ARTICLE 18
SERVICE

18.01 Service shall be established from the first (1st) day of appointment and computed on the basis of calendar months of employment, subject to the provisions of this Article.

18.02 A partial calendar month of employment shall be considered a full calendar month of employment provided the employee receives pay for a minimum of one-half (½) of the calendar month.

 18.03 Approved leave with pay, W.C.B. leave, leave as per Article 28, for any duration shall be counted as service.

 18.04 Approved leave without pay, time on L.T.D., and time on continuous layoff greater than one (1) calendar month shall not be counted as service; however, for the sole purpose of reinstatement of illness only (i.e., Clause 24.08), approved leave without pay and time on L.T.D. will count as service.

 18.05 An employee, who has been on continuous layoff for more than one (1) calendar month and who is then recalled within twenty-four (24) calendar months, shall have his/her previous service reinstated.

 18.06 Where a temporary employee becomes a regular employee, his/her temporary employment time shall count as regular service.

 18.07 Where an apprentice, having completed his/her apprenticeship, becomes a regular journeyman or a regular employee in another job title, his/her apprentice employment time shall count as service.

 18.08 An employee shall forfeit his/her service when s/he:

(a) voluntarily resigns, subject to Clause 28.04;

(b) is dismissed for just cause;

(c) fails to return to work from approved leave of absence;

(d) fails to return to work within two (2) work days of receipt of notice of recall; or

(e) is laid off for a period of more than twenty-four (24) consecutive calendar months.