Negotiation News: CSEA – We work for YOU!

Your CSEA Monroe County Negotiation Team is continuing to tenaciously fight for a fair contract for all Monroe County Employees. The CSEA Negotiation Team met with the County on June 2, 2010 and will return to the bargaining table on July 27, 2010, in yet another attempt to reach a settlement in these negotiations. The Union has zealously guarded employees’ benefits including Health Insurance.

The negotiations which started in 2008 have been difficult to say the least; the County’s position has been to shift a significant portion of the cost of Health Insurance to the employee. With the state of the economy and the situation with health care in this nation, the union has approached the negotiations realistically. With that being said, the Union’s mission is to get a fair pay increase as well as protect quality benefits. With those goals in mind, the union has consistently pushed proposals that would assist the county with the ever increasing cost of Health Insurance while protecting quality benefits for our members.

CSEA knows that the County feels it is acting in the taxpayers’ best interest. The Union would like the County to always remember that County Employees are taxpayers as well as public employees. We are taxpayers with a long history of providing quality service to our neighbors in Monroe County in a cost effective manner. It is time for the County to acknowledge that the Union has been a reasonable partner throughout the negotiation process and that everyone needs to compromise if we are to reach an agreement. The County can’t come into the negotiations with an “our way or the highway” attitude and realistically believe an agreement can be reached.`         

Since the last negotiation date with the county, your negotiation team has done its due-diligence on the open issues. Specifically, we have met with Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield Representatives as well as with the Health Care consulting firm Brown and Brown. Your CSEA Negotiating Team will continue an approach toward the County that is FIRM but FAIR as we proceed with these negotiations.

We will continue to post updates on negotiations on this blog as we proceed. Please see the past post (QA on Negotiations) for more information.  You are welcome, and encouraged, to submit your questions and comments to the union at unit7400@rochester.rr.com . Please check out the unit calendar (frequently updated) to see what is going on with your union (click here).   Keep the faith, keep supporting your CSEA Negotiation Team and we will reach a fair agreement with the County of Monroe.

CSEA to take probation case to arbitration

ROCHESTER – Public safety is threatened and crime is likely to increase if Monroe County officials do not fully staff and appropriately distribute cases in the Probation Department; that’s the argument CSEA hopes to prove in arbitration June 23.

CSEA, the union representing Monroe County probation officers, has filed a grievance against the county stating that the department is understaffed and that cases are not distributed in an equitable manner. The potential result is that probationers will not be adequately supervised, placing the public at increased risk. June 23rd will be the second day of hearings on the issue.

“We are calling on Monroe County to fully staff the probation department so that each probation case can receive the time and attention necessary to keep the public safe,” said CSEA Western Region President Flo Tripi. “Crime cannot be controlled without a properly staffed department.”

While staffing has dwindled, Officers have seen their workloads rise to impossible levels. Caseloads include violent offenders, gang members, high risk sex offenders, DWI repeat offenders, and persons with significant mental health and substance abuse problems.

“Without a full staff of probation officers, we fear that a serious offender may slip through the cracks and that public safety could be in jeopardy as a result,” said CSEA Monroe County Local President Bess Watts.

Probationers have been linked to other crimes during their probation period. In the three years from 2006-2009, Monroe County had 153 homicide cases. Of these cases, 128 involved individuals with a probation history. Nineteen people were named as suspects in homicides while on probation. Fourteen people were victims of homicide while on probation.

“These stats on their own are very alarming,” said CSEA Monroe County Unit President Cris Zaffuto. “More importantly, they illustrate that more probation officers need to be hired in the county to appropriately conduct probationer supervision and keep the public safe.”

The county has for years attempted to keep costs in the department artificially low through the hiring of probation officer trainees instead of full probation officers. The problem is the trainees are required to have reduced caseloads. The end result is a short-staffed department and, ultimately, an increased danger for the public.

“Monroe County probation officers are calling on public officials to correct these staffing inadequacies so we can fully serve the public and provide the highest possible level of safety”, said CSEA Probation Section President Todd Wersinger.

CSEA is New York State’s leading union, representing employees of New York State and its counties, towns, villages, school districts, library systems, authorities and public corporations. Together with a growing population of private sector members and retirees, CSEA forms a union 290,000 strong. It is also the largest affiliate (and Local 1000) of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) which, in turn, is one of the largest affiliates of the AFL-CIO.

