Page 14 - October 2017 Work Force

Steward Spotlight:
Caliguri reminds members why unions are important
Editor’s Note: Shop stewards play a vital role in CSEA locals and units
They are the first point of contact for members and play a vital role by sharing information on current labor issues, answering questions about our union and our contracts, and keeping members engaged and aware of all
Wendi Bowie (WB): What made you decide to be a shop steward?
Frank Caliguri (FC): I wanted to
help the town employees who felt our union wasn’t doing anything for them understand that they actually do get
a lot of benefits from being a CSEA member. I felt that I needed to remind members why unions are important.
WB: How long have you been a shop steward?
FC: For more than 20 years, off and on.
WB: What keeps you coming back?
FC: I like to make sure the members get the most up-to-date and correct information. The best way to get people that information is to be involved.
WB: What’s the most rewarding thing about being a shop steward?
FC: Being able to get information for members that need it and to be able to disseminate that information so they can make the right choices. I also want to help make sure our contract is upheld.
WB: What is the most challenging thing about being a shop steward?
FC: To dispel rumors and misconceptions about our contract or about [the] New York State Retirement [System].
14 The Work Force
that is available to us through CSEA. Frank Caliguri, a weigher 1 at the
Town of Oyster Bay’s Solid Waste Disposal Scale House, has used his position as a steward to ensure that members have the correct information about our union. The Work Force’s Wendi Bowie spoke with Caliguri.
WB: What made you think differently about CSEA from some other people who are less positive about our union?
FC: I came from a lot of jobs that were non-union and was in a lot of rough situations with bosses because of it. They would tell people to do all kinds of garbage jobs and lay you off for no reason.
When I got my town job, I was ecstatic with the amount of sick time, vacation time and personal time. I couldn’t believe we got all of that.
I couldn’t understand how so many people around me thought everything was so bad. All I could see was good. That’s why I knew I had to step up and find out more about CSEA.
The thing that I discovered about union employees is, although they enjoy vacation and sick time, they don’t realize that those things were fought for by the union members
that came before them. Because they weren’t involved in that struggle, current employees see their benefits as an ‘old hat.’
To illustrate my point, I’ll ask employees what their salary is. After they tell me the number, I explain that once they consider their vacation package and other compensation packages, they should add value to their salary. In the Town of Oyster Bay, we don’t have to pay into our health care and we get paid vacation. Members need to understand that those things translate into currency.
WB: How are you able to build trust with the members at your work site?
FC: The best way is to do what you
say you’re going to do and keep your word. If people have questions, answer them to the best of your ability. If you don’t know the answer, find someone who does.
A lot of members come up to me and tell me that they think I’m the best person in our complex to be their shop steward. That kind of feedback gives me the confidence to keep coming back to that position.
WB: Is there any situation that really made you feel like you accomplished something important for a member?
FC: We had a 35-year member with a very high title. His job was eliminated, but he continued to work for the town and he got to keep his title.
One day, management got angry with him and tried to make him [do a task that is typically assigned to a job title below his]. The guy came to me, and I told him that [his title does not
include that task.]
I was able to go to the deputy
commissioner’s office and have management recognize the member’s title and stop trying to make the member do out-of-title work. It was a big battle. It took several weeks, but I was happy with the outcome.
WB: What was shop steward training like?
FC: The training is in-depth. It’s especially valuable if you’ve never been a shop steward. The training is an eye-opener so that you don’t walk into the position, totally blind. The big takeaway that I got is to make sure you know your contract.
WB: What advice would you give to potential shop stewards?
FC: You have to feel in your heart that you really want to get involved. You have to be confident that you will be able to gather pertinent information that you can bring to your co-workers and stay informed about your rights as an employee.
October 2017