Public Employee Press

Hospital worker wins back pay and promotion

After five years at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, Service Aide Zoila Baez began wondering if she was actually performing the duties of a Pharmacy Aide.

She was counting pills for prescriptions and verifying prescription orders for patients. When she checked with Local 420 Chapter Chair Aristide Guzman and DC 37 Rep Marva Bradford-Lewis, they agreed with her and initiated a grievance. The grievance claimed that Baez was performing duties substantially different from those of her title.

Although Elmhurst officials initially rejected her claim, the union kept the pressure on. Eventually at a Step III grievance hearing, management agreed that Ms. Baez should be upgraded to the title of Pharmacy Technician.

“I’m glad that I went to the union for help,” said Ms. Baez, who was not only promoted but also received a retroactive wage differential from April 2003 to March 2005. “She’s a real fighter,” said Ms. Bradford-Lewis. “She never gave up.”

Ms. Baez is glad she didn’t. “It was a long process,” she admits, “but you have to see it through to the end. It’s a lot easier with the support of the union.”