r
State worker
retro pay in
check
The n e x t p a y c h e c k s C S E A - r e p r e s e n t e d
s t a t e e m p l o y e e s receive will be the first t o reflect salary increases negotiated under the new
S t a t e / C S E A contracts.
R a i s e s negotiated under the new three-year
contracts will appear in p a y c h e c k s dated Aug.
7 for e m p l o y e e s on the Administrative payroll
and Aug. 1 5 for e m p l o y e e s on the Institutional payroll. The p a y c h e c k s will include both the
raises and retroactive p a y m e n t s to June 6 for
the Institutional payroll and June 1 3 for the
Admfiilstrative payroll,
CSEA-represented s t a t e workers in the Adiirilnistrative. Institutional and Operational
S e r v i c e s Units are scheduled to receive salary increases of 5 percent this year» 5 , 5 percent
in 1 9 8 6 , and 6 percent in 1 9 8 7 . The raises
c o m p o u n d t o 1 7 . 5 percent over the life of the
contract.
Official Publication of The Civil Service Employees Association Local 1000,
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
AFL-CiO.
(ISSN 0164 9949)
Vol. 8, No. 15
Friday, July 26, 1985
POL puts $ 2 0 , 0 0 0 workers in Buffalo clerk jobs
Uiiioii charges DOL unfair
with layoff recall practice
By Ron Wofford
CSEA C o m m u n i c a t i o n s A s s o c i a t e
WESTERN REGION PRESIDENT Robert L.
Lattimer...'*It's atrocious the way the DOL
is mishandling this whole situation."
BÜFFALO—Higher-paid e m p l o y e e s of the
s t a t e Department of Labor are taking the j o b s
of s o m e CSEA m e m b e r s in the Buffalo district,
and CSEA officials are calling the situation unfair and s m a c k i n g of politics.
Department of Labor CSEA Local 3 5 2 President Sharon Cordaro said s h e is "burned up"
about it, while C S E A Western Region President Robert L. Lattimer s a y s bluntly, "It's
atrocious the way the DOL is mishandling this
whole situation."
The problem had its i m p e t u s , according to
Cordaro, with federal fund c u t s that led to DOL
layoffs a c r o s s the s t a t e , including the Buffalo
area, where u n e m p l o y m e n t remains several
points higher than the rest of New York s t a t e .
S o m e e m p l o y e e s were called back from the
layoffs under the 4 . 8 E m e r g e n c y Hires provision of the Civil Service Law. But Cordaro s a y s
the manner in which the recall w a s m a d e is
"unfair,"and Lattimer said the inefficiency of
the top-heavy staff m a k e u p " s m a c k s of
politics."
Cordaro said, "I'm sure the rest of the taxpayers in New York s t a t e would be outraged
to know that this department is paying s o m e o n e over $ 2 0 , 0 0 0 per year t o perform the
d u t i e s of a clerk, w h o s e average yearly w a g e
is about $ 1 4 , 0 0 0 ; "
A d d s Lattimer, "For starters, they are not
laying off any top m a n a g e m e n t people, a s they
should, and they're decimating the department
itvmg
CSEA distributes
There is a great deal more to CSEA than may Initially meet
the eye. Behind Its Image as a powerful labor union lies a deep
human element. Examples abound, but none better than the
union's annual college scholarship awards program. Named
in memory of one of the union's best known activists, the late
Irving Flaumenbaum, the program provides scholarships to
needy and deserving college-bound children of CSEA members. Eighteen scholars this year have been selected to share
in $9,000 in awards. See pages 13-15 for capsule profiles of
the 1985 winners.
in the p r o c e s s . But, worst of all, the very people w h o s e job it is t o a s s i s t the j o b l e s s are being put into t h e u n e m p l o y m e n t lines. And we
have the Reagan Administration to thank for
that."
Both Lattimer and Cordaro have called on
Albany officials of the s t a t e Labor Department
to correct the situation in the Buffalo district,
where they s a y claims examiners are doing the
work of senior e m p l o y m e n t security clerks.
Cordaro has asked the Albany director of the
U n e m p l o y m e n t Insurance Division to rectify
the s i t u a t i o n s in the Lackawanna, Tonawanda
and Lockport o f f i c e s , and adds, " The Buffalo
office also s e e m s to fill every claims examiner
item that t h e y can, then u s e t h e m in a clerical
capacity, if they have to, in order to justify
their p r e s e n c e . Meanwhile vacant clerical
i t e m s remain vacant, or we l o s e them to other
districts. This whole hiring practice s e e m s
very inequitable."
Cordaro q u e s t i o n s "why the Department of
Labor, with its current budget crunch and funding s h o r t a g e s , would hire grade 1 4 s , that we
do not need, t o do the work of grade s e v e n s ,
that w e desperately do n e e d ? It s e e m s ridiculous to be overstaffed with higher paying jobs,
and understaffed with lower paying j o b s . "
With more layoffs looming for the beleaguered DOL, Regional President Lattimer,
Local President Cordaro, Field Representative
Vince Sicari and Collective Bargaining Specialist John Conoby have collectively vowed an allout effort to avoid any more layoffs, while correcting the present staffing inequities.
Fiaumenbaum
Memormi
This Certifies that
has been cliosco by oienibcrs of the
SUifcwkle Civil Service Eoiployecs As^ocr.
Scholansliip C o m m h u x to rceeivc a
CSEA Coilm:e
Scivjlamhip
'5
Growing plants for public places
By Anita Manley
CSEA Communication Associate
NEW ROCHELLE — Did you ever wonder who g r o w s all the flowers for the public parks? Or where the plants that are on display in public buildings c o m e f r o m ?
In W e s t c h e s t e r County, a 2 1 - y e a r C S E A e m p l o y e e named Minoru
Arita is the man with the green t h u m b .
Arita, whose horticultural talents are a family tradition, grew up with
a father, an uncle and c o u s i n s w h o earned their livelihoods growing and
selling flowers on Long Island. After a stint in the army, Arita went t o
work for his father raising tropical plants.
Later, he applied for a p o s i t i o n with W e s t c h e s t e r County and first
worked a s a gardener on the g r o u n d s of Rye Playland, a c o u n t y - o w n e d
a m u s e m e n t park located along Long Island S o u n d .
Four y e a r s later, Arita m o v e d t o the main g r e e n h o u s e on Glen Island where he w a s e m p l o y e d a s a nurseryman.
Arita s a y s working in the g r e e n h o u s e is a year-round job. Plants
and f l o w e r s are grown not only for t h e parks, but for indoor d i s p l a y s .
In fact, the c o u n t y building in White Plains b o a s t s one of the m o s t beautiful poinsettia d i s p l a y s in the area during D e c e m b e r . All t o g e t h e r , Arita e s t i m a t e s he g r o w s about 1 5 , 0 0 0 plants a year.
Arita c o m m e n t e d that working for the c o u n t y w a s the " b e s t m o v e
I ever m a d e . " He added that union b e n e f i t s s u c h a s vacation and retirem e n t p e n s i o n are a plus, and that he a p p r e c i a t e s attending union m e e t i n g s b e c a u s e he " r e m e m b e r s the d a y s when it u s e d t o be rough t o be
active in a union.
" M a n a g e m e n t g a v e y o u a hard t i m e , " he recalls. "But unions have
c o m e a long way and C S E A h a s g o t t e n a lot for u s . "
A s k e d if any of his three children plan to follow in their father's foots t e p s , Arita s a y s only o n e is i n t e r e s t e d in plants and flowers.
"The other t w o live in c o n d o m i n i u m s , " he said. "They don't even
want t o m o w g r a s s . "
Arita estimates he
grows about 15,000
plants a year.
FLOWER MAN — Westchester County Nurseryman Minoru Arita
shows Region III President Pat Mascioli some of the flowers that
he raised in his greenhouse during the winter. The plants now grace
the entrance to Glen Island, one of the most beautiful county parks
on Long Island Sound.
rose by
any other name'
Bedford School
worker w i n s
out-of-title
grievance
2
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
BEDFORD — If a " r o s e is a r o s e is a r o s e , " is a
t e a c h e r ' s aide a t e a c h e r ' s aide—or is s h e a clerktypist?
S h e is if s h e ' s performing the d u t i e s of a clerktypist even if s h e d o e s n ' t have the title. That's according t o Arbitrator David S t e i n w h o ruled that a C S E A
m e m b e r hired a s a teacher's aide in the Bedford School
District h a s been functioning a s a clerk-typist and
s h o u l d be paid a s s u c h .
The union m e m b e r , Dorothy Knox, w a s hired In
1 9 8 2 a s secretary t o the m a t h d e p a r t m e n t and w a s
told s h e would perform s u c h d u t i e s a s typing, xeroxing and taking inventory.
Knox filed an out-of-title grievance and although
the district argued that it w a s not arbitrable, S t e i n
agreed that "the majority of d u t i e s performed by the
grievant s i n c e her e m p l o y m e n t fall within the County
Personnel D e p a r t m e n t ' s job description for the typist position, as opposed to the teacher's aide position."
In addition, he e m p h a s i z e d , the teacher's ajde job
description s p e c i f i c a l l y s t a t e s that " p o s i t i o n s requiring e x c e s s i v e clerical work and/or qualified typing are
not within t h i s c l a s s i f i c a t i o n . "
S t e i n w e n t on t o s a y that " S i n c e the district conc e d e d that typing, t e l e p h o n e answering, collating
d o c u m e n t s and d o c u m e n t reproduction c o n s t i t u t e d
the great majority of the grievant's f u n c t i o n s , it appears that Mrs. Knox's duties required ' e x c e s s i v e clerical work and qualified typing,' contrary to the e x p r e s s
requirements of the Personnel Department's Teacher's
Aide job d e s c r i p t i o n . "
C S E A A t t o r n e y Arthur Grae n o t e d that t h e decision is likely t o have e f f e c t s on other t e a c h e r ' s a i d e s
in Bedford.
"This clearly s e t s a precedent for other e m p l o y e e s
in the bargaining unit w h o are being similarly utilized
to perform what is t a n t a m o u n t t o fulltime secretary
d u t i e s for d e p a r t m e n t c h a i r p e r s o n s and o t h e r
t e a c h e r s , " said Grae.
August9,1985
Coyle retirement
o p e n s up career
advancements for
Carey 9 Wyngaard
ALBANY — The retirement of
T o m Coyle» a 2 5 - y c a r veteran with
C S E A , a s staff director of t h e C o m m i t t e e on t h e Work E n v i r o n m e n t
and Productivity (CWEP) h a s resulted in p r o m o t i o n s and n e w r e s p o n s i bilities for t w o well-known C S E A
staff m e m b e r s .
J a c k Carey, the union's l o n g - t i m e
administrative director of c o l l e c t i v e
bargaining, h a s b e e n appointed t o a
n e w p o s i t i o n c r e a t e d by C o y l e ' s
retirement. Carey h a s been s u c c e e d ed by Bruce Wyngaard, formerly ass o c i a t e research director for C S E A .
Carey h a s been n a m e d director of
the joint S t a t e / C S E A C o m m i t t e e on
the Quality of Worklife. He will serve
a s t h e s o l e director of t h e c o m m i t t e e . M o s t s u c h c o m m i t t e e s usually
f u n c t i o n with c o - d i r e c t o r s , o n e
representing m a n a g e m e n t and t h e
other labor. Carey's a p p o i n t m e n t
w a s m a d e jointly by T h o m a s Hartnett, director of the g o v e r n o r ' s Off i c e of E m p l o y e e Relations, and
CSEA
President
William
L.
McGowan.
TOM COYLE, above. Retired
after 25 years with CSEA.
Carey joined C S E A 2 2 y e a r s a g o
a s a field representative, and served
a s a s s i s t a n t e x e c u t i v e director and
acting e x e c u t i v e director of C S E A
prior t o being n a m e d administrative
director of c o l l e c t i v e bargaining.
