The Alberta Teachers’ Association

This agreement made this 20 day of June, 1999, AD pursuant to the School Act (RSA) and the Labour Relations Code (RSA) .

Between the Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education of the Medicine Hat Catholic Separate Regional Division No 20, "the Board" and the Alberta Teachers' Association, "the Association".

THE PARTIES AGREE:

Article 1 - Recognition

1.1 This agreement shall apply to all certificated teachers employed by the Board, excluding:
(a) the superintendent
(b) deputy superintendent
(c) religious education director.

Article 2 - Term of Agreement

2.1 This agreement takes effect on September 1, 1998 and terminates on August 31, 2001. Either party may give to the other not less than 60 days prior to the termination of this agreement, a notice in writing of its intention to commence collective bargaining. The notice must contain particulars of all amendments sought.

Article 3 - Salary Schedule

3.1 The Board must pay all teachers in its employ in accordance with the agreement.

3.2 The annual teaching salary is determined by teacher education and teaching experience. One month's salary is 1/12 of the annual salary payable.

Tabulated below are the minimum and maximum salary rates and the experience increments for each year of teacher education.

3.3 Salary Schedule

September 1, 1998 to February 28, 1999

	CAT1	CAT2	CAT3	CAT4	CAT5	CAT6
0			29,102	32,358	34,546	36,580
1			30,273	34,443	36,631	38,666
2			31,442	36,529	38,717	40,753
3			32,613	38,615	40,803	42,838
4			33,782	40,701	42,890	44,925
5			34,953	42,788	44,975	47,011
6			36,122	45,178	47,367	49,402
7			37,293	47,570	49,757	51,793
8			38,463	49,960	52,149	54,183
9			39,734	52,352	54,539	56,574
10			41,006	54,743	56,931	58,966

March 1, 1999 to December 31, 1999

	CAT1	CAT2	CAT3	CAT4	CAT5	CAT6
0			29,742	33,069	35,306	37,385
1			30,939	35,201	37,437	39,517
2			32,133	37,333	39,569	41,649
3			33,330	39,465	41,700	43,780
4			34,525	41,596	43,833	45,913
5			35,722	43,729	45,964	48,045
6			36,917	46,172	48,409	50,488
7			38,114	48,617	50,851	52,932
8			39,309	51,059	53,296	55,376
9			40,609	53,504	55,739	57,819
10			41,908	55,947	58,184	60,263

January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2000

	CAT1	CAT2	CAT3	CAT4	CAT5	CAT6
0			30,634	34,061	36,365	38,506
1			31,867	36,257	38,560	40,702
2			33,097	38,453	40,756	42,899
3			34,330	40,649	42,951	45,094
4			35,561	42,844	45,148	47,290
5			36,794	45,041	47,343	49,486
6			38,024	47,557	49,861	52,003
7			39,257	50,075	52,377	54,520
8			40,488	52,591	54,895	57,037
9			41,827	55,109	57,411	59,553
10			43,166	57,625	59,929	62,071

January 1, 2001 to August 31, 2001

	CAT1	CAT2	CAT3	CAT4	CAT5	CAT6
0			31,553	35,083	37,456	39,662
1			32,823	37,345	39,717	41,923
2			34,090	39,606	41,978	44,186
3			35,360	41,868	44,240	46,446
4			36,628	44,130	46,503	48,709
5			37,898	46,392	48,763	50,971
6			39,165	48,984	51,357	53,563
7			40,435	51,577	53,948	56,156
8			41,703	54,169	56,542	58,748
9			43,082	56,763	59,133	61,340
10			44,461	59,354	61,727	63,933

3.4 Banking - Teachers under contract shall be paid by the last banking Friday of the month with the exception of December and June when teachers will be paid on the last teaching Friday.

3.5 CSB - Deductions for purchase of Canada Savings Bonds shall be made monthly by the Board if requested.

3.6 Any days in the last week of August forming part of the new school year shall be deemed to be days taught in September and be subject to all terms of the collective agreement in force in the month of September of the new school year.

