T
( I. I <• >
Official publication of
j . ;V iu^ss^
CSEA elections results
• Board of Directors Page 14
• A F S C M E Delegates Page 15
Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO
THE PUBLIC
Vol. 21 No. 6 JUNE 1998
jfi' it/t&ii^AiÄvJ
intRÖDücit^
CSEÄ'S NEWEST MEMBmiäENEFlT
The CSEA WORKERS' COMPENSATIO
LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM,
covering Workers' Compensation
and Social Security Disaitiiity^
BECOMES EFFECTIVE JULY 1
If you are injured on the job or sustain a job-related illness,
CSEA's new Workers' Compensation Legal Assistance Program
can help you navigate the maze known as Workers'
Compensation. If you become disabled, the program
can help you obtain Social Security Disability benefits.
) Brochures describing the program in detail and
intake forms to assist you in compiling correct and
complete information before making the initial call
will be available from CSEA Region Offices, CSEA
Local and Unit Presidents and CSEA Labor
Relations Specialists.
' If you have a possible Workers' Compensation or
Social Security Disability case, SIMPLY CALL
1 - 8 0 0 - 3 4 2 - 4 1 4 6 TOLL-FREE and select the
proper menu options. Your call will be answered by
the firm of Fine, Olin and Anderman, P.C., through
its statewide network of offices staffed by
attorneys who specialize in Workers Compensation
and Social Security Disability Law..
All calls will be accepted, no cases will be turned down and there is no cost
to CSEA members and their dependents for the program services.
The CSEA
WORKERS' COMPENSATION
LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
THE
PUBLIC
Official publication of
The Civil Service Employees
Association, Inc. Local 1000, AFSCME,
AFL-CIO
143 Washington Avenue
Albany. New York 12210-2303
Danny Donohue, President
STEPHEN A. MADARASZ
Communications Director. & Publisher
STANLEY HORNAK
Asst. Director of Communications
ROGER A. COLE, Editor
KATHLEEN DALY. Associate Editor
CATHLEEN HORTON
Graphic Design & Support Services
RALPH DISTIN, Graphic Artist
JANICE NUSBAUM
Communications Production Coordinator
Page 2 • The Public Sector • June 1998
1-800-342-4146
Follow the menu options for
instructions to access the program
T h e P u b l i c S e c t o r ( U S P S 0 4 4 5 - 0 1 0 ) is p u b l i s h e d m o n t h l y b y 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 .
P u b l i c a t i o n O f f i c e : 143 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 Y o r k 12210.
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Postmaster: Send address changes to: Civil Service Employees Association,
Attn: Membership Department, 143 Washington Avenue, Albany. New York 12210.
CSEA on line: The CSEA web site can be accessed at www.cseainc.org
Readers: Send any comments, complaints, suggestions or ideas to:
Publisher, The Public Sector. 143 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12210-2303.
COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATES
S H E R Y L C. J E N K S
Long Island Region
(516) 4 6 2 - 0 0 3 0
RON WOFFORD
Western Region
LILLY GIOIA
ED MOLITOR
(716) 8 8 6 - 0 3 9 1
Headquarters
(518) 2 5 7 - 1 2 7 2
ANITA MANLEY
Metropolitan Region
(212) 4 0 6 - 2 1 5 6
Southern Region
DAN CAMPBELL
(914) 8 3 1 - 1 0 0 0
Capital Region
M A R K M. KOTZIN
(518) 7 8 5 - 4 4 0 0
Central Region
(315) 4 3 3 - 0 0 5 0
The Public Sector Committee
LONG ISLAND REGION
John C. Shepherd
METROPOLITAN REGION
SOUTHERN REGION
Jimmy
Diane Hewitt
Gripper
CAPITAL REGION
Marguerite
Stanley
CENTRAL REGION
Bruce Damalt, Acting
WESTERN REGION
James
V. Kurtz
Chair
' CSEA officers/acüvlks^^
' ' "ÄF^L-dlÖ for a lar^^ Sorters Memorial IDay
observance program at the state capitol (see
members paid their respects in a variety of
page 1).
ways on Workers Memorial Day to fellow
Special memorial programs were conducted
workers killed and injured on the job over the
in the Town of Queensbury and in Albany in
years. Moments of silence were observed at
worksites across the state. Some workers wore memory of John Johnson, a CSEA member
who was killed in an on-the-job accident
black armbands that day in memory of their
co-workers, while memorial trees were planted March 16.
CSEA continues to push for safer and
at some locations.
healthier worksites as a top priority.
In Albany, CSEA joined with the state
Vv orl^cl'S
IviciHori^i
April 28,1998
A PLAQUE IN MEMORY OF JOHN JOHNSON is placed on a waU of honor at CSEA
headquarters on Workers Memorial Day, joining plaques containing the names of other
CSEA members who died in on-the-job accidents in recent years. From left are CSEA
Secretary Barbara Reeves, CSEA Treasurer Maureen Malone, Capital Region 4
President Carmen Bagnoli, CSEA Executive Vice President Mary Sullivan, Thomas
Johnson, Thomas' wife Laurie Johnson and Robert Johnson. Thomas and Robert are
brothers of the late John Johnson, a CSEA Town of Queensbury member who died
March 16 when he was crushed by a piece of heavy machinery which fell on him.
CSEA CENTRAL REGION 5 President Jim Moore,
right, leads CSEA Local 195 and AFSCME Council 82
members, other staff and guests in a Workers
Memorial Day ceremony at the Mohawk Correctional
Facility. Moore is also president of the AFL-CIO
Central New York Labor Council.
A MEMORIAL CEREMONY,
left, at Western New York
DDSO included CSEA Local
425 President Dana Tietz,
Executive Vice President Bill
Moretti, Recording Secretary
Sue Falkner, local members
and the family of the late
Steven A. Guzzo. Highlight of
the ceremony was the
dedication of a stone
memorial in memory of
Steven Guzzo, who died in an
on-the-job mishap in
December 1987.
^^ -l .
^^ '
«
<
>
MEMBERS OF CSEA Department of Social Services (Albany) Local 688 form
backdrop for a living memorial tree planted in a downtown Albany city park
during Workers Memorial Day ceremonies. Albany Mayor Gerald Jennings and
CSEA Capital Region 4 President Carmen Bagnoli participated in the program.
We will
never
forget
those who
were killed
or injured
on the job,
and never
stop
demanding
safer jobs
CSEA MIDDLETOWN PSYCHIATRIC
CENTER Local 415 President Diane
Hewitt presents a plaque to MPC
Executive Director James Bopp,
marking two years with no worker
deaths or serious accidents in the
facility. "Management of this facility
is very safety conscious," Hewitt
said during Workers Memorial Day
ceremonies. Also speaking at the
ceremony were state Sen. William
Larkin and Town of Wallkill
Supervisor Howard Mills.
V
COVER STORY
The Public Sector • June 1998 • Page 3
CßEÄi^fßltlikeitis
Leaders detail statewide
deficiencies at OlMH summit
ALBANY — In two hours of
powerful, emotionally charged
testimony, CSEA Office of Mental
Health leaders recently detailed the
system's deficiencies directly to
Commissioner James Stone and
other top level officials.
The OMH summit was intended to
express the union's concerns and set
a common agenda with the agency
for improvement.
'These are not new issues and we
recognize that OMH cannot solve all
the problems alone." CSEA President
Danny Donohue said. "But CSEA will
work with you to improve conditions
for our members and patients."
CSEA leaders from every part of
the state presented stark comments
about eroding patient care,
inadequate staffing patterns, safety
and health problems and lack of
OMH support.
While OMH Commissioner Stone's
response was not entirely
satisfactory, he indicated that OMH
would work with CSEA in several
ways including a review of
mandatory overtime and vacation
problems; efforts to solve problems
locally; and development of a "safe
ward environment" conference.
'These are a good starting point"
Donohue said. "But we expect follow
through and accountability."
MESSAGE DELIVERED...CSEA
Pilgrim Psychiatric Center
representative Manny Mangual,
left, was among the CSEA OMH
leaders pictured here who took
their concerns directly to
Commissioner James Stone, right,
who sports a T-shirt presented to
him by representatives of CSEA
Manhattan Psychiatric Center
Local 413.
Carol Backstrom
Bronx
Lou Smith
Kingsboro
Hank Wagoner
Capital District
Dave Abel
Mohawk Valley
Larry Robinson
St. Lawrence
Rose MacBlane
Elmira
Tom Connor
Hutchings
Joel Schwartz
Southbeach
Teamwork pays off
at state DOT sign shop
HAMBURG — The state
Department of Transportation's only
self-directed work team, members of
CSEA Local 514 in the Hamburg
Sign Shop, have succeeded so well
the state might consider eliminating
a good deal of mid-level
management.
