Labor leading surge to
MONDALE/FERRARO
IslMiä
AFL-CIO President
Lane Kirkland,
left, leads rally for the
Democratic
ticket recently in Albany.
See related stories on pages 18, 19 and 20.
§iPtBMia@
m m m
"I want to thank all of the CSEA
members who supported me in this
election. I promise you that all of my
energy is being devoted to improving
the working conditions of all of our
members."
WILLIAM L. McGOWAN
"While I am pleased with the
members support for the team, the
low turnout indicates to me that
opathy is our greatest foe. I plan to
do all I can to try to overcome that
apathy."
JOE McDERMOTT
"I am happy with the victory. After
getting on the ballot in 1982 by
circulating petitions and winning
them, I was very pleased with this
vote of membership support in the
rerun.
BARBARA FAUSER
Official Publication of The Civil
Service Employees Association
Local 1000,
American
Federation of State, County and'
Municipal Employees AFL-CiO
Friday, October 19,1984
Vol. 5, No. 53
"Although the duties of the
secretary are narrowly defined by the
Constitution, I have worked hard to be
involved in the day-to-day issues that
affect our members. I believe this
vote shows that our members
appreciate that effort."
IRENE CARR
CSEA officers re-elected
by everwhelmi ng margins
ALBANY — CSEA President William L.
McGowan has led a slate of incumbent officers to
what wire service news reflorts describe as an
"overwhelming" victory in the court-ordered
rerun of the union's 1982 statewide election.
The other winners are: Executive VicePresicjent Joseph E. McDermott; Treasurer
Barbara Fauser and Secretary Irene Carr.
The results were announced on Oct. 13 by
Elections Procedure Committee Chairman
Gregory Szurnicki. The ballots were counted at
the offices of the Independent Election
Corporation of America, Lake Success, N.Y.
under the supervision of the U.S. Department of
Labor.
The rerun election, under the supervision of
the Dept. of Labor, was ordered by Federal
District Judge Roger Miner in July based on a
complaint by the U.S. Dept. of Labor. The judge
ruled that the ballot used in the 1982 election did
not conform with the secret ballot requirements
of the Labor Management Reporting and
Disclosure Act. Although there was no finding of
any impropriety on the part of the union in the
1982 election, the court ruled that the ballot could
have had a "chilling effect."
The results show there was no validity to the
"chilling effect" theory. Nearly 14,000 more
members participated in the original election
than in the rerun supervised by the Dept. of
Labor.
"The higher voter turnout in the original
election indicates to me that our members have
more confidence in their union than in an
election supervised by a Labor Secretary who is
facing criminal charges," said President
McGowan. He was referring to Labor Secretary
Raymond Donovan who brought the complaint
but has since been indicted on a number of
criminal charges by a Bronx Grand Jury.
Donovan is the first sitting cabinet official in
U.S. history to be indicted.
McGowan's margin of victory actually
increased over the original three-way race in
which he was opposed by Regional Presidents
James Moore and Robert Lattimer. In 1982,
McGowan received 57% of the votes cast, in the
rerun he received
PRESIDENT
Willimii L. McGowan-19,400
Raymond J. O'Connor-10 J 3 9
EXECUriYE VICE PRESIDENT
Joe McDermott-15,644
Mrs. Thomas H. McDonou9h-9,032
Jimmy Gripper—5,090
TREASURER
Barbara Fauser—15,599
James C. Neei|;^9,176
H. A. (Tony) Bentivegna-4,949
SECRETARY
Irene Carr—20,188
Helen Car|er-9,498
-CSEQ
Committee finds ciiarges against union unfounded!
ALBANY — Concluding that allegations printed in The Free Press, a them with some detail, or found them moot.
publication circulated to a number of CSEA officers and members, are
In its summary, the Committee stated: "The Free Press has chosen,
"completely and totally void of any substantiation," a committee of the union's
apparently,
to either quite consistently ignore and/or distort pertinent factual
statewide Board of Directors has issued a report resulting from its four-month
information
or to speculate carelessly in the manner in which it purports to
investigation.
offer information on the activities and representation of CSEA Inc.
In early April, the Board called for an ad hoc committee to investigate and
"This publication, the vehicle of a committee which avows an intention to
report on charges contained in the publication of a group called "Members 'insure that our members understand and enjoy their democratic rights,' could
Committee for an Honest Union Inc." Appointed to serve on the investigatory not conceivably venture further astray from a legitimate effort to provide such
committee were Chairman C. Allen Mead, Vice Chairman Michael Curtin, a service."
James Gripper Jr., Frank Bosco, Richard Canniff, Patricia Crandall and
An allegation of The Free Press concerning "thousands 'of unanswered
Brian Madden.
grievances," for example, was determined by the committee to be "totally
The final 22-page report of the Ad Hoc Committee to Investigate Alleged void of reality." The report stated, "The suggestion that many of the thousands
Internal Impropieties was presented to the Board at its Sept. 13 meeting.
of those grievances ever reach a Step 3 level goes way beyond the state of overAllegations made in The Free Press included charges against the law firm exaggeration." Further, the report stressed that The Free Press' advice to
of Roemer and Featherstonhaugh, the CSEA Employee Benefit Fund, conflicts contact the Members Committee for an Honest Union for assistance in respect
of interest regarding the union's vendors, lobbying activities and other to contract grievances "will not enhance, but will impede, the administration
matters. In each case, the Committee found no basis for the charges, refuted of contract grievances."
Special meeting is
called en status of
Binghamten building
BINGHAMTON — A special general
membership meeting has been called for
members of Binghamton State Employees Local
002 to discuss at length the status of the
Binghamton State Office Building, which has
been closed for months.
Local 002 President Tim Henehan has
scheduled the meeting to update members about
the facility for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15 at the
Sons of Italy Hall, Carroll and Hawley Streets,
Binghamton. Henehan is urging all members to
attend this special meeting.
Reinstated witli back pay
M H f A found innocent of
patient abuse ciiarges
NEW YORK CITY — A MHTA and longtime employee of the Bernard
Fineson Developmental Center had been reinstated with fidl back pay as the
result of an arbitrator's recent decision finding her not guilty of charges of
patient abuse.
Audrey Worrell, a member of CSEA Local 406, was suspended from her job
July 11 on disciplinary charges that she verbally and physically abused a client
on Ward 922 of the Glen Oate Unit. The charge was based on accusations of one
witness, a MHTA trainee at the facility. Arbitrator Joel Douglas termed that
testimony "not persuasive when examined in its totality."
Hie male trainee alleged that on June 29 Worrell engaged in an ar^gument
with a client who refused to enter the ward dining room at mealtime.
According to him, Worrell cursed at the patient, struck him with her ward
keys, then pushed him to the floor and threw his walker at him.
The trainee claimed to have been within arm's reach of Worrell and the
client during the entire incident but took no action to intervene.
CSEA argued that the abuses ascribed to Worrell "never happened" and
that the entire incident described was "fictitious."
Worrell, a 12-year employee and ward charge with a clean work record,
described an opposite version of the incident, saying that the client used foul
language toward her and then attacked her with his walker, causing injury to
her finger which required emergency treatment at a nearby hospital.
At the arbitration hearing, the union charged that the state — which relied
solely on the testimony of one MHTA trainee who had been on the ward for only
one month ~ "clearly failed to meet the burden of proof required."
The state had in its "control and custody other witnesses who could have
been called to substantiate its position," said CSEA in its position statement. It
noted especially the state's failure to call as a witness the supervisor to whom
both Worrell and the trainee had reported the incident.
Arbitrator Douglas agreed with the union line, saying that "the testimony
of Worrell was clearly more convincing and credible."
The decision pointed out that the state's failure to produce other witnesses
was "difficult to understand." Douglas was disturbedalso by the trained^s
reaction in the incident.
"For an employee to watch four alleged acts of abuse without doing
anything whatsoever is difficult to accept.
"Rarely in those c a ^ where an employee witnesses acts of abuse and
refuses to intercede does the employee then immediately report said acts to a
superior."
Of the two explanations of what happened during the incident, Worrell's
"was more credible," Douglas concluded.
Offering an explanation for the trainee's story, Worrell said in the position
statement that he had "an attitude problem, and does not like to be told what to
do."
Said Kathy Gibson, first vice president of Local 406: "Audrey Worrell is a
competent, reliable worker and deserves her reinstatement. We're pleased
with Douglas' decision."
Page 2
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, F r i d a y , O c t o b e r 19, 1984
Claire McGrath, president of Syracuse State Local 013 and Ray Baird,
superintendent of the John H. Hughes State Office Building in Syracuse,
inspect some of the CWEP informational literature now avaflable at
dis^ys in the building lobby. Twenty-four different panels — produced by
the GOER/CSEIA Joint Labor-Management Conunittee on the Work
Environment and Productivity (CWEP) — have been set up there. The fullcolor, illustrated panels depict the many services rendered by CSEA
members in the Administrative, Institutional and Operational units. Local
103 represents more than 1,100 employees in 43 state agencies who work in
the Syracuse State Office Building and other locations throughout Central
New York.
Unionism brings
12-niontii ordeal
to iiappy ending
for 8 cleared
of charges at
Rome facility
>
'the entire
served as a catalyst
for bonding members
closer to the union'
By Charles McGeary
CSEA Commuiiicatloiis Associate
ROME; — It was just about one year ago when
Rome Developmental Center CSEA Local 422
President Jon Premo, returning from CSEA's annual statewide delegates meeting» learned tiiat
ei^t employees at his facility had been charged
with alleged patient abuse.
Today, all eight employees have been cleared
of the charges and are back at work. But "these
last 12 months have been a horrendous experience," says Premo. "Not only for the eight
employees involved in the original charges, but
also for the officers of Local 422 who, in my opinion, were subjected to intimidation fn>m the state
management level."
"Now that the cases have been concluded, innocence established, and the eight employees
have returned to duty, I have given a lot of thought
to the year-long chain of events. I am convinced
that CSEA training and teamwork at every level
was the most important factor in the successful
outcome," Premo said. For starters, the full support of regional and statewide CSEA staff members was pledged immediately by CSEA Region
V President Jim Moore.
Intensive legal work over the next 12 months
closed the cases. Four of the eight were resolved
last December, and three of the remaining four
employees were found innocent during arbitration
later. The last was disciplined for a minor, unrelated infraction. All eight were returned to duty.
"In my opinion, we have reached a successful
conclusion," Premo said. "And I want to take this
CSEA LOCAL 422 President Jon Premo, right, receives congratolations from Region V President
Jhn Moore for Premo^s handling of a yearlong effort to successfully defend dght members from
unfounded charges. All eight are back on duty at Rome Developmental Center.
opportunity to personally thank every person who
took part in helping us though the scores of meetings, counseling and mountains of paperwork, as
well as the pressure and intimidation ^ m the administration on the state level."
In particular, Premo singled out R^onal President Moore; Regional Attorney John SchoU;
Regional Legal R^esentative Bob Greene; CSEA
Field Representative Ted Modrzejewski; and Attorney Michael Smith of CSEA's legal firm of
Roemer and Featherst<»ihaugh in Alb^y. He also
praised CSEA legal pro^am staffers Tony Campione and Irene Cununings for their work in the
arbitration process, as well as the work of Local
422 Vice President Jim Martin and Local 422
stewards John Douglas and Fred Yerman.
"One of the first things we did when we took
office," Premo noted, "was to emphasize the importance of CSEA steward training and to increase the number of stewards throughout the
facility. We have just witnessed the results of that
training and teamwork."
"On the negative side I would say the year-long
ordeal brought out a sense of paranoia within the
institution and workforce. We got the feeling that
the state OMRDD administration 'shot from the
hip' at the outset of the incident. They used the
'buckshot approach' and hoped to hit something.. .anytiiing."
"The chain of events probably had some adverse effect on the clients we serve because of the
change in personnel assignments. It also affected the community relations image of the fadlity
and its employees. And I am not sure the state
wasn't attempiing to harrass CSEA and Local 422
b^!^ intimidation and innuendoes."
"Looking at the positive side," Premo continued, 'Ihe entire episode served as a catalyst for
bonding the members closer to. the union. We became more knowledgeable. We became stronger.
And, more importantly, we i^alized how much we
needed the strength of CSEA fnmi every level."