###

Give government work its due

Monroe County Workers seek a fair contract! - Picture by Bess Watts

By REX SMITH EDITOR - Albany Times Union

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=942964&category=REXSMITH

First published: Sunday, June 20, 2010

It's not stylish to say anything good about government these days, but you have to feel a little sympathy for public sector workers, who keep getting whipsawed by what they're hearing from us. They're our employees, you know, but as bosses go, we're so inconsistent that somebody should call in HR.

Fix the potholes, but don't tax me at the pump to pay for the patching. Slash health care spending, but don't touch mom's Medicare. Cut property taxes, but don't take away my kid's school programs.

And here's the best recent double-talk: Big government is bad, but government's response when oil spewed into the Gulf was too small. Wait! That doesn't mean we want laws to cut our reliance on oil, because that's big government meddling in the free market.

Nobody should be surprised by this, I suppose. Arguments about government's proper role consumed our Founding Fathers, gave southern states justification to secede before the Civil War, undergirded segregationists in the 1960s and provided a rallying cry for Ronald Reagan's political juggernaut (as well as his enduring legacy).

Nowadays it's even easier to attack the public sector as evil without worrying that anybody will object. Polls show that trust in government to do the right thing is at the lowest point in modern times. The numbers have mostly fallen since Lyndon Johnson was president, with some upward movement in the Reagan and Clinton administrations, followed by plummeting numbers during the last Bush presidency.

Here in New York's Capital Region, we have a good excuse for being of two minds about the proper role of government. We're as ticked off as the next guy about paying the highest state and local taxes in the nation. But you can't reduce the tax burden without cutting state spending, and that would make the loss of state jobs all but inevitable. We have about 110,000 state workers in this community, not including university system employees, and a state budget that slices very many of those jobs will hurt our local economy.

There's scant comfort to public employee unions in knowing that Gov. David Paterson signed an agreement not to lay off any workers until next year. Paterson is well-known for what may politely be called "changing his mind" about prior commitments, so layoffs may come sooner than he promised, and it's inevitable that job cuts will come at some point. Mainly, the delay gives union bosses a chance to preen in front of their members.

But the unions have a point in arguing that state government has gotten slippery about hiring "consultants" in place of state workers. The Public Employees Federation, one of the two main state work force unions, says spending on outside workers has grown by 30 percent over the last seven years, to almost $3 billion. The unions say the state generally pays outside contractors more than state workers earn.

Those contractors, remember, work for private sector companies that need to show a profit margin. Profit is good, but it's not one of the objectives of government. Here's a truth that's unpopular to hear in the era of easy anti-government rant: Rank-and-file government workers usually can do their work cheaper than for-profit contractors.

Let's be honest about what's usually going on when government turns over its work to the private sector: It is subsidizing private businesses. That's a valid policy choice, but we shouldn't pretend the so-called "free market" doesn't benefit from our tax dollars at work.

Some public benefit jobs, certainly, need to be done by private sector companies. Last week the Albany County Legislature voted to send repair business for the county's vehicle fleet to 14 private garages, at a cost of about $500,000 a year. Legislators concluded that the county shouldn't be in the business of equipping garages and hiring mechanics.

But there are pitfalls. As a young reporter, I covered a local government that suddenly moved all its auto repair business to a single, out-of-the-way garage. Digging into documents, I found that the garage was co-owned by the campaign treasurer for the public official in charge of the vehicle fleet. Each time a car was sent to the garage, taxpayers were billed for a lube job. The official eventually stood trial for bribery. A grateful editor may view this sort of corruption, which provides the raw material for our journalism, as the public sector's subsidy for newspapers.

There's chance for mischief wherever tax dollars are spent. But the reason we have government is to do jobs for us, and we do public workers and ourselves no good by blithely attacking government as evil. It isn't.

2010 GROWNEY SCHOLARSHIP AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Rochester, N.Y.-- The CSEA Monroe County Local 828 Executive Board and the Local 828 Scholarship Committee are pleased to announce the winners of the 2010 George M. Growney Scholarship Awards.

Since 1993, CSEA Local 828 has awarded over $85,000.00 in scholarship prize money. In 1994, the Monroe County Employees Unit 7400, the largest Unit in the Local, created their own scholarship program and has distributed more than $14,000.00.

Mr. Growney was a long time labor leader and activist who was employed as a probation officer with Monroe County. He served as local president for nearly two decades before his retirement in 1995. George had a passion for kids to succeed, and would be proud that his union brothers and sisters have carried on his legacy of love and commitment to youth. George M. Growney died on August 10, 1997. The scholarship program was named in his honor the following year after his death.

The scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors whose parents and caregivers are members or agency shop fee payers of Monroe County Local 828. The scholarship committees reviewed more than 32 entries this year. Scholarships applicants are judged on academic achievement, a written essay, financial need and potential.

This year's Local 828 first year $1000 winners are:

Alexa DiRaimo attends Eastridge High School and will attend either Fredonia or Ithaca College. She plans on majoring in Music. Her father is David DiRaimo, who is employed by the Monroe County DA's Office.

Lauren Goewey attends Irondequoit High School and will attend Lehigh University. She plans to major in Behavioral Neuroscience. Her mother is Anne Goewey, who is employed by the Monroe County Probation Department.

Ethan Harding attends Webster Thomas High School and will attend MCC. He plans on majoring in Nursing. His father is Edward Harding, who is employed by the Monroe County Department of Environmental Services.

Andrew Zielinski attends Hilton High School and will attend Clarkson University. He will be majoring in Electrical Engineering. His father is Joseph Zielinski, who is employed by the Monroe County Health Department.

Local 828 first year $500 winners:

Jacob Bliss attends The Harley School and will attend Nazareth College. He plans on obtaining a 4 year degree but has not decided on a major. His mother is Katharine Bliss, who is employed by the Rochester Public Library at the Winton Branch.

Shannon Cook attends Aquinas Institute and will attend SUNY Brockport. She plans on majoring in Health Sciences. Her mother is Diane Cook, who is employed by the Monroe County Fire and EMS Bureau.

Andrew Mantione attends Brighton High School and will attend RIT. He plans on majoring in Finance. His mother is Elizabeth Mantione, who is employed by the Monroe County Community Hospital.

Jonathan Nemeth attends Fairport High School and will attend the University of Rochester. He plans to major in Chemistry and French. His father is David Nemeth, who is employed by the Monroe County Medical Examiner's Office.

Local 828 second year winners:

Katelyn Armes attends St. John Fisher, majoring in Pharmacology. Her father is Frederick Armes who is employed by the Monroe County Department of Weights and Measures. Katelyn is a $1000.00 winner.

Brittany Gugel attends SUNY Brockport, majoring in Nursing. Her mother is Barbara Fraser-Gugel who is employed at Monroe Community Hospital. Brittany is a $1000.00 winner.
James Arcediano attends MCC, majoring in Psychology and Education. His father is John Arcediano who is employed by the Town of Webster. James is a $500.00 winner.

Unit 7400 second year winners:

Matthew Stevens attends McQuaid Jesuit High School and will attend Niagara College. He plans on majoring in Criminal Justice. His mother is Tina Verno-Stevens who is employed by Monroe County. Matthew is a $1000.00 winner.

Samantha Dunn attends Churchville Chili High School and will attend the University of Tennessee. She plans on majoring in Biology and Pre-med. Her mother is Joanne Dunn who is employed by the Monroe County Health Department. Samantha is a $500.00 winner.
A May 17th awards reception is planned at Finn Park in Webster, N.Y. For more information about this event or the George M. Growney Scholarship programs, please contact committee members Sue Trottier or Kim Hawkins, or call the Local 828 office at 585.328.5250.

From Danny Donohue:

An Open Letter to the People of New York

There's been a lot of irresponsible rhetoric thrown at state workers about the state's budget problems lately and it's important to set the record straight about some basic facts.

State employees didn't cause the state's fiscal crisis and slamming them won't solve it.

New York state operations (the portion of the budget covering state executive branch agencies and facilities) accounts for about 8 percent of the total state budget. State employee paychecks are a tiny fraction of that and a very small part of the deficit problem.

Governor Paterson is wrong when he says state employees have done "nothing" to help address the state's fiscal crisis. It's insulting to state employees who are working harder than ever trying do their jobs with less help, fewer resources and scorn from the governor himself. State operations have been cut by nearly $2 billion in the past 18 months, leaving many agencies stretched to the breaking point. They are only operational because of the dedication of CSEA members and other state employees.

Let's be clear: CSEA members do the work - maintaining roads, taking care of individuals with developmental disabilities and mental illness; protecting the public health; enforcing the law; issuing drivers licenses and vehicle registrations and providing the support services that make every state agency work. The average CSEA member's state salary is about $40,000 and our average pension is under $16,000 annually. CSEA challenges the governor to work a shift in any CSEA member's shoes to understand what sacrifice is.

Since the summer 2008, CSEA has offered the governor money-saving ideas. Some ideas have been considerable: A Canadian prescription drug option that we have put forth and have helped implement in nearly 40 municipalities across the state is already saving localities tens of millions of dollars. Projections for the state savings are more significant - several hundred million dollars.

