We are pleased to announce that after demands by Teamsters Local 2010, University of California President Janet Napolitano issued a statewide executive order extending 128 hours of paid administrative leave to workers, contingent upon their supervisor determining that use of the leave won’t adversely affect essential university services:
- When an employee is unable to work due to the employee’s own COVID-19-related illness or that of a family member;
- When an employee is unable to work because the employee has been directed not to come to the worksite for COVID-19-related reasons and/or the work site has implemented a COVID-19-related remote-work program or is under a shelter in place order and it is not operationally feasible for the employee to work remotely;
- When an employee is unable to work because a COVID-19-related school or daycare closure requires the employee to be at home with a child or dependent, and it is not operationally feasible for the employee to work remotely or in conjunction with the childcare commitment.
The leave may be used “intermittently or consecutively, either before or after the use of any accrued leave or other paid leave, at the request of the employee, in consultation with the supervisor, provided that such use shall not adversely affect the delivery of essential university services, including in particular, the clinical services delivered by UC Health…” The leave will be prorated for part-time workers.
Teamsters held an emergency bargaining session with UC Monday over the effects of the health crisis on our members. The Union presented its list of proposals to protect our members’ rights, including that UC comply with today’s shelter-at-home orders issued by six Bay Area counties, which encompass UCSF, UC Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. The University agreed that they will comply with the orders, and will update our Union once they have details. The press release announcing the shelter-in-place municipal orders state:
“On March 16, the Public Health officers of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties announced, with the City of Berkeley, a legal order directing their respective residents to shelter at home for three weeks beginning March 17. The order limits activity, travel and business functions to only the most essential needs. The guidance comes after substantial input from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and best practices from other health officials around the world.”
Our Union expressed the need for quick decision-making since the order goes into effect at 12:01 am Tuesday, March 17, and violation carries a potential misdemeanor criminal charge, “punishable by fine, imprisonment, or both. (California Health and Safety Code § 120295).”
Our Union reminded UC officials of our other demands, including a moratorium on layoffs and loss of pay and benefits; UC said they will get back to us promptly with their responses. Our Union proposed and UC agreed to hold daily meetings during this crisis to ensure our members’ rights are protected as events develop.
Read UC President Janet Napolitano’s complete executive order by clicking here.
View our complete list of demands to the UC regarding the COVID-19 pandemic by clicking here.
The UC’s comprehensive COVID-19 information website is linked here.
Our Union is working diligently to make sure worker health, safety, and pay are as secure as possible during this difficult time. If you have questions about your rights, or feel your rights are being violated, please contact your Union Representative.