Association seeks broader paid‑leave protections, donation transparency and bereavement coverage

The association tabled comprehensive changes to Article 20 on paid leave, sick leave transfers and related protections.

Key proposals included aligning sick‑leave provisions with OFLA and recent state law, expanding the number of hours an employee may donate (proposed increase from a single day to up to five vacation or sick days per donor), and ensuring that recipients are notified weekly about how many donated hours are available while donations are being collected. The association said current practice lacks transparency; members who donate sick hours want confirmation of how and when donated hours are applied and whether unused donated hours are returned to donors.

On workplace injury leave the association proposed a district‑paid 1–3 day workplace injury leave that would not be charged against an employee’s sick accruals. The negotiators also proposed expanding bereavement leave to explicitly cover pregnancy loss and failed fertility treatments, consistent with language recently added to a comparable contract.

The association also sought clarity and stronger privacy protections when supervisors request medical documentation, saying direct supervisors and outside contractors should not ask employees to surrender medical records — that review should be handled by HR.

District representatives heard the changes and noted some items are intended to reflect recent state law; the parties will continue bargaining and exchange draft language.

Next steps: proposals have been entered into the negotiation record; district and association will review and refine the draft language in subsequent meetings.