COLUMBUS — Ohio’s union workers for the state’s Department of Rehabilitation and Correction state issued an email Thursday saying the lives of staff and inmates remain at risk due to COVID-19.
Despite good faith efforts to request improvements, union leaders said workers are still not being provided with additional personal protective equipment.
Workers said that ODRC administrators, along with Gov. Mike DeWine, continue to fail to hear their concerns.
“Just since March this year, nearly 100 individuals have lost their lives within ODRC facilities due to the pandemic. These individuals are all confirmed cases or were listed as probable for COVID19,” said Joshua Norris, executive vice president for SEIU District 1199.
“Union members with SEIU District 1199 who work at ODRC facilities, these workers provide vital social services and health care. It is imperative for more to be done to protect workers at these institutions. We are calling on ODRC administrators, OhioMHAS administrators, Ohio Department of Youth Services administrators, and Governor Mike DeWine, to act now with urgency on behalf of staff and inmates,” Norris said.
“Union members with SEIU District 1199 are asking for the State of Ohio to allow work from home status when possible, such as for workers with OhioMHAS Recovery Services and to provide additional and/or higher-grade protective equipment,” Norris continued.
Workers with ODRC institutions said that unless providing direct care, they are not being provided with N95 masks, which offer a higher level of protection against COVID19. N95 masks are being provided at the discretion of administrators.
“Workers have the ability to wear cloth or surgical masks – we do not believe that cloth masks offer enough protection in these facilities. Where are the N95 masks and what will be done if conditions deteriorate?
“If not N95 masks, the State of Ohio could issue face shields to all staff members, in addition to surgical masks, and eliminate cloth facial coverings, among other potential improvements,” Norris said.
“At this time, 1,026 staff members have contracted COVID19 at ODRC institutions. It is a fact that COVID19 is a substantial risk to these workers. Members continue to ask what more can be done to ramp up the availability of PPE and bolster current safety protocols. These workers are heroes who are putting their lives at-risk on behalf of inmates and the public,” Norris said.
SEIU District 1199 represents health care workers and staff members who provide services on behalf of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. SEIU District 1199 also represents workers with OhioMHAS Recovery Services and the Ohio Department of Youth Services.
