Gramm - Rudman
Official Publication of The Civil Service Employees Association Local 1000, ^ ^ ^ ^
American Federation of State, County and Municipal
^ ^016
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piuyeeö AFL-CIO
AhL ulu. ^(issN
How it works
how it hurts
Pages 17-19
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9949) Monday, February
24, 1986
Thousands
shed a tier?
CSEA s u e s NYS over retirement snafu — page 3
CSEA requests, and gets, delay
on Albany's parking permit plan
Compiled by Daniel X. Campbell
CSEA Communications Associate
ALBANY — A public hearing on a controversial parking permit plan to encompass much of
ELLEN FONTANELLI, CSEA Uptown Committee chairwoman, tells members of the
Albany Common Councii of CSEA's concerns over a controversial parking permit
plan for downtown Albany.
SPiii b U c
SSE(
SECTOR
Official publication of The Civil Service
Employees Association Local 1000, AFSCME,
AFL-CIO 143 Washington Avenue, Albany,
New York 12210
The Public Sector (445010) is published every other,
Monday by The Civil Service Employees Association,'
143 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12210.
d o w n t o w n Albany turned out to be something
of a test of endurance for CSEA representatives and other people opposed to the plan.
The parking permit plan for selected neighborhoods would create havoc for tens of thousands of c o m m u t e r s w h o w o r k in the
d o w n t o w n area, many of them CSEArepresented state workers.
More than 7 0 speakers favoring the plan,
mostly neighborhood residents, were allowed
to speak first during the recent hearing held
by the Albany Common Council. As a result,
Ellen Fontaneiii and Georgianna Natale, chairwomen, respectively, of CSEA's Uptown and
Downtown Committees, had to wait nearly four
hours before they were allowed to address the
issue. Fontaneiii and Natale also are members
of a special CSEA parking committee organized
to address parking problems in the Albany area.
At the conclusion of the long hearing, the
council decided to seek further input from all
interested parties and put off any decision on
the plan. The proposed plan would allow neighborhood residents to purchase parking permits
for full-time on-street parking while limiting nonpermit vehicles to 90-minutes. That would effectively prevent commuters from parking on
the streets, even though Albany has a severe
off-street parking shortage.
The delay in any action by the Council was
one of the things sought at the hearing by the
union representatives. CSEA and the state
have just c o n d u c t e d a survey of state workers
as to parking problems, concerns and suggestions, and need time to analyze the results and
come up with solid recommendations.
Fontaneiii used the long waiting period to distribute a n e w s release concerning the CSEA
position to the press representatives who were
facing deadlines and w e r e only hearing one
side of the issue. By the time those against the
permit plan were allowed to address the Coun-
cil, most of the news media representatives
had left.
Fontaneiii told the Council of CSEA's concerns and of the union's request for a complete
survey of the needs of the state workers, the
residents of the city and the business community in the designated area concerning
parking problems.
She said of the state employee survey: "If
this survey is to have any real value to the employees and city residents, w e should be allowed the time to compile these results and go
forward to the city and the state with our findings. It would also be in the best interest of all
c o n c e r n e d if a survey could be distributed to
the residents in the area. This would allow all
the interested parties in both groups a-means,
in black and white, to express their views without emotion. It would also allow the state, the
city and the c o m m o n council to address the
problem o n c e and for all with hard facts and,
hopefully, realistic suggestions and ideas for
common sense corrections of this problem."
During the long session it became clear that
Albany has a 24-hour-a-day parking problem
in various neighborhoods, and not just one
c a u s e d by state e m p l o y e e s during the
workweek.'
A county legislator, w h o will shortly be voting o n final funding for a multi-million dollar
d o w n t o w n civil center near the Empire State
Plaza and the proposed resident parking permit area, indicated that his vote might be
s w a y e d by the way the city and its residents
addressed this parking problem. " T h e civic
center will not mean an end to parking problems, it could cause more problems. If the residents and the city can't solve this problem
before the center is built, why should w e spend
the money. People won't be attracted to attend
functions at a civic center if they can't find a
parking s p o t . "
Publication Office: 1 4 3 Washington Avenue, Albany,
New York, 1 2 2 1 0 . Second Class Postage paid at
Post Office, Albany, New York.
AARON SHEPARD
ROGER A. COLE
BRIAN K. BAKER
Comrnunication
SHERYL CA RUN
STEVE MADARASZ
ANITA MANLEY
DAN CAMPBE{.L
CHUCK McGEARY
RON WOFFORD
Publisher
Editor
Associate Editor
Associates
Region
(516)
Region
(212)
Region
(914)
Region
(518)
Region
(315)
Region
(716)
I
273-2280
II
514-9200
III
896-8180
IV
489-5424
V
451-6330
VI
634-3540
Address changes should be sent to: Civil Service Employees Association, The Public Sector, P.O. Box
7125. Capitol Station, Albany, New York 12224.
^kW« COKIIUK/c^
585
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
REGION IV MEETING REPORT — Ellen Fontaneiii reports to Region IV leaders at a recent
region meeting about parking problems in Albany. Standing at right is Georgianna Natale,
chairwoman of the Downtown Committee. Both Fontaneiii and Natale addressed the
Albany Common Council recently about the parking situation.
February 2 4 , 198 f
CSE A sues NYS:
claims thousands
placed in wrong
retirement tier
ALBANY — CSEA says the state of New
York has kept 5,000 or more public
employees in the wrong tier of the multitiered State Retirement System for nearly 10
years and violated their constitutional rights
by reducing their retirement benefits and
forcing them to contribute a portion of their
salaries into the system.
CSEA served notice on the state on Feb. 13
that the union is instituting a lawsuit in state
Supreme Court to get those employees
elevated to their proper retirement status
and require the state to refund, with interest,
the 3 percent contributions they have
been forced to make into the system since
Jan. 1,1977. Named as defendants in CSEA's
lawsuit are the state of New York,
Comptroller Edward V. Regan, and the New
York State Employees Retirement System.
CSEA President William L. McGowan said
the state illegally placed public employees
who joined the state retirement system
between July 1 and Dec. 31,1976 in Tier III
of the system when in fact they should have
been placed in Tier II. CSEA's lawsuit seeks
to have public employees who joined the
system between July 1 and Dec. 31, 1976
placed in Tier II, which generally provides
more advantageous benefits than Tier III.
In addition. Tier III members are required
to contribute three percent of their gross
salaries to the system, while Tier II status
does not require any member contributions.
McGowan noted that the state began placing
employees in Tier III starting on July 1,1976,
thereby diminishing their benefits
unconstitutionally, but did not begin taking
the 3 percent contributions until Jan. 1,
1977. That, CSEA contends, is the actual
effective date of Tier III.
"Thousands of CSEA members and other
public employees deserve the justice of being
in the proper retirement level, of being
refunded
contributions
they
were
unconstitutionally forced to make, and of
enjoying their future retirement years with
retirement benefits they are legally entitled
to. That's why CSEA has filed this lawsuit,"
said McGowan.
CSEA estimated that approximately 5,000
public employees joined the retirement
system during the last half of 1976, and that
each should be entitled to a refund averaging
several thousands of dollars they have been
illegally forced to contribute since Jan. 1,
1977. The amounts would vary depending
upon the individual salary levels of the
employees affected.
Two CSEA members, Bernard E. Nogas
and William C. Waterhouse, are joined with
CSEA as plaintiffs in bringing the suit
against the state. Nogas, who is secretarytreasurer of Oneida County CSEA Local 833
and an employee of Oneida County, joined
the retirement system on Dec. 30,1976 when
he was appointed a steam boiler operator
with Oneida County. Waterhouse is a
member of CSEA Local 635 at SUNY
Oneonta and entered the retirement system
as a grade 4 cleaner on Dec. 29, 1976.
The lawsuit c l a i m s that Nogas,
Waterhouse and all others who joined the
system during the last half of 1976 had their
CSEA
PRESIDENT
WILLIAM
L.
McGOWAN — "Thousands of CSEA
members and other public employees
deserve the justice..."
retirement benefits diminished in violation
of the state constitution when they were
placed in Tier III when they should have been
in Tier II. In addition, Waterhouse charges
he was prevented from retiring five years
ago, when he was at eligible retirement age,
and forced to work an additional five years
to collect retirement benefits. Under Tier II
he would have vested retirement rights after
five years of service, but Tier III requires ten
years of service.
This lawsuit follows close on the heels of
another suit in which CSEA successfully won
Tier II status for employees who joined the
system between July 1 and July 26,1976. The
newest suit would encompass those as well
as all others who joined during the last half
of 1976.
CSEA's court action is being handled by
Attorney John Mineaux of CSEA's law firm
of Roemer and Featherstonhaugh, which
also handled the recent successful case.
CSEA wins ruling on reporters franscript pay
SYRACUSE — The union has won a major
victory for court reporters which, says CSEA
Board member Tom Jefferson, means "they
won't be obligated to work nights and
weekends preparing transcripts for which they
will not be getting any money."
Since 1 9 0 9 , state law gave judges a choice
of either paying court reporters for transcripts
or requesting them free of charge. Judges
were to use their discretion in deciding what
to do.
Then on May 12, 1 9 8 1 the Office of Court
OCA employees to get
retro salary increase
in March 19 paychecks
February 24, 1986
Administration (OCA) issued a directive telling
trial court judges to order only free transcripts.
CSEA objected and won a court ruling which
declared the directive "null and void."
OCA appealed and has now lost once again.
And, in a decision dated Jan. 24, a higher
court even went further and declared that the
law which gave judges the ability to order free
transcripts is repealed because it was "totally
inconsistent" with more recent legislation which
Paychecks to be dated March 19 will include
retroactive pay for 3 , 2 0 0 Office of Court
Administration (OCA) employees represented
by CSEA.
CSEA State Executive Committee Chairman
Tom Jefferson announced the pay date after
intends that court reporters be paid for
transcripts furnished.
CSEA attorney Earl Boyle is "delighted" by
the unanimous decision although he expects
OCA to try and appeal the ruling to the state's
highest court. Meanwhile, court reporters are
advised to consult their own attorneys and
seek permission under the Court of Claims Act
to file late notice of claims.
