Delegates will consider
proposal recommending
first major overhaul of
basic union structure
since regions created
r
Official Publication of
The Civil Service Employees
Association
Vol. 3, No. 48
Wednesday, September 23, 1981
(ISSN 0164 9949)
propo
ALBANY - After months of intense study, CSEA's Statewide Officers
are recommending major changes in the structure of the state's largest
public employee union, "to ensure the members of the delivery of (union)
services in the most efficient manner possible."
The proposal, which includes an overhauling of the union's board of
directors, creation of more than 150 new locals in the union's County
Division, and some realignment of State Division Locals, will be presented
to union Delegates scheduled to meet next month in convention. Only the
Delegates can approve changes to the union's constitution and by-laws,
changes that are required by the proposal. The union's Constitution and ByLaws Committee last week voted to present the proposal to the Delegates
for action.
While extensive discussion and debate of the proposal is expected to
take place at the convention. Delegates could only approve a "first reading"
of the necessary constitutional changes. Such changes require approval by
Delgates at two conventions as a mechanism to ensure rank and file input on
constitutional revision.
Present Board briefed
CSEA's Statewide Board of Directors, which was briefed on the plan at
its September 10 meeting in Albany, voted overwhelmingly against it the
same day. Under the structure of the union, however, the proposal must be
presented directly to the Delegates; board approval is not required.
At the center of the officers' unanimously endorsed plan is a major
restructuring of the Board of Directors, the body that has the authority for
setting CSEA's budget, appropriating union funds and modifying Model
Local and Unit Constitutions.
Presently the board is comprised of State and County Divisions. The
State Division is elected by state department. For example, there are board
representatives for members from the state's Department of Motor
Vehicles, Department of State, Tax and Finance, etc. In all, there are about
42 board members for the State Division alone.
^
The County Division has one representative from each county in the
state where CSEA has membership. Additionally, the Division has representatives from countywide school district locals. There are about 66 board
members for the County Division.
Also, the union's ten statewide officers are voting members of the
Board of Directors and 11 chairpersons of CSEA Standing Committees are
non-voting members of the board.
Totally, CSEA's Board of Directors numbers about 125 members.
How it would work
Under the proposal of the statewide officers, there would be a 49member board consisting of the ten statewide officers of the union and the
secretary-treasurer of each of CSEA's six Regions, plus six elected
Regional Vice Presidents from each Region, representing the major
segments of the union's membership.
For example, each Region would elect a vice president to represent
each of the three state bargaining units in which about half of CSEA's
membership is employed. Additionally, each Region would elect a local
government vice president to represent employees of counties within the
Region, a second local government vice pi:esident to represent school districts within the Region, and a third vice president to represent employees
of towns, villages, the judiciary, public authorities and other small groups
within the Region. Each would be elected by the appropriate membership
segment.
An exception would occur in Metropolitan Region II where there are no
local government members. In that Region there would be four elected vice
presidents.
Greater efficiency expected
In their proposal, the officers said the present board structure is designed
to represent union members by segments based upon tradition. More effective, the officers concluded, would be a structure based more closely upon
bargaining unit lines. This approach, they maintain, will lead to greater
representation for collective bargaining and more efficient delivery of service.
Those same principles have been applied to the officers' plans for state
and county locals. Noting that there are now 231 CSEA locals representing
state employees, the officers said that, while most of the locals are logically
structured, there are "a few exceptions." Primarily, these were in locals so
small that they can barely survive economically. These, the officers
propose, should be consolidated into other state division locals.
On the other side of the coin, however, is Local 010 representing CSEA
members in many state departments located in New York City. This single
local has 8,000 members and agency shop fee payers which the plan proposes
is too many to be efficient. The local would be divided into seven smaller
locals under the plan.
Effect in County Division
In County Division Locals, a similar principle was applied. Presently,
locals designated by county bargaining units within that geographical
boundary (such as county workers, individual town or village workers, etc.)
are divided into units that are part of the locals.
The officers propose that each county be guaranteed a minimum of
three locals (reflecting the proposed new board structure of three vice
presidents for local government), but additionally each payroll source with
approximately 100 members would become a separate local. Each "distinct
group" of less than 100 employees could also have their own local (for example, sheriff's departments and community colleges) and, where
appropriate, small groups of employees from various payroll sources could
be clustered geographically within a county to create additional locals.
In locals that still are comprised of units, the units would be guaranteed
to receive 50 percent of the dues that CSEA rebates to the local to service
the members.
This plan would increase the number of County Division Locals from the
current 66 to 271.
Delegates getting details
Details of the plans are being sent to CSEA Delegates prior to the October 19 opening of the 1981 Convention for study. Additionally, officers are
holding meetings across the state to explain the plan to local leadership to
ensure an open and informed debate on the issue.
CSEA was last reorganized in the early 1970's, when a restructuring
proposal led to the creation of six CSEA Regions to better serve the
membership. The new proposal, the officers maintain, follows upon the lead
of that reorganization to improve the delivery of "effective and meaningful
collective bargaining agreements and . . . effective communication from
the general membership through every level of the organization . . . "
Angry McGowan rips state on day rare funding
ALBANY
CSEA and the State of New York
have locked horns in a dispute over the creation
of employee-sponsored day care centers.at up to
20 state work locations.
CSEA President William L. McGowan, who
has pushed for the use of funding from the CSEAState Committee on Work Environinent and
Productivity (CWEP) to serve as '*seed money"
for the day care centers, last-week reacted to
news reports that the state's Division of the
Budget had reservations about the program.
CSEA and the State jointly created Children's
Place, a day care center housed at the Empire
State Plaza, following negotiations of current
CSEA-State contracts in 1978. The center has
served as a pilot project.
Based on the success of Children's Place,
CSEA and the State agreed to use CWEP funds to
provide $10,000 start-up grants to between 15 and
20 employee-supported day care centers at major state employment locations across the state.
Each would be formed as an independent, notfor-profit corporation and would be supported
thereafter by fees paid by employees utilizing
the centers' services.
While CSEA and the Governor's Office of
Employee Relations had agreed to the plan,
Albany newspapers reported on September 10
that newly appointed state Budget Division
Director Mark Lawton hadn't yet approved the
plan, reportedly because of some reservations
about the plan.
President McGowan, in a letter to Meyer S.
Frucher, Director of the Governor's Office of
Employee Relations, blasted the state for a
breach of "good faith J' Hundreds of CSEA
members across the state had volunteered
thousands of hours of their time to work out the
details for the proposed day care centers and to
satisfy a multitude of state regulations involved
in creating licensed day care facilities.
"I would strongly suggest that you inform the
state's new Budget Director that in between his
pronouncements about layoffs and "concerns"
about day care centers, he should give some
thought to honoring state commitments before
morale degenerates any further. Otherwise, his
petty concerns will be ultimately swamped by
productivity losses," the union president wrote.
"We have had hundreds of our members who
have expressed an interest in establishing
employee-supported day care centers working
tirelessly to meet the state's demands for
creating the centers and using CWEP 'seed
money' as the foundation," Mr. McGowan said.
