Full-Time Position with the Union Upon application in writing by the Union on behalf of the employee to the Employer, a leave of absence without pay shall be granted to such employee elected or appointed with CUPE, its affiliates, for period(s) of up to two (2) years. It is understood, however, that during such leave the employee shall be deemed to be an employee of the Union. Only one (1) employee in a twenty-four (24) month period may be permitted this leave of absence without pay. There shall be no loss of service or seniority during such leave of absence and the employee shall accumulate service and seniority on the basis of what their normal regular hours of work would have been. During such leave of absence, the employee’s salary and applicable benefits shall be maintained by the Employer on the basis of what their normal regular hours of work would have been, provided the Union reimburses the Employer in the amount of such salary and applicable benefits within (30) days of billing. The employee agrees to notify the Employer of their intention to return to work at least four (4) weeks prior to the date of such return. The employee shall be returned to their former or to a substantially similar position as held before the leave began and at the appropriate rate of pay subject to any changes which would have occurred had the employee not been on leave. The Employer may fill the vacancy resulting from such leave on a temporary basis for the duration of the leave in accordance with Article 11.
