Human Rights members under siege
By DEBORAH A. MILES
You would think the state Division of Human Rights, an agency devoted to
enforcing laws that afford “every citizen an equal opportunity to enjoy a full
and productive life,” according to its Commissioner Kumiki Gibson, would take
care of its own employees.
Yet, the PEF members who work for Human Rights have a long list of complaints
such as: increasing workloads, changing job duties, creating new job titles,
closing cases from 2006, imposing a new dress code, canceling the compressed
workweek agreement without the 10-day required notice, and transferring
employees to other offices further from their homes.
That’s what Margaret Jackson, an administrative law judge and others have
reported.
“We feel under pressure and scared of losing our jobs,” Jackson said, who is the
new council leader of PEF Division 329.
Taking action
Jackson’s worked at Human Rights for nearly a decade. Since Gibson was appointed
by Gov. Eliot Spitzer in January to head Human Rights, the small Bronx staff of
10 full-time administrative law judges and one per- diem judge (all PEF members)
have been forced to increase their workloads, forced to attend an off-site
retreat, and feel as if they are being forced to quit.
Some have filed lawsuits. Others filed complaints with the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to get their cases heard on a federal level.
“It’s like we are under siege,” Jackson said. “We’ve tried the increased
workload before, and what happens is the public suffers.
“We’ve been told by Alfonso David, Gibson’s special advisor, the commissioner
doesn’t have to consult with PEF or Civil Service; she can just make changes as
she pleases.”
PEF
steps in
Region 10 Coordinator Vernetta Chesimard said the division was in trouble and
the union needed to intervene.
“PEF has helped them to get their leadership back,” Chesimard said. “I met with
Gibson and she has a vision for this agency.
She doesn’t understand her staff could make her vision come true. She needs to
understand the value of her employees.”
PEF Vice President Pat Baker has written two letters to Gibson raising the list
of complaints from the employees. And a committee has been formed including
Jackson, Baker, Chesimard, Region 11 Coordinator Jemma Marie-Hanson and Region
12 Coordinator Dee Dodson.
PEF President Ken Brynien is also on top of the situation and met with Human
Rights members in August.
Brynien listened to members for more than two hours and said he would personally
meet with Gibson.
“Our members are being forced to agree to changes in their tasks and standards,”
Brynien said. “In some cases, this even diminishes the rights of the public.
“And our members are even being forced to endure insulting comments from
management about their work ethic. Management needs to recognize that PEF
members in the Division of Human Rights have human rights too,” he said.
“A PEF president never came to them before,” Chesimard added. “The situation has
escalated, but the president’s visit gave them hope.”