Pauline McFarlane, a member of Muni-cipal Hospital Employees Local 420, has steadily climbed the career ladder at Elmhurst Hospital.

In 1989, she began working at the Queens hospital as a Nurses Aide. From that title, she moved up to Respiratory Technician.

With the assistance of the union, she took an 18-month course and became a licensed Respiratory Therapist.

“The union helped me a great deal,” said Ms. McFarlane. “The course didn’t cost me anything and I was able to keep my job while I went to school.”

Although she became a Respiratory Therapist in 1992, she did not receive the appropriate increase in her salary.

Local 420 believed that management of Elmhurst Hospital was violating Article VII, Section 1a, 1b and 1c of the Citywide Contract, as well as Section 12 of Article IX and Section 12 of Article VI.

Council Rep Marva Lewis-Bradford and Shop Steward Freddy Vazquez encouraged Ms. McFarlane to file a grievance to address the discrepancy. “They told me to pursue it until the end and not to give up,” said Ms. McFarlane.

That advice proved to be the key to victory, as the grievance however, was turned down twice before winning on the third try. Ms. McFarlane was awarded back pay from the time she filed the grievance on Dec. 11, 2001 until the present. “I’m glad I listened to the union and hung in there,” said Ms. McFarlane. Her patience was rewarded with $6,000 in back pay.