YOUR BENTE CHAIR OFFICERS The Support Staff that Supports Students Dan DiClemente was a former union member of the Building Trades prior to coming to the RCSD, where he began working in the Plant Maintenance unit, working in the Carpentry, Glazing, and Custodial departments for nine years and serving in the BENTE Union as a Trustee before being elected in 2002 as the President of BENTE. Dan has upheld members rights by holding demonstrations outside Central Office and City Hall, delivering speeches to the Board of Education, forging community and political alliances, and negotiating the past four contracts. He introduced the BENTE newsletter & website, BENTE Day, radio & television commercials, innovative holiday gifts & the BENTE catalog to restore union pride and increase public awareness. Dan is currently the President of BENTE, 2nd Vice President and Communications Director/Editor of AFSCME/NY Council 66, and a Member of the Rochester Labor Council Executive Board. Larry Profetta has written more grievances than any other Officer and he has been involved in the Union for over 20 years. He was a Unit Steward from 1992-1997, and he has held the offices of Unit Chairperson, EAP Coordinator, Recording Secretary, and Sergeant-at-Arms. Larry served on the Negotiating Committee in 1996, 2000, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2014. In 1998, he was voted Support Staff Member of the year. Larry is currently on half-time release as the Grievance Chairperson & Vice President of BENTE, working the other half-time as the Custodian at #54 School. He is also the Region 7 VP for the AFSCME/NY Council 66 Executive Board. Barbara Zarpentine created and implemented the very first union budget, making it easier to predict expenditures from year -toyear. Under Barbara s leadership as Secretary-Treasurer, the Union s assets have grown tremendously. Barbara has formerly held the offices of Unit Chairperson, Sergeant-at-Arms, Recording Secretary, Election Committee Chairperson & EAP Coordinator. She has attended four AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Workshops, Steward Training, and Negotiations Training. She served on the Negotiating Committee in 2004, 2007, 2010, and 2014. Barbara is currently the Secretary-Treasurer of BENTE and a Member-at-Large on the AFSCME/NY Council 66 Executive Board. Bonnie Ferrari has been employed with the RCSD since 1981and currently works as a Cook Manager in the Food Services office at the District s Service Center. She is formerly a Steward in the Food Services unit and has been active in the Union since 2002. Bonnie has attended Steward Training, actively participated in Lobby Day, is a member of the BENTE Political Action Committee, is a Monroe County Election Inspector, served on the 2010 and 2014 Negotiation Committee, and has helped to coordinate many events, informational pickets, and Union sponsored functions. Bonnie is currently the Recording Secretary of BENTE for ten hours per week, working the other 30 hours as a Cook Manager at Building #5 at the Service Center on Hudson Avenue. Wayne Collom & Wilbert Navedo have been actively involved in the Union for over 20 years. Wayne is famous for his portrayal of Santa Claus at the annual CURE Holiday Party, and has served as a Unit Steward, Unit Chairperson, Election Committee Chairperson, Negotiating team member in 1996, 2000, 2004, 2007, 2010, and 2014, and is the Council 66 & BENTE Local 2419 photographer. Wilbert has served as a Unit Steward, member of the 2010 & 2014 Negotiating Committee, AFL-CIO delegate, and is a Member-at-Large on the AFSCME/NY Council 66 Executive Board. Wilbert & Wayne are currently the Sergeants-at-Arms of BENTE for eight hours per week. Wilbert is a Bus Driver in the Transportation unit and Wayne works out of the Plumbing department in Plant Maintenance. BENTE/AFSCME Local 2419 encourages you to get involved in YOUR Union! Please call the Union Office at 458-8670, stop by in person, or e-mail President Dan DiClemente or any of the other Officers if you have any questions about your Union or what you can do to get more involved. BENTE/AFSCME Local 2419 1600 Lyell Avenue Suite One Upper Level Rochester, New York 14606 Phone: 585-458-8670 Fax: 555-458-2665 Email:danprez@rochester.rr.com www.bentelocal2419.com Dear BENTE Member: On behalf of all of the Officers here at BENTE, I would like to welcome you