glPorüMia®
i
Official Publication of
The Civil Service Employees
Association
Vol. 3, No. 40^
Wednesday, July 22, 1981
(ISSN 0164 9949)
The Region concept —
Whafs your opinion
about how It works?
Bill McQowan wants
to know. See page 5
IP reactivated, political action Intensifies, ad campaign planned
HOLTSVILLE — CSEA reactivated an improper practice charge
with PERB against the Suffolk County Legislature last week for giving
pay raises and upgradings to select groups of employees in violation of
collective bargaining agreements and the Taylor Law."
The PERB action resulted from the rejection by the Suffolk County
Legislature two weeks ago of a one-year contract, which had been
approved by the County and ratified by the Union, on the grounds that the
contract contained provisions that would have ended the Legislature's
practice of granting raises and upgradings to favored employees. CSEA
says the Legislature's actions created two classes of employees — those
who get advances unfairly through political influence and the majority
who abide by the collective bargaining agreement.
STAFF MEMBERS and interns from CSEA's Office of Legislative and
Political Action moved into Suffolk County to coordinate a political action
campaign designed to get county legislators to reverse their decision to
reject a proposed contract. Director of Legislative and Political Action
Bernard Ryan is shown along with his staff and interns as they check
computerized membership rosters as part of a telephone contact campaign.
The unexpected and unprecedented rejection of the contract — which
contains raises from 7.5 to 23 percent for approximately 7,500 county
workers — shocked and infuriated CSEA leaders throughout the state
from Suffolk Local 852 President Charles Novo and Region One President
Danny Donohue to Statewide President William L. McGowan who rushed
to Long Island after the contract was turned down.
Mr. McGowan, Mr. Novo and Mr. Donohue met with County Executive Peter Cohalan, sampled the opinions of key Legislators, then
huddled to plan strategy to get the contract brought back before the
Legislature and approved.
Before putting the contract before the Legislature for another vote, the
CSEA leaders decided to first try the long-dormant CSEA charge against
the Legislature before PERB decision is rendered. CSEA officials said
that if the union's charge is upheld, the County Executive could then call
a special meeting of the Legislature to reconsider the contract.
CSEA attorney Marge Karowe presented CSEA's case in New York
before PERB hearing officer Louis Patack on Wednesday, July 15. After
the hearing, Mr. Patack said he would give the union, the Legislature and
the County until July 22 to present briefs and would make a ruling within
a week after that.
In addition, the union rewed-up its political engines for a vigorous campaign to get Legislators to change their votes when there is another vote.
Region One Political Action Committee Chairman, Michael Curtin, cut
short a vacation to begin lining up votes for the contract and Bernie Ryan,
director of Legislation and Political Action was sent down to Long Island
with members of his staff to help with the political and membership support drives.
Also, CSEA prepared an advertising and information program — including a full-page ad in Newsday — designed to bring the CSEA position
to the public and CSEA members when the campaign gets under way.
The Improper Practice charge was filed with PERB on Dec. 2,1980 by
the Suffolk Local 852 but held in abeyance on Dec. 11 when the union and
the County agreed to a clause in the contract which would limit the
authority to initiate salary raises and promotions to the president of the
union representing employees and the Director of Labor Relations appointed by the County Executive. The Legislature would retain the right
to approve or refuse all raises and upgradings.
Insurance covers hospice care
CSEA members and their families who need care or help in coping with
terminal illness and death are now covered for hospice care under CSEA's insurance plan.
Hospice services will be covered under the Blue Cross Hospitalization
coverage of the New York State Health Insurance Program, and the GHI option.
There are currently 14 approved New York State Hospice Demonstration
Programs. These are hospitals or centers aimed at providing comprehensive
physical, spiritual and psychological family-like support for the terminally ill
and their families.
In addition to care provided by these New York programs, services by outof-state hospice organizations will also be covered, provided the hospice is
licensed by the appropriate agency of the state in which it is located.
"Hospice claims are currently being evaluated on a case-by-case basis,"
said Christine Dobert, Senior Employee Insurance Representative of the
Department of Civil Service.
The 14 approved New York State hospice programs are:
Beth Abraham Hospital, The Bronx; Hospice Buffalo, Inc., Buffalo;
Cabrini Medical Center, New York; Hospice of Schenectady (Capital District
Hospice, Inc.), Schenectady; Genesee Region Home Care Association,
Rochester; Hospice Care, Inc., New Hartford; Long Island Jewish-Hillside
Medical Center, New Hyde Park.
Also, Mercy Hospital Association, Rockville Centre; MetropoUtan Jewish
Geriatric Center, Brooklyn; Northshore University Hospital, Manhasset; Our
Lady of Lourdes Memorial Hospital, Binghamton; St. Luke's Hospital Center,
New York; St. Peter's Hospital, Albany; and United Hospital, Port Chester.
Anyone with questions about the Hospice Care Program may call the
Employee Insurance Section of the Civil Service Department at (518) 457-5754
or 457-5784.
Hospice care is also available to CSEA members through the CSEA
Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which last year linked up with St.
Peter's Hospice in Albany.
V
THE ASSEMBLY'S SIDE of the recent marathon state legislative session
is explained to CSEA President William L. McGowan by Assembly
Speaker Stanley Fink, right, during a face-to-face discussion in the
Speaker's Office at the State Capitol. CSEA received the Speaker's support in its successful efforts to win supplementation for retiree pensions
and eliminate a seven percent cap on school district transportation funding. Speaker Fink was also an advocate of CSEA's bills to make agency
shop legislation permanent and mandatory and to remove some of the unfair biases of the state's Taylor Law.
The sickle cell crusader
Sam Herbert hopes
to launch telethon
By Ron Wofford
B U F F A L O — If S a m H e r b e r t h a s h i s w a y , 1982
w i l l s e e t h e f i r s t t e l e t h o n f o r s i c k l e c e l l a n e m i a in
t h e h i s t o r y of W e s t e r n N e w Y o r k . H e h a s t h e
n e c e s s a r y determination and is gaining the support
needed to s e e s u c h a v e n t u r e through.
Following the telethon, Herbert has hopes and
p l a n s f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e f i r s t f ä c i l i t y in
N e w Y o r k d e d i c a t e d t o t h e r e s e a r c h of s i c k l e c e l l
anemia.
His plans w e r e given a big boost recently w h e n
Buffalo Mayor J a m e s Griffin and E r i e County E x ecutive Edward Rutkowski signed a joint
p r o c l a m a t i o n d e c l a r i n g J u n e 30 " S i c k l e C e l l
A n e m i a C o o p e r a t i o n D a y " in h o n o r of t h e e f f o r t s of
the eight-year Medical R e s e a r c h Technician at
Roswell Park M e m o r i a l Institute.
MEDICAL RESEARCH TECHNICIAN Sam
Herbert at work in the Cancer Cell Center,
Electron Microscopy Dept. of Roswell Park
Memorial Institute.
SAM H E R B E R T , left, a Medical
Research
T e c h n i c i a n at R o s w e l l Park M e m o r i a l Institute,
receives proclamation from Buffalo Mayor J a m e s
G r i f f i n d e c l a r i n g J u n e 30 " S i c k l e C e l l A n e m i a
C o o p e r a t i o n D a y " in h o n o r of H e r b e r t ' s e f f o r t s
toward a TV telethon. E r i e County E x e c u t i v e
Edward Rutkowski also signed the proclamation.
It's probably a s surprising to m o s t p e o p l e a s it
w a s to m e w h e n t h e y find out that there is not o n e
f a c i l i t y in t h e s t a t e d o i n g m e d i c a l r e s e a r c h o n
sickle cell," said Herbert. "In Buffalo there are at
l e a s t t h r e e o r g a n i z a t i o n s o r f a c i l i t i e s i n v o l v e d in
t h e c o u n s e l i n g , e d u c a t i o n a n d t r e a t m e n t of t h e d i s e a s e , but no r e s e a r c h is b e i n g d o n e on a r e g u l a r ,
concerted basis."
"Sickle cell is a painful, hereditary illness that is
not l i m i t e d to black p e o p l e , " H e r b e r t continued.
" A n d n o c u r e h a s y e t b e e n f o u n d . It c a n b e f a t a l ,
too. A s a child I lost four f r i e n d s to s i c k l e c e l l w h i l e
g r o w i n g u p in H a r l e m . "
N o stranger to childhood illness, h i m s e l f , H e r b e r t
w a s hospitalized with polio f r o m a g e five to eleven.
" I s u p p o s e I l o s t a g o o d d e a l of m y c h i l d h o o d
b e t w e e n the Hospital for Joint D i s e a s e s and
B e l l e v u e , " r e c a l l e d H e r b e r t . " B u t it g a v e m e t h e
motivation I h a v e today and I intend to s e e this
through to a s u c c e s s f u l finish."
T h e t e l e t h o n , t e n t a t i v e l y p l a n n e d f o r J u n e of 1982
on a l o c a l s t a t i o n , p r o m i s e s t o b e a s t a r - s t u d d e d a f fair. " I ' v e a l r e a d y got at least tentative c o m mitments from Teddy Pendergrass, Billy Taylor,
Al J a r r e a u , G e o r g e B e n s o n a n d o t h e r s , " H e r b e r t
said. "And I ' m working on getting Roberta F l a c k ,
Diana Ross and Richard Pryor."
Herbert is hopeful that the c o n t a c t s he h a s m a d e
o v e r s e v e r a l y e a r s of r u n n i n g h i s o w n p r o d u c t i o n
c o m p a n y w i l l b e h e l p f u l in d r a w i n g t h e s u p p o r t t h a t
will m a k e a s i c k l e cell telethon a s u c c e s s f u l , growing endeavor.
" M y g o a l i s t o r a i s e $1 m i l l i o n t h e f i r s t y e a r a n d
a t l e a s t $5 m i l l i o n b y t h e t h i r d y e a r , " H e r b e r t s a i d .
" A n d I k n o w I'll n e e d h e l p f r o m a l l by b r o t h e r a n d
s i s t e r m e m b e r s of C S E A L o c a l 303, w h o I k n o w
f r o m e x p e r i e n c e a r e h a r d - w o r k i n g , c o n c e r n e d individuals."
