Article 10 : leave for union business

10.1  Paid leave credits

A total of nine hundred and ten (910) hours of paid leave credits per fiscal year are available for use by employee representatives who are members of the Bargaining unit to attend to union business.

Each quarter, the Group president, or the vice-president in the absence of the president, provides the University with a schedule of leave credits to be used in order for staffing the union office. The scheduled dates may be changed to accommodate a holiday or to replace a scheduled employee representative who is a member of the bargaining unit who will be absent. Changes are to be made in accordance with the provisions stipulated in 10.7.

The University provides the Group president with a monthly statement of any leave credits used in excess of those set out in the schedule.

10.2  Collective bargaining

The University grants leave to employees designated by the Institute to participate in negotiations to renew the Agreement. Employees are granted leave in accordance with 10.6.

10.3  Joint committees

Employees required to sit on joint committees are granted leave in addition to the leave referred to in 10.1, without loss of pay or benefits.

10.4 

• An employee representative who is a member of the Bargaining unit and who wishes to grant leave to an employee in order for the employee to meet with the employee representative during working hours obtains prior authorization from the Human Resources Service, Labour Relations sector. The Human Resources Service in turn informs the employee's immediate supervisor of the absence.
• An employee requesting leave to meet with an employee representative who is a member of the Bargaining unit about a labour-related matter obtains prior authorization from the immediate supervisor or from the Human Resources Service, Labour Relations sector, which in turn informs the employee's immediate supervisor of the absence.
• Time used by an employee representative who is member of the Bargaining unit to meet with an employee under the provisions of 10.4 (a) and (b) is deducted from the leave credits referred to in 10.1. The Group president, or the vice-president in the absence of the president, is responsible for these leave requests.
• The University must make every attempt to accommodate these meetings. However, where department requirements preclude a meeting at the time requested, the parties must, as soon as possible, agree upon a time that is reasonable given the circumstances.

10.5 An employee representative who is a member of the Bargaining unit who must accompany an employee to a meeting with the University provided for in this Agreement is given leave without loss of pay or benefits for the duration of the meeting and for a reasonable amount of time beforehand in order to prepare for the meeting.

10.6 Where the leave credits provided for in 10.1 have been exhausted or where the Institute so specifies in its request, the Institute may give an employee leave without pay in order for the employee to participate in a union activity. Whenever possible, the Institute makes its request at least five (5) days prior to the date of the activity. If the five (5) day time frame cannot be respected, the Institute advises the University why it is unable to respect the time frame. The University must not unreasonably withhold approval of such a request.

The University continues to pay the wages, benefits, applicable premiums and contributions to benefit plans for an employee granted leave without pay and invoices the Institute once (1) each quarter for these leaves without pay. The Institute reimburses the University within thirty (30) days of the date of this invoice.

10.7 The Group president, or the vice-president in the absence of the president, is authorized to request leave for union business under Article 10, with the exception of leaves provided under 10.6.

Upon written request at least five (5) days in advance from the president or the vice-president, the University grants leave, without loss of pay or benefits, to the Group member or members referred to in the request. If the five (5) day time frame cannot be respected, the Institute advises the University why it is unable to respect the time frame. The University must not unreasonably withhold approval of such a request.

Leave granted under 10.1, 10.4 and 10.6 is in blocks of one (1) full day or one half (1/2) day.

10.8  Office at the Institute

• This Article applies to regular employees only.
• An employee asked to work full time at the Institute makes a request for release time without pay for union business at least thirty (30) days in advance indicating the nature of the work to be performed and the anticipated duration of the absence.
• The University guarantees an employee's position for a maximum term of one (1) year in the case of a non-elected position. At the end of the one year term, the employee may extend the leave without pay for a maximum of two (2) additional years without pay and without a guarantee of the position held prior to taking the leave.
• The University guarantees the employee's position for a maximum term of three (3) years in the case of an elected position. At the end of the three year term, the employee may extend the leave without pay without a guarantee of the position held prior to taking the leave for as long as the employee continues to hold an elected office.
• An employee who wishes to return to the position held prior to taking the leave or to another position at the end of the leave without pay under the provisions of 10.8(c) and (d) gives such notice at least thirty (30) days in advance of the date of return.

10.9 The Parties acknowledge that service requirements take precedence over and supersede any leave for union business. However, the University will attempt to accommodate requests for leave for union business whenever possible. In situations where there is a conflict with work schedules, the parties can try to find a solution, including changing the dates of the leave for union business.

10.10 Within thirty (30) days of the Agreement being ratified, the Institute provides HR Client Advisory Services, Labour Relations sector, with a written list of the name and duties of representatives likely to be granted leave and to act on the Institute's behalf, in accordance with the provisions herein. This list includes the names of the Group's executive committee members, the Institute's union stewards, the members of the bargaining unit, the Institute's employment relations officer assigned to the Group and the members who represent the Institute on the different joint committees referred to in the Agreement. The Human Resources Service, Labour Relations sector, receives notification of any changes to this list.