aboard as a respected member of the Board of Education Non-Teaching Employees Union! All of the Officers here at BENTE are committed to upholding your rights under the Collective Bargaining Agreement. We are consistently working on your behalf to negotiate better contracts that ensure decent health care, equitable raises, and fair treatment in the workplace. Our union is the most diverse union in the district, representing a variety of different job titles and units, yet we manage to stand together as one. We work together to provide vital services to the children who attend city schools, and nothing could function without our constant support. If there is anything I can ever do for you, or if you have any questions as to how you can become more involved in your Union, please do not hesitate to call the union office or e-mail me at danprez@rochester.rr.com. In Solidarity, Daniel DiClemente, President
BENTE LOCAL 2419 EXECUTIVE BOARD Roosevelt Murray School Safety Officers (Sentries) Jessica Rinebold Elementary Clerical Pete Torchia Custodial Kenneth Davis Project Workers Greg Young Plant Maintenance Weezy Landry Central Office Lynn Costanza Occupational/Physical Therapists William Bart Hebbs Transportation Marcie Engel Food Services Christal Williams Secondary Schools The Executive Board is the governing body of the local union except when regular or special meetings of the local union are in session. All matters affecting the polices, aims and means of accomplishing the purposes of the local are decided by the Executive Board. BENTE LOCAL 2419 TRUSTEES Zelder McFadden School Sentry Dilia Olmeda Project Admin. Kathy Gravino Office Clerk I The Trustees make or cause to be made at least semi-annually an audit of the local s finances, and report to the membership on the results of each audit.
ATTENDANCE Includes Project Workers, Home School Assistants, and Attendance Assistants who assist students by making home visits, informing them of programs available, and ensuring parental involvement. CENTRAL OFFICE Consists of various support staff in departments such as IM&T, Student Support Services, Student Placement, Human Resources, Budget, Payroll and Accounting, Research, Development & Testing, Facilities, etc. CUSTODIAL Consists of Custodial Engineers, Assistant Custodians, Custodial Assistants, and Cleaners responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of over fifty buildings. ELEMENTARY/SECONDARY UNIT Clerical support in the Main Offices of Elementary Schools and Secondary Schools, as well as Accompanists, AV Assistants, and Stock Clerks. FOOD SERVICE/DISTRIBUTION CENTER Consists of Truck Drivers, Cafeteria Managers, Cook Managers, Cooks, Porters, and Food Service Helpers at Central Kitchen and throughout the schools. Also includes Stock Handlers, Stock Clerks & Truck Drivers that provide supplies to the schools and Print Shop personnel. OCCUPATIONAL/PHYSICAL THERAPISTS The OT/PT s primary focus in schoolbased practice is to maximize a student s functioning in their activities through the use meaningful, goal-oriented treatment. PLANT MAINTENANCE Plumbers & HVAC Mechanics, Carpenters, Glaziers, Locksmiths, Electricians, Preventative Maintenance, Grounds, Painters, and Office staff. SECURITY School Sentries (School Safety Officers) provide security and support to ensure a safe learning environment for staff & students throughout the district. Also includes Security Patrol Officers and Guards. TRANSPORTATION Troubleshooters, Bus Drivers, Bus Attendants, Dispatchers, and Office staff see to it that your children are transported safely back and forth to school. Bus Mechanics perform necessary maintenance & repairs to buses & other district vehicles. Contact Information Dan DiClemente, President Larry Profetta, Vice President Barbara Zarpentine, Treasurer Bonnie Ferrari, Recording Secretary Weezy Landry, Steward Coordinator Weezy Landry, EAP & Educational Coordinator Angelo Palmerini, Chief Steward Veldra Simmons, Orientation Coordinator Danprez@rochester.rr.com LP4VP@rochester.rr.com BarbZ@rochester.rr.com BMFearrari@rochester.rr.com StewardCoordinator@rochester.rr.com EDcoord@rochester.rr.com AngePalmerini@rochester.rr.com VeldraSimmons@rochester.rr.com
