Leave for Union Activities Upon request by the Union, leave without pay will be granted to any employee duly authorized to represent employees of this bargaining unit at:
a) Executive, Council meetings or Conventions of the Union and Labour Education Seminars. A written request for such leave shall be submitted at least twenty (20) days in advance. Such leave shall be limited to a total of four (4) employees at any one time, and to a maximum aggregate total of four hundred and fifty (450) working hours in any calendar year. The maximum leave for any individual Union official shall not exceed sixty (60) hours and one hundred (100) working hours for an Executive Officer. The Company will consider reasonable requests from the Union to increase the individual and/or aggregate maximum. Such leave shall not constitute a break in continuity of service in seniority, severance pay, or other benefits under this Agreement.
b) In order to attend the CEP National Convention every other year (or every third year) up to four (4) employees will be released and the maximum aggregate total of working hours may be increased by an additional one hundred thirty (130) working hours, exclusive of the individual limits in above to attend the CEP National Convention. The Company will be advised of the convention dates as far in advance as possible. A written request for such leave will be submitted to the Company at least sixty (60) days in advance.
c) It is understood that operational requirements may prevent the release of particular employee(s) under this Article and in such case the Local Union shall be allowed to name the alternate(s), however such requests for leave will not be unreasonably denied.
d) An employee on unpaid Union leave under this Article shall be compensated at his/her regular rate for the leave by the Company. The Company will then invoice the Union for reimbursement of such compensation which shall be paid by the Union within fifteen (15) days of the date of the invoice.
e) In addition, up to one (1) employee may accept a full-time elective position with the Union or an official labour body for a period not exceeding two (2) years. Any additional yearly periods may be granted at the Company’s discretion upon receipt of a written request from the employee and the President of the Union. The Company may hire temporary employees to fill the vacancies created by such leave of absence. During the employee’s leave and subject to the limitations of the various benefit plans, the employee may continue to participate provided the employee prepays all premiums and contributions. During such leave the employee shall not accumulate seniority for the purpose of annual leave credits and severance pay.
Leave for Union Business The Hospital agrees to grant leaves of absence, without pay, to nurses selected by the Union to attend Union business including conferences, conventions and Provincial Committee meetings and to any nurse elected to the position of Local Co-ordinator. The cumulative total leave of absence, the amount of notice, the number of nurses that may be absent at any time from one area and the number of days (including those of the Local Co-ordinator) is set out in the Appendix of Local Provisions. During such leave of absence, a nurse's salary and applicable benefits or percentage in lieu of fringe benefits shall be maintained by the Hospital and the local Union agrees to reimburse the Hospital in the amount of the daily rate of the full-time nurse or in the amount of the full cost of such salary and percentage in lieu of fringe benefits of a part-time nurse except for Provincial Committee meetings which will be reimbursed by the Union. The Hospital will xxxx the local Union within a reasonable period of time. Part-time nurses will receive service and seniority credit for all leaves granted under this Article.
Union Stewards (a) The Hospital agrees to recognize Union stewards to be elected or appointed from amongst employees in the bargaining unit who have completed their probationary period for the purpose of dealing with Union business as provided under this Collective Agreement.
(b) A Chief Xxxxxxx or designate may, in the absence of any xxxxxxx, assist in the presentation of any grievance, or with any xxxxxxx function.
(c) The Union shall keep the Hospital notified in writing of the names of Union stewards appointed or selected under this Article as well as the effective date of their respective appointments.
(d) It is agreed that Union stewards have their regular duties and responsibilities to perform for the Hospital and shall not leave their regular duties without first obtaining permission from their immediate supervisor. If, in the performance of his duties, a Union xxxxxxx is required to enter an area within the Hospital in which he is not originally employed, he shall report his presence to the supervisor in the area immediately upon entering it. Such permission shall not be unreasonably withheld. When resuming his regular duties and responsibilities, such xxxxxxx shall again report to his immediate supervisor. A Union xxxxxxx shall suffer no loss of earnings for time spent in performing the above duties during his regular scheduled working hours.
(e) Nothing in this Article shall preclude full-time stewards from representing part-time employees and vice-versa.
(f) The number of stewards and the areas which they represent, are to be determined locally.
Time Off for Union Activities The employer agrees to grant the necessary time off, without discrimination or loss of seniority rights and without pay, to any employee designated by the Union to attend a labor convention provided that there is two-week notice of any union convention. Due consideration shall be given to the number of personnel affected in order that there shall be no disruptions of employer's operations due to lack of available employees.
Time Off for Union Business
(a) Leave of absence without pay shall be granted upon request for the reasons set out below unless it would unduly interrupt the Employer's operations:
(1) to an elected or appointed representative of the Union to attend conventions of the Union and bodies to which the Union is affiliated, to a maximum of 21 days per occurrence;
(2) for elected or appointed representatives of the Union to attend to union business which requires them to leave their general work area;
(3) for employees who are representatives of the Union on a bargaining committee.
