Article 19 – Holidays and Vacation

19.1.1 The University Recognizes the Following Statutory Holidays:

• New Year's Day
• Family Day
• Good Friday
• Victoria Day
• Canada Day
• Saskatchewan Day
• Labour Day
• The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 
• Thanksgiving Day
• Remembrance Day
• Christmas Day
• Boxing Day

19.1.2 Special Holidays

In recognition of the need for members to occasionally work in excess of the work plan guidelines, the University will provide three (3) additional days off during the fiscal year. These days will normally be taken between December 25th and January 1st when the University is closed. Alternate days will be provided if the member is required to work during the Christmas and New Year’s season.

19.1.3 Religious or Cultural Observances

Where operations permit, the Employer will support the interests of employees in their religious or cultural observances. Leave for religious or cultural observances, which are in addition to the holidays provided for in the Collective Agreement, will be taken as vacation leave, flex time or leave without pay.

19.2.1 Vacation Accumulation (20 working days).

During the first six (6) years of service, a member will earn vacation at the rate of twenty (20) working days per year with the monthly accumulation rate depending on the number of working days in the month. The vacation anniversary date shall be the date of appointment. Part-time members will earn vacation on a pro rata basis.

19.2.2 Vacation Accumulation (25 working days)

After six (6) years of service until sixteen (16) years of service, the member will earn vacation at the rate of twenty-five (25) working days per year with the monthly accumulation rate depending on the number of working days in the month. Part-time members will earn vacation on a pro rata basis.

19.2.3 Vacation Accumulation (30 working days).

After sixteen (16) years of service, the member will earn vacation at the rate of thirty (30) working days per year with the monthly accumulation rate depending on the number of working days in the month. Part-time members will earn vacation on a pro rata basis.

Vacation is to be taken after it is earned. The member is expected to use the entitlement by the end of the fiscal year following the year in which it is earned. It is the responsibility of the people leader to ensure that a vacation may be taken annually by the member. Wherever possible, the vacation shall be planned in accordance with the wishes of the member.

Under special circumstances, a member may, at the time of reviewing annual vacation, request permission from the People Leader to carry over up to and including one-half of their annual vacation entitlement from one year to the next. The member, upon approval of this carry over request by their Academic/Administrative Leader, which will not be unreasonably denied, must use all annual entitlement in the year into which vacation is carried forward.

Where, in respect to any period of vacation leave, a member:

1. Is granted bereavement leave, or 
2. Is granted salary continuance as a result of hospitalization, or  
3. Becomes ill and is granted salary continuance prior to their confirmed vacation period and such illness continues into the approved vacation (a medical certificate substantiating proof of illness will be required),

the period of vacation so displaced shall either be added to the vacation bank if requested by the member or deferred for use at a later date.