The Union has been getting questions from many members regarding the Veteran’s Day Holiday, which falls on a Saturday this year.

We understand that HR has informed some people that because of changes to State Law, when a public holidays falls on a Saturday it is observed on a Saturday and consequently state workers do not get to take the Friday before or the Monday after as a holiday as has been past practice.

The first part of this is correct, the holiday is observed on the Saturday, but the second part is incorrect. Section 24A of Massachusetts General Law has the following language:

… [I]f the regular day off of any such person is Saturday and any such legal holiday falls on a Saturday, such person shall, where possible, be given the preceding Friday off without loss of pay, or if said day off cannot be given by reason of a personnel shortage or other cause, he shall be given an additional day off, as hereinbefore provided for other persons whose regular day off falls on a legal holiday, or, in lieu thereof, an additional day’s pay.

Federation and ESU leadership have informed HR leadership of this fact and they have agreed that past practice will be followed this year.

For those of you who weren’t able to attend Wednesday’s general membership meeting this means that:

• For ESU members, as many people as possible should be given Friday, Nov 10 off. Those unable to take Friday off to staff the office should be given Monday, Nov 13 off.  This is in addition to existing vacation accruals.
• Librarians and professional technicians can, with approval of their supervisor, take one of Friday Nov 10 or Monday Nov 13 off. If this is not possible then a day will be added to their vacation accruals.
• For faculty (who do not accrue vacation), as classes are scheduled on the Friday (as was the case in 2017 when Nov 11 was also on a Saturday), HR leadership has informed the Federation that the scheduled mental health day on Wednesday October 25, when no classes are scheduled, shall be a non-response day and faculty are not required to be on campus or attend remote meetings.