For Immediate Release
Wednesday, February 10, 1999
AOC Employees Give Firsthand Accounts of House Safety Violations to Congressional Subcommittee
WASHINGTON —“It’s time to put safety first -- not only for AOC employees, but for everyone who walks through the doors of the U. S. Capitol and all House and Senate office buildings.” That was the testimony of two Architect of the Capitol employees on Wednesday, February 10, when they testified before a House Legislative Subcommittee on Appropriations concerning work place safety, fire safety, security, staffing and hiring practices of the Architect of the Capitol.
The hearing came on the heels of a scathing report from the House Inspector General that denounced the U.S. Capitol and five House office buildings as firetraps. In addition, a series of investigations conducted by the Office of Compliance resulted in three citations against the AOC for serious workplace violations in May 1998.
Hazel Dews, president, of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 626, and Dolores Jones chief shop steward for AFSCME Local 626, gave first hand accounts of safety violations that affect AFSCME members everyday. “For far too long the AOC has taken the liberty of personally exempting itself from the Congressional Accountability Act, OSHA regulations and any other work place and safety standards,” said AFSCME Council 26 representative Don Maddrey. “At some point everyone must stand accountable for their actions -- or, in this case lack of actions.”
In their final remarks to the subcommittee, AFSCME members recommended that the AOC be required to spend all funds allocated for fire protection projects during fiscal year 2000 strictly on fire protection. In addition, AFSCME requested that the AOC make periodic reports to the committee that detail how much money is being spent on fire protection projects. “The AOC should not have to be compelled by law to implement fire safety systems,” said Dolores Jones. “This should be done because it is the right thing to do.”
Hazel Dews and Dolores Jones will be available for comment following their testimony before the House Legislative Branch Subcommittee on Appropriations.