JACK CAREY, rigiit. New
director of Committee on
tiie Quality of Woriclife.
The new administrative director of
c o l l e c t i v e bargaining, Bruce Wyngaard, h a s b e e n with C S E A s i n c e
1978.
BRUCE WYMQAARD, far
right. New administrative
director of collective bargaining.
The staff c h a n g e s went Into e f f e c t
July 1 5 .
Salary s c h e d u l e hike
also in S m i t h t o w n pact
SMITHTOWN — A s t o r y in t h e July 1 2 , 1 9 8 5 i s s u e of The Public S e c t o r c o n c e r n i n g t h e c o n t r a c t recently ratified by m e m b e r s of
the S m i t h t o w n C S E A CInit of S u f f o l k County C S E A Local 8 5 2 w a s
I n c o m p l e t e . While noting t h e a g r e e m e n t c o n t a i n s salary i n c r e a s e s of
4 percent and 5 percent, plus i n c r e m e n t s , t h e story did not report
that additional 2 . 5 percent and 2 p e r c e n t I n c r e a s e s will be added t o
t h e salary s c h e d u l e on July 1, 1 9 8 5 and 1 9 8 6 , r e s p e c t i v e l y .
ADIRONDACK CORRECTIONAL CSEA LOCAL 170, one of the Capital Region's newest locals, recently held its first Information Day
program at the facility. In photo at right. Local 170 President
Lawrence Dailey , center, is flanked by CSEA Capital Region Director John D. Corcoran Jr., left, and Adirondack Prison Superintendent James Racette. Dailey labeled the program "a great success. . .
everyone, even management, was impressed."
S o m e l i f e insurance c o n v e r s i o n
may b e p o s s i b l e
CSEA Insurance Department 33 Elk Street Albany, N.Y. 12224
Certain CSEA members insured under the Basic Group Life Insurance Program are eligible to convert part of their coverage, without medical information, to an individual form of insurance with the Travelers Insurance Company.
This in-service conversion privilege allows any actively employed member
participating in the Group Life Program who is age 50 or older, to convert up
to $5,000 of this term insurance to an individual form of coverage other than
term insurance. The amount of the group term insurance the employee is insured for will be reduced by the amount converted.
Application must be made by Aug. 31, and the effective date of the converted insurance will be Nov. 1. Premium payments for the converted insurance will be made directly to Travelers Insurance Company.
Additional information on the conversion privilege may be obtained by returning the adjacent coupon.
July 26, 1985
Please send me information concerning the conversion privilege for the CSEA Basic Group Life Insurance Program.
NAME:
Home
Middle Initial
First
Last
Maiden
Address:
Street
Chy
State
Zip
Place of Employment:
Social Security Number:
Sex:.
Date of Birth:
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
3
SPublie
SSECTOR
Official publication of
The Civil Service Employees Association
Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO
33 Ellc Street, Albany, New York 12224
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.
ROGER A. COLE - Editor
BRIAN K. BAKER — Associate Editor
Address changes should be sent to: Civil Service Employees Association, The Public Sector, 33 Elk Street,
Albany, New York 12224.
Political action a
factor in Deer Park
DEER PARK — U n i o n political a c t i o n at i t s f i n e s t w a s d e m o n s t r a t ed r e c e n t l y w h e n a pair of C S E A - e n d o r s e d . c a n d i d a t e s s w e p t t o victory
in r a c e s for s e a t s o n t h e D e e r Park S c h o o l D i s t r i c t Board of E d u c a t i o n .
C S E A w a s very i n v o l v e d in a s s i s t i n g in t h e e l e c t i o n of C a m i l e Tillis
and J o h n J . C o u g h l i n t o t h e Board s e a t s . Union o f f i c i a l s s a i d t h e y felt
p r e v i o u s Board m e m b e r s did n o t g i v e union e m p l o y e e s t h e r e s p e c t and
c o n c e r n t h e y d e s e r v e d . S u f f o l k E d u c a t i o n a l C S E A Local 8 7 0 P r e s i d e n t
Walter W e e k s s a i d h e f e e l s union m e m b e r s will g e t "a fair s h a k e " f r o m
Coughlin and Tillis a s Board m e m b e r s .
In p h o t o at right, new Board m e m b e r s Coughlin and Tillis are flanked
by Deer Park S c h o o l D i s t r i c t ü n i t P r e s i d e n t T o m Corridan, left, and
C S E A R e g i o n 1 P r e s i d e n t D a n n y D o n o h u e , right. S t a n d i n g , left t o right,
are Local 8 7 0 P r e s i d e n t W e e k s , CJnit S e c o n d V i c e P r e s i d e n t Edna
D o m e i s c h e l , CJnit Political A c t i o n Chairman Mike P a l m o , CInit First Vice
President Ray Archer, Region I PAC Coordinator G u s N i e l s o n , PAC Comm i t t e e m e m b e r Chris M u l d o o n , and Region I PAC Chairman Mike Curtin.
Board of
Direcfors
EDITOR'S N O T E : The Public Sector regularly
publishes a s u m m a r y of actions taken by CSEA's
Statewide Board of Directors at the Board's official
meetings. This s u m m a r y is prepared for the information of union m e m b e r s .
B y Irene Carr
CSEA Statewide Secretary
MAY MEETING
The S t a t e w i d e Board of D i r e c t o r s on May 1 6
a p p r o v e d a n e w private s e c t o r local for C S E A r e p r e s e n t e d e m p l o y e e s of M c A u t o S y s t e m s
Group, Inc., w h o p r o c e s s Medicaid c l a i m s for t h e
s t a t e D e p a r t m e n t of S o c i a l S e r v i c e s .
The Board r e q u e s t e d t h e P e r s o n n e l C o m m i t t e e t o review and e s t a b l i s h all j o b d e s c r i p t i o n s in
t h e D e p a r t m e n t of O r g a n i z i n g , and to review t h e
reporting p r o c e d u r e s of s t a f f . The Board a s k e d
for a report and r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s by A u g . 1.
J U N E MEETIMG
The Board of D i r e c t o r s at its m e e t i n g on J u n e
2 0 a p p r o v e d a m o t i o n for a five-year l e a s e of a
4
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
Meeting highlights
P i t n e y - B o w e s c o p i e r and mailing s y s t e m for u s e
by N e w York City Local 0 1 0 .
By a u n a n i m o u s Board v o t e , t h e Treasurer Is
now authorized t o m a k e a d j u s t m e n t s in d u e s coll e c t i n g b a s e d on s p e c i f i c s c o n s i s t e n t with t h e
C S E A b y - l a w s , only for t h e f i s c a l y e a r in w h i c h
t h e r e q u e s t is r e c e i v e d .
T h e n a m e of F l o r e n c e Drew will be p l a c e d on
t h e Memorial Plaque at C S E A h e a d q u a r t e r s .
The D i r e c t o r s B u d g e t C o m m i t t e e is r e s p o n s i ble for p r e s e n t i n g t o t h e Board any and all inform a t i o n regarding t h e f i s c a l c o n d i t i o n of t h i s
union, and a l s o their financial p r o j e c t i o n s for t h e
1 9 8 5 - 8 6 f i s c a l year. T h e Board w a n t s t h i s inform a t i o n s o that it c a n e f f e c t i v e l y a d d r e s s t h e deficit situation a s material p r e s e n t e d for d i s c u s s i o n
at t h e A u g . 1 m e e t i n g of t h e Board of D i r e c t o r s .
A m o t i o n that a local for t h e Greene Correctional Facility be f o r m e d w a s a p p r o v e d .
A u t h o r i z a t i o n for t h e d i s b a n d m e n t of t h e local
at t h e Long Island Correctional Facility w a s
granted.
The S u f f o l k C o u n t y B O C E S II Clnit is b e i n g all o w e d t o transfer from S u f f o l k C o u n t y Local 8 5 2
to S u f f o l k C o u n t y E d u c a t i o n a l Local 8 7 0 .
A motion to accept modifications to the CSEA
B a s i c Group I n s u r a n c e Plan, a s l i s t e d by t h e
Standing Insurance C o m m i t t e e report, w a s grante d . The nine i n s u r a n c e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s would be
e l i m i n a t e d and r e p l a c e d with four o p t i o n s t o be
s e l e c t e d at t i m e of e n r o l l m e n t . Salary will not det e r m i n e t h e a m o u n t of c o v e r a g e , a g e will determ i n e t h e rate and a triple i n d e m n i t y f e a t u r e for
a c c i d e n t a l d e a t h o c c u r r i n g while traveling o n a
c o m m o n carrier will b e a d d e d . Finally, t h e new
m e m b e r g u a r a n t e e d i s s u e p r o g r a m will be extended from 1 2 0 to 1 8 0 days. Beyond 1 8 0 days
t h e r e would be a s h o r t m e d i c a l required for all
a m o u n t s and a g e s .
An Annual W o m e n s C o n f e r e n c e will be held every s e c o n d or third w e e k s t a r t i n g N o v e m b e r
1985.
Patricia M e t z g e r , Ruth L e w i s , Ruby H a m i l t o n ,
Delia Middleton and S t e v e Penzik were confirmed
a s m e m b e r s of t h e Region II Political A c t i o n c o m mittee.
R e n o v a t i o n s are c o n t i n u i n g in C S E A ' s new
headquarters.
August9,1985
George Boncoraglio
Named
Bronx
labor
leader
of year
BRONX — C S E A Region II President G e o r g e
Boncoraglio has been s e l e c t e d "Labor Leader of
the Year" by the Bronx D e m o c r a t s , an honor that
proves New Yorkers are taking n o t i c e of the
young labor leader for his a c h i e v e m e n t s after but
o n e year a s head of the union's Metropolitan
Region.
In presenting the award, Bronx D e m o c r a t i c
"LABOR LEADER OF THE YEAR George Boncoraglio is flanked by CSEA Region III President Pat Mascioli, left, and CSEA Region V President Jim lAoore, both of whom were on hand
to congratulate the Region II president for being honored by the Bronx Democrats.
District Leader D e n i s O'Grady praised Boncoraglio a s o n e of the " m o s t d e d i c a t e d f i g h t e r s
for his p e o p l e " that he h a s ever m e t . He went on
to cite the C S E A leader a s a force for strengthening C S E A t h r o u g h o u t the Mew York City area,
and said the union is making its p r e s e n c e known
a s never before.
Boncoraglio a c c e p t e d the honor on behalf of his
m e m b e r s h i p , saying, "CSEA is no longer a sleeping giant in New York City." He added, "My own
feeling is that I've only just begun a long, hard
t a s k . I can p r o m i s e you that I won't let y o u down
and will c o n t i n u e t o do m y very b e s t in working
toward greater dignity for CSEA m e m b e r s and all
working p e o p l e . "
o n e of ' m o s t d e d i c a t e d f i g h t e r s for h i s p e o p l e
Union not obligated t o accept
contract lacking pay grade hike
PORT CHESTER — When the Village of Port
C h e s t e r refused t o include pay grade i n c r e a s e s
for sanitation workers in a new c o n t r a c t , it w a s
a violation of the Public E m p l o y e e s Fair Employ-
m e n t A c t , A d m i n i s t a t i v e Law J u d g e S u s a n A.
C o m e n z o h a s ruled.
C o m e n z o a l s o d i s m i s s e d an improper practice
charge brought a g a i n s t C S E A for its refusal t o
s i g n t h e c o n t r a c t which did not include t h e upgrading.
A c c o r d i n g t o Region III Field R e p r e s e n t a t i v e
Larry Sparber, the sanitation workers were referred to a s 'laborers' during c o n t r a c t negotiat i o n s . At the t i m e , during March 1 9 8 4 , Sparber
said he told the village m a n a g e r that the term
'laborers' e n c o m p a s s e d the village's sanitation
crew. Sparber said that s i n c e the m o t o r equipm e n t o p e r a t o r s who drive sanitation t r u c k s had
been upgraded in the previous c o n t r a c t that it
w a s important to upgrade sanitation workers during p r e s e n t contract talks.