Article 4 - Evaluation of Teacher Education

4.1 The evaluation of teacher education for salary purposes shall be determined by a statement of qualification issued by the Alberta Teachers' Association Teacher Qualifications Service in accordance with the principles and policies established by the Teacher Salary Qualifications Board.

4.2 The adjustment dates for changes for teacher education shall be the commencement of the school year and February 1.

4.3 Each teacher claiming additional teacher education or commencing employment shall supply to the Board:
(a) within 45 days of commencement of the school year,
(b) within 45 days of February 1,
(c) within 45 days of commencement duties,
whichever applies, a statement of qualifications issued by the Teacher Qualifications Service of the Association. Until the teacher submits the statement, the teacher shall be paid according to the most recent acceptable statement of qualifications or according to the minimum education requirements for that teachers' certificate.

4.4 If proof of application for a statement of qualifications is supplied within 45 days, upon receipt of the TQS statement, the salary adjustment shall be retroactive to:
(a) commencement of school year,
(b) February 1,
(c) commencement of employment,
whichever applies, otherwise the salary shall be adjusted effective the beginning of the month following receipt by the Board of a statement of qualifications.

Article 5 - Recognition of Teaching Experience

5.1 Each year of teaching experience entitles a teacher one step on the salary grid.

5.2 Entitlement to experience increments shall be subject to submission of satisfactory evidence of the experience claimed. Such teaching experience includes teaching in schools under the jurisdiction of a provincial, state or national department of education. Until such evidence is submitted, the Board will evaluate the teaching experience. If submitted within 90 calendar days, a salary adjustment will be made retroactive to commencement of employment, otherwise the salary will be adjusted effective the beginning of the month following receipt of satisfactory evidence of the experience claimed.

5.3 A year of teaching experience shall be any one school year during which a teacher, including a substitute teacher, has taught for not less than 126 school days.

5.4 A teacher under contract who teaches less than 126 school days with the Board in a school year may accumulate experience increments by combining teaching days, including substitute teaching days, with the Board to a total of 126 days within a period of three consecutive years providing that a minimum of 42 days service with the Board per year be rendered.

5.5 An increment shall be effective on September 1 or February 1, immediately following the attainment of the necessary teaching days.

Article 6 - Administration Allowances

6.1 Principal's allowance shall be paid as follows:

6.1.1 Basic allowance of:

September 1, 1998 - $1,679.89
March 1, 1999 - $1,716.84
January 1, 2000 - $1,768.34
January 1, 2001 - $1,821.39

Plus a per pupil allowance of:	($ per pupil, per year)
	Sept 1/98	Mar 1/99	Jan 1/00	Jan 1/01
Up to 100 pupils	$47.34	$48.38	$49.83	$51.32
101 to 200 pupils, an additional	27.20	27.79	28.62	29.47
201 to 300 pupils, an additional	18.85	19.26	19.83	20.42
301 to 400 pupils, an additional	15.26	15.59	16.05	16.53
401 to 500 pupils, an additional	9.42	9.62	9.90	10.19
501 and over, an additional	9.42	9.62	9.90	10.19

Pupil count to be as at September 30 of the current year.

6.1.2 Minimum Principal Allowance - The minimum principal allowance shall be:

September 1, 1998 - $7,786.93
March 1, 1999 - $7,958.24
January 1, 2000 - $8,196.99
January 1, 2001 - $8,422.90


6.2 Vice-Principals - First or only vice-principal - 60 percent of the principal's allowance.

6.3 Second Vice-Principal - 50 percent of the principal's allowance.

6.4 Coordinator - on the basis of a principal's allowance for a school with 300 pupils.

6.5 Consultants - on the basis of 60 percent of the principal's allowance for a school with 300 pupils.

6.6 Department Heads - on the basis of 50 percent of the principal's allowance for a school with 150 pupils.

6.7 Division Chairman - on the basis of 36 percent of the principal's allowance for a school with 150 pupils.

6.8 Allowance for Vocational Experience - Upon engagement an initial trades allowance shall be granted at the request of the employee. For the purpose of this section and before an allowance is paid, the teacher shall be required to submit a certified statement(s) from the previous employer(s).

