9.01       This Plan shall be effective the date of signing the Agreement, and shall continue to be binding on the parties to the Agreement for so long as the Agreement is binding between the parties.

ELIGIBILITY

9.02       Each employee shall be entitled to the benefits in this Plan subject to the following conditions:

1. If qualified for the present benefit plans on the date this Agreement is signed, he shall be eligible on the effective date of the Agreement; or
   
   
2. New employees will be entitled to regular benefit status, if they move to regular status, in accordance with the Branch Manning Letter of Understanding attached hereto.

9.03       New employee's who were enrolled in the benefit plans of any Labatt or Molson brewery in BC, and who were laid off from that brewery due to lack of work, shall be entitled to immediate coverage for MSP basic medical and Extended Health Plans.

LIFE INSURANCE

9.04       Effective April 21, 2007, the amount of Life Insurance coverage shall be increased to provide $60,000.00 insurance coverage for benefit status employee's actively at work on that day. Employee's not actively at work on the above named day shall only be provided increased insurance coverage upon their return to active employment.

ACCIDENTAL DEATH AND DISMEMBERMENT INSURANCE

9.05       Effective April 21, 2007, the amount of Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance coverage shall be increased to provide $60,000.00 insurance coverage for benefit status employee's actively at work on that day. Employee's not actively at work on the above named day shall only be provided increased insurance coverage upon their return to active employment.

MEDICAL, SURGICAL AND HOSPITAL

9.06

Each eligible employee shall be insured in the Medical Services Plan of BC and the Extended Health Benefits Plan. The Company will issue a copy of the booklet to all employees after ratification of the Collective Agreement and on request by any employee.


1. Effective April 21, 2007, Vision Care coverage will be provided to all regular employees and dependents for the purchase of prescribed lenses or frames or contact lenses to a maximum of $150.00 per person every two (2) years.
   
   
2. Effective April 21, 2007, the extended health coverage will be amended to provide reimbursement for expenses incurred relative to the purchase of hearing aids for employee's and dependent's (immediate family) up to the age of 65, when prescribed, to a maximum of up to five hundred dollars [$500.00] per person per four [4] year period. Coverage will not include repairs or maintenance.

DENTAL

9.07       Dental Care Plan for active employees:

Plan "A" –  100% to a yearly maximum of $1,200.00
Plan "B" –  75%
Plan "C" –  50%

The combined lifetime maximum for restorative and orthodontic services is $4,700.00. An annual reinstatement of up to $500.00 will be provided at the beginning of each calendar year, if required, to restore such lifetime maximum to the level of $4,700.00.

SICK LEAVE

9.08       Each employee shall be entitled to sick leave under the following conditions provided he furnishes a doctor's certificate proving his diability to the satisfaction of the Company.

1. Each regular employee shall be entitled to sick leave of two {2] weeks for each calendar year. Any unused suck leave to a maximum of one [1] week to be paid to employees on the last payday before Christmas.
   
   
2. Sick leave will be pro-rated in the year in which an employee attains regular status.
   
   
3. Regular employees who have been absent from work for the full calendar year shall not be entitled to sick leave or payout.
   
   
4. Sick leave will be pro-rated in the year in which an employee is terminated. The employee shall be entitled to payment of any unused sick leave up to a maximum of one [1] week.
   
   
5. Upon retirement, any unused portion of the two [2] week sick leave will be payable in cash to regular employees who achieved regular status prior to April 21, 1985.
   

(Refer also to Company Policy on Sick Leave, addendum to Agreement)

9.09       This sick leave shall be applied to provide full pay (in certain instances by supplementing Weekly Indemnity or Workers' Compensation payments) for working days lost during:

1. The three [3] waiting days prior to start of Weekly Indemnity payments resulting from illness; or
   
   
2. In the case of non-occupational accident an employee shall have the option of using three [3] hours of sick pay to bring his Weekly Indemnity from 70% of his daily wages to full pay thus reducing by three [3] hours an employee's maximum entitlement of sick days, when supplementing Weekly Indemnity to full pay in this manner.
   
   
3. During the first three [3] days of Workers' Compensation payments, in which case sick pay will be used to supplement Workers' Compensation payments up to full pay.

9.10       An employee shall have the option of supplementing to full pay, his Weekly Indemnity benefit after the first three [3] days of sick leave. For each day supplemented the employee's maximum sick leave shall be reduced by three [3] hours.

