Rights of Employees Under Notice of Layoff as a Result of Facility Shutdown or Closure. When an employee has received notice of layoff, such employee shall be afforded time off the job for the purpose of attending job interviews subject to the needs of the particular operation up to a maximum of sixteen (16) hours per month. The Company shall pay such employee for one-half (1/2) of such time at the employee's average hourly rate in the preceding pay period. Division supervision shall discuss with any such employee ways to accommodate the time required by an employee to attend any training program or course during his period of notice of layoff. Time off in accordance with the above shall be considered credited service for pension purposes. Nothing herein precludes an employee from requesting a leave of absence in accordance with Clause 14.01 of the Basic Agreement.
