January 29, 2009
Bruce Nigro, Director
Essex County Division of Welfare
18 Rector Street, Floor 9
Newark, NJ, 07102
Re: Step II Class Action Contractual Grievance
Emergency Response Measures
Article I. Purpose
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 all of our adversely affected and potentially adversely affected members employed by the Essex County Division of Welfare, to protest the inadequate emergency response measures presently in place within the agency:
1. Due to the high, and rapid, turnover of staff the office’s emergency response “captains” and their respective backup personnel have changed and have not been universally replaced and trained.
2. As recently occurred on the ninth floor of the agency, which was the subject of your attached memorandum of January 21, 2009 written “All Staff-18 Rector Street, Newark”, entitled “Emergency Response”, there exist two separate telephone intercom systems on that floor resulting in the staff located on the fiscal side of the floor not being made privy to an emergency announcement.
3. As recently occurred within the Westside office on the third floor of the agency, the emergency announcement system does not reach the client area.
As the resolution to this grievance, CWA Local 1081 demands, consists of the following:
1. Sans the involvement of PEOSHA (at least, initially), CWA Local 1081 and management shall conduct a Health and Safety Committee tour and survey of the entire 18 Rector Street facility, wherein the County leases space, so as to determine the magnitude of the very serious above cited safety issues and to ascertain if yet others exists as well.
2. The County shall post haste ensure such safety issues are remedied.
Sincerely,
David H. Weiner, President
CWA Local 1081