Alberta Health Services Collective Agreement 2020-2024

LOCAL CONDITIONS APPLICABLE TO CANCER CARE

ITEM 1: LOCAL CONDITIONS

1.1 Article 1.13

“Ad Hoc Position” means a position established on an ad hoc basis whereby the Employer acts as an agent for a funding authority and shall not be included within the scope of this Collective Agreement.

1.2 Article 21 Vacations With Pay – 21.05 Time of Vacation

The Parties agree that the timing and minimum vacation periods are important issues in the recruitment and retention of staff as well as in the deployment and coverage of staff on leave.

The Parties mutually agree to implement changes within specific departments as agreed and accepted by the majority of regular full-time and part-time staff within each respective department.

1.3 Modified Work Schedule for Screen Test

Mobile Scheduling

1. Normal shifts are three (3) twelve (12) hour days per week for a total of thirty-six (36) scheduled hours per week. For communities where travel time is greater than approximately four point five (4.5) hours, the team working the latter rotation may be Wednesday-Saturday with shorter rotations on Wednesday and Saturday for a total of thirty-six (36) hours over the four (4) days. The remaining two point seven five (2.75) hours per week required would be deemed to be flex time. These hours would be worked at the discretion of the Technologists and with the approval of the Employer, to perform other mobile-related responsibilities (e.g., vehicle maintenance, equipment testing, staff meetings).

2.  

   1.  Standard shifts are as follows:

      Both teams have the same basic schedule with Wednesday being an overlap shift.

      If travel time is less than four point five (4.5) hours, the team working the latter half of the week will have shortened days on Wednesday and Saturday to make a total of thirty-six (36) hours over the four (4) days.

      Week 1:  Team A - MTW; Team B - WThFS

      Week 2:  Team B - MTW; Team A - WThFS

      Week 3:  Team A - MTW; Team B - WThFS

      Week 4:  Team B - MTW; Team A - WThFS

      If travel time to a mobile Site is approximately four point five (4.5) hours or greater, the team working the latter half of the week will arrive on Site on Wednesday shortly before or after the team working the beginning of the week leaves to travel home. There may be a short overlap time or no overlap time. No Saturday shift is required:

      Week 1:  Team A - MTW; Team B - WThF 

      Week 2:  Team B - MTW; Team A - WThF

      Week 3:  Team A - MTW; Team B - WThF

      Week 4:  Team B - MTW; Team A - WThF

      In circumstances where an overlap shift on Wednesday cannot be worked into the schedule, the shift looks like this:

      Week 1:  Team A - MTW; Team B - ThFS

      Week 2:  Team B - MTW; Team A - ThFS

      Week 3:  Team A - MTW; Team B - ThFS

      Week 4:  Team B - MTW; Team A - ThFS

      Note: Circumstances may require alternate scheduling on occasion, and this would be done with the mutual agreement of the Technologist team and the Employer. 

   2. The standard shift schedule may be changed from time-to-time subject to mutual agreement by the Parties.

   3. Technologists are eligible for overtime in accordance with Article 12 of the current Collective Agreement. Where a statutory holiday falls within a schedule, the schedule will be revised to take into account the statutory holiday. Specific days off may vary with each rotation, however, they will be identified on the schedule.

3. The maximum number of hours of work per scheduled shift is twelve (12), except when an Employee travels to remote locations or is scheduling a shift around available flight times.

4. Standard hours of work would be from zero seven hundred (0700) hours to nineteen thirty (1930) hours or zero seven hundred (0700) hours to twenty hundred (2000) hours per day.

   A mobile Technologist team has the option of having a supper break during or after their work shift. Standard hours of work, with the approval of the Employer, would be:

   1.  Inclusive of a meal break within the shift, hours would be zero seven hundred (0700) hours to twenty hundred (2000) hours, with twelve (12) hours of work, two (2) unpaid meal breaks of thirty (30) minutes each, and three (3) paid coffee breaks totaling forty-five (45) minutes.

   2. With a meal break after the shift (supper), hours would be zero seven hundred (0700) hours to nineteen thirty (1930) hours, with twelve (12) hours of work, one (1) unpaid meal break of thirty (30) minutes, and three (3) paid rest breaks totaling forty-five (45) minutes.

