Civil Service Employees Ass'n v. Plainedge Union Free School District

**School District Can't Change Vacation Rules Without Union Agreement** This case involved a dispute between the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) and the Plainedge Union Free School District over how vacation days were calculated. The school district had been giving workers only 1¼ vacation days per month during summer months, instead of the normal rate. The union argued this violated their collective bargaining agreement, which is the contract that sets workplace rules and benefits. The court sided with the union, ruling that the school district broke its contract by changing how vacation time was calculated without proper agreement. The judge found that nothing in the existing contract allowed the district to reduce vacation accrual rates during summer months. This decision matters because it reinforces that employers cannot unilaterally change benefits or working conditions that are covered by union contracts. When workers have a collective bargaining agreement, employers must follow its terms exactly and cannot make changes on their own. If an employer wants to modify benefits like vacation time, they must negotiate with the union first. This protects workers from having their benefits reduced without their input or agreement.