Pierce College has agreed to restore leave balances, or offer backpay, to members who took leave due to a power outage at the Puyallup campus in August. Members were told they could take leave, work remotely, or commute to Fort Steilacoom – even though the suspended operations provisions under Article 17 of the WPEA Higher Education contract should have applied. Some members took annual leave, and some took leave without pay.

But WPEA stewards spoke up to enforce the contract, and now Pierce administration has agreed to make whole members who took unscheduled leave due to the power outage: those who took annual leave due will get their leave balances restored, and those who took leave without pay will receive back pay. Folks should have seen those changes in their most recent paycheck.

Thanks to the WPEA stewards and staff for your advocacy and getting members reimbursed!