Public Employee Press

Fired clerical back on the job at Jacobi

By JANE LaTOUR

Jacobi Medical Center in the northeast Bronx is an immense facility. A shuttle bus transports visitors around the multi-building complex. In mid-May, the hospital landed on the front pages of the city’s tabloids when it was revealed that 307 patients had not been notified of Pap-smear results for nearly 18 months.

The executive director and other administrators at Jacobi were immediately terminated. When Clerical Associate Evelyn Oquendo became a victim of the Pap-smear fiasco, she sought help from her union. Ms. Oquendo, a member of Clerical-Administrative Employees Local 1549, has worked at Jacobi for 18 years. In the women’s health department, she struggled with an overwhelming work-load.

Local 1549 President Eddie Rodriguez immediately went into action to win her job back. “Mayor Bloomberg stated in the media that, in reality, it wasn’t the fault of the clerk,” he said. One of the union’s first actions was to hold an emergency lunchtime meeting at the hospital. President Rodriguez, Clerical Division Director Ronnie Harris, Assistant Director Renee Gainer, Grievance Rep Efrain Perez and the four shop stewards at Jacobi offered their support to the members.

“We wanted to show them that they had the backing of their union,” said Ms. Gainer. Rodriguez underscored the point that, “Members need to come to the union, not when it’s an emergency, but even before that,” he said. “They need to come to meetings, know their rights, and understand their contract. Management has to follow our contract, and we have the tools to enforce it.”

Members cheer team effort
At a follow-up lunchtime union meeting at the hospital on June 15, Mr. Perez briefed the members in attendance on the successful effort to put Ms. Oquendo back to work. They gave a hearty round of applause for the successful team effort.

Chief Shop Steward Brian Griffin advised all members to get a notebook and use it. “What do our supervisors always tell us?” he asked. “They say, ‘Do the best you can.’ And you are doing the best you can. If an event does occur, your notebook will help you show the recurring nature of certain incidents and situations, such as overwork, and it will add validity to your case,” he advised.

“The Health and Hospitals Corp. and the union have established a healthy relationship throughout the years,” said Gainer. “Due to this, we were able to work together successfully to save this member’s job,” she said.

“I want to thank the members who were concerned for Ms. Oquendo’s job,” said President Rodriguez. “Every clerical job is important,” added Mr. Perez. “Our members play a large role in running this hospital.”