COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS - OPSEU

shall be granted for not more than four (4) consecutive days for each employee delegate for the purpose of attending the
Annual Convention.
23.2.1 Leave of absence with no loss of pay and with no loss of credits shall be granted to a member of the Union who
participates in negotiations up to the release of a conciliation “no board” report or the release of the report of a
conciliation board, as the case may be, provided that not more than fifteen (15) employees at any one time shall be
permitted such leave for the Central and Unified agreements and seven (7) employees at any one time shall be permitted
such leave for the negotiation of the Correctional agreement. Leaves of absence granted under Article 23.2.1 shall
include reasonable travel time. A member of one of the Union’s bargaining teams who is an fixed-term or regular
employee shall be paid as if the employee worked full time in the appropriate schedule (not to exceed eight (8) hours per
day) during the days from Monday to Friday during which bargaining occurs or travel time occurs. Such a fixed-term
employee who is normally employed in a correctional institution shall continue to have Appendix 24 applied as if the
employee has worked eight (8) hours per day during the days from Monday to Friday during which bargaining occurs or
travel time occurs.
23.2.2 Notwithstanding Article 23.2.1, the Union may at its discretion require up to five (5) additional members to
participate in negotiations at each of the Unified and Correctional bargaining unit tables and the central table up to
the release of a conciliation “no board” report or the release of the report of a conciliation board, as the case may
be, who shall be granted leaves of absence without pay but with no loss of credits. Leaves of absence granted under
Article 23.2.2 shall include reasonable travel time.
23.2.3 Members of the Union granted leaves of absence under Articles 23.2.1 or 23.2.2 shall also be granted reasonable time off
to attend Union bargaining team caucus sessions held immediately prior to such negotiations, mediation or arbitration.
23.2.3.1 The Union may at its discretion require up to twenty-seven (27) members, at any one time, to be granted a leave of
absence without pay but with no loss of credits for the purpose of assisting the Union in advising and educating the
members with respect to the essential services and/or collective bargaining process and the issues in bargaining.
23.2.3.2 The leaves of absence under Article 23.2.3.1 shall commence no sooner than 180 days prior to the expiry of the
collective agreement, and shall end on the date of ratification of the collective agreement. The Union will advise the
Directors of Human Resources of the affected ministries, with copies to the Director, Employee Relations OPS, of the
names and locations of such employees, as soon as practical, and in any event at least 15 days prior to the
commencement date of the leaves.
23.2.3.3 During the process of essential services bargaining, the Union may request a reasonable number of employees to attend
at the bargaining table for short periods to assist the bargaining team. As much notice as possible shall be given to the
supervisor of the employee in question and the Director of Human Resources of the relevant ministry. The Employer
shall grant the necessary time off without pay and with no loss of credits.
23.2.4 The leave under Articles 23.2.2, 23.2.3, 23.2.3.1, and 23.2.3.3 shall be with pay and without loss of credits and
reimbursement to the ministry shall include wages plus an amount of twenty percent (20%) in lieu of benefit costs and
other Employer contributions.
23.3 At the written request of the Union of at least fourteen (14) days, leaves of absence without pay but with no loss of
credits shall be granted to an employee for the purpose of setting demands for negotiations. It is understood that such
meetings will be held on Saturdays or Sundays and that the total time granted for each instance shall not exceed two (2)
consecutive days for each employee.
23.4 Leaves of absence with no loss of pay and with no loss of credits shall be granted to a member of the Union who
participates in meetings of the JIBRC as set out in Appendix 4 (Joint Insurance Benefits Review Committee), provided
that not more than three (3) employees at one time shall be permitted such leave. Leaves of absence granted under
Article 23.4 shall include reasonable travel time.
23.5.1 (a) Upon request by the Union, confirmed in writing, and provided that reasonable notice is given, leave of absence with no
loss of pay and with no loss of credits shall be granted to employees elected as Executive Board Members and Executive
Officers of the Union, for the purpose of conducting the internal business affairs of the Union.
(b) On the understanding that leaves requested under (a) will be kept to a minimum, it is agreed that extended leave of
absence will be granted to four (4) employees in any calendar year for the purpose of conducting the internal business
affairs of the Union. Each leave will be for a period of ninety (90) consecutive calendar days and only one (1) such
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