"It is over. It's finally over after one solid year
of working and waiting for the final result we Imew
would come. At times there was some frustration
waiting for the legal process to run its course, but
we had no control over that and I trust those involved understand."
Premo concluded by saying, "If there is one
j>iece of advice I would give to other CSEA locals
it is to take advantage of all available training and
resources on the local, regional and statewide level. We did here at Local 422, and it really paid off.
I can say with all sincerity, we were successful
because we had the full cooperation of CSEA on
the local, regional and Albany level. It was a great
team effort every step of the way!"
' i am convinced that CSEA training and t e a m w o r k
at every level w a s t h e most Important factor in t h e
successful o u t c o m e . "
Concerns
resolved over 'personal risk'questionnaires
program, even though the program is the direct
ALBANY — CSEA has given a green light to a personal health risks.'
new health awareness program being conducted
by the State Department of Civil Service, but not
before an emergency meeting of the NYS/CSEA
Joint Committee on Health Benefits was called
to satisfy concerns the union had raised about
the program.
Civil Service is distributing "Personal Risk
Profile" questionnaires this month to state
workers as part of a "Stay Healthy — It Pays"
program. It is planned to combine family
medical history and personal health habits data
from the questionnaires with laboratory
measurements to project an individual's
chances of becoming ill or remaining healthy.
Each employee who responds will receive a
confidential computer-generated report of
CSEA President William L. McGowan had
initially raised some concerns about the project
when it was recently announced, but those
concerns were resolved at this week's
emergency meeting of the Joint Committee on
Health Benefits. CSEA said that while some
questions may appear to be unrelated and
inappropriate to a health risk appraisal project,
legitimate reasons for using those questions
were proven. However, McGowan said,
individuals do not have to complete any
questions they do not wish to answer on the
questionnaires.
McGowan said also he was concerned that the
profile questionnaires were going to be
distributed without the union's approval of the
result of a CSEA/NYS memorandum of understanding. With the satisfying of union concerns
at the emergency meeting, the union has now
given its approval of the project.
Both the questionnaire and the resulting report
are completely confidential. He noted that the
questionnaire processing and report production
will be done by General Health, Inc., an
independent Washington, D.C.-based firm.
• McGowan also noted that employees may call
a toll-free General Health, Inc. telephone
number to ask any questions they may have
concerning the questionnaire. That toll-free
number is 800-424-2775. If the question is medical
in nature, General Health will put one of their
doctors on the line to assist the caller.
THE, PUBLIC S £ C T 9 R , F r i d p y . p p t o j a e f J 9 , ,1^84
PpS^, 3
»Public—
«SECTOR
O f f i c i a l p u b l i c a t i o n of
T h e Civil S e r v i c e E m p l o y e e s A s s o c i a t i o n
Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO
3 3 Elk S t r e e t , A l b a n y , N e w Y o r k 1 2 2 2 4
T h e P u b l i c S e c t o r ( 4 4 5 0 1 0 ) is p u b l i s h e d e v e r y
o t h e r F r i d a y by t h e Civil S e r v i c e E m p l o y e e s
A s s o c i a t i o n , 3 3 Elk S t r e e t , A l b a n y , N e w Y o r k
12224.
Publication office, 1 Columbia Place, Albany,
N e w York 1 2 2 0 7 .
S e c o n d C l a s s P o s t a g e p a i d at P o s t
Albany, N e w York.
Office,
M I C H A E L P. M O R A N — P u b l i s h e r
R O G E R A. C O L E — Editor
TINA LINCER FIRST — Associate Editor
B R I A N K. B A K E R — Assistant Editor
A d d r e s s c h a n g e s s h o u l d b e s e n t t o Civil S e r vice E m p l o y e e s Association, T h e Public Sector,
3 3 Elk S t r e e t , A l b a n y , N e w Y o r k 1 2 2 2 4 .
«
•
LABOR PRESsh
. • I P
"DIP YOU SEE THAT, PETeR?"
"YEAH!
H E AAUSTA T A K E N O N E OF
THOSe. S T A T E EN^^LOSEE
LEAP
COORSBSl
Take a LEAP course next spring
ALBANY — CSEA's Labor Education Action
Program (LEAP) expects to have its tuition-free
course announcements for the 1985 spring
semester distributed to state agencies
throughout New York by the end of October.
This semester, courses will be offered in a
variety of subjects including: science,
psychology, sociology, accounting, economics.
English and literature. Instruction also will be
given in such skills as carpentry, engine repair,
stationary engineering, electricity, computer
operations, word processing, shorthand and
office procedures.
This is just a small sample of the more than 140
courses offered each semester by LEAP. The
program, now in its second year of operation.
Registration ends
Nov. 28.
Labor Educafion Action Program
(518)434-8151
Nov. 10 women's conference set
at Dutchess Community College
POUGHKEEPSIE - Marie Romanelli of Self-Sufficiency in Teen Mothers," "Child
CSEA and MarUyn DePuy of AFSCME will be C a r e , " " I n f l u e n c i n g Creation and
featured speakers at a women's conference to be Implementation of Legislation," "Running for
held at Dutchess Community College Nov. 10. Office," "Patterns of Hiring Women,"
The daylong conference, entitled "Equality for "Overcoming Computer Anxiety," "Where the
Women: Myth or Reality?" is being sponsored Money Is — High-Tech Jobs for Women," "Jobby the Dutchess County Council of Women in Finding Skills," "Financing Continuing
conjunction with Dutchess Community College. Education; "Opening Your Own Business," and
Romanelli, chairwoman of the Committee on "Single Women and Women Heads of
Work Environment and Productivity for Region Households Overcoming Financial Blocks."
Guest speakers will include Dutchess County
III, will take part in a panel discussion on corporate, government and labor union initiatives Executive Lucille Pattison, Secretary of State
Gail Shafer and Susan S. Egan, an attorney who
pertaining to quality of worklife.
has handled a number of sex discrimination
DePuy, who serves as AFSCME's women's suits.
rights coordinator in Washington, D.C., will speak
Anyone wishing to attend should contact Rita
on pay equity.
Banner at Dutchess Community College at (914)
Titles of other workshops are: "Developing 471-4500.
Poge 4
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, F r i d a y , O c t o b e r 19, 1984
has provided free courses to more than 11,000
state employees in the Administrative,
Institutional and Operational bargaining units.
The course announcements, along with LEAP
application forms and drop forms, will be
available from personnel offices and staff
development and training offices in state
agencies. A limited number will also be
available from local presidents.
Application forms must be completed and
returned by Nov. 28 to: LEAP, 488 Broadway,
Room 518, Albany, New York, 12207.
All state ASU, ISU and OSU members who
work half-time or more are eligible to apply.
Students are accepted based on then* bargaining
unit membership and seniority.
According to LEAP Director Thomas Quimby,
feedback on the courses from CSEA members
has been most positive.
"Members have said that the courses have
satisfied important personal and professional
needs. They have been able to incease their
knowledge and skills, satisfy some college
degree requirements and get the promotions
they want in state service," Quimby said.
Resenrtttioifs open for
Region 11 installation
Newly-elected officers of Metropolitan Region
n will be installed at a ceremony scheduled to
take place Nov. 2,
The installation, which will be a semi-formal
dress affair, will honor the new slate of regional
officers: President George BoncoragUo, First
Vice President Floyd Payne, Second Vice
President Helen Boyd, Third Vice President
Denis Tobin, Treasurer Sharon Katz and
Secretary Ann Worthy.
The evening will include a smorgasbord
and dinner at La Mer Banquet House. Tickets
are $35 per person.
Reservations must be made by Oct. 26. Contact
local presidents for more information.
,
Victim of rare crippling disease
fights back in crusade tofindcure
By Brian Baker
Assistant Editor
NEW YORK CITY - Saundra
Bernstein first noticed the
symptoms when she was 23 years
old. Her right leg began to twist to
one side in a strange contortion..
Occasionally, she felt muscle
spasms in it. And sometimes the
pain got so bad she could barely
stand it.
"It was as if someoniB had tied a
knot in my leg and was pulling both
ends at the same time. I can't think
of any word to describe it except
'hell,' " she recalls.
Saundra's parents took her to a
host of different doctors in an effort
to find out what was causing the
problem.
"Doctors kept telling my mother
that absolutely nothing was wrong
with me physically. They would
say it was psychosomatic. And I
would say, 'If I'm doing this to
myself, I sure must hate myself
because it hurts an awful lot.' "
After three years of visiting one
doctor after anotoer in vain, she
finally got a sound diagnosis. The
word was that she had dystonia, a
rare and enigmatic neurological
disease which manifests itself in
involuntary and very painful
muscle spasms. Though it is not
life-threatening, it can be
progressive, spreading to other
parts of the body. And it is
incurable.
Now 32, Bernstein has long since
accepted and learned to live with
her disease. For the past decade,
she's held a job in the Office of
Disability Determinations, where
she is now a senior clerk and a
member of New York City Local
010. With the use of a robaxin, neuromuscular stimulating medicine,
she keeps the problem under control most of the time. She even goes
into long periods of complete remission, the most recent one
lasting for more than a year.
But she still has relapses.
"The minor ones last one day to a
week or more," she says.
"Usually, I don't have to stop
working. But sometimes the pain is
so bad that there's nothing else I
can do."
About three years ago, she had to
take a nine-month leave from
work. Sonfietimes it's not easy, she
says.
"I try not to let it stop me. I work
as long as I can and come in even if
I have to leave during the day,
although that's not too often,"
Bernstein noted.
While Bernstein tries to push the
pain of her crippling ailment out of
her life, she's placed herself in the
frbnt line of a crusade to find a cure
for the disease. She is chief
fundraiser for, and a vocal
member of the board of directors of, the Dystonia
Medical Research
are misdiagnosed is that few
people are aware of it," said
Bernstein.
Dystonia is a very mysterious
disease whose cause — except
. in cases of injury to the
brain — is unlmown to
researdiers in the
\l try to keep the disease out of my way
as much as possible,
i always know it's
there. But I don't anticipate it taking over
my life so completely
ever again. ^
Saundra Bernstein
Foundation, Formed in 1977, the
organization tries to increase
awareness and understanding of
dystonia among doctors and to
spark exploratory research.
"We're trying hard to inform the
public as well as doctors of the
existence of the disease. The
reason that dystonia victims often
neurosciences. The most prevalent
forms of the disease seem to be
either inherited through one or more
defective genes or arise spontaneously
due to unknown
causes. The genetic transmission is
unclear, but ethnic groups — such
as those of northern Sweden and
Jews of Eastern European origin
— seem to be more prone than the
general population.
There are, in fact, many types of
neuromuscular ailments that fit
under the general heading of
dystonia. Doctors suspect that
many people have milder forms of
the disease without knowing it.
Writer's cramp, for instance, is a
more conunon, much less disabling
form than that which affects
victims like Bernstein. A serious
case usually nianifests itself by
acute pains in the arms, legs, face
or neck.
O f t e n m i s d i a g n o s e d by
physicians, dystonia is a tragic
disease usually misunderstood by
s o c i e t y . B e c a u s e of their
involuntary muscle spasms and
other disabling symptoms,
dystonic patients often feel a sense
of alienation and isolation,
Bernstein said.
"I had a hard time at first
dealing with it, both because I
didn't want to accept the fact that I
had an incurable disease and
because people around me didn't
understand it. People generally
aren't sure how to handle someone
•with a physical disability of some
sort. They want to help but don't
know if they should. Speaking from
personal experience, I know I have
to try doing something on my own
before I want help from someone
else. I think most people want to be
given that chance," she said.
Bernstein also noted that
psychotherapy can help victims
adjust. While dystonia does not
affect the Intellect, its victims
sometimes require "some sort of
• support in dealing with it.
"It lets you accept the fact that
you have it and then get on with
your life," she said.
Bernstein pulled through the
period after first discovering she
had the disease — a time when, she
says, "I was impossible to live
with" — and has got on with her
life. She was promoted to her job as
senior clerk and now is taking
courses for a degree in civil and
public service.
"I try to keep the disease out of
my way as much as possible. I
always know it's there. But I don't
anticipate it taking over my life so
completely ever again," she says.
