Stettler District Ambulance Association Collective Agreement 2023 - 2026

Article 15: Vacations With Pay

1. The rate at which vacation is earned shall be governed by the total length of such employment as follows:
   1. during the first (1st) and second (2nd) year of continuous employment, an Employee shall earn entitlement to vacation calculated on the basis of one hundred and forty-four (144) hours per year;
   2. during the third (3rd) to seventh (7th) yearsof continuous employment, an Employee shall earn entitlement to vacation calculated on the basis of one hundred and ninety-two (192) hours per year;
   3. during the eighth (8th) to fourteenth (14th) years of continuous employment, an Employee shall earn entitlement to vacation calculated on the basis of two hundred and forty (240) hours per year;
   4. during the fifteenth (15th) to twenty fifth (25th) years of continuous employment, an Employee shall earn entitlement to vacation calculated on the basis of two hundred and eighty-eight (288) hours per year;
   5. upon reaching the employment anniversary of twenty-five (25) years of continuous service, Employees shall have earned an additional forty-eight (48) hours vacation with pay;
   6. upon reaching the employment anniversary of thirty (30) years of continuous service, Employees shall have earned an additional forty-eight (48) hours vacation with pay;
   7. upon reaching the employment anniversary of thirty-five (35) years of continuous service, Employees shall have earned an additional forty-eight (48) hours vacation with pay;
   8. upon reaching the employment anniversary of forty (40) years of continuous service, Employees shall have earned an additional forty-eight (48) hours vacation with pay;
   9. upon reaching the employment anniversary of forty-five (45) years of continuous service, Employees shall have earned an additional forty-eight (48) hours vacation with pay.
   10. Employees who have not completed one (1) complete year of continuous service shall receive vacation proportionate to that part of the vacation year worked, at the accrual of twelve (12) hours for each complete month of service.

2. Vacation for Casual Employees
   Vacation pay shall be paid in accordance with the following:

   (i)  during the first (1st) year of employment six percent (6%) of their regular earnings; or

   (ii)  during the second (2nd) to seventh (7th) years of employment eight percent (8%) of their regular earning; or

   (iii)  during the eighth (8th) to fourteenth (14th) years of employment ten percent (10%) of their regular earnings; or

   (iv)  during the fifteenth (15) and subsequent years of employment twelve percent (12%) of their regular earnings.

   (v)  Only those regularly scheduled hours and additional hours worked at the basic rate of pay and on a Named Holiday to a maximum of seven and three-quarter (7 3/4) hours and periods of sick leave with pay will be recognized as regular earnings for the purpose of determining vacation pay. 

   (vi)  As of the date of ratification.

3. An Employee required by the Employer to work during their vacation period will be paid at two times (2X) their basic hourly rate for hours worked during the first (1st) Shift. This premium payment will cease and their normal rate will apply at the start of their next regularly scheduled Shift. The time worked will be rescheduled as vacation leave with pay to be added to the vacation period, when possible, or the Employee will be granted equivalent time off in lieu thereof at a mutually agreed later date. “Vacation period” shall be deemed to include scheduled day(s) off immediately preceding their first paid vacation day and immediately following their last paid vacation day. 
4. 1. Where an Employee submits their vacation preference by January 31st of that year, the Employer shall approve or deny vacation requests by March 31st of that year.
   2. Seniority shall be the determinate factor where there is a dispute regarding preference for the time when vacation is to be taken.
   3. When an Employee submits their vacation request outside of the timelines provided for in 15.04(a) above, it shall be on a first come first served basis, subject to operational requirements.
5. All vacation earned during one (1) vacation year shall be taken during the next vacation year, at a mutually agreeable time. An Employee may request to use vacation earned in the current year or an Employee may request to carry forward vacation. Such request shall be made in writing and shall be subject to the approval of the Employer. Such carry forward of vacation shall not exceed forty-eight (48) hours.
6. Excess accrued vacation not taken by April 1 in any given year may be paid out upon written request of an Employee, in accordance with Employer policy.
7. When an Employee’s vacation is cancelled by the Employer, the Employer shall reimburse all non-refundable costs related to the cancellation of the vacation.