CSEA will not prosecute individual cases.
Also, claims for transcript fees cannot be made
through the contract grievance procedure.
conferring with the state Comptroller's Office.
CSEA recently concluded negotiating a
three-year contract for OCA employees
containing salary increases retroactive to June
13. Annual raises are 5 percent, 5.5 percent
and 6 percent.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
3
How do you feel about the
practice of contracting —
out services performed by
public employees?
Where asked: Long Island Region I
PAT RING Custodian Islip School
District CSEA Local 870
DOREEN FREEDNER Clerk Typist
Central Islip Library CSEA Local 852
"I think that the positions in the district
should remain public positions. Work
should not be taken away from people
that work in the district, live in the
community, and spend in the
community."
"I'm definitely against it. They're looking
to make a profit. Are they really going
to be concerned about the community?
Are they going to understand the needs
of the people?"
ATTENTION:
SCHOOL BUS
DRIVERS
-PAUL ADEGO Mental Health Therapy
Aide Central Islip Psychiatric Center
CSEA Local 404
"I'm very opposed to it, and I'm
speaking from experience. I can't see
any advantages. It has a negative effect
on the morale of the employees and the
clients."
LUCY SHEATS Highway Equipment
Operator CSEA DOT Local 508
"The same exact job done by an outside
contractor is a lot more expensive.
Contracting out has a definite effect on
job security. I just cannot believe the
astronomical pay these contractors get
for doing the same work."
Seat Belts: Yes or No???
CSEA wants to know what school bus drivers think about the idea of
requiring seat belts on school buses. Please take the time to complete the
questions below, and then IMMEDIATELY send to CSEA, Attn: School
District Affairs Dept., 143 Washington Avenue, Albany, N.Y. 12210.
ARE SEAT BELTS NECESSARY? YES_
WHY?
DOES YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT CURRENTLY REQUIRE SEAT
NO.
WILL SEAT BELTS IMPROVE SAFETY? YES.
WHY?
DESCRIBE THE ADVANTAGES OF SEAT BELTS.
DESCRIBE THE DISADVANTAGES OF SEAT BELTS.
BELTS? YES
NO
IF YES, WHAT ARE THE RESULTS?
NO.
Optional:
Name _
Address
Job title
School District
SEMD IMMEDIATELY TO:
CSEA, Attn: School District Affairs Dept..
143 Washington Avenue. Albany, N.Y. 12210
4
THE PUBLIC
SECTOR
February 24, 198 f
National Women's
National Women's History Week, a
special time to recognize and celebrate
the contributions and lives of women of
all races, ages, cultures, ethnic traditions
and ways of life, will be held March 2
through 8. National Women's History
Week always includes International
Women's Day, March 8, a day proclaimed
at the turn of this century to recognize the
tremendous work of women in the
organized labor movement.
Women have always played major roles
in CSEA, holding key positions of
leadership and responsibility throughout
the state on the unit, local, regional and
statewide levels.
* Women comprise more than half of
CSEA's membership of more than 200,000
public employees.
* Women serve as presidents of nearly
one-third of CSEA's 330 locals.
* Women serve as presidents of several
hundred units within CSEA locals.
* More than one-third of the members
of CSEA's statewide Board of Directors
are women.
* Two of the four elected statewide
CSEA officers are women - Secretary
Irene Carr and Treasurer Barbara
Fauser.
CSEA SALUTES ITS WOMEN
MEMBERS AND LEADERS, AND JOINS
IN THE CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL
WOMEN'S HISTORY WEEK MARCH 2-8.
The Public Sector will provide extensive
coverage in the next issue of many
aspects of the contributions of women toward creating constructive and expansive
social changes that make our state and
nation a better place to live and work.
Included will be a deeper discussion of the
significance and importance of National
Women's History Week, and pertinent
articles and information relative to CSEA
activists and activities in general.
Women's COIIIIIIlttGG
workshops planned
Several CSEA regional Women's committees
have tentatively scheduled regional workshops.
For details, contact the appropriate CSEA
regional office.
Tentative workshops scheduled include: Region 1—March 13, location to be announced.
Region 2—March 7-9, The Raleigh, Sough
Fallsburg Region 3—April or May, The
Holidome, Suffern. Region 4—March 7-9, Fort
William Henry, Lake George.
Please check with your appropriate regional
office to determine if workshops are confirmed
or if additional workshops have been planned.
March 4 women's legislative conference offers
informative sessions on wide variety of issues
CSEA women activists and leaders are
invited to participate in "Agenda '86,
Women's Legislative Conference" on March
4 in Albany. The all-day meeting on women's
legislative issues is sponsored by the State
Division for Women, the State Assembly
Task Force on Women's Issues, the
Legislative Women's Caucus, Inc., the State
Attorney General's office, and New York
state.
The meeting of women's rights advocates
from across the state will seek to identify
issues of concern to the women of New York
and to formulate strategies for change.
The March 4 session will be from 9 a.m. to
5 p.m. at the New York State Museum,
Cultural Education Center, Empire State
Plaza, Concourse Level. A second meeting is
scheduled for April 22 in New York City, with
details to be announced later.
Strategy sessions will be held on such
February 24, 1986
topics as "Pay Equity/Comparable Worth,"
"Alternative Work Options," "Child Care,"
"Divorce: Custody and Equitable Distribution," "Education," "Child Support,"
"Affirmative Action/Employment," "Older
Women," "Reproductive Rights/Family
Planning," "Sex Discrimination in Insur-
a n c e , " "Domestic
Violence,"
and
"Housing."
There is no cost to attend the conference,
and
interested
persons
should
IMMEDIATELY contact:
Juedienne
Charles, State Division for Women, Albany
(518) 474-3739.
n
The new CSEA "A Woman's Place Is In Her Union" buttons are |
I now available. To obtain your button(s), complete the coupon |
I below. Please limit your order of buttons to 10 or less.
I
To : Peg Wilson, Education and Training Department
Civil Service Employees Association
143 Washington Avenue,
Albany, N.Y. 12210
Name
Address
ZIP.
City and State
I
Number of buttons
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
!|
5
COLLEGE STUDENTS — Correctional
e m p l o y e e s e n r o l l e d in c o l l e g e - l e v e l
courses are, from left: (back row) Fannie
Andersen and Millie Colon; (middle) Lucille
Canfield and Jane Smith; (front) Donna
Bream and Bernice Glass.
By Anita Manley
CSEA Communications Associate
Donna Bream: "I haue a daughter in college. I know what it
costs. This is like a gift."
Fannie Andersen: 'Tue put four children through college. Now,
I'm being paid back."
Bernice Glass: "/ could neuer haue afforded to go to college on
my own."
These three state employees work at Eastern Correctional Facility.
In the fall of 1 9 8 3 , they, along with their co-workers who are members
of CSEA Local 1 5 9 , were given the opportunity to attend college level
courses at their worksite during and after hours. Not only were they
given the time off with pay to take the courses, they were also able to
participate at no cost to them.
And they were able to do all of this because of an Agency Specificfunded program introduced into the facility at the urging of CSEA.
According to John Weidman, CSEA program coordinator for Agency
Specific, the organization provides monies to agencies or facilities for
internal training programs that benefit both the employees and the
agency. After an agency submits a proposal, certain criteria must be
met for the funding to be approved. The proposed program should
improve job performance, address a demonstrated need, improve
delivery of services and benefit CSEA employees.
Eastern Correctional Facility applied for their grant in 1 9 8 3 , says
CSEAJ_ocal 1 5 9 President Jeff Howarth. First, a needs survey was
taken to determine what courses the employees would be interested in.
Once the survey was completed. Eastern's Training Lieutenant Livio
Galazzo worked with personnel from Ulster Community College to put
together a program to be used in the proposal.
Galazzo says he is impressed with the educational opportunity that
CSEA makes available to its members. "What CSEA is offering is most
in demand and most appreciated. The information and expertise that the
participants are getting from the classes has had a tremendous impact
on them."
Galazzo pointed out that college gives the student more than book
knowledge. " Y o u learn something that broadens you as an individual."
Fannie Andersen first enrolled in an English course to help her pass
a Civil Service test that she was planning to take.
She credits the course with her passing grade and her recent
promotion from a grade 5 to grade 9.
But Andersen pointed out that earning 3 college credits inspired her
to continue with a college education. "I earned 3 credits and then 3
more. I saw them climbing and now I only need 2 more credits to get a
degree." And, she adds, it was fun taking the courses with her coworkers. " W e help each other out." she said.
Millie Colon will receive an Associate Degree in Sociology this year,
thanks to Agency Specific. "I'd like to make a career out of working
here," she said. " M a y b e as a counselor."
Jane Smith is a senior clerk who hopes to work in the accounting
office. To that end, she plans to take accounting courses. In the past
two years, she has taken courses in criminal justice and English.
wis
ijiiii::::
ipijj:
ixiii::!
W&rking with a number of bi-lingual colleagues prompted Lucille
Canfield to sign up for a course in Spanish. She says her next step will
be to take steno courses.
Donna Bream, a grade 5 stenographer has taken 11 courses since
1 9 8 3 . In addition, she attended classes at Ulster Community College,
taking advantage of tuition re-imbursement available to state employees,
and she expects to earn her Associate Degree this year and plans to
go on to a B.A.
Bream, who works as a steno in Family Services, hopes to
eventually work directly with inmates and their families. "I would never
have been able to complete courses without this program," she
emphasized.
A single parent of two children, Bernice Glass said she signed up
for criminal justice and law courses. She would like to become a
counselor someday.
Glass appreciates the convenience of taking college courses
following her workday. "The hours are great," she said. "I go right from
work. As far as the cost goes, I could never have afforded it myself."
" W e don't take this opportunity lightly," said Andersen. " W e really
appreciate it. This is a great thing CSEA is doing for us."
Newly appointed Prison Superintendent Robert Hoke says he will
continue to encourage his employees to take advantage of the program.
"With classes held right here, it's easy to come right from work. We
have a lot of working mothers and it's good for them."
"The program has been very successful," he added. "Many people
have gone on to better jobs."
