
despite the e f f o r t s of CSEA attorneys who defended the officials in lengthy arbitration hearings.
Charges against two other Local Officials, Vice P r e s i d e n t s Tyrone Daniels
and T e r r y Rouse, a r e still pending. Those c a s e s have also been a r g u e d by
CSEA b e f o r e a r b i t r a t o r s but no decisions have as yet been handed down.
The d e m o n s t r a t i o n s following the withholding of s a l a r y f r o m e m p l o y e e s
alleged to have been involved in the sick out included five days of p r o t e s t s at
the facility during which, the s t a t e alleged, s t a t e offices w e r e occupied and
property d a m a g e was caused. The Local 429 officials denied the c h a r g e s
against t h e m arguing that they had p a r t i c i p a t e d in the activities in an a t t e m p t
to control d e m o n s t r a t o r s and avoid confrontations.
The decision of the a r b i t r a t o r s in the c a s e s is e f f e c t i v e i m m e d i a t e l y . The
only possible avenue of appeal in any disciplinary arbitration involves court
action which m u s t prove that the a r b i t r a t o r exceeded the authority given to
him by the p a r t i e s in making his decision and a w a r d , a difficult point to prove.
CSEA l a w y e r s w e r e studying the decisions a t press time.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, March 18, 1981
Page 5
K .-.ri.iN
State employees
overcoming many
difficulties to
provide service
to public in the
Binghamton area
CSEA MEMBERS from the Payroll Department squeeze in around a small table and a single adding
machine. Laura Farrell, Mary Dranichak and Sonya Jubinsky have had to make this setting "home"
since they were displaced from the Binghamton State Office Building in early February
BINGHAMTON — A February 5 transformer explosion and resultant fire which spread PCB and
other dioxin contamination throughout the 20-story
State Office Building here may have shut down the
building where hundreds of state employees
worked, but it did not shut down the work done by
those employees.
Almost immediately the displaced employees
from several state agencies were turning out their
work and providing services to the public from temporary work locations throughout the Binghamton
area.
But while the work goes on, in most cases it is
with difficulties caused by lack of space and adequate equipment. For the most part "offices" are
makeshift arrangements at best, as the accompanying photographs attest.
No one knows exactly how long the hundreds of
state workers will be forced to occupy these "temporary" arrangements, but indications are that it
will be months before the State Office Building
could be ready for occupancy again.
THESE CRAMPED QUARTERS are the temporary office location of Workers Compensation Board
employees, left, Beverly Skrocky, Pat Greco, Helen Stewart, and right, Nancy Corbett and Nancy
Lindsey.
DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLE'S temporary facility in the County Office Building is in near
constant confusion due to crowding and temporary arrangements.
Page
12
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, February 6, 1981
IF SHE WANTED TO, Kathy Rolston of Workers
Compensation could actually fold up her "desk" and take
it home at night.
•
April 30 is
deadline on
Flaumenbaum
sclioiarsiiip
applications
MANY EMPLOYEES have been forced to build makeshift offices themselves. Here,
Katie Phillips, Peggy Cron and Elaine Greenbaum, all of Tax Compliance, used
plexiglass and saw horses to construct a shared desk in the back storage area of the
Marine Midland building.
AHPARA CHAMPAIGN, an Adlinistrative Supply Room
mployee, uses a folding easel
liair as her desk while temporari' quartered in the Binghamton
aval Reserve Building.
Commission waives
attendance ruies;
iost time restored
The S t a t e Civil Service Commission on M a r c h 10 announced
that a t t e n d a n c e rules will be
suspended in the specific cases
of s t a t e e m p l o y e e s d e t e r m i n e d
to have been absent f r o m work
£ # t h e S t a t e Office Building in
Binghamton a s a direct result of
the F e b r u a r y 5 t r a n s f o r m e r explosion and r e s u l t a n t contamination.
CSEA e a r l i e r had demanded
that the s t a t e waive t i m e s and
a t t e n d a n c e rules so that a f f e c t e d
e m p l o y e e s would not be required to c h a r g e the absences to
personal a c c r u a l s .
Civil Service Commission
s p o k e s m a n said the decision to
suspend the rules applies to all
s t a t e e m p l o y e e s d e t e r m i n e d by
t h e i r a g e n c i e s to h a v e been
absent a s a result of the cont a m i n a t i o n situation but who
w e r e o t h e r w i s e a v a i l a b l e to
work. The spokesman said the
C o m m i s s i o n a c t e d on r u l e s
suspension r e q u e s t s f r o m 260
e m p l o y e e s f r o m 14 d i f f e r e n t
agencies f o r m e r l y located in the
c o n t a m i n a t e d building, but that
the rules suspension applies to
all s t a t e w o r k e r s s i m i l a r l y
situated. U n d e r the ruling, each
agency w a s authorized to determ i n e those employees absent
who a r e eligible to have the
c h a r g e d leave restored.
CSEA m e m b e r s and their
families a r e reminded that April 30
is t h e d e a d l i n e f o r f i l i n g
applications for the CSEA Irving
Flaumenbaum
Memorial
Scholarship Fund for the 1981-82
school year.
Completed f o r m s m u s t be mailed
to CSEA H e a d q u a r t e r s , c / o the
Special Scholarship Fund Committee, 33 Elk St., Albany, N.Y.
12207.
Under the p r o g r a m , 18 g r a n t s of
$500 each will be a w a r d e d to t h r e e
students in each of the six regions,
for a total of $9,000 in a w a r d money
statewide.
The scholarships a r e available to
all CSEA m e m b e r s ' children who
a r e graduating high school seniors.
They will be granted on the basis
of a n u m b e r of things, including
high school rank and a v e r a g e , test
scores, c o m m u n i t y and school service, c a r e e r goals, r e c o m m e n dations and financial need.
The scholarships will be awarded
in June. All information obtained
f r o m the applications will be kept
confidential. F o r m s a r e available
through Local and Regional offices.
LETTERS
LACK OF FILE CABINETS is a big problem for Mary Bubas of the Department of
Taxation. Department employees are using temporary facilities on the first floor of
the Binghamton Marine Midland Bank Plaza.
