{"id":4994,"date":"2024-05-03T14:18:44","date_gmt":"2024-05-03T18:18:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/communicator.pef.org\/?p=4994"},"modified":"2024-05-06T15:57:47","modified_gmt":"2024-05-06T19:57:47","slug":"kingsboro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/communicator.pef.org\/issue\/volume-42-no-4\/kingsboro\/","title":{"rendered":"PEF members at Kingsboro PC to management: Stop workplace bullying!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Hear<\/p>\n

May 7, 2024 — <\/em>Nearly 100 PEF members employed at Kingsboro Psychiatric Center (KPC) in Brooklyn delivered a loud message to their bosses on the first day of May: Clean up the toxic work environment you\u2019ve created, or get out of town.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

PEF President Wayne Spence, VP Darlene Williams, Region 11 Coordinator Bernadette O\u2019Connor and Division 252 Council Leaders joined rank and file members on May 1 outside KPC for a \u201cDay of Action.\u201d It was the culmination of months of smaller-scale actions intended to show management how displeased employees are by the disrespect and unfair treatment they experience at work.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know it\u2019s not easy for KPC members to come out here and talk,\u201d President Spence told the crowd. \u201cI know because I\u2019ve received over 60 anonymous emails that talked about the bullying, the retaliation, the nepotism that\u2019s going on here for too many years.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Members at the facility have been agitating since February, conducting a series of \u201cAction Days,\u201d which included wearing buttons and stickers emblazoned with the campaign logo, \u201cStop Workplace Bullying,\u201d as well as releasing balloons in the parking lot to symbolize letting go of the toxicity that makes their work lives difficult.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur message to members is: \u2018Do not be afraid. Do not be afraid, and stand up for what is right,\u2019\u201d said Region 11 Coordinator Bernadette O\u2019Connor, who led the effort along with staff from PEF Organizing.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

PEF has drafted legislation under consideration in Albany that defines workplace bullying and mandates training for employees and employers, similar to what the State does with sexual harassment. Meetings are expected to continue with top officials at Kingsboro and the Office of Mental Health to improve workplace morale at KPC.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Editor\u2019s Note: If you have a workplace bullying story to share, visit <\/span><\/i>www.pef.org\/toxictales<\/span><\/i><\/a>. PEF will work with you to figure out the best way to tell your story so that you are protected, and it has the greatest impact.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n