[Marxism] CIVILIAN BENEFITS FOR VETERANS

[Brian Shannon <Brian_Shannon@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

CIVILIAN BENEFITS FOR VETERANS

I received the first item from Andrew Pollack, the second is a comment 
on it from me, the last describes some Veterans Preferences in 
Pennsylvania and California.

DAILY NEWS
Feb 21, 3:54 AM EST

NEW YORK (AP) -- Consolidated Edison workers are upset with the company 
over the elimination of a work rule that allows employees who serve in 
the military to earn an extra pay hike. Leaders from the Local 1-2 
Utility Workers Union of America said workers should still be allowed 
to make the extra 35-cents per hour increase, which is part of an 
incentive program, while fighting overseas.

We're just flabbergasted by this," said Manny Hellen, president of 
Local 1-2, which represents about 8,500 Con Ed workers in the 
metropolitan region.

But Con Ed spokesman Chris Olert said the workers receive their full 
salaries while serving in the military and the protest stemmed from 
politics in the union. "The company won't get involved in intraunion 
disputes," said Olert in Monday editions of the Daily News.

The rule, which went into effect on Jan. 1, disqualifies workers doing 
military service or long-term jury duty from an incentive program for 
employees who work a specific number of hours per year. "We're being 
penalized by our company that doesn't mind bragging about us but won't 
do anything about it," said Salvatore Franzese, a Con Ed splicer who 
served in Iraq with the National Guard from 2003 through 2004. "This is 
ridiculous."

________________

My guess is that those who don't join the military will go along with  
or support incentive pay on the basis of solidarity.

Historically, there have been some related problems. Here's a personal  
story.

My mother was a physician. She graduated from Pennsylvania Women's  
Medical College in 1932 or 1933 and served her internship in NYC. She  
wanted to become a surgeon, but found that that was pretty much a  
closed male world.

She then went to work in Poughkeepsie at the Hudson River State  
Hospital. She later took a job at Norwalk State Hospital in California. 
 When WWII broke out, she responded to the U.S. Navy recruitment for  
physicians. A certain rank was promised--I've forgotten what it was.  
However, she was told that she could not have that rank because she was 
 a woman and the younger male officers would have to salute her and 
take  orders from her. That dimmed her patriotism a little and she 
declined  the offer.

Veterans got special benefits after the war, the GI Bill being the best 
 known. An added benefit for veterans in California and perhaps other  
states (maybe in federal service as well) was that extra points were  
added to civil service exam scores. I am not sure if they had to pass  
the minimum before that kicked in.

However, I do recall that when my mother was Assistant Superintendent  
at Patton State Hospital, she was in the top 3 for the Superintendent's 
 exam for 10 years and never got an appointment. (You had to be in the  
top 3 to be considered.) Those ranked above her were there solely 
because of the extra points that were added for the WWII service. There 
 were no women superintendents among the approximately 10 institutions  
at the time.

Of course this affected all women who took civil service exams in  
California and elsewhere. Whatever score they received, a man with the  
same score, but who had served in WWII in whatever capacity, ended up  
with a higher score.

Brian Shannon
_____________________

[PENNSYLVANIA TODAY]

1. WHAT IS VETERANS’ PREFERENCE?
Persons passing civil service examinations required for appointment to 
positions covered by the State’s Merit System receive additional 
benefits in recognition of their military service. These benefits 
commonly are referred to as veterans’ preference. The authority for 
veterans’ preference in Pennsylvania government employment is contained 
in The Military Affairs Act of August 1, 1975 (P.L. 233, No. 92), as 
amended.

2. WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
a. Persons in any of the following categories are entitled to veterans’ 
preference if they have completed their military service commitment and 
have received an honorable discharge from such service prior to taking 
a civil service examination:(1) Persons who served in the armed forces 
of the United States, or in any women’s organization officially 
connected therewith for the following specific periods of time: from 
April 6, 1917 thru July 2, 1921; from December 7, 1941 thru September 
2, 1945, and from June 25, 1950 thru July 27, 1953.

(2) Persons who have served in an active duty capacity in the armed 
forces of the United State since July 27, 1953. Such service must 
include completion of basic training.

(3) Persons who served in the National Guard or Reserves. Such service 
must include completion of basic training.
. . .
Also eligible are:
(1) Spouses of disabled veterans.
(2) Widows or widowers of veterans.
. . .
6. HOW IS VETERANS’ PREFERENCE APPLIED TO VETERANS WHO TAKE CIVIL 
SERVICE TESTS?
a. Veterans, qualified widows and widowers of veterans and spouses of 
disabled veterans who pass civil service appointment tests, receive ten 
points added to their final score. They must pass the test before 
points are awarded.
. . .
c. Persons entitled to veterans’ preference who are among the top three 
available candidates on an employment certification have mandatory 
preference in appointment over non-veterans.
. . .
8. IS VETERANS’ PREFERENCE USED FOR PROMOTIONS?
[This appears to contradict the above]
Veterans Preference is NOT applied to promotion lists or other lists 
which could be used to promote current civil service employes.

http://www.scsc.state.pa.us


[CALIFORNIA TODAY: It appears that local governments apply the same 
preference system to their jobs. We should probably assume that that is 
true for Pennsylvania and other states as well.]

Veterans Preference: California law limits the granting of veterans 
preference credits to entrance examinations. When credit is granted in 
an Open Examination it is as follows: 10 points for veterans, widows or 
widowers of veterans, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans; and 15 
points for disabled veterans. When credit is granted in an Open 
Nonpromotional Examination it is as follows: 10 points for disabled 
veterans and 5 points for other veterans. Directions for applying for 
veterans preference and definitions for Veteran and Disabled Veteran 
are available on the Application for Veterans Preference form which is 
available from the State Personnel Board office or written test 
proctors.

VETERANS PREFERENCE IN CALIFORNIA CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS

THE BENEFITS
Additional points added to the final score of a civil service 
examination as follows:
a) Open Entrance Exams-15 points for a disabled veteran and 10 points 
for other veterans and surviving spouses.
b) Open Nonpromotional Entrance Exams-10 points for disabled veterans 
and 5 points for other veterans.

http://www.cdva.ca.gov/cdva/benefits.asp




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