Vermont State Employees Object to Losing Bottled Water At Work: Will Cost State $200,000
- Posted on July 24, 2011 at 6:36pm by
Christopher Santarelli
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At the state maintenance garage where Lori Girard-Pion works, the water cooler isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity, especially for the mechanics who maintain the Vermont State Police vehicle fleet.
So when the state of Vermont said it was doing away with bottled water deliveries for state government offices and buildings in favor of drinking water from the tap, she wasn’t happy.
Without it, workers at the Colchester garage will have to get their drinking water from a bathroom wash tub where mechanics wash their greasy hands, she says.
“Is that a lot to ask for?” Girard-Pion, an administrative assistant, wrote in a complaint to the state last month. “I think we have good reasons to keep our water cooler.”
Turns out kicking the bottle is harder than it looks.
Now, state officials who touted the change as a way to go easy on the environment, save more than $200,000 annually on water purchases and support municipal water systems are scrambling to salvage the plan.
Workplace sanitation rules, tap water said to be smelly or visibly dirty and stiff opposition from employees insulted by the thought of having to provide their own water forced the administration of Gov. Peter Shumlin to postpone the July 1 adoption of the new policy.
In March, state officials rolled out the plan, calling bottled water a waste of taxpayer money and a luxury that flies in the face of the millions of dollars invested in public water systems to ensure the availability of clean, drinkable water for all.
Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Deb Markowitz cited environmental degradation associated with bottled water, saying toxic chemicals go into plastic water bottles, delivery trucks pollute the air and ecologically-sensitive stream headwaters are damaged by bottlers who draw the water from streams and rivers.
Under the policy, exceptions would be made when no clean tap water is available to employees, either because of no tap at all or problems with water quality.
The policy was to apply to executive branch locations of state government — not courts or the Legislature — and had the support of the Vermont State Employees Association, a union that represents about 7,000 state workers.
But when word went out, the complaints started coming in.
“As a dedicated state employee, I am offended at the small mind thinking and petty penny pinching decision to have us fend for ourselves for water,” wrote Betsy Levine, a career development facilitator at a state Department of Labor office in Springfield. “How dare you!!!!!!” she wrote, comparing the decision to the Titanic because “only the ones at the top get saved.”
Other written objections — obtained through a Public Records Act request by The Associated Press — contained similar sentiment:
— “We work long hours inside, no air conditioning, and daily put our lives on the line to keep the convicted inmates secure and the public safe and now we cannot even have cool fresh water,” wrote Michael Arace, who works at Southern State Correctional Facility. “Please reconsider.” He said there are two heat-related injuries annually at the prison in Springfield.
— Kristin Holt, who works in a probation and parole office in Burlington, said the tap water in her building has visible particulates in it and smells bad. “We would like permission to keep our water delivery or at the very least have a water quality inspector come and test our water to determine if it is safe or advisable to drink.”
— The Vermont Veterans Home in Bennington told the state that bottled water serves as the facility‘s emergency supply and shouldn’t be taken away.
Rules got in the way, too.
State-adopted plumbing codes say that in buildings with 15 to 100 workers, a water fountain or bubbler is mandatory. And another is mandatory for each 100 employees over that. Eliminating the bubblers would mean the state would have to re-install fountains, a potentially costly proposition because of the plumbing work involved.
Also, under Vermont Occupational Safety and Health Administration rules, no food or beverages can be consumed by employees in a “toilet room,” which rules out implementation of the bottled water ban in locations with no fountains or taps outside bathrooms.
But the state has checked drinking water at eight locations where employees complained about water quality and found that the water is potable in all of them, according to Michael Obuchowski, commissioner of the Department of Buildings and General Services.
For now, the state has appointed a panel to examine ways of going ahead with the phase-out without running afoul of workplace rules and practical considerations. Among them: Whether it would cost more to re-install water fountains in buildings than to keep buying bottled water.
“There were enough situations raised (by employees) that we, in good conscience, couldn’t ignore them,” said Shumlin administration secretary Jeb Spaulding. “We’re at a point where our state workforce, over the last few years, has been under a great deal of stress, with fewer employees doing the same amount of work, and taking pay cuts. It’s important, as an employer, to do what you can to support the morale of your team.”
Spaulding said the state hasn’t given up on the idea. Concessions will have to be made, though, he said.
“I suspect we‘ll end up in a situation where we make clear what our goal is and ask our managers to comply with our goals in a way that allows some flexibility to deal with the situations they’re in,” Spaulding said. “If it‘s a highway garage and there’s only a grease sink, maybe a bubbler makes sense.”
