got vacation?

Some of you may be planning vacations over the winter holiday season, or already thinking ahead to the spring. Are you familiar with all the provisions in the Vacations article of your contract? Remember: vacation time is earned income.

• Is Management approving your vacation requests on time? Jewish Federation and affiliated agencies (JBBBS, BJE and JCF) members and members at Silverlake Independent JCC must have their vacations approved or denied in writing from management within 14 business days from date of request or at least 3 months prior to vacation date (whichever comes later). At JFS, JVS SoCal, JVS SoCal GAIN program, and Westside JCC, employees must be given at least 30 days notice of approval. (See your online contract, here on the website, under the Contracts tab.)

• If you're not sure of other aspects of your Vacations provision, be sure to read up on matters such as the basis on which management may refuse your vacation request (i.e. a refusal cannot be arbitrary or based on favoritism), and how many vacation days you earn per year and the limits on how much you are allowed to accumulate (accrue) – that is, when “use it or lose it” comes into play.

As always, please contact us if you have any questions or concerns. You can write to unionlocal800@gmail.com, contact Local 800 President Charlie Orlowski at corlowskivp@gmail.com, or contact our professional representative, Gary Guthman, at (213) 248-0381 or gary@afscme36.org.

Warmest wishes to all our members for a safe and joyful Thanksgiving, from the Local 800 Executive Board.

Contract with Silverlake Independent JCC; Vacations is Article 19C.