REMEMBER:
The advice & recommendations
on this website are general by nature. You must speak with TSTA legal for more appropriate and accurate legal advice to fit your particular situation or need.

Open Meetings Act

The Open Meetings Act Handbook and Public Information Handbook are online at the publications site for the Office of the Texas Attorney General.  The Public Information Act, formerly known as the Open Records Act, is located at chapter 552 of the Government Code. The Act provides a mechanism for citizens to inspect or copy government records. It also provides for instances in which governmental bodies wish to, or are required by law to, withhold government records from the public. It is this law that provides you as an employee the right to request copies of your evaluations and all notes or letters located in that file.

US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission  EEOC

Texas and federal law prohibits discrimination based upon:

• Pregnancy

• Disability

• Religious Belief

• Gender

• Age

• National Origin, Race or Color

The purpose of these equal employment opportunity laws is to guarantee that all people receive fair and equal employment opportunities regardless of any of the conditions listed above.

The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforces civil rights law which protects individuals from discrimination and harassment. The TSTA Help Desk (877-ASK-TSTA) is available to answer members' questions and evaluate potential violations.

A good starting point for learning about equal opportunity laws enforced by the EEOC is its web site at http://www.eeoc.gov/index.html

It is very important that you act quickly if you believe that you have been discriminated against. Not only do the district's rules require a grievance to be filed promptly, the EEOC requires that it be notified, in most cases, within 90 days or any illegal discrimination or harassment.

Another excellent section of the EEOC web site, with questions and answers about your workplace rights, is: http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/qanda.html
 

Family & Medical Leave Act  FMLA

 The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides important protections to you if you must take an extended leave of absence due to your own serious health condition or the serious health condition of an immediate family member. It also protects employees (men and women) who take leave for the birth and care of a newborn child or for the adoption of a child.

Unfortunately, too many districts do an inadequate job in advising employees about their rights under the FMLA. A very readable source of information about the FMLA is found at the United States Department of Labor's web site, http://www.dol.gov/esa/fmla.htm.

TSTA’s Help Center is available to assist with questions or concerns which you may have regarding the FMLA. Call 877-ASK-TSTA.

How to Report Unsafe Working Conditions

District employees may report unsafe working conditions--for example, unsanitary work sites or mold-contaminated environments--to the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission's Division of Health and Safety  by calling the safety violation hotline for school employees,  800-452-9595. If you need help, contact TSTA HELP CENTER (by email) or call direct 877-ASK-TSTA.