Gaslit by Their Employer: CWA Union Workers at NMDOH Fight for a Safe Workplace
NOTE: The Candle sent two emails to, and left two phone messages for, the New Mexico Department of Health personnel asking for an opportunity for The Candle to discuss the issues raised in the press release below, and provide the state agency an opportunity to have their position represented. So far, no one from DOH leadership has responded. Over the next few days, from additional research, interviews, and documents, The Candle will be providing a closer look at the issues raised in the complaints of the employees and the actions of state managers.
Organization Press release – From the Communications Workers of America Local 7076
Albuquerque, NM- CWA Union workers at the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) have been fighting for a safe workplace after multiple incidents jeopardized the safety of over 250 employees at the Homestead Building throughout the month of May.
On Thursday, June 5, 2025, the Union escalated their grievance to Cabinet Secretary DeBlassie after the Agency continued to deny any wrongdoing in their handling of the incidents.
In early May (5th-8th), Union workers began to smell natural gas while working in their cubicles at the Homestead Building.
Over the course of three days, at least 12 Union workers reported a gas smell to NMDOH management, however no action was taken to investigate the source of the smell or secure the safety of the workers.
Instead, employees were told that a gas leak was “impossible.”
Frustrated by NMDOH management ignoring the gas smell, an anonymous Union member made a call to the New Mexico Gas Company.
On the morning of May 8th, NMDOH was forced to shut down the building when Gas Company inspectors found that 6 of the 10 building furnaces were leaking gas.
The Homestead worksite was closed for four days, during which time NMDOH management literally gaslighted Union workers by stating the closure was for “rooftop repairs”.
In reality, hundreds of employees were unknowingly working in unsafe conditions for days while the Agency ignored their safety concerns and denied the possibility of a gas leak.
Workers returned to the office on May 14th and immediately reported smelling gas again; it was clear the issue had not been fixed.
Their complaints were once again ignored, until an emergency evacuation was issued on May 16 due to another gas leak that had likely been exposing Union workers to gas for several days.
With a Governor mandated moratorium on telework, and no policies or plans in place for alternate work locations, NMDOH sent hundreds of workers home on paid administrative leave for 5 business days, leaving government functions abandoned.
The Union conservatively estimates that this downtime cost New Mexico tax payers at least $250,000 over the course of the week, time during which the Union workers would have preferred to continue serving the citizens of New Mexico, but were forbidden from doing so because working from home is prohibited and NMDOH was unable to find additional office space for that many employees on such short notice.
Weeks before the first gas leak, workers rang alarm bells when they breathed in toxic chemicals from a maintenance mishap.
More than a dozen employees experienced symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, or aspiration.
NMDOH said it would look into its safety procedures and then immediately ignored the same workers when they started reporting the smell of gas in the building.
The agency reported to OSHA on this matter, but presented a one-sided and biased report, which was filed without speaking to a single injured employee.
On June 2, NMDOH issued a document to the Union denying accountability for the hazardous exposures and its willful neglect of employee safety.
In response to this, on June 5th, CWA has elevated their grievance to the highest step in the process and will be eagerly awaiting a response from Cabinet Secretary DeBlassie; a response which the Union hopes will take accountability for the situation and present a plan to move NMDOH toward a more safety focused work environment.
It is the job of the New Mexico Department of Health to protect and improve the health of all New Mexicans.
The health educators, epidemiologists, and other public health professionals in our Union are taking action into our own hands and demanding safety.
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