PÜBLIC
SECTOR
Official Publication of The Civil Service Employees Association, Local 1000,
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees AFL-CIO.
CSEA GENERAL COUNSEL MARJORIE KAROWE
s^^Md 4
ISSN 0164 99491
Vol. 10, No. 8
Monday, April 2 0 , 1 9 8 7
Everyone enjoys the circus — it's
entertainment that appeals to the entire family
and the child in each of us.
With that in mind, CSEA is offering special
discount admission prices to CSEA members
and their families to selected performances of the
world famous Ringling Bros, and Barnum &
Bailey Circus, "The Greatest Show on Earth,"
May 20, 21 and 22 at the Glens Falls Civic Center.
In cooperation with the circus management,
CSEA members and their families will be
admitted, with the coupon printed below, at $2
each off the regular admission price. This offer is
good for circus performances at the Glens Falls
Civil Center at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 20;
10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 21 and 4
p.m. Friday, May 22.
Simply clip out the coupon below and present it
at the ticket office at the Glens Falls Civic Center
for any of the performances listed above to
receive $2 off the admission price for CSEA
members and members of their families.
The Ringling Bros, and Barnum & Bailey
Circus is appearing at the Glens Falls Civic
Center May 19-24. The special discount prices are
in effect only for the four performances listed
above.
SÄ/E SÄ/E SA/E SÄ/E SÄ/E
S Ä / E ^ Ä ^ K ^
Present this coupon for $2 off the regular admission price for
members of The Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) and
their families to any of the following performances of the Ringling
Bros, and Barnum & Bailey Circus at the Glens Falls Civic Center;
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 20; 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, f^ay 21 and 4 p.m. Friday, May 22,
ORGANIZING THE
UNORGANIZED ... PAGES
4&5
SA/ESAVE
CXXIPON
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W E
Campaign literature distribution help
WE'RE TALKING EDUCATION
HERE ... PAGE 13
SPubllc
SSECTOR
Official p u b l i c a t i o n of T h e Civil S e r v i c e
E m p l o y e e s A s s o c i a t i o n Local 1 0 0 0 , AFSCME,
AFL-CIO 1 4 3 W a s h i n g t o n A v e n u e , A l b a n y ,
N e w York 1 2 2 1 0
ALBANY — CSEA will comply with all
reasonable requests of candidates for union
office to distribute campaign literature to the
membership at the candidate's expense.
The following procedures apply:
Candidates must pay in advance by either
certified check or money order made payable
to "CSEA Inc." Cost is approximately 30 cents
per letter which includes printing (one-side
only), handling and mailing via first class
postage.
Maximum size for printed materials is 8
1/2" by 11" and the limit is one enclosure per
mailing. Camera-ready artwork must be
provided.
Mailings will be done on a first-come first
served basis on or after April 30.
Candidates may also have campaign
materials printed and envelopes stuffed
elsewhere and then delivered before May 1 to
CSEA Headquarters for mailing. They may
The Public Sector (445010) is published every other Monday by The Civil Service
Employees Association, 143 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12210. Publication Office: 143 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12210. Second Class Postage paid at Post
Office, Albany, New York.
Address changes should be sent to: Civil Service Employees Association, Attn:
Membership Department, 143 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12210.
SHERYL CARLIN
LILLY GIOIA
ANITA MANLEY
AARON SHEPARD
ROGER A. COLE
KATHLEEN DALY
2
Publisher
Editor
Associate Editor
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
also purchase mailing labels and mailing lists
at cost.
CSEA will also provide, at no expense, a list
or set of labels of local and unit presidents in
the candidate's jurisdiction. Send written
requests, only, to: CSEA Elections Processing
Unit, P.O. Box 7125, Capitol Station, Albany,
N.Y. 12224.
Meanwhile, candidates, or proxies with
written authorizations, may observe all
aspects of the literature distribution on
weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at
CSEA Headquarters, 143 Washington Ave.,
Albany. In addition, they may observe the
elections process (printing and mailing of
ballots, picking up and opening of ballots, etc.)
which is being handled by the Independent
Election Corporation of America (IECA), Lake
Success, N.Y.
It is recommended that observers notify
lECA in advance of their visits by phoning
(516) 437-4900.
DAN CAMPBELL
CHUCK McGEARY
COMMUNICATION ASSOCIATES
Region I
RONWOFFORD
..
(516) 273-2280
Region II
STEVE MADARASZ
(212) 514-9200
Region III
(914 ) 896-8180
.»0« COMMUtdCA^
Region IV
(518) 489-5424
Region V
•4ftCI0/ClC- *
(315) 451-6330
Region VI
(716) 886-0391
Headquarters
(518) 434-0191
April 20, 1987-
Delegates OK
law department
o
WHEREAS, this Delegate Body,
pursuant to the Certificate of
Incorporation of The Civil Service
Employees Association, Inc., as amended,
has full power and authority to transact
any and all business of the Association at
meetings of the Association; and
KIAMESHA LAKE — CSEA delegates
made history on April 9 when they decided
that the union will — for the first time ever
— have its own Law Department.
By a decisive 1,171 to 784 vote at a Special
Delegates Meeting here, the delegate body
endorsed recommendations made by a
special committee they appointed last fall to
review CSEA legal services. (Committee
findings were published in the March 23,
1987, edition of The Public Sector.)
WHEREAS, this Delegate body has
received, reviewed and deliberated upon
the Report of the Special Committee to
Review the Delivery of Legal Services
and now wishes to act upon its findings
and recommendations;
As part of the s a m e resolution establishing
a CSEA Law Department, delegates
approved the appointment of Attorney
Marjorie E. Karowe as General Counsel. (A
profile on General Counsel Karowe appears
on page 10 of this edition of The Public
Sector.)
NOW THEREFORE, upon motion duly
made and seconded; it is
RESOLVED that the legal services of
Roemer and Featherstonhaugh, P.C. as
General Counsel, and in any other
capacity, to The Civil Service Employees
Association, Inc. be, and hereby are,
terminated forthwith; and it is further
The committee, after an exhaustive fivemonth study, concluded that "the delivery of
legal services to CSEA by the law firm of
Roemer & Featherstonhaugh is
unsatisfactory" and recommended that such
services be "terminated."
They also outlined proposals for in-house
legal services.
Delegates accepted the committee's
advice after five hours of free-wheeling
debate.
The meeting, called by petition of 25 local
presidents, was chaired by CSEA President
William L. McGowan, who supported the
committee's recommendations, explaining
that since the union already provides so
many direct services (benefit fund,
employee assistance program, education
and training, etc.), "it was now time to have
our own Law Department dedicated only to
CSEA and to no outside interests."
CSEA PRESIDENT William L. McGowan checks
a point with CSEA Parlimentarian Celeste
Rosenkranz during Special Delegates Meeting
on April 6.
Meanwhile, union delegates went home
optimistic that their action fulfills the
special committee's goal to.have a legal
team with their exclusive dedication to the
interests of CSEA and its members.
AN OPEN LETTER TO
THE MEMBERS:
The action taken by the delegates at the
Concord Hotel was a giant historic step for
our union.
The creation of the CSEA Law
Department will, from this day forward,
serve ail the members and determine our
own destiny.
The majority vote by the delegates
reaffirms that the membership does have a
voice in the affairs and the future of
CSEA.
It also shows that the members have a
right to change what does not work.
To those who feel differently I extend
my hand In a gesture of unity toward all. I
ask that we put aside our past differences
and go forward with a new beginning.
We are, after all, a union of common
people with common sense and, most
importantly, a common purpose.
Join me in making CSEA the union of
today and the union of tomorrow.
He also put together a proposal for
establishing an in-house department which
he estimates will save more than $250,000
annually.
McGowan told the delegates that for such
a department to succeed, "we need someone
with a real dedication to unionism who will
have our interests at heart."
"The one person who fits the bill is Marge
Karowe. With no reservations, I would
choose Marge as our General Counsel.
Marge has over 12 years experience with
CSEA and loves this union a s we do,"
McGowan said.
The morning after the delegates meeting,
Karowe was in CSEA Headquarters in
Albany setting up shop.
She will direct a staff of eight full-time
attorneys, two legal assistants, one
paralegal and four secretaries.
CSEA will also maintain its existing
network of regional attorneys.
Karowe profile
April 2 0 , 1 9 8 7
Following is the verbatim resolution adopted
by delegates at the Special Delegates Meeting
held April 6, 1987, at the Concord Hotel,
Kiamesha Lake. The resolution was adopted
by a margin of 1,171 — 784.
/Tit
V
CSEA President
p a g e s 10-11
RESOLVED that this Delegate Body
hereby establishes a CSEA Law
Department as recommended by the
Committee and directs President
McGowan to organize the Department and
arrange for the delivery of legal services
in accordance with the outline presented
to this Delegate Body by the President;
and it is further
RESOLVED that the President is
authorized and directed to implement this
plan and to expend funds therefore in an
amount not to exceed that already
approved and budgeted by the CSEA
Board of Directors for legal services for
fiscal year 1986-87; and it is further
RESOLVED that this Delegate Body
accepts the recommendation of the
President to, and hereby does, appoint
Marjorie E. Karowe a s General Counsel
to The Civil Service E m p l o y e e s
Association, Inc.; and it is further
RESOLVED that this Delegate Body
directs the Treasurer and Comptroller of
CSEA to pay immediately upon direction
of the President, such monies as m a y be
necessary to implement the delivery of
legal services in accordance with this
resolution; and it is further
RESOLVED that this Delegate Body
authorizes the President to perform such
acts a s m a y be necessary to carry out
this resolution, and directs him to report
back at the next Annual Convention
regarding the implementation of this
resolution; and it is further
RESOLVED that this Delegate Body
hereby prohibits the Board of Directors of
CSEA from taking any action which is
, inconsistent with the Resolution.
Roll call v o t e
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
3
ORGANIZING
Winning is often a matter of degrees — piece by
piece, little by little until it all comes together in
victory. That's the way it is in union organizing too —
final victory for oppressed workers is often measured
in a series of gains and inroads and may not come all
at once on the first try. This is a story about a perfect
example — St. Elizabeth Hospital in Utica.
