Public Employee Press

9-1-1 workers pick up settlement checks at DC 37

Jan. 26 and Feb. 1 became extra paydays this year for about 100 Police Communications Technicians and Supervising PCTs who came to DC 37 and received money they had won in a union classaction lawsuit fi led in 2006 for all the PCTs and SPCTs.

A spring 2010 court settlement included $300 each for the Local 1549 members because the New York Police Dept. had abused their rights under the U.S. Family and Medical Leave Act. Checks were mailed last year to 525 class members who had submitted the required paperwork, but some were returned as undeliverable. Attorneys for the PCTs/SPCTs reached an agreement with management for the union to distribute the remaining checks.

"I'm ecstatic," said SPCT Valerie Haynes as she picked up her check. "We're addressing any problems case-by-case," said Assistant Division Director Ron Arnero. "I'm glad the city has cooperated with our attorneys in letting the union expedite the check distribution."

The lawsuit was initiated by Local 1549 PCT/SPCT Chapter Chair Pam Rodriguez and handled by DC 37 Sr. Assistant General Counsel Steven Sykes and outside counsel. In a victory for the union workers, the NYPD agreed to stop interfering with their use of leave time under the FMLA.

"The money is great, but we sued for our rights," said Rodriguez. "Now we don't have to be afraid to use the FMLA."

The FMLA lets eligible employees take off up to 12 weeks in any 12 months for the birth or adoption of a child, to care for an immediate family member or because of a serious health condition.