Public Employee Press

Rangers win transfer grievance

For 11 years, Urban Park Ranger Ray Jaffe patrolled the rambling paths of Flushing Meadow Park, but the five years since then have been a merry-go-round as the Parks and Recreation Dept. transferred him and fellow shop steward Joe Oro to more than a dozen different worksites throughout the five boroughs.

The two Local 983 members won their grievances against the constant transfers when an arbitrator ordered the agency to stop shifting senior Parks Enforcement Patrol officers at whim and to reimburse the two for their unwarranted commuting expenses of $2,700.

“It was kind of frustrating,” said 64-year-old Mr. Jaffe, who is affectionately known as “Rambo” among the licensed vendors he protects. “The former deputy manager did what he wanted, to whomever he wanted, whenever he wanted. It seemed personal.”

Rambo gets bounced around
The Parks Dept. bounced Mr. Jaffe from his original Queens worksite, just 30 minutes from home, and rotated him among a dizzying number of outposts — the Bronx, Brooklyn, back to Queens, then to Battery Park City in Manhattan, then back to Brooklyn and finally to Queens again. Mr. Jaffe suffered through hours-long commutes and racked up hundreds of dollars in extra gas, tolls and transit fares.

Working with labor lawyer Stuart Lichtman, Local 983 sought to recoup thousands of dollars in travel expenses for the men. The union argued that the transfers violated a 1986 pact allowing the short-staffed agency to make involuntary transfers — but only based on inverted seniority, requiring Parks to move newer workers first.

“The transfers every few months became downright abusive and affected the members’ quality of life,” said Local 983 President Mark Rosenthal. “The excessive tolls put a strain on their pockets.” Park Rangers earn about $27,000 annually.

Outstanding workers, Mr. Jaffe and Mr. Oro were also active unionists whose outspokenness sometimes rubbed management wrong. Some union leaders said the excessive transfers were a way to break up the local’s strong labor presence. “The arbiter’s decision took the wind out of management’s sails,” Mr. Rosenthal said.

Although Mr. Jaffe and Mr. Oro were not the only park patrollers transferred, they were the only ones reimbursed because they were willing to attach their names to the grievance. It will pay off when the men receive their checks.

“Never rely on your co-workers to fight your battles,” Mr. Rosenthal added. “Every union member needs to be willing to stand up and get involved.”

— Diane S. Williams