(Editor's note:Bernstein, who
chairs her foundation's fund-raising committee, requests that donations to wipe out this disease be
mailed to: Dystonia Medical
Research Foundation, P.O. Box
814, Oakland Gardens, N.Y. 11364.)
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, F r i d a y , O c t o b e r 19. 1984
Page 5
Region W
LOOKING OVER the
region's new newsletter are, from left,
Carol Larpenteur,
Rensselaer County
unit president, June
Robak, state Education Department
local president, and
M a r i a n n e
Herkenham,
Rensselaer County
local president.
iOCAL O
l OO
ÄFL-CIO
V ' u^
ADDRESSING THE CROWD is
Betty Nichols of the Troy School
District, CSEA Rensselaer
County Educational Employees
local president.
PRESENTING
PRESIDENT'S
AWARDS to Jane
Perry, center, and
Norma Paige is
Capital Region President C. Allen Mead.
REVIEWING BROCHURES are Jase McGraw,
left, director of marketing and communications for
the CSEA Employee Benefit Fund, and EBF Research Aide Tim Petersen.
CAPITAL REGION MEETING
Reviewing tiie past, planning tlie future
COOPERSTOWN — "CSEA has become a . lean, mean fighting
machine," said C. Allen Mead, addressing the Capital Region IV Annual
Meeting, held at the Otesaga Hotel here Sept. 28-30.
Mead made his comments after talking about the region's activities
over the past year. "Each year we have taken the time to review the past
•year's successes and to plan for the challenges of the future," he said. "Tl)is
time, we see the leadership is well prepared for the challenges facing our
union and members over the next 12 months.
More than 250 CSEA activists attended the meeting, which featured
everything from the premiere printing of the Capital Region Leadership
News to several awards ceremonies and the election of a new Region
Executive Committee.
According to Mead, the new newsletter will be published on an asneeded basis, and is aimed at keeping the leadership informed of various
union issues.
At a hands-on newsletter workshop, participants interviewed CSEA
leaders on assigned topics, wrote news stories based on the interviews and
watched their stories transformed into copy. The first edition of the
newsletter was printed overnight and distributed to participants for their
critique the next morning.
A new slide show featuring members in their local government jobs was
also premiered at the meeting. The show is for usety county, city, town and
school district units seeking to develop their membership or organize new
units.
For the first time in the Capital Region, two members — Jane Perry
Page 6
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, F r i d a y , O c t o b e r 19, 1984
and Norma Paige — won the President's Award for outstanding dedication
and service to the region. In other ceremonies, Capital Region Director John
D. Corcoran Jr. was honored for his 25 years with CSEA, and Gerald
Toomey, former region treasurer, was honored for his service to the region.
Nine members — John Francisco, Jeanne Lyons, William Zippiere,
Douglas Persons, Sue Crawford, Dann Wood, Elizabeth Lennon, Carmen
Bagnoli and Fran Wilusz — were elected to the Capital Region Executive
Conmiittee for the coming year.
Featured speaker at the banquet was area television newsman Ed
Dague, former co-anchor for WRGB-TV, Channel 6 in Schenectady, who was
the subject of many headlines when he quit his job after a bitter 30-day
strike at the station.
CSEA was one of the first unions to publicly support the striking
workers, members of the National Association of Broadcast Employees and
Technicians (NABET).
The CSEA meeting, in turn, marked the first time Dague gave an indepth picture of the strike situation, in a passionate talk which earned him a
standing ovation from the audience.
Discussing CSEA's image in the press, Dague, who is now managing
editor of news at WNYT-TV, Channel 13 in Albany, had this to say to the
CSEA unionists: "You should never apologize to anyone for doing your job
of enforcing the contract.
"Don't worry about your image with the public or the media. You
simply have to keep doing your job. The nation needs unions like CSEA and
AFTFvx\ (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) and
NABET to keep management from going mad with power."
Safety award winners
CSEA members at DOT'S Nassau South yard were recently recognized for
having the lowest injury rate among DOT employees on Long Island in 1983.
Each worker was given a plaque and a coffee mug marking the
achievement.
Region IV endorses candidates
ALBANY — The Political Action Committee of the Capital Region of
CSEA announces the endorsement of the following local government
candidates for election to county office in November:
• In Rensselaer County : John Buono for county clerk,
Eugene Eaton for county sheriff;
• In Schenectady County: Merritt Willey for county clerk;
• In Schoharie County:
Forest Wallaber, Jr. for county clerk,
Harvey Stoddard for county sheriff;
• In Montgomery County: Norma Palmer for county treasurer.
All of the CSEA-endorsed candidates will be eligible to receive various
services from the union through its regional offices. These services range
from volunteer workers to phone banks and financial contributions.
Two new board members named
SIGNED — Washingtonville School District CSEA employees are all smiles
as Assistant School Superintendent James Rathbun signs a new three-yar
contract. Seated with Rathbun are unit President Doug Jeffries and Lillian
Ballard. Standing are negotiating team members Steve Bardin, Susan
Morgan, Maryann Gillespie and Thad Dolson.
Washingtonville schools sign pact
WASHINGTONVILLE — Washingtonville School District employees
have a new optical plan and 19 percent in salary increases as a result of a
three-year contract recently ratified by the CSEA unit.
According to Steve Bardin, a member of the union's negotiating team,
the 135 custodial, clerical, cafeteria, mechanical and maintenance
employees will receive a 7 percent pay increase retroactive to July 1, 6
percent effective July 1,1985 and 6 percent as of July 1,1986.
In addition, the contract provides for a new optical plan, increased
contributions by the school district to the dental insurance plan and a new
20-year longevity step.
Employees with at least 150 unused sick days will also be paid $10 for
each day upon retirement as part of the new agreement.
Members of the negotiating team included Bardin, Bruce Gillespie,
Warren Sanders, Lillian Ballard, Unit President Doug Jeffries, Susan
Morgan, Maryann Gillespie and Thad Dolson. Collective Bargaining
Specialist Joseph O'Connor headed the team.
ALBANY — Two new members will be serving on CSEA's statewide Board
of Directors. Election Procedures Committee Chairman Greg Szurnicki announced the results of two special elections to fill board vacancies following
vote counts Oct. 11.
V. Norma Condon is the new Dutchess County educational representative
to the Local Government Executive Committee, and Robert Gripper will serve
as Region II mental hygiene representative to the State Executive Conmiittee.
Staff opening
Communications associate
CSEA is seeking a qualified candidate for the position of communications
associate in its New York City regional office.
Duties include maintaining media contacts, writing news releases, writing
articles for the union newspaper and developing fliers, posters, brochures and
other printed materials.
Qualifications include a bachelor's degree with two years experience in
writing or editing. Five years such experience may be substituted for a degree,
or some combination of both is also acceptable.
Those interested in the position should submit a resume and salary history
by Nov. 2: Personnel Office, P.O. Box 125, Capital Station, Albany, N.Y. 12224.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, F r i d a y , O c t o b e r 19, 1984
Page 7
Legislature undercuts labor/management agreement
n WAS ONCE THOUGHIERAMCATED, BUT
CALENDAR CREEP SURVIVES IN ONONDAGA
Onondaga County employees
have long suffered under a
" c a l e n d a r creep'* p a y r o l l
system. Workers are paid in 26
equal paychecks during the
year. But because the final
check each year "creeps" earlier
and earlier each December, they
must wait longer each year for
their first paycheck the next
year. This year, for instance, the
last 1984 paycheck will be
issued Dec. 14, and they will
have to wait until mid-January,
1985, for their next check.
RALLYING POINT — CSEA Collective Bargaining Specialist Tom Pomidoro explains the CSEA position to Onondaga County employees gathered to protest a legislative vote to ''shelve" the union/management agreement that would resolve the county payroll dispute.
to urge legislators to adopt the agreement. Union ment with the union. Otherwise, "calendar creep"
and county officials had originally agreed that the will rear its ugly head this December just as it has
money was due the employees and the issue could done for too many years.
best be resolved through modernizing the system
and paying workers past due wages via a $2.9 million allocation in the 1985 budget.
An overflow crowd of more than 300 CSEA
members and other concerned citizens later filed
into the legislative chambers to hear Local 834
officers Pat Callahan, Dale King, Sue Smith and
James Craver address the Legislature and again
explain the mutually agreed upon plan for resolvThat riled up union officials, who immediately ing the issue.
But the rally and public hearing produced no accalled for Onondaga County CSEA Local 834 members to contact their county legislators to protest ceptable solution from county officials. The conthe committee's action. Local 834 President tinuing stalemate prompted Local 834 President
Patricia Callahan implored legislators to "support Callahan to issue the following statement:
".. .Since 1981, CSEA and county officials have
the agreement made between county officials and
CSEA because it justly compensates (us) for past together researched, studied and discussed all
wages owed." And Callahan ordered an emergen- avenues existing to reach an equitable and praccy meeting of Local 834 unit officers to plan a mas- tical solution for both sides. We sincerely believe
sive membership rally in downtown Syracuse our tentative agreement is the only and least expreceeding the legislative public hearing set to dis- pensive equitable solution there is for the county
to pay its employees the back wages they are
cuss the county's 1985 budget.
owed. We also agreed to a new payroll system to
prevent this from happening in the future."
More than 600 CSEA members and their famiMeanwhile, union offtcials are watching to see
lies turned out in a rain and hail storm to protest
the committee's rejection of the agreement, and if the county finds a way to abide by its own agreeBy Charles McGeary
CSEA Communications Associate
SYRACUSE — CSEA and county management
both thought they had eradicated "calendar
creep" recently after years of discussions and efforts to resolve the problems associated with the
system. But the county Legislature's ways and
means committee recently undercut those efforts when the committee voted to shelve the
modernized payment plan agreed to by county
management and the union.
'Calendar ereep' contributes
to an impasse in negotiations
SYRACUSE — The chief negotiator for CSEA Onondaga County Local 834 has declared an
impasse in contract negotiations with the county, citing the administration's "refusal to n^otiate
any type of monetary items until the ongoing payroll dispute has been resolved,"
Tom Pomidoro, CSEA Collective Bargaining Specialist, and chief negotiator for nearly 4,000
county employees, said, "The county negotiators leave us no recourse but to declare meaningful
bargaining at an impasse. The so called 'calendar creep' payroll issue was resolved, so we
understood, with an agreement by both sides. It took nearly two years to reach that agreement.
The county Ways & Means Committee then chose to ignore the agreement, and the Ml legislative
body passed the budget without allocating the funds that would have settled the issue once and for
all. Now, in their infinite wisdom, the county negotiators want to negotiate the payroll issue again.
Hopefully, the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) will get things back on track,"
Pomidoro explained.
Page 8
THE P U B L I C SECTOR, F r i d a y . O c t o b e f 19 1984
NO SITTER PROBLEM for Signe Nelson, an
Onondaga County Social Services employee. While
she gives a statement to reporter, daughter Amy
displays her graphic message "a la cart" to Onondaga County legislators.
Offieers issue reports
LAKE PLACID — The 74th Annual
D e l e g a t e s M e e t i n g of C S E A k i c k s off h e r e
Oct. 21 and continues through Oct. 2 6 at the
Lake Placid Olympic Center.
Traditionally t h e union's statevirlde a n d
regional officers Issue reports to the
delegates during t h e annual meeting. Those
r e p o r t s a r e r e p r o d u c e d I n t h i s I s s u e of T h e
Public Sector. T h e y begin here and continue
through p a g e 15.
r
October 21 - 2 6 . 1964
William L. McGowan
We face the future
with pride in our past
accomplishments
On October 24, 1985, CSEA will celebrate its
seventy-fifth anniversary. As we approach that
landmark, we can look with pride at years of
progress and achievement. We can also look
ahead to a future that contains both promise and
challenge.
From our founding in 1910, CSEA has worked
to improve the lives of our members and their families. Let's look back at some of those accomplishments.
In 1930, CSEA began working to abolish the
72-hour work week for the state's institutional employees. It took six years, but the union succeeded in ending this intolerable schedule.
In 1933, CSEA succeeded in establishing sick
leave for state workers.
In 1946, CSEA began organizing local government workers. Also, in that year, the union won
the five-day work week for state employees.
