AME tentative contract May 27

Associatio of Municipal Employees announced a settlement today.
for years 2004 to 2008

2004 Lump Sum payment of $1925
2005 3% increase
2006 3% increase
2007 3% increase
2008 3.25% increase

This is all that is known. Other info?

The lump sum is an old management trick. When you calculate the 3% for 2005 the lump sum is not included in 2004. Just a thought.

[Your Kidding]

According to today's Newsday, we are really getting "the shaft". AME wedsite doesn't mention ALL the givebacks and fails to mention about the new sicktime policy. How come. What about new employees working 37.5 hours???

[unionguyss]

IS there a longer workweek in this deal?
I think this deal sucks!!! :evil: BONUS??? And what is with this SICK TIME MANAGEMENT POLICY???? CHeryl always used to say we can't hurt future members. She didn't hurt them; SHE NEUTERED THEM!!! :oops:

[unionguyss]

Meant to say DEAL SUX!!

[BIG MOUTH LVEY]

BIG MOUTH LEVY GOT NOTHING FROM THE UNION HOW ABOUT HEALTH INSURANCE? HE SAYS TEACHERS ARE FAT PIGS HE HAS DONE NORTHING. THE COUNTY NEEDS MC GOVEN TO SAVE $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[Contract watcher]

Remember you can still vote it down!!!!!!!11

[Steve Rules]

That's nonsense!
3% across the board and 5% increase each year in employee health insurance contribution!
You're all overpaid non college educated swine who'll do nothing but add to the County welfare rolls!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ame supporter]

you mean to tell me government employees don't work? have you ever visited a county office to see the employees in action. remember we live on long island too. if the cost of living goes up, so do our expenses. remember the saying about the angel passing overhead.

[just say no 123]

members should notr vote for this

members should notr vote for this??

Dont forget the lump sum 40% goes to taxes, zero to our pension, better to get it over the contract term.

[Your Kidding]

What would Cheryl do if we voted it down? You think she'd go to bat for us ?(Ha,Ha,Ha).

[were the amEEEEEEE]

40 % tax is an understatement, its usually 46 %. As far as the pension, it only affects those employess with less then, i think its 10 years, who contribute to their pension. The rest of us the county pays the pension costs and its based on annual earnings. Just like more overtime will increase the pension

[Whoop Doo Dee Do]

I am still waiting to here about the overtime and sick time "changes" that Newsday reported on. How bad were we sold down the river?

[Ice Cube1]

Let' say your a 37.5 per hr employee.You must work 37.5 Before you can Qualify for the O.T.pay Now the way It was explained to me is as follows You call in sick during this O.T period management will deduct the time that you called in sick from your O.T.Also sick time will be up to management to put you on the Note if you call in sick and management decides to put you on the note you don't have a leg to stand on and if that happens you better bring in a note for that as well.What about the cost of living that we all discussed that didn't happen.Remember the 4% Cap issue.
I am still waiting to here about the overtime and sick time "changes" that Newsday reported on. How bad were we sold down the river?

Let' say your a 37.5 per hr employee.You must work 37.5 Before you can Qualify for the O.T.pay Now the way It was explained to me is as follows You call in sick during this O.T period management will deduct the time that you called in sick from your O.T.Also sick time will be up to management to put you on the Note if you call in sick and management decides to put you on the note you don't have a leg to stand on and if that happens you better bring in a note for that as well.What about the cost of living that we all discussed that didn't happen.Remember the 4% Cap issue.
I am still waiting to here about the overtime and sick time "changes" that Newsday reported on. How bad were we sold down the river?


Close but ALL must work 40 hrs before getting the ot pay. That means 37.5 hour employees would work 2.5 hours straight before time and a half kicked in. This also DOES NOT apply to currant employees only those hired after 06.
This is how it was explained to me.

Pastry girl didnt sell us out SHE SOLD THE FUTURE OUT!!

[Whoop Doo Dee Do]

This contract is BOGUS, this contract does not keep you in line with the rising cost of living on Long Island, not to mention it does nothing to catch you up to make up for the past decade. How much will you be paying into your health benefits, what will the rise be per contract year? What percentage raise will other unions get from levy? I bet it is higher than 3% and some lame payout. Use your heads and stop thinking about the instant bonus check.

[MANAGEMENTGUY]

We love this deal!! :lol: This new sick time policy is great for us!!
If you use sick time, even as little as an hour 5 times a year we LABEL YOU AN ABUSER!! DOCTORS NOTES AFTER THAT KIDS. :wink:
If it reaches 8 times in a year you are a CHRONIC ABUSER!!!! DENY OT AND PROMOTIONS FOR 6 MONTHS!!!!! Aint it kewl.
GIVE BACKS CHERYL JUST BROKE THE NEWS TO THE B.O.D. 8)
Then we got another beauty. The Evaluation Policy: Allows us nice fair people in management to look at everyone closely. It's not get you all promotions. :P We create a nice long paper trail in your personal file so we can then take you to arbitrator to fire you.

NICE DEAL HUH???

Oh and by the way if any of you know anyone that retired tell them to not bother counting on any RETRO. Cheryl allowed the county to exclude them from any of the krappy 04 bonus and the 3% from 05.
You can't get any of the retro money if you leave payroll before 7/05

NITE ALL :shock:

[Whoop Doo Dee Do]

No news on the contract front? I thought by now we would be recieving propoganda in the mail, on the phone, and in the fax machine at work trying to get us to buy into this. I love how each day you here new $4it about how bad this conract $ucks ba11s and how there are hidden givebacks but nobody in the union has the spaldings to be on the up and up with the membership.

Congratulations you have been fed to the wolf. It was you or the donuts so you can see where you fell short.

[CONCERNED WORKER]

WATCH OUT! READ THE FIVE(YES, 5) PAGE AME SICK LEAVE "MANAGEMENT" PROGRAM BEFORE YOU VOTE. DO NOT ACCEPT CHERYL'S FLUFF COVER SHEET. YOU LOSE YOUR ABILITY TO USE YOUR SICK TIME AS NEEDED. A FEW DOLLARS IN YOU POCKET WON'T HELP YOU KEEP YOUR JOB.

DANGER!!! READ SECTIONS 23 & 24 OF THE PROPOSED CONTRACT. YOU LOSE YOUR RIGHT TO GRIEVE AN EVALUATION OR "ATTENDANCE CONTROL" PROBLEM WHEN MANAGEMENT COMES AFTER YOU.

SOME "UNION" THIS EXECUTIVE BOARD IS A JOKE. THEY,D SELL THEIR OWN GRANDMOTHER TO STAY UP AT HEADQUARTERS. ASK CHERYL WHAT SHE GOT FOR SELLING US OUT.

SOME "UNION"

Not a Union - just an ASSOCIATION

[Whoop Doo Dee Do]

Not Just an Association, but an Association of Managements Employees

[SCPD PATROL 3]

If what I'm reading is true, be very careful. I understand you guys have been without a contract for a while, but watch that sick time clause. we don't have one yet, but we are being "counselled" quarterly regarding summonses, arrests, and SICK TIME.

Think about the "abuser" label if you take some days off to care for a sick immediate family member. Are you considered an "abuser" if you come dowmn with the flu or hard illness? I wouldn't consider that an abuse and then you get hammered by your job for it?

Best of luck, I hope you make the right decision when voting. It's hard to turn down a proposed raise, but look into the future....
Mabe sending all parties back to the table may not be a bad thing.

[FMLA]

If what I'm reading is true, be very careful. I understand you guys have been without a contract for a while, but watch that sick time clause. we don't have one yet, but we are being "counselled" quarterly regarding summonses, arrests, and SICK TIME.

Think about the "abuser" label if you take some days off to care for a sick immediate family member. Are you considered an "abuser" if you come dowmn with the flu or hard illness? I wouldn't consider that an abuse and then you get hammered by your job for it?

Best of luck, I hope you make the right decision when voting. It's hard to turn down a proposed raise, but look into the future....
Mabe sending all parties back to the table may not be a bad thing.

Everyone should check out the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, which protects employees who are forced to use time (paid or unpaid) to take care of themselves or a sick immediate family member. All public employers/employees are covered under this law.

Even if this is paid leave (accruals) the FMLA has certain provisions which protect employees from any harm being incurred by having to use this time.

Unions and employers can only better the benefits afforded by the FMLA, they can not sign away your rights.

The enforcement of this law is provided by the US Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. Check out their website for more information.

[If I got this correct...]

Call in sick 8 times out of any 12 month period and you're labeled a sick time abuser and you are banned from any overtime or swaps for 6 months and you lose your night or rotating differential for your sick time.

Come into work when you don't feel well and go home during your shift 5 times in any 12 month period and you're labeled a sick time abuser and you are banned from any overtime or swaps for 6 monthsand you lose your night or rotating differential for your sick time .

Call in sick 2 days in a row, 5 times in any 12 month period and you're labeled a sick time abuser and you are banned from any overtime or swaps for 6 months and you lose your night or rotating differential for your sick time.

Any combination of the above that equals 10 times in any 12 month period and you're labeled a sick time abuser and you are banned from any overtime or swaps for 6 months and you lose your night or rotating differential for your sick time.

Call in sick while you're labeled a sick time abuser and you're labeled a CHRONIC SICK TIME ABUSER and you are banned from overtime or swaps for 12 MONTHS and you lose your night or rotating differential for your sick time AND VACATION TIME. You're also to be confined to your home during your working hours unless you're going to a pre-approved location or religious observance. Hope the hospital is a pre-approved location, otherwise i suppose you'd have to leave the hospital every time you were suppsosed to be working or face disciplinary action...

Ofcourse you can appeal being labeled this, but think about who you are you appealing to?

Don't let the snakeoil salesmen lure you in with the promise of a few dollars. VOTE NO!

[Whoop Doo Dee Do]

You have to look at the big picture here and not the pittance of a $1900 check you are getting. This contract is enabling management with tools to go after workers. WHat is this section 23 about losing your right to grieve an evaluation? When you work 5 days a week, 52 weeks out of the year you are bound to need sick days, that is why you get one day a month. Whether you or a family member gets sick, $hit happens but now you can be LABELED and held down and have money taken out of your pocket. :evil:

[Lokking from the outside]

Something stinks. This is not a good contrct. Too much poer is given to the boss.

[also union]

Everyone should read the current contract under Management has the right.

These, sick, employee evaluation and other rules have been in effect all along just never enforced county wide, every department and even division has set their own rules concerning sick leave, evaluations and so on now there will be a county wide policy for sick time abusers. Get a copy of the disaplinary manual and go to the offenses look at all fifty then go to the end and see they have 18 months to bring charges.

