WATERVLIET — The union representing approximately 650 employees at the Watervliet Arsenal says its calls for more protection from coronavirus exposure are going ignored, even as a third employee there has a confirmed case of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus.

The U.S. Army confirmed Thursday that a Department of Defense civilian employee assigned to an arsenal tenant organization had tested positive, and said the person is in isolation and receiving treatment. The arsenal reported last week that two other employees had confirmed cases.

“The (third) employee was on telework at the time of the positive test,” said Matthew Day, a spokesman for the arsenal. “Watervliet Arsenal is working with the tenant to ensure the employee is receiving the appropriate care.”

The arsenal has contracted cleaners specialized in COVID-19 decontamination to clean the person’s work area and all common areas where the employee worked, he said.

But the National Federation of Federal Employees Local 2109 contends its workers — many of whom have been deemed “mission essential” and must report to work — do not feel safe. They claim “numerous unaddressed coronavirus-related safety issues” put them and the Albany area in general at risk.

The arsenal is rationing personal protective equipment, including gloves and face masks, due to widespread shortages, the group said. Shared tools are not being sanitized between uses, and sanitation stations are running out of supplies and not being replenished for long periods of times, the union contends.

Some of the bathrooms do not even have soap, union officials said.

“These are truly unacceptable working conditions during a pandemic outbreak,” said the Local’s Executive Board, a group of union leaders speaking on behalf of the employees. “Watervliet Arsenal needs to get these problems fixed immediately. If not, (we) fear COVID-19 is going to be all over this Arsenal. Nobody wants to see that happen.”

The arsenal, which is known for manufacturing large-caliber cannons and other Department of Defense equipment, has been slow to respond to these concerns, union leaders say.

Arsenal spokesman Day said the health and safety of the workforce remain the arsenal’s top priority, and said the “nature of production lines and facilities” at the arsenal means much of the workforce is already working within recommended social distancing guidelines.

He also said the arsenal got a shipment of 200 gallons of New York’s specially produced line of hand sanitizer this week and is in the process of distributing it.

The arsenal is taking other precautions, Day said, including “aggressive” institution of telework, leave options for high-risk employees, distributing anti-bacterial soaps in all bathrooms, specialized cleaning of areas, distribution of sanitizer and protective equipment, deployment of an internal information website, and daily communications with employees on safety efforts.

“Arsenal leaders are making deliberate and measured decisions to safeguard the health and safety of our workforce and families during the COVID-19 pandemic while continuing our critical support to the U.S. Army,” he said. “Watervliet Arsenal’s unique mission to support soldiers worldwide – including those in harm’s way – is critically important to the current and future readiness of our Army.”

Steve Hughes contributed.