Vol. 6/No. 6
See Pages 3, 4, 10 and 11
Photo by Janice Marra
June 2003
Photo of the Month
State remains mum
on contract talks
ALBANY — Despite the fact that the
state was given a clear indication by
CSEA negotiators that significant
contract talks are possible, at least on
non-monetary items, the state
continues to drag its feet on moving
negotiations forward.
The state Legislature has acted and
approved a sensible and fair budget for
New York. Now it’s time for Gov. George
Pataki to act and meet CSEA at the
bargaining table.
There had been an indication in the
second week of April of a willingness
by the state to address some issues but
no action.
“The state needs to recognize that
the negotiations process will not go
away, no matter how much they wish it
would,” said CSEA President Danny
Donohue.
CSEA to file charges
against Albany County
Photo by Ron Wofford
CSEA member Mark Pasler wears a mask and gloves
while collecting tolls for the Niagara Bridge
Commission. Pasler is unit president. Outbreaks of
severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Ontario,
Canada, across the river from where Pasler collects
tolls, have led to the safety precautions. Despite the
risks they endure, Pasler’s unit has been without a
contract for three years. For more information about
SARS, visit the Occupational Health and Safety pages
at csealocal1000.net.
Longtime CSEA
activist, staffer
Jayes dies
Labor relations specialist Jim Jayes, 53, a
former 25-year CSEA member and Roswell
Park Cancer Institute employee and longtime Roswell Park Local president in
Buffalo, died May 16.
Jayes joined CSEA’s staff April 13, 1998.
Jayes is survived by his wife Vicki, and two adult sons, Tim
and Chris.
CSEA President Donohue
to visit Capital Region
CSEA President Danny Donohue will meet with members
in the CSEA Capital Region on Tuesday, June 10.
The meetings will be held at the Capital Region office, 1
Lear Jet Lane, Latham.
Donohue will meet with union members from 1 to 7 p.m.
Please call the region office at (518) 785-4400 or 1-800-8747344 for an appointment and directions.
Page
2
THE WORK FORCE
June 2003
ALBANY — CSEA is in the process of
filing improper practice charges against
Albany County for the county’s actions
during protracted contract negotiations
for county DPW employees.
The improper practice charges relate
to bad-faith bargaining on the part of the
county and include specific incidents of
threats and intimidation levied against
DPW employees.
CSEA recently learned members of
management were telling employees that
if they do not vote on a contract shortly
they will “lose everything.” The county
also tried to change terms and
conditions of the contract after
agreement had already been reached.
CSEA has continually agreed to accept
recommendations of a fact- finder.
The contract talks that began in 2001
have been held up by numerous issues
including changes to worker
compensation language and voluntary
one-person snow plowing.
DPW workers have voiced opposition
to the one-person snow plowing because
it is dangerous to the public as well as
the employee operating the plow. “When
driving these plows, especially on
narrow county roads, you need another
set of hands and eyes to run the
equipment. It’s all about safety,” said
Ken Michalski CSEA Albany County DPW
Unit President.
The other five bargaining units within
Albany County have already settled their
contracts.
“These guys worked so many long
hours this past winter, on many days,
including Christmas, they spent time
away from their families to make it safe
for residents of Albany County. For
Albany County to turn around and treat
these workers this way is just
deplorable,” said Kathy Garrison CSEA
Capital Region president.
Note: Each month, The Work Force will feature an excerpt of the union’s agenda
for the future. To read the entire agenda, visit www.csealocal1000.net.
June 2003
Representing and Bargaining Just Contracts
All CSEA member must have the best possible representation by their union.
• Just and Fair Contracts: We will use every vehicle possible to ensure our
members the best possible contracts.
• Member Involvement: Every member has the right to be part of the
negotiation process. The key success in the negotiation process is
predicated upon full communication between members, leaders and staff.
• Utilization of Resources: We will take advantage of every possible
resource to successfully bargain just and fair contracts and represent our
membership.
• Employment and Financial Security: Every individual has the right to have
employment and/or financial security.
Pataki still wacky
in budget brouhaha
ALBANY — The state Legislature’s
stunning 119 overrides of Gov. George
Pataki’s budget vetoes — giving New
Yorkers a fair and more sensible
budget — could still face challenges
from the governor if he chooses to
continue to obstruct rather than to
lead.
CSEA’s efforts at helping turn the
tide of the governor’s wrong choices
showed once again how New York’s
leading union rises to challenges and
fights to win. (See Pages 10-11 for more
about CSEA’s fight.)
The legislature’s spending plan
restores $1.9 billion that Pataki sought
to cut, primarily in education and
health care funding. Pataki’s original
proposal would have slammed local
property and school taxpayers with
double-digit increases while also
forcing large scale service cuts and job
elimination.
The legislature also addresses the
state’s projected $12 billion deficit by
enacting an income tax surcharge on
the wealthiest New Yorkers and closing
some notorious corporate tax
loopholes. CSEA aggressively sought
these measures as part of a balanced
approach to dealing with the state’s
fiscal challenges.
The dramatic legislative action came
only after a disengaged Pataki refused
to work with legislators toward
common ground, offering only his
proposal in a “take it or leave it”
ultimatum.
Despite the veto overrides, however,
the fight waged over the past few
months may not be over.
The governor has threatened to
impound money restored to the budget
by the legislature’s overrides. He may
also choose to enter a protracted legal
fight over the constitutional legality of
some of the legislature’s actions.
What the income tax
surcharge might cost
wealthier taxpayers
Left to right, CSEA activists Donna Gavett, Janet Jackson,
Nick Chudyk, John Harbin and PAC Coordinator Michael
Ottaviano meet with Sue McSweeney, chief of staff for State
Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli of Syracuse at his district
office to discuss concerns in the state budget. In-district
lobbying while legislators were on home visits was one of
the methods used by CSEA activists to bring CSEA’s budget
concerns to the state’s decision-makers.
Loophole out of Geoffrey
the Giraffe’s reach
• Adjusted gross income:
$150,000.
• Total deductions and
exemptions: $17,700.
• Taxable income: $132,300.
• Current liability: $9,063.
• New tax liability: $9,274.
• Increase: $211.
• Federal tax offset: $63.
Above left, CSEA President Danny Donohue confers with state Sen.
Majority Leader Joseph Bruno during the May 3 Rally for Education in
Albany. Above right, Donohue speaks at a news conference about the
importance of making the right budget choices. At his left is Assembly
Speaker Sheldon Silver.
The state Legislature approved closing a corporate tax
loophole that allowed corporations to avoid paying taxes
on their business in New York.
In the case of Toys ’R Us, the toy store chain has a
holding company in Delaware, a state with tax laws that
benefit corporations. The holding company charges Toys ’R
Us stores operating in New York a fee to use the licensed
character Geoffrey the Giraffe for its stores.
The fees allow the corporate giant to siphon off its profits
in New York — which would be taxed — to Delaware,
allowing the corporation to keep its profits from New York
without paying tax on them.
Although the legislature acted, the governor claims there
are technical flaws in the legislative language that will not
close the loophole. The governor has not indicated he is
prepared to work cooperatively on alternative language to
address the problem.
Likewise, the governor may also balk at imposing new
income taxes passed by the legislature that more equitably
distribute the state’s tax burden.
“CSEA will continue to keep the pressure on the governor
to do the right thing — get corporations and the wealthy to
pay their fair share to help save jobs and create new ones,”
Donohue said.
Donohue slams Business Council over arrogant wage freeze proposal
In an open letter to state
lawmakers and Gov. George
Pataki, the Business Council of
New York State has urged that
salaries for all of New York’s
public employees be frozen as
part of the effort to deal with
the state's budget deficit.
In public response, CSEA
President Danny Donohue said:
“Rather than targeting
working people who add value
to the economy, the Business
Council would be better advised
to propose freezing the obscene
salaries and perks of all CEOs
which keep going up in a bad
economy whether they've been
earned or not.
"The Business Council should
also consider their lack of
credibility around the issue of
corporate tax loopholes. Unlike
these big business tax cheats,
June 2003
public employees actually pay
their fair share of taxes at every
level.
The legislature’s budget
addresses many of the
corporate tax loopholes CSEA
and others identified.
THE WORK FORCE
Page
3
4
CSEA NASSAU COUNTY LOCAL 830 UNION MEMBER NEWS
5
CSEA NASSAU COUNTY LOCAL 830 UNION MEMBER NEWS
Celebrating Diversity
NUMC Members Diverse Backgrounds Reflect Nation’s Melting Pot
CSEA’s diversity is two-fold: on the one hand, the union
represents workers of all skills and trades in a variety of
industries; on the other, union members come from diverse
backgrounds and offer a spectrum similar to that of our nation’s
melting pot.
