AFGE Wins Back Pay for DoD Health Care Employees
April 18, 2016
For health care workers at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Fort Belvoir, pay day came up short for far too long. Now, through the efforts of AFGE Local 1410, certain health care workers may be entitled to years of back pay at these facilities.
AFGE Local 1410 President Felicia Sharp filed a grievance on behalf of all Title 38 employees at these facilities, alleging that many of the employees had not been getting additional pay for their work during overtime and night shifts, on weekends, holidays, and on-call. After fighting for these employees over the last year, Local 1410 enlisted the help of the AFGE Legal Rights Program provided by the AFGE General Counsel’s office. With the assistance of a Legal Rights attorney, Local 1410 was able to secure a settlement with the agency. The settlement will result in back pay plus interest dating back to 2011 for affected employees.
(Pictured: Walter Reed Army Medical Center)
Local 1410 represents more than 3,200 employees at many medical facilities that are part of the National Capital Region Medical Directorate. About 2,000 of these employees are covered under Title 38 pay rules and may be eligible for back-pay under the negotiated settlement. Twenty five occupational series are affected, including physician assistant, social worker, registered nurse, dietician, and physical therapist.
Title 38 pay rules usually cover employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs but have been extended at DoD’s discretion to defense employees at certain facilities who provide direct patient care or service related to direct patient care.
“Employees may not be aware they are entitled to premium pay,” Sharp said. “We have plans to educate them so they don't miss out on pay they deserve.”
