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

CHQ-rouge-18-48 (Reduction in Health Benefits) Update

In July 2018, Air Canada unilaterally reduced benefits for Rouge cabin personnel by (1) reducing the annual limit for certain benefits and (2) increasing the time before certain benefit limits reset.

As you may recall, the Union filed a grievance challenging these reductions and seeking to restore the benefit levels.  Last year, it won at arbitration.

As you will have seen in communications from Air Canada, to comply with the arbitrator’s award, Air Canada has now reinstated benefit levels, retroactive to January 1, 2025.

These are the changes:


Click here for PDF version of chart

Air Canada has advised that these changes will not affect the amount you currently pay in premiums.

In addition to restoring the benefit levels, the Union is seeking retroactive compensation for members for the reduction in benefits between July 1, 2018 and December 31, 2024.  This will be addressed in further discussions with Air Canada or, if necessary, a further hearing with the arbitrator.  We will provide updates on these efforts as they become available.

In solidarity,

Bargaining Committee Update – 8: Zoom Roadshow

We’re excited to announce a Zoom Roadshow on February 25, 2025 to provide updates on the ongoing bargaining process.

Got questions? We’ve got answers! Submit your questions to contact@accomponent.ca and we’ll address them during the session. Please note that we will be focusing on bargaining-related inquiries only for this Roadshow. Have you heard a rumour you’d like confirmed? Or are you unclear about what we’re currently bargaining for? Now’s your chance to ask!

The Zoom Roadshow will be held on February 25, 2025 from 18:00 to 19:00h EST. Registration for this event is open to all members system wide. Please click the link below to register:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_C6RiRRKdSfW50yuuo7bs6w

We understand that many of you have already bid for your schedules and may be unable to attend. As always, feel free to email us with any questions you may have.

In Solidarity,

Your Bargaining Committee

Bargaining Committee Update – 7

Your Bargaining Committee completed their third week of negotiations with Air Canada.

It was a very productive week with many proposals exchanged, questions asked, and information shared.  The process is proceeding slowly, but well. Your Bargaining Committee is working together with mutual respect being an overarching theme.  We may not always agree, but discussion and careful analysis inform us all, ensuring that we debate the crucial elements of each subject.

There is ample time afforded to fully discuss proposals, counters, strategy, and potential outcomes or pitfalls. Each issue must be examined from all angles, and our group collectively brings a wealth of lived experience to the discussions. We feel our members’ interests are well represented as each member of the bargaining team contributes their own unique experience and perspective.

One thing that is for certain, we are all open to listen to other perspectives and willing to work towards what we believe to be the best outcome for the membership. We are supported and informed by our subject experts, and we commit to having all the tools, information and resources we need to be able to make informed decisions.

For members based in YYC who had concerns of a potential YYC base closure, there has not been any tabled closure. When clarification was sought the employer confirmed that they were not looking to close any bases.

In these first three weeks, our discussions have encompassed many things, including benefits, pensions, housekeeping, notice items, various scheduling matters, and scope proposals.

As noted above, and as promised, we are utilizing experts to further our collective interests and make well-informed decisions. This has included legal, CUPE National, and our Grievance Committee Chair.

We want to take a moment to shine a light on the CUPE National researcher who has joined us at the bargaining table. The past three weeks have clearly demonstrated what an asset he is. As a part of the process for negotiations “the parties” (Air Canada and CUPE) exchange information in something called a “data room”.  With the help of our researcher, we have sent Air Canada a very long list of requests for information. This will inform us about the costing of different proposals, membership demographic data, benefits usage and costs, pension information and so much more that is required to ensure we know the landscape we are bargaining under. We sorted through the volumes of information provided by Air Canada to determine what other disclosure of information is required. This is a normal process in collective bargaining and forms the basis for educated decisions.

The amount of work involved is hard to even contemplate, as there is so much to sort through while determining its value and accuracy. This is an important process in honing our proposals and asks and ensuring that the value of them is properly reflected.

We have harnessed the knowledge of CUPE National Pension experts along with our own Pension Committee Chair and members to ensure that we have the information we need in relation to pensions. We will continue to fully utilize our subject matter experts as we move through this very complex process. We are fully committed to having accurate facts and figures at our disposal whether it be for pensions, wage increases, or scheduling proposals.  Our decisions will be well informed thanks to our preparations. We are ready. We will make change.

Listed below are the next dates that the parties will be meeting. There is much work to be done in between, and we remain focused and committed to this process.

  • February 11-13 – YUL
  • February 24-26 – YYZ
  • March 17, 19 & 20 – YYZ
  • April 8-10 – YUL
  • April 15-17 – YYZ
  • April 29-May 1 – YYZ

In Solidarity,

Your Bargaining Committee

Exciting News: Mobilization Mondays Are Coming!

Starting February 3rd, our MEC is kicking off Mobilization Mondays at all our bases—and we’re going strong every Monday until we secure a tentative agreement!

What’s going down on Mobilization Mondays?

  • We’ll be rallying our members to get active and show their support for the current initiatives.
  • One-on-one conversations with members will help bridge the gap between the Bargaining Committee and all of us, making sure our voices are heard loud and clear!
  • Your level of involvement is up to you—whether it’s your flying schedule or personal time—but we need a dedicated crew to make this a WIN! So, spread the word and bring as many people along as possible!

Remember this as we unite: “Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.”

Let’s make it happen! See you there!

In Solidarity,

Eric Marchand & Shanyn Elliott
Mobilization and Engagement Committee Co-Chairs