A tentative a g r e e m e n t reached in May s t a t e d
that laborers, grade 9 , were t o be upgraded t o
grade 1 0 . However, when the first payroll following ratification w a s i s s u e d , none of the sanitation
workers received their upgrading.
A l t h o u g h the village manager c o n t e n d e d that
no e x t e n s i v e d i s c u s s i o n of the laborers' upgrading proposal occurred and that no m e n t i o n w a s
m a d e of upgrading sanitation workers, C o m e n zo said s h e found that the proposal w a s in fact
d i s c u s s e d at length. "The village, by p r e s e n t i n g
for e x e c u t i o n a c o l l e c t i v e bargaining a g r e e m e n t
which did not include s u c h an upgrading, repudiated this a g r e e m e n t , " C o m e n z o ruled. " C S E A
had no obligation to e x e c u t e a c o l l e c t i v e bargaining a g r e e m e n t which m i s r e p r e s e n t e d the parties'
a g r e e m e n t , " the judge said. .
REGION III FIELD REP Larry Sparber, second from right, shows sanitation workers a copy
of Administrative Law Judge Susan A. Comenzo's decision granting them the upgradings
that were negotiated for them. From left are Shop Steward Ed Parham, Danny Giandurco
and Vincent Corbo, both members of the negotiating team; Unit President Virginia Telesca,
Sparber, and CSEA Region III President Pat Mascioli.
June 14, 1985
C o m e n z o ordered village officials t o " c e a s e and
d e s i s t from refusing t o include in any c o l l e c t i v e
bargaining a g r e e m e n t offered for e x e c u t i o n a pay
grade increase for sanitation workers from grade
9 t o grade 1 0 . "
The village has decided to appeal the ruling,
Sparker said, but he is "hopeful the PERB board
will s u s t a i n the d e c i s i o n . "
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
5
Cornell labor courses ^change lives'
FISHKILL — They ail agree: Education is the most effective
weapon today In guarding the advances made by labor unions.
**They'* are five CSEA members from Region III who recently
received certificates for completion of a two-year program at the
Cornell School of Industrial and Labor Relations. They say the program helped them to become better unionists and, in some cases,
changed their lives.
Here are their stories.
Rciigjlon III members who are Interested In
enrolling for the fall semester at Dutchess,
Orange, Rockland or Westchester community
colleges should contact program coordinator
Marjorle Glusker at (914) 695-3455.
S A N D Y FRANO, a staff a s s i s t a n t t o the W e s t c h e s t e r County director of labor relations, s a y s s h e felt the program would give her the knowle d g e s h e n e e d s t o help other c o u n t y e m p l o y e e s .
The b e s t part of t h e program, s h e said, w a s t h e i n v o l v e m e n t of other public and private labor u n i o n s .
learned m o r e from their exp e r i e n c e s . S o m e of t h e m were union p r e s i d e n t s and o f f i c e r s and had
e x p e r i e n c e in organizing and n e g o t i a t i n g . "
Frano noted that the program gave her s o m e b a s k k n o w l e d g e about
how t o be m o r e e f f e c t i v e a s a union m e m b e r .
"I know t h e correct g r i e v a n c e procedure, for e x a m p l e , " s h e said.
"The c o u r s e s have given' m e g o o d background information. I can help
t h e people w h o call m e up with p r o b l e m s and q u e s t i o n s . "
J O H N FELLA, a Rockland County social worker and
C S E A s h o p s t e w a r d , said he s i g n e d up for t h e program
"with no long-term c o m m i t m e n t .
"But when I g o t into Labor Law, I found it very interesting and I w a n t e d t o g e t into it. A s I b e c a m e m o r e involved
and learned about labor/management relationships, I gained
a better understanding of t h e u n i o n , " s a y s Fella.
While Fella h a s a m a s t e r s degree In social work. He s a y s
the c o u r s e s he c o m p l e t e d m a y have c h a n g e d t h e c o u r s e of
his life and could m e a n a w h o l e new career for him in the
future. An e m p l o y e e of Rockland County for 11 y e a r s , he
now w o r k s a s a fraud and fair hearing investigator for t h e
Department of S o c i a l S e r v i c e s .
6
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
IRENE S A C C E N D E , a c o d e enforcer for t h e t o w n of Clarkstown in
Rockland C o u n t y said that after s h e b e c a m e a s h o p s t e w a r d , s h e realized that s h e n e e d e d t o s h a r p e n her skills t o better represent m e m b e r s .
"I could s p e a k for m e m b e r s , but I had t o know m o r e about t h i s . "
The program at Cornell m e t her n e e d s , s h e s a y s .
"It w a s very beneficial. Even if you don't u s e all the knowledge, you
know your rights, y o u know what t o do. It's a g o o d learning experience,"
said S a c c e n d e .
An active m e m b e r of the Region ill Political Action C o m m i t t e e , Sacc e n d e is involved in t h e Rockland County Voluntary Mediation Program
and Is i n t e r e s t e d in s o m e d a y g o i n g into t h e arbitration field.
GARY J O S E P H , an e m p l o y e e of Rockland Psychiatric Center s a y s he f e e l s
m a n y union m e m b e r s are s h o r t c h a n g e d
b e c a u s e they don't know t h e law. J o s e p h
Is especially concerned with his non- English s p e a k i n g c o - w o r k e r s w h o d o not understand t h e function of t h e union.
J o s e p h s a y s t h e c o u r s e s in labor law,
organizing and negotiations were m o s t int e r e s t i n g t o him. M o s t important, t h e
program helped him better u n d e r s t a n d
and appreciate labor u n i o n s .
"Labor organizers led t h e way for t h e
rest of u s , " he said. "We t a k e it all for
granted, but there w a s a price paid."
MARY VERRILLI, w h o s e r v e d on t h e
Harrison S c h o o l District n e g o t i a t i n g
t e a m , s a y s t h e program e x p a n d e d her
c o n c e p t of labor relations.
" U n i o n s are c h a n g i n g s o rapidly," s h e
remarks. "Education i s t h e only way t o
g o b e c a u s e y o u have t o learn t o c o m m u nicate not just with m a n a g e m e n t , but
with your fellow m e m b e r s . '
Looking t o w a r d s t h e future, Verrilli
s a y s s h e would like t o c o n t i n u e her labor
education and return t o s c h o o l t o earn an
a s s o c i a t e s d e g r e e in labor relations.
August9,1985
Donohue speech peps up Cornell grads
FARMINGDALE — It w a s an inspiring m e s s a g e
that Region I President Danny D o n o h u e had for rec e n t g r a d u a t e s of the Cornell S c h o o l of Industrial
and Labor Relations.
"Go and tell people what y o u ' v e learned here.
We are all brothers and s i s t e r s w h o will c o n t i n u e to
work t o g e t h e r s o that labor b e c o m e s an e v e n
stronger and more unified force," Donohue told
m e m b e r s of the program's twelfth graduating c l a s s .
The two-year program at Cornell includes indepth s t u d i e s in labor law, collective bargaining, arbitration, union administration and various other
subjects.
On hand for the graduation c e r e m o n y were t w o
A d v a n c e d Labor S t u d i e s g r a d u a t e s from CSEA:
Ralph S p a g n o l o , president of t h e Department of
Public Works Unit of Massau County Local 8 3 0 ; and
Geraldine M c N e e c e - C h r i l s , president of t h e local's
Farmingdale Library Unit."
"The c o u r s e w a s e x c e l l e n t , " said S p a g n o l o . "In
addition t o the actual c l a s s e s , you had a diverse mix
of u n i o n s all sharing t h o u g h t s and ideas. I t h o u g h t
this w a s great b e c a u s e it gave us the chance t o learn
from e a c h o t h e r . "
C S E A Field R e p r e s e n t a t i v e Irwin S c h a r f e l d ,
who taught a c l a s s in union administration last Fall,
n o t e d that t h e progräm h e l p s create better unionists.
"When m e m b e r s t a k e s c o u r s e s like t h e s e , a s
well a s t h e p r o g r a m s C S E A o f f e r s t h r o u g h o u t t h e
year, they b e c o m e very well- e d u c a t e d about union
matters. It helps t h e m to better help our m e m b e r s , "
said S c h a r f e l d .
STUDENT SPEAKER, TEACHER — Pictured from left are:
Ralph S p a g n o l o , Danny
Donohue and Irwin Scharfeld.
At Upstate Medical
Members raise $4K for pediatrics unit
S Y R A C Ü S E — M e m b e r s of ( I p s t a t e Medical Center Local 6 1 5 and
o t h e r s from Region V followed through last m o n t h on an old pledge when
t h e y d o n a t e d m o r e than $ 4 , 0 0 0 for a new unit at the central New York
facility.
At grand opening c e r e m o n i e s for the c e n t e r ' s new Pediatric Intensive
Care Unit, local o f f i c e r s p r e s e n t e d the administration a c h e c k for
$ 4 , 3 6 5 . 8 0 on behalf of C S E A m e m b e r s .
The new million-dollar unit w a s officially o p e n e d to serve a 1 5 - c o u n t y
referral area with the m o s t s o p h i s t i c a t e d and modern t e c h n o l o g y , equipm e n t and s e r v i c e s for improved health care for children.
Local President Kathy Collins e x p l a i n s that C S E A m e m b e r s from the
local and region have been involved s i n c e 1 9 8 2 in a supportive role in fund
raising for the the new state-of-the-art P1CÜ.
"While t h e unit w a s still in the planning s t a g e , m e m b e r s of Local 6 1 5
were eager t o take part in helping fund the project," s h e s a y s .
Collins said that the local g o t a "wholehearted e n d o r s e m e n t " from Region V President J i m Moore on an idea t o raise m o n e y for the project by
selling bumper s t i c k e r s region-wide.
"In the m o n t h s that followed, contributions arrived from s c o r e s of
s t a t e , c o u n t y and educational l o c a l s and units,"Collins said. "It turned out
t o be a t r e m e n d o u s C S E A effort for a very worthwhile c a u s e . "
PASSING THE BUCK — CSEA support for the new Pediatric intensive Care Unit at Upstate Medical Center was clear when Local 615
President Kathy Collins, right, presented Charles Calligaris, hospital administrator, with a check for $4,365.80. Also on hand for the
presentation during the unit's grand opening ceremonies were Rick
Noreault, Local 615 executive vice president, and Janet Mitchell,
secretary.
June 14, 1985
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
7
OSH SPECIALIST FLOYD PAYNE
Coordination of e f f o r t s
a t o p priority of union's
n e w e s t safety specialist
By S t e p h e n Madarasz
CSEA Communications A s s o c i a t e '
NEW YORK --- "You really n e e d a t e a m approach t o s t a f f i n g , " s a y s CSEA^s n e w e s t o c cupational s a f e t y and health s p e c i a l i s t . A n d if
t h a t ' s t h e c a s e , Floyd Payne s h o u l d fit right
into the line-up because he already knows all
the players, and d o e s n ' t n e e d a s c o r e c a r d .
Payne recently b e c a m e the occupational
s a f e t y and health s p e c i a l i s t in Region H after
1 6 y e a r s a s a union activist, m o s t recently
serving a s regional first vice president and
president of Manhattan Psychiatric Center
CSEA Local 4 1 3 .
In addition to working with the regional staff
to identify and correct s a f e t y problems, Payne
s e e s h i s new role a s a coordinator for t h e efforts of C S E A local officers and m e m b e r s . "It's
Important for l o c a l s t o have a place t o bring
information and g e t help. The O S H c o m m i t t e e s s h o u l d f u n c t i o n like grievance c o m m i t t e e s . That's only Just starting to happen," said
Payne. He said l o c a l s have t o be m u c h m o r e
active where hazardous c o n d i t i o n s are concerned.
