DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts and Local 1549 President Eddie Rodriguez led a union team that found dangerous working conditions at Coney Island Hospital in May. They demanded action and won a plan to relocate medical records from the hazard-filled basement by October.

The union contingent arrived on May 29 for a labor-management meeting. Their target was the ancient cellar where clerical workers faced a gauntlet of obstacles more than 10 times a day to retrieve files.

Reached by descending a flight of stairs, the dimly lit basement has a ceiling that barely reaches six feet. Pipes covered with asbestos insulation hang even lower. There are smoke detectors, but DC 37's Safety and Health Dept. found them faulty. Constant noise from a nearby transformer makes it hard to hear.

"These working conditions are simply unacceptable," said Mr. Rodriguez, who convened the meeting with the hospital's management to address the hazards.

Local 1549 Chapter Chair Ralph Palladino, Shop Steward Huberta Raper, Field Services Director Barbara Ingram-Edmonds, Division Director Ronnie Harris, Senior Safety Coordinator Lee Clarke, Safety and Health Principal Program Coordinator Lisa Baum, and Council Rep Rene Gainer accompanied Mr. Rodriguez and Ms. Roberts.

"We let Coney Island's management know in no uncertain terms that this situation had to be remedied immediately," said Eddie Rodriguez.

"And having Ms. Roberts in the meeting with us and touring the workplace showed management how serious we were," he said.

Several days later, Coney Island Hospital management announced a plan to relocate all the medical charts out of the basement. Work began on schedule in early June.