(ALBANY, NEW YORK) - In the early morning hours of February 16th (2023), before her work shift was due to begin, Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Capital District Psychiatric Center (CDPC) Local President Zakiya Rhymer got a devastating call that became a catalyst for change.

Rhymer learned that Ronda Davidson, a Secure Care Treatment Aide at CDPC, was assaulted by a patient.

Davidson suffered multiple cuts, a broken eye socket and was bleeding profusely from her head and face.

She was taken to Albany Medical Center.

Rhymer soon received by text a photo of Davidson’s bloodied and swollen head.

“I just started crying,” Rhymer said. “I don’t know if I was crying from being sad or being angry, but I just sat there and cried.”

Rhymer warned something like this could happen - again.

One week before Davidson was injured, Rhymer, in a meeting with CDPC management, pressed for stronger safety protocols to avoid another assault like the one on CDPC Employee Darryl Best, who was severely injured as a result of an assault by a CDPC patient in February 2022.

He suffered a traumatic brain injury and likely won’t be able to return to work.

Direct Care Workers often have very complicated decisions to make instantaneously during incidents where their safety could be jeopardized.

For instance, if a Worker defends themselves against an assault by putting a patient in a restraint.

If that restraint isn’t performed exactly to agency procedures and policy, Members could face discipline.

In many cases, those charges do not take into account that the individual being placed in a restraint does not cooperate with that restraint, causing potential policy violations.

If Workers leave the side of a patient who requires a Constant Observation (CO) sits to help a Co-Worker or other patient under attack, they could be found in violation of policy.

Because of this, many Workers feel powerless to help their Co-Workers during incidents.

“Three of us were on CO sits,” said Lisa Farrish, a CDPC Secure Care Treatment Aide who was nearby when Davidson was assaulted. “I won’t ever forget this incident.  I live it every day.”

While CDPC management is fast to act on Justice Center disciplines, properly managing Staff and patients and adherence to New York State reporting and safety regulations had been lackluster.

Previous CSEA Officers, for years, had tried to get traction on issues of severe understaffing, crushing mandates, workplace safety, injuries and health and safety violations.

To Continue Reading This Labor News Story & Learn How CSEA Took Action To Turn The Situation Around, Go To: Enough is enough: Assault on worker leads to positive change (cseany.org)