Public Employee Press

Union wins rehiring for Bronx School Aide

In five years as a School Aide at Lehman High School in the Bronx, Carlos Santiago never had a problem with his colleagues, staff or students. Not until last fall, when the principal told him that two female students had accused him of using inappropriate language and of touching them improperly.

"I was in shock," said Santiago, when he was informed of the charges. "I'm not that kind of person. I never did those things."

Despite not having any evidence, the principal went ahead and fired the Local 372 member on Nov. 30, 2009, only five days after his wife Mary gave birth to their son Carlos Javell. Without his paychecks coming in, the young family lost their car and their apartment.

Santiago turned to the union, and Council Rep Vanessa Roberson filed a grievance against the Dept. of Education for discharging Santiago without sufficient reason. They requested that he be reinstated and get back pay for the time he was off the payroll.

With Assistant General Counsel Meaghean Murphy representing Santiago, the union took the case to arbitration. On Oct. 19 the arbitrator ruled that the DOE did not have sufficient reason to discharge Santiago and ordered the agency to reinstate him with full back pay.

"He faced a lot of adversity but he was patient throughout the whole process," said Roberson. "We'll make sure that he gets his back pay."

"I never thought of giving up because I knew I was right," said Santiago, when he heard of the decision. "I had a great union rep and great lawyer, too."