Editor's note: In the February 25 issue,
The Public Sector featured an article
detailing how Air F o r c e Staff Sergeant
Kevin Clark w a s aboard " F r e e d o m One,"
t h e plane w h i c h f l e w the A m e r i c a n
hostages h o m e f r o m Iran. Kevin is the son
of "Mickey" Clark, a CSEA m e m b e r from
Rockland County and the late Mr. John
Clark, long-time union activist. That article drew the following letter from Mrs.
F r a n c e s A. Manner, a m e m b e r of CSEA
Local 010 in Elmhurst. The letter w a s
dated March 2, just f i v e days before, as
the last paragraph indicates, a happy
reunion.
Editor, The Public Sector:
When I r e a d t h e ' M i c k e y ' C l a r k s t o r y in
t h e issue of F e b r u a r y 25th, I w a s s u r p r i s e d
at t h e s i m i l a r i t i e s in our r e c e n t lives a n d
w o n d e r e d if s h e a n d I w e r e a m o n g any
o t h e r CSEA m e m b e r s i n d i r e c t l y involved
with t h e r e t u r n of t h e h o s t a g e s .
Staff Sgt. M a s o n M a n n e r is m y ' 2 5 - y e a r old son w h o h a d been in G e r m a n y a l m o s t
t w o y e a r s w h e n I visited h i m t h e r e last
S e p t e m b e r . Since he w a s then beginning
slowly to p r e p a r e f o r f u r l o u g h this M a r c h ,
I w a s not g r e a t l y c o n c e r n e d a t his m a i l
silence. My p a s s i v e n e s s w a s s h a k e n a t
s e e i n g in a N e w Y o r k City daily p a p e r his
interview at the Wiesbaden hospital,
w h e r e his m e c h a n i c a l e n g i n e e r i n g t r a i n ing w a s r e a d y i n g t h e building s y s t e m s for
t h e c a r e a n d c o m f o r t of t h e r e t u r n e e s !
Like M r s . C l a r k , 1 s a t up w a t c h i n g t h e
television c o v e r a g e , hoping to c a t c h a
g l i m p s e of c a m e r a - b u g M a s o n but signed
off with C h a n n e l 4 a t 2 a . m . (1 w a s a w a k e
a t m y usual t i m e to open t h e E l m h u r s t
Hospital o f f i c e of t h e M e n t a l H e a l t h Inform a t i o n S e r v i c e a t 9:00 t h a t m o r n i n g ) .
Now, I ' m really excited: He arrives
M a r c h 7th.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, February 7, 1981
Page 3
Proposal now in the hands of the Office of iVIentai Health
HPC stenographers await title upgrading
By Thomas Moczydlowski
CSEA COLLECTIVE BARGAINING SPECIALIST John Conoby updates
members of Hutchings Psychiatric Center Local 435 on the status of a title
upgrading request for some stenographers. With Conoby are Local 435 Vice
President Sharon Conner, left, and hospital Senior Personnel Administrator
Anita Marusich.
SYRACUSE — While the stenographers at Hutchings P s y c h i a t r i c
Center (HPC) a r e still awaiting approval on a title upgrading, CSEA Collective Bargaining Specialist John Conoby recently brought hopeful word that
their proposal is being considered by the Office of Mental Health.
A y e a r ago, the s t e n o g r a p h e r s at HPC proposed that their positions be
changed to clinical s e c r e t a r i e s grade seven. Joni Hinds, s e c r e t a r y of HPC
Local 435, was i n s t r u m e n t a l in first pressing for the upgrading.
Local 435 P r e s i d e n t Betty Knickerbocker said the original proposal was
followed by attention f r o m the Clerical Secretarial E m p l o y e e Advancement
Program.
" T h e purpose of the e f f o r t is to recognize that s e c r e t a r i a l employees,
whose work in a pschiatric unit r e l a t e s to the t r e a t m e n t of m e n t a l patients,
have significantly d i f f e r e n t duties and require an increased level of skill,"
said Anita Marusich, senior personnel a d m i n i s t r a t o r a t HPC.
Because m a n y of the stenographers a t HPC use skills related to psychiatric t r e a t m e n t , Marusich said their s e c r e t a r i a l functions a r e unique and
they should be upgraded in title and salary.
Local 435 Vice P r e s i d e n t Sharon Conner said: " T h e personnel staff is
pulling together with the s t e n o g r a p h e r s toward our c a u s e . "
If i m p l e m e n t e d , the proposal in its present f o r m could eithsr be used as
a pilot p r o j e c t for HPC or be employed statewide, depending upon the final
decision of the D e p a r t m e n t of Civil Service.
Conoby said: " I ' m optimistic with reservations. The proposal is in its
final stage. Once it gets through the Office of Mental Health it should move
m o r e quickly through the D e p a r t m e n t of Civil Service. W e ' r e hoping that
this isn't d r a w n out too m u c h longer, and that the s t e n o g r a p h e r s get the upgrading. I t ' s something t h a t ' s been needed for y e a r s and y e a r s . "
PERB returns town car to Local 830 unit president
MINEOLA — CSEA has rapped the knuckles of the Town of Oyster Bay for
withdrawing the use of a town c a r f r o m town CSEA Unit P r e s i d e n t P a t
D'Alessio, in what Nassau Local 830 P r e s i d e n t Nick Abbatiello had t e r m e d
" b l a t a n t political r e t r i b u t i o n . "
The c a r w a s restored to D'Alessio by order of the Public E m p l o y m e n t
Relations Board following a strong e f f o r t by the CSEA legal defense p r o g r a m .
P E R B noted acidly that the c a r had been withdrawn " t w o days a f t e r an
election^ in which the incumbent town supervisor was r e t u r n e d to office, but in
which D'Alessio had supported the c h a l l e n g e r . "
P E R B ordered the town to r e s t o r e use of the c a r to D'Alessio and to reimburse him a t $15 a day for excess expenses he incurred.
D'Alessio uses the c a r to i m p l e m e n t the CSEA-town c o n t r a c t during the day
as well as for transportation to and f r o m his home.
P E R B r e j e c t e d the town's a r g u m e n t that the action w a s the result of a
routine, periodic review of automobile assignments.
The c a s e w a s handled by Atty. M a r j o r i e Karowe of the CSEA legal f i r m of
Roemer & Featherstonhaugh.
^^^^Ä-MONT
county
^ M ^ i T C O n i a
YOU GOTTA HAVE HEART — Members of Montgomery County Local 829 of the Civil Service Employees Association, above left to right, Lillian Zippiere, Mary Ann Ammerall, Barbara Case, Phyllis Hage and Freda Sagatis, are shown waiting to take telephone pledges as
long time CSEA activist Richard Tarmey, left, who served as master of ceremonies for the
Heart Fund Cable TV telethon accepts a check from Montgomery County CSEA Local
President William Zippiere, right. CSEA donated $200 to the local Heart campaign.
A nurse is a nurse . . . not a clerical worker
NEW YORK — N u r s e s a t the Orange County I n f i r m a r y should do the
work of nurses and not be assigned clerical duties, according to A r b i t r a t o r
E d w a r d Levin.
Local 836 of the Civil Service E m p l o y e e s Association filed a grievance
against the county when supervising nurses a t the I n f i r m a r y w e r e assigned
clerical duties connected with scheduling work assignments. The union
argued that their responsibilities w e r e strictly clinical — related to the c a r e
of patients. The nurses t h e m s e l v e s noted that the e x t r a paperwork required
t h e m to stay late or take work h o m e so as to not i n t e r f e r e with regular
duties such a s washing and turning patients, administering and applying
medication and drugs, and otherwise looking a f t e r the special needs of Infirm a r y residents.
CSEA c h a r g e s assigning the out-of-title work violated both Civil Service
law and its c o n t r a c t with the county, and the m a t t e r went into arbitration.
F o r its part, the county claimed it had the right to r e q u i r e supervising
Page 8
i-.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, W e d n e s d a y , M a r c h 18, 1981
.
:
. 1
,0-
V
,
, ,
. . ,
nurses to a r r a n g e schedules for employees and asked that the grievance be
dismissed.
A hearing w a s held Dec. 22,1980, and based on evidence, testimony and
a r g u m e n t s provided by both sides. Levin found, "Although the county claimed to be u n a w a r e of the distinction between clinical and clerical supervision
as it was defined by the union, the union successfully established such a distinction." He noted the county had a past practice of having clerical staff do
the scheduling and t r a n s f e r r i n g that job to the supervising nurses, "constitutes a unilateral change initiated by the County but prohibited by the cont r a c t . " He then ordered county officials to, " r e t u r n to the f o r m e r practice in
which supervising nurses w e r e not engaged in such clerical f u n c t i o n s . "
When notified of the decision, County Unit P r e s i d e n t Kay Cayton said she
was, " v e r y pleased that we won and hopeful that in the f u t u r e the county
will avoid such happenings."
CSEA representatives meeting prior to State Insurance Fund
Labor/Management meeting. (1 to r) State Insurance Fund Local 351 President
Stella Williams; CSEA Collective Bargaining Specialist John Conoby;
Rochester City Local 012 President Sylvia Ebersold; Department ot Labor
Local 670 member Diane Pelky; Syracuse City Local 013 member Harry
Colella; State Insurance Fund Local 351 Shop Steward Randy Johnson; Shirley
Brown, CSEA Board Representative for the State Insurance Fund and
President of Department of Labor Local 670.
Agency's inconsistent policies debated
First statewide Insurance
Fund meeting strives to
Improve communications
LOUIS DeSALVIO (standing), Secretary of the State Insurance Commission,
with (1 to r) Williams, Conoby, and Ebersold.
N E W Y O R K CITY - T h e f i r s t s t a t e w i d e S t a t e I n s u r a n c e F u n d
L a b o r / M a n a g e m e n t m e e t i n g was held recently a t the F u n d ' s h e a d q u a r t e r s in
New York City.
According to CSEA Collective Bargaining Specialist John Conoby who
headed the CSEA t e a m , the m e e t i n g w a s " s i g n i f i c a n t not just because it was
the first s t a t e w i d e L a b o r / M a n a g e m e n t m e e t i n g within the agency, but also
because the m e e t i n g enabled us to a d d r e s s t h e inconsistencies a m o n g the
d i f f e r e n t district offices in the application of the I n s u r a n c e F u n d ' s personnel
policies."
CSEA m e m b e r s in the F u n d ' s h e a d q u a r t e r s and in the district offices
throughout New York State work for the s a m e agency, but m e m b e r s in the
h e a d q u a r t e r s and in each district office a r e serviced by different CSEA Locals.
R e p r e s e n t i n g CSEA at the m e e t i n g w e r e : John Conoby, CSEA Collective
Bargaining Specialist; Shirley Brown, CSEA Board R e p r e s e n t a t i v e for State
I n s u r a n c e Fund m a t t e r s and P r e s i d e n t of D e p a r t m e n t of Labor Local 670;
H a r r y Colella, Syracuse City Local 013 m e m b e r ; Sylvia Ebersold, R o c h e s t e r
City Local 012 P r e s i d e n t ; Randy Johnson, S t a t e I n s u r a n c e Fund Local 351 Shop
S t e w a r d ; Diane Pelky, D e p a r t m e n t of Labor Local 670 m e m b e r ; Marcia
Schiowitz, CSEA Region II Field R e p r e s e n t a t i v e ; and Stella Williams, State
I n s u r a n c e Fund Local 351 P r e s i d e n t .
S t a t e I n s u r a n c e Fund Administrative D i r e c t o r Irving Welch headed the 12m e m b e r m a n a g e m e n t group.
Among the topics discussed a t the m e e t i n g w e r e : the inconsistent
application of sick leave policy, p e r f o r m a n c e evaluation, the e f f e c t of computerization, training, c a r e e r a d v a n c e m e n t opportunities, and a l t e r n a t e work
schedules (flex-time).
The CSEA and the m a n a g e m e n t r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s agreed that the
L a b o r / M a n a g e m e n t m e e t i n g was " u s e f u l in improving c o m m u n i c a t i o n s "
between the two groups and expressed confidence that resolutions to problems
within the Fund can be found without the filing of grievances .
GWEP study examines part-time woric
What a r e t h e a d v a n t a g e s and disadvantages
of
part-time
e m p l o y m e n t ? How do p a r t - t i m e
employees view their jobs? And
how do f u l l - t i m e w o r k e r s ,
m a n a g e m e n t and the union view
p a r t - t i m e workers?
Such questions a r e the subject of
a c u r r e n t s t u d y of p a r t - t i m e
e m p l o y m e n t and its e f f e c t s on s t a t e
workers. The project is being sponsored by the joint CSEA-State Office of E m p l o y e e Relations Comm i t t e e on Work E n v i r o n m e n t and
Productivity ( C W E P ) .
