Faculty Rights Tip: Emergency Leave and Catastrophic Leave Donation in Articles 23 and 24

The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) provides for leave for faculty who need to take time off due to emergency situations. With our lives still touched by possible and actual emergency situations, and with an ongoing pandemic persisting, it is important you know that you are entitled to paid leave if you need it. 

Article 23.19 states: “An emergency leave with pay may be granted to a faculty unit employee by the President in the event of a natural catastrophe or an emergency situation that places the health or safety of the faculty unit employee in jeopardy. The President may also grant emergency leave to faculty unit employees who require leave due to violent crimes, domestic violence, and/or sexual assault. Such leaves shall normally be of short duration.”

Additionally, CFA secured new language in the 2022-24 CBA on donated leave so that faculty members can help their colleagues – including both faculty and staff – who are unable to return to work due to natural disasters or “state of emergency”-level situations. 

Article 24.23 in the new contract states: “Any CSU employee who accrues vacation or sick leave credits may voluntarily donate either of those credits to any other CSU employee on the same campus, if the recipient employee has exhausted all accrued leave credits, i.e., sick leave, vacation, and CTO, due to a catastrophic illness or injury, or whose principal place of residence has been impacted by a natural disaster and state of emergency.”

As a result of our bargaining, CFA won an expansion of the conditions under which we can support each other across all CSU campuses and all bargaining units, when catastrophes linked to climate change or other emergencies (that lead to the state declaring a “state of emergency”) arrive in our communities.

It’s important to know that you can both give and receive this kind of support should difficult times befall you, or your fellow workers in the CSU. This is what solidarity looks like!

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