BENTE/AFSCME LOCAL 2419 STEWARDS Laura Kuhn Elementary/Secondary Angelo Palmerini Chief Steward Ricky Hepburne School Sentries Victor Wilson Custodial Veldra Simmons Central Office Libby Fletcher Food Services Gary Viavattine Plant Maintenance Eugene Scialdone Transportation The Grievance Division is devoted to representing members during investigatory meetings that may lead to disciplinary action. Supervisors contact the Steward Coordinator (Weezy Landry), who in turn, coordinates a date, time, and a steward to attend the investigatory meeting to assure proper union representation. The Chief Steward (Ange Palmerini) often attends disciplinary meetings along with the unit steward to assure a well rounded team on issues of the contract and the unit. Grievance matters are referred to the Vice President (Larry Profetta), who presents the cases at Level I, Level II Hearings, and if necessary; Arbitration. BENTE LOCAL 2419 COORDINATORS Veldra Simmons Orientation Coordinator Weezy Landry Steward Coordinator Professional Development Employee Assistance
Whether you participate in the Labor Day Parade, attend a Political Action event, support your Officers when they address the Board of Education, volunteer for our annual CURE Holiday party, demonstrate against budget cuts at Central Office, or simply wear your BENTE tee shirt, you are supporting YOUR Union! A Union is only as strong as the member who is willing to put forth the effort to support leaders devoted to the cause of fighting for better working conditions, benefits, and wages. Take pride in knowing that you are a member of a Union that represents the hardest working employees in the Rochester City School District!
All too often, support staff personnel have been overlooked for the vital role that they play in the overall efficiency and day-to-day operation of the schools. The fact is, without support staff, schools would not be able to function at all. Bus Attendants see to it that your child is safe to enter a bus driven by one of seventy fully trained RCSD Bus Drivers. Upon arrival to the school, your child will probably proceed to the cafeteria, where Food Service workers are serving a breakfast prepared by BENTE members at Central Kitchen and delivered by BENTE Truck Drivers. School Security staff ensure a safe learning environment for your child by scanning students and serving as peace keepers throughout the day. Despite the mountain of work placed upon their shoulders, Clerical staff are never too busy to stop and help direct parents and students. In class, your child will pick up a book or use a material printed and delivered by the diligent workers at the District s Distribution Center. Your child might require a qualified Occupational or Physical Therapist to assist in developing his/her motor skills at an age when the need is crucial. Project Workers, Home School Assistants, and Attendance Assistants collect data and visit homes to assist families. Custodial staff work well into the evening to ensure the cleanliness of over fifty buildings. Plant Maintenance personnel remove graffiti, repair windows, doors, floors, walls, ceilings, plumbing, electrical, and so on. The Grounds Department is responsible for removing snow, cutting grass, raking leaves, trimming hedges, and maintaining athletic fields and playgrounds; setting the standard for the appearance of surrounding neighborhoods. At night, when everyone else is sleeping, BENTE Security Officers patrol the city streets and protect the schools from vandalism. Support Staff at Central Office provide essential services such as payroll, accounting, technology, benefits, payroll, student support services, and more. So let it be known every first Friday of the month, BENTE SUPPORT STAFF MEMBERS will be recognized as having a day that they can finally call their own and it shall be known to everyone throughout the District as BENTE DAY!
The first Friday of every month is BENTE Day, when you have a chance to win a prize just for wearing your BENTE tee shirt (or other BENTE paraphernalia)! Since it is impossible to see every single member who is wearing their BENTE shirt on BENTE Day, you must fax (458-2665), call (458-8670), or send your name(s) to the Union Office. The names are then placed in a can and five lucky winners are drawn at the membership meeting each month. That s right, you can win a prize just for wearing your BENTE tee shirt (or BENTE paraphernalia) on BENTE DAY! So don t get left out in the cold, warm up with BENTE and win!!!
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