••
.
Vol. 10, No. 25
Monday, December 1 4 , 1 9 8 7
^^^
Service Employees Association, Inc., Local 1000,
fel^^n
of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO
u
ISSN 0164 9949'
'
4
••I*
-
*
A.
•III
I
I
i
4 fc
**
IIS8Ä« iMITI
SMirrS IIMiTiliT-.:.
Ii
CiHRICTIiiil.
r
This course could
change your life
If you're looking for some help in
answering the question everyone asks
themselves, "What do I want to do with
the rest of my life?" then CSEA's
Labor Education Action Program
(LEAP) is the place to turn to.
But you'd better hurry, because the
deadline to apply for the one LEAP
course that can help you answer that
question ends soon.
CSEA/LEAP is offering a special
course, "Empowered Learning:
Unleashing Your Career and College
Potential," that will teach you to make
the necessary choices that will enable
you to take control of your own life.
CSEA/LEAP has established a second
registration period for this course only.
This second and final registration
period ends Jan. 11,1988. Members of
the ASU, ISU, OSU, DMNA, HRI or
SUNY Construction Fund bargaining
units who have not already been
accepted into a Spring 1988 LEAP
course are eligible to enroll in this
dynamic course.
Classes for the "Empowered
Learning" course will be held in eight
locations across the state for eight
Tuesdays from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
beginning Feb. 23,1988 and ending April
12, 1988.
Classes will be offered in Buffalo,
Rochester, Syracuse, Binghamton,
Albany, Fishkill, New York City and
Melville.
"Empowered Learning: is a career
development workshop designed to help
you clarify your interests, values and
job expectations. Participants costs for
the eight-week, non-credit workshop
series will be approximately $50 for
books and materials.
To apply for this exciting
CSEA/LEAP course, contact your
CSEA local president or your agency
training/personnel office and request a
LEAP 110 application form. Complete
the form as directed and mail, to arrive
before Jan. 11, 1988, to LEAP. For
additional information, call
CSEA/LEAP at (518) 434-0191, Ext. 226
or 228.
But hurry. The registration deadline
is fast approaching.
I
Public
SECTOR
Official publication of The Civil Service
Employees Association, Inc., Local 1000,
AFSCME, AFL-CIO, 143 Washington
Avenue, Albany, New York, 12210
Visions of sngarpluins
all blnnr for Amber
By Daniel X. Campbell
CSEA Communications Associate
ALBANY — No one stands taller than
when he or she stoops to help a child.
The holiday season transforms public
employees in the Capital Region into busy
elves helping out on numerous holiday
projects. Some may be involved with Toys
for Tots, others may collect food to restock
fast-emptying food pantries, others work
with holiday meal programs.
This year, there is one special child who
needs a lot of love from everyone. Her name
is Amber and she is the two-and-a-half-yearold niece of a CSEA member.
While others will wake on Christmas
morning wide-eyed to see what Santa has
left under the tree, Amber will only be able
to see out of one eye. Retinoblastoma, a
rare form of cancer affecting only one in
every 20,000 children, claimed her right eye
in October. Her Christmas morning will be
bleak indeed.
It would be nice to say that all of the bills
were paid by Medicaid or some other type
of insurance. But before Amber's illness was
discovered, her father had been unemployed
because of a serious knee injury. The firm
he worked for was later sold, leaving him
without a job or health insurance coverage.
Amber's father forgot about his own
troubles when Amber's cancer was
discovered and became almost lifethreatening.
The blindness in her right eye was only
discovered during a simple eye exam; an
emergency eye check detected the cancer.
Amber's doctor acted quickly, sending her
to the Willis Eye Hospital in Philadelphia
where the cancerous eye was removed.
Going to Pennsylvania for treatment
complicated the crisis further. Medicaid
refused to pay the bills initially because
she'd had the necessary operation in another
state.
It has taken time, but numerous letters
and informational filings have cleared up
most of this problem. What little funds the
family had put aside for Christmas,
including anything to fulfill the Christmas
wishes of another child, are long gone, used
to pay various bills. Now Amber's father
2
Publisher
Editor
Associate Editor
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
faces hospitalization for a third knee
operation.
The family has not become self-absorbed
in their troubles. In fact, they hope their
story will help others realize the importance
of eye exams for children between birth and
two and a half years, the period in which
they are most suceptible to retinoblastoma.
If Amber had been checked earlier, even
in a clinic, her eye might have been saved.
Hindsight is 20-20; Amber's eye cannot be
restored. But what can you do to help the
toddler and her family?
First, tell your friends and relatives and
anyone you know with young children about
the importance of eye checkups to detect the
rare cancer.
Second, sacrifice a pack of cigarettes, a
coffee or a snack and donate that money to:
AMBER
Care of Netha DeGroff
President, CSEA Local 669
Division of Parole
97 Central Avenue
Albany, New York 12206
Please help make this Christmas full for
Amber.
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
AMBER faces a bleak Christmas.
DAN CAMPBELL
CHUCK McGEARY
COMMUNICATION ASSOCIATES
—
Region I
RON WOFFORD
(516) 273-2280
Region II
STEVE MADARASZ
(212) 514-9200
Region III
CO«l*JI/c<
(914) 896-8180
Region IV
(518) 489-5424
Region V
(315) 451-6330
—
—
—
Region VI
(716) 886-0391
Headquarters
(518) 434-0191
i> 4
December 14, 1987
XASSAIJ J A I L
BIJR!$TI]\G A T
THE
AMS
been here. Ten years. This is just the worst
its ever been.
"It's not simply a question of hiring more
officers; we can't keep them on board,"
EAST MEADOW — The Nassau County
Correctional Facility, bursting at the seams Stanley claims. He says a pay scale not
competitive with other law enforcement
with inmates on the one hand and severely
understaffed with corrections officers (COs) positions in the county, a relatively late
on the other, is a powder keg with the match retirement age of 62, pressures of the job
and placing rookie officers in service before
already lit.
completion of training courses all contribute
"We're trying to keep a lid on this place
to turnover.
and we're barely keeping it from
"The life expectancy of a CO is age 59 but
exploding," says Corrections Officer Bill
retirement is not until age 62. People use
Stanley, president of the Nassau County
this job as a stepping stone," he adds.
Sheriff's Department CSEA Unit. CSEA
represents COs at the facility.
Stanley says there are 26 vacancies the
county has been unable to fill, while
The county jail is under fire from the
Undersheriff Joseph Jablonsky claims there
state Corrections Commission and
is no more money in the 1987 budget to hire
community groups concerned about
more officers.
overcrowding and under staffing. Following
CSEA Unit President Bill Stanley
the recent escape of an inmate, the state
"We need 219 more; then we won't be
cited the facility for inadequate security
working overtime to the point of exhausThe facility is bursting with 1,510 inmates.
staffing and ordered 100 inmates moved to
tion," says Stanley, who worked 1,000 hours
The annex, built to house 88 inmates, now
ease overcrowding.
of overtime in 1986.
holds 155.
County officials responded to that order by
In addition to overcrowding and
suggesting the possibility of adding more
under staffing, Stanley said conditions at the
guards instead of limiting the number of
jail are "extremely volatile and dangerous"
inmates.
because so many lock-ups are dormitory or
It's not the first time Nassau County has
module style.
negotiated with the state. Earlier this year
"The county is trying to find a cheap way
the Corrections Commission allowed the
out by not building cells," Stanley claims.
county to increase the inmate population in
"The dorms and modulars lead to more
the annex in an effort to reduce
confrontations."
overcrowding in the main facility in East
Visitors pulling up to the correctional
Meadow. In return, the county agreed to
facility with its stern, gray buildings and
increase the number of corrections officers.
coiled barbed wire fences are screened by
Nassau County CSEA Local 830 President
CO Edward Wilner, who's worked at the jail
Jerome P. Donahue called on Gov. Cuomo to
nearly 18 years.
relieve pressure on the Nassau County jail
Wilner finds the overcrowded,
by reopening the correctional facility at
understaffed conditions "disgusting." Some
Brentwood the state closed some time ago.
inmates have been sentenced to state
"The state lets Brentwood just sit there
prisons but are being housed in the county
while local jails become more crowded daily.
facility, and Wilner says "the state should
It's absurd," Donahue says. "Brentwood is a
take responsibility for getting its own
perfectly good, 1,000-bed prison. The state
prisoners out of here."
should use it to house state inmates now held
Stanley says the situation is taking a toll
in local jails. That would certainly help the
on the staff.
overcrowding problem at the local level, and
"These problems are having a really
makes a lot more sense that converting
damaging effect on the officers. Morale is
barges into prisons."
lower than I've every seen it.
"I just called Gulotta (Nassau County
Stanley says problems at the facility have EDWARD WILNER calls conditions at the
Executive
Thomas Gulotta) for an
been building for a long time.
Nassau County Correctional Facility
emergency meeting. We need help."
"We've had these problems since I've
"disgusting."
By Sheryl Carlin
CSEA Communications Associate
Pay equity: one step closer
ALBANY — The state has finally granted authorization to
release pay equity adjustments to employees paid on an hourly or
per diem basis. But payments are still not expected to be made
until at least next month.
Several weeks ago, The Public Sector reported that the state
had finally given in to CSEA pressure and agreed that employees
are eligible for upward adjustments if they:
• have job titles recently assigned a higher grade through the
new classification and compensation plan;
* hold "NS" or non-statutory positions but have salaries
December 14, 1987
equated to a grade.
Before employees can hope to receive their pay equity
adjustments, the state agencies must provide the Division of
Budget with a list of eligible employees. Several weeks ago CSEA
was advised by the state that this step had already been taken,
but in fact it has not yet been accomplished. The process is
expected to be time consuming. It now appears that payments
will not be made before the end of the year.
When payments are made, they will be retroactive to April of
1987.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
3
Transplant
further
bonds love
between
mother and
daughter
By Ron Wofford
CSEA Communications Associate
WEST SENECA — When Carol Lindner
learned that her 23-year-old daughter
Joanne, a diabetic since the age of three,
would have to face an uncertain future
attached to a dialysis machine if she didn't
get a kidney transplant, she didn't hesitate.
