New York State Assembly Member Amanda Septimo (D-84th District) spoke with TRSA members during TRSA’s New York Regional CEO Roundtable; meeting in her district to discuss AB 6995, the Healthcare Worker Safety and Sustainability Act, which she and State Sen. Cordell Cleare recently introduced. The bill would amend the New York State public health law and require healthcare facilities to maintain a 50% operating threshold of specific reusable healthcare personal protective equipment (PPE) textiles.

“It has been an incredible journey learning about the textile services industry’s positive impact on efficiency and sustainability,” Septimo said. “We want to partner with TRSA members to make healthcare workers safer and the state greener.”

In addition to the bill, the group discussed the impact of the pending New York City congestion pricing tax, labor shortages and immigration, highlighting the career opportunities offered by linen, uniform and facility services industry regardless of skill levels, language and other barriers. “Our industry has provided opportunities for immigrants and others to earn solid wages and build a career,” said TRSA President & CEO Joseph Ricci. “Workers can provide for their families despite their level of education and language, and if they work hard can earn internal promotions to supervisors and management.”

Following the meeting, Assembly Member Septimo joined TRSA members to tour the Unitex Healthcare Laundry Services plant in Mount Vernon, NY. Unitex is a 100-year-plus family-run medical uniform and linen rental business. This facility employs many staff members from her district, one of the poorest in the United States. The tours, led by former TRSA Chairs Michael and David Potack and Unitex CEO Rob Potack offered Assembly Member Septimo the opportunity to witness firsthand the Hygienically Clean-certified operation of Unitex Healthcare Laundry Services, gaining first-hand knowledge to understand the complexities and requirements of healthcare laundries processing reusable PPE and other linens and garments, and to interact with the dedicated employees from her district.

“This is a far cry from putting quarters in a washing machine,” Septimo said. “I did not imagine the types of water- and energy-saving technologies utilized by industrial laundries; this is the type of industry that sets an example on sustainability. Government can look to this industry as an example.”

TRSA members representing the industry included:

  • John Auriemma, president, American Wear
  • Steven Beck, president, Beck’s Classic
  • Jeff Bloom , vice president, Beck’s Classic
  • Robert Clark, Metro NY branch manager, UniFirst
  • Jim Cummings, general manager, Cooperative Laundry
  • Charlies Dimitui, enterprise service manager, Cintas Corp.
  • Mayron Herrera, CEO, Alliant Systems
  • Brendan Luneburg, uniform director, FDR Services
  • John Magliocco, president, Arrow Linen Supply
  • George Mahoney, risk manager, Haylor, Freyer & Coon
  • Jesse McCormack, vice president, FDR Services
  • Walker Morgan, general manager, Morgan Linen Service
  • Gary Ostrum, Northeast sales manager, Brim Laundry Machinery
  • David Potack, president, Unitex Healthcare Laundry Services
  • Michael Potack, chairman, Unitex Healthcare Laundry Services
  • Rob Potack, CEO, Unitex Healthcare Laundry Services
  • Jhovanny Rodriguez, vice president, Alliant Systems
  • CJ Spencer, RSM Northeast, G.A. Braun
  • William Varcoe, general manager, Dempsey Uniform & Linen of NJ

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