The following was compiled from the recollection
THE
of conditions, events, thoughts and experiences of
CSEA Organizer Sue Bucrzinski during CSEA's initial
attempt to assist employees of St. Elizabeth's Hospital
in organizing themselves into a union. It also
represents a public promise to the employees and the
management of St. Elizabeth Hospital — we are still
around, available to meet with employees and we will
be back for another election.
There was an awful lot of irony in that sign
along the entrance road as you approached St.
Elizabeth Hospital.
"OUR EMPLOYEES ARE ^SAINTS'/' it
exclaimed.
So why are they treating the employees like
the devil?
By Roger A. Cole
Editor, The Public Sector
UTICA — By February 1986, a group of licensed practical
nurses (LPNs) who work at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Utica had
about all they could take of low w a g e s and no raises; low staffing
ratios; and no relief to their problems in sight.
They were tired of being yanked from ward to ward throughout
their shifts to plug gaps caused by understaffing — being shuttled
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE MEMBERS Ellen Brewer, an LPN, and Dave
Testa of the housekeeping staff work on the campaign inside CSEA's mobile
office set up near the hospital.
4
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
COMMITTEE MEMBER ELLIE ARGEN warms up with coffee from a
CSEA mug as CSEA Central Region President Jim Moore, right, discusses
strategy with committee members inside the union's mobile office.
from the emergency room to the nursery or maternity or the
intensive care unit; one person trying to do the work of two.
But employees had little or no recourse — no grievance
procedure that meant anything, for instance. And, of course, no
seniority rights for promotions, no shift bidding system, no real
protection from layoffs or firings.
When they complained, they were told, "Go find a job
somewhere else if you don't like it." Some did just that.
But when m a n a g e m e n t commissioned the "Hudson Brothers" to
conduct a time study of employees, at a reputed cost of some $2
million , the handwriting was on the wall — management
was planning even further staff reductions after the Health Systems
Agency had refused the hospital's request to build a new medical
surgical ward.
"They (time study consultants) even followed us into the
operating room to time us," one aide noted.
Many of the employees were still paying the hospital through
payroll deductions their individual contributions for the proposed
surgical ward even a s management searched for ways to cut staff.
Occasional creation of $30,000 management positions, meanwhile,
was like rubbing salt in the wounds.
The LPNs looked around at fellow employees in nursing
(Continued on Page 5)
April 20, 1987-
UNORGANIZED
(Continued from Page 4)
services — nurses aides, ward secretaries and orderlies — and saw
their working conditions were just as deplorable.
Some of the employees remembered what it was like when they
tried to organize a union 10 years ago — the threats and fears of
losing their jobs or jeopardizing promotional opportunities were still
fresh in their minds even after a decade.
Still, things were getting so bad there were those who decided it
was worth the risks all over again.
Some knew friends and relatives who worked in neighboring state
hospital facilities, and a contact was made with CSEA/AFSCME to
explore the possibility of unionizing.
STARTING FROM SCRATCH
CSEA is now in its 76th year as a labor union. With a quarter of
a million members, it is a very large union, with a wealth of
experience organizing employees in both the public and private
sectors. It is never easy. Sometimes it takes many tries and several
years to overcome the tremendous advantages management has in
trying to prevent their employees from organizing into a union.
No union can hope to win a union representation election
without first building a strong grassroots organization from the
ground up. When CSEA was invited by disgruntled St. Elizabeth's
employees to help them unionize, union representatives found a core
of determined and committed employees ready to form the internal
organizing committee so important to an election campaign.
In the private sector — and St. Elizabeth is a perfect example
— management's advantages are enormous. Management, in
essence, determines the composition of the bargaining unit. And
until the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) officially
approves the unit (almost always what management wants), the
organizing people have no idea who will ultimately be allowed to
vote in a union election.
And yet, the union must provide union authorization cards
signed by a minimum of 30 percent of the bargaining unit before an
election will be ordered. That sign-up campaign must begin as soon
as possible.
At St. Elizabeth, the internal organizing committee of hospital
employees used the freedom of information law to obtain some idea
of how many employees might ultimately be involved. But a better
idea evolved from committee m e m b e r s putting together lists of
employees, department by department, from personal observations.
Under the guidance of CSEA professional staff, the organizing
committee met regularly to coordinate the campaign. Local
restaurants near the hospital b e c a m e gathering points for CSEA
organizers and committee members, their number steadily
increasing as the campaign gathered momentum.
Warned by first line supervisors not to talk to other employees
on the job about union organizing, conmiittee members stepped up
after-hours telephone calls to employees at home.
Then, with union authorization cards being signed at a good
rate, organizers and committee m e m b e r s began showing up at the
front and back gates of St. Elizabeth at shift changes — before 6
a.m. and prior to the afternoon and evening shifts. They distributed
HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES Jackie Edwards, left, and Judy Boccardo, right,
were among the many who worked hard as members of the internal
organizing committee.
April 20, 1987
CSEA STATEWIDE PRESIDENT William L. McGowan, right, came to
Utica to meet with St. Elizabeth employees during the campaign. Here he
answers questions for hospital employees Bob Czerkies and Jackie
Edwards.
union material explaining why a union was necessary and how a
union could address m a n y of the major problems confronting
employees. Often it was freezing cold and wet as late fall 1986
descended upon central New York.
Meanwhile, m a n a g e m e n t turned to one of its greatest
advantages — determining the makeup of the bargaining unit.
CSEA submitted a petition requesting to represent employees in
the direct patient contact areas — nursing services and
housekeeping. Management, as expected, added hundreds of other
non-professional employees, mostly clerical workers whose jobs are
vastly different and who experience far less problems with forced
overtime and other matters confronting direct patient contact
employees. Even a number of Catholic nuns were allowed to vote at
management's insistence.
When the NLRB scheduled an election for just one month later,
the union and the internal organizing committee for the first time —
after a year of working on the campaign — finally had an official
list of the names and addresses of employees eligible to vote in that
election. Rather than the 280 employees the union wanted to
organize, the unit w a s now stacked with 645 employees, including
nuns, clerical employees, employees at the school of nursing, and
even from outpatient clinics off the hospital grounds.
With precious little time, and facing massive odds, the union's
campaign swung into full gear. Things became very hectic as
committee m e m b e r s set up t e a m s to visit homes of employees and
operated telephone banks to contact eligible voters.
CSEA organized direct mailings, provided insurance
comparisons, prepared a wide variety of informational material and
scheduled experts on m a n y subjects to be available to answer
questions from employees. A CSEA mobile office parked nearby
became a visible symbol of CSEA's presence and served as a field
campaign office.
Election day c a m e on Feb. 13, 1987. It was a payday for
employees at St. Elizabeth, a factor favoring a pro-management
vote. It was also a Friday the 13th, which some saw as a bad omen.
When the ballots were tabulated that day, the effort to unionize
fell 99 votes short. Given the odds and the barriers along the way, it
was a commendable showing.
Now here's the rest of the story! The campaign to unionize
employees at St. Elizabeth Hospital continues. The employees are
currently attempting to set up a labor-management forum with the
administration to review grievances. Meanwhile, the internal
organizing committee remains bonded together and firmly
committed. CSEA representatives and the committee members are
meeting on a monthly basis, preparing the next phase of the
campaign. CSEA is maintaining its presence and is there for the
employees to turn to.
Under the law they can begin collecting union designation cards
and gearing up for another election in one year — and CSEA and
members of the organizing committee pledge they will be ready.
The initial election result was not a set back, they agree, but rather
that first step toward eventual success.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
5
Social Services: system in crisis
EDITOR'S NOTE: Like many public
employees, social services workers
perform a critical job every day. Although the system is constantly
maligned, those who fill the front lines
know their efforts feed hungry children,
help homeless families find shelter and
address domestic violence.
But they also know that theh* difficult
job is becoming ^'almost impossible"
because of dwindling resources to help
those in need.
In this the first of a three-part series,
we look at the conflict that workers
experience when they're caught
By Stephen Madarasz
CSEA Communications Associate
Frustration high at
the front lines
between compassion and regulations.
"We're not bringing foodbaskets to the
needy, we're helping them deal with their
problems," says Albany County Social
Services' Steve Redler.
"We have workers dealing with children,
others dealing with the elderly, the mentally
disabled, getting people into counseling for
drug and alcohol abuse, helping them get
jobs," he explains.
"People don't s e e m to realize that social
services are many different programs,"
adds Herkimer County senior examiner Irv
Bunce.
"They always label it welfare as if that's
something bad."
For most of CSEA's 10,000 members in
social services across the state, their work
is more than just a job — it is an
opportunity to help people in need.
Most will tell you that's why they entered
the field. However, once there, they are
caught between bureaucratic red tape
stretching from Washington to Albany to
each county and back again; distrustful
clients who m a y view them as the
"enemy;" and a general public that looks
critically on social services as a rule.
Even the most positive and enthusiastic
are worn down over time by the
overwhelming demands and inadequacies of
a system that even they concede is badly in
need of reform.
Although there are central rules and
regulations, New York's 57 counties and
New York City run their social service
programs 58 different ways.
6
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
For each, change is constant,
improvement rare.
"It's not happy work — we're dealing with
human misery," contends Rensselaer
County DSS supervisor Grace Vallee who
also serves as chairwoman of CSEA's Social
Services Committee.
At the front lines are examiners and
caseworkers who work directly with the
clients.
In theory, examiners are only supposed to
determine eligibility and handle each case
by the book. But as one puts it: "when
clients start talking about their problems,
how can you turn it off?"
"You're the first line defense against poverty" comments Rensselaer's Vallee.
"People come in here upset, distraught —
you have to realize it and try to help them
— you deal with a myriad of problems,
husbands that left them, electric and gas
that are about to be shut off. How you respond to them sets the tone for all their
dealings with the department."
"You do your best to maintain a
professional approach but still let the clients
know you care," says Donna Quinn, a
former examiner in the public assistance
area for Dutchess County Social Services,
who now works in the department's child
support program following up court orders.
"I can't be cold-hearted and callous,"
Quinn remarks. "Still I've seen too many
situations where the clients try to take
advantage of you just because you're
friendly."
