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Ask President Burrus
Question:
Currently, APWU-represented employees may take up to 12 weeks off each year under the Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA). When doing so for their own condition, they may choose sick leave, annual leave, LWOP, or any combination of the above. When doing so for a dependent’s condition, they may only use two weeks of sick leave. After that, they must select annual leave or leave without pay. Do you think that this may change at any time in the future, to permit an employee to use more than the two weeks of sick leave currently allowed?
Michael, Lubbock Area Local 952
President Burrus:
Thank you for submitting your question regarding the use of sick leave for dependant care. Your question goes to the very heart of the source of benefits provided to postal employees.
The leave that USPS employees earn each year is the product of collective bargaining. The National Agreement includes specific terms regarding earning and using leave. Absent contractual agreement, postal employees would not receive leave at all. For example, casual employees who work for the Postal Service receive no leave of any kind, because they do not have the right of collective bargaining.
Presently APWU-represented employees may use up to 80 hours of sick leave to care for a family member suffering an illness that would qualify the employee to be absent if the employee had the same illness. In that this right to use leave is the product of the National Agreement, it will change only when the parties can agree in contract negotiations.
The increase in the number of hours of sick leave that can be used to care for a dependent continues as one of our high priorities.
June 28, 2007
APWU President William Burrus
Telephone: 202-842-4250
ABOUT THE
APWU PRESIDENT
The American Postal Workers Union’s top officer is its president, William Burrus. The president has overall responsibility for the operations of the APWU, as directed by the Constitution and Bylaws.