" L o c a l s have t o realize that it's up t o t h e m
t o identify an i s s u e and s u g g e s t a s o l u t i o n . I
want t o m a k e sure they know how t o d o that,"
Payne said.
To g e t r e s u l t s , P a y n e c o n t e n d s l o c a l s have
t o work with m a n a g e m e n t to resolve differe n c e s . Both s i d e s have t o c o m m u n i c a t e . "Even
when there are p r o b l e m s in the workplace,
b u s i n e s s h a s t o g o on. That can't happen un-
l e s s w e talk t o e a c h other t o work thirigs o u t . "
And by keeping t h e lines of c o m m u n i c a t i o n
o p e n , Payne b e l i e v e s m a n y s i t u a t i o n s can be
a d d r e s s e d without having t o g o t o a formal
grievance.
A s e x a m p l e s , Payne p o i n t e d t o a n u m b e r of
s u c c e s s e s h e had a s Local 4 1 3 p r e s i d e n t after h e brought s a f e t y c o n c e r n s t o m a n a g e m e n t ' s attention. "We pointed out fire hazards,
a s b e s t o s in the walls and c e i l i n g s , and intolerable n o i s e l e v e l s in the physical plants. It
wasn't until then that action w a s t a k e n . "
He s a y s he Is particularly c o n c e r n e d that
Mental Health locals b e c o m e m o r e involved in
s a f e t y rhatters.
Payne said he w a s w i t n e s s t o a d e c l i n e in
c o n d i t i o n s at Manhattan Psychiatric Center
s i n c e he first began working there in t h e late
fifties. "What I enjoyed m o s t w a s helping people, but It b e c o m e s harder t o k e e p up with the
work when y o u don't have t h e t o o l s t o do t h e
j o b , " he said, insisting that MPC h a s g o n e
from being an institution d e s i g n e d t o care for
t h e chronically ill into an a c u t e care dumping
ground that i s not able t o m e e t that p u r p o s e .
Said Payne, "Whatever p a t i e n t s t h e c i t y
h o s p i t a l s can't handle or don't want t o deal
with are s e n t over t o Manhattan Psychiatric,
and that Just increases the risk for the worke r s . The e m p l o y e e injury rates are just stag-
FLOYD PAYNE, the union's newest occiipatlonal safety and health specialist,
said one of his priorities is to coordinate
efforts of staff and locals in resolving safer
ty problems quickly and effectively.
gering and there have t o be s t e p s taken t o deal
with It. Short s t a f f i n g i s a continual problem
but in the s h o r t term w e n e e d t o p r o t e c t workers who have t h e m s e l v e s o n t h e line every
day."
Payne said, "Individuals have t o be aware
that by law t h e y have a right t o e x p e c t a s a f e
place t o work," he c o n c l u d e d .
Onion history
taught in t h e
Troy classroom
CSEA REGION IV President C. Allen Mead, third from left
in above photo, presents prizes to winners in a CSEAsponsored "History of Labor Unions" contest for Troy
High School students. First place winner Randy Brenner
receives a $50 bond from Mead. From left are Elizabeth
Nichols, president of CSEA City of Troy School unit; third
place winner Amy Dworsky; Mead; Brenner; second placp
winner John Daniels; and Troy School Superintendent
Mario Scalzi.
A PLAQUE is awarded by CSEA to the administration of
the City of Troy School District for the district's cooperation in conducting the first "History of Labor Unions"
program. In photo at right are Doyle Middle School Executive Principal James Gorman, Superintendent Mario
Scalzi, CSEA Region IV President C. Allen Mead, and
CSEA City of Troy School Unit President Elizabeth
Nichols.
8
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
August9,1985
Kings Park PC MHTA
cleared of neglect charge
in patient murder
By Sheryl Carlin
CSEA Communications
Associate
KINGS PARK—Hard work and
perseverance on the part of CSEA
paid off recently when a 2 1 - y e a r
veteran e m p l o y e e of Kings Park
Psychiatric Center w a s exonerated of i n c o m p e t e n c e and m i s c o n duct c h a r g e s .
The c h a r g e s w e r e b r o u g h t
a g a i n s t MHTA Monica Martin by
Kings Park P. C. administration
following an incident in which o n e
patient killed another in one of the
locked wards where Martin w a s
on d u t y . T h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n
claimed that t h e murder resulted
from "patient n e g l e c t " and that a
physical altercation would not
have occurred if Martin had b e e n
sitting in a "designated area"
Tony Bentivegna
MHTA
Martin
recalls
that
night
where the p a t i e n t s could be
"properly m o n i t o r e d . "
But e x a m i n a t i o n of t h e murder
s i t e by C S E A A t t o r n e y Lester
-Lipkind revealed that it could not
have been v i e w e d from that area.
The arbitrator in t h e c a s e n o t e d
Monica Martin
that a diagram and p h o t o g r a p h s
of the ward clearly indicated that
e v e n if s o m e o n e were sitting at
the e x a c t l o c a t i o n that t h e s t a t e
specified, the view would not have
included the sink or toilet areas in
the bathroom where t h e murder
took place.
The arbitrator a l s o n o t e d that
her findings were c o n s i s t e n t with
the internal i n v e s t i g a t i o n conducted by Kings Park. Official
reports on t h e incident s t a t e that
it did not involve patient n e g l e c t
nor w a s it c a u s e d by " a c t i o n s of
employees."
"We knew s h e w a s totally innoc e n t . S h e did her job and s h e did
it well," said Tony B e n t i v e g n a ,
Kings Park Psychiatric Center Local 4 1 1 p r e s i d e n t .
The arbitrator said her decision
t o o k into c o n s i d e r a t i o n Martin's
performance e v a l u a t i o n s for the
period of O c t o b e r 1 9 8 3 t o October 1 9 8 4 , which included the
time of t h e incident. Her overall
performance rating w a s "effective" and there w a s no mention of
the incident at all.
"I've b e e n with Kings Park for
2 1 years and m y whole family has
worked there through t h e y e a r s , "
s a y s Martin. "I g o t a merit award
for a s u g g e s t i o n I m a d e a few
years a g o , and that really m a d e
m e feel g o o d . But s i n c e the incident, 1 really feel that I've been
treated like g a r b a g e . I w a s u s e d
a s a s c a p e g o a t and it really h a s
u p s e t m y life."
While Martin h a s b e e n exonerated, t h e union is still trying t o
get all the information concerning
the incident pulled from her file.
Martin a s k e d for a formal apolog y from t h e administration but
was refused.
S a y s Field Representative Nick
KINGS P A R K - - W h l l e Monica Martin h a s b e e n
cleared of c h a r g e s of patient n e g l e c t Involving a
murder o n her ward m o r e than a year a g o , t h e Inn o c e n t i s still vivid In her mind.
"It w a s t h e night of J u n e 1 4 , 1 9 8 4 , and I w a s
on duty with t w o other M H T A s , " s h e said, recounting the episode recently.
Everything w a s quiet that night, s h e r e m e m bered, until a b o u t 2 : 4 5 a . m . when a S p a n i s h s p e a k i n g patient alerted t h e m that there w a s a
problem In t h e m e n ' s b a t h r o o m .
"We found L . S . ( t h e murdered patient) In o n e
of the stalls, u n c o n s c i o u s , with a bloody face. He
w a s a seizure patient and w e t h o u g h t he'd had a
seizure, fallen and broken his n o s e . "
There were n o s u p e r v i s o r s , n u r s e s or d o c t o r s
available on t h e ward s o Martin said s h e called
the acting supervisor. S h e and her co-workers
a l s o called t h e d o c t o r t w i c e , but he did not arrive
until a half hour after t h e s e c o n d p h o n e call.
"While w e w a i t e d for help, we cleaned L . S . ' s
f a c e , put him o n a s t r e t c h e r and applied an am«
Pollicino: "It's a l w a y s a great
thing when the union can m a k e
s u c h a big difference in a m e m ber's life. Monica knew s h e w a s
innocent and s o did w e . The union proved it, and now s h e ' s exonerated."
NICK POLLOCINO: "The
union made a big difference."
ber bag t o give him o x y g e n . Finally, t h e d o c t o r
arrived and t o o k t h e patient Into t h e clinic. It
was m a s s confusion."
A d o c t o r who arrived s h o r t l y thereafter e x a m ined t h e patient and p r o n o u n c e d him d e a d .
Staff o n the ward learned later from the
S p a n i s h - s p e a k i n g patient that A.M. (another patient) w a s r e s p o n s i b l e for L . S . ' s death. In interr o g a t i o n , A.M. a d m i t t e d to killing L.S.,
explaining that he thought t h e latter w a s plotting
a g a i n s t him.
The next day Martin w a s a s s i g n e d t o work with
A.M. on a one- t o - o n e b a s i s .
"That night, I w a s s i t t i n g and A.M. w a s In his
bed. He w a s rolling his e y e s and laughing. He
threatened t o rape, mutilate and kill m e , y e t he
wasn*t In a straight jacket t h e entire t i m e . It w a s
really bad, m y nerves were s h o t , " recalled Martin.
S h o r t l y after that Incident, t h e patient w a s
transferred t o Central Isllp Psychiatric Center.
" H e ' s still there a s far a s I k n o w , " s a y s Martin.
CSEA: Violatioiis cause of worker's death?
LONG B E A C H — C S E A is currently awaiting
reports on a i n v e s t i g a t i o n into the death of a
57-year-old e m p l o y e e killed on- the-job at the city
water pollution control plant here.
A 2 7 - y e a r veteran e m p l o y e e and chief plant
operator, J o h n P i n c k n e y died July 1 9 while att e m p t i n g t o turn off a p u m p in the b a s e m e n t of
the plant's d i g e s t e r building. According to Cinit
President E u g e n e C a m m a r a t o , Pinckney had
g o n e t o the b a s e m e n t when he realized that
June 14, 1985
s l u d g e had b e g u n flowing out of the e l b o w of a
pipe d i s c o n n e c t e d by e m p l o y e e s trying t o clear
a clog.
" H e turned off the p u m p and on his way back,
he w e n t d o w n , " s a i d Cammarato. C o - w o r k e r s including William Notholt, Ronald Ebright, Pablo Forestier, and Edward P o w e l l — a s well a s four
fire f i g h t e r s a t t e m p t e d t o r e s c u e Pinckney but
were u n s u c c e s s f u l b e c a u s e they were o v e r c o m e
by g a s e s leaking into the b a s e m e n t .
All co-workers required medical t r e a t m e n t and
o n e is still hospitalized.
Region I President Danny D o n o h u e indicates
that CSEA is looking into p o s s i b l e violations or
lack of training in c o n n e c t i o n with the accident.
"We're waiting for the a u t o p s y report," said
Donohue. "We have a responsibility to our m e m bers, four of w h o m risked their lives trying to
s a v e a brother. We will definitely investigate this
incident and take whatever safeguards are necessary t o keep s o m e t h i n g like this from ever happening again."
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
9
ms
Children ID
project is
big success
in Region V
The c o n c e p t of fingerprinting, photographing and o t h e r w i s e identifying the
children of public e m p l o y e e s in C S E A ' s Central Region b e g a n early this year
a s a joint project of three different u n i o n s at t h e B r o o m e D e v e l o p m e n t a l Center
in B i n g h a m t o n .
Now, at t h e s u g g e s t i o n of a C S E A local president, the program h a s g o n e
into e f f e c t at the (Jtica and Marcy Psychiatric Centers with t h e full c o o p e r a t i o n
of the s a m e three labor u n i o n s , m a n a g e m e n t , and the E m p l o y e e A s s i s t a n c e Program c o m m i t t e e s on both t h e Cltica and Marcy c a m p u s e s .
