Article 34 – Vacations

Date: Thursday, March 17, 2016 | Category: | Author:

34.1
All employees shall be entitled to annual vacations calculated as in the table following:

Years of Service at August 31st of a Given YearDuration of Vacation - Employees Working 8 hr. Days Duration of Vacation - ​Employees Working 10 hr. Days
From date of hire
1 -6 full year of
continuous service
15 days (120 hrs.)
at basic rate
12 days (120 hrs.)
at basic rate
7-11 full years of
continuous service
20 days (160 hrs.)
at basic rate
16 days (160 hrs.)
at basic rate
12-17 full years of
continuous service
23 days (184 hrs.)
at basic rate
18.4 days (184 hours) at basic rate
18-24 full years of continuous service 25 days (200 hrs.)
at basic rate
20 days (200 hours) at basic rate
25+ full years of continuous service 30 days (240 hrs.)
at basic rate
24 days (240 hours) at basic rate

Employees who have already reached a vacation entitlement that is greater than Bell’s policy as of January 1, 2013, will be grandfathered at their existing entitlement until they reach a higher vacation entitlement under Bell’s policy.

The annual vacation year is January 1st to December 31st.  Vacation is to be taken within the year in which it is earned. The number of years of service attained by December 31st of the vacation year, determines vacation entitlement. The Company provides the vacation allotment for each employee on January 1st of each year as a vacation bank to be earned during that vacation year.  This allotment is earned during January to December as per the above chart.  Individuals who leave the Company, will have their vacation pay reconciled on their final pay cheque. 

34.2
In the event a General Holiday (Article 35) occurs during an employee’s vacation, one (1) additional day for each such holiday shall be added to the vacation credits, according to Article 34.1. The additional day shall be taken within the vacation year in which it was granted. 

34.3  – Vacation Scheduling

  1. For the vacation period of October 1st to April 30th, employees shall submit their preference for vacation, in writing, to their immediate Supervisor prior to August 1st and vacation schedules shall be posted by September 1st of each year.
  1. For the vacation period of May 1st to September 30th, employees shall submit their preference for vacation, in writing, to their immediate Supervisor prior to March 1st and vacation schedules shall be posted by April 1st of each year. 
  1. Subsequent changes requested in writing by the employee to the vacation period so scheduled shall be subject to operational requirements determined by the Company. 

34.4
Subject to operational requirements, the Company may permit an employee to begin and end their vacation in conjunction with their days off, plus any additional days resulting from the activation of Article 34.2. 

34.5
Vacation preference shall be given to employees on the basis of Union seniority within each Department and Section as defined by the Company. To effect proper and efficient operation of all Sections and Departments, the Company reserves the right to alter any requested vacation period, or to arbitrarily set such vacation period, prior to the posting dates set out in Article 34.3.  Alterations to vacation schedules after this date shall be made only on mutual agreement between the Company and the employee affected. 

34.6
Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 34.5 above, the Company shall have the right to alter an employee’s vacation subsequent to the dates set out in Article 34.3 where such vacation falls during a local program launch, or local production of a special program provided that:

  1. The employee is engaged in on-air Television presentation in the capacity of News Anchor, Reporter (including Sports) or Multi Media Journalist.
  1. The Company shall provide no less than one (1) month’s notice of its intention to alter the employee’s vacation. 
  1. The provisions of this Article shall not apply to vacations scheduled during the months of June, July and August. 

34.7
An employee must take the vacation outlined in the foregoing Articles during the vacation year in which it is earned.  However an employee has until April 30th of the subsequent year to take this vacation entitlement. 

34.8
Vacation not taken in time off prior to leaving the company will not be paid (except what is required by the Labour Code if applicable).  In such circumstances, the employee’s vacation eligibility before leaving the company is prorated according to the portion of the year worked. 

34.9
In the event of the death of an employee, the value of any vacation pay which has accrued shall be paid to their estate.