"CSEA, through C W E P , is int e r e s t e d in o b t a i n i n g a s m u c h
knowledge about its m e m b e r s '
needs and p r e f e r e n c e s
as
possible," said Guy Dugas,
assistant to the executive director
of C W E P for CSEA. " T h i s study on
p a r t - t i m e e m p l o y m e n t is just one
endeavor to do so.^'
According to Dugas, the study
will explore the implications of
p a r t - t i m e e m p l o y m e n t for both the
work lives and f a m i l y lives of the
s t a t e ' s workers. It will include
employee, m a n a g e m e n t and union
perspectives on the issue.
New York S t a t e ' s p a r t - t i m e labor
force is e s t i m a t e d a t about 5,000.
Nationally, p a r t - t i m e e m p l o y m e n t
is growing for a variety of reasons,
including the influx of women in the
labor m a r k e t and a growing desire
f o r m o r e f l e x i b i l i t y in t h e
w o r k p l a c e to m e e t f a m i l y
demands.
The study is being conducted by
the s t a t e Council on Children and
F a m i l i e s and is being funded for
one y e a r a t a c o s t of $61,550.
Questionnaires a r e currently being
mailed to those s t a t e workers who
have been identified as parttimers.
A s e p a r a t e survey will be sent to
a r a n d o m s a m p l e of f u l l - t i m e
employees f r o m various state
agencies to d e t e r m i n e how receptive they a r e to their p a r t - t i m e
colleagues.
Another phase of the study will
be selected interviews with personnel officers, supervising personnel and union officials.
All information obtained through
the study will be kept confidential.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, February 9, 1981
Page 3
Pay raise puts
Mike Bauer in a
higher tax bracitet—
and on television
By S t a n l e y P . H o r n a k
CSEA Communications Associate
KINGSTON — One night this month, while watching the NBC Nightly
N e w s , U l s t e r C o u n t y union menmbers will s e e t h e f a m i l i a r f a c e of M i k e
Bauer.
T h e 32-year old K i n g s t o n C i t y School D i s t r i c t c u s t o d i a n will b e f e a t u r e d
in a f i v e - m i n u t e n e w s s e g m e n t t h a t will b e p a r t of a s p e c i a l s e r i e s " B r a c k e t
C r e e p " — w h a t happens to four d i f f e r e n t A m e r i c a n faifiilies when they e a r n
m o r e m o n e y a n d go i n t o h i g h e r t a x b r a c k e t s .
B a u e r will b e s e e n on t h e j o b , b u f f i n g a f l o o r , a n d l a t e r a t h o m e w i t h h i s
w i f e C a r o l e a n d t h e i r t w o c h i l d r e n . T h e y w e r e c h o s e n a s a t y p i c a l f a m i l y of
f o u r t r y i n g t o m a k e a go of it w i t h o n l y o n e b r e a d w i n n e r b e c a u s e , " I w a i ^
m y kids b r o u g h t u p by u s . "
.
N B C n e w s r e a c h e d B a u e r b y w a y of L e n C r a n e , p r e s i d e n t of b o t h t h e
local C h a m b e r of C o m m e r c e a n d t h e c i t y B o a r d of E d u c a t i o n . H e w a s c a l l e d
upon t o find s o m e o n e w h o w a s t h e s o l e s u p p o r t of h i s f a m i l y a n d e a r n i n g
a p p r o x i m a t e l y $10,000 a n n u a l l y . W h e n B a u e r w a s f i r s t a s k e d , " y o u w a n t t o
b e on T V ? " h e t h o u g h t i t w a s a j o k e . I t w a s n ' t .
A TV c r e w a r r i v e d F e b . 26 a n d s p e n t f i v e h o u r s in K i n g s t o n , f o l l o w i n g
t h e 32-year old p u b l i c e m p l o y e e f r o m h i s w o r k p l a c e t o h i s h o m e . B a u e r
f i g u r e s t h a t f o r e a c h m i n u t e h e will b e s e e n on N B C , h e did a n h o u r ' s t a p i n g
and recalls one scene (pulling into his d r i v e w a y ) required t h r e e " t a k e s . " H e
n o w e x p r e s s e s a lot m o r e a d m i r a t i o n f o r p e o p l e in t h e a c t i n g p r o f e s s i o n .
The actual interview w a s conducted by R e p o r t e r Mike J e n s e n . B a u e r
told h i m , in p a r t , " w e g e t good r a i s e s , t e n p e r c e n t t h i s y e ^ r , b u t it p u t s you
I N T H E N A T I O N A L S P O T L I G H T will b e M i k e a n d C a r o l B a u e r a n d t h e i r
c h i l d r e n , t h r e e - y e a r old C h r i s t i a n a n d n i n e - y e a r old Cori.
in a n o t h e r t a x b r a c k e t a n d t h e n y o u ' r e not t h a t m u c h a h e a d of y o u r s e l f . " H e
a l s o e x p r e s s e d f r u s t r a t i o n b e c a u s e , " i n t h e e n d , y o u ' r e m a k i n g m o r e but
buying l e s s . "
T h e w h o l e f a m i l y found t h e i n t e r v i e w , " a lot of f u n , " a l t h o u g h t h r e e y e a r old C h r i s t i a n w a s m o r e i n t e r e s t e d in e a t i n g cookies. T h e y all f o u n d it
h a r d to a c t " n a t u r a l " in f r o n t of t h e l i g h t s a n d c a m e r a s , s a y i n g , " t h a t w a s
like t r y i n g to i g n o r e a t r a i n c o m i n g t o w a r d y o u . "
B a u e r is n o w e a g e r t o s e e h i m s e l f a n d his f a m i l y on TV, a n d N B C will
tell h i m in a d v a n c e w h e n t h e s e g m e n t will r u n . In t h e m e a n t i m e , his l i f e is
b a c k to n o r m a l a n d t h a t m e a n s , a p p r o p r i a t e l y enough f o r t h e C S E A U n i t
President, preparing for upcoming contract-talks.
Union makes headway on
Reagan economic pians
e c o n o m i c p i c t u r e a n d i t s i m p a c t upon
New York State's economic picture.
