ARTICLE 4.00 - ASSOCIATION RIGHTS
SECTION 4.01: DUES AND REPRESENTATION FEE DEDUCTIONS
SECTION 4.02: LEAVE IN CONNECTION WITH EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION
SECTION 4.03: ASSOCIATION RIGHTS
SECTION 4.04: PRESIDENT'S RELEASED TIME
SECTION 4.01: DUES AND REPRESENTATION FEE DEDUCTIONS
A. Dues
1. On or before August 25th of each school year, the Association shall give written notice to the District of the dollar amount of dues of the Association (including the National Education Association and the Washington Education Association) to be deducted in the coming year under payroll deductions.
2. Dues deduction forms must be delivered to the Business Office within thirty (30) days from the start of school, or within thirty (30) days of an individual's beginning date of employment.
3. The deductions authorized by written authorization of the employee shall be made in twelve (12) equal amounts beginning with the pay period in September through the pay period of August each year. Deductions for employees who commence employment after August 25 shall be spread equally over the remainder of the pay periods through August. The District agrees to remit directly to the Washington Education Association all monies so deducted, accompanied by a list of employees from whom the deduction has been made. A duplicate list shall be provided the Association as receipt for said transaction.
4. The District shall also allow authorized payroll deduction of dues any political action committee connected with WEA, NEA, or the Association. Authorizations and revocations shall be made in accordance with the internal rules governing any such committee(s) and in accordance with legal requirements governing such authorized payroll deduction.
5. A regular dues authorization shall continue in effect from year to year unless a request of revocation is submitted to the District and the Association, signed by the employee, and received between August 1 and August 31 preceding the designated school year for which revocation is to take effect.
B. Representation Fees
1. No employee will be required to join the Association; however, those employees who are not Association members will have deducted from their salaries a representation fee. The District is authorized to deduct the required amount from each monthly pay warrant. The amount of the representation fee will be determined by the Association and communicated to the Business Office in writing no later than August 25. The representation fee shall be regarded as fair compensation and reimbursement to the Association for fulfilling its legal obligation to represent all members of the bargaining unit. The representation fee shall not include dues required for membership in any WEA, NEA, or Association Political Action Committee.
2. In the event that the representation fee is regarded by an employee as a violation of their right to non-association, such bona fide objections must be submitted in writing to the Association President. The matter will be resolved according to the provisions of RCW 41.59. In the event that the representation fee is regarded by an employee as in excess of the costs to the Association for fulfilling its legal obligation to represent all members of the bargaining unit, the employee may appeal the issue in writing in accordance with the appeal process provided by the Association or WEA.
C. Error in Deduction
The Association agrees to reimburse any employee from whose pay dues or representation fees were deducted, those sums in excess of the total amount due the Association at that time, provided the Association or its affiliate actually received the excessive amount.
SECTION 4.02: LEAVE IN CONNECTION WITH EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION
Upon request, the District may grant to an employee a leave of absence with substitute pay deduction for the purpose of said employee's attendance at meetings of the Association. If such leave of absence is to attend negotiating sessions as a representative for the Association, no substitute pay deduction shall be made. Such arrangements shall be consistent with the orderly continuity of the District's total educational program, and shall be subject to the approval of the Superintendent or his or her designee.
SECTION 4.03: ASSOCIATION RIGHTS
A. Access
Duly authorized representatives of the Association shall be permitted to transact official Association business on school property at all reasonable times provided that it does not interrupt normal school operations or assigned duties. The Association will provide the District with a current list of authorized Association representatives. Association representatives who are not assigned to a particular school shall report to the Principal's office prior to contacting members in said school.
B. Equipment and Facilities Use
The Association may use school office and library equipment normally available to employees after school hours, provided that such equipment shall not be removed from school property. The building administrator's office will be notified prior to use of school equipment. The use shall be for internal Association business. Materials produced on school equipment shall be limited to internal Association communications. Expendable supplies, in connection with such equipment use, will be furnished or paid for by the Association.
School facilities may be used for Association meetings at reasonable times during non-duty hours provided that such meetings shall not interfere with the normal school operations.
The Association will give prior notice for any such activity or property use. Pursuant to RCW 28A.320.510, the District has the right to require a reasonable rental for the use of School District facilities and equipment.
The Association shall be responsible for claims arising from accidents, theft, and loss or damage resulting from the use of facilities and equipment.
C. Membership Communication
Inter-school mail facilities may be used for distribution of Association communications so long as such communications are labeled as Association materials. Copies of such Association communications will routinely be delivered to building Principals and the Superintendent.
The Association may post notices of activities and matters of Association concern on designated bulletin boards, one (1) of which shall be provided in each faculty lounge; provided, that such notices are labeled as Association materials and contain the name of the authorizing Association official.
D. Suspension of Rights
In the event of a strike, sit down, or slow down against the District the above granted rights and privileges shall be suspended for the duration of such activities.
SECTION 4.04: PRESIDENT'S RELEASED TIME
The District agrees to release the Association President from his/her regular assignment up to a full-time basis. The Association shall provide written notice to the District by June 1 of each year regarding how much release time is to be applied. The President shall retain all rights and benefits of this Agreement as a full-time employee. Such release shall be without loss of salary, accrual of seniority, salary advancement, or other rights accorded full-time employees, subject to the Association reimbursing the District the percentage of FTE for release time times the total cost of the President's salary and benefits. Reimbursement shall include such costs as salary, social security, industrial insurance, pension, health and welfare, and other related employer payroll items. Such reimbursement shall be paid monthly upon receipt of a billing by the District. Upon completion of the school year for which released time is taken, the Association President shall be guaranteed his/her original position for the following school year, or a comparable position.