Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority Collective Agreement 2024-2026

Article 2: Definitions

1. “Union” shall mean the Health Sciences Association of Alberta. 

2. “Employer” shall mean Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority. 

3. “Employee” shall mean a person who performs the job functions pertaining to any classification covered herein.

4. “Regular Employee” is one who works on a full-time or part-time basis on regularly scheduled Shifts of a continuing nature: 

   1. “Full-time Employee” is a Regular Employee who works the full specified hours in the Hours of Work Article of this Collective Agreement; 

   2. “Part-time Employee” is a Regular Employee who works scheduled Shifts whose hours are less than those specified in the Hours of Work Article of this Collective Agreement.

5. “Temporary Employee" is one who is hired on a temporary basis for a full-time or part-time position: 

   1. for a specific job of more than three (3) months and less than twelve (12) months; or 

   2. to replace a Full-time or Part-time Employee who is on an approved leave of absence for a period in excess of three (3) months; or 

   3. to replace a Full-time or Part-time Employee who is on leave due to illness or injury where the Employee on leave has indicated to the Employer that the duration of such leave will be in excess of three (3) months.

   4. Temporary positions may be extended by mutual agreement between the Employer and the Union. Where possible such extension shall be submitted to the Union in writing thirty (30) days prior to expiry. Such agreement shall not be unreasonably withheld. 

6. “Casual Employee” is a person who:

   (i) works on a call-in basis and is not regularly scheduled; or
   (ii) is regularly scheduled for a period of three (3) months or less for a specific job; or
   (iii) relieves for an absence the duration of which is three (3) months or less.

7. “Basic Rate of Pay” is the step in the salary scale applicable to each Employee as set out in the Salaries Appendix exclusive of all allowances and premium payments. 

8. Where, in any provision of this Collective Agreement, a reference is made to the masculine gender, it shall also be read as a reference to the feminine gender, and a word used in the singular applies also in the plural and vice-versa, where the context so requires. 

9. A “month” for purpose of this Collective Agreement has been defined as the period of time between the date in one (1) month and the preceding date in the following month. 

10. “Anniversary Date” shall be the date employment commences with the Employer as a Regular Full-time, Part-time or Temporary Employee. 

11. “Shift” means a consecutive hour work period exclusive of overtime hours.

12. “Gross Earnings” shall mean all monies earned by an Employee under the terms of this Collective Agreement. 

13. "Active Duty" shall mean the total time during a shift where an Employee is assigned to an emergency or non-emergency event by AHS dispatch, working Core Hours (Article 9) or performing other required duties assigned by the Employer in its discretion.

14. “Steward” means an Employee of Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority who has been appointed by the Union to represent and advocate for fellow Employees at the worksite.

15. “Chair” means a local representative of the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) referenced in the agreement strictly for the purpose of communication within the bargaining unit.