Special Leaves, Reduced Block Program, Buyback and Share Trust Update
Special Leaves and Reduced Block Program – Buyback:
This bulletin is to remind members who take a leave or apply for the RBP, at any point in their 35 years of serviceable time, that they should seriously consider buying back their pension. Not doing so, can have a negative impact on one’s pension plan retirement benefit. Be mindful that members stop contributing into their pension plan after 35 years of allowable service.
In the summer of 2021, over 420 members participated in the Early Retirement Incentive Program (ERIP).
More members could have participated in ERIP, unfortunately, some did not buyback their pension following their leaves; this attributed to lacking the required numbers to be able to retire early.
After a leave of absence, please call to Alight to speak to a representative to initiate your pension buyback, whether you are on a Defined Benefit or Hybrid pension plan.
Alight (English): 1-855-354-6944
Alight (French): 1-855-354-6943
For Air Canada Rouge members, contact the Air Canada Rouge Pension Services at 1-855-538-7799.
Note: Members have 90 days from return to duty to initiate a pension buyback. This applies for Mainline and Rouge members.
Share Trust Update:
In October of this year, the company posted a Share Trust Update on Aeronet. The company stated it is waiting for certain conditions to be met, such as a positive tax ruling, from the CRA and other regulatory bodies, and that no VSP’s or lump sum payments for pensioners will be offered until such time. They do not foresee any decisions will be made before at least the third quarter of 2024 and there is also the possibility of further delays.
This process is complex. Members who seek further details are recommended to read the Share Trust Update and the Share Trust FAQ on Aeronet. It can be found by using the search bar on Aeronet or finding it on the main page on Aeronet under Spotlight!.
Are you a member of the Hybrid plan? If yes, then take advantage to boost your contributions!
Members under the Hybrid pension plan can increase their contributions for the Defined Contribution (DC) component of their pension plan.
A new member who contributes $100 into their Defined Contribution plan, are matched at 100%. Therefore, a member who contributes $100 will have $200 in their DC account.
By taking advantage of this matching, members benefit by compounding their money. The more money one puts in early in one’s career, the greater the benefit over time.
For more information about increasing your DC pension contributions at Manulife, click HERE.
As it is December, we would like to wish everyone Happy Holidays and a very Merry Christmas, as well as safe travels to all who will be working.
Regards,
Your Component Pension Committee
Marc Roumy (Chairperson)
Henly Larden (Member)
Caroline Lozeau Gelinas (Member)
Stefanie Falotico (Rouge Member)
Did you know?
The number of members who retired within June, July, and August of 2021 by participating in the ERIP program, (429 retired), was almost the equivalent of the number of members who retired in the previous two years.
Retirement Update:
For 2023, 51 members have retired. Click HERE to look at the breakdown between bases. Best wishes to all retired members.
Reminder of Time Line Limits for the WAGE INDEMNITY PLAN
The Wage Indemnity Plan Trustees would like to wish everyone a Safe and Happy Holiday Season. As winter is upon us, we would like to take this opportunity to remind members again of a few of the important guidelines for the application to the Wage Indemnity Plan as well as Manion’s seasonal hours.
Manion Hours
Friday December 22, 2023 – CLOSURE AT 1:00 PM EST
Monday December 25, 2023 – CLOSED
Tuesday December 26, 2023 – CLOSED
Friday December 29, 2023 – CLOSURE at 1:00pm EST
Monday January 1, 2024 – CLOSED
WIP Application Package – English
Union 24 hour Emergency Line 1(866)764-0192
14 days to see a Medical Practitioner from the first flight 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.
When utilizing 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.
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:
- MD (any traditional medical doctor / family physician / specialist)
- Nurse Practitioner
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
LOU 61 – A330/A321XLR Crew Rest Seats – January 2024 Block Month
For the block month of January 2024, the following flights fall under LOU 61 and are scheduled for A330 aircraft. They will have 2 (two) dedicated crew rest seats:
What if these flights operate on B777/787 aircraft?
LOU 61 is specific to the A330/A321XLR aircraft, and not applicable to the B777/787. The B777/787 has crew bunks that may be used for crew rest/break purposes.
LOU 61 – A330/A321XLR Crew Rest Seats – December 2023 Block Month
(This applies to AC Mainline only)
For the block month of December 2023, the following flights fall under LOU 61 and are scheduled for A330 aircraft. They will have 2 (two) dedicated crew rest seats:
What if these flights operate on B777/787 aircraft?
LOU 61 is specific to the A330/A321XLR aircraft, and not applicable to the B777/787. The B777/787 has crew bunks that may be used for crew rest/break purposes.