PREAMBLE

 

 

 

 

                This Agreement entered into by the University of Massachusetts, hereinafter referred to as the Employer, and the Union will set forth procedures for the equitable resolution of grievances, the terms of employment with respect to wages and working conditions, and means by which the parties may consult periodically on mutually perceived problems.

                                               

                                               

ARTICLE  1

RECOGNITION

                The Employer recognizes the Union as the sole and exclusive bargaining agent for the purpose of establishing wages, hours, standards of productivity and performance and other terms and conditions of employment for all full-time and regular part-time employees in bargaining units presently certified by the Labor Relations Commission or consented to by the parties.

                Should any new classified classification(s) be added to the work force, the Employer shall notify the appropriate Union of such new classification(s).  The Employer and Union shall consult to mutually determine if such new classification(s) shall be added to the bargaining unit.  If the parties cannot agree, the matter may be referred to the State Labor Relations Commission by either party, with a request that the Commission make that determination.

                The Employer will not aid, promote or finance any labor group or organization which purports to engage in collective bargaining, or make any agreement with any such group or individual for the purpose of undermining the Union or changing any condition in the Agreement.

                The Employer agrees to apply applicable provisions of this Agreement to those employees who receive all contractual benefits, whose funding source is derived from grants or other non-state appropriated funds and who perform the functions of those positions covered by this Agreement to the extent that the terms of their respective grants or non-state appropriated funding source and the level of funding thereunder so allow, as determined by the Chief Executive Officer of the campus or his/her designee.

 


 

ARTICLE  2

RULES  AND  REGULATIONS

                The parties agree that this Agreement in all respects supplants and replaces all particular provisions of the following General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Rules and Regulations thereto and any future rules and regulations promulgated thereunder namely:  the Second Paragraph of Section Twenty-Eight of Chapter Seven (Red Book); Section Twenty-Four A; Paragraphs (4) and (5) (Gray Book), formerly paragraphs 5 and 6 of Section Forty-Five; paragraphs (1), (4), and (10) of Section Forty-Six, and Section Fifty-Three of Chapter Thirty; Sections Thirty to Forty-Two, inclusive, of Chapter One Hundred and Forty-Nine. 

 

 

ARTICLE  3 

UNION  SECURITY

Dues Checkoff

Section  1.

                The Union shall have the exclusive right to the checkoff and transmittal of Union dues on behalf of each employee.

Section  2.

                An employee may consent in writing to the authorization of the deduction of Union dues from his/her wages and to the designation of the Union as the recipient thereof.  Such consent shall be in a form acceptable to the appointing authority and shall bear the signature of the employee.  An employee may withdraw his/her Union dues checkoff authorization by giving at least sixty (60) days' notice in writing to the Human Resources Office and the Secretary/Treasurer of the Union.

Section 3.

                An employee may consent in writing to the authorization of the deduction of an agency service fee from his/her wages and to the designation of the Union as the recipient thereof.  Such consent shall be in a form acceptable to the appointing authority and shall bear the signature of the employee.  An employee may withdraw his/her agency service fee authorization by giving at least sixty (60) days notice in writing to the Human Resources Office and the Secretary/Treasurer of the Union.

Section  4.

                The appointing authority shall deduct dues or an agency service fee from the pay of employees who request such deduction in accordance with this Article and transmit such funds in accordance with departmental policy to the Treasurer of the Union together with a list of employees whose dues or agency service fee are transmitted, provided that the appointing authority is satisfied by such evidence that it may require that the Treasurer of the Union has given to the Union a bond in a form approved by the appointing authority for the faithful performance of his/her duties, in a sum and with such agency or securities as are satisfactory to the appointing authority.


 

ARTICLE  4

AGENCY  SERVICE  FEE

Section  1.

                Each employee who elects not to join or maintain membership in the Union shall be required to pay as a condition of employment, beginning thirty (30) days following the commencement of his/her employment, an agency service fee to the Union in an amount that is proportionately commensurate with the cost of collective bargaining and contract administration, but not to exceed the amount of periodic dues paid by employees who are members of the Union.

Section 2.

                This Article shall not become operative until this Agreement has been formally executed, pursuant to a vote of a majority of all employees in that bargaining unit present and voting.

Section 3.

                The Union shall reimburse the appointing authority for any expenses incurred as a result of being ordered to reinstate an employee terminated at the request of the Union for not paying the agency service fee.  In such litigation, the appointing authority shall have no obligation to defend the termination.

Section 4. 

                Disputes between the parties concerning this Article shall be resolved in accordance with the grievance procedure contained in this Agreement.  In the event such a dispute is submitted to arbitration, the arbitrator shall have no power or authority to order the appointing authority to pay such agency service fee on behalf of any employee.

               

                If the arbitrator decides that an employee has failed to pay or authorize the payment of the agency service fee in accordance with this Article, the only remedy shall be the termination of the employment of such employee if the employee continues to refuse to pay or authorize payment of the required agency service fee after having sufficient time to do so.

 

Section 5.

