Alberta Health Services Collective Agreement 2020-2024

LETTER OF UNDERSTANDING #27

BETWEEN

ALBERTA HEALTH SERVICES
(hereinafter referred to as the Employer)

- and -

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

RE:  TEN (10) MONTH POSITIONS

Subject to operational requirements, whereas the Employer provides programs that are operationally suited to ten (10) months of employment each year, the Employer may implement ten (10) month positions.

In areas where there is a blend of ten (10) and twelve (12) month positions, the Employer will endeavour to honour a request made by an Employee to work a ten (10) month position based on operational requirements.

Operational requirements include, but are not limited to, such criteria as client needs, coverage for core operational school year terms, and coverage for core twelve (12) month operations. Reasonable notice of twelve (12) weeks will be required prior to implementation of ten (10) month positions unless mutually agreed in writing between the Employee and Employer.

The Employer will provide at least eight (8) weeks written notice to those affected Employees of the days or periods of time when program commences or is closed as well as when it will be operating at reduced staff levels for the summer period, and, at least four (4) weeks written notice for the Christmas Holiday period.

Except as modified by this Letter of Agreement, all other articles of the collective agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

The parties agree as follows:

1. Employment will be for ten (10) full calendar months based upon the school year (i.e. September to June). Regularly scheduled hours of work will be such that all annual hours for an FTE will be scheduled during the school term.

2. Employees will be hired as Regular Part-time. Employees may request in writing to reduce their FTE hours in order to become eligible for a ten (10) month position based on operational requirements. The Employer shall approve or deny requests in writing within fourteen (14) calendar days.

3. It is recognized that, given the nature of the program, client levels and workloads in some areas may be reduced over the Christmas and Spring Break periods. Those affected Employees will be given the option of taking vacation, banked overtime, or a combination thereof. Excess vacation not taken during these break periods will be scheduled during the ten (10) month period as per Article 21.05(e) Time of Vacation. Vacation will not be utilized during the summer months.

4. Seniority shall be the determining factor when there is a dispute regarding Employees' preference for working or taking time off.

5. Sick leave is based on regular hours of work and will only be payable during the period where the Employees are scheduled to work. Should an Employee become ill during the period of unscheduled hours no sick benefits will be payable during these unscheduled hours.

6. If an eligible Employee becomes disabled anytime during the period of scheduled working hours benefits will be payable during the period of regularly scheduled hours during the school year. Employees will follow the normal waiting periods for Long Term Disability. No benefits will be payable until their first regularly scheduled day of work. If a disability occurs while an Employee is on unscheduled days, no payment will be received until such time as they are regularly scheduled to work. The normal waiting periods apply.

7. During the period of unscheduled hours, benefits will continue for eligible Employees. The Employee portion of premiums owing during this period will be deducted from the first pay period when Employees are regularly scheduled to work.

8. Employees interested in working during the two (2) months that they are not scheduled, should contact their Manager regarding their availability for casual work. Priority will be given to affected Employees providing they have the required skill set.

9. Employees required by the Employer to work during the two (2) months that they are not scheduled, shall receive two times (2X) the Basic Rate of Pay.

Either party may terminate this agreement upon thirty (30) calendar days’ notice.