ARTICLE 4 RIGHTS OF THE ASSOCIATION
Cumberland School District
A. The Cumberland School Department will make available uniform deductions of the Association, National Education Association Rhode Island (NEARI), the National Education Association dues upon the written request of the individual teachers.
B. Requests for continuous dues deductions shall be made on a form provided by the Association which is legal in the State of Rhode Island. Deductions shall be made, beginning with the third (3rd) check, and shall be paid in equal installments throughout the school year. Teachers who choose to make a lump sum cash payment for dues in lieu of payroll deductions shall inform the President of the Association by September 10. Said cash payment shall be made no later than September 30. Otherwise, the teacher will automatically be placed on payroll deduction.
C. Collection of Dues:
1. Certification of those members of the bargaining unit for whom payroll deductions shall be made shall be the responsibility of the Association.
2. The Committee will discontinue deductions if notified by the Association in writing. In the event the Committee receives such notification by an employee, it shall discontinue such deductions and it shall notify the President(s) of the Association within 48 hours. The Association is fully responsible for any objection by an employee regarding his or her dues, fees, and assessments deductions.
3. The Association agrees to indemnify, hold harmless and defend the Committee for any disputes or claims arising out of payroll deductions for dues.
D. The Association shall be permitted to use school buildings without cost, at reasonable times for meetings. Requests for use of buildings shall be made in writing to the building administrator of said building with reasonable notice.
E. The Association will have the right to place notices, circulars, and other material on faculty bulletin boards and in teachers' mailboxes. The Association and its officers shall have the ultimate responsibility for all materials so distributed. The Committee agrees to provide the Association access to its list serve information for all Association members to distribute information.
F A teacher who is elected to, appointed to, or engaged in a full-time position with the Association, National Education Association of Rhode Island, The National Education Association, or any other organization with which the Association is affiliated, shall, upon proper application, be granted an unpaid leave of absence for up to two (2) years for the purpose of accepting this position.
1. Such leaves shall be limited to one (1) teacher per school year, shall be given on the basis of seniority where more than one (1) teacher applies, and shall be without pay or benefits, except as to seniority, which shall continue to accrue, provided the teacher shall return at the expiration of the leave.
2. Upon return to service, he/ she shall be placed in the position he/she left, if available, or a comparable position.
3. Sick leave shall not accrue during such leave, nor shall the teacher on leave advance to a higher step on the salary scale unless he or she teaches at least one (1) semester during the year in which the leave is taken.
4. The leave must be requested in writing by April 1 of the school year preceding the requested leave and shall not be extended under any circumstance.
G. The Association shall be given the opportunity to make brief announcements at the conclusion of faculty meetings.
H. The President of the Association, or his/her designee, may directly request an appointment with the Superintendent or, in the Superintendent's absence, his/her designee, at any time during his/her regular office hours.
I. With reasonable notice to the Superintendent, the President and his/her designee shall be released from teaching duties to attend the funeral of any Association member or the funeral of any Association member's family as defined in Article 15 D.
J. The Committee shall furnish to the Association President the name(s), job titles, work location(s), email address(es), date(s) of hire, and telephone number(s) of all newly hired bargaining unit employees. Once each year, by October 15th, the Committee shall furnish to the Association President the name, home address, job title, work location, subject area taught, email addresses, date of hire, phone numbers, and dues authorization status of all Bargaining Unit employees.
K. Upon request, the Cumberland School Department will allow, at a mutually agreed upon time prior to the end of the first week of school, the CTA/NEARI to meet with new employees of the school district for the purpose of discussing union business.
L. The Union President, or their designee, shall receive up to two (2) days per annum without pay for the purpose of attending union-led conferences or professional development.
M. In recognition of the work required to perform their duties, the Union President shall teach one less course (or an equivalent reduction in workload) each year.