New York City is home to the largest lifeguard organization in the United States. Over 1,300 guards patrol the fourteen miles of beach and fifty-three outdoor pools. Over 13.3 million people visit New York City’s waterfronts, yet the drowning rate in the city is three times the national average. When New York City’s municipal unions were forming, the lifeguards were invited to join. Municipal unions include sanitation workers, fire and rescue, and public health. Two different unions were formed, one for lifeguard supervisors and one for active guards. A man named Peter Stein took over directorship of the supervisor’s union in 1981. Under his leadership there reportedly exists a corrupt organization that forces members to vote under pressure.
Unions first began to grow during the industrial revolution when workers banded together to demand better pay and working conditions. Union leadership is traditionally a democratically elected group that communicates with the employer and negotiates improved pay and work environment. Unions are able to demand benefits or changes by representing the entire workforce so the employer is forced to negotiate or come to an agreement otherwise they won’t have a workforce anymore.
Peter Stein began lifeguarding as a teenager in 1961. While his peers moved on to college and then to careers, Peter rose in the ranks, eventually making 230 thousand dollars per year as union president and lifeguard manager. Stein used this position to control the city lifeguard system. It has been reported that Stein used his power to threaten employees and hire on the basis of favoritism instead of passing the rigorous swim tests that most lifeguards have to endure. There is evidence that he would coerce guards to change drowning reports to divert blame, or face being fired.
Throughout the 1990s, multiple investigations were carried out in hopes of removing Stein from his post but his supporters and his instrumental role as part of the union allowed him to refute the accusations and demand that accusers be removed from their roles.
In the early 90’s, Joe Macmanus worked the Rockaway, the city’s only open beach that regularly had strong rip currents. He saw the new improvements lifeguards were making in California with jet skies and beach surveillance and began to make changes on his own beach without Stein’s approval. Immediately, Macmanus was transferred to a low unoccupied beach far away. Rockaway beach then faced a double drowning and the two bodies were not found for over a week. During the next union presidency election Macmanus challenged Stein for the role. He lost 100-8. Stein snapped his fingers and the opposition was silenced.
During the more than thirty years he has held power as head of the lifeguard union, Mr. Stein has built an inner circle of supervisors who all work together to counter any opposition and only hire guards who will go along with their agenda. It has been claimed that sex-based assault and harassment is commonplace and guards are afraid to file complaints and face retaliation. Incidents that come up repeatedly are able to be silenced with Stein’s grasp over the supervisors.
New York City is facing historic lows in returning lifeguards. In an interview with the New York City Parks Service, the New York Times found that the number of returning guards was cut in half after the pandemic. This along with Stein’s control has led to countless pool closures and shortened swim availability, at a time when kids need opportunities to exercise and socialize outdoors more than ever.