Official Publication of
The Civil Service Employees
Association
SECTOR
Vol. 3, No. 33
Wednesday, May 20, 1981
(ISSN 0164 9949)
will replace scrip
LISTENING TO A QUESTION during press conference on dealing with
sexual harassment are CSEA President William L. McGowan, left, and
Meyer S. Frucher, director of the Governor's Office of Employee
Relations.
Hght begun against
sexual harassment
With sexual harassment described as "a pervasive, costly and
destructive force in the workplace," labor and management joined forces
at a press conference in Albany last week to announce plans to attempt
to eliminate sexual harassment as a factor for state employees.
While the Governor's Office of Employee Relations Director Meyer
S. Frucher unveiled a statewide policy to end sexual harassment and
directed its implementation by all departments, agencies and regulatory
boards, the heads of major employee unions, including CSEA's William
L. McGowan, announced they are helping fund along with the state a new
model training project to eradicate such harassment.
The model training project, scheduled to begin this fall, is being funded through joint labor/management committees of the state and the unions by the Center for Women in Government. Said to be the most comprehensive such program in the country, it will train top state
management, supervisors, employee advocates such as union stewards,
and rank-and-file members on preventing all forms of sexual harassment.
CSEA President McGowan, commenting that his union is proud to
help bring the problems of sexual harassment into the open so it can be
dealt with more effectively, said, "CSEA and other labor unions in
America have historically fought against infringements of the rights of
working people. In modern America, sexual harassment is an increasing
infringement that has taken a heavy toll on the careers of workers and on
their dignity as human beings.
"At a time when women are joining the work force in increasing
numbers as a result of the economic realities of today, concerted efforts
must be made to control the problem of sexual harassment before it
becomes so engrained in the psychology of the work place that its effects
will be perceived whether or not it is actually present.
"In a union that has for more than seven decades prided itself on its
dedication to the principles of merit and fitness, there can be no
tolerance of sexual harassment.
CSEA election ballot in mail
ALBANY — Ballots were mailed to eligible CSEA members on schedule
late last week under the union's elections to designate new union regional officers, members of the State Executive Committee, and county educational
representatives.
Ballots must be returned by 6 p.m., June 22 to be valid. Ballots are scheduled to be counted on June 26.
Eligible voting members who have not received a ballot by Tuesday, May
26 may request a replacement ballot on or after May 26 through their CSEA
Regional Office, where they may request an affidavit which must then be signed by their Local president, and the affidavit then mailed to the independent
election agency handling the election, which wül forward the actual
replacement ballot to the member.
CSEA ELECTION BALLOTS were delivered to the U.S. Postal Service facility
in Colonic on May 14 for mailing to eligible members. In photo at right, CSEA
statewide Election Committee Chairman Greg Szurnicki, left; hands over
receipt for ballots to postal services employee Steve Marra.
ALBANY - After more than five weeks of political pushing
pulling, legislative leaders and Gov. Hugh Carey last week finally reach^ agreement on a state budget for the fiscal year that began on April 1,
ending the longest "no budget" crisis in the state's history.
By the end of the week, budget bills were flying through the Senate
and Assembly and sent to the Governor's Office for final approval.
While many elements of the midnight budget agreement were not immediately clear, it appeared that state employees working for the State
Liquor Authority have been spared froni the toeat of extmction for their
agency. In the Executive Budget, Gov. Carey proposed only funding the
State Liquor Authority for thr^e months of this fiscal year and phasing it
out
Objections to this action were raised from many sectors of the state,
and CSEA attacked the Carey proposal as "short sighted" and "not in the
best interests of the t»eople of New York State". The budget compromise
finally worked out reportedly includes full year funding for the Liquor
Authority.
Another advantage of the budget agreement was an end to the
issuance of "scrip" instead of re^lar employee paychecks. For five
weeks state employees were being issued "scrip", a form of promissory
note because legally the state didn't have authority to issue regular
paychecks since there had been no appropriation of funds for personal
services.
While scrip was being accepted by banks throughout the state, it complicated check cashing and caused long bank lines and other headaches
for state workers. With passage of the budget, it was expected regular
paychecks would soon be issued, perhaps as early as this week's administrative payroll.
In a related development, State Comptroller Edward Regan told
CSEA President William L. McGowan and other public employee union
leaders that his office would soon be recommending steps to prevent this
year's scrip fiasco from being repeated in the future. He warned that under similar circumstances in the future he might be forced to end
issuance of scrip which would mean state employees would receive no
compensation of any kind.
That possibility drew a quick response from CSEA President William
L. McGowan who retorted, "Our position on that possibility is very
simple. If we don't get paid then we don't work, period."
While it appeared at Public Sector press time that the budget hassle
was over, full details of the new state budget were still being analyzed by
CSEA experts. Details on this budget and its effect on CSEA members
will appear in future editions of the Public Sector.
The Civil Service Employees Assn. is an extremely diverse
organization. Its membership of upwards of a quarter of a million
workers perform thousands of different jobs at hundreds of work
locations throughout N e w York State. The needs of those members
can vary as much as the members themselves, and it takes a
sophisticated staff organization to meet those needs. CSEA employs
a professional staff of more than 200 people to provide services to the
membership. Slightly more than one-half of that total are assigned to
statewide headquarters at 33 Elk Street, Albany, with the remainder
assigned to the six regional headquarters maintained by CSEA
throughout the state. "Staff Profiles" is an informational series
designed to acquaint members with staff departments and personnel.
Dave Stack's office:
Keeping a liandie on
tlie unions
The man behind the nioney at CSEA is
David Stack. As Comptroller, he's
responsible for managing and controlling
the assets of the union.
"Given our troubled economic times
and "Reagonomics," there's no question
we must be ever-vigilant about any new
government policies that could affect
CSEA's financial standing," Stack said.
"Right now, we're attempting to get a
handle on what impact any cutbacks, such
as in CETA, would have on CSEA. If we
lose members as a result of cutbacks in
federal funding to New York State, well
that certainly has an impact on the union as
a whole.
"There are some basic, built-in costs of
running the union, and the more people
available to share that burden, the less
costly it is on a per-member basis," he explained.
Stack oversees about 60 CSEA headquarters staff, in the departments of
Finance, Building Services, Membership
Records, Internal Auditing and Data
Processing. He is also coordinator of
several committees, including the Directors' Budget Committee, the Special Audit
Committee, the Scholarship Committee,
and the Committee to Study the Cost of
Operating Group Life Insurance — all of
which rely on his department for financial
guidance, advice and information.
Stack works c l o s e l y with CSEA
President William L. McGowan and
Treasurer F. John Gallagher on such
matters as CSEA budgets, cash flow needs
and financial projections, and he is
responsible for investing CSEA money.
In recent weeks, he has been busy coordinating the delegate-mandated increase in
membership dues.
"We have to get the word out to all those
agencies that deduct our members' dues
that there's been an increase," said Stack.
"There are more than 1,000 payroll sources
we have to notify."
Some of his most challenging work, the
Comptroller says, is assisting the Local
treasurers. "We give them whatever information they need regarding their finances
and help them with their local budgets in
any way we can," he said.
"We'll be doing a lot more of this —
training the treasurers and reviewing the
mandated reports they file with us. There
are more than 300 Local treasurers with
varied backgrounds and needs. We have
Locals, such as in Nassau County, that are
very large and command large budgets,
and others that are just getting by financially."