The following profiles are drawn from the richly diverse staff
at Nassau University Medical Center to reflect on a small
portion of CSEA’s broad mix of cultures and people.
“Sometimes it’s easy to take for granted some of the gains
we’ve made in the union, but as you see here, we have won
some of the best protections and benefits in the world,” said
NUMC Local President George Walsh.
CSEA is in tough negotiations with NUMC for a new contract,
as well as with Nassau County Local 830. Often lost in
coverage of such fights are the faces and stories of the
workers affected by the pacts. Here are some of their faces
and stories.
JAMAICA
Petite, energetic and moving like a blur,
CSEA member Doris Ruddock might not strike
you at first as a grandmother of three whose
career path resembles a winding mountain
road.
Ruddock
“I’m a people person. I encounter people
from all walks of life, and I try to treat them the way I would like
to be treated,” said Ruddock.
For this registered nurse at Nassau University Medical
Center, the road to a medical career had many twists and
turns. When she first arrived in the United States from Jamaica
in 1970, all she wanted to do was go back home. “I was
intensely homesick for a long time. But after a while, you
adjust,” she said.
Although she was a licensed practical nurse in Jamaica, she
had difficulty finding work in her field in the United States. So
Ruddock’s first U.S. job was in the garment industry. She
saved enough money to open her own business, a beauty
salon, which she owned and operated in Brooklyn for 14 years.
Eventually, the pull toward her medical roots was too strong
to ignore, and she returned to school. It was when she was
working with a temporary agency that she landed a job at
NUMC in 1993, where she has been since.
Over the years, Ruddock’s passion for people resulted in
union involvement. “I like fairness, and helping everyone, and I
guess that’s what led me here. I feel if we all pull together, we
should be able to achieve our goals. I’m hoping that someday,
management and workers will all be on the same level, so we
can all communicate effectively and achieve our goals,” said
Ruddock.
PERU
He used to drive a tow truck, and now,
Edwin Tapia swirls a test tube between his
fingers. “I never really encountered any
discrimination in the United States. I’ve been
happy here. I worked hard to assimilate into
the American culture,” said Tapia.
Tapia
After he came to the United States from his
native Peru, Tapia had some trouble finding a job. So he went
to school, eventually graduating with a bachelor’s degree in
biochemistry, and he went to work as a lab tech at NUMC in
1984.
“I’m so comfortable here. And I know being part of the union
has many advantages. But since I never had any particular
trouble, I never had to use any of the union’s disciplinary
services. Still, it’s great to know that they’re always there for
you,” said Tapia.
PHILLIPINES
Lemuel Sison who hails from Manila, in the Phillipines, also
‘
… we celebrate our diversity
and use it to strengthen us.
Lemuel Sison at work at Nassau University Medical
Center.
found finding work a challenge when he first
arrived in the United States, despite the fact
he had a bachelor’s degree in medical
technology.
Sison settled in Flushing with his wife, who
was already here, and he babysat for his
Sison
three children for the first few years. “I
needed a certificate to work in my chosen field, but it was
difficult to obtain here,” said Sison. He was eventually able to
land a job at Queens Hospital and then found his way to
NUMC as a lab tech.
Now Sison counts himself among an informal network of
many other transplanted Phillipinos. Many of NUMC’s doctors
and nurses came to the United States when there was a
shortage of qualified medical professionals in the early 1990s.
Sison said he’s content in his work at the Medical Center.
“For me and for all of my fellow workers, our overriding
objective is, and has always been, about maintaining
compassionate, quality and efficient patient care. It’s all about
the patients,” he said.
LIBERIA
For Julia Seymour, the Peace Corps was her bridge to the
rest of the world, as well as to a new life. Julia
was 22, a bride newly married to a Peace
Corps volunteer, when she arrived from
Liberia, West Africa, to study biology in the
United States.
But it was 1969, and her first lesson was
that many people weren’t ready to accept her.
Seymour
“My husband is white, and I’m black so we
encountered a lot of prejudice in the United States at first,” said
Seymour. “But I never let it disrupt my life. Now people are
more open in their attitudes,” she said.
“I was always a science nut. I was trying to become a vet,
but once I got married I knew I wouldn’t be able to afford it,”
she said. So she worked her way through school, getting an
associate’s degree in medical technology and a bachelor’s in
business administration. In 1985 she landed at NUMC as a lab
tech.
“The most satisfying thing for me is just doing the job to the
best of my ability. Just by being here, I feel I’m making a
contribution to this community and to this country, because we
all help to build the United States into what it is every day,”
said Seymour.
INDIA
As a young man, Anil Joshi worked in his father’s store and
was raised in a politically active family in
Western India. He recently completed his
grievance training and is looking forward to
serving his CSEA brothers and sisters when
they have difficulties.
Joshi, who came to the United States in
1983, started as a medical technician at NUMC Joshi
in 1987. He said he was very happy here — until 9/11.
“After that, I started to feel an anti-immigrant backlash, and
many times was mistaken for a person of Middle Eastern
descent,” said Joshi. “Even recently, my son was coming
home, and some passerby called him, ‘Little bin Laden.’ That
hurt. Remarks like that are very disheartening,” Joshi said.
He wishes the outside world operated the way he has seen
it operate at CSEA, he said. “Here, the union makes the work
site a great place because they are always there for you. They
stand up for you. So many people don’t understand the union’s
benefits. But there is unity in strength, and the union is nothing
but unity. That’s why I got into this fight — because everything
the union does is about equality,” said Joshi.
NUMC medical technician Sweta Parikh left her home in
India in 1983, when she was 24. After she arrived, she started
working in a bank, while attending school.
She married a dentist and eventually they had two children.
“I stayed home for three years, but returned to work part time. I
really wanted to stay in touch with my
industry, but it was difficult, finding the
balance between work and family.” she said.
After working for a time at A. Holly
Patterson, Parikh transferred to NUMC in
1999. She said it has been a comfort to find a
large Indian community in her hometown of
Parikh
East Meadow. “I like the chance to celebrate
my heritage and culture, and I am especially looking forward to
the International Days held by the NUMC unit and the Long
Island Region,” said Parikh.
— Rachel Langert
Sweta Parikh at work in lab of Nassau University Medical Center.
NUMC and Long Island Region
International Festival to be Held July 19
This year the International Festival will be held July 19 at the CSEA
Long Island Region office in Commack. It will be held in conjunction with
the Women’s Health Fair.
Any member interested in celebrating their heritage through music,
song or dance, or who has an artistically inclined family member who
would like to entertain, should call the region office at (631) 462-0030.
Long Island Region President Nick LaMorte said CSEA was not only
founded on the principals of democracy, equality, and diversity; the ideals
are literally imbedded in the fabric of the union.
“CSEA’s mission statement enshrines the ideals of inclusiveness —
every group, every idea is welcomed. And of diversity — we celebrate
our diversity and use it to strengthen us,” said LaMorte.
“Everything we do at CSEA is designed to encourage full participation,
as well as respect and honor all our differences. That just makes us a
positive reflection of our members and the richness they bring,” said
LaMorte.
“Those ideals are also reflected in the local level,” said Nassau County
Local President Jane D’Amico. “We have a Unity Committee Task Force,
which is designed to foster human rights, diversity, and fight all forms of
discrimination. Our Unity Committee deals with human rights issues in
the work place, and provides guidance, as well as a methodology to deal
with any discrimination issues that may arise on the job,” said D’Amico.
CSEA Task Force members are available on Friday mornings to hear
your concerns. If you have any questions, call co-chairs Rudy Bruce or
Tim Corr, at (516) 571- 2919.
Probation workers
increase skills
In tough fiscal
times, one of the
first things to be
sacrificed are
training budgets, and
as our members are
asked to do more
with less, the receipt
of instruction that
enhances your ability
to do your job
becomes even more
valuable.
‘
’
“F
rom kindergartners to
college seniors, New York
needs to make the right choices
in education. Our communities
and our jobs are at stake as
well.”
— Casey Walpole, SUNY
Oswego, on the importance
of marching May 3 in the
Rally for Public Education.
Page
6
THE WORK FORCE
LIVERPOOL — As budget
crunches across the state
continue to squeeze local
governments’ abilities to provide
training to workers, unionprovided training opportunities
become even more valuable and
necessary.