In 1955, CSEA lobbied successfully for the passage of a law closing county offices on Saturdays,
securing a five-day workweek for thousands of local government workers.
In 1967, the Taylor Law became effective
guaranteeing collective bargaining rights for New
York's public employees. Although there is inequity in the law, which we are fighting, this was a
major victory for CSEA and a protection that public employees in many states still do not enjoy.
In 1979, the CSEA Employee Benefit Fund went
into operation. In its five years of existence, the
EBF has provided greater benefits to CSEA mem-
bers, while reducing their out-of-pocket expenses
for dental work, vision care, prescription drugs,
and now personal legal services.
In 1980, CSEA secured an OSHA law for public
employees. In the years since, we have workejl
hard to improve and enforce the law to guarantee our members a safe workplace. We have succeeded in many areas saving lives and preventing
injury. But we will continue to work in this area
so that we can one day eliminate the tragic deaths
and injuries that occur on the job.
We have a proud heritage — seventy-five years
of progress — making life better for our members.
But, as we move forward, we will face new
challenges. 1985 could be a very difficult year for
all working Americans. With an unpredictable
economy, we will again be facing cutbacks in
government services. We will again have to take
our case to the people and demonstrate the service we provide.
1985 could be a tough year. With huge federal
budget deficits and high interest rates, the economy is unpredictable.
In state contract negotiations, we face a
management that has already set three and a half
percent as its target for a salary increase. We
have already begun the work of putting together
our demands, based on your input. These negotiations will be difficult but, working together, we
will secure a fair settlement.
In localities and school districts, the climate at
the bargaining table will be just as tough. Again,
it will take active membership involvement and
perseverance to negotiate good contracts.
There is also promise in the future. CSEA's Employee Assistance Program is already a model for
other states. This program has helped thousands
of our members with alcohol, dniyg, and family
problems. We are now working hard to make this
help available to every local government and
school district member.
CSEA has pioneered in the area of day care. We
have accomplished a great deal in this area, but
there is more to do. We will continue to work to
make day care available to working parents, both
in state and local governments.
In 1985, we will celebrate 75 years of progress.
Let's work hard, together, so that when another
generation celebrates a century of CSEA progress
they will be able to look back at these years with
pride.
'In 1985 we will celebrate 75 years of progress. Let's work hard, together,
so that when another generation celebrates a century of CSEA progress
they will be able to look back at these years with pride/
V
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday» O c t o b e r 19, 1984'
Page • 9
74th Annual Delegates
L A K E P L A C I D — T h e traditional Board of Directors
m e e t i n g S u n d a y a f t e r n o o n , O c t . 2 1 , wilt o p e n t h e 7 4 t h
A n n u a l D e l e g a t e s IMeeting of t h e Civil Service E m p l o y e e s
Association at t h e Lake Placid O l y m p i c Center.
By the t i m e t h e gavel falls o n Friday, Oct. 26, s o m e
1 , 5 0 0 d e l e g a t e s f r o m a r o u n d t h e s t a t e vi/ill h a v e v o t e d o n a
n u m b e r of c h a n g e s to t h e C S E A C o n s t i t u t i o n a n d By-Laws,
a n d a t t e n d e d a l a r g e variety of s e m i n a r s , w o r k s h o p s ,
forums a n d other informational meetings.
S o m e 3 0 g r o u p s a n d union p r o g r a m s will b e
r e p r e s e n t e d at t h e i n f o r m a t i o n t a b l e s set u p in t h e
O l y m p i c Center, a n d d e l e g a t e s will also have a c h a n c e to
participate in t h e P E O P L E R u n a r o u n d scenic Mirror L a k e
to h e l p r a i s e f u n d s for A F S C M E ' s political a c t i o n
organi2ation.
T h e educational s e m i n a r s will cover a w i d e r a n g e of
Interesting topics, ranging from how to organize your local
office to dealing w i t h anti-union tactics.
A s e s s i o n c a l l e d " C i v i l S e r v i c e L a w : i s s u e s for Local
G o v e r n m e n t " w i l l f o c u s o n t h e l a w a s it a p p l i e s t ö l o c a l
g o v e r n m e n t , w h a t s h o u l d b e d o n e in t h e e v e n t of violations
a n d issues w h i c h affect C S E A ' s local
government
m e m b e r s . ' T h o m a s P i l l s w o r t h of t h e Civil
Service
D e p a r t m e n t is t h e s c h e d u l e d s p e a k e r .
"Local Government Workers and the Federal Budget"
wilt i n c l u d e a d i s c u s s i o n of t h e n a t i o n a l e c o n o m y a n d t h e
e f f e c t s of b u d g e t c h a n g e s a n d t a x policies o n j o b s a n d
w a g e s at t h e local level. Mitchell Horowitz, A F S C M E public
policy specialist, a n d Kathy Albowicz, C S E A budget
examiner, are the presenters.
T h o m a s F. C u i t e of t h e state E m p l o y e e s R e t i r e m e n t
S y s t e m wilt l e a d t h e s e s s i o n of " E a r l y R e t i r e m e n t
Incentive — Impact o n Local Government M e m b e r s . "
C S E A Assistant Director of CommCinications M e l i n d a
Carr will t e a m u p with M a r s h a A n d e r s o n , assistant director
for c o m m u n i t y s e r v i c e s o f A F S C M E , in " I m p r o v i n g t h e Ima g e of t h e Union in Y o u r C o m m u n i t y : G o o d Neighb o r s / G o o d N e w s . " T h e y will took at h o w c o m m u n i t y action
SrATEWIDE EXECUTIVE VKE PRESIDENT'S REPORT
Paqe
11
•
THE PUBLiC SECTOR, F r i d a y ,
November
2,
1984
A n d for d e l e g a t e s w h o w o u l d l i k e t o p a r t i c i p a t e m o r e
fully a n d effectively in t h e w e e k l o n g m e e t i n g , t h e r e will b e
two training sessions o n "Parliamentary Procedure," o n e
led by Celeste Rosenkranz, certified parliamentarian, a n d
the other by Shirley Reeder, N e w York State education
c o o r d i n a t o r for A F S C M E .
Irene Carr
Power hungry individuals
attocic union wilii false claims
ly after the other statewide officers had proof
that Ray was the driving force behind The Free
Press did he admit to it and begin putting his
name on the publication.
Let's look at how THE BIG LIE works. Ray
repeatedly makes allegations of corruption in
the awarding of the prescription drug contract
by the Employee Benefit Fund. He lists Trustees
who voted for the contract, including Trustees
who missed that meeting and never voted on the
issue. Interestingly, he also omits the fact that as
a Trustee he voted for awarding the contract.
Ray also omits the fact that this contract has
produced considerable cost-savings and better
service. He also neglects to point out that his
allegations have been investigated by two internal committees and outside authorities and no
one has found any evidence of wrongdoing. But
that's how THE BIG LIE works, keep making
charges, even though they have no basis in fact.
Another interesting coincidence. Although
Ray's scandal sheet solicits money from
members saying that the committee will not endorse candidates for union office, it appeared at
the start of his unsuccessful campaign for reelection as Regional President. Perhaps Ray,
who rarely found his way to the regional office,
wanted people to focus on issues o^er than his
record. Ray's paper was silent after the regional
elections until he started campaigning against
Bill McGowan for President.
You might ask, why doesn't the Union refute
every charge? CSEA attempted to publish the
report of a committee of the Board of Directors
that was formed in April to investigate Ray's
charges. The U.S. Department of Labor refused
to allow your union newspaper. The Public Sector, to publish this report because Ray was a candidate for union office. We were prohibited from
telling you that his statements, "were found to be
totally without basis in fact" by a non-partisan
committee.
H u m p h r e y D o n o h u e of t h e A F L - C I O will l e a d a s e m i n a r
entitled "Anti-Union Tactics: W h a t They Are, W h a t W e
C a n D o , " a n exploration of tactics u s e d to u n d e r m i n e ,
Htfiscredit a n d break unions a r o u n d t h e country today, a n d
how unions c a n counter 4hese tactics.
In " H e a l t h C a r e C o s t C o n t a i n m e n t , " C S E A Director of
Insurance Timothy
IMullens will discuss
recent
d e v e l o p m e n t s in m e a s u r e s to c o n t a i n rising h e a l t h costs,
a n d f o c u s o n s t r a t e g i e s for h e a l t h i n s u r a n c e n e g o t i a t i o n s .
A t t o r n e y R i c h a r d L. B u r s t e i n a n d s t a t e w i d e T r e a s u r e r
Barbara Fauser will present t h e seminar o n " G e t t i n g Your
C o n s t i t u t i o n to W o r k for Y o u : C r e a t i n g E f f e c t i v e B y - L a w s . "
CSEA Education and Training Specialist Sean Turley
will a d d r e s s t h e topic, " M a k i n g t h e Difference: Strategies
0 o r Successful C h a n g e . " H e will focus o n w h y most efforts
at c h a n g e fail a n d d e v e l o p s t r a t e g i e s t o better e n s u r e t h e
s u c c e s s of c h a n g e efforts.
i n " P r i v a t e S e c t o r L a b o r L a w — H o w it A f f e c t s U s A s
O f f i c e r s , " A t t o r n e y W i l l i a m M . W a l i e n s will look at t h e
Labor/Management Reporting a n d Disclosure Act and
o t h e r private sector l a w s w h i c h a f f e c t t h e o p e r a t i o n of
CSEA.
C S E A E d u c a t i o n a n d T r a i n i n g Specialist A n n e E.
R o k e a c h will talk o n " l e a k i n g C o m m i t t e e M e e t i n g s W o r k . "
For t h o s e looking for n e w w a y s to better o r g a n i z e their
local's office to handle increasing paperwork a n d other
union business, C S E A Education a n d Training Specialist
P e g W i l s o n will p r e s e n t " O u t of C h a o s . . . Establishing
the Local Union O f f i c e . "
SfATEHnDE SECRnARY'S REPORf
Joseph E. McDermolf
THE BIG LIE...It's a technique politicians
use when they don't have any real issues. It can
be very convincing, but also very destructive.
The NAZI'S used it to convince millions of people that their horror was really acceptable public
policy.
Senator Joe McCarthy used it to convince most
of America that there were red agents hiding
under every desk in government during the
1950's. McCarthy became so effective with THE
BIG LIE that even the President was afraid to
speak out against him.
How does THE BIG LIE work? First, you tell a
lie that is so far from the truth that there is no effective answer to it. Then you add a few
misrepresentations of the facts, a few facts that
are completely out of context and throw in a little
innuendo.
Most important, make sure your BIG LIE
trades on people's fear, frustration and
prejudice.
In recent months our Union has been the target
of a BIG LIE campaign. Ever since CSEA President Bill McGowan charged Ray O'Connor's
buddy George Caloumeno with stealing union
funds and the Union's Judicial Board found him
guilty, Ray has been perfecting THE BIG LIE
against CSEA.
First, it wasn't stealing, then the Judicial process was imperfect, then fixed, then controlled.
Ray never mentioned that the majority of the
Judicial Board is appointed by the Regional
Presidents, not McGowan. Nor did he mention
that the charges against Caloumeno were upheld
by the Board of Directors, more than 100
representatives elected directly by the
membership.
Next came a newsletter called The Free Press.
The first edition carrying screaming headlines
and a host of inaccuracies about CSEA, was
anonymous. None of the people putting out this
trash had the courage to identify themselves. On-
c a n benellt a iocai, h o w m e m b e r s c a n get involved a n d
h o w to work w i t h t h e m e d i a to e n h a n c e t h e i m a g e of t h e
union and public employees.
We continue to move forward
on a vast array of issues
This is a report to you on my second year as a
full-time Officer, and a review of my activities in
representing you the membership on a day by day
basis. My philosophy over the years has been that
I am not elected by you on a Statewide basis just
to take minutes and be the "custodian of the official papers" as defined in the Constitution and
By-Laws.
At the same time Ronald Reagan's Labor
Department told McGowan he couldn't personally talk to members during the election campaign! So much for government fairness!
The real story behind this BIG LIE campaign
is complicated and interesting. It involves N.Y.
City's Victor Gotbaum and his frustrated attempts to take over control of AFSCME.
