Dec 4, 2008

Equal Pay for Equal Work

The Equal Pay Act requires that men and women be given equal pay for equal work in the same establishment.

Newly hired employees get pay an average of 10k to 20k more for doing the same job or even less than you do. Apparently, your years of experience don't mean anything. The fund prefers to get as much work out of you but not pay you accordingly. When was the last time you worked 35 hours in one week? When was the last time you were compensated for the extra hours you put in every week?

There is a double standard when it comes to wages. Apparently, it is "who you know" not what you know the factor which determines how much your salary will be. How is it possible that the Director of Human Resources is allowed to hire her "domestic partner" as a special assistant at a salary of over $90,000 when other Chief's special assistants are hired at rates of $20,000 less. Is she really that much qualified? Was she even tested? it sure seems like preferential treatment especially when she spends most of her day locked up in her office conducting personal business and checking her myspace profile.

Voice your opinion.


"We are all in this together, by ourselves"

32 comments:

  1. Anonymous12/10/2008

    Why if we are a family of funds our salaries are not comparable? When the TEF merged with NBF nothing happened to our salary. There is a big disparity in salaries. I have heard the same happened with the CCF merge.

    It is not fair, not fair at all.

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  2. Anonymous12/10/2008

    I've been at the Fund for about 9 years of which 8 of them I have worked under the same director and department. When a higher position became available in my department that I thought that I could handle I thought it was a great opportunity to get at least 10K dollars extra to my yearly salary. The salary range for the position was from 38,000-48,000, since i've been in the Fund for almost 9 years at the time, I thought I would've fall in the high end. When I e-mail HR to find out where would I fall, I was told that I would fall in the 39,500!!!! How was that possible????? when it was a position that required so much more skills and responsibilities, nevermind that i've been working at the Fund for almost 9 years, but they just wanted to get the job done with a misery of salary....I decided not to take the job. Right after, the department hired someone from outside and the person that got hired is getting paid almost 48,000...
    That was very unfair...I've been there for all these years and you wanted to give me the job but not the money!!!!!Besides the fact that as it is right now, i'm way underpaid, but when I bring out the subject, the answer that I always get is "it's a budget issue, the department can't afford to give you a increase in salary", but let someone else ask for an increase or they will leave and they will immediately find a way to break the budget.

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  3. Anonymous12/10/2008

    There was an Administrative Assistant to the Director of my department that quited about 3 times and each time he quited, the director to bring him back will give him a salary increase...And from what I know that Admin was getting paid way more than anyone who has been in the Fund for years...Should we all do that in order to get a decent increase? I don't think that was fair.

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  4. Please, let the readers know what department you are referring to.

    You dont have to mention names and your identity will be secured.

    Remember, although she will deny it, Mitra will be reading everything that is written here.

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  5. Anonymous12/10/2008

    the level of deceit is mind unbelievable; but I am no in total shock. look at some of the departments management style on the upper floors.

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  6. Anonymous12/10/2008

    The one with the Admin Assistant to the Director is the Care Management Programs

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  7. Anonymous12/10/2008

    Wow!!!! Just goes to show you it's not what you know or your academic accomplishments but who you know.

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  8. Anonymous12/10/2008

    My department hired someone a few years ago who had (and still has) no qualifications or skills for the job. The rest of us do most of his job.

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  9. Anonymous12/10/2008

    they spend money to upgrade floors and put people in fancy offices... spent big $$$$$ on the big kohuna's office... where is our increases.... the floors and offices are fine... stop wasting money... be fair and review people's salaries...

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  10. Anonymous12/10/2008

    If I hear the word familly one more time I will barf on Mitra's desk. Just give me my paycheck on time I don't want any of these jokers in my family

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  11. Anonymous12/10/2008

    LMAO!!

