What was left on the table?
The university has been making budget cuts that directly impact our APA family members. Receiving that news is difficult and hard to navigate. Sometimes we forget everything that is on the table and miss important issues without knowing. If you are one those affected, and you have 6 or more years of MSU seniority, there are somethings in the contract you need to remember. Article 16 – Reduction in Force, Paragraphs 120 – 123 read as follows;
120 – Layoff Transition Adjustment
An Employee shall be eligible for a Layoff Transition Adjustment if the affected Employee meets the following eligibility requirements:
1. The Employee must have six (6) or more years of seniority at the time of layoff.
2. The Employee must actually be laid off.
3. The Employee must be willing to take a position paying at least 80 percent of current salary offered in the current work location as defined in Paragraph 115 above.
4. The Layoff Transition Adjustment is not payable until after the affected Employee is on layoff for a minimum of 120 calendar days.
In the event the laid off Employee meets the criteria set forth above, the Employee may, at their option, elect to accept a Layoff Transition Adjustment based on the following schedule:
University Seniority Transition Adjustment
6 years – 4 weeks salary
7 years – 5 weeks salary
8 years – 6 weeks salary
9 years – 7 weeks salary
10 years – 8 weeks salary
11 years – 9 weeks salary
12 years – 10 weeks salary
13 years – 11 weeks salary
14 years – 12 weeks salary
15 years – 13 weeks salary
16 years – 14 weeks salary
17 years or more – 15 weeks salary
An Employee who elects to receive the Layoff Transition Adjustment will no longer be eligible for recall. An Employee who may be eligible for University Retirement may elect the Layoff Transition Adjustment and still be eligible for all benefits afforded a retiree.
121 – Unused Sick Leave Credits
A laid off Employee whose recall rights have expired and who is not otherwise eligible for payout of accrued sick leave under Paragraphs 196, 197, 198 and 199 of this agreement may receive partial payment for unused sick leave credits according to the schedule below:
University Seniority Sick Leave Payout
2 years through 10 years Unused sick leave, not to exceed one-eighth (1/8) of up to 1200 hours
11 years through 15 years Unused sick leave, not to exceed one-fourth (1/4) of up to 1,300 hours
16 years through 20 years Unused sick leave, not to exceed three-eighths (3/8) of up to 1,300 hours
More than 20 years Unused sick leave, not to exceed one-half (1/2) of up to 1,300 hours
122 – For purposes of Paragraph 121, “University Seniority” is that which existed as of the
effective date of the layoff.
123 – An Employee who receives payment for unused sick leave under this section may also receive a Layoff Transition Adjustment, provided that eligibility requirements for that program have been met.
If you have been selected for layoff, please contact the APA office so we can help, msuapa@msu.edu. We also need to hear about any “unintended consequences” to students or MSU that may result from your position being laid off.
In solidarity,
Martin McDonough
MSU APA President