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

LETTER OF UNDERSTANDING #3

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: TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS FOR EMPLOYEES MOVING INTO THE HSAA 
BARGAINING UNIT
 

The parties agree to the following transitional terms for existing Associated Ambulance Employees that move from exempt positions, from non-unionized locations or from other bargaining units, into the HSAA Bargaining Unit as a result of a decision from the Alberta Labour Relations Board or from agreement between the parties.

Any Articles not specifically listed will be the same as the current collective agreement.

For a transition into the HSAA Bargaining Unit, the parties agree to meet to identify the following dates for each transition:

Implementation Date — Unless expressly addressed otherwise in this Letter of Understanding, the implementation date will be the date the Letter of Understanding is signed at which time the terms and conditions of the HSAA/Associated Ambulance collective agreement apply.

Benefit Implementation Date — The date upon which the Employee(s) will be covered by the HSAA Benefit plan as identified in the Collective Agreement.

Article 4: Membership and Dues

HSAA dues deductions from Employees shall take effect on the first pay period after the certification is amended and/or issued.

Article 8: Probation Period

Employees who, as of the implementation date, have not completed their probation shall serve the remainder of their probation to the maximum number of hours identified under their previous terms and conditions of employment, exclusive of overtime hours, from the date on which the current period of continuous employment commenced.

Article 15: Vacations with Pay

Vacation banks accrued up to the implementation date shall be maintained and transferred intact.
 
Article 16: Named Holidays

Floater Day banked up to the implementation date shall be maintained and transferred intact.

Article 17: Sick Leave
Sick banks accrued up to the implementation date shall be maintained and transferred intact.
 
Article 20: Leaves of Absence

All Leaves as per the current collective agreement unless otherwise stated.

Employees Absent Due to WCB, STD, LTD, or Leave of Absence

For Employees who are absent due to Workers’ Compensation, Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability, or approved Leave of Absence on the implementation date shall continue under previous terms and conditions of employment.  The terms and conditions of the Associated Ambulance/HSAA Collective Agreement and the transition provisions of this Letter of Understanding shall apply effective the date the Employee returns to work.

Article 39: Taxable Spending Account

Any monies in the Taxable Spending Account shall be maintained and transferred intact.  

Article 42: Seniority

Seniority shall be the date Employees were hired into a full-time position with the Employer inclusive of recognized continuous service with a previous EMS entity. This does not apply to casual Employees. Casual Employee’s seniority date will be established as per Article 42.01(c) of the current collective agreement.

Letters to Employees

Employees shall receive a letter from Associated Ambulance, copied to HSAA, which shall include the following:

(i)         Confirmation of the implementation date of their transition;

(ii)        Employment status (i.e. regular full time, regular part time, temporary, or casual);

(iii)       FTE;

(iv)       Classification;

(v)        Increment level and basic rate of pay;

(vi)       Confirmation of the benefits enrollment date;

(vii)     Seniority date and date of hire (if different);

(viii)       Vacation entitlement level; and

(ix)      Current sick, vacation, and floater day banks.

Each Employee shall have 60 consecutive calendar days from the date of notification of the information above to advise the Employer, in writing, if the Employee believes the information to be incorrect.

The parties agree to meet to discuss unique circumstances (hours of work arrangements, specific Letters of Understanding, local conditions, etc.) that may arise as a result of this Letter of Understanding.

Employees will receive an additional letter outlining significant changes, if any, to the benefits plan.

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