                It is specifically agreed that the appointing authority assumes no obligation, financial or otherwise, arising out of the provisions of this Article and the preceding Dues/Agency Service Fee Checkoff Article, and the Union hereby agrees it will indemnify and hold the appointing authority harmless from any claims, actions or proceedings by an employee arising from the termination of an employee here under or from deductions made by the appointing authority.


 

ARTICLE  5

UNION BUSINESS

Section 1.  Union Representation

                Union staff representatives shall be permitted to have access to the premises of the appointing authority for the performance of official Union business, provided that there is no disruption of operations.  Requests for such access will be made in advance and will not be unreasonably denied.  The Union will furnish the appointing authority with a list of staff representatives and their areas of jurisdiction.

Section 2.  Grievance Processing

                Except as hereinafter provided, Union business shall be conducted by Union stewards and officials on off-duty hours.

                Union stewards and officials shall be permitted to have time off without loss of pay for the investigation and processing of grievances and arbitrations.  Grievants shall be permitted to have time off without loss of pay for processing their grievances through the contractual grievance procedure, except that for class action grievances no more than three (3) grievants shall be granted such leave.  Requests for such time off shall be made in advance and shall not be unreasonably denied.  No steward or other representative of the Union shall at any time use his/her Union position as an excuse to refuse to carry out his/her own duties or to interfere with the work of any other employee.

                The union will furnish the Employer with a list of Union stewards and their jurisdictions.

Section 3.  Paid Union Leave of Absence

                A.  Leave of absence without loss of wages, benefits or other privileges may be granted to elected delegates of the Union to attend conventions of the State, Regional and Parent Organization.  Such leave will require the prior approval of the Chancellor or designee.  Persons designated as alternate delegates shall not be granted paid leaves of absence to attend such conventions.

                B.            Leaves of absence without loss of wages, benefits or other privileges may be granted to Union negotiating committee members for attendance at negotiating sessions with the Employer and related Union caucuses.  Such leave will require the prior approval of the Chancellor or designee.

                C.            Leaves of absence without loss of wages, benefits, or other privileges may be granted for attendance at joint labor-management meetings.  Such leave will require the prior approval of the Chancellor or designee.

Section 4. Unpaid Union Leave of Absence

                Upon request by the Union, an employee may be granted a leave of absence without pay to perform full-time official duties on behalf of the Union.  Such leave of absence shall be for a period of up to one year and may be extended for one or more additional periods of  one year or less at the request of the Union.  Advance approval of the Chancellor or designee is required for all such leaves of absence or the extension thereof.

                Leaves of absence without loss of benefits or other privileges (not including wages) may be granted to Union Officers and stewards to attend executive board meetings and other union meetings.  Such leave will require the prior approval of the Chancellor or designee.

Section 5. Attendance at Hearings

                Representatives and officers of the Union may be granted leave of absence without loss of wages, benefits or other privileges to attend hearings before the Legislature and State agencies concerning matters of importance to the Union and the Employer.  Such leave will require prior approval of the Chancellor or designee.

                Witnesses called by the Union to testify at a Step 4 hearing or in an arbitration proceeding (Step 5) may be granted time off without loss of benefits or other privileges (not including wages).

                All leave granted under this section shall require prior approval of the Chancellor or designee.

Section 6. Union Use of Premises

                The union shall be permitted to use the same or similar facilities of the Employer for the transaction of Union business during working hours which have been used in the past for such purpose, and to have reasonable use of the Employer's facilities during off duty hours for Union meetings subject to appropriate compensation if required by law.

                This section shall not be interpreted to grant an employee the right to carry on Union business during his/her own working hour, not granted elsewhere in the agreement.

Section 7 Bulletin Boards

                The Union may post notices on designated bulletin boards or an adequate part thereof in places and locations where notices usually are posted by the appointing authority for employees to read.  All notices shall be on Union stationery, signed by an official of the Union, and shall only be used to notify employees of matters pertaining to Union affairs.  The notices may remain posted for a reasonable period of time. No material shall be posted which is inflammatory, profane or obscene, or defamatory of the Commonwealth or its representatives, or which constitutes election campaign material for or against any person, organization or factions thereof.

Section 8. Employer Provision of Information

                The Employer shall be required to provide the Union with the following information:

                A.            Every three months a list of all new employees in the bargaining unit, date of employment and classification.

                B.            Every six months a list of all employees who have been terminated.

                C.            A list of all employees who withdraw checkoff authorizations within two months of such withdrawal.

                D.            A list of employees in each bargaining unit, including title and last date of hire.  Such lists shall be updated each six months.

Where the Employer has been providing the above information to the Union at more frequent time intervals, the information shall continue to be furnished at such intervals.

 

Section 9. Orientation

                Where the Institution provides an orientation program for new employees, one-half hour shall be allotted to the Union and to the new employees during which time a Union representative may discuss the Union with the employee.


 

 

ARTICLE 6

NON-DISCRIMINATION AND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

Section 1.

                The employer and the Union agree not to discriminate in any way against employees covered by this Agreement on account of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, mental or physical handicap, or veteran's status.

Section 2.

