Local 1320 Newsletter

Message from the President:
Wage Survey Process Is Underway

	James Tucciarelli President Local 1320

On July 22, Dennis Sullivan, Director of DC 37’s Research and Negotiations Department; Mary O’Connell, Associate General Counsel from the DC 37 Legal Department; and I met with Jeff Elmer, Assistant Comptroller; Wasil Kanuch PE, Director of Classifications; and Loretta Donovan, Claims Specialist from the Comptroller’s Office Bureau of Labor Law to begin the wage survey process for Sewage Treatment Workers (STWs) and Senior STWs.

At the meeting we presented the Comptroller’s Office with copies of our job specification, job qualifications as established by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), and evaluation sheets. We also presented a background document detailing the work we do, the equipment we operate, the specialized training and certifications we hold, and descriptions of the various aspects of the job (e.g., Collections, Operations, Maintenance, etc.).

As part of the wage survey process, at the meeting we scheduled several plant visits beginning with the North River facility. STW Kia Miller and Plant Supt. Steve Askew gave Wasil Kanuch from the Comptroller’s Office a plant tour of North River.

Our second plant visit was to the Newtown Creek facility. Plant Supt. Jimmy Pynn gave Mr. Kanuch a detailed description of all of the various jobs performed by the STWs and Seniors in his plant. On the plant tour, conducted by Shop Steward Joe Ski and SSTW Sean Scaglione, Mr. Kanuch witnessed first hand a grit elevator chain job; a retrofit of a sluice gate actuator involving burning, welding, and fabrication; and the cleaning of an armature and rotor from a recirculation pump. After completing the detailed plant tour, where a comparison was made between our jobs and those of the outside contractors who are rebuilding the plant, Mr. Kanuch met with and interviewed every STW and Senior that was on duty that day, and requested a resume from each individual. Sean Scaglione described in detail and presented a copy of all operations log sheets, sample log sheets, and any other reports filed by the operators of the facility.

On behalf of the Local, I would personally like to thank all of those involved so far for their help in this process. As we go to press several other site visits have been scheduled including visits to Wards Island dewatering facility, Collection Facilities North Throgs Neck Pump Station, and a regulator run.

We will continue to report to you the progress of the wage survey as they occur. We should all keep in mind that this is going to be a long and tedious process, but one that will ultimately result in a fair wage determination finally being given to our titles for the work we perform every day.

— Jim Tucciarelli
President

An Interview with Frank Esposito
Chief, Rockaway Sewage Treatment Plant and Former Editor,
Local 1320 Newsletter Open Line

By ROY BROWN

Click on a photo to see larger image

Frank Esposito told me that he has 31 years experience with the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). He worked his way up the ranks from Sewage Treatment Worker (STW) to Plant Chief. He has been the Chief at Rockaway for the past four years, where he is in charge of 21 STWs and 7 Senior STWs.

Mr. Esposito had high praise for all, noting that the plant has earned either a Silver or Gold Process Award each year since 1998 as well as numerous safety awards. He mentioned that the men do very well on STW and SSTW tests every year, finishing among the top. He offered me a tour of the plant.

Rockaway processes from 22–28 million gallons per day (mgd) on a normal day, and can increase to 40–50 mgds during a storm. The plant was immaculately clean. I know a few people who work at Rockaway, and they in turn had praise for their Chief as well as the crew. There is a waiting list to transfer to Rockaway. During the tour, I took pictures of the men working on the pumps and taking samples.

Many thanks to Frank Esposito for the tour and the interview. Frank is a gentleman, and it’s no wonder there is a waiting list to transfer into Rockaway.

Roy Brown has been an STW for 19 years and is known for his hobby of taking pictures. He visited the Rockaway Plant on his day off, took some photos and interviewed Frank Esposito for Open Line.

A Letter from the Editor
We need your ideas for our Newsletter and Web Site

	George Rodriguez Communications Director Local 1320

Let me introduce myself. My name is George Rodriguez, and I’ve worked for the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for 13 years. The first nine of those were spent at Bowery Bay Sewage Treatment Plant. The rest have been spent at Collections Facility South – Paerdegat.

For the past year and a half, I’ve been a Local 1320 Shop Steward. But even before that, I was always concerned and took part in many Union functions—from rallies to vote counting. Recently, President Jim Tucciarelli asked me to head up the newsletter and the new Local 1320 Web site.

You can access the Local 1320 Web site at www.local1320.org. You can also access it through links from the DC 37 site at www.dc37.net (click on Locals or Links, then scroll to Local 1320). The site contains our Contract and Constitution, links to member services, a list of Board Members and other useful information. The Web site can contain whatever the local wants it to contain. If you have suggestions, please contact me at Local1320@msn.com or at GRodriguez@local1320.org.

In the newsletter, we went with the old format of the Open Line, started by Frank Esposito in the 1980s, but updated it with a new logo to match the Web site. The Open Line will be published quarterly, and mailed to your home along with other Union information. We hope to give you up-to-date information, articles of interest and notices of upcoming meetings.
As with the Web site, your contributions, ideas and suggestions are encouraged. Please feel free to contact me at Local1320@msn.com or at GRodriguez@local1320.org. I look forward to hearing from you.

Local Appoints New Communications Director

In an effort to open more lines of communication between the Local and the membership, and to provide the members with easy access to their contracts, constitution and other information, the Officers of the Local appointed George Rodriguez, STW from Collections South Paerdegat Crew, as the Local’s new Communications Director. George established our new Web site (www.local1320.org) and as Editor of our newsletter immediately started working on publishing this first edition. The Local welcomes all comments on the newsletter and Web site, and suggestions on any future articles that you would like to see in the Open Line. George can be contacted at GRodriguez@local1320.org or at Local1320@msn.com.

Help Hurricane Victims
AFSCME’s Fallen Heroes Fund

AFSCME has created the “AFSCME Fallen Heroes Fund” to be used for relief of AFSCME members and their families affected by Hurricane Katrina. To start the fund, AFSCME will be donating the first $100,000.
Donations should be made payable to the 'AFSCME FALLEN HEROES FUND'
and sent to:
“AFSCME Fallen Heroes Fund”
1625 L Street
Washington, DC 20036

Local 1320 Official Meeting Notice

The following is a list of the future Local Membership
and Shop Steward meetings:

Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Shop Steward Meeting
Red Hook Plant

Monday, November 7, 2005
General Membership Meeting
125 Barclay St. NYC

Good and Welfare
Well Wishes

The Open Line wishes a speedy recovery to Larry Ferris, a recently retired STW from 26th Ward. Larry, who has been suffering from Hepatitis C, recently had a liver transplant operation performed at Mt Sinai Hospital. Larry’s wife Donna reports that the surgeon says the operation is a complete success.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Mike Friscia, STW Coney Island, and his lovely bride Jennifer on their marriage on August 19, 2005. The Open Line wishes Mike and Jennifer best wishes and hopes they raise lots of little STWs.

Please send items for the Good and Welfare column to Editor George Rodriguez at GRodriguez@local1320.org or at Local1320@msn.com.

Guess Who He Is?

Answer in the next issue of Open Line.