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Public Employee Press
Grievances win cash, upgrades
For Claudette Cave and Christina Figueroa, a winning
grievance turned out to be a gift that keeps on giving. Both women are
members of Clerical-Administrative Employees Local 1549 in the Radiology
Dept. at North Central Bronx Hospital. Both were expected to perform duties
outside their job descriptions.
I was working on financial records and I knew that I was entitled
to more money, said Figueroa.
They contacted Clerical Division Council Rep Eddie Douglass and filed
grievances in November. Some members dont even want to file
grievances because they are afraid management will retaliate, said
Douglass.
But Ms. Cave and Ms. Figueroa went through all the steps of the process
until a settlement was reached in June, upgrading them to Clerical Associate
III positions and increasing their pay. They also got retroactive payments
of almost $1,400 for the salary differential between their prior positions
as Clerical Associate IIs and their new job titles.
The check for the retroactive payment arrived just in time for Ms. Caves
25th anniversary at the hospital on July 7. It took a long time,
but were very happy with the results, she said. Were
happy its over and that it all turned out so well, said Ms.
Figueroa.
Our rep, Eddie Douglass, fought hard to get the hospital to make
a decision, she added. Union reps have the skill and experience
to win these grievances for the members, said Assistant Clerical
Division Director Renee Gainer. But its important for the
members to act in their own self-interest and take the first step by reaching
out to their reps.
Douglass aims to turn the pair into union activists and has encouraged
them to run in upcoming shop steward elections.
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