She volunteered one of her own kidneys.
Lindner, a 10-year employee of the Erie
County Department of Social Services and a
member of CSEA Local 815, is presently a
confidential investigator for pre-trial
services.
"I knew a transplant from a relative
would be better than from someone else,"
said the widowed mother of four as she
recuperated at home from transplant
surgery. "And I didn't want any of the other
children to suffer, although someone
younger probably would have fared better."
Daughter Joanne is slowly recovering,
although several rejection scares have
caused mother and daughter to be hastily
flown back to the University of Minnesota
Hospital where the operation was
performed.
Lindner brushes aside praise of being
"brave" for her sacrifice, preferring to give
the credit to Joanne, who is legally blind
and has endured laser surgery on her eyes
nine different times.
"I only did what any mother would do
under similar circumstances," she said.
"Joanne would be totally blind without the
eye surgery, even though she must still sit
extremely close to watch television."
As she recovers from the surgery, Joanne
must adhere to instructions in a guide book
for transplant patients as thick as a
4
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
telephone directory and take a large array
of immunosuppressant drugs. The
medications fill a container as large as a
breadbox and will cost from $3,700 to $5,700
per year, according to Lindner, who has yet
to get a handle on all the hidden costs of the
medical procedures.
"I'm not sure which medications are
covered by our insurance," Lindner said,
"but things happen for the best. You just
have to have faith, and know God is guiding
things."
Lindner's faith is a genuine and recurring
theme in her conversation and an obvious
source of strength both for her and her
family.
Her eyes brighten when she speaks of her
religious beliefs, and she is proud to show
off a photo of a meeting with noted TV minister Dr. Robert Schuller. She said he
counseled her and Joanne and autographed
a book he wrote.
Another bright light through the pain she
and Joanne still experience is the concern
and help extended by her friends and fellow
workers.
"It was wonderful what they did," she
said, recalling the well-attended benefit for
her at a local tavern and the CSEA Region
VI Benefit Fund.
"It was really a thrill, and it relieved my
mind so much. You just don't know how you
can continue to spend so much money on
matters you'd never foresee, on things like
long-distance phone calls to the doctors and
such.
4
"I don't know how I can ever repay them,
but they'll always be in my prayers," she
said. "With all these people doing all this for
us, we just have to recover."
Carol Lindner Fund established
BUFFALO — CSEA Region VI members
are digging down deep in their pockets to
help a fellow public employee cope with the
tremendous expense of donating a kidney to
her diabetic daughter.
Erie County CSEA Local 815 members
helped organize a benefit for Carol Lindner
at a local tavern.
Region VI President Robert Lattimer has
kicked off a regional Carol Lindner Fund
Drive with a $50 donation. In a letter to
regional locals and units, he lauded
Lindner's bravery in undergoing the crucial
operation to save the life of her 23-year-old
daughter Joanne.
He explained that diabetes can be lifethreatening because of the deterioration the
disease causes the kidneys, eyes, pancreas
and other organs.
He noted such damage to Joanne was the
cause for the transplant surgery she and her
mother underwent at the University of
Minnesota Hospital.
"As you look ahead to the holiday
season," wrote Lattimer, "I hope you and
your fellow members will substitute a
portion of what you would normally spend
on cards or gifts, and consider a donation to
help Carol and Joanne Lindner."
Any donations to the Lindner family would
be greatly appreciated. Please send them to
the Region VI office in care of:
Civil Service Employees Association
Carol Lindner Fund
482 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14202
4N o v e m b e r16, 1 9 8 7
An open letter to the membership
As
we begin this holiday season I had hoped that the wounds
that divided us this past year would be healed. Unfortunately,
they remain.
Rather than heal, there are those who are hindering the
process, stirring the ashes of discontent to satisfy their own
political ambitions at the expense of the membership.
A case in point — the recent budget meeting of the Board
of Directors.
Faced with a $ 5 . 4 million deficit, I put forward a number
of cost-saving proposals to provide what I felt was a more
equitable balance between revenue and expenditures without
directly affecting services to the membership.
I proposed that we cut — by half — the number of
delegates that we send to the AFSCME convention in Los
Angeles next summer. The anticipated savings: $ 1 6 0 , 0 0 0 .
But the majority of the board rejected that recommendation.
\The cost: $ 3 0 0 , 0 0 0 !
(I should point out that many board members have
been AFSCME delegates in the past. And one regional
president, who had sought to withhold a portion of our
mandated per capita payment to AFSCME, and
who backed off when having the opportunity
to discuss that matter with AFSCME
President Gerald McEntee, voted in favor of
sending the full contingent to Los Angeles.)
Despite my opposition, the board voted
to "defer," as they put it, payment of
$ 1 9 0 , 0 0 0 to the union's contingency fund.
This is members' money put aside to be
available to assist our brothers and sisters in
the event of a strike. Isn't this borrowing
from Peter to pay Paul? My question: Who
pays Peter?
Another cost-saving measure that I
proposed was to reduce the number of
board meetings. The savings would have
amounted to $ 5 0 , 0 0 0 . That, too, was
defeated.
The financial antics of the board were perhaps best described by one board member who said,
"You people are doing everything for yourself, but nothing for the membership."
I anticipate, and indeed fully expect, there will be those who will try to discredit what I have
said. But no matter what the political disguise — the facts and figures speak for themselves.
The simple truth is that we must be responsible to the membership. Anything less is
unacceptable.
Despite the adversities facing us, it is my hope that this holiday season brings both our families
— CSEA's and yours — the health, joy, prosperity and peace that we all seek.
Fraternally,
ll/////am C McQowan
William L. McGowan
President
CSEA, other unions file lawsuit to stop rate
PLAN
December 14, 1987
All major public employees unions,
including CSEA, have joined with the New
York State AFL-CIO in filing a lawsuit in an
attempt to prevent the arbitrary increase of
premiums on state and local government
workers enrolled in the state's Empire
Insurance Plan.
The lawsuit was filed in State Supreme
Court in Albany on Dec. 10 as this issue of
The Public Sector went to press.
The Empire Plan has announced biweekly
insurance costs to subscribers will jump 56
percent in January. The increase would
affect more than 250,000 state workers and
about 190,000 local government employees.
Participants in the lawsuit include CSEA,
the State AFL-CIO, Public Employees
Federation, AFSCME Council 82, United
Universities Professionals, New York State
United Teachers, Supreme Court Officers
Union, AFSCME Council 66, New York
Service Employees Council,
Communications Workers of America,
AFSCME District Council 37, New York
State Firefighters, State Federation of
School Administrators and Teamsters Local
445.
"I still believe that the Empire Plan is —
in concept and delivery of services — the
best that's available," CSEA President
William L. McGowan said. "But I also
believe that there's a way to cut these
increasing costs so that our members can
participate without a heavy financial
burden. We seek, by this court action, to
assure that our membership will have
access and the benefits offered, at a price
they can afford to pay."
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
5
CSEA, community rally to assist
activist suspended for union work
By Charles McGeary
CSEA Communications Associate
JORDAN — Betty Hewitt, a bus driver for the Jordon-Elbridge
Central School District, got a first-hand lesson in union solidarity
recently, and the school board that suspended her with pay for
"unexplained conduct" probably wishes it never heard the word
solidarity.
The school board decided Dec. 8 to reinstate Hewitt, who was
relieved of her duties Nov. 20. She returned to her regular bus route
Dec. 9.
Her suspension had sparked an outpouring of support from
CSEA and from the public she has served for 14 years.
According to Terry Moxley, CSEA field representative for the
newly-formed Jordon-Elbridge School District CSEA Unit, an Unfair
Labor Practice charge filed against the district will not be
withdrawn. The charge, filed with the Public Employment Relations
Board (PERB), accuses the district of punishing Hewitt for her
union activities. She is president of the new CSEA unit, a part of
Onondaga County CSEA Local 834.
"She has a spotless record," Moxley said. "Now, all of a
sudden, she helps bring in CSEA representation and, overnight, she
becomes a bad driver."
School officials deny the district is penalizing Hewitt for her
union activities. CSEA members in the unit and in surrounding
county and state units and locals, as well as Region V President
James Moore and Local 834 President Dale King, disagree.
Hewitt will lose no pay for her two-and-a-half-week suspension,
but school officials plan to place in her personnel file a letter about
discipline aboard her bus.
School board members came to their decision in a closed
executive session at the end of their regular meeting and declined
to explain it.
While pleased to be returning to work, Hewitt said she doesn't
understand the board's letter.
"I thought I was doing fine with my kids on my route," she
said.
The community seemed to agree. Parents, students and others
called district officials, circulated petitions supporting her and
attended en masse an earlier board meeting.
Hewitt, a veteran bus driver with a clean driving record and an
excellent reputation for taking special care with her passengers,
was suspended in late November for so-called "insubordination and
unsafe driving."
At the previous board meeting, a crowd of angry Jordan
SCHOOL UNIT PRESIDENT BETTY HEWITT attends a Jordan-Elbridge
School Board meeting about her suspension. She is surrounded by her many
supporters.
6
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
w
A Public Appeal to Joi*dan-Elbridge
Central Sahiool District Residents
We, the rcBidcnta and concerned cititcn« of Jord«LD>EIbridge Centrd School
Dütrictt do hereby protest the unjiutiiled tusperuion and unwarranted harassment of
school bus driver Betty Hewitt.
For more than 14 years, Betty Hevritt ha« served the school distirct faithfully and
diligently, while maintaining the highest professional standards for the district students
entrusted to her care. Aa residents and concerned citieens of the J-E School District, we
demand that the suspension of Betty Hewitt be lifted and that she resume her duties aa
full-time bus driver.
^
. » j t . >
-
. .
