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AGREEMENT
between the
SOUTH BRUNSWICK BOARD OF EDUCATION
and the
SOUTH BRUNSWICK SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS ASSOCIATION
July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2009
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Article Title Page
1 Recognition 2
2 Negotiations Procedures 3
3 Rights of the Board 4
4 Association Rights and Privileges 5
5 Grievance Procedure 6
6 Salary Schedule 10
7 Work Year and Work Week 13
8 Long Term Leaves of Absence 15
9 Short Term Leaves of Absence 16
10 Health Insurance 18
11 Miscellaneous 22
12 Protection of Drivers 25
13 Agency Fee 26
14 Duration 29
6
1
ARTICLE 1
RECOGNITION
A. The South Brunswick Board of Education ("Board") recognizes the South Brunswick School Bus Drivers Association, N.J.E.A. ("Association") as the exclusive majority representative for the following employees:
Bus Drivers
Van Drivers
Substitute Drivers
Excluded from the unit are all other professional, non-professional, supervisory and managerial employees including clerical and remaining support staff employees.
B. Unless otherwise indicated the term "driver" as used in this Agreement shall refer to all bargaining unit positions defined in paragraph "A" above.
ARTICLE 2
NEGOTIATION PROCEDURES
A. The Board and the Association agree to commence negotiations on a successor agreement under the timelines set forth in Chapter 123 of the Public Laws of 1974.
B. This Agreement shall not be modified in whole or in part by the parties except by an instrument in writing duly executed by both parties.
ARTICLE 3
RIGHTS OF THE BOARD
A. The Board reserves to itself sole jurisdiction and authority over matters of policy and, according to provisions of State Law, retains the right subject only to limitations imposed by the language of this Agreement, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations:
1. to hire, promote, transfer, assign, and retain drivers in positions within the school district and to suspend, demote, discharge or take other disciplinary action against drivers;
2. to abolish any such position for reasons of economy or because of an alteration in transportation needs or of change in administrative or supervisory organization of the district or for other good cause;
3. to maintain the efficiency of the district operations entrusted to them;
4. to determine the means by which such operations are to be conducted;
5. to take whatever actions may be necessary to carry out the mission of the school district in situations of emergency.
B. It is understood by the parties that, under the rulings of the courts of New Jersey, the Board of Education is forbidden to waive any rights or forbidden to waive any rights or powers granted to it by law.
ARTICLE 4
ASSOCIATION RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES
A. The Board agrees to furnish to the Association in response to reasonable requests, from time to time, available information in the public domain.
B. The Board agrees to provide information to the Association in response to reasonable requests when such information is necessary for the Association to carry out its obligations to negotiate on behalf of drivers or investigate and process grievances.
C. Whenever any representative of the Association is required by the Superintendent to participate during working hours in negotiations, grievance proceedings, grievance conferences or grievance meetings he/she shall suffer no loss of pay.
D. The Association and its representatives may be permitted to use school buildings at reasonable hours for meetings upon prior notice and approval by the principal of the school in question.
E. The Association and its representatives may be permitted to use school facilities and office equipment upon prior notice and approval by the principal, at reasonable times, when such equipment is not otherwise in use. The Association shall pay for the cost of all materials and supplies incident to such use and for any repairs necessitated as a result thereof;
F. The Association may be permitted the reasonable use of the inter-school mail facilities and school mail boxes.
G. In the event that a driver is required to confer with the Board, or a committee of the Board concerning any matter that could affect the continuation of the driver in his/her position or employment, or could affect his/her terms and conditions of employment, then the driver shall be given prior written notice stating the reasons for such meeting and shall be entitled to have a representative of the Association present to advise him/her during such a meeting.
ARTICLE 5
GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
A. Definition
1. A "grievance" is a claim by a driver, a group of drivers, or the Association based upon the interpretation, application, or violation of policies, agreements and administrative decisions affecting the terms and conditions of employment of a bus driver or a group of drivers.
2. The Association shall be notified in advance of all grievance meetings which involve a driver and may be present at any such meeting.
