Public Employee Press

Local 1505 parkies win back pay and promotions

Four City Parks Workers collected $8,000 each when Local 1505 settled their grievance against the Parks Dept. for continuing to assign them heavy-duty tasks without paying the required differential.

"Our co-workers were paid more, but we were doing the same hard work and not getting the money," said CPW Barrett Price, whose added duties included installing fencing and filling potholes with asphalt along Flushing Meadow Park's bike paths and walkways.

Although the local settled a grievance on the issue last year, the department persisted in requiring the heavy-duty work but not paying the $8,000 annual heavy-duty differential.

In settling the earlier grievance, Parks had promised promotions and extra pay. "They refused to pay for the heavy-duty assignments, then we realized the promised promotions and differentials were taking too long, so with the help of Blue Collar Division Council Rep Tony Mammalello, we filed the second grievance," said Local 1505 President Dilcy Benn. "Without his knowledge we would not have known to file another grievance on the same issue."

As part of this settlement, Parks gave three CPWs promotions that provided $10,000 pay hikes.

"I knew we had to stand together and file a group grievance," Price said. "We couldn't do anything as individuals, but having a union definitely helped us get what we needed," said Price. "Local 1505 and Dilcy were there to fight for what we rightfully deserved. She was the best and made it happen for us."

"We didn't put blind faith in management's good intentions," Mammalello added. "These members worked hard and got what they worked for and deserved."