High River, Alta. (14 communications specialists, superintendents) and the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA)
Renewal agreement: Effective Jan. 1, 2020 to Dec. 31, 2022. Ratified on Jan. 29, 2020. Signed on Jan. 30, 2020.
Wage adjustments:
Effective Jan. 1, 2020: 1.5%
Effective Jan. 1, 2021: 1.5%
Effective Jan. 1, 2022: 2%
Shift premium: $3.50 per hour (previously $3.25 per hour) to employees working afternoon shifts wherein majority of hours are between 60-hour period beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday or to employees working each hour during period of 7 p.m. on Friday and 7 a.m. on Monday or to employees working all overtime hours which fall within 60-hour period beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday. $3.50 per hour (previously $3.25 per hour) to employees working night shifts between 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. (provided more than 2 hours worked between these hours) or employees working overtime hours between 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. $3 per hour (previously $2.75 per hour) when communications specialist performs duties of superintendent. $3 per hour when communications specialist works special projects outside of regular duties.
Paid holidays: 11 days.
Vacations with pay: 6% of hours worked to start, 86% of hours worked after 4 years, 10% of hours worked after 10 years, 12% of hours worked after 20 years.
Overtime: Double time for all work in excess of regularly scheduled shift, either immediately following or immediately preceding normally scheduled shift; any additional shift, or part thereof, over and above normally scheduled shifts. Double time for employee who works on scheduled day off and not provided with 14 days of notice. May be banked, maximum 48 hours, and may be taken as time off in lieu. Overtime banks will be paid out on first full pay period after Dec. 31 each year unless employer and employee have agreed when bank will be used. If agreement is reached in respect of partial usage of bank, remainder will be paid out.
Medical benefits: Employer pays 75% of premiums, employee pays 25% of premiums for Alberta Municipal Employee Benefits Plan and Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan. Employer will provide $1,400 per year (previously $1,300 per year) for flexible health benefit spending account. Effective Jan. 1, 2021: $1,500 per year. Effective Jan. 1, 2022: $1,600 per year.
Dental: Reimbursed at 100% for basic, diagnostic services. Reimbursed at 50% for major restorative, orthodontics (orthodontics only covered for dependent children). Maximum $1,500 per insured per year (orthodontics lifetime maximum of $1,500).
Sick leave: 12 hours for each month of employment, maximum credit of 192 hours.
STD: 66 2/3% of weekly pre-disability earnings for 17 weeks.
LTD: 66 2/3% of weekly pre-disability earnings after 120-day elimination period.
AD&D: 2 times basic salary.
Life insurance: 2 times basic salary, minimum coverage $10,000; maximum coverage $250,000.
Pension: Employer matches employee contribution (maximum 8%, minimum 3%) into group RRSP.
Bereavement leave: 7 days for death in immediate family (spouse (common-law, same-sex relationships), parent, child, brother, sister, fiancée, stepparent, stepchildren, stepbrother, stepsister mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, legal guardian, grandparent, grandchild). 2 additional days for travel more than 385 kilometres 1-way from employee’s residence to attend funeral. Employer may grant time off with pay to attend funeral service after death of another relative or friend.
Seniority – recall rights: 12 months following layoff.
Call-in pay: Paid at double time employee’s basic rate of pay or for 6 hours at straight time, whichever is greater.
Probationary period: 1,092 hours worked.
Discipline: Sunset clause is 1 year.
Severance: 2 weeks’ pay for each full year of employment, maximum 40 weeks’ pay.
Safety shoes: $100 for approved footwear once every 2 years.
Uniforms/clothing: Each employee will be provided with 4 shirts with flashes, 4 T-shirts, 4 trousers, 1 uniform belt, 1 name tag, 1 sweater, 1 fleece jacket (if available).
Mileage: $0.54 per kilometre (previously $0.52 per kilometre).
Sample rates of hourly pay (current, after 5% increase):
Communications specialist
Step 1: $26.23 rising 3 steps to $27.56
Step 2: $27.59 rising 3 steps to $28.99
Step 3: $28.80 rising 3 steps to $30.26
Step 4: $30.10 rising 3 steps to $31.63
Step 5: $31.39 rising 3 steps to $32.99
Step 6: $33.98 rising 3 steps to $35.71
Step 7: $36.57 rising 3 steps to $38.43
Superintendent
Step 1: $39.86 rising 3 steps to $42.24
Step 2: $41.06 rising 3 steps to $43.15
Step 3: $42.28 rising 3 steps to $44.43
Step 4: $43.47 rising 3 steps to $45.68
Editor’s notes: On-call duty: $3.50 per hour for each hour of on-call duty. Long service recognition: $500 on 10-year anniversary date; $750 on 15-year anniversary date; $1,000 on 20-year anniversary date; $1,250 on 25-year anniversary date. Personal professional development: $200 per year to cover tuition or registration costs associated with course or program.