THE BIG LIE campaign will probably continue because it provides fodder for newspapers'
like the N.Y. Post and Village Voicelt helps some
power-seekers in their attempts to decertify
CSEA. And management enjoys and takes advantage of the Union focused on internal
dissension.
When Henny Penny ran around crying ''The
sky is falling, the s ^ is falling" most of the
animals rushed for cover instead of looking up to
see the truth. That is the reaction needed to
make THE BIG LIE work.
If nothing else has transpired from this long
unfolding saga, it has caused me and others to
become more vigilant in guarding our Union
from the grasping hands of power hungry individuals who would use the Union to destroy its
true purpose, the representation of public
employees. Individuals who hope to grasp power
through blatant misrepresentation of the facts,
purveyors of THE BIG LIE, are not what you or I
want or need for Union leadership.
union, the highlights of the actions of the Board
of Directors are published in The Public Sector.
Recommendations have been made by me to the
Constitution & By-Laws Committee concerning
resolutions which are brought to the Annual
Delegates Meeting under "new business." There
is a need for such resolutions to be reviewed by
the delegates prior to the convention; I ask for
I continue to function as advisor to the Creden- your support when these are brought out by the
tials Conunittee and the Convention Motions Com- Constitution & By-Laws Conmiittee.
mittee. With the advent of expansion of our
For your information following is a record of atcomputer services, credentials will be processed
more quickly. This will put as little burden as pos- tendance at the Annual Delegates meeting in 1983:
sible on the Local Presidents since I am well
Region I
94%
a^are of their many responsibilities.
Region n
95%
Region HI
.93%
Thanks to the efficiency of Mrs. Bemie Rouse,
Region IV
87%
the Supervisor of the Stenographic Services,
Region
V
82.5%
microfilming of the records is ongoing in a very
Region VI
78%
organized manner.
The Local Government membership introduced
The union continues forward on the issue of pay
equity; progress is now being made in the train- a motion which was carried by the Board of Direcing of a CSEA staff task force to address, when tors mandatmg that a policy manual be provided
requested by the membership, pay equity evalu- for Local Presidents. Two excellent interns, Ms.
Kelly Condron and Mr. Patrick Higgins, worked
ations in Local Government.
with me during the summer months on this task,
The moving force of technology and how it af- and we have for review the first draft of such a
fects CSEA members continues to be of concern manual. It is recognized that although Local
to me. We failed in passage of VDT legislation this Presidents have many guidelines, there are ceryear but CSEA is addresing the concerns of the tain policies put into place by the President of the
workers through other methods. 1 attended an union, and by the Board of Directors which are not
AFL-CIO conference on technology and was able mcluded in the basic handbooks provided to the
to provide the Research Department with materi- local officers.
al that can be used in negotiations and for semiOne year after local and unit elections we are
nars. The Word Processing Training Center,
still
attempting to obtain more complete informaopened with contractual funds, is a progressive
tion
on unit election results.
step. Hopefully such a training center can be expanded to other areas of the State.
By the date of the Delegates Meeting the new
In my continuing efforts to keep the member- expanded CSEA computer system should be in
ship informed as to what is happening within the place and I look forward to utilizing the system
to provide more efficient processing of motions,
and our methods of record keeping.
It is always most gratifying to me to be asked
to speak of the accomplishments of CSEA. I continue to serve in many capacities as a Statewide
Officer to best serve membership. Most recently
I was appointed by President McGowan to the
Daycare Advisory Committee.
The next few weeks will teU much about the future of our country. There is no better place than
your union to learn the truth about the political
system and what it means to the future of you and
your family.
READ
Your
Union
Publications
REGISTER
To
Vote
REMIND
Your
Friends
And .
Co-Workers
I can never complete a report from CSEA
without conmiending the staff of this union. A
most special person is my Assistant, Mrs. Sheryl
Bolton, who is also Secretary to the Judicial
Board.
Labor's strength is special. Let us not forget
that and always strive wherever we can to overcome the anti-union prejudices.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, F r i d a y ,
November
2,
1984
P a g e 11
STATEWIDE TREASURER'S REPORT
Barbara M. Fauser
fYear's administrative efforts
range from training to audits
We have also begun the process of acquiring a
new building for our headquarters. This will allow the consolidation of several offices that are
presently leased. Our current headquarters building, as I am sure many of you know, is extremely
overcrowded and no longer an efficient atmosphere in which to work. The new building, located on Washington Ave., will provide necessary
space, has the right location and adequate parking. We anticipate a move early next year. I for
one am looking forward to relocating from my
present 10' by 10' office.
Another interesting project that is being pur- $143.40 from the currenr$136.20. The per capita
sued is the upgrading of our in-house computer payment to AFSCME will increase to $49.20 from
capabilities. A new system is being acquired that the current $46.80. This will mean a bi-weekly dues
will provide the latest enhancements in the indus- deduction increase of $.28, or 5.45% over the curtry. Word processing capabilities will be upgrad- rent rate. In conclusion, I wish to thank the staff
ed. New projects in the area of research, such as in the offices of the Treasurer, Comptroller, Memwage survey and budget analysis, will be accom- bership Records, Data Processing and the Print
Shop for their valuable assistance and dedication
plished on the new equipment.
My efforts in assisting locals and units with
I will also take this opportunity to inform you during the past year in carrying out their various
financial administration have been fruitful. Treas- of the dues increase that will be effective Janu- assignments, sharing the workload due to vacanurers' training has continued through the year ary 1, 1985. As you know, we are mandated to cies, and meeting deadlines. I also wish to thank
and, since the last local elections, the number of adopt the AFSCME minimum dues structure the personnel in the Steno Pool for furnishing us
individuals trained by my office is over 600. This which changes every year as a result of a survey with the updated Local President and Treasurer's
training includes a complete review of the "Finan- in wage increases in tiie public sector. The mini- listing more frequently as well as providing stenocial Standards Code," including the new section mum dues will increase to an annual rate of graphic services.
on audit committees added at my insistence. The
results of the efforts in this area are becoming eviGENERAL FUND STATEMENT OF INCOME & EXPENSES
dent. For the past fiscal year, over 280 locals out
of 331 have filed the required annual financial
FOR THE M O N T H ENDING AUGUST 3 1 , 1 9 8 4
statement and accompanying report of the Audit
AUGUST
YEAR-TO-DATE
BUDGET
Committee. I have pursued all outstanding reports
ACTUAL
BUDGET
ACTUAL
1984
BALANCE
through the Regional Offices. I will continue to
INCOME
;
strive for 100 percent compliance with constituMembership
Dues
$1 ,549}969
$2,107,083
$23,853,398
$25,285,000
$1,431,602
tional mandates.
Agency Shop Fees
246,295
202,000
2,060,966
2,424,000
363,034
The audit section has also provided assistance
AFSCME Grant
58,333
70,833
791,663
850,000
58,337
»
Group Life
in the area of local reporting. Approximately 10
31,250
31,250
343,750
375,000
31,250
Investment
159,348
125,000
1,600,461
1,500,000
(100,461)
percent of all locals were audited on a random baMiscellaneous
8,372
5,417
64,786
65,000
214
sis in the past year. Constructive reports were preTOTAL
$2
,053,567
$2,541,583
$28,715,024
,$30,499,000
$1,783,976
pared in all cases to provide local officials with
instruction on fulfilling their fiduciary responsibility. I cannot stress enough the importance of
EXPENSES
good record keeping at the local level. The annuPolitical Action
$
71,167
$
65,117
$
736,958
$
781,400
$
44,442
Per Capita Tax
830,269
al rebates to locals now exceeds $4 million. Proper
805,592
8,854,477
9,667,100
•812,623
Dues
Rebate
242,145
379,375
4,241,435
4,552,500
311,065
controls must be in place to protect your dues.
Personal Services Sal. 430,836
474,740
5,048,480
5,696,875
648,395
Another area of concern at the local level was
Personal Services
Ben. 153,816
173,713
1,778,704
305,847
2,084,551insurance coverage. Changes have been made in
Region S Sat.
Offices
70,431
67,214
660,010
806,568
146,558
Legal
167,475
180,167
2,013,633
2,162,000
148,367
the past year to include locals in the personal inProfessional
Services
20,213
8,675
92,868
104,100
11,232
jury coverage carried by CSEA, Inc. In addition,
Tra vel
98,258
81,517
978,200
826,627
151,573
a very attractive general liability plan was providGeneral
Operating
15,002
16,817
189,843
201,800
11,957
Data
Processing
23,754
34,583
352,049
62,951
415,000
ed to locals at a minimal premium. This has
Printing
3,082
9,225
65,121
110,700
45,579
produced considerable savings over premiums
Telephone S Postage
32,074
34,425
347,590
413,100
65,510
paid by locals for separate policies and provided
Equipment
850
2,917
36,439
35,000
(1 ,439)
coverage to many locals who had no coverage at
Building
Maintenance
17,867
13,934
181,779
32,621
214,400
Officers, Dir., Com.
189,906
103,858
149,907
1,096,393
1,246,300
aU.
Publication
80,028
67,583
811,000
83,411
727,589
The staff in the Treasurer's Office has been inDelegate
Meetings
415
15,000
8,034
171,966
180,000
volved in many other administrative projects. A
115,818
Workshops
3,773
8,846
(9,668)
106,150
Region
Rebates
4,479
4,481
4,479
49,269
53,750
new separations system to properly reflect the colRegion
Education
919
2,500
10,579
19,421
30,000
lection of dues and insurance premiums from
Communication^
2,932
39,167
49,579
420,421
470,000
members in the political subdivisions has been inMembership
Campaign
132
2,500
3,557
30,000
26,443
Organizational
6,877
158,451
20,833
91,549
250,000
stalled. Refinements have been made to the rebate
Representation
Elections
7,439
2,083
25,000
(24,230)
49,230
system for political action fund contributions. A
•
Internal
Elections
617
(13,042)
12,833
154,000
167,042
purchasing department has been created and we
AFSCME
Convention
12,270
125,000
(40,704)
10,417
165,704
anticipate savings in the areas of supplies and
Kegotiat ions
100,000
22,989
12,856
8,333
77,011
14,148
Miscellaneous
1,787 •
4,583
40,852
55,000
services. All of these have been accomplished in
Transfer/Plant
Fund
3,750
3,750
3,750
41,250
45,000
an atmosphere of ever increasing reporting
16,250
178,750
195,000
Transfer/Contingency
Fund 16,250
16;250
responsibilities. We must now file a detailed report
$32,099,494
$3,257,659
$28,841,835
TOTAL
$2,517,736
$2,674,959
with the U.S. Department of Labor and, in the past
year, filed four years' reports retroactively. A
CONTRIBUTION
(CHARGE)
report to the New York Temporary State Commis($1,473,683)
TO SURPLUS
$ (464,169)
$(1,600,494)
$
(126,811)
S (133,376)
sion on Lobbying is another recently mandated filing obligation.
y
TT
TT
This report provides me with the opportunity to
bring you up-toKiate on a wide variety of topics
that relate to the administration of our union.
The first item is a report on income and expenditures compared to budget for the month of August and the eleven months then ended. This
report is attached for your reference. The statement reflects a year-to-date deficit of $126,811.
This is considerably under original estimates.
Note that the revised budget projected a deficit
of $1,600,000. Expenditures did not rise to the level originally anticipated and income remained
constant, thus, we closed the fiscal year at September 30 in much better shape than originally
projected. The independent accountants are currently reviewing our records and the financial
statements will be published in The Public Sector
when this work and the work of our Audit Committee is completed.
Page
12
THE PUBLIC S E C T O R , F r i d a y , O c t o b e r 19, 1984
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
LONG ISLAND REGION I / Danny
Donohue
Standing together gives us strengtii
Every CSEA member on Long Island saw the
importance of standing together during the past
year. Repeatedly, individual members were faced
with unfair working conditions, safety and health
problems, layoffs and tough negotiations. The answer for every member was to stand together with
fellow members against management.
Our strength is the power of numbers. People
linked together to solve problems and overcome
difficulty. The problems we face grow constantly. The answers to those problems are always
based on standing together.
We have pitted the combined strength of CSEA
and AFSCME against Nassau County in the battle over pay equity. CSEA/AFSCME charged Nassau County with discriminating against workers
in traditionally female jobs by paying them less
than workers in traditionally male jobs requiring
equal skill, effort and responsibility.
