United Steelworkers Union Urges Bryan to Address 'Perilous' Working Conditions at St. Croix BMV; Calls for Emergency Meeting With Stakeholders

The United Steelworkers on Thursday made an urgent plea to Governor Albert Bryan to immediately relocate its union members working under dire conditions at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles on St. Croix. Currently, 26 members from USW Local 8248 and USW Local 9489 are positioned at the Patrick Sweeney Police Headquarters, working for the BMV in trailers that are structurally deficient. These dedicated workers, along with the citizens they serve, are faced with hazardous conditions daily, the union said. Crumbling floors, walls marred by water damage, ceilings plagued with mold, and a termite infestation make the BMV offices not only an unfit working environment but also a potential health hazard, it further stated. Speaking on the matter, USW District 9 Director Daniel Flippo, who oversees tens of thousands of union members in the U.S. Virgin Islands and seven Southern states, stated, “The workers have a collective bargaining agreement that mandates the government to ensure a safe working...