Public Employee Press

Queens Library agrees to sick leave bank

Queens Library Guild Local 1321 scored a major victory for their members when they signed an agreement with the Queens Borough Public Library that established the Donated Sick Leave Program.

The agreement was signed May 29 at the Central Library in Jamaica, Queens. The new program will allow eligible employees who are experiencing a severe illness and have run out of sick days to use sick time and annual leave donated by their colleagues.

Local 1321 President John Hyslop hailed the new agreement as an example of what can happen when the union and management work together. Hyslop also thanked Lisa Riccio, assistant director of Research and Negotiations, for her efforts in getting the program started. He also thanked the DC 37 General Counsel's Office Rep José Lamo.

"I've seen this policy in action and thought the cultural institutions should have this. It works very well," Riccio said.

"This is the result of our willingness to work together with our employees who are our strongest stakeholders," said Interim President and Chief Executive Officer Bridget Quinn-Carey.

She also said there will be meetings with library staff to explain how the program will be implemented, the eligibility criteria for donors and recipients, and the appropriate paperwork to be filled out.

"This is something that our members will benefit from; our members need this," Hyslop said.