Public Employee Press

DC 37's got your back: Grievance victories
Union wins $2,400 retroactive pay for member

Persistence and help from DC 37 paid off for a Local 420 Behavior Health Associate who received $2,400, the difference in pay owed for two years as a per diem BHA at Lincoln Hospital from 2010 to 2012.

Candida Martin works at Coney Island Hospital now. She tried on her own to get Lincoln to pay the owed retroactive wages. But since she was no longer on their payroll, the Bronx hospital refused her requests. So, she called DC 37 Hospitals Division Grievance Rep Monique Jaysura, who filed a grievance.

The Health and Hospitals Corp. created the BHA title following a lawsuit filed by the family of a woman who died on the floor of Kings County Hospital in 2008 while waiting for emergency care.

In 2011, Local 420 won the right to represent BHAs and the union negotiated a higher salary that HHC failed to apply. So the union filed and settled a grievance and HHC agreed to pay BHAs the owed difference dating to their original dates of hire.

"I help people who are mentally ill and need treatment," said Martin, who took a permanent post at Coney Island Hospital's psychiatric ward in 2012. "Patients may be irate or suicidal and hospitalized against their will. They are at high risk to hurt themselves or others. We are the first to respond. My job is to de-escalate emergency situations. It's not an easy job."

To settle Martin's grievance, Jaysura said, Coney Island Hospital's labor relations officer agreed to pay Martin the $2,400 and be reimbursed by Lincoln.

"I am very grateful to have a union to help me," Martin said. "I love my job and I work very hard. I was going to continue to fight until I got my due."

Local 420 President Carmen Charles urges any member who believes they are not being paid accurately to speak to their union rep or shop steward.