Communication Workers of America

October 1, 2007

Bruce Nigro, Director
Essex County Division of Welfare
18 Rector Street , Floor 9
Newark , NJ , 07102

Step II Class Action Contractual Grievance
Biting Mites Infestation
Article I. Purpose
Article VII. Discipline.
Article XXV. Non-Discrimination
Article XLIX. Safety of Staff

Dear Mr. Nigro:

CWA Local 1081 submits this Step II Class Action Contractual Grievance on behalf of our members assigned to the Office of Child Support and Enforcement (OCSE), located on the first floor of the County-owned Hall of Records.

Tiny crawling creatures, which our Union surmises are biting mites, have been lurking within the filthy rugs that carpet the floors of that office. Mites are very tiny arthropods which occasionally infest structures and bite people. Unbeknownst to our unsuspecting members, these mites apparently crawl up their lower appendages and bite them anywhere upon their body leaving painful and unsightly welts. Please note below, and attached, the bite marks on the arm of a female member of our Union in the photograph taken this morning at the OCSE office.

House dust mites are microscope bugs that primarily live on dead skin cells regularly shed from humans and their animal pets. Skin cells and scales, commonly called dander, are often concentrated in lounging areas, mattresses, frequently used furniture and associated carpeted areas, may harbor large numbers of these microscopic mites. Nearly 100,000 mites can live in one square yard of carpet. A single dust mite produces about 20 waste droppings each day, each containing a protein to which many people are allergic. The proteins in that combination of feces and skin sheddings are what cause allergic reactions in humans. Depending on the person and exposure, reactions can range from itchy eyes to asthma attacks.

Mites, including ticks, belong to the subclass Acarina (also known as Acari) and the class Arachnida . Mites are among the most diverse and successful of all the invertebrate groups. They have exploited an incredible array of habitats, and because of their small size (most are microscopic ) most go totally unnoticed. Some of the plant pests include the so called spider mites (family Tetranychidae), thread-footed mites (family Tarsonemidae), and the gall mites (family Eriophyidae). Among the species that attack animals are members of the Sarcoptic Mange mites (family Sarcoptidae), which burrow under the skin. Demodex mites (family Demodicidae) are parasites that live in or near the hair follicles of mammals, including humans. Perhaps the best-known mite, though, is the house dust mite (family Pyroglyphidae).

Normally, one might think that more frequent vacuuming by the private company contracted by the County to clean the Hall of Records might well quell the problem of the biting mites. However, vacuuming only spreads the creatures around and the cleaning crews rarely, if ever, vacuum the OCSE office anyway.

Miticides, or acaricides, are pesticides that kill mites. Antibiotic miticides, carbamate miticides, formamidine miticides, mite growth regulators, organochlorine, permethrin and organophosphate miticides are all in this category. Diatomaceous earth will also kill mites by cutting through the skin which dries out the mite. Ivermectin can be prescribed by a medical doctor to rid humans of mite infestation.

Methoprene is virtually harmless to non-insects, and the US EPA has exempted it from tolerance. It is widely available in supermarkets and other sources. Hydroprene is toxic to fish & perhaps birds. Both are for indoor use only, as they break down in sunlight. Methoprene is applied as a wetting spray, hydroprene as an aerosol space spray. Neither will affect adult insects; they work on future generations by preventing growth or maturation. Permethrin can be applied as a spray or in more targeted forms (e.g. Damminix TickTubes) that attack the ticks and mites on mammalian hosts. Their effects are not limited to mites: lice, cockroaches, fleas, mosquitoes, & other insects will be affected.

The resolution CWA Local 1081 respectfully demands to this rather gruesome grievance consists of the following:

1. The County shall arrange to have a professional pest control operative inspect the OCSE office at the Hall of Records in order to identify for certain the source of the bites our members are sustaining while at work.

2. Once the source of the biting of our members is identified, particularly were the source biting mites, the County shall arrange for the proper remedial protocols to be utilized by a qualified pest control expert over a weekend.

3. The County shall arrange to have its contracted cleaning service wet clean the OCSE office's carpeting on a regular basis.

We seek a hearing, in this regard.

Sincerely,

David H. Weiner, President
CWA Local 1081

C: Anibal Ramos
Marc Pilchman
Lynn Buckley