Covenant Health Collective Agreement 2020-2024

LETTER OF UNDERSTANDING #3

BETWEEN

COVENANT HEALTH 
(hereinafter referred to as the Employer)

- and -

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

RE: MOBILITY

1. Temporary Assignments

   1. The Employer may assign Employees to work at another Site or Sites for the purposes of training, orientation, meetings, emergencies, and general operational requirements, on an intermittent basis. Employees required to travel between Sites due to temporary assignments will be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with Article 20 of the Collective Agreement.

   2. In circumstances where the Employer has sufficient advance notice of the requirement to temporarily assign Employees to other Sites, the Employer will provide a minimum of three (3) days notice to the affected Employees. Where there is an ongoing need to temporarily assign staff to other Sites, three (3) days advance notice will only be required prior to the initial assignment.

   3. In circumstances, where the Employer does not have advance notice of the requirement to temporarily assign staff to other Sites, the Employer retains the right to select the most appropriate individual to be assigned.

   4. Employees assigned to other Sites will be provided an appropriate paid orientation to the other Site(s) as required.

   5. Where there is an ongoing need for the Employer to assign Employees to other Sites, the Employer will canvass the Employees in the program who have the ability to perform the required work to determine their preference for accepting temporary assignments on a regular basis. The Employer will endeavour to make assignments from among Employees who have stated a willingness to work shifts at other Sites provided that operational efficiency is not in any way compromised.

2. Permanent Relocation of Positions

   1. Where the Employer relocates positions from one Site to another, the Employer will canvass the Employees in the program who have the ability to perform the required work to determine their preference for accepting relocation. The Employer will endeavor to assign Employees to the alternate Site from among those Employees who have stated a willingness to be relocated provided that operational efficiency is not in any way compromised. Subject to Employees possessing the ability to perform the work, if there are more volunteers than positions available, the positions shall be offered to eligible Employees by order of seniority.

   2. In the event that no Employees wish to be relocated, the Employer will assign the least senior Employee from the program who has the ability to perform the work required.

      1. An Employee whose position is permanently relocated to a Site within fifty (50) kilometres from their original Site, but chooses not to transfer with the position, shall be laid off and will not have access to rights under Article 30.02, but will have the right to remain on recall in accordance with Article 30.03.

      2. An Employee whose position is permanently relocated to a Site beyond fifty (50) kilometres from their original Site, shall have the option of accepting transfer to the new Site or exercising rights under Article 30.02.

3. Program Transfers
   
   Where programs are to be moved between Sites, the Parties will meet prior to the program transfer being implemented to discuss the process to be followed and measures to protect the interests of the Employees affected.

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