That’s why Brian Mayock,
chair of CSEA’s Central Region
Probation Committee, believes
attendance has grown at the
union’s biannual Probation
Workers Workshop. The region
recently held its third annual
workshop outside Syracuse, and
Mayock said it was an
overwhelming success.
“In tough fiscal times, one of
the first things to be sacrificed
are training budgets, and as our
members are asked to do more
with less, the receipt of
instruction that enhances your
ability to do your job becomes
even more valuable,” he said.
“This is the largest group we’ve
had and the most diverse in
terms of what counties are
represented. I couldn’t be more
pleased.”
The day-long program began
with informational tables on
union benefits and services, and
included a series of concurrent
workshop sessions on such
topics as Legal Issues for
Probation Officers, Defensive
Tactics, and Drug Recognition
and Testing. More than 100
probation workers from counties
around the region, as well as
some groups from the CSEA
Capital and Western regions,
attended.
“The workshops that are being
offered are needed. I wish I could
attend every one of them,” said
Fulton County Probation Officer
Christine Reynolds. “I hope to
gain skills I can take back to my
office.”
Paul Dickens, a probation
officer from Onondaga County,
agreed, saying the workshop was
“an opportunity to kick back and
learn.”
“It’s great to network and learn
what other counties are doing —
to learn what you can do to
improve your job performance,”
he said.
CSEA Central Region President
Jim Moore welcomed those in
attendance, and said he was
proud the region was able to
offer them such a valuable
experience.
“We recognize that your jobs
are indeed special, and we’re
very proud to be able to offer
you specialized training that can
Above, Fulton County Probation
Officer Christine Reynolds
takes part in the Central Region
Probation Workers Workshop.
Below left, Onondaga County
Probation Officer Paul Dickens.
help you enhance your job
performance,” Moore said.
“We’re proud of the work you do
in our communities, and we
know you’ll find these
workshops worthwhile.”
Another goal of the workshop
is to involve probation officers
more in their union, Mayock
said.
“There’s a real need for
probation officers to view
themselves as union members
and join in the struggle to
maintain the protections that we
currently have and to seek
improvements in our working
conditions. We hope this
workshop helps bring that sense
of union community to those
who attended.”
— Mark M. Kotzin
Albany Co. Jail health care workers win union
ALBANY — After a protracted
battle that included five workers
being fired and then rehired,
health care workers at the Albany
County Jail have won voluntary
recognition for CSEA to become
their union.
The agreement came days
before a scheduled vote when
CMS (Correctional Medical
Services), the private health care
contractor hired by the county
June 2003
agreed to voluntarily recognize
the employees’ union.
Under the terms of the
agreement with CSEA, CMS has
also agreed to expedited contract
talks. There are about 28
employees in the medical unit,
three of whom are existing CSEA
members already part of the
county bargaining unit at the jail.
“What this means is that CMS
has agreed to fast-track contract
talks. This agreement to grant
recognition and bargain in good
faith means both sides want to
move forward,” said Kathy
Garrison, CSEA Capital Region
president.
Stephanie Spears, a physician
assistant, was one of the workers
initially fired after attending a
rally. “We are incredibly happy,
we have been waiting a long time
for this,” said Spears.
Librarians shelve Pataki cuts
Librarians from all
over the state refused
to be shushed, and the
noise from a group that
thrives in quiet helped
turn the page on Gov.
George Pataki’s
budgetary assault on
working families.
Christina Farmer
was clearly irked at the
injustice Pataki’s
budget cuts would
perpetrate on readers
and students alike.
“Public libraries serve
everybody in New York
state. There is no more
democratic institution
than the public
libraries,” she said.
That’s why the interlibrary loan librarian
from the Suffolk
Cooperative Library
System in Bellport felt
compelled to take part
in a March library rally
and lobby her
lawmakers in the fight
against Pataki’s budget
cuts.
Albany chapter
“When I went to see
Assemblywoman Pat
Acampora, she had a
big sign on her door,
System also faces the
daunting task of
working miracles daily
with an increasingly
overburdened, skeletal
staff.
The most visible
victim of the budget
cuts, was going to be
the Cooperative
Library System service
called Suffolk Web.
Long Island Region President Nick LaMorte,
center, leads a group of demonstrators
protesting proposed cuts in library funding.
‘We support libraries’
and she promised to
help us. But later
when I found out she
voted against restoring
the cuts, I felt
betrayed,” said Farmer.
“I learn something new
every time I go to
Albany,” she said.
“I’ve gone through
30 years of state
budgets, and seeing us
and libraries getting
pushed around by the
governor and the
legislature. So I felt it
was important to get
Front row, left to right, Diane Eidelman, Tracey
Firestone, Kristina Farmer, and back row, left to
right, Jim Balletta, Mickey Cantwell, and John
Richardson all traveled to Albany to protest
proposed budget cuts.
out there and push
back, rather than being
polite,” said her coworker John
Richardson, head of
Technical Services for
the Suffolk Cooperative
Library System, who
also took part in the
rally.
James Balletta,
President of CSEA
Suffolk Cooperative
Library System Local,
said the fiscal squeeze
has been felt there for
some time.
“Fifteen years ago
the state provided the
majority of our
funding. Now it’s down
to less than 33 percent,
while the number of
patrons we serve has
increased
exponentially,” said
Balletta.
Balletta explained
the Pataki budget
would have cut state
funding in half, and
resulted in even
hardship by
jeapordizing federal
funding as well.
Like many other
departments, the
Cooperative Library
Quiet campaign
So the librarians
quietly used Suffolk
Web to conduct a
sophisticated
campaign of public
notifications, petition
drives and virtual
rallies over the
Internet, to alert
subscribers the
program was in danger
of elimination.
“We overloaded the
e-mail server for the
state Legislature, we
flooded their phone
lines, we had people
send faxes online. The
result was that library
people really managed
to get the governor
and lawmakers’
attention in a big way,”
said Balletta.
“Their activities
were not only
extremely effective, but
very creative as well,”
said CSEA Long Island
Region President Nick
LaMorte. “They really
showed what a group
of determined activists
can accomplish,
especially with the
technology of the
digital age. These
librarians should serve
as an inspiration to us
all,” said LaMorte.
— Rachel Langert
June 2003
The Suffolk Cooperative
Library System is the
library’s bookshelf. If
one branch doesn’t have
a volume, it relies on an
interlibrary loan system
to get it.
The Cooperative Library
System coordinates the
movement of books
within the 55 libraries
and 64 buildings in
Suffolk, from Montauk
to Cold Spring Harbor.
The web-based Suffolk
Web email service
supports local client
e-mail, and acts as a
conduit to e-mail, web
and dial-up access for
90,000 subscribers in
Suffolk County.
“I
work for BOCES, which is
very threatened by the
governor’s budget, and we
need to support the right
choices.”
— Marianne LePore,
Southern Westchester
County BOCES on why she
participated in the May 3
Rally for Public Education.
THE WORK FORCE
Page
7
Troy activist targets hiring practices
CSEA City Hall
unit members
consist of City
Hall, public works
and public utilities.
The unit totals
230 members.
TROY — George Rogers,
a 10-year CSEA member
and president of the CSEA
Troy Unit, had been
trying to get management
to address his concerns
about pay inequities,
hiring practices and
safety issues.
He went to meetings,
he called people, he
wrote memos, nothing.
Finally, he took his
concerns to the press and
blasted the practices in a
revealing story in the
city’s paper, the Troy
Record.
“I’m holding their feet
to the fire,” said Rogers,
who was fed up with the
business-as-usual attitude
at City Hall.
On the issue of pay
inequities, Rogers blew
the whistle on the city’s
practice of rehiring
retired employees and
paying them more than
$20 an hour.
“I have a laborer who
has been working there
for almost a year, working
his butt off every day,
who only makes $6.50 (an
hour),” Rogers said.
“The bottom line is
they are bringing back
retirees who are making
more in three days than
many of the laborers earn
in a week.”
These practices persist
even though Troy is
facing record deficits, and
for two years in a row has
been imposing doubledigit tax hikes on
beleaguered residents.
Rogers also takes issue
with the city’s practice of
hiring people from the
outside when there are
qualified workers already
on the payroll.
At a recent DPW
committee meeting,
Deputy Mayor James
Conroy defended the
accusations saying the
city does all it can to
promote people from
inside. Rogers isn’t
buying it.
“Supervisors at DPW
have told the laborers
that if they don’t get a
CDL (commercial driving
license), they’ll never be
promoted,” Rogers said.
“So we have a guy that
goes out and gets a CDL
and they hire someone
off the street who jumped
right over him.”
