On September 2, 2022 the below unsigned bulletin was electronically distributed to all cabin crew at Mainline:
In the bulletin it appears to the Union that the Company truly believes that delays at our overseas stations are being caused by cabin crew “Duty free shopping, food shopping, too many liquids purchased on layover being brought through security and other reasons have been causing crew to arrive to the aircraft delayed which is unacceptable.” I think the Company omitted the other reasons, some of which could be delays with transport, delays checking out of hotels, transport times, security holds, short crewing of groomers on aircrafts, and agent delays, to name a few.
The Company has overlooked the inadequate catering we are facing in most stations, the short staffing on the ground, at the counters, and on the phones. Many members are having to deal with short shipments of uniform components, excessively long duty periods, increased delays on arrival, delays on the outbound flights and flight cancelations. We experience delays getting through to our colleagues in Scheduling, multiple reassignment periods throughout our rosters and an influx of many new hires just trying to map out how to understand all the changes to their blocks or reserve cycles. Its trying times for us all, but to highlight your performance in this manner is unnecessary and unwarranted.
The tone of the message is unfortunately off.
Our members, each and everyone of you are trained professionals and have been working through one of the most challenging times our industry has faced, and now as we are nearing the end of a global pandemic, we see our employer focusing in on your duty free shopping and you arriving sporadically with shopping bags to the aircraft.
And finally, the last paragraph needs to be addressed :
“Please be advised that station performance is monitored closely and any delayed flights due to unacceptable reasons (mentioned above or otherwise) will be subject to follow up”.
Please advise anyone calling for « Follow Up » that you would like to discuss their concerns with Union Representation on hand, you have no obligation to discuss work prior to being at work, checked in.
Look after one another up there, and know the Union is behind you.
In Solidarity,
Wesley Lesosky
President, Air Canada Component of CUPE