ASSOCIATION AND TEACHER RIGHTS A. Pursuant to the Michigan Public Employment Relations Act, the Board hereby agrees that every employee of the Board shall have the right freely to organize, join and support the Association for the purpose of engaging in collective bargaining or negotiation and other concerted activities for mutual aid and protection. As a duly elected body exercising governmental power under color of law of the State of Michigan, the Board undertakes and agrees that it will not directly or indirectly discourage or deprive or coerce any teacher in the enjoyment of any rights conferred by the Act or other laws of Michigan or the Constitution of Michigan and the United States; that it will not discriminate against any teacher with respect to hours, wages, or any terms or conditions of employment by reason of his membership in the Association, the teacher's participation in any activities of the Association or collective professional negotiations with the Board, or their institution of any grievance, complaint or proceeding under this Agreement or otherwise with respect to any terms or conditions of employment.
B. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to deny or restrict to any teacher rights he may have under the Michigan General School Laws or other applicable laws and regulations. The rights granted to teachers hereunder shall be deemed to be in addition to those provided elsewhere.
C. The local Xxxxxxxx Education Association and its representatives shall have the right to use school buildings at all reasonable after school hours for meetings, provided that when special custodial service is required, the Board may make a reasonable charge therefore, provided that this shall not interfere with or interrupt normal school operations.
D. Duly authorized representatives of the Association and their respective affiliates shall be permitted to transact official Association business on school property at all reasonable times, provided that this shall not interfere with or interrupt normal school operations.
E. The Association shall have the exclusive right to post notices of activities and matters of Association concern on teacher bulletin boards, at least one of which shall be provided in each school building. The Association may use the district intra-mail service and teacher mail boxes for communications to teachers.
F. The Board agrees to make available to the Association in response to reasonable requests all public information concerning the financial resources of the district, including but not limited to: annual financial reports and audits, register of certificated personnel, tentative budgetary requirements and allocations (including county allocation board budgets), agendas and minutes of all Board meetings, treasurer's reports, census and membership data, names and addresses of all teachers, salaries paid thereto and educational background, and such other information as will assist the Association in developing intelligent, accurate, informed and constructive programs on behalf of the teachers and their students, together with information which may be necessary for the Association to process any grievance or complaint.
G. The Board may consult with the Association on any new or modified fiscal, budgetary or tax programs, construction programs, or major revisions of educational policy, which are proposed or under consideration and the Association may be given opportunity to advise the Board with respect to said matters prior to their adoption and/or general publication. The Board shall not submit any proposal for additional operational or building millage without prior consultation with the Association.
H. The provisions of this Agreement shall be applied without regard to race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, sex and/or marital status. Membership in the Association shall not be denied to any teacher because of race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, sex and/or marital status.
I. The rights granted herein to the Association shall not be granted or extended to any competing labor organization.
J. The Board shall place on the agenda of each regular board meeting as the first or second item for consideration under "new business" any matters brought to its consideration by the Association so long as those matters are made known to the Superintendent's Office six (6) calendar days prior to said regular meeting.
K. The Association shall have a maximum of eleven (11) days total each school year of released time without loss of pay for officers, delegates, committee chairpersons, and/or members to take part in business which pertains to the Association. The Association President shall make all requests on behalf of Association members. The Association shall provide at least five (5) days prior notice. The Association shall pay the substitute fee. Substitutes will be obtained through regular channels.
