Public Employee Press

Grievance News
Out-of-title grievance wins $6,000 for Local 1549 member

As an Office Machine Aide, Level I, Delcie James was assigned to data entry — inputting job orders into the computer at the Dept. of Citywide Administrative Services. But management also expected work beyond her job description — supervising the daily activities of 12 Work Experience Program participants. She had to assign work and monitor its completion, prepare time schedules and write performance evaluations for the WEPs.

After two years at DCAS, in June 2008, James and Ralph Palladino, a grievance rep and vice president of Clerical-Administrative Employees Local 1549, filed an out-of-title work grievance. The union pressed the case through the steps of the procedure to binding arbitration.

On March 31, an arbitrator decided that her extra duties are those of a Clerical Associate Level III and awarded James the salary difference between the two titles for the time since she filed the grievance, about $6,000. Now an upgrade has put her into the proper job title at the right salary.

“I’m so happy. I didn’t think it was going to happen,” said James. “This gives me a lot of faith in DC 37. And Ralph Palladino fought for me from Day 1. I can’t thank him enough.”

DCAS Chapter Chair Marilyn Steeps said employees at the agency provide essential services to the city and the public.

“Delcie James deserved the money and the upgrade. She filed a grievance and fought for it,” said Palladino, who urged members to file grievances if their actual job duties differ substantially from the work required by their titles.

“This victory validates the teamwork involved in serving our members and making sure that they get all that they are entitled to,” said Clerical Division Director Ronnie Harris.