-
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from the officers and staff of the Civil Service Employees Association
Official Publication of The Civil Service Employees Association Local toOO,
American Federation of State, County and IMunicipal Employees AFL-CIO.'
W l i p c s i
_ _
ISSN 0164 9949)
Vol.5,No.57
Friday, December 14,1984
i n s w r w i ^ i
V
tOO,OOQ state workers
ALBANY- Contract talks between CSEA and
New York State are underway.
health mstarance and Job security are
the issues our members are most concerned
about," CSEA President William L. McGowan
told reporters after the first bargaining session on
Dec. 7,1984. McGowan based his statement on the
input he received from face to face meetings with
members this summer and fall and on the contract
demand sheets ^vhich members sent in.
At tÜat first session the state and the union
agreed to groundrules which include a news blackout on the negotiations.
From Dec. 17 until Jan. 7 the two sides will exchange and clarify desnands. On Jan.
coa-
The coalition talks will address the economic is- iise the expertise on our staff and that of our insues for all three units.
ternalionai affiliate to make our case at the
CSEA and AFSCME research staff are patting table.''
together the Justification for the union's economThe negotiating teams and the collective baric demands.
gaining specialists assigned to each unit have pre''We dont Just iftake up a wish list or pull num- pared demands to improve the contract language
bers out of a nat,*'^said President McGowan, "We in each unit. CSEA staff and the negotiating teams
have used the contract demand sheets sent in by
thousands of members as a basis for formulating
the union's demands.
Both President McGowan and Chief Negotiator
^ Ottr members made
James Roemer, Jr. yarned that these will be
sacrificies when the state
difficult talks. The state's Chief Negotiator Thomas
F. Hartnett has already told reporters that
ivas in financial trouble
the state's target for a wage settlement in all of
and we will be looking
its contracts is 3.5 percent.
"Our members made sacrifices when the state
for a good settlement ^
was in financial trouble and we will be looking for
a p o d settlement in this contract," McGowan
The contracts expire on Mar. 31,1985.
INSIDE THIS EDITION:
YEARS OF
\PROGRESS
iSEa
A 1985 CSEA CALENDAR IS INSERTED
WITHIN THIS ISSUE OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR. IT IS ATTRACTIVE AND VERY
SUITABLE FOR USE AT HOME OR IN THE
WORKPLACE. THIS CALENDAR COVERS
THE FIRST HALF OF 1985, AND
ANOTHER CALENDAR COVERING THE
SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR WILL BE
CONTAINED IN A FUTURE ISSUE.
AFTER 22 YEARS BEHIND A
DESK, BARBARA GRANT
^WIOVES BEHIND THE WHEEL
Page 6
m
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Longtime employee honored at recognition dinner
Joanne Caiiiie says slie'd do it ail over after 36
years of service at Middletown
By Anita Manley
CSEA Oommimications Associate
MIDDLETOWN — "A good job is like a good marriage," says Joanne
Gaillie. "You compromise, compromise and compromise."
Gaillie, a 36-year employee of Middletown Psychiatric Center, was
recently honored for her service at an Employee Recognition Dinner at the
facility.
Joanne was recruited for her job by a local priest when she was just 17
years old. "I told him I was too young and he told me that they needed me, so
I applied for the job and was hired," she said.
A young, inexperienced farmgirl frÖm Warwick, (about 20 miles from
Middletown), Gaillie recalls that she was assigned as one of three therapy
aides in a ward of 132 patients.
Patient care has come a long way since then, she says. There was no
medication in those days, she emphasizes, and each day was an adventure.
"My first day on the job, I saw a supervisor shielding herself from a patient with a mattress. Another worker hid under a bed when a patient tried
to scratch her eyes out. You called for help by banging on the pipe and you
hoped someone heard you and would come."
Gaillie also recalls the day a patient threw herself down a laundry chute
and äll the employees had to remain on the job until she was found.
Survival was uppermost in the employees' minds in those days. Gaillie
says she remembers buying cigarettes (out of her $32 bi-weekly pay check)
and using them to reward well-behaved patients. They, in turn, would protect the young workers.
"We were like family.
There was no turnover in
those days. You always
felt like you were coming
home to your family when
you came to work."
Board off
Directors
EDITOR'S NOTE: The Public Sector regularly
publishes a summary of actioas taken by CSEA's
statewide Board of Directors at the board's official
meetings. The summary is prepared by statewide
Secretary Irene Can* for the iniformation of union
members.
By Irene Carr
CSEA Statewide Secretary
CSEA's statewide Board of Directors met twice
during November. At a special meeting Nov. 17, the
Board approved the union's budget for FY 1984-85,
and the regular meeting Nov. 29 dealt with a variety of agenda items.
Acting on the report of the Directors' Charter Committee, the Board denied the petition from Social
Services employees in New York City to separate
from Local 010 and made changes in the language
of the membership clauses relating to Judiciary
Locals.
^ The Office Sites Committee reported that the closing was held Nov. 21 for CSEA's purchase of a new
headquarters building at 143 Washington Ave. in Albany. The Board also authorized renewal of a threeyear lease for the Mayville Satellite office.
Region VI submitted names of members who will
serve on its Politic£^^Action Conunittees; the committee covering the eastern portion of Region VI will
P a g e 2. '
T H E f ö f e L t C SECTORriVic^oy, O e G e m b W
JOANNE GAILLIE chats with Middletown Psychiatric Center CSEA Local
415 President Alex Hogg recently. Gaillie was honored for 36 years of service at the facility during a recent employee recognition dinner program.
> Would she do it again if she had the chance to start over? "Yes, I
would," she replied. "After I was here about five months, I took my vacation
and looked into another job in a shirt factory in Manhattan. I even worked
there through my vacation, but I came back here because I loved the job
here."
' The job has its rewards also. Gaillie says she always took the time to put
new patients at ease. "It was frightening for them to come here for the first
time," she conmiented. One elderly patient kept in touch for years and to
this day, Gaillie receives Christmas cards from the woman's son.
Gaillie says staff members were very supportive of each other. "We
worked together," she remarked. "We were like family. There was no
turnover in those days. You always felt like you were coming home to your
family when you came to work."
"It's who you work with, too," she emphasized. "Some employees really
love their work and their attitude affects those people they work with."
A long time CSEA member, Gaillie says the union gives the employees
the Support they need with its many programs and insurance plans. "Best of
all," she says, "attending meetings means you get to meet co-workers that
you don't get to see when you're at work."
Meeting iiigliliglils
be chaired by Flo Tripi, and Barbara Gradzewicz
Nays: B. Skelly, J. Robak, J. Kowalski, E. Bursor,
will* chair the conunittee covering eight western B. Stack, G. Eldridge, H. Ryan, F. Wilusz, B. Reeves,
counties.
E. Mulchy, W. McMahon, D. Forchilli, P. Crandall,
B. Lennon, K. Berchou, T. Connell, D. Mayo, J.
Approving a conunittee recommendation. Board Brower, S. Corey, M. Coggeshall, J. Kurtz, R. Allen,
members voted to raise the honoraria of the four E. Adams, J. Eiss, J. McAlonan, R. Canniff, R.
fulltime statewide officers. Under CSEA's constitu- Draper, 1. Kobbe, R. Reno, R. Kranick, L. Altieri,
tion, any change in an honorarium must be approved E. Gray, S. Egan, D. Persons, G. Woodward, L. Cole
before the election process l>egins for the nesrt term and D. Spacone.
of office for the position affected, and changes do not
Two appointments were made to Board committake effect until after the intervening election has octees.
Andrew Lucyszyn was named to the Charter
curred. (see story, page 19).
Conunittee, and Scott Corey will serve on the InsurBoard members voted on the roll call as follows. ance Conunittee.
Yeas: W. McGowan, D. Donohue, G. Boncoraglio, P.
The Board approved changes in the pension plan
Mascioli, C. Mead, J. Moore, I. Carr, B. Fauser, J. covering CSEA staff employees in order to bring the
Weidman, J. Francisco, D. Farrell, R. DeSorbo, S. plan in compliance with the 1984 tax act. In other acCrawford, C. Egan, J. Lowery, B. Madden, B. tion, the Board approved a resolution introduced by
Collins, T. Jefferson, J. Lyons, R. Galinski, P. Hahn, Region II President George Boncoraglio in support
C. Guardiano, J. Gripper, R. Gripper, J. Schwartz, of South African unionists who are being harrassed
R. Watkins, E. Mootry, M. Cartwright, J. Lowe, E. by authorities. Letters of support will be forwarded
Kurtik, J. Gully, J. Tobin, J. Cassidy, M. Romanelli, to South African union leadership.