Many say they try to work around the
s y s t e m on a case by case basis, but admit
they don't always have the time or
flexibility to find original solutions.
There is only somewhat greater latitude
for caseworkers, who are directly
responsible for clients getting the services
and help they need. Because much of their
work is in the field away from the
bureaucratic chaos of the office, they
sometimes help in intangible ways.
"You like to see your clients as
individuals," offers Fred Jordan, a
caseworker with more than 20 years
experience for Nassau County Social
Services.
"But you can't give them everything on
their terms because there are still rules and
regulations."
"Every day is different, but it's always
problems. You have to build up a defense to
survive," Jordan says.
Leaving the job at the office can be easier
said than done for many caseworkers, who
may be on-call 24 hours and even some
weekends. In other cases, the nature of the
work means it cannot just be shut out when
off duty.
"Some cases are very depressing,"
comments Chautauqua County Child
Protective Services (CPS) worker Mary
Murphy, who says about half her cases m a y
involve the the sexual abuse of children.
Fortunately, not every report will prove to
be what it first seems according to Murphy.
But even that can be frustrating.
After expending considerable time and
effort investigating a report, it is not
unusual to find one parent has falsely
reported the other for abuse, malnutrition,
dirty home, particularly in the middle of a
custody battle.
Murphy contends however, that there are
rewards to the work, even in the most
sordid cases. "There are times when you've
wrapped them up and you feel you've helped
some kids."
Like so many other social services coworkers across New York, Murphy admits
her initial idealism has given way to a
tempered realism: "I'm probably not as
enthused as when I began — but it all
depends on the day."
Next edition — The daily routine:
physically exhausting and emotionally
draining.
April 20, 1987-
Disaster is his business
——
Randy Davis:
Trying to
make N.Y.
safer
EDITOR'S NOTE: Following disasters like the Thruway
bridge collapse, a coordinated response is set into motion at the
local, state and federal levels. It does not happen by accident —
much is the result of actions and planning by the State
Emergency Management Office (SEMO), part of the Division of
Military and Naval Affairs.
While many public employees may be involved in picking up
the pieces, CSEA members in SEMO deal with such details daily.
This is the story of one member's activities.
ALBANY— "I've never really been
interested in the big bucks... job satisfaction
is more important to m e " claims Randy
Davis, a special projects coordinator for the
State Emergency Management Office
(SEMO).
i
V;-,- 1•
DMNA Local 277 member Randy Davis stands beside the state's nuclear power plant
hotlines at the State Emergency Management Office in Albany.
Crisis Team, which m a n a g e s the state's response to disasters. In this role, Davis might
be called on to go out into the field to review
damages. He is then involved in putting to-
With a bachelor's degree in economics and
master's degrees in public administration
and environmental engineering, there's little
doubt the 32-year-old bachelor could earn a
big salary in private industry.
Davis' role is analyzing the state's past
coastal disaster assistance costs.
"My job is about finding new ways to do
things," he comments.
In fact, there is seemingly no end to the
new things Davis, who is a member of
Division of Military and Naval Affairs Local
277, finds to do.
The overall thrust of Davis' efforts deal
with hazards mitigation- taking the long
view on minimizing the risk of natural and
man-made catastrophes.
Davis explains that disaster assistance
costs have exploded in recent years, in part
due to poor planning: "By signing the state
hazard mitigation plan in October 1986,
Governor Cuomo has involved us in getting
ahead of the problem once and for all, and
that's what we're working on."
"Hazard mitigation is really common
sense applied to development. For example,
after a disaster, instead of putting things
back just as they were, which is sometimes
why the disaster happened, you rebuild
differently so it doesn't happen again."
As part of the hands-on approach to
problem-solving, Davis serves on the state's
April 20, 1987
Davis' training for the team has included
intensive training at the Federal Emergency
Management Administration's (FEMA)
national center in Emmitsburg, Md.
Davis has also been involved in the state's
Interagency Coastal Hazards Working
Group, along with representatives from the
Departments of State and Environmental
Conservation. The group is exploring new
options for the state's Atlantic Ocean and
Great Lakes shorelines and will present a
report to the governor later this year.
But instead he toils away in a windowless
sub-basement room at the State Office
Building Campus in Albany, trying to make
New York a safer place to live.
In just three years on the job, Davis has
been involved in projects ranging from longterm emergency planning, to managing natural disasters, to preparing against nuclear
terrorism.
within 15 days that will guide redevelopment
in stricken areas.
Davis' projects range from
emergency planning, to
managing disasters, to
preparing against
nuclear terrorism . . .
gether the reports requesting federal
assistance for the area. In this role, he is
currently involved with the Thruway bridge
collapse.
Davis warns though: "People think they
can get a lot more disaster aid than is really
available. It's better to try to prevent problems."
To m a k e sure that disaster assistance is
spent wisely, Davis participates on the joint
federal/state/local hazards mitigation teams
following presidentially-declared disasters.
T e a m s are charged with developing a report
The scope of Davis' activities even
extends to thinking about the unthinkable.
He regularly participates in the evaluation
of emergency drills for each of the state's
five operating nuclear power plants. It was
this experience that led Davis to assist his
boss, SEMO Director Donald DeVito, in
serving on an international task force for
the prevention of nuclear terrorism.
While at first feeling overwhelmed by the
high level of international experts involved
in the project, Davis eventually made a
significant contribution in the preparation of
the group's report, which will be released
later this year.
Says Davis: "If nuclear war's going to
happen, it will most likely escalate as a result of super power response to a terrorist
act." The task force report is designed to
raise public awareness of those dangers and
explain what needs to be done to guard
against the possibilities.
As if Davis' on-the-job activities don't
keep him busy enough, he still finds time to
volunteer for the Red Cross and as a "Big
Brother." He also fits in opportunities for
skiing, golf and tennis.
"I do find time to relax," he concludes,
"while I'm exploring the possibility that you
can have it all."
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
7
Infectious waste breeds
high risk of disease
Leist summer, state interagency mail workers
were disturbed by leaking packages containing
rabid dogs' heads, improperly sent blood samples
and other biohazards.
Janitors at Roswell Park Institute in Bujfalo
have reported dead monkeys and other research
animal parts in open garbage cans.
Lxmdfill workers on Long Island are alarmed
over illegally dumped hospital waste including
blood-fdled tubes and even an umbilical cord (see
accompanying story).
In Orange County, a sheriff's deputy
investigating illegal dumping was actually stuck
by a contaminated hypodermic needle.
STONY BROOK - Incidents like these
point to an alarming trend, according to
CSEA Director of Occupational Safety and
Health James Corcoran.
They indicate lax enforcement of health,
environmental and labor laws and
regulations. They also show that infectious
waste is not taken seriously enough, meaning
the general public, not just workers, may be
at risk.
Corcoran commented during a conference
at SUNY Stony Brook's Solid Waste
Management Institute.
Infectious waste is "waste material
contaminated with body fluids or diseasecausing organisms."
Procedures for handling infectious disease
and waste follow State Health Department
guidelines, but vary by facility depending on
the work done there and risk involved.
"Most guidelines are for hospitals, but
there can be danger in mental retardation
centers, corrections facilities, research
institutions, even Division for Youth homes,
to name just a few places," said Corcoran.
"Some places have strong, clear
procedures and make sure everyone
understands them. Other places do not, and
that's how problems start," he added.
Guidelines usually are targeted at directcare staff. Still, housekeepers, janitors and
other workers may also be at high-risk.
"What's disturbing is operational workers
rarely get training in safe handling
procedures and probably don't know they're
working with health hazards," Corcoran
continued.
"We even had maintenance workers test
positive for TB exposure after working in the
health department's own labs."
What's worse, when operational employees
get sick under these circumstances, it's
rarely recognized as occupational illness, so
they must use sick time and pay the medical
bills, instead of receiving workers'
compensation.
Handling infectious disease and waste
creates a health risk to anyone exposed. If
proper procedures are not followed at any
step, people inside and outside the workplace
are endangered.
Corcoran cited laundry workers handling
sheets from patients or inmates with
hepatitis or AIDS, mixed right in with the
rest of the soiled linens.
These individuals could contract disease
and pass it on without even knowing how or
when.
CSEA believes there are simple steps to
make everyone safer:
• Research to identify who's at risk —
especially those in contact with blood,
body fluids, or infectious agents.
• All appropriate facilities develop
infectious waste policies and vaccination
programs.
• Comprehensive training for all
employees of facilities where infectious
waste is handled, regardless of their risk
level.
• Employers be required to keep records
on all occupationally-related disease
contracted by employees.
• Occupational guidelines for infectious
disease/waste handling at least as strong
as those issued by the National Center
for Disease Control and be vigorously
enforced.
Brookhaven landfill — a prime example of the problem
By Sheryl Carlin
CSEA Communications Associate
BROOKHAVEN — After discovering used hypodermic needles,
blood-filled tubes and an umbilical cord with the clamp still
attached, employees at the Brookhaven landfill alerted their union
president.
CSEA Brookhaven Blue Collar Unit President Pat DeLuca
called in CSEA staff immediately. "We have proof that hazardous
waste is being dumped illegally. It is coming from area hospitals
and is mixed in with the bags of non-hazardous waste," DeLuca said.
"This dangerous waste is supposed to be disposed of separately,
and not at the landfill. I don't want m y men exposed to any
hazards," he added.
employees at the landfill and
i ^ ^ ä n d not to touch any hazardous
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
and call CSEA and the Department of Health immediately.
After DeLuca met with Brookhaven Town Supervisor Henrietta
Acampora, she released a statement saying, "The health and safety
of the hard-working employees in the Town of Brookhaven is of
paramount importance to this administration; blatant disregard of
regulations governing the disposal of hospital waste will not be
tolerated in Brookhaven."
DeLuca told CSEA Region I President Danny Donohue that he is
pleased with Acampora's support and that he hopes all hazardous
waste will be permanently banned from the landfill.
Donohue said, "This is a very serious issue. The health and
well-being of our members must come first."