^ ^
COMPTROLLER DAVE STACK confers with secretary
Denise Futia on a current project.
COMPTROLLER Dave Stack, above right, discusses union finances with
one of the several CSEA committees he coordinates.
INTERNAL AUDITOR Michael Camarota, pictured at left in a meeting
with CSEA Treasurer Jack Gallagher, left, is charged with setting up and
monitoring internal fiscal controls and procedures. He also works to ensure
that Locals are complying with basic accounting rules and are properly
guarding members' assets.
Ppge . 2 / . : . : : . . TI^.:PiJ.BUC SECTOR, Wednesday, M a y 20, 1981
t\
'0' !
•
j^c .'.MJiSoS TiM'
Safety pvblems
under control at
state research labs
CSEA PRESIDENT WILLIAM L. McGOWAN, right, visited with staff of the
new grassroots project recently. He is shown discussing the project with
Director Jim Cohen, back to camera, left, and other staff employees.
The New York State workers
subject of a unique project
A new, membership-oriented project is about to begin. Its main goal is
to give rank and file members of
CSEA, who are State employees, an
opportunity to voice their opinions
about their jobs and working conditions. The project will also look at
wage and benefit gains made since
CSEA began participating in collective bargaining 13 years ago.
Called "The New York State
W o r k e r : A P r o j e c t on S t a t e
Employees, Their Needs and Working
Conditions," it is the first totally
grass roots project to come out of the
Committee on the Work Environment
and Productivity (CWEP). "This project belongs to the rank and file. Its
success depends entirely on their interest and participation. That's the
bottom line," says Project Director
Jim Cohen. Though funded by both
CSEA and the State, the project will
be independent, autonomous and
neutral. "We have no ax to grind. Our
goal is to gather employees' opinions
and look at their jobs without
prejudice," says Cohen. "Then CSEA
and the State can do whatever they
want with the information. Hopefully,
they will try to improve on any
problems that we uncover."
According to Cohen, rank and file
will participate in the project in a
variety of ways, including serving as
staff. They will also function as participant observers at their worksites
and as expert informants. Outside
researchers will work together with
rank and file in order to assure
neutrality.
Organizationally, the project is
divided into three teams, with one
team for each of the three main
groups of employees in the State
workforce — clerical workers (administrative), hospital workers (institutional), and blue collar workers
(operational). Each team will be
responsible for talking to a representative sample of workers in every
region of the state. Comparisons will
be made between groups, where
appropriate. Also statewide information will be gathered from Civil
Service and other agencies.
The Directors of the three teams
are particularly experienced with the
issues affecting their part of the
workplace. Marsha Love, Director of
the Clerical Employees team, is a
former office worker with both
research and organizational experience in that area. John Duggan
and Margaret Weisel, co-Directors of
the Blue Collar team, both bring over
10 years of personal experience in
various skilled trades and manual
labor. And Bill Komblum, head of the
Hospital Workers team, is a highly
regarded sociologist who works
primarily on union oriented projects.
"When the teams go out to talk to
the membership, I know they will do a
good job because they've all been
there themselves," says Project
Director Cohen. "I expect the
members will see that and I hope that
will produce a lot of participation."
ALBANY — Safety in the state operated research laboratories in the
Empire State Plaza's Tower Building, a concern of the Civil Service
Employees Assn. for a number of years, is finally ''under control" according to th^e CSEA local president there.
Monthly meetings between a CSM^fety coprmiittee and managem
periodic inspection by managem^t and the union and the faithful reporting
of all suspected violations have resulted in the clean up of numerous safety
hazards, some of which were quite serious, says Labs and Research Local
665 President Doris Rabinowitz.
"We've come a long way toward making the labs a safe ptece to work,"
she said. "And we've now reached a point where progress is really being
made; problems are being acted upon in ä timely manner through a smooth
running system."
Capital Region CSEA Field Services Director Jack Corcoran and Field
Representative Aaron Wagner, who recently toured the facility, agree with
the local leader.
This is the first time since the CSEA first became concerned about
safety (in the labs) in 1974, that the union is pleased with the conditions
there, they said.
The laboratory division was moved into the sub-basement level of the
Tower building in 1072. In the confusion of getting settled, it was not until
late in 1974 that the CSEA became aware of the ever increasing presence of
hazards, Corcoran explained.
At the CSEA's request» the state began to make some changes, but improvements were slow in coming and during 1976 and 1977 the problems
reached a peak, he recalled.
The CSEA pointed out to state officials the lack of proper storage for
flammable and explosive chemicals, inadequate storage for materials and
equipment and a shortage of safety equipment such as sterile hoods in some
labs, fire blankets, gas extinguishers and masks.
As late as 1977, the employees still had not been provided concrete instructions for an emergency evacuation and exits were not clearly marked.
It was in September of 1977 that the CSEA formed a safety committee to
address these issues.
From the start the committee found the state to be cooperative and concerned about the well being of the employees, says Rabinowitz who then
served as a committee member.
After only a few discussions the storage facilities were improved, additional equipment was purchased, fire drills were held and the state began
an extensive safety training program for employees, which continues to this
Still, it has taken spme months for all improvements to be made. In
December of 1980 the CSEA complained of the presence of unchained gas
cylinders which could explode upon impact and non-working and uninspected fire extinguishers.
After the state reported these matters had been attended to, Wagner
toured the facility in March with the Capital Police and found the level of
safety to be quite satisfactory.
"I think we've reached a plateau. At last we're confident of the safety
measures and precautions being taken hereu and I feel they will be maintained." he said.
Some minor hazards remain, said Rabinowitz, but they are being
addressed at committee meetings.
Retroactive cost of living adjustment checlcs
wiil be issued to state empioyees next month
ALBANY — Cost of living increase adjustment checks will be distributed to CSEA-represented state employees next month as retroactive
pay raises for the state's fiscal year that ended March 30.
The lump sum checks are to be distributed by check separate from
normal paychecks but by the same method of distribution. The state
Department of Audit and Control has not yet determined the exact date
the checks will be issued.
Provisions for the payments are contained in CSEA-State contracts
covering the Administrative, Institutional and Operational bargaining
units.
In the first year of the three year contract ratified by union members
in 1979, a flat seven percent increase was applied to the salary schedule
then in effect. In the last two years of the contract, however, a more complex increase formula had to be developed that accommodated the state's
continuing fiscal problems while assuring the employees of the maximum
seven percent salary increases allowable under federal wage controls in
effect when the contract was negotiated.
In October, 1980, a 3.5 percent increase was applied to the salary
schedule, early in 1981, the cost of living adjustment formula contained in
the contract was calculated at the maximum seven percent. Next
month's payment will pay an employee who worked through all of fiscal
1980-81, the difference between what he or she received as a result of the
October 3.5 increase and what he or she would have received if the seven
percent increase had taken effect on April 1, 1980.
This payment will be made to the employee less the usual deductions
for federal and state income tax withholding and social security. CSEA
has asked Audit and Control to calculate these withholdings as if the
payment had been spread out over the employee's last 26 pay periods.
This allows for a minimum withholding for employees. Audit and Control
has agreed to the union's request.
Actual deductions, of course, will vary widely depending upon income
and number of exemptions claimed.
The actual date of the issuance of the retroactive payments will be
published in a future edition of The Public Sector.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, April 29, 1981
Page 1417
jPublio—
«SECTOR
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.
