DAYS SINCE WE BEGAN THE BARGAINING PROCESS. WE ARE UNITED AND WE WILL MAKE CHANGE.

COVID-19 – Airline Employment Membership Survey

Lisa Raymond on February 3, 2021

On March 13, 2020, Canada began to enter a global shutdown due to COVID-19. With countries shutting down, closing borders and air travel ceasing, tens of thousands of flight attendants around the world have been laid off or furloughed.

Some members are currently in the CEWS programs, others are collecting EI benefits. Recall periods for CUPE’s various airline locals range from 2-5 years.  With lengthy recall periods and the lack of information from the government on what supports may be available to workers who may be affected by COVID-19 for periods that stretch past eligible EI periods, CUPE is interested in hearing from you.

CUPE has heard from its airline membership that members are currently exploring temporary options for employment.  CUPE can assist with finding other temporary employment options of interest by working with the government and employers as we are already working on other projects such as: Just Transition, Improving Long Term Care, increasing childcare access, and improving education resources.

We have put together a short survey regarding COVID-19 impacts and employment. You can access the survey here:
https://survey-sondage.cupe.ca/index.php/274114?lang=en

This survey is anonymous, and answers will not identify individuals in any way.

In solidarity,

Your Airline Division Council of Presidents

Staffing Update – February 3, 2021

Lisa Raymond on February 3, 2021

We were advised moments ago that Air Canada Rouge will be suspending operation effective February 8, 2021. This will result in the remaining active membership that is currently working at Rouge being placed on layoff status.  As one cannot mitigate their own layoff, and there are no positions remaining at Rouge, and no one junior at Mainline, there will be no bumping or mitigations offered. More information will follow once official layoff notices are issued.

For Air Canada Mainline, at this time we have not been advised of any layoffs however there has been discussion on this and we will keep you posted once we have more information on how any staffing surplus will be dealt with at Mainline.

This further staffing surplus is a direct result of the continued restrictions placed on air travel by the Federal Government and their unwillingness to put in place a safe and reliable strategy for resuming air travel.

We understand there will be many questions, rumours, and thoughts on this.  Please reach out to your Union, do not rely on rumours and please be there for one another.  These are unprecedented and very challenging times.

In solidarity,