SUNY expands leave time for family

The more than 30,000 people who work at the State University of New York and are represented by United University Professions got a long-sought benefit recently: In addition to their new three-year labor contract, finalized last month, the workers received an extension of family leave time.

For years, SUNY employees have been able to earn up to 21 sick days per year and use 15 of those days for family leave. Under the new contract, they can take up to 30 days of family leave time.

“That was a priority for some of our members,” said UUP spokeswoman Denyce Duncan Lacy.

“This is something that came out of the meetings that we held around the state with members on every campus.”

“It’s really reflective of what’s happening today,” she added, explaining that just as baby boomers become empty nesters they tend to find themselves caring for their parents.