Unpaid Leave - Union Business
(a) Short-term leave of absence without pay to a maximum of fourteen (14) days at one time shall be granted to employees designated by the Union to transact Union business including conventions and conferences unless this would unduly interrupt the operation of the department provided, however, that these designated employees shall be paid by the Employer for time lost in attending meetings during working hours whenever their attendance is requested by the Employer. The Union shall give reasonable notice to minimize disruption of the department and the Union shall make every effort to give a minimum of seven (7) days’ notice.
(b) Long-term leave of absence without pay shall be granted to employees designated by the Union to transact Union business for specific periods of not less than fourteen (14) days unless this would unduly interrupt the operation of the department. Such requests shall be made in writing sufficiently in advance to minimize disruption of the department. Employees granted such leave of absence shall retain all rights and privileges accumulated prior to obtaining such leave. Seniority shall continue to accumulate during such leave and shall apply to such provisions as annual vacations, increments and promotions.
(c) Leave of absence without pay shall be granted to employees designated by the Union for the purpose of collective bargaining. Seniority and all benefits shall accumulate during such leave.
(d) The foregoing provisions shall not limit the provisions of Article 5.10, 9.01, 9.02, 9.03, 11.05, 11.06, 12.01, 12.
(e) Every effort will be made by the Employer to retain employees on unpaid leave of absence for Union business on the Employer’s payroll and where such employees are retained, the Union shall reimburse the Employer for the wages and benefits involved. This provision does not apply to employees on extended leaves of absence who are employed by the Union on a regular full-time basis.
Union Leaves Employees on Union Leaves will be treated as provided in Article 18 (Q) while working on Union leave.
Union Leave Leave of absence for Union business shall be given without pay up to a maximum of (as per the local provisions under L19) days per calendar year provided such leave does not interfere with the continuance of efficient operation of the Hospital. Such leave shall be subject to the following conditions:
(a) not more than (as per the local provisions under L19) employees of the Hospital are absent on any such leave at the same time, and not more than (as per the local provisions under L19) employee from a department;
(b) a request must be made in writing at least twenty-one days prior to the commencement of the function for which leave is requested, unless it is not reasonably possible to give such notice;
(c) such request shall state the general nature of the function to be attended;
(d) employees on a Union Leave which is approved by the Hospital in accordance with the above conditions shall be paid for such leave by the Hospital. The Hospital shall then forward a statement of such wages paid to the employee affected to the union for reimbursement of the amount stated;
(e) an employee who is elected or appointed to office with the CAW, shall upon application by the Union in writing, be granted a leave of absence without loss of seniority and benefits for up to three (3) years. An extension shall be granted upon written application by the employee to the administration of the Hospital. During such leaves of absence, salary and benefits shall be kept whole by the Hospital and the Union agrees to reimburse the Hospital for such salary and the Hospital's contribution to said benefits. The employee agrees to notify the Hospital of the employee's intention to return to work within two (2) weeks following the termination of office for which the leave was granted. The union agrees to notify the Hospital five (5) months in advance of the Local Union election. The union further agrees that the requirement to meet under Article 14 will be waived. At the end of such leave, any employee hired or placed as a substitute for the employee on such absence, may be terminated or laid off by the Hospital as required, or may be transferred to the employee's previous position if the substitution was a transfer. An employee on leave of absence under this provision shall continue to accumulate all rights and privileges under this Agreement. It is understood that the intent of this article is that it shall normally apply to only one employee at a time per circumstance as noted above, and that the Union shall provide adequate notice prior to an employee commencing Union Leave of Absence. Further applications may be granted consistent with the Hospital’s staffing requirements. In addition, it is understood that any employee so elected or appointed is required to maintain their competence in the event that they are to return to the workplace.
Local Union Leave Upon written request, leave of absence without pay shall be granted to employees for Union business in accordance with the following provisions:
i) In bargaining units with up to 12 members, no more than one (1) employee shall be on leave at any one time. In bargaining units with 13 or more members, no more than two (2) employees shall be on leave at any one time.
ii) The aggregate total number of days of leave, including Provincial Committee Leave, will not exceed sixty-five (65) working days in a calendar year.
iii) The Union will give at least four (4) weeks’ written notice where practicable.
iv) Replies to request for leaves of absence shall be given within two
Paid Leave Contributions will continue whilst a member of a fund is absent on paid annual leave, sick leave, long service leave, public holidays, jury service, bereavement leave, or other paid leave.
Federation Leave A leave of absence for the president and a second position of the Federation shall be granted to any employee covered by this Agreement upon application by the Federation for the purpose of the employee serving as an officer of the Federation. The District shall continue to pay such employee(s) and provide benefits, with the exception of leave benefits, but will be reimbursed by the Federation for the cost of salary and fringe benefits. Upon return from such leaves, an employee shall proceed on the salary schedule as if s/he had been employed with the District each year of the leave. The Federation agrees to consider carefully each request for release time for Federation members. Although leaves for short terms without loss of pay may be granted upon approval by the Office of the Superintendent, the Federation shall reimburse the District for the cost of salaries and fringe benefits.