»„Concerned Retidmti* for
Fair TreMtment of Betty Hewitt
THIS PETITION was one of many signed by 400 people supporting
suspended bus driver Betty Hewitt. She has since been reinstated.
villagers, students and CSEA supporters from surrounding areas
forced the meeting to move from district office to library to school
cafeteria to accommodate the visitors.
They praised Hewitt as a skilled driver and dedicated employee
who took special interest in her work.
Moxley was permitted to speak at that meeting only after a
board vote was taken.
"You are investigating the wrong person in this case. Douglas
Milton (district transportation director) called her a liar at an
October 27 executive session and not one board member said that
was inappropriate, and you condoned it, which is unforgivable,"
Moxley said, earning applause.
Hewitt said she had moved the location of a bus stop one house
on her Morgan Road run for winter safety and was accused of
accelerating the bus and slamming on the brakes. To her
knowledge, she added, there were no witnesses and her passengers
were illegally questioned by Milton and other school officials.
Besides showing tremendous support at the meeting, irate
parents have telephoned and visited school officials to demand an
explanation. Billboards and homemade signs have suddenly
appeared along roads and in the windows of village businesses; 400
people signed support petitions.
"I'm totally overwhehned by the support from everywhere. My
fellow CSEA members, friends, neighbors, students, even total
strangers have called," Hewitt said. "I knew I had many friends
here in Jordan, but I'm amazed by the amount of support. I'm
sincerely grateful."
Betty Hewitt is back to work, proof that you can fight city hall
or, in this case, the school board.
"Isn't it wonderful to see her go back to work?" Moxley said.
"And wouldn't it be even better if the Jordan-Elbridge School Board
... decided their school employees have a right to be represented by
CSEA and agree to a fair and equitable contract? I can't think of a
better Christmas package for our good members."
REVIEWING THEIR PRESENTATION to the Jordan-Elbridge School
Board over suspension of CSEA Unit President Betty Hewitt are, from left:
Dave Kennedy, Joe Moran, Rick Adsitt, members of Syracuse City School
CSEA Unit 6; Hewitt; CSEA Field Representative Terry Moxley; Denise
Grammatico, president of Syracuse City School CSEA Unit 9; and Harold
Soutar, president of Armory Employees of Syracuse, Area CSEA Local 256
and a Jordan resident.
6N o v e m b e r16, 1987
ASBEST03!
swego
nailed!
Compiled by Charles McGeary
CSEA Communications Associate
OSWEGO — In a landmark action, the State University of New York (SUNY) at
Oswego has been fined $20,000 for violating federal Clean Air Act regulations for asbestos
removal projects.
The EPA began its investigation following a complaint filed in December 1985 by a joint
AFL-CIO Health and Safety Committee comprised of representatives from CSEA, United
University Professionals (UUP) and AFSCME Council 82 at the college.
CSEA's involvement resulted from a
shocking discovery that the SUNY Oswego
administration concealed information about
severe asbestos contamination on the
campus for three years and then knowingly
put staff and students at significant risk in
an irresponsible clean-up project.
Asbestos, once widely used as insulation,
has been shown to cause cancer.
Under the consent decree between SUNY
and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the college was
fined for failing to notify EPA of asbestos
removal projects and failing to adhere to
federal asbestos removal regulations. The
decree, filed in federal court, also states
SUNY must follow all regulations during
"The fine is a drop in the bucket that
future asbestos projects.
doesn't get at the root of the problem," adds
While there is some satisfaction that
CSEA Region V President James Moore.
SUNY Oswego has been found in violation,
"CSEA would like to knov^^ why there was no
CSEA and the AFL-CIO committee are
strong measure of punishments for
critical of the $20,000 fine as inadequate.
management officials who consciously
They point out that the state of Idaho was
violated the law."
fined $25,000 per day for asbestos violations.
The situation first surfaced in September
1985
when campus work crews, made up of
"Who did the federal government really
state
employees and student part-timers,
fine but the taxpayers of New York?" asks
were
ordered
to tear down asbestos
CSEA SUNY Oswego Local 611 President
insulation
covering
heating boilers.
Dale Dusharm.
CSEA: EPA action serves notice
"This EPA action should put SUNY and
everyone else on notice that they can't
disregard the law when it comes to
asbestos," states CSEA Director of
Occupational Safety and Health James
Corcoran.
Corcoran points out, however, that "it's
really a disgrace that the first official
action on this came from an agency
whose main responsibility is protection of
the environment. The state Labor
Department, charged with protecting
people on the job, found no violations
at SUNY Oswego. They ought to be
ashamed of that, given all the evidence."
CSEA is currently appealing the Labor
Department's finding« to the Industrial
Board of Appeals, which is expected to
issue its ruling within a few months. The
EPA action against SUNY Oswego adds
further weight to CSEA's case.
D e c e m b e r 14, 1987
Among other things, CSEA is seeking a
comprehensive health screening program
for workers who were exposed to asbestos
at the campus.
"The fact is that we're seeing a much
more vigorous enforcement of
environmental law than of labor and
public health laws — so if that's the route
we have to go for action to protect our
people, then so be it. But at the same
time we're going to embarrass the
appropriate agencies into responsible
action if necessary," promises Corcoran.
"The value of the EPA action against
SUNY Oswego is that it sends a message
to state, local government and school
districts that the federal government is
looking over their shoulder to make sure
they're in compliance. We won't hesitate
to go back to the EPA if we continue to
find violations," he concludes.
:
A' {oinf union health and safely committM, r
spearheaded by CSEA, has condemned the management /
at the State University of New York at Oswego for ai-,
legedly withholding docunt^nted evidence of seyert
asbestos cöntamination of more than 30 campus
;; buildings, failure to take remedial action to correct ,
'the hlixardous conditions, and knowingly requiring
t employees to work in contttmriiated areas' witlipvf
'>lidei|Uote inforrttalion, training br equipment.. LJ ^
\ ;
A union safety expert calls the^situation "awat^
'.ling" and says SUNY Oswego manögement has piqiwd
V'tfie lives of students, empl0yee$ and their families,
> the campus community in general at tremendous risk v
:.
.'whife keeping the 1ln^r->' '
' mation- secret -for-'the.^V^
SCANDALOUS!
"To thtnk Ilut Jn tmiituliofi Ol htghrr l«4min{ llui pnti« Kirll o
qiMlily rdiK4lion would tjiitrg.rd the pducJtwn ol Ihf tundlm ol Ki;
«rdoui nulrrul Jlirr recnvtng otftcijl rrcofnmmdjtiont jnl nutnfrui
- Compiled by CSEA Communications Associale Chuck McGeary
Public Sector Frtiint Rnoer A Cole
OSWEGO — Management at the State University
ol New York at Oswego kept secret lor nearly three
years a slate Health Department report showing hejiiy
contamination of asbestos n more ttian 30 buWtngs on
campus, according to alleoations by a lomt union health
and safety committee at the SUNY facility
The loint health and safety committee, spearheaded by CSEA Local 6 1 1 and CSEA Central Region otii
cials and staff, charge that during that time management knowingly ordered employees to remove
asbestos-containing material without informing tfie employees of the presence of asbestos and without proper
training, clothing and equipment
(Continued on page 10]
: p u i u c >ECTon
Above, The Public
Sector covered the
story when it first
broke. At left, joint
AFL-CIO committee
chairperson Dr. Leland
Marsh reviews the
consent decree with
CSEA committee
member Ned
Goebricher and CSEA
Local 611 President
Dale Dusharm.
Working without protective clothing or
equipment, the crews proceeded as ordered,
ripping out the deterioriated flaky material
by hand, stuffing it into ordinary trash cans
for later removal to a local landfill.
Unsuspecting custodial workers then swept
up the dusty, cancer-causing residue after
each area job was completed.
"They did what they were told to do with
absolutely no training or warning about the
dangerous material they were handling,"
explained Dusharm.
The workers were told the material was
"mineral wool" but a CSEA investigation
proved otherwise. CSEA and the AFL-CIO
conmiittee then uncovered evidence that a
1982 state Health Department report
prepared for SUNY Oswego documented
severe asbestos contamination in more than
30 campus buildings!
Dr. Leland Marsh, a professor of
environmental sciences at the college and
chairman of the joint AFL-CIO committee
terms the administration's actions
"outrageous."
"To deliberately ignore all the information
and permit workers and students to be
exposed to a deadly material not only
violated health and safety regulations, it
borders on a criminal act!" he stated.
"By using staff and students, SUNY
Oswego management got an asbestos cleanup at a bargain price, even adding in the
$20,000 fine. But what about the future
health of those workers?" asked Dusharm
angrily.
That's a question that CSEA still intends
to have answered.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
7
AIDS:
Acquired I m m u n e Deficiency Syndrome
H u m a n Immunodeficiency Virus
Recommendations
Transmission
During Invasive
for
Preventina
of
Infection
Procedures
for
• H E A L T H C A R E WORKERS*
It's not an occupational disease
By Kathleen Daly
Associate Editor
James Corcoran has heard the questions
before. As CSE A director of Occupational
Safety and Health, he has spent a lot of time
talking about Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndrome (AIDS).
This time, it's an anonymous letter from a
health care worker who is concerned that
direct care givers are not told if a patient
has AIDS because of confidentiality rules.
Unless they know, how can they be
expected "to give appropriate care, both
physical and psychological, and at the
same time protect
ourselves with this
information?" the
letter writer asked.
Corcoran's
answers have
remained consistent
with the guidelines
of the national
Centers for Disease
Control.
"AIDS is not an
occupational
James Corcoran,
disease," he said.
CSEA OSH director
"If you want
to be safe and you want to protect yourself,
then you don't spend time trying to decide if
a person has the disease.
"You treat everyone as if they have some
kind of blood-borne disease. If everyone did
this, fewer health care workers would
contract Hepatitis B."
Hepatitis B is a particularly dangerous
disease and can be fatal. It can be
contracted through contact with an infected
person's bodily fluids.
