Welcome to the Ratification Procedures Explanation Meeting Please turn cell phones off or to silent. A ringing cell phone is a $5.00 contribution to the NEA Children’s Fund.

Legal Responsibility Union negotiates the contract for all members of the bargaining unit Florida Statute requires that all bargaining unit members have opportunity to vote on the contract—regardless of union membership

Prior Steps Summaries to post on USEP bulletin boards and website. Actual contract language posted on the USEP bulletin board & website, and placed in Media Center or other secure, central location. Announcement of USEP General Meeting to explain tentative agreements posted by sign-in sheets, other prominent locations and on USEP bulletin boards.

Items Within Packet Notices to post announcing site of ratification voting. Sign-In List of teachers or SRP at your worksite (whether USEP members or not) Ballots. Please verify that you have a sufficient number of ballots for all eligible teachers & SRP at your worksite. If not, please call the USEP office and additional ballots will be provided. Return Ballot envelope. Vote Verification Form.

Get with your principal/supervisor IN ADVANCE to designate specific time(s) and place for balloting to be conducted on Wednesday, January 14 th. Ratification voting notice(s) should be posted on the USEP bulletin board, at sign-in area, and with copies of actual language in the Media Center or other central, secure location. Remember some employees work part- time or evening hours. NOTICE OF CONTRACT RATIFICATION VOTING Where: _______________________________________ Wednesday, January 14 th, at ________________________ time(s) Copies of proposed language are available in the _______________________________ If you have questions, please see a USEP Building Rep (listed below): ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________

Let Everyone Know! Announce over the PA system at the beginning of the workday on Wednesday, January 14 th the location and time(s) ratification voting will be held at your worksite.

Get Help! Try to have at least two (2) people handling the ballot distribution. Staff your designated vote site for the specified time period.

Prepare the Ballot Return Envelope On the front of ballot envelope, list your worksite and circle the appropriate bargaining unit: Teacher or SRP. Return to USEP: CONTRACT RATIFICATION MATERIALS ONLY List your worksite on the line below: ___________________________ Circle the appropriate Unit: TEACHER orSRP VERY IMPORTANT! Please read before sealing envelope: DID YOU REMEMBER TO...  Write your worksite on the line above?  Place unused ballots (banded or stapled together) into this envelope?  Tally the votes?  Complete and sign the “Vote Verification Form” and attach to it any questionable ballots?  Place completed ballots into this envelope?  Place sign-in sheet(s) into this envelope?  Place “Vote Verification Form” into this envelope?  Seal flap, tape and/or staple, and then sign over flap?  Place this envelope in the courier?

Balloting Procedures Have the employee initial by his/her name on the sign-in list. Provide the employee with the ballot. Allow the employee to vote privately. Place voted ballots into the return ballot envelope.  (Keep voted ballots separate from blank ballots.)

If an employee’s name is not on your sign-in list : Print the employee’s name at the bottom of your sign-in list. Have the employee initial by his/her printed name. Provide the employee with the appropriate ballot. Place the ballot in the return ballot envelope along with the others. Because he/she serves two or more worksites OR is a Pasco eSchool staff member and is not at his/her designated base worksite –not because he/she is a substitute, has not been Board-approved, or is not in the bargaining unit. (Mini and Temp contracts are OK as long as the person is receiving the regular daily rate for teachers and not long-term sub pay.)

Voting Early Please announce that employees who will not be present on the day of the vote may vote early by contacting you. Follow all the other voting procedures. Employees at other worksites or staff development on the day of the vote may vote at that location provided they have not voted already.

You’re Almost Done…Tally the ballots band or staple together any unused ballots; tally the votes; complete the enclosed Vote Verification Form; attach any questionable ballots requiring review by the Election Committee to the Vote Verification Form. The last Building Rep issuing ballots for the ratification process should follow these steps:

Vote Verification Form Worksite: _____________________________________ Circle one: Teacheror SRP _______________ Total number of employees who initialed the sign in sheet (include those whose names did not appear on the sign-in sheet but who printed their names and voted). _______________ Total Number of YES votes _______________ Total Number of NO votes _______________ Total Number of questionable votes (attach to this form) My signature below affirms that the ratification vote was conducted in accordance with the USEP Ratification Procedures and that the results are as stated on this form. Printed Name of USEP Building Representative: ______________________________ Signature of USEP Building Representative: ______________________________

Stuff the Return Envelope a)Vote Verification Form, with questionable ballots attached b)Voted ballots, grouped by Yes & No voted ballots c)Sign-in lists, d)Unused ballots that you have banded or stapled together.

Double Check Everything! Complete the check list on the Return Ballot Envelope DID YOU REMEMBER TO...  Write your worksite on the line above?  Place unused ballots (banded or stapled together) into this envelope?  Tally the votes?  Complete and sign the “Vote Verification Form” and attach to it any questionable ballots?  Place completed ballots into this envelope?  Place sign-in sheet(s) into this envelope?  Place “Vote Verification Form” into this envelope?  Seal flap, tape and/or staple, and then sign over flap?  Place this envelope in the courier?

Seal Return Ballot Envelope Seal the flap on the return envelope, and then sign your name over the sealed edge. You may also staple the flap closed.

Send through Courier Do NOT Place the Return Ballot Envelope in a manila Courier Envelope! Place sealed return ballot envelope in courier bag at the end of your balloting on Wednesday, January 14 th so the courier can pick-up in the morning on Thursday, January 15 th.

Words of Caution All bargaining unit members, whether members of USEP or not, are eligible to vote.  Teachers on mini-contracts or temporary contracts may vote as long as they are receiving teacher pay, not long-term sub pay. Substitutes are not eligible to vote.  Normal exclusions for SRP are Assistant Plant and Plant Managers, Assistant Managers and Mangers for Food & Nutrition Services, Child Care Assistant Managers and Child Care Site Managers, administration, confidential employees, and substitutes. If you have any questions about an employee on your sign-in list, please call the USEP office.

Numbers Matter If the number of ballots cast is greater than the number of ballots initialed for on the sign-in list, the Elections Committee will deem the whole ballot envelope void.

Time to Count ’em! Vote Verification Forms will be tabulated and questionable ballots will be verified at the USEP office starting at 4:30 p.m., on Thursday, January 15 th. Interested employees are invited to attend.

Success depends on you! Call USEP with any questions/concerns. Please ensure that your name is printed legibly on the sign in sheet up front. This will be sent to Employee Relations to verify your attendance today