B. Time Limits
Failure by the Board or its representatives at any step of this procedure to communicate a decision on a grievance within the specified time limit shall permit the grievant to proceed to the next step of the procedure. Failure by the grievant at any step of this procedure to appeal a grievance to the next step of the procedure within time limits shall constitute acceptance of the decision rendered at that step. The time limits specified may be extended by mutual, written agreement of the grievant and the relevant supervisor (or the Board, if at the Board level).
C. During and notwithstanding the pendency of the grievance, the grievant and all other drivers shall continue to observe all assignments and applicable rules and regulations of the Board until such grievance shall be fully determined.
D. If the event giving rise to the grievance was initiated at a level above the Transportation Coordinator, the grievance may be initially filed at a higher level. The initial time line on the filing of written grievance set forth in "E, 2" below shall be the time line for filing under this section.E. Procedural Steps
1. Level One
A grievant shall first discuss the problem with the Transportation Supervisor. The grievant shall state at the outset that he/she is initiating Level One of this procedure.
2. Level Two
If, as a result of the discussion, the matter is not resolved to the satisfaction of the grievant, he/she may set forth his/her grievance in writing to the Transportation Supervisor within ten (10) work days of the event giving rise to the grievance. The written grievance shall specify:
a. The specific provision(s) of the Agreement alleged to have been violated;
b. The nature and extent of the injury or loss;
c. The date or dates on which discussion occurred under Level One or, if the grievant seeks to file the grievance at any step but Level One under the terms of "D" above, why the grievance is being initiated at a higher step;
d. The results of the discussion(s) at Level One;
e. The remedy sought.
The Transportation Supervisor shall communicate his/her decision to the grievant in writing within five (5) working days of receipt of the written grievance.
3. Level Three
The grievant may appeal the decision of the Transportation Supervisor to the Business Administrator within five (5) working days of the Transportation Supervisor's response. The written appeal shall conform to "2, a" through "e" communicate his/her decision to the grievant in writing within five (5) working days upon receipt of the written grievance.
4. Level Four
The grievant may appeal the decision to the Business Administrator to the Superintendent of Schools within five (5) working days of the Business Administrator’s response. The written appeal shall conform to "2, a" through "e" above. The Superintendent shall communicate his/her decision to the grievant in writing within five (5) working days of receipt of the written grievance.
5. Level Five
The grievant may appeal the decision of the Superintendent to the Board within five (5) working days of the Superintendent's response. The written appeal shall conform to "2, a" through "e" above. The Board shall review the grievance and, at its option, meet with the grievant, and render a decision in writing within thirty (30) days of receipt of the written grievance.
6. Level Six
The Association may appeal the decision of the Board to arbitration within ten (10) working days of the Board's response.
a. The parties agree to be bound by the Rules of Arbitration of the Public Employee Relations Commission.
b. The selected arbitrator shall hold a hearing and issue his/her decision not later than thirty (30) days from the close of the hearing or from the date of the last submitted written brief, if any.
c. The arbitrator shall limit himself/herself to the issues submitted by the parties and shall consider nothing else. The arbitrator shall be without power to add to or subtract from the Agreement.
d. The decision of the arbitrator shall be in writing and set forth his/her findings of fact, reasoning and conclusions on the issues submitted. The decision of the arbitrator shall be final and binding on the parties.
e. The arbitrator's fee shall be shared equally by the Board and the Association.
F. No Strike/No Lockout
1. The Association agrees that during the term of this Agreement neither the Association nor any person acting in its behalf will cause, authorize, or support, nor will any of its members take part in any strike (i.e., the concerted failure to report for duty, or willful absence of any driver from his position, or stoppage of work or abstinence in whole or in part from the full, faithful, and proper performance of the employment), work stoppage, slowdown, walkout, or other action against the school district. The Association further agrees during the term of this Agreement that it will actively discourage and will take whatever affirmative steps necessary to prevent or terminate any strike, work stoppage, slowdown, walkout or other job action against the Board.
2. The School Board agrees that during the term of this Agreement neither the Board nor any of its agents will cause, authorize, or support the locking out of any driver in this bargaining unit.
ARTICLE 6
SALARY SCHEDULE
A. Salary Guide
Bus drivers shall be paid on the basis of the Salary Schedule which is part of
this Agreement.
B. Initial Guide Placement
New drivers shall receive salary guide credit for prior experience as a bus driver up to Step 4 on the guide.
