|
Public Employee Press
Grievance gets
back differentials After two members of Clerical-Administrative Employees
Local 1549 were bumped back from their positions in the Human Resources Administration,
the agency ceased paying their longevity differentials. In July 2005,
HASA (HIV/AIDS Services Administration) suddenly informed Lisa James and Sandra
Roberts that they would be out $95 a week. Both women turned to their Grievance
Rep Alpine James, and filed a grievance in August. Both women went from
Principal Administrative Associate I to Eligibility Specialist III, but they were
still part of the same occupational group and were therefore entitled to keep
the differential. The union pressed the matter to a Step 3 review before
the city Office of Labor Relations in November 2005. In March, OLR sustained the
unions position, noting that the grievants should continue to receive the
longevity differential and should be made whole by retroactive payment of the
money they had lost. The unions persistence and the members
patience were both instrumental in this victory, said Grievance Rep James.
The victory turned on a correct interpretation of the workers contract. The unit
won the Longevity Increment in collective bargaining as far back as 1992.
Council Rep Nate Hurt observed, We shouldnt have to fight and
grieve for what has already been negotiated. Since HRA was incorrectly interpreting
the unit contract, the union had no choice but to pursue the matter.
Right now we are working on about 30 similar cases, and eventually we will
prevail, said Assistant Clerical Division Director Eddie Gates. Division
Director Ronnie Harris summed up the situation: When the clerical division
works as a team, from director to the assistant director to council rep to grievance
rep, we can clearly document a case and pursue it to ultimate success. This is
a great victory. | |