IITS vacation blackouts are over
July 22, 2008
For a number of years, IITS (Instructional and Information Technology Services) has imposed vacation "blackouts" during certain periods of the year. During these blackout periods, few vacation requests were accepted and even fewer were approved. In general, these blackout periods ran, in late summer, from the end of the third week in August to the end of the second week in September, and, in early winter, for the last week of work in December and the first two work-weeks in January.
On March 19, 2007, CUPEU filed a grievance challenging the employer's right to impose vacation blackouts with IITS. A few hours ago, the University and the Union signed an agreement settling the grievance and making vacation blackouts a thing of the past. In the agreement, the Union agreed to the following statements that recognize what already exists in the current collective agreement:
1. that, according to clause 29.12 of the collective agreement, the Employer determines employee vacation periods while taking into consideration the employee's seniority, the employee's preference, and service requirements; and
2. should an individual choice of vacation be refused by the Employer, and should the affected individual choose to contest that decision, the matter may be brought before an arbitrator for resolution through the procedure set out in Article 12 of the collective agreement.
Bottom line . . . no more vacation blackout periods in IITS!