C. Step Movement
1. There shall be no partial steps.
2. Drivers who begin prior to December 31st, shall receive a full step increment on the first day of the next work year.
3. Drivers who begin after December 31st, shall remain on the same step for the next work year.
D. In addition to the salary established on the Salary Schedule, a driver shall receive a differential for possession of a valid National Safety Council "defensive driving" certificate as follows: July 1, 2006: 35 cent per hour; effective July 1, 2007, 40 cents per hour.
E. Longevity
A longevity adjustment shall begin on the September 1st after the completion of the tenth anniversary date of employment: 65 cents per hour. Effective July 1, 2008, change to 70 cents per hour.
F. Overtime
The Board agrees to pay overtime authorized by the Transportation Supervisor, as follows:
1. Work performed beyond forty (40) hours per week shall be paid at time and one-half. A week is defined as the period between Monday through Sunday.
2. Work performed on Sundays will be paid at time and one-half.
3. Work performed on major holidays shall be paid at two times the regular rate of pay. Major holidays are Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, day following Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Martin Luther King's Birthday, and Good Friday.
4. For purposes of determining overtime, the following shall count as regular hours worked: paid sick leave days, paid personal days, and other paid leaves of absence.
5. There shall be no pyramiding of overtime benefits under the terms of this Agreement.
G. Dry Runs
Drivers shall be paid for no less than one dry run day each year.
H. Pay for Time Worked
Unless otherwise covered in this Agreement, drivers shall be paid at their regular rate for all time worked.
I. Driver Training
Drivers who are assigned to perform driver training shall be paid a differential of one dollar ($1.00) per hour for all time on that assignment.
J. Contracted Salary
1. Effective 7/1/95 there shall be a contract system under which, insofar as possible, employees shall be offered a written contract specifying a minimum number of hours to be worked during the school year.
2. The normal date of issuance for such contracts shall be September 1st of each year. Employees must signal their intention to accept such a contract by signing the contract and returning it to the district's personnel office within three (3) work days of receipt.
3. It is understood that the district may not be able to extend such contracts to all unit members because of the fluidity of their work situations, as limited by Article 12 of the agreement.
4. Hours worked by an employee over and above the contracted hours shall be vouchered and paid as per practice.
5. Employees who receive a contract shall be provided fifteen days written notice of a reduction in contracted hours. Any permanent reduction or increase in regular work shall be reflected in contracted hours after 30 days of permanent assignment.
6. The contract shall maintain the hourly rate approach (e.g. 180 days x 5 hours per day x hourly rate).
7. Employees who receive a contract shall receive their base pay (total pay minus any vouchered hours) in twenty (20) equal installments commencing on September 15.
8. Salaries reported to P.E.R.S shall reflect contracted hours plus a factor reflecting projected voucher work.
- Permanent substitute drivers shall receive a differential of thirty cents ($0.30)
per hour for each hour worked as a substitute driver. Effective July 1, 2007, increase the differential to 35 cents per hour.
L. Effective July 1, 2006, all unit members shall be paid through a direct deposit system under rules established by the Administration.
M. Drivers shall be provided either a heavy or a light-weight jacket each year.
N. Effective January 1, 2007, in order to determine an employee’s pension contribution for vouchered work, the following calculation shall be made annually. Add to the employee’s current base salary, the following amount:
1. For employees with three full years or more of continuous District service prior to July 1st, add the average vouchered compensation of the previous three (3) years.
2. For those employees with less than three (3) years’ experience prior to July 1st, add the average vouchered compensation of the immediately previous two (2) or one (1) prior years, as relevant.
3. For the purposes of this section, a year is defined as July 1 through June 30.
ARTICLE 7
WORK YEAR AND WORK WEEK
A. Work Year
1. The minimum work year for drivers shall be 180 days.
2. New drivers may be required to attend orientation sessions.
3. "Out of district" may be assigned to work on days when other districts are in session but South Brunswick is not in session.
B. Work Week
The regular work week shall be Monday through Friday with the exception of school recesses and school holidays.
C. Work Day
1. Effective with the mutual ratification of the 2006-2009 Agreement, all drivers will receive a five and ½ hour per day guarantee, if desired. The 5 and ½ hours will include to-and-from runs, mid-day runs, and late runs. A driver assigned to extra runs in order to reach the 5 and ½ hour guarantee may waive any of the extra runs, thereby waiving the 5 and ½ hour per day guarantee for that year. If a run is refused, the waiver of the 5 and ½ hour guarantee shall be limited to the day of the week during which the refused run was scheduled.