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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
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John L. Murphy—Staff Writer
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"'I
LABOR PtIESS
w
Published every Wednesday by Clarity Publishing, Inc. Publication
Office. 75 ChampUin Street, Albany, N.Y. 12204 ( 518 ) 465-4591
Budgel examiner job opening
ALBANY — Applications are now being accepted to fill the position
of Budget Examiner.
Assigned to CSEA'S Research Department, the Budget Examiner
analyzes the impact of state and municipal budgets, determining the
availability of funds for salary and benefit increases. Duties also include
ascertaining whether any contracted-out services could be performed by
the current workforce at a Ipwer cost.
The position requires occasional travel throughout the state.
Minimum qualifications include graduation from a four-year college
with a major in public or business administration, plus three years of
state or local government employment with responsibility for managing
fiscal affairs. One year's experience must involve preparing, analyzing
and interpreting budgets or fiscal reports. Excellent presentation skills
are required.
Applications must bejeceived by May 26. Send resumes to Personnel
Office, CSEA, 33 Elk Street, Albany, New York 12207.
ENCON EAP SIGNING — Tom Holland, left, representing Council 82 and
Joseph E. McDermott, President of the Capital Region of CSEA talk with
Enivronmental Conservation Commissioner Flacke before signing Employee
Assistance Program contract. CSEAers Judy Salisbury, Jo Luizzi, and Jeanne
Sullivan are pictured in background.
Region III OSHA seminar
FISHKILL - "Making OSHA more
meaningful for public employees," is
how Region 3 President Ray O'Connor
describes a special program that
CSEA S a f e t y C o o r d i n a t o r N e l s
Carlson will conduct in the Southern
Region on Monday, May 18, at the
Bear Mountain Inn.
Local and unit presidents as well as
h e a l t h and s a f e t y c o m m i t t e e
members are invited to the event
which will begin at 7:00 p.m.
The Southern Region includes
Dutchess, Orange,
Putnam,
Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and
Westchester counties.
In a related matter, O'Connor also
announced that he is setting up a
regionwide Health and Safety Committee. Scott Daniels has been appointed its first chairman, Tom
Schmidt and Susan Wein its first
members. O'Connor expects additional appointments to be forthcoming shortly.
r e m i p w ^ n g
In a photo caption on page 1 of the
May 6, 1981 issue., The Public Sector
mistakenly identified Beatrice McCoy
as a m e m b e r of the s t a t e w i d e
Election Committee. In actuality, Ms.
McCoy was present in the photo to
witness committee members select
candidates for ballot positions in
CSEA elections now in progress. Ms.
McCoy is a candidate for a seat on the
union's Board of Directors and also
for a Region IV office. She is not a
member of the committee.
Hii'j^
Page 4
NEW YORK CITY - George
Bispham, CSEA MettopoUtan
Re^on II regional director^ was
expected to be discharged from
Lydia Hall Hospital, Freeport, L.I.
at press time, and will be recuperating at his home for sometime following his hospitalization
on May 3rd, In the meanwhile,
Field Representative Barton Brier
has been named acting regional
director pending Mr. Bispham's
recuperation. -
.
...
V ••
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.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, W e d n e s dla_ y , M a y 20, 1981
Woricers consider credit union
ALBANY — State employees in Warren and Washington counties may now
become members of the State Employees Federal Credit Union.
A meeting to explain the services and benefits of the credit union will be
held at 7 p.m. May 14 at the Queensbury Motel in Glens Falls. The meeting is
open to all members and potential members from the two counties.
Chartered in 1936, the State Employees Federal Credit Union was begun as
a means of promoting thrift among its members and to provide loans to
members at a reasonable interest rate. The credit union's services includes
auto, home improvement and personal loans; payroll deduction; share certificates; money market certificates; travelers checks; and free notary service.
CALL US toll-free
CSEA INFOLINE
1-800-342-2027
A referal service when you need CSEA's help but don't know how to
put your union to work for you.
CSEA SAFETY HOTLINE
1-800-342-4824
The number to call when you encounter a safety or health problem
on the job.
CSEA EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
1-800-342-3565
A confidential source of help in dealing with personal, family or
substance abuse problems.
BACHE, TER BUSH & POWELL
1-800-342-6272
For answers on your questions about CSEA-sponsored Accident &
Health, Supplemental Life and Family Protection insurance plans.
«'VC ''..Ä«. • -US»® »I.»
1 • r"
Sid Layo grateful
for long-delayed
retirement check
ALEXANDRIA BAY - "The union (CSEA) is great!"
With those few words, Sid Layo, a retired equipment operator and truck
driver for the New York State Parks and Recreation Department, expressed
his appreciation to CSEA for helping to complete the proper paperwork that
led to the belated start of his retirement benefits.
Rocco Crescenzi. Thousand Islands Parks Commission employee and
Vice-President of Black River Valley Local 015, explained the events
leading to the beginning of benefits for Mr. Layo.
"We first learned of Sid's problem during a conversation with him last
January at the Town of Hounsfield Sanitary Landfill, where he had taken a
20-hour per week job to supplement his family income," Crescenzi said.
"At that time, Sid explained he had applied for State retirement benefits
in 1977 after serving as a seasonal employee for 14 years. He was told he had
no benefits coming," Crescenzi continued.
"At this point, we decided to involve the union (CSEA), and I contacted
Local 015 President Fran Mitchell and CSEA Field Representative Tom
Dupee. With the cooperation of the Office of Parks and Recreation, and the
State Employees Retirement Bureau, we were able to complete th'i proper
paperwork," Crescenzi said.
"As a result of CSEA's efforts over several months, Mr. Layo began enjoying his retirement benefits April 1, 1981. Unfortunately, under the rules
which state an application for retirement must be on file at least 30 days
prior to retirement, the first four years of Sid's retirement were lost.
But he did elect to participate in a ten-year plan and will draw retirement
benefits through 1991," Crescenzi said.
"Now, Sid Layo can look forward to some income other than Social
SID LAYO, center, shares the good news of his approved retirement
benefits with Rocco Crescenzi. left, vice-president of Black River Valley
Local 015, and Fran Mitchell, Local president, at Layo's part time work site
in the Town of Hounsfield. Layo's retirement benefits began April 1, 1981
after CSEA Local officials and staff members investigated the case and
completed the necessary paperwork.
Security and the small salary earned by his wife at a village restaurant."
"Sid Layo's case is another good example of what CSEA can and will do
for its membership. As far as we in Local 015 are concerned, it gave us
satisfaction in knowing we helped to win some well-earned benefits for a
former state employee who had just about given up hope," Crescenzi said.
MH prezs to elect tv^
TAX AND FINANCE AGREEMENT - CSEA President William L.
McGowan, right, looks on as Meyer S. Frucher, left, Director of the Governor's Office of Employee Relations and James Tully, Commissioner of the
State Department of Taxation and Finance tell reporters that the state has
agreed to make extensive improvements in working condition for employees of
the Tax Department at the State Office Campus in Albany. The state has committed $90,000 to improve conditions in a tax return sorting area where poor
ventilation, no windows and crowded conditions have caused hardship for 450
temporary state employees. The agreement, worked out with the cooperation
of Carmen Bagnoli, president of Tax and Finance Local 690, will provide high
vplume ventilators, smoke elimination devices, sound absorbing floor and wall
coverings and employee health screening procedures.
SYRACUSE - CSEA's Mental Hygiene Presidents Committee will
fill the vacant positions of committee vice chairman and secretary/
treasurer during a special committee meeting scheduled during the
union's State D e l e p t e s Workshop May 20-22 in Syracuse.