Brookhaven Deputy Commissioner Bob Reichert says sanitation
inspectors, wearing heavy protective gloves, will check the garbage
before it goes out and employees will be assigned to checking the
April 20, 1987
ONH planning to
consolidate labs
at psych centers
A plan to consolidate 17 labs located in different psychiatric
centers across the state is in the works at the Office of Mental
Health.
The plan m a y affect fewer than 100 CSE A members.
However, it is too soon to tell just how those workers will be
affected, said CSEA Collective Bargaining Specialist J a m e s Cooney.
"OMH is saying that even though they can't guarantee there
will be no layoffs, they will do everything in their power to place
people," Cooney said. "Our thrust right now is to make sure our
people are going to be taken care of."
Two employees will be retained at each site, he said, although
there is no certainty they will be CSEA members.
Under the proposal, work now done at 17 psychiatric center
laboratories would be transported to five regional labs, he said.
Negotiations are still under way with SUNY Upstate, SUNY Stony
Brook, the Institute for Basic Research and the Nathan Klein
Institute to serve as regional labs. A fifth regional lab is planned at
Buffalo Psychiatric Center.
The plan grew out of a concern that the facility labs were not
Our thrust right
now is to make
sure our people
are going to be
taken care of."
Jim Cooney, collective
bargaining specialist
BUFFALO PSYCHIATRIC CENTER is expected to be one of five regional
labs that will serve psychiatric centers across the state.
up to standard or providing the best, most efficient service to the
clients, Cooney said.
"The labs fall under the Department of Health (DOH) and DOH
doesn't feel that the lab service is being provided adequately at the
facility level," he said. "They feel the centers could be better
served by regional labs."
The plan calls for the closures to take place over two years,
beginning with fiscal year 1987-88.
The planned psychiatric center lab closings for this year and
the number of m e m b e r s now employed are: Binghamton, four;
Mohawk Valley, six; Kings Park, nine; Creedmoor, eight; and
Manhattan, eight.
The planned closings for 1988-89 and the number of members now
employed are: Pilgrim, 11; Central Islip, nine; Bronx, five to six;
Kingsboro, eight; South Beach, one; Harlem Valley, six; Hudson
River, four; Rockland, six; Gowanda, three; Buffalo, four; and
Rochester, three.
The St. Lawrence and Willard psychiatric centers will retain
their own labs. Hutchings, Ehnira and Middletown, which now
contract out their lab work, will send it to regional labs. One CSEA
employee at Middletown could be affected. The Mid-Hudson
Psychiatric Center has no CSEA employees in its lab.
Cooney said CSEA is talking with OMH officials about the plan
as it develops.
ONRDD's Webb talks, CSEA walks
PUTTING IT ON THE LINE for job security, Rome Developmental Center employees picket a speech by Office of Mental Retardation and
Developmental Disabilities Commissioner Arthur Webb. More than 100 union members from CSEA, PEF and AFSCME Council 82 walked in the
informational picket. Those pictured above are, from left, Gail Rushford, Barbara Vinci, Rome Developmental Center CSEA Local 422 President Jon
Premo, Gary Rushford and Local 422 Vice President Jim Martin.
April 20, 1987
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
9
MARJORIE KAROWE t<y
By Kathleen Daly
Associate Editor, The Public Sector
For Marjorie E. Karowe, the job of general
counsel to CSEA's first in-house Law Department
is an opportunity to continue her long association
with the union and to practice her philosphy as a
lawyer.
"My first job was with labor law with CSEA,"
Karowe said. "I really am a union person. I
believe workers should be represented by
unions."
As general counsel, Karowe oversees the new
law department that represents the union and its
members before various boards and courts over
contract grievances, improper practice charges,
disciplinary actions and other matters.
She works in an office that two weeks ago was
a small conference room at CSEA Headquarters.
Her work table is covered with legal pads and
neatly stacked file folders.
Karowe recently talked about her interest in
labor law and her background. Busy with
meetings and case reviews all day, she was still
sorting messages and case schedules at 7 p.m.
Then she took time out for the interview, easily
switching gears from work to discuss the
philosophy that motivates her.
"Workers are people who usually don't have
power individually, but they do collectively.
Individually they have to rely on the generosity
of the employer," she said. "Collectively they
meet the employer as equals.
"I also like to see people help themselves.
Unionism is really self help. I really think my
role is to give the elected officers and the
members the information and expertise to help
themselves."
She is no stranger to self help. The mother of
six children and the wife of a physician, Karowe
entered law school in 1971, 20 years after earning
a bachelor of arts degree from Smith College.
Her youngest child was in first grade.
"My kids loved it," she said. "They were very
proud."
Some of her adult relatives frowned on her
return to school, but Karowe carefully scheduled
her time and classes to meet all her
responsibilities.
For three years, she drove the children to
school each morning, then went on to Albany
Law School. She planned her classes so she could
pick them up by 3:30 in the afternoon.
The next four hours were devoted to family,
chores and dinner. Then she studied from 7:30 to
10:30 each night.
"I told the kids, if they wanted me, to stand in
the door where I could see them. If I didn't look
up, that meant I was doing something important
and they shouldn't bother me unless the house
was on fire." She smiled at the recollection.
"They were really very good about it."
With her family's support and her own
commitment, Karowe did well. She earned a
position on the Law Review, a berth at the top of
her class, membership in the Justinian Honor
Society and a degree with honors when she
graduated in 1974.
"It was a very positive thing for the kids," she
said. "There was no need to tell them education
was important or studying was important. They®
knew it was because they saw mv commitment to
it."
Karowe entered law school because she was
disturbed by the anger and unrest of the 1960s.
"I started seriously thinking about law in the
late '60s. The whole time period was full of
confrontation, particularly with the kids," she
said. "It just seemed to me a terrible way to
resolve conflict. My interest in going into law
was to become involved in a system that solves
conflicts in an orderly fashion."
That system has recognized Karowe's
contributions over the last 13 years. She has
earned several special appointments: Committee
on Character and Fitness, Appellate Division, #
Results of a roll call v o t e by d e l e g a t e s
Following is the roll call vote on the
resolution adopted at the Special Delegates
Meeting on April 6 at the Concord Hotel,
Kiamesha Lake, which terminated the
union's relationship with the law firm of
Roemer & Featherstonhaugh and created, a
Law Department within CSEA. A "yes" vote
supports the resolution to terminate the
services of the law firm and create a CSEA
Law Department and a "no" vote opposes
the resolution. (The resolution is printed
verbatim on page 3 of this issue of The
Public Sector.) A few delegate groups
require their votes to be recorded as a
"block" total based on the majority position
of their delegates or their local membership,
and that may be reflected in some of the
vote totals below.
STATEWIDE OFFICERS
William L. McGowan, President
Joseph E. McDermott, Executive
Vice President
Danny Donohue, Region I
President
George Boncoraglio, Region
II President
Pat Mascioli, Region III
President
C. Allen Mead, Region IV
President
James Moore, Region V
President
Robert L. Lattimer, Region VI
President
Irene Carr, Secretary
Mary E. Sullivan, Treasurer
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
No
DELEGATES
LOCAL
YES
002 Binghamton State Employees
4
003 Buffalo State Employees
2
004 Delaware Valley State
Employees
2
005 Elmira State Employees
1
007 Hornell State Employees
009 Mid-Hudson State Employees
010 New York City State
Employees
40
011 Oneonta State Employees
012 Rochester State Employees
013 Syracuse State Employees
8
014 Utica State Employees
015 Black River Valley State
Employees
5
016 Long Island State Employees
9
017 High Peaks State Employees
050 Bridge Authority
2
058 Thruway PT&S Unit II
3
059 Olympic Regional
Development Authority
060 Gore Mountain
1
10
NO
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
5
LOCAL
066 Waterfront Conunission of NY
Harbor
102 Long Island Inter-County
State Park
104 Niagara Frontier Parks &
Recreation
105 Palisades Interstate Park
Commission
106 Saratoga Spa A. L. Dunckel
107 Allegany State Parks &
Recreation Commission
108 Taconic State Park
Commission
110 Genesee State Park
Commission
112 Finger Lakes State Park
Commission
116 Environmental Conservation
Region 4 Field
117 Environmental Conservation
Region 5 Field
118 Environmental Conservation
Region 6 Field
120 Hudson River-Black River
Regulating District
151 Albion Correctional Facility
152 Attica Correctional Facility
153 Auburn Correctional Facility
154 Clinton Correctional Facility
155 Downstate Separation Center
156 Elmira Correctional Facility
157 Great Meadow Correctional
Facility
158 Green Correctional Facility
159 Eastern New York
Correctional Facility
160 Fishkill Correctional Facility
161 Ossining Correctional Facility
162 Coxsackie Correctional
Facility
163 Wallkill Correctional Facility
164 Bedford Hills Correctional
Facility
165 Woodbourne Correctional
Facility
166 Mid-Orange Correctional
Facility
167 Hudson Correctional Facility
168 Mt. McGregor Correctional
Facility
169 Otisville Correctional Facility
170 Adirondack Correctional
Facility
172 North Country Correctional
Local
173 Groveland Correctional
Facility
174 Collins Correctional Facility
175 Alden (W^nde) Correctional
Facility
176 Taconic Correctional Facility
177 Orleans Correctional Facility
178 Wyoming Correctional
Facility
179 Greene Correctional Facility
YES
2
1
2
2
2
2
3
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
NO LOCAL
180 Sullivan Correctional Facility
181 Mid-State Correctional
Facility
182 Shawangunk Correctional
Facility
183 Washington Correctional
Facility
184 Franklin Correctional Facility
200 NYS School for the Blind
201 School for the Deaf
250 Capital District Armory
Employees
251 Genesee Valley Armory
Employees
252 Hudson Valley Armory
Employees
253 Long Island Armory
Employees
254 Armory Employees
Metropolitan Area
255 Mid-State Armory Employees
256 Armory Employees of
Syracuse and Vicinity
257 Western New York Armory
Employees
258 Division of Housing and
Community Renewal
259 New York Parole District
261 Troop A — NYS Police
(Batavia)
262 Troop B - N Y S Police (Ray
Brook)
263 Troop C-NYS Police
(Sidney)
264 Troop D — NYS PoUce
(Oneida)
265 Troop G - NYS PoUce
(Loudonville)
266 Troop K - NYS PoUce
(Poughkeepsie)
275 Troop E - N Y S PoUce
(Canadaigua)
276 Troop F - NYS PoUce
(Middletown)
277 Capital District DMNA
302 Helen Hayes Hospital
303 RosweU Park Memorial
Institute
305 Oxford — NYS Veterans
Home
315 Health Research Buffalo
Division
316 Health Research Albany
Division
330 Judiciary Region I
332 Judiciary Region III
333 Judiciary Region IV
334 Judiciary Region V
335 Judiciary Region VI
336 Westchester State Judiciary
Employees
350 New York City Department of
Labor
351 State Insurance Fund
YES
1
2
1
1
2
3
1
3
4
2
2
5
6
7
12
NO
LOCAL
352 Department of Labor Buffalo
District
400 J.N. Adam Developmental
Center
401 Bronx Psychiatric Center
402 Brooklyn Psychiatric Center
403 Buffalo Psychiatric Center
1 abstained
404 Central Islip Psychiatric
Center
405 Craig Developmental Center
406 Creedmoor Psychiatric
Center
408 Gowanda Psychiatric Center
409 Harlem Valley Psychiatric
Center
410 Hudson River Psychiatric
Center
411 Kings Park Psychiatric
Center
412 Letchworth Village
Developmental Center
413 Manhattan Psychiatric Center
415 Middletown Psychiatric
Center
416 Wilton Developmental Center
417 Newark Developmental
Center
418 Pilgrim Psychiatric Center
14 abstained
419 NYS Psychiatric Institute
420 Rochester Psychiatric Center
421 Rockland Psychiatric Center
1 abstained
422 Fort Stanwix (Rome
Developmental Center)
423 St. Lawrence Psychiatric
Center
424 Cyracuse Developmental
Center
426 Wassaic Developmental
Center
427 West Seneca Developmental
Center
428 Willard Psychiatric Center
429 Staten Island Developmental
Center
430 Suffolk Developmental Center
431 Sunmount Developmental
Center
432 Westchester Developmental
Center
433 Manhattan Children's
Psychiatric Center
434 Mohawk Valley Psychiatric
Center
435 R.J. Hutchings Psychiatric
Center
437 Elmira Psychiatric Center
438 NYS Inst, for Research in
Mental Retardation
439 Monroe Developmental
Center
441 Binghamton Psychiatric
Center
YES
Third Department; Judicial Screening
Committee, Appellate Division, Third
Department; Judicial Nominating Committee,
Court of Claims; New York Task Force on
Women in the Courts; Advisory Commission on
Equal Opportunity to the Commissioner of
Education; and Advisory Committee on Civil
Practice.
