Public Employee Press

Health Dept. upgrades unhealthy office
Local 154 wins safer working conditions at 93 Worth St. site

About 50 city workers returned March 1 to their 1st floor office at 93 Worth St. in Manhattan after the Health and Mental Hygiene Dept. spent an estimated $250,000 for renovations demanded by the union.

“This victory is a great example of how our members on the front lines can use the union’s resources to correct problems at their work sites,” Local 154 President Juan Fernandez said.

The office upgrading began after the union took a grievance over unsafe working conditions to arbitration and worked out a settlement with management. Peter Melendez, an executive board member of Amalgamated Professional Employees Local 154, filed the grievance in May 2004.

The battle over the hazards started shortly after workers from a number of buildings were relocated to 93 Worth St.

They began experiencing headaches and respiratory and other health problems. They attributed their illnesses to unhealthy conditions in the office, where electrical wiring was exposed, the temperature fluctuated wildly, the furniture was old and the faulty ventilation and air conditioning system filled the air with dust.

“People were upset because we were forced to work under dangerous and filthy conditions,” said Melendez. “Management didn’t want to acknowledge our health and safety concerns and the fact that people were getting sick.”

He credited fomer Vice President Pauline Murray, for raising the local’s initial concerns to DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts, who did a walk-through. Later, Murray did another walk-through with former Local 1549 Shop Steward Nancy Thrower, CWA Local 1180 Shop Steward Arlene Martin and DC 37 Health and Safety officials.

“Our offices are now state-of-the-art,” Melendez said. “We now have a wonderful and clean space.”
The city replaced dirty and deteriorating carpeting with floor tiles, improved the lighting and wiring, and installed new work stations with furniture and computer hardware designed to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome and other afflictions.

During the renovations, the members of DC 37 locals 154 and 1549, CWA Local 1180 and the Organization of Staff Analysts moved to temporary offices in the building.

Melendez worked closely on the grievance with Lisa Baum and Rebecca Porper of the DC 37 Safety and Health Dept., Rep Marianela Santana of the Professional Division and attorney Alan M. Brown of the DC 37 Legal Dept.

“I’m pleased that we forced this issue,” Fernandez said. “It shows our members how the union can make management address their health and safety concerns.”