City of New Rochelle Unit President Rosetta Pegues says preparation is the key to staying safe and warm when she is performing her crossing guard duties in cold winter temperatures.
NEW ROCHELLE — The need for pedestrian safety doesn’t stop when the temperatures drop.
That’s why CSEA-represented crossing guards brave all types of weather helping students get to and from school safely.
It’s a commitment Rosetta Pegues has upheld for 41 years. Blustery, cold days don’t stop Pegues, president of our union’s City of New Rochelle Crossing Guards Unit, from reporting each morning and afternoon to her post at one of the city’s busiest intersections.
“I never really think about the cold weather because I’ve been doing this so long,” said Pegues. “Your body gets used to the cold weather, so to me, it’s just another day on the job.”
Pegues said winter’s cold fronts don’t faze her because she and her fellow crossing guards come to work well prepared.
In addition to the police coats provided by the New Rochelle Police Department, crossing guards have uniform pants, safety vests, gloves and boots. A crucial addition to her uniform this time of year is Under Armour, a brand of cold weather base layer worn underneath the uniform to maintain warmth.
That’s where having a strong union is a benefit, Pegues said. Unit members have been able to use contract negotiations to incorporate clothing allowances that allow them to purchase the additional gear such as the base layer that makes working in the cold weather safer and more tolerable.
“Our union plays a big part in our lives to help keep us safe,” said Pegues. “Our job is not an easy job. Although we have cameras, people run red lights so often and it’s really dangerous.”
With our union having their backs and their union contract providing the apparel and safety gear they need to stay safe, crossing guards in New Rochelle can focus on their goal of student safety. In the colder months, students are in more of a rush to get to school, but they heed Pegues and her fellow crossing guards.
“We train our kids not to come until we call them,” said Pegues, who has crossed multiple generations during her tenure. “They know not to cross without a guard and that they can’t trust the traffic lights. They listen and wait until cars stop and then they look both ways.”
— Jessica Ladlee
