Page 6 - Work Force June 2022

DOT local presidents, officers discuss concerns
SYRACUSE — CSEA state Department of Transportation (DOT) Local presidents and officers across the state recently met over several days to discuss issues that concern DOT workers.
During a forum with DOT commissioners and executive staff, CSEA DOT Local officers discussed issues that include staffing,
recruitment and retention and pay. The conference also included
presentations on workers’ compensation, ticks and Lyme disease, CSEA member benefits and new employee orientation, as well as a panel discussion on labor relations.
— Mark M. Kotzin
State Department of Transportation, Region 8 (Poughkeepsie) Local President Johnny Delgado, left, discusses his concerns with, from left, Grace Boss, assistant commissioner, Administrative Services Division; Chuck Gianatasio, director of Human Resources and Shane Gilcrest, director of Fleet.
State Department of Transportation, Region 2 (Utica) Utica State Employees Local President Brian Mishlanie, right, makes a point while CSEA Capital Region President Ron Briggs, left, and CSEA Statewide Treasurer Nicole Meeks, center, listen.
State Department of Transportation, Region 8 (Poughkeepsie) Local Executive Vice President Daryl Evans-Williams, center, makes a point, while local President Johnny Delgado, left, and Local Treasurer Johnny Nasser, right, listen.
Judgment helps members see justice
SYRACUSE — The New York State Department of Labor recently issued a judgment against Onondaga County, awarding almost $1 million dollars to more than
80 CSEA members who work for the county’s Department of Social Services.
The judgment recognized
that Onondaga County forced employees to work above and beyond their normal hours without compensating them for it.
“The Department of Labor investigation confirmed what DCFS employees already knew — that
a culture of fear was cultivated
by management to extort free labor from employees due to critical staffing issues created
by management,” said CSEA Onondaga County Department of Social Services Unit Vice President Sara Fuller. “While workers did receive some compensation they never thought they would see, the
greater hope is that this sends a clear message that workers will no longer tolerate this treatment and positive change will be seen in the workplace.”
Onondaga County Local President Daniel Vadala agreed.
“It’s unbelievable that despite how far labor has come, an employer could still somehow
not pay employees for their hard work,” he said. “I’m hopeful, however, that this decision means moving forward we won’t run into this issue again.”
“I’m proud of our CSEA members and leaders for standing up to Onondaga County,” said Central Region President Kenny Greenleaf. “While they may not have gotten everything they deserve, they corrected a great injustice and have ensured their future will be better. This is exactly what being in a union is all about.”
— Mathew L. Cantore
6 The Work Force
June 2022
Schoharie Residency DOT Local President David Hendrick participates in the forum.
Mike Garfolo, State Department of Transportation, Region 1 (Albany) Local President and DOT Labor-Management Committee Chair, discusses issues that concern DOT workers during the forum with agency executive staff. In the background are Sam Zhou, assistant commissioner, Operations and Asset Management, Holly Gray, director of Employee Relations and Dave Savoie, assistant director of Employee Relations.