Public Employee Press

For safety, use Barclay St. entrance to union,
Disability Committee says

The DC 37 Disability Advisory Committee is encouraging members and retirees to enter DC 37 headquarters through the 125 Barclay St. entrance instead of entering on Murray Street.

In 2007, they are also preparing to tackle serious health problems, such as diabetes and obesity, as well as completing their survey of the experience and needs of members who use the Access-A-Ride
service.

But their most pressing issue, right now, is convincing disabled and senior members to use the Barclay Street entrance to avoid possible accidents and injuries.

Meeting with MTA
“For some reason our members, especially the retirees, mainly enter and leave the union through the Murray Street doorway,” said Committee Chair Carolyn Harper, who is also president of Local 1251, Dept. of Education Clerical Administrative Employees. “But Murray Street is not wheelchair accessible. Barclay Street is street level with no steps.”

DC 37 Real Estate Manager Ralph Pepe agrees: “The Barclay side of the building is at street level and the entrance is only a couple of steps from the curb. In addition, our security guards and maintenance people can assist people into the building if they need help.”

One reason retirees and members with disabilities enter mostly through Murray Street is that their
Access-A-Rides pick them up and drop them off there.

“We will be taking this issue up with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority,” said Harper. “We’re in the process of setting up a meeting with them to discuss that and also the problem of punctuality. Our members complain that the Access-A- Rides are late a lot and get lost.”

To participate in the survey about Access-A- Ride, call Harper at 212-815-1251 or Pat Washington at 212-815-1575.

Harper invites members who would like to help address these issues to attend the committee’s meetings on the first Monday of every month. “We need as many members as possible to deal with these questions — whether they have a disability or not — because these issues affect us all,” she said.

— Alfredo Alvarado