In Suffolk County and Nassau County, we successfully lobbied for the early retirement option.
It will be implemented in the last three months of
1984 in Suffolk, allowing workers 55 years old to
retire with three additional years of service credit.
CSEA was the driving force getting the state legislature to create the option so it could be implemented in Suffolk County and other local
governments. The early retirement incentive
helps fight layoffs in Suffolk. Every worker who
retires saves another worker from being laid off.
CSEA members in Smithtown and Suffolk
County's Department of Social Services' Babylon
Center closed ranks to fight safety and health
problems.
LPN's from the mental hygiene facilities on
Long Island have gathered to provide input for
CSEA demands in negotiations with the state.
CSEA members in towns, villages and school
districts have been successful in dealing with takeback minded managements. Drawing on the union's research and budget analysis capability, we
have been able to back up our demands.
I am proud to say membership on Long Island
I
has been eager to take advantage of CSEA's effective training. Programs on GSEA resources,
new officer and treasurer training can only make
CSEA a stronger union. Shop steward training has
become the key in building a strong union that
stands up to management and enforces contracts.
The interest and active participation of members
means we will be ready to face the demands on
organized labor in the future.
CSEA gets stronger every time a member gets
active and works in the interest of other members.
CSEA members are the union. The stren^h of the
rank and file insures the future of our union. I will
be happy when every member takes responsibility for Ws or her union and becomes active in shaping it.
PRESIDEMrS REPORT
George
REGION
11/
METROPOLHAN
Boncoraglio
We must re-examine tiie system
For years, politically involved rank and file workers have wondered if there is any hope for the
public sector. Many tend to feel overcome by a
tremendous bureaucratic system and organization that often leaves them feeling hopeless and
unnoticed. Decisions that affect our members are
made 600 miles away in tall skyscrapers. Programs are designed and evaluated by administrators who are physically divorced from the
workplace. Written policies come down in the
form of impressive memos and policy statements.'
So it is that many wonder if there is any hope for
a system that has become so bureaucratic and inefficient.
Other governments have encountered similar
problems and feelings many years before Americans began to do so. In fact, many European and
Japanese companies have concluded that such impersonal systems of organization led to low
productivity and poor staff morale. For this reason they have attempted to change from a rather
bureaucratic approach to a new approach in
which workers' participation is an important
element.
For example, in Japan, workers, supervisors
and management meet in "Quality Control Circles" in order to discuss ways of improving*
productivity and eliminating waste. Problems of
productivity and performance are discussed in detail. The result is more communication between
labor and management and in most cases, a better understanding of each other's goals and interests.
In West Germany, supervisors and workers
meet in "Worker's Councils" in order to discuss
the production process and organizing of the workplace, corporate policies and job performance and
worker's investment opportunities.
Many contract issues are dealt with before physical contract negotiations begin. Supervisors are
encouraged to speak openly with the workers in
order to better understandtiieproblems confronting line staff workers. The flow of information between workers and management tends to reduce
the tension between the two, as well as lead to program designs that are realistic and more efficient.
Another modern feature is that of codetermination. This is when Union officials are
chosen to sit on management and supervisory
boards. Union officials become better educated in
management policies and planning and in many
instances, can influence it or change it. In the long
run, this helps to solve minor problems when they
arise, and leads to a better working relationship
between the Union and management.
In these countries assessment sheets have
•proven that this style of management leads to improved productivity and worker morale.
In the past few years the State of New York and
CSEA have implemented similar programs entitled "Quality of Work Life." The conclusive evidence on the success of these programs has yet
to be published. At the same time during these last
few years. State workers have been confronted
with layoffs, cutbacks and concessions. An unstable American economy brings reduction in State
services. In fact, many have begun to discuss
reducing the role of the public sector in this
economy.
We, in Region II, feel that this is a wrong approach to our problems. We think that if the public sector is going to survive the present crisis and
possibly flourish, then a serious look must be
taken at the present decision-making process, organization of the workplace, and labor/management relations.
A better relationship between labor and
management will have to be formed. Both must
come to realize that the present system of managing has failed and that new approaches must be
implemented. A lesson can be learned from our
brothers and sisters in other countries. Some of
the features of their systems can be incorporated
into ours. With proper reorganization, the public
sector can provide effective and reliable services
for the millions of citizens who rely upon it.
After all, why shouldn't we provide the best possible services for the citizens of the State of New
York? Don't we deserve it?
The 1980's and 1990's will be characterized by
the impact of state of the art technology on every
workplace. Well thought-out preparation and
training must be provided to avoid layoffs. Furthermore, the problems of our State and every
other, will be compounded by the aging of the
baby-boom population who will be placing heavy
additional demands upon the public sector for
services. In realistic terms, we don't have a long
period of time to develop practical and workable
solutions to these challenges facing the public sector and its employees. They are happening right
now!
More than ever before, we need to be unified in
order to work through the problems we face. We,
in Region II, being unified by a common bond, and
working closely with our sisters and brothers
across the State, can and must organize to make
this system work.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, F r i d a y , O c t o b e r 19, 1984
y".
.
K '
I' > ,
Page
13
PRESIDENT'S RBKIRT
SOUTHERN REGION
PatMascioli
We can figkl 'spiritual poverty'
witii education and training
During the daily life of a public employee,
whether it be in state or local government, he or
she tolerates a special kind of violence — it is
called "Poverty of Survival" and it is constant
within our daily workday and structure. Our members who serve communities on every level endure
the pressures of continually justifying their entitlements as employees. They fight to protect the
benefits that are rightfully theirs, won through
years of negotiations. These were received in lieu
of financial compensation.
Although we are sometimes classified as second
class citizens, we maintain our dignity by the
knowledge of our contribution to söciety. Contributions such as the operation and nursing care
given to the many within our hospitals and institutions, maintenance and operation of our network
of roads and canals, of our schools and universities, of our parks and forests, of our water and
sanitary systems. We are responsible for the continuing flow of services and correspondence in our
state and county agencies, the operation of our
correctional facilities and on and on.
Even while we are doing all the preceding, we
must continue to justify our reasonable requests
for a decent pay level. We are questioned when
asking for a safe and decent work site. What
should be clear cut promotional opportunities
within our Civil Service system is too often coupled
with discrimination and political interference.
These are but a few aspects of the "spiritual
poverty" that our members must tolerate within
our civil service structure.
Knowing the problems, we can set goals to correct them. I plan through region participation,
utilizing the knowledge of our union and leadership to chart a course we must take during the
coming year. Then, training programs will be ongoing and will educate our members and leadership. This education process will allow us to know
the needs of our members. Seminars will be held
on:
• The art and skills of negotiations. Together
with CSEA's and AFSCME's research departments, give us the tools for leverage at the bargaining tables.
• Continuing our education with our leadership,
shop stewards and members on the contracts
negotiated and enforcement of same.
• Grievance training is a must, for it is here our
membership is most vulnerable and unprotected.
• Knowing our OSHA laws and requirements
enables us to police our work site.
• Education in the Political Arena. We realize
more and more that politics control our destinies
and we need to be sophisticated in the voting
process and elect those who know our true worth
to society.
• Programs and Committees, together, can apply pressure for comparable worth within our
structure.
This is the poverty that our union continually
struggles against. It is violent and seeks to destroy us. The will of the membership, its
knowledgeable leaders and the resources of our
union can defeat it. With the assistance from the
staff and elected officers, I am prepared to obtain
the necessary training for Region III.
With your involvement, I promise a course of
dedication in education. When all is accomplished,
we can put to rest this violence which plagues us.
y
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
CAPITAL REGION I V / c. Allen
r
Mead
Commitment and detemiination
are lite iceys to our success
Welcome, officers, delegates, guests and friends
to one of the best known areas of the Capital
Region, Lake Placid. The officers and members
of our Region extend our sincere wishes for an enjoyable experience during your attendance at the
74th Annual Delegate Meeting.
This Village, Lake Placid, while known throughout the world for hosting the Olympic Games, may
also be viewed as a microcosm of CSEA. In our
report to the last Delegate Meeting, our message
was to assure our members that ciSEA does not
and will not run from the most difficult of
challenges. The Capital Region, during this past
year, has continued to convey this message
through the tenacity of many. After months of delicate negotiations, frustrations, disappointments
and doubts, CSEA succeeded in securing a fair
and equitable collective bargaining agreement for
our members in Lake Placid. Our representatives
withstood the doubts and frustrations because
they believed, and ultimately succeeded, in having their concerns resolved.
Page^ '14
4
Recently, our members in the Saratoga County
Sheriff's Department also successfuUy secured an perhaps, carried underestimated, but not undeteragreement. A contract settlement is, of course, not mined groups to success in this very village, this
unique. The point I believe that is worth convey- tenacity must be renewed still again. We can no
ing to you is that we believe we have witnessed a
longer stoically mire as a labor movement in
strengthening of our members' commitment. Our
defending our members', jobs from cutbacks,
Sheriff's Unit leaders and members, likewise,
layoffs and contracting out. Let us accept the
withstood months of procrastination by an adchallenge to much more aggressively propose and
ministration attempting to exhaust every adminis- secure meaningful opportunities for our members.
trative and judicial process in an effort to conduct Our future cannot be fulfilled simply by the equitathese negotiations in an "open forum." Through • ble resolution of comparable worth-pay equity isthe determination of our members, CSEA ultimate- sues. We should look further than securing
ly succeeded in bringing the negotiations back to
economic recognition. We must prevail in arguthe respective parties. Once productive negotiaing that the public benefit, which we do indeed
tions were commenced, the patience and support
serve, will be enhanced by the provision of career
of our members resulted in their concerns being
opportunities with growing participatory responresolved.
sibilities for our members. If we apply the ingenuity and commitment of our own membership, we
will not sacrifice the legacy of our sisters and
This commitment cannot be exhausted reveling
brothers before us and allow for the creation of
in having overcome yesterday's challenges. Our
energies must now be directed to the challenges a computer age labor dilemma "the electronic
sweatshop."
in many new arenas. Just as a certain spirit has.
THE PUBtIC SECTOR, Friday, October 19,->984
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
CENTRAL REGION V / J/m Moore
Become involved in the Union
you can maice a difference
"CSEA began as an organization whose chief purpose was to sell low-cost group life insurance to
state employees, most of whom wanted no affiliation with a labor union."
J. Goulden
LABOR'iS LAST ANGRY MAN
I am sure that description accurately portrays the feelings of those who first gathered
together to initiate our Union.
Today, as we near our 75th anniversary, our
goals and the services we provide our members
have changed a great deal.
• Our staff and elected leadership in Onondaga County are nearing agreement on a pay
dispute that will provide members with several million dollars of back pay.
• Our lawyers are actively representing
members and officers in disputes from improper practices to Article 78 and Section 33
Disciplinary caseä.
• Over 300 union activists recently attended
a statewide women's conference where discussions took place on issues such as the ERA and
comparable worth.
• A union organizer is meeting with new employees, attempting to convince them of the
strength there is to be found in unity through
union membership.
• A truck loaded with aged and dangerous
asbestos is pulling away from an elementary
school, largely through the efforts of a union
steward who attended a safety workshop.
• A child sits playing in a CSEA/State sponsored Day Care Center while the parent works
nearby, confident that all efforts have been
taken to create a safe and stimulating environment.
• A retired public employee is reading about
the new increase recently passed in pension
benefits as a result of a productive legislative
year for CSEA.
• Local government negotiating teams aremeeting with management representatives to
secure a new contract for local members.
• A CSEA trained steward is sitting confidently across from a management employee,
arguing the merits of a grievance brought by
a frustrated and angry employee.
• A regional political action committee is
meeting to consider making candidate endorsements, not on partisan politics, but on the
merits of what each individual had done, or will
do, for CSEA members.
• A paid staff member, or a local officer, is
answering a phone in over 2,000 locations, assisting our members with questions ranging
from worker's compensation to insurance
problems.
• A group of members are attending a CSEA
sponsored training program on negotiations, or
on labor-management principles, or, perhaps,
on retirement counseling.
• A CSEA Officer is addressing a public
hearing regarding the implementation of an imposed contract affecting 14 Village employees.
