Public Employee Press

Grievance results in upgrades for six clerks at Bellevue

Council Rep Nina Perez, right, with (l.-r.) Local 1549 members Chrystal Sawyer, Patricia Collazo, Roberta Freeman, Anabel Lopez, Diana Bonilla and Deborah Nickens, after winning an out-of-title grievance at Bellevue Hospital.

Six clerks in the Psychiatric Unit at Bellevue Hospital filed a working-out-of-title grievance in December and won upgrades and back pay in May.

"Chrystal Sawyer brought it to my attention that she and the other Unit Clerks were working very hard, at times right through their lunch hour, and doing work substantially different from their Clerical Associate II job description," said Council Rep Nina Perez.

"Ms. Perez was right on top of it after we brought the problem to her," Sawyer said.

Unit Clerk Roberta Freeman said the six Local 1549 members were "clearly doing Level III work. We were on the computers, checking on patients' status and admittance types, updating records, preparing patients for transport to other facilities and training new people."

As a result of the grievance, management upgraded each of the women from CA II to CA III and gave them back pay for the salary differential between the two titles. The pay difference between Levels II and III is not large, but the grievants are pleased with their new compensation, back pay and upgrades.

"They deserve to be compensated for the work they do," Perez said.

"This grievance shows that the process works when members and staff are diligent and committed to making it work," said Assistant Clerical Division Director Renee Gainer.

"In these tough economic times, to be upgraded and get some extra money was an important boost for these members," noted Local 1549 President Eddie Rodriguez.