Rogers said the only
explanation given was
that a “higher-up” wanted
it.
Rogers said he feels
obligated to stand up for
the DPW workers in
particular because “they
don’t get any support
from management.”
Another serious issue
Rogers raised with the
media is the apparent
lack of concern for the
safety of the workers.
According to Rogers,
complaints relating to
work area protection,
lack of vests, and lack of
trench boxes went
unanswered.
Reflecting on the city’s
lackluster safety record,
Rogers said, “PESH has
been in and the city has
been cited.”
CSEA Capital Region
President Kathy Garrison
said “these men and
women already have a
dangerous job, they
should have every
protection possible.”
Rogers in downtown
Troy.
The city has addressed
Rogers’ safety concerns,
but he has no plans to
back down.
Spurred on by calls
and letters of support,
Rogers has struck a
chord with unit members
and city taxpayers who
want the mayor to put
the brakes on
irresponsible spending.
— Therese Assalian
Cortland County pursues witch hunt against workers
“I
came to show my support
for all my brothers and
sisters, to fight against the
wrong choices — all
detrimental — affecting my
brothers and sisters in all
unions and as a representative
of SUNY Binghamton Local.
”
— Tyrone Webb, CSEA SUNY
Binghamton Local President
on joining the May 3 Rally for
Public Education.
Page
8 THE WORK FORCE
CORTLAND — CSEA is challenging
Cortland County leaders for their
recent actions ignoring a serious
threat to worker safety and then
illegally firing the workers involved,
who the union termed targets of a
“witch hunt by arrogant and powerhungry county Legislators.”
CSEA Cortland County Unit
President Diana Breed said the
county illegally fired workers Bryon
Jandrew and Dave Clay Jr. after a
February incident at a roadside
snow removal work zone.
Clay was nearly hit by a sport
utility vehicle whose driver ignored
his flagging to stop. Clay had to
jump back to avoid injury as the car
blasted through, with the vehicle’s
rear view mirror just grazing his
chest. The two workers left the
work zone to speak to a relative of
June 2003
the driver, which led to a brief
verbal confrontation with Clay.
Breed said that the penalty of
termination over the employees
standing up for their own safety
was “absolutely absurd and unjust.”
The union has filed grievances
that will soon be heard in
arbitration, and recently took the
extraordinary measure of serving all
the members of the county
Legislature’s Building and Grounds
Committee and several other
county leaders with appearance
subpoenas to force them to testify
at the upcoming arbitration
hearings.
CSEA also filed a notice of claim
against the county, alleging they
didn’t have the proper authority to
fire the workers in the manner they
did, and that the committee
Jandrew and Clay outside of the
Cortland County Office Building.
meeting where the decision on
termination was made was held in
violation of the state’s Open
Meetings Law.
— Mark M. Kotzin
CSEA
wins big
in Erie
County
BUFFALO — Legal action by CSEA
has won back pay, reaffirmation of
unit work, and direction to the
employer, Erie County and Erie
County Community College, to
refrain from threatening
employees in exercising their
Taylor Law rights.
The arbitrator’s decision stems
from improper practice charges
filed by CSEA, when the college
illegally subcontracted the work of
a member who was out sick, and
failed to assign the work to CSEA
unit members in that case; and in
football game assignments that
required guard work by CSEA
members.
The charges were supported by
testimony of Section President
Gary Ghosen and Vice President
George Wagner, who had sought
clarification of the supervisors’
actions.
The arbitrator also found the
college guilty of failing to assign
member Dale Bacchetti, a
supervising maintenance
mechanic, to provide coverage for
an absent custodian of buildings
and grounds, unilaterally changing
Bacchetti’s shift schedule.
Be heard on
June 3rd!
Voting for school
budgets and school
board candidates will
take place across New
York on June 3.
From left, Dale Bacchetti, Section Vice President George Wagner and
Section President Gary Ghosen initiated and won grievances against
Erie County Community College over the college’s Taylor Law
violations.
When Bacchetti, who had family
reasons for his split shift status,
asked for an explanation, he was
threatened by a supervisor and
told he would “never work a day
shift again.” He was also
threatened with the loss of his job
by a supervisor, if the charge
against the college was upheld.
That threat, in modified form,
was repeated by the county’s
director of labor relations, in the
presence of CSEA Labor Relations
Specialist Penny Gleason and
Ghosen, during a break in a prehearing conference when the
administrative law judge was
temporarily out of the room.
“He stated that Dale’s split shift
was an accommodation,” said
Gleason, “and that he would be
Fighting for fairness in Troy
CSEA President Danny Donohue takes part in “Public Education —
Labor’s Partnership with Our Communities” in Troy recently. Linda
Hillje, CSEA Rensselaer County Education Local president, left, and
CSEA activist Felice Moffre, right, flank Donohue. The forum helped
educate the public about labor’s role in education, provide info on the
state budget and build support for school budget votes.
It is imperative that
you get out and support
the candidates and
budgets in your
community that support
working families.
put back on straight afternoons.
He said ‘We will not make
accommodations for people who
bring us to PERB.’”
The arbitrator found the labor
relations director’s comments
“lamentable,” and wrote they had
a chilling effect on employee
rights, and were in “direct
contravention and patently
violative of the express public
policy of this state.”
He ordered the college and the
county to:
• Cease and desist from
unilaterally transferring the work
of custodians of buildings and
grounds and senior building
guards from the CSEA unit, and …
to return that work to the unit.
• Make unit members whole for
any loss of wages and benefits,
plus interest;
• Cease and desist from
interfering with, restraining or
coercing unit members in the
exercise of their protected rights
guaranteed under the Taylor law;
and
• Sign and post a “Notice to All
Employees“ for 30 days, stating
the above.
“This was a great win against
anti-union animus,” said CSEA
Western Region President Flo
Tripi. “We will be watching to see
that the county follows these
directives. These are part of the
reasons that unions exist, to
protect its members from abuse.”
For information on
how you can help, see
Page 20 and visit the
CSEA web site at
csealocal1000.net.
“C
SEA members tend to live
where they work — it
[budget cuts] affects us as
members of our community, it
affects our children and it affects
our livelihood. ”
— Gary Conley, CSEA
Westchester County Local
President on the importance
of voting in school district
elections and budget votes.
— Ron Wofford
June 2003
THE WORK FORCE
Page
9
New York budget fight timeline
2002
February
In budget testimony before the state
legislature,
CSEA President Danny Donohue warns of
an approaching fiscal crisis for New York;
calls for a fairer, more balanced approach
to deal with the state’s financial challenges
so New Yorkers can continue to receive the
services they need, now and in the future.
Capitol gains!
July
CSEA endorses Carl McCall for governor, saying he is the best
candidate for all New Yorkers and had earned CSEA’s support.
In the wake of events that have shaken New York’s
political system to its core, it is clear that CSEA
members have once again demonstrated why we are
New York’s leading union.
T
he union was instrumental
in the events leading to
the state Legislature
voting overwhelmingly to
override Gov. George Pataki’s
vetoes and establishing a state
budget that represents a fair
and responsible approach to
dealing with the state’s $12
billion budget deficit.
“The efforts CSEA members
made to ensure better choices
for New York were second to
none,” said CSEA President
Danny Donohue. “The letters,
phone calls, meetings with
legislators, public
demonstrations and other
activities made a huge
difference in this fight.”
“CSEA members should be
proud of their hard work
and unity across the
state,” Donohue said.
CSEA members
mounted a full-court press on
the union’s priorities in Albany
and in localities across the
state. Working with the AFL-CIO
and other coalition partners,
including New Yorkers for Fiscal
Fairness, CSEA delivered its
message.
The union also aired a
statewide radio and television
campaign to help make its
points.
Events like AFSCME Lobby
Day, the May 3 Rally for Public
Education and numerous
programs, demonstrations and
in-district lobbying in every
part of the state made a strong
impact in the fight.
“The state Legislature has
demonstrated real leadership in
taking some very responsible
steps to deal with the state’s
fiscal situation, but we still face
very real problems in every
part of the state,” Donohue
said.
“CSEA members need to stay
fired up”, Donohue said. “We
have state and local
government contract fights
across New York and we also
need to turn out in force to
support school district budget
votes on Tuesday June 3.
September
State Sen. Majority Leader Joseph
Bruno suggests state’s budget deficit
could be more than $10 billion for the
year ahead; Gov. George Pataki curtly
dismisses Bruno’s assessment.
