days until our Collective Agreement expires, we are preparing, we are united and we will make change.

Grievance Committee Update Mainline Policy Grievances

CHQ-19-05 – Unreasonable and Discriminatory Tattoo and Piercing Policy
Air Canada’s personal appearance policy prohibits cabin personnel from having visible tattoos and piercings on duty, other than one pair of matching stud earrings. The Union’s position is that these prohibitions unreasonably infringe on employees’ rights, freedoms, and interests to express themselves through their appearance.  In adopting these prohibitions, Air Canada has breached the Collective Agreement, including articles 3, 14, 24, L14, and all other relevant provisions.  It has also breached the Canadian Human Rights Act and all other relevant statutes and regulations. This grievance was denied at level 2 and has been scheduled for mediation on September 24, 2019.

CHQ-19-17 – Unreasonable and Discriminatory Gender-Specific Personal Appearance Policy
Air Canada maintains a gender-specific personal appearance policy. The Union’s position is that the gender-specific appearance policy (and its gender-specific prohibitions) unreasonably infringe on employees’ rights, freedoms, and interests to express themselves through their appearance. In adopting these prohibitions, Air Canada has breached the Collective Agreement, including articles 3, 14, 24, L14, and all other relevant provisions. It has also breached the Canadian Human Rights Act and all other relevant statutes and regulations. This grievance was denied at level 2 and will be scheduled for mediation sometime this fall.

CHQ-19-31 – Violation of Article 14 (OBSM Cabin Crew Program)
Air Canada has disciplined Flight Attendants without just cause and contrary to the governing principles of progressive discipline. We submit this grievance under articles/clauses 3, 14, 24, all other pertinent sections of the Collective Agreement, the Arbitrator Kaplan award on CHQ-17-38 issued January 7th, 2019, and any other relevant legislation, act, or statute.  This grievance will be presented at level 2 sometime this fall.

In Solidarity,
Component Grievance Committee 

Rouge – Forward Cabin Award

Dear members,

Mainline and Rouge are supposed to serve different markets.  Accordingly, our Collective Agreement distinguishes between the work to be performed for Rouge, and the work to be performed for Mainline.  In particular, the Collective Agreement states that Air Canada Rouge can’t offer a more enhanced onboard service in its Premium Rouge forward cabin than Mainline International PY provides.

The Union believed that the Collective Agreement was being violated by Air Canada and filed a grievance.  The grievance proceeded to arbitration earlier this year.

We are pleased to report that on August 21, 2019, Arbitrator John Stout allowed the Union’s grievance. A copy of his award is included here.

Arbitrator Stout determined that Air Canada violated the Collective Agreement by providing enhanced service in Rouge Premium Economy as compared to Mainline.  In particular, he found that the Rouge Premium Economy’s exclusive service, designated Flight Attendants, and exclusive lavatories elevated the Rouge Premium Economy Service such that it violated the Collective Agreement.

Air Canada has been ordered to address its service specifications within 60 days.  The Arbitrator retains oversight over Air Canada’s compliance efforts.

We are pleased that this violation of the Collective Agreement will now be addressed.

  

In solidarity,