Weidman credits CSEA statewide President William McGowan with
putting the program into place. " M c G o w a n is largely responsible for
negotiating this benefit," he pointed out.
Others involved in the administration of the program include William
LaFleur, assistant director of Planning and Employee Development in
the Office of Employee Relations, and Dan Cunningham, who works
under LaFleur.
For more information, Weidman can be reached at CSEA
Headquarters.
REVIEWING NOTES — Looking over a list of course offerings are, from
left: (seated) Training Lieutenant Olivio Galazzo, Prison Superintendent Robert Hoke and Agency Specific Program Coordinator John
Weidman; (standing) Region III CWEP Representative Michael Hogg,
Local 159 President Jeff Howarth and Region III President Pat
Mascioli.
6
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
February 2 4 , 1986
NOTICE:
Nomination procedure
for election off delegates
to 1986 AFSCME convention
Chicago
1
Bias June 22-27. J
I
#
nt
Wm
m
m
CSEA delegates
to the convention
will be elected
on regional basis
CSEA delegates to the 1986 AFSCME
Convention, to be held in Chicago June
22-27, will be elected from members in
good standing of CSEA as of Feb. 1 , 1 9 8 6 .
Delegates will be elected on a regional
basis. Each CSEA region will elect the
number of delegates which it is entitled
to on the basis of membership strength
in accordance with the AFSCME and
CSEA Constitutions. Based on t h e
A F S C M E Constitution formula, the
following number of delegates will be
elected:
Region I— 45
Region II— 19
Region i l l - - 3 8
Region IV— 38
Region V— 36
Region VI— 35
E x p e n s e s for t h e d e l e g a t e s for
transportation and room and board at the
AFSCME Convention will be paid by
CSEA.
If an elected delegate is unable to
attend the convention, the individual from
that Region who received the next highest
number of votes will attend in his or her
place.
NOMINATIONS PROCEDURE
Any member in good standing as of Feb. I.
1986 shall be entitled to be nominated as a delegate to the AFSCME Convention. Any member in
good standing as of March 1, 1986 shall be eligible
to nominate delegates to the AFSCME Convention.
Nominations will be made at meetings to be
conducted in each Region on Saturday. March I,
1986. Meetings will continue until such time as
all those present who desire to make nominations
have been given the opportunity to do so.
Persons nominated to serve as delegates from
a region must be members of that region and be
nominated by members from that region.
Persons nominated need not be present at the
nomination meeting.
A qualified CSEA member may nominate as
many candidates for delegate as he or she desires,
not to exceed the total number of delegates to be
elected from that particular region.
The nominator must provide the name, address,
work telephone number, home telephone number.
Social Security number and CSEA local number
of the nominee. Nominations must be submitted
on an official form, available at the meeting, and
instructions given at the meeting must be followed.
The name of a person who is nominated more
than once may appear on the ballot only once.
If nominated as part of a slate, the nominee's name
will appear on the ballot as a member of that slate
and not elsewhere.
Nominations may be made by slates; that is, a
number of individuals who will appear on the ballot
as running together or under a particular
designation. Persons nominated by slate will appear
on the ballot in the order in which they are
nominated.
The ballot will provide that individuals who are
running on a slate can be elected individually, separate and apart from the slate.
Individuals who make multiple nominations must
state whether nominations are made individually
or as a slate.
Regional nominating meetings will be held MARCH 1, 1986 for election of CSEA's
delegates to the 1986 biennial convention of the American Federation of State, County
and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, to be held in Chicago June 22-27,1986.
The MARCH 1 regional nominating meetings will be held at the following times and
locations:
REGION 1 10 a.m.
Region I Office, 300 Vanderbilt Motor Pkwy., Hauppauge
REGION II 10 a.m.
Region 11 Office, 11 Broadway, Suite 1500, New York City
Region III Office, Route 9, Fishkill
REGION III 10 a.m.
Tom Sawyer Motor Inn, 1444 Western Avenue, Albany
REGION IV 10 a.m.
Sheraton Inn, 7th North Street and Electronics Parkway,
REGION V 10 a.m.
Liverpool
REGION VI 10 a.m.
Treadway Inn, Batavia
February 24, 1986
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
7
MEMBERS OF NEW EAP COMMITTEE —
Pictured, from left, are: (seated) Joyce
Fleming, EnCon; Rebecca Council, CSEA;
Carol Golden, PEF; Dawn Lyman, CSEA;
Chuck Seereiter, chairman; (standing) Gail
Calderon, EAP coordinator; Christopher
Lindley, Workers Comp; Bob MacEwan,
State Insurance Fund; Ken McClenathan,
PEF; John Guariglia, OVR; Sue Vallee,
Workers Comp, CSEA; Gene Welsh, At-
Big gain for
F A Q
E n i
45-agency pact to
serve 1,000 members
By Ron Wofford
CSEA Communications Associate
The formal signing of an EAP agreement that will aid members of
Rochester State Employees Local 0 1 2 — as well as other state
employees — recently was a milestone in the history of this confidential
counseling and referral program.
The fact that 4 5 separate agency managers have agreed to
participate in the program shows "the industriousness and tenacity of
Local 0 1 2 President Dawn Lyman in seeing that her members receive
the benefits of assistance the program offers," said Joseph McDermott,
CSEA executive vice president.
McDermott, an early advocate of EAP and a member of the CSEAstate advisory board, was present at the first EAP signing in 1 9 8 2 , and
CSEA STATEWIDE AND COUNTY BACKING — On hand for the formal EAP signing were, from left; (standing) CSEA Executive Vice
President Joseph E. McDermott; Sue Vallee, Local 012 EAP committee; Florence Tripi, Region VI vice president and Monroe County
Employees Unit president; (seated) Grace Steffen-Boyler, regional
EAP field representative; Rebecca Council, EAP committee and
Local 012 vice president; and Dawn Lyman, local president.
8
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
torney General's Office; John Kavanaugh,
DOL; Norm Tipton, EAP coordinator, OVR;
Don Knapton, DMV, CSEA.
at the Local 0 1 2 signing, which becomes "Agreement No. 2 0 3 . "
McDermott took the opportunity to call on all CSEA local presidents
to look into and work for an EAP agreement for their local if one is not in
place.
The Local 0 1 2 EAP program office is in a neutral agency that is not
connected to any potential member worksite, and coordinators Gail
Calderon of the Department of Labor and Norman Tipton of the Division
of Occupational and Vocational Rehabilitation are willing to meet and
counsel employees in need at other neutral locations.
The Local 0 1 2 EAP helpline number is (716) 4 4 2 - 8 8 3 5 , and a
telephone answering machine will be in operation if the two volunteer
coordinators are not immediately available.
The many volunteers who make up the "backbone" of the EAP
program were praised as "job-savers and family protectors" by Tom
Going, statewide EAP program manager.
"I'm here to acknowledge the support of the state for your efforts,"
Going told the EAP staffers and volunteers present. "Because of
people like yourselves, many jobs have been saved, and families kept
intact."
The effectiveness of the program was underlined by the fact that
EAP programs across the state received 5 0 , 0 0 0 contacts for help last
year. Going said, which is a 2 5 percent increase over the previous
year.
After signing the formal agreement that will have the potential of
serving more than 1 , 0 0 0 employees and their families, Lyman said she
is "thrilled that the program is finally off the ground. This is an
unprecedented example of cooperation between so many different
agencies, and it can only benefit our members who avail themseles of
EAP services."
The local president also pointed out the benefit to employers from
the assistance that workers gain from EAP because "They don't have to
hire and train a new employee to replace the worker who is working on
solving personal problems."
Worker productivity was the prime reason for the agreement
between the state and CSEA when an Employee Assistance Program
for state employees was initiated in 1 9 8 2 , according to Jim Murphy,
CSEA's EAP director.
"A worker who is not loaded down with worry about a lot of
problems is a much more productive person," said Murphy. "So when
EAP works correctly, everyone is helped."
Employees of the following state agencies will be covered by the
agreement: Division of Human Rights, Department of Motor Vehicles,
Department of Social Services, State Insurance Fund, Department of
Taxation and Finance, Department of OVR, State Banking Department,
Races and Wagering Board, Bureau of Agriculture and Markets,
Rochester Correctional Facility and Workers Compensation Board.
Also: Department of Substance Abuse Services, Attorney
General's Office of Medicaid Fraud Control, Traffic Violations Bureau,
and Department of Labor employment and unemployment insurance
offices.
Additionally, 3 0 0 employees of the Department of Environmental
Conservation, about half of them members of EnCon Local 1 1 8 , will be
covered by the agreement.
February 2 4 , 1 9 8 f
enters one of the children's service units at Bronx Children's
Psychiatric Center. A young boy, perhaps 8 or 9 years old,
rushes up, wraps his arms around Austin, and says, "I
really like you, George." Austin smiles back.
Down the hallway, Austin observes through a window a
happy group of youngsters heading out toward a manmade
skating pond. ''One of our teachers built that himself. The
kids just love it. You have to realize that you don't find
things like this here in the south Bronx.":
"That's one of the good things about working here...the
employees really do a lot for the kids. There's always
fundraising going on so that they can take them to the
ballgames, amusement parks, museums...the reward is
when you get to see them walk out and you know they've
progressed and are going on to better things."
Special people
make it happen
By Stephen Madarasz
CSEA Communications Associate
.. : - I
_i
J
a
U.
Is.,..
NEW YORK CITY - They are clean,
bright, modern complexes. They house
classrooms of hope. They are the state's
Children's Psychiatric Centers.
The staffs project an enthusiasm about
their work and surroundings that is genuine
and refreshing.
The fact that the state children's psychiatric centers stand adjacent to adult care
facilities only serves to heighten the contrasts between them. Many believe it is like
day and night.
"There's really a big difference in working conditions between the adult care facilities and children's centers,"according to George Austin, a 12-year veteran at Bronx
February 24, 1986
CPC. Austin is an activist with Bronx Psychiatric Center Local 401 and also serves as
CSEA Region II grievance chairman. "Mostly it's because they're smaller and more
congenial."
