Page 11 - Work Force January 2021

and multiple people need to be out on quarantine “If one of [the staff members] were to become ill that takes multiple people out (who might have to quarantine) and that’s the last thing you want this time of year ” Thompson Thompson said Thompson Thompson explained that the state has people from different agencies on on standby that could fill in in In some local shops inexperienced drivers may have to to take on on a a a a a lot more responsibility which could lead to to a a a a a a number of potential safety issues “If one one or or or two [workers] don’t show up because they’re sick we have one one or or or two spare drivers drivers and sometimes our rookie drivers drivers might be able to cover their route ” Pettersen said of the the local level “The real challenge will be if we have about five or six people down down Then it comes down down to to the the crew we have left to to pick up the the roads and those hours get longer ” Not only do those shifts get get longer longer plows that would usually clear roads at at 4 or or 5 a a a a a a a a a a m m m might not be able to to get to to places until 6 a a a a a m m m or or later when school
buses and and commuter traffic traffic is higher which could lead to traffic traffic accidents and and other issues Slow down & be kind
Thompson said he’s seen the the impact of fewer cars on on the the road due to more people working from home — even
in in the the more rural areas of the the North Country where he he he he works — it’s still important to be patient and kind
When the the the the plows clear the the the the roads the the the the maximum speed the the the the truck can go on most highways is 35 mph “If you you go go any higher the the alarms go go off the the GPS is reset and that means you you were going too fast ” Thompson said “(That means) the the the salt won’t drop on on on the the the the road it’ll go right to the the the the side and and that’s wasted money and and not doing the the the road any good ” It’s been proven that driving 35 mph or slower maximizes the the effectiveness of salting the roads “The only thing I wish is is that people would be considerate enough to slow down ” Thompson said — Nicholas Newcomb
Troy Engebretsen a a a a a a a machine equipment operator shown here by a a a a a a a a a town vehicle was a a a a a a a a a union member at at his previous job When he he he he joined the Cicero Cicero Highway Department Town of Cicero Cicero Unit President Justin Pettersen said he he didn’t need to to to do any convincing to to to get Engebretsen to join CSEA January 2021
The Work Force
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on snow ice and COVID During storms CSEA members operating trucks with wing plows will receive a a a a bonus on on top of their regular hourly wage since those workers will not have a a a a a a a a second person
assisting with maintenance and other tasks What made the the agreement feasible Wesolowski said is that the town has kept a a a a a modern fleet of trucks trucks Some older trucks trucks with the the wing wing plows require a a second person
to operate the the the wing wing While the the the Town of Warwick does not have have these these vehicles vehicles municipalities that still have have these these vehicles vehicles would require a a a second person
in the truck “A year ago we never imagined something like
this pandemic would happen ” Wesolowski said “If the the the town had had run its fleet into the the the ground we wouldn’t have had had the the the opportunity to to to do this ” The sidebar agreement is is is proof during this pandemic that having a a a a a a a a union in in in in in the the workplace makes a a a a a a a a difference Having worked in in in in the the private sector before coming to to work for for the Town of Warwick Wesolowski said he he sees how CSEA members have a a a a a a a seat at at the the table He also
credited the the union Labor Relations Specialist Vanessa Van Van Alstyne as a a a a a a a a constant resource for workers “In non-union worksites your boss boss is is your your boss boss and and there is is no no leverage ” he he said “Having a a a a a a a union gives us representation and and a a a a a a a voice I’ve worked other places and and so many employees don’t know what what their rights are and and what’s available to them ” Wesolowski has developed a a a a a a a a a a strong labor- management relationship with both Sweeton and the the town DPW commissioner which he he he he said has made a a a a a a difference during the the the the pandemic When the the the the virus first hit New York the the the the town agreed to to split shifts in in in in the the the DPW DPW recognizing that having an an entire DPW DPW workforce quarantined would be a a a a a a a major problem With the advantage of being able to prepare for this winter Wesolowski said he he he feels optimistic about the arrangement “It’s best for our workers and and their families’ safety and and it fit it benefits the the town so we see it fit it as a a a a a a a win-win ” he said — Jessica Ladlee
to snow removal solution “Having a a a a union gives us representation and a a a a a voice I’ve worked other places and so many employees don’t know what what their rights are and what’s available to them ”