This is really a team, and we're
proud of what we do," said Don
Brisky, team leader. "When we
started, we had a two-year backlog
of orders. We've wiped out that
backlog, and now we have about a
six-week turnaround on sign
orders."
Page 4 • June 1998 • The Public Sector
c -< *
The self-directed team concept
was developed through meetings and
studies by DOT with CSEA and the
12 team members who work in the
sign shop. At the time, they faced
the possibility that the sign shop
would close.
'This whole team deserv^es a lot of
credit for showing what can be done
in a cooperative work environment,"
CSEA Labor Relations Specialist Jim
Gleason said. 'They saw the need to
save the shop depended on it, and
now they are much better as a
team."
— Ron Wofford
From left are: Don Brisky, Jim Ralston. Steve Blasz, Rich Vanderhoff,
Paul Frontuto, Sue Gates, Al Tebo, Ken Depovelo, CSEA Labor Relations
Specialist Jim Gleason, Jim Ruhland and Phil Vara.
STATE GOVERNMENT NEWS
•».. •
CSEA members win 2,000 leave accruals
BATAVIA — CSEA went to bat
for a group of state School for the
Blind members who were being
shortchanged on their leave
accrLials.
"A time records audit that we
requested, performed through
cooperative labor-management
relations, showed they
were eligible for earning
the accruals," Local 200
President Sharon
Armstrong said,
'The school would call
workers for 'substitute'
work when they were
short, which is
permissible," CSEA Labor
Relations Specialist
Penny Gleason said. "But
then they would post a
schedule of those
workers, which nullified
the sub status, and not
CSEA state School for the Blind Local
credit them with the
200 members who have had their leave earned accruals of a fullaccruals restored.
time worker."
More than 1,200 vacation hours
and 950 hours of sick leave were
restored to three licensed
practical nurses and 12 child care
aides, who also had their
anniversary dates adjusted to
reflect time worked as full-time
state employees.
"It's great that our union was
looking out for us, and saw this
through," said Cathy Howes, a
10-year employee who recovered
the most accruals, 304 vacation
and 208 sick leave hours.
"Sharon's just the best," said
LPN Margaret Thornton, who
recovered 130 vacation hours and
115 sick leave hours. "She
represents us well and keeps us
informed."
— Ron Wofford
SUNY workers scramble, help campus host kids
NEW PALTZ — SUNY New Paltz
opened its doors to hundreds of
middle school children whose
school shut down seven weeks
before the end of the school year
because a chemical made teachers
and kids sick.
But
readying a
new
building for
them
required a
massive
collaboration
between
CSEA Local
610
members
New Paltz Middle
and New
School Principal Dr.
Paltz
Richard Wiesenthal
and Local 610
School
President Diane
District
Lucchesi.
custodians.
SUNY
officials offered the use of a new
building, but there were
problems: no furniture, unfinished
floor and the
need for a good
cleaning. And
it had to be
done in two
days.
University
officials asked
the union if the
work it could
be done if the
school
custodians
helped.
CSEA Local 610 members pitched in to make the
"1 told them move possible. Shown above are, from left: Jim Dixon,
we're
John DeRuggiero, Ron Bottali, Charles Bates, Scott
understaffed,
Royer and Lenny Beaulieu.
we're preparing
equipment and supplies. This is
for the college graduation, cleaning what people working together can
out dormitories and getting ready
do."
for summer classes," Local 610
New Paltz Middle School
President Diane Lucchesi said.
Principal Dr. Richard Wiesenthal
"But with the help of the school
said he was impressed with the
district employees, we could do it." SUNY employees.
"We worked around the clock to
"Why can't more places operate
get the building ready," SUNY
like this?" he said. "Your people set
Supervising Janitor Pat DeWitt
a standard."
said. "We shared people.
— Anita Manley
Training gives workers new skills
Stanley Clay, left, applies spackle in the Jones Beach
employee break room as part of renovation project at the
Jones Beach State Park on Long Island. He is one of 50 park
workers who worked on the project as part of their General
Trades Certificate Program training, CSEXA Parks and
Recreation Local 102 President Paul D'Aleo said. The grade
9 employees now have the skills to become grade 12
mechanics. The training program is made possible through
CSEA, the Governor's Office of Employee Relations and the
Labor-Management Committee.
STATE GOVERNMENT NEWS
State
»•
p.
Government
3r\efe
Local 419 members
help Institute win
100% accreditation
NEW YORK — Every one of
CSEA Local 419 ]NJYS
Psychiatric Institute's 158
members pitched in 1,000
percent to win the hospital's
first ever 100 percent Joint
Committee on Hospital
Accreditation rating.
"We believe this is a first for
a state mental health facility,"
Local 419 President Tony
Bailous said.
The accreditation process
coincided with Local 419's
labor-management effort to
recognize the contributions of
all employees, from the
newest to the most senior.
Local Vice President Joe
Aravena said.
Through a labormanagement grant, the 53year-old local presented
recognition awards at a
special ceremony in the
institute's auditorium.
Staff and patients were
scheduled to move into a new
facility in May.
— Lilly Gioia
1997 SEFA collects
record $6.8 million
The 1997 State Employee
Federated Appeal (SEFA)
raised a record $6.8 million.
'This year's campaign was
truly a collaborative effort of
management, union
leadership and state employee
participation," said George C.
Sinnott, commissioner of the
state Department of Civil
Service and statewide chair
for the 1997 SEFA campaign.
CSEA President Danny
Donohue served as 1997
SEFA Campaign Leadership
co-chair.
"CSEA members are the
backbone of the SEFA
campaign," Donohue said.
'They deserve a big thank
you."
The annual SEFA fundraising campaign supports
human service organizations
in communities throughout
New York state.
The Public Sector* June 1998 • Page 5
Highway workers seek support on OT issue
NORTH GREENBUSH — Upset
with the town's latest demand for
total control of the highway
department employees during offwork hours, the CSEA Town of North
Greenbush Highway Unit is seeking
public support to end their two-anda-half year negotiations.
"We have agreed on a financial
package. But now management
wants total control over our lives and
our families' lives with their latest
demand for mandatory overtime
anytime they want it," CSEA Unit
President Clark Cavanaugh said.
'That's unfair and unnecessary."
Cavanaugh pointed to two
citations presented to the North
Greenbush Highway Department
employees for their response to two
emergency situations in 1993 and
1996 by the town and Rensselaer
County, respectively.
'The record shows clearly that our
members respond to emergencies.
But when we asked management
from day one of negotiations, to
produce evidence to support their
demand for mandatory overtime with
severe penalties for not responding,
nothing has been forthcoming,"
Cavanaugh said.
Originally the unit had been in
negotiations for mandatory overtime
during the snow and ice season but
recently the highway superintendent
informed the unit that the town
board now wants mandatory
overtime all year long.
"We don't believe that government
should have total control over the
lives of its work force and their
families just because they think they
might need it. We have always
responded to the needs of our fellow
North Greenbush citizens, and we
hope that they respond to our
petition drive and tell the town board
that total control is not necessary,"
Cavanaugh said.
— Daniel X. Campbell
Westchester unions send
County Exec BIG
message
Westchester County Unit workers demonstrated
recently during a Democratic Party fund raiser
held at the Ryetown Hilton Hotel. Workers were
protesting long, drawn-out contract negotiations.
During the fund-raising dinner, Coimty Executive
Andy Spano celebrated his birthday and was
presented this giant birthday card by a coalition
of Westchester unions i n d u i n g CSEA, the
Westchester Community College Federation of
Teachers, New York State Nurses Association,
Correction Officers Benevolent Association and
the Committee of Interns and Residents. The
birthday card with a caricature of Spano was
created by CSEA's graphic artist Ralph Distin.
Schenectady mayor helps CSEA settle dispute
SCHENECTADY — With the intervention of
Schenectady Mayor Al Jurczynski, CSEA settled
an improper practice (IP) charge over retaliation
for union activity,
CSEA filed the charge after Commissioner of
Public Works Milt Mitchell followed through on a
threat to CSEA Schenectady City Unit Second Vice
President Tony Conte. Mitchell threatened severe
consequences if Conte continued to represent
another employee in what became a successful
out-of-title grievance, and then eliminated Conte's
position from the proposed city budget.
Mayor Jurczynski restored Conte's position in
the adopted budget and authorized the city's
counsel to settle the IP.
'The Mayor's actions prove his administration's
dedication to the fair and proper treatment of
public employees," City Unit President Paul Ruller
said.
Under the settlement, Conte will not be
questioned or harassed about use of union release GETTING THINGS SETTLED are. from left, City of
Schenectady imit Secretary Nancy Fisher, miit First Vice
time; his position will be budgeted through the
President Dave Savignano, CSEA Legal Assistant Mary Ellen
year 2000: and any future decision to change his
Childs, unit Second Vice President Tony Conte, CSEA
job shall be made solely by the mayor.
