OTDA L-M team scores comp time win

By DEBORAH A. MILES
Some PEF members who work for the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) in the Division of Disability Determinations (DDD) finally won their battle for comp time.

The problem affected disability analysts 4 in Buffalo, Manhattan, Albany and Binghamton who were often required to work Saturdays, in addition to their Monday through Friday work assignments.

“Grade 25 employees were not able to change their work schedules to avoid working six straight days,” said Germaine Greco, a PEF Executive Board member for OTDA.

PEF filed two grievances, but both were denied. However, the grievances helped to convince OTDA managers the grade 25 analysts should receive comp time.

“After we received word the second grievance was denied in July, I wrote a letter to the OTDA deputy commissioner,” said PEF Division 399 council leader and Executive Board member Kathy D’Arminio.

“The deputy commissioner, John Paolucci, was willing to review the decision made by the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations (GOER) and to come up with a resolution to adjust the work schedules so the overtime would be compensated fairly,” D’Arminio said.

This occurred at the OTDA labor-management meeting, according to D’Arminio, who credited PEF’s statewide L-M committee that includes: Greco; Maddie Shannon-Roberts, committee chair and Division 192 council leader; and 13 other members.

“We persuaded OTDA managers to recognize the outstanding work and commitment of its employees and to adjust their work schedules,” D’Arminio said.

“We negotiated at the table and it sets an example for other members to utilize and have faith in the labor-management process. Hats off to the OTDA managers for working with us and coming up with a resolution,” she said.

Greco added, “When dealing with union issues, it’s important to remember there are different avenues to take to achieve results.”

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