"Just as w e here are working towards the eventual e l i m i n a t i o n of c a n c e r a s a m a j o r k i l l e r of
mankind, there n e e d s to be a m o r e c o n c e r t e d e f f o r t
a i m e d a t w i p i n g o u t t h e toll of l i v e s c u t d o w n o r
t h r e a t e n e d by the s i c k l e cell. And that w o n ' t h a p p e n
until w e m a k e it h a p p e n . "
Region II officers
take oath of office
M E T R O P O L I T A N R E G I O N II O f f i c e r s , f r o m
left, President George Caloumeno, First Vice
President Frances DuBose, Second Vice
P r e s i d e n t B r e n d a N i c h o l s and S e c r e t a r y Ann
W o r t h y a r e i n s t a l l e d b y f o r m e r R e g i o n II
President Solomon Bendet, now retired. N e w
R e g i o n II T r e a s u r e r G e o r g e B o n c o r a g l i o w a s
unable to a t t e n d the installation due to i l l n e s s .
Page^2>cr/'
THE PÜBtlCOSECTORt.W^ednesday, July 22, 1981
Contracting out
squelched at
Bronx Dev.
N E W YORK CITY - CSEA Metropolitan
R e g i o n II h a s w o n a b a t t l e w i t h B r o n x
Developmental
Center over the
ins t i t u t i o n ' s c o n t r a c t i n g o u t of h o u s e k e e p i n g
s e r v i c e s . At a r e c e n t l a b o r / m a n a g e m e n t
m e e t i n g to discuss i s s u e s within the N e w
Y o r k C i t y R e g i o n a l O f f i c e of M e n t a l R e t a r dation and D e v e l o p m e n t a l
Disabilities
(OMRDD), O M R D D First Deputy Commissioner Zigmund Slezak pledged that
O M R D D w i l l g o t o t h e D i v i s i o n of t h e
Budget with a plan to terminate the
housekeeping
contract
at
Bronx
Developmental Center and hire state
e m p l o y e e s to p e r f o r m the housekeeping
function.
The decision to end the contracting out
c a m e a f t e r m e e t i n g s b e t w e e n R e g i o n II
representatives,
Bronx
D.C.
director
R o y C a r m i c h a e l a n d o f f i c i a l s of O M R D D
and a f t e r an audit by State controller
E d w a r d R e a g a n ' s office. The audit reveale d a $57,000 o v e r p a y m e n t t o t h e h o u s e k e e p ing contractor.
"We are naturally v e r y pleased that
O M R D D finally recognized the problems
with contracting out the housekeeping serv i c e a t B r o n x D . C . , " R e g i o n II f i e l d
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e B a r t B r i e r said. "In addition to the o v e r p a y m e n t , C a r m i c h a e l
himself a d m i t t e d that the s e r v i c e s provided by the contractor w e r e far f r o m
satisfactory."
While CSEA collective
bargaining
a g r e e m e n t s with the s t a t e specify that
" t h e r e s h a l l b e n o l o s s of p r e s e n t j o b s a s a
r e s u l t . . . " of c o n t r a c t i n g o u t , B r o n x
D e v e l o p m e n t a l Center is a 2-year old
facility which has never had
state
e m p l o y e e s in h o u s e k e e p i n g .
Discussions at the labor/management
m e e t i n g a l s o f o c u s e d o n t h e f a i l u r e of t h e
O M R D D N e w York City Regional Office to
comply with a letter from O M R D D commissioner J a m e s E. Introne regarding
c o m m u n i t y residences for the mentally
r e t a r d e d . In h i s l e t t e r , I n t r o n e d i r e c t e d t h e
O M R D D Regional O f f i c e to establish c o m m u n i t y r e s i d e n c e s r u n b y t h e S t a t e in e q u a l
n u m b e r to those c o n t r a c t e d out to volunt a r y a g e n c i e s . T h e r e a r e c u r r e n t l y 34 s t a t e run c o m m u n i t y r e s i d e n c e s f o r t h e m e n t a l l y
r e t a r d e d in N e w Y o r k C i t y a n d 148 run b y
voluntary agencies. O M R D D projects openi n g 11 s t a t e - r u n a n d 33 v o l u n t a r y a g e n c y run r e s i d e n c e s in t h e 1981-82 f i s c a l y e a r .
" I n v i e w of w h a t t h e State Island Advance p r i n t e d a b o u t U n i t e d C e r e b r a l P a l s y ,
I c a n ' t b e l i e v e t h a t O M R D D in N e w Y o r k
C i t y i s i g n o r i n g t h e c o m m i s s i o n e r ' s instructions,"
said
Staten
Island
D e v e l o p m e n t a l C e n t e r L o c a l 429 p r e s i d e n t
John Jackson.
'Highway Superintendent hopeful views citizens as 'shareholders' —
Experience may elect Charlie Elchler
By Stanley P. Hornak
C O R T L A N D T - Charlie E i c h l e r is a D a v i d going a f t e r Goliath.
T h e 3 5 - y e a r - o l d s t a t e D e p a r t m e n t of T r a n s p o r t a t i o n e m p l o y e e i s c h a l l e n g i n g a n e n t r e n c h e d inc u m b e n t f o r t h e p o s i t i o n of S u p e r i n t e n d e n t of
H i g h w a y s in t h i s n o r t h e r n W e s t c h e s t e r C o u n t y
t o w n of 35,000 p e o p l e . A n d E i c h l e r s a y s h i s p a r t i c i p a t i o n in t h e r e c e n t C S E A C a n d i d a t e C a m paign Institute "Blueprint for S u c c e s s " has been
a " s h o t in t h e a r m " o n h i s h o p e f u l r o a d t o v i c tory.
A m e m b e r of L o c a l 507 a n d a p u b l i c e m p l o y e e
s i n c e 1963, E i c h l e r k n o w s h o w t o g e t a j o b d o n e .
H e contrasts his job p e r f o r m a n c e a s a Highway
Maintenance Supervisor on the Taconic State
P a r k w a y w i t h t h e p e r f o r m a n c e of t h e m a n h e ' s
running a g a i n s t , and s a y s , " I ' m proud of the cond i t i o n of t h e s e c t i o n of t h e p a r k w a y I m a i n t a i n . .
. you can say, I s i ^ m y work." He complains
that Cortlandt's Highway D e p a r t m e n t , "lacks
leadership, lacks personality, and that's why, for
example, we're always having problems with
street lights that don't work and s t r e e t signs that
aren't properly maintained." Eichler, the father
of t w o g i r l s , w o r r i e s a b o u t h a z a r d s c a u s e d " b y
t h e a t t i t u d e of t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n " a n d v o w s , if
e l e c t e d , t o m a k e it a 2 4 - h o u r a d a y j o b .
" I f m y m e n a r e o u t t h e r e w o r k i n g , I'll b e o u t
with them, too," he emphasizes. He's been a
laborer himself.
C h a n g i n g a t t i t u d e s i s t h e n a m e of t h e g a m e ,
a c c o r d i n g to E i c h l e r , a s h e s t a r t s his s e c o n d run
f o r e l e c t i v e o f f i c e . In 1980, h e w a s e l e c t e d a
Verplanck Fire District Commissioner. He sees
all c i t i z e n s a s " s h a r e h o l d e r s " and, "I won't be
a s k i n g p e o p l e if t h e y v o t e d f o r m e b e f o r e I p l o w
their streets."
At the s a m e t i m e , he understands the fiscal
r e a l i t i e s of t h e 1980s a n d n o t e s t h a t t h e h i g h w a y
d e p a r t m e n t budget d o e s not h a v e a s e p a r a t e line
i t e m f o r g a s o l i n e , b u t i n s t e a d c a t e g o r i z e s it und e r " m i s c e l l a n e o u s . " E i c h l e r c a l l s t h a t l a c k of
a c c o u n t i n g " t y p i c a l " and n o t e s that the town ann u a l l y s p e n d s $3 m i l l i o n t o m a i n t a i n 124 m i l e s of
r o a d , o r $28,000 p e r m i l e .
In h i s q u e s t f o r e f f i c i e n c y , t h e r e ' s o n e t h i n g
that E i c h l e r w o u l d c h a n g e i m m e d i a t e l y , and that
i s t h e p r a c t i c e of t h e c u r r e n t s u p e r v i s o r t o
contract-out s o m e snow r e m o v a l and ice control
s e r v i c e s . H e p a y s $55 p e r h o u r t o p r i v a t e c o n t r a c t o r s a n d s u p p l i e s s a n d , g a s , oil a n d t a k e s
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r b r e a k d o w n s . It o u t r a g e s
Eichler w h o s a y s t o w n e m p l o y e e s can do the job
better and c h e a p e r .
D a v i d E i c h l e r , w h o a c t s a s o n e of h i s b r o t h e r ' s
m a i n p o l i t i c a l a d v i s o r s , " t o k e e p it in t h e
f a m i l y " he laughs, describes the c a m p a i g n as a
"grassroots movement."
"It's our h o m e t o w n , w e know w h a t ' s g o i n g on
a n d w e o w e it t o o u r f r i e n d s . " H e a l s o e x p e c t s
C S E A a n d A F S C M E e n d o r s e m e n t s t o m a k e it a
populist campaign.
If e l e c t e d , E i c h l e r p l a n s t o g e t h i g h w a y
d e p a r t m e n t e m p l o y e e s together to s e e k their
g r i e v a n c e s a n d f i n d e q u i t a b l e s o l u t i o n s . In t u r n ,
he plans to ask t h e m what they can do to better
s e r v e the town.
" I f 1 p u t m y m i n d a n d h e a r t t o it, I t h i n k t h a t
the people w h o work with m e — not under m e ,
but w i t h m e — will do the s a m e , " he c o n c l u d e s
a s h e g e a r s u p f o r E l e c t i o n D a y , 1981.
G E T T I N G T O G E T H E R t o g o o v e r c a m p a i g n p l a n s w i t h L o c a l 860 o l l i c i a l s a r e , f r o m l e f t , t h e
c a n d i d a t e ' s b r o t h e r a n d m a i n political a d v i s o r , D a v i d E i c h l e r , P o l i t i c a l A c t i o n C o m m i t t e e C h a i r p e r s o n
E l e a n o r M c D o n a l d , Charlie E i c h l e r , Local P r e s i d e n t P a t M a s c i o l i and L e g i s l a t i v e C o m m i t t e e
Chairperson P u g Lanza.
