To report and provide information about on-board fume events and learn what to do if you’ve been exposed, we encourage you to write to air@accomponent.ca. You will receive an automatic email back to assist you in reporting the event and guidance on next steps. This is applicable to both Air Canada Mainline and Air Canada Rouge members. You are also encouraged to reach out to your Local Health and Safety Committee.
As we commemorate International Workers’ Day, let us reflect on the strides we’ve made together and the challenges that lie ahead. Today, we honor the contributions of workers worldwide and reaffirm our commitment to solidarity, justice, and dignity in the workplace.
In the face of ongoing economic uncertainties and shifts in the labor landscape, our unity remains our greatest strength. Together, we’ve fought for fair wages, safe working conditions, and equitable treatment for all. But our work is far from over.
As we look to the future, let us stand firm in our resolve to advocate for the rights of workers everywhere. Let us continue to support one another, amplify each other’s voices, and push for meaningful change.
This May Day, let’s renew our dedication to building a more just and equitable world for all workers. Together, we can make a difference.
In solidarity,
MAINLINE ONLY
Pay Claims – Expenses not paid by employer and must be claimed
We have had numerous reports and information relating to pay issues. We have filed policy grievance CHQ-24-36 because we have discovered that Air Canada is instructing members to pay claim meal allowances/entitlements when Air Canada should be paying them automatically. Many affected members were not aware that they needed to claim them, and this left them out of pocket financially.
For an unknown reason, and contrary to past practice certain meal allowances ceased to be paid out automatically. It is our assertion that Air Canada should be automating all meal allowance/entitlement payouts to avoid this from happening and to return to the normal practice. Thank you to the members who have reached out and shared their “flight summaries” found on the HR Connex portal. To determine whether there may be meal allowances that you were not paid you will see at the bottom of your summary that there is a “Note” (see example below).
NOTE–EXPENSES WERE NOT AUTOMATICALLY CALCULATED FOR THE FOLLOWING:
PLEASE SUBMIT AN ECLAIM
DATE FLTNBR DEP-STN ARR-STN
16MAR 0000 YUL YYZ
16MAR 1200 YYZ MIA
When you see this note at the bottom of your pay the employer is basically advising you that you were not paid expenses for the flights in the note. If this is the case for you there is now a requirement for you to claim the expense. As stated above this is not your job and in fact it is the employer’s job to pay you meal expenses as per the Collective Agreement. We have filed our policy grievance to remedy this situation. We will keep you posted as it moves through the grievance process.
We encourage all cabin crew to please check your “flight summaries” and claim any missed expenses. In addition to claiming your expenses we ask that you send us a copy of your flight summaries to pay@accomponent.ca so that we can keep track and compile more evidence for our policy grievance.
We have had many members reaching out with questions about exactly what they should be doing during the disruptions we are facing with the Gate Gourmet strike in Toronto. Some members are reported to have been helping and moving trolleys around that are at the aircraft door. We do not recommend that you take on any additional duties such as moving trolleys as this may create a Health and Safety hazard. We do not want to interfere with the rights of these unionized workers or create an unsafe workspace so we must focus on our required safety tasks, boarding and monitoring the cabin.
Essentially, we suggest that you carry on with business as usual. We know that this puts some members in a difficult situation. Our natural tendency is to do all in our power to ensure that no one is inconvenienced. Unfortunately, strikes can cause inconvenience. That is why they can be an effective tool in the unionized work force. If you have any questions about this, please let us know. We are here to help and to provide guidance.
In solidarity,
The Air Canada Component of CUPE Wage indemnity Plan Trustees would like to inform the members that there will be reduction of 0.5% to the contribution rate for members from 3.8% to 3.3%. The reduction will take effect for the May block month.
The contribution will now be calculated at 3.3% of your gross earnings for the Wage Indemnity Plan Insurance coverage, this will be reflected on the June 17th pay summary.
Important! WIP Application Timelines
Important Information Covered Below:
1) TIME LINES TO SEE MEDICAL PRACTIONER (WHO CAN SIGN)
2) CLAIMS 14 DAYS OR LESS , MAPLE APP
3) TIME LINE FOR SUBMISSION
4) LOA HOW IT EFFECTS COVERAGE
5) REDUCED BLOCKS AND WIP
6) RETURN TO PLAN AFTER EI SICK INS CARVE OUT
7) RECURRENENT ILLNESS
– – –
1) 14 days to see a Medical Practitioner from the first flt missed
You must see a medical professional within 14 days of the day you first miss work to qualify for benefits commencing on the 8th day of your disability.
Your Medical Practitioner is only required to complete one of the applicable forms; physical health condition, or mental health condition in the WIP Application package unless you have both conditions.
Note that the following medical professionals you are seeking treatment from may sign the Medical Practitioner’s Questionnaire:
2) Claims 14 days or less
The following medical professionals: Dentists, Midwives, Chiropractors, used as first point of contact for Medical Treatment, may sign the for disabilities of a duration of 14 days or less. You must be under the care of a medical doctor after 14 days for continuation of coverage.
Have your medical professional clearly indicate the diagnosis, complications (if any), treatment, medication and all dates of visits.
When utilising the Air Canada Maple app for an absence of 14 days or less, a Medical Practitioner’s Questionnaire is not required. Please obtain and submit a copy of the Medical Notes and Clinical Comments, available for you to download from within the Maple app, and submit with your other claim forms.
3) 30 days for a submission of an application from first day of work missed
You must submit proof of disability WITHIN 30 DAYS of your first day of work missed.
If you are submitting your claim late (after 30 days) please provide a written explanation regarding the delay. You may not be entitled to receive benefits for any period prior to the date Manion receives all required documentation unless you can show sufficient reason in writing as to why you could not meet the deadline.
4) 30 days to prepay for a LOA, from commencement of the LOA
Prepayment of premiums is required for an absence from the payroll of 16 or more calendar days. You must prepay the required premium in full within 30 days of the commencement of LOA in order to be eligible for benefit consideration following the end of the period.
If your leave of absence of 16 or more calendar days precedes your vacation and you have not prepaid the premium for that leave of absence, coverage will not be reinstated until you return to active work.
5) 30 Days to pay for RBP Reduced Block program
Members participating in the Reduced Block Program 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. This will ensure that the month following the conclusion of your RBP, if you continue to be disabled, your top-up would then take effect and your earnings would be calculated.
Book-off – March 2024 – earnings based on Dec 2023 / Jan 2024 / Feb 2024 flying pay.
Dec flying hours – 38
Jan flying hours – 36
Feb flying hours – 34
For the 3 months, December, January and February, your 3 months average flying hours would be equal to 36 hours. You would be paid 36 hours through to the termination of your RBP in 2024, inclusive as long as you continue to meet the definition of totally disabled from your own occupation as a Flight Attendant. If you remain disabled and continue to qualify for benefits beyond the termination of the RBP, and if you opted to top-up, based on the calculation below, your disability payments would go from 36 hours to 71 hours per month.
The top-up for the RBP is 35 hours, and is based on your hourly rate x 3.8 % plus the Employer’s cost of 1.07% as well as applicable taxes.
6) 30 Days from the end of EI carve out period
30 days to provide proof of disability from the termination of your disability benefits under the Employment Insurance act of Canada in order to reinstate your claim und the Wage Indemnity plan.
7) 30 days from the Recurrence of a Disability
If you return to active work on a full-time basis following a period of total disability for which benefits were payable and, within 31 days, again become totally disabled due to the same causes, you will be considered to have been continuously disabled for the purposes of the elimination period. If the subsequent disability is due to entirely different causes and separated by less than one full day during which you are actively at work, you will be considered to have been continuously disabled for the purposes of the elimination period.
If you have questions on the Wage Indemnity Plan please contact me 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
