Joint Meeting
Committee on Labor
Committee on Cultural & Ethnic Diversity
Minutes: Monday, February 24, 2003
Present
Committee: Labor: G. Latimer (Chair), R. Wishnie, M. Kaplowitz, J. Maisano, L. Mosiello
CED: L. Bronz, J. Alvarado
Legislators: W. Ryan, A. Stewart-Cousins
Others: CEO: Allie Restaino, Bill Randolph
UNITE: Sue Ronga, Wilma Neal, Iris Monroe, Joseph Doslop, Patrick Lorquet, Pamela Patterson, Rose Mary Small, Cathy Gillen, Jose Ramos, Sophia Bowen, Chris Seymour, Kathryn Garmen, Claudette Stewart, Deborah Bugs, Zita Tayrm, Katie Gerken, Ray Acosta, Michael Carriere (District Council 9), Carl Finger (Counsel to Committee), Hazel N. Dukes (NCAAP), Doreene Woodley (Coalition for Empowerment)
Meeting called to order by Chair George Latimer (Labor) and Board Chair Lois Bronz (CED) at 4:20 p.m.
Motion made by Legislator Mosiello to accept minutes of October 28, 2002, seconded by Legislator Wishnie. All in favor – Aye.
Motion made by Legislator Mosiello to accept minutes of November 25, 2002, seconded by Legislator Wishnie. All in favor – Aye.
Chair Latimer presented the following dates for future Labor Committee Meetings for the remainder of the year: March 17, April 21, May 19, June 23, July 14, September 8, October 20, November 24. The meetings will take place at 4:30 p.m. Motion made by Legislator Wishnie, to accept the recommended dates and time, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz. All in favor – Aye. A memorandum will be distributed to all committee members.
Chair Latimer discussed the current agenda as follows:
Items # 4 and # 5 have been retrieved from the received file and returned to active consideration on our agenda
Items # 9 and # 11 (received and file)
Legislator Wishnie motion to accept the changes on the agenda, seconded by Legislator Mosiello. All in favor – Aye.
Chairwoman Bronz presented the CED minutes from January 22, 2003. Motion made by Legislator Alvarado to accept the minutes, seconded by Chairwoman Bronz. Motion presented by Legislator Alvarado to receive and file items # 16a and #16b, seconded by Chairwoman Bronz.
Chair Latimer explained that as a legislative body we do not get involved in private sector labor/management issues but that Westchester County has a contractual relationship with United Cerebral Palsy of Westchester (UCP), therefore we need to review the issues presented by UNITE.
Ms. Wilma Neal, Director, UNITE Disability Services Council, thanked the Committee members for allowing her to present the unfair labor practices to which the members have been exposed at UCP and introduced some members who gave their personal testimonies (written testimonies on file).
Legislator Mosiello asked Ms. Neal how the Westchester Board of Legislators could assist the membership, to which Ms. Neal stated that UCP receives direct funding from Westchester County and that it needs to look at the spending of the funds given. Legislator Mosiello asked what was the amount that Westchester County directly funds to UCP.
Chair Latimer reported that UCP had been invited to attend this meeting but that they were not present. A letter from the joint membership of Labor and CED committees is to be written to the administration regarding the concerns brought up by UNITE.
Legislator Wishnie stated that Governor Pataki had signed a law in which public funds cannot be used to fund anti-union activities. Westchester County funds should not be allowed to be used for this.
Allie Restaino asked if there was a mandated ratio between consumers and workers in providing services. Ms. Neal responded that she is not aware of any guidelines indicating a ratio for service.
Ms. Neal reported that the UCP employees voted, and won, for a union to represent them and that UCP has not acknowledged the employee’s decision.
Chris Seymour, UNITE, reported that funding from the State to UCP has been steady and that they have assets that should allow a fair increase to the employees but that the employees are not a priority to the administration.
Chairwoman Bronz asked about the current status on the cases taken to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Ms. Neal reported that the last discussion with the NLRB took place in late 2001. Some charges are pending, some are being appealed, and some will be reviewed in a couple of months.
Chairwoman Bronz asked who makes up the negotiating team between UNITE and UCP. Ms. Neal reported that it includes workers that were elected by their co-workers, a UNITE Vice President and an attorney, and herself. They requested from UCP management the EEO Diversity report from the organization.
Legislator Kaplowitz stated that Form 990 was requested from UCP management disclosing the financial information and that it should be available by tomorrow.
Legislator Ryan, who has been listening to the various testimonies, finds the situation described as very disturbing, especially since UCP receives County funding and refuses to pay fair wages.
Legislator Stewart-Cousins, Chair of the Legislation Committee, stated that she is aware of the lengthy time that has taken the membership to win their right to organize, and thinks that maybe we should refer this matter to the Human Rights Commission.
Chair Latimer mentioned that Legislator Wishnie is the Chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, the Committee providing oversight to contracts awarded to organizations. Wishnie stated that we would not support an agency that uses tax dollars to fund anti-organizing activities.
Chair Latimer reported that the County funding to UCP includes eight contracts, primarily through the County Department of Mental Health and is close to $4 M.
Chair Latimer requested from Ms. Neal a brief description of other contractual obligations between agencies and UNITE. Ms. Neal reported that initially it was not an easy task to organize at Richmond’s Children Center but once the membership voted to unionize the administration cooperated and continues to work with the employees.
Chair Latimer stated that our obligation is to the consumer and in doing so we need to address those issues that directly have an impact on the care to be provided to the consumers and how a lower turnover of employees and better wages can benefit the consumers. He further stated that an investigation would be recommended to the Administration; all records are public and open to anyone who wants to see them and the names of all who testified are on record.
Legislator Wishnie made a motion to adjourn meeting at 5:55 p.m. Seconded by Legislator Maisano. All in favor – Aye.