Photo of the Month Photo by Rich Impagliazzo Noreen Hall, a Town of Brookhaven Highway Unit member, displays the finished product from the town’s sign shop. Highway and Blue Collar Unit members have been busy replacing road signs after a severe winter left many signs in the town damaged, as was the case across the state. Hall and unit member Michelle Biondi design and develop about 3,300 street signs and 4,000 traffic signs every year in the sign shop, relying on their knowledge of computer technology and ability in old-fashioned craftsmanship. 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 ALERT NEW YORK’S LEADING UNION CSEA President Danny Donohue to meet Capital Region members on June 24 President Danny Donohue will visit the CSEA Capital Region on June 24 to meet with members. The meetings will be held at the Capital Region Office, 1 Lear Jet Lane, Suite No. 2, Latham. Donohue will meet with union members from 1 to 7 p.m. Please call the region office at 1-518-782-4400 for an appointment and directions. District’s shared services deal raises concerns YONKERS — CSEA is exploring the possible impact that a state budget provision bailing out Yonkers schools may have on union members working there. Lawmakers approved a one-time $28 million bailout for the Yonkers School District, along with granting the district the ability to deficit bond $45 million, a deal that will come to fruition only if school district and city officials can reach an inter-municipal agreement allowing a full city takeover of district finances. That agreement requires state Budget Director Robert Megna’s approval. Under the new plan, it appears Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano would have direct oversight of the district. For CSEA, that plan raises many questions including whether certain district job titles would remain under district employment or be transferred to the city payroll. Yonkers School District Unit President Lionel Turner said Spano’s office has projected as many as 63 layoffs of CSEA members working in the district’s central office who do work similar to that of some city departments. “City leaders do not realize the enormity of the workload here,” Turner said. “We are at bare bones already as a work force, and now the city is talking about combining services. CSEA members did not create this problem, and our concern is that cuts are going to come on the backs of poor, working people. We have members who’ve worked 25 years and barely make $25,000.” Yonkers, as one of the state’s Big Five school districts, has faced financial problems through the years. Currently, City Council members appoint members of the Yonkers Board of Education. Those board members oversee district finances. While city leaders have historically had final approval of the district budget, the school district still had its own superintendent of schools. The district’s latest financial problems stem from actions by the previous district administration. Two years in a row, former Superintendent of Schools Bernard Pierorazio reportedly accounted for roughly $25 million in state aid that never materialized. Pierorazio later resigned. The result was a deficit pegged at as much as $60 million, according to news reports. That number was later reduced. In order for the state to follow through with the bailout, which also includes the chance for the district to bond some of its debt, the intermunicipal agreement must have approval by the time the 2014-15 district budget is approved later this spring. “We’re staying on top of this issue to advocate for our members during this time of uncertainty,” said Southern Region President Billy Riccaldo. “We also want to ensure that services are preserved and the students of Yonkers are not shortchanged.” — Jessica Ladlee Missing any money? There’s nothing like found money, and the state comptroller may be able to help you find some you didn’t know you had. New York state has $12 billion in lost money, according to state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. On average, DiNapoli’s office returns $1 million a day. Visit http://www.osc.state.ny.us/ouf/index.htm or call 1-800-221-9311 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) to see if some of that money is yours. 2 The Work Force May 2014
May_14_WF
To see the actual publication please follow the link above