— Daniel X. Campbell Attorney Paul Bamberger and unit President Paul Ruller.
Page 6
June 1998 • The Public Sector-
CSEA member is
"School Nurse
of the Year"
YORKTOWN — This year's New
York State School Nurse of the Year
is CSEA member Marsha
Henderson, who works in the
Yorktown School District.
A 23-year district employee and
member of Westchester County
Local 860, Henderson was
nominated by her Crompond
Elementary School principal and a
colleague.
As an elementary school nurse,
Henderson deals with more than
500 youngsters, some of whom
suffer from such problems as
diabetes, attention deficit disorder,
asthma and arthritis.
"My role is to act as a liaison
and manager," Henderson said, "to
work with the school psychologist,
the teacher and the principal and
to help the children grow and
mature and make them available
for learning."
— Anita Manley
Sanitation worlcers
picic-up extra buclcs
LYNBROOK — CSEA members in
the Lynbrook Village Department of
Public Works have reached a
settlement which calls for each
employee to receive a $1,000 bonus
per year to cover the extra work
which resulted from a route change.
Problems emerged last fall when
the village reduced the garbage pickup from five trucks to four, requiring
members to work longer.
A settlement offer was made after
the union filed a number of charges
against the village, CSEA Labor
Relations Specialist Stanley Frere
said.
— Sheryl C. Jenks
LOCAL GOVERNMENT NEWS
Court upholds CSEA Town of Rotterdam pact
A lawsuit challenging a collective
bargaining agreement between the
Town of Rotterdam and CSEA has
been dismissed in state Supreme
Court.
Under terms of an agreement
negotiated last year, CSEA Town of
Rotterdam members agreed to give
up a 3 percent raise for 1998 in
return for the town agreeing that
there would be no layoffs during the
term of the agreement. This saved
several CSEA members from being
laid off and continued needed
services to town residents.
Three taxpayers filed a lawsuit
seeking to void the agreement,
asserting that the contract violated
"public policy" and that the town
violated the Open Meetings Law
even though the agreement was
negotiated during a public budget
hearing last fall. CSEA intervened
because the lawsuit was seeking to
challenge the job security rights of
its members.
Acting Supreme Court Justice
Barry Kramer dismissed the
lawsuit.
"CSEA is pleased with the
dismissal of the challenge to our
contract. Remember, our members
were seeking to save needed
services as well as jobs. I believe in
this instance their actions were
good public policy," CSEA Capital
Region 4 President Carmen Bagnoli
said.
— Daniel X. Campbell
School workers help preserve Kings Park's history
KINGS PARK — For the past four
years, historians, antique-lovers,
educators, schoolchildren, and
Kings Parkers hungry for their
history have all been regulars at the
Kings Park Heritage Museum,
located in the Kings Park School
District administration building.
CSEA member Gaiy Coppolino is
head custodian and assistant
director for the museum which
houses such treasures as a Model A
Ford, minutes from Board of
Education meetings held in 1854,
all the makings of an old fashioned
pharmacy, vintage photographs, a
collection of old war materials from
ammunition to medals of honor,
period furniture and clothing and a
player piano. There is also an area
dedicated to maintaining the history
of the Kings Park Psychiatric Center
which was developed in 1885 and
was staffed by CSEA members.
What began as the quest of Kings
Park Dentist George Tiernan and
now retired Kings Park English
Teacher Leo Ostebo to maintain
historical photos blossomed into
this full-fledged museum.
Kings Park School District
superintendent Dr. Mary DeRose
was excited by the idea of a
museum within the school and
gained the approval
of the Board of
Education.
Ostebo, who is
now the director of
the museum, is
quick to praise
Coppolino, CSEA
support staff and the
custodians and
buildings and
grounds employees
he fondly reifers to as
"blue shirters," for
their hard work and
dedication to the
Museum Director Leo Ostebo, left, and CSEA
museum and the
Custodian and Museum Assistant Director Gary
district.
Coppolino
move an antique table set with
"It's really the
depression
glass to another area of the museum.
CSEA members —
the blue-shirters
retrieve the hospital artifacts.
that worked hard to get this thing
"We will put together an exhibit
going and keep it going. The
depicting the history of Kings Park,"
buildings and grounds, custodians
said Ostebo. "Our CSEA members
and clericals are the hardest
will
be involved every step of the
workers here," Ostebo said. "If I
way."
request something they make it
Jimmy Tortorella and Kathy
happen, from taking the kids
through on the tours to getting their Travis, two CSEA members who
devote a lot of their time to the
hands dirty moving things and
museum, recently received the
fixing things, they get it done."
prestigious Lloyd Spahr Award for
Ostebo also gave credit to the
outstanding service.
state employees who repaired and
— Sheryl C..^enks
refinished furniture and helped him
Local dispatchers better equipped to answer the call
HYDE PARK — Town of Hyde
Park police dispatchers' ongoing
battle with town officials scored a
point for CSEA members when a
dispatcher proved that it takes a
local resident to know a local
resident. In the process, the
dispatcher saved the life of a
tropical snake.
Elected officials have been trying
to convince town residents that they
can save money if they turn over
dispatching duties to the State
Police. CSEA members say local
dispatchers know the town, the
roads and the residents better than
LOCAL GOVERNMENT NEWS
a dispatcher who is 30 miles away.
It all started when Dispatcher
Don Wacker, a three-year town
employee, received a report that a
tropical snake was missing from a
local pet shop, and two boys had
been seen in the store.
'The cage was open and the
snake was gone," Wacker said. 'The
owner looked out and got the
license plate number of the car."
Wacker said he knew the name of
the owner and although there was
an out-of-town address on the
computer, he knew that the owner
had recently moved into the town.
"I knew the house, radioed the
(police) car and told them the new
address," Wacker said. 'They found
the car where I said it would be.
The Sergeant went in and talked to
the kid and found the snake."
Just in time, too. Wacker said the
snake was on medication and his
chances of survival would have
been "next to nothing."
"Some dispatcher up in Claverack
never would have known where the
kid lived," Wacker said. "That's what
the taxpayers are looking for."
— Anita Manley
Local Government S>r\efe
Carpenter's job fixed-up
POUGHKEEPSIE — The Arlington
School District had to re-hire
carpenter Mike Hauver with back pay
for the time he was out of work
because it refused to move him into
a new job after eliminating his
position.
Hauver, is a member of Dutchess
County Education Local 876.
"I had an ongoing battle with my
supervisor," he said. "When I ran for
CSEA (local) president, it was
obvious that he wanted me out."
Although jobs openings were
available, Hauver was not rehired
after his job ended. District officials
were very much aware that they were
wrong.
'They offered me money to drop
the case," Hauver said. 'They offered
me up to $12,000!"
CSEA won the case in arbitration
and then won another grievance to
force the district to give Hauver his
back pay award.
'The union did a good job," he
said. "I tell everyone the union
helped me out."
Lindenhurst school
employees say CSEA
LINDENHURST — CSEA recently
won a resounding victory in a
representation election for 191
Lindenhurst School District teacher's
aides and assistants.
CSEA already represents the
clerical and custodial employees in
the district. The teacher's aides and
assistants were represented by a
small, independent union.
'These employees reached out to
CSEA because many of them are
earning salaries barely above
minimum wage. They have
significant responsibilities and
student contact. They believe CSEA
will make their lives better, and they
are right!" said CSEA Long Island
Region 1 President Nick LaMorte.
Member is back in step
RIVERHEAD — CSEA recently won
an arbitration for Jean Drozd which
resulted in a six-year service step
increase, retroactive to 1996.
When Drozd was due her six-year
step increase in 1996, the district
refused to credit her for part-time
service from 1990 to 1992, according
to CSEA Riverhead Non-Instructional
Unit President Marion Hülse.
"Nothing in the contract restricts
the calculation to years in which the
employee worked 25 or more hours,"
the arbitrator ruled.
•The Public Sector* June 1998 • Page 7
In touch with you
—
OMH Officials need to be
committed to tlie mentally ill
and those wlio serve them
For years New York has pursued mental health
policies that have failed too many of our most
vulnerable citizens and dumped the fallout on
local communities — policies that CSEA has
called "the shame of all New York"
Over the past 20 years, the state has
systematically undermined and shut down its
network of psychiatric centers without ensuring
an adequate system of alternative care. It can be
argued that psychiatric centers are not the best
treatment setting for the vast majority of
individuals with mental illness. But it is also true
that psychiatric centers have been the backbone
of mental health services — ensuring a baseline of
»Page 8 - July 1998 • The Public Sector
care, supporting outside services and providing
necessary long-term, structured treatment for the
most seriously and persistently mentally ill.
Unfortunately, for more than two decades, the
cries of mentally ill individuals, their advocates
and the dedicated employees who care for them
have fallen on deaf ears in the state government.