Local's outlook brightens
BUP'P'ALO — E v e n t s r e a c h e d a h a p p y c o n c l u s i o n for C S E A E r i e County
L o c a l 815 m e m b e r s w i t h t h e i n s t a l l a t i o n of n e w l y e l e c t e d o f f i c e r s a n d t h e s i g n i n g of a 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 t h a t w a s s i x m o n t h s o v e r d u e .
N e g o t i a t i o n s o n a n e w c o n t r a c t h a d b e e n d e l a y e d b e c a u s e of a r e p r e s e n tation c h a l l e n g e e a r l i e r this y e a r . T h e c h a l l e n g e w a s e a s i l y d e f e a t e d , but
n e v e r t h e l e s s r e q u i r e d t h e a t t e n t i o n a n d f o c u s of C S E A r e s o u r c e s b e f o r e a n e w
a g r e e m e n t could be h a m m e r e d out.
M e m b e r s of t h e l a r g e s t l o c a l in R e g i o n 6 v o t e d o v e r w h e l m i n g l y t o a c c e p t
t h e t e r m s of t h e t h r e e - y e a r p a c t a n d w i l l b e g i n r e c e i v i n g t h e b e n e f i t s a n d s i x
m o n t h s of r e t r o a c t i v e p a y i n c r e a s e s , p r o m i s e d b y t h e c o u n t y in a s e p a r a t e
c h e c k b e f o r e t h e e n d of J u l y .
T h e 4,200 m e m b e r w h i t e - c o l l a r w o r k f o r c e will r e c e i v e a f i v e p e r c e n t w a g e
b o o s t f o r t h e f i r s t half of 1981 a n d a n o t h e r f i v e p e r c e n t in t h e s e c o n d h a l f .
In 1982, t h e p a c t c a l l s f o r a s i x p e r c e n t i n c r e a s e f o r t h e f i r s t h a l f of t h e y e a r
a n d f o u r p e r c e n t f o r t h e s e c o n d h a l f . In t h e t h i r d y e a r , t h e a g r e e m e n t p r o v i d e s
a s e v e n p e r c e n t r a i s e , e f f e c t i v e J a n . 1, 1983.
A n o t h e r f e a t u r e of t h e n e w a g r e e m e n t i s o v e r t i m e p a y , w h i c h w i l l b e p a i d
a t t h e r a t e of t i m e - a n d - o n e - h a l f .
L o c a l P r e s i d e n t John E i s s w a s " v e r y s a t i s f i e d with the p a c k a g e . I think w e
d i d a v e r y g o o d j o b of n e g o t i a t i n g , a n d I t h i n k t h e e m p l o y e e s f e e l t h a t w a y . F o r
e v e r y 11 v o t e s in f a v o r , o n l y t w o w e r e o p p o s e d . "
The negotiating c o m m i t t e e included P r e s i d e n t Eiss, G e o r g e Clark, Barbara Justinger, P e r r y J o w s e y , Marion Klein, Charles Carpenter, Joseph
Healy, M a g g i e M c N e e l a , Steven Caruana, Ed Adamski, J o e Cartonia and Marij e a n Nichols. CBS D a n n y Jinks w a s chief negotiator, assisted by F i e l d Rep.
Bob Young.
T h e n e w l y i n s t a l l e d o f f i c e r s f o r L o c a l 815 i n c l u d e P r e s i d e n t E i s s ; E x e c u t i v e V i c e P r e s i d e n t S a l C a s t r o ; 2 n d V i c e P r e s i d e n t S t e v e C a r u a n a ; 3rd V i c e
P r e s i d e n t J o s e p h H e a l y , 4th V i c e P r e s i d e n t G e r a l d P r i n c e . 5th V i c e P r e s i d e n t
W i l l i a m F e r r o , 6th V i c e P r e s i d e n t R i c h a r d C r o a d , S e c r e t a r y B a r b a r a
Protest ends,
Saratoga oks
new contract
BALLSTON SPA ~ The Saratoga
County CSEA Local has a new contract with the County which
resolves a majority of the
problems the union has addressed
to the County Management.
The two-year package was
ree^tly ratified and later approv-
E R I E C O U N T Y L O C A L 815 o f f i c e r s w e r e r e c e n t l y i n s t a l l e d b y C S E A W e s t e r n
Region President Robert Lattimer. Standing, from left, are, Steve Caruana,
R i c h a r d C r o a d , Sal C a s t r o , V i n c e M u s c a r e l l a , G e r a l d P r i n c e , V i c M a r r a n d
William F e r r o . Seated, f r o m left, a r e P a t r i c i a Del Cotto, P r e s i d e n t L a t t i m e r ,
John Eiss, J o y c e Bawldy and Barbara Justinger.
Justinger. Financial Secretary Patricia Del Cotto; Treasurer Joyce Bawldy;
County Representative Vic Marr; Sergeant-at-Arms Vince Muscarella, and
Parliamentarian Sharilyn Kamholtz.
The oath of office was administered by Region President Robert Lattimer.
ed by the Saratoga County Board of
Supervisors.
The contract was reached after
nearly five months of disput«.
At various times the union
membership picketed the Board
members, the negotiating session,
and Board business sessions. A
letter writing campaign w ^ also
part of the strategy.
The agreement provides a
minimum of $1,700 over the life of
the agreement. It also includes additional sums for those qualifying
for merit, longevity, or other types
of increments. Numerous contract language problems were
addressed and settled.
tVPT^.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, V^ednesdd/rJuly 22,MT981 V
Page'.3
SPublic—
SSECTOR
Official publication of
The Civil Service Employees Association
33 Elk Street, Albany, New York 12224
The Public Sector (445010) is published every Wednesday
weekly except for Wednesdays after New Years, Memorial
Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day for $5 by the Civil Service
Employees Association, 33 Elk Street, Albany, New York
12224.
Second Class Postage paid at Post Office, Albany. New York,
Send address changes to The Public Sector, 33 Elk Street,
Albany, New York 12224.
Publication office, 75 Champlain Street, Albany, New York
12204. Single copy Price 25c
Thomas A. demente—Publisher
Roger A. Cole—Executive Editor
Dr. Gerald Alperstein—Associate Editor
Gwenn M. Bellcourt — Associate Editor
Deborah Cassidy—Staff Writer
Dawn LePore—Staff Writer
John L. Murphy—Staff Writer
Aiden D. Lawand—Graphic Design
Dennis C. Mullahy—Production Coordinator
«
LABOR PRESsk
Published every Wednesday by Clarity Publishing, Inc. Publication
Office. 75 Champlain Street, Albany, N.Y 12204 ( 518 ) 465-4591
I m v n mmx
ami
school
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a / / d less
greed;
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THE AMERICAN LABOR MOVEMENT
One hundred years of progress
kssnnce;
i//fact,/mnr()f
cultivate
OK, I cur BACK OW SPEMDINJG LIKE THEr WAN/TED, BUT WE'VE STILL
gotta keep this THIMG GOIiOe... G/DDYAJ:^/'"
betta-natumJ'
{'hicaKo. Illitiois. Si'ptcnihcr. 1H9H
Samuel (jompcrs
Founding Iteidcnt
American R^derationof I^bor
As the A m e r i c a n Labor M o v e m e n t c e l e b r a t e s its
c e n t e n n i a l in 1981, it is appropriate to look back at the
history of the t r a d e union m o v e m e n t in the U n i t e d S t a t e s
to s e e w h e r e w e ' v e been, how far w e ' v e c o m e , and w h e r e
w e ' r e going. This a r t i c l e , f i r s t in a s e r i e s , is c o n d e n s e d
f r o m the AFL-CIO p u b l i c a t i o n "A Short History of
A m e r i c a n L a b o r , " p r e p a r e d for the 1981 Centennial.
Toward a federation of labor
The roots of the A m e r i c a n trade union m o v e m e n t e x t e n d d e e p into the
e a r l y h i s t o r y of this nation.
A m o n g the P i l g r i m s arriving at
P l y m o u t h R o c k in 1620 w e r e working
c r a f t s m e n , and c r a f t s m e n w e r e m u c h
in d e m a n d in e a r l y
colonial
s e t t l e m e n t s . In c i t i e s along the Atlantic s e a b o a r d , p r i m i t i v e unions — or
g u i l d s — of c a r p e n t e r s , c a b i n e t
m a k e r s and cobblers m a d e their
appearance.
Workers p l a y e d an important role
in t h e c o l o n i e s ' s t r u g g l e f o r independence. The "Indians" who
hosted the B o s t o n Tea party w e r e , in
f a c t , c a r p e n t e r s . And the D e c l a r a t i o n
of I n d e p e n d e n c e w a s signed in 1776 in
P h i l a d e l p h i a ' s C a r p e n t e r s Hall.
The first A m e r i c a n w o r k e r s to go
on strike w e r e printers — in N e w
York in 1794. Cabinet m a k e r s .struck
in 1796. carpenters in 1797, and cordwainers ( s h o e m a k e r s ) in 1799. Recorded e f f o r t s by trade unions to
i m p r o v e w o r k e r s ' conditions — e i t h e r
through n e g o t i a t i o n or strike action —
b e c a m e e v e n m o r e frequent in the
early y e a r s of the 19th century.
B y the 1820s, v a r i o u s unions involved in the e f f o r t to r e d u c e the workday
f r o m 12 hours to 10 hours began to
show i n t e r e s t in the idea of federation
— joining t o g e t h e r to a c h i e v e c o m m o n o b j e c t i v e s for w o r k e r s . But for
d e c a d e s , a t t e m p t s at federation w e r e
short-lived.
Most
of
these
a s s o c i a t i o n s w e r e v i c t i m s of hard
e c o n o m i c t i m e s and t h e c h a n g e s
brought about by industrialization.
