Lisa Raymond, Author at AC Component

Staffing Shortage Update

Lisa Raymond on August 17, 2021

We wanted to provide you with an update on the continued short staffing situation. As you are likely aware, In-Flight Managers were used to cover open flying during the August 7th-8th weekend. The Union immediately filed grievance CHQ-21-15 and was successful in reaching an expedited settlement. The settlement included a premium on VE flights assigned to members as of the date of the agreement through to the end of the August block month, a short crewing premium for members who had worked with management onboard, as well as a commitment to immediate recalls. A final version of the settlement can be access by clicking HERE.

The Union became aware that In-Flight Managers were used once again this past weekend to cover open pairings. The settlement reached last week provided a short crewing premium for the affected pairings over the August 7th-8th weekend, as we did not endorse the continued use of management on board our flights. As such, we began discussions with the Company this morning on how to deal with the violations of this past weekend.

We are also reviewing potential grievance options regarding the short-crewing of wide-body flights. The Collective Agreement provides for a 50% short-crewing premium for B14, LOU 18, LOU 22A and LOU 22B flights. While B5 flying is not specifically mentioned in the short crewing premium outlined in L60.04.04, it is the Union’s position that these flights cannot go short due to the negotiated language of L60.04.01.

L60.04.01 The minimum scheduled crew complement on all wide-body flights shall be no less than one Cabin Crew member per forty passenger seats.

In the case of overseas wide-body flights with a maximum duty period of 14 hours, the minimum scheduled widebody aircraft basic crew complement shall be no less than one Cabin Crew member per forty passenger seats based on a 1:40 passenger seat ratio and, there will be a sufficient number of Cabin Personnel for one to be assigned to each door of the aircraft.

We will continue to provide updates on the staffing situation; however, the Company has advised that they do anticipate the situation to improve as the 148 members recalled on August 5th come on the line next week. In addition, as per the settlement of CHQ-21-15, the Company recalled 463 members on August 8th and 356 members on August 11th. These additional members will also assist the staffing situation and hopefully allow for a more normal September.

In solidarity,

Reserve Preselect Removals

Lisa Raymond on August 17, 2021

Over the past few weeks, the Union has heard from many of you with questions and concerns involving Preselect removals. We would like to provide a refresher on the rules that govern such changes.

On June 5, 2019, the Union and the employer reached an agreement (Click HERE to view) that the Company will not remove a Reserve Blockholder from a preselect pairing prior to report time to assign them to an earlier pairing unless the conditions of B8.26.09 are met on the preselect pairing or until the Company has reached the seniority of that Reserve Blockholder in the draft sequence pursuant to the Collective Agreement.

B8.26.09 An open pairing once awarded to a Reserve Blockholder will not subsequently be changed except in the event of an irregular operation caused by cancellation, consolidation, substitution, misconnection, overprojection or illegality at Home Base. The employee involved will revert to the reserve status s/he was scheduled to hold had s/he not been awarded the pairing.

For greater clarity, the parties agreed that Reserve Blockholders on Preselect pairings are a part of the Draft Sequence in the Junior Legal employee (B9.03.02.02) step of the sequence.

B9.03.02.02 Junior Legal Employee: Except Reserve Blockholders on inviolate days off cannot be drafted.

The Union and the Company also agreed that when the Company is covering flights under B9.03.03 Airport Move-Up due to insufficient time to apply the standard draft sequence, reserve crew members on preselect pairings will continue to be handled in reverse order of seniority among other crew members on their flight.

B9.03.03 Airport Move-Up: Where, due to insufficient notice, the standard draft sequence cannot be applied, flight coverage will be provided by move-up of partial or total crews in reverse order of seniority, to the extent required to minimize disruption of that crew or subsequent crews in the following sequence:

B9.03.03.01 Crews from another Base to Home Base on scheduled duty days only.

B9.03.03.02 Crews from that Base on scheduled duty days.

B9.03.03.03 Crews from that Base into scheduled days off.

Please note that if you are drafted off a preselect pairing at any point, draft premiums are only paid on non-inviolate days off (RDO’s) and please remember that you cannot be drafted on inviolate days off (GDO’s).

Click HERE for a link to the Reserve Handbook

Click HERE for a link to the Short Crewing Report form

Click HERE for a link to the Draft Reports form

If you are ever unsure whether the removal from a preselect was legal, please reach out to your local union office.

In solidarity,

Recall Notices – August 13, 2021

Lisa Raymond on August 13, 2021

The Union is happy to announce that the Company has just advised us that there will be an additional 356 recall notices going out shortly for Cabin Crew positions at Air Canada Mainline. In addition, there will be 172 recall notices going our for Cabin Crew position at Air Canada Rouge.

All members will be recalled to their point of layoff in this batch. This means that Rouge members are being recalled to their Rouge base, and Mainline members are being recalled to their Mainline base.

The recalls to Mainline and Rouge will take effect on August 27, 2021 and you must accept your recall within 7 days. The most junior member being offered a recall has a 2021 seniority of 30685.

All members being recalled will be notified via registered letter. Please note that due to COVID-19, there may be some delays in these letters reaching you. To compensate for this the Company will also be advising all those recalled via Company email and a courtesy phone call. Please check your recall notice for more details. To ensure delivery of your recall response we suggest using your Air Canada email account.

