Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Why does the District enter into contract with the various Unions?
Florida law requires the School District to negotiate with employee organizations (unions) that have been certified by the Public Employees Relations Commission (PERC) to represent employees in designated jobs. Subjects of negotiations include wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment.
Why are grievance procedures included in the Collective Bargaining Agreement?
Florida law specifically requires that a grievance procedure be part of any negotiated labor contract, and
that the terminal step of procedures provide for arbitration.
Are employees who are not dues-paying members of the union covered by the collective bargaining agreement?
Yes, dues paying and non-dues paying employees enjoy the rights, benefits and privileges conveyed by the appropriate labor contract. The basis for determining the make-up of a bargaining unit is jobs, not individual employees.
Is an employee entitled to Union representation for all meetings with management?
No, an employee is entitled to union representation only when he or she has reasonable expectation that the meeting will include matters relating to disciplinary action.
Is the union required to represent all employees who file grievances?
No, the union may decline to represent an employee if he or she is not a dues paying member, or if it determines that the grievance is without merit.
What are the employee's rights if the union declines representation?
An employee who is denied representation because of non-membership may elect representation of his or her own choosing, including an attorney who is paid by the employee.
How do I earn sick leave, and for what reasons can I use sick leave?
While each labor contract is somewhat different, in general, employees are advanced four days of sick leave annually, and then earn one day of sick leave per month of employment during which they are on paid status for at least eleven days of the month. Unused sick leave at the end of a fiscal year is carried over to the next fiscal year.
Employees may use sick leave for personal injury or illness, and for the illness, injury or death of an immediate family member. If misuse of sick leave is suspected, the District may require the employee to provide competent medical proof of the necessity for such leave.
Earned sick leave from another Florida School District or State Agency that participates in the Florida Retirement System (FRS) may be transferred by the employee to the District provided that at least one-half of the employee's cumulative number of sick leave days must be earned within the District.
How do I earn Personal Leave, and for what reasons can I use it?
Up to six days of an employee's unused sick leave may be used as personal leave, per school year. In most instances, a request for personal leave must be made in advance to the employee's immediate supervisor. While each labor contract is somewhat different, in most cases personal leave may not be taken on the day immediately before or after a holiday. Unused personal leave does not accumulate to the following school year as personal leave; however, it does remain as sick leave that is cumulative and carries over to the following school year. Each labor contract has additional stipulations regarding the use of personal leave.
Who can be paid overtime, and when are these employees paid the overtime rate of pay?
Those employees who are non-exempt (paid by the hour) are paid at the rate of time and one-half for all hours worked during a work week over forty (40) hours. These non-exempt employees can earn compensatory time at one and one-half times the number of hours worked over forty (40) hours per work week instead of being paid at the overtime rate for these additional hours.
How often am I paid by the District?
Employees are paid every other Friday, in either 22 payments or 26 payments, depending on the length of his or her employment contract. Teachers have the option of being paid either in 22 or 26 payments. If Friday is a holiday, or District offices are closed, the Friday payday is usually scheduled for the previous day.
The District annually selects the first Friday pay date for each school year after receiving an annual recommendation from the Ad hoc Payroll Advisory Committee that is comprised of all represented employee groups, including its four Unions/Associations.