ARTICLE III UNION RECOGNITION

North Providence School District

Section 1. The Employer recognizes the Union as the exclusive bargaining agent for all certified teaching personnel employed in the North Providence school system engaged in teaching duties, including nurses and guidance teachers, but specifically excluding the Superintendent of Schools, the Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Director of Student Services, Special Services Coordinator, Curriculum & Technology Integration Specialist, Principals and Assistant Principals.

Section 2. Teachers of North Providence may voluntarily request in writing that the Employer deduct Union dues, C.O.P.E dues and 22 Week Club contributions from their pay checks as specified on the signed authorization cards. Based on such request, the Employer shall deduct Union dues, C.O.P.E. dues and 22 Week Club contributions and remit the dues to the Treasurer of the Union in accordance with said authorization(s). Any teacher may revoke such authorization by written request with ninety (90) days' notice. Nothing herein shall be construed as forcing or inducing anyone to become a member of any teacher organization.

Section 3. Agency Fee. All members of the bargaining unit covered by this agreement and not members of Local 920, North Providence Federation of Teachers, may voluntarily request in writing that the Employer deduct from their salary fees as set by Local 920. These sums shall be forwarded to the bargaining agent to cover the cost of services performed by the bargaining agent for individuals in the unit.

Nothing herein shall be construed as forcing or inducing anyone to become a member of any teacher organization. The Union agrees to save harmless the Employer from any action brought by non­members as a result of the implementation of this provision.

If the Administration receives notification of revocation by a bargaining unit member, it shall provide the Union a copy thereof. The Union agrees to save harmless the Employer from any action brought by non-members as a result of the implementation of this provision.

Section 4. Members of the faculty shall be free to join or not to join any organization of teachers. No member of the faculty shall be discriminated against because of membership in the Union. No member of the faculty shall be propagandized directly or indirectly against joining or continuing membership in the Union by any person in a supervisory or administrative capacity.

Section 5. Bulletin boards will be made available in each school in the teachers' lounge or at a location mutually agreeable between the Superintendent and the Union. In schools with separate lounges for men and women, a bulletin board will be made available in each lounge. These bulletin boards will be used solely for the posting of notices of Union meetings. Any other notices to be posted on these bulletin boards must first be submitted to the Superintendent for his/her approval.

Section 6. The Union shall be given a copy of all resolutions adopted by the Employer affecting wages, hours, or conditions of employment within seven (7) days of the meeting at which they were adopted.

Section 7. The employer, not later than fourteen (14) working days after written notice to the Superintendent, shall provide the Union with the information and statistical data necessary to enable it to compute the cost of future proposals, or necessary for the proper enforcement of the terms of this agreement.

Section 8. The Union shall be provided with three (3) copies of the School Committee's current by-laws and any amendments thereto as they are issued.

Section 9. In the event that any forthcoming public meeting of the School Committee shall include discussion of wages, hours and/or working conditions on its agenda, the Union shall be notified thereof three (3) days in advance.

Section 10. This Agreement shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of the parties hereto, and no provisions, terms, or obligations herein contained shall be affected, modified, altered or changed in any respect whatsoever by its consolidation, merger, annexation, transfer or assignment of either party hereto or by any change geographically or otherwise in its location or place of business of either party hereto. The Union agrees to save harmless the School Department from any dispute that may arise due to the implementation of this section.

Section 11. If any provision is or shall be at any time determined by final order or decision of a court, tribunal or agency of competent jurisdiction to be contrary to law, then such provision shall not be applicable or performed or enforced except to the extent permitted by law. In the event that any provision of this agreement is or shall be at any time contrary to law all other provisions of this agreement shall continue in effect.