Page 15 - Work Force June 2017

‘Change agent’ Gonzalez makes a difference
ROCHESTER — At a time when urban libraries need all the champions
they can find, Carmen Gonzalez
is stepping up to the challenge by breaking down barriers and taking
a leadership role in helping local residents lead more productive and fulfilling lives.
Gonzalez, a library clerk who started her career at the Sully Branch of the Rochester Public Library in 2010, readily admits her love for her community is what motivates her on the job. She is using this love and her professional skills to be a change agent for building her community.
“I want everyone who walks through these doors to know the library is a safe place — a place where everyone can share learning experiences and where all voices are understood,” said Gonzalez. “Library workers can really shape and mold the next generation. We try to instill a love of learning in the children who attend our programming and encourage caregivers to contribute as well. I’ve seen firsthand how library employees have the ability
to help local families grow stronger bonds in our community.”
Ruth Meyer, a resident from the nearby Town of Irondequoit, traveled to the Sully Branch Library on
April 18 with her granddaughter to participate in an afternoon program initiated by Gonzalez, who is known as “Ms. Carmen” by some patrons.
“What can I say about Ms. Carmen? She is so good with the kids and her love for her job is
so obvious,” Meyer said. “Today,
I brought my granddaughter here
to enjoy a program supervised
by Carmen — it’s an Alice in Wonderland Mad Hatter-themed
tea party. She is learning all about manners and having a great time with all the other kids. This is where I need to be today.”
Known for her charming, but ‘no nonsense’ demeanor, Gonzalez has also been instrumental to improving health and safety in her workplace, increasing membership and helping with the recent CSEA Never Quit member engagement campaign in Monroe County.
Meyer calls Gonzalez a difference
CSEA Public Policy Coordinator Jose LaLuz outlines some of the challenges our union faces.
CSEA legal corner
Gonzalez
maker, whether she is assisting a co-worker with a task or helping
a patron through a difficult day. “Carmen is all about being positive,” Meyer said. “She wants everyone to have the best possible experience when they visit the library.”
Gonzalez reflected on her CSEA role at the library. “It’s very important for us to understand
falls apart due to no fault of staff
but because the service recipient engages in a physical resistance, that, quite frankly, makes it impossible to employ a ‘text book’ restraint.” The grievant was reinstated with full back pay and benefits.
Office of Mental Health workers win Justice Center appeal
A state Office of Mental Health (OMH) registered nurse (RN) and a mental health therapy aide (MHTA) were accused of Category 3 neglect, defined by the Justice Center as endangering the health, safety or welfare of an individual. In this case, the employees allegedly failed to provide proper supervision over an individual in their care when he left his assigned unit.
the value of belonging to a union,” she said. We must stick together
to create positive change in our communities and in our workplace. “When we have the resources
on the job and at home, we can be more effective at delivering library services. It’s a win-win for everybody.”
— Ove Overmyer
The administrative law judge (ALJ) found that both employees were attending to other individuals at the time of the incident; the RN was dispensing medications and the MHTA was cleaning another individual. Although the door to the unit appeared locked to the employees on duty, the lock was not functioning properly when the incident occurred, allowing the individual to leave the unit. The individual was later returned to the unit without further incident.
The ALJ concluded that the Justice Center did not prove that either employee committed neglect and ordered the substantiated reports of neglect be amended and sealed.
Editor’s Note: Your CSEA Legal Department is a team of 11 in-house counsels and a regional attorney network representing members across New York state. The department handles more than 1,000 cases each year, including grievance arbitrations, court actions, and administrative proceedings. Here are some recent victories your legal team secured for CSEA members.
Longtime OPWDD employee receives full back pay and benefits
The grievant, a 20-year developmental disabilities secure care treatment aide, was accused of failing to intervene and failing to report an inappropriate and excessive restraint performed by two co-workers on a resident who
June 2017
sustained a broken arm.
Before the alleged incident, the
resident, who suffers from fetal alcohol syndrome, was agitated and aggressively banged on a window several times with both fists while also threatening staff and other residents that she would kill them with a steel handle she pulled from her pocket.
The arbitrator noted credible testimony from two co-workers, who explained that the grievant was present when the resident broke loose from her two-person escort and fell to the floor, with one of the co-workers tripping and falling over the resident, leading to resident’s broken arm.
The arbitrator further observed that “...a proper restraint often times
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