The October 2024 Union Wire contained an article about “Navigating Holiday Time.” The message is the same now, two years later, UCPEA employees have the right to take state holidays off from work and to be paid for those days. Some of the details around holiday compensatory time have changed. This is an updated FAQ
Do I automatically have time off for all state holidays?
Yes and no. Yes, the contract is clear that you are entitled to time off with pay for each of the legal holidays listed in Article 8 of the UCPEA Contract. The contract also provides language that states that if an employee is required to work on a legal holiday, they will be granted holiday compensatory time for their working hours.
Do I need to request the day off for a holiday?
No! You are entitled to the day off unless you have been told about a requirement to work. As always, good communication from supervisors and managers is vital to ensuring that expectations are clear. While it is not a contractual requirement, the UCPEA recommends that if an office needs staffing on a holiday, that management seek volunteers before requiring an employee to come in on a holiday.
Can I request to work on a state holiday so that I can earn the compensatory time?
Yes! The new contract language says that “an employee may work on any holiday subject to mutual agreement.” This is an improvement from language that said employees may work on a holiday if their department is open. The bargaining team argued that there is always work to be done, even when an office’s doors are locked. The fight for more flexibility is rooted in the knowledge that UCPEA members celebrate and observe a diverse array of religious and cultural holidays. While the list of state holidays does not capture this diversity, UCPEA members all have the same right to celebrate and observe in ways that are important to them.
When does holiday time expire?
Holiday time expires one year after it is earned. If you worked on Labor Day, September 7th; you will have until next September 7th to use it. Side note: if you did work on Labor Day, UCPEA hopes you found a way to honor your role in the Labor Movement. When we shifted to the one-year expiration language in the new contract, the change was implemented on the payroll side on August 21, 2026. Any and all holiday compensatory time that was earned before August 21, 2026, will expire on August 21, 2027.