And C S E A Region V P r e s i d e n t J i m Moore, who had his own s o n enrolled
in the free child identification program, h a s pledged t o support similar projects
by any C S E A local in t h e s p r a w h n g Central Region which w i s h e s t o c o n d u c t
child ID p r o g r a m s . Moore said C S E A is preparing fact s h e e t s and other helpful
material on s e t t i n g up children identification p r o g r a m s and that i n t e r e s t e d local officials m a y obtain t h e material by c o n t a c t i n g C S E A Region V headquart e r s at ( 3 1 5 ) 4 5 1 - 6 3 3 0 .
The p r o g r a m s at B r o o m e D e v e l o p m e n t a l Center and at t h e ü t i c a and Marc y Psychiatric C e n t e r s are jointly c o n d u c t e d by C S E A , A F S C M E Council 8 2
and the Public E m p l o y e e Federation l o c a l s .
Regional President Moore recently singled out Mark and S u z a n n e S m a c h e r
for their e f f o r t s in c o n d u c t i n g t h e identification program at B r o o m e Developmental, and Marcy Psychiatric Center C S E A Local 4 1 4 President Bud Mulchy
and his o f f i c e r s for their work with t h e program at the Cltica and Marcy facilit i e s . Moore told m e m b e r s of C S E A ' s s t a t e w i d e Board of Directors that due t o
the s u c c e s s of the p r o g r a m s , his region is e n d o r s i n g and supporting e f f o r t s t o
expand the program t o o t h e r C S E A l o c a l s .
CHILD FIND 1-80WAMLOSI
Beginning with this edition, "The Public S e c tor" will periodically publish p h o t o g r a p h s and
information about m i s s i n g children registered
with Child Find, Inc. of New Paltz. Child Find
is a non-profit organization which w o r k s with
a national network of t e a c h e r s , social s e r v i c e
g r o u p s and law e n f o r c e m e n t a g e n c i e s t o help
locate m i s s i n g children.
Child Find m a i n t a i n s a toll-free number,
1-800-1 AM LOST, which p e r s o n s with any in-
formation about m i s s i n g y o u n g s t e r s can call
in c o m p l e t e confidence. Child Find reports that
it b e c o m e s involved with m o s t l y parental abduction c a s e s , and that probably about 9 5 per
c e n t of the children the organization is looking for were abducted by o n e of their parents.
In future e d i t i o n s , "The Public S e c t o r " will
publish information from Child Find on how to
prevent child a b d u c t i o n s , what t o do if your
child is m i s s i n g , and how t o obtain other information and material from Child find dealing
IN THE TIME
IT TAKES YOU TO A ä 0fi)
GET YOUR CHILD 5 fi CI)
READY FOR SCHOOL « ±«•aS
ANOTHERCHILD ^ S —
2 3
Ä
WILL HAVE
H U (A
DISAPPEARED.
O
^
«
MEASURING UP — Six-year-old Brian Mulchy, son of CSEA Loc
414 President Edward **Bud" Mulchy, right, is measured by^an
Delia, a MHTA at Utica Psychiatric Center. Brian's height and othi
data was logged on information cards for later reference, if neede
(S
-
with the problem of m i s s i n g children. We will
a l s o publish p h o t o s and information on m i s s ing children supplied by Child Find.
The two children w h o s e photographs appear
below were a b u d c t e d on t h e s a m e day, J u n e
2 2 , 1 9 8 4 , from B a y s i d e , California. If you believe y o u have any information relative to either of t h e s e children, i m m e d i a t e l y call Child
Find on the toll free number, 1 - 8 0 0 - 1 AM
LOST.
«M
ifl
Matthew T h o m a s Vignau
Birthdate: 1 2 / 5 / 7 9
Abducted: 6 / 2 2 / 8 4
CF # 2 0 4 9
Sarah J a n e Vignau
Birthdate: 4 / 2 4 / 8 2
Abducted: 6 / 2 2 / 8 4
CF # 2 0 4 9
KIDS does the Job at Utica, Marcy
A PALM PRINT of Michelle Wilson, 11, is taken by Karen LaLiberte, center, an IRS Clerk
at Utica Psychiatric Center, and Cindy Hammond, right, Marcy Psychiatric Center EAP Comniittee chairwoman. Michelle's dad. Bob Wilson, a secure care treatment assistant, watches
the procedure.
10
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
By Charles McGeary
_
CSEA Communications Associate
®
Good t h i n g s have happened for hundreds of
e m p l o y e e s and their children at the CJtica and
Marcy Psychiatric Centers in central New York,
t h a n k s t o o n e thoughtful s u g g e s t i o n from a
C S E A local president.
And today the children of m o r e than 5 0 0 emp l o y e e s at the two facilities are properly identified and the information filed away on c o m p u t e r s
in the event they should s o m e d a y b e c o m e a m o n g
the hundreds of t h o u s a n d s of children that bec o m e m i s s i n g e a c h year in America.
Known a s the KIDS (Keep ID S a f e ) project, t h #
idea w a s initially s u g g e s t e d to the joint Employee
A s s i s t a n c e Program c o m m i t t e e s at Cltica and
Marcy by Edward "Bud" Mulchy, president of
C S E A Local 414 at Marcy. The free child Identification program b e c a m e s u c c e s s f u l through the
c o o p e r a t i o n of C S E A , A F S C M E Council 8 2 , the
Public E m p l o y e e Federation, EAP c o o r d i n a t o r s
and c o m m i t t e e m e m b e r s , m a n a g e m e n t , and
s c o r e s of volunteers.
J o h n Waterman, an AFSCME Council 8 2 s e c u rity officer at Marcy,is chairman of the KIDS proj e c t . "It w a s a total t e a m effort and it s h o w e d
what can be a c c o m p l i s h e d when labor and
m a n a g e m e n t work t o g e t h e r toward a c o m m o n
g o a l , " he said. At CJtica and Marcy, the program
w a s m a d e available to children, grandchildren and
e x t e n d e d family m e m b e r s of e m p l o y e e s over a
t w o - w e e k period.
E A P Coordinators Barbara R e e v e s and Gary
H o l m e s , and EAP Chairperson Cindy H a m m o n d
helped direct the s t e a d y flow of parents and chil-
d r ^ . Each child w a s i s s u e d an ID card that incluaed s u c h vital s t a t i s t i c s a s height, weight,
fingerprints and a p h o t o g r a p h . C o m p l e t e d cards
were then given to the parents, with an option for
an additional c o p y t o be kept in a confidential file
in the s a f e t y d e p a r t m e n t at either facility in c a s e
of an e m e r g e n c y . C S E A Regional President J i m
Moore said the information w a s a l s o k e y e d into
a c o m p u t e r s y s t e m t o m a k e it available, if needed, t o police a g e n c i e s and t o Child Find, a s well
a s various national g r o u p s involved in the search
for m i s s i n g children.
*Mt is e x t r e m e l y important t o have i m m e d i a t e
a c A s s t o records for the proper authorities in an
e m e r g e n c y , " n o t e d Waterman. " S p e e d is e s s e n tial in the c a s e of an abduction or m i s s i n g child.
S t a t i s t i c s s h o w that the first 2 4 hours of an abduction are crucial."
Marcy E A P C o m m i t t e e Chairperson Cindy
Hammond noted, "We offered the KIDS program
t o our e m p l o y e e s t o s t r e s s the E m p l o y e e Ass i s t a n c e Program Is not just for t h e m , but for
their family m e m b e r s , t o o . KIDS g o e s b e y o n d
what h a s been d o n e In the local s c h o o l s b e c a u s e
w e ^ t a c h a p h o t o of the child, offer the program
t o cnildren up t o t h e a g e of 1 8 , and the option
of keeping r e c o r d s in a central location, available 2 4 hours a d a y . "
C S E A Regional President Moore said, "The
s u c c e s s of the KIDS project w a s the result of
many hours of planning and work by the c o m m i t tee and volunteers from all three unions. With the
c o o p e r a t i o n of m a n a g e m e n t , children's ID prog r a m s s u c h a s KIDS, and the similar three-day
July 26 1985
MATTHEW MOORE, son of CSEA Region V President Jim Moore, was among hundreds of
children to be properly Identified during KIDS project. From left are President Moore, Matthew Moore, KIDS Chairman John Waterman, and Marcy EAP Committee chairwoman Cindy Hammond.
project at Broome Developmental Center, are extremely worthwhile. They not only provide vital
information in an e m e r g e n c y , but dramatically
reinforce the true m e a n i n g of C S E A and uni o n i s m . By working t o g e t h e r toward a goal, w e
benefit our m e m b e r s and their f a m i l i e s . "
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
11
r
Putnam Valley
m u s t pay for
special s k i l l s
PÜTNAM VALLEY — Thanks t o the persiste n c e of C S E A that led t o a s u c c e s s f u l arbitration ruling, t w o e m p l o y e e s of the Putnam
Valley S c h o o l District have b e e n placed in a
"special skills*'category, with a resultant w a g e
increase.
The arbitrator agreed with C S E A that Nanc y L e i s e n g a n g and Catherine Collins were entitled t o t h e "special skills'*designation in
a c c o r d a n c e with the union contract. C S E A Attorney Arthur Grae s u c c e s s f u l l y argued that it
w a s agreed during n e g o t i a t i o n s that "special
skills'^ would apply t o t h o s e working on s p e cial e q u i p m e n t which included c o m p u t e r s and
m e m o r y typewriters. S c h o o l officials claimed
the d e s i g n a t i o n would apply only t o t y p i s t s
who "worked the Burroughs machine" and that
there had b e e n no d i s c u s s i o n relative t o other
equipment.
C S E A R e g i o n HI Field R e p r e s e n t a t i v e
Richard Blair explained that the l a t e s t collective bargaining a g r e e m e n t included a c l a u s e
which g a v e t h e Board of Education t h e right
t o d e s i g n a t e the special c a t e g o r y , with a w a g e
differential of about $ 3 0 0 a year, for emp l o y e e s w h o o p e r a t e e q u i p m e n t that requires
special training.
Shortly thereafter, t w o e m p l o y e e s in the district b u s i n e s s office w h o worked on Burroughs
c o m p u t e r s were granted t h e special skills
d e s i g n a t i o n . But w h e n C S E A CInit President
Klara Hamlyn r e q u e s t e d t h e d e s i g n a t i o n for
Leisengang and Collins, both of w h o m operate
C o m m o d o r e 6 4 c o m p u t e r s , t h e request w a s
denied. The union filed a grievance which led
NANCY LEISENGANG, seated, is one of two Putnam Valley School District employees
granted a special skill job designation through a successful grievance pursued by
CSEA. Catherine Collins was the other employee. Leisengang is showing CSEA Field
Representative Richard Blair and CInit President Klara Hamlyn the Commodore 64
equipment she and Collins use.
t o t h e arbitration d e c i s i o n .
In his ruling, the arbitrator s t a t e d , "If t h e
parties intended t o grant special skills t o opera t o r s of t h e Burroughs m a c h i n e , t h e y a l s o int e n d e d t o include t h e C o m m o d o r e 6 4 . " He
added, "There is no d o u b t that t h e Burroughs
m a c h i n e is a c o m p u t e r . There is no d o u b t that
the C o m m o d o r e 6 4 is a c o m p u t e r . While there
are d i f f e r e n c e s in size and m e m o r y , and differe n c e s in type and capacity of d i s c s b e t w e e n the
Burroughs and the C o m m o d o r e 6 4 , knowledge
is e s s e n t i a l l y similar..."
McCalvin praised for EAP e f f o r t s
MELVILLE — "I want p e o p l e to understand
that the E m p l o y e e A s s i s t a n c e Program is not
limited t o helping just the m e m b e r s . We want to
service their families, t o o . I've m o v e d to a new
program held recently at the Long Island Developmental Center.
LIDC Local 4 3 0 President J o e LaValle put it
differently. "The real r e a s o n w e are here today,
labor and m a n a g e m e n t , is t o thank Juanita for a
job well d o n e , " LaValle said.