The Mental Hygiene Presidents Committee consists of the presidents
of the union's 56 mental hygiene locals and the 14 mental hygiene representatives on the union's statewide Board of Directors.
Committee chairman Danny Donohue, in his committee report, urged all mental hygiene local presidents and board representatives to
attend the committee's special meeting since no proxies will be permitted to attend or vote at the special meeting, he said.
The election to fill the two vacancies are the only items on that agenda, with mental hygiene policy and problems due to be discussed on the
first night of the State Workshop at a departmental meeting open to all
delegates, Donohue said.
He also urged all members of CSEA mental hygiene locals to vote in
this month's local elections.
"With negotiations for a new contract with New York State going to
start later this year, I am sure the governor and his staff are interested in
knowing how much support our elected mental hygiene leaders have
behind them.
"A strong, supported union will help us all in negotiating for better
benefits and representation. On the other hand, that guy, 'apathy,' can
kill us all," Donohue said.
Donohue said he and Collective Bargaining Specialist Paul Burch had
successfully negotiated the holding of a statewide labor/management
meeting between CSEA and the State Office of Mental Health for May 2728 in Hidden Valley, N.Y.
At the meeting, all psychiatric centers will be represented by two
persons each from the CSEA local and from management, he said.
He said the purpose of the meeting is to open better lines of communication between the union and management at the psychiatric
centers and to demonstrate the usefulness of labor/management
meetings at the local level.
CSEA Collective Bargaining Specialist Jase McGraw and Donohue
are trying to set up a similar program with the State Office of Retardation and Qevelopmental Disabilities, he said.
Turning to President Reagan's proposed federal budget, Donohue
warned that mental hygiene would suffer one of the largest reductions.
"In addition to cuts in Medicaid reimbursements and other direct
federal aid to mental hygiene, the proposed cuts to state governments
would most likely mean other cuts to mental hygiene.
"Mental hygiene receives the largest share of the New York State
budget. If federal funds to the State are reduced, that has to mean less
money available to mental hygiene unless State taxes are drastically increased," he said.
He urges all CSEA members to let their congressmen know they are
opposed to Reagan's proposed budget.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, M a y 20, 1981
Paae 5
11 u I 11 r I 1 1 1 r I f
Ji
I
yz
Betty Duffy: The end of an era
I
2cc
HAUPPAUGE - To anyone who ever
attended a CSEA delegates convention;
or a meeting of the union's statewide
Board of D i r e c t o r s ; or a union
negotiating session; or any one of scores
of other types of union gatherings over
the past several years, she was a
familiar face and a familiar voice.
the workplace
By her own admission, she delighted in
representing the worker to the fullest extent and fighting management tooth and
nail in the process.
Medical
Instruments
peril Westchester
laundry workers
VALHALLA - The health and safety of the 32
employees of Westchester County's laundry facility
continues to be an ongoing battle between the
Westchester County CSEA Unit and the county.
Exposure to contaminated laundry and being
stabbed and cut by expended hypodermic needles and
surgical and medical instruments have the laundry
employees working in fear they could become seriously ill or seriously injured.
Laundry employees report that among the three
million pounds of laundry washed each year at the
facility, the dangers come from the dirty laundry
received from the Westchester County Medical
Center.
The facility also does the laundry for other county
facilities, including the jail, Ruth Taylor (geriatric)
Institute, Labs and Research and Health Department
offices.
Employees at the facility identified a number of
health and safety problems caused by the Medical
Center's laundry, including: —Hypodermic needles with syringes containing
medicine and blood, surgical and medical instruments, glass bottles (sometimes broken), containers and medical equipment are sometimes found
in the dirty laundry.
—Contaminated laundry — which amounts to less
than two percent of the facility's workload — many
times is not properly marked and, therefore, is mixed
in and handled with the non-contaminated laundry.
—Much of the dirty laundry is not properly bagged
making the facility's trolley system not usable for that
laundry.
—Much of the dirty laundry is transported to the
facility by truck in open carts. The carts contain some
contaminated laundry. The clean laundry goes back to
the Medical Center in the same truck.
—Garbage is collected in the same open carts with
the dirty laundry.
Westchester County Unit Health and Safety Committee Co-chairman Susan Wein said her committee
"She" is Betty Duffy, and she retired
earlier this year after some 15 years as
president of CSEA Local 418 at Pilgrim
Psychiatric Center, and many years in
various union positions of responsibility.
Betty D u f f y was the c e n t e r of
attention when she was honored with a
retirement brunch recently here.
MIXED IN THE DIRTY LAUNDRY FROM THE Westchester County Medical Center are syringes stil
containing medicine and blood, surgical and medical instruments and other expended medical supplies
CSEA members working at the Westchester County Laundry fear they could become seriously injure
from being stabbed and cut by the materials.
has been meeting with the county in hopes of lessening
some of the hazards of working in the laundry facility,
including:
WESTCHESTER COUNTY UNIT Safety
Committee Co-chairman Susan Wein displays an unopened piece of medical
equipment found in the dirty laundry
delivered from the Westchester County
Medical Center. She olaims thousands of
dollars a year in medical equipment is
^obably lost this way.
Among the CSEA persons who turned
out to honor Ms. Duffy at the brunch
were Long Island Region I President
Danny Donohue, Central Region V
President James Moore, Collective
Bargaining Specialist Robert Guild,
Region I Director William Griffin and
members from Regions II and IV in addition to the many Region I members
and staff attending.
THIS COLLECTION OF bottles, containers and medical instruments pictured below, are approximately one
month's accumulation of materials
found in t h e l a u n d r y f r o m the
Westchester County Medical Center.
Moore, who said he was speaking for
himself, CSEA President William L.
McGowan and the entire CSEA, told the
audience that CSEA had learned much
from Ms. Duffy. She "made a decision to
represent labor and not the boss," he
said.
Guild said Ms. Duffy's retirement "is
not the closing of a chapter. She leaves
behind a legacy of protecting fellow
workers."
/
• Use of water-soluble bags for contaminated
laundry. At a cost of less than $200 a year, the contaminated laundry could be washed without being
directly handled by the employees.
• All other laundry be properly bagged for use by
the trolley system for safer handling of that
laundry.
Ms. Duffy received a number of
plaques and gifts including some from
Pilgrim Psychiatric Center Local 418
President Bill Chacona, Small World
Day Care Center Director Leila Homes
and Pilgrim Psychiatric Center Director
Peggy O'Neill.
fkB"
• Have Medical Center nursing and housekeeping
staffs make a better effort to sort dirty laundry,
medical supplies and garbage.
• Color-coded bags be used to help determine
where in the Medical Center the problems actually are
occurring.
• Use enclosed carts to transport dirty laundry in
the truck.
Ms. Wein said the Medical Center must be losing
thousands of dollars in instruments — some of them
not yet used — by them being sent to the laundry.
STATE SENATOR Caesar Trunzo, left, turned out to honor former
Pilgrim Psychiatric Center Local 418 President Betty Duffy, right, at a
retirement brunch in her honor. Joining Trunzo are Local 418 First
Vice President Jean Frazier and Long Island Region I President Danny
Donohue.
State Senator Caesar Trunzo presented
Ms. Duffy with a proclamation passed
by the State Senate recognizing her 35
years "caring and administering to the
sick," 20 years at Pilgrim, 20 years in
CSEA and 15 years as president of Local
418.
s
CENTRAL REGION V President James Moore and Creedmoor
Psychiatric Center Local 406 President Dorothy King are among those
honoring Betty Duffy at the retirement brunch in her honor.
