Public Employee Press

Two Bronx Zoo workers win promotions

The Wildlife Conservation Society promoted two Park Maintainers at the Bronx Zoo after the union stepped in to protect their rights.

Zoological Assistant Maintainer Ralph Zamboli worked at the zoo for 10 years and applied for promotion to Maintainer in 2008, but management passed him over and promoted a coworker with five years less seniority.

After a two-minute interview with no regard for his employment record or the high recommendations of his immediate supervisor, a WCS manager declined to offer Zamboli one of the three vacancies .

Zamboli called the union, and White Collar Division Council Rep Wendell Reid filed his grievance, which the WCS denied.

When the union sought impartial arbitration, "Management's attorney claimed the case was not arbitrable and even tried to have the arbitrator disqualified," said Division Director Mike Riggio. WCS lost on both counts.

The union successfully argued that promoting someone with less seniority violated the contract, which establishes seniority as a tiebreaker for promotion between equally qualified candidates.

"We never gave up. Zamboli was the most senior and clearly deserved the promotion," said Local 1501 President Robert Herkommer.

In July the arbitrator ordered WCS to promote Zamboli; management decided to keep the previously promoted Maintainer in her position.

The union won another promotion when it convinced WCS to reverse a demotion and restore Local 1501 member Lawrence Derazmo to his previous title and salary, which was $18,000 higher.

In 2009, layoffs hit 48 members at the zoo and the New York Aquarium, and management cut salaries and demoted employees like Derazmo. But WCS had Derazmo doing the same duties at the paint shop that he had done in the higher title. Reid filed a grievance on his behalf, and after two years WCS decided in fairness to do right by Derazmo.

"After we won these victories in important longstanding cases and set an arbitration precedent that protects members' rights, we hope management will think twice before it acts," said Herkommer.