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

UPDATE – COVID-19 & The Wage Indemnity Program (WIP)

Lisa Raymond on March 18, 2020

(This applies to Air Canada Mainline only)

For all COVID-19 only related claims Manion/SSQ will require the attached form be completed instead of the Attending Physician Statement. This is in an effort to decrease the demands of the health care system. We still require the Claimants and Employer statement of earnings to be completed as well.  Note: the Employer’s statement is sent to Manion automatically after day 15 from your first flight missed. The attached form is only for COVID-19 cases and is to be filled out by the member and submitted to Manion for processing should you continue to be off work after 14 days from your first flight missed.

NOTE: There are 3 different types of elimination periods – Sickness, Hospital or Accident. For our WIP plan they all have a 14-day waiting (elimination) period. SSQ has asked us to use the hospital elimination period for any COVID-19 related claims. Members don’t actually have to be hospitalized, It just means that for COVID-19 cases members may use this form (Click here to download the simplified form), that they are required to fill out rather than your physician.

We have been advised by SSQ to use this hospital elimination period/form of 14 days for all COVID-19 claims. Most cases shouldn’t extend beyond the 14-day elimination period, however if you continue to be disabled, then you must apply for WIP. Manion will also need a copy of the blood work, sputum test or any other acceptable medical evidence confirming the diagnosis as determined by your physician. Manion can request this on the member’s behalf or you can send it in for review if you have that information on hand.

WIP will not be covering cases for people who are NOT sick and are in self quarantine as prevention.

NOTE: For those that are in quarantine from the Company’s directive, this falls under a work related claim.

Please note, to ensure your application is received during this fluid movement and possible shut down of business, it is best that you email your WIP application form to Manion at acclaims@manionwilkins.com.

For regular WIP claims the usual WIP application found on the www.accomponent.ca website is to be used.

COVID-19 And Your Short Term Disability Program

Considering the latest developments on COVID-19, SSQ Insurance has revised its position.

Short-Term Disability benefits
All disability claims related to COVID-19 will be treated in accordance with the terms of your short-term disability plan.

Is an employee in quarantine covered by the Short-Term Disability benefits?
In cases where the insured person presents incapacitating symptoms of COVID-19, SSQ Insurance will cover the disability, as per the rules of your contract.

Do we need to provide all the documentation normally requested?
In order to limit the traffic in clinics and hospitals, SSQ Insurance will accept the simplified form as medical information.

Click here to download the simplified form.

On Behalf of The Board of Trust,

Stephen Morash
Administrative Consultant

NOTE:  All Policy Booklet information can be accessed on the Air Canada Component of CUPE web site www.accomponent.ca or on the Mobile App.

Manion, Wilkins & Associates
Plan Administration
626-21 Four Seasons Place
Etobicoke, Ontario
M9B 0A6

Switchboard: 416-234-5044
Toll Free Line:  1-800-663-7849
Fax: 416-234-0127
Contact Centre: 1-866-532-8999

Component Officers’ Update – March 18, 2020

Lisa Raymond on March 18, 2020

To capture the evolving information your Component Officers will be sending out a daily update each evening, which we hope will cover daily developments in one source.
 
Medical Service and Testing for Coronavirus
The Union is well aware that services are being denied due to our work and industry being regarded as “dangerous”. We are keeping track of this and sharing this with the Company. Please reply to this email if you have been placed in a denied treatment position. We need to know the date, city and facility name.
 
Postponement of ART
The Company had advised that ART and Tempus training have been suspended for both Mainline and Rouge. The Company is working with Transport Canada to ensure this doesn’t affect your qualification as a Crew Member. We will update you once courses resume.
International Flight Suspension
Changes to the Flight Schedule continue, the most up to date information can be found at www.aircanada.ca. This will have a great effect on April schedules. As such, new pairing will be published and the bidding deadline has been extended until Wednesday, March 25th at 00:01 EDT. The last full day of bidding is March 24th. Please see the PBS Bulletin for more information.
Staffing
It is very clear that we will be in a surplus situation for the April 2020 block month and potentially moving forward. We are scheduled to meet with the Company tomorrow afternoon to discuss overall staffing levels. We will provide an update as soon as we have concrete information.
Profit Sharing Payment
We have had many members reach out about their 2019 Profit Sharing payment if they were to take a Special Leave of Absence for the April 2020 block month. The payment is scheduled for your April 17th cheque and if you were on the payroll for the March 2020 block month you will receive the payment regardless of your status in April. Taking an SPLOA for April will not prevent you from getting the payment on your April 17th cheque.
Protective Equipment
The Company has committed to increasing the supply of gloves, masks, and sanitizing wipes onboard with an additional supply for return crew clearly labeled and stored in the locked forward/J bar cart. The masks provided are still only medical masks, and the Union strongly believes that N95 Mask must be sourced and boarded on our aircraft for crew use immediately. We still encourage you to wear the masks that are boarded, and gloves always including time in the airport.
Onboard Service
The Company has made some minor modifications to onboard service. The Union strongly feels this is not enough. Our members should not be required to serve passengers meal trays or beverages in the aisles. Furthermore, it is the Union’s position that the new service will create more opportunity for cross contamination as our members will now be picking up more garbage and service items that have been handled by passengers. The Union’s position is that onboard services should cease, and passengers be provided with beverages and snack boxes upon boarding.
If you have any further pressing questions, please reply to this email and we will do our best to get you an answer tomorrow.
Please also write to your management team with questions, as we ultimately do not have all the answers. Please copy the Union on the email, so that we may follow-up if necessary. It is imperative that the Company hears your concerns.
In solidarity,
 

