By JANE LaTOUR

Ever since the clock started ticking on welfare recipients, the temperature has been rising at HRA job centers.

In 1996, the “welfare reform” law set up a complex new system of regulations and requirements for the clients to meet. The Human Resources Administration placed its Eligibility Specialists and Caseworkers in the front lines of the drive to reduce the welfare rolls.

Understaffing has created a pressure-cooker atmosphere, as workers struggle to do their jobs.The members of Clerical-Administrative Local 1549 and Social Service Employees Local 371 must often deliver bad news to frustrated clients.

Sometimes, the response is angry or violent.

Local 1549 Grievance Rep Alpine James calls the Melrose Job Center in the Bronx “a poster child for workplace violence.”

The center is on 161 St. just east of the Grand Concourse. A recent visit on a rainy afternoon found patrons crowded into the lobby, waiting for space on the six elevators. In addition to four floors of HRA offices and an Administration for Children’s Services site, the complex also houses a methadone clinic and a probation office.

At 2:30 in the afternoon, a group of welfare mothers sitting together were still waiting for 12 o’clock appointments. Toddlers ran around waving toys and crying.

One young mother spoke angrily to a blue-shirted security guard leaning against the wall: “I can’t wait any longer,” she said. “I have to go pick up my kids!”

Every few months an assault makes headlines. In the most recent attack, 29-year employee Elektra Lowndes-James was punched and knocked to the floor on Aug. 13. But the chronology of chaos goes way back. In July 2000, Clerical-Administrative Division Director Ronnie Harris filed a Step 3 grievance that documented 17 incidents in 22 months.

Clerical Associate Florine Watson, a 20-year veteran at the facility, testified knowingly about the history of verbal abuse and physical assaults. She told of one client who threatened to kill every member of the staff, but still was allowed to go between the 3rd and 5th floors three times and was not arrested by security guards.

Local 1549 won the case in July 2001. The arbitrator ordered management to provide adequate personal security for the workers at Melrose.

Local 1549 President Eddie Rodriguez takes the assault hazard personally: “I was an Eligibility Specialist. I’ve experienced workplace violence personally,” he said. “We’re trying to find a way to resolve this that works for everyone!”

SSEU Local 371 Vice President Faye Moore says the local “will continue to push for a real effort to replace the contract security guards with public sector peace officers.”

In continuing discussions, DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts and leaders of the two locals are working with HRA Commissioner Verna Eggleston to iron out the key issues.

These include replacing the private “security guards” with peace officers who have the power to arrest, increasing staffing, and engineering changes to provide physical protection for HRA employees.

“As members of the community, we want a system that shows more compassion for people in need instead of tying the clients up in red tape so they strike out at our members,” said Ms. Roberts.

Kenny Mulligan, Clerical Division Council representative, succinctly sums up the situation: “When a person goes to work, they have to know whether or not they’ll be going home.”