By Richard Kowalczyk, AFSCME Local 3599
It’s not just federal employees who protect our environment and our climate. State and local government employees are also part of that protection force – and are similarly under attack. — editor
As a public servant, I am a member of AFSCME Local 3599, the Upstate Environmental Protection Technical and Professional Employees, part of District Council 37 of New York City. Our local’s highly technical and professional members ensure approximately ten million people receive high quality drinking water.
Public service unions are currently under attack from anti-union organizations under Project 2025 initiatives. But without public service, how do we properly run and maintain a water supply, especially with the ever-increased challenges of climate change?
The severe weather that stems from climate change has impacted the work our members do. Our members respond to emergencies, taking water samples under adverse conditions, testing to ensure the water is safe and meets all water quality requirements.
Carbon emissions have increased climate change on a global scale. This has disrupted weather patterns, which has led to extreme weather events, which has negatively affected our drinking water. Too much precipitation coming all at once can stir up suspended particulates and increase nutrients which can lead to biological impacts such as phytoplankton growth, leading to possible cyanobacteria and harmful algae blooms. Droughts lead to less water to draw from. Dry conditions lead to the risk of forest fires that negatively impact the environment, including the water supply.
Our environment is at risk. That risk, if unchecked, will continue to deteriorate and will negatively impact future generations, our children and grandchildren. The way we use fossil fuels is assaulting our planet.
DC37’s motto is “We Run New York” and our workers are the core of providing vital services to millions of people living and visiting NYC. We will continue to step forward and provide vital services to the public, regardless of the continued threats made against us from organizations that do not have the best interests of our neighbors at heart.