Above, CSEA President Danny Donohue
addresses thousands of participants in the May 3
Rally for Education in Albany. The rally was one
of many efforts over the past two years by CSEA
to get New Yorkers to see the reality of the
governor’s wrong budget choices.
Below, left to right: Youngsters who are New
York’s future take part in the rally;
CSEA President Danny Donohue and Executive
Vice President Mary Sullivan fire up the crowd,
at a pre-rally event outside CSEA Headquarters,
and;
October
Pataki crisscrosses the state in his
election campaign announcing
millions of dollars in promised state
funds, all the while telling New
Yorkers everything’s great with the
state budget and economy.
November
• Pataki wins re-election with 49 percent of the vote in a three-way
race with McCall and Independence Party candidate Thomas Golisano.
• Pataki makes token acknowledgement of budget issues; orders state
agencies to find 5 percent savings in their budgets.
A sea of CSEA pennants.
December
CSEA publicly calls on the governor for early, fair and balanced action
in the impending budget crisis; union launches statewide campaign,
including radio and television ads for Medicaid prescription drug
reform that could help the state and localities save $400 million
annually. Union briefs its local and unit presidents about state’s fiscal
situation.
January 2003
• Pataki barely mentions the word “deficit” at his inauguration or State
of the State Speech.
• Pataki first acknowledges the seriousness of the state’s fiscal
situation with the release of the state budget. Donohue slams “slash
and burn approach,” stating, “At a time when we need New Yorkers
pulling together, the governor has proposed a budget that will have us
pulling apart.”
• Pataki budget proposes Medicaid prescription drug reform in a “bait
and switch” scheme that would have the state pocketing all the
savings while shifting higher hospitalization costs to localities.
• CSEA launches statewide advertising campaign calling for better
budget choices.
Page
10
June 2003
THE WORK FORCE
February/March
• Donohue slams governor’s budget
for its wrong choices and broken
promises in legislative testimony; calls
for an income tax surcharge and
closing of corporate tax loopholes to
help deal with deficit.
• CSEA steps up letter-writing and
phone call campaign to legislators
along with community coalition
building, budget forums and public
demonstrations.
• CSEA Political Action training
prepares activists for pressing the
union’s cause; several lobby days take
message directly to lawmakers.
• CSEA and coalition partners’ media campaigns intensify.
• Public opinion polls show eroding job approval ratings for Pataki,
growing support for “better choices.”
April
• Thousands of CSEA and AFSCME members press state legislators
during the union’s annual Lobby Day.
• CSEA State Workshop program
fires up hundreds of activists to
take on the fight.
• CSEA conducts Albany briefing
for hundreds of local and unit
presidents.
• CSEA-backed events and
demonstrations take place in
every part of the state.
• Pataki refuses to budge in
negotiations with Senate and
Assembly; threatens to veto any
agreement they reach.
May
• Legislature enacts a responsible spending plan with significant
budget restorations to help schools and localities avoid steep
property tax hikes. Legislature’s plan generates revenue via income tax
surcharge on the wealthiest New Yorkers and by
closing corporate tax loopholes.
• CSEA has strong contingent to support
legislature’s plan at massive Rally for Public
Education.
• Public opinion polls show Pataki’s job approval at
its lowest level in eight years; strong support for
legislature’s budget.
• State legislature enacts budget by overwhelming
override of Pataki’s 119 line item vetoes of their
spending plan.
• Override vote is unanimous in the Republican controlled state
Senate.
June 2003
Page 11
SUNY Local honors
late CSEA member
with worker memorial
PURCHASE — The lawn near
the Performing Arts Center at
SUNY Purchase will
forever have a somber
reminder of a CSEA
member who died
while serving the
public.
CSEA joined with
SUNY Purchase
officials, community
members and
relatives of Luis Serrano on
Workers’ Memorial Day to
dedicate a concrete plaque in
From our
family to
yours
The sudden death of a
family member can have a
devastating effect on loved
ones. CSEA is not only
committed to providing
quality representation to our
members in the workplace,
but to being there for
workers’ families when they
need help most. Often,
people do not know where to
turn for help and advice. We
want them to know they can
turn to the CSEA family.
A new CSEA publication,
“From Our Family to Yours,”
offers helpful advice for
families of CSEA members
who have died in service.
If you learn of a CSEA
brother or sister who dies on
the job, please contact your
CSEA local and region office.
The publication with a letter
will then be sent from CSEA
President Danny Donohue to
the family.
Page
12
THE WORK FORCE
memory of the CSEA member
who gave his life while trying to
protect others from
harm. The plaque
was provided
jointly by the CSEA
SUNY Purchase
Local and college
officials.
Serrano, who was
also a shop steward
for the union’s
SUNY Purchase Local, was
killed in the early-morning
hours Dec. 14, 2000, after a
newspaper delivery truck
struck him. He had been
clearing snow and ice from the
road adjacent to the Performing
Arts Center when the incident
occurred.
CSEA SUNY Purchase Local
President Frank Williams, who
had worked with Serrano at the
building, remembered him as a
man who had loved his family
and enjoyed his work.
“(Serrano) gave his last
measure to protect us from ice
and snow,” Williams said. “He
was a great worker — the best
of us — and he deserves
nothing but the best from us.”
Members of Luis Serrano’s family examine a plaque that was
dedicated at SUNY Purchase on Workers’ Memorial Day in
memory of Serrano. A cleaner at the college and CSEA shop
steward for the SUNY Purchase Local, Serrano was killed on the
job in 2000. From left to right are Julia Serrano, Martha Serrano
(also a CSEA member and cleaner at SUNY Purchase), Luis
Serrano Jr., Lourdes Serrano, Lucia Virella, Annabel Virella,
Ashley Virella and Heriberto Virella.
CSEA Southern Region
President Diane Hewitt offered,
on behalf of all CSEA members
across the state, the union’s
deepest sympathy for Serrano’s
loved ones.
“It’s only fitting that we
honor Luis Serrano on Workers’
Memorial Day,” she said. “I
hope for the day when these
types of ceremonies will no
longer be necessary.”
Serrano is survived by his
wife, Martha, a cleaner at SUNY
Purchase and CSEA member,
four children and two
grandchildren — all of whom
were on hand to pay tribute to
him.
“I want to thank everyone
who made this plaque possible
and supported us, including
CSEA,” Luis Serrano Jr.,
Serrano’s son, said. “I can’t
thank you enough for your
friendship and kindness to him
and now to my mother. Thank
you for making us feel that he’ll
never be forgotten.”
— Janice Marra
Elsewhere on Workers’ Memorial Day ...
At left below, CSEA Western New York DDSO
Local President Dawn Smith honors workers
who have died on the job at the facility’s
Worker Memorial. At right below, members of
June 2003
the Capital Region Area Labor Federation,
including CSEA members, take part in a
Workers’ Memorial Day ceremony in Albany.
CSEA snowplow
operators, support
staff feted as
Hometown Heroes
ALBANY — CSEA represented
snowplow operators and support
staff from local
government highway
crews and the state
Department of
Transportation were
honored as
“Hometown Heroes”
at a recent program
sponsored by the Red
Cross of Northeastern
New York. CSEA
member George Forgea, an
employee of the town of East
Greenbush, was also recognized
at the same event for his heroic
actions as a volunteer fireman.
CSEA President Danny
Donohue helped make the
presentation to the plow
operators and offered the
union’s appreciation: “These
men and women truly are
Hometown Heroes,” Donohue
said. “They make our roads safe
for our children to get to school,
for emergency
vehicles to get to
where they need to
go and for you and
me to get to work. In
fact, when you think
about it, none of us
can do our jobs until
they’ve done theirs.”
“This winter in
particular they
earned our respect and
appreciation,” Donohue said.
A representative group of
CSEA plow operators and other
staff participated in the program
and accepted the recognition
award, a commemorative stamp
poster provided by the U.S.
Postal Service. Albany
Postmaster Mike Esposito also
noted how much postal workers
appreciate the efforts of CSEA
CSEA’s contingent of Hometown Heroes accepts their award from
the Red Cross for their dedication on and off the job. At left is
WGY morning host Don Weeks, who emceed the event.
winter road crews in keeping
streets and roadways clear.
For more than a decade, CSEA
has sponsored snow closing
announcements on radio
stations statewide. The
sponsorships highlight the
outstanding efforts that CSEA
crews make in the worst of
conditions to serve the people of
New York.
Forgea, whose work as a
volunteer fireman was recently
profiled in The Work Force was
recognized for saving the life of
an elderly, disabled man last
Thanksgiving when he
responded to a fire and ran into
a burning house to carry him to
safety.
