Q & A - Frequently Asked Questions (scroll down for more info)
| What is the purpose of the contract? The contract outlines the terms and conditions of our working agreement. The contract is a legally binding document. The BOE, administrators are agents of the board, and staff members are bound by law to that document. What is a grievance? A grievance is the procedure by which disputes or misunderstandings are settled between the administration and staff members. See grievance procedure in the contract booklet. When and what can I grieve? A grievance can be filed for any violation of the contractual agreement between the BEA and the BOE. The timing of grievances is very important. A grievance must be filed within 35 days of the violation. Grievance time lines are governed by the contract. How do I grieve a situation? First, you must contact one of the members of the grievance committee who will then advise you on the action to be taken. Often, the grievance committee member will speak to the administrator on your behalf and the situation will be resolved equitably. Sometimes, the grievance committee member and you will meet with the administrator in question to reach a solution to the problem. If no resolution is achieved at this level, which is known as level one, the committee member will precede to levels two and three if necessary. Important: State law is work - then grieve. You must continue working in any situation until the grievance is resolved. See contract for further explanation. Can I put in a grievance on my own? You certainly can discuss the situation with the administrator. However, your discussion with the administrator is not considered a grievance until a grievance committee member is involved. Remember, TIME LINES are extremely important. The time line begins the moment of the infraction whether a grievance committee member is involved in the resolution or not. Why do we need grievance committee members? The grievance committee serves as a third party to help staff members and administrators (who are emotionally involved in the dispute) understand law, contract language, and to help seek an appropriate resolution. The committee member keeps notes on the situation and resolution of each grievance. What are the laws governing Maternity/Disability leave? Women are provided maternity/disability leave by NJ state law. A woman is allowed 40 days maternity leave provided that she has 40 days banked in her sick day bank. If a woman does not have 40 days, she will be allowed the amount of days accumulated in her sick bank. A woman must put in a request for maternity leave as soon as she can so that the BOE can secure a sub. Please see a grievance committee member who will help with writing letters and explaining procedure. During maternity/disability leave a staff member is paid her salary and her medical benefits are provided as well. What is the FMLA law? The Family Medical Leave Act is a leave provided by federal law. A FMLA leave may be taken for childbirth, adoption, or any medical situation that may require a staff member to be out of work. FMLA provides 12 weeks of leave for any staff member. A staff member may take the leave all at once or in segments. A staff member on FMLA is not paid a salary but all medical benefits are provided during the leave time. What is child rearing leave? Child rearing leave is a 2 year leave that allows a staff member to stay home with her/his children. During child rearing, the staff member is not paid a salary and medical benefits are not provided during this time. The child rearing leave guarantees that the BOE will hold a position open for you if you decide to return to work. Note: Child rearing leave does not guarantee that you will return the same position. |
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| PLEASE READ THE CONTRACT. It is important that YOU know your rights and responsibilities. |
| Right to Representation Every member, tenured or non-tenured, has the right to representation at disciplinary meetings. If you feel that you need representation at a meeting, please contact your building representative. |
| Weingarten Rights - You have the right to representation - Use the following as a guide for discussion If this discussion could in any way lead to my being disciplined or terminated, or affect my personal working conditions, I respectfully request that my Association representative be present at the meeting Without representation, I choose not to answer any questions. |
387 Union Ave.
Belleville, NJ 07109
ph: 973-450-0788
fax: 973-450-9190
email:
bea@bea-online.org
Belleville, NJ 07109
ph: 973-450-0788
fax: 973-450-9190
email:
bea@bea-online.org