The Centers for Disease Control advises
health care workers to put a barrier
between themselves and any patient's bodily
fluids. AIDS is known to be transmitted
through blood or semen, Corcoran said, so
that if health care workers wear gloves or
other protective clothing whenever they may
come in contact with any bodily fluids, they
should be protected from AIDS and other
diseases.
"The point is, you don't handle people's
bodily fluids," he said. "If people start
following this procedure, they're going to be
healthier not because they're not getting
AIDS, but because they're not getting other
diseases like Hepatitis B."
In fact, a patient admitted with a problem
that is not AIDS-related, such as a broken
leg or a heart attack, could also carry the
AIDS virus. Again, health care workers
should follow the same precautions with all
patients, Corcoran emphasized: put a
barrier between themselves and the
patient's bodily fluids.
There is concern for laundry workers in
hospitals and other facilities that may house
people carrying the AIDS virus or other
contagious diseases, Corcoran said. If sheets
are wet and soiled with bodily fluids,
laundry workers should not handle them
without gloves and protective clothing. In
fact, such laundry should be well marked so
that laundry workers don't inadvertently
pick them up without protection, he added.
"I think it's important for people in the
unit who take sheets off the beds to
catagorize them," Corcoran explained. "It
does happen, but not as often as it should."
Corcoran emphasized that under nearly all
circumstances, AIDS is not a disease a
person will contract while on the job. Only a
very few cases of occupational exposure
have been recorded and they occurred under
highly unusual circumstances. Instead, he
cr,., ..„ ^
„ IhTop.,.,
"
'*•'»• 10 cccu.) In ,h.
• n«»«l« Of iniTum«nl i,.
f^'t t»«n t,movM Iron, Ih. Int.nl j ,k,n
«Humonli
''
laiomng p>oc«dur>i «II., ,„V
«'a
" 9 » o, ol->.,»,„
•>'
•"'""K du«
hjrxj,,-, j ^ , , - ,„
"-X-VM „on, c « « , « .
„„
t» -o-wa m ZZZrl^^ZlT'ln^" -".".».-.ni 0,
No HCW «ho
..Udjiivi Iti.oni o,
~
""
"^"C'
Ol »ry illntH Ih.i r - j , con-ß-on,., IIMII
10 adnujir / ma Sali-Iy
^
p , o c « u . „ shoukJ t» .Vjlujiec "wJ ca'., lo,rerm.ri «Iwif,,,
j,, o-yLcjIly
"aTOomvcom„l.ol 10 D.-10-m , „ , „ , v ,
'
.
.«onC,^
o«l...,c, o. a,.„t
'"-»-"».on
"reo"'.
Aaapt^ hom r r "
CSEQ
THIS INFORMATIVE POSTER with precautions
against AIDS for health care and laboratory
workers is available through CSEA at the
address listed below.
urged people to consider the most common
methods of transmission — use of dirty
hypodermic needles and sexual contact with
an infected person.
You can get more detailed information on
occupational procedures to avoid exposure
to AIDS and other contagious illnesses.
CSEA has produced an educational poster
that outlines the Centers for Disease Control
precautions for health care and laboratory
workers.
To order the posters, write:
CSEA Safety and Health Department
143 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12210
Eight members elected to CSEA Board
Eight CSEA members have been elected to fill vacant seats on
the union's statewide Board of Directors.
All eight were elected to serve the remaining portion of terms
which expire in June 1989. Results of special elections to fill the
vacancies were announced by Linda M. Cote, chairperson of the
union's Statewide Election Committee, as follows:
State Division results:
Georgianna M. Natale was elected to represent the Department
of Audit and Control on CSEA's Board of Directors. Natale won over
Polly Kimmey by a 289-232 total.
Douglas Mayette and Steven Pellicciotti were elected unopposed
to fill two vacant seats representing Mental Hygiene-Region III.
Sharon Connor was unopposed in winning the vacant seat
representing Mental Hygiene-Region V.
Robert Calhoun, also unopposed, won the seat representing
Public Service.
Local Government Division results:
Gary China won the race to fill the seat representing
Montgomery County. China won over Michael Cantiello by a vote of
177-90.
Edward Williams is the new board representative from Wayne
County, winning the seat by a vote of 84-79 over Carolyn DeVelder.
Susan M. Bieniek is the new board member representing Albany
County, winning the seat uncontested.
8
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
BALLOTS WERE COUNTED under the supervision of the Statewide
Election Committee on Nov. 30 at CSEA statewide headquarters in Albany.
Eight members were declared winners of vacant seats on the union's
statewide Board of Directors.
8N o v e m b e r16, 1987
By Daniel X. Campbell
CSEA Communications Associate
Brush with death brings —
A living
testimonial
LOCAL 1000
AFSCME. AFL-
Life is what you make of it and former CSEA SUNY Central
Local 693 president Jerry Toomey is determined to make the
most of his opportunity.
With a failing liver, Toomey was within three days of death
last spring. Then an organ donor was finally found and he
underwent a successful transplant. The road to recovery has not
been easy, but he credits the support, generosity and negotiated
benefits of CSEA with helping him make progress.
Well enough to attend last month's CSEA Region IV business
meeting, Toomey was enthusiastically welcomed by friends, who
received an inspiring message of thanks.
"I had to go out of state for the operation. I was on the
operating table for 18 hours and really wasn't lucid from May
14th to June 14th. I look like a road map of cuts and stitches, but
it's great to be alive," he told his fellow members.
"I'm still recovering but I want to thank you for your letters
and cards and generous financial support — it made a big
difference for me. I also want to thank CSEA for negotiating the
Empire Plan and the Employee Benefit Fund (EBF) Prescription
Drug Program. Don't lose those benefits; I know that they're
both lifesavers," he added.
During Toomey's illness, CSEA members Norma Paige and
Jane Perry, who served with him on the Region IV Social
Committee, coordinated a raffle that raised $1,300 for his benefit.
"Your gift came in very handy. I haven't worked in 10
months, I'm on leave with half-pay and your money helped
^
pay my living expenses," he said.
Toomey also noted that the cost of his operation and
medication is staggering but he has been well-protected
by his CSEA benefits.
"I'm on five different pills a day. Just one of those
medicines costs $190 for what used to be a four-day
supply. Now that I'm recovering, that supply covers
a 10-day period. I'll never be off this medication —
ever! But I haven't seen one bill, not even a $3
look like a roadmap
of cuts and stitches,
but iVs great to be alive''
—Jerry Toomey
As for the bottom-line on the
operation — it came to more than
$k)0,000 and was all paid for by
insurance.
"If not for this health insurance, I
wouldn't be here today telling you
about my recovery," he explained.
There is of course a more
important benefit for Jerry Toomey
though: "No matter what each day
brings, tears, joy, problems or
laughter, I plan to enjoy every
second of it because it's a wonderful
life."
Giving the gift of iife
Getting a transplant of any major organ in New
York state can mean a long wait — and potential
transplant recipients can literally die in the process.
A number of factors have to do with the shortage
of organs available for transplants, including lack of
legislation defining brain death and the number of
transplant programs in the state.
If you would like to be a potential organ donor,
you can do so by filling out the back of your New
York state driver's license (see illustration at right).
You also need two witnesses to sign the card.
That gives permission for your organs to be
used, if possible, for transplants at your death.
N o v e m b e r30,1987
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
9
Robert Lattimer * Irene Carr * Mary E. Sullivan * Kathy Albowicz * Thomas Alexson * Gina Allegra * LorrI Atashian * Lenore Barnard * Lisa
^^^William L. McGowan * Joseph E. McDermott * Danny Donohue * George Boncoraglio * Pat Mascioli * C. Allen Mead * James J. Moo
n (Allegra * LorrI Atashian * Lenore Barnard * Lisa Bartoli * William Blom * Jackie Bolden * Sheryl Bolton * Judy Brooks * Minnii I Brown * Sharon Brown * Diane Brunelle * Cathy Bruno * JoAnne Cafarelli * Cathy Cahalan * Eileen Campbell * Anthony Campione
u * ^ h a l a n * Eileen Campbell * Anthony Campione * Michael Campo * Delores Carter * Lauretta Carroll * Edmund Catrine * Mary E j n Childs * Cindy Chovanec * Sally Colbert * Roger A. Cole * Thomas Coleman * Barbara Collen * Dick Comiskey * Jack Conoby * Tim Conway *
»'Dick Comiskey * Jack Conoby * Tim Conway * Jim Cooney * Jim Corcoran • Irene Cummings * JoAnn Curtis * Kate Daly * tet lviu(ip Jr. * Rose DiNuzzo * Ralph Distin * Debbie Dobert * Dawn Dugan * Joan Dunham-Card * Rhonda Egnasher * Chuck Eynon * John Febraio
J®,
londa Egnasher * Chuck Eynon * John Febraio
Eleanor Ferraro * Carmela Fiorino * Leo Fisher * George Ford * Jane F r e ^ r i c r Denise Futia * Kelly Garceau * Marcel Gardner * Frank Garti * Portia Given • Kelly Goertz * Ross Hanna * James Hennerty * Lorraine Hicke:
Jam^oss Hanna * James Hennerty * Lorraine Hickey * RoseAnn Hildreth * Stanley Hornak * Kim Hytko * Ann Kawola * Donald Kelly * Ion King * Bob Knower * David Knutti * Janice Kucskar * Ray Latham * Mark Lawrence * Bonnie Loyche * Steve Madarasz * Ann Maglione *
a v e Ma'che * Steve Madarasz * Ann Maglione * Frank Martello * James Martin * Helen McDaniels * Kim McHale * Kevin •Neil * Ed Molitor • Maudine Morman * Robert Morris * James Murphy * John Naughter * Denise Neira * Jean O'Hagan * Don Oliver * Jackie Osw;
O'Haaarf" *
O'Hagan * Don Oliver * Jackie Oswald * Jackie Perez * Kim Phillips * Jordy Pierce * Paul Prefore * Heidi Quandt * J jeph Reedy * Denise Rinella * Anastasia Rosebrook * Olive Rourke * Bernardine Rouse * Lisa Ruoff * Terri Rysedorph * Linda Sage * Judy Sa
D
H 5 * Terri Rysedorph * Linda Sage * Judy Salisbury * Ann Saltzman * Joseph Salvino * Lawrence Scanlon * Joann Schoonmai [r * David Sebast * Aaron Shepard * Barbara Skelly * Michelle Smith * David Sparks * David Stack * Jerry Stevens * Betty Stone * Nancy Si
1 n y s e a o r p * Jerry Stevens * Betty Stone * Nancy Süsser * Mary Sweet * Cassandra Torian * Sean Turley * Diane Urbaetis * Tim V lee * Ellalouise Wadsworth * Janie Wadsworth * Peg Wilson * Kathy Wojtulski * Antic Womack * Connie Wunderlich * Camilla Wyckoff * Bruc«
/ry Stevens mie wunderlich * Camilla Wyckoff * Bruce Wyngaard * PeggyLou Zakrzewski * Michele Agnew
* Timothy lullens • Debbie Baum * Debbie Dube * Molly Home * Joan Johnson * Mae Morgan * Lisa Olivo * Tina Schroeder * Thomas Quimby * John Weidi
Wunderlich *Schroeder * Thomas Quimby * John Weidman * Joseph Conway * Joyce Dimitri *
* Cla le Lavigne • Susan LeVan * Cheryl Sheller * Paul Clayton * Debbie Engel * Debra Feinberg * Annette Harding * Marge Karowe * Jerome Lef
^ h r ^ A ^ i A r * ThrM^ Harding * Marge Karowe * Jerome Lefkowitz * Mary Masterson * Leslie Myers
* Pam Turner * Rose Warmer * Andrew Schulz * Kathy Barnes * Thomas Collins* Sally Engelhardt * Paul Burch • Karen Loisell
nroeaer
Engelhardt " Paul Burch * Karen Loiselle * Jase McGraw * William Sullivan
Michael Aiello * Patrick Curtin * Jim DellaRocca * Harold Krangle * Gus Nielsen • James J. Walters * Larry Borst * Kenneth Brother
rding
Margv waiters * Larry Borst * Kenneth Brotherton * Claude Ferraro • ^ i ? ^ a ^ eryi
i?;
Ronald Mazzola * Charles Bell * Martin Blumstein * Barton Brier * Alan Jennings * Floyd Payne * Marcia Schiowitz * John Labriel * Harold
J e l h a r d t * Pauflarcia Schlowltz * John Labriel * Harold Robertson * Lilly Gioia
m
r- ^ a - t^M >^
^
uc .