   This may be altered under special circumstances (e.g., a request from the host zone for evening clinics to accommodate working clients, special travel arrangements for remote communities, etc.).

5. Schedules will be available for review by the Technologists as provided for in Receiving Agreement. Before a schedule is finalized, the Technologists are invited to discuss with the Employer any concerns they may have, and the Employer will try to resolve all such concerns with the Employee. Any time a schedule must be changed after having been finalized, the Technologists will be informed as far in advance as possible, and will once again be given the opportunity to raise concerns arising from the changes.

6. Generally speaking, Mobile staff will not be scheduled to work on a statutory holiday. During a week when a statutory holiday falls, each Full-time Employee not working will be paid for seven point seven five (7.75) hours of statutory holiday pay. Technologists will also be scheduled for thirty-one (31) hours of regular duty during that week. Consideration may be given to scheduling Mobile staff to work on Canada Day and Remembrance Day, depending on their dates of recognition each year.

7. Article 11.02(a)(iii), shall not apply to modified day shifts, or to the first (1st) shift immediately before and after a modified day shift.

   Article 12 regarding overtime is modified such that Employees will be eligible for overtime pay for all hours worked in excess of twelve (12) hours on a modified day.

8. Unless specifically noted otherwise in this Collective Agreement, all provisions of the current Receiving Agreement will remain in force.

9. Where an Employee requires overnight accommodation in conjunction with authorized Employer business, they shall be allowed a single room wherever possible. Employees working on Mobile units outside of the cities of Edmonton or Calgary are entitled to a per diem rate to be established by Screen Test management, and Employees and the Union will be advised of any adjustments to the rate. The rate in effect is sixty dollars ($60.00) per modified day. This full amount will be paid for each twelve (12) hour day of the scheduled out-of-town assignment. For days of less than twelve (12) hours, this per diem will be prorated. While claiming per diem is the normal practice, reimbursement for actual meal costs can be made by submitting proper receipts confirming higher food costs or claiming reimbursement within the existing Alberta Health Services policy on travel expenses. 

   Employees who are carrying out duties within the greater area of the city of Edmonton or Calgary and surrounding centres, and do not require overnight accommodation, would not be eligible for this per diem expense allowance [greater area would include any centre located within twenty-five (25) kilometres of Edmonton or Calgary]. Employees working on Mobile units within either greater urban centre are eligible for payment of a meal allowance of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per day. Such amounts shall not be decreased during the life of this Collective Agreement.

   Other Technologists on staff in Edmonton and Calgary whose regular duties are inside the Screen Test offices may provide vacation or sick relief on any of the four (4) Mobile Teams, or work on the Mobile during regular rotations of Mobile staff into the office. Regular Screen Test office staff who provide relief to the Mobile units shall be covered by the provisions of this Letter of Understanding while performing duties on the Mobile unit(s).

10. Either Party may terminate this agreement upon the provision of eight (8) weeks’ notice in writing to the other party.

1.4 Letter of Understanding Re:  Work Schedules and Shifts 

The Parties agree that:

1. In order to be responsive to client needs, the Employer may extend regular clinic hours in order to serve clients in the evening hours. For these purposes, evening hours are defined as all hours between fifteen hundred hours (1500) and twenty three hundred (2300) hours. 

2. When the need for an extended clinic has been identified, Article 11.02 - Shift Scheduling Standards and Premiums for Non-Compliance will be amended as follows for Employees working such evening clinic hours:

   1. Amend Article 11.02(a)(iii) to read:

      “11.02 (a) (iii) at least twelve (12) hours off duty between the end of one shift and the commencement of the next shift.”

   2. Amend Article 11.02(b)(iii) to read:

      “11.02 (b) (iii) Failure to provide twelve (12) hours off duty in accordance with Article 11.02(a)(iii) shall result in payment of two times (2X) the Basic Rate of Pay for all hours worked on that next shift.” 

3. This Letter of Understanding applies only when extended clinic hours are in operational effect.