October 7, 2016 at 9:36 AM
All EVAS D510 Flight Crew Members (FCMs) will receive a 2017 vacation bid package from the company. This is a new procedure for our members which aligns with Articles 8 and 9 in the current collective agreement. Prior to submitting your vacation preferences to the company, we recommend that you review these Articles.
In the following Q & A we have endeavored to answer any questions you may have. Please contact your union representative if you have any further concerns.
I've worked here for five years and have always taken my vacation in the year I earned them. This year I'm told I don't have any vacation. Is this true?
Prior to ratification of the collective agreement, the EVAS policy and procedures manual (page 13) stated: Vacation shall be taken as earned following the end of each vacation year. During bargaining, the parties developed language to allow the process to continue post ratification. As per article 8.01 and 8.05, “In the first year of employment, FCMs accrue vacation to be used in the following year. “Vacation year(s) entitlement will be based on completed years of service as of December 31st of each year.”
I started in January 2016. Do I have any days off this year?
Vacation earned in 2016 will be taken in 2017. However, you are entitled to five Stat Days plus three floater days for 2016.
How do I know how many vacation & stat days I have left to use before December 31, 2016?
The employer will be able to provide you with any days owing for the remainder of 2016.
If I don't use my banked vacation days from previous years, or my five stat days from this year (2016) what will happen to them?
Days not bid during the 2016 calendar year will be paid out on the first pay period in 2017.
On October 20th (first round of vacation bidding) how many vacation days will I be bidding on?
As per Article 8.09 and 9.01, a FCM may bid up to two (2) consecutive weeks of vacation in the first round of their vacation bid:
8.09 Vacations will be bid in two rounds. In the first round FCMs may bid up to two (2) consecutive weeks of vacation. Selections for the first round must be submitted by October 15th. The Company will confirm first round vacation selections and distribute the vacation availability for the second round of vacation by Nov 1st. FCMs will have until November 15th, to submit their vacation requests for the second round of vacation. Remaining vacation can be selected in one or two week increments. Such requests will be evaluated to ensure that sufficient crewing can be achieved to meet operational requirements and approvals will be identified and communicated by December 1st of each year. The parties may introduce an electronic bidding system upon mutual agreement.
9.01 In lieu of Statutory Holidays the parties agree to bid 10 additional days of vacation. Such days will pro-rated for FCMs with less than one year of service and for FCMs that leave the employment of the Company prior to the completion of any calendar year.
* This article does not apply to cargo FCMs who are granted the holiday. If a Cargo FCM works on a Statutory Holiday, they will be given the choice of an additional vacation day or be paid a per diem day as per Article 6.06.The following Q and A has been developed in order to provide additional clarity with regards to how vacation should be bid.
How do I know in what order I will be bidding my vacation?
Vacation bids will be awarded by bargaining unit seniority. Bargaining unit seniority is the total time worked in the bargaining unit as a captain or first officer.
What is my Company Seniority?
Company seniority is the first day you began working with the employer. This date is used to establish the total vacation entitlement earned by the FCM.
What is my Bargaining Unit Seniority?
Bargaining unit seniority is based on the first revenue flight.
I started at EVAS a couple of months ago. Do I still get to bid on vacations?
FCMs will bid their 2017 vacation entitlement based on the accumulated time worked in 2016. If the FCM works less than twelve months in 2016 the FCMs paid vacation entitlement will be pro-rated. Additionally, in lieu of statutory holidays the parties agree to bid ten additional days of vacation.