Page 11 - Work Force November 2020

still leads to potential dangers
nearly a a a a a a month later even though he he threatened to return and and “smoke” the the place Notwithstanding the the assault Romeo said “I felt sorry for him This is is probability of us getting into an altercation or having a a a a a a a a a a a a a a bad interaction with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a road test client is now at an all-time high It might have something
to do do with us living in in in such troubled times I I don’t know However my fight or flight response response has turned into a a a a a a a a freeze response response That contradicts my my survival instincts It really makes the job a a a a a a a a lot more difficult than it should be ” Corcoran added at times she has had to grab the the wheel of of the the vehicle for fear of of being in in an an accident had to to to use all her skills to to to deescalate a a a a a a a a a a a tense situation or talk calmly to to to someone whose emotions got the the the best of them “Every day is like taking a a a a a a a a roller coaster ride — the the the emotional ups and downs wear on you ” she said Policy still a a concern
In recent years motor vehicle license examiners have increasingly reported incidents of physical and verbal workplace violence after road tests
due to DMV’s “instant notification” policy in in which MVLEs must hand-deliver the the results of road tests
while inside the the test taker’s vehicle CSEA has opposed this method of instant notification for years because it puts MVLEs in danger every day and may violate the state Lorraine Motor Vehicle License Examiner Volodymyr Baryshenski takes the temperature of a a a a a a a a a a road test applicant and driving school
representative before entering the the vehicle for for the the exam Workplace Violence Prevention Law CSEA DMV (New York City) Unit
President Dawn Destine warned that the next MVLE might not be so lucky as Romeo “We need to to implement a a a a total end to to to in in person instant notification of any sort ” said Destine a a a a a a MVLE herself who has also experienced hostilities from test-takers “People can be very hostile and we do not not have any protection It’s been a a a a a a a a a a a a a long struggle to end instant notification After a a a a a a a a a a a a a a female worker
was assaulted upstate last year we demanded a a a a a a a a a a a a a change ” Following that attack and and others CSEA worked with Department of Motor Vehicles management in 2019 to to to address the workers’ health and safety concerns The agency agreed to to what has been deemed a a a a a a a a a a a “temporary fix ” having MVLEs exit the the test-taker’s vehicle and and deliver the the results via a a a a a a a a a sealed envelope while standing outside Destine warned that the changes are far from Continued on on page 12 COVID frustration People are under a a a a a lot pressure ” Lorraine Corcoran a a a a a a CSEA Buffalo State Employees Local member employed as as a a a a a MVLE said over the past several months heightened emotions have ruled the the day for both the the examiner and test test takers On occasion the test test taker taker may become angry and even act in in a a a a a a a a physically or emotionally threatening manner including name- calling threats and even assaults To MVLEs dealing with this behavior is is just part of of the job job “The “The job job of of a a a a a a a Motor Vehicle License Examiner is inherently dangerous ” said Corcoran “The “The contact but then I see our union representatives here ” said Rodney Hardy a a a a a a motor vehicle representative “I feel like it’s a a a a a a lot more inviting than a a a a a computer screen for a a a a motor vehicle representative like myself and more personable ” CSEA CSEA Executive Vice President Denise Berkley and CSEA CSEA State DMV DMV (New York City) Unit
President Dawn Destine meet with DMV DMV members
at at a a a a a recent information day In times of such anxiety and uncertainty Berkley said the outreach is “important because it it gives us us an an opportunity for the the the the DMV members
to meet their their their unit unit leadership leadership leadership their their their Region leadership leadership leadership and their their their Statewide leadership leadership leadership It also reminds them that they are are not not alone We see you you you we we hear you you you and we we are are not not afraid to fight for you you ” — David Galarza
Hardy November 2020 The Work Force
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Destine