8.6 Union Leave

  1. The Union shall have the choice of requesting an unpaid leave of absence or a paid leave of absence (union leave) for a Union bargaining council representative, steward, steward-in-training, or chief job steward. An unpaid leave of absence may be granted by the State pursuant to the unpaid leave of absence provisions in this Contract. Union leave may also be granted during the term of this Contract at the discretion of the affected department head or designee in accordance with the following:
    1. The union leave shall normally be requested on a State approved form fourteen (14) calendar days prior to the date of the leave.
    2. Any denial of union leave must be made in writing to the Union, with an explanation for the denial.
    3. The union leave request form shall be signed by either the SEIU Local 1000 President or designee and no other signature will be honored by the State. A written list of designee(s) shall be furnished to CalHR.
    4. A union leave shall assure an employee the right to the employee’s former position upon termination of the leave. The term “former position” is defined in Government Code section 18522.
    5. The Union agrees to reimburse the affected department(s) for the full amount of the affected employee’s salary, plus an additional amount equal to thirty-five percent (35%) of the affected employee’s salary, for all the time the employee is off on union leave, within sixty (60) days of billing.

      6. On July 1, 2024, the Union agrees to reimburse the affected department(s) for the full amount of the affected employees’ salary, plus an additional amount of thirty-seven percent (37%) of the affected employees’ salary, for all the time the employee is off on union leave, within sixty (60) days of billing.

      On July 1, 2025, the Union agrees to reimburse the affected department(s) for the full amount of the affected employees’ salary, plus an additional amount of thirty-nine percent (39%) of the affected employees’ salary, for all the time the employee is off on union leave, within sixty (60) days of billing.

      On July 1, 2026, the Union agrees to reimburse the affected department(s) for the full amount of the affected employees’ salary, plus an additional amount of forty-one percent (41%) of the affected employees’ salary, for all the time the employee is off on union leave, within sixty (60) days of billing.

      Disputes regarding reimbursement shall be resolved through the arbitration process.

    6. The affected employee shall have no right to return from a union leave earlier than the agreed upon date without the approval of the employee’s appointing power.
    7. Except in emergencies or layoff situations, a union leave shall not be terminated by the department head or designee prior to the expiration date.
    8. Employees on union leave shall suffer no loss of compensation or benefits.
    9. Employees on union leave under this provision and the Union shall waive any and all claims against the State for workers’ compensation and IDL.
    10. In the event an employee on union leave, as discussed above, files a workers’ compensation claim against the State of California or any agency thereof, for an injury or injuries sustained while on union leave, the Union agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the State of California or agencies thereof, from both workers’ compensation liability and any costs of legal defense incurred as a result of the filing of the claim.
  2. Special Union Business Events

    3. The State agrees to release employees on union paid leave for elected representatives (or alternates when applicable) in accordance with A2 through A10 above to attend the following governance meetings:

    1. SEIU Local 1000 Council (Quarterly)
    2. Statewide Bargaining Advisory Committee (Quarterly)
    3. General Council Meeting (Once every three years)

      4. The Union shall provide a calendar of the above events to the State each year by January 15 to facilitate the ability of the State to release these representatives on the scheduled dates. Requests by the Union for representatives to attend these events may not be unreasonably denied.