9.11       If an employee who has not had to use any of his sick pay in the calendar year experiences an illness or accident for which he expects to be absent for more than fifteen [15] working days, he may elect not to use the last three [3] days of his maximum sick leave entitlement as outlined above, for that illness, thereby providing himself with three [3] days of sick pay which may be used for a different illness later in the year. If the three [3] days sick leave are not used up at the end of the year, then those days may be used to make up the employee's basic rate of pay for three days of his original illness.

9.12       An employee's maximum entitlement of sick leave per year shall be reduced by one [1] day for each full day's payment of sick leave. For partial days of sick leave, an employee's entitlement shall be automatically reduced by the actual time taken provided an employee has not exhausted their maximum entitlement of sick leave.

9.13       Full pay for an employee shall mean the equivalent of his standard daily hours times his job rate of pay, and the payment of sick pay shall not result under any circumstances, in an employee receiving more than full pay on any lost working day.

9.14       The Company, at its discretion, may appoint a doctor to examine the employee. Abuse, misrepresentation or any misuse of sick leave by the employee shall be sufficient grounds for dismissal. Company policy on sick leave is attached to this Agreement.

WEEKLY INDEMNITY AND LONG TERM DISABILITY

9.15       Where an employee is disabled due to a sickness or non-occupational accident, a weekly benefit amounting to seventy percent [70%] of wages (applicable classified hourly rate X 40; or 38) in effect during the twenty-six [26] week period will be paid to an employee who is off work and under the care of a doctor.
Payments will commence on the first day of the disability if due to an accident, and on the fourth [4] day if due to a sickness, and will continue to a maximum of twenty-six [26] weeks for any one period of disability.

Payments will be mailed directly to the employee's place of residence registered with the Company.

9.16       Should the disability, described above, continue beyond the end of the twenty sixth [26] week, the insured Long Term Disability Plan will commence at the twenty-seventh [27] week and will continue until recovery or age 65, whichever occurs first.

9.17       Where an employee has received Workers' Compensation payment for a twenty six [26] week period, the Long Term Disability Plan will commence at the twenty seventh [27] week and will continue until recovery or age 65, whichever occurs first.

9.18       The LTD plan will provide the payment of 66 2/3% of wages (applicable hourly rate X 40; or 38) in effect during the first seventy eight [78] weeks of the Long Term Plan. Should the disability continue past the one hundred and fourth [104] week (26 weeks + 78 weeks) the future weekly benefit will be calculated at 66 2/3% of wages (hourly rate X 40; or 38) in effect at the one hundred and fourth [104] week of disability.

9.19       Coverage under insured Weekly Indemnity and Long Term Disability Plans will be continued:

1. For the first one hundred and four [104] weeks of a disability provided the employee is unable to perform his own job.
   
   
2. In excess of one hundred and four [104] weeks, provided the employee is unable to perform any job for any employer for which he is reasonably qualified by training, and education, or experience, to perform, as determined by the insurance carrier.

9.20       The Weekly Indemnity Plan and the Long Term Disability Plan will be of a standard nature underwritten by an insurance carrier and will include an offset clause for integrating statutory payments such as Canada Pension Plan, Employment Insurance and in the case of Long Term Disability, will also include an offset clause for integrating Workers' Compensation.

9.21       The Company will provide the necessary monies to build up the pension of an employee receiving benefits from the insured Long Term Disability Plan at the rate of pension accrual in effect at the commencement of disability.

9.22       Group Life, A.D. & D., M.S.P. and Extended Health Benefits shall be continued in force during any period the employee is receiving Weekly Indemnity or Long Term Disability Benefits. Employees drawing benefits under the Weekly Indemnity Plan shall receive a supplement up to full pay for Statutory Holidays falling within the twenty six [26] week period. Employees drawing benefits under the Long Term Disability Plan shall not be eligible for vacation entitlement after one hundred and four [104] weeks.

BENEFIT CARRIERS

9.23       The cost of the Welfare Plans shall be borne by the Company. The Company will pay full cost of the Dental Care Plan with coverage terminating when the employee ceases employment or becomes a pensioner. The Company may provide coverage by alternate carriers, provided the benefit levels and service arrangements are the same or better than that provided by the existing carrier.

CANCELLATION OF BENEFITS

9.24       An employee whose service with the Company has been terminated shall not be entitled to any benefits after the date of such termination. An employee drawing benefits under the Guaranteed Wage Plan is entitled to benefits as specified in that Plan.

PENSIONS

9.25       The Company agrees to continue the pension plan as follows:

1. Name of plan: Brewers' Distributor Ltd. Pension Plan for Hourly Employees in British Columbia.
   
   
2. The plan will provide a flat dollar benefit as follows:

   COMMENCING      MONTHLY BENEFIT
   Apr. 21 2007    $80.00 benefit per year of
                   credited pension service.
   

