About two dozen members of Clerical-Administrative Local 1549 at Woodhull Hospital in Brooklyn recently won upgrades to Clerical Associate 3 and 4 after winning out-of-title grievances.

“I’m excited about this. It’s been a long-time coming,” said Calvin Manning, who’s worked there for 31 years. Kim Howard agrees. “It’s well-earned,” she says. “I’m happy that the union worked for us.” For Betty Jo Williams, “It means more learning, more work, and an opportunity to better myself.”

Chief Shop Steward Ada Brown is also pleased. “I feel very good because they work very hard and they deserve it,” she said. Clerical Division Director Ronnie Harris said, “It’s important that when members are in an out-of-title situation, they have the ability to get a remedy. The city wants to eliminate the contractual provision on out-of-title work, in the interest of budgetary considerations.”