As a reminder the Collective Agreement says the following about recalls:

17.16.02 An employee on laid-off status shall be notified by the applicable company, of the first available assignment either at Air Canada Mainline or at Air Canada Rouge to which his/her seniority entitles him. Failure to advise the applicable company within seven (7) calendar days of the registered postmark date of his/her desire to be considered for the assignment shall disqualify him for the assignment.

Recall notice shall be sent by registered mail to the last address filed with the company.

The Company will reach out to you via registered letter to the last address you have listed with the employer. You have 7 calendar days to reply to the employer if you intend on accepting your recall, from the date the letter was post marked. We have been advised that the letters will go out today, August 13, 2021.

Do I have to accept a position back to my home base? Can I decline the recall coming back to where I was laid off from?

As per Article 17.16.04 the following is applicable:

17.16.04 If the employee is notified of a permanent assignment at the point of layoff, s/he must accept, and report for duty within fourteen (14) calendar days from the date notice was sent. An acceptance of permanent assignment at other than the point of layoff shall be optional for the individual concerned; however, should s/he accept, s/he shall report for duty within twenty-one (21) calendar days from the date of registered postmark. This time limit may be extended by Air Canada or Air Canada Rouge, as applicable, under extenuating circumstances.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to us for clarity on the process or any concerns that you may have.

In solidarity,

WIP – Continuation Of Coverage During Absence From Work

Lisa Raymond on August 12, 2021

This is a reminder that in the event you take a Leave of Absence the following procedures apply:

Prepayment of premiums is not required for an absence from the payroll of fifteen (15) calendar days or less. Prepayment of premiums is required for an absence from the payroll of sixteen (16) or more calendar days for one of the following reasons. You must prepay the required premium in full within 45 (forty-five) days in order to be eligible for benefit consideration following the end of any of these periods:

1. Leave of absence granted: (such as personal, educational, maternity, child care, bereavement, or jury duty) other than inability to meet medical standards (IMMS), your coverage may be continued for a maximum duration of up to 24 months;

If you have elected to keep your coverage in force and you become totally disabled during the 24-month period, the elimination period will commence on the date you are scheduled to return to work.

2. Lay-off: your coverage may be continued for a maximum duration of up to six (6) months. Should you become disabled during the six-month period, you will not be eligible for benefit consideration unless you are recalled from lay-off status.

If you have elected to keep your coverage in force and you become totally disabled during the 24-month period, the elimination period will commence on the date you are scheduled to return to work;

3. Suspension: your coverage may be continued for the duration of your suspension.

If you have elected to keep your coverage in force and should you be eligible for benefit consideration, the elimination period will begin on the date you are recalled to work;

4. Strike or lockout: your coverage will be suspended during the strike or lockout but will be reinstated once the strike or lockout has ended and you have returned to active work.

If you are in receipt of disability benefits under the contract before the strike or lock-out, benefits shall continue during the strike or lock-out.

Should you become totally disabled during a strike or lockout, you will not be eligible for benefit consideration.

Should you not prepay the required premium, your coverage will lapse and will not become effective until you return to full-time active work as a flight attendant.

To ensure continued coverage for up to 24 months (six (6) months during a lay-off), you must make the first required premium payment within 45 days from the commencement of the leave of absence. The date payment is received by MANION will determine your on time payment.

For more information regarding prepayment of premiums or to make arrangements for prepayment of premiums, please contact MANION by phone at 416-234-3511 or toll free at 1-866-532-8999.

VACATION
If you are on vacation and become disabled, the 7-day elimination period commences following the date first not available for work at the completion of your vacation.

If your leave of absence of 16 (sixteen) 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.

No prepayment of premiums is required when you are absent from work due to vacation or a personal leave of absence of 15 (fifteen) calendar days or less.

Please contact Manion’s contact centre for applicable rates at 1-866-532-8999. This must be done within 45 days of the commencement of the Leave of Absence. The cost is based on the previous 3 months earnings plus 1.07% (the Employer’s portion) plus applicable taxes.

Note: Please ensure you have reviewed Collective Agreement language when LOA’s precede days off and any consequences that follow.

The SSQ Wage Indemnity Policy Booklet can be found on the Air Canada Component of CUPE website at www.accomponent.ca and is what each member ought to rely on. Alternatively if you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Administrative Consultant.

On Behalf of The Board of Trust,

Stephen Morash
Administrative Consultant

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

Settlement for Recently Filed Grievance CHQ-21-15

Lisa Raymond on August 12, 2021

he Union would like to advise that we have reached a settlement for the recently filed grievance regarding managers covering cabin crew over the past weekend.

To see a copy of grievance CHQ-21-15 click HERE, and to view the recently issued bulletin please click HERE.

The general terms of the settlement are as follows:
• It has been agreed that there will be a short crewing premium applied to flights that had managers assigned to them;
• The company will immediately implement a 50% premium for Voluntary Extension for the remainder of the August 2021 block month;
• The Company assures CUPE that additional recalls will be expedited.

Once this settlement was agreed to, the company advised that a further 356 cabin crew are being recalled within the next 48-72 hours. We will update you with a recall bulletin when we have the final information on this.

We continue to appreciate the reports coming in, so that we may continue to address the reality you are facing with short crewing, capped loads, excessive drafting, and health and safety concerns with the recent high level of cases of COVID positive passengers on board. We are in discussions with the company on these issues and will advise when we have any further information.

In solidarity,

Staffing Shortage Update

Reserve Preselect Removals

Recall Notices – August 13, 2021

WIP – Continuation Of Coverage During Absence From Work

Settlement for Recently Filed Grievance CHQ-21-15

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