SEIU, Thursday, April 17, 2008 Complaints with Five Government Agencies

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SEIU, March 31, 2008 State Legislators Hear Parents

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Lake Zurich schools' janitors file complaint of toxic mold in workplace:

Another school worker, residents join action

By Lisa Black
Tribune reporter

April 18 2008

Two janitors who say they fear they worked in unsafe conditions in Lake Zurich schools filed complaints with state and federal agencies Thursday that allege the buildings are contaminated with toxic mold.

The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-lake-zurich-moldapr18,1,6660840.story

Visit chicagotribune.com at http://www.chicagotribune.com

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Testimony from the House Committee on Education Hearing, March, 2008:

My name is Gustavo Gomez. I’ve been a janitor at South Middle School in Lake Zurich District 95 for 6 years.  I’m worried that Aramark may be putting the janitors and the students at risk by not reporting mold problems.

Last August, toxic mold was found in May Whitney Elementary School and District 95 closed the school down. Last summer, my Aramark supervisor asked me to help clean an old school called “the annex.” This school had been closed but they renovated and re-opened it this year because they had to move the students from May Whitney into “the annex,” which is now called the New May Whitney School.

My supervisor offered my coworker and I overtime to clean the New May Whitney School.  Our job was to change the ceiling tiles. When I arrived at the building, the first thing I noticed was a strong, bad smell. When I removed the tiles, I saw that they were very old, and they were covered in what appeared to be yellow and green mold. Once the tiles were removed, there was dust everywhere. 

At first, we tried to work for an hour and a half at a time before going outside for fresh air.  After a while, the smell was too strong that we were only able to work for 15 to 20 minutes at a time before we had to go outside for air. I felt dizzy, I was sneezing and I couldn’t stop coughing.

We were only instructed to change the ceiling tiles, but I don’t think we should have been cleaning in there at all. I understand that there are professional organizations that are supposed to be called in to clean up mold. At the very least, I think we should have been given safety equipment. All we had were thin rubber gloves – no goggles, no masks.

I am angry at Aramark for putting me in an unsafe situation. I am also concerned about the teachers, students, and janitors who are in that building right now. Thank you for listening.