Now to another part, if the previous contract didn't have NEW employee's work 40 hours for the first year then the Fair Labor Standareds Act would not have been applied, to that or this current agreement. Why do you think David Green settled so fast. HE WON BY GETTING THE FSLA Language in which screws private company and county employees. Thank You George W and Congress.

[unionssguy]

You go ahead and vote for this crap. Listen to the last post, thats either management or a Cheryl stooge. I am in the PD over 25 yrs and we NEVER HAD ANY SICK POLICY. Even if what they are saying is true thAt " these rules were around just never enforced". Do you think if we give them this they will just leave us alone?? :roll:
As far as the comment about the last contract; There aren't any references to FSLA rules!! The additional 1/2 hour that new employees work IS ONLY FOR 1 YR and S- STEP WAS ELIMINATED SO THEY START AT A HIGHER SALARY!! 8)
This deal CREATES S-STEP ALL OVER AGAIN AND SCREWS THE NEWBIES ON O/T AND THEY STILL HAVE TO WORK THE EXTRA 1/2 HOUR FOR 1 YR. These new policy's, Evaluations, sick, and Attendance are so bad if you read the language you CAN'T FILE A GRIEVANCE IF YOU DISAGREE! :evil: I am glad I don't get night diff. Not only did they reduce the hours (present language is 4pm-8am) to 6pm-6am, they can stop paying it to you if you use sick time. NICE! Then they ELIMINATED THE MATERNITY LEAVE POLICY! We just got that increased in the last deal for c-sections. Now you have to use family/medical leave only!!! GEAT DEAL CHERYL..
I AM VOTING NO AND URGING EVERYONE ELSE TO DO THE SAME

[Another Concerned Worker]

WHY IS THE EXECUTIVE BOARD THAT WE VOTED IN TO PROTECT US, THREATENING MEMBERS WHO CALL WITH CONTRACT CONCERNS THAT IF THEY TURN DOWN THIS LOUSY DEAL, AME WILL GO BACK TO THE TABLE AND GET US LESS MONEY & WE'LL STILL HAVE THE SAME MANAGEMENT SICK POLICY. THEY'RE BEATING UP ON PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE ACTUAL CONTRACT LANGUAGE. DON'T WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW. CHERYL JUST WANTS TO JAM THIS PEACE OF CRAP DOWN OUR THROATS.
SAY "NO" TO THIS CONTRACT BEFORE YOU LOSE RIGHTS AND MONEY THAT YOU'LL NEVER FIND AGAIN.

[Your Kidding]

I would like the 3.3% that the legist. got FOR EVERY YEAR and they didn't have any givebacks.

[Whoop Doo Dee Do]

The AME board is threatening that if this contract is voted down that the members will get less money and still have the sick leave policy? Scare tactics if you ask me. Looks like someone already sold their members down the river over at AME.

And to the moron who brought National politics into this :roll:

[longer wait]

you will just wait longer for same deal

[get it rite]

all of you union members are being foolish. you will still be able to take sick time. for just that "sick time". i too am a union member and see plenty of abuses by employees. i've even seen people leave early to get a perm.please, they're not ceo's of a corp as they think. also, the idea of working ot and than calling in sick or leaving early and using comp time is absurd. welcome to the real world. private companies would fire you for doing that. you've been a gov. employee for too long and probably have never had a real job in the outside world. oh give me my entitlements i work for the county gov. well, that how the outside world views gov. workers.

[Whoop Doo Dee Do]

I see word got back to AME about this thread. Welcome aboard sheep. BAAAAAAAAAHHHH

[MealsOnWheels]

Will The Union Be giving EVERYONE a full copy of the "proposed" contract before they vote on it? If not I think people need to read this through. I just got a packet of like 11 pages from a guy over in the parks and this contract is BS! VOTE NO! AND VOTE FOR CHANGE IN OUR UNION - AGAIN!

[GOT IT RIGHT]

I WORKED IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR & NOW I'M A COUNTY EMPLOYEE FOR MANY YEARS & I'VE NEVER SEEN A SELLOUT LIKE THIS IN MY LIFE. THIS AME EXECUTIVE BOARD IS A DISGRACE TO THE SPIRIT OF UNIONISM IN THIS COUNTRY & SHOULD BE THROWN
OUT ON THEIR BUTTS. IF WE DON'T VOTE "NO" TO THIS BAD DEAL, WE'LL BE SUFFERING FOR THE REST OF LIVES FROM THESE GIVEBACKS.
VOTE NO!!!!!!!

[VOTE NO!]

We will not be getting the actual language when they mail us the ballot from what I'm hearing. I am also hearing what others have mentioned here. AME scaring people that "WE WILL GET LESS IF WE VOTE NO" Thats nice. I'd rather have nothing then this crap. I also heard that they are saying "We really don't know what the sick time policy language is yet" What a smart bunch this group is. To think we pay these great attorney's $34,000 a month for this?? :? I'm ashamed of this union for the first time ever, even going back to CSEA days. :(

[AnotherAMEworker]

Ask around because there are a few people who have copies of the sick time policy in full. Copies are circulating through the parks department

[Whoop Doo Dee Do]

While I sit here at my second job (which I am forced to have because for the past ten years my union has not been able to keep up with the cost of living) I am reading over a copy of all the agreements and a full 5 page printout on the Sick Leave Management Program. The key word should be MANAGEMENT because that is who benefits from this contract. No matter who we put in office in that d@mn union one thing remains constant, they are out for themselves and do not fight for their mebership. BRING IN THE TEAMSTERS!

[AME GUY]

Well I am not in favor if bringing in the Teamsters, just ask Islip Town workers. A fars as the previous post re: Contract being out there. I faxed that whole 11 pages all over the county on Friday. Everyone should read what they are voting on. I am voting no!!

[A Closer Look]

Even though the Sick Time policiy is a big issue, everyone should read about the rest of the givebacks. You can't grieve a bad evaluation, you now have a "sign in" procedure, and ONLY the Executive Board can request a greivance go to step 4 (not the person filing the complant). That's right people, give up your rihgts for a raise which doesn't even keep up with inflation.

[FMLA]

I have one question for all of you AME workers who have read the Sick Time Management Policy. Is there any reference to management having to comply with the standards set forth in the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA)

Collective Bargaining CANNOT reduce the benefits afforded you under this federal law, neither can policy, procedure or any other crap that the county throws at you.

If you are out for a legitimate reason, which is defined under the FMLA very broadly, the county CANNOT harm you in any way, even if the leave is paid leave, through accruals.

Thanks in advance for the answers.

[Whoop Doo Dee Do]

the time you accrue and your right to use it is in serious jeopardy. People have banked their time for 30 years knowing that when you retire you get a 1/2 payout on any unused time. Now Levy wants to change the rules but before he changes the payout he will make sure if you burn it you can be easily brought up on charges.

I am disgusted at this so-called union not fighting for its members. Truth is this would have happened under the old regime also. We made a HUGE mistake electing someone who was a member of the previous union administration.

VOTE NO NOW AND VOTE CHERYL OUT OF OFFICE LATER!

[Just union]

NO CONTRACT IS BETTER THAN A BAD CONTRACT - WHEN CHERYL RAN FOR THE PRESIDENT SHE HAMMERED PHYLISS FOR HER CONCESSION ON THE NEW WORKER 37.5 WORK WEEK. THIS CONTRACT HAS AT LEAST THREE MAJOR CONCESSIONS AND SHE SHOULD BE CRITIZED FOR PRESENTING THIS POORLY WRITTEN SICK TIME POLICY. BUT YOU GUYS ELECTED HER. SOME OF US KNOW AND TRIED TO TELL YOU, BUT YOU DID NOT LISTEN. SHE WOULD LIE AND EXAGERATE THE FACTS. THATS HOW SHE BECAME AN EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THIS UNION AND HOW SHE BECAME PRESIDENT. AND I FEAR THE MEMBERSHIP WOULD DO IT AGAIN. THE REAL REASON WE RECEIVED A BAD CONTRACT IS BECAUSE WE ELECT INCOMPETENT LEADERS.

Looks like the smartest out of all of us were the ones who took a chance and decertified from AME. The more I think about it the more I agree with the guy who said bring the teamsters in and get me the hell out of this clerical glee club

[Long Term Ame Member]

Whoop Doo Dee Do has a short memory. Phyllis got us two good contracts. Money in every year, full retro for all, including crossing guards (no 50% off). The 371/2 work week, for one year only, got rid of the S step and these people started at much higher salaries + FULLY PAID FOR HEALTH INSURANCE UNTIL DEC.2010.
The list goes on to the benefits we got in the 7 years B.C.(before Cheryl). Now we have the biggest givebacks in the history of this union; frozen starting salaries,loss of night "dif" for many alternate shift people,loss of maternity leave(read the new language if Cheryl decides to give it to you), the new sick leave policy,a new "sign in policy". Make no mistake about it, Cheryl has never been for the members,only "what's in it for HER".
VOTE NO ON THIS PIECE OF GARBAGE!

My husband works a job and brings in a good salary so this contract is good enough for me. I would have been happy with a 1% raise. The payout for 2004 will allow me to purchase some new draperies that I have been looking at. To get paid what I get paid for a second job and I get to sit around at a desk and do little all day is great so I do not expect much. Congratulations and Thanks to my fellow board members for working so hard to get this negotiated.

[Whoop Doo Dee Do]

Whoop Doo Dee Do has a short memory. Phyllis got us two good contracts. Money in every year, full retro for all, including crossing guards (no 50% off).
VOTE NO ON THIS PIECE OF GARBAGE!

Good contracts? Those good contracts put us in the boat we are still in today. those contracts did not keep up with the rising cost of living here. I hardly call a 2% raise a good thing. Part time workers should receive retro commensurate with the hours they work. I am totally against a lump sum payout equal for everyone. It should be on a percentage basis. And my memory is good enough to remember that Cheryl sat on the board run by Phyllis.

The one thing I will agree with you on is this......

VOTE NO ON THIS PIECE OF GARBAGE

My husband works a job and brings in a good salary so this contract is good enough for me. I would have been happy with a 1% raise. The payout for 2004 will allow me to purchase some new draperies that I have been looking at. To get paid what I get paid for a second job and I get to sit around at a desk and do little all day is great so I do not expect much. Congratulations and Thanks to my fellow board members for working so hard to get this negotiated.

So because your job is your secondary family income we should all vote for it? Sorry but for alot of us these jobs are our primary means of income and we can no longer afford to be out of the loop when it comes to keeping up with the times. Nobody wants to break the bank, we want to be able to pay our bills.

[AME GUY]

Great Flyer thats circulating throughout the county telling the truth about this lousy give-back laden contract. Cheryl call Labor Relations to try and stop us members from killing this deal.