She was president of the Women's Bar
Association of the State of New York from 1982 to
1984. A member of the state Bar Association, she
was on the Board of Editors for the book "The
I ^ e l o p i n g of Public Employment Labor Law."
She was a charter member of the bar's Labor
Law Section and a member of the Committee on
Specialization in the Law.
Since her appointment as CSEA general
counsel April 6, Karowe has been organizing the
new department, including hiring attorneys. That
will take time, she said.
"I want to build a team that interacts with
each other day after day. What I really want to
do is build a union team."
Karowe has been involved with labor law,
specifically with CSEA in one role or another,
throughout her career.
"I like the field. It's very down to earth," she
s # l . "I like the people. I especially like resolving
that conflict between labor and management."
•JlliM.^ M .
t
iKT
MARJORIE E. KAROWE, right, the new general counsel for CSEA, met recently with the regional
attorneys who will continue to work with union members in the region. Two of the Region V attorneys
talk with her just two days after her appointment by the delegates. They are John Scholl, left, and
Earl Boyle, center.
resolution creating a Law Department
NO
13
11
7
11
itid CSEA's new law department
•J
12
14
19
17
10
21
16
LOCAL
|l43 Manhattan Developmental
Center
|144 Upstate Supply & Support
Distribution Center
|I45 O.D. Heck Developmental
Center
|46 South Beach Psychiatric
Center
|47 Brooklyn Developmental
C||ter
148 MTO-Hudson Psychiatric
Center
49 Broome Developmental
Center
50 Metropolitan Public Service
Corp.
30 Region II Taxation and
Finance
M Eastern Barge Canal
)1 District 2 Barge Canal East
[)2 District 2 Barge Canal West
p3 District 3 Central Barge
Canal
[)5 Transportation District 2,
Utica
Transportation, Region 4,
Rochester
D7 T^sportation, Region 8,
PÄ^hkeepsie
Transportation, Region 10,
Babylon
|!9 Chautauqua County State
Transportation
Jo Clinton County State
Transportation
[1 Columbia County State
Transportation
|2 Franklin County State
Transportation
|3 Genesee-Orleans-Wyoming
State Transportation
14 Hamburg Shop
|5 Orange County State
Transportation
|6 Oswego County State
Transportation
|7 O t ^ o County State
Transportation
St. Lawrence County State
Transportation
Finger Lakes State
Transportation
Cortland County State
Transportation
Floyd Culligan Sullivan
County State Trans.
Chenango County State
Transportation
Schoharie Residency State
Transporation
Lockport State Employees
DOT
|> Cattaragus County State DOT
I Western Barge Canal
April 2 0 M 9 8 7
YES
5
6
6
11
2
9
1
5
1
2
5
2
1
1
2
1
NO
LOCAI
550 Division for Youth Facilities
at Highland
551 Brookwood Center
552 Industry Local
553 Harlem Valley Secure Center
554 Goshen Center for Boys
559 Tryon School for Boys
561 South Lansing School for
Girls
562 Division for Youth Buffalo
y\r6d
600 SUNY Ag & Tech at Alfred
601 SUNY College at Brockport
602 SUNY at Buffalo
603 SUNY Ag & Tech College at
Canton
605 SUNY College at Cortland
606 SUNY Ag & Tech College at
Farmingdale
607 SUNY College at Fredonia
608 SUNY College at Geneseo
609 SUNY Ag & Tech College at
Morrisville
610 SUNY College at New Paltz
611 SUNY College at Oswego
612 SUNY College at Plattsburgh
613 SUNY College at Potsdam
614 SUNY at Stony Brook
615 SUNY at Syracuse (Upstate
Medical Center)
616 SUNY Ag & Tech College at
Cobleskill
618 SUNY at Old Westbury
620 Alfred Faculty Student
Association
622 Oswego Faculty Student
Association
624 Brockport Faculty Student
Association
625 Potsdam College Food
Service
627 Fredonia Faculty Student
Association
628 Delhi Faculty Student
Association
629 Geneseo Faculty Student
Association
630 St. Lawrence University
635 SUNY College at Oneonta
637 SUNY College at Purchase
638 SUNY at Delhi
640 SUNY College at Buffalo
641 Empire State College
646 Downstate Medical Center
647 SUNY College of
Environmental
Science,Forestry
648 State University at
Binghamton
650 Ag and Markets, Albany
651 Audit and Control *(vote
results challenged)
652 Employees' Retirement
System
653 Civil Service, Albany
YES
NO
2
1
1
2
3
3
4
16
3
4
2
4
3
3
20
11
2
3
2
2
10
2
6
2
»8
3
LOCAL
654 Commerce Department,
Albany
655 Environmental Conservation,
Albany
656 Correctional Services, Albany
657 Education, Albany
1 abstained
658 NYS Teachers Retirement
System
659 Executive, Albany
660 Office of General Services
661 State Liquor Authority
662 State University Construction
Fund
663 Division for Youth, Albany
664 James E. Christian Memorial
Health Department
665 Laboratories and Research
666 Insurance, Albany
667 NYS Higher Education
Services Corporation
668 Division of Probation
669 Division of Parole
670 Department of Labor, Albany
671 Workers Compensation Board
672 Law Department, Albany
673 Mental Hygiene Central
Office, Albany
674 Motor Vehicle, Albany
675 Public Service Commission,
Albany
676 Transportation, Region I
687 Transportation, Main Office,
Albany
688 Social Services, Albany
689 State Department, Albany
690 Taxation and Finance, Albany
691 SUNY at Albany
692 Capital District Psychiatric
Center
693 SUNY Central Administration
694 Capital Region Judiciary
695 Division of Criminal Justice
Services
696 Office of Alcoholism &
Substance Abuse, Albany
697 NYS State Police
Headquarters
698 Dormitory Authority
699 Office of Parks and
Recreation, Albany
801 Albany County
802 Allegany County
804 Broome County
805 Cattaraugus County
806 Cayuga County
807 Chautauqua County
808 Chemung County
809 Chenango County
810 ainton County
811 Columbia County
812 Cortland County
813 Delaware County
814 Dutchess County
NO LOCAL
YES
1
5
3
3
7
3
4
3
13
—
—
2
8
4
1
7
—
2
1
2
10
1
3
5
13
1
7
1
1
5
8
3
41
8
3
—
4
2
3
—
2
1
1
12
2
6
7
9
15
2
8
—
11
6
5
5
7
7
815 Erie County
816 Essex County
817 Franklin County
818 Fulton County
819 Genesee County
820 Greene County
822 Herkimer County
823 Jefferson County
825 Lewis County
826 Livingston County
827 Madison County
828 Monroe Cojinty
829 Montgomery County
830 Nassau County
832 Niagara County
833 Oneida County
834 Onondaga County
835 Ontario County
836 Orange County
837 Orleans County
838 Oswego County
839 Otsego County
840 Putnam County
842 Rensselaer County
844 Rockland County
845 St. Lawrence County
846 Saratoga County
847 Schenectady County
848 Schoharie County
849 Schuyler County
850 Seneca County
851 Steuben County
852 Suffolk County
853 Sullivan County
854 Tioga County
855 Tompkins County
856 Ulster County
3 abstained
857 Warren County
858 Washington county
859 Wayne County
860 Westchester County
861 Wyoming County
862 Yates County
864 Saratoga County Educational
Employees
865 Nassau County Educational
Employees
866 Broome County Educational
Employees
867 Dutchess County Educational
Employees
868 Erie County Educational
Employees
869 Oneida County Educational
Employees
870 Suffolk County Educational
Employees
871 Rensselaer County
Educational Employees
872 Niagara County Educational
Employees
873 St. Lawrence County
Educational Employees
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
NO
YES
44
4
—
8
3
5
4
8
5
5
5
21
1.5
3.5
196
11
1
5
5
13
41
27
3
1
11
5
4
8
31
9
2
4
6
12
1
—
1
2
8
22
7
3
—
4
10
7
2
6
104
4
2
9
20
—
7
13
3
48
7
7
11
Fume fight
Workers ill from renovation
By Anita Manley
CSEA Communications Associate
WHITE PLAINS — Because a contractor
refused to stop applying a flame-retardant
foam in their building, employees of two
state offices m a y file for worker's
compensation.
