Public Employee Press

Arbiter upgrades HHC Stock Worker

Outstanding organizational abilities let Local 1549 member David Quiñones methodically track all supplies (medical, surgical, clinical and clerical) for patients and staff at the bustling Morrisania Diagnostic and Treatment Center in the Bronx.

He monitors demand, processes purchasing orders and invoices, oversees the distribution of supplies, and much more. His supervisor recognized that Quiñones was working beyond the normal duties of his job title and recommended an upgrade, but the Health and Hospital Corp. said no.

Quiñones and Local 1549 Chief Shop Steward Bobby Ortiz filed an out-of-title-work grievance in July 2008. Management denied the grievance at Steps 2 and 3, but DC 37 Assistant General Counsel Dena Klein won it in arbitration.

"The union gave us a lot of help to get this member the upgrade to Supervisor Stock Worker Level IV and the proper pay for the job he was doing," Ortiz said.

"It feels great to win, and my union representation was excellent," said Quiñones.

"Management will always try to get good employees to do more but won't pay them for their work," said Local 1549 2nd Vice President Ralph Palladino, who processed the grievance from Step IA. "The union makes sure that justice is done."

"It pays to communicate with the union," said Assistant Clerical Division Director Renee Gainer.