The COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave is set to expire September 30 and due to legislative deadlines, it is no longer possible for the Legislature to pass an extension before the existing SPSL expires. 

The CFT, in partnership with other unions, engaged in a long campaign to try and pass an extension before the end of the legislative session. Thousands of CFT members signed our action to extend the supplemental sick leave to help elevate this issue, slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep our schools and communities safe. However, those efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.The CFT will continue to advocate for the governor’s office to provide administrative relief in the short term and work towards possible legislative solutions with our labor allies next year.

While not as comprehensive as Supplemental Paid Sick Leave, the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard still contains provisions that allows “exclusion pay” for workers who are unable to work because they were exposed to COVID-19 at the worksite. Exclusion pay means the employer continues to pay you even if you must be “excluded” from the worksite. Exclusion pay through the Emergency Temporary Standard remains in effect until January 2022 and will likely be extended through March.

— By Michael Young, Legislative Representative