You Can Do Political Organizing at School

 

Is it okay to wear a political button at school?  What can I post on our Association bulletin board in the faculty lounge?  Can we hold a meeting to discuss political issues after school?  What about signature gathering?  Here is a short guide to help you look at the many ways you can do political organizing at school. 

 

            Communicating with members about anything political is a right that should be guaranteed by your collective bargaining agreement.  You can normally do it during off-duty times before and after work, and during your duty-free lunch.  For certificated employees, on-duty time is determined by their building schedule.  Preparation time for certificated employees is not duty-free time.  For classified employees, on-duty time means working hours.  Breaks and duty-free lunch are not on-duty times.

 

DO:

 

DO NOT:

 

 

 

  Do distribute hand-to-hand, during non-work hours, Association newsletters containing articles of a political or legislative nature or other political materials, or post such materials on Association bulletin boards.

 

 

Do not place candidate-related or WEA-PAC materials in a school mailbox.  Do not use school e-mail for candidate-related or WEA-PAC communications.

 

Do ask members to sign up to volunteer time in support of candidate, initiative or levy campaigns, provided you do so during off-duty times.

 

 

Do not use school phones or computers to call voters on behalf of a candidate, initiative or levy campaign.

Do discuss and distribute political or legislative materials, including initiative petitions, at Association meetings if they are held on off-duty times.

 

 

Do not post political materials on your Association bulletin board unless it is located in the faculty lounge.

 

Do wear campaign buttons, and display bumper stickers or signs in your cars.  Those signs and buttons must be removed on election days only if your school is a polling place.

 

Do not use work time or computers to campaign on behalf of a candidate, initiative or levy.  Do not invite a candidate to speak to members during on-duty times. 

 

 

Do discuss candidates, levies, initiatives or legislative issues during off-duty times.

 

Do call your legislator during off-duty hours, but only if you use your own, personal cell phone.

 

Do e-mail your legislator during off-duty hours, but only using your own, personal computer and e-mail address.

 

 

Do not use school mailboxes or e-mail to distribute legislative information or information regarding levy, bond or initiative campaigns.  Political or legislative materials should be hand-delivered to members outside of work time.

 

Do not use work computers, e-mail addresses or telephones to contact legislators.  Use home computers, personal e-mail addresses and personal telephones to contact legislators.

Do discuss candidates, levies, initiatives or legislative issues during off-duty times.

 

Do collect employees home e-mail addresses and send e-mail from home to home e-mail addresses regarding candidate, levy, bond or initiative campaigns or legislative information.

 

Do not use school facilities, such as stationery, paper, postage, telephones, fax/copy machines or school vehicles while working on a political campaign.  The school district must allow the use of its rooms for political meetings on the same terms and conditions as for non-political meetings.

 

Next >