Court Leave Leave of absence with pay shall be given to every employee, other than an employee on leave of absence without pay or under suspension, who is required:
Catastrophic Leave Bank The City agrees to establish a Catastrophic Leave Bank to assist employees who have exhausted accrued leave time due to a serious or catastrophic illness or injury. The Catastrophic Leave Bank (CLB) will allow the bargaining unit employees to donate time to affected employees within and outside the unit, so that he/she can remain in a paid status for a longer period of time, thus partially ameliorating the financial impact of the illness, injury or condition. This donated time will be placed in a CLB and drawn down from the CLB by the eligible employee. Eligibility To be eligible for this benefit, the receiving employee must: 1) Be a regular full time employee, 2) Have sustained or have an immediate family member who has sustained a life threatening or debilitating illness, injury or condition which may require confirmation by a physician, 3) Have exhausted all accumulated paid leave including vacation, holiday, sick leave, and/or compensatory time off, 4) Be unable to return to work for at least 30 days or in the case of the condition affecting the immediate family member, that member must be in need of prolonged and significant personal care; and 5) Conformed with the requirements of the Family Medical Leave Act and/or Worker's Compensation.
Pre-Paid Leave The Employer agrees to introduce a pre-paid leave program, funded solely by the employee, subject to the following terms and conditions:
(a) The plan is available to employees wishing to spread four (4) years’ salary over a five (5) year period or three (3) years’ salary over a four (4) year period, in accordance with Part LXVII of the Income Tax Regulations, Section 6801, to enable them to take a maximum one (1) year leave of absence following the four (4) years or three (3) years of salary deferral. The plan is not to provide benefits to employees on or after retirement.
(b) The employee must make written application to the appropriate Director at least three (3) months prior to the intended commencement date of the program (i.e., the salary deferral portion).
(c) The number of employees that may be absent at any one (1) time shall be three (3), with a maximum of one (1) per program or department, subject to operational requirements.
(d) Written applications will be reviewed by the appropriate Director or designate and granted subject to operational requirements. The principle of seniority shall govern in cases of suitable applications greater than the number outlined in (c). Decisions will be made twice a year, February 15th and September 15th.
(e) During the years of salary deferral, twenty percent (20%) or twenty-five percent (25%) as applicable, of the employee’s gross annual earnings will be deducted and held for the employee and will not be accessible to her or him until the year of the leave or upon withdrawal from the plan.
(f) The manner in which the deferred salary is held shall be at the discretion of the Employer.
(g) All deferred salary shall be paid to the employee at the commencement of leave or in accordance with such other payment schedule as may be agreed upon between the Employer and the employee.
(h) Accrued interest, if any, shall be payable to the employee in the year that it is earned.
(i) All benefits shall be kept whole during the years of salary deferral.
(j) During the year of the leave, seniority will be retained but will not accumulate. Service for the purpose of vacation and salary progression and other benefits will be retained but will not accumulate during the period of leave. Employees shall become responsible for the full payment of premiums for any health and welfare benefits in which they are participating. Contributions to the Pension Plan will be in accordance with the Plan. Employees will not be eligible to participate in the disability income plan during the year of leave.
(k) An employee may withdraw from the plan only as a result of financial or other hardship, provided one (1) month’s notice is given to the Director. Deferred salary, plus accrued interest, if any, will be returned to the employee, within a reasonable period of time.
(l) If the employee terminates employment, the deferred salary held by the Employer plus accrued interest, if any, will be returned to the employee within a reasonable period of time. In case of the employee’s death, the funds will be paid to the employee’s estate.
(m) If the Employer intends to fill the temporary vacancy, then Article 10 shall apply. If the Employer is unable to find a suitable replacement, it may postpone the leave. The Employer will give the employee as much notice as is reasonably possible. The employee will have the option of remaining in the plan and rearranging the leave at a mutually agreeable time or of withdrawing from the plan and having the deferred salary, plus accrued interest, if any, paid out to the employee within a reasonable period of time.
(n) The employee will be reinstated to her or his former position unless the position has been discontinued in which case the employee may exercise her/his seniority to bump as per Article 11. The employee must plan to return for a minimum of one (1) year.
(o) Final approval for entry into the pre-paid leave program will be subject to the employee entering into a formal agreement with the Employer in order to authorize the Employer to make the appropriate deductions from the employee’s pay. Such agreement will include:
i) A statement that the employee is entering the pre-paid leave program in accordance with Article 13.10 of the Collective Agreement.
ii) The period of salary deferral and the period for which the leave is requested.
iii) The manner in which the deferral salary is to be held.
iv) The letter of application from the employee to enter the prepaid leave program will be appended to and form part of the written agreement.
Parenthood Leave A. A regular, limited-term or probationary employee shall be granted, upon request, a Parenthood Leave Without Pay of up to six (6) months in connection with the birth or placement for legal adoption of a child provided the employee meets the following conditions:
1. The requested Leave is commenced within six (6) months before or after the date of birth or placement for legal adoption of the child.
2. Sufficient documentation of such birth or placement for legal adoption is submitted with the request for Leave.
3. Such employee has completed new probation.
4. All accrued vacation, compensatory time or annual leave subject to 100% payoff has been applied toward the absence.
B. Unless otherwise required by law, employees shall not be eligible for more than one (1) such Leave within any twelve (12) month period.
C. Healthcare leave or annual leave must be applied toward any portion of the absence which qualifies under Section 1.B.1. of this Article provided the employee has furnished the agency/department with a certificate signed by a licensed physician stating the nature of the medical condition and period of disability.
D. Pregnant employees may also apply for a Nonoccupational Disability Leave for the term of disability as provided in Section 4. of this Article.
E. Parenthood Leave shall not be credited toward continuous service.
F. For employees on Parenthood Leave, merit increase dates, probation periods and performance evaluation dates shall be treated as if the employee were on Official Leave.
