By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED NATIONS, February 6 – The UN cafeteria was in an uproar on Wednesday after one woman then another slipped on a negligently wet floor and was injured.
The first faller, a journalist member of the Free UN Coalition for Access, was helped by UN Security and the line, largely Spanish speaking staff of the UN contractor, Aramark. They called and exclusively told Inner City Press that their new manager, Gene Hood, disappeared into his office after the slip and fall.
Previous manager Ron and his young Events colleague were fired or laid off. Several Aramark employees, seeing lay offs in their future, asked Inner City Press when it arrived on the scene, with the floor still wet, “When are they re-opening the fourth floor” Delegates Dining Room?
At the February 5 UN noon briefing, Inner City Press asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Martin Nesirky:
Inner City Press: a decision was made on Friday that closed the coffee shop underneath the General Assembly. And so, obviously the workers were somewhat concerned that they can no longer work there. But it led to the question, when is in fact the GA building going to be closed for renovations? Was this closed on Friday because of that or is it not until May, as some people say, and if so, why did the contractor Aramark stop providing this service and also employing the workers?
Spokesperson Nesirky: I don’t have anything for you. You would need to speak to the contractor directly yourself if you wish to. If I hear anything further on that I will let you know. With regard to the renovation of the General Assembly and that whole area, I’d have to check with the Capital Master Plan people because I do not have that at hand, okay? Yes?
The Capital Master Plan's genial spokesman Werner Schmidt has described to Inner City Press how the General Assembly will be moved to Conference Room 2 and the ECOSOC chamber in the North Lawn building.
But he said he cannot answer for the contractor Aramark, including about staff complaints about the cessation of hot food service in the DC-1 building.
Who signed and oversees this contract with Aramark? How can they treat workers this way, right in the UN building?
When the FUNCA member who fell was finally helped into a wheel chair she was told that “because of Hurricane Sandy,” the UN Medical Service can no longer do X-rays.So where were they taking her, and for what?
The issue, of course, is immunity. No matter how negligent things get at the UN, can anyone sue? Watch this site.
