Page 10 - Work Force February 2025

Union management working to keep
St Lawrence Psych workers warm
OGDENSBURG — When secure care treatment aides (SCTAs) at at at the St Lawrence Psychiatric Center/Secure Treatment & Rehabilitation Center Center (SLPC/STARC) take individuals outside for programming during the winter months temperatures are regularly below freezing and often in in in in the the single digits With the the the center directly on the the the St Lawrence River high winds
off the river pose an added risk lowering real-feel temperatures in in the the negatives CSEA St Lawrence Psychiatric Center Local members are working with management to address these concerns and establish safety protocols to to offer protection from the cold Some creative and temporary fixes have been made but members are eagerly awaiting capital project funding to find more permanent and effective solutions Repurposing the the COVID COVID booths
During the the COVID-19 pandemic wooden booths
were built and and and used for for CSEA members and and other workers to undergo health screenings before entering the facility These booths
are only about 4’ x x 4’ 4’ with Plexiglas windows and a a a a a a thin foil insulation now lines the inside walls CSEA members employed at at the the the center advocated to to repurpose them as a a a a a shelter from the the the cold to to to monitor individuals while outdoors “We’re lucky we we were able to to get these ” said Crystal Schack a a a a a a a 17-year center employee “Before that we didn’t have have anything ” The booths
have have no electricity so so a a a a a a a small generator and heater are being provided However some potential safety issues need to be be addressed The SCTAs have also recently been supplied with some basic winter gear but only enough for for people to share “The winter gear is is there for for us us to to use but infection control-wise there’s no procedure to to get things cleaned ” said John O’Shea a a a a a a a a secure care treatment aide “This facility has had instances of bedbugs and other infections so we would need a a a a a a a a a a separate washer and dryer for staff ” Last winter Sally Barse a a a a a a a a a a a a a a 10-year secure care treatment aide was directed to to go outdoors during her shift She told management that it it was was too cold to to to safely do so without proper protection A reference was was made to the the the the temperature temperature at at at the the the the front of of the the the the the building but the the the the the temperature temperature difference between the the the the the front of of the the the building and the the the area where individuals spend time outdoors can be be drastically different because of From left St Lawrence Psychiatric Center Secure Care Treatment Aides Sally Barse John O’Shea and and Crystal Schack stand outside of of one of of the the repurposed COVID booths
on the center’s campus 10 The Work Force
February 2025
the the wind ripping off the the river To address this concern our union
filed a a a a a a a grievance which was decided in favor of CSEA Barse noted that she is thankful for the victory One solution stemming from the the the grievance is that a a a a a a a a small weather station was placed
on on the the roof of of the the facility and supervisors now have weather stations in their offices to be aware of of outdoor conditions This was deemed a a a small win despite the the the weather station on on the the the roof still not capturing the full picture because it’s further away from the the wind chill effects “We “We all took a a a a a a job where we we work inside ” said O’Shea “We “We were aware that we we would occasionally have to to be outside to to oversee residents but it’s a a a a a small fraction of our day day We don’t come to to work every day day prepared to to face the elements
all day Even those who do come overprepared with electric coats and vests aren’t aren’t able to use use them because the the the batteries aren’t aren’t allowed in the the the facility ” Workers noted that that they they want to make it clear that that they they aren’t ungrateful for the the temporary fixes but they are eager to to continue to to work with management for more effective solutions “I am proud of our union
members and their their focus
on safety their their adaptability in in a a a a a a challenging North Country climate and their continued efforts in in in facing these challenges
while still providing the the best care possible to our individuals and upholding the St St Lawrence Lawrence Psych Center Center mission ” said St St Lawrence Lawrence Psychiatric Center Center Local Vice President Ashleigh Catlin — Nicholas Newcomb
“I am proud of our union
members and their their focus
on on safety their their adaptability in in a a a a a a a challenging North Country climate and their continued efforts in in in facing these challenges
while still providing the the best care possible to our individuals and upholding the St Lawrence Psych Center mission ” More information about cold weather hazards as as well as as CSEA’s Occupational Safety and and Health specialists for for for each region and and and contact information information along with information information on on on on on on numerous other safety safety and and health issues can be found at at cseany org/safety or or or or or by downloading the MyCSEA app for your smartphone or or or or tablet