                The Union and the Employer agree that when the effects of employment practices, regardless of their intent, discriminate against any group of people on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, mental or physical handicap, or veteran's status specific positive and aggressive measures must be taken to redress the effects of past discrimination, to eliminate present and future discrimination, and to ensure equal opportunity in the areas of hiring, upgrading, demotion or transfer, recruitment, layoff or termination, rate of compensation, and in-service or apprenticeship training programs.  Therefore the parties acknowledge the need for positive and aggressive affirmative action.

Section 3.

                This Article shall be in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.

Section 4.

                Any matters concerning this Article shall be subject to the Campus Affirmative Action Grievance Procedure and not the grievance and arbitration procedures provided in Article 29 of this Agreement.


ARTICLE 7

WORKWEEK AND WORK SCHEDULES

Section 1. Scheduled Hours, Workweek, Workday

                A.            Except as otherwise specified in this Agreement, the regular hours of work for full-time employees shall be thirty-seven and one-half hours per week excluding meal periods or forty hours per week excluding meal periods, as has been established for that job title at the particular job location.  Any employee whose regular workweek has averaged more than forty hours excluding meal periods in the past shall have a forty hour workweek.

                B.            The work schedule, both starting times and quitting times, of employees shall be posted on a bulletin board at each work location or otherwise made available to employees and Union stewards.

                C.            When the Employer desires to change the regular work schedule of an employee he shall give the affected employee at least seven consecutive (7) days written notice of such contemplated change, except in cases of emergency involving the protection of the property of the Institution or involving the health and safety of those persons whose care and/or custody have been entrusted to the Institution.

                D.            To the extent practicable, the normal workweek shall consist of five consecutive days, Monday through Friday, with the regular hours of work each day to be consecutive except for meal periods.  Similarly, to the extent practicable, employees in continuous operations shall receive two consecutive days off in each seven day period.  This subsection should not apply to employees in authorized flexible hours programs or on a four and two schedule, or summer hours.

                E.             Each employee shall be required to record his/her attendance in accordance with procedures presently established by the appointing authority.  Thirty (30) days prior to any change in the existing method of recording attendance, the Chancellor or designee will notify the Union of such change and will meet and confer with the Union to discuss such change.

Section 2. Overtime

                A.            An employee shall be compensated at the rate of time and one-half his/her regular rate of pay for authorized overtime work performed in excess of forty hours per week or eight hours per day; provided, however, that an employee whose regular workday is more than eight hours shall be compensated at the rate of time and one-half of his/her regular hourly rate of pay for authorized overtime work performed in excess of his/her regular workday.

                B.            Compensatory time off in lieu of pay for overtime work may be granted to an employee at the option of the Chancellor or his/her designee and with the consent of the employee.  Such compensatory time shall be at time and one-half for each hour worked.  The appointing authority shall not, for the purpose of avoiding the payment of overtime, curtail the scheduled hours of an employee during the remainder of a workweek in which the employee has previously worked hours beyond his/her normally scheduled workday.  This paragraph shall not apply to employees who, because of the nature of the duties of their positions, work an irregular workday, nor shall it apply to employees who  have been permitted by the Employer to participate in an approved voluntary flexible hours program that has been duly authorized by the Chancellor or his/her designee.

                C.            With the exception of sick leave, all time for which an employee is on full pay status such as vacation, holidays, paid education leave, and paid union leave shall be considered time worked for the purpose of calculating overtime compensation.  If sick leave is taken in a week of mandatory overtime, an employee may substitute three (3) days per year for alternative time (vacation, compensatory, holiday, or personal time) and up to two (2) days per year of sick time.

                D.            There shall be no duplication or pyramiding of the premium pay for overtime work provided for in this Agreement.

                E.             The appointing authority shall make every effort to send out checks for overtime no later than the second payroll period following the payroll period of the overtime worked.

                F.             Overtime shall be distributed as equitably and impartially as practicable among persons in each work location who ordinarily perform such related work in the normal course of their workweek.

                G.            The provisions of this Section shall not apply to employees on full travel status.

                H.            In instances where no employee can be found to perform institutional overtime work, the appointing authority may assign such work to the least senior employee who, in the judgment of the appointing authority, is capable of carrying out the required duties.

 

Section 3. Regular Meal Periods

                A meal period shall be scheduled as close to the middle of the shift as possible considering the needs of the institution and the needs of the employee.

Section 4. Rest Periods

                Employees shall be granted two fifteen minute rest periods per work day of at least seven and one-half hours, but separate from the meal period.

 Section 5. Call Back Pay

                Effective on the date of signing of this Agreement, an employee who has left his/her place of employment after completing work on his/her regular shift and is called back to work prior to the commencement of his/her next scheduled shift shall receive a minimum of four  hours pay at his/her regular hourly overtime rate.  This Section shall not apply to an employee who is called in to start his/her shift early and who continues to work that shift.

