Public Employee Press

Local 372 saves member’s job and gets her $65,000 back pay

When the Education Dept. fired a member for excessive absenteeism after an on-the-job injury kept her out of work, the union fought back. Local 372 member Cicely Greaves-Vega kept her job and was awarded $65,000 in back pay.

Greaves-Vega, a Parent Coordinator at I.S. 109 in St. Albans, Queens, was injured at work on March 24, 2004, when a room divider fell on her head. She suffered a herniated disk.

Because of her injury, she required eight monthsof physical therapy and was unable to return to work through Dec. 9, 2004. She applied for, and was approved for Workers’ Compensation.

Greaves-Vega returned to her job on Dec. 10, 2004, but despite the approval by Worker’s Comp, she was terminated from her job on Dec. 27. Management said she was fired because of excessive absences.

Greaves-Vega had served as a Parent Coordinator since the title was established in 2003. When she was injured, she was taking college classes in the evenings in the hope of becoming a teacher.

Greaves-Vega contacted the union and DC 37 Council Rep Ingrid Fraser filed a grievance on her behalf.
“This member was out on an approved leave,” said Fraser. “How dare the Department of Education terminate her.”

After the union waged a lengthy battle with management, an agreement was reached. A settlement stipulation signed Jan. 9 reinstated the member with no loss of seniority and back pay for the three years of work she missed, totaling $65,000 after deductions from outside earnings.

“I’m very appreciative of what the union did for me,” said the Parent Coordinator. “I have a very good union rep in Ingrid Fraser. I’m grateful for her support.”