[AME GAL]

:x I GUESS AME GUY SAW THE COUNTY-WIDE E-MAIL TRYING TO STOP THE CONTRACT INFO FROM GETTNG AROUND.YOU ALSO HAVE TO BE CAREFUL IN THE PARKING LOT. THIS
IS SOME " DEMOCRACY". CAN'T FIGURE WHO WANT'S TO KILL US MORE, THE COUNTY OR THE UNION. MAKE SURE THAT YOU GO TO THE AME MEETING ON THURS.9/9 @ HEADQUATERS & DEMAND THE TRUTH ABOUT THIS GARBAGE CONTRACT, NOT THE STORIES THAT THIS EXECUTIVE BOARD IS MAKING UP AS THEY GO. SEND THE MESSAGE THAT YOU ARE VOTING "NO" AND THE COUNTY WILL HERE YOU ALSO

[S.O.A.]

The sick policy is not a big deal. We got it in our last arbitration and it has not changed anyone's life. Trust me. Half the stuff they could do have done on there own anyway. Think about how much it really affects you and you will see it is not much. Good Luck.

:x I GUESS AME GUY SAW THE COUNTY-WIDE E-MAIL TRYING TO STOP THE CONTRACT INFO FROM GETTNG AROUND.YOU ALSO HAVE TO BE CAREFUL IN THE PARKING LOT. THIS
IS SOME " DEMOCRACY". CAN'T FIGURE WHO WANT'S TO KILL US MORE, THE COUNTY OR THE UNION. MAKE SURE THAT YOU GO TO THE AME MEETING ON THURS.9/9 @ HEADQUATERS & DEMAND THE TRUTH ABOUT THIS GARBAGE CONTRACT, NOT THE STORIES THAT THIS EXECUTIVE BOARD IS MAKING UP AS THEY GO. SEND THE MESSAGE THAT YOU ARE VOTING "NO" AND THE COUNTY WILL HERE YOU ALSO

Maybe this contract will get through because of some back door dirty dealing but we know the membership has been sold out already. The real victory will be when this poor excuse of union leadership is voted out of office.

[AME BOARD]

You should vote for this!! Nothing will change. You will get less if you don't approve this.

Give me less. No matter what happens you and your "board" should be counting your days left in office. How do you justify selling out your members?

You should vote for this!! Nothing will change. You will get less if you don't approve this.

LOL Now that is the funniest thing I have read on this board in quite some time. Ooooooh is that a threat Mr or Ms. AME board?

You should vote for this!! Nothing will change. You will get less if you don't approve this.

Does the entire AME board know that you are speaking on their behalf? Is this what AME Board members do while they are "working" up at AME headquarters? They sit on their rears logging into message boards. That's why we get shitty contracts

[AME GUY]

Cheryl and her right hand Bob were at the Medical Examiner today.
What a joke!!!! :roll: Cheryl's words of wisdom: "Your lucky you all aren't paying for your health insurance: Nice. :wink:
Here's another: "You have to give something back you know" Great. 8)
She then chastised the Unit president over there for not "tearing up those flyers, it's your duty ya know" :shock:

I'll never vote for this contract even though she also said Labor Relations is supposedly sending out a letter to all of us to tell us they won't hammer us with the new sick Time Policy if we have Dr's notes!!! :lol: NICE TRY CHERYL, YOU AND RANDI ARE DONE!!!

LOL did everyone realize when they elected Cheryl that it was a package deal. You also got Randi and Donuts! Hell that is better than a new contract

[guest2]

GREAT GALLOWS HUMOR :lol:

I see now that AME is holding 3!!!! "Informational Meetings to address any concerns you may have on the contract" LOL! The board knows they fed their membership to the wolves and handed us a garbage contract. Now that word has gotten back to them that we the workers are not going to be shat on by the County or by our own Union "Leadership" they are planning these events to sway us to vote for their contract. Perhaps they will warn us all that if we turn this down we will get less money and use other scare tactics at these meetings. If they wanted to be upfront and hinest every single union member would have recieved a full copy of the contract changes and the FULL 5 pages of Sick Leave management policy. They can send us every other piece of junk mail but not the contract.

I hope everyone sees these meetings as what they are. Misinformation campaigns set up to threaten you and to get a face behind who is not happy with the contract.

VOTE NO ON THIS PIECE OF GARBAGE

[AME MEMBER TOO]

I hope that all of the contributors to this dialog will go to one or more of the meetings, voice their opinion, ask the hard questions, put our union through the paces and then vote on this contract from an informed perspective.

I also hope that every member votes (either for or against) so that the county, the union leadership, and all other union members see that we are taking an active part in deciding our futures. Until the leadership and the membership see that we will exercise our right to vote and be involved in the process, we are at the mercy of a handful of people (both in the county and the union). VOTE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER ... BUT LET'S SEND A MESSAGE LOUD AND CLEAR.

By the way, for those who are wondering, I have not decided yet and I won't decide until I have all the facts.

Make sure you call and request a copy of the FULL changes to the contract and the FULL AME sick leave policy.

There are two facts which will cause me to vote no. And the sick leave policy was not a deciding factor. Number 1, why does a union member who is at step 10 recieve the same payout for 2004 as a member who is at step 2? The percentage of "retro" for him is higher than it is for me. 2. I will not vote for a contract that does not keep up with the rising cost of living/inflation.

Just my two cents.

[AME GUY]

Went to the meeting at AME HQ'S Tonite. Whata joke!!
Cheryl was in rare form lying through her teeth.!!!

[Otis Ford]

Anyone else get visited by Cheryl and company explaining how the contract is good and we better vote yes?

THIS CONTRACT IS CRAP AND
SHOULD BE VOTED DOWN!

bring back Charlie Novo this board we have today will step over their own mother for a hot dog looks like dan s. already did more than once.

I'm not happy with the contract or what I hear is in the contract but I think you lose credibility when you make personal remarks about the union leadership - knock them down on the things they do or don't do but keep personal feelings aside. It looks like sour grapes otherwise. If you have legitimate gripes, put them on the discussion thread because the person needs to answer for what they have done. Don't turn people off who would otherwise agree with you by making personal attacks on the physical attributes of the person you are discussing - it makes you look like someone with a vendetta. Otherwise, I agree with the assessments of the majority that the union needs to be open and honest with us and put us first, not their positions up at HQ.

My two cents...which is all I'll have after they take the taxes out of the lump sum payout.

[SUFFOLK WORKER]

LAST NIGHT I ATTENDED THE MEETING. I'LL BE THE FIRST TO SAY IM NOT A BIG FAN OF CHERYL. BUT I HAD TO LAUGH WHEN ALL I HEARD WAS EVERYONE BITCHING ABOUT THIS SICK TIME.
YOU PEOPLE IN DSS SHOULD KISS SUFFOLK COUNTY'S A$$ YOU HAVE A JOB THAT GIVES YOU ALL THIS TIME. IF YOU HAD A JOB IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR LIKE WORKING AT WAL-MART , SEARS,DOCTORS OFFICE OR ANYTHING ELSE OUT THERE YOU'LL NOT ONLY GET MIN. WAGE BUT YOU WOULD ONLY HAVE FIVE TO SEVEN SICK DAYS A YEAR.
AFTER YOU TIME ABUSERS USED UP ALL YOUR SICK TIME THE WOULD START DEDUCTING IT FROM YOUR PAY.THEN AFTER AWHILE YOU'LL BE LOOKING FOR ANOTHER JOB CAUSE THEY'LL BE SICK OF YOU ATTENDANCE RECORD.
ALSO YOU GETTING IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR YOU GET A WHOPPING ONE WEEK VACATION AFTER ONE YEAR, THEN YOU MAX OUT WITH TWO WEEKS VACATION AFTER TWO YEARS AND THATS IT FOR YOUR TIME AT THAT JOB. ALSO PL DAYS I NEVER HAD PL DAYS TILL I CAME TO WORK FOR THE COUNTY.
LAST NIGHT CHERYL SAID YOU GET ONE DAY A MONTH USE IT AND I'LL ADMIT I DO .
BUT IM SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW NOT TO MAKE THREE DAY WEEKENDS ALL THE TIME. THAT'S THE ONES THEY WANT TO WATCH THE ONES THAT HAVE TO COME DOWN WITH A FRIDAY FLU OR THE MONDAY BLUES.
PEOPLE GET REAL YOU WILL NEVER SEE ANY MORE OF A RAISE THAN WE ALREADY GET AND BE HAPPY WITH THE LUMP SUM FOR 2004 I THOUGHT FOR SURE IT WAS GOING TO BE A ZERO.

ALSO AS FAR AS THAT OTHER JERK THAT COMPLAINED ABOUT RETIRING .EVERYONE WITH A HALF A BRAIN KNOWS YOU DON'T LEAVE ANY JOB WITHOUT A CONTRACT IN EFFECT. I GUESS IF 2004 WAS A ZERO WE WOULD NEVER HAD HEARD FROM HIM BUT I GUESS HE WANTS HIS LITTLE LUMP SUM.

I DON'T THINK ALL YOU WOMEN IN DSS WOULD LIKE HAVING A JOB THAT YOU HAVE TO ASK THE CUSTOMERS IF YOU WANT PICKLES ON THAT.

PEOPLE BE HAPPY WITH WHAT YOUR GETTING VOTE THIS DOWN AND WE'LL WAIT LONGER AND NOT GET ANYTHING MORE.

[22YearCountyEmployee]

You should vote for this!! Nothing will change. You will get less if you don't approve this.

When did our union board decide to abandon us and become Levy a-kissers? The union meeting at DPW yesterday sounded like you are on Levy's side. Unfortunately Levy is the County Executive and he does not give a darn about the AME union members and apparently our union doesn't either. We have worked faithfully without a contract - trusting that our board would not sell us out! It sounds like you have and I am not talking about the sick time policy. That lump sum which will be taxed at a higher rate and won't be applied to your gross salary for 2004 screws EVERYONE out of PENSION/RETIREMENT money. It also will have a snowball effect as we loose it in raises in future years. When you are starting a year and a half behind your salary will never catch up. (Our 3% increase will be based on our 2003 salary.) Did inflation take a 0% increase for 2004? Do you think we are stupid? We would make out better even if we were just given a 2% salary increase for 2004 instead of the lump sum. When the union members complained about different issues at yesterdays meeting all the union reps did was threaten them with less if they vote it down. When your Union Board threatens you instead of backing you, it is time for a major change. Bring back Phyllis!!!!!!