Section 6. Court Time

                Any member of the bargaining unit who, while off duty, is required by the appointing authority to appear as a witness for the Commonwealth in a criminal case, in district, juvenile or superior courts, License and Police Commissions, and show cause hearings and civil cases arising out of such criminal cases shall be paid at a rate of time and one-half.  The unit member will be paid a minimum of three (3) hours at the time and one-half rate, except that when such duty is required on the employee's regular day off, he/she shall be paid a minimum of four (4) hours at the time and one-half rate.

Section 7.  Inclement Weather

                In the event that classes are canceled due to inclement weather, only personnel designated as “essential” shall be required to work.  Essential personnel who report to work on a day when classes are canceled shall be entitled to compensatory time off, based on the actual number of hours worked.  Such compensatory time shall be taken within ninety (90) days following its accrual.  Each year a list of essential personnel shall be forwarded to the Director of Human Resources by the appropriate supervisor.

 

Section 8.   Shift Differential

                A.            Employees rendering service on a second or third shift as hereinafter defined shall receive a shift differential of 50 cents per hour for each hour worked.

                B.            For the purpose of this Section only, a second shift shall be one that commences at 1:00 p.m. or after and ends no later then 2:00 a.m. and a third shift shall be one that commences at 9:00 p.m. or after and ends no later than 9:00 a.m.

                C.            The above hourly shift differential shall be paid in addition to regular salary for eligible employees when their entire workday is on a second or third shift.  Eligible employees who are required to work a second or third shift or any portion thereof on an overtime basis, replacing a worker who normally works such second or third shift, will receive an hourly differential pursuant to paragraph A of this section.

                D.            For employees who are required to work a second or third shift as governed by paragraph C of this section, overtime shall be compensated at the rate of time and one-half of the regular salary rate and the shift differential for the number of hours in excess of forty (40) hours per week worked on such second or third shift.

 

Section 9.Compressed Workweek

 

The University will allow bargaining unit members to participate in a compressed work schedule in accordance with the following:

Effective the Monday following the University’s Commencement Exercise through the second Friday in August, and the Monday following final exams in the Fall semester through the second Friday in January bargaining unit members may elect to work a compressed work schedule subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

-Unit members will begin work at 8:30 AM, will eliminate the two – fifteen (15) minute breaks, reduce their lunch break to one half hour and end the work day at 4:00 PM.

-All offices must be covered until 5:00 P.M.

-A rotating work schedule should be developed if all employees in an office choose compressed work schedules and the supervisor determines that one or more employees must work until 5:00 P.M.

-Supervisors in offices which are staffed by one bargaining unit employee and have no other clerical help, may develop a rotating schedule with a nearby office.

 


ARTICLE 8

LEAVE

Section 1. Sick Leave

                (a)           A full-time employee shall accumulate sick leave with pay credits at the rate of one work day for each full payroll month of employment for a total of twelve (12) days per year.  An employee on any leave with pay or industrial accident leave shall accumulate sick leave credits.

                                (i)            Each employee may exercise the option to receive, at the end of the fiscal year, a dollar amount equal to 50% of the value of unused annual sick leave credits to a maximum of six (6) days, based on the table below.  This option is based on an employee’s annual sick leave accrual and usage only.

 

Sick Leave Days Used                                        Cash in allowed                                    Days Accrued

 

                0                                                                              6                                                              6             

                1                                                                              5                                                              6             

                2                                                                              4                                                              6             

                3                                                                              3                                                              6             

                4                                                                              2                                                              6             

                5                                                                              1                                                              6             

                6 or more                                                                0                                                              6 or fewer

 

                The decision to cash in sick leave time must be made by May 1.  Sick days cashed in shall be deducted from the employee’s sick leave balance.  In order to exercise this option an employee must cash in all sick leave as allowed below.

(b)           A regular part-time employee shall accumulate sick leave credits in the same proportion that his/her part-time service bears to full-time service.

                (c)           Sick leave shall be granted, at the discretion of the appointing authority, to  an employee only under the following conditions:           

                                (i)  when an employee cannot perform his/her duties because he or she is incapacitated by personal illness or injury;

                                (ii)  when the spouse, domestic partner, child, or  parent of either employee or his/her spouse or a relative living in the immediate household of an employee, is ill, the employee may utilize sick leave credits up to a maximum of sixty (60) days per fiscal year;  and

                                (iii)  when through exposure to contagious disease, the presence of the employee at his/her work location would jeopardize the health of others.

 

                (d) A full-time employee on leave without pay or absent without pay for any part of any pay period, shall accrue pro-rated sick leave time for that pay period calculated as a portion of the number of hours worked in that pay period.  This provision shall be implemented consistent with the date of implementation of the PeopleSoft Human Resources Information System.

                (e)           Whenever the Chancellor or his/her designee has reason to believe that sick leave is being abused or whenever an employee has been absent on account of sickness in excess of five days, the Chancellor or designee may require the employee to present a physician's statement indicating the medical reason for any absence on account of  sickness.  Failure of an employee to present such statement seven (7) working days after a request therefore has been made by the CEO or designee, may, at the discretion of the CEO or designee, result in the absence being treated as absence without pay.

