Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn recently brought attention to a pressing issue at a council meeting that has sparked a local push for sick leave rights for a Boston Public Library employee battling cancer. The employee in question, Eve Griffin, a longstanding curator of fine arts at the library, received a devastating stage 4 metastatic breast cancer diagnosis in 2019. As she exhausted her own sick days and medical leave attending numerous doctor’s appointments and undergoing treatment, Griffin found herself relying on hours from a donated sick bank to sustain her.
The Boston Public Library staff union, along with city councilors, has been advocating for Griffin to access the extended sick leave she sorely needs. Despite the Professional Staff Association (PSA), one of the BPL’s staff unions, approving Griffin’s request for extended sick leave, the library and the city’s Office of Labor Relations (OLR) denied her claim. This denial prompted the PSA to escalate their efforts by urging the BPL’s Board of Trustees to reconsider and grant Griffin the necessary sick time.
The PSA’s advocacy efforts faced initial resistance from the Board of Trustees, who remained silent on the matter. In response, the union took their cause public, voicing their concerns at a Board of Trustees meeting and subsequently filing a grievance with BPL Human Resources, which was promptly denied. This series of setbacks led Councilor Flynn to intervene, meeting with Griffin and PSA President Allie Hahn to strategize a resolution.
At a recent City Council meeting, Flynn publicly addressed Griffin’s situation, emphasizing the importance of treating her with dignity and respect during this challenging time. His resolution, supported by Councilors-at-large Erin Murphy and Julia Mejia, garnered positive feedback from fellow council members, highlighting the community’s solidarity and empathy towards Griffin’s plight. The resolution ultimately passed, marking a significant victory for the ongoing campaign for sick leave rights.
Despite the progress made, the PSA continues to push for a favorable outcome for Griffin, with the hearing record remaining open for further evidence submission until March 7. Should the verdict not align with their hopes, the union plans to escalate their efforts by engaging with Mayor Michelle Wu’s office and seeking support from Boston City Council.
While the Boston Public Library has refrained from commenting publicly on the matter, citing confidentiality and privacy concerns regarding personnel issues, the PSA remains steadfast in their pursuit of justice for Griffin and future employees facing similar challenges. Hahn expressed understanding of the library’s position while also emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability in addressing such critical issues.
The collective efforts of the PSA, city councilors, and community members reflect a shared commitment to upholding values of compassion and support for those facing life-threatening illnesses. As the campaign for sick leave rights for Boston Library employees with cancer continues to unfold, the resilience and determination displayed by all involved serve as a testament to the power of solidarity in times of adversity.
