HOW WHAT'S OPEN AND CLOSED FOR JUNETEENTH? INFO ON SCHOOLS, POST OFFICES AND MORE... (3156 hits)
For Immediate Release From CNN!
Most federal government employees across the country have Friday off after President Joe Biden signed legislation establishing Juneteenth as a US federal holiday: https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/17/politics/bi...
But the introduction of a new federal holiday to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States has created a patchwork of responses -- leaving some government offices, schools and businesses open, while others close to observe the holiday.
"Agencies should direct such employees to not report to work on Friday -- unless the agency determines that their services are required. If employees are required to work during qualifying holiday hours, they will earn holiday premium pay," the US Office of Personnel Management announced Thursday in a memo.
A meeting of vaccine advisers to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that was scheduled for Friday was also rescheduled because of the Juneteenth holiday.
States and schools closed While June 19 falls on a Saturday this year, governors across the country announced in quick succession a range of plans for their state offices Friday, the closest workday to the new holiday.
Maryland, Nebraska, Missouri, West Virginia and Alabama are giving most public employees the day off, joining states like Texas, Virginia, New York, Massachusetts and Washington, which had already made Juneteenth a paid state holiday.
Some of the largest colleges and universities, like Ohio State and Texas A&M, are closed and have canceled classes for the day.
Several colleges, including Harvard University, Georgetown University, Virginia Tech, Columbia University, the University of Virginia, Towson University, Drake University, Loyola Marymount University, started honoring Juneteenth as a university holiday in 2020. Those colleges are continuing the tradition this year, observing the holiday with a day off Friday.
What is remaining open The United States Postal Service is still operating Friday and Saturday on a normal schedule.
While saying it's "fully supportive" of the legislation and making June 19 a federal holiday, USPS said it's "not possible to cease the operations of the Postal Service to accommodate an observance over the next 24-48 hours" and that closing "without providing appropriate time" would lead to service disruptions.