Questions by CSEA members concerning the unJ. Kelso, S. Ponkos, C. Riggall, F. Tripi, W. Zippiere,
J. Donahue, R. Spagnolo, C. Saxon, F. Dunham, W.. ion's Board of Directors should be directed to that
Harris, A. Lucyszyn, T. Elhage, G. Vallee, K. member's Board Representative, Local President or
Saddlemire, M. Houck, J. Lindsay, C. Green, J. to the Office of the statewide Secretary. Copies of the
Schaff-McGuiness, M. Curtin, N. Condon, and D. Secretary's Board minutes are mailed to all Board
Representatives and Local Presidents.
Herrig.
cancer patients
WESTCHESTER CX)UNTY — Some very special "angels" are giving a lift
to cancer patients in New York and elsewhere.
More than 200 corporations have become involved in the Corporate Angel
Network (CAN), volunteering use of their company planes to transport cancer
patients to and from treatment facilities without charge.
Three national unions have added the services of their planes to the Westchester County-based association, and the AFLrCIO has endorsed the program"
and recommended the service to its millions of members.
One CSEA officer who believes in the angels is Barbara Reese, president
of CSEA Local 303 at the Roswell Park Cancer Treatment Facility.
"Eventually, all cancer patients have a common problem — they want to
go home to be with their families," said Reese. "Normally, there is no inexpensive way to make their wish come true.
"Cancer patients are usually burdened with great financial costs as well
as with their illness," she continued. "The cost of regular commercial flights
is usually out of sight, especially since many cancer patients can't travel unassisted, which means fares double or even triple."
The Corporate Angel Network was formed about three years ago by a former
cancer patient from Greenwich, a . , Priscella Blum, whose hobby is flying. She
noted that while corporate planes are usually designed to carry 10 passengers,,
they most frequently carry only two. So, she asked, why not let cancer patients
fly to and from then* medical treatments free of charge on underutilized corporate planes?
Blum and another former cancer patient, Jay Weinberg of Pleasantville,
N.Y. sought the answer by forming CAN. With the endorsement of the American Cancer Society, the system grew quickly. Flights can now be arranged on
planes belonging to more than 200 companies and labor unions, including the
International Machinists and Aerospace Workers, the United Food and Commercial Workers, and the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union.
Both AFSCME, CSEA's affiliate, and the AFLraO have endorsed CAN, and
urge member unions to make their memben^p aware of the value of the unique
service.
Jolin J. McManus, assistant director of the AFLrCIO Department of Community Services, said CAN has benefits reaching beyond the free service it provides cancer patients.
"CAN provides corporations — some of which are unions — with a zero cost
means of merging business activities with expanding social responsibilities in
today's world," he said.
"CAN presents a unique opportunity for volunteerism on many levels.
And CAN utilizes a heretofore not fully used resource, the corporate airplane,
and serendipitously, turns often maligned airports into good neighbors."
Headquarters of the Corporate Angel Network is at the Westchester County
Airport, a popular base for corporate planes and now reported to be "the corporate heaven of the United States."
Patients using the service must be accompanied by a family member or aide.
Patients must be ambulatory, but crutches and wheelchairs are permitted.
Inquiries about the program can be obtained by contacting the Corporate
Angel Network at (914) 328-313f
CSEA members may also contact their AFLrCIO community service
representative through their CSEA local.
m i s is tlie Idnd of prosraai y o «
fcrv«Bntiy hop« you acver iaav« to
• s « , " said CSEA Exccwtivc Vice
President Joseph »IcDerMOtt, noting timt AFSCME. CSEA's afiiiiate.
iuui endorsed the Corporate Angel
Networiu McDennott serves as a
vice president of AFSCME.
"Bnt if CSEA mmmhm
or their
families are ever faced wtth this
kind of situation, i f s good to IUMMW
that the service exists," he added.
'^iqrrocketing health care costs
are enongh of a bnrden, even with
health
insnrance
coverage,
without having to worry abont
transportation to and froai cancer
treatment centers."
THEPilBLJC SECTOR,Friday,; P e c c i p b e r liÄt\)?84
Pagp
SPublicr«SECTOR
Official publication off
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
L o c a l 1 0 0 0 , A F S C M E , AFL-CiO
3 3 Elk S t r e e t , Albany, N e w Y o r k 1 2 2 2 4
The Public Sector (445010) is published every
other Friday by the Civil Service Employees
Association, 33 Elk Street, Albany, New York
12224.
Publication office, 1 Columbia Place, Albany,
New York 12207.
Second Class Postage paid at Post Office,
Albany, New York.
MICHAEL P. MORAN — Publisher
ROGER A. COLE — Editor
TINA LINCER FIRST — Associate Editor
BRIAN K. BAKER — Assistant Editor
Address changes should be sent to Civil Service Employees Association, The Public Sector,
33 Elk Street, Albany', New York 12224.
•
J
^LABOR PRESSÜ
•
fe
4
' « I t r i i l i l V ^
Part o1 your
Social Security
may be taxable
Retired^ disabled and survivor beneficiaries
who received Social Security payments during
1984 will receive a letter in January 1985 telling
them they may have to pay federal income tax
on up to one-half of those benefits. The tax will
apply only to those who have substantial income
in addition to their social security benefits, according to Lewis Epstein, Social Security
manager in Albany.
But Epstein said about one person in 10 will be
required to pay a tax on part of his or her benefits.
Starting early in January 1985 and continuing
throughout the month, every person who received
any Swial Security benefits in 1984 will receive a
a Form SSA-1099, Social Security Benefit Statement showing the amount of benefits paid. This
net amount is the figure used to determine
whether any benefits are subject to tax.
Also enclosed with the F o r m SSA-1099 will be a
worksheet form, IRS Notice 703, which can be
used to see if any benefits are taxable.
Up to half of an individual's benefits may be subject to tax if his or her combined income — taxable income plus non-taxable interest plus one half
the Social Security benefit — exceed a base
amount. That base amount is: $25,000 if a person
files as a single taxpayer; $32,000 for a married
couple filing jointly; and $0 for a married person
filing a separate return if he or she lived with aspouse during any part of 1984.
The amount of benefits subject to tax if combined income exceeds the base amount is the
smaller of one-half of the amount over the base
amount, or one-half of the Social Security benefits.
If combined income does not exceed the base
amount, no Social Security benefits are subject to
tax, Epstein said.
People can get tjie answers to questions about
entries on Form-SSA-1099 by calling the toll-free
900 telephone number shown on the form. Questions about figuring either taxable income or taxes should be directed to the nearest Internal
Revenue Service office indicated on the back of
Notice 703.
A free publication — Publication 915 — explains
the entries on Form SSA-1099 and how to determine if benefits are taxable. Free copies can be
obtained at any Social Security or 11^ office.
Protect your rights, foin a CSEA retirees' local
ALBANY — Retired public employees can protect their futures for just $9 — the cost of an annual membership in a CSEA retirees' local.
The union's legislative accomplishments for
retirees have included pension increases, one
measure which allows eligible state employees
who retired before Sept. 1,1980 to participate in
the group dental plan admiinifitered by GHI, and
another which permits them to earn up to $6,960
in parttime public employment without reductions
in pensions.
But these benefits could have not have been accomplished without the political clout of the 50,000
people who already belong to retirees' locals. And
it is in the special interest of retirees who have not
yet joined their ranks to do so.
Membership gives retired public employees a
voice through lobbying efforts in state government. In addition there are a number of other
benefits including a retirees' newsletter issued
periodically, special mailings on selected issues,
local meetings to share ideas and exchange information, s o c i d gatherings and access to a retirees'
department staffed by professionals at CSEA
Headquarters.
For additional information, contact the CSEA
Retiree Department by calling (518) 434-0191. To
sign up, fill out the form below and send it with a
FIRST Name
Print LAST NAME above
$9 check to: CSEA, 33 Elk St., Albany, N.Y.
12207.
••
SOCIAL SECURITY-NUMBER
Initial
MAIUNQ
Aooness:
StrMt and Numbar
City
IMPORTANT!
P / a a s a Complete the Following
•DATEOF RETIREMENT:.
•LAST EMPLOYED BY:
OMB. It othw than Stttt, gtvt nam» ot govmmmant you workad tor.t
• TOWN:
:
• VILLAGE:
• CITY:
•
Information:
•NUMBER OF YEARS of Service:
fP/eaae cAec*
• STATE OF NEW YORK
• COUNTY-
State
• SCHOOL DISTRICT:
RETIRED MEMBERSHIP
Signature of Applicant
DUES: $9.00 for period ending Sept. 30, 1985
•
APPLICATION FOR RETIREE MEMBERSHIP
THE CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES .ASSOCIATION, INC.
