Public Employee Press

Grievance gets back differentials

After two members of Clerical-Administrative Employees Local 1549 were bumped back from their positions in the Human Resources Administration, the agency ceased paying their longevity differentials.

In July 2005, HASA (HIV/AIDS Services Administration) suddenly informed Lisa James and Sandra Roberts that they would be out $95 a week. Both women turned to their Grievance Rep Alpine James, and filed a grievance in August.

Both women went from Principal Administrative Associate I to Eligibility Specialist III, but they were still part of the same occupational group and were therefore entitled to keep the differential.

The union pressed the matter to a Step 3 review before the city Office of Labor Relations in November 2005. In March, OLR sustained the union’s position, noting that the grievants should continue to receive the longevity differential and should be made whole by retroactive payment of the money they had lost.

“The union’s persistence and the members’ patience were both instrumental in this victory,” said Grievance Rep James. The victory turned on a correct interpretation of the workers contract. The unit won the Longevity Increment in collective bargaining as far back as 1992.

Council Rep Nate Hurt observed, “We shouldn’t have to fight and grieve for what has already been negotiated.” Since HRA was incorrectly interpreting the unit contract, the union had no choice but to pursue the matter.

“Right now we are working on about 30 similar cases, and eventually we will prevail,” said Assistant Clerical Division Director Eddie Gates. Division Director Ronnie Harris summed up the situation: “When the clerical division works as a team, from director to the assistant director to council rep to grievance rep, we can clearly document a case and pursue it to ultimate success. This is a great victory.”