[17 years with county]

I agree that we take for granted the security and benefits of our jobs with the county. I also think that the county takes for granted that we will always get the job done even when we are short handed. In my agency as I'm sure in most agencies, a vacancy takes months to fill - saving $$$ for the county. Who do you think does the work in the interim??? the remaining workers in the office. And, to make matters worse, the position is usually down-graded (saving even more $$$) but the work remains the same. We are continually asked to do more with less help...and we do it!!!I want what every worker wants - decent working conditions, a fair and equitable salary, job security, health benefits, a promotion when the opportunity arises, and a "thank you" from the boss when I go above and beyond. Yes, there are some who abuse their sick time but I think you have to handle it on a case by case basis...not take away from everyone else.

As for the lump sum payout, I think once again, the union and the county are fracturing the union membership. It worked years ago when we voted away our steps because S step people and top step people had nothing to lose and all the people in the middle got screwed. We have to look at the overall picture - not just how it affects one person.

Typically, a very small percentage of the membership votes (just look at the recent election tallies). This shows a weakness and lets the county think we will just sit back and take what they dish out. It also shows the leadership of the union that we don't care enough about the issues. Let's change that perception by having every member vote this time.

[AME GUY]

I guess if you listen to "Suffolk Worker" we are all just useless abusers!! :roll:
I have been a Suffolk County worker for over 25 yrs and I have also worked in the private sector. THIS IS THE WORST CONTRACT I'VE EVER SEEN!! :shock: This sick time policy paints with such a broad brush and is so unfairly punitive that noone will escape it. Not even you who thinks that " I take my 1 day a month and I'll be fine, just like Cheryl said" I have a bridge to sell you too. :P Believe it or not what you described MAKES YOU AN ABUSER!! It's workers like yourself that Cheryl and this lying board are counting on to pull this thing through. Say your for the contract if you want, I don't care, but please don't come on this board, and tell us all how good we have it working for the county. :? Im sure this job seems great to you after Walmart. I WILL VOTE NO!!!!! :evil:

[VOTE NO!]

Why does this AME board continue to lie!!! :twisted:
They are still going out telling members that will be ok with a Dr's Note if they are out sick. Dan F was out again today telling us that again when I just saw the letter from Jeff Tempera, Labor Relations Director clearly stating " You can use your Dr's Note to APPEAL to the County to not get an Occurence" Anyone who has been with the County long enough knows what that means!! Like Begging?? Can you all see how desperate they are to get this to pass??? TELL THE TRUTH AND THEN LET MEMBERS VOTE WHO THEY WISH. But fear intimidation and lies are what we see, hear and read!!! :oops:

[Pissed Off County Worker]

[quote=AME BOARD]When the union members complained about different issues at yesterdays meeting all the union reps did was threaten them with less if they vote it down. When your Union Board threatens you instead of backing you, it is time for a major change.

That's what they were trying to sell us when they came to our office earlier this week. I don't know about any other county departments but ours isn't supporting this contract. I was very happy to hear that Cheryl and company really got beat up at DSS trying to sell their contract.

If this is the best this crew can do, it's pitiful. And I for one am sick of those useless newsletters they send out loaded with pictures of themselves congratulating each other on how terrific they are. Isn't there something more purposeful they can do with our dues besides shameless self-promotion?

I'M UNION AND I VOTE...BUT NOT FOR THIS CONTRACT!

[17 year county worker]

I can just see the powers that be smiling as they read this board. The best thing they can do is divide us up into small groups with different agendas. I for one am sick of all the misinformation being dished out. I am upset with our union for not bringing the details to each member and letting this get out of hand. Cold hard facts would have done much to set the record straight. Rumors started almost as soon as the agreement was announced. The union gave us the lump sum and percentages but neglected to tell us the rest until it leaked out in dribs and drabs. People with an axe to grind have made personal attacks on the union leadership. The union leadership has discouraged free and open discussion and it appears that they have said "take this or get nothing" - please correct me if I am wrong on that point - They have asked that flyers and the like be removed from the workplaces around the county. What is wrong with honest discourse? Why are we being stifled and made to feel "anti union" if we disagree with points in this contract...are we to follow like sheep and just do what they say? And on the other hand, anyone who was not at the bargaining table couldn't possibly know what went into the negotiating process.

Lets all act like adults and get the facts and make an informed decision about this contract. Leave personal attacks out of it. Let each union member voice their opinion freely - whether that is on this board or in a flyer or an email message or around the water cooler. Lets put the membership FIRST and do what is right. Slinging insults at either side will do no good for anyone and plays right into the hands of the county.

My two cents...which is all I'll have after they take the taxes out of the lump sum payout.

Best line yet! So sadly true however.

[Another AME Member]

The county is allowing a meeting to take place on county time on Monday (10 AM) for a contract discussion and Q&A at the Dennison Bldg. This should tell you all you need to know. Since when does the County allow something like this unless it's in their best interest? Hmmmmmmm.

[17 years with county]

The county is allowing a meeting to take place on county time on Monday (10 AM) for a contract discussion and Q&A at the Dennison Bldg. This should tell you all you need to know. Since when does the County allow something like this unless it's in their best interest? Hmmmmmmm.

Does anyone know what happened at this meeting if in fact it was held?

Got my Ballot in the mail today and read through the contract. I am appalled that our Union leaders point out exactly what some of the posters here have been saying. This "payout" is unfair in that a 2 year worker gets a higher percentage for 2004 than a 10 year worker would get. They point this out in bold print on the back page. I am disheartened by AME and I voted NO.

[AME GUY]

They had the meeting and Cheryl DID NOT SHOW and instead sent the 3 stooges; Lydia, Josephine, Sandra. :roll: What a joke. They couldn't tell the truth to save their lives. Everyone saw through it and 100 people were not happy. This thing is going down to defeat and it should. VOTE NO!!!!!

[17 years with county]

Got my Ballot in the mail today and read through the contract. I am appalled that our Union leaders point out exactly what some of the posters here have been saying. This "payout" is unfair in that a 2 year worker gets a higher percentage for 2004 than a 10 year worker would get. They point this out in bold print on the back page. I am disheartened by AME and I voted NO.

The retirees get nothing for working in 2004. My question is this - is this lump sum payout in lieu of a raise for 2004? If so, then those who worked in 2004 deserve a part of that payout. If it is not in lieu of a raise then they have no recourse. Still, lets all hope we live through July 1, 2005 otherwise we too will be eligible for zero. This is in fact the only part of the contract that really bothers me. For those who would say the retirees are gone so who cares? I say that remember some day we will be retirees too and when you have worked and been a dues paying member, you are entitled to some benefit too. I don't have a hard time taking away from those who haven't joined the ranks yet - they will take the job with the county under the conditions of this contract (or not take the job as the case may be) - but the retirees worked and contributed just like those of us who are still doing the 9 - 5 so lets be fair to all union members - past and present when we negotiate and when we vote. I'd like to see that language changed - otherwise, I think I can live with this contract.

[NO WAY!]

How can anyone accept all these give backs?? I don't think I would vote for this even if it was 4's instead of 3's. I've been here over 25 yrs and this contract sux. But I guess many unfortunately will say they can live with it too and vote for it. :cry:

[25+ years with County]

The last guest thinks that he only lost money because of the '04 "bonus". THINK AGAIN! You lost with the Management Sick Leave Policy; you lost with the night differential; you lost with the elimination of possible greivance on a bad evaluation or attendance problem; you lost the entire maternity leave provision;and the list goes on. The union has no input or say on the "sign in" policy,no matter how unjust it may be; in other words, we will have little or no representation at all. As I said before, THINK AGAIN! & VOTE NO!!!!!!

[22Year County Employee]

Received my copy of the contract proposal in todays mail. There is not anything in it that states the opposite of the so called negative flyers. Why do we earn 12 sick days a year when we are going to be punished if we use them? Why do new employees have to work an extra 2 1/2 hours per week? Who is supervising them? To work anything over your designated work week hours at straight time is ridiculous. I certainly would not do it and I don't think anyone else should either. If we are all so unhappy with our present union board, and it appears that we are, why can't we "impeach" them? This union is basically telling us they won't go to bat for us if we reject this crappy contract. What else could their message "Then you will end up taking a zero for 2005 too! mean? This union board certainly did a good job of attacking those who protested their proposal when they came to DPW to discuss it. Do we really need a union who threatens us? Why are the union members who worked the entire year in 2004 being punished when it comes to the lump sum payment because they retired between 1/1/2005 and 7/1/2005? Why is everyone willing to virtually slit their own throats by not insuring that the lump sum is included as salary for 2004. Cheryl sent out a flyer stating that the lump sum is going to count as salary, however, that is not what is stated in the "contract proposal"!!!! I am voting NO because the proposal does not in any way dispute the negative flyers. Thank you to that annonymous writer for tipping us off.

[AME GAL]

Well, we got the Ame Proposed Contract today and our double talking president left out more information, the SALARY CHARTS! :shock: WHAT A SHOCK! The pattern of missing information continues. Doesn't Cheryl :twisted: want us to know how little the rate amounts to since the first % starts on the '03 rate. Start asking her what kind of "sweet deal" she got for herself for trying to jamm this down our throats. That is the only possible explanation for repeatedly saying "management wants this" Protect yourself and say NO!!!!! :x :x

[another ame member]

The retro amounts calculated in the contact proposal package are also incorrect. They represent retro pay for the entire 2005 year when in fact we would only be getting retro payment for only a part of the year. Another "mistake"? I don't thin so. This smells......

[almost 20]

I think because they know that the county doesnt plan on paying retro till the end of the year, even though the union says maybe september. the whole offer stinks...im a another no vote

[Ice Cube1]

Why do we earn 12 sick days a year when we are going to be punished if we use them? Also on the back of the page we see listed a blurb that we must remain indoors/under house arrest when we call in sick. Well! if this is the case then we should have unlimited sick just like the cops. That's right we should have the same rights as the PD under their contract .

Why do we earn 12 sick days a year .

Umm - we earn 13 sick days per year. 1/2 day every pay period x 26 pay periods. READ THE CONTRACT.

Sooooo - donut girl is telling everyone we earn one per month? Guess even Cheryl doesn't know her own contract. Very sad.

Sick leave abuser is (as I try to understand it) five+ occurences of sick leave or eight+ single sick days in 12 month period. and chronic sick leave abuser is 1) being a sick leave abuser for 18 months or 2) 16+ sick days in 12 month period.

You can deduct up to 10 family sick days - a doctors note may be required.

Question what is difference between sick leave and sick day?

To get yourself off the sick time abuser stigma you then have to have NO SICK DAYS FOR SIX CONSECUTIVE MONTHS. and these months do not count vacation time. What a joke.

If you are a chronic sick time abuser, after six months of no sick time you then get classified as a sick time abuser. Guess its then another six months of no sick time. ONE YEAR FOR CHRONIC SICK TIME ABUSERS.