Region III Field Representative Al
Sundmark advised the employees of the
state Department of Taxation and Finance
and the state Division of Housing and
Community Renewal in White Plains to file
the claims to retrieve the time they lost
because of the ill effects they suffered from
the presence of the foam.
The workers, m e m b e r s of Mid-Hudson
State Employees CSEA Local 009, suffered
for more than a week from sore throats,
bloody noses and burning e y e s and sinuses
because of the foam that was being applied
in the building.
According to Region III Health and Safety
Specialist Don Wood, a bank purchased the
building that houses the offices. The state
offices are renting space on a monthly basis
and are scheduled to relocate soon.
However, most of the building tenants
have already moved out. The new owner,
apparently anxious to renovate the
structure, had contractors start work. They
began gutting some offices and spraying the
foam, although the state offices are still
occupied.
Although there are no known long-term
effects from the chemicals contained in the
foam. Wood said, those employees with
allergies were more sensitive and felt the
symptoms most severly.
The contractor refused to halt spraying
during working hours, further frustrating
the employees. Wood's concern was not just
for the workers but for the many local
residents who enter the building each day.
"The place w a s slick with foam," he said.
"Hoses were all over the floors, running up
the elevator shafts and the stairways."
A county health department inspector
visited the building and recommended that
the spraying be stopped, but the contractor
didn't listen, Wood said. Later, a state
Department of Labor health and safety
employee said the chemicals were not toxic.
Sundmark emphasized that all the
workers should file worker's compensation
forms, even if they have not had to take
time off because of the spraying.
"If they become ill in six months and it's
due to inhaling these fumes, I want it
documented," he said.
A BREATH OF FRESH AIR - Division of
Housing and Community Renewal employee
Naomi Earle, at right, opens a window in her
office to get relief from fumes of a flameretardant spray used in her building. Above, a
contractor uses hoses to spray the foam that has
made state workers ill.
Reg. V psych center workers
learn about a s b e s t o s dangers
UTICA — What you don't know can hurt you, especially when
you're talking about asbestos.
That was the key m e s s a g e at a recent "Right-toKnow" workshop on asbestos for state employees at the Mohawk
Valley Psychiatric Center (MVPC).
More than 50 workers from Mohawk Valley and Central New
York psychiatric centers attended the afternoon session,
organized by MVPC CSEA Local 434 President Edward "Bud"
Mulchy and the Labor-Management Committee at the two
facilities.
The employees, represented by CSEA, P E F and AFSCME
Council 82, were carpenters, plumbers, painters, engineers, fire
fighters and powerhouse helpers.
The workshop focused on employees' awareness of asbestos
dangers, control and abatement. It is the first of several
workshops planned for the two centers.
Following an introduction to the dangers of toxic materials
and the part played by the union's Occupational Safety and
Health Department (OSH), CSEA Region V OSH Specialist Chris
Jamison turned the program over to Ken Cutler, a safety and
security officer at MVPC and a member of AFSCME Council 82.
After an in-depth film on asbestos hazards. Cutler answered
questions from the workers.
CSEA, through its Occupational Safety and Health
Department, is working to increase all public employees'
awareness of asbestos dangers, Jamison noted.
"Hopefully, with the aid of state and local regulatory
officials, we can improve the educational training and encourage
the use of more safety equipment where the dangers of asbestos
occur," he said. "Although we (New York State residents) have a
Right-to Know Law, monitoring for asbestos and other toxic
materials will continue to be an important job and calls for top
priority status if we are to m a k e any headway."
12
THE PUBLIC S E C T O R
REVIEWING PROGRAM NOTES before a "Right-to-Know" workshop on
the dangers of asbestos are, from left, Ken Cutler, safety and security
officer and a members of AFSCME Council 82, and CSEA Region V
Occupational Health and Safety Specialist Chris Jamison. More than 50
members of CSEA, PEF and AFSCME Council 82 attended the workshop
presented at Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center.
April 20, 1987-
Grievance reps get training
When you have trouble on the job, you
may want to file a grievance to right the
wrong. But who takes your complaint
through the complicated procedures? And
where do they get the expertise?
Thanks to a new training program
designed and put on by the CSEA Education
and Training Department, local and unit
grievance representatives statewide are
learning more about the grievance process
and their duties.
EDUCATION SPECIALIST Sean Turley explains
grievance procedures at the Region I training
session.
Since the program began Feb. 28, more
than 1,000 m e m b e r s throughout the state
have attended the Grievance Representative
Orientation sessions.
"This orientation is to teach you how to
best represent and protect our
membership," said Region I President
Danny Donohue told participants in his
region.
The workshops are being conducted at
several locations in each region to reach
as many grievance representatives as
possible. Registration is limited to 75
participants per session, and currently
scheduled sessions are filled. New
sessions in the ongoing program are being
scheduled continuously.
The three-and-a-half-hour sessions explore
various contract grievance procedures and
spell out the representative's responsibilities
to protect members' rights, including
getting all the facts and filing the complaint
quickly.
Along with the instruction, the activists
receive a copy of a Grievance
Procedure
Manual. The education department has
compiled one for m e m b e r s of Institutional,
Operational and Administraive Services
Units and the Division of Military and
Naval Affairs and a second to cover all
other CSEA contracts.
The comprehensive guides spell out what
a grievance is and combines, for the first
time in one source, the many aspects of
grievance representation. Chapters cover
topics including the duty of fair
representation, causes and prevention of
problems, complaints and grievances,
arbitrations, special proceedings and the
National Labor Relations Act for private
sector employees.
All m e m b e r s completing the course will be
certified a s grievance representatives and
will receive pins recognizing their status and
achievement.
Education and Training Director Sally
Engelhart and department staff Sean
Turley, P e g Wilson, bob Knower and Connie
Wunderlich conduct the sessions.
EDUCATION
SPECIALIST Peg
Wilson leads the
workshop for grievance
representatives in
Region I. The workshop
is one of a statewide
program to train and
certify grievance
representives.
April 20, 1987
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
13
CSEA
inakes the
grade in
Yonkers
YONKERS — School w a s out, but the
CSEA m e m b e r s who work in the Yonkers
School District spent the day in the
classroom.
Nearly 800 unit m e m b e r s recently took
part in the district's first in-service
workshop for the non-teaching employees.
Unit President Ray Moniz and the district's
new super intent called the day a success.
In the past, Moniz said, CSEA employees
had to take a day off without pay while
teachers attended occasional in-service
workshops.
But this year, Moniz and the district
committee organized a conference and
informational fair geared especially for the
district's non-teaching employees.
The workshops addressed job
advancement, civil service examination
preparation, record maintenance,
retirement, college preparation,
communication skills, computer awareness,
employee assistance programs, family
financial management, health benefits.
Social Security and tax reform.
Praise from school district officials
capped the day-long session.
Board of Education President Martin
Fareri Jr. told CSEA m e m b e r s he was
pleased and grateful for their support during
past budget crunches, integration orders and
the transition the district went through with
the appointment of the new district
superintendent, Donald M. Batista.
Batista praised the planning committee
for the program's quality, quantity and
professionalism.
REGION III PRESIDENT Pat Mascioli, right,
pledges a working relationship with newlyappointed Yonkers School Superintendent Donald
M. Batista.
14
THE PUBLIC S E C T O R
NEARLY 800 YONKERS School District employees attended the first in-service conference for CSEA
members recently. Workshops covered topics including job advancement, health benefits and
computers.
IN THE CLASSROOM, several CSEA members
shown above take part in workshops during the
in-service conference for the non-teaching
employees of the Yonkers School District. It was
the first for that group of workers.
LOCAL 860 PRESIDENT Janice McGuiness
addresses Yonkers School District Unit members
during the day-long conference.
April 20, 1987-
Committee
^ ^
to study delivery of services
^ L B A N Y — At the direction of CSEA's
delegates, President William McGowan has
appointed a special committee, chaired by
Region V President J a m e s Moore, to
examine the delivery of services to the
membership.
M c G o w a n h a s told t h e c o m m i t t e e :
"Your mission is not going to be 'fun and
games'."
He added that it is their responsibility to
take a long, hard look at CSEA and
recommend improvements.
The committee will talk to all department
heads, headquarters and regional staff, and
members in state and local government, and
school district units before reporting to the
delegates next October.
Damned if you do, damned if you don't
JPOUGHKEEPSIE — Does it pay to be a dedicated, loyal
employee? Andy Abbott is pondering that question very carefully.
"They say I'm a good employee, but what good has it done m e ? " he
asked.
Abbott, a 25-year Hudson River Psychiatric Center employee, has
had such an excellent work record that he's been presented with
commendations for his attendance. But he's had good reason to wonder
if he's really appreciated.
Recently, the mental hygiene therapy aide (MHTA) was notified
that he had until March 31 to use up some of his vacation accruals or he
COUNTING THE DAYS
MHTA Andrew Abbott, shows
Local 410 President Marge Harri||n the notice he received informing him that he must use
his vacation accruals or lose
them. But Harrison has been
denied leave each time he has
requested it.
would lose them, because he was over the m a x i m u m limit. But
according to Region III Field Representative John Deyo, Abbott has
repeatedly requested vacation leave and each time his request was
either denied because of claims of understaffing or "misplaced."
To add insult to injury, the last winter snowstorm found him
shoveling snow drifts in his driveway for IVi hours. Exhausted, he called
his supervisor to report that he could not make it to work and asked if
he could use his vacation accruals to take the day off. He was refused
and w a s penalized a day's pay for not coming to work.
