Covenant Health Collective Agreement 2024-2028

LETTER OF UNDERSTANDING #36

BETWEEN

COVENANT HEALTH

(hereinafter referred to as “The Employer”)

-and-

HEALTH SCIENCES ASSOCIATION OF ALBERTA (HSAA)

(hereinafter referred to as “The Union”)

RE: NORTHERN INCENTIVE PROGRAM

Whereas health services in La Crete are transitioning from Alberta Health Services to Covenant Health, the parties therefore agree to the following, enabling the establishment of a Northern Incentive Program at the La Crete Community Health Center.

The intention is to mirror the Northern Incentive Program as it currently exists within AHS. To that end, the language that follows has been amended only insofar as necessary for application to Covenant Health.

1. An Employee employed at La Crete which is located above the fifty-seventh (57th) parallel will be eligible to receive a Northern Allowance to an annual maximum of six thousand three hundred dollars ($6,300.00). The Northern Allowance will be calculated on an hourly basis and paid per pay period for all Employer-paid hours at the Basic Rate of Pay, exclusive of overtime. Hours that are unpaid by the Employer, such as an unpaid leave of absence, Short Term Disability, Long-Term Disability or Workers’ Compensation benefits, will not be included in the calculation or payment of Northern Allowance.
2. Permanent and Temporary, Full-time and Part-time Employees working in excess of one (1) full year at work Sites above the fifty-seventh (57th) parallel will also be eligible to receive a taxable, annual reimbursement of personal travel expenses up to a maximum of one thousand two hundred and thirty-five dollars ($1,235.00), per calendar year. Reimbursement shall be in accordance with Employer policy and procedure.
3. The Northern Incentive Program is considered taxable income. The Northern Incentive Program is not part of insurable income for benefit purposes and shall not be considered pension-eligible earnings.
4. The Employer reserves the right to amend or terminate with ninety (90) days’ notice.