ran
alacKmü n • Richard Blair * Stephen Chanowsky * JohnDeyo * Jim Farina * Mike Hogg * Wendy Hord * S
/loiters * Larr
f^a^'na * '^•ke Hogg * Wendy Hord * Sheila Tyler-Harrison
; Sun- . ark ' Doloies
^ö y
o m Wr J
rvlsi , y
JO » ^ a J n * Judy Morrison * John D. Corcoran * Donald McCarthy * Aaron Wagner * Joseph Bakerian * John J. Cummings
»^
. « . r
* Joseph Bakerian * John J. Cummings * Gregory Davis
tochner ' Kate luscOinbe "
^-er^H^r * CUMteh :oa * Mich^t Sheld n ^ David Smith * Daniel X. Campbell * Ed LaPlante * Rita Slattery * Roger Kane * Ronald Smith * Tim Burns * Charlii
Aarcia ö c m o w i r a n e * Ronald Smith * Tim Burns * Charlie Bird * Mike Campon * Thomas Oupös * Mike JaolansKi ^ Chris Jamison * T ^ M
^ev^skf * Terence Mo^iey * mp
Phelan * Stephen Ragan * Ercole Ventura * Mike White * Chuck Gregory * Merwin Stevens * Charles h
iim Farina
Mike Gregory * Merwin Stevens * Charles McGeary ^ Catie Smith Robert IVIassey * Danny Jinks * Tom Porn'oSoro " ÄnnB a m * Jirnmv laves * Pat Ick Domar^tz ^ Raymond Ducharme * Mark Higgins * Debbie Lee * Michael Painter * Vincent Sicari * Karen Spies
{ * Joseph B a k e r i a \ Painter * Vincent Sicari * Karen Spies * Robert Young * Tom Mullen John Bieger * Ronald Wofford ^ Roger Sherrie ^ äfOiyfi Blose ' Pamela J. Gorton Jack Carey%iames J l^oore • Robert Lattimer * Irene Carr * William L. McGowan * Joseph E. McDermott * Dai
* James
iVioo^
a n o * RnnalH
QmitiMcGowan *. Joseph
E. McDermott * Danny Donohue * Georg© Boncoraglio Pp^
. K
Kane
Ronald omiu
•'«^epn
rxoiit; * nuiidiu
,
Barnard * Lisa Barlolt r WslHam Blom " Jackie P"'
•'Brooks
Minni ' Robert Lattimer • Irene Carr ^ Mary E, SulUvan * Kathy Albowicz * Thomas Alexson * Gina Allegra * Lorri Atashian * Lenore Barnard ^ Lise
' Diane Brunelle * Cathy Bruno * JoAnne Cafarelli * Cathy Cahalan * Eileen Campbell * Anthony Campion*
luck Gregory * M e r w i i f - e Ä p " b e i i ' Anthony Campione ' .IVIfctiaei Campo * Delores C"
Mary El Brown ^ Sharc^ '
m Childs ^
..
t Sally Colbert ^ Roger A ( ole • Thomas Coleman * Barbara Collen* Dick Comiskey * Jack Conoby * Tim Conw;H^^
^^ly * Pat
* Tim Conway * Jim Cooney * Jim Corcoran '
•*el Painter * Vincent i;<ey •" Jack Conoby
Cono
murlo
'
«
/
.
. '^'^tsn * Debbie Dobert ^ Dawn Dugan • Joan Dunham-Card * Rhonda Egnasher * Chuck Eynon *
"r;?
^rederic
L. McGowan * JoseoK^ef *
;
\
^"^u'fi''
^v
Robert Lattimer ' Gardner Frank Garti * Portia Given * Kelly Goertz* Ross Hanna * James H e n n e r t v A-liH
UeDDl«
Xeily
IV! ri ; r
V.
* Sharon BrowiV'^«^^^^ * Ray Latham * Mark Lawrence * Bonnie Loyche * Steve t^arceau * Marcel Gardn
* I ^m-mi A t o o k i i o n *
JBmBs Hennefty Lorrame Hickey BoseAnn NHdreth
"
^ C
* Cindy Chovanec * ^ « ^ ' J l ^ S e ^ / Ä Ä
1
David Knutti ^ Janice Ki
LOrri A i r m a n
cjeve Madarasz * Ann Maglione " Frar^k Martello * J?
•CI 5 'ti- mv ' i n * Eileen Campbell - O'Hagan • Don Oliver " Jackie Oswald ^ Jackie Perez ^ '
*
Rose
DiNuzzo
*
Ralph
Distin^^
®
D
a
v
l
d
^
K
-^^Tviaudine
Morman * Robert Mo
f
I.
X C o m i s k e y * J a c k ConvRysedorph * tmda Sage * Judy Salisbury ^ Ann Saltzf
Denise Futia * Kelly Garceau * Marcel Garcfner* '^ntic Womack * .f'-'^n^nise Rinella * Anastasia Rosebr
•Ha P n n a c h o r * Phiirk FvStevens * Betty Stone * Nancy Süsser * Mary Swef
* Bob K''
^ * David Knutti * Janice Kucskar *"Ri^J'Tathaf,,'^ * Aaron Shepard * Barbara SIj o a ngnasner
i^nucK c;>^erlich • Camilla Wyckoff ^ Bruce Wyngaard * Pe
i
HA -I'le I'adsworth
» — i f ^ n* iJanie
c k Wadsworth
\A/oHctAir\rtH *
.OSS Hanna
James Henner^^ • Thomas Quimby ^ John Weidman ^ Joseph Co
>!v
Ed Mo»''
ne Morman * Robert Morris ** James
Murßiiy
jyche * Steve Madarasz * * Marge Karowe * Jerome Lefkowitz ^ fVlary r^
Joseph Reed'
-..ise
Pi^
'a * Anastasia Rosebrook * Olive Rouries j. ^aum * Debbie Dube * Molly He
»leira * Jean O'Hagan * Don OIK * Paul Burch * Karen Lolsene * Jase f^lcGr
J
*
Da»''
>ast
* Aaiw
ipard * Barbara Skelly * Michelle
' ^ n LeVan * Cheryl Sheller * Pe
* TArri DtfcaHr^rnh * I inHa Larry Borst * Kenneth Brotherton * Claude F
-^ise Wadsworth
. * .
"jfseao'pn
» - m a a v^^j^^ .
Labriel " Harold Roberlscn " U
'e Wadsworth * Peg Wilson
wiison *- K'J^ncJ"* Turner./
'"»"^«ak Rose Warmer * An<
\ * Jerry Stevens
Betty StOri^e Hogg * Wendy Hord " Sheila Tyler Har
:rj
Debbie Baum
Debbi.
^e
*
Molly
Home
*
Joan
Johroger
Kam
I
AiefUd i Patrick Cg-tin * Jinr
>nnie Wunderlich * CamillToWwian • John X mmmmgs * Gregory Davf
\ I
dvigne
* Susan LeVan * Che.,
<5ller * Paul Clayton * Dc Chuck G * CH Mt s Bell ^ & ''tin Blui
la Schroeder * Thomas QuiiaW Smith * Iim Bums ^^ Charlie Bird ^ IVIike c
i
ff I
I
.in Spring * IPam Turner ^ Rose Vi
I ft
- * Andrew Schulz *
Sp/
* Glenn ^a. ckman
*
ufirr.xA Merwm Stevens ^ Charies IVtcGeary
Spies " Robert Younc
- I '
. Scharfeld * Michael
Mi
^ I
tte Harding
Marge Karoy^ Vincent sicari ^ Karen
k.
iM n
Aiello ^ Patrick Cu.
