WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of WNYLaborToday.com Labor News Reports on Essential Union-represented Workers across Western New York, who deserve our thanks for continuing to do the jobs that not only allow us to stay safe and healthy, but produce the goods and services needed to ensure our economy continues humming.  Today, Your On-Line Labor Newspaper features Lynne O’Brien, a Nurse represented by Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1122, who is employed by the Visiting Nurses Association (VNA).

(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – For the past 30 years, Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 22 Union Member Lynne O’Brien has worked as a Nurse, and over the course of that time, she’s lived through a number of major outbreaks, from Polio to SARS to Aids.  Now it’s the Coronavirus Pandemic.  But even though she’s protectively outfitted “from head to toe” as she works at a Erie County-operated Swabbing Station - taking samples from those First Responders and Health Care Workers who are battling COVID-19 on the front lines, O’Brien tells WNYLaborToday.com that she does not consider herself a Front Line Worker.

“No, I ‘don’t see us as Front Line’ Workers,” O’Brien (Pictured above, on the left/Photo Supplied by the Visiting Nurses Association) told Your On-Line Labor Newspaper during a break in her day.  “The Emergency Room and Hospital Workers – (some) ‘who are without proper’ protective equipment ‘are’ the Front Line Workers.”

O’Brien is just one of 700 CWA Members who are employed by the Suburban Buffalo-headquartered Visiting Nurses Association (VNA), according to Local 1122 President John Mudie, who is a past President of the Buffalo AFL-CIO Central Labor Council.

“I ‘cannot tell you how proud I am of our Members,’ including those employed by the VNA and who work in our community.  ‘They have stepped up and delivered,’” said Mudie, who described the Membership employed there as Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), as Pharmacists, in Occupational Therapy, in Warehousing/Delivery and in the Billing Department.

“Understandably, people ‘focus on those who work in hospitals and medical centers, but there are so many other Workers out there as well,’ including many of our other represented Members who are in employed by AT&T and in Jewish Family Services as Crisis Counselors ‘to help people who are also suffering because of the Coronavirus Pandemic,’” he said.

Mudie tells WNYLaborToday.com that he hopes the general public begins to “appreciate’ all Front Line Workers for the jobs they are doing for all of us while so many Americans remain quarantined at home: “(These) Workers ‘are being taken for granted.’  And now, while there ‘is an overload in so many of our safety systems, our (CWA Local 22) Members are continuing to dedicate themselves to their crafts to help so many others in their communities.’”

O’Brien (Pictured above on the far left at a VNA Meeting/Photo Via The Social Network Facebook), who also serves as Executive Vice President of Local 1122, took the time to answer a series of questions that WNYLaborToday.com is asking each and every Union-represented Front-Line Essential Worker that Your On-Line Labor Newspaper plans to interview:

What’s your reaction to being designated an Essential Worker?

O’Brien: We ‘expected it’ (to be designated as Essential Workers).  ‘We work in the health field, so it’s not unusual.’

What precautions has your workplace taken to ensure you work healthy?

O’Brien: I’m working at a COVID-19 Swabbing Station, taking tests – so I’m covered ‘head to toe’ with a gown, a hairnet, gloves and a N95 mask and goggles.  I’m averaging testing 40 to 60 people a day.  When I get home, I leave my clothes inside a plastic bag inside an attached garage (to her home), where I leave a ‘new set’ of clean clothes (every work day).  I then change into them and take a shower.  Then I take the plastic bag filled with closes and wash them.  ‘You just have to make sure to take care of yourself’ (too).

How important is it for you and your fellow Workers to continue to do the job you do?

O’Brien: I ‘don’t see us as Front Line’ Workers.  The Emergency Room and Hospital Workers – (some) who are without proper’ Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) ‘are’ the Front Line Workers.  We’ve ‘given a lot of our N95 Masks to Doctors.’  ‘It’s important that those on the front lines have them.’ 

How important has it been Working Union at your employer?

O’Brien: It’s ‘unbelievable’ (that every Front Line Worker) ‘doesn’t have the proper’ equipment and a mask – and that’s because (of our) ‘nitwit’ President (Donald Trump).  ‘He doesn’t know how to handle this.’  But we (CWA Local 1122) ‘work well with’ the VNA.  ‘While we’ve had our difficulties in the past, we have a good relationship and we’re working together to find solutions.’

Do you think there’s a new-found respect for those Essential Workers who continue working in their jobs while the rest of the Nation self-quarantines?

O’Brien: ‘I sure hope so.’ These people (Front Line Workers) ‘have families too.’  ‘They aren’t being given all the kudos they deserve, regardless of what job they do.’  ‘God bless them.’  It is ‘important’ for people (that they appreciate) those on the front lines.  There are a lot of ‘sick’ Paramedics out there and Emergency Room Workers, ‘and so many others on so many levels.’