My name is Michael DelPiano and I am a Regional Coordinator for the New York State Public Employees Federation, representing two thousand members that work in Central New York. These members work in a variety of state agencies such as the Department of Corrections, Mental Hygiene, Mental Retardation, Labor, and Education.

    We have brought with us today several posters and buttons that show our fellow PEF members that have suffered grave personal injury and pain in the performance of their jobs. Unfortunately, this is how I met these members. Sadly, my work on their behalf was not attempting to increase their salaries or medical benefits, but trying to assist their efforts to address workplace violence that they face each and every day on the job.

    These members are very dedicated to their professions. They care for the mentally ill and the incarcerated; society's most difficult and dangerous members. However, their agencies lack the necessary safety standards and resources to protect them while performing their duties. When I look at members who have been bruised and battered and explain to them and their families that there are no standards by which we can fight these assaults, my heart is heavy.

    Instead of workplace standards that would protect employees, I have to ask members, Jill Dangler and Michael Aiello, to come here and put their battered and bruised bodies on display in order to shock someone into creating standards that will prevent this from happening again in the future. My members should not fear going to work because resources and standards are not in place that would make a safe working environment.

    Jill Dangler has put herself and the tragic circumstances surrounding her assault on public display, and her efforts have made Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center a safer place to work. Michael Aiello hopes his story will do the same for his fellow employees at the Rome School for the Deaf. Other adversely affected PEF members and speakers today are going to attempt to do the same.

    I urge you to consider very carefully what is said today. When you make your report, please assist us in establishing workplace standards that will allow the members I represent the opportunity to work in a safe environment. Our goal is the implementation of standards that will create an environment with adequate resources and means to perform the agency's mission in the safest possible atmosphere.

    Thank you for this opportunity to share my thoughts and concerns with you today.