Page 8 - Work Force June 2025

‘We are trained to react:’
CSEA members stop assault
BRENTWOOD — Thanks to the efforts of CSEA members, a sexual assault at Pilgrim Psychiatric Center was quickly stopped in its tracks.
Pilgrim Psychiatric Center Mental Health Therapy Aides Shaquira Anderson, Kareem Moore and Cordell Nix were busy with their duties when an individual attacked a staff member who is represented by another union. The individual had partially disrobed the staff member and threw the worker to the floor.
Anderson, who was standing nearby, immediately began to apply her training and began pulling
the individual off of the worker. Hearing the commotion, Moore and Nix rushed into the room where they found the incident occurring. Moore and Nix joined Anderson in restraining the individual.
In addition to restraining the individual, Anderson, Moore and Nix kept order among the other individuals on the psychiatric ward, making their efforts even more impressive.
“He [the individual] had a really tight grip on the worker,” said Moore. “He’s a big, strong guy, so the three of us had to work hard to get him off of her.”
While the individual was being contained, the staff memnber who was assaulted ran out of the room toward safety.
Due to the security cameras on the ward, the entire incident was recorded and reviewed by CSEA and Pilgrim Psychiatric Center management. It was clear that
the individual was staring at both Anderson and the worker who was attacked, waiting for the right time to strike. The group concluded that the workers handled the situation correctly.
Anderson, Moore and Nix credit their quick response time with always being aware of their surroundings.
“We work on a ward with aggressive individuals, so we always have our heads on a swivel,” said Nix. “Anything can happen, at any second. We are trained to react.”
The individual was subsequently moved to another facility.
Our union is continuing to work on a long-term solution to ensure adequate staffing and safety at state Office of Mental Health facilities.
Representatives from CSEA, Pilgrim Psychiatric Center management and other unions on
CSEA Pilgrim Psychiatric Center Local Mental Health Therapy Aides Kareem Moore, Shaquira Anderson and Cordell Nix hold certificates of appreciation presented to them by psychiatric center representatives.
Health care workers raise alarm over federal cuts
ALBANY — CSEA members joined other health care workers from across the Capital Region, including nurses, medical researchers and direct care workers, for a forum to share their personal stories and voice growing concerns over the Trump administration’s health care policies and proposed funding cuts.
During the forum, sponsored by the New York State AFL-CIO and the Capital District Area Labor Federation, union members discussed how federal cuts are straining health care services, threatening jobs and jeopardizing patient care.
Capital District DDSO Local 3rd Vice President Zakiya Rhymer, a
8 The Work Force
direct support assistant, participated on the forum’s panel.
“I urge federal lawmakers to look beyond the numbers and see the human faces behind these services,” said Rhymer. “Medicaid cuts would hurt people with disabilities,
people with mental illness and the dedicated staff who support them every day. We should invest more, not less, in the services that allow our communities to thrive.”
Rhymer also noted how these cuts to funding seriously hinder the department’s ability to recruit new employees and retain seasoned staff.
U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko (NY-20),
a longtime advocate for working people and quality health care, was a
featured guest at the forum. A strong supporter of labor, Tonko listened
to front-line workers’ firsthand accounts.
“I’m proud to stand with the workers of our Capital Region
in fierce opposition to these devastating cuts to earned benefits like Medicaid and Medicare,” said Tonko. “Today, we heard directly from healthcare workers about how these reckless proposals would strip millions of Americans of a vital lifeline – all while putting good- paying jobs at risk and threating
the quality care our communities rely on. I will always continue to fight in Washington to protect these critical programs and support the
U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko and Capital District DDSO Local 3rd Vice President Zakiya Rhymer. (Photo by Nicholas Newcomb)
hardworking people who deliver care with dignity and compassion every day.”
— New York State AFL-CIO
campus are holding meetings to work out an expedited and cohesive plan to address violent attacks at the psychiatric center that satisfies the workers and administration.
The swift response of our union members speaks to the importance of investing in employees through education and maintaining staffing levels.
“Anything can happen, at any moment,” said Anderson. “If we don’t have proper staffing levels, it could slow down our response time. We need as many sets of eyes as we
can to spot problems and quickly
respond to them.”
Despite the gravity of the
situation, members are happy that they were able to stop the attack before it developed into something much worse.
“Being a woman and standing right next to the worker when she was assaulted, I know it could have been me,” said Anderson. “As shaken up as we all were after the attack, I know that if we had to do it all over again, we would still want to be there to help her.”
— Wendi Bowie
June 2025