Page 10 - Work Force September 2021

‘It’s given me peace of of mind:’ Workers react to end of of DMV policy
Editor’s Note: CSEA members employed at at the state Department of Motor Vehicles worked with union leaders to to to urge the agency to to to end its ‘instant notification’ policy
that placed Motor Vehicle License Examiners at at at risk On these pages DMV employees discuss their experiences and reaction to to the the new electronic notification policy
See page 3 to to learn more about the union’s fight It’s the the end of of the the road for instant notification following a a a a a state Department of Motor Vehicles road test and motor vehicle license examiners (MVLEs) are feeling like it’s Christmas in in July “I am so appreciative of our union ” said Nichole George a a a a a a a MVLE based in in the Metropolitan Region “Every day [our union is] fighting to make things better for us ” CSEA members officers and staff worked tirelessly over several years to to urge DMV officials to to end the instant notification policy
which required MVLEs to to provide immediate road test results to to applicants — while seated in the test taker’s vehicle The unsafe policy
had yielded angry and at at times threatening reactions from applicants who failed road tests MVLEs have been subjected to countless verbal and physical assaults by applicants Some workers have been followed spit on or struck with objects by angry test- takers Thanks to CSEA members’ efforts DMV officials recently implemented a a a a a a delayed notification policy
for road test results MVLEs now provide an an applicant with a a a a a a a card that instructs them to visit a a a a a a a a a a DMV website where test results are posted later that that day “It was the the best thing that that the the DMV could have done for us ” said George “Every day you you you want to to come home to to to your family and you you you don’t want a a a a a road test to to be the reason why you you don’t come home to your family ” For Dorothy Thomas a a a a a 33-
year veteran MVLE on the the cusp
of of retirement learning of of the the new protocols seemed like a a a a fitting way to to end her career “It took a a a a a huge push and many years for our union to to get this done ” said Thomas who recalled while instant notification was originally deemed as as as a a a a a a a a customer-friendly measure the the policy
backfired when MVLEs became the the recipients of repeated customer abuse Thomas credited the recently created New York City DMV Unit and and its officers Dawn Destine and Ben Greene who prioritized the the issue along with other DMV activists from across the the the state and were relentless in their pursuit “One of of the the the highlights of of working on these changes for me me is seeing members like Dorothy who mentored me me me and fought for these changes over the the the the years finally
see the the the fruits of their labor ” said Destine “This is is not for for me me me but for for everyone else who comes after me me me ” Workers feel safer
Along with George MVLEs across the the the state say they now feel safer
on on the the job “It’s a a a a big relief ” Veronica Zito a a a a MVLE in the the Metropolitan Region said of the the the new policy
“We feel like we can breathe now We We are not afraid anymore ” Zain Chaudhary a a a a a a a a MVLE in in in the Metropolitan Region is also feeling relief “It’s given me peace of mind ” Chaudhary said “It “It doesn’t matter the the (road test) location where we work there are no problems ” Kerri Malenda a a a a a a a MVLE on on Long Island is also relieved about the new electronic notification policy
“Safety is paramount Scheduling
Kerri Malenda records an an applicant’s driving test results on a a a a a a a tablet DMV MVLE Zain Chaudhary uses an an an electronic tablet to collect and transmit road test information a a a a a a time for applicants to get their results later in in in the the the day eliminates the the the risk of confrontation and escalating situations with the applicants ” said Malenda “CSEA’s [efforts] shows that our union cares about about members and is concerned about about their safety CSEA member Maribel Cruz- Alvarado a a a a a a a a MVLE in the Hudson Valley said she she is grateful that she’s no no longer dealing with the uncertainty that resulted from not knowing how test test takers would react if they failed their road test test “It’s less stressful and people seem much calmer ” said Cruz- Alvarado an activist from the CSEA Mid-Hudson State Employees Local “Some people are disappointed that they can’t get their results right away but I think the the the majority [of applicants] are OK with it it it because 10 The Work Force
September 2021