The following is our special report on the Scranton Department of Public Works, which appeared in the February 21, 1999, editions of The Sunday Times. Below it are follow-up stories that appeared in The Scranton Times, The Tribune and The Sunday Times. |
SPECIAL
REPORT: PUBLIC WORKS OR PUBLIC WASTE? |
|
| By Marita Lowman Basic taxpayer services like picking up trash, recycling papers and bottles, repairing roads are falling apart at Scranton's Department of Public Works, crumbling under the cover of union benefits, management discord and financial distress. |
 PHOTO BY EDWARD PIKULSKI DPW trucks are seen parked in the early morning hours outside the Krispy Kreme donut shop on Moosic Street. |
| MORE DPW STORIES
INSIDE Department Chief Has Little Power, Little Respect Hurt Workers Go Unreplaced, Lead to Pileup Is Sick Leave Abused? The Injured List City Nowhere Near Restructuring Garbage Routes Other Cities Succeed With Different Systems Trash Hauling a Dirty, Smelly, Uncomfortable Chore Crews Working With Worn-Out Equipment Competition between Haulers Could Become Fierce Readers Feel Trash Pickup Is Efficient EDITORIAL: DPW Disarray Has One Solution |
|
The following are follow-up stories in the wake of our DPW Special Report:
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1999
DPW: Down in the dumps?
By Marita Lowman
City Council is demanding explanations, accountability and improvements at Scrantons Department of Public Works, where absenteeism, labor-management strife, equipment breakdowns and inefficiency are making a state of crisis seem normal.
Council Takes Action To Fix Mess at DPW
By Marita Lowman
Saying city taxpayers deserve better service, City Council is calling Department of Public Works Director Rocco Damiano and public works union president Sam Vitris to the table for a talk.
TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 1999
DPW showdown fizzles
By Marita Lowman
Steps to ease a growing labor-management strain at the city's Department of
Public Works got under way in City Council chambers Monday night, but only one side showed
up.
MONDAY, MARCH 8, 1999
Imperfect 10: Officials list DPW problems
By Marita Lowman
City and public works officials launched a set of meetings aimed at improving
conditions at the Department of Public Works.
Labor experts offer advice to DPW workers
By Marita Lowman
If communication doesn't improve and labor-management problems fester
unchecked at Scranton's Department of Public Works, they could put the department out of
business, labor relations experts say.
TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 1999
One less garbage truck is DPW director’s answer
By Lynne Slack Shedlock
Department of Public Works director Rocco Damiano is addressing the problem
of workers leaving well before the end of an eight-hour shift on Thursdays and Fridays by
eliminating one of the garbage trucks that is normally sent out.
Four parties singing four tunes on DPW talks
By Marita Lowman
An initiative to improve conditions at Scranton's Department of Public Works
got off to such a rocky start last week, it looked as though city officials might need to
tape their own conversations to keep the story straight.
THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 1999
Officials mum on closed DPW session
By Lynne Slack Shedlock
City officials declined to comment on what happened during a meeting
Wednesday that focused on staffing and other problems plaguing the Department of Public
Works.