"Following the Syracuse session, I
h o p e o u r m e m b e r s will p u t t h e i r lobbying techniques into m o t i o n , " Lattimer remarked,
Region VI President
Robert Let timer
BUFFALO C S E A R e g i o n VI
President Robert Lattimer this week
said he's pleased that a briefing
s e s s i o n on P r e s i d e n t
Reagan's
economic proposals and their potential i m p a c t upon N e w Y o r k S t a t e will
b e a m o n g t h e h i g h l i g h t s of t h e 1981
CSEA Spring Delegates Meeting
M a r c h 22-24 in S y r a c u s e b e c a u s e it
w i l l b e t h e f i r s t s t e p in p u t t i n g
t o g e t h e r a n i n f o r m e d , e f f e c t i v e lobbying e f f o r t .
The special briefing session for
C S E A d e l e g a t e s will b e c o n d u c t e d b y
A F S C M E o f f i c i a l s on M o n d a y , M a r c h
23rd, a s p a r t of t h e D e l e g a t e s M e e t i n g
agenda. President Lattimer had been
among the CSEA leaders urging such
a t h o r o u g h b r i e f i n g on t h e F e d e r a l
" S e l d o m have I agreed with
P r e s i d e n t R e a g a n , a f t e r all, I
represent
tax-paying
public
e m p l o y e e s , not 'Big Oil', banking or
p e o p l e in t h e u p p e r 10 p e r c e n t of t h e
i n c o m e b r a c k e t , " L a t t i m e r continued. " H o w e v e r , I do a g r e e with
h i m on o n e i t e m . H e h a s s t e a d f a s t l y
m a i n t a i n e d t h a t C o n g r e s s will e v e n tually respond to p r e s s u r e f r o m
A m e r i c a n v o t e r s on t h i s e c o n o m i c
p a c k a g e . H e is c o r r e c t . "
" C o n g r e s s will r e s p o n d t o t h e f e e d back received from constituents
back h o m e , " President Lattimer
s t a t e d . " C S E A a n d i t s m e m b e r s will
have the opportunity and an
obligation to influence the New York
S t a t e C o n g r e s s i o n a l d e l e g a t i o n in i t s
decision."
" O n c e we have the facts and figures
on h o w R e a g a n ' s b u d g e t will a f f e c t
u s , w e c a n l e t o u r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s in
C o n g r e s s k n o w how o u r l i v e s a r e being a l t e r e d , " h e c o m m e n t e d .
" C e r t a i n l y c h a n g e s in s o m e
F e d e r a l policies and p r o g r a m s a r e
needed, but consideration m u s t be
g i v e n t o t h e p e o p l e involved a n d t h e
r e g i o n s of t h e c o u n t r y in w h i c h t h e y
l i v e . " " T h e q u e s t i o n s h o u l d b e ' i s it
fair?'
" E v f e r y a g r e e m e n t in N e w Y o r k
S t a t e will b e t o u c h e d by w h a t h a p p e n s
in W a s h i n g t o n , D . C . W e ' v e g o t t o
s p e a k u p s o t h a t o u r m e s s a g e is n o t
lost in t h e s h u f f l e , " L a t t i m e r concluded.
T R U S T E E S O F T H E N E W W e s t c h e s t e r County CSEA I n c . E m p l o y e e B e n e f i t
Fund are, f r o m left standing, Mary Williams, Carmine DiBattista and Mary
Boyd; sitting, Raymond J. O'Connor, J a m e s Marino, E r n e s t Hemple and John
W h a l e n . T h e b e n e f i t f u n d w a s e s t a b l i s h e d by t h e W e s t c h e s t e r County Unit a s a
r e s u l t of its n e w c o n t r a c t w i t h t h e c o u n t y .
irv' memorial auditorium?
E A S T M E A D O W ~ T h e N a s s a u C o u n t y L o c a l 830 I r v i n g F l a u m e n b a u m M e m o r i a l S e a r c h C o m m i t t e e is i n v e s t i g a t i n g t h e possibility of t h e
c o u n t y r e n a m i n g i t s D e p a r t m e n t of S o c i a l S e r v i c e s a u d i t o r i u m in G a r d e n
C i t y a f t e r t h e l a t e CSEA leader, C o m m i t t e e C h a i r m a n H. Quann reported.
Q u a n n m a d e h i s r e p o r t a t a r e c e n t m e e t i n g of t h e L o c a l 830 E x e c u t i v e
C o n ^ M t t e e in E i s e n h o w e r P a r k .
L o c a l 830 i s s e e k i n g a l a s t i n g m e m o r i a l to M r . F l a u m e n b a u m .
- M r . F l a u m e n b a u m , t h e l a t e L o c a l 830 a n d L o n g I s l a n d R e g i o n I
M
b e e n a n e m p t o y e e of t h e N a s s a u C o u n t y D e p a r t m e n t of
fServices.
T h e E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e e l e c t e d P h y l l i s M u r p h y of t h e D e p a r t m e n t
j ^ l M S e r v i c e s a n d J o s e p h i n e M c C o y of t h e D e p a r t m e n t of G e n e r a l
S ^ l c ^ t o t h e L o c a l 830 E l e c t i o n C o m m i t t e e on t h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n of
^
L o c a i 830 P r e s i d e n t N i c h o l a s A b b a t i e l l o .
I W E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e also " a c c e p t e d with r e g r e t s " the
r e s i g n a t i o n f r o m t h e L o c a l 830 E l e c t i o n C o m m i t t e e of J o s e p h N . P i l l e r ,
p r e s i d e n t of t h e B O C E S U n i t .
Region IV President Joseph McDermott expresses extreme concern
OGS cutback of Capital Police places
State worifers, visitors in jeopardy
T h e S t a t e O f f i c e of G e n e r a l S e r v i c e s " a p p e a r s to h a v e a c t e d in its u s u a l illp r e p a r e d m a n n e r " in its s l a s h i n g of o n e - t h i r d of t h e a p p r o x i m a t e l y 100 j o b s of
t h e C a p i t a l P o l i c e Unit, a c c o r d i n g to J o s e p h E . M c D e r m o t t , Civil S e r v i c e
E m p l o y e e s Association Capital Region President.
