| Local 613 |
| CSEA Local 1000 AFSCME AFL-CIO |
| August 2007 Newsletter |
| SUNY Potsdam |
Once again, another academic year begins! I hope that you all had a great
summer!
I’m very excited to report that we now have a web site for our local: www.
csealocal613-sunypotsdam.org. The web site offer updates on our contract
negotiations; officers contact information; copies of our local newsletters, and
much more. Please take the time to check it out. And be sure to come back,
because there will be regular updates, newsletters and such, so there will be
more information coming. I would like to personally thank our First Vice-
President, Toni Oakes, for all her hard work and dedication on developing this
web site. Toni, GREAT JOB!!! If anyone has any suggestions for the
newsletter and/or the webpage, please contact Toni @ 2065.
For anyone who may be interested, there will be a two-night, shop steward
training program offered at Sergi’s Restaurant, in Potsdam, on Wednesday,
September 26th, & Thursday, September 27th. If anyone is interested in
attending, please contact me @ 2206.
We are currently planning our General Meeting, tentatively for November,
hoping that we will have a contract, by then, to present.
summer!
I’m very excited to report that we now have a web site for our local: www.
csealocal613-sunypotsdam.org. The web site offer updates on our contract
negotiations; officers contact information; copies of our local newsletters, and
much more. Please take the time to check it out. And be sure to come back,
because there will be regular updates, newsletters and such, so there will be
more information coming. I would like to personally thank our First Vice-
President, Toni Oakes, for all her hard work and dedication on developing this
web site. Toni, GREAT JOB!!! If anyone has any suggestions for the
newsletter and/or the webpage, please contact Toni @ 2065.
For anyone who may be interested, there will be a two-night, shop steward
training program offered at Sergi’s Restaurant, in Potsdam, on Wednesday,
September 26th, & Thursday, September 27th. If anyone is interested in
attending, please contact me @ 2206.
We are currently planning our General Meeting, tentatively for November,
hoping that we will have a contract, by then, to present.
| A Message from the President's Desk |
| In this issue: |
|
| Local 613 Officers Colleen Wheaton President Ext. 2206 or 212-0615 Toni Oakes Vice-President Ext. 2065 Vacant 2nd Vice-President Bonnie Lawrence Secretary Ext. 2900 Charlene Bailey Treasurer Ext. 2471 |
| Contract Talks Update |
After eight weeks of negotiations, the State
indicated it needed more time to prepare its
position.
This after putting forward a full package of their
desired changes on health in-surance, the lion’
s share comprised of excessive cost shifts to
employees: in-crease of premiums to 35% for
families (20% for singles); huge increases in
co-payments for prescriptions, E.R. and Dr.
visits, lab tests and other medical services;
with automatic cost of living in-creases for
deductibles.
CSEA made it clear that the State’s proposals
were D.O.A. The chief negotiator deplored the
new administration for a complete lack of
creativity in negotiating health insurance.
CSEA offered to work with the State to truly fix
the problem of health care in New York State,
rather than applying a ‘band aid solution’
Completely frustrated, the CSEA team left
Albany and told the State negotiators to contact
them when they were ready to actually
negotiate.
indicated it needed more time to prepare its
position.
This after putting forward a full package of their
desired changes on health in-surance, the lion’
s share comprised of excessive cost shifts to
employees: in-crease of premiums to 35% for
families (20% for singles); huge increases in
co-payments for prescriptions, E.R. and Dr.
visits, lab tests and other medical services;
with automatic cost of living in-creases for
deductibles.
CSEA made it clear that the State’s proposals
were D.O.A. The chief negotiator deplored the
new administration for a complete lack of
creativity in negotiating health insurance.
CSEA offered to work with the State to truly fix
the problem of health care in New York State,
rather than applying a ‘band aid solution’
Completely frustrated, the CSEA team left
Albany and told the State negotiators to contact
them when they were ready to actually
negotiate.
Four weeks later, CSEA was advised that the
State’s negotiating team had been given
“fresh direction” by the Governor, and made
arrangements to meet again during the first
week of August.
Back at the table, CSEA gave some specifics
in five areas: Re-call and inconvenience pay,
hazard pay, voluntary reduced work
schedules, standby on-call compensation,
and 90-day holds for shift, pass days, & work
locations for employees on approved leave.
The State responded to several of our
previous issues: sick leave accumulation,
special assignment to duty, parking, and pre-
tax deductions for mass transit costs.
Health insurance still remains a priority for
the State, with many other issues
unresolved.
For current updates, go to CSEA’s web site:
www.csealocal1000.org, and click on State
Contract Updates.
State’s negotiating team had been given
“fresh direction” by the Governor, and made
arrangements to meet again during the first
week of August.
Back at the table, CSEA gave some specifics
in five areas: Re-call and inconvenience pay,
hazard pay, voluntary reduced work
schedules, standby on-call compensation,
and 90-day holds for shift, pass days, & work
locations for employees on approved leave.
The State responded to several of our
previous issues: sick leave accumulation,
special assignment to duty, parking, and pre-
tax deductions for mass transit costs.
Health insurance still remains a priority for
the State, with many other issues
unresolved.
For current updates, go to CSEA’s web site:
www.csealocal1000.org, and click on State
Contract Updates.