One o r g a n i z a t i o n that captured the
public i m a g i n a t i o n w a s the Knights of
Labor, founded in 1878. The Knights
w e r e an a l l - e m b r a c i n g organization
Produced and Distributed by the
American PVderafion of Labor and
Congress of Industrial Organizations
F-FT^
^ T - r w
THfe PUBLlt SECTOR!, Wednesday, July 22, 1^81
Page
c o m m i t t e d to a c o o p e r a t i v e s o c i e t y .
M e m b e r s h i p w a s not l i m i t e d to w a g e
e a r n e r s , but w a s a l s o open to f a r m e r s
and small business people. In fact,
everyone was welcome
except
lawyers, bankers,
stockbrokers,
p r o f e s s i o n a l g a m b l e r s , and a n y o n e inv o l v e d in t h e s a l e of a l c o h o l i c
beverages.
M e m b e r s h i p g r e w to n e a r l y 750,000
during the next f e w y e a r s . But the
w o r k e r s w h o had joined the Knights in
hope of i m p r o v i n g their hours and
w a g e s w e r e soon frustrated.
T h e Knights" o r g a n i z a t i o n a l structure, and its l e a d e r s had an a v e r s i o n
to s t r i k e s . T h e y relied on the p r o m i s e
of future s o c i a l gains, instead of the
d a y - t o - d a y w o r k of b u i l d i n g and
o p e r a t i n g a union organization.
So a s the 1880's b e g a n , the s t a g e
w a s s e t for the c r e a t i o n of a down-toearth, practical labor federation
w h i c h could c o m b i n e the long-range
o b j e c t i v e s of a b e t t e r s o c i e t y with the
p r a c t i c a l a c t i v i t y of day-to-day union
functions.
The modern American
labor
m o v e m e n t w a s about to be born.
'^WlMt do we lim
Food on the tah
a mgo/j the jloo
a picture on the
mime in the hom
Shoemakers
in L y n n ,
Mass.,
d e m o n s t r a t e d for fair c o m p e n s a t i o n
in 1860 in one of the e a r l i e s t m a j o r
d e m o n s t r a t i o n s by w o m e n w o r k e r s .
Philip Murra>'
l^rcsidcnt
(Congress of Industrial
Organizations
1940-1952
CSEA President Bill McGowan asks
What do you think about
our regional concept?
It is working well?
Can it work better?
When I recently asked you to take the time to use a coupon
form in The Public Sector to tell me what's on your mind about
CSEA, several hundreds of you did exactly that. You told me what
you think we're doing right, and what you think we're doing wrong.
I know, because I read every single one of your messages. That kind
of input is vital to this union because it can help us set directions
and improve services and efficiency for our members.
Because of the success of that effort, I would like to ask your
assistance once again.
Last time the topic was your union in general. This time I want
to know your feelings about your CSEA regional operations. I want
your comments, your complaints, your opinions, your suggestions
about your CSEA Region operation. Is the regional concept working well ? How can it work better?
P U B L I C S E C T O R R E A D E R S r e s p o n d e d to a r e c e n t o f f e r f r o m 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 to s h a r e t h e i r c o m m e n t s a n d g r i p e s
about the union with h i m by clipping out a coupon and sending their observ a t i o n s d i r e c t l y to t h e P r e s i d e n t ' s o f f i c e . H u n d r e d s of r e s p o n s e s w e r e
r e c e i v e d a n d e a c h w a s r e v i e w e d . T h e union p r e s i d e n t p l e d g e d to r e a d
e a c h l e t t e r a n d t h a t is e x a c t l y w h a t he did.
T o : W I L L I A M L. M c G O W A N , P r e s i d e n t
Civil S e r v i c e E m p l o y e e s A s s n .
33 E l k S t r e e t , Box 125, Capitol S t a t i o n
Albany, N e w Y o r k 12224
Please take the time to fill out the form below mail it off to
me. I'm listening to you.
Complete, clip and mall this form today
Date:
Dear President McGowan:
H e r e ' s w h a t ' s on m y m i n d c o n c e r n i n g m y r e g i o n of C S E A :
I a m a m e m b e r of C S E A L o c a l
in C S E A R e g i o n
Name
Address
ZIP
jTH^ I^BUC^SECTOR,^ W^^
^Pag^e. 5
Text and Photos
By Bob Strom
ALEXANDRIA BAY The annual s u m m e r
c o n f e r e n c e of C S E A R e g i o n V , h e l d h e r e in J u n e ,
broke all p r e v i o u s a t t e n d a n c e r e c o r d s , d r a w i n g
m o r e t h a n 300 p e o p l e t o t h e P i n e T r e e P o i n t R e s o r t
on t h e S t . L a w r e n c e R i v e r in t h e T h o u s a n d I s l a n d s .
And participants not only c a m e a w a y i n f o r m e d
— through workshops designed for State, County
a n d S c h o o l D i s t r i c t e m p l o y e e s — but a l s o w e r e
challenged through an educational session on Sexual H a r a s s m e n t w h i c h l e f t d e l e g a t e s d i s c u s s i n g t h e
t w o - h o u r e x p e r i e n c e f o r t h e r e m a i n d e r of t h e i r s t a y
here.
The Sexual Harassment workshop w a s a product
of T h o m a s Q u i m b y , C S E A d i r e c t o r of e d u c a t i o n ,
a n d M a r s h a A n d e r s o n , of t h e A F S C M E e d u c a t i o n a l
staff.
The session w a s d e s i g n e d both to m a k e people
a w a r e of t h e m a g n i t u d e of t h e p r o b l e m of s e x u a l
h a r a s s m e n t — for both m a l e s and f e m a l e s — and to
s o l i c i t t h e i r h e l p in t h e C S E A e f f o r t t o e n d it.
Unions, historically, have addressed
social
i s s u e s , Q u i m b y told T h e P u b l i c S e c t o r . And the socalled w o m e n ' s m o v e m e n t , which he termed
"basically h e a l t h y , " is a c t u a l l y o n e which d e a l s
with " h u m a n i s s u e s , " s i n c e they a f f e c t both m a l e s
and f e m a l e s .
" A s a union, w e h a v e a r e s p o n s i b i l i t y to a d d r e s s
social issues. We have to m a k e our unions b e c o m e
support groups," b e c a u s e groups which h a v e
traditionally performed that role — such as
c h u r c h e s — do not h a v e the i n f l u e n c e t h e y o n c e had.
The educational session, the only function
d e s i g n e d f o r a l l c o n f e r e n c e p a r t i c i p a n t s in c o n t r a s t
to other, s e p a r a t e s e s s i o n s for t h o s e r e p r e s e n t i n g
state, county or school district e m p l o y e e s , addressed an overflowing crowd.
In f a c t , Q u i m b y n o t e d , t h e s e s s i o n
was
s o m e w h a t of a n e x p e r i m e n t , b e c a u s e t h e w o r k s h o p
had n e v e r been conducted for so large a group.
t i c i p a n t s b r o k e i n t o " s m a l l " g r o u p s of a d o z e n o r
so, and the d e l e g a t e s took a s t a b at d e f i n i n g s e x u a l
h a r a s s m e n t , t r y i n g t o f i g u r e o u t h o w t o d e a l w i t h it
in t h e w o r k p l a c e , a n d s e e k i n g o v e r a l l s o l u t i o n s .
That t h e r e w e r e no e a s y a n s w e r s w a s a m e a s u r e
of t h e m a g n i t u d e of t h e p r o b l e m . T h e r e w a s g e n e r a l
a g r e e m e n t that sexual h a r a s s m e n t w a s a cultural
problem, and that any long-term solutions m u s t
b e g i n in t h e h o m e , t e a c h i n g b o y s n o t t o ^ e
" h a r a s s i n g " and girls that they don't h a v e to be
c o n f i n e d t o t h e s t e r e o t y p e d r o l e of h o m e m a k e r .
B u t t h e s u r p r i s e of t h e s e s s i o n w a s t h e a m o u n t of
sexual h a r a s s m e n t a i m e d at m a l e s
holding
" t r a d i t i o n a l l y f e m a l e " j o b s in l o c a l o r s t a t e
governmental agencies.
D e l e g a t e s did a g r e e , though, that t h e r e a r e f e w
w a y s t o h a n d l e t h e t h o r n y p r o b l e m : If y o u i g n o r e it,
the h a r a s s m e n t will continue.
W a y s s u g g e s t e d i n c l u d e d : v e r b a l r e j e c t i o n of t h e
person doing the harassing; creation or e x p a n ^ n
of " n e t w o r k s " of C S E A e m p l o y e e s t o d i s c u s s
p r o b l e m s and f o r m u l a t e w a y s to present t h e m to
supervisors; greet harassing suggestions with the
c o m m e n t , " I ' l l g o t o t h e d i r e c t o r a n d s e e if t h a t ' s
allowed h e r e , " or file complaints with the H u m a n
Rights Commission.
After v i e w i n g a f i l m w h i c h a t t e m p t e d to
d e m o n s t r a t e t y p e s of s e x u a l h a r a s s m e n t , t h e p a r -
But for union " a c t i v i s t s , " the k e y to solving
p r o b l e m s while protecting your job is to d o c u m e n t
AFSCME EDUCATIONAL COORDINATOR Ron
Coder discusses the importance of soliciting help
from the union in dealing with such problems as
sexual harrassnient.
REUNITED - Retired Local 334 president Eleanor
S. Percy, joins present Local 334 president Jerrold
C. Goetz, left, and the Local's first vice president
CSEA DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION Thomas
Quimby briefs Region V members on the problems
of sexual harrassment.
LARRY SCANLON, CSEA's coordinator of school
district affairs, directs a workshop.
Page 6
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, July 22, 1981
Roy S. Hall at the Region V Summer Conference m
Alexandria Bay.
*
LOCAL 834 PRESIDENT Kathy Zeronicky asks a
question during the session on Sexual Harassmem.
incidents, " s t a n d up for y o u r s e l f , and g e t your
fellow w o r k e r s to stand behind you."
C S E A R e g i o n V P r e s i d e n t J a m e s J. M o o r e told
the d e l e g a t e s that the union has identified the
p r o b l e m of s e x u a l h a r a s s m e n t , a n d " w e k n o w it e x ists."
