In 2023, the Union filed a grievance concerning the treatment of Members who transferred from Air Canada Rouge to Air Canada Mainline. Specifically, the grievance focused on the Employer’s refusal to recognize prior Mainline service completed by these Members during a temporary transfer when calculating pay progression after a permanent transfer.
These Members had temporarily worked at Mainline – often during the pandemic, when staffing levels were critical – before later transferring permanently. The Union argued it was unfair for that earlier service not to count toward seniority and pay progression.
The Union alleged that Air Canada violated Article L59.07 of the Collective Agreement by failing to credit these employees with service accrued during temporary assignments under Article 17.
The matter proceeded to arbitration, and on May 27, 2025, Arbitrator Gedalof issued his decision. He dismissed the Union’s grievance, ruling that the Collective Agreement does not require the Employer to recognize temporary service under Article 17 for the purposes of Article L59.07. In his view, only permanent service counts under that provision.
A copy of the full award is available HERE.
In Solidarity,
Your Component Grievance Committee