2. The work day of all drivers shall include fifteen (15) minutes for bus pre-check and fifteen (15) minutes for cleanup.
3. All time worked shall be rounded to the next higher quarter hour.
4. In the calculation of time worked, drivers shall be paid for any layover time of one-half (½) hour or less.
5. The Association shall compose a list of driver preferences regarding the assignment of late runs and submit the list to the Transportation Supervisor by June 30th of each year. If administratively possible, rotation drivers shall not be assigned late runs on Friday.
6. Beginning on July 1, 2000, the minimum workday for any regular summer assignment shall be four hours. This minimum hour guarantee may be waived by the driver.
D. Other Work
Except in emergencies, all athletic runs and trips will be assigned in turn to each driver who has requested to be on the rotation list. Drivers may refuse trips due to their unavailability on evenings or weekends. Refusal of trip will still be counted as a trip assignment. No driver shall be removed from the list without just cause. On a regular basis, Association Representatives and the Transportation Supervisor shall meet to confirm that the assignment of other work is being rotated fairly.
ARTICLE 8
LONG TERM LEAVES OF ABSENCE
A. Child Rearing Leave
1. In the case of the birth of a child, any driver who has been employed for three (3) continuous years shall have the right to apply for a leave without pay for child rearing purposes.
2. Application for child rearing leave shall be made by the driver to the Superintendent at least three (3) months prior to the anticipated birth of the child.
3. Child rearing leave shall be granted to drivers who have been employed for three (3) continuous years for the balance of the work year (concluding June 30) in which the child is born and for one (1) additional work year. The eligible driver shall state whether he or she desires a leave solely for the balance of the work year in which the child is born or for an additional work year. In calculating the period immediately before and after childbirth, each weekday (except July 4 and Labor Day) which occurs between the day when the employee work year ends and the day when the new employee work year begins counts as one of the “assumed disability” days of 20 days before and 20 days after childbirth for sick leave purposes.
4. Any driver adopting a child shall be granted a child rearing leave in conformity with the provisions of "A.3" which shall commence upon the date such driver obtains custody of the child. Since such a date of custody cannot be predicted in all cases, notices shall be given to the Superintendent at least sixty (60) days prior to the anticipated date of custody if possible, and if not, as soon as practicable.
5. Nothing herein shall prevent the driver and the Board from agreeing that a driver may return sooner than the leave termination date granted if such earlier return is administratively convenient to the Board and is not medically contra-indicated. Denial of a request for earlier return shall not be arbitrable under Article 5.
6. Upon return from a child rearing leave all benefits to which the driver was entitled at the time of the commencement of leave, including unused accumulated sick leave, shall be restored. This provision does not extend to reinstitution of the percentage level under dental insurance. A driver returning from this leave shall receive dental insurance based upon the rules of the carrier.
7. The Board of Education shall pay the cost of medical insurance under the
terms of Article 10. A. for each driver on leave under the above provisions for three (3) months following the start of the leave or one (1) month following the birth, whichever occurs first.
8. Other Leaves: Upon request, the Board may grant to a driver an
extended leave of absence for personal reasons.
ARTICLE 9
SHORT TERM LEAVES OF ABSENCE
A. Sick Leave of Absence
Each driver shall receive ten (10) accumulative sick days per year. Unit members who retire from the District shall be compensated for accumulated sick leave by the following formula: 100% of accumulated sick leave days times $35 per day effective July 1, 2003. Retirement is defined as establishing eligibility to receive retirement benefits under P.E.R.S.
1. Summer Use of Sick Leave
Available sick leave may be used by drivers who work for the District in the summer. Drivers will continue to be responsible to contact a substitute for that day. A list of approved substitutes and phone numbers will be supplied to all drivers.
B. Personal Days
1. Drivers shall be entitled to two (2) personal days per year.
2. Unused personal days shall be converted to accumulated sick leave annually.
3. A driver requesting personal leave shall inform the supervisor at least forty-eight (48) hours before the day in question.
