Page 19 - Work Force April 2016

TODAY
News briefs from around the state
Mexico Schools Unit hosts dance
to fight cancer
MEXICO — CSEA Mexico School District Unit members recently hosted their annual Fathers & Daughters Dance at the Middle School gymnasium, providing
a great evening of community entertainment and raising money for their CSEA Oswego County Local team participating in the American Cancer Society’s Oswego County Relay for Life. Unit President and event organizer Darleen Vosseller said that unit members do everything from serving the food to managing games and distributing prizes. “It’s a real good time, the girls and their fathers have fun and make memories, and it helps us fight for a good cause,” she said.
CSEA SUNY Oswego member Joseph Hotaling dances with his daughter Sophia at the Mexico Schools Fathers & Daughters dance. See related story, page 13.
Unions: Supervisor manipulated rates
HAMBURG — Town of Hamburg union
leaders accused town Supervisor Steven J. Walters of unethical, deceitful and possibly illegal behavior in the manipulation of
health insurance rates for employees. Five bargaining units, including two CSEA units,
say the town supervisor intentionally and willfully committed rate manipulation in an attempt to defraud town employees of their wages. In February, the unions delivered a vote of “no confidence” directed at Walters, saying he acted with malicious intent. CSEA
is requesting federal and state agencies that oversee insurance to investigate the matter. The town employees have also registered their complaint with the state attorney general and the Erie County district attorney.
County shirks responsibility through move to end nursing program
S
program, showing a shocking disregard for hundreds of county
aratoga County officials are eliminating the county’s visiting nurse
residents who rely on this vital program. County officials opted to end the program in secrecy, with no public notice, discussions or votes. Because of this stealth move, 18 nurses who travel to care for residents served
by the program are slated to lose their jobs by early April. CSEA learned that the county laid out plans in executive session over a several month period beginning in October, continuing straight through to discussions with the state Department of Health. “Once again, the county has acted without transparency to shirk their responsibilities to our most vulnerable residents,” CSEA Saratoga County Local President Kathy Moran said.
Showing their union pride
When the City of White Plains has
a big community event, you’re sure to see CSEA front and center. CSEA members keep the city clean following events such as the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. For the second year, those not working donned green CSEA T-shirts and marched together in the parade. Activists have also turned out for other occasions, such as when they handed out CSEA-logoed bottles of water to children and parents during the city’s annual Halloween Parade. Unit President Joe Longo said it’s important to remind residents that CSEA members are their family, friends and neighbors.
Back to the fold in Amityville
Anew operational unit from Long Island’s Amityville School District
has returned to CSEA after a seven-year absence. “I’m really happy to be back
with CSEA,” said George Williams, a groundskeeper. “This union always kept
us informed. We always knew what was going on at the bargaining table.” Members who haven’t previously worked with
CSEA are also looking forward to their future with New York’s leading union, “I’m really hopeful of what’s to come,” said
William Schreiber, a custodian. “My wife
is a member of CSEA in her district. I’m optimistic that we’ll be as happy as she is.”
April 2016
The Work Force 19
Metropolitan Region Secretary Delphine Moultrie has been working to organize