“CSEA is proud of George and
all of our members who do so
much for the people in their
communities every day,”
Donohue said. “It’s great to have
an organization like the Red
Cross recognize their
contributions.”
The Red Cross event honors a
broad range of individuals and
groups who make an outstanding
contribution to the community.
NYC SEFA team lets nothing stand in their way
NEW YORK — Tragedy, temporary
displacement and a slew of retirements could
not stop the State Employee Federated
Appeal (SEFA) team of CSEA members
working at the lower Manhattan Office of
Temporary Disability Assistance office from
reaching their goals.
“There was a lot of emotion and stress,”
said Isabel Cruz in the wake of September 11,
especially because their office is across the
street from Ground Zero. “But something
good came out of it.”
Cruz and her CSEA co-workers, (all
members of the clerical staff), Shirley Lee,
Gilbert Fontanes, Robin Singh and Angela
Mohammad, were recently honored at a
luncheon in Albany for “going beyond the
norm to ensure that everyone is given the
opportunity to participate” and for “carefully
planning for upcoming campaigns.” They
raised about $14,000.
It wasn’t an easy task, according to Singh
who readily admits that she’s attended far
From left, Isabel Cruz, Shirley Lee, Gilbert
Fontanes, Robin Singh and Angela
Mohammad have been recognized for their
efforts on behalf of SEFA.
too many retirement parties lately. “A lot of
people retired after 9/11,” said Singh. “We
thought we would not reach our goal but we
did.”
The team accomplished this by having
raffles, auctions, 50-50s, and securing gift
certificates and other goods from local
vendors. “This is a great committee,” said
Cruz. “We’re all committed.”
For all the CSEA members on the team,
raising money for SEFA was also very
personal. They have all had relatives who
have either died or have been affected by
diseases or medical conditions that are
served by organizations that receive SEFA
funding.
“A portion of my gift goes to St. Vincent’s
Hospital,” said Mohammad. “If it weren’t for
them, my daughter would not be with me
today.” Her daughter had been in a coma for
31 days. Now she’s a healthy 16-year-old.
“I am extremely proud of our members and
the selfless dedication they brought to this
SEFA campaign,” said CSEA Metro Region
President George Boncoraglio. “It’s yet
another clear example of the compassion,
creativity and conviction that CSEA members
bring to their workplaces and their
communities.”
— David Galarza
June 2003
THE WORK FORCE Page 13
Also in 1973:
✼ The Vietnam cease fire agreement is signed in
January.
1973
✼ The nation is embroiled throughout the year in
the Watergate scandal with court actions and
Senate hearings dominating the news. In
October, President Nixon fires Watergate
Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox and Deputy
Attorney General William Ruckleshaus;
Attorney General Elliot Richardson resigns in
what comes to be know as the “Saturday Night
Massacre.”
30 years ago...
Thirty years ago, CSEA underwent a top to bottom
restructuring that stands to this day.
In an effort to better meet the needs of its members at
the grassroots level, the union reorganized into a regional
structure with offices, staff and resources established in
key geographic locations across the state (see related
feature on Page 18).
The four year initiative was led by a Restructuring
Committee chaired by A.Victor Costa, an employee of the
New York State Workers’ Compensation Board and long
time leader in CSEA. Costa, now retired from public
employment, recently shared his thoughts and
perspectives on his years of involvement in CSEA as part
of a history project under way to document the events
and personalities that have shaped our union.
✼ Vice President Spiro Agnew resigns after
pleading no contest to income tax evasion.
✼ Arab and Israeli forces fight the Yom Kippur
War.
✼ U.S. median houshold income is $10,512.
A. Victor Costa
“We visited every part of the state and considered more than 2,800 suggestions from the
membership,” Costa said. “We had more than our share of heated arguments but in the end
our committee was unanimous in our recommendations to the delegates of the union who
supported our proposals.”
Page
14
THE WORK FORCE June 2003
✼ Sacheen Littlefeather stands in for Marlon
Brando and refuses his Best Actor Oscar for his
role in “The Godfather,” to protest the U.S.
government's treatment of Native Americans.
✼ The top films of the year include “The Sting,”
“The Exorcist,” and “American Graffiti.”
QSAC workers
demand
fair play
NEW YORK — QSAC (Quality Services for the
Autism Community) workers trying to organize
a union at their workplace were recently
invited to a QSAC management meeting that
included the entire QSAC Board of Directors.
At that meeting workers described the
problems at the agency and presented their
demands and their desires to form a union.
“We told the board members about the
problems we were having just trying to provide
our consumers with basic needs,” said Movyn
Bass, who was fired for his union activism. “We
also demanded that QSAC negotiate a
neutrality card check agreement so that QSAC
employees can finally decide whether they
want a union while also being free of all this
intimidation and harassment.”
Board members and management were
provided copies of the neutrality proposal.
Once it became clear that QSAC management
was not willing to discuss the agreement, the
workers reiterated their desire to reach an
agreement and left the meeting.
“A free and fair election cannot occur in a
climate of harassment and intimidation,” said
CSEA Organizer Paul Frank. “Instead, we’re
proposing a fair card check procedure,
recognized and sanctioned by federal law.”
The state attorney
general is conducting an
investigation into
whether QSAC is
breaking the law under
the federal Fair Labor
Standards Act. For
several years many
employees have not
QSAC workers, CSEA members and activists from Jobs with Justice hold up letters at Mets
game that reads “Hey QSAC Union Yes.”
been paid thousands of dollars in overtime.
New York City’s and the state comptrollers
have also sent letters to QSAC’s director on
behalf of the workers and their desire to have a
union.
Just days before meeting and before
thousands of fans gathered at Shea Stadium,
QSAC employees told management to stop
striking out with employees. QSAC was one of
several autism organizations that had been
invited to participate in Autism Day at Shea
Stadium.
In between innings, workers, CSEA members
and activists from Jobs with Justice held up
large placards with letters that spelled out
phrases like: “Hey QSAC: HIT A HOME RUN
WITH THE UNION” and “ERROR ON QSAC: BE
FAIR TO THOSE WHO CARE.”
Later QSAC workers and union activists
surprised management by showing up at a local
restaurant where QSAC was holding a fundraiser. While QSAC director Gary Maffei
observed the workers, leafleting patrons and
guests, another person in his party was busily
snapping pictures of the workers. It was yet
another example of how QSAC management
continues to intimidate and harass workers
from organizing. As a result the union has filed
several Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges
against QSAC with the National Labor Relations
Board (NLRB).
“Management continues to think that we’re
just going to disappear,” said Metropolitan
Region President George Boncoraglio. “But in
fact the worker’s desire to organize a union is
continuing to gain more support from parents
of consumers, religious groups, politicians, and
labor activists.”
QSAC, a private non-profit agency serving
the autism community receives more than 90
percent of its operating budget from the New
York State Office of Mental Retardation and
Developmental Disabilities. It employs
approximately 650 people at 15 sites with 14 in
Queens and one in Long Island. QSAC runs a
residential program that is supplemented by
day and after school programs.
Workers at QSAC, fed up with short staffing,
high turn over, arbitrary firings and
disciplinary actions, and problems with food
and medical supplies, have formed a committee
called QCARE (Quality Care Advocates for the
Rights of Employees). The QCARE committee is
working with CSEA to bring a union to their
workplace.
— David Galarza
Justice for Farmworkers
CSEA President Danny Donohue takes
part in the Albany leg of a march
calling on New York to pass better
laws to protect the state’s
farmworkers. Farmworkers do not
even have the most basic on-the-job
rights and protections that most of us
take for granted including a day off
each week, access to toilets and the
right to organize into a union.
At right, CSEA Education and
Training Specialist Guillermo
Perez, who marched from Harlem
to Albany, takes part.
June 2003
visit the activist action site on
www.csealocal1000.net and click on
the Labor Religion Coalition link.
THE WORK FORCE Page
15
Summary of April 10 CSEA
Board of Directors Meeting
Editor’s note: The
Work Force publishes
a summary of actions
taken by CSEA’s Board
of Directors. The
summary is prepared
by CSEA Statewide
Secretary Barbara
Reeves for union
members.
