days until our Collective Agreement expires, we are preparing, we are united and we will make change.

737 MAX – SD Wage Rate Grievance

In 2018, the Union filed policy grievance CHQ-18-20. This grievance was filed due to the fact that Air Canada declined the Union’s invitation to enter into discussions to bargain the Service Director wage rate for the Boeing 737 Max. The grievance proceeded to arbitration on Monday, March 29, 2021 with Chief Arbitrator William Kaplan.

In the Union’s opinion, when the Company introduces a new aircraft type during the term of the Collective Agreement, either party may open negotiations to set the wage rate for Service Directors as per Article 23.03 which reads as follows:

23.03  INTRODUCTION OF NEW AIRCRAFT
23.03.01 In the event that new aircraft types are introduced during the term of the Agreement, negotiations may be opened to resolve the wages and hours of work for such equipment.

The Union’s view on the above article is that the word “may” should be interpreted as “permissive and empowering” and that once negotiations were opened, both parties were required to make every effort to reach an agreement.

The Company’s view was that the parties were capable of determining whether the obligation to negotiate was mandatory or not. In their view the obligation to negotiate as outlined in Article 23.03.01 was not mandatory. They referenced the use of the word “shall” in L60.04.03 that was negotiated in 2015. This article states that: “In the event that new wide-body aircraft types are introduced during the term of this LOU, negotiations shall be opened to resolve the issues set out in Article 23.03.01”.  The Company put forth arguments that by virtue of this language there was no mandatory requirement to negotiate the introduction of a new narrow-body aircraft.

Chief Arbitrator Kaplan provided his decision yesterday dismissing the grievance. He concluded that “…Article 23.03.01 is permissive. Either party can seek to bargain mid-term about wage rates on the introduction of new aircraft, but neither party is required to do so.” A full copy of his award can be accessed by clicking HERE.

The Union is disappointed in the outcome and put forth strong arguments on past practice among other things. One thing this decision will provide is an important interpretation of Article 23.03 and will guide us on how to address this article in future negotiations.

In solidarity,

Have you Registered for The Race to Unlock the Best in You?

Air Canada’s health and wellness program has launched a spring fitness challenge called The Race to Unlock the Best in You. The objective is encourage employees to adopt or re-affirm healthy habits through a fun 30-day challenge with prizes to be won along the way.

 

Here’s how it works.

 

For the month of April (all 30 days), you’ll complete and average of 30 minutes of activity, or 6,000 steps.  Your steps can be will automatically be tracked via the app or you can manually enter 2000 steps on the app on the UBY website for every 10 minutes of activity you complete that day.

 

The first 800 employees to register for the race will automatically receive a UBY stress ball.

 

400 random employees who complete an average of 30 minutes of activity a day by April 8 will be entered into a draw to win UBY pens!

 

40 random employees who complete an average of 30 minutes of activity a day by April 15 will also be entered into a draw to win UBY infusion water bottles!

 

40 random employees who complete an average of 30 minutes of activity a day by April 22 will also be entered into a draw to win metal UBY water bottles!

 

20 random employees who complete the challenge will also be entered into a draw to win one of 20 earbuds!

 

Sign up today, challenge your colleagues and discover just what you’re capable of!

 

Click here for instructions on how to download the app and enter the race!

 

If you’re a little apprehensive about sharing any personal, health-related information with Air Canada, please don’t be. The UBY site and our App are run by independent third parties who only share information with Air Canada in aggregate—meaning they can only give us an overview of employees as a group, without any specifics. In fact, they cannot legally share any information with Air Canada that may easily identify you.

 

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the UBY team at wellbeing.bien-etre@aircanada.ca.

Job Offer – Vaccine Clinic – Quebec

We are pleased to tell you that CUPE Quebec and Local 4091 have succeeded in reaching an agreement with the CIUSSS of the West Island to develop an accelerated hiring program for flight attendants on layoff.  This is applicable to all residents of Quebec that are laid off from Air Canada Mainline and Air Canada Rouge.

As part of the massive vaccination campaign, the CIUSSS has hundreds of temporary positions to fill. Various positions are available, in vaccination centres and some working from home.

By working in a vaccination campaign, you not only contribute to the whole community but indirectly you will contribute to the revival of our industry, the more the population will be immunized the more the governments will be inclined to lift the restrictions. If you have any inquiries on how this affects your EI claims, please do not hesitate to contact Service Canada.

All the information to apply is available by clicking HERE.

In solidarity,

Update on COVID-19 Leaves

We wanted to pass along updated information in relation to the COVID-19 Leave offered under the Canada Labour Code. On March 15, 2021, the Labour Program advised that the temporary leave related to COVID-19 would be extended from the current 26 weeks to 38 weeks  for employees who have caregiving responsibilities due to COVID-19, and from two weeks to four weeks for employees who are sick or need to self-isolate due to COVID-19.

These changes align with the additional weeks available under the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit and the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit. If you intend to apply for these benefits provided by the Federal Government, it is important that you review the criteria of these benefits fully.

The company’s updated COVID-19 Leave Policy can be found by clicking HERE. The policy includes the process for application through eLeaves.

In solidarity,

Local Election Results – 2021

The voting closed at 12:00 pm EDT today for the Local Elections. The results are as follows:
LOCAL 4091

Local 4091 President
Guillaume Leduc

LOCAL 4092

Local 4092 President
Denis Montpetit

LOCAL 4094

Local 4094 Vice President
Melinda Allen
Sandra Hendre
Bernadette Jean
Alison Kjertinge
Robert Koll
Henly Larden
David Pacheco
Aiden Tombs

LOCAL 4095

Local 4095 President
Kim Wentzell

Local 4095 Vice President
Nuria Martin
Daylen Mitansky
Janice Patience
If you participated in this election, you were issued an anonymous voting receipt code (accessible only online for 14 days after the vote closes). The results & breakdown will be published to the Air Canada Component of CUPE voting website https://accomponent.simplyvoting.com for viewing, and a spreadsheet of vote data will be made available for download to track your receipt.

We thank all of the members who exercised their right to vote.

In Solidarity,

Your Component Tabulating Committee