Local 1000, AFSCME. AFL-CIO / 33 Elk Strctt, Albany. N«w York I220T
ZIP Code
ANTHONY RUGGIERO Institutional Services Unit
Stony Brook
A periodic profile of some of file
memiiers of your union's
negotiating teoms in the upeoming
CSEA/State contract negotiations
A couple of years ago, Anthony Ruggiero was working the" night shift as a hospital attendant at University
Hospital, State University at Stony Brook, when trouble
hit. "There was an emergency in the department, and we
needed CSE A help," he explained. "But we couldn't find
anybody from the union that flight."
Riled up, Ruggiero stuck around the next morning to
get the help he needed. "I discovered in the process that
there was a lack of activists within the local," he said.
"There simply weren't enough members willing to devote
then- time to do the jobs that have to be done in a union."
So, since he had been a shop steward for nine years
ADMINISTRATIVE
SERVICES
UNIT
Negotiating
Team
Region I — Elizabeth Holt and Barbara Reynolds
Region II — Elliot Bernstein and Ann Worthy
Region III — Carole Peets and Sarah Jackson
Region IV — Lee Johnson and Dann Wood
Region V — Chris Carletta and Claire McGrath
Region VI — Sara Sievert and Dawn Lyman
Collective Bargaining Specialist Jack Conoby
in his previous private sector job in JFK Airport maintenance, Ruggiero decided tö become actively involved in
SUNY Stony Brook Local 614.
He's been involved ever since, to the extent that
"members ask my wife how she puts up with it and they
thank her for being so understanding," Ruggiero says.
"She knows that I'm doing an important job, doing something positive to help the people I work with,"
Eight months ago, he told his local president he was
interested m serving on the state negotiating team, "When
I got the appointment letter, I was so excited I let out a
scream," Ruggiero said.
"I think it's important that some of the members of
the team be stewards and members from the grassroots
level. We're in the trenches every da^.' We're the ones
who get attacked when something's wrong. I'm on call to
my people 24 hours a day, so I know what their problems
are."
Ruggiero, who now also serves as secretaiy of his local, is looking forward to the contract talks as a "learning process.
CSEA'S NEGOTIATING TEAMS
OPERATIONAL SERVICES UNIT Negotiafing Team
Region I — Arthur Loving and Lou Mannellino
Region II — Benjamin Hayes and James Wilson
Region III — Jack Cassidy and Richard Riley
Region IV — Mi la Barlow and Leroy Holmes
Region V - Tom Ward and Chuck Eynon
Region VI — John Wallenbeck and Thomas Petrone
Collective Bargaining Specialist John Naughter
INSTITUTIONAL
ANTHONY RUGGIERO . . . so excited to be on negotiating team he
"let out a scream." '
SERVICES UNIT Negotiating
Team
Region I — Joseph Noya and Anthony Ruggiero
Region II — Joel Schwartz and Miguel Cruz
Region III — Jeff Howarth and Beatrice White
Region IV — Joel Falkenbury and Dominick Ruggieri
Region V — Madeline Harrison and Ruby Meyers
Region VI — Elaine Mootry and Kathy Pontillo-Button
Collective Bargaining Specialist Jim Cooney
Changes in health insurance deductions due
state employees enrolled in the New York State Health Insurance Plan
may see changes in their health insurance deductions depending upon which
option they are enrolled in.
Employees that have selected the Statewide Option (Metropolitan) will
have the followmg amounts deducted from their bi-weekly paychecks:
Individual Contract $3.54
Family Contract $13.76
The Metropolitan annual deductibles will increase from $108 to $114 (Individual) and from $324 to $342 (Family).
Employees that are enrolled in GHI will not be required to contribute any
premium for either individual or family coverage.
Premium changes for employees enrolled in a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) will vary depending upon HMO option chosen. The state
will be circulating information regarding any increases.
Payroll changes will occur Dec. 26 (Administrative Payroll) and Jan. 2
(Institutional Payroll).
Questions should be directed to personnel offices or to the health insurance unit, state Civil Service Department (518) 457-5784.
Any premium changes for local government employees participating in
the State Health Insurance Plan will depend upon the employer/employee
split negotiated in their own collective bargaining agreement.
Pact ratified in Wappingers schools
WAPPINGERS FALLS—CSEA members in the Wappingers Central School District have ratified a three-year contract following months
of lengthy negotiations.
According to Region III Field Representative Diane Campion, an
impasse and the filing of a number of improper practice charges contributed to the difficulties during the bargaining sessions.
Campion says the 128 clerical workers will receive an 8.25 percent
pay increase retroactive to July 1; 8 percent effective July 1,1985 and
6 percent plus increments as of July 1,1986.
The contract also provides for all employees to be eligible for two
Employee Benefit Fund plans on July 1,1985, an additional week of vacation, family sick leave time, and increased longevity and parttime
rates.
Members of the negotiating team included Unit President Mary jane
McNair, Yvonne Tompkins and Norma Condon.
APPROVED — Wappingers School District Unit President Maryjane
McNair and Yvonne Tompkins check membership lists at a ratification
meeting at which members overwhelmingly approved a three year
contract.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, F r i d a y , D e c e m b e r 14, 1984
Page 5
New Job a pick-me-up for first
woman driver in Corrections Dept.
By Tina Lincer First
Associate Editor
MENANDS — After 22 years of sitting at a desk aU day, Barbara Grant found
moving desks more to her liking.
So these days you'll find her behind the wheel of a 24-foot van, transporting
furniture to offices in state agencies, counties, municipalities and schools around
New York.
"I come home from work and I'm exhausted, but I love every exhausting
minute of it," says Grant, a member of CSEA Correctional Services Local 656.
Grant is the first woman to be hired by the Corrections I>epartment in the
title of tractor-trailer operator, a grade 8 position. She w o ^ in the deparbnent's
Division of Correctional Industries, a giant distribution center for the "Corcraft"
furniture made by prison inmates. The center is located in the Albany County
village of Menands.
"I don't feel any different than any other driver," she says. "I get along
real good with the guys, and the bosses are fantastic. Believe me, it's great."
A resident of East Greenbush in Rensselaer County, Grant is a divorced
mother of three children ages 20, 17 and 15. From 1962 until last month, she
worked for the state Division of Criminal Justice Services as a grade 9 identification clerk. She was a shop steward for CSEA Local 695 there and also chaired
the local's grievance and women's committees.
But the desk job didn't sit well with her.
"I was tired of being inside^ I don't like being confined. I'm an outdoors person, a mover," she said, listing fishing, camping, motorcycling and hunting as
her hobbies. She said taking a cut in pay grade was worth it for what she feels
is a job that's right up her alley. And, if she feels the urge to move again, she
can work her way up to a grade 12 double tractor-trailer operator.
"People can't believe I would want to leave a sit-down job," says Grant.
^ "For some people, that's OK. Not for me.
"I was restless. I just Wanted to get out on my own and drive a truck. I've
had my class 1 (tractor-trailer) license for three years."
KEEP ON TRUCKING — Barbara Grant, a member of CSEA Corrections
Department Local 656, finds her new job as tractor-trailer operator a moving
experience. The first woman in that title in the agency, she says she always
longed to "get out on my own and drive a truck."
The daughter of a truck driver/mechanic, Grant says she always had an
interest in riding motorcycles and trucks "and all this crazy stuff." But when
" her kids were younger she opted for the security and predictability of an office
job.
Now that they're older, she enjoys the unpredictability and freedom of being on the road.
"My schedule? Oh my God," she lets out a throaty laugh. "I start at 6:30
a.m. I come in, check the b o a r ^ and see where I'm heading off to. You have
a general idea of where you're going to be, but you have to stay packed at all
times because you never know when you may have to stay overnight. So I always carry an overnight bag with me.
"The first day I was on the job they asked me if I knew where Newark, N.Y.
was. It's near Rochester^ I went there and loaded up some chairs, the next day
I delivered them to Queens."
Her local deliveries take her to such locations as the State Office Building
Campus, while out-of-town runs take her to every comer of the state.
"Last week I was in Queens and Nassau and Suffolk, the week before that
I was in Staten Island — how to see the state in two days," she quipped.
Not only does Grant drive the truck, she loads and imloads the cargo too,
sometimes leaving it on the docks and other times moving it to the offices.
Though she says that's a lot of heavy moving, she adds, "I haven't felt this
physically good in years."