"Now after all their effort, the state is having
second thoughts."
COUNTY TREASURER Richard
Combe told those present, "Fm on
your side."
CALLICOON SUPERVISOR Lou Grupp, who had CSEA support and
won election by one vote, attended the breakfast. Seated next to him
is union member Lilian Rogoff.
SULLIVAN COUNTY PAC CHAIRMAN Tom
Schmidt opened the legislative breakfast and
welcomed a wide array of elected officials
and union leadership.
New era of political action for Sullivan Co.
LIBERTY — Political action is coming of
age in Sullivan County, where Local 853
recently held a first-ever legislative
breakfast. And the results indicate that
CSEA support is now recognized as a
significant plus in this part of the Southern
Region.
County PAC Chairman Tom Schmidt
noted that elected officials from all levels of
government — state, county, town — were
present to hear a welcome by Local
President Walter Durkin, and to have an opportunity to meet the union leadership.
The PAC is now gearing up for Election
Day.
98TH DISTRICT ASSEMBLYMAN Raymond M. Kisor, standing, who admitted to, "feeling comfortable here," discussed a whole array of subjects from civil service reform to
reapportionment. Next to him is Art Jersey of Liberty
CSEA.
Rally planned for
Southern Region
FISHKILL - The Southern
Region Political Action Committee
plans to fire up its troops for
Election Day '81 by holding a rally
on Thursday, Oct. 1, at the Hillcrest
Manor, Goshen.
Regional PAC Chairman Carmine DiBattista has invited CSEA
President Bill McGowan, Chief
Lobbyist James Featherstonhaugh,
and Bernard Ryan of the union's
Legislative and Political Action Office to be there for what is expected
to be a spirited educational event.
Regional officers, local and unit
presidents as well as regional and
local PAC members are invited to
attend.
The rally will begin at 7:30 p.m.
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Brian Ingber, left,
with Town of Fallsburg unit members Kim Devoe and Howard Conklin,
called the breakfast, "a worthwhile event" and stressed, "it's important to get to know your legislators."
• -V-T, .«Jj-l'-- :
Page 1598
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, September }6, 1981THEPUBLICSECTOR,Wednesday,September16,1981Page7
COUNTY CLERK Joseph Purcell,
a former CSEA member, found
himself in welcome company.
Disabled «mployee ctted for failure to report to work-
CSEA challenges state health raling
NEW YORK CITY — CSEA has filed an appeal with the New York State
Supreme Court in an attempt to vacate an arbitrator's decision which, in the
words of CSEA legal counsel Brenda Berkman, "if allowed to stand could
establish the dangerous precedent of establishing the State's Employee
Health Service as the final word in disputes in which an employee's health is
at issue."
The appeal has been filed on behalf of Department of Labor Local 350
member Vivian Lofton, an employee of the department for 13 years who was
terminated for failing to report to work.
Ms. Lofton maintains that she was unable to work due to illness, illness
aggravated by out-of-title work she was performing.
In spite of her physician's evaluation of her condition as preventing her
from working, the Department of Labor relied solely on the medical
evaluation of the Employee Health Service (EHS) in declaring that Ms.
Lofton was physically fit to assume her duties.
In arguments before the arbitrator, Ms. Berkman, of the firm of Mailman
and Ruthizer, stressed several points on behalf of Ms. Lofton, particularly the
fact that Article 33 of collective bargaining argreements between CSEA and
the State and Civil Service Law prohibit the discipline of a permanent State
employee except for incompetency or misconduct.
"Ms. Lofton's failure to report to work due to illness in no way constitutes
incompetency or misconduct," Berkman says.
In her decision, arbitrator Sheila Coles wrote that". . .it is not for the Arbitrator to determine whose medical opinion is more worthy of c r e d i t . . . I
must determine whether the employer exercised its judgment in a fair or ar-
bitrary manner." Yet in the same paragraph Coles proceeds to write that
" . . . the employer was justified in relying on the EHS findings and made
reasonable decisions in light of these findings."
The appeal filed on behalf of Ms. Lofton cites arbitrator Coles' sole
reliance on the EHS medical evaluation and points out t h a t " . . . the courts of
the State of New York have held that an examination by a State EHS physician
alone cannot be determinative as to the employee's fitness where the employee
objects to the EHS diagnosis and offers proof in contravention."
Ms. Lofton's case is complicated by her filing of an out-of-title work
grievance which the Governor's Office of Employee Relations sustained at
the third step.
"Incredibly, the arbitrator refused to take the out-of-title grievance into
consideration in her decision," Berkman says.
Ms. Lofton's claim of illness has not only been supported by her personal
physician, but also by a State physician who determined that Ms. Lofton suffers from a 100 per cent disability.
Metropolitan Region II president George Caloumeno, who was president
of the Department of Labor Local 350 when Ms. Lofton's case was brought to
arbitration, expressed regret that the arbitrator ruled in favor of the State,
but he says that he expects the appeal will be successful.
"Ms. Lofton v^as clearly wronged," he says. "Wronged by the
Department of Labor and wronged by the arbitrator.
"I'm pleased that the CSEA board of directors recognized the unjustices
done to Ms. Lofton and decided to file an appeal of the arbitrator's decision."
Local 860 contract
includes agency shop
WHITE PLAINS — An Agency Shop is now in
effect for employees of the Port Chester-Rye Union
Free School District, CSEA Local 860.
A three-year contract went into effect July 1, and
includes such other provisions as: improved dental
insurance, increased longevity payments, pro-rated
vacation time now linked to anniversary date, and
improved retirement plan.
Wage hikes, according to Field Rep. Larry
Sparber, are as follows: 1981 — eight-and-a-half
percent for all employees at top step, seven percent
plus increments for all others; 1982 — seven percent
across-the-board, plus increments; aad, 1983 —
seven percent across the board, plus increments,
with additional $300 lump sum payment in
December.
The unit's negotiating team included President
John Suppa and member Carol Arlotta, Ted Heil,
Louis Truini and Nancy Uamaleale.
NEWLY ELECTED DUTCHESS COUNTY UNIT officers are, from left, Shop Steward Ken Stanton,
Executive Vice President Mary Rich, Second Vice President Helen Zocco, President C. Scott
Daniels and Shop Steward Charles Rexhouse. Also installed were Secretary Pat Kebsch and
Treasurer Richard Ellenberg.
CLUW hosts conference
Betty Kurtik, a member of the CSEA Board of Directors and the
President of the Capital District Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW),
has announced that a statewide labor legislative conference will be held on
October 16-18 at the Best Western Thruway House, Washington Avenue,
Albany.
The Conference will examine the role of members of the Labor Community and their legislative representatives, with special emphasis on identifying the most effective ways of participating in the legislative process.
Workshops will include:
The Role of Union Women in the Skilled Trades
Women and Credit
Stress on the Job
The Struggle for Reproductive Rights
Health Care-What the Future Holds
Protective Laws-Can We Hold Onto Worker's Rights?
