Violent crime is rampant in state institutions and social service agencies. Efforts to combat crime must not stop at the doorway to state facilities and offices. It is time that State government reveals the true scope and costs of workplace violence and other injuries. More than $200 million tax dollars are expended annually on workers’ compensation in New York State, with little or no accountability. The STOP Workplace Violence legislative package will make State government take reasonable steps to prevent violence against staff and clients of the state.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

As a taxpayer and a constituent, I am interested in seeing passage of the "Stop Workplace Violence" legislative package being supported by the Public Employees Federation.

This package includes a bill (S6441 - Spano /A9691-John) that requires public employers to develop comprehensive workplace violence prevention programs. Its passage is a key step to putting an end to violence against public servants.

A second bill, (S207\Maziarz and A2570\Hoyt), the Judi Scanlon bill is named after a PEF member who was murdered by a patient during a home visit. The bill requires the State to provide basic protections to mental health workers who visit clients' homes.

The package also includes a bill (S6480\Robach and A9692\John) that would substantially increase state government's accountability by requiring the Department of Civil Service to publish an annual report analyzing each agency's occupational injuries and workers' compensation costs. Passage of this bill will help reduce waste and will encourage high risk agencies to improve their injury prevention efforts.

I urge you to support the "STOP Workplace Violence" package of bills. Getting assaulted should not be part of anyone's job. Crime prevention efforts must be extended to preventing violence in the workplace. For more information related to the need for this legislation, please go to www.pef.org/stopworkplaceviolence.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
February 02, 2006