Public Employee Press

School Aide reinstated after union grievance

For more than 25 years School Aide Irma Diaz has been a reassuring presence for the neighborhood children at PS 224 in Brooklyn. "I treat those kids as if they're my own," she said.

But when two students left the building before the end of a school day late last year, Diaz - instead of the School Safety Agent - was wrongly held responsible for failing to monitor the students. On Dec. 16, the principal quickly dismissed Diaz.

Diaz contacted Grievance Rep Brenda Jimenez, who immediately filed a grievance on her behalf with the Dept. of Education.

The union's grievance charged that in dismissing the Local 372 member, the DOE had violated the discharge and review procedures and the complaint and grievance policy of the collective bargaining agreement.

The union demanded that Irma Diaz be reinstated immediately, with full back pay with interest, and all benefits and seniority. The grievance went straight to an arbitration hearing with the DOE, which was held on April 2. The sides reached a settlement that reinstated Diaz at her old school and maintained her previously earned seniority.

"I really missed those kids," said Diaz, when she learned that she'll be returning to her job. "I'm glad that I have the union to represent me and fight for me to get my job back."

"In these tough economic times, getting a job back for a member who was unjustly dismissed is a great victory," said Jimenez.