Ms. Duffy, showing the spirit for
which she was known in CSEA, told the
audience: "My greatest pleasure in life
was to bring down every commissioner I
worked with."
Because of Joan Crowley, AmsterdanI child llves...and learns
FONDA — Joan Crowley may look
more like a loving mother than a
quick acting, heroic public employee,
but she is both.
Employed by Montgomery County
Social Services Department as a child
abuse protection worker, the former
CSEA president was recently involved in a "life saving mission."
Joan Crowley
Page 1420
"Mission" because Joan Crowley
attributes her decision to make a 4:55
p.m., March 24th, reference check to
some other power outside of her own
being. "I remember debating with
myself whether to go or not that close
to 5:00 p.m. I'm glad I lost the
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, April 29, 1981
debate," Joan said in deep personal
reflection.
What occurred at 4:55 p.m. in the
home of Eva King on Lower Lark
Street in Amsterdam is a mother's
nightmare. A child was engulfed in
flames. Without a phone, a car, or
someone to help, Mrs. King may have
watched her seven-year-old daughter,
Doreen, die an excruciating death.
But call it fate — destiny, Joan
Crowley was there. "I remember
rapping on the door and as I was saying a brief hello to Mrs. King explaining to her my desire for information
on another case, her daughter ran into
the room screaming, "I'm on fire,"
as the poncho she was wearing roared |
up in flames.
I was going a little fast, but the traffic
seemed to melt away. Even the traffic lights seemed timed in our favor."
"I wrapped Doreen in a blanket to
smother the flames and all of us ran to
my car in an attempt to get t o | f t .
Mary's emergency room as fast as
possible. I was afraid. Traffic is
always to congested at that time in
that end of town, I was afraid we
wouldn't make it that we'd end up in a|
traffic jam."
Joan's quick actions probably saved
0 Doreen's life. The seven-year-old suffered third degree burns over 75
percent of her body. The accident was
attributed to other children playing
with matches too close to Doreen's
outer clothing.
But t r a f f i c didn't block the
emergency ride. "It was as if
someone just opened a special way
for us," Joan sighed smiling warmly.
"I had my emergency flashers goiig,
Skin grafting is taking well and
while the child will be hospitalized for
many months the prognosis is
promising. Doreen was transferred
from St. Mary's Hospital in Amstere i a m to the Shriner's Burn Institute,
Shriner's Hospital,. 51 Blossom
Street, Boston, Mass. 02114. Joan,
showing a little mother's instinct,
asks interested CSEA members from
around the state to send Doreen King
get well cards and other little
messages to help her overcome the
loneliness of being away from home.
Recently the Montgomery County
Board of Supervisors presented Joan
Crowley with an award of merit, the
first such award ever presented to a
public employee in the history of the
county. Joan summarized the event,
"I did what had to be done and I'm
glad I did."
RETIRED CSEA ACTIVIST and former president of Pilgrim Psychiatric
Center Local 418 Betty Duffy speaks with her last field representative,
Nat Zummo, at the retirement brunch held in her honor.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, April 29, 1981
Page 7
irwsTfr'; *r. --
English as a second language
PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION to
the experimental English program
is Local 637 member Maria Novoa.
PURCHASE Losing a
grievance can sometimes produce
unexpected results. Local 637
President Len Gerardi explains
that when CSEA lost a grievance
against the State University of
New York filed by an employee
who was denied a promotion
because she did not have sufficient
command of the English language,
he decided to do something about
it. Gerardi thought it was, "plain
unfair" and along with Local Vice
President Jose Pedre and Field
Rep. Larry Sparber went to
SUNY's Director of Personnel
Richard Silver with an idea - a
special "English as a second
language" course to be held on
"company time" for cleaners and
janitors.
Funding was sought for an
"intensive program to teach
English to foreign born employees
who speak Spanish or Italian as
a primary language." The grant,
Promotion
denial prompts
Local to teach
foreign born
employees the
American way
according to Director of Education
Tom Quimby, was made under
Article 14 of the Occupational Services Unit contract which establishes an Employee Benefits
Training Program. Indeed the
whole application procedure moved so swiftly, it was as if the idea
had a momentum of its own, and
within two months time $4,000 was
allocated for an experimental
program. This especially pleased
the local president because it
meant to him that Article 14 was,
"something real."
The grant itself was used to hire
an instructor and to purchase
classroom materials and supplies,
including tape recorders to be
employed as training tools.
Instructor Ruth Belchetz then
went to work. She personally interv i e w e d e m p l o y e e s to d e c i d e
whether they belonged in the
beginners or the advanced class.
Local 441 clerk
honored with
Employee of
the Year award
BINGHAMTON - Beth Gillette, an
active member of CSEA Local 441 at
Binghamton Psychiatric Center, and
a 15-year veteran of New York State
Mental Hygiene service, has been
selected for the Employee of the Year
Award by a labor-management committee at the facility.
Among her c o l l e a g u e s , Beth
Gillette is known and admired for her
skills and conscientiousness on the
job, and has opted not to accept
several promotion opportunities in
order to remain in her present work
location.
Most recently, Mrs. Gillette was
commended for her work in tandem
with Dr. Elize Botha in developing a
new Quality Assurance Program — a
plan that may be implemented
Statewide.
In addition to her full-time duties as
a Grade 3 Clerk at Binghamton
Psychiatric Center, Beth is a wife and
mother, and plans to continue her
education through on-the-job training
and work-related courses at Broome
Community College.
Page 8
WRAPPED UP IN THEIR BOOKS are, from left, Catherine DiGovino
and Anna Gizzo.
Each group would get an intensive
weekly two-hour session.
Classes got underway in March
and the learning process reached
out to 40 state employees.
The teaching method was personally designed by Belchetz. She
uses work sheets, and has the
l e s s o n s taped so t h a t the
"students" can take them home
and, as part of their homework,
review the lesson and reinforce
what has been learned.
The typical c l a s s r o o m atmosphere is intense. The people
are quiet, eager to learn, in the
words of one, "I want to speak
more better English." Their instructor works patiently, repeating phrases, s b e s s i n g pronunciation, prompting them gently,
building up their self confidence so
they can begin their climb up the
career ladder. And to think it all
began when the union lost a
grievance . . .
GERERDA MASULLO gives the
English lessons her undivided
attention.
Firefighters subject
of toxic expiosion;
permanent damage
stiil in question
Beth Gillette
In a comment following the award
a n n o u n c e m e n t , Clara P r u i t t ,
President of CSEA Local 441 said,
"Beth Gillette has been an inspiration
to us all. For 15 years, she has displayed many unusually fine qualities,
both in her service to the State and to
her fellow members of CSEA. We are
happy and proud she has been
selected for the award."
THE PUftUG SECTOR, yVfplpftidciy, M q y 20,
CROTON-ON-HUDSON - Union officials are investigating a fire and
explosion at Westchester County's Croton Point landfill which sent 28
firefighters and ten county employees to area hospitals to be tested for inhalation of potentially toxic fumes. And even though the 38 men were all
later released, that hasn't satisfied Local 8601st Vice President Carmine
DiBattista who wants a written statement from the Health Commissioner
guaranteeing that the workers would suffer no permanent damage from
their exposure to the toxic smoke.
