PAID PARENTAL LEAVE (PPL)
Paid Parental Leave (PPL) was made available for represented employees as of Monday April 1st, 2024.
In the following links please find the two (2) leave forms – with instructions – which became effective April 1, 2024. In implementing this benefit OCA has created a new form, specifically for Child Care Leaves – Application for Child Care Leave, UCS-48-CL (UCS-48-CL, Instructions_Eff April 1, 2024) and have modified the existing Application for Leave – UCS-48 (UCS-48, Instructions_REV April 1, 2024) to eliminate all references to Child Care Leaves and FMLA for childbirth/childcare. . As of Monday April 1st, 2024 all Child Care Leaves must be made on the UCS-48-CL. These forms are both formatted in fillable pdf. for easy completion/sign off and will be available on the “Forms” tab of the Division of Human Resources page on Monday.
Any employee that had a qualifying event between January 1, 2024 and March 31, 2024, i.e., gave birth, adopted or fostered a child between these dates, or any employee that has already submitted a UCS-48 for a Child Care Leave to commence in the future, must complete the new UCS-48-CL to update their leave request to incorporate PPL and any other applicable changes to their leave, e.g., end date, charging/order of personal accruals etc.
Employees that had a qualifying event between January 1, 2024 and March 31, 2024 are eligible to apply for retroactive PPL by checking the blue “retro” box on the UCS-48-CL. Upon receipt of your UCS-48-CL with the “retro” box selected, your local administrative office will provide you with the appropriate form to request restoration of accruals previously charged for a qualifying event that occurred between January 1, 2024 and March 31, 2024 and/or prospective use of PPL, i.e., from April 1st forward. Prior unpaid service is not eligible for retroactive PPL. Only employees that are still out on their Child Care Leave on April 1, 2024 for a qualifying event that occurred between January 1, 2024 and March 31, 2024 are entitled to elect prospective use of PPL on the UCS-48-CL (Retro) form, i.e., if the employee has already returned to work, they are not entitled to go back out to use PPL. Please refer to the attached PPL Reference Guide for additional information about this new benefit.
Questions regarding leaves should be referred to the OCA Division of Human Resources at OCA-HRLeaves@nycourts.gov
JOIN THE FIX TIER 6 CAMPAIGN
The state’s pension system is meant to serve as a recruitment and retention tool. However, since the creation of Tier 6, it no longer does. Under Tier 6, employees are less likely to take a job in the public sector and, if they do, are less likely to stay.
As of today, our members have sent over 6000 letters to NYS legislators, but we have to do better, and we have to do more. Building on the Tier 6 changes that we achieved two years ago through your phone calls, e-mails, and meetings with state legislators, we need to continue fighting to make Tier 6 an equitable and fair pension plan for workers.
Please (regardless of what tier you are in) click here and send a letter to your State Assembly member and Senator demanding that Tier 6 reforms be included in this year’s state budget. Without changes to Tier 6, we will continue to have tens of thousands of vacant positions in state agencies and local governments, which will continue to lead to mandated overtime and the burnout of existing staff.
Please spread the word on this critical campaign and let’s flood legislators’ inboxes and let them know that CSEA members demand improvements to Tier 6!
INCREMENTS / LONGEVITY and SLED PAYMENTS
CSEA has been notified that increment payments as well as SLED and Longevity payments will be reflected in the April 24th, 2024 pay advice.
BINGHAMTON RETIREMENT PRESENTATION/DINNER MEETING – April 29th
Reserve your seat for our New York State Retirement System Presentation Dinner Meeting to be held Monday, April 29th, 6:00 p.m. at the Doubletree by Hilton Binghamton. The Doubletree is located at 225 Water St., Binghamton. Reservations must be received by April 12th, confirmations will be sent by April 13th. We will create a “wait list” once we reach our maximum number of participants. Only Members of CSEA Local 334 (from any of our 20 counties) are permitted to attend. You do not need to be close to retirement to learn about the Retirement System and how you should be preparing for your own retirement now. See the attached flyer for further information.
IRVING FLAUMENBAUM SCHOLARSHIP
Every year, our union offers eighteen $1,000 scholarships under the Irving Flaumenbaum and Thomas H. McDonough programs, three in each of our six regions. Dependent children of CSEA members who are graduating high school seniors are eligible. We also have two additional college scholarship opportunities available through the same application form. You can download this year’s application form at: cseany.org/scholarships/ where you can also find a poster to print and post around your workplaces. The deadline for submitting scholarship applications is May 1st, 2024.
REGION 5 SCHOLARSHIP
Attached is the 2024 Region 5 Scholarship application and flyer to promote across your workplaces. The deadline for applications to be submitted is April 12th, 2024.
MICHAEL D. CARRAWAY SCHOLARSHIP
It is with great pleasure CSEA Judiciary Local 334 announces the 2024 Lt. Michael D. Carraway Memorial Scholarship Program. Graduating seniors who are a child or legal dependent of a court employee represented by CSEA Judiciary Local 334 and will be attending an accredited institution of higher education are eligible to apply. Applications due by May 3rd, 2024.
*These scholarships are another member-only benefit for belonging to New York’s Leading Union.*
2024 SAVE THE DATES – Details to follow
Member appreciation day – trucks in the park @ Otsinengo park Sunday, May 19th from (11 – 2) for locals: 804, 449, 441, 648, 334 & 866
2024 CSEA Local 804,002,334,441,866 Combined Clam Bake – Saturday July 13th (12p-4p)
2024 2nd Annual Region 5 Cornhole Tournament, July 20th Doors open at 12:00 pm
2024 Water Safari Family Fun Day – 8/24/24
Syracuse Area Clambake TBA