Your Bargaining Committee completed their third week of negotiations with Air Canada.
It was a very productive week with many proposals exchanged, questions asked, and information shared. The process is proceeding slowly, but well. Your Bargaining Committee is working together with mutual respect being an overarching theme. We may not always agree, but discussion and careful analysis inform us all, ensuring that we debate the crucial elements of each subject.
There is ample time afforded to fully discuss proposals, counters, strategy, and potential outcomes or pitfalls. Each issue must be examined from all angles, and our group collectively brings a wealth of lived experience to the discussions. We feel our members’ interests are well represented as each member of the bargaining team contributes their own unique experience and perspective.
One thing that is for certain, we are all open to listen to other perspectives and willing to work towards what we believe to be the best outcome for the membership. We are supported and informed by our subject experts, and we commit to having all the tools, information and resources we need to be able to make informed decisions.
For members based in YYC who had concerns of a potential YYC base closure, there has not been any tabled closure. When clarification was sought the employer confirmed that they were not looking to close any bases.
In these first three weeks, our discussions have encompassed many things, including benefits, pensions, housekeeping, notice items, various scheduling matters, and scope proposals.
As noted above, and as promised, we are utilizing experts to further our collective interests and make well-informed decisions. This has included legal, CUPE National, and our Grievance Committee Chair.
We want to take a moment to shine a light on the CUPE National researcher who has joined us at the bargaining table. The past three weeks have clearly demonstrated what an asset he is. As a part of the process for negotiations “the parties” (Air Canada and CUPE) exchange information in something called a “data room”. With the help of our researcher, we have sent Air Canada a very long list of requests for information. This will inform us about the costing of different proposals, membership demographic data, benefits usage and costs, pension information and so much more that is required to ensure we know the landscape we are bargaining under. We sorted through the volumes of information provided by Air Canada to determine what other disclosure of information is required. This is a normal process in collective bargaining and forms the basis for educated decisions.
The amount of work involved is hard to even contemplate, as there is so much to sort through while determining its value and accuracy. This is an important process in honing our proposals and asks and ensuring that the value of them is properly reflected.
We have harnessed the knowledge of CUPE National Pension experts along with our own Pension Committee Chair and members to ensure that we have the information we need in relation to pensions. We will continue to fully utilize our subject matter experts as we move through this very complex process. We are fully committed to having accurate facts and figures at our disposal whether it be for pensions, wage increases, or scheduling proposals. Our decisions will be well informed thanks to our preparations. We are ready. We will make change.
Listed below are the next dates that the parties will be meeting. There is much work to be done in between, and we remain focused and committed to this process.
- February 11-13 – YUL
- February 24-26 – YYZ
- March 17, 19 & 20 – YYZ
- April 8-10 – YUL
- April 15-17 – YYZ
- April 29-May 1 – YYZ
In Solidarity,
Your Bargaining Committee