SRPs receive legal advice at workshop

April 8, 2005

Can a civil service employee be required to answer questions about potential criminal conduct by a co-worker?

School-Related Professionals got the answer to that thorny question and many others at a special legal issues workshop Thursday.

NYSUT attorneys provided SRP leaders with a basic understanding of civil service employee discipline and discharge regulations under Civil Service Law Section 75 and answered a flurry of pertinent questions.

Sheila Manning, who leads a unit of teaching assistants in Newburgh, said, "All the knowledge is wonderful. There's always something new you must know."

For Sheila Taugher, the workshop provided "a better understanding of civil service law." Taugher was elected president of the Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES Organization just four months ago. "I learned more about my responsibility to represent my members and how to do it well."

Even veteran delegates found the updates useful. Sandra Carner-Shafran, a NYSUT Board member representing SRPs, said she picked up new information about special agreements that can avoid a formal disciplinary proceeding. "It's crucial to get this kind of excellent information," she said.

So, what should SRPs do if asked by their employer about a co-worker's potentially criminal conduct?

Because the situation could expose members to possible insubordination charges or a court appearance, NYSUT attorneys say workers should ask for time before answering, and immediately contact their labor relations specialist for advice.