PAY EQUITY STUDY PARTICIPANTS
IN DUTCHESS COUNTY — Dutchess County is one
of the four jurisdictions in the state targeted for the
Local Government Pay Equity Study to be conducted by the Center for Women in Government, part of
the State University at Albany. Funded by CSEA and
AFSCME, the study will document practices of discrimination and will help to develop a manual to be
used in other political subdivisions. Pictured in photo below at a recent news conference announcing the
project are members of the pay equity team and
conmiittee. From left are Dutchess County Unit
President Mary Rich, CSEA statewide Secretary
Irene Carr, Region HI President Pat Mascioli, Education and Training Specialist Peg Wilson and
Region III Women's Committee Chairwoman Helen
IN SUFFOLK COUNTY - The Three Village Central School
District in Suffolk County is another of the four participating
political subdivisions in the Local Government Pay Equity
Project. Pictured above are, from left, Education and Training Specialist Peg Wilson; Edith Wood, president of the clerical unit of the school district; statewide Secretary Irene Carr;
and Danny Donohue, Long Island Region I president. The
project is a radical departure from other studies on the issue
in that CSEA and AFSCME activists will be conducting it themselves in a hands-on manner, and the four carefully documented case studies will be detailed in a manual.
Page 6
THE PUBLIC SECTOR. F r i d a y . D e c e m b e r 14. 1984
D
O
S
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•Question" « r
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Employees urged to send in pay equity surveys
By now, some 3 5 , 0 0 0 randomly selected state employees should have
received pay equity questionnaires which went out earlier this month.
The questionnaires, part of a pay equity, or comparable worth, study conducted by the Center for Women in Government, represents an attempt to
find out if there is sexual or racial discrimination in New Yoi^k state salary
structures. The project is part of the current contract between CSEA and the
state, and is being funded with $ 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 in grant money.
.
Comparable worth is generally regarded as one of the most important
social and economic issues of the '80s, and CSEA-represented employees
who have been selected to participate in the survey are urged to take the time
to respond.
Because of the importance of the project, employees are being given time
on the job to fill out the questionnaire^. Validity of the study is based on a
high response rate.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, F r i d a y , D e c e m b e r 14, 1984
Page 7
LEADING THE SAFETY SEMINAR were, from left, Mitchell
Braithwaite, Region O OSHA specialist; John Bieger, Region VI OSHA
MICHELLE KAPLAN of Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations
spoke on job stress and employee burnout.
specialist; Bairy Kobrin, Region VI Safety and Health Committee chairman; and James Corcoran, head of CSEA's Safety and Health Department.
ROBERT LATTIMER, right, Region VI president, is pictured with Assistant Attorney General Wade Easton,
who led a session on the Right-to-Know Law.
Employees look at ways to avoid worksite hazards
RATA VIA — Video display terminals, toxic substances and employee
burnout were among the topics discussed at the daylong seminar held
recently by the Region VI Safety and Health Committee.
Entitled "Issues in the Public Sector," the seminar featured presentations by numerous safety experts and committee members. The committee
worked closely with CSEA occupational safety and health staff, directed by
James Corcoran to provide a full range of information to help improve safety in the workplace.
A filmstrip produced by the National Safety Council, "Video Display Terminals — the Huinan Factor," was the highlight of a morning workshop addressing some of the common problems faced by operators who are exposed
to VDTs on a daily basis.
Region VI Safety and Health Committee Chairman Barry Kobrin said
that while radiation emitted from VDTs has been shown to be below federal
standards, no studies have been completed assessing the long-range health
effects.
The workshop on hazardous chemicals and toxic substances explored
some of the more common substances CSEA members are exposed to and
detailed means of personal protection.
In a session on office hazards, it was demonstrated that desk jobs can
be as dangerous as other forms of work. Participants learned how to identify
hazards, such as whether the workplace has adequate ventilation, and how
to overcome them. Such factors as understaffing and outdated equipment
Page 8
THE PUBkIC'SECTOR, . F f W a y , D e c p m b e r 14, 1984
were also discussed.
In a workshop on back injuries, Dr. Larry Birzon, a Buffalo chiropractor, showed what precautions workers can take to minimize injuries, including proper lifting of heavy objects.
Michelle Kaplan of the New York State School of Industrial and Labor
Relations at Cornell University spoke on job stress and worker burnout, emphasizing the longterm dangers of unrelieved stress.
And in a session on the New York's Right-to-Know Law, state Assistant
Attorney General Wade Easton said the failure of employers to comply with
the statute "is far greater than we think."
The law, which has been on the books since Dec. 3,1983, requires employers in the state to tell workers about the health effects of any toxic substances at their worksites. It also says employees routinely exposed to toxic
substances must receive training and education from the employer regarding these substances. The training must take place before initial assignment
and annually thereafter.
Region VI OSHA Specialist John Bieger and Region II OSHA Specialist
Mitchell Braithwaite also conducted workshops, and Regional VI President
Robert Lattimer urged members to contact Bieger in the Region VI office
with any safety concerns they may have.
Region VI Safety and Health Committee members who participated in
the workshop included Sharon Cordaro, Harry Douglas, John Grandietz, Art
Cousineau, Tom Finger and Mark Hicks.
Members reject fact finder's report
as legislature passes new budget
BUFFALO - Erie County CSE A Local 815 has
overwhelmingly rejected a PERB fact finder's
report and recommendations in the year-and-ahalf struggle for a negotiated settlement.
Meanwhile, the county Legislature, facing a
fiscal crisis that also theatened many county
jobs, passed a 1985 budget that Local President
John Eiss feels will avoid massive layoffs.
"We feel the legislators passed a budget that
will allow the county to maintan the services our
residents deserve and retain the jobs of our
members to provide those services," said Eiss.
While the budget calls for eliminating more
than 400 positions, EMss said most of the cut positions are thought to be unfilled. He said a more
through analysis is being made to confirm this.
The county Legislature's budget action
climaxed weeks of mtense public pressure that
included lobbying by various interest groups.
A series of ads in several local publications hy
the Buffalo Chamber of Commerce incensed
Local 815 membership by its inference that the
average county employee's annual pay was
$32,000. In actuality, CSEA represented county
employees average less than. $18,000, according
to Eiss. The ad called for deep job cuts and pay
cuts.
The Chamber ads sparked mobilization o f «
massive information picket march at a p ^ ned Chamber reception for elected area officials.
However, when plans of the march were
publicized, the Chamber abruptly called off its
planned reception.
Eiss said he had "no doubt" the Chamber was
seeking to avoid a CSEA confrontation and said
the local will decide later on whether to march at
the Chambat's rescheduled reception in
January.
The Erie County Medical Center, which has
been blamed for a large part of the county's $70
million to $80 million budget deficit, should be
funded by the state as a teaching hospital, according to Eiss.
"Eyery other teaching hospital in the state is
fund^ except this one," said Eiss. "It would
take a big burden off the county budget." Eiss
and ECMC Unit Prudent Stephen Caruana have
called for the hiring of perm^ent_st§ffjn the
The report is
out of touch with
reality.'
hospital's billing offices to improve collection
procedures. They maintain slow collection of
hospital debts have contributed greatly to the
county's fiscal crisis.
Meanwhile, an imposed contract appears to be
>in the future for the 4,000 members of Local 815,
following rejection of the fact finder's report.
The rejection was in line with the recommendation of the local's negotiating committee and
Collective Bargaining Specialist Danny Jinks.
Jinks told Local 815 members the report,
which r^mmended zero wage and benefit increase, was "a copy" of a fact finder's report
regarding the county sheriff's unit, which is also
at contract impasse.
Following the local's rejection, Eiss issued a
public statement "recognizing the fiscal difficulties faring the county, "but condemning the
report as "out of touch with reality and leaving
much to be desired."
"We are prepared to 'bite the bullet' and
forego wage increases in this fiscal year,
although they are deserved and needed by pur
members," Eiss said in the statement.
"We take thjs stance with the hope and expectation that county and state government officials
will work together on the measures that will lead
the coimty back to fiscal health and integrity.
"Those measures should not include a "meatax" approach that, chops away the vital sevices
that would be expected by new industries and
residents, and accorded those presently residing
there."
Eiss noted the county work force represented
by CSEA has already b ^ depleted by more than
260 job cuts and 300 earl^ retirements this year.
"We wish to serve notice that with the acceptance of no wage or benefits increase this year,
we will redouble our effects for fairer compensation in the following fiscal year."
The local's negotiating committee members
are Gerald Prince and David yilbur of Social
Services; Shirley Heron, Health; Barbara
Gradzewicz, Local Representative; Shari
Kamholtz, Homie and Infirmary; John Davidson, Auto Bureau; Stephen Caruana, ECMC;
Duane Liebler, Corrections; Iris Kliszak, Erie
Community College; and Marijean Nichols,
Downtown Unit. Several members also joined
with Betsy Piette to form a Contingency Action
Committee.