Civil R i g h t s
Child Care
Also, an informational session regarding the progress of CSEA's participation in the Committee on Work Environment and Productivity
(CWEP).
For further information contract Ms. Kurtik at 518-474-5361 or Virginia
Kirgy at 518-474-1187.
JEFFERSON COUNTY UNIT OF CSEA Local 823 recently installed new Officers. Shown, left to right, Marsha A. Coppola, Installing Officer; Patricia A.
Wilder, President; Kevin J. Wilder, Vice-President; Mary E. Hampton,
Treasurer;^ Elaine B. Duffany, Secretary.
Positive results obtained in state woric study
The State Department of Civil Service has released the finding of its
fourth annual report concerning the
use and effects of alternative work
schedules in State operation. And Victor S. Bahou, State Civil Service Commission President, said that according
to information received from personnel officers, along with agency
evaluations of trial projects, the
overall impact of alternative work
schedules on the quality of State
Operations has continued to be
positive.
According to such agency reports,
t h e C o m m i s s i o n e r a d d e d , the
availability of public service has been
increased, recruitment opportunities
have been enhanced, and employee
morale has been improved. Some
agencies report that increased productivity has been the result of perceived
improvements in the quality of work
life.
Four types of alternative schedules
are covered in the study. They are:
Part-time (employees work less
than a full biweekly payroll period);
Staggered hours (groups of workers
are scheduled to begin and end work at
different fixed time); Compressed
schedule (employees work fewer than
five days a week or less than 10 days
during a biweekly payroll period, but
more hours per day), F l e x t i m e
(workers may vary starting and
ending times from day to day, but
must work a certain number of hours a
day).
THE PUBLIC SECtOR, V^ednesday, September '23, 1981
Page 3
SPublic—
^SECTOR
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3 3 Elk Street, Albany,
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•
EMPLOYEE
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Send address changes to The Public Sector, 33 Elk Street,
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Thomas A. demente—Publisher
Roger A. Cole—Executive Editor
Dr. Gerald Aloerstein—Associate Editor
Gwenn M. Bellcourt — Associate Editor
Deborah Cassidy—Staff Writer
Dawn LePore—Staff Writer
John L. Mui^hy—Staff Writer
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Dennis C. Mullahy—Production Coordinator
I>ublished every Wednesday by Clarity Publishing, Inc. Publicatloi
Office. 75 Champlain Street, Albany, N.Y. 12204 (518 ) 465-4591
Z
As the American labor movement
celebrates its Centennial in 1981, it
is appropriate to look back at the
h i s t o r y of t h e t r a d e u n i o n
movement in the United States to
see where we've been, how far
we've come, and where we're
going.
THE AMERICAN LABOR MOVEMENT
One hundred years of progress
Finding a common base to work together
AFL-CIO reunite to become
a powerful voice for labor
During World War II, the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of
Industrial Organizations, while still disagreeing on a number of principles and
issues, began to find many bases for working together on common problems.
CIO President Philip Murray and AFL President William Green served
together on a number of government commissions involved in the war effort,
and President Roosevelt continued to urge the two groups to seek unity.
Leadership of both union organizations had changed since the early days.
William Green had become President of the AFL in 1924 on the death of
Samuel Gompers. Bom in Ohio in 1873, Green left school to become a coal
miner. He served as the Mine Workers' secretary/treasurer fqr a dozen years
before being named to head the AFL.
As AFL President, Green served on numerous government commissions
and advisory boards. He spoke out strongly against community and fascist dictatorships and took the lead in developing AFL programs for helping and seeking to
save the lives of victims of persecution of the Nazis and Communists.
Leadership of the CIO changed in 1940, only two years after John L. Lewis
became the founding President. Lewis had promised to retire if the voters did
not elect Wendell Willkie, the Republican candidate for President, whom he had endorsed in the election. They didn't, and he did. He served as President of the United
Mine Workers until his retirement in 1960. Lewis died in 1969.
Succeeding Lewis at the helm of the CIO was Philip Murray, who was bom in
Scotland in 1886 and came as a boy to the coal fields of western Pennsylvania. He
rose through the ranks to vice president of the Mine Workers. He headed the
CIO's Steelworkers Organizing Committee in 1936, and in 1942 was elected
CALL US toll-free
President of the new United Steelworkers, a post he held while he was CIO
President.
In the years immediately following the War, Congress passed a full
emplovment law setting goals for the national economy and passed the TaftHartley Act severely limiting rights previously contained in the Wagner Act. The
Taft-Hartley bill became law despite President Truman's veto. .
In 1949, the first pension agreements were signed in the steel and auto industries, and the principle spread quickly to other industries.
In 1952, AFL President William Green and CIO President Philip Murray
died within a few weeks of each other, and leadership of the two organizations
changed once again.
Murray was succeeded by Walter Reuther of the United Autombobile
Workers. Bom in 1907 as one of four sons of a socialist brewery worker in
Wheeling, West Virginia, Reuther moved to Detroit during the Depression and
became a skilled worker in the auto industry. He was one of the prime organizers
of the auto workers, and soon after World War II, won a closely contested battle
for the UAW presidency, a post he held until his death in an airplane crash in
1970.
Following Green's death, George Meany assumed the presidency of the
AFL, after having served as the organization's secretary/treasurer since 1939.
A native of the Bronx, Meany followed his father's footsteps as a plumber,
became active in his local union, and was elected president of the New York
State Federation of Labor in 1934.
On the basis of a brilliant record of helping win enactment of state labor and
social legislation, he was elected AFL secretary/treasurer five years later.
Many of the old antagonisms between the AFL and the CIO had died out,
many old issues had been resolved, leadership had changed, and the stage was
set for merger of the two giant labor groups.
They were reunited into the AFL-CIO at a convention in New York in
December 1955.
George Meany was unanimously elected president of the merged labor
federation, and a new, chapter opened for the American labor n;iovement.
CSEA SAFETY HOTLINE
1-800-342-4824
The number to call when you encounter a safety or health problem
on the job.
CSEA E M P L O Y E E ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
1-800-342-3565
A confidential source of help in dealing with personal, family or
substance abuse problems.
CSEAINFOLINE
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.
Page 1600
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, W e d n e s d a y , September
}6,
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.
1981THEPUBLICSECTOR,Wednesday,September16,1981Page7
•
•
•
5 i
•
JANITOR Malcolm Johnson.
^
hours moving
By Tina Uncer First
ALBANY — Ron Milham, 26, of Schenectady,
the father of two small children, worked nights as
a supervising janitor for the State Office of
General Services for two-and-a-half years.
Last November he was given the option of working days, and gladly made the switch.
"It's much better," Milham enthuses. "When
you're home nights, you can do more with your
family."
Ron is one of several CSEA members of OGS
Local 660 who has made the move from nighttime
to daytime cleaning work in the Tower Building of
the Empire State Plaza.
This change is part of a project begun last fall
to help reduce energy costs and save New York
BUILDING SUPERVISOR AIDE Mary Costello,
a Local 660 Operational representative, handles
an automatic scrubber as part of her duties.
