No Paid Family Leave for Professors in CUNY
Herman Araya
Issue date: 9/26/07 Section: News
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Professor Julie George's baby girl was born on June 6, 2007. The months before that were not spent resting from work but working each day because the CUNY system doesn't currently provide paid maternity leave to professors.
Right now in CUNY there is maternity leave but no paid plan. Professor George had the option of taking up to 12 weeks off before having her child but she felt she "couldn't afford" to since it would go without pay. She was lucky, however, that she didn't go through as many problems as other people. "I was very lucky," she said. "I did worry…. I think about my students." Her daughter could be heard crying over the phone as she answered questions.
Living in New Jersey, professor George had quite a bit of travel to do while worrying about morning sickness or poor mobility. She was worried mostly of the symptoms of going into labor in class, and the possibility of vomiting at any time. "It takes a lot of energy to teach," she said. A student in one of her classes reassured her that he had EMT training, she said. When it came time to conduct finals, some of her colleagues voluntarily helped, concerned for her health.
The union that negotiates with CUNY for the contract of its workers is currently negotiating a new contract. The old one expired on Sept. 19. Currently the old one stays in place until a new contract is agreed upon - a process which can take years.
Paid maternity leave is one of over 30 negotiating points being discussed. "Ultimately it comes down to the chancellor," George said. She was one of several professors who signed a petition calling for paid maternity leave.
In a September '04 issue of the Clarion, a "Newspaper of the Professional Staff Congress" in CUNY, an article was published highlighting the need for paid maternity leave, childcare and increased benefits. In one extreme case of pregnancy during teaching, Carol Ann Daniel was forced to go on Medicaid and qualified for food stamps, according to the article, "Parenting at CUNY Is a Struggle," by Tomio Geron.
Professors will have to wait until negotiations are over to see a comprehensive plan for paid maternity leave. Such a process can take up to three years, George said.
Right now in CUNY there is maternity leave but no paid plan. Professor George had the option of taking up to 12 weeks off before having her child but she felt she "couldn't afford" to since it would go without pay. She was lucky, however, that she didn't go through as many problems as other people. "I was very lucky," she said. "I did worry…. I think about my students." Her daughter could be heard crying over the phone as she answered questions.
Living in New Jersey, professor George had quite a bit of travel to do while worrying about morning sickness or poor mobility. She was worried mostly of the symptoms of going into labor in class, and the possibility of vomiting at any time. "It takes a lot of energy to teach," she said. A student in one of her classes reassured her that he had EMT training, she said. When it came time to conduct finals, some of her colleagues voluntarily helped, concerned for her health.
The union that negotiates with CUNY for the contract of its workers is currently negotiating a new contract. The old one expired on Sept. 19. Currently the old one stays in place until a new contract is agreed upon - a process which can take years.
Paid maternity leave is one of over 30 negotiating points being discussed. "Ultimately it comes down to the chancellor," George said. She was one of several professors who signed a petition calling for paid maternity leave.
In a September '04 issue of the Clarion, a "Newspaper of the Professional Staff Congress" in CUNY, an article was published highlighting the need for paid maternity leave, childcare and increased benefits. In one extreme case of pregnancy during teaching, Carol Ann Daniel was forced to go on Medicaid and qualified for food stamps, according to the article, "Parenting at CUNY Is a Struggle," by Tomio Geron.
Professors will have to wait until negotiations are over to see a comprehensive plan for paid maternity leave. Such a process can take up to three years, George said.
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