AN UPBEAT MOOD
Differences in the types of patients and
their response to therapy is also a clear factor in the upbeat mood at the children's
PC's. "We rarely have patients who need
long term care...our average stay is about a
year. In that time, we're usually able to
make progress and you feel good that you
helped these young people," Austin says.
"That's not to say that the children aren't
exasperating at times and don't run the staff
ragged," he added.
But CPC staffers are well-prepared to handle all types of circumstances, according to
Manhattan Psychiatric Center Local 433
President St. Clair Payne. "You need individuals here with a special q u a l i t y patience and an ability to give of themselves. Our members have that. They're
able to project hope to the youngsters. I
would say that most of them like their work
because most have the credentials to go
elsewhere, but they don't — they stay."
That patience oftens pays off tremendous
dividends. "Sometimes it takes a while before you know you got through,"comments
(Continued on Page 10)
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
9
y-Vii,;--:
\ •
r
• V.
^
(Continued from Page 9)
Local 433 Executive Vice President Chuck
Johnson. "But then you get a call from one
of your former patients, or they'll come
back to visit and you know they're gonna
make it...there's not enough money in the
world to give you that kind of feeling."
EVERY PATIENT IS UNIQUE
While every patient is a unique case,
members insist not all of them are mentally
ill. Local 401's Austin notes, "We have children here for a whole variety of reasons...many are just behavior problemshyperactive. We also have children taken
into state custody who have been abused or
neglected. We have drug and alcohol
abusers, and also some who have committed
serious crimes, such as murder. We work
MHTAS EVELYN FOXWORTH AND DALIA
CORDERO...liking working with children is
important.
with them all to try to help them adjust to
some normalcy."
clients have come from and where they end
up.
Queens Children's PC veteran Marjori<#
Reeves explains: "Sometimes we're dealing
with clients who haven't been taught
anything—even personal hygiene like how to
wash or brush their teeth. One time I was so
shocked...! asked a client why she didn't
make her bed and she said, 'This is the first
time I've slept in a bed'."
"What we're really teaching is selfesteem."
Her comment is echoed by Ileen Durai^i a
beautician at Bronx CPC. "These kids have
a poor self-image. I try to build it up and
get them to take care of themselves."
That approach of positive reinforcement is
evident among other CPC staffers.
"I've worked in all areas of service here,"
says Rosetta Black, a MHTA at Bronx CPC.
"You have to take the good with the bad in
terms of the progress you make...but if you
don't enjoy working with the children, yo®
can't stay here."
"I prefer working with the younger kids,"
contends Bronx MHTA Evelyn Foxworth.
"They're very affectionate and you feel
"This job is all about teaching," claims
Local 433 President Payne. "We provide
structure and serve as role models. But you
have to be realistic about what you're doing,
too. You're not always going to succeed for
all kinds of reasons, some of which have
nothing to do with the treatment you provide."
more needed. There's also never a dull moment with the."
• ADOLESCENTS MORE DIFFICULT
The adolescents are harder to supervise,
according to Claire Delgado and Frances
Jordan, who work on that unit at Bronx.
They indicate that they are frequently
challenging staff authority and note that the
older the youngster, the more difficult it is
to treat them therapeutically. The approach
is to get them to expect more of themselves.
The difficulties are build in, unfortunately,
l ^ a u s e as the staff tries to treat the patients like adults, it is often a struggle for
them to meet that level of responsibility
without feeling more stress.
One of the main reasons for the positive
outlook at the children's PCs may be a more
manageable workload. Although there are
isolated examples of understaffing problems, MHTAs generally will handle only
about five patients.
*
this involvement, and of course we'd like
even more involvement, but it is progress."
"There should actually be even more interaction between clients and the staff," according to MHTA Dalia Cordero of Bronx
CPC. "A lot of time the programming looks
better on paper than the clients actually receive. I think there's too much individual activity, particularly at night. There should be
more structure and staff should have more
discretion in developing learning experiences for the patients."
TEAM APPROACH
There's also a team approach to educational and therapeutic programming that
makes it hard for clients to fall through the
cracks. Local 433's Payne says, "We all
work together and don't stand on the
ceremony of title. We get to be involved in
all aspects of the treatment and in the training of new employees. The local fought for
MARJORIE REEVES...31 years with OMH and
still loving her job.
BEAUTICIAN ILEEN DURANT ... her efforts
are aimed at giving patients a more positive
self-image.
—
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
matter who they help, there are always
more in need.
As Local 40rs George Austin says, "I live
in the south Bronx, and I often see kids on
the street who belong in here more than
some of the clients we already have. Fortunately, I think there is a growing awareness about how we can help individuals in
need. Hopefully, we can get to treating them
early enough to make a difference in their
lives."
love my job'
"For instance," he says, "a patient might
be ready for discharge and come to us asking what they should do. You try to advise
them what's best, knowing that sometimes
home isn't the best place for them to go."
Payne also points out that in the CPCs
success has to be measured on where the
ADOLESCENTS are difficult,
say Clair Delgado and
Frances Jordan, who handle
patients on the adolescent unit
at Bronx CPC.
10
IMPROVEMENTS ARE NEEDED
There are other areas which need improvement, as far as CPC staffers are concerned. Many express a belief that direct
care staff should have more input on aftercare followup with discharged patients using
the outpatient services. There is additional
contention that the facilities should initiate
more community outreach.
Payne explains: "The community always
seems nervous about clients coming out of
here. We need to work with them to create a
more supportive environment for clients
who are ready to go at the outside world
again."
If there is a dark cloud on the horizon for
the children's psychiatric center employees,
it is the seemingly endless waiting list for
new admissions. They understand that no
them
walk
out'
r
QUEENS VILLAGE - "I used to be
embarassed to say I love my job," claims
Queens Children's Psychiatric Center CSEA
Local 406 member Marjorie Reeves.
It's apparent from Reeves' enthusiasm,
though, that's no longer the case.
Reeves, a CSEA activist, has served as vice
president of Local 406, as part of the statewide
contract negotiations team in 1973, and as a
member of the statewide Education and Training
Committee. She has worked for the state Office
of Mental Health for 31 years.
She has been at Queens CPS practically since
it opened in the late 1950s. Following 27 years
on the wards, she now works in the center's
business office, but plans to retire this spring.
For Reeves, working with the clients has been
its own reward. She says that mostly what the
children need is love and attention. "I think that
most are really social problems rather than
anything else . . . they're victims of home abuse,
slow learners, or have language difficulties. I find
that they thrive on individual attention, and since
I love children, I never have any trouble giving
them individual care."
Reeves also believes that the intimate and
relaxed atmosphere at Queens CPS also helps
the clients progress. "Everyone interacts with
everyone else here, and we're all on a first
name basis." She says that friendliness and the
quality of care has been consistent since she
arrived at the facility.
She notes, however, that many of the center's
clients are becoming tougher to handle. "We're
seeing more clients who have actually
committed crimes and you have to be careful
with them — there's a secure unit, but they only
go there after sentencing."
Most of her thoughts are pleasant, however.
"For years, former patients would call me and
tell me about their progress and success on the
outside. I guess one of my happiest surprises
was actually in my first year, when the children
threw me a birthday party."
It's clear from Reeves' conversation that little
things can make a big difference in many lives.
kJ
Manhattan Children's Psychiatric Center...
hard t o find but worth the effort — page 12
T —
Februa 24, 1986
THE P U B L I C S E C T O R
11
Manhattan Children's Psychiatric Center
Location leads
to cohesiveness
MANHATTAN — It's not easy to get to the
Manhattan Children's Psychiatric Center. It's
located on Ward's Island in the middle of the
Easf River, and you have to be sure to make the
right turnoff from the massive Triborough Bridge
that connects Manhattan, Queens, and the
Bronx. Then you have to make the circuitous trip
LOCAL 433 SECRETARY MoUy Long...she's
never lost an election since the local began,
and makes a special effort to meet every new
employee to tell them about CSEA.
TEAMWORK LEADS TO A WHOLE NEW BALLGAME at Manhattan Children's
Psychiatric Center. CSEA Local 433 President St. Chdr Payne, left, with local officers Chuck
Johnson and William Jones are part of the team that works. They say the center's isolated
location makes the membership more like a family than anything else.
12
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
around the huge Manhattan Psychiatric Center
to find the CPC tucked away in its own little
corner of the world.
Once you get there though, you realize the
out-of-the-way location does have its
advantages. The grounds, boasting its own
observatory, baseball field, and wildlife, all but
unheard of in New York City, are beautifully
landscaped and afford a breathtaking riverfront
view of Manhattan.
The location also has its impact on the
activities of CSEA Local 433. "The isolation
really throws people together," claims new
president St. Clair Payne. "Sure, it's hard to get
here, but we've got gorgeous surroundings and
the physical layout creates a positive working
arrangement."
Payne, who recently took over the local!
leadership after Roy Johnson resigned for
personal reasons, credits his predecessor for
establishing a strong base to build on. "We've
only been around for eight years, so we're still a
young local with a lot of growing to do. We also
only have about 150 members and our goal is
to get every one of them involved in CSEA."
Apparently the local is already off to a good
start. "We're very informal out here, and that
makes us more like a family than anything else,"
adds Executive Vice President Chuck Johnson.
"The friendships that develop on the job extend
beyond the workplace . . . we really make it a
point to get together outside of work."
"Unionism is new to a lot of our members,"
comments First Vice President William Jones.
"This is the first job for many of the employees,
which is always difficult, so the local tries to
help them out as much as possible, especially at
the beginning. Local Secretary Molly Long
makes an effort to meet with every new
employee and talk to them about the union."
Union efforts for greater involvement in staff
training and programming have paid off with a
sharp decrease in staff turnover. This in turn has
bolstered the local through continuity of
membership.
"The employees out here are always working
to make this a better place for the kids. They
appreciate that — it puts them at ease and
improves the whole atmosphere. Local 433
wants to play a role in that process too," insists
Payne.
Payne, who has served as a local officer for
six years and as a member of the Region II
Political Action Committee, found his calling
when he arrived at MCPC 11 years ago.
In that time he has completed three years of
college undergraduate work and amassed 21
graduate school credits. It all began when he
placed first in a state-run child care program.