^m
^
«
•Si m
H
wil
darkness to
State taxpayers money. According to one estimate, just turning off the lights in the Tower
Building for three additional hours a day can save
the state almost $40,000 a year. The new plan also
cuts down on the cost of heat and air conditioning.
"Management initiated it as an experiment for
conservation," said John Wakewood, Operational
Vice President of Local 660. "But it's also an advantage for us as union people."
"The majority of our elected union people are
all daytime employees," explained Local 660
President Earl Kilmartin.
"Therefore, we're there to handle problems
when the employees are there," continued
Wakewood. "And CSEA Inc. — both the Regional
Office and Headquarters — is geared toward
daytime people. In fact, the whole world is geared
toward daytime people."
While energy expenses are down because of the
new plan, employee morale is up. While many
new daytime employees enjoy spending more
time with their families, janitor Frank "Woody"
Wood, who worked nights for four years, finds
another plus in the plan.
"For one thing, the bus connections are
better," says Wood. "If we missed a connection
nights, that was it, we were done . . . it's a better
life altogether."
Building Aide Supervisor and Local 660
Operational Representative Mary Costello notes
it's easier to become involved in social activities.
"You have more freedom to do a lot of things if
you don't have to go to work at 4:30 in the afternoon,' ' says Mary, who worked from 4:30 to 9 p.m.
for eight years but is now on an 8:30 a.m. to 12:30
p.m. shift.
The OGS daytime cleaning program is strictly
voluntary, and currently operates with standard
shifts between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Meanwhile, CSEA members in Taxation and
Finance Local 690 are also discovering the
benefits of swapping night owl hours for early
bird hours.
For security reasons, cleaners and building service aides in Buildings 8 and 9 at the State Campus
started working days on a limited basis in March
1977; this plan was recently expanded to include
more workers.
"By the end of the year or the beginning of next
year, all of Taxation and Finance will be on
days,'' says Supervising Janitor and shop steward
Joseph Gaillard, who joined the ranks of daytime
employees in July after 25 years of working
nights.
"Personally, I like it," muses the 60-year-old
SWEEPING EXPLANATION - Janitor Frank
Wood explains a new vacuum sweeper to Cleaner
Myra Mayweather.
grandfather of three, citing both personal and
business reasons.
"It's different in that you're working around
people. You get a clear picture of the tenants at
Taxation and Finance, and of their reactions to
us, how they take to the idea of having daytime
cleaning people.
"They're very cooperative. Now, anything that
has to be done immediately can be taken care of
as soon as possible, like if there's a tenant keeping
a sloppy area day in and day out. You don't have to
go through a memo or work order, which takes
time."
As for his own time, Gaillard says he'll now be
able to take a vacation without any problems.
"Before, I was using up quite a bit of (vacation)
time going to union affairs and social activities
that are happening at night. And now I can participate a little more in community affairs."
THE PUBLIC S E C T G R r W e d n e s d d y / ^ e p t e r h b e ^ 23, -1981^ '
Pagie S-
}
Union joins protest
against apartheid
preserving a wonder w f l of water
By HUGH O'HAIRE
CSEA Communications Associate
POINT LOOKOUT - Vinny Palmere eased the
30-foot patrol boat out of the Bay Constable's mooring dock at Point Lookout into Reynolds Channel.
Palmere, a Hempstead Town Bay Constable, could
see it would be a busy day. It was perfect boating
weather: temperature in the high 70's; light
breeze; the grey-white layers of clouds yellow and
pink where the sun was trying to break through.
Once the beige and white boat cleared the mooring
dock, Palmere swung it around in the current and
headed east past the line of men and boys fishing
from the Hempstead Town Marina toward the
Paiiit Lookout Bridge and Sloop Channel.
To the left, snowy egrets stalked small fish and
fiddler crabs in the neon green spartina grass of
Meadow Island, one of the 17,000 acres of
marshland islands that clot the bay area, creating
more than 180 miles of channels and narrow and
twisting waterways. Ahead, motor cruisers were
moving through Reynolds Channel with the
regularity of automobiles on a highway. Outside the
main channel in shallow bay waters, clammers
standing on long, narrow boats worked their
scissor-shaped tongs in the mud and sand bottom of
the bay's newly-opened clam beds.
On a halcyon summer day like this, dock
fishermen, boaters and clammers watch with envy
as Bay Constables, who are CSEA members, go
about their duties: stopping passing boats to make
safety checks: ticketing boats that exceed the
Town's strict boating speed limits; or inspecting
the takes of fish, mussels and clams. Watched from
LT. JIM AVONDET surveys part of the vast
waterways his men are responsible for covering.
CHECKING CLAMMER'S CATCH, a pair of constables inspect for size of clams and for sanitary storage
conditions.
Page
1602
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, September }6, 1981
the shore or from the rocking deck of a clam boat,
the job of the Bay Constable seems a boating
enthusiast's dream.
For the 15 employees of the Hempstead Town
Bay Constable Force, however, the busy but
pleasant days of summer soon give way to fall # i d
w i n t e r w h e n p a t r o l s a r e m a i n t a i n e d in
temperatures that can dip to 50-degrees below zero
chill factors when the wind is blowing. Unknown to
the general public, the Bay Constables operate a 16hours-a-day marine patrol and are on call for
another 8-hour period for 365-days a year.
"You have to love it. If you don't you won't last,"
said Palmere, a 10-year veteran, and CSEA unit
representative for the Bay Constables. According
to Palmere, the typical Bay Constable not only
loves his job, but is part naturalist, part t e a q ^ r
and part peace officer.
"It's very difficult to be up on every aspect of this
work. But, I think we do a pretty good job of it,"
Palmere said.
Each of the Bay Constables usually becomes an
expert in at least one area of responsibility — one
becoming an authority on conservation law,
another on hunting and fishing, another on
navigation, another on wild life.
"This is like our home. We're probably here more
than we're with our families. If we see somöÄie
dirtying the water, it's like someone dirtying our
living room," Palmere said.
Palmere conducted a tour recently with Gus
Nielsen, president of the Town of Hempstead CSEA
Unit and Richard Miranda, Deputy Commissioner
of the Town Department of Conservation and
Waterways.
The Bay Constables know the island and the
water "like the back of their hands," according to
Miranda. "One of the qualifications is an expert
knowledge of Bay waters."
#
The constables patrol the waterways using a 16foot Boston Whaler, two high-speed 20-foot Whalers
with 175 HP outboards, the 30-foot cruiser and a 32foot Luhrs with twin 225 HP engines. The Whalers
have a maximum draft of only 30 inches.
The salt marsh islands are criss-crossed with
shallow drainage ditches cut years ago to drain the
marshes and control breeding. Bay Constables are
able to use the shallow draft Whalers to cut through
the ditches while pursuing any craft — usually
speeders or clam poachers — that attempt to # e e
them.
