Union Wins $8,087 in Back Pay After Job Misclassification
The Situation
Briana Gillis was hired as a courtesy clerk.
Just three weeks later, she was promoted to checker and began doing the work of a cashier.
But something wasn’t right.
Even after the promotion, her job classification never changed in the system.
For nearly two years, Briana continued working as a cashier while still being coded and paid as a courtesy clerk.
What Went Wrong
The issue wasn’t just a simple oversight.
Because her classification was never updated:
She was paid at the wrong rate
Her role wasn’t properly documented
The company failed to apply the correct contract terms
This went unnoticed for a long time, costing her significant wages.
Where the Union Stepped In
Once the issue was raised, the union investigated.
They reviewed:
Her actual job duties
Her work history
How she had been coded in the system
The facts were clear, Briana had been doing cashier work but had not been paid as a cashier.
The company initially offered a settlement, but it didn’t come close to what she was actually owed.
The union pushed back.
They challenged the amount and continued the process until the full scope of the underpayment was recognized.
The Outcome
Briana received $8,087.94 in back pay.
The Hidden Work of the Union
This is what most members don’t see.
Behind this outcome was the work of:
Investigating job duties and classification
Identifying a long-term pay discrepancy
Challenging an inadequate settlement
Enforcing the contract and wage scale
Continuing the grievance process until the full amount was paid
This kind of work takes time and persistence.
But it’s what ensures members are paid what they’ve actually earned.
When Should You Call the Union?
Situations like this don’t always feel urgent at first.
You should contact your union if:
Your job duties don’t match your job title
You’re asked to take on higher-level work without a pay change
Something about your pay or classification doesn’t seem right
A situation has been ongoing but never corrected
The earlier the issue is raised, the easier it is to fix.
Why Stories Like This Matter
This wasn’t about one bad day or one moment.
It was about something small that went uncorrected for a long time.
Without the union, that lost pay might never have been recovered.
Stories like this show how the union protects members not just in major conflicts, but in the everyday details that add up over time.
Know Your Rights
You have the right to be paid according to your classification and the work you perform under your union contract.
If something doesn’t match, speak up and involve your union.
A Note About Grievances
Every grievance situation is unique. Outcomes can vary depending on the specific facts of the case and the language in a union’s collective bargaining agreement. Similar situations may be resolved differently depending on the details involved and the protections written into each union contract.