Contract Confusion Clarification: Holidays (Local 308)

This guest blog article is by Brother Christopher Campisi, Local 308 Union Steward and Rail Car Repairer. At the time of this writing, he is running for Local 308 Vehicle Maintenance Executive Board Member.  

The Holidays section of the Contract, Article 10, is not easy to follow (Local 241 has a slightly different version in Article 9). The Holidays in Article 9 and Article 10 are only for Full-Time Permanent Local 308 members. The full text of Article 9 and 10 is at this link and available below:

To summarize Article 10, after 90 days of service, a Full-Time Permanent Local 308 member will have earned seven paid holidays. These must be used on that specific day, between December 1st and November 30th. As with all things at the CTA, it makes no sense why the cycle of 56 hours begins on December 1st ever year.

Now there are some other days that the Payroll Department lists as Holidays (also available between December 1st and November 30th). These amount to a total of 5 days that re unique according to how you pick and the CTA schedule.

I created the above chart with Brother Eric. However, there are points I need to emphasize:

1. If you started as Full-Time Permanent on January 7, 2024 and your birthday is on January 8th, you will not get the Birthday Holiday. You will receive it on January 8th of 2025 (Reminder: This date is elected by you as a "Floating Holiday" if you work in the Maintenance departments).
   
   
2. If you started as Full-Time Permanent on January 7, 2024, you will not get the Employment Anniversary Holiday. You will receive it on January 7th of 2025 (Reminder: This date is elected by you as a "Floating Holiday" if you work in the Maintenance departments).
   
   
3. Martin Luther King Jr. is a "Floating Holiday" that you pick according to seniority. It is for all Full-Time Permanent employees. 
   
   
4. After 1 year of service, you will receive two Personal "Leave" / "Holidays" that are called Veterans Day and Day After Thanksgiving. That "Day After Thanksgiving is separate from the "Thanksgiving" Holiday. 

 Just because you are Full-Time Permanent, doesn't mean you will necessarily receive all the Holidays. Article 10.2 focuses on how your Holidays are calculated. You need to meet the following criteria:

1.  You must be an active employee on the day before the Holiday. That means:
   
   
• You are not laid off. If you are laid off and returned to work within 10 days, you will be entitled to Holiday pay.
• You are not in a "Leave of Absence" status.
• You were not suspended.
• You haven't been in Short-Term Disability ("Sick Book") or Injured-on-Duty for more than 26 consecutive weeks.  

The opinions expressed by guest bloggers here or in Shop Talk newsletter are not necessarily the opinion or sanctioned policies and actions by Brother Eric Curtis Muhammad Basir, ATU Local 308 members, elected leadership or stewards. In the spirit of the First Amendment and the ATU Obligation, all CTA workers and supporters are welcome to submit content of any point-of-view for this blog. Real identities will be hidden upon request.