City hospitals are extremely careful when it comes
to disposing of hazardous waste material. Union hospital workers
frequently handle dangerous waste materials biological
hazards, such as used hypodermic needles and bandages contaminated
with blood and fluids from infected patients.
A trio of workers from the Environmental Services Dept. at Elmhurst
Hospital handled infectious waste on a regular basis, but management
failed to include the required differential in their paychecks.
Institutional Aides Luis R. Galarza and Luis Martinez and Housekeeping
Aide Marie M. Pierre were assigned to areas at the Queens hospital
where red bags with the dangerous materials were handled on a
continual basis.
When the situation was brought to the attention of Shop Steward
Althea Williams and Chapter Chair Aristedes Gúzman, they
immediately filed a grievance. The union said management was in
violation of Article III, Section 10F , and Article VI, Section
1A and 1B, of the unions Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Management settled the issue at the first step of the grievance
procedure. The three hospital workers, members of Local 420, received
back pay retroactive to May 2001, totaling $3,000.
I cant emphasize enough how important it is for members
to step forward as soon as possible, and bring these matters to
their shop steward, said Marva Lewis-Bradford, a Council
Rep for Local 420.