Lisa Raymond, Author at AC Component

Reserve Rules Regarding Days Off

Lisa Raymond on August 15, 2019

Please note these rules are specific to Air Canada Mainline Reserve Members

Article B8 in our Collective Agreement speaks to the Reserve rules regarding non-inviolate and inviolate days off.

We have recently had an issue in which a member on reserve was asked to work into a Guaranteed Day Off. We have filed a grievance. In the spirit of trying to foster a strong knowledge base for our members we wanted to give a small backgrounder on Guaranteed Days off while on reserve status.

A Guaranteed Day Off (a.k.a. inviolate day) is just that, a guaranteed day in which you can have some stability in your schedule and set aside these days for important things like doctor’s appointments.

We negotiated new language for Regular Days Off (a.k.a. non inviolate day) in our last round of bargaining. This included a premium for working into your RDO’s because we felt that days off were important. Generally speaking, when there is a premium paid, employers face a deterrent.

We did NOT negotiate a premium for GDO’s because they are inviolate and not to be flown on. There are limited circumstances in which you may be required to work into a GDO.

In IRROPS situations things may happen that are out of the company’s control. On a GDO, in an IRROPS situation, you may be required to operate back to home base after a layover into a GDO. This typically happens when one books crew rest, flight cancellation and delays causing a misconnection away from base.

The information below is an excerpt from the Reserve Handbook. If you do not have a copy of the Reserve Handbook you can find it “HERE“.

If you ever find yourself in a situation where you are not sure what your rights are, we encourage you to contact your Reserve Committee at reserve@accomponent.ca, contact your Local Union office by clicking “Here“ or reach out to 247@accomponent.ca. It is a strong base of knowledge that will give us all confidence in voicing our rights. We sincerely believe that knowledge is power.

Jesse Matthews & Chanelle Gauthier
Co-Chairs, Reserve Committee

OBSM CC Assessment Program Update

Lisa Raymond on August 14, 2019

Many of you have written to us to explain the sheer frustration you are feeling about the OBSM Cabin Crew program. The confusion about whether they are evaluating you or your co-worker. The manner in which you are being evaluated and observed in silence. More importantly is the fact that the OBSM won’t advise you of any issues onboard during the briefing such as hair, grooming or shoes. You only learn of your alleged “deficiencies” at a later date and are not given the opportunity to make small adjustments and self correct.

Lastly is the awkwardness created when the OBSM then shows up for dinner on layover and is mingling on a social level with the whole crew. How can anyone enjoy their layover when they feel they are always being watched?

We have repeatedly seen absurd forms of discipline levied on our Mainline colleagues as a result of the OBSM Cabin Crew program. This is due in part or in whole to the fact that the Company chooses not to discuss things first. Oftentimes, the member being assessed would be perfectly capable and able to correct what is deemed to be against policies. It is demeaning and disconcerting to feel so unsupported when there are such simple fixes to what are often minor issues.

This week we had a rash of discipline come forward. To name a few:

Member was given a “Letter of Reprimand”, the first stage in progressive discipline, for using an Air Canada Duty Free bag to transport their Air Canada Duty Free purchase.
Member was given discipline for arriving 7 minutes late for the flight.
Member was given discipline for doing service on the ground in Premium Economy
Member was given discipline for having a bag tag on their crew bag
Member was given discipline for a ponytail that was past their mid-shoulder blade.
Members were given discipline for making too much noise in galley with catering equipment.

The above examples were recent. This discipline was handed down to separate individuals. The reason for the discipline is due to the fact that these issues constitute an automatic FAIL on your OBSM CC assessment. Grooming is worth 30%, so one infraction leads to a FAIL.

Our members are devastated when they discover that they have failed in their “professional pride.” This assessment category is far too emotionally weighted. The category should not be invoking professional pride. Our members have a great deal of pride and professionalism. Carrying an Air Canada duty free bag or giving away your Rondelle to a passenger and not having a replacement does not equate to a lack of professional pride.

Air Canada confirms in all of their Letters of Discipline that ” Air Canada’s flight path is our promise for customer excellence and for reaching our goal of becoming a global champion airline”. If this was the case, we would not see In-Flight as the only department who needs to deliver on this commitment.

The Union is repeatedly discussing this with labour, local management, and internally. The discipline is not appropriate. It only serves to alienate more and more hard working and dedicated crew members. We only hope that management will see the error of their ways and learn that their greatest asset is the Flight Attendant group. They are the ones who lead the way to excellence, capture their loyalty and their collective strengths, and there is no limit to what can be achieved.

In solidarity,

Your ACCEX

Change to Bid Open and Close time

Lisa Raymond on August 13, 2019

Effective for the August bid period (September blocks), the bidding start and end time will change. Bidding will now open at 00:01 (Eastern time) and close at 00:01 (Eastern time). The total time available for bidding remains unchanged. For the first two months with the change in time, bidding will be available until the “old” bid close time of 08:00 (Eastern time).