Found this - Section 6 - Effective 01/01/04 you must be on payroll on April 1st to receive longevity. Formerly it was January 1st. Those that retired between 01/02/04 and 03/31/04 get no longevity for 2004. Interesting as they were most likely paid it already. Will they have to give it back? or deducted from retro pay?

I WILL BE A NEGATIVE VOTE ON THIS CONTRACT JOKE PROPOSAL.

Well! if this is the case then we should have unlimited sick just like the cops. That's right we should have the same rights as the PD under their contract .

Never gonna happen but it is interesting in reference to the whold proposal. That is the intent of unlimited sick time ie; so management has control of the employee which is definetly the case here.

Seems to me that employees will use more sick time (legit that is) under this proposal. It is my opinion that most employees work when they should be home or aqt doctor.

Do not forget that you still have right to change vacation or personal to sick if you fall sick while on other leave.

Employees should have right to a "freebee" sick day if you have a legit sick day on your day off. Bit of hypocracy here sing as union negotiators get a "freebee" admin day for negotiations on days off.

just for the record why does a union president who happens to be on the negotiation team (and was first signer) need an admin day ON A SUNDAY? How much union business is conducted on a Sunday?

"just for the record why does a union president who happens to be on the negotiation team (and was first signer) need an admin day ON A SUNDAY? How much union business is conducted on a Sunday?"


How much union business is done on EASTER SUNDAY?????!!!!!

[SCPD PATROL 3]

We do not get unlimited sick. We get the same as AME. NYPD has unlimited sick.

[in the ammmmmEEEEEEEEEE]

I can't believe how much nonsense has been put into this contract agreement. I fully understand the county wants a sick leave polocy but there is no way they could enforce this garbage. At the very least its going to be a nightmare for those that do timesheets/payroll. This will cause employees to loose pay that they are entitled to, will force me to reveal my chronic health problem to my supervisor (who by the way is a blabber mouth) so i dont get charged for an occourance when i "dont feel welll". The federal govt privacy act says i dont need to tell my employer why im calling in sick, im just sick should be enough. This contract removes my right to privacy. Ive been without a raise since JAN 2004. I dont need to hear the union threaten me with "if you dont approve, you will get less the next time around", youre supposed to be on my side Cheryl Felice.. Ive waited this long Cheryl, I'll wait a little longer ......I just put my balot in the envelope and sent in my vote.......which by the way goes to a union post office box, not to a third party like they claim. I voted


N O


N O

TO THE

A M E


CONTRACT OFFER

[Need Mo Money]

THIS CONTRACT IS GARBAGE! The language in the contract is scary. We are giving all the power to "the County" to implement or revise policy concerning job evaluation and attendance. UNION MEMBERS, If this contract is radified, be afraid ...be very affraid. We must vote NO!

The County and the Union expect us to make these concessions and are giving us nothing in return. We are losing Money!! In 2004 the CPI (consumer Price Index) or rate of inflation was 3.5% We get 0%. This year inflation has increased to 3.8%, we are getting 3.0%. Alan Greenspan, the chairman of the Federal Reserv Board has stated that he expects to increase short term rates for the forseeable future to combat inflation. We can expect inflation to increase for the next few years!

If inflation stays the same, we will lose $$$$. At the current rate, by the end of this contract we will have lost over 7% to inflation. At the start of this contract, A family who was making $50,000 a year and had bills totaling $3,750 per month had $400 left over to spend. That same person will be making about $56,412 a year and will have bills totaling $4,505 a month leaving only $196 left over!!

The preceeding rates of inflation do not include school and local taxes. with taxes rising over several hundred dollars a year, we are losing a lot of money/buying power. We cannot afford this contract. VOTE NO!!!

If this is the best this union's bargaining unit can do, we must get rid of them now.

[also union]

There is a good post which raises the question does this sick time policy voilate the FEDERAL PRIVACY Act Concerning Health care????

The new work rules s_ _ _ _ but having been in on countless disaplinaries in my years the rules are differently applied in each division County Wide.

Now we may have a worse policy County Wide that violates FEDERAL LAW.

If this passes we will have 4 work classes instead of two 35/35+5 37.5/ 37.5+2.5. I guess they think everyone will be knocking down the door to work in government. WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE STEVIE YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET THE QUALITY HELP YOU NEED WITH THESE WORK RULES

[AME GUY]

Thats exactly what He wants. Then when he can't hire anyone he will privatize. Starting with the J J FOLEY SKILLED NURSING FACILITY! VOTE NO ON THIS TURKEY. :oops:

[COBEY MAN]

I WAS AT THE AME MEETING IT IS FUNNY HOW THESE SICK ABUSERS COME OUT LIKE COCKROACHES. HOW MANY DAYS ARE THEY USING 20 OR THIRTY A YEAR? I LOVE THE STORY OF THE MEMBERS WITH CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEMS AND THEY DONT WANT TO TELL THEIR BOSS. LISTEN LADIES GET RID OF THE BIG FAT BUS DRIVERS ASS AND YOU WONT HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO YOUR BOSS EVERY TIME YOUR HEMERROIDS FLAIR UP. I LOVE THE OTHER ONE TOO, WHAT IF I AM NOT SICK ENOUGH TO GO TO THE DOCTOR, SO I CANT GET A DOCTORS NOTE. WE WORK FOR THE COUNTY EVERYONE KNOWS YOU GO TO WORK WHEN YOU ARE SICK AND TAKE OFF ON A SUNNY DAY. IF YOU CANT WORK FOR THE COUNTY AND USE 10 OR 12 SICK A YEAR I SUGGEST YOU GO TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR, YOU WOULD BE GONE AFTER 4 OR 5. I DONT WANT TO HEAR THE BS THOSE ARE MY DAYS, OR THEY ARE GONNA GO AFTER THE GUY THAT USES 10 OR 12. THEY HAVE A LOT OF BIG FISH TO FRY BEFORE THEY GET TO THIS LITTLE FLOUNDER. ALL SAID AND DONE I THINK I AM GOING TO CALL IN SICK AND GO GET MY BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKED AND IF HE GIVES ME A NOTE I AM GOING TO MAKE IT A 2 OR 3 DAY OCCURENCE.

[guest2]

Nice try Cheryl.

[also union]

Just think how many Union paybacks Mr. Leavy owes they got MR. PRO LABOR elected.

THE ENTIRE CONTRACT IS CRAP. THE COUNTY IS IN SURPLUS, WE SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO GIVE BACK ANYTHING. THE WORST PART OF THE SICK LEAVE IS THAT IF YOU ARE ON A LIST FOR PROMOTION AND THEY WANT TO BY PASS YOU, OUR UNION HAS GIVEN THEM THE ABILITY TO GO AROUND YOU AND THERE WON'T BE ANYTHING YOU OR THIS UNION CAN DO. PEOPLE WHO WORKED ALL OF 2004 AND RETIRED BEFORE JULY 1, WILL NOT GET THE BONUS, SOME PEOPLE IN EMERGENCY SERVICES WILL TAKE A 9% PAY CUT BECAUSE OF THE NIGHT DIFFERENTIAL, AND THE INCREASE THEY ARE GIVING IS BASED UPON 2003 SALARY SO IN 5 YEARS I WILL HAVE LOST OVER $800.00. SORRY BUT OUR UNION BOARD KEEPS TRYING TO PUT A PRETTY DRESS ON THIS UGLY DOG.
MY GUESS IS CHERYL HAS A POLITICAL AGENDA BECAUSE SHE CERTAINLY ISN'T WATCHING OUT FOR OUR BACKS.

[Response to COBEY MAN]

YOU MUST BE ON THE AME EXECUTIVE BOARD BECAUSE YOU'RE ALL SO DUMB THAT YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT GOES ON IN THE WORLD AROUND YOU. MY SPOUSE IS IN A PRIVATE SECTOR UNON AND GETS 12 SICK DAYS A YEAR WITH NO QUESTIONS ASKED AND NO DOCTOR'S NOTES REQUIRED. STOP TELLING THE MEMBERS THAT WE HAVE IT BETTER THAN EVERYBODY JUST SO CHERYL CAN GET HER BIG FAT APPOINTMENT IN THE COUNTY OR BROOKHAVEN TOWN FOR TRYING TO RAM THIS PIECE OF CRAP DOWN OUR THROATS. HER OFFICERS ARE SO STUPID THAT THEY DON'T KNOW THAT SHE'S USING THEM, ALONG WITH THE REST OF US, FOR HER OWN STEPLADDER.

[FLYERGUY]

I heard that Cheryl will get an appointment to a high level county job after she jams this down our throats. And YES I DID THE FLYERS AND im proud of it. :)

[COBEY MAN]

PRIVATE SECTOR UNION? 12 DAYS A YEAR? WHO THE HELL ARE YOU KIDDING?YOU HAVE GOT TO BE A DPW FLUNKIE. GO GET YOUR STICK WITH THE POINT ON THE END AND START PICKING UP THE GARBAGE ON NICHOLS ROAD.

PRIVATE SECTOR UNION? 12 DAYS A YEAR? WHO THE HELL ARE YOU KIDDING?YOU HAVE GOT TO BE A DPW FLUNKIE. GO GET YOUR STICK WITH THE POINT ON THE END AND START PICKING UP THE GARBAGE ON NICHOLS ROAD. :?:

What the hell are you doing on the computer at 9AM,:?: GET A JOB!!

[Voted No]

She will say anything. :x Today at Riverhead County Center she
said " The County can do anything they want to you" Wow, then what do we need your tremendous leadership for Cheryl?? :lol:
I hope this contract goes down. Either way she is done. Anyone who votes for her or Turlings for Prez is nuts. :shock:

[SUFFOLK WORKER]

COBEY MAN , IT'S ABOUT TIME THERE'S SOMEONE OUT THERE THAT HAS SOME BRAINS. IT SEEMS LIKE ALL THESE SICK ABUSER FLUNKYS HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO BUT COMPLAIN ABOUT EVERYTHING. :lol:

LET'S FACE FACTS ALL YOU SICK TIME ABUSERS ,THERE'S ONLY A FEW OF YOU OUT THERE THAT HAVE TO WATCH YOUR A$$E$. THAT'S WHY THIS SICKABUSE THING IS BEING PUT INTO EFFECT.

LET'S FACE IT THE CONTRACT WILL GET APPROVED CAUSE THERE'S ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE THAT'S GONNA VOTE IT DOWN.
AND THE ONES WHO VOTE IT DOWN ARE LOSERS.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

no, we're ALL losers if this contract gets approved, and anyone who is hired after this point, well, they're even bigger losers. Face it boys and girls, sick time aside- we didn't even get kissed before we were raped...

