NTEU Chapter 280 has been monitoring the safety issues associated with the recent flood in the Reagan building closely to ensure it's safe for employees to return to work in the building. Management and NTEU agreed in the Collective Bargaining Agreement that we have a role in ensuring safety of employees, which we're exercising.

In case you didn't know, a water pipe in the ceiling of the 4th floor of the Ronald Reagan Building had an end cap come loose, allowing hot water from the pipe to flood several floors of the building. EPA closed the 3rd, 4th, and 5th floors to remediate the damage.

On Monday, April 2, Chapter 280 along with our sister union, AFGE Local 3331 did a walk through of the 5th floor. The 5th floor was not damaged, but was nonetheless closed so that the 4th floor ceiling crawlspaces could be access through the 5th floor floating floors. Management agreed to not re-occupy the floor until NTEU and AFGE completed their safety inspection, which was completed Monday morning. The floor was opened immediately thereafter to employees.

With all of the water saturation, NTEU remains concerned about mold and mildew growth over the long-term on the 3rd and 4th floors. While the agency is doing air sampling now, that air sampling is not likely to detect mold or mildew growth currently as mold and mildew require moisture and time to grow. Mold and mildew can have serious health consequences.

If you notice you are having respiratory problems on the 3rd and 4th floors of the Reagan Building subsequent to this problem, or are having other problems such as the ones that EPA notes can result from mold and mildew indoors, please let us know by emailing info@nteu280.org.

Below is the latest message we received from facilities with an update on the repairs: