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All
for one: Veterans outside of New Visions after being
denied a meeting. Photo: John Whipple
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Applying
Pressure
Rick
Weeks was troubled when he learned that some fellow veterans
were experiencing labor problems working as janitors through
New Visions. As secretary of the New York State Council on
Veterans Organizations and active member of other veterans’
groups and the Civil Service Employees Association, he wanted
to know more. CSEA is currently trying to negotiate a contract
for the janitors with New Visions, and is having a hard time
securing some basic workers’ rights. [“Wanted: A Real Contract,”
Newsfront, Feb. 5].
In late December, Weeks wrote a letter to New Visions (formerly
Albany Association for Retarded Citizens) and called repeatedly,
but got no response. So he and other concerned representatives
from area veterans’ groups showed up at New Visions’ offices
last Thursday (Feb. 5) asking to meet with the program director,
Andy McKenzie.
“When
I went in to see Mr. McKenzie, he told me to call and make
an appointment,” Weeks said, chuckling. “I told him I tried
to do this, and it didn’t work.” Weeks and McKenzie, however,
did speak over the phone later that day.
Weeks expressed his concerns about New Visions’ apparent reluctance
to include a provision requiring a “just cause” for dismissal,
especially if New Visions receives government grants for hiring
disabled vets. According to Weeks, McKenzie “wouldn’t give
me any comment,” but reassured him that New Visions was negotiating
in good faith.
—Ashley
Hahn
Keeping
the Kids at Home
Despite
increasing overcrowding at Green Island’s one k-12 school,
Island residents and the board of education have both voted
overwhelmingly against a proposal to tutition out the town’s
high school students to other districts. (“This Little Schoolhouse,”
Newsfront, Jan. 22.) Voters rejected the plan 434-56 with
24 abstentions on Jan. 22, and the board followed suit with
a unanimous decision at its regular meeting last Thursday
(Feb. 5).
Although a plan to consolidate with the Cohoes City School
District, supported by U.S. Rep. Michael McNulty (D-Green
Island), is still on the table, exit polls conducted by students
after the referendum showed that 96 percent of voters would
support a renovation or addition project, and only 16 percent
would support consolidation.
—Miriam
Axel-Lute
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Columns
& Opinions