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
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Comments (154)
Robert-CA
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:16pmit’s ok Vermont the Los Angeles City Council voted recently to get water coffee & juices as part of their refreshments & of course not one member objected to that , you know they work very hard by sitting on a chair & falling asleep .
Report Post »So Vermont you should learn from Los Angeles .
& they ask why Los Angeles is broke .
commonsenseguy
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:32pmthis is the same morons who voted to have milk ban in schools and fast food restaurants banned because people can not eat healthy for themselves ,but the city and state employees can have water,coffee and juice at the taxpayers expense.
Report Post »Pelling1020
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:35pmWater, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink!
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:46pm@common
Report Post »What about some beet juice for these commoners.
hauschild
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 8:25pmLosers.
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 8:28pmYa know, I keep harping on this but it’s the truth. All politicians when they talk about how great Americans are, why do they do this? It simply isn’t true, as this example shows.
It’s time for our next leader to kick the American people in the ass, tell them wake the hell up and start acting the part of an American. Nobody is calling these people out, so they think they’re one of us. And, it’s not just bottom-feeding government workers; it spans the entire spectrum. How did people get like this???
If people aren’t shamed, how can we expect them to ever feel any???
Report Post »oriondma05
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 8:46pmI say let them keep their water. Take the $200,000 out of welfare and Medicaid. At least these state employees are performing a service.
Report Post »dr_funk
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 5:34amGrease and water don’t mix, lady. You have nothing to worry about regarding grease in your drinking water. The grease will only be on the faucet valves. Use a paper towel to turn the water on, if you’re too afraid to touch a little inert grease.
Report Post »I Love Howie Carr
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 8:37amBoo freakin hoo why can’t they buy their own beverages and bring them to work like everyone else does. What’s next, providing meals for them? God everyone who works for the govnt has been turned into a complete baby unable to take care of themselves.
Report Post »knockered
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 11:47amWe need to fire all the state workers and start over. They should only know what work is like without a union protecting their every need. Wake up America before it’s to late..
Report Post »drphil69
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 1:10pmHey, instead of eliminating bottled water to save $200k, why not just lay off ONE ADMINISTRATOR??
Report Post »turkey13
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 10:24pmThis is so funny – if only they knew. I have a cousin thats works for one of these companys and he told me to never buy bottled water or drink from a water dispenser. The game for these employees is to spit in them while the supervisor has her back turned or out of the room. Yuk!
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:15pmIt never ceases to amaze me the times I see the all – hungry governments at any level seeking to keep even the smallest of goodies they get — from spending our own money…and we have to listen to them howl. If there is such a problem with water, then why not install a drinking fountain nearby or in the maintainance area itself.
My church has done such, for a very low cost indeed and was a one time expense of labor, fountain and such of about 4500.00; the yearly savings alone for the 200k they spend on bottled water would pay for this in about a week or two at the most.
Government = no common sense much of the time.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:29pmThey could do what my husband does. He has to work outside in the Texas heat. He buys cases of bottled water and puts in a refridgerator, and they guys he works with donate when they grab a bottle. He usually gets paid back for the case, even though he had some of it. And this is a shop of mostly Mexican Americans, so there’s a good example of cooperation.
Report Post »Chris
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:36pmI work for the federal government. We aren’t allowed to spend government money on bottled water. Our buildings have water fountains and the only way that the government will buy bottled water is if there is something wrong with the city water in the building based on testing from our industrial hygiene people. In that case they will buy the water until the problem is fixed. There are a few bottled water coolers around but they are paid for by the employees – I just kicked in my $10 for the next order, for the one in my area, in fact.
Report Post »walkwithme1966
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 9:03pmLet everyone who wants bottled water pitch in and pay for it or bring their own!!! http://wp.me/pYLB7-1bC
Report Post »HappyStrat
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 9:43pmYep, a water cooler with a filter & you won’t know the difference. Won’t cost that much either but it would beat the cost of bottled water for sure.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 10:48amChris, does the government stop you from buying bottled water out of your own pocket? Bring in a case of water and either have a water fund for the employees that want to drink it, or take turns bringing in a case. Problem solved. Who said the government has to provide anything BUT a drinking fountain?
Report Post »Yogurt
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:12pmInstall a water fountain near the restroom bam! Common sense wins once again.
Report Post »evilhatemonger
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:20pmDING, DING, DING, we have a winner.
