NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Workers at the New York Department of State's customer service office down in the Financial District say they have a major rat problem on their hands.
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It's gotten so bad that NY1 reports employees have turned to peanut butter lined traps to stem the infestation.
“You see huge holes where these rats can come out and do their thing and hide again during the day,” said David Galarza, the spokesman for the Civil Service Employees Association.
Workers told NY1 that they conduct daily cleanups and wipe down desks, but return every morning to find rat droppings and chewed up papers.
“It’s disgusting…you just walk around…you smell the stench of rat urine,” Galarza said.
Employees say the smell may have triggered an asthma attack in one co-worker.
But the State Department is pushing back. A spokesperson told NY1 there is no infestation, and that the pest problem was being caused by a construction project across the street.
A spokesperson for the building at 123 William Street told NY1 they are using pest control covers at entry points, and that no other pests have been reported beyond the second floor of the office.
Employees say it's been two months and the problem still hasn't been fixed.
“This is New York city. So there are going to be rats,” said Bridget Coleman, a Department of State employee said. “But there are rats coming in to a workplace where people have to work every day. So that’s not reasonable. “
Workers filed a complaint with the Public Employee Safety Bureau claiming the workplace is unsafe.