Page 7 - Work Force April 2020

Continued from page 6.
supplies are
on their way,
Green fears
for additional
workers who
may become
infected. Five
local members,
including a
relative of
Green’s, are
currently under
home quarantine after coming into contact with confirmed cases.
As of this report, Green said there were five confirmed cases of the virus at the hospital and one reported death. The patients are not CSEA members.
Nursing a fever over the weekend, but otherwise not exhibiting any classic symptoms of COVID-19, Green said, “Everybody is still functioning at the same level and doing their routine work., but people are afraid. The housekeepers are definitely afraid.”
Two CSEA members who work
in the housekeeping department at SUNY Downstate shared a few words
on how they’re coping with the pandemic.
“It’s a very good feeling knowing that you can help our patients,” said Anthony Burke, a SUNY Downstate housekeeping department employee. “Our main focus is safety, ours and our patients. Nothing is as important as making sure everything is clean and safe so that our patients feel comfortable and they can get better as soon as possible.”
Burke wears a white surgical suit, plastic gloves and a special helmet with a large plastic visor. He also carries an instrument that resembles a large water gun, but it sprays disinfectant.
“We’ve always practiced safety and sanitary practices,” said Burke. “But this situation goes beyond sanitizing. It’s overwhelming with so many (COVID-19) cases and seeing how the community is affected.”
Maurice Dunaway, a longtime CSEA activist and veteran of other epidemics, said the vibe at the hospital was different this time.
“It’s been very stressful with all the suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases,” said Dunaway, a supervisor
in the housekeeping department and
Green
CSEA SUNY Downstate Local Vice President Maurice Dunaway, second from right, and Anthony Burke, in white suit at far right, who both work at the hospital’s Housekeeping Department, discuss how the facility is being disinfected around the clock with two doctors, left.
April 2020
workers.”
— David Galarza
Left, CSEA SUNY Downstate Local Vice President Maurice Dunaway and Anthony Burke, in white suit, who both work at the hospital’s Housekeeping Department, are among the workers whose role of disinfecting the hospital during this pandemic is vital in protecting workers and the community.
vice president of our union’s SUNY Downstate Local. “We need to treat every case as if it’s positive.”
Dunaway said there were six confirmed COVID-19 cases at the hospital in mid-March. As this edition was going to press, he said there was close to 40 cases.
His advice to other essential and frontline workers throughout the state, “Be strong, be diligent and be safe. It’s hard, but this is what we do.”
Keeping safe
At group homes run by the Brooklyn Developmental Center, several individuals have tested positive for the coronavirus and our Brooklyn Developmental Center Local officers had asked staff not
to float to the center’s houses until further notice.
“Sometimes, we have to institute these practices to save our members and the individuals,” said Brooklyn Developmental Center Local President Faye Wilkie Fields.
Brooklyn Developmental Center
runs 22 houses and staff periodically floats to different homes whenever there is a need.
“We closed
the dayhab
completely due to
the virus because
we didn’t want
the individuals to
come into the program since we’ve had these confirmed and suspected cases,” said Wilkie Fields. “We’re also trying to get safety equipment and supplies to these three houses and we have asked for a deep cleaning of those houses.”
Staff at those houses continue to work and go home, despite confirmed cases at their sites.
“They have to wear gowns and masks in the homes daily,” said Wilkie Fields, who had just received two gallons of hand sanitizer from the state to distribute among
the houses. “We are all essential
Wilkie Fields
The Work Force 7