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  12. Anonymous12/10/2008

    HOLD IT!! HOLD IT!! FIRST LET ME START BY SAYING THAT WE NEED TO KEEP IT REAL HERE AND NOT MAKE OURSELVES LOOK DUMB.
    TAKE A LOOK AT THE REPRESENTATION WE AS MEMBERS OF THE STAFF ASSOCIATION HAVE!! THE FUCKING BFSA IS A JOKE!!!! WE PAY 10 DOLLARS A MONTH TO WHO???? FOR WHAT??? WE GET WHAT WE PAY FOR!!! CHEAP LOW CLASS UNKNOWLEDGEABLE PEOPLE. WE HAVE A COKE HEAD FOR A PRESIDENT AND A ALCOHOLIC FOR A VICE PRESIDENT AND DUMB RETARDED WANNABEE DELEGATES WHO TELLS EVERY BODIES BUSINESS ALL OVER THE FUND WHEN SHIT IS SUPPOSE TO BE CONFIDENTIAL. O AND THE FAKE LAWYERS AND BOARDS. THIS SHIT IS STRAIGHT CRAZY!!!! WE NEED A REAL NEW UNION FROM FROM OUTSIDE WHO WILL COME IN HERE AND TEAR MANAGEMENT A NEW ASS HOLE, GET US RAISES AND NEGOTIATE GOOD CONTRACTS AND SECURE OUR JOBS.....A REAL EXPERIENCED EDUCATED UNION!!! WHO DON'T MAKE DEALS WITH MANAGEMENT UNDER THE TABLE .
    AND YES IT WILL COST US A LITTLE MORE IN DUES BUT WE WILL GET WHAT WE PAY FOR.
    SO COME ON MEMBERS OF THIS FAKE WACK ASS UNION (BFSA) JOIN TOGETHER AND GET THESE DRUG ADDICTED ALCOHOLICS UNEDUCATED DUMMIES OUT OF HERE!!!!!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND REMEMBER PAY MORE GET MORE!!! (DUES)

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  13. Anonymous12/10/2008

    "WE NEED TO KEEP IT REAL HERE AND NOT MAKE OURSELVES LOOK DUMB."

    I would say that you, compadre, failed on both counts.

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  14. Anonymous12/11/2008

    when does TEF and CCF start seeing more money as a result of all this merging. stop redecorating and renovating and pay us. be fair, tef and ccf still have an employee in each roll conducting day to day functions. how did we merge..

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  15. Anonymous12/11/2008

    Like with most big compaines, the Fund is full of crap. The executives get the money, and the workers get the shaft. Mitra, and the Chief execs, gets salaries in the hundreds of thousands of dollar per year, but I dont see any one thinking they get paid too much for working at a "non-profit" organization. they say they can't give bonuses to us because of that same reason, meanwhile there are people that get bonuses. It's just these people are so far removed from the general fund workforce, that the Chiefs hope this info won't get back to the masses. 1199 NBF has $ just not for us.

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  16. Anonymous12/11/2008

    mrs rey, tell thatcher and associated and mitra what your office furniture really cost the fund and you want to remove mine from my floor... really really low of you... the same leather chair your guest sit on mine can sit on, how dare you strip me of something you still have and spent so so much money on. your desk alone was more than my entire office.

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  17. Anonymous12/11/2008

    Open question to Brandy, Mitra and Mrs Ray,
    Can you explain why it is nearly impossible for QUALIFIED candidates to get promoted? It seems like the majority of well-paying positions opened are going to external candidates. Some of these positions are NOT EVEN POSTED INTERNALLY, and only appear on Monster.Com and other web sites. Of course internal candidates are discouraged from applying to these "External" positions, even when they are more qualified than the people hired to fill those positions. This is especially true for UNLIMITED positions where leadership is more intent on bringing in friends and family than in actually hiring qualified individuals.

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  18. Anonymous12/11/2008

    THIS IS BETTER THAN SRS AND ORACLE.. RAVEN WE HOPE YOUR ON TOP OF ALL THIS... IF NOT, YOUR GOING TO ESCALATE JUST LIKE YOUR WEIGHT TO CATAGORY 310 POUNDS THAT IS. AND BE REPORTED TO THE HEAD HONCHOS.

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  19. Anonymous12/12/2008

    Raven,

    How do you feel making $20,000 less than the HR Director "Special" Assistant even though you are a "Chief" Special Assistant?

    Can you imagine how many bags of pretzels $20,000 could get you? ummm...pretzels....

    You must be doing something wrong, or maybe your boss is not into fat chicks.

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  20. Anonymous12/12/2008

    They never post the jobs or if they post any jobs they already have someone in mind for that job or jobs, they bring on these white assholes from Connecticut and call them Consultant and pay them big bucks, They do shit. We are doing the work but the refuse to pay us. Why? I guess we are not from Connecticut..... Mitra must GO, Mita must Go.

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  21. Anonymous12/12/2008

    Mitra,

    You were deceitful to us in your email on 12/10. It’s a shame we believed in you. We didn’t think you were like this so shady and dishonest. You sat back and watched as people were getting treated unfairly, terminated and pushed out for no reason at all and did nothing! Donna Rey terminated individuals just for not liking them and Brandy Shiloh would tamper with documents and you were privy to all this. What kind of a person are you? You are spurious to allow this behavior to occur while you did nothing but smile in our faces like all is well. Anything you say now we will have a hard time believing. Can any of you speak any truth at all? This is time for a change maybe you need to step down. You are destroying all your credibility within this organization. Everything that is stated in this statement is 100% TRUE and can be backed up with evidence!