"It's up to us a s union o f f i c i a l s — m a l e and
f e m a l e — to g o b a c k to our l o c a l s and try to s o l v e
th^ problem."
R e g i o n V , h e s a i d , i s in t h e p r o c e s s of d e v e l o p i n g
a policy and f o r m a t to deal with sexual h a r a s s m e n t
c a s e s , a n d i s p l a n n i n g t o i n c r e a s e t h e n u m b e r of
e d u c a t i o n a l s e s s i o n s on t h e s u b j e c t , a l o n g w i t h e x p a n d i n g a R e g i o n - w i d e c o m m i t t e e t o a d d r e s s it.
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 t o l d p a r ticipants at the S t a t e workshop that the union, prior
to starting c o n t r a c t talks with the state, is s e e k i n g
s u g g e s t i o n s f r o m its m e m b e r s and o f f i c e r s on
specific things they want addressed.
^ ' W h a t e v e r w e want, w e have to j u s t i f y , "
M c G o w a n said. "We're the underdogs, b e c a u s e
m a n a g e m e n t ' s a l w a y s right and w e ' r e a l w a y s
wrong."
The C S E A President said he believes state
e m p l o y e e s " g e t robbed" on Workers' C o m p e n sation, and that he intends to start a p r o g r a m " s o
our p e o p l e will h a v e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n w h e n t h e y g o
before a hearing officer."
H e t o l d d e l e g a t e s a t t h e C o u n t y w o r k s h o p on
Political Action for County M e m b e r s that they
should not be afraid to a p p r o a c h local and state
elected officials who have benefitted from CSEA
political action contributions, d e m a n d i n g that they
l i v e up t o t h e i r p r o m i s e s t o t h e u n i o n .
And M c G o w a n said h e tells public o f f i c i a l s seeki n g s u p p o r t , m o n e y a n d e n d o r s e m e n t s f r o m t h e union t h a t , " w e h e l p o u r f r i e n d s a n d w e b u r y o u r
e n e m i e s , and when you don't help our friends, w e
consider you an e n e m y . "
Region V President Moore, noting that relativel y s m a l l a m o u n t s of m o n e y c a n s w a y e l e c t i o n s in
m o s t school districts a c r o s s the state, urged the
d e l e g a t e s t o g e t i n v o l v e d in t h o s e c o n t e s t s , a n d t o
"put s o m e t i m e and e f f o r t " into electing school
board m e m b e r s who would be s y m p a t h e t i c with the
d r i v e to o r g a n i z e s c h o o l d i s t r i c t e m p l o y e e s .
A similar m e s s a g e w a s d e l i v e r e d by M c G o w a n
b e f o r e the School A f f a i r s w o r k s h o p on " O r g a n i z i n g
School Locals."
" W h y n o t h e l p o u r p e o p l e t o b e c o m e m e m b e r s of
a school board, so they c a n help our people g e t a
fair and equal w a g e and b e t t e r working conditions?
W e h a v e to stand t o g e t h e r and work together.
"The m e s s a g e is s i m p l e , " M c G o w a n said,
"when w e stick together, w e ' r e united; and when
w e ' r e united, nobody c a n beat us."
CSEA REGION V PRESIDENT James J. Moore presents a certificate to
imureen Malone, now an AFSCME representative, for her years of service
and dedication to CSEA.
CSEA ATTORNEY MICHAEL SMITH, left, CSEA
pflsident William L. McGowan, center, and State
MOIRA GREINER, Region V Political Action
Chairperson, takes the opportunity to express her
view at the workshop, "Political Action for County
Members."
MARSHA ANDERSON of the AFSCME educational staff discusses the facts
behind the issue of sexual harassment at the Region V Summer Conference.
workshop vice chairman Hugh MacDonald address
members at the Region V Summer Conference.
LINDA FIORENTINO, Region V Summer
Conference chairperson, thanks her committee at
Saturday night's banquet.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, July 22, 1981
Page 7
C.S.E.A.
ABOUT
rFEO
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me
WITH
MMBSf
A M O N G T H O S E A T T E N D I N G t h e m e e t i n g of t h e B O C E S B o a r d of E d u c a t i o n a r e
N a s s a u C o u n t y L o c a l 830 B O C E S U n i t m e m b e r s , f r o m l e f t , A n t h o n y W i l l i a m s , E d
Garcia and Ronald Combs.
^ov^f
COST
LIVING
PAY laggin
BOCES U N I T M E M B E R S , f r o m left, Estelle Guednau, Joan Martelli
a n d M a r y S p e r b e r a r e a m o n g t h e m o r e t h a n 150 C S E A m e m b e r s s h o w i n g t h e i r s u p p o r t f o r a n e w f a i r c o n t r a c t a t a m e e t i n g of t h e B O C E S
B o a r d of E d u c a t i o n .
2% pay offer 'unconscionable'
CSEA F I E L D R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S , from left,
Rigo Predonzan and Michael Aiello attend the
m e e t i n g of t h e B O C E S B o a r d of E d u c a t i o n a t w h i c h
C S E A d e m o n s t r a t e d support for a n e w fair contract.
W E S T B U R Y — W o u l d y o u a c c e p t a p a y o f f e r of
less than t w o percent a y e a r ?
T h e m e m b e r s of t h e B O C E S U n i t of N a s s a u
C o u n t y L o c a l 830 w o u l d n o t , a n d h a v e 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 J u n e 30, 1980.
L o c a l 830 P r e s i d e n t J e r o m e D o n a h u e r e c e n t l y
l e d m o r e t h a n 150 C S E A m e m b e r s a t a m e e t i n g of
t h e N a s s a u C o u n t y B O C E S B o a r d of E d u c a t i o n t o
d e m o n s t r a t e the unit and local's support for the
l e a d e r s h i p of t h e u n i t in t h e n e g o t i a t i o n s .
Donahue said the B O C E S Board's pay o f f e r is
less than t w o p e r c e n t for a p p r o x i m a t e l y one-third
of t h e u n i t a n d i s n o m o r e t h a n 6 . 5 p e r c e n t f o r a n y
m e m b e r of t h e u n i t .
Unit officers attending the meeting included
President Joseph Piller, First Vice President Sal
Auletta, Second Vice President Beverly B e r g e r and
Treasurer Doris Catanzaro.
M e m b e r s of L o c a l 830 f r o m o t h e r u n i t s w h o
attended the m e e t i n g to d e m o n s t r a t e their support
for the B O C E S Unit included First V i c e P r e s i d e n t
Rita W a l l a c e , A. H o l l y P a t t e r s o n H o m e Unit; G e n e
C a m m e r a t o a n d R o n a l d F r i e d l , C i t y of L o n g B e a c h
Unit; and Howard Quann, Social
Services
D e p a r t m e n t U n i t ; K e n n e t h D a r b y , V i l l a g e of
Garden City Unit; Alice Groody,
Assessors
D e p a r t m e n t Unit; Fifth Vice President Trudy
S c h w i n d , C i t y of G l e n C o v e U n i t ; D o u g M i l n e ,
Probation Department Unit; Robert Ford, village
of F r e e p o r t U n i t ; a n d G u s N e i l s e n a n d K e n n e t h
B r o t h e r t o n , T o w n of H e m p s t e a d U n i t .
C S E A F i e l d R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s Michael Aiello and
Rigo Predonzan also attended the meeting.
Speaking before the board, Donahue demanded
t h e b o a r d n e g o t i a t e in g o o d f a i t h w i t h t h e u n i o n .
P i l l e r told the board that the e m p l o y e e s w e r e
d e s e r v i n g of m o r e t h a n t h e i n c r e a s e w h i c h h a d b e e n
offered.
M s . W a l l a c e t o l d t h e b o a r d t h a t a p a y o f f e r of
less than t w o percent w a s "unconscionable."
Ms. B e r g e r reminded the board that m o r e than
half t h e e m p l o y e e s e a r n l e s s t h a n $10,000 a y e a r .
The BOCES Unit represents
clerical,
m a i n t e n a n c e , custodial, aides, cafeteria, bus
drivers, mechanics, occupational
therapist,
t e c h n i c a l a n d d a t a p r o c e s s i n g e m p l o y e e s of B O C E S .
C.S.E.A.
CS.EA.
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N A S S A U C O U N T Y L O C A L 830 P r e s i d e n t J e r o m e D o n a h u e , l e f t , j o i n s t h e o f f i c e r s of t h e
local B O C E S Unit, f r o m left. Second Vice President Beverly Berger, President Joseph
P i l l e r , T r e a s u r e r D o r i s C a t a n z a r o and F i r s t V i c e P r e s i d e n t Sal Auletta to d e m o n s t r a t e
^ h e L o c a l ' s s u p p o r t f o r t h e u n i t b e f o r e t h e B O C E S B o a r d of E d u c a t i o n f o r a n e w c o n t r a c t .
Page
12
THE
PUBLIC SECTOR,Wednesday,August12,1981
S H O W I N G T H E I R S U P P O R T F O R T H E B O C E S unit a r e
m e m b e r s of o t h e r L o c a l 830 u n i t s , i n c l u d i n g , f r o m l e f t , R o n a l d
F r e i d l , C i t y of L o n g B e a c h U n i t ; L o c a l 830 F i r s t V i c e P r e s i d e n t
Rita W a l l a c e , A. Holly P a t t e r s o n H o m e Unit; and G e n e
C a m m e r a t o , C i t y of L o n g B e a c h U n i t .
STAFF PROFILE
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 New 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
EDUCATION and
TRAINING
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 4he six regional headquarters maintained by CSEA
throughout the state. "Staff Profiles" is an informational series
designed to acquaint members with staff departments and personnel.
Realizing a union's potential
Director Thomas Quimby
defines goals of membership
O n e of t h e t r u l y
diverse
departments
within CSEA
is
E d u c a t i o n and Training.
This
department helps Locals, Regions
and H e a d q u a r t e r s m e e t the traini n g a n d e d u c a t i o n a l n e e d s of C S E A
officers, m e m b e r s and staff.
"In a nutshell, w e help people
r e a l i z e t h e i r p o t e n t i a l a s ind i v i d u a l s w o r k i n g c o l l e c t i v e l y in
the union," says T h o m a s Quimby,
D i r e c t o r of t h e d e p a r t m e n t .
