ARTICLE ONE

UNION RECOGNITION

The Board recognizes the Union as the exclusive bargaining representative of all employees employed in the titles of Teacher Aide, Educational Assistant, Educational Associate, Auxiliary Trainer and Bilingual Professional Assistant. These persons and each of them are hereinafter referred to variously as "employees (or employee) in the bargaining unit,“ or "employees (or employee) covered by this Agreement,“ or "paraprofessional“ or "paraprofessionals.“

During the term of this Agreement should the Board employ a new title or category of employees having a community of interest with employees in the existing bargaining unit, employees in such new title or category shall be included within the existing bargaining unit and upon request of the Union the parties shall negotiate the terms and conditions of employment for such new title or category of employees; but nothing contained herein shall be construed to require renegotiation of terms and conditions of employment applicable to employees in an existing bargaining unit as a result of the Board's redesignation of the title or category of employees in the unit.

Nothing contained herein shall be construed to prevent any Board official from meeting with any employee organization representing employees in this bargaining unit for the purpose of hearing the views and proposals of its members, except that, as to matters presented by such organizations which are proper subjects of collective bargaining, the Union shall be informed of the meeting and, as to those matters, any changes or modifications shall be made only through negotiation with the Union.

It is understood that all collective bargaining is to be conducted at Board headquarters level. There shall be no negotiations with the Union Chapter or with any other employee group or organization at the school or any other level.

Nothing contained herein shall be construed to prevent any individual employee from (1) informally discussing a complaint with his/her immediate superior or (2) processing a grievance in his/her own behalf in accordance with the complaint and grievance procedures hereinafter set forth in Article Twenty-One.

Nothing contained herein shall be construed to deny to any employee his/her rights under Section 15 of the New York Civil Rights Law or under applicable civil service laws and regulations.