Rexall/Pharma Plus Pharmacies Ltd. (Calgary) Collective Agreement 2019-2024

LETTER OF UNDERSTANDING #5
BETWEEN

REXALL/PHARMA PLUS PHARMACIES LTD.

- and -

HEALTH SCIENCES ASSOCIATION OF ALBERTA
(hereinafter referred to as the Union)

RE: EMPLOYEE-MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
 

Objective:
Recognizing the community interest in the efficient, economical and harmonious operation of the store, as well as, the satisfactory working life for all Employees, and believing that the basis of good relations rests upon cooperation and good communications between the parties, the Management and members of the Union hereby agree to work together in the successful operation of a Employee-Management Advisory Committee.

1. Purpose and Commitment:
   The purpose of the Committee is to provide the parties with an open forum of communication in order to better understand each other and to resolve problems and issues in an open exchange of ideas and views between Union and Management.  The parties will use the Committee to look for opportunities to improve the working relationship between them, between the people they represent and to build a more effective working team.

2. Structure of the Committee:
   
   For the Company:
   1 member of Management
   Director, Labour Relations or designate
   
   For the Union:
   2 members of the bargaining unit
   1 Labour Relations Officer or designate
   
   The committee shall meet on a quarterly basis on dates to be arranged and agreed to by the co-chairs.
   
   Subsequent meetings shall be mutually agreed by the parties
   
   Bargaining Unit members who attend the EMAC meetings shall be compensated for their time at the applicable rate of pay. Where travel is required, the Company travel policy will apply for mileage and parking, if applicable.

3. Limitations:
   In order to have frank and open discussion, the committee shall have no authority to change, delete or modify the terms of the Collective Agreement, nor to settle grievances arising under the Agreement. Committee discussion shall not be publicized except for those recommendations that have been mutually agreed upon.

4. Protected Environment:
   Members of the Committee shall be free to discharge their duties in an independent manner without fear that their individual relations with the Company shall be affected by any participation by them in good faith and in their representative capacities.  Meeting shall be for a maximum of three hours.

5. Terms of Reference:
   The committee shall establish terms of reference which reflect the needs of the committee.

6. Topics of concern:
   The committee shall work to address issues of mutual concern to management, the employee group and the union.  Items of concern that the committee shall first work to address are:

-    Training and orientation
-    Establishment of the Occupational Health and Safety Committee
-    Any other issues the committee deems as appropriate.