                (f)            The appointing authority may require that an employee, wishing to return to work after an absence of more than five (5) consecutive working days because of illness or injury, be examined by a physician designated by the appointing authority and/or by a physician of the employee's choosing.  If the appointing authority requires the employee to be examined by its designated physician, the appointing authority shall assume the cost of such examination.  The results of such examinations(s) must attest to the fitness of such employee to return to his/her regularly assigned duties.

                (g)           Sick leave must be charged against unused sick leave credits in units of one-half hour (1/2) or full hours, but in no event may the sick leave credits used be less than the actual time off.

                (h)           Any employee having no sick leave credits, who is absent due to illness, may be placed, unless otherwise notified by the employee, on personal leave, or, if no personal leave credits, then on vacation leave.  Such leave shall be charged on the same basis as provided in subsection (g).

                (i)            An employee who is reinstated or reemployed after an absence of less than three (3) years shall be credited with his/her prior employment.  An employee who is reinstated or reemployed after a period of three (3) years or more shall receive prior sick leave credits, if approved by the appointing authority where such absence was caused by:

(i)            Illness of said employee;

(ii)           Dismissal through no fault or delinquency attributable solely to said employee;

(iii)          Injury while in the employment of the Employer in the line of duty, and for which said employee would be entitled to receive Workmen's Compensation benefits.

                (j)            A regular part-time employee shall not accrue sick leave credits for any month in which he/she was on leave without pay or absent without pay in the same proportion that his/her service bears to one day of service of a full-time employee.

                (k)           Notification of absences under this Article must be given to the designated representative of the appointing authority at least one-half (1/2) hour prior to the beginning of the scheduled tour of duty.  If such notification is not made, such absence may, at the discretion of the appointing authority, be applied to absence without pay.  In extraordinary circumstances beyond the control of the employee, the above notification period may be waived.

                (l)            No employee shall be entitled to a leave under the provisions of this Article in excess of the accumulated sick leave credits due such employee (including any sick leave bank provisions).

                (m)          Employees whose service with the Employer is terminated shall not be entitled to any compensation in lieu of accumulated sick leave credits.  Employees who retire shall be paid twenty percent (20%) of the value of their unused accrued sick leave at the time of their retirement.  It is understood that any such payment will not change the employee's pension benefit.  Employees who are eligible to retire in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 32 of the Massachusetts General Laws and decease while employed, shall have paid to their beneficiary(ies) or estate twenty percent (20%) of the value of their unused accrued sick leave at the time of their death.

                (n)           Sick leave credits earned by an employee following a return to duty after a leave without pay or absence without pay shall not be applied to such period of time.

                (o)           An employee who while in the performance of his/her duty receives bodily injuries resulting from acts of violence of patients or  who receives such injuries in the pursuit, apprehension, or detention of suspects as reflected in the official police report, and who as a result of such injuries would be entitled to benefits under Chapter 152 of the General Laws, shall, if entitled under Chapter 30, Section 58 of the General Laws, be paid the difference between the weekly cash benefits to which he/she would be entitled under said Chapter 152 and his/her regular salary without such absence being charged against available sick leave credits, even if such absence may be for less than six (6) calendar days.

Section 2. Paid Personal Leave

 

                Except as noted below, effective January, 2002 and annually thereafter, on the first payroll of the new calendar year, full-time employees shall be credited with three (6) paid personal leave days, which must be taken during the following twelve (12) months at a time or times requested by the bargaining unit member and approved by the supervisor. Any paid personal leave not taken by the last payroll date of the payroll month of December will be forfeited by the bargaining unit member.  Except if as the result of a layoff, employees who leave the University and return shall be eligible for no more than one personal leave award per calendar year.  Personal leave days for regular part-time bargaining unit members will be granted on a pro-rata basis. Personal leave may be available in units of one half hour and may be used in conjunction with vacation leave.  Full time bargaining unit members hired into the bargaining unit on or after the first full payroll day of the payroll month of January will be credited with personal leave days in accordance with the following schedule:

 

Date of Hire into Unit                                                          Personal Leave Days Credited

January 1 to March 31                                                                                         6

April 1 through June 30                                                                                      4

July 1 through September 30                                                                              2

October 1 through December 31                                                                        0

 

                For the period July 1, 2001 through December 2002 each full time bargaining unit member on the payroll as of July 1, 2001 will be credited with nine (9) paid personal leave days which must be used or forfeited by the last payroll day of the payroll month of December 2002.  Full time bargaining unit members hired into the unit after the first payroll day of the month of July 2001 and prior to the last payroll of December 2001 shall be credited with three  (3) days in addition to amounts listed in the schedule above.

Section 3. Bereavement Leave

                Upon evidence satisfactory to the appointing authority of the death of a spouse, child, stepchild, parent, brother, sister, grandparent, or grandchild of an employee; or parent of spouse; or person living in the household, an employee shall be entitled to leave without loss of pay for a maximum of four consecutive working days.

                In addition, a maximum of two (2) consecutive working days shall be available for use by an employee in case of the death of his/her spouse's brother, sister, great-grandparent or step-grandchild.

