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ARTICLE 25 - EDUCATION LEAVE |
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Education Leave Article 25 25.02 - Leave for Writing Examinations 25.03 - Leave for Taking Courses 25.04 - Marine Emergency Duties / Continued Proficiency Certificates (a) The purpose of this clause is to provide employees with the opportunity for sustained study and upgrading to higher standard certificates or other pertinent qualifications. (b) Education leave with basic pay to take formal training and study, for the purpose of securing a certificate or diploma or other qualification, may be approved, to a maximum of five months, by the Company provided that: 1. Selection is on the basis of an acceptable performance record. 2. The employee has completed a service record of one continuous year. 3. It is in the interest of the Company that the employee secure the certificate. 4. On the basis of 1. to 3. above, service seniority shall prevail. 5. So far as possible, leave with basic pay shall be granted during the period of reduced service, i.e., winter period.
6. Upon
successful completion of the course and required examination, the Company
shall pay tuition fees, cost of required textbooks and first examination
fee. The Company shall pay travel 7. The employee provides proof of attending the course in a form specified by the Company. 8. Prior to leave of absence with pay, the employee undertakes a certification to remain in the service for a period equal to three times the leave period and, should s/he resign before the period expires, s/he shall refund the proportion of all costs paid during his/her leave, including salary, in direct relation to the unexpired period and the period required. 9. If, after being granted appropriate leave with basic pay, the employee fails to obtain the appropriate certificate or upgrading, further leave shall be without pay and all further costs specified in 6. above shall be borne by the employee. 10. Commensurate with the demands of the Company, leave of absence with basic pay shall be granted to an appropriate number of employees. 11. The Company reserves the right to limit the period of leave with basic pay or without pay as well as to establish the minimum academic standard employees should attain before leave with basic pay is granted. 12. The Company may require employees requesting education leave to write a qualifying examination set by an independent authority to determine the employee's capability to take the course requested. (c) Leave with basic pay to write examinations for a certificate or other qualification may be approved to a maximum of five working days. (d) Employees granted education leave with basic pay, accumulate vacation and sick leave credits while attending the course. (e) The Union recognizes that the Company shall not wish to grant leave with basic pay for attending a course in cases where there are already sufficient qualified personnel. In this event the Company shall not unreasonably withhold leave without pay at the request of an employee wishing to take an approved course. 1. Where leave without pay is granted, the employee shall retain seniority rights. 2. Upon return, the employee shall be placed in his/her former position or in a position of equal rank and salary at the same point of assembly. 3. If the employee maintains coverage for medical, extended health, dental, and group life, the Company agrees to pay the Company's share of those premiums. If the employee fails to return to work at the prearranged date, the Company shall recover money paid under this clause. 4. Prior to taking unpaid leave under this clause, the employee shall undertake to remain in service after return for a period equivalent to the leave granted, or shall refund any financial assistance granted under this clause on a prorated basis. (f) In the event that an individual receives outside support, such as a scholarship, fellowship, or bursary, the total of outside support plus salary support shall not exceed the individual's basic salary for the period of study leave. In the event of such combined support exceeding the basic salary, the excess amount shall be deducted from the employee’s salary. It is the responsibility of the employee to report all additional sources of support to the Company. 25.02 - Leave for Writing Examinations Leave of absence with basic pay shall be granted to allow employees time to write examinations approved by the Company. A minimum of 12 hours shall be allowed between the end of a shift and the commencement of an examination. 25.03 - Leave for Taking Courses (a) An employee shall be granted leave with basic pay to take courses at the direction of the Company. The Company shall bear the full cost of the course including tuition fees, entrance or registration fees, laboratory fees and course required books, necessary traveling time, travelling and subsistence expenses and other legitimate expenses where applicable. Fees are to be paid by the Company when due. (b) An employee may be granted leave with basic pay to take courses at the request of the Company. The Company shall bear the full cost of the course, including tuition fees, entrance or registration fees, laboratory fees and course required books, necessary traveling and subsistence expenses and other legitimate expenses where applicable. Fees are to be paid by the Company when due. (c) A regular employee may be granted leave without pay, or leave with partial pay to take courses in which the employee wishes to enrol. 25.04 - Marine Emergency Duties / Continued Proficiency Certificates When the Company requires the employee to be in possession of M.E.D. certificates, the employee shall be granted leave with regular pay. The Company shall bear the full cost of obtaining and renewing the certificate including tuition fees, entrance or registration fees, laboratory fees and course required books, necessary travelling time, travelling and subsistence expenses and other legitimate expenses where applicable. Fees are to be paid by the Company when due. Where the same courses are provided by the Company, employees shall avail themselves of such courses in preference to other facilities. 25.05 – General Leave to Accrue Seatime (a) Notwithstanding clause 26.10(b) of the Collective Agreement, the parties hereby agree that an employee may request a general leave of absence without pay for the purpose of working for another Company, not including any competitors of BC Ferries, to accrue seatime. (b) Such general leave of absence without pay is intended to assist the employee to obtain a certificate or to upgrade to a higher marine certification and is subject to the following: 1. An employee may be granted leave of absence without pay to accrue seatime subject to operational requirements and provided that qualified relief is available. 2. The maximum period that an employee may be on such leave of absence without pay shall be one year. 3. As part of the necessary information for the leave of absence without pay the employee must provide the following information: i) a clearly documented career development plan, ii) a demonstrated need for seatime, iii) prior to the commencement of the general leave, the employee will provide proof of employment, and iv) verification from Transport Canada of the applicability of the seatime. 4. An employee on general leave without pay, in accordance with this clause, shall accrue group and/or service seniority as applicable for the period of the leave. 5. Where two or more employees from the same point of assembly and same job classification are requesting approval for a leave of absence which would occur at the same time, and all requests cannot be accommodated, then the available leave(s) shall be granted to the employee(s) with the greatest group or service seniority, as applicable.
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