Eiss said legislative hearings on an imposed
contract should begin in early January. He said
the local will aim to have a dental plan and"summer hours included in tiie imposed 1984 pact to
assure inclusion in any agreement reached for
1985.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, F r i d a y , D e c e m b e r 14, 1984
Page.
9
>
'U'
fhe anatomy of a successful
union representation campaign
By Daniel X. Campbell
CSEA Communications Associate
MENANDS — The final press release was
short and to the point: 'The Civil Service Employees Association has won the right to
represent 400 private sector employees of the
McAuto Group Systems Incorporated by a vote
of 205 yes to 103 no..."
Behind those words was a long and hard campaign to organize the Medicaid Management
Information System contract employees, who
work side by side with eight CSEA represented public sector employees.
It started in July when CSEA received a call
from a McAuto employee seeking information
about CSEA. The individual spoke with CSEA
Organizer Michale Sheldon, who answered a
series of questions about services, dues and
CSEA's structure. The phone call lead to a
meeting with the caller at a location away from
the person's work site.
The individual represented a group of private
sector employees who work for the McAuto
Group Systems Incorporated, a division of
McDonnell Douglas. McAuto holds a $20 million
annual contract with New York State's Social
Service Department's MMIS department to
process and pay Medicaid claims.
About a year earlier the workers had tried unsuccessfully to organize with another union.
That effort failed when that union's tactics
turned off some of the workers and McAuto
management dissuaded many of the employees
from voting for the union by making a lot of
promises, most of which were not kept.
While researching the situation, Sheldon discovered that eight CSEA public sector mem-
A classic case
of sour grapes
from the loser
Within 72 hours after it lost a union
representation election to CSEA, MeAuto
Group Systems Incorporated informed the
state's Social Services Department that it
would not be bidding for renewal of the MMIS
contract. The present agreement runs until
Oct. 31, 1985.
"It's a classic case-of sour grapes on the
part of McAuto,*' says CSEA Region IV
Director John D. Corcoran Jr.
"The private contractor wants to make
maxinfum profit while paying his workers
minimum wages, and when the workers
stand up for their rights, the contractor decides to pick up his marbles and leave," Corcoran said.
"The work that these employees do,
however, is so important to the state that the
contract with McAuto addressed the need of
transferring the workers from one contractor to another. CSEA plans to negotiate a contract with McAuto and to pass these
negotiated terms and conditions on to the
new provider, be that another contractor or
the state itself."
Page
10
NLRB STAFF MEMBER Barnett L. Horowitz counts
a big majority of votes in favor of CSEA as, in background, CSEA staffers Michael Sheldon, left, and Greg
Davis watch. Sheldon and Davis were among union
staffers who worked on the McAuto organizing
campaign.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, F r i d a y , D e c e m b e r 14, 1984
bers worked at the same woi
represented by CSEA Local
Sheldon made an appearance a]
worksite in the Albany suburb of"
large building once housed tl
Department, but has since be^
offices for various compai
cafeteria serves the needs of ^
including the McAuto worj
worksite, however, was
An organizing conmiitte^
employees was formed an^'
side the secure area, whi]
to make other contacts in
The National Labor Rela]
a 30 percent showing of int
ing a union representatiol
wanted a much highter total
of designation cards by the
his spirits.
On a hot August afternoon. Si
munications Associate Dan i
passing out fliers informing
CSEA's interest in their situatic,
them to attend informational meet
day. Some workers were taking th(
reading them with great interest, buf ^
were quickly throwing them into garbage Cc
while scanning the windows of the buildin^^ ^
probably hoping that management did not see'
them with union material in their hands.
The turnout at the meetings was good, with
even a few management plants in the crowd
trying to assess employee support.
Comparing notes after the sessions, Campbell
and Sheldon designed 9 communications program to educate the employees about CSEA^
and at the same tune play up McAuto managenient's failure to keep its earlier promises.
Various issues, ranging from a very unfair
point system to control employee time and attendance to managerial favoritism,, were eventually developed as conmiunication tools.
Because of worksite security, Campbell and
CSEA graphic artist Ralph Distin, developed
rContract
News
New 3-year pact in
Warwick Sciioel District
WARWICK — Non-instructional employees in the Warwick School District will realize more than 22 percent in salary increases as a result of a recently ratified three-year
contract.
Unit President Naomi Kaplan said the smooth negotiations were due to "an excellent relationship with the administration."
The 135 workers, members of Orange County Local 836,
will receive pay hikes of 7.2 percent retroactive to July 1;
7.5 percent as of July 1,1985 and 7.5 percent effective July
1, 1986.
According to Region III Field Representative Felice
"Flip" Amodio, the contract also provides for a new longevity
step for 12 month employees; an additional 15 cents per hour
after 15 consecutive years of service; a clothing allowance
for food service employees and uniforms for custodians,
maintenance and grounds workers and bus mechanics; and
out-of-title pay for those employees performing such work
PENNING PACT — Warwick School District Unit President Naomi Kaplan (seated left) and
for at least five consecutive workdays.
Members of the negotiating team included Virginia Carr,
Marge Berry, Rick Daubert, Dane Cooper, Marilyn Youngman and Regina Foley.
Warwick School Superintendent William DeGennaro, center, sign a three-year contract that
provides 2Z percent in salary increases to 135 employees. Also seated is Region III Field
Representative "Flip" Amodio. Standing are Unit Vice President Terry Sinsabough, negotiating team member Regina Foley and School Business Administrator Edson Travis.
Many benefits for Spring Valley woricers
SPRING VALLEY — Employees of this Southern Region village recently ratified a two-year contract retroactive to June 1, following a year
of negotiations. The village of Spring Valley is part of Rockland County
Local 844.
According to Region III Field Representative Chris Lindsay, the contract provides for salary increases of 6.75 percent retroactive to June 1
and 7.85 percent effective June 1, 1985.
In addition, all employees are guaranteed a $40a longevity payment,
a new meal allowance schedule, an increase in stand-by pay, and for those
employees who receive a uniform allowance two additional sets of work
clothing.
Lindsay says village officials also approved a 20-year retirement program with the municipality picking up 50 percent of the cost of health insurance for retirees.
Negotiating team members included Unit President Jay Garbus, Rhoda Greenberg and Lou Grausso.
^^2-year agreement
for Gosiien village unit
GOSHEN — Village employees here recently ratified
a two-year contract that will boost salaries by 13 percent.
According to Region III Field Representative Felice
"Flip" Amodio, the agreement, retroactive to Jan. 1, provides for 6.5 percent pay increases each year, an increase
in clothing allowance, an additional holiday for Martin
Luther King Day, an improved dental plan, an additional
personal day and an agency shop clause.
The 20 employees, members of Orange County Local
836, are employed by the village's public works, water and
sewer departmente.
SIGNING — Region HI Field Representative "Flip" Amodio shows Goshen Village Mayor Stephen Hopkins where
to sign a new contract for 20 public works employees. Seated next to the mayor is Unit Vice President Joe Dominick;
standing is Unit Treasurer Tom Reynolds.
nanimous OK for Nanuet sciiooi employees contract
NANUET — A three-year contract unanimously ratified by members of the Nanuet School District will provide custodial and grounds workers
with salary increases of up to $5,000 and new dental and vision plans.
The agreement provides pay hikes of 4 percent
retroactive to July 1; 4 percent as of Feb. 1,1985;
7 percent effective July 1,1985 and an additional
7 percent effective July 1, 1986.
In addition, employees are now entitled to three
days of personal leave per year and an increase
in longevity payments for 10 year employees.
Region III Field Representative Larry Natoli
said the Employee Benefit Fund's dental and vision plans will also be available to all fulltime
and parttime CSEA members.
Members of the negotiating team included Anthony Dario and Rosemary Sweeney. The unit is
part of Rockland County Local 844.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, F r i d a y . ^ D e c e m b e r 14, 1984
• •>
P a g e 13
.>1
SOLIDARITY CENTER-^
INFORMATION OF INTEREST
TO UNION MEMBERS
AND FRIENDS OF LABOR
^JOOKFO^THEUWO^^
CHRisf^dflMi
UNION LABEL AND SERVICE TRADES DEPARTMENT AFL-CIO
•
FOR
CHRISTMAS
BUY*
UNION
UNION LABEL AND SERVICE TRADES DEPARTMENT, AFL-CIO
If you buy your kids a bicycle this Christmas,
sure it's not a Schwinn.