    We may not be the most erudite and refined organization but we do have our morals and integrity and we will no longer tolerate this kind of treatment from upper management at 1199SEIU Family of Funds. We are standing firm on this. We are united.

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  22. Anonymous12/12/2008

    would someone please investigate Art Garner on the 6th floor and ask him why and how in the hell did Geeta Singh get per position.She does nothing but report to Art about bullshit. Suppose she's getting paid to be his go to person. "hey Art remember saying that"? speak up Mr. New captain on board. Also tell me why do we have atleast 8-9 incl sup-manager on the 6th floor? Everybody knows that staff runs that department anyway. Thought disability dept was private....why when one is on disability everybody knows that persons condition???? Please investiagate the 6th floor please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  23. Anonymous12/12/2008

    Holy Moly! This is some good sh*t on here. Man-o-Man HR must be shaking in their boots and those of power probably can't sleep at night. The saga continues...

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  24. Anonymous12/13/2008

    Our brothers and sisters from the union are joining us in our struggle. We welcome them and vouch to fight together for equality of pay.

    Enough is enough. No more to Union or Fund upper management making corporate salaries in a non-for-profit organization. In the Fund, each Chief makes an average salary of $200,000. (soon we’ll post the right salaries) and there are 12 Chiefs not counting the Executive Director. Let’s all do the math: 200K x 12 = 2.4million.

    Do we really need all these Chiefs? Why? For so many years, the Fund operated with Directors making half as much.

    We commend Mitra for stopping the theft that was happening in Pension and other departments, but what she is doing with the money she saved could also be inferred as theft.
    I wonder what a member making $7.00 an hour will think?

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  25. Anonymous12/13/2008

    A couple of years ago, the Fund introduced the so ridiculous "Hay" compensation scale study for non-bargaining staff. What a joke, and insult. Based on this study, our salaries are at the scale it should be. Right after that, the "Chiefs" of this and that started coming on board, "Special Assistants" started to get hired to do what? Consultants are being hired left and right, again to do what? But the one thing that never changed was our salaries. This is so sad to know that the Director of HR hired her lover at a salary of $90,000, and I ask again to do what? I think we all want the same thing, just be fair. And you wonder why morale in the Fund is so low. Do you think giving us a jacket, a lunch bag, a backpack, blanket, that will make up for the abuse we face every day in the Fund--I don't think so. Wake up!

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  26. Anonymous12/14/2008

    This is from another very concerned employee. I have worked for one of the Funds for over 20 years and I hold a high management position with access to Accounting, Executive and HR files. During that time, I have not seen so much disorganization, corruption and deceit, favoritism, and discrimination. I have seen the abuse and ignorance from top management staff first hand.

    I strongly believe in change. As a matter of fact, I am an advocate to change. But when someone abuses the system to get her way and imposes fear among her staff to get respect; then the credibility and premeditated good purpose for that change goes out the window. All odds are against it.

    The Website has been forwarded to the EEO, other equal right opportunity sources, members and providers. It is only a matter of time before any other concerned high ranking official or group of important individuals get involved. It appears we have to go beyond the Union, Trustees and 57th Street Hospital League because it looks as if they do not care about ours and our members concerns for any of these allegations.

    I’m requesting the following facts should be and must be investigated.

    1. If punches are being fixed for Bradley or any other HR staff; then the same punishment should be applied to those who break the rule just as many others have been terminated for these actions. Disciplinary actions up to termination should be sought. All you have to do is question the AA and HR reps. I’m sure they would rather tell the truth than lose their jobs.

    2. If criminal actions were committed by Brandy in the past; then the same punishment should be applied to her just as she terminated many others for having a past criminal record. Termination should be sought. I cannot wait to see those wrongfully terminated sue 1199 for having another criminal terminate them. I am certain the media would love to get a piece of this action.

    3. If favoritism is in place; then it must be stopped, and those who apply it must be punished. Brandy, Donna and Johan must be punished according to their same rules and regulations. No more favorites; no more preferential treatment; no more abuse; no more FEAR.

    4. If hiring preference is being insisted for employees/consultants from the Auburn Technical Services Group; then it must be investigated. Why would Johan (especially him) and Donna prefer these consultants be hired over other consulting agencies and more qualified candidates no questions asked? Is there some type of personal connection? “Just do it is their motto” Ask the HR reps and they would rather tell the truth than lose their jobs.