(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 21 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) When leave of absence without pay is granted pursuant to Part (a) or (b), the leave shall be given with pay and the Union shall reimburse the Employer for salary and benefit costs, including travel time incurred, within 60 days of receipt of the invoice. It is understood that employees granted leave of absence pursuant to this clause shall receive their current rates of pay while on leave of absence. Leave of absence granted under this clause shall include sufficient travel time. The pay and benefits received by the employee and reimbursed by the Union under this article shall be based on the number of hours to which the Union indicates, in writing, the employee is entitled. This provision does not apply to employees on extended leaves of absence who are employed by the Union on a full-time basis.
(d) Leave of absence with pay and without loss of seniority will be granted to an employee called to appear as a witness before an arbitration board, provided the dispute involved the Employer. On application, the Arbitration Board may determine summarily the amount of time required for the attendance of any witness.
(e) The Union shall provide the Employer with reasonable notice to minimize disruption of the operation and shall make every reasonable effort to give a minimum of 14 days’ notice prior to the commencement of leave under (a) or (b) above. The Employer agrees that any of the above leaves of absence shall not be unreasonably withheld.
Bargaining Unit Seniority The length of continuous service in a position or succession of positions within Bargaining Unit Two (2), beginning with the last date of hire or transfer into the Bargaining Unit, as defined by seniority credits.
Ownership by Limited Partner of Corporate General Partner or Affiliate No Limited Partner shall at any time, either directly or indirectly, own any stock or other interest in the General Partner or in any Affiliate thereof, if such ownership by itself or in conjunction with other stock or other interests owned by other Limited Partners would, in the opinion of counsel for the Partnership, jeopardize the classification of the Partnership as a partnership for federal tax purposes. The General Partner shall be entitled to make such reasonable inquiry of the Limited Partners as is required to establish compliance by the Limited Partners with the provisions of this Section.
Leave of Absence for Union Functions It is agreed that official representatives of the Union be granted leave of absence, without pay, to attend Union Conventions or perform any other function on behalf of the Union and its affiliations, provided not more than ten (10) Union representatives shall be away at any one time. Such leave of absence shall not affect the employee's seniority and/or benefits contained in this Agreement.
Leave for Association Business The Hospital agrees to grant leaves of absence, without pay, to nurses selected by the Association to attend Association business including conferences, conventions and Provincial Committee meetings and to any nurse elected to the position of Local Co-ordinator. The cumulative total leave of absence, the amount of notice, the number of nurses that may be absent at any time from one area and the number of days (including those of the Local Co-ordinator) is set out in the Appendix of Local Provisions. During such leave of absence, a nurse's salary and applicable benefits or percentage in lieu of fringe benefits shall be maintained by the Hospital and the local Association agrees to reimburse the Hospital in the amount of the daily rate of the full-time nurse or in the amount of the full cost of such salary and percentage in lieu of fringe benefits of a part-time nurse except for Provincial Committee meetings which will be reimbursed by the Association. The Hospital will bill the local Association within a reasonable period of time. Part-time nurses will receive service and seniority credit for all leaves granted under this Article.
Hospital-Association Committee (a) There shall be a Hospital-Union Committee comprised of representatives of the Hospital, one of whom shall be the Chief Nursing Officer or designate and of the Union, one of whom shall be the Bargaining Unit President or designate. The number of representatives is set out in the Appendix of Local Provisions and the membership of the Committee may be expanded by mutual agreement.
(b) The Committee shall meet every two (2) months unless otherwise agreed and as required under Article 8.01 (a) (iv). The duties of chair and secretary shall alternate between the parties. Where possible, agenda items will be exchanged in writing at least five (5) calendar days prior to the meeting. A record shall be maintained of matters referred to the Committee and the recommended disposition, if any, unless agreed to the contrary. Copies of the record shall be provided to Committee members.
(c) The purpose of the Committee includes:
i) promoting and providing effective and meaningful communication of information and ideas, including but not limited to workload measurement tools and the promotion of best practices. Such communication may include discussion of nursing workload measurement and patient acuity systems. The Hospital will provide, upon request, information on workload measurement systems applicable to nursing currently used by the Hospital, and evaluations completed by the Hospital of such systems.
ii) reviewing professional responsibility complaints with a view to identifying trends and sharing organizational successes and solutions, making joint recommendations on matters of concern including the quality and quantity of nursing care and discussing the development and implementation of quality initiatives;
iii) making joint recommendations to the Chief Nursing Officer on matters of concern regarding recurring workload issues including the development of staffing guidelines, the use of agency nurses and use of overtime;
iv) dealing with complaints referred to it in accordance with the provisions of Article 8, Professional Responsibility;
v) discussing and reviewing matters relating to orientation and in- service programs;
vi) promote the creation of full-time positions for nurses, and discuss the effect of such changes on the employment status of the nurses. This may include the impact, if any, on part-time and full-time, job sharing and retention and recruitment.
(d) The Hospital agrees to pay for time spent during regular working hours for representatives of the Union attending at such meetings.
(e) Where a Committee representative designated by the Union attends Committee meetings outside of her or his regularly scheduled hours, she or he will be paid for all time spent in attendance at such meetings at her or his regular straight time hourly rate of pay. Such payment shall be limited to two (2) Committee representatives per meeting.