"It was the first time I ever did well in school
of any sort. I guess it was the first time I was
inspired about my work."
While CSEA Local 433 may be small and out
of the way, its teamwork will certainly put it on
the map.
February 2 4 , 198 f
Board of directors nominatioiis
ALBANY — Nominations open March 3 for all 106
seats on CSEA's statewide Board of Directors.
Under the union's open election procedures, any
member in good standing can have his or her name
placed on a ballot by obtaining the required number of
CSEA member signatures on an official petition form.
In the State division, a candidate needs petitions
signed by not less than 10 percent of eligible voters in
the Agency or Department he or she wishes to represent. Not more than 450 signatures are required.
in the Local Government division, a candidate needs
petitions signed by not less than 10 percent of eligible
voters in the local he or she wishes to represent. Not
more than 450 signatures are required.
Educational locals which share a representative require valid signatures calculated on the combined number of eligible voters
in all educational locals in their particular CSEA region. Not more
than 450 signatuares are required.
The union's statewide Elections committee will oversee the
balloting which will be conducted by the Independent Election
Corporation of America, Lake Success, N.Y.
CSEA's Board of Directors has adopted the following election
schedule:
March 3—Nominations open. Petitions available from CSEA
regional offices, local and unit elections committees, and CSEA
Headquarters.
April 8—Final day for nominating petitions to be received at
CSEA Headquarters. Deadline is 5:00 p.m.
April 22—Last day to decline nomination and to make changes
in name spellings.
April 30—Drawing for ballot position.
May 5—Names, photos and candidate statements printed In
the Public Sector.
May 15—Official ballots mailed.
May 21—Replacement ballots available.
June 12—Ballots must be returned by noon. Ballots will be
counted and results announced.
June 23—Election protest period ends.
In order to be eligible, a candidate must have been a member
in good standing of CSEA since June 1 , 1 9 8 5 and continously paid
membership dues since then. In addition, he or she cannot be
a member of a competing labor organization and must not be
prohibited from holding office under a penalty imposed by the
CSEA statewide Judicial Board.
•New Rochelle workers
collect food for poor
NEW ROCHELLE — Members of the City of New Rochelle CSEA Unit
collected nine cartons of groceries for a local church food project
recently.
Chairwoman Sheila Brill, unit vice president, said she heard about the
project and decided to get city employees involved.
•
Fliers with lists of needed items were distributed to employees and
boxes were placed in each of the city offices.
Brill explained that the food is used in the church's soup kitchen as
well as for distribution to the needy.
The food drive will be an on-going project for city employees to benefit
the Hope Community Supper Drive, said Brill.
FOR THE POOR — City of New Rochelle Unit Vice President Sheila
Brill chaired a food drive that netted the city's poor nine cartons of
groceries collected from city employees. Helping to load the cartons is
JJnit President Tony Blaise. Brill also credited her co-chairman, Tony
^ u n i g i e l l o with helping with the project.
CSEA puts a
big push on
liGcilflh ciiid
safety in
woriqilace
February 24, 1986
Safety and health in the workplace is
definitely on CSEA's front burner, and the
union has really turned up the heat.
Late last week, CSEA Attorney John
Mineaux and James Corcoran, CSEA's
director of Occupational Safety and Health,
presented serious union concerns about
the issue before a joint hearing conducted
by the state Senate and Assembly Labor
Committees in Albany. And the president
of the Public Employee Conference, of
which CSEA is a prime member, testified at
the same hearing that public workers are
not being properly protected and suggested amending the state's Taylor Law to
allow workers to refuse to perform work
they believe to be unsafe.
And CSEA is putting the final touches on
legislation the union will be proposing to
the state legislature, with many major
changes urged In the area of health and
safety in the workplace.
One aspect of that proposed legislation
deals with asbestos. And along those lines,
the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the state Attorney General's Office
both sent representatives last week to inspect the SUNY Oswego campus, where
CSEA recently chs^rged there is tremendous asbestos contamination that management was aware of but covered up for a
number of years. State Department of Labor
and Department of Environmental Conservation investigations also are continuing at
the Oswego campus in the wake of CSEA's
allegations.
The Public Sector will devote a large section of its next edition to details of the
above recent developments and to the subject of dangers in the workplace in general,
and what organized labor is doing in an effort to protect the lives and health of working people.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
13
TOP
LUCY STAUB, public service
d i s p a t c h e r for t h e city of
Syracuse gets some immediate
attention to her questions akx)ut
the union from CSEA Field Rep
Mike White, right. CSEA Health
and Safety Rep Chris Jamison,
center, was also on hand at the
recent info days for Syracuse
members.
CENTER
LAURA TURNER, an information
aide for the Syracuse Police
Department, reviews a matter
w i t h C S E A Legal P r o g r a m
Administrator Tony Campione.
BOTTOM
BOB KRANSNEWICH, Syracuse
Bureau of Water employee,
l i s t e n s as C S E A R e t i r e e s
Coordinator Leo Hope offers
advice and literature
on
retirement planning.
SYRACUSE — Syracuse City
Unit members who attended two
recent information days here
came away with plenty of answers
to questions and a wealth of material concerning CSEA services
and support staff.
For member convenience, day
one of the program was held in
the Syracuse Safety Building,
followed by a second session in
Syracuse City Hall.
Plans for the info days were
coordinated by Regional Director
Frank
Martello
and
Field
Representative Mike White, with
the cooperation of Syracuse Unit
President Margaret Dennis and
Onondaga County Local 8 3 4
President Pat Callahan.
Participating in both sessions
were Syracuse and Albany CSEA
staff m e m b e r s r e p r e s e n t i n g
various departments including:
Education and Training, Legal
Assistance, Health and Safety,
Employee Assitance Programs
(EAP), Retirement Programs,
Communications, Political Action,
and CSEA Organizing. Additional
booths
were
staffed
by
representatives
from
Blue
Cross/Blue Shield and P O M C O
Insurance.
Similar information days and resource fairs have been conducted
at
regional
conferences,
workshops and most recently at
the Onondaga County Local 8 3 4
outing last fall.
Region Y ed courses chalked ia
SYRACUSE — A variety of special sessions covering officer orientation,
steward training, grievance handling and other types of educational
programs have been scheduled for CSEA Central Region V during the
coming year.
According to Mary Lauzon, chairwoman of the Region V Education
Committee, a minimum of 1 0 sessions have been planned, with the
possibility of additional program dates if needed.
At the request of Region V President Jim Moore, the committee recently
met in Syracuse with CSEA Education and Training Director Sally Engelhardt
and Specialist Peg Wilson to formulate plans for the next 12 months. •
Moore indicated that Region V members will be notified of the sessions
by mail and additional announcements in The Public Sector.
PLANNING AHEAD — Putting together Region V's educational
programs for the coming year are, from left: (seated) CSEA Education
and Traming Specialist Peg Wilson, Central Regional V President Jim
Moore, and Education Committee Chairwoman Mary Lauzon; (standing)
Carol Uhlig, Cindy Hammond, Gary Brown, and CSEA Director of
Education and Training Sally Engelhardt.
14
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
February 2 4 , 198 f
Livingston Co. Local declares impasse
'Management is trying to wear us down at
the bargaining table. But they won't win.'
MOUNT MORRIS — The negotiating committee of Livingston County
Local 8 2 6 , already at an impasse-mediator stage of contract talks, recently broke off bargaining sessions completely, and asked PERB to appoint a
factfinder to get the stalled negotiations off dead center.
0
The request for a factfinder follows closely after four improper practice
charges had been filed against the county, along with plans to file a class
action contract grievance, according to collective bargaining specialist
Thomas Pomidoro, who is chief negotiator for the 7 0 0 county employees.
"They've asked for major takeaways in the talks," said Pomidoro, "and
when we didn't cave in and accept them, they tried to impose some of
them unilaterally. But our members aren't going to stand by and let them
break the law like this."
The Livingston County employees have been working without a contract since Jan. 1, but employees who were due to receive pay increments did not receive them in their Jan. 4 paycheck, Pomidoro
^arged.
"In addition, they have the gall to interfere with our members' legal
right of union activity," Pomidoro continued, "by denying Local President
Herb Ellis contact with his membership during working hours."
Pomidoro said the administrator of the county's health facility ordered
all switchboard operators to refuse to allow Ellis to receive any unionrelated calls or to allow any employees to discuss with Ellis on the
telephone any employee problems, contract or disciplinary grievances
during working hours.
Other unfair actions cited against the county by Pomidoro include the
unilateral implementation of a revised salary schedule and job classification
^ a n . The action affected approximately 8 0 employees, many of whom
were demoted or their titles changed, causing an inability to be promoted
or transferred.
During the current negotiations the employer never proposed or
discussed a job classification survey, according to Pomidoro, although
CSEA was aware of a study jointly planned by the county and the state.
The subject of a study was brought up at a November 1 9 8 4 meeting, but
no formal notification of the adoption of a study's findings were ever
presented to the CSEA local.
"But we're not going to let them stop us from keeping our members informed or carrying out any of our union duties," said Ellis.
Ellis said he and local officers are posting the improper charges in all
county work locations so that the membership can be aware of the
county's tactics, which he said are designed "to wear us down at the
bargaining table. But they won't win."
"This is an outright attempt at union-busting," charged Ellis, who is
also accepting phone calls at home until PERB rules on the improper practice charge. His home phone number is 7 1 6 - 6 5 8 - 2 6 0 3 .
Ellis blamed a new administration with a "low regard for good labormanagement relations" for the local's current problems.
The takeaways the c o j n t y has proposed in negotiations include a 2 0
percent contribution to health insurance coverage, a freeze in salary
schedule increments for 1 9 8 6 and 1 9 8 7 , and a major reduction in
longevity increments.
As for a wage increase, the county has offered a 3 percent "bonus,"
that would not be added to the regular pay scale, but no actual pay boost
at all.
Pomidoro and Ellis said that while awaiting PERB's request for a factfinder, they will schedule an informational meeting for local members to update them on the improper charges and the stalled contract talks.