If the required statement(s) or proof of application for the same is supplied within 45 days of commencement of employment, payment shall be retroactive to the commencement of employment; if not, the salary shall be adjusted effective the beginning of the month following submission of the statement(s).

The amount of the allowance shall be determined by a committee consisting of one representative of the school board, the superintendent of schools and two representatives of the ATA. The amount of the allowance must be agreed upon by the unanimous agreement of the committee members.

Credit will be given only for business experience obtained after graduation from a senior high, business college, junior college or equivalent instruction offering business education.

Article 7 - Substitute Pay

7.1 Substitute teacher means a teacher employed on a day-to-day basis.

7.2 The rate of pay for substitute teachers shall be:

September 1, 1998 - $109.90 per day (includes four percent vacation pay)

March 1, 1999 - $112.32 per day (includes four percent vacation pay)

January 1, 2000 - $115.69 per day (includes four percent vacation pay)

January 1, 2001 - $119.16 per day (includes four percent vacation pay)

7.3 If a substitute teacher is employed more than 10 consecutive days in the same classroom, commencing on the 11 day, the rate of pay shall be in accordance with article 3. If that teacher continues in the same classroom for more than 19 consecutive days, the rate of pay shall be in accordance with article 3 retroactive to the first consecutive day of employment.

Article 8 - Industrial Arts Teachers

8.1 An industrial arts teacher is one who is employed to teach industrial arts courses at the junior and senior high levels.

8.2 Training: The professional training of industrial arts teachers shall be evaluated as follows:

8.2.1 Teacher education according to article 4 of this agreement.

8.2.2 A certificate of proficiency in a designated trade (journeyman's certificate recognized by the Alberta Apprenticeship Board) or

Successful completion of a two-year course at a school of technology shall be regarded equivalent to one year of teacher education for salary purposes.

8.2.3 Technical or business education training not covered by the preceding clauses 8.2.1 and 8.2.2, may be evaluated by a committee consisting of the Board, a representative of the ATA and the superintendent of schools. Any decision of this committee must be unanimous. The evaluation cannot exceed one year of teacher education beyond the university training evaluated under article 4.

8.2.4 Clauses 8.2.2 and 8.2.3 do not apply when trade or business education training has been given credit toward a bachelor of education degree.

8.2.5 In the event of a teacher whose salary is governed by this clause, having a second set of journeyman's papers and which are being used for vocational instructional purposes, the teacher shall receive an additional allowance of $300.

8.2.6 The initial placement allowance shall remain constant throughout the period of employment.

Article 9 - Professional Development Leave

9.1 A teacher who has taught in the school system for a minimum of five years may be granted a leave for professional development.

9.2 Application for leave, accompanied by a clear statement of the teacher's purpose shall be presented to the superintendent of schools as follows:
(a) for leave to commence September 1 - not later than January 15.
(b) for leave to commence January 1 - not later than May 1.

The application for a leave must be considered by the Board and the applicant must be notified of the Board's decision within 30 days after the date for receipt of applications.

9.3 A teacher who is granted leave shall, upon return, be given a position upon his/her return no less favorable than the one held before the leave and experience increment will be allowed.

9.4 A teacher having been granted leave shall study at a recognized learning institution.

9.5 In lieu of regular salary, a teacher while on professional development leave, shall be granted allowance at the rate of 65 percent of annual salary and benefits for the year for which leave is granted, payable at the rate of 1/12 of the leave allowance so determined, for each month of leave, with payment to commence on the last day of the first calendar month of the leave.

9.6 A teacher who is granted leave shall agree in writing to serve the Board for a period of not less than one year for each semester taken.

