Public Employee Press

Grievance ends "year in hell" at Metropolitan Hospital

"This is a story about one year in hell when I was working out of title at Metropolitan Hospital," said Local 1549 member Elvira Jakubov, a mother of two who started working there in January 2009.

After a Bookkeeper was fired, management noticed that Jakubov had a background in bookkeeping and moved her into the position. "At first it was supposed to be temporary. Then my supervisor saw that I was doing a great job and promised me a promotion," she said. "It never happened."

Jakubov called the union and in November 2010, Grievance Rep Efrain Perez filed her out-of-title work grievance at step 1. The case was settled at step 3 in July 2011 with management's agreement to pay Jakubov the difference between her pay as a Cashier and the minimum salary for Assistant Coordinating Manager, her new title, for the months between the filing of the grievance and the settlement.

"Both my supervisor and my union were on my side, and the union fought for me. I feel very good about my representation from the union," she said.

"She had all the documentation to prove she was working out of title," Perez said, "but we had to go to step 3 before management saw it."

"When our members learn about their contractual rights, they often see that their rights are being violated," said Acting Clerical Division Director Renee Gainer.

Local 1549 President Eddie Rodriguez noted that with her promotion Jakubov is no longer a member of the local. "She went beyond what she was required to do and now she's been rewarded with a new opportunity," he said. "It's a plus for her and a plus for the union."