OMH commissioner responds
to brutal attack at Bronx PC
HealthandSafety Healsowrote,“Thelocallabor-
Departmentandteamed managementprocessisthekeytoour
) withCSEAtourgeBronx workingtogethertoaddresstheseissues.”
representedaideatBronxPsychiatric PCmanagerstoaddress “Theseverityoftheaide’sinjuriesand
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ByDEBORAHA.MILES
InSeptember2008,aCivilService
EmployeesAssociation(CSEA
Centerliterallyhadtheskinrakedoffher theproblems. thelackofmanagementresponse
facebyanuncontrollablepatient.The PEFVicePresidentPat promptedmetowritealetter,”Williams
aide,whohasworkedthereformorethan Baker,PEFchairofthe said.“Managementcouldnotfindthe
&
20years,reportedthenumerousthreats Labor-Management accidentinjuryreport.Theylost
fromthispatienttoBronxPCmanagers. Committeeatthestate everything.It’sourresponsibilitytowork
Then,onSeptember19,thethreats OfficeofMentalHealth forallunionmembersacross-the-board.”
becameanuglyreality.
WILLIAMS
(OMH),alsowas
l
t
h
InApril2007,a30-year-oldaideatthe instrumentalinhaving What’s next?
centerwasbeatenontheheadwitha theassaultersarrested. Williamshasformedajointhealthand
e
a broomstickanddiedsixmonthslater. “Theyarebeingarrestednow,” safetycommitteewithCSEA.
Thecauseofdeathwasreportedtobe Williamssaid.“Butthentheycomeright “Werealizedwehavearighttoajoint
H
unrelatedtotheassault. back.” healthandsafetycommitteeunderthe
InAugust2008,anotherBronxPC PEFandCSEAlaboragreements.Thisis
staffmemberhadherhairpulledoutand Getting some action animportantbenefitforourmembers,”
wasbeatenontheheadwithacanof “Peopledon’tknowhowtoaddress Williamssaid.
Ensure. theseincidents,”Williamssaid. WilliamsandthelocalCSEApresident
Thesearenotisolatedincidents, “Managementreallyhastounderstand havebeendocumentingtheviolent
accordingtoPEFDivision213Council theseverityoftheseattacksanddo attacksonstaffandpresentingthemto
LeaderDarleneWilliams. something.Thereisconstanttalkingat BronxPCmanagers.Theirnumbersare
ViolenceatBronxPChasbeen labor-managementmeetings,butno muchhigherthanthoseBronxPC
escalating.Inthefirstthreequartersof effectiveprogramhasbeenimplemented. managementreportsonamonthlybasis.
2008,62staffinjuriesoccurred, Managementneedstofocuson “Thenumbersaretotallydifferent,”
accountingfor581lostworkdaysdueto prevention,workwiththeunionsand Williamssaid.“Insomemonths,
patientassaults. direct-carestaff,anddevelopaplanof management’sis50percentlower.We
Foralmostthreeyears,Williamshas action.” needtofinetuneourcommunicationsso
beenworkingdiligentlytofindwaysto Whennothingwasdoneafterthe weareallonthesamepage.Weneedto
stopthehorrendousattacksonstaff. horrificattackonSeptember19,Williams setdeadlinestoaccomplishourgoals.We
“Nearly75percentofthestaffhave wrotealettertoOMHCommissioner needtolistentosuggestionsfromstaff.
beenaffectedbysomesortofworkplace MichaelHogan,andraisedserious Andwedesperatelyneedtohavean
violence,”Williamssaid.“Attackshave concernsabouttheviolenceatBronxPC. actionplanwhenapatientthreatensa
beenmadeonourmembers.Andour Thecommissionerwrotebacksaying staffmember.
membersarealsoaffectedbytheattacks BronxPCmanagersinitiatedan “Ifwehadaplaninplacepriorto
onCSEArepresentedstaff.” administrativeinvestigationofthepatient September19,perhapstheaidewould
WilliamsreceivedsupportfromPEF’s whopeeledofftheskinontheaide’sface. stillhavetheskinonherface.”
Proposed DED merger begs question,‘What was Gov. thinking?’
BySHERRYHALBROOK stateagencyoperation,that’sheldtothe Boardwouldbeeliminatedandits
Thegovernor’sExecutiveBudget higheststandardsoftransparencyand functionsabsorbedbythePublic
proposalwouldmergesevenstateentities accountabilityaswellasmerit-and- EmploymentRelationsBoard;
ofvariouskinds. fitnessinhiringandpromotions,and •TheNewYorkStateTheatreInstitute
TheDepartmentofEconomic handitofftoanorganizationwithoff- wouldmergewiththeEmpireStatePlaza
Development(DED)andtheFoundation budgetfunding,minimalaccountability PerformingArtsCenterCorporation(“The
forScience,TechnologyandInnovation andtransparencyandnocivilservice Egg”);
(NYSTAR)wouldmergewithEmpireState standardsorconstraintsonstaffing,” •TheOfficeoftheWelfareInspector
DevelopmentCorporation(ESDC). Bryniensaid. GeneralwouldmergewiththeOfficeof
ThatonereallyranklesPEFbecausea Othermergersorabsorptions theMedicaidInspectorGeneral;and
stateagency,DED,wouldbeabsorbedby proposedinthebudgetare: •TheNortheasternQueensNature
apublic-benefitcorporation,ESDC. •ThestateDepartmentofTaxation andHistoricalPreserveCommissionand
“Thisisbackward,”saidPEFPresident andFinancewouldhosttheoperationsof theHudsonRiverValleyGreenway
KenBrynien.“Stateagenciesshouldbe theOfficeofRealPropertyServices; CommunitiesCouncilandConservancy
absorbingoff-budgetshadowagencies •ThestateDivisionoftheLottery wouldmergeintothestateDepartmentof
andpublic-benefitcorporations,notthe wouldhosttheoperationsofthestate State.
otherwayaround. RacingandWageringBoard;
Pag
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•TheStateEmploymentRelations
PEFInformationLine:1-800-553-2445
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