Palmere said that several years ago, a clam
poacher was fleeing in a high-speed boat equipped
with a 200 HP engine. The Constables pursued the
poacher for 22 miles through a maze of channels,
often cutting through drainage ditches at speeds of
55 miles an hour with only inches to spare on either
side of their boat, until the poacher reached the
open water of Oyster Bay Town where he pulled
away. Using their on-board radios, the constables
a l ^ e d police helicopters which tracked the fleeing
pcroher to Patchogue, where he was apprehended
by police on shore.
Much of the constables' winter duty consists of
guarding against clam poachers stealing shellfish
from prohibited waters. More than 80 per cent of
the patrols are undertaken at night when the
temperatures are so severe that the constables
must wear hooded flight suits, insulated caps and
special goggles.
"The true job is in the winter months. You have
your real baymen out in the winter. The majority of
th#summer boaters never realize we're out there
all year-round," Palmere noted.
In summer, the concentration is on controlling
the more than 50,000 pleasure craft that pass
through the Town's waterways. Constables assist
stranded boaters, checking safety and antipollution equipment, and control speeding.
Speeding by boats throws waves that erode the
banks of the delicate salt marsh islands, breeding
grounds for microscopic plankton, small fish and
crustations which are the primary source for the
m ^ i n e food chain. If left unchecked, the process
would destroy the environment of the bay and
destroy one of the richest shellfishing areas in the
world.
The Bay Constables also check conditions in the
65 remaining Bay Shacks on property leased from
the town. The once plentiful shacks are being phased out by the town for ecological reasons. In ad-
"TW
ijl' flWW
.'
HAND-HELD RADAR GUN enables Constable
John Mulligan to determine speed of a passing boat.
dition, the constables teach c o u i ^ in boating safety
andhunting, including a course on bow-and-arrow hunting.
Back at the Constables headquarters in Point
Lookout, three radio operators maintain contact
with the patrol boats to insure rapid response. The
radio operator can relay to the patrols whether any
speeding boater had previously been given a warning. The headquarters maintains a file of warnings
issued. Fines for speeding can reach $250.
"This a sophisticated public service provided by
the town," Nielsen observed. "In addition to their
services to boaters, the Bay Constacles are charged
with maintaining the environmental health of the
bay. Because of their efforts, the bay continues to
bring in millions of dollars in revenue from
tourists, commercial fisherman and clammers to
the Town.
ALBANY — Large numbers of CSEA members
had been expected to join with thousands of other
protestors if a scheduled rugby match involving the
controversial Springboks team from South Africa
had gone on as planned against a team from the
Eastern Rugby Union at Albany's Bleecker
Stadium on ^ptember 22.
The Capital Region delegates and Board of
Directors passed a formal resolution at the region's
annual meeting earlier this month calling upon
CSEA members to boycott attending the rugby
match and calling upon "our membership to
participate in any peaceful, lawful demonstration
which are held in collection with this event and,
further still, that our leadership shall schedule
o f f i c i a l u n i o n p a r t i c i p a t i o n in s u c h
demonstrations."
The resolution stated "CSEA Local 1000, and our
International Union, AFSCME, have been
longstanding in their records as opposed to the
racist policies of the Government of South Africa,
known as Apartheid. . ."
The Springboks team has been the center of
controversy and disturbances during its current
world tour, which originally involved playing three
matches in the United States, including the one in
Albany.
The CSEA resolution noted "the Springboks are
viewed as a vehicle of enhancing in the world
community the image of the government of South
Africa" and that by demonstrating against the
planned rugby match "we dramatize our continued
abhorence to these racist policies.
Nominations s o i ^
for Dept. of i^lior
iioard seat vacancy
•J .
ALBANY — Applications for nomination to
run for a seat on the Board of Directors of
CSEA are being accepted from union members
in the state Department of Labor.
An opening exists for a Board seat from DOL
and t h e C S E A ' s S t a t e w i d e E l e c t i o n
Procedures Committee will be holding that
election in the near future.
Nominations for the position will be handled
by the CSEA Statewide Nominating Committee and applications for nomination should
be sent to that Conmiittee in care of: Joseph J.
Dolan, Jr., CSEA Executive Director, 33 Elk
Street, Albany, N.Y. 12207.
Applications must be received no later than
October 5,1981 to be considered.
TESTING A FIRE HOSE, which can be used to combat boat fires as well as fires on shore.
Women managerial course
A L B A N Y — The C e n t e r f o r W o m e n in
Government is now offering its "Managing" certificate program for women who hold or aspire to
management positions in government.
"Managing: A Certificate Program Providing
Managerial Skills to Women in New York Public
Service" consists of 11 short courses and a seminar.
Fall courses include Organizational Dynamics,
Program Planning and Evaluation, Written Communications and Performance Evaluation.
Each course will meet weekly for four two-and-ahalf hour sessions in Room 303 of Draper Hall on the
downtown campus of the State University of New
York at Albany. Registration will remain open until
the first day of each course, depending on space
available.
A two-day seminar, "Women as Managers," will
be offered Nov. 5-6 at Alumni House on the uptown
campus of the university. The seminar examines the
role of female managers in government.
Participants may take one or all of the
"Managing" offerings. Certificates are awarded to
those who complete the seminar and six courses.
For further information and copies of the
"Managing" brochure, contact the Center for
Women in Government at (518) 455-6211.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Wednesday, September 16, 1981
Page 7
mem,'
COUNTY EXECUTIVE Lucille
Pattison acknowledged the role
CSEA played in her election, as she
r e a f f i r m e d the
county's
commitment to OSHA.
APPLAUDING A SPEECH at the Dutchess County Legislative Breakfast
are Local 814 President Ellis Adams, left, and Assemblyman Steve Saland,
99th District.
STATE SENATOR Jay P. Rolison,
Jr. pledged to continue to work in
the best interests of the union
during the Dutchess County
Legislative Breakfast.
Dutchess Co. iireakfast
Gearing up
for political
action
TAKING PART in the Dutchess County Legislative Breakfast are, from left, 99th District Legislative
Aide Linda Delaney, 100th District Assemblyman Glenn Warren and Barbara Babock, who represented
the chairman of the county legislature.
POLITICAL ACTION was the topic of conversation for Shop Steward Pauline Egan, County Board
"Whip" Joseph Lombard! and Local Executive Vice President Mary Rich.
POUGHKEEPSIE - With the change in
seasons, thoughts among Dutchess County
CSEA members turn to political action.
This year's legislative breakfast was host to
some of the county's most important elected
officials, who heard Political Action Committee Chairman C. Scott Daniels talk to the
need for "good cooperation between labor
and management." He added that activities
are not confined to "any political party" but
are geared ultimately to "getting fair and
equitable treatment for public employees."
Local 814 President Ellis Adams noted that
one goal is "how we can work together," and
saw proof of the PAC's increased dynamism
from the fact that while only one candidate's
night was held in 1980, two are planned in 1981.
State Sen. Jay P. Rolison led the way for the
various political leaders who spoke out. He
pledged to "continue to work for your best interest," commented on the need for "personal communications . . . the personal
touch . . . " and said an example of this was the
lobbying done by Ellis Adams and Scott
Daniels on behalf of public sector OSHA.
