Letter re: Partial Pay/Excused Leave provisions

CWA Local 1181, District 1, AFL-CIO
80 Pine St.
37th Fl.
New York, NY 10005
(646) 552-4070

In the last 48 hours we have been informed by NYPD management that Traffic Enforcement Agents and Supervisors will not be eligible to utilize the Partial Pay/Excused Leave provisions of the new guidelines on Paid Leave issued by NYC on April 1.

This is a reversal of the position that the Department had previously communicated to us.  Until Tuesday, we had been assured by NYPD management that our members would be able to use these provisions, which allow workers to stay home at 2/3 pay to take care of a child who has no other child care arrangements, or to care for a family member who is quarantined because of Covid-19.  Workers who are covered by these provisions can take off 2 weeks to care for a sick family member, and up to 12 weeks (compensation not to exceed $10,000) to provide child care.

THIS NYPD DECISION IS OUTRAGEOUS.  The Department now insists that TEAs and Supervisors are “Emergency Responders” and therefore must be on the job in case of an emergency.  

But we know that throughout bargaining, NYC and NYPD insisted that TEAs are “civilians” and only entitled to the “civilian” pay pattern.  NYC and NYPD are being hypocrites--they treat us as “civilians” at the bargaining table and as “emergency responders” in times like these.

CWA has written to Mayor de Blasio demanding that he force the NYPD reverse their decision.  We are getting sick.  Our loved ones are getting sick. Our children are out of school.  At the very least, we should get a few weeks of partially paid time to deal with these issues.  CWA is waiting to hear back from Mayor de Blasio.  As soon as we receive a response we will notify everyone.  

Wayne Poole,
Temporary Administrator