Public Employee Press

Safety victory for committees at 66 John Street

Members of several locals won action to correct emergency escape hazards at 66 John St. by working with the DC 37 Safety and Health Dept. and calling in the state Labor Dept.

The Citywide Contract gives employees the right to a labor-management safety and health committee in their workplace. At 66 John St., serious problems led workers at the departments of Finance, Consumer Affairs and Health to get more active with their committees.

Hailed as a state-of-the-art facility when it opened in spring 2001, the site developed major air quality issues after Sept. 11, and electronic keycards and other security measures violated emergency escape regulations.

The DC 37 Safety and Health Dept. brought in investigators from PESH, the state’s Public Employees Safety and Health Bureau, to do air testing.

Council Rep Lisa Riccio from the Professional Division mapped out an action campaign and sought volunteers. “Some members wore air monitors. Others described the hazards in one-on-one interviews with investigators from PESH,” she said.

The DC 37 Safety Dept. provided expertise for the committees.

“It’s important to be prepared for a long battle, because using government agencies can be a slow process,” said Principal Program Coordinator Lisa Baum. In this case, she said, filing a PESH complaint was the only way to force the city to take action.”

Shortly after PESH issued its final Notice of Violation and Order to Comply in April, the three agencies remedied the violations.

Jean Sherman, chapter chair for Clerical-Administrative Employees Local 1549 at the Dept. of Consumer Affairs, served on the safety and health committee. “It’s encouraging when people see that together we can improve conditions,” she said.

“Everyone here is very pleased with the actions of management and the unions working together,” said Finance Employees Local 1113 Vice President Sheryl Williams. Ms. Baum stressed the importance of committee work in getting positive results like those at John St.

“The Safety and Health Dept. has a small staff, but the labor-management committees keep us informed about what’s going on at worksites throughout the city,” she said. “It’s a way that the union staff, elected leadership, and rank and file members affiliated with a particular agency can talk to each other as well.”

The committees continue to function at John St. “For example, at the Dept. of Finance, they keep a punch sheet and check it every other month,” said Ms. Riccio.