The most glaring consequences can be found
among the legions of homeless individuals
roaming the streets of nearly all of our
communities.
To this day, the Office of Mental Health has
steadfastly refused to serve as the catalyst for
alternative care. At the same time it has
squandered the state's investment in a skilled and
capable work force, who could have filled the void
in a range of necessary services, housing and
treatment settings. Instead, thousands of qualified
workers have been put out of work by state cuts
while mentally ill people have gone unserved.
New York needs a sustained commitment to
improve circumstances for people with mental
illness and the dedicated employees who care for
and about them.
Last month, CSEA Office of Mental Health
leaders from all across the state came to Albany
to speak directly to OMH Commissioner James
Stone and other agency officials about the
horrendous conditions in
the state's psychiatric
centers. The purpose of
the "OMH Summit" was to
voice CSEA's concerns
about the system's
deficiencies and set a
common agenda with OMH
^
for improvement.
|Vj U
The CSEA leaders
eloquently presented
' ' "iirnC
powerful, emotionally
CCDylLt^
charged testimony about
-.^T- I '
1
eroding patient care,
dangerously inadequate
staffing patterns, safety
and health concerns and
lack of OMH support.
Commissioner Stone
indicated that OMH would
work with CSEA in several
ways, and we expect follow
through on that promise.
CSEA realizes that OMH
officials cannot solve all
the system's problems
alone. But by working
together, we know we can
improve conditions for our
members and the patients
we serve.
THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
er in
J.
U
.r
\
i^s Activists into the world of campaigiil
See pages 10 - 11
June 1998•
,
"
•The Public Sector •
.
)•.
. ;
»
'.
I
Mock campaigns teach activistls the basics of political action
AI.EXANDRIA BAY — As working
people, so much of our jobs and
working conditions are affected by
government actions.
The power of CSEA is in its
members — the people who can
make a difference in all our lives by
working for and helping to elect the
candidates who will stand up for the
rights of working people,
CSEA offers political action
training so its members to are
prepared to take the kind of action
that will elect responsible politicians,
A new, innovative training
program was held recently for
political activists in CSEA Central
Region 5. The intensive, three-day
hands-on training, a pilot program
developed by the union's Legislative
and Political Action Department,
simulated a political campaign and
put attendees through the paces.
Now a core group of about 80
activists are ready to jump into any
political campaign. CSEA Central
Region 5 President Jim Moore hailed
the training as a huge success.
"1 couldn't be more pleased with
the level of participation through the
entire weekend from both the staff
and conference participants," Moore
Richards Campaign Manager Dan
Brady, Jefferson County Local 823
first vice president
Page 10 • June 1998 • The Public Sector
said. "It was a
tremendous
learning
experience for all
involved."
legislator; Jeriy
Richards, who ran
as the Democratic
candidate, is
actually the St.
Lawrence County
District Attorney.
rules, agenda, workshops, activities
around, and eveiyone
and the scenario.
was into it. We were all
While certain agenda items « v e r e
excited — it was a
scripted, much was left to the I
charged atmosphere —
creativity of the two campaign)
we were focused and we
A mysterious
The weekend was designed Mvith a
knew what we were
weekend
number of difficult tasks to
doing," he said. "Now, if
Trainees had
complete. The idea was to siml
approached to work on a
no idea what to
Setting the Scene all the types of situations an a|
real campaign, 1 would
expect other than
As they arrived,
campaign might face in gettinj
feel like I know what to
a political action
participants were
candidate elected, Fidler said,
do, and wouldn't feel
conference.
given a binder full
the participants handled it su
overwhelmed."
They didn't
of guidelines,
"We took a risk in putting so
know that from
election rules and
information and activities in sc ) short
The candidates speak
the time they
laws, and, a
a time, but our activists rose t
In his closing remarks,
the
registered, they
fictional overview
candidate Jerry Richards
challenge and
became part of a
of the tovm's
challenged the activists
really c me
mock campaign
history, politics
out a h e ^ d , " he to take apply the
set in the fictional
and the two
knowledge they had
said. "O• u r
Central Region 5 President
town of
candidates.
Before
gained.
He said the value
membe
s
Jim Moore
Toqueville, NY,
long, attendees saw
of the weekend was
proved
)nce
with a special election for a
a television newscast, produced on
again th at our immeasurable.
"Dumonde County" legislative seat to site, further informing them about
union's best
"When you run a
be held at the end of the conference.
local issues, such as the proposed
succes^ s are
campaign, you've got to
Divided into two groups, participants sellout of the County Medical Center
tied to
have people you can
were both voters and campaign
and the cleanup of the polluted river.
teamwo •rk."
depend on. The better
workers for the two candidates.
The activists attended workshops
CSEA
qualified those people
Region officers, staff and most of
on petitioning & ballot access,
Oswego
are, the more you can
CSEA's Legislative and Political
campaign planning, budgeting,
County Local
depend on them. If any of
Action Department facilitated the
Candidate Sam Roberts, left, is congratulated b y campaign worker Tony Scalise after learning he
developing the campaign message
838 Fir t Vice
these people were
program, conducted specialized
and voter contact.
Presider it
working on my campaign, won the election. A t center is Roberts Campaign Manager Chuck Taylor, w h o is Horseheads School
training and acted as the Board of
District Unit President. Roberts is reaching around Joe Miceli, recording secretary of SUNY Oswego
Judy N loti,
Meanwhile, they had assigned
it would be easy to
Elections, the media and special
\
who ch ired
group activities, such as filing
depend on them," he said. Local 611.
interest groups.
the Mes sage
petitions, submitting financial
"Having worked on a
At the center of the plot were two
Comml tee for couple of campaigns and run a
in my last campaign," he said
disclosure forms, putting together
Judy Naioti,
mock candidates, real-life politicians news releases and developing
the RobHerts
humorously. "Everybody here won,
successful primary election
Oswego County
who volunteered their time to run in
campai in,
because eveiyone learned a lot and
campaign commercials. Throughout
campaign, it would have been 110
the election. Sam Roberts, who ran
participated fully. I'm very
the weekend, the news media, in the Local 838 first vice said th
percent easier having had this type
president
as the Republican candidate, is
knowledge
encouraged."
form of CSEA Political Action
of training beforehand."
actually an Onondaga County
learned
Coordinator Jason Haenel and
CSEA Central Region President
Richards also noted that the
Moore had special thanks for the
Communications
the weekend was extremely va
conference was innovative.
candidates and for Fidler.
Associate Mark
"It was very gratifying to wo
"I'd like to thank CSEA for the
'This weekend wouldn't have been
Kotzin, produced
this as a pilot project. It's
invitation. It's an
possible without the hard work and
television and
kind of a state-of-the-art
opportunity I can't
dedication of Geny Fidler, who did
radio newscasts
program. It teaches people
imagine I would have
on the issues and to work together, to use a
gotten anywhere else. No an outstanding job in putting it
together, and we sincerely appreciate
the progress of
lot of brain-storming and
other groups are doing
the time and energy put forth by our
both campaigns.
networking, and each of us
this that I'm aware of."
candidates, who did a tremendous
The conference had an opportunity to
Candidate Sam
job."
utilize the skills we had,"
was mainly the
Roberts, who was
she said. "On a scale of
brainchild of
CSEA Director of Legislative and
deemed the winner of
one to ten, it was definitely
CSEA Political
Political Action Fran Turner said the
the election by a small
a ten. We can utilize what
Action
union hopes to spread the success of
margin, also had high
we learned on the local
Coordinator
praise for the conference the pilot program to other CSEA
Gerry Fidler, who level."
regions.
and its participants.
had taken part in
"It was a great conference and we
CSEA Oxford Veterans
'This is just the
a similar
should bring it to all the regions,"
Home Local 305 Vice
beginning," he said in
she said. "I hope that eveiyone who
AFSCME training President Walt Hollings 111
his acceptance speech.
participated can take back what they
years ago.
agreed, and said the
"You can now take on
learned and actually put it to use.
Working with the
teamwork was a vital part
any campaign. 1 faced
That's where our true successes will
guidance of his
of the training.
some things here I've
alt Hollings III.
Candidate Jerry Richards, center, talks with
be."
department.
"Coming into this, I had
never faced before. 1
xford Veterans
Campaign Manager Dan Brady, left, and campaign
Fidler
set
up
the
—
Mark
M.
Kotzin
no
idea
what
to
expect.
By
worked
harder
over
the
ome
Local
305
Roberts Campaign Director Chuck Taylor plans the
worker
Rose MacBlane, president of CSEA Elmira
conference's
the
end,
you
could
look
last
three
days
than
1
did
ice
president
campaign's strategy in a team meeting.
Psychiatric Center Local 437.