Kick The Stuffing Out Of Marval
make
Four years ago, after a tough organizing drive, the
(JAW won a strong first contract for 1,300 workers
at Schwinn's Chicago plant. Wages went up from a
bare minimum. Workers won the right to a pension.
Suddenly, Schwinn began shipping work to nonunion sites in Taiwan, Japan, and Tennessee. It
closed its Chicago plant for good this spring.
Though it recently coughed up $28,000 for back
grievances, it refuses to give its former
employees
the severance and vacation pay it owes them.
Schwinn bicycles used to be hand-crafted;
now
they're assembled by workers on a starvation
wage,
and owner Eddie Schwinn is raking in the profits.
He still peddles bicycles under the
Schwinn label—but we don't need to
pedal them, too. Along with
Schwinn exercise equipment,
they're
being boycotted by the (JAW and the
AFL-CIO.
Have a nice Holiday!
Don't Buy!
U N I O N LABEL A N D S E R V I C E T R A D E S D E P A R T M E N T . A F L - C I O
AMERICAN I S BEAUTIFUL
Buy American... and look for the Union Label
UNION LABEL AND SERVICE TRADES DEPARTMENT. AFL-CIO
Rockland choral group entertains
POMONA — Rockland County Health Center employees have been giving
up their lunch hours to rehearse a newly formed choral group for a holiday concert for patients of the county infirmary.
Group organizer Pat Quinn, a former shop steward from Rockland County
Local 844, said she volunteered to bring the group together because she is interested in the activities program at the facility.
Quinn said she hopes to keep her singers entertaining throughout the year.
The first concert was held Dec. 10 when the group took part in the annual Christm a s tree lighting ceremony.
MAKING A JOYFUL NOISE — Members of a newly organized choral group,
left, at the Rockland County Health Center are, seated from left, Sylvia Weiner, Harriet Patt with the guitar, and Barbara Tew. Standing from left are Terry Bowman, Mary Princi, Florence Sadowsky, Audrey Migliaccio, Charlene
Rodriguez, Joanne Wysoeki, Anna Cohen and Pat Quinn. Also in the group, but
not present for this photo are Diane Watson, Joan Toner, Joan Howard, Donna
Stephens, Kathy Clark, Sonia Garcia and Jocelyn Lewy.
P a g e 14
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, F r i d a y , D e c e n f i b e r 28, 1.984
Fear, doubt surround
plans to re-occupy
state office building
EDITOR'S NOTE: As reported in the previous edition of The Public Sector,
CSEA has been carefully monitoring the cleanup operations at the contaminated Binghamton State Office Building: CSELA has taken the firm commitment to the more than 700 state workers who may eventually be asked to
return to work in the building that the union will not allow any one to re-enter
until CSEA's own consulting firm declares the work environment in the
building to be within acceptable and recognized standards. The workers
themselves, at this point, continue to express doubt and fear about the prospect
of returning to the building, as this account of a recent meeting in Binghamton
confirms.
TOWER TALK — Tim Henehan, president of Binghamton State
Employees Local 002, is pictured at a recent CSEA meeting to discuss
progress of the cleanup and proposed plan for re-occupying the
Binghamton State Office Building. The 18-story tower has been closed
since February, 1981, when an accident in the electric system
chemically contaminated the building.
BINGHAMTON — Nearly four years after a fire in the mechanical room of
the Binghamton State Office Building sent toxic soot throughout the 18-story tower, state employees continue to express distrust, fear ^ d objections to reoccupying the building at some future date.
CSEA, which represents approximately 40 percent of the building's 700 workers, recently conducted a meeting in downtown Binghamton to discuss progress
of the cleanup and state proposal for reoccupancy of the building, now targeted
for next year.
Tim Henehan, president of CSEA Binghamton State Employees Local 002 said,
"We felt it was important to update state employees regardmg progress of the
cleanup, dispel some of the rumors that contmue to arise, and reaffirm the union's
position of final approval from impartial experts before any reoccupation of the
building."
Even though it will cost $25 million or more to clean the tower in downtown
Binghamton, Henehan said 75 to 90 percent of the employees he polled do not want
to return to the building.
"How will w£ know it is really safe?" asked one employee.
"Who can we believe?" another remarked.
The majority of concerns from employees surround the uncertainty of the
cleanup job that has continued for nearly four years following the accident. Some
state employees question the credibility of state officials who say it will be "safe"
to return to the building.
"It's the people who don't have to go back into the building who are saying
it's safe to return," another employee said.
Henehan ^ d other Local 002 officials at the meeting doubted the state would
re-open the building by fall 1985. They indicated the realistic target date might be
two years away.
"Our task i s twofold," Henehan explained. "CSEA's primary concerns are for
adequate, safe working conditions at our present work locations. And to continue
to monitor the downtown cleanup process. If and when we are asked to return to
the tower, it will be with the assurance that it has been approved for occupancy
by a CSEA-approved panel of experts. That is the firm policy of Local 002, Region
V and CSEA Statewide ."
Mainteiiance position unfairly filled, arbitrator rules
WHITE PLAINS — The Westchester County Department of Personnel
must repost a job opening that was filled last April as a result of a recent arbitration decision.
According to CSEA Attorney Arthur Grae, 11 county employees who applied for a job opening as a senior maintenance mechanic III were not considered for the position. Instead, an outsider with inferior qualifications
was.
Following testimony by the department head, in which he admitted that
the appointee did not possess the wastewater experience required for the
job, Arbitrator David Stein ruled that the county "arbitrarily and
discriminatorUy applied stricter eligibility standards to its employees than
it did to the outsider that it eventually appointed."
In addition, Stein emphasized, the department heads' disqtialification of
seven of the applicants who were employed in lower grades "was not the
result of a seri9us.evaluation."
"This disparate treatment inescapably leads to the conclusion that the
county did not give its employees a "good faith' first consideration for the
senior maintenance mechanic III position," Stein concluded.
lEAP program coordinator sought
Staff
Opening
ALBANY — CSEA/LEAP, the Labor Education Action Program, is seeking a qualified candidate to serve as
program coordinator of its adult education program.
Responsibilities include program development and
operations, selection of instructors, and program review
and analysis.
Qualifications include a bachelor's degree with three
years experience in adult education, curricula, teacher supervision or program design. Master's degree may be substituted for one year's experience.
Valid driver's license and car fpr business use is also
required.
Submit resumes by Dec. 24 to Personnel Office, P.O.
Box 7125, Capital Station, Albany, N.Y. 12224.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, F r i d a y , D e c e m b e r 14, 1984
P a g e 15
aby enter boom
Country View Day Care
opens in Wilton
WILTON — The 21st State Employee Child Day Care Center — Country
View — opened at the Wilton Developmental Center here recently.
The modern facility, created in space which formerly housed facility offices, can take care of 25 children at present and has room for expansion to
provide care for an additional 10 children.
"This is an example of the good that can be accomplished when labor
and management work together to address a problem," Wilton Developmental
Center Local 416 President Fran Wilusz said at the center's dedication.
Molly Hardy, executive director of Empire State Day Care Services, noted
that 25 more day care facilities will be opening throughout the state during
the coming months. Most of that number will be located at State University
campus sites.
ATTHEOPENING —Country View Director Debbie Cianca, Wüten Develop- RIBBON RIPPING — Instead nf riittina n Hhhnn nhna^^^
mental Center President Fran Wüusz witH son Michael, and CSEA CapitS a brigMly c S
-
Children's
center
at CDPC
holds opening
The Carol A. Dunigan
Children's Day Center at
CDPC, Albany, recently
held its grand opening
celebration. The bright,
roomy facility which
cares for nearly 50 students was named in
honor of a former CSEA
CDPC Local 692 member
and MHTA who died last
year from cancer. On
hand at the opening were
Capital Region President
C. Alan Mead, center
Director Kathleen Sheehy and Hank Wagner, a
member of CSEA and
the center's board of
directors.
&
I
•'•it
''i
Page
16
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, F r i d a y , D e c e n f i b e r28,1 . 9 8 4
f
'lax simplification' plan tlireatens
employee benefits, Kirkland charges
The Treasury Department's "tax simplification" proposal is unfair to workers and shortchanges the nation's needs, AFL-CIO President
Lane Kirkland charged.
It wouldn't do anything to reduce the federal
deficit because the proposed tax increases and'
decreases balance out. But in the reshuffle, many
workers would end up paying more in taxes even
though tax rates would be reduced and personal
exemptions raised.
Kirkland pointed to the proposed taxation of
'Important fringe benefits" provided by employers.
*
Besides the taxation of health insurance benefits
above minimal levels, which President Reagan
proposed last year, the Treasury proposal calls for
taxing workers on the value of employer-provided
life insurance, education benefits and group legal
services.
