Public Employee Press

Clerical worker wins promotion at DEP

Felice Robertson’s calm demeanor belies her inner toughness, but one clue is the sign posted prominently above her desk: “Failure is not an option.”

Robertson was promoted to her title, Clerical Associate IV, Assistant Supervisor, only after putting up a fight.

Her road to a winning grievance, with an upgrade, a retroactive check and a better salary, began in Brooklyn in 2002, when Robertson found appallingly unsafe conditions at Dept. of Environmental Protection’s Schermerhorn Street office. “I was tired of all the injustices placed on the members,” she said.

Clerical-Administrative Employees Local 1549 joined the fray and waged a campaign that involved Council Rep Eddie Douglass and DC 37 Attorney Alan Brown and included grievances and many conferences with management. The issues were resolved in 2004 and the conditions were corrected, but the victory had consequences.

Shortly thereafter, DEP transferred her to its Environmental Control Board on John Street in Manhattan, where she found herself in a highly responsible job that she wasn’t being paid for. Robertson filed an out-of-title grievance with Clerical Division Grievance Rep Janine Thomas. “I wanted to get the title and the money that went with assuming that level of responsibility,” she said.

“She’s a fighter. Fear isn’t part of her deportment,” said Thomas. “DC 37 did so much to help me,” and that encouraged meto keep fighting, said Robertson.

“It’s good to see that the agency recognized the need to upgrade this member and promote her to Level IV,” said Clerical Division Director Ronnie Harris.