Professional Development 9.01 Continuous professional development is a hallmark of professional nursing practice. As a self-regulating profession, nursing recognizes the importance of maintaining a dynamic practice environment which includes ongoing learning, the maintenance of competence, career development, career counselling and succession planning. The parties agree that professional development includes a diverse range of activities, including but not limited to formal academic programs; short-term continuing education activities; certification programs; independent learning committee participation. The parties recognize their joint responsibility in and commitment to active participation in the area of professional development.
Association Representatives Authorized representatives of the Association shall be permitted to transact Association business on and with school property at all reasonable times provided that such activities shall not interfere with normal school operations.
Association Dues The District agrees to deduct Association dues from the paycheck of each employee who individually and voluntarily authorize dues deductions. Employees’ authorizations will be in writing in a form agreed upon by the Association and the District. Said deduction shall be in nine substantially equal amounts during the school year beginning on or after October 15 of the corresponding school year. A schedule of deductions shall be provided to employees on or about September 1st. Authorizations shall continue from year to year unless revoked by the employee in writing prior to July 1 of any year. Dues deducted from employees’ wages will be transmitted to the Association following each corresponding payroll deduction. The Association will annually certify to the Superintendent the amount of Association dues. The following shall also apply:
A. The Association shall provide payroll at District’s Business Office, dues deductions covered under this paragraph by October 1 of the contract year in which the deduction applies for all existing members as of said date, otherwise the employees' previous year deductions shall continue in force for the entire contract year unless terminated by the employee by the dates set forth herein. Deductions for any new employee hired prior to the date of said report shall also be included in the report.
B. The form in which the Association reports union dues for existing membership must include, at minimum, employee name, social security number, and total unions dues to be deducted for the corresponding contract year. The report shall list employees alphabetically by last name.
C. The form in which the Association reports union dues for new members must include, at minimum, employee name, social security number, total unions dues to be deducted for the corresponding contract year, and signed employee authorization.
D. The District payroll office shall make changes to union dues not more than once in any contract year. However, union dues to individual employees may be adjusted as necessary due to changes in employment status with proper notification and reporting from the Association as outlined herein. If an employee elects to become a member after the Association Dues are submitted by the Association, the employee shall be responsible for paying any additional fees directly to the Association.
E. The District shall provide the Association a list of all support staff covered under the collective bargaining agreement upon request of the Association, but not more than once per month.
LABOUR MANAGEMENT RELATIONS 9:01 No employee or group of employees shall undertake to represent the Union at meetings with the Employer without the proper authorization of the Union. The Employer shall not meet with any employee or group of employees undertaking to represent the Union without the proper authorization of the Union. In representing an employee or group of employees, a representative of the Union shall be the spokesperson. In order that this may be carried out, the Union shall supply the Employer with the names of its Officers and representatives. Likewise the Employer shall supply the Union with a list of its Designated Authorities and Chairs where the Chair is not the Designated Authority. Neither the Union nor the Employer shall be required to recognize such representatives until written notification has been received.
9:02 The Union and the Employer acknowledge the mutual benefit of joint consultation and agree, therefore, that there shall be a joint labour/management committee consisting of three (3) representatives from and selected by each party. There shall be one (1) regularly scheduled Labour/Management Committee meeting in each four (4) month term or semester (January to April, May to August, September to December). In addition, meetings shall be arranged at the request of either party through the Labour Relations Department, by submitting in writing the topics to be discussed. Such meetings shall take place, at a mutually-agreeable time, within ten (10) working days of the receipt of the request for the meeting. Meetings shall not be used to discuss matters which are the subject of a grievance nor to discuss any matters which are, at the time, the subject of collective bargaining. The committee shall function in an advisory capacity only, making recommendations to the Union and/or the Employer with respect to its discussions and conclusions, and shall not have the power to add to or modify the terms of this agreement. A representative of each party shall be designated Co-Chairperson, and the two persons so designated shall alternate in presiding over meetings.