E x p r e s s i n g his c o n c e r n for t h e h e a l t h a n d s a f e t y of t h e t h o u s a n d s of CSEA
m e m b e r s a n d v i s i t o r s w h o a r e a t t h e S t a t e O f f i c e C a m p u s a n d in t h e d o w n t o w n
E m p i r e S t a t e M a l l e v e r y d a y , M c D e r m o t t said t h a t h e is " e x t r e m e l y conc e r n e d " t h a t his r e q u e s t f o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e c u t b a c k s a p p a r e n t l y
h a s b e e n i g n o r e d by OGS C o m m i s s i o n e r J o h n E g a n .
T w o w e e k s a g o , M c D e r m o t t w r o t e to E g a n c o m m e n t i n g t h a t , s i n c e t h e
C o m m i s s i o n e r i n t e n d e d to put his plan into e f f e c t by t h e m i d d l e of M a r c h , " I
hope t h a t you will r e s p o n d to m y q u e s t i o n s a s q u i c k l y a s p o s s i b l e . "
T h e r e a r e m a n y a r e a s of c o n c e r n , said M c D e r m o t t , including t h e i n c r e a s e
in t h e i n c i d e n c e of c r i m e in t h e a r e a s p a t r o l l e d by m e m b e r s of t h e C a p i t a l
Police.
" I w a s s h o c k e d w h e n I r e a d f r o m y o u r own s t a t i s t i c s t h a t c r i m e h a s n e a r l y
doubled in t h e j u r i s d i c t i o n of t h e C a p i t a l P o l i c e in t h e l a s t f i v e y e a r s , while
OGS h a s c u t t h e f o r c e by t w e n t y p e r c e n t . It would s e e m to m e t h a t a n i n c r e a s e
in t h e size of t h e f o r c e r a t h e r t h a n a r e d u c t i o n is w a r r a n t e d a t t h i s t i m e , "
McDermott wrote.
L a c k of a n i m m e d i a t e r e s p o n s e f r o m E g a n , M c D e r m o t t s a i d , could f o r c e
CSEA " t o call upon t h e G o v e r n o r ' s O f f i c e to g e t p o s i t i v e m o v e m e n t out of t h i s
agency".
H e a s k e d f o r a n i m m e d i a t e r e s p o n s e , h e i n d i c a t e d , so t h a t C S E A could t a k e
w h a t e v e r m e a s u r e s it could to p r o t e c t its m e m b e r s w h i l e on t h e j o b a n d on
State property.
" T h e s i m p l e t r a n s p o r t i n g of o u r ill m e m b e r s to t h e h o s p i t a l b e c o n i e s
h a m s t r u n g in OGS r u l e s which t h e s e l a y o f f s n o w c o m p o u n d . OGS f a i l s to
e v a l u a t e or d i s c u s s t h e p r o b l e m s b e f o r e , o r e v e n a f t e r , t h e y c a u s e this
d a n g e r o u s i m p a c t " , M c D e r m o t t s a i d . " T h e C a p i t a l R e g i o n is r e v i e w i n g t h e
e m e r g e n c y m e d i c a l e v a c u a t i o n s e r v i c e a v a i l a b l e to its m e m b e r s a t S t a t e w o r k
l o c a t i o n s p r e v i o u s l y s e r v e d by t h e C a p i t a l P o l i c e a n d n o w s c h e d u l e d f o r a cutback in c o v e r a g e . P r o m p t e v a c u a t i o n to a h o s p i t a l f r o m a S t a t e w o r k location
m u s t b e a top p r i o r i t y of O G S " , M c D e r m o t t s t a t e d .
P o i n t i n g out t h a t t h e C a p i t a l P o l i c e U n i t is a " h i g h l y t r a i n e d s e c u r i t y
unit", M c D e r m o t t w r o t e to E g a n — " F r o m w h a t I c a n g a t h e r f r o m your proposed
' r e o r g a n i z a t i o n ' , you would r e p l a c e 32 police o f f i c e r s w i t h 33 building g u a r d s .
T h i s , you a r g u e , would beef up a n d not r e d u c e s e c u r i t y . I find t h i s logic
s p e c i o u s . W h a t you a r e , in f a c t , doing is r e p l a c i n g p r o f e s s i o n a l police o f f i c e r s
with ordinary w a t c h m e n . "
" T h e s e building g u a r d s would not b e e q u i p p e d to d e a l w i t h all of t h e
s i t u a t i o n s p r e s e n t l y h a n d l e d by t h e C a p i t a l P o l i c e . F o r e x a m p l e , t h e building
g u a r d s would not h a v e t h e p o w e r of a r r e s t . T h e y would n o t h a v e t h e legal r i g h t
to c a r r y f i r e a r m s . T h e y would not b e t r a i n e d to i n v e s t i g a t e c r i m e s o r to d e a l
w i t h h e a l t h e m e r g e n c i e s or h a n d l e c r o w d c o n t r o l . "
Although t h e y do " f i n e w o r k " in c a r r y i n g out t h e i r r e g u l a r d u t i e s , said
M c D e r m o t t , t h e y " c a n n e v e r r e p l a c e t h e t a l e n t s , skills a n d a u t h o r i t y b r o u g h t
to t h e j o b by police o f f i c e r s " .
S p e c i f i c a l l y , M c D e r m o t t , in t h e l e t t e r t o E g a n , a s k e d w h a t a s s u r a n c e s t h e
c o m m i s s i o n e r h a d t h a t C S E A m e m b e r s ' s a f e t y would b e e n h a n c e d by a conv e r s i o n of t h e unit f r o m police o f f i c e r s t o b u i l d i n g g u a r d s . H e a l s o a s k e d w h a t
t r a i n i n g h e is p l a n n i n g f o r t h e g u a r d s " t o a s s u m e s o m e of t h e s p e c i a l s e r v i c e s
now p r o v i d e d by C a p i t a l P o l i c e . . . in f i r s t a i d t e c h n i q u e s , f i r e p r e v e n t i o n ins p e c t i o n s , b o m b i n s p e c t i o n s , f i r e i n v e s t i g a t i o n s , m o t o r v e h i c l e a c c i d e n t investigations, and crowd control".
C a p i t a l P o l i c e h a v e , in t h e p a s t , p r o v i d e d e s c o r t s e r v i c e f o r e m p l o y e e s w h o
h a n d l e S t a t e f u n d s , a n d M c D e r m o t t a s k e d w h e t h e r t h a t s e r v i c e would b e
p r o v i d e d by u n a r m e d building g u a r d s a f t e r t h e p r o g r a m c h a n g e .
