Public Employee Press

Hall of Science guards share $27,000 in retroactive longevity payments

After more than a year of negotiations with DC 37 Local 1501, the New York Hall of Science agreed to pay a total of nearly $27,000 in retroactive longevity raises to 19 Security Guards who protect exhibits at the museum in Flushing, Queens.

"It took a lot of patience on the members' part and a lot of math to calculate what was owed to whom, for how long and how much," said Local President Bob Herkommer. "But in the end we worked out a good payday in a bad economy."

Last year, several veteran Hall of Science Guards noticed that their contractual longevity pay was missing from their biweekly paycheck. They asked management, but when nothing was done they reached out to the union.

Herkommer contacted DC 37 White Collar Division Director Mike Riggio and Assistant Director Chris Wilgenkamp. Together with Council Rep Wendell Reid, they looked into the problem.

"We did not let up on investigating this to make sure our members were paid accurately," Herkommer said. "We were relentless."

Management was unsure how to calculate each worker's benefit, but the DC 37 team helped them reach the right figures.

"The union did a fantastic job fighting for better pay and working conditions," said Eddie Raghuraj, a Senior Security Guard who got 19 months of longevity pay. "I thought managers were stalling, but once I informed Wendell and Chris of the issue, they got the ball rolling."

Although most of Raghuraj's $2,800 pay hike went to taxes and living expenses, he said that, "The difference in pay is only a few dollars, but gas and rent have gone up. These days every penny counts. I have been here 16 years. It's money I deserve."