COVID-19 RESOURCES FOR PSC MEMBERS
The pandemic and needed safety precautions continue to shape our daily lives, and members have contacted the union with specific questions about union resources and current CUNY policies. If members encounter problems with their time off or have difficulty obtaining information, they should contact the PSC’s contract enforcement department by calling the union at (212) 354-1252. Members can also contact a PSC representative on their campus or a union leader who represents their title, either a PSC chapter chair, a chapter grievance representative or HEO advisor. (For union contacts, follow the links on this page: https://www.psc-cuny.org/about-us).
CUNY Covid leave policy: https://www.cuny.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/media-assets/NYS-COVID-L…
When approaching your Human Resources department, be sure to have the necessary documentation ready and know what situation applies to you, for example:
- You tested positive for COVID-19
- You were exposed to COVID-19
- You were ordered to quarantine
- Someone in your home tested positive for COVID-19
- You are taking care of someone in your home who tested positive for COVID-19, was exposed to COVID-19, or asked to quarantine.
There may be other situations that are not listed, but the preceding situations are some common examples.
At the CUNY Board of Trustees meeting on January 31, the board further clarified Governor Kathy Hochul’s vaccination mandate for CUNY, and the board required all faculty, instructional staff and personnel in the Executive Compensation Plan to be fully vaccinated. Religious and medical exemptions will be considered.
The PSC and CUNY are in the process of negotiating the implementation of CUNY’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Despite not having completed the negotiations, we wanted to provide clarification about the part on which we have reached agreement with CUNY: the medical and religious exemption criteria and procedures. Read the Agreement and FAQs about it here. The deadline to submit an exemption request is May 18.
There are also several city, state and federal laws and regulations that should inform members about their rights. Below is a list of resources that union members can access to learn about what is available to them.
CUNY, COVID-19 page with links to many resources
https://www.cuny.edu/coronavirus/#employees
RESEARCH FOUNDATION, COVID-19 GUIDANCE
https://www.rfcuny.org/RFWebsite/resources/coronavirus-guidance/
PSC GUIDANCE, ON TAKING LEAVE
https://www.psc-cuny.org/benefits/considering-taking-leave-fall
EEOC GUIDANCE ON COVID-19
https://www.eeoc.gov/wysk/what-you-should-know-about-covid-19-and-ada-re…
NYC GOVERNMENT, COVID-19 AND PAID SICK LEAVE STATE AND CITY PROVISIONS
https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/dca/downloads/pdf/workers/COVID-19-Paid-Sick…
NYC COMMISION ON HUMAN RIGHTS, LEGAL GUIDANCE ON COVID VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS
https://www1.nyc.gov/site/cchr/law/legal-guidances.page#vax
NY STATE GOVERNMENT, PAID FAMILY LEAVE AND COVID-19
https://paidfamilyleave.ny.gov/COVID19
NY STATE DIVISION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, CORONAVIRUS DISCRIMINATION
https://dhr.ny.gov/discrimination-relating-coronavirus-under-nys-human-rights-law
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, COVID-19 PROTECTIONS
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic
