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

RBP Reduced Block Top-Up

Lisa Raymond on April 28, 2026

The Board of Trustees convened for their first quarterly meeting last week and have motioned and moved to make a policy change.

Effective June 1, 2026, anyone who books off June 1, 2026 or later and has pre-paid their RBP top-up will have their top-up begin from book-off rather than at the end of the schedules RBP. For example, if the member has pre-paid since January 1, 2026 and books off June 1, 2026, Manion will use March, April and May 2026 Block months + the top-up.

PLEASE BE ADVISED IF YOU ARE PRESENTLY ON AN RBP THAT COMMENCED APRIL 1, 2026 YOU HAVE UNTIL APRIL 30 TO ARRANGE TO PREPAY FOR THE TOP-UP.

For members who are participating in the Reduced Block Program (RBP) who wish to pay extra premiums to increase their benefit rate if they are unable to return to full duties during the RBP due to an unforeseen disability, please contact Manion Contact Center for applicable rates at 1-866-532-8999. Prepayments must be done within 30 days of the commencement of the RBP. Members are to indicate they are an Air Canada flight attendant and that they wish to prepay for a REDUCED BLOCK and the months they will be on the RBP.  Please leave your name, employee number and the date you called. If you do not hear from Manion in 3 -5 business days, please contact Patricia Eberley at eberleywip@accomponent.ca.

Members participating in the RBP have the option to top-up their Wage Indemnity Plan (WIP) insurable earnings at a flat rate of 35 hours per month in the event that you become disabled during the RBP. The increase to your benefit rate will take effect if you have prepaid for the top up with in the 30 days of the commencement of the RBP, if you become disabled, your top-up amount would then be calculated into the three months of earnings and your WIP benefit rate would be calculated using the following example:

Book off – June 1 2026 – earnings based on flying pay for March, April and May
March flying hours – 38
April flying hours – 36
May  flying hours – 34

For the 3 months, March, April, and May your 3-month average flying hours would be equal to 36 hours. Your benefit rate would be calculated based on 36 hours plus the 35 hours of RBP inclusive as long as you continue to meet the definition of totally disabled from your own occupation as a Flight Attendant. If you opted to pay the extra premiums, based on the calculation below, your disability payments would go from 36 hours to 71 hours per month.

The extra premiums for the RBP is 35 hours, and is based on your hourly rate, multiplied by the member contribution rate at the time of your RBP calculation, plus the employer’s cost as well as applicable taxes.

If you have further questions please contact Patricia Eberley at eberleywip@accomponent.ca.

On Behalf of The Board of Trust,

Patricia Eberley
Administrative Consultant

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

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

A Message From The Council Of Unions – 2009 Share Trust Agreement Update #9

Lisa Raymond on April 28, 2026

In our July 2025 update, we mentioned that we were waiting for a tax ruling from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and subsequently, one from Revenu Quebec. We are pleased to share that these rulings are now complete, along with all necessary approvals to finalize the Third Amended and Restated Air Canada Unions 2009 Share Trust to be able to offer voluntary separation packages (VSPs) to eligible employees and make lump sum payments to pensioners.

We are happy to reach the conclusion of this long process and unlock real value for our members as part of the Share Trust repurposing effort.
Please see the company memorandum titled Share Trust Update – April 2026 for further specific details.

We want to extend our sincerest thanks to all the individuals who have been working tirelessly for over ten years to support this project, including all those who started the process in 2014, and those who saw it to its conclusion in 2026.  Without limiting the above, we particularly want to thank Christopher Hiscock and Nathalie Henderson. Christopher, from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, who has since passed away, and Nathalie Henderson, former Director of Pensions for Air Canada, who recently retired, were both instrumental in making this happen. Thank you both for your commitment to this project and to the Air Canada employees.

Please look out for the company memo coming soon with more information and FAQs.

In solidarity,

Bargaining Committee Update #74 – New Collective Agreement – Now Available

Lisa Raymond on April 28, 2026

We are pleased to inform members that the new Collective Agreement has now been finalized. Electronic versions can be found on the Component website at www.accomponent.ca, and are also linked below:

– English Collective Agreement

– French Collective Agreement

We are in discussions with the employer about the provision of printed copies and updates will be provided as soon as they become available.

If you have any questions about the new agreement or how specific provisions apply, please reach out to your Local Office.

In solidarity,

Your Bargaining Committee

National Day of Mourning

Lisa Raymond on April 28, 2026

In the Canadian aviation community, we have been especially impacted by the AC8686 accident at New York LaGuardia airport, which claimed the lives of Captain Antoine Forest, First Officer Mackenzie Gunther, and resulted in serious injury to In-Charge Solange Tremblay and fellow crew member Francois Grenier.

In the broader CUPE community, we also lost colleagues to workplace accidents over the past year:

  • Miguel Escalante Ledesma, CUPE 1000, Ontario
  • Nabil El-Ahmed, CUPE 5167, Ontario
  • Kulbir Kalia, CUPE 3338, British Columbia
  • Jose Castillo, CUPE 416, Ontario:

• Richard Anstett, CUPE 79, Ontario

Today we ask that you join us in holding them in your thoughts, as well as the thousands of workers from all industries who suffered workplace injuries or deaths while on the job.

The National Day of Mourning began as a CUPE initiative, led by Safety Director Colin Lambert who had worked as a steelworker and miner. It was passed at the National Convention in 1985, and by the Canada Labour Congress in 1986. The goals were simple: raise awareness of workers killed or injured on the job. In doing so, we are encouraged to improve health and safety legislation, raise awareness of worker rights, and improve working conditions. In 1991 a private members bill was passed in the House of Commons officially marking April 28th as a National Day of Mourning.

Remember that safety doesn’t wait for a more convenient moment. Safety is NOW, ALWAYS. Be confident in your safety knowledge and skills. Be unapologetic in holding safety as your true first priority. It’s what we’re here for above all else.

In solidarity,

Your Air Canada Component of CUPE Health and Safety Committee

Make workers’ voices heard: ICAO Survey of women aviation workers

Lisa Raymond on April 22, 2026

The ICAO has recently launched its Landmark Study on Women in Global Aviation to explore women’s experiences in the aviation sector, develop evidence-based recommendations and establish a baseline for longitudinal tracking and analytical guidance.

As part of this study, ICAO has launched a survey (https://forms.office.com/r/GDn4Bwgq4S) targeted at women workers to understand their experiences of working in the aviation industry. The ITF actively participated in designing this survey.

The research will be the baseline for future action and it must be informed by the real experience of women aviation workers.

Please note:

  • The survey will take around 25 minutes to complete and can be found via this link.
  • The survey is available in English only. Google translate is helpful for non-English-speaking respondents.

The survey will close on May 1, 2026.

In solidarity,