Paid Leaves Not Counted For Sabbatical Credits

A few members contacted the FSU noting that their previous semesters of paid leave (sick leave and/or parental leave) were not being counted in their sabbatical credit total, despite language in Appendix C of the contract indicating that all paid leaves will count. The FSU raised this with the Administration, who initially indicated they would rectify the problem and count the semesters in question accordingly. However, the Administration later reversed course and indicated that the semesters would not count (their stated rationale was that since FMLA- in which members are not paid- runs concurrently with paid leave per the contract, that members are therefore unpaid for purposes of sabbatical credit accumulation). The Grievance Committee disagreed with this assertion and has filed a policy grievance (that is, a grievance filed on behalf of multiple members and/or the union as a whole, rather than on behalf of an individual). The Administration proposed a settlement whereby one of the members affected in Fall 24 would have partial credit for their semester (i.e. would a portion of their paid leave count) in exchange for withdrawing the grievance without prejudice (i.e. without setting precedent). The member and the Grievance Committee are reviewing the settlement offer.