"And we want all of our members to know that we're not going to stop
looking after their legitimate interests," said Ellis." We're not going to be
intimidated by management's illegal tactics. It's a sure bet that PERB is going to back us up because anyone that reads the Taylor Law knows what
the are trying to do is illegal."
Where to call for more info
Update
PLAN
Provider directories
SINGLE copies of Empire Plan Participating Provider
Directories may be requested in writing at the following:
Metropolitan
Provider Directories
P.O. Box 1 2 0 0
Kingston, New York 1 2 4 0 1
Directories are broken down by Regions as follows
and requests should be made for a particular Region
not by county:
1. Metropolitan Region: (Nassau, Rockland, Suffolk
Westchester)
2. New York City Region: (Bronx, Kings. New York
Queens, Richmond)
3. Southern Tier Region: (Broome, Chemung
Chenango, Cortland. Delaware, Otsego. Schuyler
Tioga. Tompkins)
4. Mid-Hudson Region: (Dutchess. Orange. Put
man. Sullivan, Ulster)
5. Capital District Region: (Albany, Columbia, Ful
ton, Greene. Montgomery. Rensselaer. Saratoga
Schenectady. Schoharie)
6. Central East Region: (Cayuga, Herkimer, Madi
son, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego)
7. Central West Region: (Livingston, Monroe. On
tario. Seneca, Steuben. Wayne. Yates)
8. Northern Region: (Clinton, Essex, Franklin
Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Warren
Washington)
9. Niagara Frontier Region: (Allegany, Cattaraugus
Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee. Niagara, Orleans
Wyoming)
•ebruary 24, 1 9 8 6
For information concerning any aspect of the NYS Health Insurance Program, contact should initially be made with your
agency's personnel office, or:
DIVISION OF EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
NYS DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL SERVICE
W. AVERELL HARRIMAN STATE OFFICE
BUILDING CAMPUS
ALBANY, NEW YORK 12239
(Albany Area): (518)-457-5754 or (518)-457-5784
(Within New York State): 1-800-833-4344
For guidance & assistance in helping you make informed health decisions:
HEALTH CARE HELP LINE
(Within NYS): 1-800-336-3696
(Outside NYS): 1-800-722-7789
This is a referral/counseling service only and can assist you in making decisions about cost effective medical care and where
to obtain it.
MEDICARE information can be obtained through your local social security office listed in your telephone directory under
"United States Government."
All elective non-emergency, non-urgent and non-maternity hospital inpatient admissions must be reported to Blue Cross
by calling:
EMPIRE PLAN PRE-ADMISSION REVIEW
(Albany Area): (518)-465-6387
(Within NYS): 1-800-992-1213
(Outside NYS, Except Alaska): 1-800-628-6677
Please DO NOT call these numbers for information concerning claims and/or benefits.
NYS SECOND SURGICAL CONSULTATION PROGRAM
(New York City/Long Island Area): 1-800-832-4650
(All Other Areas of New York State): 1-800-342-3726
When a second Surgical Opinion is needed/required, contact should be made at least 2 weeks prior to the date surgery
is anticipated.
METROPOLITAN PARTICIPATING PROVIDER INFORMATION LINE
1-800-537-0010
Should a provider not be listed in the present Empire Plan Directory, you may call this number to inquire as to whether
or not a particular provider is presently participating in the Empire Plan. Due to the ongoing recruitment process of participating
providers into the Empire Pian, an updated directory will be published every 6 months.
For information concerning your hospital claims, you should contact your local BLUE CROSS PLAN OFFICE or:
EMPIRE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD
NYS SERVICE CENTER
BOX 1 1932
1 2 CORPORATE WOODS BLVD.
ALBANY, NEW YORK 1 221 1 -2389
(Albany Area): (518)-465-0171
(Within NYS): 1-800-342-9815
(Florida): 1-800-521-0230
(Outside NYS, Except Alaska): 1-800-428-4292
For information concerning your medical/surgical claims:
METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
CPO BOX 1600
KINGSTON, NEW YORK 12401
(Within NYS): 1-800-942-4640
(Outside NYS): 1 -800-431 -431 2
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
15
HEALTH RESEARCH LOCAL 315
President Jim Jayes and CSEA
statewide Secretary Irene Carr.
1 St conference
of year briefs
members on issues
EAP REPRESENTATIVE Grace
Steffen-Boyler with Ruby Everette
of Monroe Developmental Center
Local 489.
ROCHESTER — The first Region VI Conference of 1 9 8 6 proved
to be a wide-ranging confab that delivered information to delegates
on the Empire Plan, CSEA organizing efforts, educational assistance
programs and other regional and statewide matters.
Candy Saxon of Niagara County Local 8 3 2 was appointed Region
VI secretary by Robert L. Lattimer, regional president. Saxon will
fill the post until the next scheduled regional elections.
Lattimer also took an opportunity at the conference to point out
the "devastating effects of the Gramm-Rudman Act. This bill has
the potential to decimate the budgets our jobs depend on," he said.
(See pages 1 7 - 1 9 on Gramm-Rudman.)
REGION VI PRESIDENT Robert L"
Lattimer speaks with Murray Dale
Axtel, president of Yates County
Local 862.
16
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
WORKSHOP Chairman Sal Castro,
right, congratulates George
Growney, Monroe County Local
828 president, on his election as
Region VI Local Goverment
Workshop vice chairman.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
HERB HAMM of Monroe County
Local 828 and Region VI Vice
President Florence Tripi at Local
Government workshop.
f
February 2 4 , 198
The Gramm-Rudman Law
How it works
How it hurts.
Dqueeze
Moynihan:
N.Y. hit hard
The 1 9 8 7 Federal Budget which
President Reagan has proposed this month
would reduce federal assistance to New
York state by some $ 1 . 9 billion, according
to Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY).
In a preliminary estimate of the president's
budget, Moynihan said New York's share of
cuts from the elimination of revenue sharing
and reductions in mass transit, housing,
student loan. Medicaid, Medicare and other programs would be 1 1 . 3 percent of the
national total for these programs.
"These
cuts
are t h e
inevitable
consequence of the Gramm- RudmanHollings law that Congress approved last
year," Moynihan said in a recent statement.
"This is what the Congress voted for. This
is what I voted against."
Moynihan was one of only 2 4 Senators
w h o voted against the Gramm-RudmanHillings bill.
i t
Your' e now in the
land of Oz/'
T h a t ' s h o w A F S C M E International
President Gerald W. McEntee describes the
predicament public e m p l o y e e s will find
themselves in when the Gramm-Rudman law
hits with full force later this year and next. The
huge cuts that the law will inflict on the federal
budget very soon will spell disaster for state
and local governments, he warns.
" A s things stand, aid to state and local
governments will be cut by almost 2 5 percent
from what w e were looking at two months
ago," said McEntee.
This year, the law would force more than
$ 1 1 billion in federal cuts, but the real crunch
would come next year when the measure could
slash $ 5 0 - $ 6 0 billion more.
Although Gramm-Rudman is calling forautomatic across-the-board cuts in both
domestic and defense programs, AFSCME
researchers note that domestic programs
already have been sharply cut by the Reagan
Administration and further cuts would cause
hardships for public employees.
Projections by state governors and budget
directors show that the law would throw the
budgets of 3 8 states into the red next year.
Deficits in New York, Texas and Pennsylvania
are pegged at $ 9 4 4 million, $ 6 2 1 million, and
$ 5 9 6 million, respectively. Many smaller states
would also be hard hit, including Montana,
Rhode Island and Delaware.
McEntee has cautioned union leaders to
"understand the pressures on management"
to pull back on their budgets and be prepared
to deal with the situation at the bargaining table
during the coming year.
Although some locals may decide a degree
of flexibility is essential, AFSCME's national
position is " n o givebacks, no c o n c e s s i o n s , "
McEntee said.
" O n c e public employers start asking for
concessions they never stop," he said.
Special Report
A
U
R
E
T
!
ivery year since the Budget A c t was
enacted in 197^, Congress has been required
to set a budget—a blueprint—for its spending in the coming year. Since 1981—when
massive tax cuts accelerated the U.S. into a
The material printed here arid ori pages 1 7tailspin of debt—the annual increase in debt
19 explains the operation of Gramm-Rudmanhas
been massive.
President Reagan has
Hollings, the new budget law which governs
rejected
a
tax
increase—and
Congress has
how all federal funds will be spent—and how
refused
to
take
tax
action
on
its own. Sethey will be cut. A complex law, it will have a
massive impact on every federal program which vere cuts in social programs have occurred
unionists work and live under. It will dominate but have not stemmed the rising debt. For
all federal legislation for the next several years. example, in F Y 1985, the government took
in $73<» billion in revenues and spent $9^6
And it will affect your future.
billion, adding $212 billion more to the debt.
In order to eliminate this annual addition
to the debt without a tax increase, massive
cuts in spending would have fo be made.
Y e t much government spending cannot be
touched.
In F Y 1983 over 30 percent of
February 2 4 , 1986
Reprinted from A F L - C I O
N E W S , Feb. 1, 1 9 8 6
federal outlays was for interest on the debt
and prior legal obligations which cannot be
cut.
This throws the burden onto social
programs—as well as in heretofore untouched defense spending. If Social Security
is taken out of the pool available for cuts—
which Congress has recently indicated a
willingness to do—almost 20 percent more
of federal spending is removed. This leaves
to be cut medicare, unemployment insurance, job training, education, mass transit,
A m t r a k , nutrition programs, highway construction projects and all other non-defense
spending, which represents only about onethird of total spending, and defense currentyear spending, which represents a l i t t l e less
than o n e - f i f t h of total spending—or about
$300 billion and $160 billion respectively.
So if any further basic cuts are to be
made, they will fall directly on programs
(Continued on Page 18)
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
17
(Continued from Page 17)
t h a t Congress a f t e r Congress has e n a c t e d
and renewed—programs t h a t the private
'sector won't or can't do:
build roads and
bridges, provide care for the v e t e r a n , assist
in e d u c a t i o n , clean up t o x i c wastes, assure
job s a f e t y , provide t r a d e a d j u s t m e n t benefits and services, ensure Social Security and
m e d i c a r e for the e l d e r l y , and many other
necessary services. These are the targets of
any budget cuts.