Low-income persons would be taxed for the first
time on their imemployment benefits and injured
workers would have to pay taxes on workers' compensation. For those who itemize deductions, state
and local taxes would no longer be deductions
from taxable income and neither would most
charitable contributions and union dues.
Single-parent households and families where
both parents are employed would no longer
receive a tax credit for child care expenses. But
an affluent couple with one income would be able
to put aside $5,000 a year of tax-exempt savings
into an IRA (indivicjual retirement account). Under present law, the maximum would be $2,250.
Small contributors to political campaigns or political funds such as COPE would no longer be
eligible for a tax credit.
On the business side, the corporate tax rate
would be dropped but a variety of tax changes —
including some loophole closings urged by the
AFL-CIO — would result in.higher total tax payments from the corporate sector.
The corporate reforms will be targets of heavy
industry lobbying, and the political consensus was
that it would take active presidential support to
get them enacted.
But the White House quickly put a long arm's
length between President Reagan and Treasury
Secretary Donald T. Reagan, the principal
author of the tax package.
The president had directed the Treasury to
come up with a "revenue-neutral" tax package,
stressing "simplification" of the tax code.
When the package was formally unveiled^ after
its principal provisions had already been widely
reported, the White House issued a statement
from the president saying he realized the proposal
would "generate much debate," Reagan promised
that he would "personally'! review the plan and
consider public and congressional reaction before
proposing any legislation to C!ongress.
The reaction from influential members of Congress from both parties was markedly unenthusiastic.
A restructuring of the tax system "will demand
enormous political leadership from-the White
House," House Ways & Means Committee Chairman Dan Rostenkowski said.
"The deficit is probably our most urgent priority," the newly-elected Senate Republican leader,
Bob Dole, said.
'
There was a consensus that the final version of
any tax si^lication legislation that cleared Congress and became law would differ significantly
from the original Treasury proposal. As AFI^CIO
Research Director Rudy Oswald saw it, any
changes made by the White House as a result of
adverse reaction would more likely result in
restoring loopholes for business rather than elimination of inequities for workers.
On the plus side, Oswald said,'the Treasury
report did tilt — although not very strongly —
against a value-added tax or some other form of
a national sales tax. Such a tax is inherently
regressive, the report acknowledged, and its "considerable advantages" would have to be weighed
against "serious disadvantages."
The Treasury proposal also takes steps in what
the AFL-CIO considers the right direction by
amending the depreciation and investment credits
for business enacted in 1981 — in all, transferring
more than $30 billion in tax load from individual
to corporate income taxes.
The White House, meanwhile, adopted a comparable trial balloon approach in the shaping of
the budget that Reagan will send to Congress in
JanuaryV
Reagan has insisted that spending cuts - - exempting the two biggest components of the budget, military spending and social security—are the
heart of his plans for deficit reduction.
Along those lines, Budget Director David Stockman has submitted to the president a target list
of programs that would have to be drastically cut
or entirely eliminated in order to reduce a projected $200 billion dollar deficit in the next fiscal year
to $100 billion.
Details were not officially released, but administration officials have been quoted as terming the cutbacks "draconian." Government
retirement programs, student loans, veterans
benefits and farm supports are reportedly among
the administration's chief targets.
After Stockman's presentation, according to
White House press aide Larry Speakes, Reagan
said he would make no immediate decisions and
would "think more about it."
Political contributions also targeted by tax proposal
The Treasury Department's "tax simplification" proposals would affect both public funding of presidential campaigns and individual contributions to candidates and political committees.
Taxpayers now can claun a tax credit of 50 percent of political contributions, up to a maximum credit of $50 on an individual's tax return or
$100 on a joint return. Thus a person who contributes $100 to a candidate
for Congress or to a political action committee such as COPE can get what
amounts to a $50 rebate on income tax.
That tax credit would be eliminated under the Treasury Dept. recommendations.
The Treasury also is proposing to eliminate the option that taxpayers
have of aUocating $1 of their tax payments to provide public funding of
presidential campaigns.
The money that is built up through this fund is available in presidential election years for federal matching funds in primary campaigns and
for full funding of presidential elections for candidates who agree not to
use any other funds for their campaigns.
Thus far, the fund built up through the income tax checkoff has been
adequate under the funding formula established by Congress. If it fell short,
available amounts would be pro-rated among the candidates.
The question immediately arose as to whether the proposal to drop the
checkoff represented an administration attempt to eliminate public funding,of presidential c a m p a i ^ . Encouraging that view is the fact that President Reagan has several times indicated his dislike of public funding and
has not checked the campaign funding box on his own tax return. He has,
however, /accepted public funding for both his 1980 and 1984 election campaigns.
A high Treasury Department official told the AFL-CIO News that the
proposal was not a move to eliminate public funding of presidential campaigns. He said the Treasury view was that the mechanism for providing
funds should not be a part of the tax collection system and that Congress,
if it Wished to continue public funding, should provicte a difficult means of
allocating the money.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, F r i d a y . D e c e m b e r ) 4 . 1984
Page
17
LABOR JOINS
Kirkland
chairs
telethon
for
Negro
fund
t h e LOU RAWI
m m o f r n R s
fe Fund
OF
FU
The Lou Rawls Parade of Stan;
- n n most major dtieson'oTcer
from noon to midnight
J 2 celebnty^cted houfs of cnf^r'
donor calls, recording pied^S
and computing tallies
•
—
Among organized labor's
proudest achievements is its
historic role as a champion of
the right of all Americans to
education, and that philosophy
translates into direct action in
the AFL-CIO's long support of
the United Negro College Fund.
' This year, AFL-CIO President
Lane Kirkland, with the endorsement of the federation's
Executive Council, is serving as
UNCF's labor chairman for its
nationwide fund-raising telethon
to be broadcast in nearly 100 cities on Dec. 29.
The telethon, "Lou Rawls Parade
of Stars," is in its fifth year, and it
is the first national telethon ever
devoted to raising money for education. The IJWiour show will begin at
noon.
Kirkland, in agreeing to lead this
year's support effort by the AFI/ClO and its affiliates, stressed the
crucial importance of higher education in fortifying Americans to deal
with the most pressing problems
while building a just and prosperous
future.
"The black colleges were founded
a century ago on such dreams of a
bright, free future, and they continue today to satisfy the thirst of
young people for knowledge and
progress," Kirkland said.
Many of the schools that comprise
the United Negro College Fund are
in extreme financial difficulty, Kirkland observed in a letter to unionists
urging support of the fund.
"If these institutions cease to exist, we will be denying countiess
tax-deductible contribution and help deserv^q
Toung people secure a t o ^
college e d u c a t ^ a ^
fney need you.
you can help, call toll-free
n^nL
Lou Rawls
Parade of Stars
1-800-527-5222
United Nesro College Fund
Lane Kirkland, Labor C h a ^ ^ , ,
H(.otobyOwo
i htc"Sr
numbers of black youngsters the
equality of opportunity so vital to
their futures and to the future of our
nation," he said.
Kirkland said the AFLCIO, including its Education, Qvil Rights
and Community Services Departments, will be playing a "significant
role" in UNCF's programs "in keeping with the federation's longstanding commitment to higher education and the need to provide upward mobility for all of our youth."
The 42 private, predominantly
black colleges of the United Negro
College Fund enroll some 45,000 students annually. Although they make
up less than 4 percent of American
colleges, they enroll 35 percent of all
black students attending four-year
colleges and universities.
Many UNCF colleges are well
over a century old, founded in the
mid-1850s or after the Gvil War to
feed the hunger of young black
Americans for educatj^n and a better life. Students at UNCF schools
N
say they choose to attend them because they offer high academic
standards, small c l ^ e s and individualized attention and a unique
environment available only at a
pr^ominantly black college.
Liower tuition is also an attraction,
since the cost of attending a UNCF
school is about two-thirds less than
at comparable private colleges nationally. Most students at UNCF
schools are the children of lowincome families who can provide little or no financial help. The UNCF
reports that 90 percent of all students in its affiliated colleges need
scholarships and loans.
"A mind is a terrible thing to waste"
dents and other individuals. The
AFlrCIO has been a long-time supporter.
Among the graduates of UNCF
colleges have been Martin Luther
King, Jr., Olyanpic diampion Edwin
Moses, Metropolitan Opera soprano
Leontj^e Price, singer Lionel Ritdiie. Mayors Andrew Young of Atlanta and Ernest Morial of New
Orleans and the late Gen. Chappie
James, first black foui>star genei>
al in the Air Force.