Guidance for CUPE Flight Attendants on the Right to Refuse Dangerous Work

Lisa Raymond on March 17, 2020

The right to refuse dangerous work is one of your three fundamental rights as a federally regulated employee and legally it must be respected by employers. It is often your last line of defense between choosing between avoiding danger and staying healthy and safe (including exposure to a hazard or danger that could cause injury and illness) and keeping your job without fear of reprisal.

The attached document (Click HERE to view) has been developed to provide CUPE members working in the airline industry information about their right to refuse dangerous work. Relevant sections of the Canada Labour Code have been placed in text boxes, and explanatory text has been added to assist you in interpreting/understanding these sections.

In this guide you will find answers to the following questions:
Question 1: What is the difference between a refusal and a complaint?
Question 2: When can I refuse dangerous work?
Question 3: Can I refuse for someone else, or can we do a ‘group’ refusal?
Question 4: What is “danger”?
Question 5: Who do I Report a work refusal to?
Question 6: What are the steps for a work refusal?
Question 7: What if I am in flight?
Question 8: Can I be punished for refusing dangerous work?
Question 9: What if the company tells me I can’t refuse the work?
Question 10: What are some common experiences in a work refusal process?
Question 11: Will I lose my pay for refusing to perform dangerous work?
Question 12: Can the company reassign me to alternate flights?
Question 13: Can I be forced back to work after the employer or committee has investigated the work refusal?
Question 14: Can I be required to work after the government investigation?
Question 15: Is there any time when I can’t refuse dangerous work?
Question 16: What is a “normal condition of employment”?
Question 17: What is “in operation”?
Question 18: Can the company ask someone else to do the work that I am refusing?
Question 19: What if someone else is refusing dangerous work and I don’t agree with the refusal?

We all hope that we never end up in a situation where we have to refuse work due to danger. But if it does happen, or if you are involved in a flight where someone is refusing to perform dangerous work, it is important you know your rights.

Your Union understands that standing up to the company and refusing to perform dangerous work can be stressful. There are many pressures acting on you to ‘just shut the door and go’ and many people won’t want to push back against this pressure. Flight attendants are trained safety professionals. If there is any doubt about the safety of a task, it is better to bring forth your concerns rather than hoping it will all work out. You are not alone; your union is there to support you.

In Solidarity,

Wesley Lesosky
President, Air Canada Component of CUPE

COVID-19 & Reporting Health & Safety Complaints

Lisa Raymond on March 16, 2020

Throughout the COVID-19 experience we have received many emails asking what we are doing to address this virus at the Health and Safety Committee level. Our answer has been consistent: “We’re doing what the reports show we should be doing. Have you filed a health and safety complaint?” The answer is almost always NO.

This needs to change.

We will not forward emails addressed to the union to the company, or screenshot social media posts. In many cases we cannot even discuss these without identifying our members. This would be a massive breach of trust and confidentiality. What’s on FB stays on FB – enjoy all the likes …

This is why we need reports. They are submitted directly to the company, so we know we can refer to them and work off of them. They’re also trackable and generate crucial stats that carry a lot more weight when recommending a change to senior management than “things we heard on FB”.

Take a few minutes to give your committees the tools they need to represent you. If you have time to post on Facebook, or Yammer, or to write an email – you have the time to file a formal report.

Here’s how to send a health and safety complaint e-report:

MAINLINE:

  • ACAeronet > Safety > Submit a report/SIMS
  • You will pass through two login screens
  • Click on the e-report tab in the top left of the screen
  • Select health and safety complaint from the menu on the right
  • A pop-up will appear
  • Remember to use your Air Canada email address
  • Before clicking “submit” verify the “set department” button just to the left and ensure IFS DEPARTMENT is selected.
  • We suggest typing the text of your complaint in a blank email so that it isn’t lost if there is a problem submitting.
  • If you are an in-charge, you may file your health and safety complaint on your iPad.
  • Your union H&S reps will be able to see your report in the safety system but send us an email to let us know you’ve submitted it with the report reference number.

ROUGE:

  • Log into Aeronet and into AQD reporting portal
  • Select an IFS Occupational Health and Safety eReport.
  • Refer to chapter 2 in your PUB for instructions
  • Ensure to provide a copy to the union by emailing health.safety@cupe4098.ca

If you’re having trouble with e-reporting reach out to us. We’ll be happy to assist and/or to put you in touch with the correct manager.

Mainline: contact@accomponent.ca
Rouge: contact@cupe4098.ca

In solidarity,

Your Air Canada Component of CUPE Health and Safety Committee

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