4. There shall be a two (2) driver limit per workday on personal leave under the provisions of this article.
C. Jury Duty
Drivers called for jury duty shall be paid at their regular rate less compensated fees for jury duty.
D. Bereavement Leave
1. Five (5) days leave of absence with pay will be granted upon request when death occurs in the immediate family. Immediate family is defined to include spouse, children, brother or sister of the driver, parents, grandparents of driver or spouse, other family members for whom the driver is legally responsible and any other member of the immediate household.
2. One (1) day leave of absence with pay may be granted upon approval by the Superintendent, or his/her designee to attend the funeral of a close relative or a close friend.
3. Three (3) days leave of absence with pay will be granted upon request in the event of the death of a grandchild, brother-in-law or sister-in-law.
E. Legal Days
A driver shall be entitled to time necessary for appearances in any legal
proceedings connected with the driver's employment or with the school system,
except in those cases where the driver is a defendant and the school board
is a plaintiff, and cases where the driver is a plaintiff and the school board
is a defendant.
F. Other Leave
Other leaves of absence may be granted upon the recommendation of
the Superintendent.
ARTICLE 10
HEALTH INSURANCE
A. Medical
The Board of Education shall provide medical coverage through the State Health Benefits Plan to all eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Employees may choose either the Traditional Plan, N.J. Plus, or an H.M.O. plan. The Board contribution shall not exceed the cost of the Traditional plan.
B. Dental
The Board shall provide New Jersey Dental Service Plan for driver with a twenty five dollar ($25.00) deductible. Family coverage shall be provided by the Board beginning July 1, 1991. Unless and until a change is negotiated by the parties, the Board's maximum contribution to the family dental plan shall not exceed $507 over the single plan cost per enrolled driver per year. If the cost of the insurance exceeds the per enrolled driver cost of $507 plus the single plan cost, the additional cost shall be borne by drivers covered by the family plan.
Effective January 26, 1998, any new bus driver hired by the district must work 27 hours per week in order to be eligible for dental insurance. The calculation of hours per week shall include all regular work including late runs. Once a driver reaches the 27 hour threshold, she/he shall remain eligible for benefits for the duration of his/her employment. However, no benefits will be provided in the event an employee's hours fall below 20 hours per week.
C. Prescription
The prescription co-pay for an employee shall be $20 for brand name (generic equivalent available), $10 for brand name (no generic equivalent available), $3 generic, and $0 mail order. Effective on the first of the month after mutual ratification of the 2006-2009 Agreement, the prescription co-pay for an employee shall be $15 for brand name with a generic equivalent available, $10 for brand name with no generic equivalent available, $3 for generic, and $5 for a 90 day mail order supply. Effective July 1, 2008, the prescription co-pay for an employee shall be $20 for brand name with a generic equivalent available, $15 for brand name with no generic equivalent available, $3 for generic, and a mail order of the same relevant co-pay ($20, $15, $3) for a 90 day supply.
Effective January 26, 1998, any new bus driver hired by the district must work 27 hours per week in order to be eligible for prescription insurance. The calculation of hours per week shall include all regular work including late runs. Once a driver reaches the 27 hour threshold, she/he shall remain eligible for benefits for the duration of his/her employment. However, no benefits will be provided in the event an employee's hours fall below 20 hours per week.
D. New Employees
Effective July 1, 1993, drivers whose official employment commences on or after July 1, 1993, shall be covered by single prescription and dental insurance for the first three (3) years of employment. Said unit members may buy into other enrollment levels.
E. Eligibility
Drivers shall be eligible for coverage pursuant to the rules of the carrier.
F. Extended Disability
"Total disability" shall mean one which,
a. results from bodily injuries or disease, and
b. wholly prevents the driver from engaging in his/her regular occupation, or assuming duties assigned by his/her superior taking into consideration the nature and degree of the disability.
c. The driver must be under the care of a physician. The Board may require examination and statements from doctors of its own choosing as frequently as it is deemed necessary.
a. Extended total disability benefits shall be payable to all half-time (20 hours per week) or more drivers who are on an annual contractual arrangement with the South Brunswick School System, regardless of the term of service previously performed prior to total disability.
b. Benefits shall not be available to any driver who has been notified in writing that his/her services are to be terminated or his/her contract not renewed, prior to the start of total disability, except as provided in paragraph d. below.