" W e m a k e r e s o u r c e s a v a i l a b l e to
p e o p l e s o t h e y c a n p a r t i c i p a t e in
t h e u n i o n in a c o n s t r u c t i v e , s e l f fulfilling fashion. Ultimately, the
better
people
feel
about
t h e m s e l v e s and their capabilities,
the b e t t e r union m e m b e r s t h e y
become."
T h e f u n c t i o n s of t h e d e p a r t m e n t ,
w h i c h , in a d d i t i o n t o Q u i m b y , i s
s t a f f e d by administrative assistant
Sandy R h o d e s and s e c r e t a r y J a n i c e
D a n i e l s , c a n be divided into t h r e e
categories:
contractual
training
programs, member service/union
building, and staff training.
M u c h of t h e d e p a r t m e n t ' s t i m e
a n d e n e r g y i s t a k e n up w i t h c o n tract and
contract-related
programs with N e w York State,
chief a m o n g t h e m is the E m p l o y e e
Benefits Training Program.
U n d e r t h i s p r o g r a m , $1.8 m i l l i o n
is s e t a s i d e e a c h y e a r under
C S E A ' s three s t a t e c o n t r a c t s to
fund four p r o g r a m s : the High
School Equivalency P r o g r a m , the
Tuition Support P r o g r a m ,
the
Agency Experimental
Program,
and E m p l o y e e Benefits Training
Courses.
Q u i m b y s a y s he monitors t h e s e
p r o g r a m s "to s e e that the m o n e y
allotted is being spent constructively. There's a constant e f f o r t on
o u r p a r t t o e n s u r e t h a t t h e n e e d s of
our m e m b e r s a r e being s e r v e d , and
not just
t h e n e e d s of
the
employer." ^
.
In a n o t h e r u n i o n e f f o r t t o p r o v i d e
higher
education
to
the
m e m b e r s h i p , noted Quimby, his
department
establishes
links,
b e t w e e n C S E A R e g i o n s a n d ins t i t u t i o n s of h i g h e r l e a r n i n g .
"For example, we've entered
into a contract b e t w e e n Adelphi
U n i v e r s i t y a n d R e g i o n I in w h i c h
the university m a k e s
courses
a v a i l a b l e to m e m b e r s at a r e d u c e d
rate.
.VA'.i A'..;';»-!!
"Colleges, faced with declining
enrollments, are now beating a
p a t h t o u n i o n s , b e c a u s e of t h e
n u m b e r s of u n i o n m e m b e r s w h o
are
interested
in
higher
education." Quimby said. "Unions
a r e in a p o s i t i o n t o d r i v e s o m e r e a l ly h a r d b a r g a i n s . "
The m e m b e r
service/union
b u i l d i n g a s p e c t of t h e E d u c a t i o n
and Training D e p a r t m e n t involves
training officers, s t e w a r d s
and
m e m b e r s in a v a r i e t y of a r e a s .
"There are three basic purposes
here — strengthening and building
union m e m b e r s h i p , p r o t e c t i n g the
individual's rights to due p r o c e s s ,
and protecting and i m p r o v i n g the
terms
and
conditions
of
e m p l o y m e n t , " said Quimby.
In c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e s e g o a l s ,
the d e p a r t m e n t d e v e l o p s and conducts courses, workshops
and
s e m i n a r s s t a t e w i d e on a w i d e
r a n g e of t o p i c s .
"I g e t c a l l s f r o m r e g i o n a l off i c e r s , unit o f f i c e r s a n d l o c a l o f f i c e r s s a y i n g 'We w a n t to do a
program, can you help?' I help
them clarify their p r o g r a m goals,
d e s i g n t h e p r o g r a m a n d l i n e up
speakers," said Quimby.
In t h e p a s t , s p e a k e r s
have
addressed such topics as sexual
harassment,
asserti veness
training, collective
bargaining,
contract administration,
public
s e c t o r labor law, civil s e r v i c e law,
steward training, c o m p a r a b l e job
worth, stress m a n a g e m e n t , effective public speaking,
election
procedures, labor history and how
to c o n d u c t
labor/management
meetings.
A l s o alon^7 t h e s e l i n e s , Q u i m b y ' s
department w a s responsible for
putting togetii°r two
important
education manuais — the Stewards
manual and the Local O f f i c e r s
Manual.
In t h e a r e a of s t a f f t r a i n i n g , t h e
Education
and
Training
D e p a r t m e n t is r e s p o n s i b l e for
providing t e c h n i c a l skills to union
staff and integrating staff into the
union.
In c a r r y i n g o u t a l l of i t s b a s i c
functions, the department
has
a c c e s s to A F S C M E r e s o u r c e s .
" A F S C M E is v e r y
helpful,"
says Quimby. "They're very good
a t p u t t i n g r e s o u r c e s , s u c h a s ins t r u c t o r s and m a t e r i a l s , at our dis-
THOMAS
QUIMBY,
C S E A ' S E d u c a t i o n and
Training Director,
is
responsible
for
a
d i v e r s e c r o s s - s e c t i o n of
programs ranging from
tuition support to staff
training.
posal. With our continued affiliation with A F S C M E , w e are
m o r e able to deliver education serv i c e s to C S E A m e m b e r s . "
As for future Education and
T r a i n i n g p r o j e c t s , Q u i m b y t a l k s of
t h e i m p o r t a n c e of s t e w a r d t r a i n i n g .
"Our first o b j e c t i v e has
to e n s u r e that, through
and H e a d q u a r t e r s e f f o r t s ,
s t e w a r d s are trained and
ly c e r t i f i e d , " h e s a y s .
got to be
Regional
a l l of o u r
ultimate-
^t» V,.
f A l ' P U B L I C SECTOR,'Wecinesday,'July''2*2, 1981
Page 9
Precedent set in additional pay ruling
PLATTSBIJRGH — Four switchboard operators at the Clinton County
Correctional Facility, who worked 40 hours a week instead of 37^ for five
years without additional pay, were awarded a total of more than $6,000 in
compensation as a result of a prolonged court battle waged by the Civil Service Employees Assn.
The proceedings began in 1976 and ended in June of 1981 when the four
employees — Wilfred Hummel, John Rief, Eileen Segriff and John Bumell
—were paid $3,059, $2,822, $377 and $254 respectively. Hummel died in 1976
shortly after the initial grievance was filed so his share was actually paid to
his estate.
The final decision has been called a ''precedent setting" one by CSEA
attorney Steve Wiley because it overrided a previous one that would have
given the employees payment only for 30 weeks prior to the filing of the
^evance. He said the decision will almost certainly affect future
litigations.
The dispute began in 1968 when the state issued an order that working
hours for all its employees be reduced from 40 to 37Va hours per week, with
no decrease in salaries. The four operators, at the Clinton County facility,
for some reason, were never put on the revised schedule.
Finally in 1976 they contacted Capital Region CSEA Field Representative Charles Scott, who immediately filed a grievance.
At a third step hearing in August that year, a Public Employee
Relations Board officer ruled that the state had violated Article 37 of the
state employee's contract and ordered the employees be put on the new time
schedule with reimbursement for the 30 week j^riod.
The CSEA was not satisfied with the payment provisions, however, and
requested its legal dep^tment seek to have it overturned in the court.
The award amount^ had to be computed by the state and confirmed by
tl^ union before payment could at last be made last month.
Scott said the case "is a good example of how employees can get redress
for the wrongs done to them."
Out-of-title
work ruled a
safety hazard
H E A L T H COUNCIL H O N O R S C A P I T A L R E G I O N A N D D I R E C T O R — The Northeastern N e w York
H e a l t h C o u n c i l r e c e n t l y h o n o r e d t h e C S E A C a p i t a l R e g i o n a n d C S E A R e g i o n a l D i r e c t o r J a c k Corc o r a n f o r " c o n t i n u e d s u p p o r t of p r o g r a m s a n d s e r v i c e s of a l l H e a l t h a g e n c i e s in t h e N o r t h e a s t e r n
N e w Y o r k H e a l t h Council. C S E A Capital R e g i o n P r e s i d e n t J o s e p h E . M c D e r m o t t , l e f t , r e c e i v e d a
p l a q u e on behalf of t h e R e g i o n ' s m e m b e r s h i p f r o m R u t h D y e r , Council C h a i r w o m a n , w h o m a k e s a
presentation to J a c k Corcoran, right.
Re-opener wins increases
G L E A N , N . Y . — T h r e e u n i t s of C a t t a r a u g u s
C o u n t y C S E A L o c a l 805 h a v e r e c e i v e d w a g e inc r e a s e s and increased m i l e a g e a l l o w a n c e s under
r e - o p e n e r p r o v i s i o n s of e x i s t i n g c o n t r a c t s .
T w o of t h e a g r e e m e n t s w e r e n e g o t i a t e d f o l l o w ing f a c t f i n d e r reports, w h i l e the third w a s imp o s e d b y t h e C o u n t y L e g i s l a t u r e f o l l o w i n g rej e c t i o n of t h e f a c t f i n d e r r e p o r t b y t h e C S E A u n i t .
The General Bargaining Unit and the Sheriff's
D e p a r t m e n t Unit both ratified the factfinder's
r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s , and will r e c e i v e an eight per
c e n t w a g e i n c r e a s e u p t o a m a x i m u m of $1,150.
T h e n e w m i l e a g e a l l o w a n c e w i l l b e 24 c e n t s
p e r m i l e , r e t r o a c t i v e t o J a n u a r y 1, 1981. T h e
m i l e a g e a l l o w a n c e will i n c r e a s e or d e c r e a s e ac-
WESTCHESTER
COUNTY
A
favorable
o p i n i o n a n d a w a r d h a s b e e n h a n d e d d o w n b y Arb i t r a t o r J o a n S t e r n K i o k in a g r i e v a n c e a r b i t r a t i o n
m a t t e r involving out-of-title work for probation
assistants.
Kiok held that requiring probation a s s i s t a n t s to
transport j u v e n i l e s f r o m F a m i l y Court to and f r o m
various facilities violated the collective bargaining
c o n t r a c t b e t w e e n the county and the union. According to the a g r e e m e n t , public e m p l o y e e s a r e
prohibited from performing out-of-title duties.
