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

LETTER OF UNDERSTANDING # 1

BETWEEN

ASSOCIATED AMBULANCE & SERVICES (WHITECOURT), LTD., ATHABASCA, BARRHEAD, BOYLE, EDSON, EVANSBURG, HINTON, JASPER, NORDEGG, RIMBEY, ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE AND WHITECOURT STATIONS 
(hereinafter called the “Employer”)

AND

HEALTH SCIENCES ASSOCIATION OF ALBERTA
(hereinafter called the “Union”)

RE: BENEFITS ELIGIBLE CASUAL EMPLOYEES (BECE)

WHEREAS the Parties agree that more effective retention and recruitment strategies for Casual Employees are desirable and that certain Casual Employees desire flexible employment options;

NOW THEREFORE the Parties agree as follows:

1. A BECE is a Casual Employee with a guaranteed FTE at least of zero point five (0.5) and no specified hours per shift or shifts per shift cycle. A BECE shall be eligible for prepaid benefits pursuant to Article 19.03. Unless otherwise specified below, the provisions for casual Employees in Article 35 shall apply.

2.  

   1. BECE Implementation

      1. A Casual Employee may request to become a BECE of at least a zero point five (0.5) FTE.

      2. An Employer may post a BECE. The posting shall indicate that the position is a BECE with a specified guaranteed of at least zero point five (0.5) FTE.

      3. Prior to implementing a BECE, the Employer will provide the parameters of required shift availability.

   2. BECE Termination

      1. A BECE may revert to casual status by providing the Employer with twenty-eight (28) days written notice of their intention to revert to casual status; or

      2. An Employer may terminate these positions, in which case the BECE shall revert to casual status.

3. Scheduling of BECE Shifts

   1. The BECE will provide the Employer with their shift availability one (1) month is advance (eg. Availability for April to be provided by March 1.) The BECE shall provide availability of at least eleven (11) shifts per month, including at least one (1) weekend.

   2. The Employer shall confirm assigned shifts with the BECE. The Employee shall be assigned shifts in accordance with the availability provided by the Employee and within the parameters outlined in point 2(a)(iii).

   3. Where possible, the Employer shall confirm the Employee’s shifts (based on the Employee’s stated availability) at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance. Such shifts shall be paid at the Employee’s basic rate of pay.

   4. Where an Employee works a shift(s) over and above their required BECE shifts, Article 35 shall apply.

   5. The BECE may be asked to modify its availability based on operational requirements.

   6. The Employer shall endeavour to pre-schedule shifts whenever possible.

   7. The BECE must be available to work half of long weekends and at least one (1) weekend per month.

   8. If no shifts are available, the Employer shall not be penalized. However, benefit coverage shall not be interrupted.

4. Sick Leave shall not apply to BECE’s.

5. Vacation pay and entitlement for BECE’s shall be in accordance with the   provisions of Article 35.

6. Named Holiday entitlement for BECE’s shall be in accordance with the provisions of Article 35.

7. The BECE shall not hold another BECE with another Employer or receive benefits from another Employer. 

8. The BECE must be available to work shifts company wide. HSAA dues shall be payable when working a shift at a station covered by this Collective Agreement.

9. Article 39 shall not apply to BECE.

10. The number of BECEs shall solely be at the Employer’s discretion.

11. If a request for a BECE is denied, the Employer will provide to the Employee the rationale for the decision within twenty-eight (28) days. Such decision shall not be subject to Article 32.

12. Evaluation
    The Parties will meet no later than one (1) year following the date of ratification of the Collective Agreement to discuss the operation of this Letter of Understanding and to assess potential modifications.
    
    The Parties may jointly recommend changes to the Letter of Understanding to their respective principals as a result of these discussions.

13. Expiry
    This Letter of Understanding will expire March 31, 2025, or upon the date of ratification of the next Collective Agreement, whichever is later.