State University of New York Chancellor Jim Malatras and Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) President Mary E. Sullivan announced on Friday (Nov. 27) an extension on an agreement to conduct free, mandatory testing for CSEA-represented employees at SUNY state-operated colleges, universities, and hospitals. The memorandum of understanding follows a similar arrangement last week between SUNY and United University Professions (UUP) for represented employees.
“As our students and faculty are now mainly transitioned to remote learning for the rest of the semester we are working on preparations for their return next spring, and I am thankful for the ongoing efforts of our CSEA-represented employees in keeping our facilities safe and operational,” said Chancellor Malatras. “Regular mandated testing will continue to be a part of our strategy to keep campuses open, and thanks to the continued heroic efforts, ingenuity, and innovation of Upstate Medical University, we must continue testing everyone on campus. We are another step further to that end with CSEA President Sullivan joining me in providing testing for all of our CSEA employees. Working together we can continue to protect each other and keep this virus contained.”
Civil Service Employee Union President Sullivan said, “The CSEA-represented workers at all our SUNY facilities are the foundation that ensures they continue to function. Continuing regular testing for them will help ensure our entire SUNY system is focused on safe operations to keep students learning and workers working. We appreciate collaborating with SUNY administration to protect our campus communities.”
SUNY and United University Professions announced on Nov. 20 an agreement to extend mandatory, free COVID-19 testing for all UUP-represented employees through the end of the spring semester.