Left to right: Bernice Christopher, President Gregory Floyd, Patricia Williams, and Corinthians Andrews (seated).

Since 2010, Teamsters Local 237 fought to end the pay inequity of School Safety Agents (SSAs). SSAs had been earning approximately $7,000 a year less than their counterparts in other City agencies. With over 70% of the SSAs being women — mostly African Americans and Latinas — and 70% of other “Peace Officer” titles comprised of men, the class action, gender-based pay discrimination lawsuit that ensued, reached an historic settlement in August of 2014.

Although we were fortunate enough to have had many powerful and dedicated allies to assist us along the way, including the nationally renowned women’s rights activist Lilly Ledbetter; Sonia Ossorio, president of the New York City Chapter of NOW; Hazel Dukes, president of the NAACP, New York State Chapter; Mary Lou Urban and Mary Campbell, co-presidents of the League of Women Voters, the fight for equal pay started with three courageous 237 members: Corinthians Andrews, Bernice Christopher and Patricia Williams. They were the original lead plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

Recently, all three were honored as “Heroes of Labor” by a news publication, Labor Press. In his remarks at the award ceremony, which singles out ordinary union members who do extraordinary things, President Gregory Floyd said: “Local 237 had an historic settlement which we all celebrate, but I can tell you that there would be no celebration if it were not for these three brave women being honored here today.

In March of 2010, I met with 25 School Safety Agents to tell them about my plan to sue the City for pay discrimination. We needed lead plaintiffs to sign the legal documents and become the faces of the lawsuit. Twenty- two women walked out the door, but not these three. They remained.

“Over the years of exhausting legal wrangling, these three were still there. They took time from their jobs. They took time from their families. They gave testimony again and again. When their own attorney sought more money for himself and tried to portray them as holding up a settlement, these three never wavered. In fact, on the day in August of 2014, when the judge made his final ruling, Patricia Williams, Corinthians Andrews and Bernice Christopher went into the courtroom and held hands in prayer prior to the verdict.

“Yes, history was made that day, but surely it was their faith and the determination to do the right thing for our members that got us there.”

The settlement, in addition to giving Agents with 3 years of service $7,000 back pay, also calls for the implementation of pay equalization of School Safety Agents with Special Officers. The salaries of SSAs will continue to increase until the end of their contract in 2018, when their pay scales will have caught up with the pay of Special Officers. Special Officers will receive 10.41% raises negotiated over the life of their contract.