THE CSEA WO
The Public Sector • June 1998 • Page 11
»V < V» ,
/
American Labor Link
Labor scholar becomes corporate target
Kate Bronfenbrenner fights to protect her labor research
It's a David and Goliath conflict, with a
major corporation taking on a single labor
researcher in its efforts to keep workers from
organizing.
Beverly Enterprises, the country's largest
private provider of nursing home care, is suing
labor scholar Dr. Kate Bronfenbrenner to pry
open her confidential files and reveal
important information about labor and
organizing strategies.
The lawsuit for slander and libel, based on
remarks Bronfenbrenner made at a
Congressional hearing, shows just how far
anti-labor companies will go to silence the
voices of working people.
Data on organizing
Bronfenbrenner's research centers on how
corporations undermine unions, which helps
labor develop strategies to help workers stand
up for their rights. And anti-labor businesses
would love to know what those strategies are.
"1 have the only existent data base on union
behavior and information on organizers and
organizing strategies, strengths and
weaknesses," Bronfenbrenner said. "If they got
access to my data, I would not be able to do
my research again because no one would be
able to trust me."
Trust is vital in her research, which
includes interviews with workers and union
organizers as well as surveys and studies of
the public record.
"I was contacted by Congress and asked to
testify at a hearing about legislation to bar
major labor law violators from seeking federal
contracts," Bronfenbrenner said, noting that
responding to such requests is part of her job
as director of the Labor Education Research
Center at Cornell University's School of
Industrial and Labor Relations. "I was asked
specifically to testify about Beverly as an
employer and as one of the nation's obvious
labor law violators...."
Truthful testimony
Her testimony was based on her own
research and the public record, she said.
"Everything I said in my testimony was
based on decades of research and had been
published in reference journals and books and
in a review of the public record,"
Bronfenbrenner said. 'There's nothing I said
that hasn't been said by hundreds of other
people, by reporters, by NLRB (National Labor
Relations Board) judges, by top congressional
investigators, and everything I said was true."
.Pagei 1?.* June
Ihe Public Sectpr
^This is about flagrant
disregard for the law and
about doing what you want to
do no matter whether it hurts
people and communities'
This request that has the academic
community up in arms and vocal in its
support of Bronfenbrenner.
"Within three days, 700 scholars had signed
this protest on my behalf. People are truly
frightened, they're outraged," she said. "It's
going to affect all research. This is much
bigger than labor studies. The researchers
who've contacted me in every field, from legal
scholars to psychologists, they are all worried.
Weapon against public policy
She gave no more thought to the event until
February when a reporter called to tell her
she'd been sued in federal court.
"The next day on the crime page in the local
newspaper there's (a headline): 'Local scholar
sued for libel and slander.' That's the first time
I had the facts of the case."
Besides the protections afforded free speech
and the truth, Bronfenbrenner is arguing that
she is protected by immunity given to all who
testify before Congress. She is confident the
case will be dismissed, particularly since
Beverly's case against an SEIU local president
based in part on the same event has been
dismissed. However, Beverly has appealed that
case to federal circuit court and has said it
will appeal Bronfenbrenner's case.
Her chief concern is the huge and
comprehensive list of documents Beverly has
requested as part of its lawsuit. That list is 19
pages long and includes virtually all of
Bronfenbrenner's research, with its
confidential information.
How you can help
Dr. Kate Bronfenbrenner's research
and advice has helped CSEA and
AFSCME be more successful as they
reach out to members. Now CSEA
members can help her.
U.S. Rep. Lane Evans, D-111, is
working to file a brief in federal district
court to support Bronfenbrenner and
the SEIU local president sued by
Beverly. The amicus brief is based on
the principle of Congressional immunity
that protects people who testify before
Congress.
To help Bronfenbrenner, contact New
York's congressional representatives and
senators. Ask them to join Evans and
sign the amicus brief in support of
Bronfenbrenner.
This case is what is known as a SLAP suit,
Bronfenbrenner explained, or strategic lawsuit
against public policy. The man who coined the
term has been quoted as saying the suit
against Bronfenbrenner is as "slappy" as it
gets," she said.
"Corporate America has been trying to
throw their weight around in using litigation
to get people for a long time, and they have
the money," she said.
Her feeling is that the lawsuit was filed to
silence her and intimidate others who criticize
corporate behavior. However, she thinks the
strong-armed tactics are backfiring on Beverly.
"I think they underestimated the public
outcry, and underestimated the academic
community," Bronfenbrenner said.
"I think they've really educated the public ...
about the true nature of corporate anti-union
behavior," Bronfenbrenner said. "This is about
flagrant disregard for the law and about doing
what you want to do no matter whether it
hurts people and communities."
Despite the difficulties the case has caused
her, Bronfenbrenner said it has positive
aspects.
'The public support has been incredible and
has meant a great deal to me," she said. "It
also has encouraged me about humanity. I
knew what Beverly was, so I'm not surprised
about who they are, but I got to find out about
a lot of decent people in the world...."
Bronfenbrenner plans to continue her
research with the same energy and
professionalism she always has.
"I'll just state for the record, if Beverly
thought that by doing this it would get me and
others to stop, they're wrong. It's very hard,
but they're not going to intimidate me," she
said. "I'm going to keep doing my research,
and I'm going to keep doing it right, and I'm
going to keep speaking out. but it's a high
price that I'm paying for it."
— Kathleen Daly
GENERAL NEWS
^
Early retirement
incentive approved for
state, local government,
school district employees
Legislation has been signed which provides early retirement options
for public employees of state and local governments and school districts.
As in previous early retirement programs, the incentive is one month
of additional service credit for each year of service up to a maximum of
three years of additional credit.
Penalties apply for those who retire prior to their normal retirement
age.
State employees
The early retirement incentive program will be available for state
employees, subject to the approval of the Director of State Operations,
through March 31, 1999.
Interested state employees should contact their agency personnel
office for specifics.
Local governments, school districts
Ivocal governments and school districts must specifically approve local
laws or resolutions to offer the early retirement options.
The deadline for local governments to do so is Sept. 3, 1998. The
deadline for school districts to do so is July 26, 1998.
Local government and school district employees should contact their
appropriate personnel office for further information.
\
DMV employees set high quality standarcls
CSEA DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES LOCAL 647 re-committed
its members to striving for the highest standards for quality when
Local 647 President Michael Febraio Jr. and DMV Commissioner
Richard E. Jackson inked a new multi-year Total Quality Management
agreement. Commissioner Jackson signs the document. Looking on,
from left standing, are CSEA Capital Region President Carmen
Bagnoli, Barbara Stack, chair of the CSEA statewide LaborManagement Committee. Local 647 President Febraio and David
Goodall, agency director of human resources and fiscal management.
New law makes road construction zones safer
Slow down or it's double trouble
driver was traveling.
It's double trouble for work zone
'The safety of our employees who
speeders under a law which was
work on our roadways throughout
heavily supported by CSEA to
the state has always
protect road construction
The safety been
a high priority for
crews.
of our
this union," CSEA
The law, in effect since
November, doubles the
employees... President Danny
Donohue said. 'This law
minimum fines for
has always makes our roads safer
drivers caught speeding
in road construction
been a high for workers and the
public."
zones. Minimum fines
priority for driving
CSEA was
now range from $60 to
this union.* instrumental in creating
$240 instead of the
legislation that reduced speed limits
previous $30 to $120, depending on
in construction zones several years
how far above the posted
ago.
construction zone speed limit a
Private prisons are bad news for everyone
THERE ARE NO PRIVATE PRISONS IN NEW YORK, and CSEA,
AFSCME Council 82 and AFSCME New York want New Yorkers to
know that's a good thing. Leaders of the three union organizations
held a press conference in Albany to release a report that concludes
that private prisons are inferior, more dangerous and much more of
a threat to the communities they are located in than publicly
operated prisons. The Albany effort is part of a national legislative
and lobbying campaign by AFSCME, which represents about 100,000
corrections officers and support staff nationwide, to focus on the
many problems of for-profit prisons. Conducting the press
conference, above, are CSEA Executive Vice President Mary Sullivan,
AFSCME Area Director Eliot Seide and Council 82 President Richard
Abrahamson. Copies of the report critical of private prisons. "Should
Crime Pay? A Review of the Evidence," is available by contacting
AFSCME New York at (518) 869-2245.
V
GENEf^AL NEWS
Leave donations sougM
member
MIDDLETOWN — Office of
Mental Health employees who can
spare a day or two of vacation leave
are urged to do so to help an OMH
co-worker at Middletown Psychiatric
Center.
Ed Berry, a food service worker
for 18 years, needs leave time to
cany him until he is eligible for
retirement, CSEA Middletown
Psychiatric Local 415 President
Diane Hewitt said.
Beny, who suffers from bone
cancer, has been hospitalized and is
expected to be moved to a
rehabilitation facility.
"Once Ed comes home, he's going
to need a home health aide," said
Hewitt. "Anyone who can donate
leave time so that Ed can continue
to collect his paycheck would be
deeply appreciated."
