I got 12 paid sick days per year and use them all (we don't have to justify sick days unless you take more than 3 in a row). I use ALL the time off I can get. I am entitled to it, I use it.
We also have 7 "mobile" days which are "use'em or lose 'em" paid days off we can book at any time.
Add to that 5 weeks of vacations + 2 week off christmas break, a 4 day workweek (10 hour days) and all the legal holidays and all I can say is woohoo! I love my union!
The flipside though is that to get the 4 day work week I have to work every 2nd weekend.
Red