Mm DellaRocca "Xgrii'^'iS.
^
^
Jarnar
^
r
• -
» ;
1
Ily Engelhardt * Paul Burch •
:^ei5aeFerrarc
»8 J. Walters * Larry Borst * K'an * Lenore
BBn%at(^
e * Marcia Schiowitz * John LaPbeii Anthnm^xiiobertsion " Lilly Gto^a
* Jim Farina * Mike Hogg * Werto
Wertov Hord
Sheila Tyler-Harrison " ^
ler * Joseph Bakerian * John J.
* Gregory Davis ^ Willie
r Kane * Ronald Smith * Tim Burn,
uck Gregory * Merwin Stevens * c
:hael Painter * Vincent Sicari * Karet.
im L. McGowan * Joseph E. Mc"^
ra * Lorri Atashian * Lenore Be
Ian * Eileen Campbell * Anthony
AHeg^fTiiskey * Jack Conoby * Tim
Cahalan * E^or * Chuck Eynon * JohL
' Dick Comiskey "
Hennerty * Lorrainv.
Rhonda Egnasher ^ Crmckfcyn^*,Ann MfinMr
Ross Hanm ^ James Hermerty ' lorHlu,:
.
Loyche * Steve ivladarssz
Ann MagHomCKie v
Neira * Jeso O'Hagan * Don Oliver " Jackie Oswalil" -.^v.,
n'
i
P
. Iu
I" to.
t« «
ns .lie Teff
^ar^iptJ
* Dd"
uucie * Ronald
Bell
Iiviidivi Mazzola
niad.£.\ßta* Charles
v^iiailCd OCII
Marill.
St?hony Ca^anie
"nstein * Bartqcahalcin • EhdOfCampbei'id Sqho
^onald Partrick * Lawrence Sparber * Glenn Blackm
Richard BIh* Dick ComisI W * Jack Co Gera* Tim Con n •
ood * Anita IWanley * Doris IVIason * Judy Morrison * ^uhn D.
Charles Scott * Michael Sheldon * David Smith * Daniel X. Campb^flluo^/cht"?"??«»«
^ n n " » '
e d Modrzejewski
Modrzeiewski ** Tpr^r»/»^
ou
*
HAralH
Phnlan
»
I«««
rk»Hanan
*
nnn
llliunr
ll^^kCiltliu
"ed
Te
ixley * Gerald Phelan
(ise Neira • Jean O'Hagan * Don wiiver ** JacHSulliva.
Lisa
Ruoff
*
Terri
Rysedorph
*
Linda
Sage
* eile *
Patrick
^ Rj
I,
^sta ,a R
,vid
Stack
*
Jerry
Stevens
*
Betty
Stone
fv * p
^bast * A
* F I * arba Gorton * ichelle Sr Kath^
P.ack * Connie Wunderlich ^ Camilla Wyckoff
"Opj
Moorise wadsoert Lattir wa swo i e Carr * *
Harol
-.»^a Olivo " Tina Schroeder ' Thomas Ooimby " J o U e D D i e
an
Johns(
Mo
l i n n i e ^ b l e Baurp
^^Dra Feinhera " Annette Harding ' MarqB Karov^e ^ Jer Gardnt
Shai
in
^Dia
..)n - D e b t ^ e l l e
" y El
* Cin( war ler nec Salliuiz * K a r t »'«"^nies ^ Thomas C o l l i n s ' Sally Engelhardt ' Paul B u r c h J Kar^pj^Q
r^ a i . U,rr
Ki fiy / 1 * Oalnhf^mo^-^^^^^son " Gina Allegra " Lorri Atashian * Lenore Barnard * Lisa Mir ert Morr
'arr •' Mar
Mar Jr. * ROS
i
" 5 ' Ä V j ^ a f a r e i l l * Cathy Cahalan " Eileen Campbell * Antho^iy Campione
o^^^Kr«^
lerick DianeL.iise Futia
TBomas
Coleman
Barbara Collen ' Oick C^omiskey
Conobf • Ti?n Conway
JtniF3arbara
<13 M o s eSke
pro^
Ily * Ron^KillO b ^ b K ' b o b e r t * Dawn
Dugan
" Joan" Dunham-Card
Egnasher * Jack
OwcR
Eynon
^
John
Febraio
/in>Mflf'^ Marcel Gardner " Frank GarU Portia Given Kelly Goertz^
lanru» * Jarr^es Hennerty * Lorraine Hickey , dsworth * Pi
lovmr
David Knutti ^ Janice Kucskar * Bay Latham * IVlark Lawrence * B^"
* Steve Madaras;^
Ann Maglione
Fr. . Rii^iiw u ,
Jean O'Hagan " Dan Oliver ' Jackie Oswald ^
''""y
Maudine Morman "" Robert Morrb ' James Murphy * John NauoH*
Tern Rysedorph * Linda Sage " Judy Salisburiller
PJ
Reedy * D lise Rinella * Anastasia Rosebrook * OHve Rourke * Ber«^-"-^'
Lisa Buoff
Jerry
Stevens
Betty
Stone
Nancy
Susser^-|er
*
An
.
^..v^unrrtaker
""
David
Sebafj
Aaron
Shepard
^
Barbara
Skelly
^
Michelle
oparks
David
Stack
- W W , , . . . . .
^
^
Ryatf * Terri Rysedorph * Linda Sage * Judy Salisbury * Ann w.
" Connie Wunderlich
Carnilla V/yckoff ' Bruce W
... ujoaeils ^ Tim Vallee * Ellaloylse ^adsworth * Jaoie Wadsworth
Peg Wil?^^"Stack * Jerry Stevens * Betty Stone * Nancy Süsser * fVlary Sweet
.
M
w
.
n
a
c
,
W
e
i
d
m
s
'
„
7*'
Laura Balogli Timothy Mullens * D^^bid Jaum Debbie Dube " IVIolly Horn«-^
/c " Tina Schroeder ^ Thomas Quimby ' John
' Connie Wunderlich
CamMla Wyckoff ^ Bruce Wyngaard * PeggyLou ZaKr^c^v,
Karowe
*
Jerome
Lefko
M
a
r
t
i
n
DIU
»taley * Michele ladopDiilos
Claude L a v i g n e ® S y Ian wa^an * Clieryl Shelier * ""
> „ Dimitri
„ » ~ .
Tina Schroeder "" Thomas Quirnby * John Weidman * Joseph Conway * Joyce
ch ^ Karen Lot$eiii-',n Blackman
^ s e p h O'DonneN " Brenda Pmms
Tom Spring *
Turner * Rose Warmer * Andrevw Schulz * Kathy
Annette Harding * IVIarga Karowe ^ Jerome Lefkowitz * fVlary »
.4 * Kenneth Brother M o r r i s O n *
O'Suliivan * Rigo Predonzan "" Irwin Scharleid *
lel Aiello * Patrick Curtin * Jim DellaRocca * Harold »
" Sally Engelhardt
Paul Burch ^ Karen loiselle ' Jase ^IcGriJohn Labriel Haroi^j»_:xu
* Danic
Sheryl Carfm
Stephariie Teff ' Toni Soucie " Ronald fvlaz: }la * Charles Bell * IVIartin Blumstein * Barton Brier * .
James J, Walters * Larry Borst " Kennet,
«Q Wendy Hord iSmith
..win iVIasters * Laura BILander
ice Sparber " Glenn Blackman * Richard Blafr ^ Stephen Chanov>
laid
Partrick
*
lawn
arald Phelan *
Payfte * ^Vtarcla Schiowitz * John Labriel * $
'undmark *
Amia Manfey * Dl Iris Mason * Judy Morrison * John D. Corcoran * Donald McCarthy
Domaratz
* Ray
iel .X. Campbell * Ed LaPlante " Rita Slattery
Stephen Ragan
Ercole Ventura " Mike White "
I * Jack Carey
mond Ducharme * Mark Higgins * Debbie l e e * Michae»
r
* Mary E. Sulliv;
''^ichael
* Deinrp« ^»rtAr * Lauretta Carroll '' Edmund Ca«.,.
ne Brunelle '
'
'^"»•^is Kate Daiy
ord
Jane Fredertc^
.ly Colbert * Ro(
' Donald Kelly Ro
Distin * Debbi
js^ioiito
from the officers and xaff of The Civil Service Employees Association
10
J * Marcel Gardn
, Knutti * Janice K
Jorman " Robert Mc
i * Anastasia Roseb
Shepard '' Barbara SI
,1 * Janie Wadsworth *
Debbie Dube ' Moiiy H<
'an * Cheryl Sheller " Pj
' Rose Warmer * An
* Patrick Curtin * Jin
iries Bell * Martin Blu
rber * Glenn Blackman
on * Judy Morrison *
* David Smith * Danic
An original design by Roger A. Cole.
T H E P U B L I C SECTOR
N o v e m b r16,1 9 8 7
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
11
State being much too charitable
with Catholic Charities program
By Charles McGeary
CSEA Communications Associate
UTICA — Ä proposal by the state to
contract out a program for a group of
mentally ill people in the Utica area to
Catholic Charities in 1988 has drawn heated
opposition from CSEA.
"We have no axe to grind with Catholic
Charities, but do wish to make it perfectly
clear we are strongly opposed to any erosion
of state control," says CSEA Central Region
President Jim Moore.
''Programs that affect the care and
treatment of the mentally ill should be
created and administered by the New York
State Department of Mental Hygiene,"
Moore says. "There should be only one
'captain' on the bridge of a ship.
Fragmenting control and leadership, in our
opinion, only weakens service and damages
the morale of CSEA members and other
employee unions!"
«
Hi
PICKETS PROTEST — Union officials and employees of the Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center in
Utica march to show opposition to a state plan to contract out services. Leading the demonstration,
from left, are Local 434 President Bud Mulchy, CSEA Central Region President Jim Moore and
Therapy Aide Jim Schaub.