H o w e v e r , even if m a n y of the basic
f e d e r a l programs were t o t a l l y ended, there
would still be i n s u f f i c i e n t savings to balance
the b u d g e t — p a r t i c u l a r l y if a r e t u r n to a
recession o c c u r r e d .
Despite this r e a l i t y , the stage was set in
1985 for demagoguery—and for r a d i c a l , desp e r a t e action—when legislation c a m e before
the Congress to raise the government's debt
l i m i t above $ 2 t r i l l i o n . O n O c t o b e r 9 , 1985,
the Senate passed an a m e n d m e n t to the debt
l i m i t legislation a u t h o r e d by Senators Phil
G r a m m ( R - T X ) , W a r r e n R u d m a n ( R - N H ) and
Ernest Hollings ( D - S C ) and cosponsored by
M a j o r i t y L e a d e r R o b e r t D o l e ( R - K A ) and 37
other Senators which would r a d i c a l l y revise
Congressional operations and budgeting procedures and require a balanced budget by
F Y 1991.
What c a m e about was a
sweeping t r a n s f o r m a t i o n of the way f e d e r a l
budget decisions are m a d e , binding l i m i t s on
the budget d e f i c i t , a process for a u t o m a t i c
a c r o s s - t h e - b o a r d spending cuts and the c e r t a i n t y t h a t e v e r y social and labor program
now« in law—and any proposed—faced massive cuts and possible e l i m i n a t i o n . O n D e c e m b e r 11, 1985, the House and Senate
passed a c o n f e r e n c e a g r e e m e n t on the debt
l i m i t which included the G r a m m - R u d m a n Hollings a m e n d m e n t only m a r g i n a l l y m o d i fied.
F o l l o w i n g are the essentials of the new
budget process, as r a d i c a l l y a l t e r e d by the
Gramm-Rudman-Hollings
(G-R-H)
legislation.
OVERVIEW
T h e Balanced Budget and E m e r g e n c y
Deficit Control A c t (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings, P L 9 9 - 1 7 7 ) makes e x t e n s i v e changes in
the congressional budget process. Many of
these changes are designed to help e n f o r c e
the m a x i m u m d e f i c i t l i m i t s specified by
Gramm-Rudman.
O t h e r s are designed to
a c c e l e r a t e the t i m e t a b l e for congressional
a c t i o n on budget m a t t e r s and to generally
s t r e a m l i n e and improve the budget process.
T h e legislation c r e a t e s a series of binding l i m i t s on the budget d e f i c i t . The need
to hold the d e f i c i t w i t h i n these l i m i t s w i l l
be the d o m i n a t i n g f a c t o r in all budget delibe r a t i o n s . F u r t h e r , the measure creates an
unprecedented new process which will make
spending cuts a u t o m a t i c a l l y on an acrosst h e - b o a r d basis in years when the d e f i c i t is
p r o j e c t e d to e x c e e d the l i m i t s .
For F Y
1987, m e e t i n g the G r a m m - R u d m a n targets
w i l l c l e a r l y require massive spending cuts—
and, many b e l i e v e , substantial revenue increases as w e l l . If the spending cuts are not
made through the n o r m a l legislative process, they w i l l be made a u t o m a t i c a l l y by
formula.
The G r a m m - R u d m a n legislation forbids
consideration of congressional budget resolutions w i t h d e f i c i t s in excess of the applicable l i m i t s , and m a k e s the budget resolution binding upon a d o p t i o n .
The measure
also establishes an a c c e l e r a t e d t i m e t a b l e
for consideration of budget resolutions, reco n c i l i a t i o n bills, and appropriations legislation.
18
T H E P U B L I C SECTOR
The
Squeeze
THE REVISED
BUDGET PROCESS
Maximum Deficit Limits. The new legislation sets m a x i m u m l i m i t s on the annual
increase in the f e d e r a l debt for the period
F Y 1986 through F Y 1991. These l i m i t s are
as follows:
F Y 1 9 8 6 : $ 1 7 1 . 9 billion
F Y 1987:
billion
F Y 1 9 8 8 : $108
billion
F Y 1 9 8 9 : $ 72
billion
F Y 1 9 9 0 : $ 36
billion
F Y 1991: zero
The f e d e r a l debt in 1991, even under this
program of massive cuts, w i l l have risen to
approximately $2.6 trillion.
N e i t h e r the President's budget nor the
congressional budget resolution may call for
a d e f i c i t in excess of the l i m i t set by the
l a w . I f the a c t u a l d e f i c i t for a given h s c a l
year is p r o j e c t e d to e x c e e d the applicable
l i m i t by m o r e than $10 billion (or by any
amount in the case of F Y 1986 and F Y
1991), the a u t o m a t i c spending reduction
procedures, described l a t e r , w i l l be t r i g gered. .
President's Budget. Gramm-Rudman acc e l e r a t e s the deadline for submission of the
President's annual budget proposal to C o n gress. U n d e r the new l a w , this budget must
be s u b m i t t e d no l a t e r than the f i r s t Monday
a f t e r J a n u a r y 3, e f f e c t i v e next y e a r . (The
c u r r e n t r e q u i r e m e n t is 15 days a f t e r C o n gress convenes, which usually means e%rly
F e b r u a r y . ) F o r the F Y 1987 budget only—
which w i l l be s u b m i t t e d and considered this
year—a special deadline of F e b r u a r y 5 is
established.
Congressional Budget Resolution.
The
new budget legislation f o r m a l i z e s the practice which has been f o l l o w e d in recent years
of adopting only one congressional budget
resolution. The single annual budget resolution required by the new legislation w i l l be
binding upon a d o p t i o n .
I t w i l l cover three
years, and w i l l set t a r g e t s for budget a u t h o r i t y , o u t l a y s , revenues, d e f i c i t s , d i r e c t
lending, and loan guarantees, including both
aggregate t a r g e t s and targets for each of
the various f u n c t i o n a l categories of the budg e t . As b e f o r e , a t this stage all programs
are a t risk and can be c u t . I t is only l a t e r —
a t the a u t o m a t i c trigger step—that some
programs are o f f l i m i t s .
I t must include
r e c o n c i l i a t i o n instructions (to the e x t e n t
necessary) and m a y include various other
procedural m a t t e r s and e n f o r c e m e n t m e c h a nisms. These r e q u i r e m e n t s for c o n t e n t are
quite similar to c u r r e n t p r a c t i c e .
for
the
ous
15,
The new law sets a deadline of A p r i l 15
c o m p l e t i o n of congressional a c t i o n on
annual budget resolution. Under p r e v i l a w , the comparable deadline was M a y
but this deadline was o f t e n not m e t .
G r a m m - R u d m a n law also establishes a
new point of order (a p a r l i a m e n t a r y b a r r i e r )
against any budget resolution or a m e n d m e n t
t h e r e t o which provides for a d e f i c i t in e x cess of the applicable l i m i t s . In the House,
is on
when a House-Senate c o n f e r e n c e report is
being considered, this point of order m a y
only be w a i v e d by a t h r e e - f i f t h s m a j o r i t y of
those present and voting. In the S e n a t e , a
t h r e e - f i f t h s m a j o r i t y is required for such a
w a i v e r in all cases, including i n i t i a l Senate
a c t i o n as well as a c t i o n on a c o n f e r e n c e
report.
BUDGET LIMITATIONS
Binding Targets
for Committees
and
S u b c o m m i t t e e s . Under the new procedures,
the c o n f e r e n c e report on the annual budget
resolution w i l l include an a l l o c a t i o n of the
o v e r a l l spending t a r g e t s among the various
c o m m i t t e e s of the House and S e n a t e . Each
c o m m i t t e e , in turn, w i l l be required to subdivide its allocations among its various subc o m m i t t e e s or programs under its jurisdiction. G r a m m - R u d m a n makes these a l l o c a tions among c o m m i t t e e s and s u b c o m m i t t e e s
binding—enforceable by new points of o r d e r .
F o r e x a m p l e , the A p p r o p r i a t i o n s C o m m i t t e e is a l l o c a t e d one lump sum of almost
$ 6 0 0 billion for all appropriations for the
f e d e r a l g o v e r n m e n t . I t must then subdivide
t h a t a l l o c a t i o n among its 13 s u b c o m m i t t e e s
before they can provide appropriations for
job t r a i n i n g programs, mass t r a n s i t assist a n c e , education programs, dam construction and the l i k e .
If the budget resolution has assumed
massive cuts in education and job t r a i n i n g
programs, which f a l l w i t h i n one subcomm i t t e e ' s jurisdiction, and the f u l l a p p r o p r i a tions c o m m i t t e e wishes to m o d e r a t e the
cuts assumed in the resolution, the only way
they can do so is by reducing the a m o u n t of
spending a u t h o r i t y t h a t o t h e r w i s e
would
have gone to another s u b c o m m i t t e e . I f they
do not increase the a l l o c a t i o n to t h a t subc o m m i t t e e over w h a t is assumed in the
budget resolution, the s u b c o m m i t t e e must
produce a bill which incorporates cuts m e e t ing the e x p e c t a t i o n s of the budget resolution, or t h a t bill cannot be considered on the
House or Senate f l o o r .
In the House, a point of order could be
raised against consideration of any bill,
a m e n d m e n t , or c o n f e r e n c e a g r e e m e n t providing new spending a u t h o r i t y in excess of
the a p p r o p r i a t e subdivision (the "Section
302(b) a l l o c a t i o n " ) . These would be ordinary
points of order t h a t could be waived by
m a j o r i t y v o t e . S i m i l a r points of order would
apply in the S e n a t e , although these would
cover outlays as w e l l as budget a u t h o r i t y
and require a t h r e e - f i f t h s m a j o r i t y to w a i v e .
House Action on Appropriations Bills. '
The new law includes several provisions designed to e x p e d i t e a c t i o n on the annual
appropriations measures, a t least in the
House. F i r s t , while the legislation continues
the general prohibition against consideration
of spending bills in the House or Senate
prior to adoption of a budget resolution, it
provides a new special e x e m p t i o n which
(Continued on Page 19)
February 2 4 , 1 9 8 f
(Continued from Page 18)
allows regular appropriations bills to be considered on the House floor a f t e r May 15,
regardless of whether action has been completed on the budget resolution.
