Access-A-Ride workers say Long Island City location is infested with bedbugs

Sourced By: BY Joe Kemp
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER





Dozens of irate workers rallied outside a city contractor's office building in Long Island City Wednesday, demanding that management fumigate their workplace after a year-long bedbug infestation.

The bugs have been found in the offices for Access-A-Ride dispatchers on Northern Blvd. since the summer of 2008, but management ignored the problem until a pest-sniffing dog confirmed the cubicles were overrun with the insects, workers charged.

"I hope it will force some pressure for them to do something," said John Wau, 48, who showed pinprick-sized scars along his right arm that he said came from numerous bedbug bites.

"They keep telling us not to worry, that everything is okay," said Wau, a customer service representative. "But they're not doing anything about it."

Since the bedbugs were detected Friday on the seventh and eighth floors of the facility - where more than 700 dispatchers work for the firm - sections have been taped off to keep employees away from the infested areas and several items were removed, workers said.

Officials from NYC Transit, which operates Access-A-Ride, said the problem is being addressed.

"One of the recommendations to be implemented within the next two days will be the steam-cleaning of carpets, cubicles and office chairs of the call centers," said spokesman Charles Seaton.

Workers said they're itching to be rid of the tiny pests soon.

"They really need to clean this place," said Idalia Perez, 33, who works in customer service. "This is not a joke."

Perez, a mother of two children, said she had to live with her sister for more than three weeks when she inadvertently brought the bedbugs back to her Bronx apartment in August 2008.

Her landlord paid to fumigate her home, but Perez said she had to toss out all of her bedroom and living room furniture, costing thousands of dollars to replace.

"I'm still paying for it," she said. "They [Access-A-Ride] never offered to help with any of it."

Access-A-Ride provides van service for the disabled who cannot use subways, buses or commuter railroads.