CSEA Statewide
Secretary Barbara
Reeves
ALBANY — The CSEA
Statewide Board of
Directors met on
April 10. In official
business, the board:
• Appointed Lester Crockett as a trustee
of the CSEA WORK Institute;
• Retained the services of
PricewaterhouseCoopers for the fiscal year
2003 audit;
• Designated the American Arbitration
Association as the independent agency for
the 2004 combined elections;
• Authorized the president to enter into
negotiations for a new site to house the
Western Region office;
• Appointed Robert Holland, Dan
LoMonte, William Walsh, Donna Smith,
Stanley Bergman, Mary D’Antonio and
Robert Rauff to the Long Island Region
Political Action Committee;
• Expressed support for U.S. troops now
and when they return home; and
• Placed into administratorship Green
Haven Correctional Facility Local 158,
Binghamton Psychiatric Center Local 441,
City of Rensselaer DPW Unit 8267/Local
842, Avoca Central School District Unit
8712/Local 851, Haverling School General
Unit 8717/Local 851, and Town of Delaware
Unit 8813/Local 853.
Questions concerning the summary should
be directed to CSEA Statewide Secretary
Barbara Reeves, CSEA Headquarters, 143
Washington Ave., Albany, N.Y. 12210, 1-800342-4146 or (518) 257-1253.
‘They
said
what?’
Visit CSEA’s web site and hear it
through The Grapevine every
day.
Stay up to date on the latest news
and information affecting CSEA
members with
www.csealocal1000.net’s
Grapevine.
Daily updates and news archives.
T
he CSEA Store is open for
business! Shop online for a
wide variety of apparel, gifts
and goods. The CSEA Store allows
CSEA members to show pride in
their union while letting folks in
your community know that CSEA
members are family, friends and
neighbors.
“It’s very easy to buy knock-off
items from Third World countries
and save a few bucks on CSEA
promotional items, but we don’t
do that,” said CSEA Statewide
Treasurer Maureen Malone.
“We need to buy union-made
products and support union
workers. If we don’t, who will?”
Malone said.
Visit the store online today and
see what awaits you. A print
catalog will also be available soon.
Page
16
THE WORK FORCE
June 2003
What’s In It For You?
Local
Government
Benefit
Negotiations
With the state budget
situation hanging over our heads
and municipal and school district
financial problems appearing in the
papers every day, local government
contract negotiations will be trickier
than ever this year. A major cause
for concern is the rising cost of
health related benefits.
The CSEA Employee Benefit Fund,
knowing this is not a problem that
will disappear overnight, has made a
concerted effort to design plans to
help meet challenges CSEA units
face in negotiations. The EBF has
been providing cost effective benefit
programs to CSEA Local Government
units for more than 23 years and has
expanded its offering to help fit the
diverse needs of counties, cities,
towns, villages and school districts
throughout New York State.
Beginning with our most
inexpensive programs, the fund
plans include:
Annual Physical Benefit — This
plan reimburses up to $95 for the
out-of-pocket cost of a routine
annual physical once every year.
Starts at $2.52 annually for
dependent coverage.
Maternity Benefit — This
program provides a $200 benefit
upon the birth of a child to either
the covered member or the
member’s spouse. Starts at $6.12
annually for dependent coverage.
Hearing Aid Plan — This plan
provides a benefit of up to $450 per
ear once every three years toward
the cost of a hearing aid. Starts at
$9.72 annually for dependent
coverage.
Legal Benefit Plan — Under this
plan, members can choose any
attorney and reimbursement is sent
to the member for covered services
up to $1,000 annually. Starts at
$18.72 annually for dependent
coverage.
Vision Plans — The fund offers
three benefit levels (Silver, Gold,
Platinum) and the choice of either
an annual (12 month) or biannual
(24 month) benefit. These plans can
be negotiated for the employee only
or employee and family. Riders can
also be added that expand the
covered services to include items
like ultra-violet coating, transition
lenses or an occupational benefit. A
list of participating plan
providers accept the
program as payment in full
for covered plan services.
Starts as low as $64.68 for
a 24 month Individual only
plan (2003-04 rate).
Dental Plans — The
fund offers four benefit levels
(Sunrise, Horizon, Equinox,
Dutchess) with escalating annual
and orthodontic maximums. The
plans reimburse according to a fee
schedule and any Participating Plan
Providers accept the programs as
Paid-in Full for covered plan
services. Certain Specialists within
participating general practices may
have the right to balance-bill
members for the difference between
the specialist’s customary charge
and the CSEA EBF plan allowance.
Starts as low as $200.04 for
Individual only Sunrise Dental
coverage - $2,200 annual maximum
(2003-04 rate).
Should any of these EBF plans be
negotiated, all members are covered
free of charge for the Fund’s
Workplace Security program, which
provides a benefit to members who
suffer from trauma associated with
an assault or hostage situation while
performing his/her job.
As with all EBF benefits, these
plans and their cost must be
negotiated into your collective
bargaining agreement for the fund to
provide benefits. The fund offers a
Three Year Rate Guarantee for it’s
programs and several coverage
options from Employee Only to a
flexible Composite coverage that
includes dependents.
Contact the following
representatives for more
information:
Long Island Region: Linda Sclafani
(631) 462-5224 lindasclafani@aol.com
Southern Region: Colleen Foley
(800) 323-2732 ext 816
cfoley@cseaebf.org
Capital Region: Kim Lucas
(800) 323-2732 ext 818
klucas@cseaebf.org
Central Region: Meghan Pastiglione
(800) 323-2732 ext 860
mpastiglione@cseaebf.org
Western Region: Pat Regan
(800) 323-2732 ext 836
pregan@cseaebf.org
An Ever Better Future
Protecting Your Benefits
The Health Benefits Department
was very pleased by the
overwhelming response to our
Word Search Contest regarding
commonly heard health insurance
terms, which appeared in the April
Work Force. The answer key is
listed below.
Answer Key:
A type of medical or surgical
care in which a subscriber
occupies a hospital bed for at
least a 24-hour period.
Answer: Inpatient
A fixed out-of-pocket expense
for a specified covered service
that the patient pays each time he
or she visits a participating health
plan provider. It is usually
represented in a specific dollar
amount (e.g. $10).
Answer: Copayment
An approved list of prescription
drugs covered by a health plan.
Answer: Formulary
A provision in an insurance
policy that relieves the insured of
paying the premiums while
receiving benefits.
Answer: Waiver of premium
A type of medical or surgical
care in which a subscriber
occupies a hospital bed for less
than a 24-hour period.
Answer: Outpatient
Formal recognition by an
agency or organization that
evaluates a program of study or
an institution as meeting certain
predetermined standards.
Answer: Accreditation
A physician who concentrates
on medical activities in a specific
field of medicine based on
education and qualifications.
Answer: Specialist
The amount that must be paid
by a subscriber during a calendar
year before a health insurance
plan will begin making benefit
payments for services rendered at
a non-participating provider.
Answer: Deductible
A means of sharing the costs of
services between the plan and the
subscriber. It is usually
represented in a percentage
amount (e.g. 80 percent : 20
percent).
Answer: Coinsurance
The form used to file for
benefits under a health plan.
Answer: Claim form
A facility intended to provide
care to terminally ill individuals
with a life expectancy of six
months or less.
Answer: Hospice
Improper or negligent treatment
of a patient, by a physician,
resulting in injury, damage or loss.
Answer: Malpractice
The health insurance plan’s
right to recover money it has paid
for health care benefits when
another party is legally
responsible for payment.
Answer: Subrogation
The period of time between
enrollment in a health plan and
the effective date of coverage.
Answer: Waiting period
Prescription drugs that are
therapeutically equivalent to and
contain the same active ingredient
as their brand name counter
parts.
Answer: Generic drugs
A person who is legally licensed
to practice the profession of
preparing and dispensing
pharmaceuticals.
Answer: Pharmacist
An eligible family member who
obtains health coverage through
the enrolled individual’s health
plan.
Answer: Dependent
The date on which an
individual’s health plan goes into
effect and coverage begins.
Answer: Effective date
The first 25 CSEA members who
returned a correctly completed
Word Search Game received a
Joint Committee on Health
Benefits Travel Mug.
Congratulations to all of the
winners from the CSEA Health
Benefits Department.
Promoting Good Health
June 2003
THE WORK FORCE Page
17
is for regions
The strength of CSEA comes from the unity of
action and purpose of its 265,000 members. The union
is structured to make the most of that
strength by building solidarity at the
local, region and statewide levels.
To better coordinate the activities, resources
and effectiveness of CSEA across the state,
the union is organized into six geographic
regions with a region office in each:
Long Island, Metropolitan (covering the
five boroughs of New York City),
Southern (covering the counties of the
Hudson Valley from Westchester to
1. Long Island Region
Ulster County), Capital (covering Greene
3 Garet Place
and Columbia Counties, the Capital
Commack, NY 11725
District and the counties extending north
631-462-0030
to the Canadian border), Central
Nick LaMorte, president
(covering counties from the Southern
Tier to the Canadian border), and the
Western Region (covering the
2. Metropolitan Region
westernmost counties of the state).
