CONTRACT: PARENTAL LEAVE
SUMMARY OF AGREEMENT ON PARENTAL LEAVE. Effective September 28, 2008, CUNY contributeD $750,000 to create a fund to provide a parental leave benefit for full-time employees on a continuous leave of absence to care for a newborn or newly adopted child up to one year of age for a period not to exceed eight weeks. CUNY will make second and third annual cash contributions of $750,000 to this fund effective October 5, 2009 and October 5, 2010, respectively. The payments to this fund and the benefits provided by this fund will sunset at the end of the 2007-2010 collective bargaining agreement unless the parties agree otherwise. The parties retain the option to negotiate regarding continuation in successor agreements. If at the end of this agreement there are any remaining dollars in the fund, the parties will agree on the utilization of these remaining dollars. Click here for the agreement.
HOW TO APPLY: To start your application for paid parental leave, contact the Human Resource office on your campus. Every campus Human Resources office has the form to fill out for paid parental leave. It’s a relatively simple form on which you include information including your name, department, title and the due date or anticipated adoption date of your child. There’s a space for your Department Chair’s or your supervisor’s signature.
This signature is not for approval of your supervisor, but rather about ensuring that they’ve been notified. The only eligibility requirements are that that you have worked for CUNY full-time for at least a year or, for faculty who welcome babies in the summer, that you have taught during the previous fall and spring semester and been reappointed. Under the agreement between the PSC and CUNY, 90 days’ notice, or notice as soon as is practicable, must be provided.
The PSC encourages you to have a discussion with your Department Chair or supervisor. Chairs, in particular, will be playing an important role throughout this process, as they, after consulting with a faculty member who takes paid parental leave, determine that faculty member’s assignment for the remainder of the semester after returning from paid parental leave.
If you’ve got questions or concerns, call Moriah Berger in the PSC office, (212) 354-1252.
PAID PARENTAL LEAVE BENEFIT BEGINS.
After months of detailed talks, the union and CUNY reached agreement on the Paid Parental Leave benefit on Thursday, March 19th. The benefit is part of the contract ratified in September, 2008. Full-time employees with at least one year of service are eligible for eight consecutive weeks of leave with full pay and benefits immediately upon the birth or adoption of a child (up to five years old) and, for birth mothers, immediately following use of childbirth-related sick leave.
PSC member Mario D'Alessandro, assistant director of CSI's Office of Academic Advisement, at home with his family, from left, Jessica, Faith, and Samuel James, born on August 3.
MOMS, DADS, KIDS CELEBRATE PARENTAL LEAVE. On October 24, dozens of beneficiaries gathered at the PSC union hall to celebrate the eight weeks of paid leave they have been able to enjoy with their newborn and adopted children . Story and photos
