Norris v. Social Services Employee Union 371
This small claims action, consolidated for trial, involved two former union staff members, Aubrey Norris and Reuben Adeshuko, suing SSEU Local 371 for alleged underpayment of severance. Claimants argued that a long-standing union practice entitled them to three weeks' severance pay upon termination, but they only received two weeks after new leadership took over on May 2, 2011. The defendant contended that the standard policy was two weeks' severance and that the new leadership formally instituted this policy on May 4, 2011. The court found no written severance policy, which violated Labor Law § 195, and concluded that the credible evidence supported the claimants' reliance on a three-week severance practice. The judgment was entered in favor of the claimants for the outstanding severance amount plus interest.