F u r t h e r , the legislation establishes a new
deadline of 3une 30 for completion of House
action on all regular appropriations bills.
Finally, Gramm-Rudman provides that it
shall not be in order for the House to
adjourn for the July ^ recess unless it has
finished all of the regular appropriations
measures for the coming fiscal year. So, as
enacted, all "reconciling" of programs to get
under the spending l i m i t must be passed by
Congress by the end of June and all money
bills must have been acted on by the House.
Conclusion of action on these appropriations
bills, again within the spending limits, is
where the process usually ends.
AUTOMATIC SPENDING
REDUaiON
Gramm-Rudman-Hollings establishes an
automatic
spending
reduction
process,
called sequestration, which is triggered
whenever the deficit at the start of a fiscal
year is projected to exceed that year's allowable
limit.
Deficit
estimates
for
Gramm-Rudman purposes are to be made by
the O f f i c e of Management and Budget
(OMB), the Congressional Budget O f f i c e
(CBO) and the General Accounting O f f i c e
(GAO), with GAO having the final say in
cases of disagreement.
The law requires
automatic cuts of whatever size is needed
to achieve the deficit l i m i t . (This part of
the law is under legal challenge. Even if the
lawsuit is successful, Gramm-Rudman provides another means to the same target.)
The mechanism for making these cuts is
a presidential executive order, but in issuing
the order the President is required to follow
the determinations made by G A O and the
formulas specified by law. He has no discretion as to whether or not to issue such an
order, and very l i t t l e discretion as to how to
apportion the cuts.
The formula to be used in apportioning
these automatic spending cuts is spelled out
in detail by the G - R - H legislation.
The
total cuts' required are to be divided 50/50
between defense and non-defense programs.
C e r t a i n items are fully exempt (mainly Social Security, some low-income programs,
and certain binding legal obligations), and
special rules l i m i t the cuts in some other
programs (including medicare).
A l l other
items will be subject to across-the-board
uniform percentage cuts of whatever size is
needed to produce the mandated savings.
In F Y 1987 and subsequent years, O M B ,
CBO and G A O first make an estimate of the
deficit and the need for. sequestration based
on legislation enacted as of August 15 and
T H E I M P A C T O F G R A M M - R U D M A N a n d federal tax reform on N e w York state w a s a topic
of discussion recently at a m e e t i n g of Sen. Alfonse D ' A m a t o , center, with CSEA statewide
leaders. Pictured above with D ' A m a t o are CSEA Executive V i c e President Joseph McDermott, right, a n d Attorney a n d Lobbyist J a m e s F e a t h e r s t o n h a u g h . T h e talk also t o u c h e d
upon a variety of federal issues affecting t h e s t a t e ' s care of t h e mentally ill a n d retarded.
then revise that report for the final sequestration order based on legislation enacted as
of approximately October 5.
Cuts are l i m i t e d in the following health
care programs to 1 percent in F Y 1986 and 2
percent in FY" 1987 and subsequent years:
medicare, veterans' medical care, community health centers, migrant health centers,
and Indian health facilities and services.
Medicare cuts may be made only in payments to doctors, hospitals and other health
care providers, and are to be measured from
the level of payment set by existing law and
regulations.
Six other programs are also subject to
special rules:
•
Unemployment insurance -only federal
administrative expenses and the federal
contribution to extended benefits can be
sequestered.
•
Federal pay - federal pay rates, both
m i l i t a r y and civilian, may not Be cut
through sequestration.
•
Guaranteed student loans -costs can be
reduced only by a OA percent reduction
in the first year of the special allowance
factor for lenders and a 0.5 percent
increase in the origination f e e .
Special rules also apply to child support
enforcement, foster care and adoption assistance and to commodity credit corporation programs.
SPECIAL RECESSION
PROVISIONS
Gramm-Rudman-Hollings
provides
for
automatic votes in Congress on a measure
suspending the deficit limits and the automatic spending reduction process in the
event of a recession. This measure would be
in the form of a joint resolution, which
would require presidential approval (or a
veto override) before i t could take e f f e c t .
The special provisions would be set in
motion a t any point during a fiscal year
when CBO notifies Congress that it or OMB
has projected that real economic growth
will fall below zero for any two consecutive
quarters (during the period beginning with
the quarter prior to notification and ending
with the fourth quarter a f t e r notification).
The provisions would also be triggered
whenever the actual ecbnomid growth statistics published by the Commerce D e p a r t ment show that real growth has fallen below
1 percent for two consecutive quarters.
C r i t i c s say that these triggers are inadequate because predictions of recession are
rarely, if e v e r , made by OMB and CBO and
statistics showing that growth has actually
dropped below 1 percent will result in any
remedy coming too late.
The provisions that would be suspended
include the maximum deficit limits, various
points of order and the automatic spending
reduction process. The suspension would be
for the remainder of the current fiscal year
and for the following fiscal year, a f t e r
which time the statutory G - R - H deficit
schedule would be back in e f f e c t .
The
resolution would not suspend the provisions
of a spending reduction order which had
already gone into e f f e c t .
Unfreezing federal funds: what you can do
While the A F L - C I O in no way supports
Gramm-Rudman-Hollings, which is seen as
bringing about government by paralysis, we
do recognize the need to reduce the deficit
in a judicious manner.
Our position since
1981 has been that it makes no sense to cut
needed domestic programs again and again,
when the primary contributing factor to the
enormous deficits continues to be the 1981
tax cut that dramatically cut the rates of
wealthy individuals and corporations.
The
A F L - C I O has also opposed increases in defense spending when social programs are
being cut.
February 2 4 , 1 9 8 6
In F Y 1987, when G - R - H is expected to
require deficit reduction measures Tn the
$'f0-$60 billion range, the continuing net i m pact of the 1981 tax giveaway is over $150
billion lost to the Treasury in F Y 1987.
You can write your Representatives and
Senators, strongly protesting any further
cuts in domestic programs and urging that
constructive action on the deficit would be
to recover the revenues lost in the 1981 tax
cut for the wealthy by closing corporate tax
loopholes and increasing the mihimum tax
on wealthy individuals.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
19
NYC Labor office
CSEA demands cleanup
MANHATTAN — Like the neighborhood it
serves, the New York State Department of
Labor Unemployment Insurance office is a victim of neglect and decay.
When the walls and ceilings aren't crumbling around employees and claimants, there is
the menace of rodents, lack of heating and
ventilation, and inadequate security to face.
For this, the state is paying more than
$ 1 0 , 0 0 0 per month.
" W e were promised action by Jan. 15 on
more than a dozen specific areas of concern,"
claims CSEA Local 3 5 0 President Denis
Tobin. "It's now the Middle of February and virtually nothing's been d o n e . "
Tobin places the blame squarely on the
landlord, Williams Real Estate Company. "The
Labor Department officials are just as outraged as we are about this mess and they're
frustrated about the lack of response."
Part of the problem lies in the difficulty the
O f f i c e of G e n e r a l S e r v i c e s f a c e s in
negotiating the repairs since the state has
been occupying the space without a lease for
seven years.
It is a common problem in New York City.
While the state may be dissatisfied with the
facilities it is renting, it is usually unable to find
anything better at a reasonable price. In the
meantime, by letting leases lapse in expectation of a move, there is a loss of leverage in
getting action from the landlord.
"The whole situation is a disgrace," adds
CSEA Regional II Occupational Safety and
Health Specialist Floyd Payne. "People
should not have to work under such vile conditions — they have a right to expect a
reasonably h^izard-free worksite. But that's
not what they have here."
Among the specific complaints that are on
record with the landlord are:
1. leaking roof over conference area and
entitlement section;
2. cracked windows and others that do not
open and close;
3. broken ventilation systems;
4. faulty electrical outlets;
5. entire walls in need of replastering;
6. need for complete interior painting;
7. missing floor tiles creating treacherous
walking conditions;
8. no lock on door to employee room to limit
outside access;
Q. -inaequate heating and air conditioning.
Tobin also indicates that there is a general
lack of security in the office and that he has
personally witnessed drug deals being made
in the foyer of the building.
"We've been assured that the place will be
cleaned up and we've been patient. But that's
starting to wear thin. We need this situation
addressed now and it's up to the state to demand action or take some of its o w n , " he said.
NOT A PRETTY SIGHT
Pictures above depict tlie sorry state of disrepair at the
Department of Labor Unemployment Insurance office on 180th Street in north Manhattan. CSEA was promised that repairs would be undertaken by Jan. 15, but as CSEA
Local 350 President Dennis Tobin points out, nothing's changed.
It's a lot of garbage
NEW YORK — Even w h e n New York state pays top dollar for office
space, there's still no guarantee that working conditions will be hunkydory. Take the case of Ruben Cabaza, a partially disabled mail clerk
employed by the Public Service Commission at 4 0 0 Broome Street in
Manhattan.
Although the state is paying $ 2 8 . 5 million for a 10-year lease on
the office space, Cabaza has been ordered to take out the garbage.
It seems that aspect of maintenance wasn't included in the lease. However, it was being carried out for an extra $ 1 5 6 per month by the
landlord's crew after the lack of garbage pick-up was reported in The Public
Sector last fall.
Afterwards though, the PSC administration decided it could economize by relieving the crew of the responsibility and assigning it to Cabaza.
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CSEA has filed an out-of-title work grievance on Cabaza's behalf and
is demanding that he receive $ 1 5 6 per month backpay for the time he
was required to perform the garbage pick-up.
The Broome Street lease has been cited as an example of political
favoritism in the awarding of state real estate contracts.
Meanwhile, problems continue to plague the Broome Street facility.
As the state and the landlord continue to haggle over the provisions of
the lease, the landlord has kicked the state security guards out of the
front lobby, claiming the state is not renting that space.
There was also a recent flood that disrupted work and put a damper
on worker enthusiasm. That is, for those workers who made it through
the obstacle course; past the construction site in front of the building
and up to their floor on one of the two working elevators.
A
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
February 24, 1986