Section 1. In all cases of decreasing or increasing the work force or for promotion, seniority shall be used as a determinant as well as ability to perform the work with proper licensure and skills.
Section 2. The list of employees rated according to seniority shall be attached hereto and made a part of this Agreement.
Section 3. In the event of layoff, an employee with less than five (5) years seniority shall be continued on the seniority list of the County for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of the layoff. An employee with five (5) or more year’s seniority shall be continued on the seniority list of the County for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the date of layoff.
Section 4. The term “continuous service”, and “employed continuously” as used in this Article shall be so construed that absence from employment due to illness, accident, family death, or other similar occurrences, or layoffs by the County due to lack of work or for other causes shall not cause a break in the meaning in the work rates or other provisions of this Agreement except as stated in Section 4 above.
Section 5. Regular employees who leave the service of the County to enter the United States Armed Forces, or the service of the U.S. Maritime Commission, or who are drafted by the United States Government for civilian services will upon their return, within ninety (90) days from release from such service, be granted all seniority rights as if continuously employed by the County during such service.