County Executive Lucille Pattison appeared
next, and spoke candidly of the role CSEA
played in her election. She also reaffirmed
the county's commitment to OSHA, and
emphasized, "we may not always agree, but
you always have someone willing to listen."
Assemblyman Steve Saland, who first won
his seat in a special election that generated
CSEA support, praised the work done by the
union's political action committees.
Assemblyman Glenn Warren was also there
and spoke of the needs of the various correctional and mental hygiene institutions located
in his district.
County Board Whip Joseph Lombardi
wrapped up the breakfast with a fitting
reminder that he, too, is a union member.
WORKING TOGETHER — Local 814 President
Ellis Adams, far left, discusses the goals of the
Dutchess County PAC during a recent legislative
breakfast. To his left are PAC Chairman C. Scott
Daniels, Connie Kellogg of the CSEA Legislative
and Political Action office and Local 158
President Bill Kenneweg.
Page r's
THE PUBLIC SECTOR/'WednescTdy/Septem^^
WSt
Brown bagging
study program
a big success
ALBANY — Who wants to spend their lunch
time taking-math classes?
Many members of CSEA Taxation and
Finance Local 690, that's who.
So says Santa Orsino, Local 690 Education
Coordinator, who recently organized self-help
study classes to prepare members for certain
transitional ex^ms. According to Orsino, the
classes proved to be ''very, very successful/'
They began at the end of April, and were held
at the department twice a week during lunch
hour. Teachers from the training Division of
Taxation and Finances volunteered their services, giving guidance in math, English and
reading comprehension,
Study booklets from the New York State
School of Industrial and Labor Relations at
Cornell University were sold at a minimal
cost.
Regional officers
installed at Point
WEST POINT - The new Southern Region III officers recently were installed at a dinner held at the
U.S. Military Academy, West Point.
Installed were President Raymond J. O'Connor,
First Vice President Pat Mascioli, Second Vice
President Harold Ryan, Third Vice President Rose
Marcinkowski, Treasurer Eleanor McDonald and
Secretary Grace Woods.
Statewide CSEA Treasurer Irene Carr was the installing officer.
The main speaker at the installation was Dutchess
County Executive Lucille Pattison.
Among those attending the installation were
statewide CSEA Treasurer John Gallagher, CSEA
Executive Director Joseph Dolan, Regional III
Director Thomas Luposello, Employee Benefit
Fund Assistant Director Thomas Linden and State
Executive Committee Chairman Patricia Crandall.
GETTING TOGETHER, right, at the Southern
Region III installation at West Point are, from left,
Dutchess County Executive Lucille Pattison, the
main speaker at the installation; and statewide
CSEA Secretary Irene Carr, the installing officer.
"We're trying to help our members," said
Orsino, explaining that the booklets were made
available to all district tax offices in the state.
"We sold close to 1,000 booklets. F m telling
you, they just bombarded us for the books."
The exams, held June 6, were for five transitional titles: tax compliance representative,
taxpayer services representative, taxpayer
services representative trainee I, junior administrative assistant trainee and tax compliance agent trainee.
brsino explained the study sessions were in
c o m p l i a n c e with a r e q u e s t f r o m the
department's Affirmative Action Bureau for
such classes. And, Orsino added, she is now
looking into the possibility of holding more
classes and publishing more booklets to help
members tackle future exams.
"It's an awful lot of work to set up the
classes," she says. "The only problem we're
having is trying to get more teachers."
While she hadn't heard about exam results
yet. Orsino said most employees found the
classes extremely helpful.
Indeed, in a follow-up survey, 99 percent who
participated indicated they found the booklets
particularly helpful and that they would
purchase them again for another test series.
Ninety percent felt the program could be improved through more and longer classes.
SOUTHERN REGION III officers are installed, including from left, Secretary Grace Woods,
President Raymond J. O'Connor, First Vice
President Pat Mascioli, Treasurer Eleanor Mc-
Donald, Second Vice President Harold Ryan and
Third Vice President Rose Marcinkowski. The installation was held at the U.S. Military Academy,
West Point.
Successful union grievance overturns
refusai to pay practice in Connetquot
BOHEMIA — A CSEA grievance, upheld recently
by the Connetquot School District Superintendent,
has reversed a long-standing management practice
of refusing to pay bus drivers for mandatory
physicals.
The grievance arose when the Connetquot School
District once again refused to pay bus drivers for the
time they spend taking physical examinations required by the State Transportation Act. The
physicals were administered on the school grounds
during working hours.
When the District refused to pay the employees,
the president of the CSEA unit, Ed Pembroke, filed a
class-action grievance with the district on behalf of
more than 60 bus driver members.
The g r i e v a n c e was upheld by the School
Superintendent Dr. John Mahony at stage II and
payment authorized for the hours spent taking the
physical.
W a l t e r W e e k s , p r e s i d e n t of the S u f f o l k
Educational Local 870, said that CSEA would
bring grievances against any other school district
which refused to pay bus drivers for the time spent
taking mandatory physicals.
Orange County guilty of IP
Charge by CSEA Is upheld
Orange County committed an improper practice when it unilaterally increased the maintenance fee deducted from the paychecks of parks employees
who live in county housing.
Hearing Officer Anne Grace, on behalf of the Public Employment Relations
Board, issued the ruling as the result of charges filed by the CSEA.
The case began last February when the legislature voted to increase the
monthly fees paid by employees who live in seven publicly-owned residences.
The county, without negotiating with CSEA, instituted a fee equal to 20 percent
of the annual utility costs with an additional 20 percent to be paid in each of the
next five years until the employees assumed the full utility cost.
In hearings held by PERB, affected employees noted that when hired, they
were told they would be provided the housing. And, as the hearing officer explained, "an amount which represents the fair value of maintenance and which
is an offset against compensation is likewise a term and condition of
employment which cannot be unilaterally changed by the County.'' Accordingly,
Ms. Grace found the Taylor Law violated.
CSEA Unit President Kay Cayton said she was pleased with the decision,
"because it teaches the county a lesson that they have a union to deal with."
UNIONIST HONORED
— Francis Miller, past
president of Oswego
County Local 838 and
Chairman of the CSEA's
Statewide Charter Committee, is congratulated
by CSEA President
William L. McGowan,
right, for his years of
dedicated service to the
union. Joining in the
testimonial for Mr.
Miller, sponsored by
CSEA Oswego County
Local 838, were Elzire
Miller, seated center,
Mr. Miller's wife, and
Donald Miller, his son.
THE PUBLIC SECtOR, V^ednesday, September '23, 1981
Page 3
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
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.
Patience, accuracy
keep pace with
220,000 members
ALBANY — If you lose your CSEA membership card, find an error in
your dues deduction or want to change your life insurance beneficiary, what
should you do?
Get in touch with Membership Records, the department that keeps track
of all the union's 220,000 members.
"You need an awful lot of patience and accuracy to stay on top of things in
this department," said Ellalouise Wadsworth, Supervisor of Membership
Records. "There's never a slack time here. Luckily I've got a great staff."