H i s e x p r e s s e d c o n c e r n s i n c l u d e d t h e p a s t p e r f o r m a n c e s in e m e r g e n c y
s i t u a t i o n s , w h e n C a p i t a l P o l i c e h a v e r e s p o n d e d i m m e d i a t e l y a n d e f f i c i e n t l y in
c o m i n g to t h e aid of fellow S t a t e w o r k e r s w h o h a d s u f f e r e d illness a n d / o r inj u r y . M c D e r m o t t said h e f e l t t h a t t h e quick r e s p o n s e f r o m t h e police o f f i c e r s ,
in m a n y c a s e s , h a s r e d u c e d t h e g r a v i t y of t h e s i t u a t i o n .
H e d e s c r i b e d a s " a r e c u r r i n g p r o b l e m " t h e l a c k of s e c u r i t y a t s o m e of t h e
o t h e r S t a t e buildings in t h e C a p i t a l D i s t r i c t , s u c h a s t h e D e p a r t m e n t of S t a t e
B u i l d i n g a n d t h e T e a c h e r ' s R e t i r e m e n t F u n d B u i l d i n g on W a s h i n g t o n Ave., a n d
t h e S t a t e building a t 44 Holland A v e n u e .
" W i l l s e c u r i t y be p r o v i d e d f o r e m p l o y e e s in t h e s e f a c i l i t i e s , e i t h e r by
C a p i t a l P o l i c e or building g u a r d s " , h e a s k e d in t h e l e t t e r .
At p r e s s t i m e , M c D e r m o t t h a d not r e c e i v e d a n y r e s p o n s e f r o m E g a n .
Discontent with negotiations,
Wayne Co. worlcers pioicet
iiomes of county officiais
N E W A R K - With W a y n e C o u n t y c o n t r a c t
n e g o t i a t i o n s a t t h e f a c t - f i n d e r s t a g e , a s u r e sign
of union d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n w i t h c o n t r a c t t a l k s ,
C S E A W a y n e County L o c a l 856 m e m b e r s s t a g e d
an informational picketing session at the homes
of t w o c o u n t y o f f i c i a l s .
" W e w a n t t h e m a n d t h e public to know w e ' r e
not s a t i s f i e d w i t h t h e i r c o n t r a c t o f f e r s so f a r , "
said L o c a l P r e s i d e n t S e a r l e " R e d " M e a d . " T h e y
d i d n ' t e v e n give us c o n s i d e r a t i o n e q u a l to o t h e r
HITTING T H E S T R E E T - Sear! " R e d " Mead,
P r e s i d e n t of W a y n e County L o c a l 865, l e a d s inf o r m a t i o n a l p i c k e t e r s in n i g h t - t i m e m a r c h . T h e
4 5 0 - m e m b e r Local h a s b e e n w o r k i n g w i t h o u t a
c o n t r a c t s i n c e D e c e m b e r 3L
Ml
employee groups, such as the sheriffs or
caseworkers."
" Y e t they turn around and give their
d e p a r t m e n t heads and m a n a g e m e n t people
r a i s e s r a n g i n g f r o m $1,400 to $4,000," M e a d
s t a t e d . " A n d one of t h e m r e c e i v e d a r a i s e of o v e r
$25,000."
M e a d w a s r e f e r r i n g to C o u n t y A t t o r n e y Don
C r o w l e y , r e p o r t e d l y t h e r e c i p i e n t of t h e whopping p a y r a i s e . H e w a s a l s o o n e of t h e t a r g e t s of
the informational pickets.
T h e s e c o n d h o m e p i c k e t e d belonged to t h e
county's personnel director, P e t e r Pierne. The
o r d e r l y g r o u p of p i c k e t e r s , w h i c h included C S E A
staff a n d m e m b e r s , c a r r i e d s i g n s t h a t u n d e r l i n e d
their discontent with the present negotiations
s t a t u s a n d u r g e d t h e c o u n t y to c o m e up w i t h
o f f e r s m o r e in line with t h e c o s t of living.
Local P r e s i d e n t M e a d pointed out t h e irony of
a local n e w s p a p e r a r t i c l e w h i c h said t h e W a y n e
County B o a r d of S u p e r v i s o r s had s c h e d u l e d a n
e a r l y M a r c h public h e a r i n g to d e t e r m i n e how to
spend $1.5 million in f e d e r a l r e v e n u e s h a r i n g
m o n e y — $883,000 m o r e t h a n c o u n t y o f f i c i a l s
b u d g e t e d to s p e n d t h i s y e a r .
" W e ' v e got t h e p e r f e c t solution f o r t h e count y ' s s u r p l u s , " said M e a d . " M a k e us a f a i r o f f e r
t h a t w e c a n live w i t h so t h a t w e c a n g e t on a b o u t
o u r j o b s f o r all t h e c i t i z e n s of t h e c o u n t y . W e ' v e
w a s t e d too m u c h t i m e on t h i s m a t t e r . It should
h a v e been s e t t l e d long a g o . "
IT E N D E D P E A C E F U L L Y - Regional Director L e e F r a n k s h o w s his I.D. to P a l m y r a P o l i c e
d u r i n g W a y n e County i n f o r m a t i o n a l p i c k e t i n g .
No a r r e s t s w e r e m a d e .
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, February 11, 1981
Page
3
For members of Albany's 'paper chase',
recyclable paper trash is a treasure
And for Hubert Jones, 'paper chase'
involves plenty of personal pride
By T i n a L i n c e r F i r s t
Communications Associate
A L B A N Y — T r a s h is a t r e a s u r e f o r H u b e r t
J o n e s , a h a r d - w o r k i n g , h a n d i c a p p e d 20-year-old
f r o m A l b a n y ' s South E n d .
H u b e r t , a n e w m e m b e r of C S E A O f f i c e of
G e n e r a l S e r v i c e s L o c a l 660, is o n e of t h r e e people p i c k i n g u p p a p e r s in t h e South M a l l a s p a r t of
t h e " P a p e r C h a s e , " t h e s t a t e ' s pilot p a p e r
r e c y c l i n g p r o g r a m . H e is t h e only h a n d i c a p p e d
w o r k e r currently with the project.
" H e ' s breaking the ice," said supervising
janitor E d Lockskin, another CSEA m e m b e r .
" T h e y w a n t e d to s e e if a h a n d i c a p p e d p e r s o n
could do t h i s w o r k , a n d h e ' s doing a r e a l l y good
job."