Any OMH workers who are willing
to donate leave time should contact
their own facility's personnel office
and specify which facility and
employee the leave time is going to.
Employees must have at least 80
hours of vacation leave time and
must donate the time in one-day
units.
— Anita Manley
•The Public Sector* June 1998 »'Page 13
2a win seats on statewide Board of directors
65 re-elected unopposed;
5 win via special elections
Twenty-four seats on CSEA's statewide Board of
Directors were filled when ballots were counted
May 22 in a mall ballot election. Newly-elected
Board of Directors members and the CSEA
member constituency they represent are listed at
right.
Sixty-five other Board of Director members were
unopposed and re-elected automatically. Board
members elected unopposed were listed in the
April edition of The Public Sector.
Five Board members were elected unopposed in
a separate, special election process and were listed
in the May edition of The Public Sector.
Special
Board
of Directors
Education
Mental Hygiene —
Region 1
Columbia
County
Rockland
County
(Rick) Richard F. Weeks
Carol Guardian©
Sherrill Phillips
Theresa (Terry) Duso
Executive
(Elect 2)
Mental Hygiene —
Region 3 (Elect 2)
Dutchess
County
Schenectady
County
Cindy Egan DerGuarhian
Thomas Moylan
Diane Hewitt
Alan L. Ackerman
Ken Monahan
Harold (Hal) Gray
Health
Mental Hygiene —
Region 4
Erie
County
Westchester County
(Elect 2]
Bob Simoni
Marie A. Prince
Helen Fischedick
Grace Ann Aloisi
Glen Fortunate
Law
Mental Hygiene
Region 6 (Elect 2]
Angela Fiore
Dawn Smith
Kathy Button
election
Ballots counted June 4
The deadline for receipt of ballots in a special election to elect two CSEA
statewide Board of Directors members representing Mental Hygiene Region
5 members is 8 a.m. June 4. The ballots will be counted the same day.
Two slates of candidates are seeking to be elected to the two vacant
positions. Ballots were sent out May 14.
Six of the 102 Board seats will remain vacant at the conclusion of the
special election.
State
Nassau County
(Elect 2]
Anthony P. Giustino
John C. Shepherd
Capital Region IV
Local Gov't Educational
Barbara Jones
Onondaga
County
Western Region VI
Local Gov't Educational
Sally Heater
David D. Spacone
Charlotte C. Kenny
^ information about slate ^
petitioning and slate voting
for local, unit elections
Local Elections
LOCAL.
UNIT ELECTIONS
^Special rules apply
for small locals and
units nominating
procedure
The union's election rules require a
minimum of 10 signatures on
nominating petitions for office in all
locals and units. However, this
requirement causes problems for
potential candidates for office in locals
and units with 10 or fewer members.
Special election rules apply for
CSEA locals and units of 10 or fewer
members.
The statewide Board of Directors
approved an Application for
Election to Office for locals and
units with 10 or fewer members. In
these smaller locals and units,
completion of the Application for
Election to Office replaces the
requirement to obtain signatures on a
nominating petition.
In locals or units with 10 or fewer
members, any member who submits
the application and meets election
requirements under the appropriate
Ivocal or Unit Constitution will be
placed on the ballot.
Page 14 • June 1998 • The Public Sector
INFORMATION
Local, unit
officers, delegates
election period
May 15 - June 15
The term of office for all
current local officers,
delegates and unit officers
expires June 30, 1998.
Officers and delegates will be
elected or re-elected to threeyear terms during local and
unit elections to be
conducted between May 15
and June 15, 1998.
Each local and unit
executive board must select
its own Election Committee
and committee chair. The
Local and/or Unit Election
Committee is primarily
responsible for conducting
the election.
Slate petitioning and slate
voting will be an option for
candidates for local and unit
office (see information at
right).
Members may run as
individual candidates if they
wish.
In local elections, a slate must contain a candidate running for the
offices of president, one or more vice presidents as set forth in the
Local's By-Laws, secretary and treasurer.
The slate 'may also include candidates for other offices which have
been created according to the Local Constitution and By-Laws. In
locals which have created the combined position of secretarytreasurer in their By-Laws, the slate must include a candidate for
that office.
Unit Elections
In unit elections, a slate must contain a candidate running for the
offices of president, one or more vice presidents as set forth in the
Unit's By-Laws, secretary and treasurer.
The slate may also include candidates for other offices which have
been created according to the Unit Constitution and By-Laws. In
units which have created the combined position of secretary-treasurer
in their By-Laws, the slate must include a candidate for that office.
Candidates should know the following:
Z> A member cannot be a candidate for officer and for delegate on
the same slate. An officer candidate must circulate a separate
nominating petition in order to appear on the ballot also as a
candidate for delegate. The member will appear on the ballot as a
candidate for office as part of the slate and as an individual for the
position of delegate.
O Candidates who run as a slate must complete a Slate Consent
Form and a Slate Petition Request Form. By petitioning as a slate,
candidates who appear as part of a slate need to submit only one
set of the required number of signatures to quality as a candidate.
Individual petitions are not necessary for slate candidates.
O Candidates who withdraw from a slate must complete a Slate
Withdrawal Form.
I
More detailed information about election slates is available from
local and unit election committees.
- GENERAL NEWS
- - ov: yA JAR^W
1998 AFSCME Convention Delegates Election results
Members have elected delegates to represent
CSEA at the 1998 AFSCME Convention scheduled
for Aug. 24 - 28 in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Delegates were elected by region, with each
CSEA region electing the number of delegates to
which it is entitled based on membership
strength.
CSEA statewide officers are also delegates by
virtue of their offices.
Following are the AFSCME Convention
delegates election results.
Long Island Region 1
Long Island Region One Slate
(39 candidates)
Nick LaMorte
Carol Guardiano
Cathy Green
Barbara Jones
Barbara Allen
Ken Dash
Tom Byrne
Paul D'Aleo
Pat Ferraro
Jim Wall
Paulette Barbera
Bill Stodolski
Rose DellaRosa
Alfredo Carlo
Robert Carney
Liz Puttre
Diane Klement
Phil Arnold
John C. Shepherd
Liz Pearsall
Clay Coiefield
Jane D'Amico
Les Eason
Noreen Ross-Lingham
Jewel Weinstein
Kathleen Vitan
Bobbie Eisgrau
Tim Jaccard
George Walsh
Nancy lanson
Ronald Gurrieri
Meg Shutka
Lee Reynolds
Betty Pavlica
Terry Lotter
Aldo Zucaro
Marion Hülse
Ann Marie Sarlo
Paul Nehrich
Metropolitan Region 2
T h e Leadership Slate'
(15 candidates)
George Boncoraglio
Caroline Vereline
Sikoryak
Leonita Wilson
Janet Ventrano-Torres
Ana Diaz Gifford
Jimmy Gripper
Lester Crockett
Vincent Martusciello
Samuel Koroma
Joel Schwartz
Lamont (Dutch) Wade
Tony Bailous
Mary Greenman
Wally Nash
Carol Backstrom
Nominations
being accepted
for prestigious
irene Carr
Leadersliip Award
recognizing
commitment to
women's issues
^ •. .vy. . i «
t.
Southern Region 3
Central Region 5
Region III Unity Slate
(38 candidates)
Regional Unity Slate
(39 candidates)
Carmine DiBattista
Diane Hewitt
Caroline Osinga
James Schultz
Christine Mumma
Diana Harris
Jeffrey Howarth
Kenneth Monahan
Sabina Shapiro
Irena Kobbe
Louis Roccuzzo
Micki Thoms
Carl Hochberger
Eugene Benson
Alan Ackerman
Diane Lucchesi
Debbie DeCicco
V. Norma Condon
Grace Ann Aloisi
Vinny Lord
Mary Miguez
Beverly Feuer
George Henry
Rose ImpallomenI
Barbara DeSimone
Tim Ippolito
Bill Curtin
Aiessandra Reynolds
Stephen Bardin
Pamela Alexander
Judy Watts-Devine
Diane Watson
Lizabeth Piraino
Barbara Ritshie
Lloyd Roberts
Marianna Nelson
Glen Fortunate
Jack Shaw
Capital Region 4
38 Members 4 U Slate
(38 candidates)
Carmen Bagnoli
Georgianna Natale
Ellen Krzykowski
Judy Gardner
Barbara A. Stack
Gary China
Daniel J. Vallee
William McMahon
T.J. O'Donnell
Bob F. Calhoun
Rose DeSorbo
Michael Febraio Jr.
