By Jane LaTour

Protesting Police Officers have derided non-uniformed employees as “pencil pushers” who face no hazard worse than a paper cut. But many civilian workers face violence on the job every day.

“DC 37 members are on the front lines, enforcing laws and government policies that are often unpopular,” said Lisa Baum of the union’s Safety and Health Dept. “They may have to cancel benefits, levy fines, seize property or take back licenses. People often get angry and strike out.”

At the Melrose Jobs Center in the Bronx, clients have threatened, verbally abused and physically assaulted the staff. In July 2001, Clerical-Administrative Employees Local 1549 won an arbitration calling for stronger security. The changes implemented by the Human Resources Administration have proved to be inadequate. Waiting times for clients are still excessive, and overcrowding is a major problem. Clients continue to walk past security guards into the interview areas without being escorted by staff. The local has now asked the arbitrator to order HRA to follow a particular course of action to stem the violence.

The DC 37 Safety and Health Dept. is working with many locals to address such conditions. Staff provide expert inspections, recommendations and training. They join local leaders and field staff at citywide and agency meetings on safety and health issues. The union is fighting workplace violence in the following areas and many others:

• Consumer Affairs Inspectors in Local 1759 who have to have trucks towed away and who issue citations to vendors without the proper licenses.
• Members of Social Service Employees Union Local 371 and Health Services Employees Local 768 who are sent on field assignments alone — some with communication devices and some without.
• Hospital workers, especially in psychiatric units, who have to supervise too many patients at once on wards that often do not have enough staff to deal with violent patients. “Workplace violence is one of the major problems that Health and Hospitals Corp. workers face,” said Carl Jones, health and safety coordinator for Municipal Hospital Employees Union Local 420.
• Juvenile Center Employees who oversee youths who are locked up for a wide range of crimes. Local 1457 President Alex Parker said violence is “an inherent risk in our job. Every day you come to work you may be assaulted — you may be injured.”

“For their own protection, members must report every incident of workplace violence,” said Clerical Division Assistant Director Eddie Gates. “Members who testify at grievance and arbitration hearings, like many from Melrose, strengthen the union’s case. Making jobs safer is the union’s job, but we can be more effective when members speak up for themselves.”