McCalvin, who is on fulltime leave from her position a s a mental hygiene therapy aide, w a s only
the s e c o n d EAP coordinator on Long Island.
"When I started, E A P w a s a very new program.
But we gave it a lot of publicity and a s s o o n a s
the m e m b e r s were e d u c a t e d about it, they started c o m i n g t o s e e m e , " s h e said. That w a s four
and one-half y e a r s a g o , and s i n c e then McCalvin
is credited with helping m o r e than 1 , 4 0 0 fellow
employees.
" M o s t of the p e o p l e I've talked t o have
returned to the workplace a s productive emp l o y e e s . This program h e l p s p e o p l e t o deal with
their p r o b l e m s . It s a v e s j o b s . And, s o m e t i m e s ,
it s a v e s l i v e s , " McCalvin said.
Regional EAP Representative Maureen Duggan
n o t e d , "I w a s a C S E A m e m b e r when E A P c a m e
into e x i s t e n c e . Danny D o n o h u e (Region I president) g a v e m e the responsibility for g e t t i n g the
program on its feet. Juanita w a s our s e c o n d coordinator, and now w e have 2 5 0 . And we're still
growing."
Local President LaValle said, "Juanita is s u c h
a special p e r s o n . When I found out we n e e d e d a
coordinator for the program, s h e w a s the first
person I t h o u g h t of. Now e v e r y o n e u n d e r s t a n d s
why."
Regional President D o n o h u e c o m m e n t e d , "It's
people that m a k e the difference. And in this c a s e ,
it's Juanita. I h o p e w e will all return in five y e a r s
for an e v e n bigger c e l e b r a t i o n . "
EAP COORDINATOR JUANITA McCALVIN, seated left, drew lots of praise for her work durLIDC Director Fred A. McCormack s u m m e d up
ing recent EAP open house program at Long island Developmental Center. Seated next to what the program m e a n s . "If we want our clients
McCalvin are EAP Committee members Paulette Barbera, Vivian Landstrom and Barbara to be treated with dignity and r e s p e c t , then we
Caruso. Standing, from left, are Eugene Hayes, CSEA Region 1 President Danny Donohue, m u s t treat our e m p l o y e e s that way. We all need
EAP Committee Chairperson Theodore Raveneii, LIDC Director Fred A. McCormack, David s o m e o n e to talk to. We all need support and asButtacavoli, and LIDC Local 430 President Joe LaValle.
sistance sometimes."
12
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
o f f i c e and I want e v e r y o n e t o know where t o find
me."
That w a s E A P Coordinator Juanita McCalvin's
rather m o d e s t explanation for an EAP open h o u s e
August9,1985
Irving Flaumenbaum Scholarship Winners
Members' kids win
$9,000 in awards
C S E A s c h o l a r s h i p awards n a m e d in honor of t h e iate Irving Flaum e n b a u m , former p r e s i d e n t of t h e Lohg^Isiand R e g i o n , have b e e n
p r e s e n t e d t o 1 8 c o i l e a e - b o u n d children of C S E A m e m b e r s .
The scholarship winners, three from e a c h of the union*s s i x regions,
received their awards at p r e s e n t a t i o n c e r e m o n i e s c o n d u c t e d in recent
w e e k s . Winners w e r e s e l e c t e d o n the b a s i s of s u c h f a c t o r s a s financial
n e e d , a c a d e m i c p e r f o r m a n c e , c l a s s rank, s c o r e s on standardized t e s t s ,
and i n v o l v e m e n t in s c h o o l and extracurricular activities.
The Irving F l a u m e n b a u m S c h o l a r s h i p s are o n e - t i m e $ 5 0 0 awards
p r e s e n t e d annually t o m e m b e r s ' children graduating from high s c h o o l
and going on t o higher education. This year, nearly 7 0 0 applications were
received for s c h o l a r s h i p awards totaling $ 9 , 0 0 0 .
Winners are s h o w n In p i c t u r e s on t h i s page and p a g e s 1 3 and 1 4 ,
(Identifications in c a p t i o n s read from left u n l e s s o t h e r w i s e indicated.)
Region 1
H A Ü P P A Ü G E — R e c i p i e n t s of Irving Flaumenbaum S c h o l a r s h i p s this year in Region I are:
Kathleen G. Noonan from Kings Park; Christine
D'Addario from Port J e f f e r s o n S t a t i o n ; and Patrice Murphy from Mastic.
Noonan plans t o attend Barnard University in
New York a s a political s c i e n c e major. Her mother Helen is a s t e n o g r a p h e r at Kings Park Psychiatric Center.
D'Addario, w h o s e m o t h e r Barbara is a clerktypist for C o m s e w o g u e S c h o o l s , will attend Pace
University in New York a s a b u s i n e s s marketing
major.
Attending SCINY Albany a s a b u s i n e s s management major this Fall will be Murphy, w h o s e mother Carmen Is a secretary for Motor V e h i c l e s in
Hauppauge.
The awards were p r e s e n t e d by Region I President Danny D o n o h u e , and Dorothy Goetz, coordinator for t h e r e g i o n ' s S p e c i a l Memorial
Scholarship Committee.
DOROTHY GOETZ; Lucy J a c k s o n , president of t h e C o m s e w o g u e S c h o o l s Unit of S u f f o l k Educational Local 870; Walter Weeks, president of Local 870; Barbara E. D'Addario; her daughter Christine;
Frank D'Addario, father; and Danny Donohue.
DANNY DONOHUE, right, presents award t o Kathleen G. Noonan. Also, from left: Terrence and Kevin
Noonan, brothers; Helen Ann Noonan, mother; and Dorothy Goetz.
June 14, 1985
CARMEN E. MURPHY and her daughter Patrice.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
13
Irving Flaumenbaum Scholarship Winners
OFFERING CONGRATS — Region II President Flaumenbaum awards. Students, from left, are:
George Boncaraglio, right, and Regional Scholar- Derrick Small, whose mother Marietta Johnson
ship Committee Chairman Lamont "Dutch" is a member of State Insurance Fund Local 351;
Wade, left, congratulate recipients of the 1985 Andre Walker, son of Brooklyn Developmental
Region III
CHRISTOPHER WAYNE DODD receives scholarship from Diane Lucchesi of CSEA statewide Scholarship Committee. Also, from left: Diane Campion; Middletown Psychiatric Center Local 415 President Alex Hogg; Anna Dodd, mother; and Pat Mascioll.
I
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
FISHKILL—Two s t u d e n t s from Orange County and o n e from Rockland County are t h i s year's
recipients of the F l a u m e n b a u m s c h o l a r s h i p s in
Region III. Presentation of t h e $ 5 0 0 awards w a s
m a d e at a recent luncheon h o s t e d by Pat Mascioli, regional president.
The three winners are: Sherry S t e m p e r t of Port
Jervis; Karen Bartolozzi of New City; and
Christopher Wayne Dodd of Middletown.
S t e m p e r t is a 1 9 8 5 graduate of of Port J e r v i s
High S c h o o l and plans t o a t t e n d Hartwick Col-«
l e g e where s h e will major in c o m p u t e r s c i e n c e .
Her father Art is employed by the City of Port Jervis and is president of the c i t y ' s C S E A unit.
A graduate of Clarkstown S o u t h High S c h o o l ,
Bartolozzi plans t o a t t e n d G e o r g e t o w n University and s t u d y international b u s i n e s s . Her m o t h e r
Eileen w o r k s for the Rockland C o u n t y Planning
Board.
Dodd, w h o s e m o t h e r Anna is e m p l o y e d by
Middletown Psychiatric Center, graduated this
year from Middletown High S c h o o l and will s t u d y
engineering at Orange County C o m m u n i t y Coll e g e t h i s Fall. He plans t o transfer t o R e n s s e l a e r
P o l y t e c h n i c Institute for a B . S .
m
KAREN BARTOLOZZI receives award from Diane Lucchesi. Also,
from left, Eileen Bartolozzi, mother; and Rockland County CInit President Florence Kimmel.
14
Center Local 447 member Marlene Walker; and
Jacob Tabb, whose mother Maida Tabb is also a
member of State Insurance Fund Local 351. All
are Brooklyn residents.
DIANE LUCCHESI presents scholarship award to Sherry Stempert. Also, from left:
Region III Field Representative Flip Amodio; Orange County Local President Frank
Delauri; Pat Mascioli; and Art Stempert.
August9,1985
Irving Flaumenbaum Scholarship Winners
Region IV
ALBANY—The three winners of Flaumenbaum
s c h o l a r s h i p s in Region IV this year are: Lee
J o s e p h F o r s h e y of Ballston S p a ; Maria Valenti
of Troy; and Ellen Marie Hoffman of Petersburg.
Forshey graduated this year from Ballston S p a
S e n i o r High. His m o t h e r Donna is a dietary aid
with Saratoqa County Local 8 4 6 .
Valenti's father, Ralph, is a clerk and m e m b e r
of Tax and Finance D e p a r t m e n t Local 6 9 0 . S h e
graduated from Troy High.
Hoffman, w h o s e m o t h e r Catherine is a clerktypist for the Berlin S c h o o l District, is a gradua t e of Berlin Central High S c h o o l .
REGION IV PRESIDENT C. Allen Mead presents
Flaumenbaum scholarships to Maria Valenti and
Ellen Marie Hoffman.
Region V
CAL WILLIAMS, president of Syracuse Housing Authority Unit of Onondaga County Local 834; MarIsa Kozlowskl; Dale Dusharm, president of SUNY Oswego Local 611; Michael Abbott; Ann Thomas;
Harrlette Sochan, representing Madison County Local 827; Jim Moore; and Sandl Delia, CSEA
Scholarship Committee member.
LIVERPOOL—The three
Flaumenbaum
s c h o l a r s h i p winners in Region V received their
awards from J i m Moore, regional president, at an
informal c e r e m o n y at Central Region o f f i c e s .
Winners are: Michael A b b o t t of Fulton; Ann
E l i z a b e t h T h o m a s of O n e i d a ; and Marisa
Kozlowski of Liverpool.
A b b o t t , s o n of Mr. and Mrs. Roy A b b o t t , attended G. Ray Bodley High S c h o o l and has s o m e
c o l l e g e credits from S Ü N Y O s w e g o . He plans to
continue his education at SÜNY S t o n y Brook and
major in nuclear p h y s i c s . His father Is e m p l o y e d
at SCJNY O s w e g o and is a m e m b e r of Local 6 1 1
at the university.
T h o m a s is t h e d a u g h t e r of Paul and the late
Clara T h o m a s . S h e g r a d u a t e d r e c e n t l y a s
salutatorian of Oneida S e n i o r High S c h o o l . S h e
is interested in e n g i n e e r i n g s c i e n c e and has enrolled for the Fall term at Mohawk Valley Community College. Her m o t h e r w a s a m e m b e r of
Madison County Local 8 2 7 .
Kozlowski, daughter of Helga Kozlowski, is a
graduate of Liverpool S e n i o r High S c h o o l . Maris a h a s been a c c e p t e d at Cornell University and
will c o n t i n u e her further e d u c a t i o n toward a career in chemistry and g e n e t i c s . Her mother is employed by the S y r a c u s e H o u s i n g Authority and
is a m e m b e r of O n o n d a g a County Local 8 3 4 .
BUFFALO—Sharing in t h e $ 9 , 0 0 0 awarded
this year through t h e F l a u m e n b a u m Scholarship
Program are three c o l l e g e - b o u n d s t u d e n t s from
Region VI. They are: Alison Majewski of Eden;
Richard J o s e p h Miller II of Lackawanna; and
Brenda Bliven of B e l m o n t .
Region VI
Majewski is a graduate of Eden Senior High
S c h o o l and will attend Clarkson College this Fall.