• A 'regional membership committee is
meeting to discuss how best to get the word out
to employees we represent that our ability to
secure a better contract is directly related to
the percent of members in any given Local.
• Trustees of our statewide benefit fund are
discussing how we can offer better prescription,
dental, vision or legal benefits to more members throughout the state.
• And on, and on, and on . . . .
I, for one, am so sick and tired of the gloom
and doom crowd who continually knock CSEA
and everytiiing we try to do. I am not referring
to those who have or would make constructive
5
criticism. I, perhaps more than many others,
have been very verbal about changes that I
would like to see within our Union. I have tried,
however, to bring about these changes internally at meetings and conventions, as opposed to
through the Village Voice, or other external vehicles that only use us to their own ends.
I am appealing to any member throughout
the state to become involved within your Unit
or Local or Region. YOU really can make a
difference. CSEA offers so much to people that
is underutilized.
There is so much we can accomplish if only
we took our Union more seriously.
• City councilmen and legislative leaders
who hear no opposition are more prone to
contract-out work and propose inadequate
wage increases.
• Employees die or are injured due to unsafe
working conditions when employees do not
learn of the laws that exist to protect them.
• Contract language remains unread where
no one comes forth to be trained as a union
steward.
• Contracting-out of our jobs occurs when
employees fail to support their elected union
representative.
Take time to thank your local officers for efforts they give on your behalf. Speaking from
personal experience, all the missed meals on
holidays, and the thousand of hours spent on the
phone can, at least, be justified if YOU were to
really care about yourself and your fellow
workers.
Don't make the mistake of asking "What did
you do for me today?" Instead, try, "What can
WE accomplish together tomorrow?
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
WESTERN REGION
hoben
laWmer
Gel out and cast your vote!
On November 6th vote as if
your job depends on the 6
outcome of the election because
it well may! Vote Mondale-Ferraro.
THEPUBUC SECTOR, Friday, October <9, 1984
Page 15
CSEA's Alex Gromack finds politics
and unionism a potent mixlure
By Anita Manley
CSEA Commumcations Associate
NEW CITY — Alex Gromack, the Majority
Leader of the Rockland County Legislature, has
this advice for CSEA members: Get involved in
politics.
Gromack speaks with a broad perspective on
the matter. A senior recreation leader for the town
of Clarkstown, he's been a CSEA member since
1976, as weU as a shop steward for the Qarkstown
unit of Rockland County Local 844. He says that
union members can have a positive effect in local politics.
"Many of these people have good ideas on how
to improve government. There's no better way to
be heard," he says.
Alex Gromack
A Rockland County resident for most of his life,
the young legislator began his political career by
helping his parents, who were actively involved
in local Democratic politics, on various campaigns. Later he joined the Clarkstown Democratic Committee, serving on the Executive Board and
working on a number of campaigns before deciding "it was time" to run for the Legislature.
"I had a lot of support," he said, "but I had no
illusions about changing the system overnight. I
consider myself hard working and honest and I
knew I'd have to spend a tremendous amount of
time as a legislator."
Although Gromack is a newcomer to the Rockland Legislature, the highly respected freshman
politician was elected majority leader by his peers
this year.
He says his membership in CSEA has helped his
political career.
"I'm aware of how the relationship between
government and its employees should be. The
governing body has to listen to employees and give
them the respect they deserve. You have to be
able to communicate with unions. If you have the
rapport, you- can more easily resolve your
differences."
Political support by CSEA last year was very
important to his election. "The endorsement by
CSEA was a big morale boost to my campaign,"
Gromack said. "It gave me a tremendous amount
of credibility. In addition, there are the votes —
it's nice to have that extra push." Gromack also
noted that CSEA members' help in mailings and
on phone banks "was nice to have. I'm very appreciative."
Asked if he has advice for anyone interested in
running for a political office, Gromack cautions
that politics is a full-time job. "If you're not prepared to give a lot of yourself, don't run," he
I'm aware of how the relationship between government
and
its employees should be. The
governing body has to listen to
employees and give them the
respect they deserve. You have
to be able to communicate
with
unions. If you have the rapport,
you can more easily
resolve
your differences.
^
says. "You have to commit yourself to spending
a lot of time away from home."
Gromack also advises aspiring politicians to get
involved in local campaigns, work with local committees and attend meetings. Most important, he
says, "be realistic about your base of support in
the community. If you have these ingredients, you
can seriously consider running for office."
Commenting on Gromack's 1983 election, Rockland County Local President Frank Bosco said,
"This campaign was a perfect example of the political action process of CSEA at a local level. The
election was close and Alex defeated an incumbent. The impact of CSEA's endorsement is
evident."
Clarkstown Unit President Lee Pound said,
"Alex has been very supportive in union matters.
As a shop steward, I find him to be interested, dependable and an asset to the union."
We are a political and economic force'
Letchworth voter registration drive begun
THIELLS - Letchworth Local 412 CSEA and
PEF members joined together recently to kick off
a voter registration drive in the facility.
"This is the first time the two unions have come
together for this type of effort," says Sarah Jackson, chairwoman of the facility's Human Relations Committee, who also serves on the CSEA
Local 412 Political Action Conmiittee.
Addressing the Letchworth employees earlier
this month, Sen. Linda Winikow of Rockland
County emphasized that political clout can only
be achieved by voting. "You, as state employees,
have to have an open channel, a voice," she said.
"You can be more influential if you vote. The people power in this institution is terrific.
"Leave no stone unturned," she urged the committee members. "Get out into the community
and meet everyone face to face."
"It is essential to register to vote," added Letchworth Associate Director Norman Szymanski. "A
singular vote can be a deciding factor in an election. I applaud your efforts. With over 3,000 people employed here, we are a political and
economical force in this community."
Facility Director Albert Robidoux, lauding the
committee for their efforts, commented, "If you
want to see change, you must be politically
active."
According to those involved, the objective of the
drive is to register everyone, and registration
forms will be made available to all employees.
Page 16
YOU CAN BE INFLUENTIAL - State Sen. Linda Winikow, second from left, holds up "Vote" sign
after helping to kick off a voter registration drive at Letchworth ViUage Developmental Center recently. With Winikow are, from left, Ron Roberts of PEF, Letchworth Director Albert Robidoux, Associate Director Norman Szymanski and Linda Jackson, a member of the CSEA Local 412 Political
Action Conmiittee and chairwoman of the Letchworth Human Relations Committee.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR. Friday, October 19, 1984
The following CSEA-endorsed candidates
deserve your vote November 6
Vote for these candidates for state Assembly
CSEA ASSEMBLY
DISTRICT
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
NAME
PARTY
CSEA ASSEMBLY
DISTRICT
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
Joseph Sawicki. Jr.
R
John L. Behan
R-C
I. William Bianchi Jr.
D
No Endorsement
Paul Harenberg
D
Robert C. Wertz
R-C
Thomas F. Barraga R-C-RTL
John C. Cochrane
R
John J. Flanagan
R
Toni Rettaliata
R-C
No Endorsement
Philip B. Healey
R-C
Lewis J. Yevoli
D
Frederick E. Parola Jr. R-C
Angelo F. Orazio
D-L
May W. Newburger
D-L
Kemp Hannon
R-C
Barl^a Patton
D-L
Armand P. D'Amato
R-C
Arthur J. Kremer
D-L
Gregory R. Becker
R-C
George H. Madison
R-C
Gerdi E. Lipschutz
D
D-L
Saul Weprin
John F. Duane
D
Julia Harrison
D-L
Nettie Mayersohn
D
Alan G. Hevesi
D-L
Cynthia Jenkins
D
Ralph Goldstein
D
Anthony S. Seminerio
D-C
D
Edward Abramson
Alton R. Waldon Jr.
D
Ivan C. Lafayette
D
Helen M. Msu'shaU
D
Denis J. Butler
D
Kathy Nolan
D
Frederick D. Schmidt
D
Stanley Fink
D-L
Edward Griffith
D-L
D
Helene Weinstein
Rhoda S. Jacobs
D-L
Clarence Norman Jr.
D
Melvin H. Miller
D-L
Daniel L. Feldman
D
Howard L. lasher
D-L
Frank J. Barbaro
I>-L
Dov Hikind
D
Louis Freda
D
Joseph Lentol
D
NAME
No Endorsement
Eileen C. Dugan
No Endorsement
Thomas F. Catapano
WiUiam F. Boyland
Albert Vann
Roger L. Green
Elizabeth A. Connelly
Eric N.,Vitaliano
Robert A. Straniere
William F. Passannante
Sheldon Silver
Steven Sanders
Richard N. Gottfried
Alexander B. Grannis
Mark Alan Siegel
Jerrold Nadler
Angelo DelToro
Edward C. Sullivan
No Endorsement
Herman D. Farrell Jr.
John Brian Murtaugh
Jose E. Serrano
Hector L. Diaz
John C. Dearie
Aurelia Greene
Jose Rivera
No Endorsement
•George Friedman
G. Oliver Koppell
Eliot L. Ez-gel
No Endorsement
Nicholas A. Spano
Gordon W. Burrows
Ron Tocchi
Richard L. Brodsky
Peter M. Sullivan
Gregoiy P. Young
No Endorsement
Vincent L. Leibell m
No Endorsement
Robert J. Connor
No Endorsement
Mary M. McPhillips
Willig J. Larkin Jr.
Lawrence E. Bennett
Stephen M. Saland
Richard L Coombe
No Endorsement
Neü W. Kelleher
PARTY
CSEA A^EMBLY
REGION DISTRICT"
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
D
D-L
D
D-L
D-L
D
D
R-C
D-L
D
D-L
D-L
D-L
D-L
D-L
D
D-L
D-L
D-L
D-L
D
D
D
D
D-L
D
D-L
R-C
R-C
D
D
R
D
R-C
D
D
R-C
D
R-C
R-C
R-C
NAME
PARTY
Maurice D. Hinchey Jr. D-L
Qarence D. Tane
R
Arnold Proskin
R-C
Richard J. Conners
D
No Endorsement
Michael R. McNulty
D
James Tedisco
R
No Endorsement
Glenn H. Harris
R-C
Andrew W. Ryan Jr.
R-C
John McCann
R
John G.A. O'NeiD
R-I
Anthony J. Casale
R-C
H. Robert Nortz
R-C
William R. Sears
R-RTL
Richard S. Ruggiero
D
Ray T. Chesbro
R
Michael J. Bragman
D
William E. Bush
R-C
Melvin N. Zimmer
D
Hyman M. Miller
R-C
Clarence D. Rappleyea Jr. R
No Endorsement
James R. Tallon Jr. ,, D
Hugh S. MacNeü
R
George H. Winner Jr.
R-C
John R. Kuhl Jr.
R-C
Michael F. Nozzolio
R
Frank G. Talomie Sr.
R-C
Louise Mcintosh Slaughter D
Gary Proud
D-L
A. Pinny Cooke
R
David F. Gantt
D
Roger J. Robach
DC
James Nagle
R-C
Richard C. Wesley
R
R. Stephen Hawley
R
Joseph T. PiUittere
D-RTL
Matthew J. Murphy Jr. D-C
Robin Schimminger
D
Arthur 0. Eve
D-L
John B. Sheffer n
R
Dennis T. Gorski
D-C
William B. Hoyt
D-L
Richard J. Keane
DC
Francis J. Pordum
D
L. William Paxon
R-C
Vincent J. Graber Sr.
D^:
Daniel B. Walsh
D
William L. Paniient
D
Vote for these candidates for state Senate
CSEA
SENATE
DISTRICT
1
2
3
4
5
•6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
NAME
Kenneth P. LaValle
James J. Lack
Caesar Trunzo
No Endorsement
Ralph J. Marino
No Endorsement
Michael J. TuUy Jr.
Norman J. Levy
Carol Berman
Andrew Jenkins
Frank Padavan
Leonard P. Stavisky
Emanuel R. Gold
George Onorato
Martin J. Knorr
Jeremy S. Weinstein
Howard E. Babbush
Donald M. Halperin
Martin M. Solomon
Thomas Bartosiewicz
PARTY
CSEA
SENATE
REGION DISTRICT
R-C
R-C
R-C
R-C
R-C
R-€
D-L
D-L
R
D-L
I>L
D
R-C
D-L
D
D
D
D
at
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
NAME
PARTY
Marty Markowitz
D
Anna V. Jefferson
D
Joseph G. Montalto
D-L
John J. Marchi
R
Martin Connor
D-L
Roy M. Goodman
R
D-L
M^red Ohrenstein
Franz S. Leichter
D-L
Leon Bogues
D-L
D-L
Olga A. Mendez
D
Joseph L. Galiber
D
Israel Ruiz Jr.