Jack L. Miller
Linda Hillje
Dorothy (Dottie) Dutton
Ray LaRose
Donna M. Diaz
Elizabeth (Liz) Habiniak
Maggie M. McCafferty
Tom McMahon
Netha DeGroff
Sandra J. Lewis
Elizabeth Eagan
Barbara Charles Moloney
Charlotte Kenny
Tom Moylan
Susan H. Matan
Karen E. Jazvinski
Cathy Vallee
Verne French
Fran Kennedy
Jeanne Kelso
Hank Wagoner
Gail Hansen
Carol Harvin
Joseph D'Ambrosio
Jack Röhl
Cindy Egan DerGurahian
The issue could be day care, pay equity or
political action. Perhaps it's about
discrimination, harassment or equal treatment.
Whatever the issue, there is always one
person you can count on, someone who will take
the lead, speak out and take action on issues of
concern to women.
Those leaders are the ones CSEA honors with
the Irene Carr Leadership Award. Current or
former CSEA members and staff are eligible,
whether they be men or women. The real criteria
for this award is that the nominees demonstrate
a commitment to the concerns of women within
the labor movement.
The prestigious award is named in honor of
the former CSEA statewide secretary who served
in that leadership position for 17 years, longer
than anyone else in the union's history, until
Jim Moore
Ginger Sheffey
Betty Thomas
Bob Timpano
JoAnn Mastronardi
Roslie Tallman
Dorothy Breen
Sally Heater
Sandy Delia
Sheila Sears
Beverly Centers
Doreen Reigles
Lori Nilsson
Richard Britton
Betty Browell
Casey Walpole
Colleen Wheaton
Jim McHugh
Pat Labrozzi
Bruce Damalt
Charlotte Adkins
George Smith
Sadie Ross
Karin Eggleston
Bob Goeckel
Joe McMullen
Gary Wendall
Frank Forte
Valerie Williams
Tom Pirozzolo
Ellen Lennon
Sheila Thorpe
Angela Greco
Ken Burwell
John Smith
Dan Brady
Tim Murphy
Fred Gerloff
Cathy Barretta
Western Region 6
The Region Slate
(39 candidates)
Robert L. Lattimer
Florence "Flo" Tripi
Marie Prince
Kathy Button
Barbara Epstein
James Kurtz
Duane Wilcox
Donna Dobbler
Ron Castle Jr.
Rocco Sidari Jr.
Sandie Boyd
Ronald Gillespie
Tammy Macomber
Wilma Hasser
Paul McDonald Jr.
Mike Bogulski
Brian Madden
Tim Anderson
Doris Cota
Bernadette "Bernie"
Giambra
Christine Covell
Richard Mclntyre
Charlene Finnigan
John V. Stading
Carol A. Thornton
Robert Anderson
Dale Swain
Rita Schultz
Wendy Wedman
Ed Quackenbush
James R. Smith
Marcia Olszewski
Bruce Norton
Joyce Weimer
Dawn Smith
Evelyn Gibala
Sally Smith
Steve Hurley
Nancy J. Smith
retiring in 1993. She was a champion for
women's issues and served as chair of the
AFSCME National Women's Advisory Committee
for nine years.
Nominations for the 1998 Irene Carr
Leadership Award are due Aug. 14. Contact your
local or unit president for a nomination form or
contact the CSEA Standing Women's Committee
at CSEA headquarters,
1-800-342-4146, ext. 1209.
The nomination form asks you to describe
fully the nominee's contributions on behalf of
women and how she/he has enhanced the
quality of women's lives within CSEA.
The award is presented at the Women's
Legislative Breakfast during the union's Annual
Delegates Meeting.
.
GENERAL NEWS -
The Public Sector • June 1998 • Page 15
you, ^^i/e A
voice
H^Ak^
it
Thomas H. McDonough Memorial State Workshop
Buffalo
April 3-5
Changing strategies
to meet changing challenges
Delegates tackle
today's labor Issues
Bill Curtin wins State Division
Mission Achievement Award
CSEA Helen Hayes Hospital Local 302
President Bill Curtin has been awarded the
1998 Mission Achievement Award for state
division CSEA members. Curtin, right, photo
above, accepts the award from CSEA
President Danny Donohue at the 1998 State
Workshop.
Curtin distinguished himself in leading the
fight to halt the sale of Helen Hayes Hospital.
"His dynamic response and ability to
marshal the union's resources won the day,"
the citation reads.
"He is also a model to follow in the way he
conducts daily business," the citation
continues. "A true 'grassroots' activist, he
knows how to mobilize the rank and file and
get results."
Page 16 • July 1998 • The Public Sector
BUFFALO — CSEA delegates
continued developing short- and
long-term strategies to counter
challenges facing CSEA and the
labor movement during the recent
1998 CSEA State Workshop.
Delegates considered new
approaches to bargaining and
effective member representation in
a labor climate that promotes
downsizing, outsourcing and
devaluation of the role of America's
workers. State Executive Committee
Chair Georgianna Natale noted.
CSEA activists furthered the
'Think Industrially" process that
began last fall at the union's
annual delegates meeting, looking
at CSEA jobs and their related
challenges as falling into seven
major areas, or "industries."
A series of specialized workshops
and seminars helped delegates
identify climates, trends and
threats to the well-being of workers
in each industry and provided
information and direction for
developing ways to meet those
challenges in order to best
represent workers in each group.
Most jobs performed by CSEArepresented bargaining unit
members fall into one of several
industry categories: Healthcare;
Corrections and Law Enforcement;
Education Support Services;
Human Services; Administrative
Services (general); Transportation,
Maintenance and Infrastructure;
and Legal/Courts.
Delegates attended a wide variety of workshops and seminars, below
photos. In photo at right. Metropolitan Region 2 President George
Boncoraglio, second from left, is
surrounded by Caroline V. Sikoryak,
president of Creedmoor Psychiatric
Center Local 406; Joel Schwartz,
president of South Beach Psychiatric
Center Local 446 and Carolyn
Backstrom, president of Bronx
Psychiatric Center Local 401.
GENERAL NEWS
voice
M^ke
it
The 1998 living Flaumenbaum
Memorial Workshop
Bolton Landing May 8-10
h e ^ r ^
Private Sedtor Division
Chair Dan Vallee and
Local Government
Division Chair Shirley
Ponkos.
Thinking industrially...
Public and
private sectors
join forces
BOLTON lANDING — Carrying forward the
"transformation" and "Think Industrially" process that
began last fall at the union's annual delegates meeting,
members of CSEA's private sector and local government
divisions joined forces at the recent 1998 Irving
Flaumenbaum Memorial Workshop.
Following the same format as the CSEA State
Workshop, (see opposite page), delegates participated in a
series of workshops and seminars specifically tailored to
the industry groups in which most CSEA members work:
Health Care, Corrections and Law Enforcement, School
Districts/Food Services, Human Services, Administrative
Support Services and Public Works.
Delegates also focused on member mobilization — how
to get members involved in the union and how to identify
and eliminate barriers that prevent member participation.
Les Eason wins Local Government Division
Mission Achievement Award
Les Eason, unit president at the A. Holly Patterson Geriatric
Center and 1-st Vice President of CSEA Nassau County Local
830, was awarded the 1998 Mission Achievement Award for
CSEA local government division members. CSEA President
Danny Donohue presented Eason the award at the 1998 Irving
Flaumenbaum Memorial Workshop.
Eason distinguishes himself in many different roles and
shows us the way to transform ourselves," the citation reads.
"He is also a model to follow in the way he conducts daily
business," the citation continues. "A true 'grassroots' activist, he
reaches out to our rank and file by holding frequent meetings.
Information Days and special programs that make union
membership even more valuable."
In the photo above, Eason, center, is joined by Long Island
Region 1 President Nick LaMorte, CSEA President Danny
Donohue, and Eason's wife Andrea, son Jonathan and daughter
Hope.
GENERAL NEWS
.»^Ta Jo^ •;• -
,
• The Public Sector • June 1998 • Page 17
">.
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.
1 .•
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•'I
The CSEA-MY3 Joint Committee or. Health Benefits VIDEO TAPE LIBRARY PROGRAM
The C6EA-NY6 Joint Committee on Health benefits is offering health, wellness and self-care topics on VH5
cassettes. C5EA local presidents may reserve tapes from the JCHB Video Tape Library for use as
educational resources a t such functions as employee health fairs, information days. Employee Assistance
Vroqram functions or membership meetings.
INFORMATION
YOU CAN USE FROM THE
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
CSEA local presidents may reserve tapes by contacting:
ÖTOttering
The Myths of
Long-Term Care
What is
Long-Term Care?
Before we can talk about the
myths of long-term care, we
need to define it. Long-term
JOINT C O M M I H E E O N
care is necessaiy custodial
care that can be rendered in
either a Nursing Home, Adult
Day Care Center, Assisted
Living Facility or in the home.