S h e Is the daughter of Eden Central S c h o o l s
nurse Juanita Majewski, a member of Erie Educational Local 8 6 8 .
Miller, the s o n of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Churney,
is a graduate of Lackawanna Senior High and will
attend Rochester Institute of Technology. His father Is a m e m b e r of s t a t e Department of Transportation Local 5 1 4 .
Bliven graduated from B e l m o n t Central High
S c h o o l and will attend H o u g h t o n College, majoring in English and m u s i c . S h e is the daughter of
Charles Bliven, a b u s driver for Alfred S t a t e College and m e m b e r of the c o l l e g e ' s Local 6 2 0 .
Brenda Bliven
June 14, 1985
Richard Joseph Miller II
Alison Majewski
Arthur Howell of Corning w a s a m e m b e r of the
s t a t e w i d e s c h o l a r s h i p c o m m i t t e e that m a d e the
s e l e c t i o n s and joined Region VI President Robert
L. Lattimer in p r e s e n t i n g the awards.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
15
Canal c o n t i n u e s t o n o u r i s h c o m m u n i t i e s a l o n g i t s b a n k s
Revitalized barge canal
marks 160th anniversary
A s C S E A President William L. McGowan noted recently, "New York didn't s e e m to have much
interest in the Canal."
That all started c h a n g i n g about three y e a r s
ago, when CSEA w a s about the only one that w a s
interested in the Canal. That's when the union
launched its " S a v e Our Canal" project, which is
largely r e s p o n s i b l e for t h e revitalization of the
historic Erie Canal, which this year m a r k s its
1 6 0 t h anniversary.
When CSEA launched its project, the waterway
now known a s the New York S t a t e Barge Canal
w a s in rough s h a p e . The s t a t e w a s threatening
t o further reduce funding t o o p e r a t e the s y s t e m ,
and t o c h a n g e canal e m p l o y e e s from fulltime t o
parttime s t a t u s .
The union's " s a v e our c a n a l " plea struck a
p o s i t i v e chord with e l e c t e d officials and civicminded b u s i n e s s m e n and r e s i d e n t s all along t h e
Canal, which s l i c e s through the heartland of New
York s t a t e . The s t a t e C o m m e r c e Department e s t i m a t e s the Canal g e n e r a t e d about $ 2 7 million
in tourist trade last year, and the e c o n o m i e s of
m o s t s m a l l e r c o m m u n i t i e s along the canal route
are heavily d e p e n d e n t upon it.
S t a t e legislators, particularly t h o s e w h o s e districts border t h e canal, r e s p o n d e d positively t o
the m u s h r o o m i n g effort t o s a v e the waterway.
And in t h e e n d , s t a t e S e n a t o r s J a m e s D o n o v a n ,
Martin Auer, H. D o u g l a s Barclay, J o s e p h Bruno,
J o h n Daly, Hugh Farley and L. Paul K e h o e
s p e a r h e a d e d l e g i s l a t i o n which provided m o r e
than $ 6 0 0 , 0 0 0 t o add staffing and improve canal m a i n t e n a n c e . C S E A ' s c a m p a i g n w a s a s u c c e s s . And s o , t o o , is the canal. Still an important
trade route. It is being p r o m o t e d more and m o r e
for its recreational potential. More than 1 0 0 , 0 0 0
pleasure boats p a s s e d through the canal last year
alone.
And while the s t a t e o n c e didn't appear to h a v ?
m u c h interest in the future of the canal, this year
the s t a t e h a s s p o n s o r e d official c e r e m o n i e s
marking the 1 6 0 t h anniversary of the canal. And
s t a t e officials helped h o s t a special preview of a
d o c u m e n t a r y film, "Carry on, Oh Erie," which
premiered on public TV s t a t i o n s a c r o s s the s t a t e
in J u n e .
The fight CSEA began virtually alone and which
w a s joined by many d e d i c a t e d individuals t o pres e r v e the b e n e f i t s and the history of the Barge
Canal is o n e the union p o i n t s t o with pride. It Iv
a m o n g the highpoints in t h e history of t h e union,
which this year is celebrating an important anniversary of Its own— the 7 5 t h anniversary of the
founding of C S E A .
PREMIER PEOPLE AT A PREMIER EVENT — Among those attend- Harold Reinhardt, CSEA statewide Secretary Irene Carr, State Sen.
ing premier showing of documentary film about the old Erie Canal James Donovan, CSEA statewide President William L. McGowan, and
in Albany recently were, from left, CSEA Local 502 Vice President Local 502 President Frank Zammiello.
16
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
August9,1985
1
Waterway activists recreate
canaFs beginning July 4th
ROME — On July 4 , 1 8 1 7 , then-Mew York
^ v e r n o r DeWitt Clinton journeyed to this mid" a t e c o m m u n i t y to break ground for his dream
project, tne much-ridiculed Erie Canal.
On July 4 , 1 9 8 5 , more than 4 0 0 history buffs,
area r e s i d e n t s and a c t i v i s t s who worked to help
restore the canal a s part of C S E A ' s " S a v e Our
Canal" c a m p a i g n journeyed t o the s a m e s p o t t o
re-enact the ground breaking c e r e m o n y .
R o m e Mayor Carl Eilenberg, o n e of the first individuals to s i g n C S E A " S a v e Our Canal" petit ^ n s s o m e three y e a r s a g o , d r e s s e d in period
c o s t u m e t o recreate the ground breaking at
Rome's Erie Canal Village. It w a s near where Gov.
Clinton turned the first s p a d e of earth t o begin
the s e v e n - y e a r c o n s t r u c t i o n project.
And a m o n g t h e invited participants were t w o
CSEA representatives who have played key roles,
a m o n g other union a c t i v i s t s , in the Canal c a m paign over t h e p a s t three y e a r s . Barge Canal
C S E A Local 5 0 2 President Frank Z a m m i e l l o Jr.
and Local 5 0 2 Vice President Harold Reinhardt
t | p k part in t h e c e r e m o n y . Mayor Eilenberg paid
special tribute t o Z a m m i e l l o and Reinhardt for
their c o n t r i b u t i o n s .
ROME MAYOR CARL EILENBERG, in period costume, is flanked by Barge Canal CSEA Local 502 President Frank Zammiello Jr., left, and Local 502 Vice President Harold Reinhardt,
right, at July 4th ceremonies. Eilenberg holds a DOT cap making him an honorary member
of the "canal team."
JOAN TOBIN, a major force behind the union's campaign to restore the State Barge Canal, is congratulated by Gov. Mario Cuomo
recently. Tobin is the state Department of
Transportation representative to CSEA's
statewide Board of Directors.
Zammiello n o m i n a t e d
Barge Canal C S E A Local 5 0 2 President
Frank Z a m m i e l l o Jr., o n e of the prime m o v e r s
behind the highly s u c c e s s f u l "Save Our Canal"
project, h a s been n o m i n a t e d for the 1 9 8 5
Governor's Productivity Award.
In his letter of notification from the governor's special a s s i s t a n t for m a n a g e m e n t and
productivity, Zammiello w a s told, "this award
s e e k s to recognize t h o s e e m p l o y e e s who in an
# i c e p t i o n a l way, have contributed p o s i t i v e
results to the productivity effort. The fact that
you have b e e n n o m i n a t e d d e m o n s t r a t e s t o u s
that t h e s e g o a l s are on e v e r y o n e ' s mind and
that your c o u n t e r p a r t s in the work force feel
you d e s e r v e recognition for your e f f o r t s . "
An i n d e p e n d e n t review panel c o n s i s t i n g of
five individuals from the private s e c t o r will
m a k e the final d e t e r m i n a t i o n s for the award
later t h i s year.
July 26, 1985
A 30-YEAR SERVICE PIN is presented to Henry Paul, right, of Barge Canal Local
502 by CSEA President William L. McGowan.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
17
ds up a crowd
ROAD CREW — Huddling for pictures in front of the school buses
at Riverhead Central are, from left: Marge Komosinski, shop steward; Walter Weeks, Suffolk Education Local 870 president; and Bill
Hunter, Riverhead School District unit president.
RIVERHEAD — it w a s billed a s a rodeo, but
there wasn't a c o w b o y or bronco in sight. Instead,
the featured a t t r a c t i o n s were s c h o o l b u s e s and
the C S E A m e m b e r s who drive t h e m at Riverhead
Central S c h o o l District.
For t h e annual " S c h o o l B u s R O A D E O , " the
h u g e parking lot In Riverhead w a s transformed
Into c o u r s e s for t h e various e v e n t s , all of which
are d e s i g n e d t o p r o m o t e s a f e driving. Yellow
c o n e s , m a n n e d by retirees of S u f f o l k Education
Local 8 7 0 , marked the various e v e n t s . Including
parallel parking, s t u d e n t loading, railroad c r o s s m g , and t h e s e r p e n t i n e .
Participation by the s c h o o l b u s drivers Is strictly voluntary, but 4 3 out of t h e district's 5 6
drivers t o o k part. A s S h o p S t e w a r d Marge
K o m o s i n s k i c o m m e n t e d , "It's great how everyo n e g e t s Involved. This is m y third roadeo, and
I think they're wonderful."
WINNERS—Drivers in the Riverhead Central "School Bus ROADEO"proudly display their
certificates and trophies following the event. Forty-three out of the district's 56 drivers
took part in this year's competition which was designed to promote safe driving.
18
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
The big winners of the day were: for large
b u s e s , Pat Larsen, Rolland Corwin and Wendy
Drumm; and for vans, Linda Gatz, Diane Webster,
and B e t t y Okula. Pat Larsen a l s o received the
s p e c i a l " P r e c i o u s Cargo Trophy."
August9,1985
Graz and
Berkley:
ONLY THE TITLES HAVE BEEN CHANGED — Longtime CSEA activists
Denise Berkley and Mickey Cruz get sworn in as new Region II officers.
By S t e p h e n Madarasz
CSEA Communications Associate
NEW YORK CITY — The f a c e s were familiar,
but the titles were different a s Region II recently
Installed t w o l o n g t i m e C S E A a c t i v i s t s a s new
regional officers. Sworn in r e s p e c t i v e l y a s s e c ond and third vice p r e s i d e n t s were Miguel Cruz
(Creedmoor Psychiatric Center Local 4 0 6 president) and D e n i s e Berkley (president of Brooklyn
D e v e l o p m e n t a l Center Local 4 4 7 ) .
The c h a n g e s follow the resignations for professional r e a s o n s of Helen Boyd and Floyd Payne,
and the elevation of D e p a r t m e n t of Labor Local
3 5 0 President Denis Tobin from third t o first vice
president.
Together, Cruz and Berkley bring more than 3 0
y e a r s of e x p e r i e n c e in C S E A t o their new p o s t s .
Each is a mental health therapy aide w h o already
represents a large local: Creedmoor's ranks number nearly 2 , 5 0 0 , while Brooklyn D. C. c o u n t s
m o r e than 1 , 0 0 0 m e m b e r s .
Cruz, w h o is known t o all a s " M i c k e y , " h a s
worked his way up through t h e C S E A ranks during the p a s t 17 years, having s e r v e d a s a s h o p
steward, board m e m b e r and local vice president
before being e l e c t e d local p r e s i d e n t in 1 9 8 3 . He
a l s o served on the s t a t e w i d e n e g o t i a t i n g t e a m
this p a s t year.
Being a union activist h a s b e e n a more difficult
job than he ever e x p e c t e d .
"I went in knowing m y m e m b e r s n e e d s but I
w a s surprised to find s u c h a o n e - s i d e d approach
from m a n a g e m e n t . They s e e m e d primarily concerned with saving m o n e y , without looking at
how to do it, and still t h o u g h t t h e y could achieve
certain g o a l s in providing s e r v i c e s , " s a y s Cruz.
