CSEA members maintain vital services in winter’s icy grip Bitter cold weather for much of February across New York has CSEA members not only working in brutal conditions, but often responding to mechanical and structural situations that are taxing municipal infrastructure, and maintenance budgets. Good training, proper equipment and a lot of hard work go into keeping the public safe, warm and healthy in difficult winter conditions. Weather such as New York has experienced this year proves that experienced public employees need the support of their employers to make sure operations continue and the workers are kept safe. “From November to April, your stress level doubles. Your schedule becomes compressed,” said Conard Johnson, a snow plow operator in Rotterdam. “Having a supervisor who values safety makes it easier. Here in Rotterdam, our supervisor makes sure we take our breaks and even brings in food,” Johnson said. “The cold is very challenging. When we’re on call we have to show up at six in the morning, and plow, snowblow, shovel, clear all the tanks off. The cold makes me feel terrible. It kills my knees,” said CSEA Onondaga County Local member Jeff Pederzolli. “This is the worst I’ve ever seen it, and I’m going on 12 years,” Pederzolli said. Running out of everything In CSEA’s Capital Region, Colonie alone has experienced more than 90 water main breaks, as aging infrastructure gives way to plunging frost depths. The winter weather has depleted snow removal budgets across the state, and many school districts are doing their best to make up lost school days and canceled school events. Despite snow days for many, “Having a supervisor who values safety makes it easier. Our supervisor makes sure we take our breaks and even brings in food.” essential school staff still has to report to make sure driveways and walkways are plowed. Parts of the normally winter-resolute Western New York experienced a nearly cataclysmic snowstorm in November, before winter began. Since then, the Great Lakes are more than 85 percent iced over — a rare occurrence CSEA Albany County Local members Dave Austin, on ladder, and Joe Schroll, operating backhoe, work to fix one of five water main breaks that occurred on a recent evening. The Latham Water Department workers have been busy this winter, working nights in sub-zero weather dealing with dozens of water main breaks. — with Lake Erie nearly 98 percent covered in ice. Even the mighty Niagara Falls has nearly frozen, with huge walls of ice covering the falls, still running beneath the ice. Tourism has increased in Niagara Falls due to the spectacle, and Buffalo broke a low temperature record in February that stood since 1889. The Long Island Region has borne the brunt of snowfall since Western New York’s epic episode in November, particularly the eastern part of the state. Through it all, CSEA members have been working, clearing snow and ice from roads, walkways and roofs, responding to water main breaks and patching stressed pavement when possible. County services workers have assisted in protecting the homeless, preparing shelter space and helping people with no means for shelter to get protection. See related stories, pages 8, 9. March 2015 The Work Force 3
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