After Discrimination Review: Woodlawn Cemetery 'Reconfigures' Staff, Changes Practices

Following a review prompted by racism and discrimination charges, Woodlawn Cemetery officials said this morning in a press release that they would be "reconfiguring" their supervising staff and make significant changes to the way they train both managers and general employees.

The review became public two weeks ago after an activist group called South Bronx Community Congress and Councilman Charles Barron led a protest outside Woodlawn's northeastern gates.

Read our story about the protest and get some details about the charges by clicking here.

The protesters called for the removal of at least one particular cemtery foreman. In the press release, which I've posted below here, there is no mention of any specific personnel moves or any details about what the review found, but it's obvious whatever happened prompted significant changes. And swift ones. At least relative to once the review went public. When we contacted them two weeks ago, they said the review was still in it's "early stages." (South Bronx Community Congress lawyer Ramon Jimenez contradicted that statement, saying he was told the review was to be completed June 30).  Two weeks later, it's concluded and the board of directors voted to implement wide-ranging changes.

In any case, here's the statement, provided by P.R. firm Rubenstein Associates:

"Following a far reaching, five month review, the Board of Trustees of The Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx today announced a series of changes designed to upgrade the Cemetery’s human resources structure and function and strengthen and reinforce its anti-discrimination program."

John P. Toale, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer of Woodlawn, stated, “We are a responsible employer that seeks to provide a professional work environment for all of our employees. When it was brought to our attention that we may be deficient, we conducted a thorough, wide ranging and impartial investigation whereby complaints of discrimination were assessed, including the Cemetery’s overall management of its employees and the quality and level of training that our supervisors and employees receive. It was concluded that we can do better, and so we shall -- immediately.”

Liu Supports Living Wage Job Requirements at the Kingsbridge Armory; Barron Backs Diaz's Efforts

Photo: Council member and Comptroller-elect John Liu supports a living wage requirement at the Armory.

With the Bronx City Council delegation coalescing around Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr.'s push for living wage requirements and a strong community benefits agreement as part of the redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory, other members from the outer boroughs are also starting to express their support.

On Monday night, during an interview on "BronxTalk," Queens Council member and Comptroller-elect John Liu told host Gary Axelbank that he supported the inclusion of a living wage requirement for retail tenants at a revamped Armory mall.

"We want to make sure development deals [like the Armory project] create decent paying jobs for Bronxites," Liu said. He added later that a strong community benefits agreement deal like the one Diaz has proposed would "set the standard for Bronxites and the rest of the city as well."

The problem, he said, is that workers in the Bronx and the rest of the city aren't getting paid enough to live on. "The concept of living wage is that minimum wage isn't sustainable for any families or any working class people."

Related has repeatedly said a living wage requirment would essentially kill the project because the developer wouldn't be able to attract tenants with those types of restrictions in place.

But Liu said the requirement should not be a deal-breaker because Related is getting millions in tax breaks and is buying the Armory for well below market value.

"[Living wage] is not an imposition on the private sector because it only comes into play when companies, like Related, are getting a large accomodation from the city," Liu said.

In the end, he thinks a deal will get hammered out before the Council votes sometime in December. (See the whole interview here.)

In a phone interview today with Norwood News reporter Alex Gibbons, Brooklyn Council member Charles Barron said he supported Diaz's efforts in negotiating a strong benefits agreement that would include living wage.

Barron, who, like Liu, is on the Council's land use committee, which will be looking at the merits of the project next Tuesday during a public hearing, said that such an agreement would amount to a revolution in New York City. Although he said he couldn't tie his vote to (or make it contingent upon) the signing of a benefits agreement, he said, "it would set a positive precedent...it's the right way to go."

With Council members lining up in support of Diaz's living wage push, it will be interesting to see if Mayor Bloomberg "goes to bat for Related" and tries to squash this precent-setting proposal, as one "Council insider" told the Daily News' Bob Kappstatter earlier this week.