The incident apparently started when highly combustible batteries
exploded and released lithium chloride which is known to cause
neurological damage. Workers at the site were apparently not aware of
the side effects of exposure to lithium. One compalined, "We were kept in
the dark. We should have known about it."
The explosion, according to sources, occurred when the batteries were
being placed in a truck to take them where they were to be buried. Circumstances regarding disposal of the batteries — which are designed
primarily for military or commercial uses — are now being looked into
since they were supposed to be sealed in containers. Meanwhile, Anthony
J. Contin, co-chairman of the Westchester Unit's health and safety committee, has written county officials advising them that a probe of the fire
and explosion has been initiated. He also expressed concern about the impact of workers coming in contact with potentially hazardous and toxic
materials at the landfill which a fire official later described as, "like a
minefield."
conference
attendees advised
to gain goals now
CSEA STATE AND REGIONAX WOMEN'S
COMMITTEE CHAIRWOMAN June Scott adds
her comments to the Second Annual Women's
Conference of the Capital Region of CSEA.
ALBANY — "Women must use their union
more," Atty. Marge Karowe, of the CSEA law
firm of Roemer and Featherstonehaugh, told
some sixty attendees of the recent Second Annual Women's Conference sponsored by the
Capital Region of the Civil Service Employees
Assn.
"Present statistics indicate that women make
up 48 percent of the State government workforce
and 54 percent of the local government
workforce," she said. "Women must use this
power at the bargaining table to gain economic
and social changes now."
Karowe said "Legislative enactment of laws
takes too long. Women can gain child care
centers, career ladders, educational reimbursement, transitional programs, and even
fight for comparable worth now, at the bargaining table, without waiting years for national
policy to be legislated."
The morning session featured presentations by
AFSCME staff members Anita Paterson,
Marsha Anderson, Joanna Williams and Ron
Coder on time management.
ATTY. MARGE KAROWE points out the various
powers that women have at the bargaining table
through CSEA as she addresses the sixty plus
participants at the Capital Region's Second Annual Women's Conference.
Union campaigns to halt
contracting-out In Beacon
DISCUSSING THE contracting out situation in Nassau County are, from left,
Steve Regenstreif of AFSCME, Nassau County Local 830 President Nicholas
Abbatiello, Robert McEnroe of AFSCME and Local 830 Vice President Rita
Wallace.
Cite contract violation
MINEOLA — Nassau County has been violating its agreement with CSEA
Local 830 regarding contracting out for services performed by members of the
bargaining unit, Local 830 President Nicholas Abbatiello has charged.
Abbatiello said according to the agreement, which was signed in 1980, the
county was supposed to send monthly reports to Local 830 on county contracting out for services, discuss with the local any future attempts to contract
out, and not lay off any employees due to contracting out.
He said the local has never received a monthly report, and the county is
looking into contracting out for county vehicles and for ambulance services
though it has not notified the local about those inquiries.
He said the county has not laid off anyone, but it is offering new positions to
custodial and security personnel in order in bring in more of the contractor's
employees.
Custodial and security have been the two areas where Nassau County has
contracted out for services, he said.
Abbatiello said since the contractor has taken over the custodial functions
in many county buildings problems with roaches, filthy bathrooms and
generally a lack of cleanliness have occurred.
Local 830 Vice President Rita Wallace said since security services have
been contracted out for many county buildings and facilities, there has been an
increase in thefts of county and personal property and in vandalism and graffiti. .
"Many times the contracted security guards have been found drinking or
sleeping on the job," she said.
Abbatiello said at this time Local 830 was documenting all the abuses of the
agreement to be able to prove the full extent of the problem.
"I don't believe the county is saving money by contracting for services
which lack the quality of service given by its own employees.
"The contracted employees have no Vested interest in the county, and the
quality of their work has brought the unfortunately expected results," he said.
The situation also will be brought up in the ongoing contract negotiations
between Local 830 and the county.
BEACON — Union leaders are reacting quickly to indications the
City Council is looking into the possibility of contracting-out operations at
the Sewage Treatment Plant here.
In a letter to the city's elected officials, CSEA Unit President Dave
Eraca protested, "Public employees are being made scapegoats for the
current problems of state and local governments, and some of the leaders
of the apti-public employee chorus are private contractors who are trying
to get their hands on more government contracts."
He continued, "The typical approach is for contractors to deliberately submit a low bid to win a contract. Once it is awarded, the company
often gets a virtual monopoly over the service and, even if the contractor's work proves unsatisfactory and more costly, the local government
is often unable or reluctant to take it back.
"So we're warning you against any 'quick fix' and look out for
automatic escalator clauses which raise rates behind your back."
Eraca also sent Beacon officials copies of the book "Government
for Sale" which describes the pitfalls of contracting-out.
Union announces opening for
project coordinator for EAP
ALBANY — CSEA is looking for a Project Coordinator for the Employee
Assistance Program (EAP).
The EAP Coordinator is responsible for planning, coordinating, directing
and evaluating the confidential program designed to assist public employees in
dealing with alcoholism, drug abuse, family or financial problems.
Qualifications include a bachelor's degree with a major in labor or industrial relations, public administration, education or personnel administration. Applicants must also have four years experience in a related
field, two of which must be in an administrative capacity. A master's degree in
an appropriate field may be substituted for one year's experience.
Applicants should submit resumes by May 26 to Personnel Office, CSEA, 33
Elk Street, Albany, New York 12207.
—Calendar
of EVENTS
May
20-22—State Delegates V^orkshop, Syracuse.
30—Westchester County Employee Day, Playland, Rye.
June
1—Office of General Services Local 660 election of officers. Deodline for ballots 5 p.m.
at P.O. Box 7153. Ballots to be counted at 5:30 p.m. at CSEA Headquarters, 2nd
floor conference room.
3—Long Island Region I Mental Hygiene Task Force, noon, Region I satellite office,
Hauppauge.
6—Cortland County Local 812 retirees dinner, 6 p.m.. Loyal Order of Moose Club,
South Main St., Cortland.
15—Long Island Region I Executive Board meeting, 7 p.m., Machinists Hall, Melville.
19—Office of General Services Local 660-CSEA picnic, noon to 5 p.m., food; activities 'til
9 p.m. Western Turnpike Golf Course, Guilderland. Jim Rockwell, chairman.
TH5 P U B t i t
^Widhbsdol^, k t t y ^ ,
fWt
Page 9
Labor/management meetings
'A viable labor relations tool'
TOM QUIMBY, CSEA's director of
education and training, makes a
few points during the recent
Region VI labor/management
seminar.
BATAVIA — An atmosphere of
cooperation, a positive commitment to work on improving problem
areas, and continuous open lines of
communications were underlined
as basic, necessary ingredients to
the
success
of
the
labor/management meeting at a
recent seminar in CSEA Western
Region VI.
The history and evolution of the
labor/management meeting, union
and management roles, choosing
the proper topics and developing a
winning, positive approach were
all addressed by specialists in a
day-long program developed by
CSEA Director of Education and
Training Tom Quimby and Region
VI President Robert Lattimer.
With the coming of age of
organized labor, the private sector
labor/management concept is
gaining in acceptance as a viable
labor relations tool, according to
Robert Ahem, Executive Director
of the Buffalo and Erie County
LOCAL 403 MEMBER LEROY FREEMAN, left, and CSEA Regional
Director Lee Frank discuss the issues of the day during a break at the
Region VI labor/management seminar.