Report Post »I work for the DoD. If I don’t like the drinking fountain, then it’s my problem.
what4
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 8:38pmYeah, but your talking about Vermonter’s…Common sence is unethical there!
Report Post »RoBoTech
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:06pmWe started a coffee fund in our office.
Report Post »And EMPLOYEES contributed.
What’s so hard about THAT?
the hawk
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:33pmDido !
Report Post »Jack2011
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:47pmWhy pay for it when you can stick it to the taxpayers?
Report Post »commonsenseguy
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:05pmi am offended by the small mind thinking and the petty penny pinching decision to have us fend for ourselves. well now if that ain’t asking for the world on a free silver platter. this person is your typical freeloader,god for bid they have to bring their on water or at the least bring their on water filtering system,it is amazing that they don’t ask for free lunches to. small mind thinking, wow i guess these selfish union babies can’t think for themselves or use the brains or the rocks god gave them, this is typical of waste and of union freeloading. i have to bring my own drinks and food, and i also have to supply my workers with fresh cold water everyday, they don’t complain they have to drink out of a igloo water bucket, heck it is cold and fresh, and when it is 100 plus outside, any water that is cool is the best tasting water there is ,so quit complaining and bring your own water from home,or better yet chip in for the water , o that is right then you would gripe about having to pay for water you could bring from home that you are already paying for, it is better if you can get it like everything else for free, what a bunch of titty baby union freeloaders.
Report Post »101
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:16pmBut, but, but now she has to drink from the toilet. LMAO
Report Post »Ethereal
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:35pmyes. I work at a major pharma company and a few years ago they just made the decision to eliminate the water coolers. This is a company that records record profits every year and for this reason there was a lot of belly-aching about taking the water away. This company is under no obligation to provide water to its employees for free and is another example of how when a group gets used to having something that is then discontinued people think somehow they are being treated uinfairly. My thoughts are I can just as easily go to the machine or cafe’ and purchase my own water or simply drink from the water fountains which are already there. These people need to stop the crying toughen up a little. It’s a perk they got used to having and now they throw a tantrum when mommy and daddy take it away.
Report Post »Eric_The_Red_State
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:05pmFaucet – Cup – Drinking fountain – and (gasp) Hose…….
Remember those daye?
No thanks – Id rather spend $2.00 on water in a bottle
Report Post »Patriot Z
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:05pmbottled water is a luxury! Tap water is shown to be clean and safe to drink. There is nothing wrong with it aside from people thinking its different. but this is a perfect example of how libs and the unions are. when times are good they get lil perks and benefits same as the private sector. but when times are hard and cuts need to be made the private have to cut. the unions throw a tantrum and perks now all of a sudden become life and death neccesaties. Nobody states that they shouldnt be allowed clean cold drinking water, but the state has painted itself into a corner. they have bent over so much to placate the childish unions now that its time to be the adult, they dont have the respect to do it.
Report Post »RoBoTech
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:02pmSo, I guess having clean water provided is another “basic human right” the Unions are guaranteed.
Report Post »Netsurfer2
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:01pmMaybe you can just charge more for parking at the government offices and call it a tax for water??? That seems like all they do anyways! I still can’t understand why anyone should ever have to pay for parking at a government building, when it is owned by the people and it should serve the people (everyone).
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:30pmIt’s not a tax, it’s contributing to the water fund…..
Report Post »theplumber
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:00pmVermont is a crap hole….I will bet the bottled water they drink is from a public water source.
Report Post »commonsenseguy
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:10pmyou know it, the water that all of these bottle water companies sale is from a tap,they just run it through a filter, something these lazy freeloading union commies could do themselves, but that would mean they would have to spend their own money for the filter and that is not going to happen when the taxpayers can pay for it. here is an idea, how about asking your unions to pay for your water or filter, they don’t mind taking their dues to pay for political favors or communist rallies, but not for water or water filters for their employees,that is the taxpayers problem.
Report Post »Mess23
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:47pmI am so glad I moved away 25 years ago…
Report Post »affinnity
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 6:58pmIf they want bottled water why don’t they bring their own bottled water to work? I bring my lunch and water to work and I even have to supply my own hand sanitizer.
Report Post »Dinkiecb
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:49pmGee I bring my own lunch “if” I want one, I bring anything i know I want to drink in my little cooler along with my lunch and snacks and have no problem doing so! I don’t expect my employer to provide me all these nice things. I enjoy bringing what “I” want to drink..water, soda pop, or juices, and have a thermos for coffee and another one for “warm foods” .. it’s no effort to tote these items in to work…so why is it for anyone else?
