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Public
Employee Press Local
420 saves job of member on probation Service
Aide Shaundra Phillips knows well the importance of belonging to a strong labor
union Local 420. While she was still on probationary status at Kings County
Hospital in Brooklyn, her supervisor wrote her up for three counts of violating
hospital rules and regulations and the institution terminated her on Oct. 25,
2004. Although Phillips was on probation, the collective bargaining agreement
between Municipal Hospital Employees Local 420 and the city provides hearing rights
to probationers with over three months on the job. With the support of
former Chapter Chair Leslie Robertson and DC 37 Council Rep Marva Lewis Bradford,
Phillips decided to fight for her right to present her side of the story and get
her job back. The union filed a grievance for her and took the case to arbitration.
The DC 37 legal team argued that Phillipss termination was unwarranted because
her supervisor lacked credibility. For almost two years Phillips hung
on, although she was discouraged about getting her job back. I felt nobody
was going to believe me because I was young, said Phillips, who had to apply
for public assistance during those two years. The arbitration hearing
was held July 20, 2006, and the decision came down the day after Christmas. The
arbitrator ruled that she had been wrongfully discharged, that she should be immediately
reinstated, and that the hospital should pay all her lost wages and benefits from
Oct. 25, 2004. Phillips will receive over $50,000. Im
glad I hung in there and had the support of the union," said Phillips. "Diana
York and the legal team and Ms. Johnnie Locus [DC 37 Hospitals Division Director]
were all there for me."
"We are committed to preserving the
rights of our members in the workplace at all costs," said Local 420 President
Carmen Charles. Alfredo Alvarado
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