Public Employee Press

Safety committee wins cleanup at E-911

The work is top-priority, but the housecleaning was neglected at the city’s E-911 Communication Center for more than five years, until simple dust became a hazard.

Taking the emergency 911 calls at 11 MetroTech Center in Brooklyn is a 24/7, 365-day-a-year operation. “It’s never closed down for the cleaning to take place,” explained Guille Mejia, principal program coordinator for DC 37’s Safety and Health Dept.

“Over the years, the dust got so thick, we could measure it. There was so much dust on the light fixtures, ledges and other solid surfaces above our members’ workstations that it hurt the indoor air quality,” she noted.

“The history of this goes back a long way,” said Council Rep Sheila Rabb. “We filed a grievance and won an arbitration, but they never completed the cleanup.” Rather than reopen the arbitration, the union got action through the joint labor-management safety committee of the Police Dept.

“It was a long time coming,” said Ms. Rabb. “It wasn’t easy, but due to the efforts of Karen Hunter and our active safety committee, the cleanup took place. We kept the pressure on,” she pointed out. Karen Hunter serves as a shop steward, a delegate and the 1st Vice Chair of Clerical-Administrative Employees Local 1549’s PCT/SPCT Chapter for the 911 operators and dispatchers.

Steward: “Night and day”
“They did a wonderful job cleaning the windows and vacuuming the light fixtures. They also replaced the carpet in the Radio Room and repaired the second floor women’s bathroom,” she said. “The difference is like night and day.”

“It looked like a brand new place,” said Ms. Rabb. “It’s so bright, some of the members said they needed sunglasses. It’s not finished, but we’ve definitely come a long way,” she said.

Assistant Clerical division Director Ron Arnero pointed out that cooperation between labor and management made the cleaning process successful. “And the workers experienced a minimal amount of inconvenience,” he said.

“The agency has an obligation under the contract to provide safe, clean working conditions. Our staff does a great job enforcing this agreement,” said Clerical Division Director Ronnie Harris. “Our members have a right to a safe and clean work environment,” said Lenora Gates, exec. vice president of Local 1549. “We shouldn’t have to fight to get the agencies to maintain clean facilities.”