As the mitigation bid process is complete, we now move forward to the award process and then to the layoff process. We wanted to update you on a variety of issues. We have reached out to Labour Relations on many of them to get clarity for those that have had unanswered questions.
Language Positions
We have received many emails on the current block packages and language assignments, please ensure you send these emails to your local PBS committees for review. We understand that there are less language positions and it is notably due to the “possible” lack of language speakers post mitigations and layoff. It is also important to note that the Collective Agreement only provides for a maximum amount of language positions, not a minimum.
Layoff
If you are a member that will be subject to layoff, your notice will be sent to your Air Canada e-mail account by May 29th at 23:00 EDT. As previously noted, please ensure your account is set up if you have not already done so. The Company will also send out a hard copy to your mailing address on file. Please ensure all contact information is up to date. To update your information, you can make changes via the HR Connex Home Page under the section “Personal Information change” or contact the Employee Care Team at 1-833-847-3675. Your Union also keeps track of your contact information, please email contact@accomponent.ca with any updates.
Bidding – June 2020
Please remember to submit a PBS Bid for the June block month. Bidding closes on Saturday, May 30th at 08:00 EDT, 06:00 MDT, and 05:00 PDT.
Mitigations
Award results will be sent to your Air Canada e-mail account by May 29th at 23:00 EDT. This will include a reference to the terms and conditions of the mitigation you are awarded. They can also be found HERE.
June 2020 Vacation
As per the recent company bulletin:
Crew members placed on voluntary or involuntary CEWS in May, with vacation overlapping the May and June block month, had their June vacation removed to avoid conflicts.
All Flight Attendants returning from May CEWS to active service in June will have their June vacation re-instated with a start date of June 7. Any portion of the vacation that fell prior to June 7 can be rescheduled elsewhere in the vacation year provided the dates could have been held in the second round of the annual vacation award.
Active crew may contact Crew Planning to reschedule outstanding vacation starting June 10, 2020.
We understand this has created a lot of confusion, and appreciate the frustration, however your vacation should be in PBS now and available for correct bidding limitations.
Uniform and Accessories
In the mitigation package, it was noted that:
“Pay cheque deductions are suspended for the duration of your layoff. If there is an outstanding balance at the time of layoff, it will be cleared on your final pay cheque. You are not required to return your uniform while on layoff.”
The Union has reached out to the employer as we see this as a financial hardship and completely unrealistic especially if they intend to call members back, and to have those members in uniform. We are in an era where uniform perfection is considered to be mandatory, so we over order, stock up and ensure the alterations are done, using our hard-earned cash. This is not reasonable, and we hope that they reconsider their approach.
COVID-19 Leave Questions
All COVID-19 leave questions need to go to the employer directly. Unfortunately, we are not able to answer eligibility questions for this leave, only the employer can. This is a Government sanctioned leave and has specific terms and conditions.
Who do you ask questions to at the company?
Many of you have reached out and were frustrated that the Company and Crew Planning have advised that questions needed to be asked through Yammer. The Union wants to reiterate that you also have a management team that is available at all bases to offer support. We strongly advise you to reach out directly to your manager if you have time sensitive, personal, or individual questions. Many things posted on Yammer are broad answers and should not be relied on for your specific question. Yammer is great to research policy items and to ask questions that are answered with a definite yes or no but is not a panacea for those with unique circumstances.
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
As you are likely aware, the CEWS program was recently extended to August 29, 2020 by the Federal Government. However, Air Canada has maintained that they will not continue the program for those they do not anticipate requiring to work in the next few months. This is unfortunate as we have it on good authority that other major airlines within Canada are most likely to provide the extension to their employees.
Your Union is always available for you. We have amazing reps at the Local level and your Component Officers remain available around the clock. We also have EAP, Health and Safety and Workers Compensation Reps available. Please do not hesitate to reach out and next week we will ensure that we have a Q&A aligned to answer and address questions related to layoff and recall. We know that these are challenging times and our network of Union colleagues will be there to support you.
In solidarity,
Your Union is extremely pleased to advise you that we have received the following information, in writing, from Employment and Social Development Canada.
We specifically asked them why Air Canada was advising our members that CERB was not available for those who opted for the Special Leave of Absence through the mitigation programs. We felt that this was not doing enough and wanted to go direct to the source and ask them what could be done to fix this.
