Employees protest poor working conditions in state office buildings

[TexasTowelie]

By Sydney Greene, Texas Tribune


Joanne Day is no stranger to problems in her workspace. In her nearly 20 years working at a state health agency, she's dealt with mold, leaking rainwater and falling drywall — all issues she blames on poor funding of the state's facilities commission and mismanagement within her agency.

But after reading a recent report by The Texas Tribune that revealed the mold incursion in the Austin State Hospital 636 building, Day still shuddered.

"I was surprised, but not surprised," said Day. "I was appalled. I was disappointed that someone else is going through this."

On Friday morning, a group of state employees gathered outside of the main campus of the Health and Human Services Commission holding signs with illustrations of rats and roaches. They were protesting what they believe are poor working conditions and failed maintenance responses in state office buildings. Earlier this month, Department of State Health Services employees were relocated from a state hospital building where a mold infestation had invaded some of their desks, chairs, carpeting and keyboard hand rests. The move was announced one day after the Tribune uncovered the conditions.

Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2018/08/17/employees-protest-poor-working-conditions-state-office-buildings/