Covenant Health Collective Agreement 2020-2024

LETTER OF UNDERSTANDING #13

BETWEEN

COVENANT HEALTH 
(hereinafter referred to as the Employer)

- and -

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

RE: SUPERNUMERARY POSITIONS

WHEREAS the Parties agree that supernumerary positions are positions that are above the base-line staffing requirements in a Functional work area. These positions are normally created in order to recruit recent graduates by providing them with future employment and professional experience in their discipline;

WHEREAS the Parties agree that supernumerary Employees can have benefits for both Employers and Employees, as follows:

• Enables workforce planning;
• Provides incentive for new graduates to work in Alberta;
• Encourages existing Employees to act as mentors to new graduates; and
• Supports transition into the workplace for new graduates.

NOW THEREFORE the Parties agree as follows:

1. Employers may create and post supernumerary positions where there is a need to recruit and retain new graduates. Postings will indicate that the position is supernumerary.

2. The Employer will advise the Union in advance of their intention to create and post supernumerary positions.

3. The following principles will apply when an Employer implements supernumerary positions:

   1. Applications for supernumerary positions will be limited to new graduates. New graduates may include: recent graduates who have not worked for an Employer; current Employees training in a second discipline; or individuals who have completed a refresher program.

   2. The Employer will specify on the job posting the maximum length of time that an Employee can work in a supernumerary position. This period shall not exceed twelve (12) months.

   3. All Collective Agreement provisions apply to Employees in a supernumerary position, except that the supernumerary Employee is required to achieve a regular position within the designated time frame. If such regular position is not achieved, the Employee shall revert to casual status.

   4. Supernumerary positions shall have full-time status, unless otherwise indicated by the Employer.

4. Evaluation
   The Joint Committee agrees to review and amend the Joint Guidelines on Staffing Initiatives no later than one hundred and twenty (120) days following ratification of the Collective Agreement.

This Letter of Understanding will expire March 31, 2024, or upon the date of ratification of the next Collective Agreement, whichever is later.