As we are completing the Conciliation process, and entering into the cooling off period, information will be coming down quickly.
We are now at the point in bargaining where it is time to enhance our collective expression of our demand for a contract that recognizes our professional value and direct contribution to the on-going success of Air Canada.
For the past two years flight attendants have displayed Unpaid Work Won’t Fly baggage tags on their bags, engaged in and shared on social media the Unfair Canada campaign, and participated in forward-facing public events all in an effort to communicate our collective message: After ten long years flight attendants deserve a significant wage increase, pension improvements, and enhanced pay for ground duties that are currently unpaid.
Beginning on Friday, July 25th and continuing through to Sunday, July 27th, the Union will be distributing lanyards and wrist bands for the membership to wear in support of our collective bargaining efforts. Just as our sisters and brothers at ALPA proudly wore their lanyards while they were in bargaining, we will be doing the same.
You have the right to support your Union by wearing swag in bargaining without reprisal! To date no member has been disciplined for luggage tags, if the employer does go down this road the Union will not tolerate this. Remember the more members participate the harder it is for the employer to intimidate and threaten us.
Arbitrator Louisa Davie’s 2016 award in Air Canada and Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) on the issue of freedom of expression acknowledges that:
Union members’ speech relating to collective bargaining issues is highly protected, as the Supreme Court has underlined:
[L]abour speech engages the core values of freedom of expression, and is fundamental not only to the identity and self-worth of individual workers and the strength of their collective effort, but also to the functioning of a democratic society. Restrictions on any form of expression, and particularly expression of this gravity, should not be lightly countenanced. (RWDSU, Local 558 v Pepsi-Cola Canada Beverages (West) Ltd., [2002] 1 SCR 156, 2002 SCC 8, ¶69.)
Union members are permitted to discuss labour relations matters. That discussion may even be critical of the Employer. Freedom of expression is a fundamentally important right in the context of industrial relations, and arbitrators must be concerned that it is not improperly confined by rules or by the imposition of discipline (Robertshaw Controls Canada Inc. v UE, Local 512 (1982), 5 LAC (3d) 142 (Ont Arb) (Egan), ¶17; Burns Meats Ltd. v CFAW, Local P-139, 1980 CarswellOnt 1194, 26 LAC (2d) 379.)
Individual distribution schedules for each of our Locals are as follows:
Locals 4091 & 4098 – YUL/YMQ
Location: Table will be setup in the hallway to the comm. centre on the 2nd floor
July 25 – 06:00h – 22:00h ET
July 26 – 10:00h – 20:00h ET
July 27 – 12:00h – 20:00h ET
Locals 4092 & 4098 – YYZ/YTO
Location: Airport Union Local 4092 Office
Map to Local 4092: https://accomponent.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Local-4092.png
July 25 – 06:00h to 19:00h ET
July 26 – 07:00h to 19:00h ET
July 27 – 07:00h to 19:00h ET
Local 4095 – YYC
Location: Airport Union Local Office, Departure Level Between Door 7 & 8
July 25 to 27 – Please stop by the Union before checking in for your flight. Our office will be staffed for all flight departure times on these dates.
Local 4094 – YVR
Location: Outside between International Departures and SkyTrain area (see photo below)
July 25 – 06:00h to 22:00h PT
July 26 – 06:00h to 22:00h PT
July 27 – 06:00h to 22:00h PT
Lanyards and wristbands will be provided with a sign off acknowledging receipt. We are unable to provide additional items for members to pick up on behalf of other colleagues or crews. All members are invited to obtain these at any of our Bases during our posted times at the specified location. Thereafter, lanyards and wristbands will be available for pick up at all Locals.
Remember that during a period of collective bargaining:
- You have the right to be kept informed, and to take action during non-work hours.
- You have the right to openly support your union and to promote it in the workplace, both physically and virtually.
- You have the right to visibly promote your union through “merch” like t-shirts, buttons, lanyards, stickers, ball caps, union pins, luggage tags or branded water bottles.
- You have the right to express support for your union using virtual backgrounds and signatures on virtual platforms such as Outlook, Zoom, and Teams.
- You are free to talk about the union and promote our collective activities with colleagues. Feel free to engage in conversations with your colleagues about your Union both in person and through virtual gatherings, just as you would on any other topic. This helps maintain awareness of our work and of our collective rights.
- You have the right to actively participate in rallies and events organized by your union, to sign petitions, participate in online discussions, and actively share insights.
Source: Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE)
Link: https://www.acep-cape.ca/en/know-your-rights
Your Union is at a pivotal place in bargaining, the clock is ticking, its time for all hands on board.
In Solidarity,
Your Bargaining & Strike Aversion Committees