CHENANGO COUNTY - On Thursday, the Evening Sun published a story about a Chenango County report that determined Department of Works employees organized a strike during a November snowstorm that paralyzed the area with more than a half of foot of snowfall.
A member of the DPW reached out to clarify information and report an error in the story. The article incorrectly identified Eric Graham as a Heavy Motor Equipment Operator who did not show up for work.
Graham is a road maintenance supervisor/foreman and he did report for duty during the November 2024 snowstorm.
The county launched an internal investigation in the wake of a November 21-23 storm, which brought 8 to12 inches of snow, causing widespread power outages and road hazards.
According to a new report released by the Chenango County Board of Supervisors, nearly a dozen DPW employees participated in a strike, which investigators classified as illegal under New York’s Taylor Law.
Graham discussed the report’s findings and shared his perspective on the night the incident occurred. He clarified the incident should only be called an “alleged strike,” but also admitted it wasn’t right and that it should never happen again.
“Was it right, no,” he said.“I mean, I have no say. Even though I am a road maintenance supervisor I cannot make the guys come in. There’s nothing I- I hold authority over the guys, but they’re their own individuals, there is nothing stating that when I call them, they have to come in,” explained Graham.
“You could go over this a hundred ways, at the time I thought I was doing everything right, but looking back now, there are some things I could have definitely done different. I just hope it never happens again in the future,” he said.
He declined to explain the issues and concerns of employees.
“I did my job, that’s what I told the lawyer and the supervisors, I did my job. That’s the best I can do. I’m sorry it happened but I did my job,” he said.
According to the report the events leading up to the work stoppage began with discontent over a tentative agreement between Chenango County and the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA), signed on November 18.
The agreement, presented to union membership at the Department of Public Works (DPW), quickly drew criticism from members. The report stated that on Wednesday, November 20, tensions escalated further when DPW staff held a meeting to deliberate ways to express their dissatisfaction as a winter storm approached the area.
The report released by the Chenango County Personnel Office and Chenango County Attorney said Graham was in a tough spot during the reported strike, having been a long-time employee who was recently promoted to a supervisory role.
“I was foreman that night, and it was my very first call out,” said Graham.
As foreman that night, Graham held authority over individuals involved in the strike but faced significant challenges during a November 20 meeting by disgruntled employees and their subsequent storm response. According to the report, Graham was present at the meeting where plans to ignore emergency calls were discussed but contributed very little to the conversation.
Graham recalled the start of the meeting, but said his duties required him to check on the trucks before the impending storm.
“As far as what was going to happen, there was discussion of the contract and all of that, so that’s when I went out to- and left, to the truck storage and made sure the trucks are up and running and everything was all right,” he said.
Afterward he said employees came up to him and asked him about what they should do. To which he responded, “When individuals basically came up to me and asked what I was going to do and I told them: I’m going to do my job, I have to.”
Despite the remarks from the drivers, Graham questioned how serious the threats were at the time and assumed drivers would still respond to calls during the storm, as they always had in the past.
During the storm Graham reached out to drivers and realized the lack of response. Later he would find himself struggling to get a truck out to aid the 911 Dispatch Center, which he was able to do with only a few drivers responding.
“You could say ‘surprised’ was an understatement,” he said recalling the night of the storm.
Graham has worked for DPW for 26 years and could not recall anything similar ever happening before.
The report from county investigators said he was only in a supervisory role for four months and this was his first winter storm. He had to balance his responsibilities while attempting to manage employees who had previously been his peers. He reported for work during the storm, but later admitted that he should have informed the DPW Director of the issues.
During the investigation he expressed a commitment to ensuring such a situation never occurs again. Graham was ultimately suspended for seven days and subjected to a payroll deduction in accordance with county policies.
“It stinks, I’m watching the trucks go by and each time thinking I want to be out there. This week is one of the worst weeks to not be there with the snow and the ice,” he said.
Several drivers face discipline and payroll deductions and at least two others reportedly at the center of the dispute, face termination.
According to the report Patrick Collins, a road maintenance supervisor, played a central role in instigating the strike. He has been suspended and faces additional disciplinary measures, including possible termination. The report also stated Heavy Motor Equipment Operator Gary Clark was one of the first to advocate for the work stoppage and told investigators he would do it again. He was placed on administrative leave without pay and faces possible termination.
Dawn Ackerman, a DPW timekeeper, was found to have encourage the stoppage. She was given a 30 day suspension and a payroll deduction.
The remaining participants were primarily motor equipment operators with commercial licenses and are facing payroll deductions.
Employees have 20 days to file appeals over the findings that were recently released.
Find the full report at www.evesun.com/special/sections