According to Deyo, other employees, MHTAs included, have
called in and informed their supervisors that they were too tired to
report to work and requested a vacation day which they were granted.
"I believe that the administration and the personnel office are
using different rules for different employees. We cannot allow them to
selectively enforce the negotiated agreement and the rules."
In the past few months, Abbott also requested vacation time to
take a m e m b e r of his family to the hospital. Again, his request was
denied, but he was permitted to take sick leave.
Local 410 President Marge Harrison says the administration is
forcing the employees to he if they want time off. "They are inviting
the employees to call in sick rather than asking for a vacation or
personal day."
Deyo emphasized that he did not feel that the administration could
deduct leave accruals that are over the m a x i m u m limit when it could
be demonstrated that the employees had repeatedly had leave requests
denied "under the guise of lack of manpower."
"They continuously manipulate minimum staffing levels to build
in extra personnel so they can have an extra employee or two available
to be re-assigned to other wards which m a y be short," he said.
Region III President Pat Mascioli commented "We need less high
paid administrators hiding in meetings and in their offices and more
^ i r e c t care employees to better care for our clients."
CSEA b a c k s b i g winner
in N a s s a u A s s e m b l y v o t e
%ALDWIN — CSEA-endorsed candidate
Charles O'Shea w a s an overwhelming
winner in the April 7 special election to fill
the vacant seat ill Long Island's 19th
Assembly District.
The special election w a s called following
the resignation of long-time incumbent
Armand D'Amato earlier this year.
O'Shea, a 28-year-old l a ^ e r , was making
his first bid for public office. He has been
extensively involved in Republican party
activities for nearly a decade.
He has served a s a legislative aide and
most recently a s a deputy Nassau County
attorney.
The 19th Assembly District includes
portions of Baldwin, Bellmore, Freeport,
Island Park, Levittown, Merrick, North
Bellmore and North Merrick.
O'SHEA
April 20, 1 9 8 7
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
15
Respect yourself:
By Daniel X. Campbell
CSEA Communications Associate
BOLTON LANDING - "You're not just a
grade 3. You are an important part of your
office, you are a unique individual and you
are a key to the smooth operation of your
daily worksite."
That's what Linda Swietlicki, co-chair of
the Region IV Women's Committee told
participants of the Women's Committee
Workshop recently.
Those few sentences summed up the
theme of the workshop, called "Reaching
out, Coping and the Beat Goes On. . . .
"People have to realize that the worth of
the job is actually tied to the feeling of the
worth of the person doing the job," said
Ellen Diange, the Capital Region women's
committee chair. "We create our own
pecking order, grade 3s, the 5s, the 16s, the
18s. But they're not people, and we're not
acting a s people if we put ourselves down as
a simple number."
Using humorous skits in the morning
session, the committee helped show how
workers deserve and can push for respect in
"How About a Little Respect Around Here?"
E a c h skit dramatically illustrated how
employees, male and female, allow job and
academic titles to override common sense
and normal social relations.
For example, in one skit, a male
supervisor leaves the office and calls to his
female employees, "Goodnight, girls." When
the boss tosses his normal remark the next
evening, the women call back in unison,
"Goodnight, boy."
Region IV Women's confferenccw
stresses self-worthy strength
They made their point.
During the afternoon session, consultant
Marge Woods continued the upbeat rhythym
by encouraging the participants to take
control over any situation.
"If you let a situation master you, you can
just as easily master the situation," she
said. "The most important thing to
remember is that you can overcome any
situation you want to overcome. It m a y take
some reading, some practice, some
persistance, but YOU can do it."
The committee also c a m e up with "The
Bill of Rights for Region IV Workers,"
calling for equal rights and respect.
The Region IV Women's Committee
Workshop didn't stop with the meeting.
Cornell University's New York State School
of Industrial Labor Relations video-taped
the skits. The manual "How About Some
Respect Around Here," authored by Diange,
Swietlicki and committee adviser Peg
Wilson, a CSEA education and training
specialist, with the help of the labor school,
will be published later this spring.
Both the video and the manual, to be used
for clerical employees nationwide, will be
available sometime after June.
BELIEVE IN YOURSELF, consultant Marge
Woods tells participants at the Region IV
Women's Commitee Workshop.
^^The most important thing to
remember is that you can
overcome any situation you
want to overcome."
THE REGION IV WOMEN'S COMMITTEE poses for a picture. The members are from left: Helen
Gorma, Cathy Vallee, Kathy Noack, Linda Swietlicki, Chair Ellen Diange, Mary Kilinske, Judy
Remington and Lynn Stalker.
t
SUMMERSCAPE
If you're one of the thousands of CSEA
m e m b e r s planning your summer vacation
right now — don't forget to include
SUMMERSCAPE in your plans.
SUMMERSCAPE is a unique vacation
program which will operate between July
18 and Aug. 9 at five SUNY campuses for
CSEA m e m b e r s and retirees and their
families. SUMMERSCAPE is sponsored
by the joint CSEA/State Committee on the
Work Environment and Productivity
(CWEP) in cooperation with the Central
Office of the State University of New
York (SUNY).
SUMMERSCAPE provides a very
affordable vacation utilizing dorm rooms
and facilities at any of the five SUNY
campuses. Participating SUNY campuses
this summer are Potsdam, Plattsburg,
Cortland, Oswego and Fredonia.
The average per person charge will run
about $18 a night for a single room or $14
for a double, and CSEA m e m b e r s and
retirees and their families can stay
overnight or up to a week. Meals will be
available at very reasonable rates also.
Many campus facilities will be available
to the vacationer, and each participating
campus is near tourist attractions and
state parks.
Complete details on how and where you
can make your reserv^ations to stay at any
of the five SUNY campuses as part of the
SUMMERSCAPE program will be
published in the next issue of The Public
Sector. A coupon making you eligible for
a chance to win a free vacation at the
campus of your choice will also be
published in the next issue. Information
about obtaining a brochure describing
SUMMERSCAPE will also be included.
If you need immediate
information to include
SUMMERSCAPE as part of your
vacation planning now, contact the
CSEA/State Labor Management
Committees at (518) 473-3417.
Otherwise, complete details will
appear in the next edition of The
Public Sector.
V
16
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
April 20, 1987-
Comp worth has arrived
S u m m e r t i m e will m e a n m o r e than just sun for
42,000 CSEA-represented state employees targeted to
receive comparable worth pay adjustments. The
Governor's Office of E m p l o y e e Relations (GOER)
expects the new monies to start appearing in
paychecks "during the early s u m m e r " although they
went into effect April 9 (ISU payroll) and April 16
(ASU payroll). The actual date is still to be
announced. Releasing the good news at an Albany
press conference were, from left, GOER Director
i ^ h o m a s Hartnett, CSEA President William L.
McGowan, union Research Director William Blom and
CSEA General Counsel Marjorie E. Karowe. The
union has been fighting for pay equity since 1981 and
McGowan is generally pleased by the results although
disappointed that " s o m e other titles we wanted
reallocated are not on this list." E m p l o y e e s will share
over $30 million in the first round of pay equity
adjustments. In addition, several millions of dollars
will be going to employees a s "hazardous duty p a y . "
D,C. demonstration
A national coalition of labor and
religious leaders, including a number of
AFSCME officials have called for a
demonstration against Apartheid and
other human rights violations.
The demonstration is scheduled for
Saturday April 25 in Washington D.C.
For more i ^ o r m a t i o n contact N e w York
Mobilization for Justice and P e a c e in
X e n t r a l America and Southern Africa at
1212) 315-2933.
CSEA: Civil Service change
a chance for improvement
ALBANY — Calling it "an opportunity to
right what we think are s o m e of the wrongs
in the s y s t e m , " is how CSEA President
William McGowan reacted to Governor
Mario Cuomo's choice for new Civil Service
chief.
Cuomo has nominated Walter D.
Broadnax, a 44-year-old Harvard University
professor to be President of the state Civil
Service Commission. In that capacity,
Broadnax who also served a s a high-ranking
social s e r v i c e s administrator in the Carter
Administration, will administer the Civil
Service department a s well a s head the
commission which establishes policy.
McGowan said the choice of Broadnax
"looks good, but we don't know that much
about him." The union leader said he would
reserve judgment until he s e e s how issues
such a s the number of provisional
employees, zone scoring and test reporting
delays are addressed.
Broadnax m u s t still be confirmed by the
state senate before a s s u m i n g his
responsibilities.
S t a t e b u d g e t impact still unclear
THE GOOD N E W S
15 T H A T Y O U V E GOT
A N O T H E R REPRIEVE..
THE BAD NEWS IS THAT
NOBODY KNOWS
MOW TO G B T
YOU OUT OF
JHIS THING:
April 20, 1987
L A B O R DEPARTMENT
U A Y O F F S
ALBANY — It took two different
stopgap m e a s u r e s to m a k e sure state
employees got paid and w a s still 10 days
late, but N e w York l a w m a k e r s and
Governor Mario Cuomo finally agreed
on a state budget.
At press time, CSEA officials and
staff were still reviewing the impact of
the m a s s i v e document on CSEA
m e m b e r s and state operations. But
there appeared to be across the board
gains in aid to school districts and local
government.
The Public Sector will provide details
on specific department budgets in a
future issue.
One department that is receiving
supplementary funding is the State
Labor Department ~ where an
additional $3 million will again hold off
layoffs, this t i m e until June 30.
The action is based on an assumption
that Congress will act in June to restore
federal monies previously cut from the
DOL budget. The expectation is that the
federal action will eliminate the need
for layoffs.
E v e n before the legislature acted,
CSEA efforts had placed all but a
handful of m e m b e r s targeted for layoff.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
17
10,000,000
Mrs. Peluso said she plans to retire so she
can spend more time with her
grandchildren. Her husband, however, said
he plans to keep working.
"I don't know what I'd do with m y t i m e , "
he said at a recent press conference.
"Stay home and count your m o n e y ! " his
wife suggested.
This isn't the Peluso's first Lotto win. Just
a week before, they won $1,300. They spend
$6 a week on Lotto tickets. The numbers
that m a d e t h e m millionaires on April 1,
however, won t h e m nothing at all when
played the preceeding Saturday.
