CFAS/CPS - Vacation Approvals During Instructor-Led Training (ILT) for CWS/CARES

Greetings UPE Family!

Tuesday, July 21, 2026, your UPE bargaining team met with the department regarding the current vacation restrictions. First things first, the department (so they say) has no clue as to when ILT for CARES will even start. They say that the state keeps pushing the date, even though the implementation date is still on track for October 26, 2026. They also say that vacations will be granted or denied by the supervisor on a case-by-case basis depending on the circumstances; the circumstances need to be exigent. Keep in mind that the supervisor will consult with the Program or Division Manager, who will decide whether they believe your need for vacation is exigent.

UPE wanted to know:

·         Once training has been completed for an employee, are they then able to take vacation, even if it’s within these dates? To which the department responded, we will reassess as the time comes. Once training plans are in place, they can review requests.

·         What about folks that will hit their four hundred (400) hour vacation max? The department stated that you should basically determine how many hours you need to take now, so that you do not lose your time.

·         How much notice will the employees be given about when their training will start? The department does not know what the timeframe of the notice will be since it is all coming from the State.

UPE requested to be kept in the loop after meetings with the State regarding the implementation of ILT, to which the department answered yes.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE!

If you have any questions regarding this flyer, please contact Tezra Sledge, Business Agent, UPE.

Thank you for your advocacy, Elyse Avila, Priscilla Cochran-Navarra, Sylvia Garcia, Deanna Green, Zack Kollross, and Sondra Peters.