This year’s fairly mild winter took a turn for the unexpected a few weeks ago when storms virtually buried the majority of the state in snow towards the end of February. The storms resulted in the closure and late openings of state offices and university campuses throughout the state. Western Oregon University (WOU) saw full closures on Monday, February 25 and Wednesday, February 27. In the past, this would have meant that workers scheduled on those days would have to take paid leave in order to accommodate the university’s decision to close.

However, member leaders Richard Kavanagh and Kimber Townsend remembered that during the 2017 Higher Ed contract reopener, our Union bargained inclement weather language into the contract. Currently, Article 63: Section 3(A) of classified staff’s collective bargaining agreement state, in part, that “In the event of a full campus closure of facilities due to inclement weather or hazardous conditions, the University President or designee, in his or her sole discretion, may declare such a closure as a paid day.”

On February 26, Kavanagh and Townsend emailed WOU President Rex Fuller, calling attention to the contract language and reminding Fuller that he had 72 hours from February 25’s closure to declare it a paid weather day. Shortly before his 72 hour deadline, Fuller declared both February 25 and February 27’s closure to be paid days, stating that: “Because this decision is discretionary and made on a case-by-case basis, I am declaring—consistent with the SEIU CBA and federal and state law provisions—that the Monday and Wednesday closures this week due to inclement weather are paid days. In this instance, no employee will be required to use vacation leave to cover the closure.”

Fuller’s declaration included classified staff as well as faculty and admin. In short, thanks to the work of SEIU 503 082 members, the entire workforce at Western Oregon University will be getting two paid weather days.

Have you experienced inclement weather closures at your campus this year? Contact a steward or your campus organizer to see if there are any actions that need to be taken. Not sure who your organizer is? Email HigherEdOrganizers@seiu503.org and let us know where you work so we can get you in touch with the right person.