Abraham Bernstein
D-L
John D. Calandra
R
John E. Flynn
R-C
John M. Perone .
R-C
Mary B. Goodhue
R-C
R
Eugene Levy
Richard E. Schermerhom R-C
R-C
Charles D. Cook
R-C
Jay P. Rolison Jr.
CSEA
SENATE
REGION DISTRICT
4
5
6
NAME
42 Howard C. Nolan Jr.
43 Joseph L. Bruno
44 Hugh T. Farley
45 Ronald B. Stafford
46 ' John McHugh
47 James H. Donovan
48 Martin S. Auer
49 Tarky Lombardi Sr. '
50 L.S. Riford Jr.
• 51 Warren M. Anderson
52 Thomas Schwartz
53 No Endorsement
54 John D. Perry
55 William Steinfeldt
56 Jess J. Present
57 William T. Stachowski
58 Anthony M. Masiello
59 Dale M. Volker
60 No Endorsement
61 John B. Daly
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, F r i d a y , O c t o b e r 19, 1984
PARTY
D-L
R-C
R-C
R-C
R-C
R-C
R-C
R-C
R
R-C
D-C
D
R
R
D
D-L
R-C
R
•PagW 17
DANGER
Reagan is
hazardous
to American
workers'
health
In 1 9 7 0 t h i s c o u n t r y m a d e a p r o m i s e t o
A m e r i c a n w o r k e r s t h a t t h e i r lives a n d h e a l t h
would be protected on the job. Congress
passed the Occupational Safety and Health
Act assuring safe and healthful working
c o n d i t i o n s for all w o r k i n g m e n a n d w o m e n .
O S H A guaranteed that workers w o u l d no
l o n g e r b e r e q u i r e d t o risk life, l i m b or h e a l t h
In o r d e r t o w o r k . F o r 1 0 y e a r s t h e f e d e r a l
g o v e r n m e n t k e p t Its p r o m i s e — m a k i n g s t e a d y
p r o g r e s s in t h e r e s e a r c h a n d c o n t r o l of t o x i c
c h e m i c a l exposures, training a n d education,
a n d g u a r a n t e e i n g w o r k e r a n d u n i o n rights
under the law.
S i n c e t h e e l e c t i o n of R o n a l d R e a g a n In 1980,
the national promise to protect workers on
the job has been broken. Reagan has launched
a n all-out a s s a u l t o n O S H A p r o t e c t i o n s :
weakening standards, gutting enforcement,
a n d r e v o k i n g w o r k e r a n d u n i o n rights u n d e r
t h e law.
This year workers can stop the Reagan
assault on O S H A and recommit the nation to
protect worker's safety and health. . . . T h e
c h o i c e Is c l e a r
More reasons why
labor must defeat
President Reagan
THE REAGAN
RECORD:
T h e R e a g a n R e c o r d h a s b e e n o n e of favoring
v o l u n t a r y c o m p l i a n c e i n s t e a d of s t r o n g e n f o r c e m e n t ; p u t t i n g c o r p o r a t e profits a h e a d of w o r k e r
protection; of w e a k e n i n g s t a n d a r d s for safety
a n d health hazards a n d of ignoring legal requirem e n t s and responsibilities to protect workers on
the job.
Reagan's actions to weaken O S H A
THE MONDALE
PROGRAM:
W a l t e r M o n d a l e , a c o - s p o n s o r of t h e O c c u p a tional S a f e t y a n d H e a l t h A c t of 1970, s u p p o r t s a
strong O S H A program to protect worker safety
and health, through sound administration and
v i g o r o u s e n f o r c e m e n t of t h e law.
Mondale's commitment includes pledging:
include:
• A p p o i n t m e n t of R e a g a n c a m p a i g n b u s i n e s s
e x e c u t i v e s w i t h n o b a c k g r o u n d in w o r k e r
safety and health to head O S H A .
• Failure to enforce the O S H A law and stripping
14 m i l l i o n w o r k e r s of t h e right to full c o v e r a g e
of O S H A i n s p e c t i o n s .
• P r o p o s i n g a w e a k e n i n g of existing standards
for t h e toxic s u b s t a n c e s lead a n d c o t t o n dust
and failing to issue necessary worker health
s t a n d a r d s for cancer-causing a g e n t s like
asbestos and EDB.
• P r o p o s i n g r e q u i r e m e n t s for w o r k e r s to w e a r
respirators i n s t e a d of requiring e m p l o y e r s to
reduce toxic substances exposures.
• E n d o r s e d h u m a n e x p e r i m e n t a t i o n of textile
workers—allowing hazardous exposures to
c o t t o n d u s t t o d e t e r m i n e if t h e 1 9 7 8 O S H A
c o t t o n d u s t s t a n d a r d is really n e e d e d t o
protect f r o m brown lung.
• E x c l u s i o n of 6 0 m i l l i o n w o r k e r s in c o n s t r u c tion, service trades, transportation, and public
e m p l o y m e n t from federal right-to-know protections on workplace chemical hazards, and support of b u s i n e s s e f f o r t s to e l i m i n a t e e x i s t i n g
state a n d local right-to-know protections for
these workers.
• To appoint dedicated professionals to administer the nation's safety and health programs,
w i t h t h e c o n c e r n s of t h e w o r k e r b e i n g t h e
highest priority,
• Full a n d e f f e c t i v e e n f o r c e m e n t of t h e O S H A
law and.all environmental health and safety
laws. As Vice President, M o n d a l e opposed
Congressional a m e n d m e n t s which would have
e x c l u d e d 4 3 million w o r k e r s f r o m t h e full
coverage of O S H A inspections.
• S t r o n g s t a n d a r d s for c o t t o n dust, lead a n d
other toxic exposures and the vigorous enforcem e n t of t h e s e standard's.
• O S H A a c t i o n to e r a d i c a t e t h e c a u s e s of
occupational disease and legislation to assure
just compensation and adequate health care
for v i c t i m s of o c c u p a t i o n a l d i s e a s e .
• T h e right of all A m e r i c a n s to k n o w t h e hazardous materials and chemicals they may have
b e e n e x p o s e d t o in their w o r k p l a c e s a n d
communities.
• R e v e r s a l of R e a g a n O S H A b u d g e t c u t s a n d
s u p p o r t of f u n d i n g a n d s t a f f i n g levels t h a t will
a l l o w O S H A to d o its job.
REAGAN vs. WORKERS
A look at Reagan's track record on unkms
•
O p p o s e s r e f o r m of labor l a w s to p r o t e c t w o r k e r s ' right to o r g a n i z e , s p e e d u p union r e p r e s e n t a t i o n e l e c t i o n s ,
p r e v e n t e m p l o y e r s f r o m stalling a n d f r o m d i s c r i m i n a t i n g a g a i n s t u n i o n activists.
•
O n l y P r e s i d e n t e v e r to b r e a k a u n i o n , P A T C O ^ t h e air traffic c o n t r o l l e r s . T h r e w 1 1 , 0 0 0 p e r s o n s o u t of w o r k .
( N o n e of c o m p l a i n t s that d r o v e P A T C O to s t r i k e h a s b e e n a d d r e s s e d a d e q u a t e l y s i n c e R e a g a n b r o k e t h e union.
A s a result, p r e s e n t controllers n o w m a k e exactly s a m e complaints, are moving t o w a r d unionization.)
•
First P r e s i d e n t of e i t h e r p a r t y to s t a c k N L R B w i t h management attorneys, t h r o w i n g b o a r d into turmoil. It c a n
n o t k e e p u p w i t h c a s e l o a d , a n d f i n d i n g s tilt h e a v i l y a g a i n s t u n i o n s , for m a n a g e m e n t s .
•
First administration e v e r to permit hospitals to c h a r g e g o v e r n m e n t t h r o u g h M e d i c a r e for use of professional unionbusting consultants to B r e a k o r g a n i z i n g e f f o r t s , s t r i k e s . R e s u l t : T a x p a y e r s f o o t bill for u n i o n - b u s t i n g .
•
First Presictent s i n c e 1 9 7 2 e n a c t m e n t of O S H A to r e t r e a t f r o m its p u r p o s e s , w e a k e n its e n f o r c e m e n t . F e w e r
i n s p e c t o r s , f e w e r i n s p e c t i o n s a d d u p to less safety/health o n t h e j o b .
•
First P r e s i d e n t in d e c a d e s to c r e a t e e c o n o m i c a t m o s p h e r e of " g i v e - b a c k s " b y or " t a k e - a w a y s " f r o m w o r k e r s .
•
First a d m i n i s t r a t i o n to e n c o u r a g e r i g h t - w i n g u n i o n - b u s t e r s in C o n g r e s s in their drive to r a m t h r o u g h H o b b s A c t
a m e n d m e n t s to p u n i s h s t r i k e r s w i t h 2 0 - y e a r jail t e r m s for p i c k e t line i n c i d e n t s .
(f
V O T E for Worker Safety
and Health
V O T E for the Future
V O T E Mondale-Ferraro,
Tuesday, November 6.
P a g e 18
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, F r i d a y , O c t o b e r 19, 1984
We need
MONDALE
FERRARO
'America is a future each generation must enlargej
a-promiseeach generation must keep,' -walter m o n d a l e
They're fighting for your fiiture,
and America's future is the issue
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, Friday, October 19, 1984
Page 19
I
Union presidents
tout Mondale
for President
CSEA PRESIDENT
William L. McGowan
with U.S. Representative Sam Stratton,
left, on hand for the
rally.
ALBANY — A caravan of some of organized labor's most powerful
leaders rolled into Albany last weekend as part of a nationwide effort by
labor to elect Walter Mondale President of the United States in November.
AFLrCIO President Lane Kirkland, AFSCME International President
Gerald McEntee, and National Letter Carriers Union President Vincent
Sombrotto esJiorted hundreds of union leaders and members who turned out
for the whistle-stop type rally here to bring an end to the Ronald Reagan
administration "of the rich, by the rich and for the rich,' and replace him
with "a man who cares about people, treats labor fairly and who listens —
Walter Mondale."
Kirkland said labor can help win for Mondale by informing working
people "that a vote for Reagan is a vote against the struggling workers of
this nation. That it's a vote against lower interest and mortgages rates. That
vote for Reagan is a vote against
the struggling worlfers o f the nation/
it's a vote against giving young people, our own sons, daughters and
grandchildren, the chance to own their own home and have a job that can
provide them with dignity."
AFSCME President McEntee told the audience that during the final
weeks of the campaign no one individual can win alone. "Mondale can't do it
alone, Ferraro can't do it alone. Lane Kirkland and the whole AFL-CIO
executive committee can't do it alone. But together, with each person doing
his or her best, we can all pull together and overcome the challenge."
McEntee urged the union audience to remind voters that "the
unemployment rate is still higher today than when Ronald Reagan first took
office. We have 2.5 million people who, because of his leadership, have given
up looking for a job, and we have 2.5 million more people who work in
parttime jobs because they can not find an fulltime positions . . . and we
have 250,000 public sector workers throughout this nation that have been laid
off from their service oriented jobs because of cutbacks caused by Ronald
Reagan's leadership."
Sombrotto noted strongly that Reagan's administration "has caused the
Page 20
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, F r i d a y , O c t o b e r 19, 1984
The largest contingent at the rally consisted of members of CSEA. Among
unionists who took part was Capital Region IV President C. Allen Mead.
largest deficit in the history of this nation, larger than all the deficits of the
previous administrations of this nation since George Washington."
Said Kirkland: "The choice boils down to one issue. Do we, the people,
want to continue being governed by an administration that doesn't care
about the people or do we, the people, want to elect a government that will
care?"
Applause and chants of "Mondale and Ferraro" boiled up from the
audience, a majority of which appeared to be CSEA members and officials.
CSEA Local 1000 is the largest local within the million-member strong
AFSCME headed by McEntee.