We are pleased to tell you that they responded in our favour and said: “In response to your specific question on the CERB, a worker who agrees with their employer to take unpaid leave in lieu of being laid off for reasons related to COVID-19 is not considered to have quit their job voluntarily, and is eligible to claim the CERB if they meet the other eligibility criteria listed above.”
Please note the criterias are:
The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) is available to workers:
In addition they mention:
When submitting their first claim, a worker cannot have earned more than $1,000 in employment and/or self-employment income for 14 or more consecutive days within the four-week benefit period of their claim. When submitting subsequent claims, the worker cannot have earned more than $1,000 in employment and/or self-employment income for the entire four-week benefit period of their new claim.
Again, this is a huge move forward for many of you, and a game changer for all, we are happy to have secured this for you. There is now a mitigation option that allows members to take an SPLOA and receive an income for up to sixteen weeks. We hope that this results in the saving of even more jobs.
In solidarity,
The Union has been officially advised of the expected number of surplus cabin personnel for next month. The Company is expecting to need 5,600 fewer active mainline cabin personnel. This is on top of the 1,500 Rouge members who will all be placed on layoff status for the June block month. There is no scheduled Rouge flying for June 2020.
Although mitigations will only be offered to those that have the seniority to remain active next month, please continue to bid for mitigations if you are not interested in flying next month and into the foreseeable future. As those senior members are awarded mitigation options, they will save someone junior from potential layoff and in turn that junior member becomes eligible for mitigation thus saving a further person junior to them from layoff. Please remember that mitigation selections will close on Monday, May 25th at 08:00 EDT.
The Company will also be publishing an updated seniority List on Aeronet, that removes those who have left the Company since January 2020. The list will still include those who are on inactive status, which is approximately 700 members. Once updated, it can be found here: https://aircanada.sharepoint.com/sites/Aeronet/en-ca/Branches/IFS/Crew-Scheduling-Planning/Pages/Seniority-even-year.aspx.
It bears repeating that there are no numbers by classification or by base. Surplus flight attendants will be considered in seniority order based on the Master Seniority list irrespective of classification or base.
Please continue to ask your questions on Yammer or to Crew Planning. You Union will also continue to assist you through this difficult time.
In solidarity,
Over the last few days, we have received many questions about the Company’s mitigation program. We have compiled a list of the most common ones:
Do I need to apply for mitigation?
No, you should only be applying for mitigation options you are willing to accept. If you are senior enough to hold flying, you very likely will be placed on one of the mitigation options you select. You do not need to select all choices. If you are only interested in the 12-month SLOA, place that as “Choice 1” and leave the other choices blank.
If you apply for the resignation or retirement option, you WILL get it. You are ending your employment relationship with Air Canada or Air Canada Rouge and do not have recall rights.
Is there EI top up paid on the Reduced Block Program (RBP)? What is the Union doing to get it?
Currently there is no EI top-up for the RBP. Your union requested weeks ago that the Company apply for the EI Workshare program and to date has still not heard back. If you apply for the RBP, at the current time you should not expect an EI top-up. If the program is later applied for and approved, then you would be able to receive the top-up.
Am I able to apply for CERB when I take a SLOA?
Our best advice would be to contact Service Canada. The CERB has different eligibility requirements than EI and you may be able to apply based on your specific circumstances. Please see the following link on “Who can apply” for the CERB: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/benefits/apply-for-cerb-with-cra/who-apply.html
When I apply for the RBP the link for the pension option is missing. What do I do?
The form has now been corrected. When indicating your preference, you can select between the two pension options on an RBP. If you have already submitted a request for the RBP, you should go back to the form and adjust your selection.
I would like to take a voluntary layoff, is this an option?
Unfortunately this is not an option. Layoffs will be done in reverse seniority order.
If I hold a route language or am bilingual, am I protected from a layoff?
No, language has no bearing on layoffs or recalls. Your position on the Master Seniority List is all that is considered.
What is happening with the Air Transat acquisition?
We have no further information on the Air Transat acquisition at this time.
I have more specific questions, who do I contact?
We are still able to assist you, but if your questions are of a specific nature we would encourage you to reach out to Crew Planning or ask questions in the Yammer group set-up by the Company, as this is the Company’s mitigation program. The Yammer group is entitled CUPE Mitigation Q&A // FAQ sur l’atténuation du SCFP
Thank you for all of your questions and support during these difficult times. We understand that these are tough choices and will continue to provide information as soon as it comes available.
In solidarity,