Article 10 - Leave of Absence

10.1 Compassionate Leave - With Full Pay Will Be Granted

10.1.1 For the critical illness or death of father, mother, spouse, child, brother, sister or parents of spouse - not more than five days. Not more than three days for funeral of any of the above, if held in the city and not more than five days if funeral is held outside of the city. For combined critical illness and death, not more than eight days in the city and 10 days outside of the city. A medical statement will be required if death does not occur.

10.1.2 For attendance at the funeral of teacher's grandparent, grandchild or brother or sister of spouse - two days' leave. If circumstances warrant additional leave, the two days may be extended to a maximum of five days.

10.1.3 For attendance at the funeral of the teacher's uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew, niece, spouse of brother/sister-in-law, spouse's grandparent, uncle or aunt of spouse, nephew/niece of spouse - one days' leave.

10.1.4 For acting as pallbearer - half day.

10.2 Other Leaves - With Full Pay

10.2.1 For the purpose of writing university examinations - one day.

10.2.2 While participating in university convocation exercises - one day.

10.2.3 While obtaining citizenship papers at a scheduled session of the court - half day.

10.2.4 While serving as a witness or juror as a result of a notice to attend or subpoena, provided that any fee received for acting as a witness or juror be paid over to the Board. An employee is not able to receive benefit under this clause if the matter of the notice to attend or subpoena results from employment with agencies other than the Board.

10.2.5 For a husband during the confinement of spouse for maternity reasons - one day or two half days.

10.2.6 For the adoption of a child - one day.

10.2.7 For not more than one day to attend child or spouse requiring specialist treatment not available in Medicine Hat.

10.3 Leave of Absence With Loss of Substitute Pay - Temporary leave of absence with pay shall be granted to teachers providing the Board is reimbursed for the cost of a substitute teacher, whether required or not.

10.3.1 For attendance at meetings of committees of the Department of Education.

10.3.2 For attendance at meetings or any function at the request of the provincial or Local Alberta Teachers' Association.

10.3.3 For attendance at education conventions in an official capacity.

10.3.4 For attendance at civic government meetings and conventions in an official capacity.

10.3.5 For any other professional reasons that have been approved by the superintendent of schools.

10.4 Temporary leave of absence with pay, of up to a maximum of six days in a school year, shall be granted to teachers, providing the Board is reimbursed for the cost of a substitute teacher.

10.4.1 For not more than two days in any one school year for an illness of a non-critical nature in the teacher's household.

10.4.2 For not more than two days in any one school year for personal reasons, provided that the request be approved by the principal and that the function of the school not be disrupted. Personal leave attached to long weekends or vacation periods must have prior approval of the principal.

10.4.3 Because of road closure or the suspension of public transportation or other similar cause.

10.4.4 For the funeral of a friend of the family - one day.

10.4.5 While representing a service club or political party, in an official capacity as president, at conventions up to five days.

10.4.6 For attending post-secondary convocation exercises for spouse or children but not participating - one day.

Article 10.5 - Maternity Leave

10.5.1 The Board shall implement a supplementary unemployment benefits plan which each teacher shall access for pay during the health related portion of her maternity leave. The Board shall pay its portion of required group insurance premiums described in article 12 during the health related portion of maternity leave. The remainder of maternity leave not covered by the health related portion shall be at no cost to the Board.

10.5.2 The teacher concerned shall submit a certificate from a physician stating the anticipated date of delivery.

Article 11 - Sick Leave

11.1 Annual sick leave, with pay, will be granted to a teacher for the purpose of obtaining necessary medical or dental treatment or because of accident, sickness or disability, in accordance with the following schedule:

11.1.1 In the first year of service with the Board, in accordance with the provisions of the School Act. After one year service - 90 calendar days.

11.1.2 After 90 calendar days of continuous absence due to medical disability, no further salary shall be paid and the Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan shall take effect.

11.1.3 Where a teacher has suffered an illness and/or has been paid under the provisions of the Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan, upon return to full-time duty, the teacher shall be entitled to an additional sick leave benefit in the current year in accordance with the following schedule to a maximum of:

Less than one year of service - nil
After one year of service - 90 calendar days.

