March 18-20: 40-Hour Fast for a Faithful Budget The NYS Labor- Religion Coalition’s annual 40-Hour Fast will be held from 8 p.m. on March 18 to noon on March 20. This year, faith, labor and community groups will be calling for a New York state budget that addresses the unacceptable income inequality in New York. Join with New Yorkers across the state to fast for justice for all New Yorkers. Visit www.labor-religion.org to sign up and learn more. Ask to see your employer’s safety logs The state Public Employee Safety and Health (PESH) law requires employers to post at their work sites from Feb. 1 to April 30 records of all work-related injuries, illnesses and fatalities from the past calendar year. But workers have the right to see these records, commonly known as SH 900 logs, at any time of the year. The SH 900 logs are not only informational, but can serve as a launching pad to resolve potential workplace safety hazards — and hold employers accountable for providing a safe and healthy workplace. That is why CSEA is urging activists to request copies of their employers’ SH 900 logs to keep track of workers’ injuries or illness, and where and how the ailments occur. SH 900 logs can help unions build a strong argument for safety and health improvements at work sites, including negotiating stronger safety and health contract language or taking measures that eliminate or reduce potential hazards. The logs are also crucial in ensuring employers are accountable for providing a safe and healthy workplace. “When we have records of workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities, we can hold employers accountable for keeping workers safe on the job,” said CSEA President Danny Donohue. “Nothing is more important on our jobs than our safety and health.” In addition to employees, former employees, union representatives and personal representatives (such as an attorney or health care proxy designee) can request these logs at any time. The employer must provide a copy of the logs by the end of the next business day. For more information or help in requesting and reviewing your employer’s SH 900 logs, contact your region occupational safety and health specialist, or call the CSEA Occupational Safety and Health Department at CSEA Headquarters at (800) 342-4146. Summary of January 2014 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 Statewide Secretary Denise Berkley for union members. ALBANY — CSEA’s statewide Board of Directors met on Jan. 16. In official business, the board: •Approved the 2014 Maximum Miscellaneous Allowances, as contained in the Treasurer’s Report to the Jan. 16, 2014 Board of Directors. •Approved the adjusted terms of the loan to Local 860, originally approved in 2004 and adjusted in 2011 by the Board of Directors. •Approved the sale of the building located at 595 West Hartsdale Ave., White Plains, N.Y., and authorized President Danny Donohue to execute all documents necessary to complete the sale of said building for a sum of not less than $1 million. •Approved a policy whereby erroneously deducted dues, agency shop fees and core fees will be refunded for the period of the erroneous deduction not to exceed six years from the date of the request. •Confirmed appointment of Sharon Ivey as the Western Region 6 Mental Hygiene Representative on the State Executive Committee; •Confirmed the appointment of Matt Hattorff as the Suffolk County Representative on the Local Government Executive — Janice Gavin Committee. •Dissolved CSEA Local 502 District 2 Barge Canal, and merged the members with CSEA Local 503 Central Barge Canal. •Created a permanent Charter for Local 776, Crothal Health Services (Southern Region 3). •Approved the schedule for 2014 AFSCME Delegates election. •Approved the Standing Legal Committee’s report of Jan. 16, 2014 as printed. •Approved the appointments of Kevin Williams and Philip Abbondondolo to the Long Island Region 1 Political Action Committee. Questions concerning the summary should be directed to Statewide Secretary Denise Berkley, CSEA Headquarters, 143 Washington Ave., Albany, N.Y. 12210 (800) 342-4146, ext. 1253 or (518) 257-1253. Berkley 14 The Work Force March 2014
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