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AR Handbook – 89 b. show evidence that every effort has been taken to resolve the grievance at all possible levels before a determination is made to proceed to arbitration; and c. submit the following items to the NJEA UniServ representative who shall forward the material to the program manager: i. The appropriate NJEA request form for reimbursement. ii. A copy of the bill for the initial filing fee which reflects the amount paid in order to obtain a list of arbitrators. iii. A copy of the bill which clearly enumerates the arbitrator’s fee and reasonable expenses. d. Request for financial assistance of these fees and reasonable expenses shall be considered on a case-by-case basis. Assistance may be recommended at the discretion of the NJEA PR&R Committee after consideration of all the facts present and consultation with an NJEA UniServ representative or other authorized NJEA staff member. e. The ordering of transcripts is discouraged. Payment of the cost of transcripts shall be considered only when recommended and approved by the program manager. J. Assistance to Affiliates for Full Payment of Arbitration Costs 1. NJEA does not normally provide full financial assistance for arbitration expenses. However, NJEA may provide full assistance toward the affiliate’s share of the arbitrator’s expenses providing the affiliate can demonstrate financial hardship. 2. In order for full financial assistance to be considered by the NJEA PR&R Committee, an affiliate must follow paragraphs a., b., and c. above. 3. An affiliate shall provide a copy of the current budget and an up-to-date financial statement including the status of all bank accounts and/or investments. 4. An affiliate must have in place a dues structure that is reasonably comparable to other similar local affiliates. K. Impasse Funding 1. Fact finding NJEA shall provide assistance for fact finding costs in the same manner as payment of Arbitration costs. 2. Conciliation/Supermediation NJEA will shall provide assistance for the costs of conciliation/supermediation in the same manner as payment of arbitration costs. General Procedures A. Commencement 1. Prior to the assignment and/ or retention of an attorney, an individual member or an authorized representative of an affiliate shall consult with an NJEA UniServ representative or other authorized NJEA staff member. 2. NJEA UniServ representative or other authorized NJEA staff member shall seek to resolve the problem prior to requesting the use of an attorney. 3. In order to utilize the services of a network attorney, the NJEA UniServ representative or authorized NJEA staff member shall request approval for the use of an attorney from the program manager. 4. Based on the merits of each case under the current state of law, the program manager shall either approve utilization of a network attorneys for consultation, approve financial assistance and assign a network attorney or deny financial assistance. Approved cases shall be assigned an NJEA case number by the program manager. 5. Before a network attorney begins consultation or other appropriate legal work, the attorney must be given the designated NJEA case number by the NJEA UniServ representative or appropriate NJEA staff member. 6. After consultation, prior to litigation, the network attorney shall submit recommendations with appropriate rationale in writing to the NJEA UniServ representative and program manager. No litigation shall be initiated without approval of the program manager. 7. Prior to consultation with a network attorney, the individual member or the authorized representative of the affiliate shall complete the appropriate application and agreement for legal financial assistance. 8. The member and/or affiliate shall be provided with the current NJEA policy regarding legal financial assistance. 9. Approval for consultation with a network attorney shall be automatic in cases involving tenure dismissal charges served by employers on members. 10. NJEA shall not bear any financial responsibility in matters where these procedures


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