In addition to federal and state mandates leave programs, like FMLA and PMLA, Western faculty have a variety of established leave options in the CBA that may provide more relevant support than the government mandated minimums. These leaves are summarized below. You can also consult the full descriptions and terms in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Short Term Medical Leave (11.1.3) This leave is for faculty who have an illness or need to care for a family member who has an illness lasting two weeks or less. You can apply for it beginning on the first day of your illness. Faculty retain full pay, status, and benefits during the term of this leave. It is available for all faculty. Coverage for faculty responsibilities during this leave are determined by the department or unit.
Extended Medical Leave* (11.1.5) This leave is for faculty who have a medical condition that extends beyond two weeks and requires either full or part-time leave from their position. This leave is available for up to 180 days for tenured and tenure-track faculty. This leave is also available to NTT faculty with a .5 or greater appointment with a year of cumulative service for 180 days or until the end of the contract, whichever is shorter. Faculty members on extended medical leave must provide a verification of the medical condition, as determined by HR. Faculty retain full pay, status, and benefits during the term of this leave. Faculty offering teaching coverage for a faculty member on medical leave are eligible for compensation for temporary extra teaching assignments as summarized below.
Compassionate Leave (11.1.6) This leave is for faculty who must attend to family matters including taking care of family members for up to one month. This leave is granted at the discretion of the President or President’s designee. It is available for all faculty. Faculty retain full pay, status, and benefits during the term of this leave. Coverage for faculty responsibilities during this leave are determined by the department or unit.
Bereavement Leave (11.1.7) This leave is for faculty who must attend a funeral, memorial, service, or other ceremony after the death of a family member. This leave is available for up to one week. Faculty retain full pay, status, and benefits during the term of this leave.
*Compensation for Temporary Extra Teaching Assignments (22.13) In the event of an emergency extending beyond two weeks, such as a colleague’s extended medical leave, faculty will be allowed to teach courses above their normal teaching load with recommendation of the chair and approval of the dean. This will be compensated at the rate of 1/36th of the faculty member’s salary per credit hour.
All faculty leaves are requested using this form.
The chart below is meant to help faculty decide which type of leave is most fitting in the event that they encounter urgent medical conditions or need to care for a family member who encounters urgent medical conditions. These leaves are codified in the CBA and are available to faculty at all times.
The Power of Collective Bargaining
As the resources and options above make clear, both UFWW and Western Washington University collaborate successfully to support the faculty of Western to optimize the working conditions of the faculty.
That's collective bargaining in action! Get to know the Collective Bargaining Agreement for a deeper understanding of your working conditions, rights, and resources as a faculty member at Western.
Still have questions?
Reach out to your department steward or contact us directly!