40 Fulton Street, 22nd Floor
New York, NY 10038
Each region elects a Region
212-406-2156
President (who also serves as a
George Boncoraglio,
statewide vice president of CSEA) and a
president
slate of region officers. CSEA labor
relations, political action,
communications, safety and health and
administrative staff work out of each of
the union’s six region offices under the
supervision of a region director.
CSEA President Danny Donohue
initiates the policy and agenda of the
union in coordination with CSEA’s
statewide officers (Executive Vice
President Mary Sullivan, Secretary
Barbara Reeves, Treasurer Maureen
Malone and the six region
presidents/statewide vice presidents)
and elected Board of Directors. Much of
the activity of carrying it out is
implemented region by region.
Page
18
THE WORK FORCE
3. Southern Region
568 State Route 52
Beacon, NY 12508
845-831-1000 or
1-800-757-CSEA
Diane Hewitt, president
4. Capital Region
1 Lear Jet Lane, Suite #2
Latham, NY 12110
518-785-4400 or
1-800-874-7344
Kathy Garrison, president
June 2003
5. Central Region
6595 Kirkville Road
East Syracuse, NY 13057
315-433-0050 or
1-800-559-7975
Jim Moore, president
6. Western Region
482 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14202
716-886-0391 or
1-866-568-7734
Flo Tripi, president
To keep up to date on CSEA activity in
your region visit your region page on the
CSEA website (www.csealocal1000.net)
click on the regions link.
New health insurance
law, HIPAA, affects you
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a
federal law designed to improve the nation’s health care system.
Title I of HIPAA, which is already in effect, protects health insurance
coverage for workers and their families when they change or terminate
employment. It protects an individual’s continued insurability. Before
this law, if an individual lost insurance coverage for any reason, he or
she could be required to prove insurability before obtaining new
coverage. For individuals with chronic health problems or whose health
deteriorated while they were insured, it was a serious problem.
Title II of HIPAA, which became effective in April 2003, includes
national standards for the protection of the privacy of personal health
information against access without consent or authorization.
The law applies directly to three specific groups commonly known as
“covered entities.” These groups include health care providers,
administrators of health plans and health care claims/eligibility clearinghouses.
HIPAA legislation may seem brand new to some, however, many may
recall recently receiving in the mail a “Notice of Privacy Practices” from
their individual group health plan. This notice was a requirement under
HIPAA law for all health plans.
In an effort to help CSEA members familiarize themselves with the
HIPAA legislation, we have put together a list of frequently asked
questions:
Q: What is protected health information (PHI)?
A: PHI is any information that can identify you as an individual
and your past, present or future physical or mental health
condition.
Q: My 19-year-old dependent is away at college. Will the privacy laws
prohibit me from getting information about his or her health
insurance claims?
A: Yes, any dependent (over the age of 18) must complete a form
that will authorize release of PHI to you.
Q: I handle the health insurance for my elderly parent. Will I still be
able to call and receive information regarding my parent?
A: You will need authorization from your parent to release PHI to
you.
Q: Is it true that I can no longer call for information about my
spouse’s claims even though he/she is on my health insurance
policy?
A: Yes. Privacy laws prohibit the release of information to anyone,
other than the individual or provider of the services unless
there is a signed authorization from that spouse.
Q: Last year, my parents authorized the disclosure of information to
me regarding their healthcare policy. Do they have to fill out
another form?
A: Yes. New authorizations must be completed because of the
privacy law that became effective on April 14, 2003.
Q: Will protected health information be released with a court order,
or if subpoenaed?
A: PHI may be disclosed in response to a court order, subpoena,
discovery request, or other lawful process.
Q: My dependent is overseas serving in the military, therefore,
unavailable to sign the authorization form. Does this mean that I
cannot receive information regarding his/her protected health
information?
A: If you have power of attorney indicating that you have access to
your dependent’s medical information, your healthcare
provider will be able to release your dependent’s protected
health information to you.
Important information about Lyme
disease
Visit the Joint Committee on Health Benefits’ web site at
csealocal1000.net for important information about the spread of Lyme
disease in New York and precautions you should take. Visit CSEA’s
Occupational Safety and Health section on the web site as well.
DUNKIRK RALLY — After
nearly a year without a
contract, and no progress
in PERB impasse
mediation, the 100-member
Dunkirk Central Schools
Unit and supporters
recently demonstrated at a
school board meeting.
Turnout was excellent,
with CSEA brothers and sisters from
outside the unit joining the protest …
ALFRED SIGN-UP — A majority of the
53 NYS College of Ceramics at Alfred
University workers have signed CSEA
membership cards, prompting a letter
from CSEA President Danny Donohue
to the University requesting voluntary
recognition of CSEA as their
bargaining agent. If a positive
response is not received in 30 days,
PERB will be petitioned to set up a
representation election …
LIVINGSTON COUNTY RALLY —
More than 200 Livingston County
Employees and supporters were
joined recently by CSEA President
Danny Donohue and Western Region
President Flo Tripi in a rally for a fair
contract. The 480-member unit has
been without a contract since the end
of 2001, and are fighting management
attempts to remove unit positions,
and other changes that would change
and weaken the union. Donohue and
Tripi applauded the unit’s members
for staying unified, and assured them
that the union’s 265,000 members
stand with them in their quest for a
fair contract … MADISON COUNTY
VOTES YES — About 250 white-collar
CSEA workers in Madison County
government overwhelmingly
approved a six-year contract. Union
members voted by a 2-1 ratio to OK
the tentative agreement negotiated
with management. The contract was
ratified by the county Board of
Supervisors … ELLENVILLE GAINS
TENTATIVE PACT — The nearly 150
CSEA-represented workers at
Ellenville Hospital have a tentative
contract agreement with the hospital.
The hospital’s nursing, technical,
dietary, maintenance and clerical
workers chose to form a union nearly
a year ago. CSEA is also working with
the hospital to ensure the facility’s
financial success … KEEP SUNY
HOSPITALS PUBLIC — CSEA
members working in the SUNY
Hospitals (Upstate Medical Center in
Syracuse, Downstate Medical Center
in Brooklyn and University Hospital at
June 2003
Stony Brook) have
participated in
demonstrations recently
to protest Gov. George
Pataki’s proposal to sell
the facilities. CSEA
believes there are better
choices for improving the
operation of the facilities
and maintaining their vital
role in the public health care system
... HONORING PUBLIC EMPLOYEES
— CSEA Executive Vice President
Mary Sullivan recently joined CSEA
members and Assemblyman Jack
McEneny during a commemoration in
the State Capitol of Public Employee
Day … HOLD THE PRESSES — A
recent statement from the AFL-CIO
Executive Council forecasts media
ownership rules that could be
approved by the FCC soon would lift
the current limits on the number of
TV, radio and newspaper outlets a
corporation could own and open the
way for an unprecedented media
consolidation placing the “public’s
right to receive information from
diverse sources” in serious jeopardy.
The council condemned the FCC’s
efforts to accelerate consolidation
and urged the commission to maintain
current media ownership rules …
LEAP YEAR PAY DIFFERENCE — A
memo recently was sent to all state
work sites outlining the change in pay
due to the 2003-2004 state fiscal year
including a leap year. The extra day
means the formula the state uses to
divide the year into pay periods has a
greater denominator, resulting in a
smaller amount of pay per pay period
but still achieving the same sum
annually. In short, if you work for the
state and notice your paycheck is a
few cents shorter than usual, it’s
because of the leap year factor, not
because your pay has been reduced.
AFSCME’s new Women’s Rights
Department Director Iresema Garza,
center, meets with CSEA’s Statewide
Women’s Committee recently.
THE WORK FORCE Page 19
Make Sure to Vote for
CSEA-endorsed School District Candidates and
Budgets on June 3.
Call your Political Action Coordinator to Volunteer for
Get Out The Vote Efforts
Long Island Region:
Gretchen Penn: 631 462-0030
Capital Region:
Rob Scholz: 518 785-4400
Metropolitan Region:
Matthew D’Amico: 212 406-2156
Central Region:
Mike Ottaviano: 315 433-0050
Southern Region:
Jason Haenel: 845 831-1000
Western Region:
Bill Benfanti: 716 886-0391
Check the CSEA Web page and region
Web pages
for a listing of CSEA-endorsed school
district candidates and budgets in your
region.