Alberta Health Services Collective Agreement 2024-2028

EHS LETTER OF UNDERSTANDING #12

BETWEEN

ALBERTA HEALTH SERVICES
(hereinafter referred to as the Employer)

- and -

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

RE:  TRIAL OF AUTOMATIC PROGRESSION BETWEEN EMERGENCY HEALTH SERVICES(EHS) CLASSIFICATION SERIES

Whereas the Parties endeavour to support the recruitment and retention of EHS Employees with the Employer, AND

Whereas the Parties agree that a seamless transition between EHS classifications (Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) to Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) or PCP to Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP)) is important upon the successful completion of a required education program, change of designation training and registration, AND

Whereas the Parties agree that such progression encourages EHS Employees to further their EHS education and achieve advanced EHS designations, while remaining with the Employer, AND

Whereas the Parties agree that allowing individuals the ability to remain at their current Site, to the extent possible, after successfully completing EHS education and training supports long-term retention,  

Now therefore, the Parties agree to allow, on a trial basis, automatic progression when an Employee changes professional designation from an EMR to a PCP, or from a PCP to an ACP.
An EMR advancing to a PCP or a PCP advancing to an ACP either through this Letter of Understanding or via Article 29 will be placed on the same step in the new classification wage grid as in the previous wage grid (i.e. step 4 PCP to step 4 ACP).

Employee’s currently in a PCP or ACP role, will on a one-time basis have their wage step made equivalent to the step they were at prior to advancing to the higher classification along with any additional step(s) accumulated after advancing. Any remaining hours will be maintained for future step increases effective date of ratification.

Current Employees will have sixty (60) days following the date of ratification to notify the Employer of such inclusion. If on a leave of absence, the Employee shall be granted sixty (60) days following their return to work date.

Current enrollees in a PCP or ACP education program shall have consideration under this Letter of Understanding using the same qualification parameters.

The following consideration will apply to all areas not covered by EHS Letter of Understanding #2 and Letter of Understanding #3.

Prior to enrolment into one of the above noted classifications’ education programs, the Employee will notify the Employer and the Union and request consideration under this Letter of Understanding. Approval will be granted based on operational feasibility (ie: vacancy rate, budget and recruitment trends). Such considerations will be shared with the Union.

Approval will be on a first come first served basis by Zone and will be honoured for the next program intake, after which: 

1. The Employee will, on a one-time basis, be permitted to transfer to a vacant schedule at their Site to advance to the next level of classification (EMR to PCP, or PCP to ACP). A process-based waiver of posting will be used to support this initiative.

   1. An EMR who has advanced to a PCP, or a PCP who has advanced to ACP will be provided with a vacancy list within their current Site to identify schedules in the new classification available for them. 

   2. When a vacant schedule is not immediately available at the Employee’s Site, the Employee will temporarily continue working their current schedule in the higher classification. When a vacant schedule(s) becomes available, the Employee will either select from the available vacant schedule(s) based on seniority or be assigned to an available vacant schedule in order of seniority and transferred into the higher classification. 

   3. Should the Employee reject the assigned schedule in the higher classification, the Employer and Employee shall meet to discuss, and when no extenuating circumstances exist the Employee will revert to their previously held schedule in their former classification as an EMR or PCP. 

2. Any subsequent transfers or promotions must be in accordance with Article 29 of the Collective Agreement.