CSEA and AFSCME Council 82 officials and
employees conducted a rally and
informational picketing recently at the
Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center (MVPC)
to protest the state's plans. The rally and
picketing preceded a meeting of the Board
of Visitors at the facility.
MVPC CSEA Local 434 President Bud
Mulchy called the proposal "contracting out
of services that the state of New York
*
should supply." He said he and other union
representatives at the facility would bring
their protest to Albany if necessary in order
to prevent the plan from being carried out.
Under the proposal, the Utica-area
Catholic Charities organization would
administer an admissions program for about
100 chronically mentally ill people in the area.
Catholic Charities says it will utilize a staff
of 47 professionals, most of them state
workers already employed in other
positions.
A state Mental Hygiene spokesperson saia
the proposal would not endanger any jobs,
but union officials see it differently. Union
leaders say the state is simply shirking its
responsibilities and the proposal could pose
a threat to jobs currently held by state
employees.
"No good can come from contracting out,
and we are unequivocally opposed to any
plan that releases control of mental health
services to a private sector organization,"
Moore reiterated.
Contracting out gets a critical review
privately with public dollars — it is
A just-released report written by Pulitzer
remarkable that anyone could see a path
Prize-winning author and Princeton
toward budgetary salvation simply by
University Professor Paul Starr asks some
shifting the focus of service production from
sobering questions about the real costs of
the public sector to the private sector,"
contracting out and what taxpayers might
Starr writes.
not get for their money.
Other potential problems with current
Starr's report. The Ldmits of Privatization,
privatization proposals, according to Starr,
is published by the Economic Policy
are that:
Institute, a non-profit and nonpartisan
* it is dangerous for the state to put power
Washington research organization. In his
over citizens (in law enforcement, for
report, Starr warns that "privatizing"
example) in the hands of employees of a
government services may result in serious
private firm
financial and civic costs.
* current proposals to convert Social
Starr reports that selling off public assets
Security to a program solely for the
and contracting out government functions —
needy risk losing middle-class political
policies now being promoted by a Reagan
support for a successful social program
commission — could increase costs to
taxpayers, erode popular participation in
* privatization is often a device to cut
government and reduce government
public employee wages and to destroy
response to the rights and needs of citizens.
unions; this imposes income losses on
workers and reduces the quality of jobs
He also questions one of the key
in a community
arguments of privatization advocates: the
* removing essential services like
claim that contracting out results in savings
education, fire protection or health care
to the public. He points out that most
from the public arena will reduce
privitization proposals do not call for
citizens' ability to influence the quality
outright elimination of public goods or
of services and remove motivation to
services, but rather that they be contracted
participate in civic life
out to private corporations while the public
continues to foot the bill. These firms, he
* private firms are seldom equipped to
argues, often use these opportunities to
meet adequately the needs of poor or
reduce public services to the bare minimum
elderly people; schemes that contract
while filling their coffers from the public
out public services (health care, for
treasury.
example) often shortchange those who
need them most
"Given the American experience with
defense production, construction projects,
The public expects government to play an
and health care — all mostly produced
active role in spurring the economy and
12
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
safeguarding its stability. Starr argues that,
when government is being called on to
provide more leadership to the private sector
in this era of economic difficulty, the country
needs public servants and public institutions
loyal to its highest interests — not private
contractors interested only in maximizing
their own fortunes.
The privatization movement, advanced
primarily by antigovernment political
theorists and private contracting firms, hast
recently received a boost from President
Reagan in the form of a presidential
commission. The commission will submit a
report to the White House by March 1,
identifying areas of the federal government
that should be privatized.
The Economic Policy Institute will
counteract this movement by making Starr's
report on contracting out available to
members of the conunission and Congress
or any Administration official.
Paul Starr
Paul Starr is a Professor of Sociology at
Princeton University. He is the author of a
number of books, including The Discarded
Army: Veterans After Vietnam (1974) and The
Social Transformation of American Medicine
(1982), for which he was awarded the Pulitzer
Prize and the Bancroft Prize in American
history. He is currently working on issues
concerning the appropriate balance between
public and private sectors and problenns with
contracting out.
12N o v e m b e r16, 1 9 8 7
Playing it Safe
CSEA member teaches fire safety
A Y THIS ON FOR SIZE — CSEA member and volunteer fire fighter Steve
Bolash lets a pupil try on a fire fighter's hat during a safety lecture.
N o v e m b e r30,1987
Compiled by Anita Manley
CSEA Communications Associate
WASHINGTONVILLE — When Steve Bolash starts talking to
school children about fire prevention and safety, the veteran
volunteer fire fighter knows his audience ahnost as well as he
knows his subject.
Bolash, treasurer of Orange County CSEA Local 836, works as a
custodian in the Washingtonville School District, so he knows the
children. And for the last 14 years, he's fought fires with the Monell
Fire Company in Washingtonville. The fire company also funds the
community education project that brings Bolash to the elementary
schools.
The children enjoy the red fire truck Bolash brings and are
receptive to the lessons he offers.
"What do you do if your clothes catch on fire?" he asked the
children on one recent visit.
"Stop, drop and roll," the children shouted back in unison.
As part of his instruction, Bolash told the children what to do if
there is a fire outside their rooms.
"Feel the door," he explains. "If it's hot, find another way out,
through another door or window."
He also encourages them to take the safety messages home.
"Hold fire drills in your home," Bolash said. "Plan a meeting
place for your family outside the house. Don't go back inside for
your toys."
The final part of the lesson is a crowd pleaser, Bolash said — a
tour of the fire truck and a demonstration of the hoses. But
entertainment is only a by-product of the safety program.
"If we get our message across to one child," he said, "it's worth
it."
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
13
Wonnen &
More than 300 attend conference
TARRYTOWN — More than 300 CSEA
activists took a look at changes in the labor
movement that affect women and that
women have brought about during the
union's annual Women's Conference held
here recently.
"Women Affecting Change" included
workshops on sex discrimination, public
speaking, stress, career decisions and
women in American labor history.
For Boni Pellino, a therapy aide at
Wassaic Developmental Center, the
conference is an opportunity to keep up with
women's issues. As secretary of CSEA Local
426, she is the only woman to hold office, but
that doesn't mean the local doesn't benefit.
"The other officers all attended and all
listened," she said. " I t ' s a great way to
bring the issues to them. It keeps us
updated."
Pellino, who works nights and has a
family, said she appreciates the workshops
that address stress and time management.
She also appreciates her husband's support
— he attended the women's conference, too.
REGION III Field Representative Wendy
Hord talked about "You, Your Family
and CSEA."
CSEA General Counsel Marjorie E.
®
Karowe pointed out that women have turned
the tides of labor legislation throughout
labor history.
"Changes came because women gave
their lives to achieve t h e m , " Karowe said,
referring to the early years of the labor
movement.
"What changes will we m a k e ? " Karowe
asked. "You will help make changes. You
will follow that path into history."
ROCKLAND COUNTY was well represented by a table full of attendees.
HARD AT WORK, two attendees discussed the conference agenda
14 THE PUBLIC SECTOR
In his presentation, CSEA statewide Vice
President Joseph McDermott urged CSEA
women to take the lead in pressing for
change in legislation for issues such as
parental leave and mandatory overtime.
POLITICAL ACTION drew attention with
Doris Mason, Region III political action
specialist, staffing the table.
January 11, 198
^You will help
make changes. You
will follow that
path into history.9
January
11, 1988
JUDGING FROM THE PAPERS scattered in front of them,
this trio kep busy during the conference.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR 1553
DO YOU
BELIEV;E
IN
Santa
Glaus?
LARRY CASERTANO
Syracuse
Developmental Center
Local 424 Region V
"Of course I believe in
Santa Claus. He
happens to be a
m e m b e r of m y CSEA
local. December is his
busiest month, but he
hopes to deliver a good
state 'contract
package' in April, too."
TERRY DOMBROWSKI
Mid-Hudson State
Employees Local 009
Region III
"Sure I do! You have
to believe in
something. It gives you
hope. It's always good
to look forward to
something."
NANCY SEARS
Livingston County
Local 826 Region VI
"Yes, I do. I received
all sorts of good things
in m y lifetime, so I
know there's goodness
in the world."
JANICE RADLEY
Division of Parole
Local 669 Region IV
"Yes, I believe,
because when you go to
bed there are no
presents. But in the
morning, there are.
Santa is a jolly old
m a n who is nice."
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
STEPHANIE COX
Long Island State
Employees Local 016
Region I
Yes, why not?
Christmas is the spirit
of giving. That's why I
believe in S a n t a . "
SALLY DISPIGNA
New York City State
Employees Local 010
Region II
"Yes! Because Santa
Claus is a beautiful
fantasy. He can be
anything you want him
to be."
1554January11, 1988
A tale of two contracts
Retirement demands stall talks
CENTEREACH — Braving cold weather to
voice their frustrations, about 250 CSEA
m e m b e r s f r o m area locals recently
demonstrated to support fellow m e m b e r s in
the Middle Country School District who have
declared impasse in contract negotiations.
The m e m b e r s picketed prior to a
November Board of Education meeting and
then attended the meeting, complete with
their signs.
The four CSEA units, representing about
225 m e m b e r s , a r e demanding a n improved
retirement system that would increase
retirement checks by about $25.
"The district h a s no empathy, especially
for the older, loyal employees who would be
affected by the change in the retirement
p l a n , " said CSEA Field Representative J i m
Walters.
The change from the current retirement
plan to the better plan would cost the
district less than 1 percent, Walters said.
F o r Mike DeTuro, a custodian at
Centereach High School, the improved
retirement benefits could m e a n the
difference between moving or staying on
Long Island.
" I a m looking to get a better pension
because I ' m ready to retire and it will m e a n
more money," he said. "The extra money
would help m e and m y family and m a y b e 1
won't have to move off the island."
The contract expired June 30 and impasse
was declared the last week of August, he
said.
