University of Missouri curators approve changes to time-off system
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
The University of Missouri Board of Curators on Wednesday unanimously approved changes to time-off policies for employees that had been the subject of union-led protests in recent weeks.
Board members approved the proposed changes to the PTO system during their regular meeting on the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus. Other topics included the demolition of Mizzou North. Two members of the board thanked staff for their work on the changes but there was no other discussion.
MU Spokesman Christian Basi said that approval of the proposed changes wouldn't have been possible without the help of community feedback.
"There were some changes that were made based on the feedback that we received over the last three months or so and without that feedback we would not have the plan that we have today," said Basi.
The changes will add short-term disability, which would replace 60% of a worker's income for up to 20 weeks. The UM System also offers caregiver leave. That would give workers 100% replacement for up to two weeks in a 12-month period.
Employees will be eligible for 100% replacement of up to four weeks of parental leave in a 12-month period. The changes to the PTO system will go into effect in January 2024.
Right now, the UM System's PTO system is split into different categories. New salaried workers get a total of 46 PTO days. New hourly employees get a total of 41 days.
Workers could lose up to 10 days of PTO with the changes. LiUNA Local 955, which represents some UM System workers, has held rallies against the proposed changes.
The union put out a statement expressing disappointment at the curators' decision.
"We remain opposed to all cuts to wages and benefits," LiUNA representative Andrew Hutchinson said in the statement. "This is a significant loss -- not just to our union members -- but to 13,000 workers across the state."
However, Basi disagrees and says the board may take away PTO days but the university is also adding multiple programs to the leave time.
"When we took the ten days out we added additional leave time in there for parental leave, caregiver leave and for short-term disability leave. So instead of having the employee ensure that they have their own safety net in case something like that happens, we have provided that permanently with this new plan," said Basi.
In a news release sent during the meeting, the UM system also emphasized the plan now offering paid parental and caregiver leave programs for the first time.
Curators chairman Darryl Chatman called the change "a good step forward" for employees in a statement.