11.1.4 The credit of a teacher on leave of absence will not be altered because of absence from work for a period not exceeding one year.

11.2 Before any payment is made under the foregoing regulations, the teacher shall provide:

11.2.1 When a teacher is absent for a period of three days or less, the teacher will report as soon as feasibly possible to the principal of the school and shall provide a declaration on a form approved by the Board.

11.2.2 A certificate signed by an attending medical or dental practitioner where the absence is for a period of over three days.

11.2.3 When the sickness extends for a period of over one month, the employee may, at the discretion of the Board, be called upon to furnish a further medical certificate at the end of each month during the duration of the sickness.

Article 12 - Employee Benefit Plans

12.1 All teachers shall be covered under the provisions of the Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan with the employer paying 100 percent of the premium.

12.1.1 Life Insurance: Plan 2

12.1.2 Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D): Plan 2

12.1.3 Extended Disability: Plan D

12.1.4 Extended Health Care: Plan I

12.1.5 Dental Care: Plan III

12.2 The Board's contribution to the Alberta Health Care Insurance shall be at the rate of 100 percent of each enrolled employee's premium.

12.3 It is agreed that the EI rebate is being shared according to section 64(4) of the Employment Insurance Act by the benefits contained in this agreement.

Article 13 - Early Retirement Incentive Plan (ERIP)

13.1 Eligibility

To be eligible to participate in the early retirement incentive plan a teacher shall:
(a) have reached the age of 50 years;
(b) have a minimum of 10 years of continuous service with Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education;
(c) be at the maximum step in his/her category of the salary grid;
(d) intend to retire at the end of a school year;
(e) for the purpose of determining eligibility, the age of the applicant shall be as at June 30.

13.2 Board Discretion

(a) The application for early retirement incentive plan benefits shall be filed no later than April 1.
(b) The Board will consider each application on its own merits and will inform each applicant in writing of the acceptance or rejection of the request by May 1.
(c) The Board maintains absolute discretion, without appeal, regarding the acceptance or rejection of any individual application.
(d) Notwithstanding the above, the Board reserves the right to allow any teacher to participate in the plan regardless of failure of the teacher to meet eligibility requirements.

13.3 Schedule of Early Retirement Payments

(a) The early retirement incentive shall consist of cash payments to the teacher according to the schedule below:

Note: Notwithstanding the above, the early retirement incentive shall be paid in two instalments consisting of 33 percent of the amount on September 30 with the balance to be paid on January 31 following.

13.4 Employee Benefits

The Board will facilitate enrolment of an employee accepted for the early retirement incentive plan into the Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan retirement package from the date of his/her retirement until his/her 65th birthday. The employee shall be responsible to pay all costs of such benefits.

Acceptance or waiver of this opportunity shall be recorded on the application for participation in the early retirement incentive plan and the opportunity once waived, cannot later be accepted.

13.5 Purpose and Intent of the Early Retirement Incentive Plan

This early retirement incentive plan has been implemented to meet a temporary situation related to restrictive economic conditions, a stable student and teaching population and an aging teaching force. It is designed to offer teachers the opportunity to retire with dignity and without serious economic consequences earlier than would otherwise be possible. It is also designed to offer additional opportunities for employment to beginning or relatively new teachers.

The early retirement incentive plan will for the most part be financed by the differential in salary costs between retiring teachers and beginning teachers.

These factors will be taken into consideration by the Board each year when considering the early retirement incentive plan.

13.6 Application Procedures

A teacher shall make written application to the superintendent prior to April 1. The resignation of the teacher, contingent on approval of the early retirement incentive plan application shall be submitted as part of the application for participation in the early retirement incentive plan.

Article 14 - Involuntary Transfer

Unless the teacher agrees, a teacher cannot be transferred to a school which is more than 50 km away from their present school.