[AME BOARD]

Thank you Suffolk worker. All these people who voted no are IDIOTS!! :evil: This a great contract. We needed to help Steve Levy look good. You have to look at the BIG PICTURE. We are all so proud of Cheryl. We know where all the idiots are: Health, DSS, 911, Fres, Infirmary. Vote no if you like, it will pass anyway. I hope you fools are all labeled abusers and are brought up on charges. We here up at AME HQ's are exempt of course. :lol:
We will continue to take care of our friends. I just hope you all come to your senses in time for our re-election next year, which is a slam dunk anyway. :D

You have to look at the BIG PICTURE.

They Key Word here is BIG

[Disgusted w/you naysayers]

Want to complain about the contract? Get yourselves on the union board and do a better job - think you can?

If your jobs are that bad, resign and go work in the public sector. See how long you'll last.

Do you really think that if this went to arbitration you would have gotten a better contract? Do you forget the last contract and how horrible that was?????

Givebacks? There's always a concession - welcome to the real world. All your being asked to do is show up to work, do your job and not abuse your time off. How could they - what do they think they're in charge? Of course the County is in charge! WAKE UP!!

Naysayers just be quiet. If it was a perfect day outside to the rest of the world, you complainers would find something wrong with it.

The contract is a good one - VOTE YES!!!!

All your being asked to do is show up to work,

Does ANYONE know the difference between your and you're -
As in you're showing your ignorance by posting with bad grammar.

Personally I ignore posts with bad grammar. If you want to be taken seriously use correct grammar otherwise you are (NOTE - this can be used in place of you're.) just a troll.

ANYONE[/b] know the difference between your and you're.

must have been human error.

[digusted w/you naysayers]

Oh, please...and you're (yes, you are) so intelligent that you start a sentence with a lower case letter......

Gee, your IQ must be in the 150's - NOT

Want to complain about the contract? Get yourselves on the union board and do a better job - think you can?



I am on the Board of Directors. In other words I am the President of my Unit in AME.

VOTE NO! THIS CONTRACT IS GARBAGE AND YOU ARE BEING SPOON FED LIES

P.S. "Disugusted" sounds very much like a Cheryl Kool-Aid drinker. Perhaps even a Board member or our esteemed "photographer"?

[disgusted w/you naysayers]

What were they thinking electing you?

You sound a lot like Phyllis or one of her cohorts...

We should DISBAND this so called ASSOCIATION and join a real union, maybe CSEA..........

Somehow, while driving for a single-car team and conceding nothing to age, Ken Schrader keeps finding ways to improve.

He's 28th in the Nextel Cup standings -- hardly heady stuff -- but he's got a good chance at improving for the second straight year. His points standing assures him a spot in the field every week, which is a luxury he wished he had in 2003, when he missed four races.

Schrader, who turned 50 in May, plans on driving in the Nextel Cup Series for at least another year and a half, and BAM Racing is trying to make sure he ends his Cup career in the No. 49 Dodge.

Schrader talked with NASCAR.COM's Ryan Smithson at Pocono Raceway, where he finished 20th.

Ken, how worried were y'all before the season concerning the top-35 rule?


Listen to the Conversation with Schrader
Sign up for TrackPass now and earn Fan MilesBUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE
Well, I was excited about it. We hovered around there last year, so we knew hovering around it wasn't going to be good. I think it's the best it's ever been to go to a race and try to qualify.

Granted, we have a couple of legit full-time teams that are out of the top 35. But having eight spots open is pretty big.

I guess I never thought of it that way. Now you guys won't have to worry about missing Indianapolis anymore.

First off, you're not out of provisionals. (Last year) you could be 30th in points out of provisionals and not make the race. So yeah, that is a lot better, you're unlimited now as long as you're in the top 35.

How much of a relief was it when you went to Fontana, had a decent run, and that took some pressure off?

We ran the first four races off last year's points. Going to Daytona and knowing you were in, you know, other than wherever we were last year, and wondering whether that position would get a provisional, that is a huge difference.

And I think we lost four spots last week, and now we are 30th, that is still a little ways away [from 35th] and we had a couple of races where we were really close, 34th or whatever, but hopefully we can keep going in the right direction.

Ken, you are 50 years old and had a bad crash last week at Dover. How do you bounce back from that as opposed to 20 years ago?


Credit: Autostock

KEN SCHRADER
• Driver page
• 2005 Stats
• Store: Schrader gear!
• Schrader to pilot Waltrip truck at Michigan


I've hit so much stuff, I couldn't tell. When I woke up Monday, everything that was sore is sore everyday I wake up, so I figured it was no big deal.

Remember your bad crash here [at Pocono] in 2003?

That was a big deal! Ha! Got down in 1, early, early in the race, seven or eight laps.

Eighth lap. Yeah.

Smoked down in there, and the brakes pedal went to the floor. I was like, "Dang! Brake pedal really went to the floor!" I was watching qualifying the day before and guys were running 200 miles per hour right here.

And we got turned around, so it backed in. That made it a lot easier. It wasn't that bad. Got it turned over, got out, and got to beat traffic home.

I know you're good friends with Mark Martin, but it seems to me you've got a funnier story about Rusty Wallace.

Well, I grew up with Rusty. I was a year older than Rusty and we raced right there together at home in the St. Louis area. We did a lot of things together.

Some of them you wouldn't want to mention. We had a lot of fun together and obviously I know Rusty a lot better than I know Mark. But Mark and Rusty raced together a bunch in the ASA deal.

Rusty has always been so wide open and focused the whole time, we went our different ways. He went ASA racing and I went dirt racing. We started out together then we didn't race together for quite a while.

Were you surprised he didn't run a couple more years?


Schrader and Mark Martin Credit: Autostock

Uh, nah. Rusty has got so much other stuff going on. Business-wise and that. I think he was ready to quit.

I think maybe he questions it now, you hear him say he might have pulled the plug up one year too early, but he's got his son coming up and doing some racing, I think he was ready to do some other stuff.

I mean, the Cup schedule, 36 weekends is a lot of weekends.

You said earlier about having a lot of stuff going on and we know you're going to be in a Darrell Waltrip truck temporarily. Are you going to drive for yourself in the Craftsman Truck Series in a couple of years or for another team?

That is definitely the plan. The plan is to grow Schrader Racing into a two-truck team and we don't know exactly what we're doing next year yet; but as far as the truck schedule, if we're going to run the truck full-time with someone else or myself and someone else with it, the D.W. truck at Michigan, that just came out of the blue. I got a phone call the other day. Heck yeah, I will drive that thing. That will be fun.

Ken, when they gave you that wheelchair a couple of weeks ago [for your 50th birthday], I heard you weren't too amused.

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No. It's not really a wheelchair. It just got wheels on it. It doesn't roll, that way I don't have to worry about hurting myself.

I haven't got to get it over to my shop now, it's sitting in the lobby over at the BAM shop, the boys really did a nice job on it, it's a neat little piece of work.

I went to the driver's meeting and I came back and there was a bunch of people by the truck. I knew I wouldn't get out of this day -- this 50-year-old deal -- clean, but it was pretty painless.

You were expecting something even worse?

I wasn't expecting anything. In my mind, I had thought that nothing had happened yet, and I didn't know what to expect when I saw all the people gathered around. I knew who was going to be the center though.

Was 50 an 'Oh, no!' Or just a birthday?

Just a birthday. Just a birthday. Kind of neat, boys at the shop -- Brian at the shop, he runs my office, he got me an AARP card, so hey, I can get some savings now. I am trying to get something with it at Goodyear but they won't accept it yet.

[AME GUY]

Disgusted is either an AME Board member or 1 of Cheryl's many Lapdogs. :lol:

[Southpaw]

We should DISBAND this so called ASSOCIATION and join a real union, maybe CSEA..........

I wonder how many other AME members think we should affiliate with a large union. Would it be better than being independent? What do you all think?

[AME GUY]

Well I was there when we were CSEA and we affiliated with AFL-CIO and AFSCME and it wasn't a picnic. However I would be interested in affiliating with a Large union and staying an Independent. But it means a major DUES INCREASE and most members will not go for that, unfortunately.

[ST IVES]

THE TOWN WHERE I LIVE HAS CSEA, THEY ONLY PAY 30 PERCENT OF YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE WHEN YOU RETIRE.THE ONLY COUNTY UNION THAT COULD GET MORE THAN 3 PERCENT WOULD BE PBA.BETWEEN YOUR VACATION AND PL DAYS IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY USING 10 OR 12 SICK DAYS A YEAR YOU NEED TO GO TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR A LITTLE WAKE UP CALL. I TRIEED TO SPELLL AS GOODE AS I CAN BEING IM FROM DPW AND HAVE NO DIPLOMA SOO IMS SORRY

Thats just it.
We get 13 sick days a year.
Under this proposal we can only use 8 in a 12 month period, before being labeld an "abuser".

Upon retirement, or leaving county service we get paid for HALF of any unused sick time.

So we cant use them all and we dont get paid for all of the unused time either.

I just want to use the days I'm ENTITLED to.

[What a shame]

Sick leave is a benefit for when you are sick. They are not extra days off. You accumulate them in case you get really sick. There are many employees out for months on sick leave that they earned. If you think sick leave are just extra days off, maybe you are an abuser. At least you get half pay for them when you retire. Go work for the private sector and see what you get.

Sick leave is a benefit for when you are sick. They are not extra days off. You accumulate them in case you get really sick. There are many employees out for months on sick leave that they earned. If you think sick leave are just extra days off, maybe you are an abuser. At least you get half pay for them when you retire. Go work for the private sector and see what you get.

Sick days are YOUR days, you negotiate for them in you contract. You earn them through negotiations. If they want control of sick days then take away earned sick time and give unlimited sick time. That way the county can have all the say in how its used, the down side is the employee has to justify the use of that unlimited time.

Sick leave is a benefit for when you are sick. They are not extra days off. You accumulate them in case you get really sick. There are many employees out for months on sick leave that they earned. If you think sick leave are just extra days off, maybe you are an abuser. At least you get half pay for them when you retire. Go work for the private sector and see what you get.

Sick days are YOUR days, you negotiate for them in you contract. You earn them through negotiations. If they want control of sick days then take away earned sick time and give unlimited sick time. That way the county can have all the say in how its used, the down side is the employee has to justify the use of that unlimited time.

[ST IVES]

HEY NICE POST,I GUESS UNTIL THESE PEOPLE REALIZE SICK AND VACATION ARE NOT THE SAME ITS A WASTE OF TIME.I WORKED FOR NYC WITH UNLIMITED SICK, WHEN THEY COME KNOCKING ON YOUR DOOR YOU BETTER ANSWER OR YOUR GETTING WRITTEN UP AS NOT HOME.I STILL HAVE NOT SEEN A POST OF JUST HOW MANY DAYS THESE PEOPLE ARE USING.