    5. How do you justify Johan Reyes’ salary? $120K??? He possesses a bachelor’s degree in computers, and has no more than three years of experience in; I guess computer stuff to be leading a new department at the Fund. He acts as if he is another Chief of the Fund. Where is the experience to back it up? Where is the respect for those who are educated and have more seniority like Leo Cole, Kwok Wu, Diana Rodriguez, James Mele and Michelle Agard for example, to lead the way?

    One more thing I would like to mention in regards to salaries is the $20K increase Brandy Shiloh received recently after allegedly using a scare tactic against Donna Rey threatening to leave. Now that we know they are friends, the question is, was it a personal favor or a way to keep her mouth shut? One can only wonder…

    6. Finally, if Mitra is aware or involved to any of the above; she must be immediately removed from her position. If George is aware or involved to any of the above, he must also be immediately removed from his position. The way I see, if the allegations set forth are true, both of them should be immediately removed from their position.

    My concerns have been raised, and I am very certain that someone out there will listen and will do something about it.

    1199 SEIU Benefit and Pension Fund Executive Management.

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  27. Welcome to the strugle my fellow co-worker.

    We encourage management staff like yourself with top level access to speak up.

    We have all been victims of the injustice perpetrated by the people mentioned above in some way, either directly or inderectly.

    An investigation is in order and let the weight of justice fall on those who have done wrong.

    Feel free to email us.

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  28. Anonymous12/16/2008

    Raven does nothing all day...Special Assistant my a**..... What does she assist with? Lunch orders? It's the AKA sorority connection that got her hired!

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  29. Anonymous12/23/2008

    Do the people who have been redeployed at the fund no that Darleen Coor our president of the BFSA is the last to be redeployed and they are tring to creat a position for her. What does she do now??? she get two checks to do shit!!! Aint that some shit and now they are creating shit for her! for what so she can get more money to do nothing!!!
    Oh and some of the people who was redeployed had positions created for them (if they liked you) and they got increases and others got nothing but demoted with the same pay (if they didnt like you. this is some bullshit!! but its a FACT!!! ASK AROUND

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  30. Anonymous1/09/2009

    Blogging as whistle-blogging: Fracas at 1199 Family of Funds

    By Susan Merniton December 21, 2008 5:39 PM

    In New York City, a concerned employee of the 1199 Family of Funds has created an anonymous blog entitled What's Happening at 1199SEIU Family of Funds? that calls out two staffers as people who engage in nepotism, practice discrimination, and create an unfair culture. In response to this blog, according to my source, the organization has blocked access to outside email (and is screening mail), has called a meeting to deny the allegations, and is (understandably) trying to figure out who the author is.

    Meanwhile, employees are deeply engaging with the site, posting responses to posts that inquire about age discrimination, questionable and possibly illegal practices, and their right to exercise their free speech with this blog ("The fund is threatening employees with prosecution and termination if they participate in this blog. What ever happened to our right to speak? Isn't that what our Union fights for? What would our Union do if management at one of the institutions will threaten our members the same way?")

    Interestingly enough, if you assume that the 1,800 employees of the 1199 Family of Funds are all aware of this blog--and perhaps 70 of them are posting on it--a picture emerges where some disgruntled employees--whistleblowers?--are using social media to a) air their grievances and b) try to create positive change (which doesn't really seem to be working, does it?)

    If I was a New York based journalist, or the journalism prof at a local J school, I'd jump all over this story, both to better understand what is actually going on at the 1199 Family of Funds and to see if anyone is accountable, and to understand and document how blogging--on blogspot, no less!--is being used as an organizing tool in a non-technical setting.

    Social media, anyone? Wow.

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  31. Susan,

    Thank you for taking a look at our blog and diffusing information about our struggle.

    First of all, allow me to say that every accusation on this blog is based on true facts.

    Contrary to everything the Fund stands for, this new administration is using their position of authority to step all over workers rights. Taking advantage of our current economic times, they threaten employees with termination if they even attempt to be part of this blog. As a long term employee of the Fund, I have been witness to many changes, but I never thought that an organization known for "fighting for workers rights" could engage in implementing such a string of unfair practices and pretend everything is just accusations of one or two disgruntled employees.

    As much as the Fund would like us to terminate the blog, this will not stop. We will continue to keep the blog alive and fight for our fellow employee's rights.

    Feel free to email me.

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  32. Anonymous10/25/2010

    What about those employees who get positions by being in the lieing down position? Or in the kneeling position?

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