Leave for Union Activities Upon request by the Union, leave without pay will be granted to any employee duly authorized to represent employees of this bargaining unit at:
a) Executive, Council meetings or Conventions of the Union and Labour Education Seminars. A written request for such leave shall be submitted at least twenty (20) days in advance. Such leave shall be limited to a total of four (4) employees at any one time, and to a maximum aggregate total of four hundred and fifty (450) working hours in any calendar year. The maximum leave for any individual Union official shall not exceed sixty (60) hours and one hundred (100) working hours for an Executive Officer. The Company will consider reasonable requests from the Union to increase the individual and/or aggregate maximum. Such leave shall not constitute a break in continuity of service in seniority, severance pay, or other benefits under this Agreement.
b) In order to attend the CEP National Convention every other year (or every third year) up to four (4) employees will be released and the maximum aggregate total of working hours may be increased by an additional one hundred thirty (130) working hours, exclusive of the individual limits in above to attend the CEP National Convention. The Company will be advised of the convention dates as far in advance as possible. A written request for such leave will be submitted to the Company at least sixty (60) days in advance.
c) It is understood that operational requirements may prevent the release of particular employee(s) under this Article and in such case the Local Union shall be allowed to name the alternate(s), however such requests for leave will not be unreasonably denied.
d) An employee on unpaid Union leave under this Article shall be compensated at his/her regular rate for the leave by the Company. The Company will then invoice the Union for reimbursement of such compensation which shall be paid by the Union within fifteen (15) days of the date of the invoice.
e) In addition, up to one (1) employee may accept a full-time elective position with the Union or an official labour body for a period not exceeding two (2) years. Any additional yearly periods may be granted at the Company’s discretion upon receipt of a written request from the employee and the President of the Union. The Company may hire temporary employees to fill the vacancies created by such leave of absence. During the employee’s leave and subject to the limitations of the various benefit plans, the employee may continue to participate provided the employee prepays all premiums and contributions. During such leave the employee shall not accumulate seniority for the purpose of annual leave credits and severance pay.
Time Off for Union Activities The employer agrees to grant the necessary time off, without discrimination or loss of seniority rights and without pay, to any employee designated by the Union to attend a labor convention provided that there is two-week notice of any union convention. Due consideration shall be given to the number of personnel affected in order that there shall be no disruptions of employer's operations due to lack of available employees.
Geographic Area and Sector Specific Allowances, Conditions and Exceptions The following allowances and conditions shall apply where relevant. Where the Employer does work which falls under the following headings, the Employer agrees to pay and observe the relevant respective conditions and/or exceptions set out below in each case.
GENERAL WORKING CONDITIONS Section 18-1. Employment begins and ends at each project site.
Section 18-2. The selection of craft foremen and/or general foremen and the number of foremen required shall be entirely the responsibility of the Employer, it being understood that in the selection of such foremen and/or general foremen the Employer will give primary consideration to the qualified individuals available in the local area. After giving such consideration, the Employer may select such individuals from other areas. All foremen shall take orders from the designated Employer representatives. Craft foremen shall be designated working foremen at the request of the Employer.
Section 18-3. There shall be no limit on production by employees nor restrictions on the full use of tools or equipment. Employees using tools shall perform any of the work of the trade and shall work under the direction of the craft foremen. There shall be no restrictions on efficient use of manpower other than as may be required by safety regulations.
Section 18-4. Employees shall be at their place of work at the starting time and shall remain at their place of work performing their assigned functions under the supervision of the Employer until quitting time. The parties reaffirm their policy of a fair day’s work for a fair day’s wage.
Section 18-5. All equipment assigned to a project shall be under the control of the Employer. The Employer shall have the right to determine how many pieces of equipment an individual employee shall operate. In an emergency, foremen shall operate any equipment assigned by the Employer, and there shall be no restriction on foremen in the use of the tools of his or her craft in such emergency. The foremen shall be from the craft normally operating the equipment. In accordance with currently recognized craft jurisdiction, the Employer shall determine the assignment of employees to start, stop, and maintain small portable construction equipment. Such work may be assigned to craft employees within a reasonable distance of their primary duties or an employee may be assigned full time to start, stop and maintain the Employer’s small, portable equipment on the job site. There shall be no over ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ of this type of equipment. The number of employees assigned to rigging and scaffolding operations shall be at the sole discretion of the Employer. The ratio of journeyperson to welders shall be determined solely by the Employer.
Section 18-6. The Employer may utilize the most efficient methods or techniques of construction, tools or other labor saving devices to accomplish the work. Practices not a part of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, stand by crews and feather bedding practices will not be recognized.
Section 18-7. It is recognized that specialized or unusual equipment may be installed and/ or serviced by individuals who have special training, skill, or qualifications and are not covered by this Agreement. Testing, inspection, or service performed on plant equipment under warranty may be performed by the vendor’s personnel.
Section 18-8. Neither the Union nor its local unions shall coerce or in any way interfere with the Owner’s personnel, operation or facilities at the plant site. The Owner’s right to contract directly with other companies for work at the plant site shall not be limited, and the Union shall cooperate and not interfere with the Employer’s operations.
Section 18-9. It is agreed that overtime is undesirable and not in the best interest of the industry or the employees; therefore, except in unusual circumstances, overtime will not be worked. Where unusual circumstances do exist, however, the Employer will have the right to assign specific employees and/or crews to perform such overtime work as is necessary to accomplish the job.
Section 18-10. There will be no rest periods, organized coffee breaks or other non-working time established during working hours.
Section 18-11. Individual seniority shall not be recognized or applied to employees working on projects under this Agreement.
Section 18-12. The Employer shall establish such reasonable project rules as the Employer deems appropriate. These rules will be reviewed at the pre-job conference and posted at the project site by the Employer, and may be amended thereafter as necessary.
Additional Requirements for Sleeping Rooms The Contractor shall provide departing Attendees a secured area for storing belongings.