Page 6 - Work Force December_2019

Honoring those who served
CSEA members throughout the state marked Veterans Day by honoring those who served — and
continue to serve — in the U.S.
Armed Forces, including many of our members. Thank you to all veterans for your service!
Photos by Wendi Bowie and Ove Overmyer
From left, Western Region Executive Vice President Tim Finnigan, Western Region Veterans Committee Chair Amy Owczarczak and Western Region President Bob Pyjas salute those who served during a ceremony at the Buffalo Naval & Military Park.
Like our CSEA Veterans Facebook page!
Keep up with our union’s Statewide Veterans Committee and issues concerning veterans through the committee’s new Facebook page, CSEA Veterans! Visit facebook.com/cseavets and “Like” the page today!
Stony Brook Hospital Veterans Day Luncheon organizer Freddie Eddins welcomes guests to the event.
Retired CSEA member Ed Hussey has the honor of holding the American flag at the Long Island Region Veterans Day ceremony.
On Nov. 9, CSEA Western Region Veterans Committee members, as well as other region members, place a wreath at one of the several monuments that adorn the Buffalo Naval & Military Park. From left, Rochester State Employees Local Vice President Kim Whitlock, Western Region Veterans Committee Chair Amy Owczarczak, Buffalo-Niagara Frontier Retirees Local member Rick Preischel, Western Region Executive Vice President Tim Finnigan, Buffalo-Niagara Frontier Retirees Local member Richard Hawker, Western Region President Bob Pyjas and Erie County Department of Transportation Local 1st Vice President Mike Rizzi.
New law allows local governments to give veterans time off for health care
Under a new state law, local governments will be allowed to provide public employees who are combat veterans paid time off to obtain health care services relating to their military service.
CSEA fought to pass the legislation (A.1093B - Paulin / S.5285A - Brooks) during the 2019 state legislative session earlier this year.
In recent weeks, our members made calls to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office urging him to sign the
legislation.
The governor signed the bill on
Veterans Day, along with 13 other bills that address veterans’ issues.
This legislation is vital to our local government members who served in uniform. State employees are already entitled to this benefit, which allows combat veterans to get up to five days of paid leave to receive health services related to their combat experience.
To finalize this benefit for local government employees, local
government entities must adopt a resolution or local law in order for an employee to be eligible for this benefit. This law will go into effect in 120 days.
Military veterans face an immense physical and emotional toll to their health during combat. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates 20 percent of soldiers who served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom returned from their deployment with post-traumatic
stress syndrome and other mental and physical health issues.
“This legislation allows local governments to provide employees who served in combat with needed time off to receive the health care treatment that veterans rightly deserve, which will allow them to continue to be successful at their jobs,” CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan said. “The men and women who have served our nation in uniform deserve our recognition, respect and thanks.”
6 The Work Force
December 2019