Former activist gets victory and justice MANHATTAN — Longtime CSEA Metropolitan Region activist Jacqueline Stanford scored an important victory before retiring from state service after more than 35 years. After being accused of witnessing and not reporting an instance of work place violence, management at her agency, the State Insurance Fund (SIF), sought a two-week suspension without pay. Stanford and the union fought that Notice of Discipline (NOD) and she was subsequently vindicated. “The grievant has worked for the state for 35 years and has an unblemished record,” the arbitrator stated in his decision. “This demonstrates to the arbitrator that the grievant has a long and successful track record of following the states’s rules and policies.” The decision went on to state that “even if (the State Insurance Fund) could prove the conduct alleged in the (Notice of Discipline), the appropriate response would not be discipline. Rather, it would be a counseling memo. “I am grateful to CSEA for standing by me throughout my career up until my final “I am grateful to CSEA for standing by me throughout my career up until my final days in state service.” days in state service,” said Stanford, who had served as chair of CSEA’s Statewide and Metropolitan Region Women’s committees along with numerous other Former CSEA Metropolitan Region activist Jacqueline Stanford, shown at her retirement party, recently scored an important victory against a work place injustice. local, region and statewide leadership posts. — David Galarza CSEA members help community rebuild after explosion MANHATTAN — After a March 12 explosion in East Harlem that left eight people dead and another 70 injured, longtime community leader and CSEA member Debbie Quiñones knew she had to do something to help. “I wanted to do something for my community that was reflective of an authentic emotion that we were feeling in El Barrio,” said Quiñones, a public health representative at the state Department of Health’s AIDS Institute. “We wanted to demonstrate the spirit of recovery, resiliency and cultural grounding.” Not unlike the spirit that affected Boston natives after the April 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, Quiñones and an associate, Alex Sabater, designed “¡El Barrio Fuerte!” (El Barrio Strong!) T-shirts which they sold as a fund-raiser to aid the victims and their families. “Many co-workers knew that I am from El Barrio and were very kind and supportive, asking if there was anything that they could do,” said Quiñones. “I told them about the campaign CSEA members and supporters proudly display the T-shirt that’s helping to raise money for the victims of the East Harlem building explosion. Front row, from left, are Dr. Cheryl Smith, Shaymay Gonzalez, Damaris Rodriguez, Carmen Vasquez, Debbie Quinones and Francisco Diaz. Back row, from left, are Mayra Valdez and Azel Monroig. and they quickly placed orders.” The early morning explosion reminded many New Yorkers of 9/11. The two collapsed buildings were five stories tall, contained 15 residential apartment units, a church and a piano store on the ground floor. Con Edison reported a gas leak call 15 minutes before the explosion. The shirt can be partially seen in the public service announcement for Mayor Bill de Blasio’s East Harlem Fund. All financial donations help support the victims with relocation expenses and other essential items. The shirts are still available and cost $10. For more information, contact elbarriofuerte@aol. com. — David Galarza May 2014 The Work Force 13
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