NOT JUST A MAN'S JOB — PEF member Debra Hunt inspects the steel reinforcement for highway pavement for the partial extension of the Whitestone Expressway in Queens.  — Photo by Ken Dischel 

By DEBORAH A. MILES
Inspecting bridges and viaducts from a boom truck is not an average job, especially for a woman, but PEF member Debra Hunt breaks the mold. 

Hunt earns respect for what she does, and finds her work as a civil engineer 1 for the state Department of Transportation (DOT) very satisfying.

She began working at DOT 17 years ago when she took a civil service exam for a senior clerk position. She continued taking exams and moved up the career ladder working in the maintenance division, then as a senior engineer technician. That was in the 1990s, when she assisted engineers who inspected the structure of bridges and viaducts for safety issues. 

Now, Hunt works on the highway side of DOT and can been seen in the Bronx inspecting all aspects of road conditions from guard rails, lighting and crash-prevention devices to pavement and signs.

“I feel proud when I’m out there wearing my orange helmet, vest and boots,” Hunt said. “When women and kids see me working in the field, I think it may inspire them to do something different with their lives.”

Hunt speaks highly of the DOT Region 11 staff, saying she never experienced any difficulties working with male co-workers and was offered promotions and opportunity. “No one ever tried to hold me back,” she said.

Contractors on the rise
Although her daily working conditions are good, Hunt — a PEF Division 214 convention delegate and member mobilizer — said DOT Region 11 has some unique problems because of its location in the city.

“We lack resources and space for equipment. We don’t have the crews either,” she said. “Sometimes, we call ourselves step-children, because we are different from other DOT regions.”

Even realizing the problems associated with the location, Hunt said the increasing use of consultants is making members uneasy.

For example, she said co-workers are very capable of engineering and design, yet DOT is hiring more and more consultants for these kinds of projects.

“I used to develop plans, specifications and estimates for projects. I would go out with the crew and survey bridge drainage structures and check piping and down spouts,” Hunt said. “We did a great job. I even received an award for excellence from the DOT regional director and commissioner for developing and implementing the regional annual bridge drainage, cleaning and repair program. But now we are doing less and less, and consultants are picking-up the work.”

Union support
Along with the issue of using outside contractors, Hunt said members in her region also perform out-of-title work. 

“A lot of people do out-of-title work voluntarily as a learning experience. But PEF did step in, filed grievances and members received back pay. That was a tremendous union success,” she said.

Hunt also applauds the union for supporting a black history program she launched 10 years ago. She said it began as a small grass-roots effort in her office and has expanded to a full month of educational and cultural programming.

Hunt takes pride in her work, no matter what she does. In 2004, she received the Governor’s Tribute of Excellence Award to African-American Leaders for State Service. And she loves the challenge and diversity of her job, saying, ”Everyday is a different highway. Road conditions change with the seasons. It’s always challenging and fulfilling.”