Should you call in sick if you aren't?

By Marilyn Gardner | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

Bonnie Russell considers herself a workaholic, logging long hours as a legal publicist. But that doesn't mean she never takes time off. Every three or four months, when she was employed in law firms, she would call in sick, although she felt fine. Even now, as her own boss, she still takes the equivalent of sick time.
"It's not a sick day, it's a well day," says Ms. Russell, who runs 1st-Pick.com in Del Mar, Calif. "It blows out the cobwebs and puts things in perspective."

That kind of artful redefinition is common this time of year, when many companies enforce use-it-or-lose-it policies. Determined not to waste sick leave that expires Dec. 31, an estimated 30 percent of those with unused days are taking them under some pretense, says John Dantico, a compensation consultant in Northbrook, Ill.

Employees use "sick days" for many purposes, as last week's mass absence of unhappy US Airways workers shows. Whatever the reason, 1 in 5 American adults has called in sick on at least one occasion when they weren't ill, according to a Harris Interactive survey.

That raises a question: When is it ethical to use sick days?

The issue is "always problematic," says Stephen Fox, a labor and employment attorney in Dallas. "You have those employees who take sick time as it's supposed to be taken, when you're truly sick or have someone under your care who is sick. Then there are those employees who say, 'Hey, it's a free day off.' "

Such attitudes can create tension between those who follow the rules and those who skirt them. But some break the rules because their employers' sick-day policies give them few options.

"Companies create problems for themselves when they have a policy saying that sick leave is only for the employee," says Keith Greene, a director at the Society for Human Resource Management in Alexandria, Va. If workers have a sick child to care for, they may be forced to claim illness for themselves, he adds.

Situations such as this are one factor prompting some firms to change the way they give time off. Instead of dividing it into vacation days and sick leave, they combine the two into paid time off - a leave bank. Workers can use the days as they choose, with no explanations necessary. "Employees call in and say, 'I'm taking a leave day,' " Mr. Greene explains. "That stops the situation of lying."

That approach liberates workers as well as bosses.

"I want to get the employer out of the role of being a doctor and out of the role of being a policeman," Mr. Fox says. "We're saying, 'We don't really care how you take the time off.' "

That attitude can have varying repercussions in companies.

"If an employee doesn't show up for work and there's no harm to the employer from that absence, it's less serious," says John Boatwright, a professor of business ethics at Loyola University in Chicago. "But once there's a wink and a nod about one policy, there's a spillover effect to other policies ... that can be very damaging to the organization."

The impact of taking sick leave, for whatever purpose, varies from business to business. Airlines, hospitals, and schools need certain people in specific roles. "If they're not there, you need to establish some backup," says Sue Holloway of WorldatWork, a human resources association in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Whatever the industry, workplace experts do not see evidence of widespread abuses of sick leave. General-leave policies in particular can create "an environment of trust," says Linda Treviño, professor of organizational behavior at Penn State University's business school.

But when trust falters, employees may use sick leave as an economic weapon to express their frustration over the handling of labor issues, as many US Airways baggage handlers, ramp workers, and flight attendants did last week.

"Employees, when they perceive that they've been unfairly treated in any way, will feel justified in engaging in different kinds of behavior that we might call harmful to the organization," says Ms. Treviño. "They will feel justified in taking whatever leave is 'owed' them."

For other workers, debates about the ethics of taking sick leave remain a luxury. "The majority of low-income people get no sick time," says Netsy Firestein, director of the Labor Project for Working Families in Berkeley, Calif. "When they're sick, they're either going to work sick, or they're losing pay."

More than half of workers in the private sector and in state and local government receive no paid sick leave, says the Institute for Women's Policy Research in Washington.

For those who receive sick days, Russell defends their occasional use by employees who are well, emphasizing their energizing effect. "They're way better than any motivational seminar the company could hold for its employees," she says.

Time away from work is probably the single most difficult issue for employers to resolve with employees, Fox notes. But "in the final analysis, you've got to create a workplace where the employee wants to come to work unless they're truly sick, in which case they need to be away from work to take care of themselves."



Subscribe Today: Get 63 issues of the Monitor for just $27

Sick Time Abuse


Negotiations between union members and their employer were at an impasse. The union denied that their workers were flagrantly abusing the sick-leave provisions set out by their contract.

One morning at the bargaining table, the County's chief negotiator held aloft the morning edition of the newspaper, "This man," he announced, "called in sick yesterday!"

There on the sports page, was a photo of the supposedly ill employee, who had just won a local golf tournament with an excellent score.

The silence in the room was broken by an AME negotiator.

"Wow!" he said. "Just think of what kind of score he could have had if he hadn't been sick!"

[Union Oldtimer]

[Sick days are YOUR days, you negotiate for them in you contract. You earn them through negotiations. If they want control of sick days then take away earned sick time and give unlimited sick time. That way the county can have all the say in how its used, the down side is the employee has to justify the use of that unlimited time.[/quote]

Sorry, but you're wrong. I work for a large union that has nothing to do with AME. I have been negotiating contracts and arguing arbitrations for employees for 30 years. As much as we hate to hear it, arbitrators have consistently ruled that even though you may get 15 sick days a year, you cannot use all or most of them every year without a penalty. Sure, there can be extenuating circumstances, but an arbitrator will rule that the employer has the right to "continuity of employment" and can discipline (within reason) employees who always use all or most of their sick leave.

That's not to say that I agree with the new County/AME sick leave policy. I haven't read it, but, from what has been written here, it seems to go beyond what an arbitrator would otherwise rule. The purpose of this post is simply to correct the impression that your sick leave is yours to use as often as you like without penalty.

[ok, enough]

The ballots out, the die has been cast- enough bickering you're not going to change anyone's mind anyway. All there is left to do is count the votes and see where the chips fall...

no matter how many people say they voted against this, the good ol' AME board will find a way to make it pass.

IMPEACH CHERYL!

[also union]

The votes are in and the union members have spoken. Both the White and Blue Collar contracts have been approved.

Money talks in the end.

Sick time policy

It's the County's rule book so use it against them. Thats what GOOD union reps do.

I've been in union representation for almost thirty years both private and public sector and thats what I've learned over the years. Another point you never pay for your own contract like they did a few years ago by revamping the step system.

People who are so concerned about the new work rules where were you when Congress passed the changes to the FLSA Act?

If you look at the big picture every UNION in AMERICA (AFLCIO, TEAMSTERS, AFSCME and so on) dropped the ball with that one.

Some call me a Cheryl lapdog no Iam not. I call a SPADE A SPADE weather you are Charlie N, Charlie B, Sue, Dennis, Phyllis, or Cheryl.

[AME GUY]

I knew it would pass, even though it is the most give-back laden contract in Suffolk County history; and so they are all celebrating up at AME.
It doesn't matter, they are finished, they won't get re-elected next yr. SELL OUT CHERYL + GIVE BACK BOB

I can't believe this piece of crap contract passed. All of those who voted yes are nothing but of bunch of idiots. The county waived a one time bonus taxed at 51% under your noses and you acted like a pack of hungry dogs. Just wait until you realize what you gave up. You lost the 3% for 2004 because that is counting as a bonus and not salary. This affects EVERYONES pension. Also, how would you like it if you worked all of 2004, but were told that you were not going to get the 2004 money because you retired in the beginning of 2005? I know that only a few departments work overtime, but I happen to be in one of the departments that does have a lot of overtime. I worked a lot of overtime hours in 2004. I am getting burned out of a lot of extra money in addition to the extra money that would have been contributed to my pension. The only hope we have now is a total new regime - Get rid of Cheryl and get rid of Levy!!!!! They are only interested in themselves. I wonder what they are getting. Next election be sure to VOTE REPUBLICAN!!!!!

[Ammerman Campus guy]

Thanks again Cheryl and all the rest of the AME self serving sell outs...
You fooled the membership again with your decietful mailings....
And got that thing you called a "contract "passed....
Filled with give backs O plenty....
NO raise for 2004, that affects your entire career
And sold out the future of the entire AME membership for $1925

[also union]

Where were you people when we got ZERO"S for a couple of years they cost more over my career then 1925.00 that we get for 2004.

You don't like what you have, QUIT and then look on the outside. I bet you think PHYLLIS was the GREATEST look at her SELL OUTS then come back and talk.

IT IS REALLY A SHAME THIS CONTRACT PASSED. UNFORTUNATELY MOST OF THE PEOPLE DON'T EVEN REALIZE WHAT THEY GAVE UP. THE COUNTY HAD A SURPLUS, THERE WAS NO NEED FOR US TO GIVE UP ANYTHING. WE CAN ALL ONLY HOPE THAT LEAVY DOUBLE CROSSES CHERYL AND AFTER THE NEXT VOTE SHE ENDS UP BACK IN HER OLD JOB AND MANAGEMENT LABELS HER *A SICK LEAVE ABUSER**

[Ammerman Campus guy]

Where were you people when we got ZERO"S for a couple of years they cost more over my career then 1925.00 that we get for 2004.

You don't like what you have, QUIT and then look on the outside. I bet you think PHYLLIS was the GREATEST look at her SELL OUTS then come back and talk.

It would be much easier to communicate with these greedy, short sited . dense , panick stricken, spineless people if they actually knew how to put a few simple sentences together!!!

[WENDEL]

OK CONTRACT PASSED WORK SLOW DOWN,I FORGOT I CANT WORK ANY SLOWER,MAN I LOVE WORKING FOR THE COUNTY.

[also union]

It would be much easier to communicate with these greedy, short sited . dense , panick stricken, spineless people if they actually knew how to put a few simple sentences together!!!

Ammerman Campus guy

How many years have you been with the county?

The only short sited people I have seen are those who complained about the sick time policy.
Spineless people are the one's who complain about their union but don't have the b_ _ _ s to get involved. I am sure with all your brains you would have done better. I'll vote for you in the next election run for office.

[AME GUY]

Wendel Works at the hot dog counter at Walmart. :lol:

[AME GUY]

Anyone who doesn't think this new sick time policy is going to affect them may want to consider what Levy said today in Newsday. He is going to be able to go after anyone they want. Of course Cheryl says "No one will be hurt by this contract". :roll:

Wendel Works at the hot dog counter at Walmart. :lol:

AME represents the wal-mart hot dog guy too???

[Ammerman Campus guy]

Obviously Union Guy is still having trouble putting a sentence together...He must be one of Cheryl's whipping boys.

Remember, if you can't put a complete thought together... then you're qualified to become an AME official!!!

