CUPE Health Care Workers' Council of Unions

LETTER OF UNDERSTANDING #9

BETWEEN

SASKATCHEWAN ASSOCIATION OF HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS

AND

THE CANADIAN UNION OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES

Re: Benefits

It is agreed between the parties to the Collective Agreement that the following benefits shall be provided:

Wage Loss Replacement Plan

a) Joint Funding

A Wage Loss Replacement Plan shall be provided on a joint funding basis whereby the Employer shall pay 50% and the Employee shall pay 50% of the cost of funding the prescribed plan.

b) Installation and Pay Out of Unused Sick Credits

The installation of the Wage Loss Replacement Plan in a facility/agency is contingent upon provision for discontinuance of existing provisions regarding Service Pay or payment of unused Sick Leave Credits on termination.

c) Administration

The Wage Loss Replacement Plan shall be administered by the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations in accordance with the terms of the Plan.

d) Terms of the Plan

The terms of this plan shall be determined on the basis of the following provisions which are considered as general statement of the plan conditions.

e) Sick Leave Credits Continue

Employees shall continue to accumulate sick leave credits in accordance with existing sick leave plans. A "Day Bank" shall be installed whereby sick leave credits will continue to accrue and are used when Employees are sick for the first one hundred and nineteen (119) consecutive calendar days of any illness. Any balance remains to the Employee's credit until the Employee returns to regular work.

f) Bridge Benefit

A "Bridge" benefit will be created providing 66 2/3% of normal earnings from the expiry of remaining sick leave credits until commencement of Long Term Disability Benefits.

g) Long Term Disability Benefits

A Long Term Disability Plan will provide a benefit of 60% of normal earnings commencing after one hundred and nineteen (119) consecutive calendar days of disability. The benefit will continue until recovery, age 65, or death, whichever occurs first. The Long Term Disability Plan will be subject to the following terms:

1. Definition of Disability

Disability will be defined as the inability of the Employee to perform the duties of his/her own occupation. After 12 months of benefit payment, (effective January 1, 1987 after twenty-four (24) months of benefit payment), the definition changes to the inability of the Employee to perform any occupation for which he/she is reasonably fitted by training, education or experience.

2. Benefit Reduced by CPP or WCB

The benefit will be reduced by any Canada Pension Plan or Workers' Compensation award. Any cost of living adjustment in the future to Canada Pension Plan will not serve to further reduce the benefit provided by the plan.

3. Recurring Disability

Where an Employee has been receiving benefit from the Plan and has returned to work, should he/she subsequently become disabled within six (6) months from the same cause which created his/her original disability, he/she will not have to serve one hundred and nineteen (119) consecutive calendar days waiting period again before benefits recommence.

4. Claims Continue to be Payable

Any claim which is admitted for a period of disability which commences while the Employee is protected by this plan will continue to be payable in the terms of the plan, regardless of the fact that the plan may have subsequently been discontinued or succeeded by a new program.

5. Pre-Existing Medical Condition

Any Employee whose employment commenced during the periods shown below and who has received medical attention within the stated period of time preceding the date the Employee enrolled in the plan, shall not be insured for any disability resulting from that complaint for a period of twelve (12) months after the date the Employee enrolled.

a) Between May 1, 1974 and June 30, 1978 inclusive, a period of three (3) months.

b) After June 30, 1978, a period of six (6) months.

c) The Union shall be notified by mail of any such cases that become apparent within two (2) weeks.

6. Medical Questionnaire

If an Employee fails to enrol in the plan within 31 days after the date he becomes eligible to do so, he must complete a medical questionnaire for approval by the Plan Administrator.

7. Disabilities Excluded

No payment will be made for claims resulting from a disability:

i)For which the member is not under continuing medical supervision and treatment considered satisfactory by the Board;

ii) Caused by intentional self-inflicted injuries or self-induced illness while sane or self-inflicted injuries while insane;

iii) From bodily injury resulting directly or indirectly from insurrection, war, service in the armed forces of any country or participation in a riot;

iv) Which occurred during the commission or the attempt to commit an indictable offence under the criminal code for which the person is convicted or incarcerated;

v) Experienced during the first year of membership which resulted from injury or illness related to any injury or illness for which medical attention was received during the six (6) months prior to the Employee becoming a member of the Plan. This limitation will only apply to Employees hired after June 30, 1978 and is applicable to Long Term Disability benefits only;

i) Which occurred during the period of cessation of work due to a strike, except that the benefit may be claimed to commence immediately following the end of the strike if the claimant is still qualified in accordance with all of the other terms of the Plan;

ii) If the claimant has established permanent residence outside of Canada.

Where an Employee has been transferred from one facility to another under the same ownership of a contributing member, or where a contributing member takes ownership of a facility, the continuous membership in the Plan of the prior facility or prior owner will count towards the first year of membership in this Plan for the purposes of (v) above.

8. Recommencement of Waiting Period

If the Employee returned to work during the one hundred and nineteen (119) consecutive calendar days waiting period, he will not be required to recommence the waiting period, unless the return to work has been more than ten (10) working days.

9. Joint Committee

A Joint Committee representing Canadian Union of Public Employees and Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations shall be established as an Administrative Committee of the Plan. This Committee shall monitor the operation of the Disability Income Plan and consider changes to the Plan which they may then recommend to the Trustee of the Plan. Such recommendations shall be made with the agreement of both the Union and Employer based on facts and statistics made available to the Joint Committee. The Committee shall have full access to all information, reports, accounting, etc. pertaining to the Plan.

10. Employee Benefit Statement

Annually, the Employer shall provide each member of the Disability Income Plan with an Employee Benefit Statement.

Such statement shall outline:

a) Premiums paid by Employee members.

b) Member's sick leave credits.

c) Coverage under Group Insurance, Disability Income Plan and Pension.

11. Interest on Late Premiums

Any Employer who deliberately withholds premiums for a period of more than fourteen (14) days beyond due date, shall be charged bank interest on all such withholdings.

12. Pension Credits on D.I.P.

Pension credited service will continue to accrue in accordance with the terms of the Retirement Plan.

13. D.I.P. Coverage While on Leave

Employees may apply for D.I.P. coverage while on leave of absence in accordance with the terms of the Plan.

14. New Entries to Disability Income Plan

All new entries to the Plan will abide by original rules established on the Plan initiation.

Dental Plan

Provision of Dental Plan

The Employer shall provide a Dental Plan, the benefits of which shall be consistent with those contained in the Public Employees Dental Plan as at October 9, 1985.

Group Life Insurance

The Employer will pay for the first $7000.00 coverage under the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations Group Life Insurance Plan. For all students, Group Life Insurance coverage shall be $2000.00 as provided for by the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations Group Life Insurance Plan.

Pension Plan

The Employer agrees to participate in the SAHO Pension Plan and to comply with the terms and conditions of the Plan or maintain the existing Pension Plan that is currently in effect.

Extended Health Plan and Enhanced Dental Plan

The parties agree that an Extended Health Plan and Enhanced Dental Plan will be provided at a capped maximum of two and one-tenth per cent (2.10%) of straight time payroll per year.

Back to Collective Agreement

CUPE Health Care Workers' Council of Unions
3725E Eastgate Drive
Regina, Sask
S4X 1A5

Phone: 1-306-546-2185
Fax: 306-781-8177
Email: Gordon Campbell, President