The Dumpster is Fair Game
ID PAPERS IN GARBAGE
By PATRICK GALLAHUE, Transit Reporter
January 7, 2008 — Workers at a Queens bus depot are sputtering mad after reams of papers with their personal information were tossed into the trash.
The workers claim that the files thrown out include “Social Security numbers, copies of driver’s licenses, grievance papers and disciplinary information,” according to a Jan. 2 grievance, a copy of which was obtained by The Post.
“That’s all our personal information,” said one mechanic at the College Point Bus Depot who requested anonymity. “With identity theft, it just goes to show they don’t care about anything. We’re really concerned.”
Employees at the depot claim that personal information for more than 100 people, including mechanics, maintenance men and assistants, ended up in a Dumpster.
According to the complaint, on Dec. 29, the men saw a foreman throwing out some files.
“So we started looking through it and discovered all our identities being thrown out,” the mechanic said. “We were appalled.”
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority confirmed the incident and a spokesman, Aaron Donovan, said, “The error was reported to depot management that day and depot management immediately arranged to have the records removed from the Dumpster and secured.”
patrick.gallahue@nypost.com
Source:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/01072008/news/regionalnews/id_papers_in_garbage_795682.htm