Membership records handles information used to determine eligibility
and to deliver union services such as legal assistance, insurance, The
Public Sector, and Regional and Local rebates. It also uses membership information to determine voting strength at delegate meetings.
In addition, the department handles direct dues payment for retirees,
associate members and those members who have lost their dues deduction
privileges because of alleged strike activity.
Keeping track of all pertinent membership information is a complex and
demanding task, and Wadsworth has some 27 staffers assigned to do the job.
The department is divided into three sections: Notice/Inquiry, Membership
Posting and Insurance (which was covered in an earlier profile in this series.)
SUPERVISOR OF MEMBERSHIP RECORDS Ellalouise Wadsworth, right,
and posting Section Supervisor Addie Saffer, left, go over the day's work as
staffer Tom Alexson studies a report in the background.
The eight staffers of the Notice/Inquiry Unit are largely responsible for
notifying payroll agencies to start, stop or change deductions for dues and insurance. The unit also sends refunds to members in case of a dues
overcharge.
"There's also a lot of updating to keep files current," notes Wadsworth.
"If there's been a change in a name or address, we're the ones who take care
of it. And of course our job in this regard is a lot easier if the members keep us
informed of changes."
Notice/Inquiry is also the home of InfoLine, CSEA's toll-free telephone
number members can call to find out where to go to get information regarding
certain union programs, policies or services. The three staff members who
share InfoLine duties answer about 25 calls a day, with the biggest rush of
calls coming at lunchtime.
"We hear a lot of problems people ar.e having with their bosses, and we
get a lot of queries about prescription cards and on-the-job injuries," one InfoLine staffer explained. "And then there was the call from the guy whose
eyeglasses had fallen into a septic tank."
"Unfortunately, a lot of members don't understand that the InfoLine is
simply a referral service. We tell people what department can handle their
problem or refer them to their Local or Region if that's the proper place for
their problem to be handled. But a lot of people expect us to solve their
problems over the phone, and we obviously can't do that."
The Membership/Posting Unit is the largest unit of the department, with 13
staff members. It is here where the monies collected for dues and insurance
by the payroll agencies are posted to individual members' records. It is also
here where an annual audit determines the number of Delegates each Local
may have and where dues deductions are accumulated for the annual rebate
to Locals.
Staffers in the Insurance Unit process death claims, waivers of premium
and any changes in beneficiaries. They maintain insurance records and
collect life insurance premiums from members who go off the payroll.
Helping to make the job of Wadsworth's staff a lot less complicated and
time-consuming are the video display terminal computers, which were installed in the mid-1970s.
"They're the best thing that's happened in the 15 years I've been in this
department," said Wadsworth. "They're invaluable. They display membersnames, addresses, agency. Local, bargaining unit, effective dates of
membership, insurance deductions, group life insurance statistics and annual
salary. Basically they tell us anything we would need to know in order to service a member."
SHARING INFOPHONE DUTIES are, from left to right, Maudine Morman,
Notice/RSVP Section Supervisor; Heidi Quant, Clerk and Barbara Lapointe,
Senior Clerk. These three also share Notice Section responsibilities.
THESECTOR,
PUBLICWednesday,
SECTOR, September
Wednesday,
September 16, 1981Page7
Page1605THEPUBLIC
}6,1981
Suggestion awards winner James Fowier turns his
ideas into improved woricing conditions for aii
ALBANY - James W. Fowler
likes making suggestions and the
state likes the suggestions he
makes.
Fowler, a shop steward for the
Office of General Services CSEA
Local 660, recently won his fourth
State Employee Suggestion award.
Each award brings a certificate
of merit from the Department of
Civil Service, and, depending upon
the "tangible benefits" of the
suggestion, a monetary prize. The
awards are given for ideas that
either improve working conditions
or reduce money, time and waste
in state government.
"Some people figure maybe
they'll just go in and put in the
day's work and that's it, but I think
if there's a safety hazard that can
be corrected or if they can better
working conditions in any way,
they should," said Fowler.
"It doesn't cost a thing to turn
your suggestion in," he says. "I've
James Fowler
been putting them in all along,
since I've been there."
An amicable, dark-haired man
who sports a mustache and wire-
^^—Calendar
of E V E N T S
23—Hudson Valley Armory Employees Local 252 Meeting and installation of officers, 1
p.m., Newburgh Armory, 355 South V^/illiam St., Newburgh.
23 Region I EAP Update Meeting, 1 p.m.. Region Headquarters, Houppauge. '
25-26 — Region VI meeting. Holiday Inn, Jamestown.
25-27—Region V Fall Conference, Holiday Inn, 75 North St., Auburn.
26—Treasurers' Final Training Session, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Musicaro's Restaurant, Melville.
rimmed glasses. Fowler has been
working a s a m o t o r v e h i c l e
operator for the interagency mail
messenger service of OGS at the
South Mall since 1977.
Fowler's fondness for furnishing
the state with suggestions makes
him one of a select few. According
to recent figures, each year the
Employee Suggestion Program
r e c e i v e s only about seven
s u g g e s t i o n s for e v e r y 1,000
workers. The program is currently
the focus of a study funded through
a CWEP research grant to determine why more state workers don't
use it.
Although the Suggestion
Program does not give awards for
recommendations of routine safety
measures, "unusual" safety
suggestions are considered, and
Fowler says he's particularly concerned about improving on-the-job
safety.
Given his job experience, this
comes as no surprise. The 42-yearold father of two is a former bus
driver, volunteer fireman, deputy
sheriff and emergency medical
technician.
"I try to prevent accidents, to
prevent someone from getting
hurt," he says.
Fowler's first suggestion award,
in 1978, was for his idea that twoway radios be installed in intercity
carrier trucks for emergencies.
In 1979 he suggested safety
latches be put on doors of small
vans; in 1980 he suggested there be
a poster instructing employees how
to lift heavy packages.
His lastest award stemmed from
his recommendation that padlocks
be secured on the back of carrier
trucks. "So many padlocks were
lost, so I suggested a 12-inch chain
attached to the padlock and the
back of the truck door," explained
Fowler. "That way „it wouldn't fall
off, get lost or be misplaced."
J)
26—Metropolitan Region II Installation, Hilton Vista International, New York City.
28—Region III Political Action Committee Meeting, 7:30 p.m.. Holiday Inn, Suffern.
October
1—Region III Political Action Rally, 7:30 p.m., Hillcrest Manor, Goshen.
3—Region I delegates meeting, 9 a.m.-l p.m., Musicaro's Restaurant, Melville.
6—EAP Health Fair, 2-7 p.m., BIdg. 29, Pilgrim Psychiatric Center.
19-23—71st Annual Delegate Meeting, Concord Hotel, Kiamesha Lake.
19—Region I Executive Board, Concord Hotel, 7 p.m.
9—Nassau County Local 830 annual dinner dance, 8 p.m.. Crest Hollow Country Club,
Woodbury.
14—Buffalo Local 003 Meeting, 5:30 p.m., Plaza Suite, 1 M&T Plaza, Buffalo.