                A maximum of one (1) day shall be available for use by an employee in case of the death of the employee’s aunt or uncle.


 

Section 4. Voting Leave

                An employee whose hours of work preclude him/her from voting in a town, city, state, or national election shall upon application be granted a voting leave with pay, not to exceed two hours, for the sole purpose of voting in the election.

Section 5. Civic Duty Leave

                A.            Employees summoned for jury duty will be granted a leave of absence with pay for time lost from their regular work schedule while on said jury duty upon presentation of the appropriate summons to the department head by the employees.

                B.            An employee who receives jury fees for jury service upon presentation of the appropriate court certificate of service, shall either:

(1)  retain such jury fees in lieu of pay for the period of jury service if the jury fees exceed his/her regular rate of compensation for the period involved; or

(2)  remit to the appointing authority the jury fees if less than    his/her regular rate of compensation for the period involved.

                C.            Jury fees for the purpose of this Article shall be the per diem rate paid for jury duty by the court not including the expenses reimbursed for travel, meals, rooms, or incidentals.

                D.            An employee summoned as a witness in court on behalf of the Commonwealth or any town, city or county of the Commonwealth or on behalf of the federal government shall be granted court leave with pay upon filing of the appropriate notice of service with his/her department head except that this Section shall not apply to an employee who is also in the employ of any town, city or county of the commonwealth or in the employ of the federal government or any private employer and who is summoned on a matter arising from that employment.

                E.             All fees for court service except jury fees paid for service rendered during office hours must be paid to the Commonwealth.  Any fees paid to an employee for court service performed during a vacation period may be retained by the employee.  The employee shall retain expenses paid for travel, meals, rooms, etc.

                F.             An employee on court leave who has been excused by the proper court authority shall report to his/her official duty station if such interruption in court service will permit four or more consecutive hours of employment.  Court leave shall not affect any employment rights of the individual.

                G.            No court leave shall be granted when the employee is the defendant or is engaged in personal litigation, unless such litigation arises out of the proper and legitimate performance of his/her assigned responsibilities.

 

Section 6. Military Leave

                A.            An employee shall be entitled during the time of his/her service in the armed forces of the Commonwealth, under Section 38, 40, 41, 42, or 60 of c.33 of the General Laws, to receive pay therefor, without loss of his/her ordinary remuneration as an employee.

                B.            An employee shall be entitled, during his/her annual tour of duty of not exceeding seventeen days as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, to receive pay therefore, without loss of his ordinary remuneration as an employee under section 59 of C.33 General Laws as amended.

                C.            An employee who is a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States and who is called for duty other than the annual tour of duty of not exceeding seventeen days shall be subject to the provisions of Chapter 708 of the Acts of 1941 as amended, or of Chapter 805 of the Acts of 1950 as amended, or Chapter 671 of the Acts of 1966, and amendments thereto.

                D.            In accordance with Chapter 708 of the Acts of 1941, as amended, an employee who, on or after January first, nineteen hundred and forty, shall have tendered his/her resignation or otherwise terminated his/her service for the purpose of serving in the military or naval forces of the United States who does serve or was or shall be rejected for such service shall except as otherwise provided by Chapter 708 of the Acts of 1941, as amended, be deemed to be or to have been on military leave, and no such person shall be deemed to have resigned from the service of the Commonwealth or to have terminated such service until the expiration of two years from the termination of said military or naval service by him/her.

 

Section 7. Child Birth and Maternity Leave

                A.            A full-time female employee who has completed her probationary period , and who is absent from her employment with the Commonwealth for a period not exceeding eight weeks for the purpose of giving birth shall be granted a maternity leave without pay if her request for such leave is made to the appointing authority as least two weeks in advance of the anticipated date of departure.  During family leave taken in conjunction with the birth, adoption or placement for foster care of a child an employee shall receive his/her salary for ten (10) days of said leave, immediately following the birth, adoption or placement.  If an employee has accrued sick leave or vacation credits at the commencement of her maternity leave, she may use such leave credits for which she may be eligible under the sick leave or vacation provisions of this Agreement.

                B.            At the expiration of the maternity leave, the employee will be restored to her previous position or similar position with the same status, pay, and length of service credit as of the date of her leave.  If during the period of the leave, employees in the same or similar position in the department have been laid off through no fault of their own, the employee will be extended the same rights or benefits, if any, extended to employees of equal length of service in the same or similar position in the department.

                C.            Notwithstanding any other provision of this agreement to the contrary, the maternity leave granted under the Article shall not affect the employee's right to receive any contractual benefits for which she was eligible at the time of her leave.

                                If, upon the request of an employee, the appointing authority grants a leave beyond eight (8) weeks, such leave shall be considered a regular leave of absence without pay.  The period of such unpaid leave shall not be included in any computation of contractual benefits, rights, or advantages.