[guest7]

For all the bitching everyone did over this contract it sure passed by a wide margin. You can all go back now and say how you didn't vote for it but it passed anyway!!!

Your 13 sick days just became 8.

Cheryl says: "THERE WERE NO GIVEBACKS" - Yeah Right.

Great contract.

[give backs O plenty]

sick time policy....AME says " it's always been in effect"....Then why did the county want it in the contract? Because the county could never inforce it....but now they can... because AME sold you out and signed a contract binding you to this sick time policy.

No cost of living increase for 2004....you got 0%...just think of how much the county saved on 7000 members X the number of years your career will last with the county.... and you recieved a whopping $1925 out of the kindness of the county's heart..
The county doesn't give you $1925 just because they are kind...they gave you this because they saved big bucks by screwing you out of your raise!!! Then AME has the stupidity to say
" you will not have to pay into your medical benefits".... and thats because you lost your raise and that will cover the costs of your medical benefits...just more double talk and propoganda from good ole AME.

And now new members who start their employment after July 2006
will have to work 40 hours a week to earn overtime pay...that means if you work a 37.5 hour week and you recieve 8 hours of overtime that week, the first 2.5 hours of overtime that you work will be paid at STRAIGHT TIME and you will only recieve 5.5 hours of overtime pay.....now times that by 7000 members and just think of how much the county will be saving!!!! Just another giveback that doesn't exist according to AME!!!!

[under the influence]

TO ALL YOU WHINNING BABYS THAT WORK FOR THE COUNTY AND WROTE INTO THIS MESSAGE BOARD. :cry:

YOU SHOULD ALL QUIT AND GET OTHER JOBS OUTSIDE THE COUNTY AND MAYBE YOU WOULD HAVE NOTHING TO CRY ABOUT :cry:

OR YOU'LL FIND OUT WHAT THE REAL WORLD IS ALL ABOUT.

ALSO YOUR COMPLAINING ABOUT TAKING MORE THAN EIGHT DAYS .HOW MANY DO YOU PEOPLE NEED TO TAKE? I THOUGHT I USED ALOT BY USING FOUR OR FIVE. IF YOU WORKED OUTSIDE THE COUNTY AND TOOK MORE THAN EIGHT DAYS A YEAR YOUR ASS WOULD BE FIRED.

AS FAR AS NEW HIRES WHO GIVES A S##T .WHEN I WAS HIRED I DIDN'T PERKS LIKE OTHERS DID BEFORE ME.THINGS CHANGE PEOPLE SO SUCK IT UP OR GO ELSE WHERES.

DO US ALL A FAVOR AND QUIT YOUR COUNTY JOBS . AND IT WILL GIVE MORE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO WORK FOR THE COUNTY AND SEE HOW EASY LIFE CAN BE WITHOUT THE STRESS OF PRIVATE SECTOR TYPE JOBS.

ALSO YOUR COMPLAINING ABOUT TAKING MORE THAN EIGHT DAYS .HOW MANY DO YOU PEOPLE NEED TO TAKE? I THOUGHT I USED ALOT BY USING FOUR OR FIVE. IF YOU WORKED OUTSIDE THE COUNTY AND TOOK MORE THAN EIGHT DAYS A YEAR YOUR ASS WOULD BE FIRED.

This has to be the STUPIDIEST MOST IGNORANT ANTI-UNION POST I HAVE EVER HEARD. What is next, 10 sick days, 25% payout of sick time. You are sooo misinformed.

Maybe in the future "the county" will deem you don't need four personal days and offer three. To your way of thinking we should then be HAPPY WE GOT THE THREE. Maybe after taking two you will be put on the "Personal day abuser list". After three it would then be chronic. TO YOU WAY OF THINKING.

Why do we need a raise. We get a paycheck already. Get a job in the real world where 0% raise is common.

ITS CALLED NEGOTIATON DIPWAD. You try to get the most and give up the least you can. IDIOT. I dont care about the eight days, its the SICK TIME ABUSER status and then SIX MONTHS OF CHOIR BOY-

You will also lose money in the BIG PICTURE stupid.

cannot wait until the posts start about being on the sick time abuser list. it will happen in about a year. then the cries of "how could the county do this" to the workers.

be careful of what you vote for - you might just get it.

[Aunty AME]

Suffolks largest "INDEPENDENT" union....my buttocks!!!
AME works for the county, not it's membership...
This crappy contract proves that......
They are nothing but the county's "Piss Boys"

[SC Employee]

Why is the response always to quit and work in the public sector? I took the test, scored well and got hired. I like my job, and now I want the best contract and working conditions possible. That's unreasonable?

I worked in the public sector for many years and can to work for the county because of the job security and benefits. Now our UNION is giving that all away. Privite sector pays more than public sector and now we're being asked to give up the only benefit public sector employment offered. People who say we should work in privite sector have no idea what they talking about (sounds like Jeff's and Steve's crew).

I worked in the privite sector for many years and came to work for the county because of the job security and benefits. Now our UNION is giving that all away. Privite sector pays more than public sector and now we're being asked to give up the only benefit public sector employment offered. People who say we should work in privite sector have no idea what they talking about (sounds like Jeff's and Steve's crew,e.i. AME Executive Board).

[Clark kent01]

I have been a County worker for 20+years and in the past 3 yrs I lost my wife my dad & mom in September of last year.I had Major surgery in Augest and had some complications as a result.My supervisor put me on the Sick note..in March 05.I have brought a sick note in when. I wasn't able to come to work I have never been docked.The Assoc was sent a letter about my status.This is how it works for me. I bring in a Note and if. If they request that I do, the County must give me the cost of the Co-payment.So hurt me.I am a good employee who always starts the Day 1 hour before my shift and hardly ever eats lunch away from my desk.If I need time off for a doctors appointment. I schedule it in advance.If one of my kids gets sick. I bring in a note from the Doctor concerning there illness.My Doctor will give you a Note just like any other doctor would, who's treating you, or a Family member.This allows me to use Vacation,Personal,Comp time.So whats the problem....

[AME GUY]

Well that doesn't sound bad on the surface. But lets do a little math here. If your situation is expanded, if many members are labeled abusers and many of us will now need to "get Dr's notes"; what do you think will happen to the costs of our HEALTH INSURANCE?? :roll: Thats right fellow AME members, Cheryl and those terrific attorney's we pay $34,000 a month have just increased the costs of the plan BIG TIME. Levy is smiling now, we just gave him the ammunition for 2010. Cheryl just smiles and says "we protected your health ins". :lol:

I worked in the privite sector for many years and came to work for the county because of the job security and benefits. Now our UNION is giving that all away. Privite sector pays more than public sector and now we're being asked to give up the only benefit public sector employment offered. People who say we should work in privite sector have no idea what they talking about (sounds like Jeff's and Steve's crew,e.i. AME Executive Board).

I wish people would stop calling it a UNION, becouse it really is not.

[SCARED STIFF AME MEMBER]

WELL,CHERYL DID IT AGAIN AND MOST OF YOU LET HER.SHE NOT ONLY GOT INTO OFFICE ON LIES AND DECEPTION, YOU JUST VOTED FOR A CONTRACT THAT SHE SOLD YOU ON THE SAME LIES AND DECEPTION. HER WORDS ON SELLING YOU THIS PIECE OF CRAP WERE " ALL THE WHILE PROTECTING YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE".
TODAY'S NEWSDAY, IN THE ARTICLE ABOUT LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL OF OUR "CONTRACT",LEVY OFFICIALS ARE QUOTED AS SAYING " THE ADMINISTRATION AND ALL THE UNIONS WILL NEGOTIATE THE HEALTH-CARE PORTION OF THEIR BENEFITS LATER THIS SUMMER." SO MUCH FOR OUR GUARANTEE UNTIL 2010. CHERYL AND HER SIDE-KICK, RANDI DELIROD (CHERYL'S PUBLIC RELATIONS PERSON AND DSS EMPLOYEE) ARE REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO CREATE A GREAT SNOW JOB FOR US ON THIS ONE. WATCH THIS ACTION AND DEMAND ANSWERS.

[Aunty AME]

I worked in the privite sector for many years and came to work for the county because of the job security and benefits. Now our UNION is giving that all away. Privite sector pays more than public sector and now we're being asked to give up the only benefit public sector employment offered. People who say we should work in privite sector have no idea what they talking about (sounds like Jeff's and Steve's crew,e.i. AME Executive Board).

I wish people would stop calling it a UNION, becouse it really is not.

How true.....It is NOT a union....we have to stop saying that....it's an "organization"....that's not even organized.... well let's just say it's just a group of people who get together and try and figure out how they can get themselves promoted at the expense of there Membership....now what would you call such an organization?....Hmmmmm...Hey I know...lets call it AME!!!!

Allabout
M
E

I always thought it was just AME 'cause if you put Suffolk County in the front it would be too obvious

SCAME or SCAM the EMPLOYEES

WELL,CHERYL DID IT AGAIN AND MOST OF YOU LET HER.SHE NOT ONLY GOT INTO OFFICE ON LIES AND DECEPTION, YOU JUST VOTED FOR A CONTRACT THAT SHE SOLD YOU ON THE SAME LIES AND DECEPTION. HER WORDS ON SELLING YOU THIS PIECE OF CRAP WERE " ALL THE WHILE PROTECTING YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE".
TODAY'S NEWSDAY, IN THE ARTICLE ABOUT LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL OF OUR "CONTRACT",LEVY OFFICIALS ARE QUOTED AS SAYING " THE ADMINISTRATION AND ALL THE UNIONS WILL NEGOTIATE THE HEALTH-CARE PORTION OF THEIR BENEFITS LATER THIS SUMMER." SO MUCH FOR OUR GUARANTEE UNTIL 2010. CHERYL AND HER SIDE-KICK, RANDI DELIROD (CHERYL'S PUBLIC RELATIONS PERSON AND DSS EMPLOYEE) ARE REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO CREATE A GREAT SNOW JOB FOR US ON THIS ONE. WATCH THIS ACTION AND DEMAND ANSWERS.


I don't understand how the "County" can RE NEGOTIATE something that is GUARANTEED to us untill 2010.
It is stated in OUR last contract to GUARANTEE our health care UNTILL 2010, there was no AMENDMENT in the contract that was just voted on to change this article.


Note to Cheryl YOU DO NOT HAVE TO NEGOTIATE ANYTHING CONCERNING OUR HEALTH CARE, IT IS GUARENTEED TO US UNTILL 2010. PLEASE MYOB AND LET THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION THAT THE MEMBERSHIP VOTES IN HANDLE THIS. PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!

[SCPD PATROL 3]

I agree with the last post. All benefits (medical) were agreed upon through 2010. Looking at the job AME "leadership" did this time around, just sit back and await 2010.