by Mia Palazzo CTNewsJunkie
STORRS, CT – Professors, faculty, and staff at the University of Connecticut are calling for expanded paid leave benefits, arguing that the current policies are inadequate and harm employees.
At a news conference Friday at UConn’s Storrs campus, members of the UConn-AAUP (American Association of University Professors) Contract Action Team announced their push for the administration to guarantee 16 weeks of paid parental leave for all employees.
“We’re gathering today to stand up for paid family leave, and that’s not a new topic,” said UConn-AAUP President Chris Vials. “Many people in this room have been advocating for changes for some time now, including a letter circulated by over 200 faculty to the administration.”
The union argues that UConn has the authority to implement the policy change, as Connecticut state law provides paid family and medical leave benefits. Current university policies provide six to eight weeks of maternity leave for birth mothers, but non-birthing parents and caregivers often face barriers to receiving paid time off.
“For each child, my department head and dean were supportive, and I was given a semester off from teaching,” said Cara Battersby, an associate professor of physics. “The official policy states that this is not time off, rather it’s an option for modified duties. Same workload, just redistributed.”
The faculty is asking the UConn administration to negotiate in good faith and partner with its staff to establish a more equitable leave policy.
In a statement, a university spokesman said the university is committed to its faculty and staff as a basic value of the institution.
“We engage in good faith negotiations with the AAUP and other collective bargaining units that represent University employees,” the university said in its statement.
Many faculty members at the news conference shared personal stories of struggles due to the lack of adequate paid leave. Sandra Sarota, an assistant professor in residence with the Human Rights Institute, described the difficulties she faced while adopting a child.
“We traveled to Texas on short notice so we could be there for his birth. We then had to wait for an unknown period for paperwork to clear before we could bring him back to Connecticut,” Sarota said. “During those two weeks, I was also working every day, including teaching class. I was shocked when I found out I couldn’t get one day of paid leave.”
Other faculty members expressed concerns about the impact of the policy on research and student education.
“Innovation requires space, perspective and a healthy state of mind,” Battersby said. “Much like small business, the big-picture planning of a research group is not something you can effectively delegate.”
Under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), employees who have worked for at least a year and logged 1,250 hours are eligible for up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave. Connecticut state law provides similar benefits but offers an additional two weeks for pregnancy-related incapacity.
However, faculty members argue these laws do not go far enough. The Connecticut Paid Family and Medical Leave Act, passed in 2019, provides up to 12 weeks of paid leave, but the university has not fully integrated this benefit into its employment policies.
The news conference featured speeches from several faculty members and elected officials, including state Sen. Mae Flexer, D-Brooklyn. The event was livestreamed on AFT Connecticut’s Facebook page. Advocates say they will continue to pressure the UConn administration until a more comprehensive paid leave policy is implemented.
“The administration needs to step up and support its employees,” Vials said. “This is about equity, dignity, and ensuring UConn remains a place where faculty can thrive both personally and professionally.”