Public Employee Press

School Lunch Aide paid $1,300 for out-of-title work

After the union intervened, the Dept. of Education paid Local 372 member Ji Sen Lin $1,300 for doing out-of-title work as a Cook for most of 2010 in addition to his basic School Lunch Aide duties.

When the Cook at the Queens High School for Teaching in District 26 became ill and later retired, instead of hiring a new Cook, the district pressed Lin into doing the Cook's work from March through December last year.

Lin informed Schools Division Council Rep Phyllis Wambser of his increased workload on one of her visits to the school to talk with members. She promptly contacted DOE management, informed them of the violation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and asked them to compensate Lin for his extra duties.

Management acknowledged that in the absence of the Cook, Lin had been doing two jobs. The DOE, which filled the Cook's position in January, agreed to pay Lin at the Cook's rate for the time he did the job without going through the grievance procedure.

"I'm very happy that this issue was resolved so fast," said Lin, who got $1,297.01 in retroactive pay. "That's because Ms. Wambser and the union didn't waste any time when I asked for help."