After months of work — including a statewide grievance, direct action from workers, and negotiating with the state — we’ve reached an agreement on a new inclement weather policy. This process began nearly a year ago with last December’s unusually harsh winter that kept many of us out of work for extended periods of time. The need for a new policy was then brought back into the spotlight mid-summer when the Chetco Bar and Eagle Creek fires put many of us out of work yet again.

Some highlights of the agreement (which went into effect on December 6, 2017) include:

• Full-time employees shall be granted 40 hours of inclement weather leave per biennium. Part-time and job share employees shall be granted a prorated amount of 40 hours per biennium.
• The ability to work from home or alternate work locations for at least one half of the regular work day (with supervisory approval).
• Seasonal employees shall be granted a prorated amount of leave based on the amount of time anticipated they will work in the biennium at the time of hire.
• 
Employees from ODFW who received miscellaneous paid leave (MPL) via Memorandum of Understanding as a result of the Eagle Creek Fire, will have the number of MPL hours used deducted from their biennial allocation.

The terms and hours of this agreement will take effect in the event of office closures due to inclement or unusual weather events. Click here for a copy of the Letter of Agreement.*

It took the work of many members across the state from various agencies to push for the new inclement weather language, including dozens of workers impacted last winter that are still staying strong to make sure they see a fair resolution to the grievance filed nearly a year ago.

Thanks to everyone who took action to fight for this victory — because of your hard work, we now have an inclement weather policy that works better for all SEIU state workers.

*Not sure if this LOA applies to you? Contact a worksite steward or our MRC at 844-503-SEIU (7348).