Union action has saved summer health benefits for more than 600 members in the Dept. of Health. The agency was denying the employees’ requests to utilize annual leave time to cover certain non-working periods during the summer. Using their leave this way — as they had done for the last three years — allowed them to maintain the “Class W” status that entitled them to all their health benefits.

United Federation of Nurses and Epidemiologists Local 436 and Health Services Employees Local 768 filed a grievance of behalf of their affected members, Public Health Nurses, Jr. PHNs and Public Health Advisors in the public school system.

Lillian Roberts and the union met Aug. 3 with Labor Relations Commissioner James F. Hanley and DOH officials. “We told them this would create a serious hardship for these workers, and we reminded them that the $2.5 million that was restored to the school health budget was due to the lobbying done by our local,” said Local 436 President Gloria E. Acevedo. Three days later, Commissioner Hanley instructed the Dept. of Health to allow Jr. Public Health Nurses, Public Health Nurses and Public Health Advisors to use their annual leave to preserve their Class W status and comply with the regulations of the Citywide Contract.

Local 436 members are “very pleased with this decision,” said Ms. Acevedo. “This is a great victory for our members,” said Stephanie Velez, director of the Professional Division.