3. Full eligibility at age 55 and 85 points.
   
   
4. Maximum credited service not to exceed 30 years.
   
   
5. The Canada Pension Plan is not a factor in the monthly pension entitlements.
   
   
6. Minimum Normal retirement Date (NRD) pension, minimum SER (Special Early Retirement) pension, bridge, crossover, and 85 point retirement (Molson Network Plan only) are no longer applicable in the new pension plan.
   
   
7. 90% of Lifetime, 60% to surviving Spouse form of pension.
   
   
8. Pre-retirement death benefits as follows:
   
   
   1. For a member with no spouse, the beneficiary or estate, as applicable, will receive a lump sum death benefit equal to 100% of the commuted value of the member's accrued pension benefit;
      
      
   2. A surviving spouse will receive an immediate lifetime pension equal to 50% of the member's accrued pension benefits, the value of which will not be less than (i).
      

Employees and the Union will be provided with copies of the plan and reports as required by B.C. Pensions legislation.

BENEFITS FOR PENSIONERS

9.26       All benefits granted to employees who retired prior to the date of signing of the Agreement are governed by the Agreement in force on the date they retired. The following benefits will be provided to pensioners who retire after the date of signing of the Agreement, at no cost to the pensioner.

1. Normal Retirement:
   
   1. Life Insurance continued at $4,000.
      
      
   2. M.S.P. will be continued as long as the pensioner is a resident of B.C.
      
      
2. Total and Permanent Disability Retirement:
   
   1. Life Insurance will be continued in the amount of $20,000 to age 65, then reduced to $4,000.
      
      
   2. M.S.P. will be continued as long as the pensioner is a resident of B.C.
      

9.27       All present amenities, now enjoyed by the employees, shall be kept in force except wherever such amenities conflict with or fundamentally prevent the possible inclusion and implementation of the provisions of the Social Security Plan. It is understood and agreed that the word "amenities" shall not be construed to obligate the Company to pay a year-end bonus. This Article shall not be construed to alter any specific term or condition specifically set forth elsewhere in this Agreement.

CASUAL EMPLOYEES

9.28       There will be two groups of employees:
Regular and Casual.

Casual employees:

1. are not entitled to benefit status;
   
   
2. Are entitled to seniority. Seniority will terminate if they have no hours for a six [6] month period;
   
   
3. Are scheduled or called in to work in order of seniority, subject to their availability, (see also New Letter of Understanding No. 17 – Availability of Casual Employees);
   
   
4. Are not entitled to paid leaves of absences with the exception of bereavement pay: When a casual employee who has had no restrictions on availability in the previous six (6) months, attends the funeral or memorial service of an immediate relative (as defined in Article 11.03) the employee will be entitled to up to three (3) consecutive days bereavement leave with pay, provided he was scheduled to work on the days in question;
   
   
5. Shall be paid nine and one-half [9.5] hours for Statutory Holidays at their current pay rates provided the employee has worked at least five [5] days during the twenty [20] working days immediately preceding the day on which said holiday is observed, and the employee has not been absent without permission on the last work day scheduled for him immediately prior to the day on which the said holiday is observed and the first work day scheduled for him immediately after the day on which the said holiday is observed.
   
   
6. Shall receive any vacation pay owing them based on: after five [5] calendar days of employment, 4% of the employee's total wages during the year of employment entitling the employee to the vacation pay; after five [5] consecutive years of employment, 6% of the employee's total wages during the year of employment entitling the employee to vacation pay;
   
   
7. Will be entitled to regular benefit status, if they move to regular status in seniority order as part of maintaining the minimum number of core employees;
   
   
8. May perform any duties as assigned, except that those who are required to drive trucks shall be paid at the new "Truck Driver Regular" rate for the entire shift.
   

BENEFITS FOR CASUAL EMPLOYEES

9.29       The following benefits will be provided to casual employees, once they have completed 120 shifts and provided they have had no restrictions of their availability in the six (6) months preceding January 1st, July 1st or the date on which they have completed 120 shifts and provided they have worked at least one (1) day per month in said period:

1. Insurance in the Medical Services Plan of BC. Once an employee has been enrolled by the Company in the Medical Services Plan of BC, these premiums will be paid for by the Company and if the employee does not meet the eligibility criteria outlined above the cost of these premiums will be deducted from their pay.
   
   
2. 100% premium reimbursement for Extended Health Care and Dental Care coverage as provided by Pacific Blue Cross 'Standard Plan - First Choice Health and Dental Combined' for Family, Couple, or Single. All reimbursements will be made through payroll.