Article 15 - Grievance Procedure

15.1 Any difference between an employee covered by this agreement and the Board or between the sublocal of the Alberta Teachers' Association and the Board concerning the interpretation, application, operation or alleged violation of this agreement and whether the difference is arbitrable, must be dealt with as follows, without stoppage of work or refusal to perform work.

15.2 The difference (the grievance) must be submitted in writing to the secretary-treasurer of the Board and to the secretary of the sublocal of the Alberta Teachers' Association. The written submission shall be delivered within 15 days from the date of the incident giving rise to the grievance or from the date the grievor first had knowledge of the incident, whichever is later. The submission must explain the grievance and the article of this agreement which is alleged to have been violated.

15.3 If the grievance is not settled within 15 days after the date of submission of the grievance, then on or before a further five days have elapsed from the expiration of the 15 day time period, the grievance must be referred in writing to the grievance committee. The grievance committee must be composed of two representatives of the Board and two representatives of the Alberta Teachers' Association sublocal. A quorum of this committee must consist of all members. The grievance committee must meet and give its decision in respect to the grievance within 21 days following receipt of the submission and shall dispose of each grievance before proceeding to another, except where by unanimous consent of the grievance committee, the hearing of such grievance is adjourned for the purpose of obtaining further information. If the grievance committee reaches a unanimous decision as to the disposition of any grievance, that decision shall be final and binding.

15.4 If the grievance committee does not reach a unanimous or any decision within the said time, then either party may by written notice served on the other party require the establishment of an arbitration board. Such notice must be given within 10 days after the date of the expiry of the 21 day limit.

15.5 Each party shall appoint one member as its representative on the arbitration board within seven days of such notice and must inform the other party of its appointee. The two members appointed must, within five days of the appointment of the second of them, appoint a third person who shall be the chairman. In the event of any failure to appoint a chairman either party may request the Director of Mediation Services to make the necessary appointment.

15.6 The arbitration board shall determine its own procedure but must give full opportunity to all parties to present evidence and to be heard.

15.7 The arbitration board must not change, amend or alter any of the terms of this agreement. All grievances or differences submitted shall present an arbitrable issue under this agreement and must not depend on or involve an issue or contention by either party that is contrary to any provisions of this agreement or that involves the determination of a subject matter not covered by or arising during the term of this agreement.

15.8 The findings and decision of a majority is the award of the arbitration board and is final and binding upon the parties and upon any employee affected by it. If there is not a majority, the decision of the chairman governs and it shall be deemed to be the award of the arbitration board.

15.9 The arbitration board shall give its decision not later than 14 days after the appointment of the chairman, however, this time period may be extended by written consent of the parties. Each party to the grievance shall bear the expense of its respective appointee and the two parties shall bear equally the expense of the chairman.

15.10 All time limits referred to in the grievance procedure shall be exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, statutory holidays and vacation periods.

15.11 If, at any stage of the procedure (except in respect of appointing persons to the board) the grieving party fails to take the necessary action within the time limit specified, the grievance shall be deemed to be at an end.

15.12 Any of the time limits in the grievance procedure may be extended at any stage upon the written consent of the parties.

Article 16 - Communications Between the Parties

16.1 The parties recognize that there are in existence at the present time committees for the purpose of communicating the view of teachers on matters of school affairs to the Board.

It is the intention of the parties that the present committee be restructured to become an effective communication vehicle.

Article 17 - General Clauses

17.1 When the Board creates any new classification not specified in this agreement to which a teacher will be designated, the allowance, if any, for the new classification shall be negotiated.

17.2 Nothing contained in the agreement shall reduce the salary of a teacher below the amount payable immediately prior to the effective date of this agreement.

17.3 The previous collective agreement between the parties is cancelled.

17.4 This agreement is for the benefit of and is binding upon the parties and their successors.

Article 18 - Board Prerogatives

18.1 The Board retains all those residual rights of management not specifically limited by the terms of this agreement.

Article 19 - Date of Agreement

The parties have signed and executed this agreement this 27 day of July, AD 1999.