Volume 20 | Issue 3 | December 2020
KNOW YOUR CBA - LOU 21
Let’s talk about Letter of Understanding 21 - Annual Vacations. Specifically, for the 12 Hour Work Cycle. Since returning from the Lockout, an issue presented itself that doesn’t occur very often in normal circumstances. Normally employees earn or accrue paid vacation hours as they work. You can also accumulate unpaid vacation hours when employed but not working, like during a mat or pat leave or during the lockout. Employees working the 12 Hour Work Cycle (outside of Maintenance) also have the ability to bank 4 hours of each Statutory Holiday to use as an extra set of vacation. Those banked hours are bundled into an employee’s regular vacation hours.

However, in the aftermath of the lockout, and all employees with unpaid vacation to their name, the Company has decided to reinterpret the collective agreement language. 
The Company's Position
Banked vacation hours from Stat Holidays can only be used once all regular paid and unpaid vacation has been used completely. Therefore, an employee would need to use unpaid vacation hours before being able to use their paid hours for vacation.
The Union's Position
LOU 21 clearly states that banked stat holiday hours are to be used with regular vacation hours. Alternatively, under Banked Hours from Overtime, it clearly states that it must only be used after all regular vacation hours. No such language exists under the Banked Hours from Stats. 
The Union has filed a grievance, but what do you think?

12 HOUR WORK CYCLE 
 
1. Banked Hours From Statutory Holiday Credits:

The banked statutory holiday hours will be derived from the accumulation of 4 hour statutory holiday credits (12 x 4 hours = 48 hours credit). Banked hours may be used in whole or in part, together with regular or deferred vacation credits, to provide a complete cycle. The banked hours are applicable only to personnel in permanently classified shift positions. Permanently classified shift personnel who elect to bank statutory holiday credits, must declare their intention to bank these credits prior to the start of the vacation season (May 1) and the 4-hour credit will be derived from consecutive statutory holidays commencing with the first statutory holiday in May. 
Any unused banked statutory holiday credits will be paid out as of April 30 of the vacation year. 
 
2.  Banked Hours From Overtime
The banked overtime hours provide a vehicle whereby permanently classified shift personnel may bank up to 72 hours per year, which may be worked between March 1 and February 28 of each year. The plan will operate in accordance with the following: 

a. Employees eligible must indicate their request to bank on the applicable time sheets. 
b. The banked overtime hours must only be utilized after the booking of all regular vacation hours (excluding deferred hours) and will only be considered for approval following regular requests.  
c. Overtime will not be used to cover banked overtime hours. 
d. Regular vacation, which cannot be deferred, must be used prior to the banked overtime hours being used. 
e. Employees are eligible to take their banked overtime hours effective May.
LAST LAUGH
Congratulations
to the following 594 members:
Jamie Borduas - Major Projects Accounting (November 1st, 2020)
Dean Warnke - Maintenance Technician
(December 1st, 2020)
Alan Radons - Pipe Shop (December 1st, 2020)
LOCAL 594
VIRTUAL PASS THE HAT
Christmas is quickly upon us with 25 members still not back at work. Please take this time to reflect on the past year and the 7 months we were out of work and be grateful it wasn't 5 more.

If you are able, please consider donating $20 per pay-cheque via e-transfer. E-transfers (and any questions) can be sent to 594passthehat@protonmail.com.

In Solidarity,
Chris Petersen and Chad Borys
594 Swag
Are you interested in sporting Unifor 594 Swag?
Check out our list of swag at:

Employee & Family Assistance Program
If you are struggling with the Return to Work Process, the aftermath of the Lockout or anything in between - please know you are not alone. Reach out to our EFAP services or to a coworker for help.

EFAP is through Homewood Health and is available 24/7/365. Call 1-800-663-1142