Associated Ambulance & Services (Whitecourt) Ltd., Collective Agreement 2020-2025

Article 15: Vacations With Pay

1. Vacation Entitlement
   The rate at which vacation is earned shall be governed by the total length of such employment as follows and their specific annual hours worked:

   Years of employment	Annual Hours 1825	Annual Hours 2080	Annual Hours 2190
   1-2	100	80	120
   3-4	120	96	144
   5-6	150	120	180
   7-9	180	144	216
   10+	200	160	240

   1. In year twenty (20), and every fifth (5th) year after, an Employee shall earn an additional twenty (20) hours (1820 shift), sixteen (16)       hours   (2080) or shift twenty-four (24) hours, (2190 shift) to be used in that anniversary year.  A request to carry over that time for one additional year shall not be unreasonably denied.

   2. An Employee who adheres to the process in Article 15.03(a) will be granted one (1) additional day equivalent to their current shift pattern which will be added to their next years vacation allotment and can be used when submitting vacation for that year. It is to be used in that vacation year starting April 1st and cannot be rolled over into the next entitlement year or paid out.

2. Employees shall receive their vacation allotment April 1st every year and such allotment shall be based upon the length of service on the preceding year. If length of service is less than 1 (one) full calendar year such entitlement shall be prorated.
3. 1. The Employer shall post a notice of allotment in January of each year that includes the Employees’ vacation allotment and a deadline for submission of vacation requests, which shall be no less than four (4) weeks. Employees are required to request at seventy-five percent (75%) of their annual vacation entitlement on their annual vacation submission.  
   2. The Employer shall approve or deny all annual vacation submission requests no later than March 31st of each calendar year. Any annual vacation denied on the planner can be resubmitted during the month of March as part of annual general vacation.  
   3. All vacation requests shall be approved to the extent that operational requirements permit and shall not be unreasonably denied.
   4. Seniority within the bargaining unit shall be considered when there is a dispute regarding preference for the time that vacation is to be taken.
   5. In expressing their vacation preferences between December 15 and January 2, Employees will have the right to exercise their seniority rights only every other year as per Article 15.03(a).
4.  
   1. All other requests for vacation submitted after April 1st will be considered on a first come first serve (Ad-Hoc) basis. These requests will be approved or denied within three (3) weeks of the request being submitted.   
   2. In the event that the Employee has not requested and been approved for their Ad-Hoc vacation entitlement by January 1st of each calendar year, and multiple discussions and attempts with the Employee have failed to identify a mutually agreeable time where the Employee’s remaining annual vacation entitlement can be scheduled, the Employer may proceed to schedule the Employee’s vacation at a time that meets the area’s operational requirements.
5. Once an Employee has committed to use one complete tour of vacation, the Employer may grant an Employee’s request to divide the Employee’s vacation. Such request shall not be unreasonably denied.
6. Unless given four (4) weeks advance notice of an alteration to their scheduled vacation period, an Employee required by the Employer to work during their vacation period will receive two times (2X) their basic rate of pay for all hours worked. This premium payment will cease and the Employee’s basic rate of pay will apply at the start of their next regularly scheduled shift. The time so worked will be rescheduled as vacation leave with pay to be added to the vacation period, at a mutually agreed later date.
7. When an Employee’s approved vacation is cancelled by the Employer, the Employer shall be responsible for all non-refundable costs related to the cancellation of the vacation. Employees shall make every effort in order to mitigate losses.
8. Employees may request to carry forward a maximum of (1) one tour of vacation. Such request shall not be unreasonably denied. All remaining vacation hours not utilized in a vacation year will be paid out in the first two (2) pay period following the end of the fiscal year.
9. Once vacation has been approved, the Employee cannot cancel with less than twenty-one (21) days’ notice unless extenuating circumstances.