Photo of the Month Photo by Jessica Ladlee The clerical staff in the Wappingers Central School District has often been referred to as the backbone of the district, so CSEA leaders there recently decided on a creative reminder of their members’ importance: putting that backbone on a CSEA shirt! CSEA members there wear their new CSEA shirts each Friday, which Unit President Barbara Cruz said has been an energizing union-building effort. Seen here, from left, Unit Treasurer Nora Marvullo, Unit Vice President Katie Dickman and Cruz show off the shirts. Cruz said the shirts will be useful for when the time comes for future contract campaigns. Need your CSEA ID number? Access your CSEA ID number for union elections, contract ratification votes, and member-only benefits offers by clicking on the “Look up your CSEA ID!” tab at www.cseany.org. Official publication of CSEA Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO 143 Washington Ave. Albany, NY 12210-2303 Danny Donohue, President The Work Force (USPS 0445-010) is published monthly by The CSEA Publication Office: 143 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12210. Periodical Mail Postage paid at Post Office, Albany, New York 12288, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to: CSEA, Attn: Membership Department, 143 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12210 Hospital purchase raises public benefit questions VALHALLA — An ambitious plan by Westchester Medical Center management has the public benefit corporation buying a bankrupt Dutchess County hospital, raising questions about the impact such a purchase could have on Westchester Medical Center Unit members and their ability to provide vital services. A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge recently accepted the Westchester County Health Care Corp.’s bid to purchase Saint Francis Hospital, a Poughkeepsie-based hospital with a Level 2 trauma center. The purchase is slated to be complete May 9. Several Dutchess County-based elected officials have hailed the purchase plan as a win for the community. “We want to see local services and workers retained at Saint Francis Hospital, but we are deeply concerned that the impact of this purchase on Westchester Medical Center has not been more thoroughly discussed,” said Southern Region President Billy Riccaldo. “Citing financial hardship, management at the medical center has cut vital services, outsourced jobs to low-wage contractors and put nearly 800 of our members out of work. We need a solid explanation from management about how they plan to protect services and jobs in Valhalla.” After news broke of WMC’s purchase offer being accepted, Moody’s Investors Service announced that WMC’s bond rating was on review for a possible downgrade. That means future borrowing could come at a higher interest rate. Riccaldo noted that former state Sen. Steven Saland has been among the critics of the purchase. Saland submitted an opinion piece to the Journal News, pointing out WMC had a reported budget gap of $61 million as recently as 2012 and calling the proposed purchase a risky move for Dutchess and Westchester county residents. — Jessica Ladlee Rich Capper, parks member, dies on the job HARRIMAN STATE PARK — CSEA is mourning the loss of Palisades Parks Local member Rich Capper, 49, who died Feb. 16 after experiencing a heart attack while plowing snow in the Silver Mine area of Harriman State Park. Capper, a park worker 3, was found unresponsive in his work vehicle by park visitors, who pulled him out just before the truck caught fire. Nearby workers and visitors began resuscitation efforts, but Capper was later pronounced dead at Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern. CSEA and the state Public Employee Safety and Health Bureau are investigating, in keeping with normal procedures. Initial reports stated that Capper’s foot was on the accelerator and the truck was smoking when park visitors found him. Capper was well known as a dedicated volunteer with the Haverstraw Ambulance Corps, serving his community for over 20 years as an emergency medical technician. He was also an avid guitarist. “Rich was a very loyal and dependable person who will be greatly missed,” said Palisades Parks Local President Dan Corigliano. “He was a role model for younger workers and he took such pride in his job. He cared a lot about his community and loved the parks.” — Jessica Ladlee Workers’ Memorial Day is April 28. CSEA has lost nearly one member a month in on-the-job incidents over the past year, in large part due to budget cuts resulting in lack of help, inadequate training and equipment, and other neglect of occupational safety and health standards. More in the April edition. 2 The Work Force March 2014
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