Vision Loss Rehabilitation Alberta

Renewal agreement: Effective June 4, 2019 to June 4, 2022. Ratified on June 4, 2019. Signed on June 4, 2019.

Shift premium: $1 per hour for any employee who is required to work at any time between 6 p.m. and 8:30 a.m. on following day. $2.50 for each hour worked for employees who are certified in multiple positions and are actively performing those roles.

Paid holidays: 12 days.

Vacations with pay: 3 weeks after 1 year, 4 weeks after 5 years, 5 weeks after 10 years, 6 weeks after 20 years. Maximum 10 vacation days can be carried over to following year.

Overtime: Time and one-half for all time worked in excess of regularly scheduled hours. Employee may choose to take compensating time off in lieu of overtime pay but any banked overtime not taken by March 31 of each year will be paid out to employee on first full pay period following March 31.

Medical benefits: VLRC Employee Benefits Plan.

Sick leave: Employees will be credited with 10 incidental sick days per year (unused days will not be carried over into following year).

LTD: Employer pays 100% of premiums.

AD&D: Employer pays 100% of premiums.

Bereavement leave: 5 days for death of father, father-in-law, mother, mother-in-law, brother, brother-in-law, sister, sister-in-law, spouse, common-law spouse, son, daughter, stepchild, grandparents, grandparents-in-law, grandchild, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, fiancé, stepparents, former legal guardian. 1 day if employee serves as pallbearer or participates in service at funeral. 2 additional days for travel out of province to attend funeral, for parents or children.

Seniority – recall rights: 12 months; 3 months for employee who accepts permanent position with employer outside bargaining unit.

Probationary period: 90 calendar days worked.

Discipline: Sunset clause is 12 months.

Severance: 1 week’s pay to start; 2 weeks’ after 1 year of service; 4 weeks’ after 3 years of service; 6 weeks’ after 5 years of service; 8 weeks’ after 10 years of service.

Uniforms/clothing: $150 per year for orientation and mobility specialists to purchase outdoor clothing.

Mileage: $0.52 per kilometre when employee uses own vehicle.

Sample rates of hourly pay (current, after 4% increase):

Classification A (driver/guide, administrative assistant)

Years of service

Start rate: $19.39 rising 2 steps to $20.17

Year 1: $20.34 rising 2 steps to $21.16

Year 2: $21.29 rising 2 steps to $22.15

Year 3: $22.32 rising 2 steps to $23.22

Year 4: $23.14 rising 2 steps to $24.07

Year 5: $23.86 rising 2 steps to $24.82

Year 6: $24.56 rising 2 steps to $25.55

Classification B (specialists early-intervention, specialists service-coordination, specialist client-support, vision-rehabilitation therapist (ILS) (non- certified), specialists assistive-tech (non-certified) LVS, O&M (non-certified))

Start rate: $22.93 rising 2 steps to $23.86

Year 1: $24.26 rising 2 steps to $25.24

Year 2: $25.59 rising 2 steps to $26.62

Year 3: $26.94 rising 2 steps to $28.03

Year 4: $28.27 rising 2 steps to $29.41

Year 5: $29.60 rising 2 steps to $30.80

Year 6: $30.94 rising 2 steps to $32.19

Classification C (registrar, assistive technology assistant – shop)

Start rate: $20.39 rising 2 steps to $21.21

Year 1: $21.34 rising 2 steps to $22.20

Year 2: $22.29 rising 2 steps to $23.19

Year 3: $23.32 rising 2 steps to $24.26

Year 4: $24.14 rising 2 steps to $25.12

Year 5: $24.86 rising 2 steps to $25.86

Year 6: $25.56 rising 2 steps to $26.59

Classification D (certified low-vision therapist, certified vision-rehabilitation therapist (ILS), certified assistive-technology instructional specialists, certified orientation and mobility specialist)

Start rate: $24.43 rising 2 steps to $25.42

Year 1: $25.76 rising 2 steps to $26.80

Year 2: $27.09 rising 2 steps to $28.18

Year 3: $28.44 rising 2 steps to $29.59

Year 4: $29.77 rising 2 steps to $30.97

Year 5: $31.10 rising 2 steps to $32.36

Year 6: $32.44 rising 2 steps to $33.75

Editor’s notes: Employee birthday: Employees will receive birthday off with pay. Medical notes: Employer will pay for maximum 4 medical certificates per year, after receipt provided and expense is claimed on employee expense form. Certificate is only reimbursable if certificate is not covered by another agency (i.e. insurance claim). Certificate is only reimbursable if certificate is not covered by another agency (i.e. insurance claim). Citizenship ceremony: Employees will be entitled to maximum one-half day of leave to attend citizenship ceremony to receive certificate of citizenship. Accommodations: Employer will provide standard of single accommodation in good standard room. Reimbursement will be made for incidental expenditures such as tips and telephone calls, including reasonable personal calls home, made using most cost-effective method. Maximum $30 per night for gratuitous lodging expenses is allowed when employee stays with family or friends during business trip. No receipt is required. Cellphone: Employer will provide cellphones to employees who require cellphone for work purposes. Meal allowance: Actual meal expenses, maximum $50 per day not including taxes and gratuities, when employee works during or through meal periods; when beyond designated home base; when employee is away from home for extended period. Parking: Employees will be responsible for paying $40 per month in offices where parking cost is not covered and employer will cover balance.