ARTICLE THIRTEEN
Nov 20, 2006 2:13 PM
UNION ACTIVITIES, PRIVILEGES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
A. Restriction on Union Activities
No counselor shall engage in Union activities during the time he/she is assigned to duty. Members of the Chapter's negotiating committee shall, upon proper application, be excused without loss of pay for working time spent in negotiations with the Board or its representatives.
B. Time for Chapter Leader
The Chapter leader shall be allowed two days per week for the investigation of grievances and for other appropriate activities relating to the administration of the agreement and to the duties of the office.
C. Exclusive Check-Off
The Board will honor, in accordance with their terms, only such written authorizations as are properly executed by employees in the unit covered by this agreement for the deduction of their dues in behalf of the Union.
The Board will honor individual written authorizations for the deduction of Union dues in accordance with their terms, including authorizations stating that they are irrevocable until the following June 30 and automatically renewable for another year unless written notice is given to the Board between June 15 and June 30.
D. Agency Fee Deduction
The Board shall deduct from the wage or salary of employees in the bargaining unit who are not members of the UFT the amount equivalent to the dues levied by the UFT and shall transmit the sum so deducted to the UFT in accordance with Section 208 (3)(b) of Article 14 of CSL. The UFT affirms it has adopted such procedure for refund of agency shop deduction as required in Section 208 (3)(b) of Article 14 of CSL. This provision for agency fee deduction shall continue in effect so long as the UFT establishes and maintains such procedure.
The Union shall refund to the employees any agency shop fees wrongfully deducted and transmitted to the Union.
The Union agrees to hold the Board harmless against claims arising out of the deduction and transmittal of agency shop fees where there is a final adjudication by a court or arbitrator or by PERB that said agency shop fees should not have been deducted and/or transmitted to the Union.
The agency shop fee deductions shall be made following the same procedures as applicable for dues check-off, except as otherwise mandated by law or this Article of the Agreement.
E. Consultation Meetings
1. The Chapter and appropriate representatives of the Board of Education designated by the Chancellor will consult monthly on matters of policy involving the professional interests of counselors.
2. The Chapter and appropriate representatives of the Board of Education designated by the Chancellor will consult with respect to facilities and supplies for itinerant counselors.
F. Information to the Chapter
1. Lists of vacancies and any lists which may be established by the community school district or by the central Board showing seniority of counselors for purposes of implementing provisions of this agreement shall be made available to the Chapter. In individual cases specific information as to seniority will be made available to the Chapter upon request.
2. Upon request, the Chapter will be advised of the city-wide index (ratio of licensed counselors to counseling positions) and the index in each local school district.
3. Copies of all official guidance circulars and directives shall be sent to the Chapter.
G. Official Circulars
All official circulars pertaining to counselors or to the guidance program shall be made available to all counselors unless specifically indicated to be confidential. Special circulars concerning duties of counselors shall be distributed directly to all counselors.
H. Political Check-Off
The Board will arrange for voluntary payroll deduction contributions for federal political contests in accordance with Title 2, Section 441b of the U.S. Code.
