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

Follow Up To Last Week’s Secretary-Treasurer Update

Further to the Secretary-Treasurer’s update last week, the Air Canada Component Executive (ACCEX) has continued to discuss the matter of union dues during these difficult times, and we recognize the challenges some of our members face. ACCEX acknowledges that our membership has been severely impacted by the effects of COVID-19, especially financially. As such, we are happy to report that we have passed a motion to temporarily reduce union dues for the block months of April 2020 and May 2020.

On an exceptional, one-time basis, the Air Canada Component will reduce union dues for these two block months by two-thirds. For these two months you will only be charged 0.5% of gross earnings compared to the regular 1.5% of gross earnings. This will directly impact those members in receipt of CEWS benefits, as well as members actively flying. We hope this reduction will make a difference for you all.

The Component will continue to remit our per capita payments to CUPE National as per the CUPE Constitution and remit monthly budgets to the Locals as per the Component Bylaws. For the most part, these will be covered by the reduced dues, and any remaining amounts will come from the Component’s cash reserve. We have a $1.7 million GIC that matures on May 1, 2020, and the interest received from this investment will cover the majority of the Component’s fixed operating costs during this time frame.

We are happy to be able to do our small part to assist our members during this exceptional time. We are here for you and will continue to be until we can all rest easy and know that we weathered this storm together.

In solidarity,

CHQ-16-16 (Employees on LTD) – Update

In 2016, the Union filed a grievance challenging Air Canada’s decision to terminate the employment of employees on LTD that Air Canada had determined would not be returning to work.  The Chief Arbitrator issued an interim cease and desist order preventing any of the planned terminations from taking effect.

During the past four years, the case has advanced to arbitration, witness statements and reports were filed, and witnesses were cross-examined. Earlier this year, the Union and Air Canada exchanged lengthy written legal submissions.   A final hearing date had been scheduled for Monday April 27, 2020 to allow for short oral submissions, however, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the hearing date has been cancelled.  The Chief Arbitrator will make his determination based on the evidence before him and the lengthy written submissions already filed.  We expect that he will issue his award within the coming weeks or months.

A reminder that if the Chief Arbitrator determines that Air Canada can terminate the employment of individuals on LTD, those terminations will not take effect immediately.  Individual determinations would only take place after a second individualized inquiry takes place regarding each individual’s prospect of returning to work, whether as a Flight Attendant or in an (accommodated) ground position.

Should you require a copy of the protocol relating to the arbitration procedure or you would like a copy of the written submissions filed, please contact Ivana Jovic at i.jovic@accomponent.ca.

When we receive the Chief Arbitrator’s award, we will provide a further update.

In solidarity,

PBS – Dual Classification + Reserve Bidding Strategies – REVISED

(This applies to Air Canada Mainline only)

There is the possibility of Service Directors being required to bid as both SD and FA. When this is required the bid package cover page will indicate the SD seniority “cut off” where SDs junior to that seniority at their base should submit bids as SD and FA.

The bidding process remains the same and dual classification SDs will have access to a FA bid sheet within the usual PBS bid page.

Please click HERE to view an in depth bulletin that deals with this subject.

Surplus Update 11

Involuntary Inactive Status Update
Yesterday, April 19, 2020, letters were issued to our Air Canada Mainline members who have been involuntarily placed on inactive status for the period of May 5th to June 6th, 2020. Please check your Air Canada email for this letter if you have not already done so.

If you were involuntarily placed on inactive status you have until April 22, 2020, at 20:00 EDT to make a decision on whether you want to remain on the Air Canada payroll with CEWS or be taken off the Air Canada payroll and apply for the CERB. If you do not submit a preference you will automatically be placed on CEWS. Please check your letter for details on how to make your selection.

NOTE:  For those of you who selected Off Duty Status for April 2020, the Company will be issuing further information for the CEWS/CERB programs shortly. When the Union has more information on this, we will advise.

Bidding Information for May 2020
For those that remain active for the May 2020 block month, PBS bidding has now opened. Our PBS Chairperson would like to remind you to have a reserve bid ready. “Having one is not a trigger for PBS to award you one. Having one is a backup just in case you are assigned reserve”. Please remember you have a Local PBS Representative that can assist you with bidding reserve as well as any other bidding information you may need.

Service Directors Operating as Flight Attendants
Service Directors should check the cover page of the bid package, as some junior Service Directors will need to also submit a PBS bid in the Flight Attendant classification.

In the event that you bid for, and hold Flight Attendant flying as a Service Director your pay will be based on the following from the Collective Agreement:

5.03 ASSISTANT PURSER 

YEARS OF SERVICE Effective April 1, 2020 Effective April 1, 2021 Effective April 1, 2022 Effective April 1, 2023 Effective April 1, 2024
I (1st year) $58.61 $59.78 $60.98 $62.20 $63.44
II (2nd year) $59.79 $60.99 $62.21 $63.45 $64.72
III (3rd year) $62.88 $64.14 $65.42 $66.73 $68.06

NOTE: The above wage scale will apply to Assistant Purser employees operating as a Flight Attendant on a month to month basis.

B767 – LOU 51
Please note that as there is no B767 flying, the Crew Rest Committee will not be issuing the monthly LOU 51 bulletins. Once the B767 re-enters the fleet, they will be resuming the bulletins to assist everyone.

Rouge Flying – May 2020
Currently, there is no planned flying at Air Canada Rouge.  Once we get confirmation of flying coming back to Air Canada Rouge, we will advise you all.

We understand that so much is changing rapidly, and we will continue to keep you informed with regular updates this week. Please continue to reach out.

In solidarity,