In response to growing concerns about the spread of the Coronavirus, CSU Chancellor Timothy White sent out a memo March 10 giving guidelines to campus presidents and vice chancellors on remote teaching options and campus operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Teamsters 2010 Representatives are working diligently to ensure that workers’ well-being is put at the forefront of the CSU’s plans during this public health crisis.
In the event of campus closure, Skilled Trades workers may be deemed “essential personnel”, as has been the case in the past. There is no CSU policy stating which positions are considered “essential” and it is up to individual campus administration to determine what positions are essential.
If the campus is closed and you are sent home, emergency campus closure leave will be granted to those sent home.
Emergency Pay for Essential Workers
Our Teamsters contract with the CSU guarantees “Emergency Pay” for any employee “that volunteers, is asked or is assigned by the appropriate administrator to continue working at the campus where the emergency exists…. Emergency pay is premium payment (exclusive of the employee’s regular pay), paid at one times the employee’s straight time rate of pay for each hour worked during the emergency when the campus is on administrative leave.”
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
We want to make sure workers are provided the personal protective equipment (PPE) and ability to wash and/or sanitize when necessary to perform your jobs. If you are required to work with air handlers, laboratory hoods, or handle any equipment that may have been contaminated by COVID-19 or service a room housing a COVID-19 patient, or COVID-19 lab samples, you MAY have grounds to refuse an “abnormally dangerous” assignment. If you feel this is the case at any time, contact your Union Rep immediately.
During this stressful and rapidly changing situation, rest assured that as partners in national labor, health and safety and higher education coalitions, we will continue to compile and share the most up-to-date information, prevention strategies, and solutions. We will get through this crisis together.
Please continue to call your Union Representative with any questions, issues, concerns and new information.