Section 8. Parental Leave

                Upon written application to the appointing authority, including a statement of any reasons, any employee who has completed any applicable probation period and who has been employed at least three (3) consecutive months and who has given at least two (2) weeks prior notice of his/her anticipated date of departure and who has given notice of his/her intention of return, may be granted parental or adoptive leave for a period not exceeding eight (8) weeks.  . Such leave shall be without pay for such period.  The purpose for which an employee may submit his/her application for such unpaid leave shall be limited to the need to care for, or to make arrangement for care of, a minor dependent child of the employee, whether or not the child is the natural, adopted or stepchild of such employee.

 

Section 9. Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

                The Appointing Authority shall implement the provision of the FMLA in accordance with the University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees Policy  (Doc T93-123) as amended.

Section 10. Education Leave

                Employees may be granted a paid leave of absence in accordance with the policies of the Institution for educational purposes, to attend conferences, seminars, briefing sessions, or other functions of a similar nature that are intended to improve or upgrade the individual's skill or professional ability.  The employee shall not suffer any loss of seniority or benefits as a result of such leave.

Section 11. Unpaid Personal Leave

                Unpaid personal leave, other than herein before specified, may be granted by the appointing authority upon the written request of an employee at least thirty (30) days in advance.  Approval shall not be unreasonably denied.

                Retirement, seniority, sick leave, vacation credit and time accrual for step increase shall not accrue during the terms of such leave.


ARTICLE 9

VACATIONS

Section 1.

                (a)           Beginning at the end of the first full payroll month (herein after in this Article "month") of employment, vacation leave with pay shall be credited to full-time employees at the end of each full month of employment, as follows:

                Length of continuous                                         Vacation Credit Accrued

                full-time "creditable

                service" as of the end

                of each applicable month.

 

                less than fifty four (54) months.                        5/6 day per month (total of ten                                                                                                                                          days per year)

                Fifty-four (54) months, but                                 1 1/4 days per month (total of

                less than One Hundred fourteen                       15 days per year)

                (114) months.

                One hundred fourteen (114)                               1 2/3 days per month (total

                months, but less than two                                  of 20 days per year)

                hundred thirty-four (234)

                months.

                Two hundred thirty-four                                     2 1/12 days per month (total of

                (234) months, or more.                                         25 days per year)

 

(b)                 For determining vacation status under this Article, "creditable service" only shall be used.

All service beginning on the first working day of the first full month in the Institution where rendered, and all service thereafter becomes "creditable service" provided there has not been any break of three (3) years or more in such service as referred to in Section 12 of this Article.  In computing an employee's vacation status all "creditable service" from the first working day in the Institution up to the end of each full month of service rendered shall constitute the "creditable service" which shall be used to establish vacation credit for such month.  Anything in the foregoing to the contrary notwithstanding, an employee shall, on the effective date of the Agreement, be deemed to have that "creditable service", if any, which he/she has at the termination of the predecessor Agreement.


 

Section 2.

                A regular part-time employee shall be granted vacation leave in the same proportion that his/her part-time service bears to full-time service.

Section 3.

                Vacation leave accrued during any month shall be credited on the last day of the month based on the employee's full-time equivalent status on that date and shall be available for use the following day.

Section 4.

                An employee on leave without pay or absent without pay for any part of any pay period, shall accrue pro-rated vacation leave time for that pay period calculated as a portion of the number of work days in that pay period that were worked.  This provision shall be implemented consistent with the date of implementation of the PeopleSoft Human Resources Information System.

Section 5.

                An employee who is reinstated or reemployed after less than three (3) years shall have his/her prior service included in determining his/her continuous service for vacation purposes.

Section 6.

                The appointing authority shall grant vacation leave within twelve months after it is credited, unless in the appointing authority's opinion it is impossible or impracticable to do so because of work schedules or emergencies.

                No employee shall carry more than fifty 50 days of vacation leave credits.

Section 7.

                Absences on account of sickness in excess of the authorized sick leave provided in the Agreement (or for personal reasons not provided for under said sick leave provisions), may be charged, unless otherwise notified by the employee, to personal leave, if any, then to vacation leave, if any.

Section 8.

                Charges to vacation leave credit may be allowed in units of one half (1/2) hour.

Section 9.

                Upon the death of an employee who is eligible for vacation under this Agreement, payment shall be made in an amount equal to the vacation leave which had accrued prior to the employee's death but which had not been used by the employee up to the time of his/her separation from payroll.

Section 10.

                An employee who is eligible for vacation under these rules, whose services are terminated for any reason other than dismissal for cause, shall be paid an amount equal to the vacation leave that had been accrued prior to such termination but which had not been used.  An employee who is dismissed for cause shall be entitled to payment for any accrued but unused vacation leave up to a maximum of twelve (12) months accrual calculated on the basis of the monthly rate applicable to the employee on the date of dismissal.

Section 11.

                An employee who is reinstated or reemployed shall be entitled to his/her vacation status at the termination of his/her previous service; provided, however, that no credit for previous service may be allowed where reinstatement occurs after an absence of three years unless approval of the appointing authority is secured for any of the following reasons:

                A.            Illness of the employee

                B.            Dismissal through no fault or delinquency attributable to the employee.

C.            Injury while in the service of the Commonwealth in the line of his/her duties and for which the employee would be entitled to receive Workers’ Compensation benefits.