ALBANY ~ CSEA m a y well be
The P e l u s o s have big plans for their
representing its first multi-millionaires.
winnings. They have lived for 25 y e a r s in a
Louis and Kathleen Peluso of
rented apartment in Mechanicville, and they
Mechanicville c l a i m e d the April 1 Lotto
plan to buy their own home.
Jackpot of $10 million.
They also plan to share the wealth with
Earlier this year, eight CSEA m e m b e r s
their family. They have three children:
who work at the Melville North state
P e g g y , a kindergarten teacher; Kathleen, a
Department of Transportation (DOT) yard nurse; and Louis Jr., a physicist.
on Long Island split a $2 million Lotto prize.
Since P e g g y is getting m a r r i e d in
Both the P e l u s o s are CSEA m e m b e r s who August, the m o n e y will help not only with
work in Saratoga County. She has been a
the wedding but with the couple's n e w home.
family court hearing e x a m i n e r for two
While the P e l u s o s planned originally to help
years, and he is a m a i n t e n a n c e worker at
the n e w l y w e d s with an apartment, they now
Saratoga State Park.
plan to help t h e m with a new house.
Their "take h o m e " from the jackpot will
be 20 annual checks, the first of which will
AND THE WINNERS ARE Louis and Kathleen
be for $380,952. The remaining checks will
Peluso, two CSEA members from Mechanicville.
be approximately the s a m e amount. That's They are pictured at a recent press conference
what's left f r o m the $476,190 annual
during which they were introduced as winners of
the $10 million Lotto Jackpot. Their lucky
instalhnent after 20 percent g o e s to the
numbers were picked April 1.
Internal R e v e n u e Service.
Journalism internship announced
CSEA has established an internship program in
journalism for a son or daughter of a CSEA
member and is inviting interested qualified
candidates to submit applications.
The internship is restricted to children of CSEA
members and candidates must be an enrolled
college student majoring in journalism.
The internship will last up to 12 weeks, or one
school semester, and the position will pay $6 per
hour or a maximum of $2,880 annually.
The successful candidate will be assigned to
CSEA's Communications Department at the
union's statewide headquarters in Albany and
work with the staff of CSEA's official publication.
The Public Sector, in the capacity of an assistant
editor.
Interested qualified candidates must complete
an application form and submit it along with an
April is not too early to begin thinking about your education plans
for the fall.
CSEA/LEAP has already sent its request for proposals to approximately 200 colleges and lOCES throughout New York in preparation
for the Fall 1987 LEAP course announcement, to be available in your
personnel or education and training office during the last week of June.
If you need help making your plans, several resources are available. Your education and training office may have a list of programs
available at colleges, BOGES or school districts in your area. You may
want to contact the continuing education department at local colleges.
Your local library may have lists of educational programs in your community.
If you are in the Albany area or can travel there easily, you may
want to consider the College Assessment Program, which offers information and counseUng to help people obtain college degrees.
Trained counselors at the CAP Center can provide you with information on college options. They also have a wide range of resources
to help you decide on a program and a school best suited to your needs.
18
T H E P U B U P .SI^CTOR
essay of 100 words or less explaining why the
candidate is interested in serving the internship
with CSEA.
Applications, essays and individual
qualifications will be reviewed by members of
the Public Sector Committee of CSEA's statewide
Board of Directors. The committee wjll narrow
the candidates to three finalists with the
internship winner being selected by CSEA
President William L. McGowan.
^
Interested qualified candidates should
immediately request an application form by
writing or calling:
Aaron Shepard, Director of Communications
Civil Service Employees Association
143 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12210
(518) 434-0191
A great way to quench
a thirst for knowledge
Laöor Education Action Program
LEAP is the Labor Education Action Program of CSEA. It
offers tuition-free courses at two- and four-year public and
private colleges, BOCES and various state facilities across
New York. LEAP is available only to CSEA-represented
state employees in the Operational Services, Administrative
Services and Institutional Services units, Health Research
Inc., SUNY Construction Fund and Division of Military and
Naval Affairs. CSEA/LEAP courses are designed to
increase upward career mobility in state service and
improve^he quality of life on and off the job.
This,
that
AND THE OTHER THING
Aide h o n o r e d
The m e m b e r s of the newly organized Town of Southeast Unit were given a w a r m
welcome to CSEA at a dinner in Putnam County recently. Shown here with Region III
, Field Representative Richard Blair are Unit Secretary Paulette Sullivan, Treasurer
Joan D'Ottavio, Vice President Mary Tamowski and President Mickey Sheil.
Chautauqua County CSEA Local 807 is
really cooking for its 40th anniversary.
To celebrate, the local is compiling a
cookbook. The local's Board of Directors
is asking CSEA m e m b e r s and officials to
contribute their favorite recipes to the
book.
^ The contributed recipes will be in a
special section of the 40th Anniversary
Cookbook.
Help w a n t e d
Credit w h e r e it*s d u e
A photograph of the signing of a
contract between the SUNY Delhi CSEA
Local 628 and the College Association and
HARRISON — Reva Surow will be
remembered at the S.J. Preston
Elementary School.
A plaque honoring Mrs. Surow, a retired
library aide, was dedicated in the school's
new library, media and computer center.
The center was established through the
efforts of the Preston Library Committee
and partially paid for by the school's
PTA.
Mrs. Surow's plaque was placed in the
library's Primary Children section. She
retired last June after 20 years.
Delhi that ran in the last issue of The
Public Sector w a s provided by the SUNY
Delhi Communications Department.
ALBANY — CSEA is currently
accepting applications for the following
positions:
Health and Safety Specialist (Vacancies
in Albany and Long Island) — Minimum
qualifications include bachelor's degree or
associate's degree in related field or three
years experience of an
investigatory/safety nature; driver's
license and car for business use required.
Submit resumes immediately to:
Personnel Director, P.O. Box 7125, Capital
Station, Albany, N.Y. 12224.
CSEA is an equal opportunity employer.
CSEA
Camera
CloseUps
Do you think
policitians are
honest?
Where asked;
REGION I
April 20, 1987
CARMEN GARCIA
Central Islip School
District, Mullivan
School, Suffolk
Educational CSEA
Local 870
"No, because when
you need them, they're
never around to come
through for you."
L E E BASSETT Reed
School, Local 870
"To a point. I also
believe most politicians
are actors. That's why
Ronald Reagan is such
a good president."
DORINE A. HOLMES
Pilgrim Psychiatric
Center, CSEA Local
418
"No. I feel they have
good intentions, but
due to social pressures,
they're not able to
maintain them.
They're forced to go
along with the flow."
VIRGINIA QUINN
Senior Steno, SUNY at
Stony Brook, CSEA
Local 618
"On the whole? No.
A lot of them s e e m to
make promises they
never fulfill. When
voting I usually take
the stand that I'll vote
for the one least
dishonest."
THE PUBLIC S E C T O R
19
CSEA blasts lawmaker for
using workers as 'pawns'
By Charles McGeary
CSEA Communications Associate
SYRACUSE — The threatened lay off of 52
Onondaga County employees m a y have been
fictional, but the three months of agonized
waiting by those employees w a s very real.
Angry CSEA officials charge the
employees, m e m b e r s of Onondaga County
CSEA Local 834, were pawns in a plot by
County Legislator Gerald Mingolelli (RSyracuse) designed to further his own
political ambitions while discrediting
Legislature Chairman Nicholas Pirro, also a
Republican.
According to a telephone conversation
secretly taped in October, Mingolelli created
a ruse by declaring that the county needed
to lay off 52 employees. He w a s then able to
"save" the jobs at the last minute,
enhancing his political stature at Pirro's
expense, it is charged.
The jobs were never in real danger, but
the county employees who held them didn't
know that.
Local President Dale King blasted
Mingolelli at a press conference attended by
more than 200 sign-carrying county
employees.
"What Mr. Mingolelli has done to hurt
county employees and the anguish he has
caused to their families is unforgivable,"
King said. "Speaking for the more than 3,700
employees who work for the county and
thousands more of our CSEA brothers and
sisters throughout the area, we will not
forget!"
Mingolelli's scheme c a m e to light when
the tape was made public three months
after the conversation. He w a s forced to
resign as chair of the legislature's powerful
Ways and Means Committee.
Dale King, president of CSEA Local 834, airs union grievances with the county at a news conference Thursday as
i_w ps*<ji..«../im roii.siANDAr
union niemt>ers hold placards In s u p p o r t The union has
worked without a contract since Dec. 31.
Union to Mingolelli: 'We WiU Not Forget'
By BRKNDA CAWTIION
L a w m a k e r Gerald Mingolelli was,
t e r l y c r i t i c i z e d T h u r s d a y by a c o j
union official who accused him
workers as "political pawns" in
"The Mingolelli tape s c a m is a disgrace,'
said Region V President Jim Moore. "To
use dedicated county employees as political
pawns is cruel and unforgivable."
King also used the press conference to
lash out at county leaders. The union has
been without a contract since Dec. 31, and
negotiations have been at impasse for
several months.
Mingolelli's blatant "misuse of public
trust" is indicative of a general disrespect
for county employees among legislators and
officials, he charged.
falling to take m e a s u r e s to ensure work-;
safety.
" •
Local 834 leaders have created a crisis
team to plan more communication and
political action with rank-and-file members
in all county units covered by the expired
contract.
Moore has pledged the total support of
CSEA regional and statewide services to
help the local reach a fair contract
settlement.
King also criticized county officials for
failing to correct security problems in
several county buildings. The county had
agreed to a safety proposal covering seven
areas recommended by the CSEA safety
task force, but has yet to implement it.
^What Mr. Mingolelli
has done to hurt county
employees and the
anguish he has caused
to their families is
unforgivable . . . We
will not forget !f
DALE KING, president of Onondaga County CSEA Local 834, blasts County Legislator Gerald
Mingolelli for his political power play that had 52 county employees believing they would be laid off.
King also criticized county legislators who agreed to a seven-point security plan but have failed to
implement it.
20
THE PUBLIC S E C T O R
Dale King, Local 834
president
April 20» 1987