Public Employee Press

NYC TV features promotions, back pay

Nearly the entire technical staff at the NYC Media studio at the CUNY Graduate Center has been promoted, thanks to a grievance filed by four Local 375 members.

The Dept. of Information Technology and Telecommunications promoted 12 members to the title of Radio and Television Operator (level 3) at a salary of $46,491, with individuals receiving raises ranging from $5,000 to $15,000.

"It's a step in the right direction," said Local 375 Chapter 43 President Carlos Paulino, who filed the group out-of-title grievance with three other RTOs.

Besides getting the promotions under a stipulation worked out by DC 37 Assistant General Counsel Thomas Cooke, the four grievants won a total of about $30,000 in back pay. Local 375 Grievance Rep Elena Mora assisted the workers with the grievance.

Responsibilities increased

Employed by DoITT, the media group runs the city's official TV and radio broadcasts. Their programs report on city neighborhoods, government services, attractions and activities.

Essentially, the grievance argued that the complexity and responsibilities of the workers' jobs increased significantly when they transitioned from video-based to digital-based production.

After the union and management settled the grievance, TV Equipment Operators Tyrone Grubb and Kelli Naik filed a similar grievance. Management quickly settled, promoting them to RTO Level 3. DoITT also decided to promote six others - Shawn Gunn, Christine Wellington, Lucille Remolador, Mark Anisial, Vincent Acedo and Toby Rothberger - and two Supervisors of RTOs, Leonard McKenzie and Orlando Melendez, who went from level 1 to level 2.

"We are pleased with the settlement, but these members are still poorly compensated compared to their counterparts in the industry," said Local 375 President Claude Fort.