24—Wassaic Developmental Center annual fall dance. The Pond, Anchan.
Two regional meetings set for Septemiier
Region V Pall Conference expected to draw record crowd
AUBURN — Political Action and educational workshops will take priority
when more than 300 Officers, Delegates and guests from CSEA Region V meet
September 25 through 27 at the Holiday Inn, Auburn, for their Annual Fall
Conference.
According to Regional President James J. Moore, the three-day event is expected to draw a record turnout from the 20-county area.
The Conference will begin Friday evening at 8 PM with three workshops
devoted to county, state and school employee affairs.
Saturday activities will begin with a Political Action Committee meeting at
8:30 AM, followed by an informational meeting for retiree representatives, and
two full educational sessions at 10 AM and 1 PM for all Officers, Delegates, and
other interested members. A dinner at 7 PM will conclude Saturday activities.
A general business meeting, scheduled for 9 AM Sunday, will close out the
three-day Conference.
Commenting about the upcoming event, Moore said, "This is the first
Regional Conference to be held in Cayuga County and we anticipate an excellent
turnout of officers and delegates. It is going to be a significant meeting from the
standpoint of issues — particularly the effect of Reaganomics on the average
public employee. CSEA is detennined to fight to prevent further cutbacks.
United we represent millions of votes and we intend to make them count at
election time."
Region VI General Business Meeting
to foous on crucial member Issues
ESSEX COUNTY OFFICERS INSTALLED - CSEA Capital Region
President Joseph E. McDermott, right, officially installed new Essex County
CSEA Local officers recently. They are, from left, Delegate Helen Shedd,
Treasurer Jackie Vanderhoof, President John McAlonan, and Second Vice
President Gail Sweatt.
BUFFALO - Region VI President
Robert L. Lattimer has announced a
R e g i o n M e e t i n g , s c h e d u l e d for
September 25 and 26, at the Jamestown Holiday Inn.
Agenda items include a Friday
meeting at 8:00 P.M. focusing on
several important matters to the
membership.
Saturday's schedule includes State
and County Workshops at 9:30 A.M.
and a General Business Meeting at
1:30 P.M., with a 12:00 Noon lunch
break.
Reservations may be made directly
with the Holiday Inn, 150 West 4th
Street, Jamestown, New York 14701,
phone 716-664-3400.
Further information may be obtained at the Region Office, (716) 634-3540.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, V^ednesdpy, September 23, 1981
Page 11,
Fortunately
County snubs union hours after mishap
Union says its
concerns were
biuntiy ignored
by management
By Daniel X. Campbell
JOHNSTOWN — The sudden collapse of part of
the ceiling in the old wing of the Fulton County
Office Building has caused Civil Service
Employees Assn. County Office Building Unit
President Edith Grahn to take a very hard line
with the Fulton County administration concerning CSEA's rights and membership safety.
The recent bizarre cave-in hospitalized
Gloversville Attorney Richard Aulisi who was
passing beneath the area, and slightly injured a
workman employed by the Midstate Industries,
the private contractor for the $200,000 roof
restoration project on the 80-year-old building.
No member of either the Fulton County Office
Building Unit or the County Court Employees
Unit was injured in the accident.
H o w e v e r , CSEA O f f i c e B u i l d i n g Unit
President Edith Grahn is very upset with the attitude of County officials during and after the
collapse.
"We were left in the dark about the accident,
the safety of the building, the county's plan of
action concerning our members for nearly four
hours," she charged. "We knew that the county
was extremely lucky that no one had been killed
and that everyone should be pulling together to
get through the crisis hours, but our requests to
meet with management about our concerns were
bluntly ignored," the fiesty union leader claims.
CAVE-IN SITE — Tons of debris block the second floor staircase in the old wmg of the Fulton County
Office Building in Johnstown. The collapse hospitalized an attorney and slightly injured an employee
of the roofing contractor.
William Sohl, CSEA Fulton County Local
President, explained that county management
believed that the union should not become involved in the situation until and unless the county
decided to send the employees back into the
cave-in area. "We wanted to help. We could have
communicated with our members, settled them
down and been of service to the county, but
management did not even recognize our right to
be concerned about the safety of our members,"
he said.
Because of lack of communication the CSEA
Unit contacted the CSEA Capital Region Office
and the New York State Occupation Safety and
Health Act Office requesting an immediate inspection of the office building due to the
possibility of imminent danger.
CSEA Fulton County Field Representative
John Cummings spoke of the concerns of the
Regional Office, saying "We wanted to know if a
situation of imminent danger existed in the cavein area. If so, we were prepared to inform county
management of our c o n c e n s and request that
the workers be released wita pay for the rest of
the day, or until the debris was cleared up and
the building declared safe by an engineering
firm. Also we were prepare to suggest alternate
work sites."
n blasts Fulton County management
handling of roof collapse mishap
'we are very concerned witli structurai saf ety'
ALBANY — Both CSEA Capital Region President Joseph E. McDermott
and Regional Director John D. Corcoran Jr. are upset with the Johnstown incident.
CHECKING OSHA REGULATIONS - Fulton County Local President
William Sohl, left, and Unit President Edith Grahn can smile out of relief that
no one was killed when part of roof collapsed. But, because the county
management did not communicate with the union following the mishap, they
are shown reviewing OSHA regulations covering such situations.
THE
PUBLIC
SECTOR,
Wednesday,
Page23THEPUBLIC
SECTOR,
Wednesday,
September
}6,1981 September 16, 1981Page7
"There are 50,000 public employees housed in every ype of structure imaginable in the Capital Region," the regional director e ;plained. "We range
from the largest single building in the world, the Empire State Plaza in downtown Albany, an ultra modem architectural wonder hat is plagued with
problems, to DPW structures that are held together by spit. So we are very
concerned with structural safety."
McDermott listed several public government centei projects which combined old structures with more modern buildings. "I Essex County, the
county complex is very similar to the Johnstown buildi g, an older building
tied into a more modern structure. In Rensselaer Cour :y the County Office
Complex is one old large former school building with n w modern entrance
ramps, etc., and these buildings are all candidates for st uctural accidents."
Corcoran elaborated on the Johnstown incident. " '>ources close to the
cave-in are attributing part of the accident to the use of ild blueprints, which
were not up to date, concerning the numerous structur 1 changes which occurred during the 80-year history of that part of the s' ucture. This should
serve
an example to both county management and pi vate contractors involved in the numerous restoration, renovation projec i that are sweeping
the eastern part of the nation, to check and re-check, ii 5pect and re-inspect
before they cut the floor out from underneath them."
McDermott concluded, "Fulton County was lucky tl it no one was fatally
injured in the accident. Ten minutes earlier or later a id the cave-in could
have been a tragedy."
In order to avoid this situation in the future, the Capi al Region is sending
a directive to all of its Locals and units to see that each • ocal or Unit request
that management schedule a complete structural insp etion of work areas
prior to the commencing of any major restoration, ren vation or structural
change projects.
"If management is concerned with the safety of the: ' work force, this request will have their full support," Corcoran declared