Union to sue New York State over quarantine paid leave restrictions for state workers

ALBANY, NY (01/13/2021) (readMedia)-- The Public Employees Federation (PEF) will file a lawsuit against New York State and three state agencies, the Department of Civil Service (DCS), the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) and the Office of Mental Health (OMH), asserting that the state has irrationally and improperly deprived union members of their guaranteed right to paid quarantine leave.

"Without any authority, these agencies decided that PEF members are only eligible to one paid 14-day quarantine period," said PEF President Wayne Spence. "Once that time is used, our members will be required to charge their own accrued leave credits for any additional time needed to recover or quarantine because of COVID-19. Nowhere does the state's quarantine policy or the law limit the amount of paid quarantine leave. Our members on the frontlines of this pandemic deserve better."