ARTICLE IX Vacations
34. Eligibility. To be eligible for a vacation in any calendar year during the term of this Agreement: a. The employee must have one (1) year or more of continuous service. b. Upon return from extended layoff (over 12 months and up to 36 months), the employee must work a minimum of 1,000 hours in the calendar year to be eligible for vacation allowance.
35. Continuous service shall date from: a. The date first employed, or b. Subsequent date of employment following a break in continuous service, whichever of the above two dates is later.
36. An employee, even though eligible under the Article, forfeits the right to receive vacation benefits under this Article is he voluntarily quits (unless one (1) week advance notice is given to the Company).
37. Employees who are entitled to one (1) or two (2) weeks vacation may take one (1) week of earned vacation on an intermittent basis (one or more days at a time.) Employees who are entitled to three (3) weeks vacation may take two (2) weeks of earned vacation on an intermittent basis. Employees who are entitled to more than three (3) weeks vacation may take three (3) weeks earned vacation on an intermittent basis. Employees who have more than four (4) weeks vacation may take four (4) weeks earned vacation on an intermittent basis. A maximum of twelve (12) four hour blocks of vacation or maximum of eight (8) six (6) hour blocks (for 12 hour shift only) can be taken. Only an even number of blocks can be taken (exceptions must be approved by Management.) The Company must receive 48 hours advance notice of such day or days and it must be in accordance with orderly and efficient operation of the plant. Vacation days taken on this basis will be counted as a day worked for the purpose of computing overtime pay.
38. Amount of vacation pay. Eligible employees shall receive vacation pay equal to their straight time base rate. Vacation Allotment Consecutive Years of Service Weeks Hours 1 year 2 year 5 years 15 years 20 years 30 years
39. Scheduling of Vacations. All week vacations for December must be scheduled by March 15th. All remaining vacations as of October 15 must be scheduled to be taken before December 31st. If the employee has remaining vacation unscheduled as of October 16th, management will schedule the remaining vacation days for the employee during the time period of October 16 to December 31. Any changes to the schedule must be submitted a week in advance.
Vacation days taken on this basis will be counted as a day worked for the purpose of computing overtime pay.
40. The Company reserves the right to have a shutdown on one or more operating units of the plant and the areas related directly to them for the purpose of granting vacation provided:
a. Such vacation shutdown does not exceed two (2) weeks. b. Such vacation shutdown shall be between May 1st and October 31st. c. Employees will be paid/charged 40 hours per week for mandatory shutdowns (described above).
41. The Company will, when practical, furnish notice of shutdown forty five (45) days prior to shutdown.
42. Employees granted a leave of absence or who are laid off after May 1st shall receive earned vacation pay.