I read the Publisher’s notebook by John D’Agostino in the Jan. 6 edition of the Dunkirk OBSERVER referring to the garbage collection staff.

I am a 15-year retiree from the Dunkirk Public Works Department, in which I was hired and immediately put on the garbage and rubbish collection staff, at the age of 45. I worked on the back of the packer for approximately 14 and a half years. There were some intervals — bone spurs, hernia, leg infection, arthroscopic surgery, five bee bites, four days at Brooks with pneumonia, two falls on ice every winter.

You say one of the worst-kept secrets is the deal this garbage collection staff has. You don’t realize in the hot, humid summer and the cold, freezing winter, we worked through breaks and lunch. Stoppage of work is not beneficial, especially under winter conditions. Bottom line, we worked under all weather conditions.

John, I would like to challenge you to work five days on the packer, and then read your comments, that you definitely don’t understand.

John, get your facts together before you make your comments. Check with Randy Woodbury, and he’ll tell you that the city is making money on the rubbish collection.

Hope you retract some of your comments and respect the garbage collection staff.

John “Bonezy” V. Bohn is a former garbage collector and city resident.