STATE STAFF AT ST. PETER FACILITIES PROTEST WORKING CONDITIONS

Workers at behavioral services facilities in St. Peter are protesting several workplace concerns.  Employees in the Forensic Mental Health Program report that the radios they rely on for emergencies frequently malfunction.  Additionally, staff members at a nearby Minnesota Sex Offender Program are frustrated that new construction has forced them to use an outdoor porta-potty or walk in freezing conditions to access restrooms in another building.  Recently, workers staged a protest at the St. Peter Forensic Mental Health Program, which serves individuals with serious mental illnesses as well as those in the sex offender program.  In response, the Minnesota Department of Human Services issued a statement affirming their commitment to the safety of the nearly 1300 employees at their St. Peter campus.