Canadian Blood Services (Transport Unit) Collective Agreement 2017-2021

Article 14: Vacations

1. The vacation year is April 1st to March 31st of the following year.
2. Vacation entitlement is earned during each vacation year of continuous service, and taken during the same vacation year, subject to 14.07, 14.08, and 14.09.
3. Vacation entitlement for regular full-time Employees shall be as follows:
   1. For the first year of continuous service, an Employee shall earn vacation at the rate of one and one-quarter (1 1/4) days for each completed month of service from April 1st to March 31st of the following year.  This provides for a maximum of fifteen (15) working days of vacation.
   2. Following completion of one (1) year of continuous service, an Employee shall earn one and two-thirds (1 2/3) working days for each completed month of service.  This provides for a maximum of twenty (20) working days of vacation per vacation year.
   3. Following completion of nine (9) years of continuous service, an Employee shall earn two and one-twelfth (2 1/12) working days for each completed month of service.  This provides for a maximum of twenty-five (25) working days of vacation per vacation year.
   4. Following completion of nineteen (19) years of continuous service, an Employee shall earn two and one-half (2 1/2) working days for each completed month of service.  This provides for a maximum of thirty (30) working days of vacation per vacation year.

   5. The supplementary vacations as set out below are to be banked on the outlined supplementary vacation employment anniversary date and taken at the employee’s option at any time subsequent to the current supplementary vacation employment anniversary date but prior to the next supplementary vacation employment anniversary date.  Supplementary vacation requests shall be submitted in accordance with Article 15.06.

      1. Upon reaching the employment anniversary of twenty-five (25) years of continuous service, employees shall have earned an additional five (5) work days vacation with pay;
      2. Upon reaching the employment anniversary of thirty (30) years of continuous service, employees shall have earned an additional five (5) work days vacation with pay;
      3. Upon reaching the employment anniversary of thirty-five (35) years of continuous service, employees shall have earned an additional five (5) work days vacation with pay;
      4. Upon reaching the employment anniversary of forty (40) years of continuous service, employees shall have earned an additional five (5) work days vacation with pay;
      5. Upon reaching the employment anniversary of forty-five (45) years of continuous service, employees shall have earned an additional five (5) work days vacation with pay.

      For purposes of calculating the inclusive dates of annual vacation period, one (1) week of annual vacation will be reported as five (5) working days.

4. For the purpose of vacation accrual, the Employer shall recognize all continuous service at the Edmonton Centre and its satellite sites.
5. For purposes of calculating the inclusive dates of annual leave periods, one (1) week of annual leave will be reported as five (5) working days.
6. Seniority shall be considered where there is a dispute regarding preference for the time when vacations are to be taken.  Seniority within classifications will be applied to one vacation period only during the vacation year for those Employees who have broken their annual vacation into more than one period.
7.  

   1. Employees shall be required to submit in writing to their Manager/Supervisor or designate their annual vacation preferences as per the following:

      1. Employees requesting to take vacation between April 1st and May 31st shall submit such requests by December 1st.  Approval or disapproval of such vacation will be given by December 15th.
      2. Employees requesting to take vacation between June 1st and March 31st of the following year, shall submit requests by February 1st.  The Employer shall indicate approval or disapproval by February 28th of that year.  

      In case of conflict between two (2) or more Employees in regard to their choice of a vacation period, the conflict shall be resolved by the Manager/Supervisor or designate in favour of the more or most senior Employee. Employees shall only be entitled to exercise their seniority rights in one instance for the entire vacation year. The final annual vacation schedule shall be posted on the bulletin board no later than March 15 of the year.  After that date, no Employee shall be bumped by any senior Employee from the vacation period awarded to the former. 

   2. All other requests for vacation shall be submitted in writing at least four (4) weeks in advance, unless mutually agreed otherwise, to the Manager/Supervisor or designate, and such request shall be dealt with on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Employees shall be informed in writing within two (2) weeks following their request as to whether or not the time requested has been granted or denied.

   3. Employees required by the Employer to work during their vacation period will be paid at the overtime rate set out under Article 9.01 instead of their basic rate of pay for all hours worked. This overtime payment will cease and the Employee’s regular rate will apply at the start of their next regular scheduled working period.  The vacation day(s) worked may be rescheduled as vacation leave with pay at a mutually agreed upon time. Failing mutual agreement, the provisions of 14.10 shall be applicable. In the event an Employee has paid for nonrefundable travel arrangements for an approved vacation leave, the Employer will reimburse the Employee for such costs upon submission of proof of non-refundable payment.

8. Provision to request approval to defer annual leave is made to meet the exigencies of the service only.  The only exceptions to this regulation are as follows:

   1. Employees appointed subsequent to December 31st in any year - Annual leave may not be granted during probation periods.  In such cases, deferment of annual leave is mandatory.

   2. Employees who have completed four (4) years or more of continuous service - Employees qualifying may request deferment at intervals of not less than four (4) years.

9. Requests to defer annual leave, including those under 14.08(b) above, are to be submitted for review not later than December 31st in any year, and if approved, such leave is to be completed prior to June 30 of the following year and may be combined with annual leave for the subsequent year with the prior written approval of the Employee’s Manager/Supervisor or designate.

10. Vacation outstanding as at December 31st of the vacation year for which no request nor deferment has been approved, shall be scheduled by March 31st at the discretion of the Employer.

11.  

    1. Upon termination of employment, pro-rata vacation pay for unused annual leave will be paid in accordance with service rendered.

    2. Upon termination, annual leave taken but not earned will be recovered from the Employee’s final pay cheque at their current rate of pay.

    3. An employee who commences employment within six (6) months of the date that they voluntarily terminated employment with Employer shall retain to their benefit their vacation accrual rates, in accordance with the provisions of this Article.  The employee shall be provided with a written statement of such entitlement upon their termination.