Yesterday afternoon, your union and the leadership at the Housing Opportunities Commission reached an agreement on pay and protections during the Covid-19 crisis.
The agreement includes:
- For the period of March 21-27, 2020, HOC shall provide one hour of compensatory leave for every hour worked onsite to each bargaining unit member who were required to work onsite, whether Front Facing or Back Office Onsite Work.
- A $8 per hour differential for employees required to work front facing* onsite work from March 28-June20, 2020.
- A $3 per hour differential for employees required to work back office** onsite work from March 28-June20, 2020.
- Any full time employee who has been directed by a healthcare provider to quarantine/isolate, due to symptoms, exposure, or travel, will be permitted to use the eighty (80) hours of paid sick leave available under the new federal FFCRA. (Part time employees will receive a prorated amount of FFCRA leave.) For any remaining portion of the quarantine/isolation period, the employee will be provided with administrative leave. The Commission may request that the employee’s healthcare provider update the quarantine directive on a weekly basis.
Mandatory telework for all other employees (if no work available, people will be on paid administrative leave)
*Front Facing Onsite work: work that cannot be performed by telework that involves physical interaction with the public and cannot be performed with appropriate social distancing.
**Back Office Onsite work: work performed at a County worksite that cannot be performed by telework and does not involve regular physical interaction with the public.
This deal is valid from March 28 and ends on June 20. However, if the declared Maryland state emergency is rescinded before June 20, the agreement will end on the day of the rescission. If the emergency persists past June 20, the agreement will continue unless modified through negotiations with the three unions.
This agreement is designed to protect you and your family and reduce risks as best we can. For those whose jobs require exposure to the public, the agreement is our attempt to adequately and appropriately reward you for the higher risks you are taking. To view a copy, click here:
I encourage you to download a copy of it for yourself.
Thank you for your patience during these negotiations. Stay healthy and look out for each other. We will get through this together.
In Solidarity,
Gino Renne