Tha following vidaos a r e availabia f r o m t h a J C H B Vidao T a p a Library
Custodial care refers to
professional,
skilled and
C/i^/A/G W W STRiSS
• fAm AeouT
Af03
intermediate assistance for
^OIV To ßiAT CfGARiTTiS
• A/URS/A/G (JAe/UTY fOR 'DOCTORS OROfRS" // routine functions such as
MeofCAL iffiCTS Of ALComt Usi
• MmCAT/OA/ iRRORS
dressing, bathing and eating.
Ot^iRIVifGMT: tV^O'S COA/TROC?
• V^i i^PAMDiO Rou Of ^URSiS
When it comes to long-term
i?(iRCfSi SHOUiO ßi
fm
— IfGAC /MPl/CAr/OA/S
care, there are many incorrect
Co!^ ßACfc PA/A/
• Sf/ORr-CUTT/A/G STRfSS
myths circulating. For
0/iTARy MAA/AGSA/fSA/r Of fAT AA/0
• AffA/OPA(/S£
example, many people believe
they will never need long-term
CMOUSriROL
• Wwr /s O/Aßms? WoAZ-fA/si/i/A/
care or that, if they do, it ^Aäll
MAMA/fOGRAPHV
OiPeA/OiA/T)
be covered by Medicare or their
UA/DiRSTM/OfA/G COAfAfOA/ ßRiAST PR0eUA48• OsreopoROSfS
private insurance. Many people
Af03 — Wi SURGiOA/ GiA/iRAL'S (/PDATi
also believe that long-term care
insurance is too expensive and
not necessaiy.
James Carroll, Communications Associate
CSEA Joint Committee on Health Benefits
One Lear Jet Lane, Suite Four
Latham, NY 12110-2392
1-800-286-JCHB (5242)
(518) 785-4774
E-Mail address: ichb@capital.net
CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION
A series of education and career planmng articles from
Can you afford to go back to school?
So you want to continue your education? But can
you afford to pay for it?
If you're like most, with the high cost of tuition you
probably can't afford to finance your entire education.
There are, however, some outside sources
of financial aid which may be of help to
you.
The first and most important thing to do
in order to be considered for financial aid
is to MATRICULATE at the school you
want to attend. Matriculation means
registering in a specific degree or certificate
program. You must matriculate to be
eligible for financial aid.
Next in importance is to get a free
application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA) form from your school. The FAFSA is used
for grants which you do not need to repay. Complete
it as early in the year as possible, since there are
strict deadlines for applying for some types of
financial aid. Once the FAFSA is processed, you will
receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) which will tell you
how much assistance you can receive. When you
complete the FAFSA form and list a NYS school on
your form, you will also automatically be sent forms
for the NYS Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) or Aid
to Part-Time Study (APTS) Program.
LABOR EDUCATION ACTION PROGRAM
If you are not eligible for grant money, you can
always apply for low interest student loans. Several
types of loans and repayment plans are available and
your school's financial aid office or the LEAP office
can help you identify a loan program
that may work for you.
This year, the Federal Government
instituted two new programs to help
people with higher education costs. The
Hope Scholarship can provide up to
$1,500 in tax credits for the first two
years of your education and the Lifetime
Learning Credits Program provides tax
breaks for courses you may take
throughout your lifetime. Contact your
college's financial aid office for more
information on these programs.
So even though you may not be able to pay for
your entire education by yourself, there is help
available if you really want to go back to school.
LEAP is just a phone call away at 1-800-253-4332.
When you call, ask for a free copy of "A CSEA/LEAP
Guide to Financial Aid for Working Adult Students."
Help is
available if
you really
want to go
back to
school
Page 18 • July 1998 • The Public Sector
1-800-253-4532
The Civil Service Employees Association
Labor Education Action Program
These are just a few examples
of the misconceptions about
long-term care. For more
details about such myths, visit
Jardines' web site at
www.jgsc.com for a four-part
series beginning in June.
If you would like more
information on the CSEAsponsored long-term care
insurance plan, call Jardines,
CSEA's sponsored Long-Term
Care insurance administrator,
at
1-800-366-5273
Jardlne
Group Services
Corporation
Jardine House
13 Cornell Road
Latham, NY 12301
Remember to visit
the Jardines web site at
unvw.jgsc.com
for their Jour-part series on
"Shattering the Myths of Long-Term
Care" beginning in June.
GENERAL NEWS
„1,
The Right to
If we didn't have C5EA we would have t o take
a vacation without pay. Dut because we
organized, we will ^ e t paid for t h a t time off."
— Stanley Davis, members of C5EA
g'rookhaven Recycling Local 722
..makes a real difference
"I know we did the right thing by organizing. We did
good. We had a recent issue regarding vacation
time and if we didn't have C6EA we wouldn't have
had any ^ower t o win t h a t fight."
— Tom Stewart, C5EA Local 722 president
We're turning up the heat
on 'Right to Organize Day'
CSEA and its sister unions
in AFSCME New York will be
turning up
^^
the heat on
June 24 at
worksites
around the
state where
employers
are resisting
workers'
efforts to
organize.
As part of
the
nationwide
AFL-CIO
"Right to
Organize
Dayactivities,
CSEA and
AFSCME
activists and
staff will be
handing out
leaflets and
conducting
other
activities at
the
worksites to draw public
attention to employers who
are denying workers their
right to organize. Union
representatives will use the
^
opportunity to
expose
injustices that
workers
confront when
they attempt to
organize a
union in the
face of
employer
resistance.
Activists will
also provide
information on
the benefits of
workers
organizing by
fighting
through the
objections of
employers.
For more
information on
CSEA's Right to
Organize Day
activities, or to
suggest nonunion worksites
for organizing
campaigns, contact CSEA's
Organizing Department at
1-800-342-4146 Ext. 1300.
Organized
labor will
turn the
spotlight on
anti-union
employers on
June 24.
Call The
CSEA
Organizing
Department
to get
involved
6MA
Tki CSiA me
GENERAL NEWS
OM
s
m
& w
me;
e i
AeG£Ssei>
a t
CSEA PRESIDENT DANNY DONOHUE addresses an overflow crowd of
public employee retirees who participated in a Retiree Lobby Day
program at the state Capitol in May. The program, during which
retirees met with their state legislators to push for pension reform,
coincided with a press conference held by State Comptroller H. Carl
McCall to announce he has adopted principles pushed by CSEA for a
permanent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for retirees.
V
y
M i c h a e l Flaherty PEOPLE r e c r u i t e r of m o n t h
Michael Flaherty of CSEA Finger
Lakes DDSO Local 436 recruited 39
new members for PEOPLE to earn
recruiter of the month honors for
April.
PEOPLE (Public Employees
Organized to Promote Legislative
Equality) is CSEA's federal political
action program. More than 13,000
CSEA members and staff are now
members of PEOPLE, helping to
promote the interests of the CSEA
membership in the federal elective
and legislative process.
To become a member of PEOPLE,
contact a PEOPLE activist in your
CSEA local or contact
CSEA/PEOPLE, CSEA Headquarters,
143 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY
12210, 1-800-342-4146 Ext. 1404.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ Computer Programmer/Analyst
CSEA is seeking applicants for a
Computer Programmer/Analyst
position in the union's headquarters in Albany.
Minimum
qualifications: Associate degree in Data
Processing/Computer Science plus 2 years of progressive
programming and minimum of 6 months systems analysis work;
or 4 years of progressive programming with minimum of
6 months systems analysis work.
Submit letter of introduction and resume to:
Director of Human Resources,
P.O. Box 7125, Capitol Station, Albany, NY 12224.
Respond immediately.
The Public Sector* June 1998 • Page 19
' r ,• V • • •• V r 7 r r •
Coming in October
Extra! Extra! Read ail about it..
CSEIA is proud to report that effective with
the October edition, our official publication will
be in^named The Work Force.
Sector with suggestions for a new name. A
number of the suggestions had some variation of
The Work Force.
The Public Sector has served CSEA members
well for nearly 21 years. But as part of our
ongoing commitment to become an even stronger
and more effective union, it was decided we need
a new name to better reflect what we are all
about,
In addition to the name change a number of
other ideas are under consideration to improve
the publication and make it even more relevant to
you. We welcome your thoughts and suggestions
on this exciting opportunity now before us!
CSEA announced the plans to rename the
publication earlier this year and dozens of CSEA
members responded to a notice in The Public
Send your suggestions to:
CSEA CommtmiccMons Dept.
143 Washington Ajuenue
Albany, New York 12210
Official publication of
The Civil Service Employees Association, Inc.
Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO
143 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12210-2303
wummmii
INSIPE THIS EDITION
^ MAKING OUR VOICES HEARD - Page 3
STATE GOVERNMENT NEWS - Pages 4 and 5
LOCAL GOVERNMENT NEWS - Pages 6 and 7
THE CSEA WORK FORCE - Pages 9, 10 and 11
^ CSEA ELECTIONS RESULTS - Pages 14 & 15
JUNE 1998