Section 3

Approved sick leave and annual leave may be used in units of one (1) hour. Any employee who has completed four (4) months of service may be permitted to take approved annual leave as it accrues.
Except as provided below, employees shall be credited with one day of sick leave per month. Approved sick leave may be used as it accrues. This section shall not alter the provisions of any existing unit agreement which contains a more beneficial procedure.
1. For all employees newly hired after July 14, 1996, a maximum sick leave accrual of eleven (11) days per annum for the first three (3) years of service shall apply.
2. For employees covered by Unit Agreements that expire March 31, 2000, subsection 3(a)(i) shall be in effect from July 15, 1996 to March 31, 2000.
3. For employees covered by Unit Agreements that expire December 31, 1999,subsection 3(a)(i) shall be in effect from July 15, 1996 to December 31, 1999.
It shall be the policy of the employer to allow employees to use during their current leave year the amount of annual leave accruable during that year, provided they have sufficient available leave balances. This provision shall be subject to the leave regulations referenced in Section 1 of this Article V and the needs of theagency. Exceptions to this policy shall be on a reasonable and case-by-case basis.