c. Benefits shall also not be available to any driver who submits his/her resignation in writing prior to start of his total disability.
d. Benefits to a driver whose services are to be terminated by a specific date, for whatever reason, and whose total disability preceded the notice of termination of such services, shall be paid only to the date of such termination provided driver is totally disabled at that time.
e. A recurrence of the same disability within one hundred and eighty (180) days of discontinuance of original disability.
a. A driver becomes eligible for payment under this Section only after using one hundred (100) percent of available accumulated sick leave days or waiting thirty (30) calendar days after the onset of the disability, whichever is longer.
b. The amount of monthly payments shall be determined in the following manner:
(1) The basic monthly salary shall be computed by dividing
the annual salary by the number of months the driver is required to perform service, as provided in the annual contract.
(2) Ten (10) month drivers (from September to June) shall not be eligible for benefit payment under this program during the months of July and August.
(3) Payments shall be made at the rate of sixty-seven (67) percent of prior year’s gross driver salary subject to the limitations of subsection e. (below).
c. The number of months that benefits shall be payable shall be determined by dividing the total number of months of service as a driver by four (4). Benefits also shall be payable for portion of a month. In no case shall the number of months benefits are received exceed 12 months.
d. In no case shall benefits be payable concurrently with payments received by a driver for retirement under the Social Security Program or any state employees pension plan.
e. Benefits under this program shall be reduced by the amount of any Workman's Compensation payments and by disability payment under Social Security. The driver shall be required to apply for such payments, if potentially eligible.
ARTICLE 11
MISCELLANEOUS
A. Summer Work
Any ten month driver called to work during summer months shall be paid an hourly rate equivalent to the rate on the salary schedule effective July 1st of that year.
B. Cancellations and Postponements
1. If a field trip has been scheduled on other than a regular workday, and the driver has been notified of the cancellation prior to midnight of that day, there shall be no compensation. If the driver is notified of the trip cancellation, at midnight or later, but before his/her arrival at the central office, he/she shall receive one (1) hour of pay. If the driver is notified after arrival at the school from which the field trip commences, he/she shall receive three (3) hours’ pay.
2. If a field trip is postponed halfway through because of inclement weather and rescheduled, the driver who was on the trip will have first chance of taking that rescheduled trip.
3. Whenever a regularly assigned run is shortened or cancelled on a daily basis, drivers will be paid for their regularly scheduled time provided that they remain at work and are available for work as needed.
C. Unscheduled Runs
A minimum of one-half (½) hour pay for each one-half (½) portion thereof, shall be paid for unscheduled runs, i.e. special children who are not picked up on another run, an inspection, trips to a garage, etc. For the purposes of this language, connected unscheduled runs on the same day are a single run.
D. Notification of Assignments on Holidays and Weekends
The Board of Education will provide written information concerning assignments on holidays and weekends on the bulletin board at least one (1) week before the work, when possible.
E. Starting of Buses
An effort will be made to have buses started fifteen (15) minutes before the starting time of a run and kept running when night time temperature falls below forty (40) degrees Fahrenheit.
F. Changing of Stops
The Administration shall notify parents at the beginning of the year that under normal conditions, drivers shall not be authorized to change established stops.
G. In Service
Drivers who are requested to attend an in-service or participate in any other type of training at a time beyond the normal work week and beyond the minimum one hundred eighty (180) days listed in the Agreement shall be compensated at their regular hourly rate unless they are eligible for overtime under the provisions of Article 6, G.
H. Trip Sheets
Trip sheets shall include all authorized stops, except in case of emergency. Any additional stops must be approved via radio by Transportation Supervisor or designee.
I. Out of State Trips
New York City trips, with all five boroughs constituting New York City, shall have one (1) additional driver assigned per trip, no matter how many buses.
J. Severability
If any provisions of this Agreement or any applications of this Agreement to any driver or group of drivers is held to be contrary to law, then such provision or application shall not be deemed valid and subsisting, except to the extent permitted by law, but all other provisions or applications shall continue in full force and effect.
K. Postings
All new positions or vacancies shall be posted with the number of hours and assignment. Interested applicants from within shall be guaranteed an interview. First consideration shall be given to internal candidates. The decision of the Board in the filing of the position shall be final.
