Public Employee Press

Union gets payments for two Local 420 members
after patients at Bellevue Hospital attack them

When management refused to pay two Local 420 members who were injured on the job at Bellevue Hospital Center, the union fought back with grievances until the Health and Hospitals Corp. agreed to give them the money the contract requires.

Psychiatric Technician Darren Walcott and Patient Care Associate Hecturine Fraser, both members of Municipal Hospital Employees Local 420, work closely with patients. They learned firsthand the dangers of working with people who can be very aggressive or violent in June, when psychiatric patients attacked them.

The assault severely injured Fraser’s back, and she may ultimately need surgery to repair the damage.

Walcott said the patient who injured him “was upset because he was not allowed to speak to the nurse. He took a swing at me while I was sitting down during a shift change.” They both fell to the floor and Walcott suffered an injury to his wrist, which still needs physical therapy.

Both were out of work. They filed for Workers’ Compensation benefits, but hospital management would not continue their pay during their absence from their jobs, as DC 37’s Citywide Contract provides.

They contacted Council Rep Felicita Creque, who filed a grievance on their behalf demanding the pay.

The contract violation was clear, and HHC agreed on Oct. 7 that both would receive their benefits under Article V, Section 2, of the Citywide Contract, less the money they received from Workers’ Compensation. Walcott will be paid for the time he had to take off from June 5 through July 16, and Fraser will receive benefits from Aug. 31, for as long as her disability is approved by the Workers’ Compensation Board.

Walcott has recovered enough to return to work in July, but Fraser has not been able to do so yet.

“They reached out to me very quickly, which I always urge members to do. That makes our job of fighting for their rights easier,” said Creque.

“I’m thankful to be healthy again and able to return to my job, and I’m glad I had a strong union at my side,” said Walcott.