Section 12.

                An employee who is granted a leave of absence to enter service in the armed forces of the United States, under the provisions of Chapter 708 of the Acts of 1941, as amended, and who, upon honorable discharge from such service in said armed forces, returns to the service of the Institution, shall be paid an amount equal to the vacation leave which had been accrued prior to his/her entry into such service in said armed forces but which had not been used prior to military leave.

 

Section 13.

                An employee who is reinstated after military leave, as referred to in Section 13 may be granted vacation allowance up to the equivalent of twelve months' accrual as of the date on which he/she returned or return, provided, that prior to such military leave, vacation had not been used or compensation paid in lieu thereof for the same year.  Neither the above usage, nor absence due to military leave shall, in any way, affect vacation credits accrued by such an employee in any full month of employment after he/she returns from military service.

Section 14.

                Vacation leave shall accrue to an employee while on a leave with pay status or on industrial accident leave.

Section 15.

                Vacation leave accrued following a return to duty after leave without pay or absence without pay shall not be applied against such leave or absence.

Section 16.

                An employee who has available unused vacation leave, and who, because of the provisions of Section 7 of this Article, would lose such vacation leave, shall have such vacation leave converted to sick leave on the last day of the month in which such vacation would be lost if not taken.

Section 17.

                Any employee wishing to exercise his/her seniority for vacation preference must apply in writing at least sixty (60) days in advance of the first day requested.  The appointing authority shall respond to this request in writing, indicating whether it can reasonably schedule such vacation, at least forty-five (45) days in advance of the first day requested. 

                All vacation leave shall be requested and approved in advance.


ARTICLE 10

HOLIDAYS

Section 1.

                The following days shall be holidays for employees:

                                New Year's Day

                                Martin Luther King Day

                                Washington's Birthday

                                *Evacuation Day (Suffolk County only)

                                Patriots Day

                                *Bunker Hill Day (Suffolk County only)

                                Memorial Day

                                Independence Day

                                Labor Day

                                Columbus Day

                                Veterans Day

                                Thanksgiving

                                Christmas Day                                     

Section 2.

                All holidays shall be observed on the Commonwealth's legal holiday unless an alternative day is designated by the appointing authority.

Section 3.

                When a holiday occurs on the regular scheduled workday of an employee, he/she, if not required to work that day, shall be entitled to receive his/her regular day's pay for such holiday.

Section 4.

                When a holiday occurs on a day that is not an employee's regular workday, if the employee's usual workweek is five or more days, he/she at the option of the appointing authority, shall receive pay for one (1) day at his/her regular rate or  one (1) compensatory day off with pay within ninety (90) days following the holiday, unless agreed otherwise by the appointing authority and the employee, to be taken at a time designated by the employee and approved by the appointing authority.

 

Section 5.

                An employee required to work on a holiday shall receive one (1) compensatory day off with pay or if a compensatory day cannot be granted by the appointing authority because of a shortage of personnel or other reasons then he or she shall be entitled to pay for one (1) day at his/her regular rate of pay in addition to pay for the holiday worked.

Section 6.

                An employee who is on leave without pay or is absent without pay for any part of his/her scheduled workday immediately preceding or immediately following a holiday shall not receive holiday pay or a compensatory day off for that holiday.

Section 7.

                A unit member scheduled to work on a holiday and who fails to report as scheduled shall be recorded as absent without pay unless the unit member properly notifies the administration at least one half (1/2) hour prior to the beginning of the scheduled tour of duty and indicates, as a reason for such absence, a reason that, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement warrants the granting of paid leave of absence for such day.  In extraordinary circumstances beyond the control of the employee, the above notification period may be waived.  An employee who is granted sick leave for a holiday on which he/she is scheduled to work shall not receive holiday pay or compensatory day off for that holiday.

Section 8.

                An employee not otherwise entitled to the Suffolk County holidays pursuant to Section 1 above, and who is scheduled to work on such a  holiday, shall be entitled to a day off with pay in lieu of each of the Suffolk County holidays.  Additionally, an employee who is not scheduled to work on Suffolk County holiday, if the employee's usual workweek is five (5)  or more days, shall be entitled to a day off with pay in lieu of each of the Suffolk County holiday.  Such day off may be taken at a time designated by the employee and approved by the appointing authority, but usually within ninety (90) days.

Section 9.

                Whenever any holiday falls on a Sunday, such holiday shall be deemed to fall on the day following.  Whenever any holiday falls on a Saturday, the rules for observing such holiday shall be consistent with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts covering such observance.  Such holidays shall be granted in accordance with and subject to the foregoing provisions of this Article.  However, if an employee is scheduled to work on such a Saturday or Sunday, that workday shall be deemed to be the holiday in accordance with the preceding Section 5.  If such day off cannot be granted for reasons satisfactory to the appointing authority, such employee shall be given a day off in lieu thereof, or shall be paid compensation therefor, in accordance with the provisions of the preceding Section 5.


ARTICLE 11

EMPLOYEE EXPENSES

Section 1.