The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) last week affirmed unsafe working conditions detailed in a whistleblower complaint filed by three AFGE members against USDA’s Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) in Maryland.
AFGE Local 3147 had been trying for years to get management to address the unsafe working conditions at the moldy, flooded building complex that housed 800 employees. It wasn’t until AFGE’s General Counsel Office got involved and worked with the local to file a whistleblower complaint with the OSC that the agency finally did a proper investigation and largely substantiated the allegations.
“The agency investigation largely substantiated the whistleblowers’ allegations, finding pervasive safety deficiencies in many of the facilities and structures at BARC, including a general lack of housekeeping; excessive dirt and grime; flaking and peeling paint; damaged flooring; active and post flooding and other water intrusions; mold; and a lack of potable water,” said the OSC in a June 25 letter to President Trump.
“The agency concluded that many of the problems at BARC have accumulated over decades due to inadequate funding from Congress to repair, maintain, and modernize BARC, as well as ARS laboratories and research centers nationwide.”
The agency also determined that the poor condition of the facilities damaged scientific equipment, derailed and delayed research studies, and increased costs to research operations at the facility, although it says there was no evidence that the research loss was irretrievable.
OSC reported that USDA has taken steps to correct the situation, including reallocating $50 million for crucial repairs and modernization and moving BARC employees to 11 modernized buildings. A new permanent BARC director has been selected, and a new modernization master plan has been developed.
Considering the significance of the issue, OSC also recommends that USDA consider issuing a monetary reward to the whistleblowers.
AFGE is proud to have played an important role in protecting our members’ health and safety. As elected union officers, these three USDA employees used the official time allocated to them under the law to expose these egregious safety violations.
“The work to begin addressing these critical and costly safety issues at our country’s top USDA research facility would not have happened if not for our members risking their careers and reputations to blow the whistle on the agency,” AFGE President Everett Kelley said.
“At a time when many of our political leaders are trying to gut union rights and workplace protections for career federal workers, our success here validates how employees can make a huge difference in addressing government waste, fraud, and mismanagement when they don’t fear for their jobs.”
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