ARTICLE 12
PROTECTION OF DRIVERS
A. Workers' Compensation
The Board of Education shall carry insurance policies to provide Workers’ Compensation for any driver who is injured while in performance of his/her duties.
B. Save Harmless
In the event of litigation, civil or criminal, the Board will extend to its drivers all of the protections afforded by the statutes of the State of New Jersey in effect for such drivers.
C. Just Cause
No driver shall be disciplined or discharged without just cause.
D. Seniority
In the event of reduction in force, the last driver hired shall be the first driver reduced and the first driver hired shall be the last driver reduced.
E. Letter of Reprimand
Any letter of reprimand placed in a driver's personnel file shall be removed from the file no sooner than five years following the date in which it was placed in the file. Removal of the letter of reprimand will occur only if no other letter of reprimand has been placed in the file during the five-year period. Removal will occur upon petition of the driver.
F. Rain Gear
Effective 7/1/95, the Board will provide rain gear to any driver required to gas vehicles.
ARTICLE 13
AGENCY FEE
A. Purpose of Fee
If any driver does not become a member of the Association during any membership year (i.e. from September 1 to the following August 31) which is covered in whole or in part by this Agreement, said driver will be required to pay a representation fee to the Association for that membership year. The purpose of this fee will be to offset the driver's per capita cost of services rendered by the Association as a majority representative.
B. Amount of Fee
Prior to the beginning of each membership year, the Association will notify the Board in writing of the amount of the regular membership dues, initiation fees and assessments charged by the Association to its own members for that membership year. The representation fee to be paid by nonmembers will be determined by the Association in accordance with the law.
In order to adequately offset the per capita cost of services rendered by the Association as majority representative, the representation fee should be equal in amount to the regular membership dues, initiation fees and assessments charged by the Association to its own members, and the representation fee may be set up to eighty-five (85%) percent of that amount as the maximum presently allowed by law. If the law is changed in this regard, the amount of the representation fee automatically will be increased to the maximum allowed, said increase to become effective as of the beginning of the Association membership year immediately following the effective date of the change.
C. Deduction and Transmission of Fee
Once during each membership year covered in whole or in part by this Agreement, the Association will submit to the Board a list of those drivers who have not become members of the Association for then current membership year. The Board will deduct from the salaries of such drivers in accordance with paragraph 2. below, the full amount of the representation fee and promptly will transmit so deducted to the Association.
2. Payroll Deduction Schedule
Payroll will deduct the representation fee in equal installments, as nearly as possible, from the paychecks paid to each driver on the aforesaid list during the remainder of the membership year in question. The deductions will begin with the first paycheck paid:
a. ten (10) days after receipt of the aforesaid by the Board;
or
b. Thirty (30) days after the driver begins his/her employment in a bargaining unit position, unless the driver previously served in a bargaining unit position and continued in the employ of the Board in a non-bargaining unit position or was on layoff, in which event the deductions will begin with the first paycheck paid ten (10) days after the resumption of the driver's employment in a bargaining unit position, whichever is later.
3. Termination of Employment
If a driver who is required to pay a representation fee terminates his/her employment with the Board before the Association has received the full amount of the representation fee to which it is entitled under this Article, the Board will deduct the unpaid portion of the fee from the last paycheck paid to the said driver during the membership year in question.
Except as otherwise provided in the Article, the mechanics for the deduction of representation fees and the transmission of such fees to the Association will, as nearly as possible, be the same as those used for the deduction and transmission of regular membership dues to the Association.
5. Changes
The Association will notify the Board in writing of any changes in the list provided for in paragraph "1" above and/or the amount of the representation fee, and such changes will be reflected in any deductions made more than ten (10) days after the Board received said notice.
ARTICLE 14
DURATION
A. This Agreement shall take effect July 1, 2006, and shall continue in full force and effect through June 30, 2009. This Agreement shall not be extended orally and it is expressly understood that it shall expire on the date indicated, unless it is extended in writing.
B. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed by their respective presidents, attested by their respective secretaries, all on the day and year written below:
SOUTH BRUNSWICK BOARD OF EDUCATION
____________________________
President
____________________________
Date
SOUTH BRUNSWICK SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS ASSOCIATION
____________________________
President
____________________________
Date
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