Job security is an issue for the bus drivers
who currently a r e guaranteed seven hours
pay each day. While CSEA is asking for
eight, the district wants to reduce the
guarantee to six hours.
The four CSEA units in the school district
are: Heads and Chiefs, E d Mclntyre,
president; Buildings and Grounds, Dennis
Watson, president; Maintenance, Dennis
O'Leary, president; and Transportation, P e g
Sabella, president. The units a r e part of
CSEA Suffolk Educational Local 870.
As part of the impasse procedure, the
negotiating t e a m s have begun meeting with
a mediator f r o m the Public Employment
Relations Board ( P E R B ) .
THEY AREN'T BACKING DOWN — CSEA members from the Middle Country School
District and fellow union m e m b e r s m a r c h in force to protest a halt in contract talks.
winning contract
WASHINGTONVILLE - A four-year contract for 165
Washingtonville School District employees will result in substantial
salary increases and an agency shop rule.
The pact provides:
* 8.5 percent annual increases for the first three years and 8
percent in the final year
* increases in night differential
* call-in pay
^
•
* increases in sick leave accumulation for 10- and 12-month
employees
* tuition reimbursement
* a sick leave bank
Unit President Doug Jeffries and negotiating t e a m Chairperson
Steve Bardin praised the efforts of Collective Bargaining Specialist
Larry Sparber.
"It's the best contract we've had in the district for 17 y e a r s , "
Jeffries said. " L a r r y did an excellent job. He's one of the better
negotiators. We're very pleased with him. We finally got agency
shop and call-in pay which we never had before."
"I thought Larry was super," Bardin said. "The m e m b e r s were
impressed with things he had to say even before we got started. I t ' s
^ e best money contract we've ever seen."
December 14, 1 9 8 7
CSEA MEMBERS from the Washingtonville School District are all
smiles following the signing of a four-year contract. Shown here seated are
Unit President Doug Jeffries and negotiating team Chairperson Steve
Bardin. Standing are Region III Field Representative Jim Farina, team
member Lorreto Kennedy, Region III Collective Bargaining Specialist
Larry Sparber and team member Warren Sanders. Also on the negotiating
team were Susan Morgan, Patrick Drezdowski and Bruce Gillespie.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
17
Arson threät
spurs safety drive
By Ron Wofford
CSEA Communications Associate
WARSAW — Security and safety measures will be tightened in
the Wyoming County Social Services Department following an
incident that could have resulted in a blazing inferno and serious
injury or death.
An irate client, upset because he lost custody of his children,
entered the unguarded building and began pouring gasoline
throughout the halls, threatening to ignite it.
Co-workers credit receptionist Colleen Wittmeyer for her quick
action which likely saved lives.
When Wittmeyer saw the man splashing gasoline on the floors
near her desk in the lobby, she began alerting the approximately 60
people in the building to evacuate immediately. She said she wasn't
exactly sure what was happening, but she knew she had to do
something.
"If he had really set the fire, the girls in the back would have
been in trouble," Wittmeyer said.
After notifying the people in the building, she ran about 1,000
yards to a state police office, and, finding no one there, continued to
a nearby bank office and called the police.
When Wittmeyer returned to the front of the building, where a
group of employees and clients had gathered, the gasoline-splashing
client was sitting on the hood of her car.
The police arrived soon after and the splasher was arrested.
The man never lit the fire, but several workers slipped and fell
on gasoline-slicked floors and suffered minor injuries.
The episode fueled a petition drive by the social service workers
to the county Board of Supervisors urging improvement of building
security and safety.
Measures called for in the petition include:
* a buzzer or signal device connected directly to the county
sheriff's department
* windows that open and may be used as emergency exits
* a door at the south end of the building
* a full-time security guard
* buzzers at interview desks that can be used to alert security
when problems arise
* security doors at the entrance to each hallway
* enclosed reception a r e a with a separate exit
* fire extinguishers
* crash bars on exit doors
PRAISE FOR HEROIC ACTION — Wyoming County CSEA Unit President
Sandy Domnissey, standing, thanks Colleen Wittmeyer for her work in
evacuating the county Social Services building and calling the police when
a man threatened to set it on fire.
County CSEA Unit President Sandy Domnissey and Steward
Sandy Boyd said the legislature has responded favorably to the
employees' concerns. Some of the requested items are already in
place, such as a two-digit number to reach the sheriff's department ^
in an emergency.
In a meeting with CSEA Field Representative Bob Young, the
activists said they will continue to press for all the petition's
measures to be put into place.
Meanwhile, Colleen Wittmeyer has been awarded for her quick
action by being named Employee of the Year by Social Services
Commissioner Lois Bowling.
—
s.
"If he had really set the fire, the girls in
the back would have been in trouble."
IT WORKS — Sandy Boyd, unit steward, shows Field Representative Bob
Young how the new direct line to the sheriff's department works. The line
was connected after an arsonist threatened the building.
CSEA r e a d i e s u n i f o r m a l l o w a n c e g r i e v a n c e
ALBANY — CSEA is preparing a contract grievance to win
back $92,000 in uniform allowances for state Institutional Services
Unit (ISU).
The Governor's Office of Employee Relations (GOER) is
refusing to add the money — left over from the second contract
year — into the current fiscal year's uniform allowance.
18
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
Union Deputy Director of Contract Administration J a m e s
Cooney is vigorously protesting GOER's position. If the grievance is
successful, these monies would be added to the 1987-88 allocation,
the 1987-88 allocation.
Watch future editions of The Public Sector for more details.
December 14, 1987
Members of the Dutchess County Unit of CSEA
Local 814 are trying to share the joy this holiday
season by collecting food, clothing and toys for
distribution to needy families. According to
President Carl Mathison, pictured below with
members Mary Ellen Still and Donna Rhoads,
collection boxes have been set up in worksites all
over the county.
L.I. says thanks
Memory lives on
CSEA Region I President Danny
Donohue shares a laugh with CSEA
Nassau County Retirees Local 919
President Shirley Matluck, left, and
Gardenia Culbreath celebrating
CSEA's big election victories on Long
Island last month.
45
A scholarship fund has been established in
memory of Mary Irizarry a CSEA m e m b e r
and 17-year cafeteria worker at Central Islip
High School, who died of a brain aneurism
recently.
CSEA co-workers remember her as a
"wonderful woman" and a
"hard worker" who is
greatly missed.
Since her death, Irizarry's
husband, Noel, has worked
hard to raise money for the
scholarship which will be
given to a worthy minority
student.
Mary Irizarry
"Mary was a devoted wife, mother and
grandmother and will always be in our
hearts and p r a y e r s , " he said.
Anyone interested
in contributing to the
'JM
fund should call Central Islip High School at
(516)348-5079.
mz
Watch for "Kudos & Uh-ohs" - a
stimulating and sometimes irreverent
look at the memorable people and
events of 1987 — Next edition!
big ones for Wyoming County member
Lorna King, an original member in the County Unit of CSEA Wyoming
County Local 861, was surprised with a party recently in honor of her 45 years
as a county employee!
Co-worker and unit Steward Sandy Boyd put the event together at Wyoming County Fire Hall.
"Everyone, including the commissioners, have been wonderful to work
with through the years. I have no complaints," said King.
And apparently the feeling's mutual. "She's highly thought of by
everyone," said Boyd of King, who is still going strong with no mention of
retirement.
It's nice to be appreciated
— even nicer when it's
official recognition from the
state Assembly. That's just
•the distinction that former
CSEA Syracuse State
Employees Local 013
President Claire McGrath
received after 20 years of
service with the state Office
of Vocational
Rehabilitation. Pictured
with her, from left.
Assemblyman Michael
Bragman; McGrath's
husband Edward; and the
Education Department's
Marvin Reed.
December 14, 1987
''Outstanding
Labor Leader"
CSEA Region II President George
Boncoraglio is certainly making his
mark on New York City politics. He
was recently presented with a New
York City Council proclamation citing
him as one of "New York's Outstanding
Labor Leaders."
The presentation, made by Bronx
CouncUwoman June Eisland, made
special mention of his successful efforts
to save Downstate Medical Center
Hospital after it was targeted for
closing by the Health Systems Agency.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
19
Getting an earful
CSE A seeks hearing safety
for members in power house
\
/
By Sheryl Carlin
CSEA Communications Associate
KINGS PARK — Imagine stepping inside 120-decibel concert
speakers turned on to full volume. That's what it's like to walk
through the powerhouse at the Kings P a r k Psychiatric Center.
Members of CSEA Local 411 who work in the powerhouse are to
have their hearing tested since it was discovered that the noise
level far exceeds the norm, said Local 411 President Tony
Bentivegna.
"I know of two or three guys who have suffered some hearing
loss. We're now in the process of scheduling examinations for the 30
people working in the a r e a , " Bentivegna explained — once he
closed the door to a soundproof office within the powerhouse.
Recently a Department of Labor investigator who was
researching an asbestos problem cited to noise level as well.
Although protective headphones a r e supplied, many workers are
uncomfortable with them because of their bulk.
"We are definitely encouraging our members to wear the
headphones," Bentivegna said. "We want to protect their hearing."
" I feel I have experienced a hearing loss," said Stan Hinnant,
an employee who has worked 19 years at the facility. "I find it hard
to work with the headphones on, but I do when we put the diesel
(machinery) on."
Evidently, the diesel machinery makes even more noise than
the other machinery which runs constantly.
Senior engineer Joe Coffey agreed that the headphones are
uncomfortable.
"When they switch to gas, the noise will be equivalent to
standing next to a jet engine," he said.
In addition to asking for hearing tests, CSEA will discuss with
management other methods to prevent hearing loss among
powerhouse workers.
CSEA MEMBERS Stan Hinnant and Joe Coffey look at bulky, protective
headphones which are supplied to workers in the Kings Park Psychiatric
Center powerhouse because of high noise levels.
20
THE PUBLIC SECTOR
"We are definitely encouraging our members
to wear the headphones. We want to protect
their hearing."