But he a d d s that he h a s learned from negotiat i o n s , t o o . "I wanted t o find out m o r e about
m a n a g e m e n t ' s a t t i t u d e s and a l s o about how
C S E A works b e c a u s e that k n o w l e d g e would help
m e improve my s e r v i c e t o m y m e m b e r s . "
Cruz s a y s he r e c o g n i z e s the i m p o r t a n c e of
working for unity in his local a s well a s t h e region. When he b e c a m e president at C r e e d m o o r ,
the administration w a s under fire for a s e r i e s of
m a n a g e m e n t failings, there were criminal invest i g a t i o n s into t h e d e a t h of a patient, and t h e local w a s s e r i o u s l y divided.
"I faced s o m e real p r o b l e m s . We had t o fight
for everything — even things that were in our contract. There were a l s o s o many c h a n g e s that
s o m e t i m e s w e didn't e v e n know w h o m a n a g e ment was."
While not everything is rosy now, Cruz s a y s
there h a s b e e n a n o t i c e a b l e i m p r o v e m e n t at t h e
facility. *'I believe in being straightforward and I
think p e o p l e eventually r e s p e c t that. Especially
in the local, we're proving that if people believe
in the union, it can work for e v e r y o n e . "
Determination is a l s o a s t r o n g part of Cruz'
character. That's apparent in his long career a s
a p r o f e s s i o n a l m u s i c i a n and his e x p e r t i s e in
karate which h a s earned him a black belt.
"I've a l w a y s played d r u m s . Even going back t o
grade s c h o o l , I u s e d t o play a s part of s h o w and
tell. A s I g o t older, I d i s c o v e r e d it w a s a w a v t o
m a k e a living and s t a y off the s t r e e t s . I also'nad
a friend w h o w a s into karate and wanted t o learn
the d r u m s , s o w e traded off. I taught him m u s i c
and he taught m e karate."
Hard work led t o s u c c e s s in both. A l t h o u g h he
reached karate's h i g h e s t level, Cruz d o e s n ' t consider himself a real m a s t e r . "I'm proud of t h e acc o m p l i s h m e n t , but I think t o be an expert y o u
have to practice all the time and enter international c o m p e t i t i o n s . B e t w e e n m y family and union
r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s , I just don't have the t i m e t o do
that a n y m o r e . "
T h o s e s a m e o b l i g a t i o n s have a l s o c h a n g e d his
musical direction. While he o n c e played w e d d i n g s
and club d a t e s three or four n i g h t s a w e e k , the
late e v e n i n g have b e c o m e t o o m u c h .
"I played for fun and t o m a k e m o n e y to put m y
wife through s c h o o l , now I'm trying t o p a s s m y
musical k n o w l e d g e on t o m y s o n . He's only four,
but he can already play. When I first started playing p r o f e s s i o n a l l y , I m e t a promoter w h o said he
couldn't p r o m i s e s t a r d o m , but he could p r o m i s e
s t e a d y work. N o w I recognize that not e v e r y o n e
is cut out for s t a r d o m . "
But Cruz s h i n e s in his work for CSEA, just like
Brooklyn D. C.'s D e n i s e Berkley. Now in her s e c ond term a s local president, s h e b e c a m e active
in the union 1 3 years a g o b e c a u s e s h e s a w a lack
of leadership.
"1 started out apathetic but I w a s working with
people w h o really n e e d e d r e p r e s e n t a t i o n — t h e y
needed a m o u t h p i e c e for their c o n c e r n s and the
union wasn't m e e t i n g that need. S o I decided t o
try to d o what I could in the organization," s h e
says.
Berkley s a y s s h e is m o s t proud of her e f f o r t s
t o improve c o m m u n i c a t i o n in t h e local and push
education programs. S h e c o n t e n d s that both are
vital for a s t r o n g union.
" P e o p l e have t o know about i s s u e s that a f f e c t
t h e m and understand that they can do s o m e t h i n g
about t h e m . "
With that in mind, Berkley has been instrumental in e s t a b l i s h i n g a regional t a s k f o r c e on African i s s u e s . "That's all about e d u c a t i n g our
m e m b e r s . If we believe in unionism, then we have
t o realize there's a w h o l e s t r u g g l e g o i n g on over
that i s s u e in S o u t h Africa and our brothers and
s i s t e r s need our s u p p o r t .
"If we're c o n c e r n e d about creating better living and working c o n d i t i o n s for our m e m b e r s
here," s h e went o n , "we have t o r e m e m b e r there
are millions of p e o p l e starving t o death over
there. It's all related and t h e r e ' s a lot w e can do
t o improve t h i n g s . "
It's that kind of c o m p a s s i o n that Berkley carries over into her everyday life. In addition t o the
pleasure that s h e r e c e i v e s from working with
c l i e n t s at the d e v e l o p m e n t c e n t e r , s h e a l s o
tries hard t o help y o u n g p e o p l e in her own c o m munity. Working on her o w n , s h e g e n e r o u s l y
s p e n d s t i m e talking t o t e e n a g e r s t o help t h e m
s e t a direction for their lives.
"I have them think about going t o s c h o o l and *
having s o m e kind of direction. I'm especially concerned with helping pregnant t e e n a g e r s who may
not know where e l s e t o turn."
Whenever s h e finds herself with s o m e free
time, Berkley s a y s s h e likes t o s p e n d it reading.
While s h e likes n o v e l s , her main s u b j e c t s of int e r e s t are h i s t o r i e s , political s c i e n c e and law <
b o o k s . Her explanation is: "You never know when
or where the information will c o m e in handy."
July 26, 1985
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
19
Erie County Medical Center
A troubled past with an uncertain
future
And a f e w more points
CSEA Budget Examiner Kathy Albowicz and Clnlt Executive Vice
President Barbara Piwko raised a number of other p o i n t s in t e s t i m o ny before the Erie County Legislature recently. A m o n g t h e m were the
By Ron Wofford
following:
C8EA Communications Associate
* The c o u n t y s h o u l d actively pursue s t a t e funding for s e r v i c e s
BUFFALO — With an Erie C o u n t y legislative hearing a s t h e back- provided for t h e s t a t e .
drop, C S E A h a s nnade public i t s s t a n c e regarding the future of t h e trou* ECMC's financial troubles resulted primarily from the c o u n t y ' s
bled Erie County Medical Center, and t h e j o b s of about 1 , 0 0 0 m e m b e r s failure to adequately budget for s e r v i c e s to the indigent and uninsured.
of Erie County C S E A Local 8 1 5 .
* Public benefit c o r p o r a t i o n s are formed and m u s t function exAlthough it provides a multiple number of vital s e r v i c e s unavail- plicitly for the benefit of the c o m m u n i t y . Non-profit h o s p i t a l s d o not
able elsewhere locally, t h e Medical Center has been blamed for the n e c e s s a r i l y have t h e s a m e obligation or provide t h e n e e d e d s e r v i c e s .
c o u n t y ' s plunge into a fiscal crisis last year. The m o d e r n , well-equipped
* C S E A r e m a i n s firmly c o m m i t t e d t o the belief that the provihospital h a s been t h e s u b j e c t of hot d i s p u t e in t h e local political arena s i o n of public health s e r v i c e s is an integral part of t h e m i s s i o n of the
for s o m e t i m e n o w .
Erie County g o v e r n m e n t , and c o m p l e t e l y o p p o s e s the inclusion of a
ECMC, union r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s told t h e legislative hearing, should be not-for-profit corporation a s a valid option when c o n s i d e r i n g t h e fumaintained a s a public h o s p i t a l , with t h e ultimate accountability rest- ture of ECMC.
ing with the County Legislature, and not a public benefit or not-for-profit
corporation. But, said Barbara Piwko and Kathy Albowicz, if a c h o i c e
m u s t be m a d e between the t w o , C S E A would prefer, and the public would
b e better served by, a public benefit corporation.
Piwko i s e x e c u t i v e vice p r e s i d e n t of t h e C S E A hospital unit, superThe value of the Erie County Medical Center to the public it s e r v e s
visor of outpatient billing, and a 1 5 - y e a r e m p l o y e e . Albowicz is a C S E A
w a s brought h o m e graphically in the recent s l o w d o w n by d o c t o r s t o
b u d g e t examiner.
Piwko t e s t i f i e d that while d e f i c i t s attributed t o the c e n t e r s h o u l d p r o t e s t high malpractice insurance rates for m o s t p h y s i c i a n s .
A s m o s t h o s p i t a l s in t h e area reduced or curtailed c o m p l e t e l y
b e improved through better m a n a g e m e n t and billing p r o c e d u r e s , t h e vital role the center plays in insuring the health of c o u n t y residents should their normal surgical and t r e a t m e n t s c h e d u l e s , including their emerg e n c y facilities, t h e medical c e n t e r received an e v e n greater share of
not b e o v e r l o o k e d .
area p a t i e n t s . That i n c r e a s e in activity put a major strain on the med"The c e n t e r p r o v i d e s e m e r g e n c y psychiatric s e r v i c e s ; alcohol and
ical c e n t e r ' s 2 , 0 0 0 e m p l o y e e s , of w h o m about 1 , 0 0 0 are m e m b e r s
s u b s t a n c e a b u s e detoxification s e r v i c e s ; the only spinal cord injury unit
of C S E A Local 8 1 5 .
In the area; and medical s e r v i c e s for area correctional and mental health
Hospital CJnit E x e c u t i v e V i c e President Barbara Piwko said that
facilities," Piwko e m p h a s i z e d . "The medical center has t h e busiest emerg e n c y room and largest outpatient unit in Western New York. It is a major after the crisis w a s resolved, the Erie County Executive and the hospit e a c h i n g facility for SCINY Buffalo Medical S c h o o l , and p r o v i d e s clini- tal m a n a g e m e n t s p o n s o r e d a reception for staff and v o l u n t e e r s for
cal t e a c h i n g for p h a r m a c i s t s , p s y c h o l o g i s t s , p h y s i o t h e r a p i s t s , o c c u p a - their " c o m p a s s i o n a t e m a n n e r in keeping t h e c e n t e r t h e hospital of
tional therapists, five nursing s c h o o l s , and others. All of t h e s e functions, last resort" during the c r i s i s .
N o t e s Piwko: " E v e r y o n e pitched in (during the crisis). We knew
Piwko c o n t i n u e d , " e n h a n c e t h e health of t h e r e s i d e n t s and t h e e c o n o m it had t o be d o n e . Many g a v e up their vacation or t i m e off t o s e e that
ic health of t h e area."
the job g o t d o n e , and no o n e knew how long It would l a s t . "
C S E A Budget Examiner Albowicz said it m a k e s better s e n s e for the
S h e said the "thank y o u " g e s t u r e w a s g o o d for staff morale. S h e
c o u n t y t o appoint a board of m a n a g e r s and t o p hospiia! staff w h o would
be directly r e s p o n s i b l e t o c o u n t y g o v e r n m e n t rather than t o a corpo- noted a l s o that t h e brunt of t h e patient overload is now again being
felt a s the paperwork for the 1 , 6 0 0 p a t i e n t s s e e n during the slowration.
down is just starting t o s h o w up in the patient billing d e p a r t m e n t .
Earlier, C S E A Western Region President Robert L. Lattimer had iss u e d a p o s i t i o n paper o n behalf of Erie County Local 8 1 5 in r e s p o n s e
t o a c o u n t y t a s k force s t u d y on t h e future of the medical c e n t e r . ECMC
Unit President S t e p h e n Caruana w a s an appointed m e m b e r of that t a s k
f o r c e , which included several l e g i s l a t o r s and c o m m u n i t y leaders.
It proved its worth
BAKBARA PIWKO, executive vice president of CSEA's hospital unit, offered testimony on future of Erie County Medical
Center.
20
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
BUDGET EXAMINER Kathy Albowicz urged
the county to retain direct responsibility
for operating the medical facility.
ECMC UNIT PRESIDENT Stephen Caruana
was an appointed member of a task force
which studied future of the medical center.
August9,1985