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  • Writer's pictureMike Zilles

NTA EBulletin: September 22, 2024

Joint Labor Management Committees

Volunteers Needed! (New)


Last year we made many gains through our campaign and negotiations, yet we still have unfinished business. We agreed on a number of joint labor management committees (JMLCs), which will meet and make recommendations which will then go forward to the NTA Negotiations Team and the School Committee for adoption. 


These Joint Labor Management Committees include:

  • An Elementary School Day JMLC, to make recommendations on improving the school school, including increasing elementary preparation time. (We began this work last spring, and the committee is now filled, with the exception of a kindergarten teacher).

  • A Mental Health JMLC to address the mental health supports for students.

  • A reconvened High School Joint Oversight Committee to address high school class sizes

  • A Teacher Evaluation Working Group to look at our evaluation protocols.

  • A Unit C Coverage JMLC to address the need for qualified substitute support when Unit C members are absent. 

  • A reconvened Joint Instructional Council (Standing Committee) to overseer professional development and curriculum.

 

To volunteer for one of these committees, please click on this link


To read the language from our contract that spells out the charge, structure and responsibilities of each committee, click here.



Know your Contract!


Our Contractual Paid Leave Benefits are quite extensive, generous, and somewhat complex. We will show you what those benefits are, and how to exercise them. And we will keep it simple.


For today, Chris and I will present your rights to sick leave and "other" paid leave--leaving the discussion of paid parental leave to another post.


Sick Leave

  • Sick leave days, also known as personal illness days, are for the injury or illness of the employee.

  • From your sick days, you may use up to 14 per year for the illness or injury of a family member or dear friend.  These are called family illness days.

  • You DO NOT have to ask for permission to use a personal illness or family illness day. 

  • If you will be out, you should simply report your absence in the Frontline Absence Management System and follow any other building or program based instructions for reporting your absence.

  • You cannot be asked for documentation regarding such an absence unless you have been out for six or more consecutive days.

  • If you are out for six or more days, you MAY be asked for documentation. While HR might send you the FMLA forms in this instance, our contract allows for you to submit a letter instead of the FMLA form. It is often simpler for you and for your medical provider to supply a letter rather than fill out the FMLA form. The letter must be on letterhead, and have the medical provider’s signature. It must contain the following information: 

    • Employee’s name 

    • Approximate date the illness or injury commenced

    • A description of the injury, illness or medical condition

    • A statement that the employee is not able to perform his/her position

    • The expected return to work date


Other Paid Leave

  • Personal Days:  Each year, you are allocated two days that can be used for “urgent personal business” as judged by the employee.

  • You do not have to ask permission to use your personal days.  

  • If you will be out, you should report that in the Frontline Absence Management System and follow any other building or program based instructions for reporting your absence.

  • You cannot be asked to say why you are using a personal day.  

  • The only contractual restriction: personal days cannot be used to “extend a holiday or vacation or facilitate travel plans.” 

    • To be perfectly clearly: You CAN use your personal days for urgent personal business adjacent to a holiday or vacation; you CANNOT use them to extend that holiday or vacation or to facitate travel plans. 

      • When you take a personal day on a day that is adjacent to a holiday or vacation time, you CAN be asked to confirm that you are not taking it to extend the holiday or vacation or facilitate travel plans. That is the only question you can be asked.

      • You CANNOT be asked to provide the specific use of those days. 

         

  • “Other” Days: You have up to four (4) paid leave days that can be used for specific purposes as set out in the contract. You do not have to ask for permission to use these days, but may in some instances be asked for supporting documentation:

    • Bereavement related to the death of a close family member or dear friend.

    • Holy Days

    • Court Appearance by Summons

    • Commencement exercises:  Limited to those where the employee or their spouse or child will be awarded a degree or diploma.

    • Absence caused by an automobile accident on your way to work. Limited to the day of the accident only.

    • Up to two (2) days if your attendance is required by an educational institution where you are enrolled. There are certain restrictions and this leave must be approved by the Superintendent.

    • Selective Service examination

    • To attend the MTA Annual meeting


  • Accumulation of sick, personal, and other days-- If you do not use your:

    • Unused Personal Illness Days accumulate year over year;

    • Unused Family illness days do not accumulate; you may use only fourteen in any given year;

    • Unused Personal Days accumulate as Personal Illness Days;

    • Unused "Other" Days do not accumulate.


For now, we would like to keep it simple: if you are using your Personal Illness Days, Family Illness Days, Urgent Personal Days, or "Other" days, report these in the Frontline Absence Management System and follow any other building or program based instructions for reporting your absence.


You do not need to ask permission from HR or your building supervisor to exercise any of these basic contractual rights. 



In solidarity, 

Mike Zilles, President

Newton Teachers Association



 

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