A s h y , thin y o u n g m a n , H u b e r t is deaf a n d c a n
u t t e r only a f e w w o r d s . B u t his h u g e g r i n a n d
bright, eager eyes easily c o m m u n i c a t e the pride
a n d p l e a s u r e h e f e e l s f o r his n e w j o b .
" H e l o v e s i t , " s a y s L o c k s k i n . " H e w a s off t h e
P a p e r Chase the other day because we needed
him s o m e w h e r e else and he w a s really disappointed. He likes being around the people. H e ' s
r e a l l y a l o n e r a n d t h i s g i v e s h i m a c h a n c e t o express himself and get m o r e confidence 'talking'
with people."
On a t y p i c a l w o r k d a y , H u b e r t , w h o t a k e s g r e a t
c a r e to w e a r a dress shirt and d r e s s slacks to
look p r e s e n t a b l e in t h e g o v e r n m e n t c o r r i d o r s ,
w h e e l s a big t r a s h bin t h r o u g h t h e h a l l s of t h e
L e g i s l a t i v e O f f i c e B u i l d i n g o r A g e n c y B u i l d i n g 3,
t h e t w o p a r t i c i p a t i n g buildings.
In e a c h o f f i c e , he p i c k s u p a s p e c i f i e d box filled
with d i s c a r d e d p a p e r s , e m p t i e s it in his bin (called a " g o n d o l a " ) and m o v e s on. L o c k s k i n s a y s
t h e o f f i c e e m p l o y e e s h a v e c o m e to a c c e p t
H u b e r t ' s p l e a s a n t , c o u r t e o u s m a n n e r and his
c u s t o m a r y f r i e n d l y w a v e t o t h o s e h e knows.
When h e is finished c o l l e c t i n g , H u b e r t p u s h e s
his gondola to t h e l o a d i n g dock of Agency
Building 3, w h e r e t h e p a p e r is s t o r e d b e f o r e being sold.
A G r a d e 4 employee, Hubert joined the yearold P a p e r C h a s e in S e p t e m b e r , a f t e r t r a i n i n g to
be a c l e a n e r through the C o m p r e h e n s i v e
E m p l o y m e n t T r a i n i n g A c t ( C E T A ) . In a d d i t i o n
to p i c k i n g up t h e p a p e r s , h e m u s t s o r t t h e m acc o r d i n g to q u a l i t y .
H e is n e v e r lacking f o r w o r k .
" I w a s s h o c k e d a t t h e a m o u n t of p a p e r t h a t
c o m e s out of h e r e , " s a i d T o m M c G u i r e , a j a n i t o r
and CSEA m e m b e r who helped get the paper
p r o j e c t off t h e g r o u n d , a n d n o w w o r k s a s a
" t e c h n i c a l a d v i s o r " of s o r t s t o t h e p r o j e c t .
H e e s t i m a t e s t h a t t h r e e to f o u r p o u n d s of
p a p e r a r e u s u a l l y p i c k e d u p in e a c h o f f i c e —
w h i c h c a n a d d up to 400-500 p o u n d s in a n e n t i r e
building.
" M u c h of it is stuff s e n t t o t h e l e g i s l a t o r s f r o m
l o b b y i s t s , " said M c G u i r e . " I f t h e r e ' s a bill in
s e s s i o n , t h e r e ' s going to b e m a t e r i a l on it a n d i t ' s
going to be s e n t to e v e r y l e g i s l a t o r .
" S o o n e r o r l a t e r , it e n d s up in t h e g o n d o l a . "
ON A P A P E R C A P E R - C S E A m e m b e r H u b e r t
J o n e s , a b o v e , p i c k s up r e c y c l a b l e p a p e r f r o m a
s t a t e o f f i c e in t h e South Mall c o m p l e x a s p a r t of
a m a j o r paper recycling program.
P A P E R C H A S E R H u b e r t J o n e s , c e n t e r , is
shown with CSEA m e m b e r s , janitors Ed
Lockskin, l e f t , a n d T o m M c G u i r e , r i g h t .
Decision continues union protection for OCA employees;
CSEA calls it a miUor victory for liundreds of worlcers
A L B A N Y — H u n d r e d s of l a w a s s i s t a n t s , l a w c l e r k s a n d s e c r e t a r i e s to
j u d g e s will c o n t i n u e t o e n j o y union p r o t e c t i o n of t h e i r o n - t h e - j o b r i g h t s ,
t h a n k s to a r e c e n t d e c i s i o n by H a r v e y Milowe, P E R B ' s D i r e c t o r of P u b l i c
E m p l o y m e n t P r a c t i c e s and Representation.
T h e O f f i c e of C o u r t A d m i n i s t r a t i o n (OCA) h a d s o u g h t t o d e s i g n a t e law
assistants and law clerks as managerial and confidential and certain
s e c r e t a r i e s to j u d g e s a s c o n f i d e n t i a l . C S E A j o i n e d in o p p o s i n g t h e m o v e .
M i l o w e t u r n e d d o w n O C A ' s a p p l i c a t i o n , s a y i n g in p a r t " W h i l e j u d g e s
m a y b e c a l l e d upon to i n t e r p r e t c o l l e c t i v e b a r g a i n i n g a g r e e m e n t s in t h e i r
Page 12
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, March 18, 1981
d e c i s i o n s , a n d e v e n t h o u g h t h e l a w a s s i s t a n t s a n d c l e r k s a s s i s t in w r i t i n g o r
r e s e a r c h i n g t h o s e d e c i s i o n s , t h i s a c t i v i t y is not t h e t y p e of l a b o r r e l a t i o n s inv o l v e m e n t c o n t e m p l a t e d by ( t h e Taylor L a w ) . "
" T h i s is a m a j o r v i c t o r y f o r C S F A , " s a i d C o l l e c t i v e B a r g a i n i n g
Specialist P a t r i c k Monachino. " P E R
did not a u t o m a t i c a l l y e x c l u d e
h u n d r e d s of p e o p l e in t h e s e t i t l e s , so now w e c a n c o n i i n u e o u r e f f o r t s to
p r o t e c t t h e i n t e r e s t s of t h o s e w e r e p r e s m t . "
OCA h a s a p p e a l e d t h e decision by '^-ing exf-eptions to t h e f^ H P E R B
B o a r d . C S E A will file in opposition.