What this does is provide a buffer should there be disruptions with PBS during the bid period.

Open and Close times for Training bidding remain unchanged.

A Message From The President

Lisa Raymond on August 9, 2019

Flow Through Phase 1 & 2
**For the current flow through opportunity please ensure you check your Air Canada email for the latest information **

Air Canada Rouge has issued a new email to all members that were on the Flow Through list to go to Mainline in the 2019 calendar year. We encourage you to check for the email and reply to it with any changes you need to make when it comes to the Phase of training you desire.

We have been advised that there will be no switches permitted once your phase has been awarded. Any members that have missed the second email will be awarded a class based on the flow through process. The Union is continuing to move forward with the policy grievance on the recent flow through changes.

Reciprocal Agreement for Cabin Jumpseat With Air Canada Rouge
The Cabin Safety team at Air Canada Mainline and Rouge have announced through an internal publication that they have been hard at work over the past few months securing a regulatory exemption from Transport Canada regarding cabin jumpseat occupancy. Transport Canada has granted this exemption to both operators, based on this publication. This is set to be effective near the end of August 2019. We are aware many of you saw the letter from labour at the end of last term that was sent out (Click “Here” to view letter).

Your Component Executive has been working with labour relations to finalize this, and raising all concerns brought forward through the Union.

We are very happy with this move and look forward to it being communicated fully to everyone officially, Mainline and Rouge, by the time noted in the Company Communication.

CHQ-rouge-19-49 Post Flight Duties
As we have seen at Rouge a new SOP has been introduced where the Company is demanding more free time. Our members will soon be required to fill out an AQD report to verify that they have checked the cabin for passengers at the end of each flight. Furthermore, the Company has advised that groomers are permitted onboard while this is taking place. The Union is once again trying to rationalize the Safety-First principle we all have come to appreciate, respect and live by. How can we be put in a position to verify no passengers are on board when we have groomers, catering and maintenance descending on board while we are following this Company imposed, critical SOP? Furthermore, this will delay the process, and again cause greater free work to be performed by our members.

The Union has been in discussion to have this corrected, and although there is no language in the Collective Agreement for our Rouge members for performing post duty work, we feel this is not an avenue to take advantage and make this work mandatory. We have filed a grievance and will once again push for payment of wages for work performed, especially when it is mandatory (Click “Here” to view the grievance filed).

For our Mainline members, there is contractual language to protect you if you pass your duty period performing mandatory work, such as this SOP regarding cabin checks. If you have put in a claim, and it was denied please reach out to your Local Union office with specifics.

Component Officers Meet and Greet
Please watch for a bulletin announcing when your Component Officers will be out at your base to visit you and hear what is happening online. We want to remain engaged with you and your co-workers, please bring questions, comments and concerns.

UMHQ and Rouge Labour Relations – July 2019
Your Executive Board has had a recent UMHQ meeting with the Company and raised many items, from Uniforms, Luggage issues, Free Work, Disciplinary Meetings, Discipline being imposed, OBSM and Mentor Programs along with Wellness Calls. We will not always see eye to eye with the employer, but we commit to maintaining open communication with the Employer and each other to ensure we are maintaining our position and filing of grievances where required.

Communication with the Union
A reminder that your Local and Component offices should be a place where you reach out to express issues you are having online and at work, we are here to assist you with contractual guidance, health and safety, grievance statements and general concerns you are facing. If you do not know who to contact, please reach out to contact@accomponent.ca and your email will be sent to the correct Local Union office or Component Officer.

We encourage you to reach out to Union when in doubt, Facebook may feel easier, but will not always give you the best guidance, your Union Officers will, and its always confidential.

Please feel free to reach out to me anytime at w.lesosky@accomponent.ca, the constant communication keeps us in the know and able to defend our working conditions, raise new issues, and work with the Company on making changes to benefit all.

In solidarity,

Wesley Lesosky
President, Air Canada Component of CUPE

Component Officers Meet & Greet in YYC and YVR

Lisa Raymond on August 9, 2019

Air Canada Component Officers
Meet and Greet at the YYC & YVR Bases
Open to all Members – Mainline and Rouge

The Air Canada Component Officers will be in Calgary on Tuesday August 20^th and will hold a meet and greet in the Comm Centre from 10:00h to 13:00h

We will also be in Vancouver on Wednesday August 21^st at the Comm Centre between 11:00h and 15:00h.

We encourage you to drop by to discuss any questions or concerns you may have. We would also appreciate any feedback on work issues that you encounter daily.

If you’re nearby (or even in between flights) and would like to chat with us, we’d be delighted to meet you.
Meet and greets are also being planned for Toronto and Montreal in the near future.

This initiative will continue, as we endeavour to reach out to our members on a more personal level.

In solidarity,

Reserve Rules Regarding Days Off

OBSM CC Assessment Program Update

Change to Bid Open and Close time

A Message From The President

Component Officers Meet & Greet in YYC and YVR

Site Map

Air Canada Component of CUPE

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