Report Post »Buttercup
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 6:57pmOr… you could fire 4-5 people to afford the water.
Report Post »SolidusRaccoon
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 8:31pmThese are GOVERNMENT workers, remember? Firing one would save more than enough money to cover it.
Report Post »circleDwagons
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 10:52pmfire the complainers and stop the bottled water, if tap goodenuf fo public goodenuf for gubernuts
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 10:50amThat’s a good solution….and a good point.
Report Post »BillAdams3277
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 6:55pmWe had a name for people like this in the Submarine Service: FLOBs, Free Loading Oxygen Breathers. Not worth a damn, quit sniveling and get to work.
Report Post »Buttercup
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 6:55pmHere’s a ludicrous idea, bring your own bottled water to work! Mama always said, “You‘ll appreciate it more when you’re spending your own money. And you won’t waste it, either.”
Report Post »Legal Immigrant
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 6:53pmPool your union wages and have it brought in.
We pool on the coffee at work. Why can’t you? Oh yeah. Government entitlements…
Report Post »hamburgerdude
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 11:36pmWe have water delivered to our office – AND WE PAY FOR IT! Not everyone pays, and not everyone drinks. It’s the American way!
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 6:52pmstate workers should be happy we dont force them to go down to the river with a bucket
use the faucet every building is required to have ……………….they are located in the bathroom
or bring your own
Report Post »The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 6:52pmIt is the middle of summer and the temperature in Vermont is 76 degrees…I’m in AZ and that is what my thermostat is set for…because right now it is 99 with a high of 108 today. So, umm…yeah. Go buy some bottled water and take it to work with you. Certainly you have a fridge there? Why should WE pay for YOUR water. They don’t have a sparkletts water fountain where I work…and though they DO have a fountain, the water tastes terrible and a ton of sub-humans use it. So I buy a case of water (a whole $3.49 on sale for those of you who have not been buying your OWN water) and keep 12 or so in my locker and trade them out into the fridge for my daily use.
See? I’m just like a pioneer…finding solutions to these horrible situations.
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:37pmPlease oh please don’t let logic dictate. Government workers can’t process logic.
Sacrasm for free……or you could buy me a bottled water. LOL
Report Post »Hiswill
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 6:51pmAll they need to do is invest in a filtration system (around $150.00) that goes under the sink and they will have great water from the tap.
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 6:49pmHow about a freaking water fountain that cools tap water???
Report Post »338lapua
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:46pmAdd the replaceable filter unit and voila! Bottled water forever.
Report Post »randy
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 6:49pmWithout it, workers at the Colchester garage will have to get their drinking water from a bathroom wash tub where mechanics wash their greasy hands, she says.
Hey Lori Girard-Pion!!!!
How bout you be the rest of us and bring your own water from home?!
Report Post »You people disgust me!
HKS
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:01pmAm I to believe that with OSHA and state health laws that the state does not comply with potable water standards. I would not buy that, bottled water is more of a snob standard. Not that the water is any better than what comes out of the facet, it just cost a lot. Additionally, a drinking water filter doesn’t cost $200,000 per year. Grow up.
Report Post »Netsurfer2
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 7:04pmMaybe we could give her a dirty job??? So she knows what it is like to get your hands dirty all day and be humble working!
Report Post »woodswalking1
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 8:50pmLori–
Report Post »Try cleaning the rest room if it bothers you so much. I would, but then I am not a state employee!
Legal Immigrant
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 6:49pmChip in, pool your government union wages and have your own delivered.
Be good communists…
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 6:50pmYeah this is what I did when I was in the Marine Corps..a group of us paid for our own delivered water bottles….OUR OWN money!
Report Post »sister1_rm
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 6:48pmOn the one hand, I day GET
Report Post »sister1_rm
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 6:51pm(sorry) GET YOUR OWN WATER, YOU’RE PAID WELL ENOUGH! On the other hand I say, GET YOUR OWN WATER, YOU’RE PAID WELL ENOUGH.
I understand having a bubbler if there is no fountain, but come on! Is it really so hard to bring your own water bottle to work?
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 6:46pmFools.
Report Post »http://www.purwaterfilter.com/faucetmounted.html
Exrepublisheep
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 6:44pmSure, reduce spending! Hey! Not the stuff I like! N.I.M.B.Y.
Report Post »powhatan
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 6:41pmawwww.those poor state workers…I mean like..hey…they can’t bring their own water to work..It must be provided by taxpayers…..NOT!
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