Under its famous motto, "A mind
The "Parade of Stars" telethon
is a terrible thing to waste," the fund
has raised more than $350 million Dec. 29 will be hosted for the fifth
for its member institutions since its year by singer Lou Rawls, who
helped ^gto it. More than 50 nationfounding in 1944.
ally knowni popular performers are
scheduled
to appear during the
The UNCF relies on contributions
12-hour
broadcast
that starts at
from business, labor, foundations,
civic and other organizations, stu- noon.
Oswego unit ratifies pact
OSWEGO — For more than 150 Oswego County blue collarunit members,
the New Year will begin with a new two-year contract calling for pay increases
each year, plus other impQrtant benefits.
The unit, part of CSEA Oswego County Local 838, recently ratified the
agreement by an overwhelming margin.
Roger Kane, CSEA collective bargaining specialist and chief negotiator
for the unit, released terms of the pact effective Jan. 1, 1985.
They include an increase of 50 cents per hour, plus an increment step
where due, each year of contract; a new 25-year longevity step; full uniform
payment for mechanics; tool allowance of 75 dollars per year; an employee
dental plan; improved vacation benefits; and a seven-day notice prior to any
permanent work schedule changes.
Commenting on the new contract, Kane said, "The fact that unit members
voted overwhelming to ratify speaks for their general satisfaction with the
agreement. We think it offers some good unprovements and new benefits the
employees can certainly use and enjoy.-"
Kane also expressed his appreciation for the help and support of Fred
Potter, unit president, and the other members of his negotiating committee.
They include Larry Archibee, Brett Galvin, Steve Wilber, Hank Mattot and
Mark Bailey.
$5 exam fee waived
for ASU, ISU and
OSU employees only
ALBANY — CSEA has issued a reminder that the $5 filing fee for Civil
Service open competitive examinations is waived only for employees of the
union's Administrative, Institutional and Operational Services bargaining
units.
Waiver of the $5 application fee was negotiated by CSEA in the last
round of bargaining. Under the 1982-85 contracts for the three bargaining
units, the fee is assumed by CWEP — the joint labor-management
.Committee on the Work Environment and Productivity.
Anyone else taking an open competitive examination is required to pay
the fee.
A computer check verifies an applicant's eligibility for the waiver.
Otherwise, Civil Service will not verify the test score until the $5 fee is paid
by the applicant.
Judiciary locals revamped to better fit bargaining units
CSEA's judiciary locals have been restructured
by the Board of Directors in a move to bring the
locals' membership more in line with the bargaining units representing them.
In general, judiciary locals will now include all
Unified Court System employees represented by
CSEA, but will exclude Court of Claims employees
who will be represented within the State Division
of Criminal Justice Services Local 695.
At its November meeting, the Board approved
"There was a great need to reassign these judicial employees into their Öwn locals on a more uni- new membership clauses for Region I Judiciary
forpi basis," explained Director of Field Services , Local 330, Region III Judiciary Local 332, Region
V Judiciary Local 334, Region VI Judiciary Local
Paul Burch. "Office of Court Administration em335, and Westchester State Judiciary Employees
ployees have their own bargaining unit, and
Local 336. Unified Court System employees
negotiate separately from the other state emrepresented by CSEA in Regional will continue
ployees we represent. This restructuring is in line
to be members of Local 010, which will soon be
with our basic CSEA philosophy, and öhould improviding the judiciary employees their own unit.
prove our ability to represent these members."
Honoraria hikes for statewide officers OK'd by board
ALBANY—CSEA's statewide Board of Directors
has approved increases in the honoraria of the
union's four statewide officers, to take effect July 1,
1985. Under CSEA's constitution, any changes in the
honoraria must be approved ^ f o r e the election
process begins and cannot take effect until an
intervening election has been completed.
The Board's action followed the recommendations
of a seven- member committee which had studied the
honorarium structure. The committee's report took
into consideration the current salary structure for
the four offices, increased duties and responsibilities
of the positions, and comparisons with salaries of
other labor leaders.
The committee concluded that the current salaries are under par compared with those of leaders of
labor organizations representing sizeable memberships, and that the salaries should be brought up to
a respectable level commensurate with responsibilities of each position and then frozen to maintain stability.
The approved honorarium structure will be as
follows.
President: effective July 1, 1985, $78,000; 1986,
$82,000; and 1987, $86,000; Executive Vice President:
effective July 1,1985, $52,000; 1986, $59,000; and 1987,
$66,000; Secretary: effective July 1, 1985, $37,000;
1986, $41,500; and 1987, $46,000; Treasurer: same as
Secretary.
(See Meeting Highlights, page 2, for more
information.)
Union wins pay differential for
Cayuga Co. Nursing Home worlcers
AUBURN — Night shift employees at the Cayuga County Nursing Home
have been awarded a pay adjustment to reflect a differential of 10 percent of
their base rate following a recent arbitration decision.
Officials of the CSEA Cayuga County Local 806 unit were informed that
the award not only covers the rate of pay for time worked, but will
compensate for vacation, personal leave, sick leave and compensatory time
— all retroactive 60 days prior to filing of the initial grievance.
CSEA unit representatives filed the grievance in June after Cayifga
County paying night shift employees a differential of 50 cents per hour only
for hours worked. The grievance was moved through the three step
procedure to eventual arbitration through the CSEA Legal Assistance
Program.
During arbitration, CSEA Regional Attorney Earl Boyle contended that
under terms of the existing collective bargaining agreement the 10 percent
night shift differential should apply to all employees in the bargaining unit,
including employees at the Cayuga County Nursing Home, which opened in
April.
CSEA further argued that the county violated the contract when it paid
a night shift differential for time worked, but did not pay the differential for
vacation, personal leave, sick leave and compensatory time, as was the
practice with other night shift employees in the bargaining unit.
The union offered testimony of county employees other than those at the
nursing home that in the past 10 years the county had included the night shift
differential as. part of paid time off for those regularly scheduled to work
between 3 p.m. and 3 a.m.
„Unit President Michael Pisciotti also testified that the union never
waived the application of the contract with respect to the new employees in
the bargaining unit at the nursing home. And no requests for change in the
contract language had been discussed during negotiations for a successor
agreement.
In his decision, the arbitrator concluded that the unilateral change of
pay policy on the part of Cayuga Cdunty was inappropriate and ruled that
salaries of nursing home employees shall be adjusted to reflect a night shift
differential of 10 percent of their base rate of pay and adjusted to also
include the night shift differential in the rate of pay for vacation, personal
leave, sick leave and compensatory time."
In a comment following the award announcement, Pisciotti said, "we
are extremely pleased with the arbitrator's decision." He also expressed
thanks to Boyle for his excellent presentation of facts and legal asistance."
THE PUBLIC RECTOR. F r i d a y , D e c e m b e r 14, 1984
Page
19
i
d
. .Q year of challenge and
opportunity for CSE A . .
A MESSAGE FROM CSEA PRESIDENf WILIIAM L. McGOWAN
1985 will be a year of challenge and opportunity for CSEA and its members. This
is our 75th anniversary year. A time to look
back and celebrate the union's achievements, but also a time to look forward and
plan for new challenges.
Negotiations with New York State have
begun. This winter we will be negotiating
the three contracts that determine the salary and working conditions for half of our
membership. We are ready. We have excellent negotiating teams, our staff and
AFSCME's staff are preparing the
information we need, and we bring experience and expertise to the bargaining table. Even so, these negotiations will not be
Ä?
...
Page 20
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, F r i d a y , D e c e m b e r 14, 1984
• f*
.'.
easy. We will be facing a new governor and
a new chief negotiator for the state. It will
take determination and hard work to win
a fair contract.
I spoke with many of you at meetings
around the state and discussed these contract talks. I have looked at the contract demands that others have sent to
headquarters. Wages, health insurance and
job security seem to be the issues on most
people's minds. We will work hard to come
out of these talks with a good contract in
each of these areas.
In the area of local government, 1985 will
also be a year of challenge and opportunity. This year we will work hard to increase
our membership strength in local government. A union with solid membership support is a strong union.
Many local governments will face hard
times and will try to balance budgets on the
backs of our members. I want to make sure
that we are strong enough in those units to
negotiate from a position of strength and
win good contracts for all of the local
government workers we represent.
In this issu^ of The Public Sector is the
first half of a calendar that celebrates some
of the union's accomplishments. I hope you
will put it up in your workplace and take
a moment to reflect on how many things
that >ve take for granted are really hard
won union victories.
The holiday season is upon us. I hope that
each of you and your families enjoy this season of celebration and happiness. And I
wish you a very happy and peaceful year
in 1985.
7/