CSEA also uncovered excessive state use of temporary employees hired at premium costs through temporary employment agencies. Many of the temp workers have been working in state jobs for years and the Paterson administration has spent more than $62 million of taxpayer money on these temp workers in the past 18 months.

The governor undermines any credibility he might have on the severity of New York's budget situation when he dismisses meaningful ideas about cost savings.

Instead, he continues to turn to the media to attack CSEA's refusal to make unilateral concessions simply because he demands them. CSEA will not reopen contracts. Any business person should understand that a contract is a contract and once you open one you can never again bargain in good faith. There are always ways to find common ground, but Governor Paterson has repeatedly undermined cooperation.

The governor also seems to conveniently forget that last year, CSEA came to an agreement on pension reform that the governor claimed would save the state taxpayers more than $35 billion over time. He agreed to no layoffs of state employees for the remainder of his term and he insisted on a targeted job buyout plan. That plan, solely administered by the Paterson administration, has failed to meet expectations attracted fewer than 100 high paid management/confidential employees, including political appointees.

CSEA has been around for 100 years. We have worked with every New York governor dating back to Charles Evans Hughes. We have succeeded for a century because we care about making our state a better place to live, work and grow. Besides what we do on the job, we are also the backbone of the communities where we live, contributing in every conceivable way.

Governor Paterson has a right to be wrong, but CSEA has a right to respond when he is. We will continue to do whatever it takes to protect the interest of CSEA members and the services we provide for the people of New York.

In Solidarity,
Danny Donohue

Furloughs will not help

To all my CSEA Brothers and Sisters, Take time from your Lunch On Monday 5/10/2010 at 12-1:00pm and join us at the Rochester Psychiatric Center (RPC) to tell the Governor that Furloughs will not help the Budget problems and that New York State Works Because We Do!!!!! I also wanted to let everyone know that the Monroe County CSEA Negotiation Team will be meeting with the County in negotiations on June 2, 2010 to continue our struggle for a fair and equatable contract. - Cris Zaffuto

Negotiations Update

The union has received a number of questions lately about negotiations. Here are some commonly asked questions and the response from Unit President, Cris Zaffuto:

Q. In the Democrat & Chronicle there was an article on the front page regarding how flush with money Monroe County is and that the county would advance 40 million in sales tax payments to school districts. Why can’t we get a contract?

A. We have seen the articles in the press that you referred to. It is our intention to use the facts quoted along with other research data we have done to make our arguments for a fair contract at the bargaining table. (It is important to know that the County has continuous financial obligations to the school districts regardless of what was said in the paper.) Unfortunately, our analysis of the financial viability of Monroe County is not as rosy as it was stated in the paper.

Q. Why did the negotiation team recommend a yes vote on the tentative agreements and why don’t we have more union meetings?

A. Clearly, the last tentative agreement was presented in numerous well published meetings throughout the county. At every meeting the tentative agreement was presented with the accompanying facts and data. All meetings were open to questions and comments and there never was any attempt, by this writer or the accompanying negotiation team members, to force members to vote yes. We recommended a yes vote as per our responsibility under the law, but clearly indicated the choice was up to the members in an open democratic vote. After a full year of hard, tenacious negotiations; the negotiation team felt the members had a right to see what the county was willing to give and to put it up for a vote.

Q. It does not seem like the negotiation team is pushing for retroactive pay. Why?

A. Quite to the contrary; the negotiation team pushed hard and long in negotiations for retroactive pay. The major reason the negotiations took so long was the county's continuing unwillingness to give retroactive pay any consideration whatsoever. The county has taken the position of no retroactive pay for all their bargaining units (CSEA & others) and no one has received retroactive pay for at least six years, from the information we have. When it became clear to the negotiation team that the county would not consider retroactive pay under any conditions, the decision was made to bring the issue back to a vote. As every day that there is no agreement means money out of our members’ pockets; we felt folks had a right to vote on what was on the table.

Q. What is going on now with negotiations?

A. Your negotiation team is pushing to get back to the bargaining table. We have had an exhaustive number of meetings throughout the county to explain the tentative agreements. We will continue these efforts.

I would urge all CSEA members to get involved in the fight. Attend events, rallies, etc. so the County sees we need a good contract.

YOUR negotiation team has fought hard over the last year and will continue to work hard until we get an agreement that can be supported by our membership. Please feel free to give me a call should you have any additional questions. My telephone number is (585) 328-5250. Please submit questions to unit7400@rochester.rr.com