F u t h e r m o r e , Kiok ruled that requiring a
probation a s s i s t a n t to transport a d a n g e r o u s or
v i o l e n t j u v e n i l e w o u l d b e a v i o l a t i o n of t h e h e a l t h
and s a f e t y clause.
" T h e p o r t i o n of t h e a r b i t r a t o r ' s
decision
regarding health and s a f e t y is a m a j o r p r e c e d e n t
a n d s h o u l d p r o v e h e l p f u l t o C S E A in f u t u r e c a s e s , "
s a i d C S E A R e g i o n a l A t t o r n e y A r t h u r H. G r a e .
" M a n a g e m e n t m a d e an effort to w a t e r down the
health and safety clause, which failed."
T h e a r b i t r a t o r did h o l d , h o w e v e r , t h a t a p r o b a t i o n
assistant could be m a d e to a s s i s t a probation o f f i c e r
in t r a n s p o r t i n g a n o n - v i o l e n t j u v e n i l e , p r o v i d e d
t h e r e w e r e t w o p r o b a t i o n p e r s o n n e l in t h e
automobile.
cording to local a r e a p u m p prices. V e r i f i c a t i o n
of e x i s t i n g p r i c e s w i l l b e m o n i t o r e d o n J u n e 1st
a n d J a n u a r y 1st b y r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of t h e c o u n t y
and the C S E A units.
The Supervisor's Unit will r e c e i v e an eight per
c e n t w a g e i n c r e a s e u p t o a m a x i m u m of $1,250
under the s e t t l e m e n t imposed by the County
Legislature. The m i l e a g e a l l o w a n c e will be the
s a m e a s for the G e n e r a l Bargaining and Sheriff's
Department Units.
Chief C S E A N e g o t i a t o r M i c h a e l P a i n t e r w a s
aided by a c o m m i t t e e including L o c a l P r e s i d e n t
T i m A n d e r s o n a n d T o m B r u n o of t h e G e n e r a l
B a r g a i n i n g U n i t , T o m P o w e r , P r e s i d e n t of t h e
Supervisor's Unit and Jerry Burrell, President
of t h e S h e r i f f ' s U n i t .
—Calendar-^
of EVENTS
JULY
25—Long Island Region I treasurers seniinar, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Holiday Inn, Hauppauge.
27—Southern Region III treasurers and secretaries seminar, 7 p.m. Holiday Inn, Fishkill.
AUGUST
I—Long Island Region I state contract demands forum, 1-4 p.m.. Holiday Inn, Hauppauge.
1—Capital Region Treasurers' Training Workshop, 9 a.m., Thruwoy House, Washington
Ave., Albany.
8—Capital Region Treasurers' Training Workshop, 9 a.m., Westport Hotel, Westport.
LONG ISLAND REGION I President Danny Donohue presents an
F l a u m e n b a u m M e m o r i a l S c h o l a r s h i p t o C a r y O l i v a , t h e d a u g h t e r of
S t o n y B r o o k L o c a l 614 m e m l j i e X \ % i r b a r a O l i v a , r i g h t .
Page 10
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday; July 22;'1981
Irving
SUNY
24—Southern Region III treasurers and secretaries seminar, 7 p.m.. Coachman Hotel,
White Plams.
New Region VI local now negotiating
Hard-fought victory
B U F F A L O — A f t e r a long, hard s t r u g g l e to o r g a n i z e and then to be
recognized, a newly f o r m e d CSE A Local is negotiating a collective bargaining
a g r e e m e n t o n b e h a l f of t h e e m p l o y e e s of A R A F o o d S e r v i c e s , a p r i v a t e c o n tractor at the E r i e County Medical Center.
R e c a l l i n g t h e b a t t l e t h a t b e g a n in 1978 t o o r g a n i z e t h e n e a r l y 100 f o o d
w o r k e r s , R e g i o n VI D i r e c t o r L e e F r a n k l i k e n e d t h e s i t u a t i o n t o t h e n o w f a m o u s s t r u g g l e of t e x t i l e w o r k e r s f o r J . P . S t e v e n s t o o r g a n i z e a n d b a r g a i n f o r
decent w a g e s , benefits and working conditions.
" E v e r s i n c e t h e e m p l o y e e s of A R A r e q u e s t e d t h a t w e o r g a n i z e t h e m
through then-Region Organizer Michael P a i n t e r , w e ' v e b e e n a t t e m p t i n g to sit
d o w n a t t h e b a r g a i n i n g t a b l e o n b e h a l f of t h e s e f o o d w o r k e r s a n d b r i n g t h e i r
w a g e s a n d b e n e f i t s m o r e in l i n e w i t h r e a l i t y " , F r a n k s a i d .
" B u t w e o v e r c a m e e v e r y r o a d b l o c k t h e y t h r e w in f r o n t of u s a n d w e i n t e n d
t o s e e it t h r o u g h f r o m h e r e o n o u t o n b e h a l f of o u r n e w m e m b e r s , j u s t a s w e d o
f o r all o u r b a r g a i n i n g u n i t s , " F r a n k c o n t i n u e d .
"It's too bad w e had to r e s o r t to s t r i k e t h r e a t s a n d bring t h e c o u n t y
legislature and county e x e c u t i v e into the picture to threaten withdrawing
A R A ' s food s e r v i c e contract with the Medical Center, but t h e y left us no other
choice" said Frank.
T h e t r a i l , f r o m t h e p o i n t of t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n r e q u e s t t o f i n a l l y s i t t i n g d o w n
a t the b a r g a i n i n g table, w a s indeed a c i r c u i t o u s and w i n d i n g one. It started
with the state labor relations board and winded its w a y down through the
national labor relations board, with A R A filing a p p e a l s and objections to nearl y e v e r y r u l i n g m a d e o n b e h a l f of t h e w o r k e r s a n d C S E A
Then the County L e g i s l a t o r R i c h a r d A. Slisz' p a s s e d a resolution a s k i n g the
County E x e c u t i v e E d w a r d Rutkowski to t e r m i n a t e A R A ' s c o n t r a c t which
w o u l d n o r m a l l y e x p i r e in J u l y of 1983. T h i s c a m e a f t e r t h e s t r i k e t h r e a t b y
R e g i o n VI D i r e c t o r F r a n k .
T h e c o m p a n y w o n t h e r i g h t in c o m p e t i t i v e b i d d i n g in J u n e , 1977, t o o p e r a t e
t h e h o s p i t a l c a f e t e r i a a n d p r e p a r e m e a l s f o r t h e 500 p a t i e n t s .
SOLIDARITY — Linking hands in a show of union solidarity are, Irom left,
CSEA Region VI Director Lee Frank; Nate Stevenson, vice president; and
Vince Gugino, president, of the ARA Unit of CSEA Local 815.
" I t ' s v e r y i n t e r e s t i n g h o w t h e t h r e a t o f l o s s of t h e i r c o n t r a c t b r o u g h t t h e m
around to sitting down at the bargaining table," Frank said smiling as he
p r e p a r e d r e c e n t l y to m e e t with the A R A unit's negotiation c o m m i t t e e . T h e
t e a m includes President Vince Gugino, Vice President N a t e Stevenson and
Secretary Donna Kramer.
Region Director Frank credited Region Organizer Robert Massey with
f o l l o w i n g t h r o u g h a n d s t a y i n g o n t o p of t h e c a s e t h r o u g h o u t t h e s t r u g g l e .
" W e ' v e s e t our s i g h t s on a t a r g e t , " F r a n k said, " a n d w e ' l l k n o w w e ' v e
scored a bullseye when w e walk a w a y f r o m the bargaining table with a decent
s e t t l e m e n t for our m e m b e r s . "
Marathon talks
reach accord
Southern Region
probation tour
a welcomed event
PLATTSBURGH After three
eight-hour marathon
negotiation
s e s s i o n s , the Civil S e r v i c e E m p l o y e e s
A s s n . a n d t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of t h e
N o r t h e a s t Clinton Central School
D i s t r i c t h a v e c o m e to a g r e e m e n t on
t h e t e r m s of a t h r e e y e a r c o n t r a c t
covering bus drivers,
custodial,
m a i n t e n a n c e and teacher
aide
e m p l o y e e s there.
ARMONK
—
Probation
employees
from
Orange,
Rockland and W e s t c h e s t e r count i e s had an o p p o r t u n i t y to disc u s s p r o b l e m s in t h e i r v a r i o u s
probation
departments
with
m e m b e r s of t h e S t a t e w i d e C S E A
Probation C o m m i t t e e when the
c o m m i t t e e m e t late last month
at Armonk.
Region
III
President
R a y m o n d J. O'Connor w a s on
hand to w e l c o m e t h e c o m m i t t e e
and
about
25
probation
e m p l o y e e s f r o m the three counties.
C o m m i t t e e m e m b e r s w h o part i c i p a t e d in t h e W e s t c h e s t e r
County m e e t i n g w e r e : J a m e s
Brady,
Chairman;
James
Mattei, G a r y Clark, and J a m e s
Breardon.
Fillmora gains
two-year pact
F I L L M O R E - The F i l l m o r e School
C S E A U n i t of A l l e g a n y C o u n t y L o c a l
802 h a s a g r e e d t o t e r m s of a t w o - y e a r
contract with the school board.
The eighty m e m b e r s will r e c e i v e
w a g e i n c r e a s e s of 9 p e r c e n t in b o t h
y e a r s . In a d d i t i o n , m e m b e r s w i l l
r e c e i v e a $2 c o - p a y d r u g p r e s c r i p t i o n
rider and m o d i f i e d a g e n c y shop.
T h e school board a l s o a g r e e d to pay
100 p e r c e n t of B l u e C r o s s / B l u e S h i e l d
c o s t s in t h e s e c o n d y e a r of t h e c o n tract.
Unit President, Lowell
Fancher
said. "We m a d e good gains with this
contract. We thought w e were going
t o g o on all s u m m e r l o n g until w e g o t
the insurance question cleared up."
Chief n e g o t i a t o r R a y
Ducharme
w a s a i d e d by A l i c e Y a n d a , J a c k i e
Bailey, B e v e r l y L u c k e y and Graydon
Arnruson.
