Public Employee Press

Local 1501 members celebrate grievance and safety victories

Hundreds of members of Wildlife Conservation Society Local 1501 celebrated victories after the local recovered almost $188,000 in back wages and longevity pay for workers at the Bronx Zoo, the New York Aquarium and city zoos.

“We uncovered accounting errors that cost our members hard-earned dollars. We put the money back in their pockets,” said Local President Anthony Bigone.

His research found that a system-wide glitch had shorted 389 members a total of $128,000 on their longevity payments. After Bigone and DC 37 Rep Madonna Knight met with management, the problem was corrected. The local also recovered about $60,000 in back wages for 15 Ticket Takers at various WCS facilities who had not received contractual increments in several years.

“In the last year we have been filing and winning more grievances on behalf of our members,” said Bigone.

Following are some examples:

Prospect Park Zoo: Through labor management meetings, Local 1501 negotiated an extension for use of accrued time after management denied two employees the opportunity to use their vacation and accrued days. Local grievances won back the jobs and seniority of five employees terminated last April.

After a walk-through by the DC 37 Safety Dept., management agreed to secure areas, improve safety and training, replace emergency stop buttons, put rubber protective sleeves on hydraulic lines and install new flip covers on trash compactors. Attendants also received training on the new equipment.

New York Aquarium: A DC 37 Safety Dept. walk-through resulted in ozone detectors for the Ocean Life exhibit, smaller garbage compactors for Attendants, and extensive repairs in the women’s locker room. These included mold removal, a new paint job, and new lighting, ventilation and exit signs.

Central Park Zoo: Local 1501 pressed for safer walkways, proper labeling of water pipes and chemical containers, and installation of gates to secure areas where homeless people frequently sleep.

Queens Zoo: The local went to arbitration for two Assistant Maintainers working out-of-title as Maintainers. Both recouped back wages for the difference in salary, and one was promoted.

WCS Bronx Zoo: Two Maintainers were terminated, but Local 1501 went to arbitration and settled the cases. One was reinstated with full seniority and the other agreed to a large settlement. After labor-management meetings, Assistant Maintainers on the night shift in the Security Dept. and most Animal Keepers received updated radios.

“We are very proud of what we’ve accomplished for our members,” said Bigone. “We’ve grown to 408 members from 375, adding 33 new hires. Local 1501 and DC 37 helped convince the City Council to restore proposed budget cuts and increase funding for the cultural institutions our members maintain. Our jobs are safer and more secure because of it.”