CSEA/P PROGRESS REVIEWED — CSEA Collective Bargaining Specialist
Jack Conoby (left photo), center, flanked by CSEA/P committee members Joe
Conway and Elaine Todd, recently presented CSEA Capital Region officers
with an update on the progress of the Clerical and Secretarial Employees Ad^ a g e 10
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, April 22, 1981
Labor/Mangement Council, one of
the speakers.
"But the public sector presents
special problems that require
recognition of the political realities
and the civil service system,"
Ahern said in recounting that the
mayor of Buffalo has asked the
council
to
draw
up
a
labor/management plan for the
public employees of Buffalo. The
council has dealt with strictly
private labor/management
matters to date.
CSEA has been " a d a p t i n g
private sector labor/management
methods to our public sector
needs," related CSEA Collective
Bargaining Specialist Paul Burch.
"The number one essential to any
l e v e l of l a b o r / m a n a g e m e n t
meeting is an atmosphere of
cooperation with a sincere commitment on the part of union and
management to solve all issues
that are solvable at that level" he
said.
"For issues that require a higher
authority to resolve, agreement
should be made to send it on to the
next level without delay," Burch
continued. "Achieving a continuing
working relationship and developing and maintaining credibility are
also very basic necessities to continued positive results," Burch
concluded.
Tom Hines, Assistant Director of
the Governor's Office of Employee
Relations, said state-level
labor/management meetings "are
making p r o g r e s s in solving
problems."
"The meeting is important,"
Hines continued, "but most important is the labor/management
relationship which should be
positive" so that when a problem
arises the two sides can discuss it
and solve it."
"The unions are here to stay,"
declared the Governor's representative," and some segments of
management must get away from
the attitude of hoping the unions
will^o away."
ROBERT A H E R N , e x e c u t i v e
director of the Buffalo-Erie County
labor/management council told an
attentive audience that the public
sector presents special problems
which require special recognition.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
SPECIALIST PAUL BURCH outlined the key element of a working
relationship with management
—cooperation.
vancement Program. Joan Tobin, right photo, CSEA DOT Main Office Local
president and one of the members of the bargaining team which negotiated the
CSEA/P concept with the state, discusses program successes with Ed Van
Heusen, Department Criminal Justice Services vice president.
Move termed a 'dream come true'.
Worker's Comp, unites under one roof
MENANDS — Worker's Compensation Board is moving, consolidating
its 300-plus member workforce, now divided in three separate work
locations, under one roof. Also moving is its enormous volume of compensation files, some of which actively date back to 1914.
The Board's administration and its workforce are looking forward to the
move, to finally being a unified workforce, and to remaining in the familiar
surroundings of their present neighborhood. The Worker's Compensation
Board is moving from its present location (a converted factory owned by the
Simmons Tool Corporation) across Broadway to its new home in a former
retail outlet which closed several years ago. The outlet was becoming an
eyesore to the area but the renovation and reuse of the plaza area is "the
corner stone in the economic rebirth of the area," according to the Mayor of
the Village of Menands Tom Gibbs.
Andrew J. Kean, Worker's Compensation Administrative Officer, said
"This is a dream come true. For twenty years both labor and management
scoured the area looking for a suitable location that provided the storage,
geographic access and office space everyone desired at a price the State
OGS could afford.
Worker's Compensation Local President Brian Ruff explained why the
employees had put up with the converted factory location for so long.
"CSEA has a file a foot and a half thick on this building. It's a factory, not a
multi-use building, but our members and the public who use this facility love
its convenient location. It's not in downtown Albany, which means that people from Troy, Cohoes, and Watervliet can use it without worrying about a
parking ticket, and our members also benefit since they can get in and out of
the area quickly. The only problem is the structure, it's old and showing its
age."
The new location is far superior to the old. The new building is well insulated and air conditioned. A new experimental lighting system, easy on
the eyes and on the state energy pocketbook has been installed throughout
the building in employee work locations, fire sprinkler systems cover the
TOURING THE NEW FACILITY in its last stage of rennovation are, from
left, Worker's Compensation Local President Brian Ruff, Worker's
Compensation Administrative Officer Andrew J. Kean and Collective
Bargaining Specialist Jack Conoby.
work and storage area. "We've limited the access of the public to one controlled area. They won't be able to wander throughout the facility as they
can now do in the old building," Kean explained. Ruff noted that a few
violent situations had developed over the years when an individual had lost a
case and attempted to vent frustration on the workforce."
The big move is scheduled for May with an open house scheduled for
mid-summer.
Members Join march
to raise $3,000 for
murder-striclcen
Atianta neighboriioods
WEST BRENTWOOD — More than 200 persons, many of them members of
CSEA, helped raise more than $3,000 in a walkathon recently in response to the
tragic Atlanta murders.
The marchers walked from Pilgrim Psychiatric Center in West Brentwood
to Central Islip Psychiatric Center, a distance of six miles. Suffolk County
Police escorted the marchers.
The money is for a fund sponsored by the Southern Christian Leadership
Conference to be used to improve the Atlanta neighborhood where the
murdered children lived.
Among those speaking just prior to the march were State Mental Hygiene
Regional Director John lafrate, Pilgrim Psychiatric Center Director Peggy
O'Neill and Central Islip Psychiatric Center Administrative Assistant to the
Director Frank Nichols.
The walk-a-thon ended with a religious service at the Central Islip
Psychiatric Center Chapel.
CSEA MEMBERS, walking behind the Long Island Region I banner, take part
in the march from Pilgrim Psychiatric Center to Central Islip Psychiatric
Center in response to the murder of black children in Atlanta, Ga. The walk-athon was reported to have raised more than $3,000.
Favorable DOT decision causes upheaval
rCORTLAND
ORTLAND —
hen R
avmond S
m i t h , aa m
e m b e r of C
SEA L
o c a l 520
- W
When
Raymond
Smith,
member
CSEA
Local
received a certified letter from the New York State Department of Transportation stating his grievance was sustained, and notice of discipline
withdrawn, he thought the matter was settled.
As events turned out, the letter with its favorable decision prompted
a reaction by management that forced the filing of another grievance.
The initial grievance was filed after Smith was given a notice of discipline following an incident that occurred in January, 1981, at the
Cortland NYSDOT residency garage. According to the testimony involved
in the subsequent hearing held March 3,1981, Smith and his supervisor exchanged remarks regarding the method Smith was using to install a snow
plow to its frame. Further words were exchanged and Smith was invited
to follow the supervisor to the resident engineer's office to discuss the
matter.
The outcome of the exchange of words and subsequent meeting in the
engineer's office was a notice of discipline dated January 26, 1981.
Three days after the hearing (March 6,1981), Smith received official
notice that his grievance had been sustained by an Agency Labor
Relations Representative. The certified letter also stated the notice of
discipline was withdrawn.
Apparently, the resident engineer at the Cortland-Tompkins DOT
garage chose to ignore the finding of the Agency Representative, because
a memorandum of reprimand concerning the entire event was placed in
M
r S
mith's n
e r s o n a l history
h i s t o r v ffile.
ile.
Mr.
Smith's
personal
V
After learning of the action by the,engineer, Mr. Smith contacted
George Van Dee, President of CSEA Local 520, and Terry Moxley, CSEA
Field Representative, and requested another grievance be filed to
remove the detrimental momorandum from his file.
CSEA and Ray Smith now await another hearing date, another hearing to review the circumstances of the case, and hopefully a directive to
withdraw the memorandum in the file.
