FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 29, 2007
June 29, 2007
Michael Victorian
(202) 639-6405
Dionne O’Neal
(202) 639-6491
(202) 639-6405
Dionne O’Neal
(202) 639-6491
Federal and DC Workers Address Serious Safety Risks in DC
(WASHINGTON) – In an effort to educate and engage area residents of systematic problems in local human service agencies, public employees in the District of Columbia have joined together to form the DC Worker Safety Task Force. The DC Worker Task Force is being facilitated by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which represents federal and DC public employees.
“The employees of the District of Columbia and the federal employees in the District have been abused and neglected,” said Dwight Bowman, AFGE District 14 national vice-president. “Public employees are committed to serving the District and their consumers, but they should not have to put themselves at risk, simply by going to work.”
Public employees in the District of Columbia, which may either fall under federal or District jurisdiction, depending on the agency, have been subjected to brutal attacks, asbestos-ridden work environments and convoluted management directives. These dire conditions are contributing to serious safety concerns throughout the District of Columbia and adversely affect the quality of services being provided to area residents.
“As employees of nation’s capital, we need the residents of the District of Columbia to know that the public servants strive to provide quality services. But we cannot do it alone, we need a partnership with the executive branch of the city,” said John Walker, president AFGE local 383. The DC Worker Task Force is eager to collaborate with city leadership and extends an open invitation to Mayor Adrian Fenty to come together to address the system’s current inadequacies.
The DC Worker Task Force currently represents 4,500 employees across DC agencies. Agencies include the Department of Disability Services (DDS), Youth and Rehabilitation Services, Court Services and Offender Supervision Services, Public Works, and the Public Housing Authority.
“The employees of the District of Columbia and the federal employees in the District have been abused and neglected,” said Dwight Bowman, AFGE District 14 national vice-president. “Public employees are committed to serving the District and their consumers, but they should not have to put themselves at risk, simply by going to work.”
Public employees in the District of Columbia, which may either fall under federal or District jurisdiction, depending on the agency, have been subjected to brutal attacks, asbestos-ridden work environments and convoluted management directives. These dire conditions are contributing to serious safety concerns throughout the District of Columbia and adversely affect the quality of services being provided to area residents.
“As employees of nation’s capital, we need the residents of the District of Columbia to know that the public servants strive to provide quality services. But we cannot do it alone, we need a partnership with the executive branch of the city,” said John Walker, president AFGE local 383. The DC Worker Task Force is eager to collaborate with city leadership and extends an open invitation to Mayor Adrian Fenty to come together to address the system’s current inadequacies.
The DC Worker Task Force currently represents 4,500 employees across DC agencies. Agencies include the Department of Disability Services (DDS), Youth and Rehabilitation Services, Court Services and Offender Supervision Services, Public Works, and the Public Housing Authority.
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