Public Employee Press

28 clerical workers win extra pay at Bellevue
A total of $40,000 for assignment differentials

Mary Ryan was reading her union newspaper and learned about the assignment differential that members of Clerical-Administrative Employees Local 1549 were entitled to for working in hospital emergency rooms and admitting departments.

Ryan, a Clerical Associate III at Bellevue Hospital, took the information to Chief Shop Steward Jamaisa Johnson for help.

Johnson advised Ryan to look at her paycheck to see if the letters "ASD" - for "assignment differential" - were on her stub. The letters weren't there, so Ryan confirmed that she wasn't being paid the differential.

Ryan and Johnson then compiled a list of other members working in the ER and the Admitting Dept. and ended up with a total of 28 individuals who were not receiving the differential. Shop Steward Victor Serrano was instrumental in the grievance, signing up all of the members who took part in it from tour 3, the 4-to-12 shift.

Ryan filed a group grievance and Johnson handled it at step 1. After it was denied, Grievance Rep Donna McDuffie handled the step 2 and won the day. "Labor Relations knew they were in the wrong," she said. "Normally, they only have to go back 30 days for retroactive pay, from the date
of filing the grievance. But this time, in some instances, they went back three years, since the members were deprived of something they were entitled to for years! This shows me that labor and management can be partners in resolving a dispute," McDuffie said.

The winning grievance garnered over $40,000 for the members.

Winning grievant Aileen Brathwaite said, "It's a great accomplishment for the members. I'm happy that my union rep was able to push for it for us." Mary Ryan benefited from the full three years of back payment. "I work in both the ER and Admitting Department," she said. "It feels very good to win this on behalf of all of us."

Clerical Division Director Renee Gainer saw the win as a team effort. "This is a good example of everyone working together to win what was rightfully due to our members," she said.