Ray Smith has no explanation as to why management has stubbornly
refused to remove the letter after the State had ordered the disciplinary
charge to be withdrawn.
"I didn't do anything to bring on the charge in the first place. It was a
minor incident that could have been avoided. The State (New York) could
have saved itself a lot of time, work and money. All I really want is for
someone to pull that letter from my personal file. It's as simple as that,"
Smith said.
In a comment concerning the case, Terry Moxley, CSEA Field
Representative, said, "This is a typical example of how the TompkinsCortland DOT management handles an Agency decision. Someone could
pick up the telephone and say 'pull the letter,' but that would be too easy.
They would rather drag everything through another hearing and all the
paperwork that goes with it. You would think their so-called management
could find a better use of State time and money."
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, May 20, 1981
Page 11
Edward Elmendorf Is responsIMa for the state's foliage
The man behind the Plaza's plant menagerie
By Tina Lincer First
Communications Associate
ALBANY - He is the Empire State Plaza's
plant man; the person responsible for watering,
feeding, cleaning, spraying, arranging, choosing
and catering to the some 2,500 green growing
things inside the massive state complex.
He is CSEA's Edward Elmendorf of the Office
of General Services Local 660, and he brings, in
addition to his green thumb, tender loving care
and good-natured humor to his job.
"No, I don't talk to the plants. I'm not that far
gone yet. But I swear at 'em once in a while,"
said Elmendorf recently, as he sat beside a corner arrangement of plants at the Legislative Office Building, divulging his horticultural secrets.
His formula for success, he says, is straightforward — he has selected plants that grow well
under artificial light, has set up a schedule flexi-,
ble enough to accommodate interruptions and
changes, and knows each plant's particular light,
fertilizer, temperature and water needs.
"People Overwater plants," he says. "That
kills 'em more than anything else."
Elmendorf, of Albany, a thin, bespectacled
man of 62, has been working as Supervisor of
Plant Detail at the plaza for seven years.
Previously, he worked for 28 years at a private
florist shop until it closed.
"This is c l e a n e r than working for a
greenhouse," he says. "But there's a lot of
features here that work against the plants. Lack
of humidity. Poor lighting. People break the tops
off, too, to try to make cuttings. Moving 'em all
the time hinders 'em, too. They call that 'transportation shock.' The plants get acclimated to a
certain spot and they do better when they're left
there."
In addition to the plaza, Elmendorf is responsible for the indoor foliage at the Capitol, the Ten
Eyck Building and the State Ofhce Building
Campus.
Hanging plants annoy him. "They're too high to
reach and you have to water 'em more because
they get more air flow and dry out faster," he
says. "Often they hang over a desk and when you
go to water 'em, you get water all over the
desk."
PLANTKEEPERS — Dominic Catalfamo (left), Edward
Elmendorf (center) and Frank Selke, all of CSEA Office of
General Services Local 660, tend to the greenery at the Empire State Plaza in Albany. Elmendorf, Supervisor of Plant
Detail at the plaza, has put his green thumb to work for the P
past 35 years.
There are seven different kinds of plants at the
plaza — the schefflera, corn plant, palm,
spathiphyllum (a Chinese lily, and the only
flowering plant), philodendron, yucca and
rubber plant. The tallest of all the greenery is a
12-foot high corn plant located in the Justice
Building.
Helping Elmendorf preside over this luxurious
plant kingdom are two other CSEA Local 660
members — groundskeepers Frank Selke, a shop
steward, and Dominic Catalfamo.
"Oh, I love my job, really," says Dominic, 56,
a small, wise-cracking man with bushy eyebrows
and a thick Italian accent, who was a bricklayer
for 32 years before changing jobs because of a
physical ailment.
"I always got an eye for beauty. And I got a
good boss," says Dominic. "He's an expert. The
man knows it all, honest. I'm ready to step up
when he retires," he adds, with a mischievious
look at Elmendorf.
"Don't mind him — Dominic gets rambunctious once a week," says Selke, grinning at his
co-worker. Selke, 26, a former mailroom and
parking services attendant and eight years a
CSEA member, joined Elmendorf in 1977 with no
experience in making greenery grow. "I like
plants," he says simply, "and Eddie is a good
teacher."
A large part of the plant crew's responsibilities is arranging the foliage during special
occasions and events. When Gov. Hugh Carey got
married recently, they moved about 80 plants
from their display areas to the Cultural Center
for the Albany wedding reception. "It was a long
way," said Elmendorf, noting he had extra help
that day. "We had to hand-truck 'em over
there."
In general, say the men, people who work at
the plaza are appreciative of their plant care.
"We get a lot of compliments," said Elmendorf, adding that they are often called upon to
give advice on personal plants in offices as well
as on problem plants their owners bring from
home. Unfortunately, he said, there are also people with little appreciation, who think nothing of
stashing their litter — everything from orange
peels and peanut shells to beer cans and
cigarette stubs — in the soil.
"You name it, they put it in," said Selke.
All three plantkeepers say they have very few
plants at home. Dominc has one — "I got it on
the dining room table" — while Selke says he has
four — "I won't allow any more."
And expert Elmendorf?
"I have a few indoor plants," he says, noting
that his wife, Evangeline, is the one who takes
care of them. Having any more, he says, "would
be like the mailman who goes for a walk on his
day off."
Local DIG, official, cleared of charges
ALBANY — CSEA's Board of Directors last week dismissed all charges
against CSEA Local 010 following an investigation by a hearing committee of
the Board into allegations of fiscal irregularities within the Local.
In a four page report following two days of hearings in New York City, the
six member panel reported, " . . . the Committee finds no bad faith on the part
of the Local or any of the individual officers or members of the Local and certainly no misappropriation of assets of the Local. While the Committee may
not have agreed with all of the expenditures which the Local made, none of
them were illegal at the time made or made in bad faith or for personal gain on
the part of any of the officers or members of the Local."
Acting on the report on May 14, the Board of Directors voted without dissenting vote of any members present to dismiss all charges against the Local
and that the Executive Board of the Local be returned to office immediately.
The Executive Board was suspended from office temporarily on March 2, pursuant to Article VI, Section 4 of the CSEA's Constitution.
Charges had been filed against the Local and individual charges had been filed against Local President Joseph Johnson upon allegations of irresponsible
management of Local funds, severe depletion of Local assets, improper and
unauthorized expenditure of funds and breach of fiduciary duty to the
members. The action of the hearing board and the Board of Directors found all
the charges unfounded and dismissed them.
Page 12
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, M a y 20, 1981
The Board recommended that appropriate steps be taken to notify the
membership of the Local of the Board's findings on the allegations and to correct reports published in the news media about the incident. CSEA's policy in
such matters is to make no public statements concerning allegations leading to
a trusteeship until the mandates of the Constitution have been followed and the
accused have an opportunity to defend themselves at an appropriate hearing.
"Our union has created safeguards to protect the interests of our
membership from the possibility of improper conduct by elected officials,"
commented CSEA President William L. McGowan conceniing the Local 010
matter. "The allegations in this case were handled in a direct, fair and evenhanded manner by thoroughly investigating the allegations, allowing the parties involved to answer these allegations in an appropriate forum and then to
having the Board of Directors make a final determination in this case. That is
what has been done and we are pleased that the hearing committee concluded
the interests of the members of Local 010 had not been jeopardized."
No Issue
There will be no issue of The Public
Sector published next week. The
next issue will be dated June 3,
1981.