LEAVE OF ABSENCE 16.01 The Employer may, at its discretion, grant a leave of absence without pay and without loss of seniority to an employee for personal reasons. All requests for such leave of absence shall be in writing as far in advance as practical. The Employer agrees to reply to such request in writing within seven (7) working days whenever possible. Requests for such leave will not be denied in an arbitrary or discriminatory manner. 16.02 It is understood that employees on leave of absence shall not use the time granted for purposes other than declared in their request for such leave. Failure to abide by this clause may result in disciplinary actions up to and including termination. 16.03 The Union shall be notified of all leaves granted under this Article and shall be provided with a copy of the document setting out the terms and conditions of the leave of absence. 16.04 Employees who have been selected by the Union to attend Union conventions or conferences or attend to other Union business shall be granted a leave of absence by the Employer so long as only one person per department is on such leave of absence at any one time. The Unit Grievor shall notify the Employer in writing not less than ten (10) days prior to the start of the leave of absence of the names of the members requiring leave. The employer reserves the right to deny the request if made less than 10 days prior to the start of the leave. Seniority shall accumulate during such period. 16.05 The Employer shall continue to provide all benefit, for all leaves less than thirty (30) days in duration. 16.06 Employees required to attend to union business pas per article 16.04 will be paid by the Union except as prescribed in 7.03. 16.07 The Employer agrees to grant an employee a leave of absence without pay for up to one (1) year to work in an official capacity for the Union, provided such request is made by an authorized representative of the International Union. The Union agrees to notify the Employer fourteen (14) days prior to the return to work of such employee.