CSEA'S ELECTION PROCEDURES COMMITTEE will be meeting on
August 11 and 12 to review results of the union's recent elections for
Regional Officers, members of the State Executive Committee, and
County Educational Representatives. Results of the June 26 ballot count
could be designated as official at that time. In the above photo. Election
Procedures Committee Chairman Gregory Szurnicki studies a tally sheet
on June 26 as committee member Karen Pelegrino watches. In photo
below, also studying a tally sheet with great interest, are CSEA Capital
Region President Joseph E. McDermott, who was re-elected without
opposition, and Joan Tobin, who was elected Capital Region second vice
president and as a member of the union's statewide Board of Directors
representing the Department of Transportation.
The marathon session, said Capital
Region CSEA Field Representative
Charles Scott, called for the s e r v i c e s
of m e d i a t o r P a u l C u r r y f r o m t h e
Public Employment Relations Board.
Dispute
centered
on the
administration's unwillingness to grant
sufficient w a g e increases, he said.
Effective
July
1, t h e
final
a g r e e m e n t calls for salary increases,
o n t o p of i n c r e m e n t s , of 9.5 p e r c e n t in
the first year and ten percent for e a c h
of t h e n e x t t w o y e a r s . A l s o in t h e f i r s t
y e a r the r e t i r e m e n t plan will b e
c h a n g e d f r o m t h e 75C t o t h e 751 p l a n ,
r e p r e s e n t i n g a n i n c r e a s e in d o l l a r
v a l u e of 4.3 p e r c e n t .
All b e n e f i t s w e r e r e t a i n e d w i t h
l a n g u a g e c h a n g e s m a d e in s o m e .
T h e p a c k a g e i n c l u d e s a n i n c r e a s e of
$5 p a i d t o b u s d r i v e r s m a k i n g e x t r a
runs and a shift differential i n c r e a s e s
of $150 t h e f i r s t y e a r a n d $300 t h e
second y e a r for custodial workers.
S c o t t said the union w a s particularly p l e a s e d w i t h w h a t h e t e r m e d t h e
" p o o l c o n c e p t " of a d d i n g t h e inc r e m e n t s to salary s c h e d u l e s w h e n
c o m p u t i n g i n c r e a s e s to boost t h e
overall percentage increases.
On t h e n e g o t i a t i n g t e a m
were:
CSEA Unit President Dick Lamberton, E l m i r a L a m b e r t o n . C S E A Unit
Vice President Ron Gibbons, Louis
B e c h a r d and Wendall Tatro.
works
for you
" •
/ / . v . .
THE PUBLIC SECTOR,' Wednfesday, July 22, 1981 '
,0<.' V
V'l
Page' 11
Former CSEA Local president on his way to the top
By Tina Lincer First
Communications Associate
SCOTIA - When CSEA m e m b e r P e t e r Looker
dons his top hat and tails, it's not b e c a u s e he's
going dancing.
H e ' s going to work — as a c h i m n e y s w e e p .
Looker, a part-time therapy aide at O.D. Heck
D e v e l o p m e n t a l C e n t e r in S c h e n e c t a d y , t o o k o n
t h e o u t - o f - t h e - o r d i n a r y , o l d - t i m e o c c u p a t i o n of
c h i m n e y s w e e p about two-and-a-half y e a r s ago.
S i n c e t h e n , h e h a s b e e n s p e n d i n g f r o m 10 t o 50
h o u r s a w e e k g e t t i n g rid of s o o t , c r e o s o t e a n d
"other flammable nastiness" from assorted
c h i m n e y s throughout the Capital region.
" W h e n I g o t i n t o it, I w a s w o r k i n g e i g h t h o u r s
a day with psychiatric clients, which is very
draining," he explained. "You don't often get the
i m m e d i a t e r e w a r d s of s e e i n g a j o b w e l l - d o n e ,
a n d t h e f r u s t r a t i o n s of d e a l i n g w i t h m a n a g e m e n t
w e r e getting to m e . I said, 'Enough is enough.' "
By comparison, said Looker, he found sweepi n g c h i m n e y s o f f e r e d t h e p l e a s u r e of w o r k i n g
w i t h h i s h a n d s a n d t h e s a t i s f a c t i o n of s e e i n g a
job through f r o m start to finish.
" C h i m n e y s don't talk back, and t h e y don't g e t
o n y o u r n e r v e s , " h e s a i d . "I f o u n d t h e c u s t o m e r s
m u c h m o r e reasonable to deal with than the
m a n a g e m e n t a t H e c k , a n d I g e t t r e a t e d w i t h a lot
more respect."
L o o k e r , 30, r e c e n t l y e n d e d a t w o - y e a r t e r m a s
P r e s i d e n t of O . D . H e c k C S E A L o c a l 445. H e
worked at Letchworth Village Developmental
C e n t e r in R o c k l a n d C o u n t y a n d a t A l b a n y ' s
Capital D i s t r i c t P s y c h i a t r i c C e n t e r b e f o r e joini n g O . D . H e c k a s a f u l l - t i m e s u p e r v i s o r in 1979.
In t h e m i d d l e of t h e s e j o b c h a n g e s , h e t o o k a
Life/Career Planning course and m a d e s o m e
d e c i s i o n s about his future.
"I d e c i d e d I w a n t e d to be w o r k i n g p a r t - t i m e at
the developmental center, get into s o m e small
b u s i n e s s of m y o w n , a n d h a v e t h e c l a s s i c h o u s e
in t h e c o u n t r y . "
In 1978 h e r e s p o n d e d t o a n a d in t h e " M o t h e r
E a r t h N e w s " about b e c o m i n g a c h i m n e y s w e e p .
H e b o u g h t t h e r e q u i s i t e s of h i s t r a d e — b r u s h e s ,
f i b e r g l a s s rods, v a c u u m cleaner, ladders and
m i s c e l l a n e o u s i t e m s — and promptly practiced
o n t h e c h i m n e y s of f a m i l y a n d f r i e n d s .
In a s h o r t t i m e . L o o k e r b e c a m e o n e of a h a n d ful of c h i m n e y s w e e p s in t h e C a p i t a l r e g i o n . H e
is c u r r e n t l y N e w Y o r k ' s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e for the
National Chimney S w e e p Guild Convention.
H e a l s o fulfilled his o t h e r d r e a m s s w i t c h i n g to
p a r t - t i m e work at O.D. H e c k and m o v i n g into a
rural cabin o v e r l o o k i n g t h e M o h a w k R i v e r .
Thin, bearded and w i t h w i r e - r i m m e d g l a s s e s .
L o o k e r s a t in h i s l i v i n g r o o m r e c e n t l y d i s c u s s ing h i s t r a d e .
H e w a s a t t i r e d in h i s t o p h a t a n d t u x e d o j a c k e t ,
t h e t r a d i t i o n a l g a r b of t h e b o n a f i d e s w e e p .
"The top hat is a m u s t for good luck," Looker
explained. "In Europe, m a s t e r c h i m n e y s w e e p s
w e r e often invited to N e w Y e a r ' s parties and
w e d d i n g s for good luck. T h e r e ' s a l s o a superstition — n e v e r g o on a roof without a top h a t . "
The tails, he noted, w e r e historically cast-offs
from morticians. "They worked out well because
the s w e e p s w e r e v e r y dirty characters,' and the
t a i l s c o v e r e d t h e s e a t s of t h e i r p a n t s , " s a i d
Looker. "This w a y , they wouldn't dirty up chairs
when they w e n t into a restaurant or pub."
A l t h o u g h m a n y of t h e l e g e n d s a n d t r a d i t i o n s of
the s w e e p h a v e not c h a n g e d o v e r the y e a r s , the
work itself has.
"With today's air-tight stoves, there's a whole
n e w s e t of p r o b l e m s a n d a w h o l e n e w t e c h n o l o g y
developing," said Looker.
"It's very different f r o m the old-fashioned
w o o d s t o v e s . T h e o l d r u l e s of c l e a n i n g — t h a t y o u
clean the c h i m n e y o n c e a year — don't apply.
You can have a fire within a week after cleaning
an air-tight s t o v e . "
The Scotia s w e e p usually w e a r s a m a s k to
prevent inhaling c a r c i n o g e n i c m a t e r i a l s while on
t h e j o b , a n d s a y s h e b e l i e v e s s t r o n g l y in s a f e t y
p r e c a u t i o n s i n v o l v i n g t h e u s e of w o o d - b u r n i n g
stoves.
" I n d i v i d u a l s h a v e t o b e m u c h m o r e a w a r e of
how they operate their stoves," he says. "People
should m a k e sure they have s a f e installations
and use e x t r e m e c a r e w h e n turning their s t o v e s
down low. T h e y should also consult with the fire
d e p a r t m e n t or a c h i m n e y s w e e p before installing
a stove."
L o o k e r , w h o h o l d s a m a s t e r ' s d e g r e e in p u b l i c
affairs, added he w a s extremely pleased CSEA
p u s h e d f o r t h e p a s s a g e of t h e O S H A l a w in p u b l i c
e m p l o y m e n t , and n o w would like to s e e unions
t a k e a n a c t i v e r o l e in c o n s u m e r a n d e n v i r o n m e n tal i s s u e s .
"Unions could g e t t o g e t h e r with c o n s u m e r and
environmental groups and get accountability
f r o m public u t i l i t i e s , " he says. "They could work
together to fight i n c r e a s e s and questionable
spending by the utilities, to help c o n s u m e r s
k e e p up w i t h i n f l a t i o n a n d k e e p s o m e of t h e
energy costs down."
S W E P T AWAY — Chimney sweep P e t e r Looker,
a f o r m e r CSEA Local president, leaves a
c u s t o m e r ' s h o m e . H e is d r e s s e d in t h e traditional g a r b of t h e s w e e p — top hat a n d t a i l s .
C H I M N E Y S W E E P P e t e r L o o k e r , a m e m b e r of
C S E A L o c a l 445, s t a r t e d " S w e e p s , " a c h i m n e y
c l e a n i n g s e r v i c e . Looker is p i c t u r e d on the job,
left.
Page 12
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, July 22, 1981