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Notice Of Upcoming Local Elections – 2021

Lisa Raymond on January 15, 2021

In accordance with the Air Canada Component Bylaws, anyone wishing to be nominated should adhere to the following information:

C.3 Notice of Local Officer Elections
C.3.1 Beginning in 2021 Local Officer Elections shall be held in March, last a minimum of ten (10) days and close at 12:00 noon EST on the final day of voting. Terms shall be as follows:
(a) President, Vice-President, and Secretary-Treasurer elections shall be held every two (2) years until 2021. As of 2021 these elections shall be held every three (3) years.
(b) A trustee election shall be held every year.

C.4 Nomination Procedures for Local Officer Elections
C.4.1 Members who wish to be nominated for a Local Officer position (Local President, Local Vice-President, Local Secretary-Treasurer, or Local Trustee) shall file nomination papers and a completed Oath of Nomination form, to be received by the Chairperson of the Component Tabulating Committee by February 15th in the calendar year preceding the Local Officer Elections. The Component Tabulating Committee shall have full responsibility for voting arrangements in accordance with these Bylaws.

C.4.2 A candidate may be nominated for only one (1) position and in doing so may only solicit signatures for one (1) intended position. Candidates shall disclose their full name and intended position clearly on the nomination papers prior to soliciting signatures.

C.4.3 Nomination forms, as provided by the Component Tabulating Committee, must have signatures from lesser of either:
(a) Fifty (50) members of the eligible voters on the Local’s Membership List; or
(b) Five (5%) percent of the eligible voters on the Local’s Membership List.

* IMPORTANT: Due to the current COVID-19 Pandemic, and on an exceptional basis, the Component Tabulating Committee will accept electronic signatures on nomination forms for the 2021 Local Election. An electronic signature must be the member’s actual signature and not simply the member’s name typed onto the nomination form. This will allow for members not actively in the workplace to nominate a candidate for a Local position. The nomination form must be filled out, in ink, in its entirety by the candidate, signed off and dated prior to scanning for electronically received signatures. We are doing this to ensure all members have an opportunity to run, as well as ensure all members have an opportunity to collect signatures, with the COVID pandemic in place, many of you are not able to access your work sites or Union offices due to not having a RAIC.

C.4.4 The Oath of Nomination form (Appendix “F”) must be completed in its entirety in order to be accepted by the Tabulating Committee.

NOTE: For interested candidates, a complete instruction package with nomination sheets will be available on the Air Canada Component website www.accomponent.ca, as well as by request from your Local office, or by clicking HERE. It is recommended that you read the complete instruction package.

DEADLINE: Completed Nomination Sheets and the Oath of Nomination must be received no later than, February 15, 2021, at 16:00 EST at the following address:

AIR CANADA COMPONENT TABULATING COMMITTEE
25 BELFIELD ROAD
ETOBICOKE, ONTARIO
M9W 1E8
Nomination Sheets and the Oath of Nomination received after February 15, 2021 at 16:00 EST will NOT be accepted. The Tabulating Committee recommends sending your documentation by registered mail to ensure timely delivery and receipt.

In Solidarity,

Your Component Tabulating Committee

Mitigation Update

Lisa Raymond on January 14, 2021

We have spent the past two days attempting to work with the Employer on a mitigation plan, that would include an SPLOA with weekly Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) payments. Furthermore, your Union asserted that all members facing layoff should receive the weekly CEWS payments.

They refused…

Although we fully support targeted airline financial assistance from the federal government, we are quite frankly enraged that our Employer is refusing to access the current funding available to specifically help our members. We cannot understand why they choose not to participate in the CEWS, yet all other major airlines in Canada are making it work for their inactive workforce. WestJet, Swoop, Encore, Sunwing, and Air Transat have continued to make use of the CEWS program since the spring 2020 because they know it is the right thing to do for their Employees and their families.

Air Canada has consistently requested that our members write letters to the Federal Government to plead their case for financial assistance. You all have assisted your Employer in many ways and yet your Employer refuses to assist you in your time of need. It appears to us that our members are being used as pawns in a game of Tug-of-War with the government.

We have heard that CEWS is “very expensive” to the airlines. We have heard that maintaining benefits, pension and accruing vacation was too costly. Your Union requested many different forms of CEWS. We looked at all options with the Employer to get money in your pocket through CEWS.

Air Canada has continually stated that CEWS is a short-term solution. If this is anticipated to be a short-term mitigation, then why not offer a short-term CEWS leave?

Although the Company refused CEWS, they will be moving forward with the mitigation as outlined in the Collective Agreement. Please see below some general information and important dates:

The Company will be releasing its mitigation package later this evening or tomorrow morning. The selection process will be open until Monday, January 18, 2021 at 08:00 EST.

The Options available to members at Mainline and Rouge are as follows:

Resignation with C3 Travel and Benefits Programs
3-month Special Leaves of Absence (February 2021 to April 2021 inclusive)
3-month Reduced Block Program (February 2021 to April 2021 inclusive)

All members are eligible to bid on the Mitigation Programs; however Special Leaves of Absences and Reduced Block Programs will be awarded by seniority to those who would otherwise not be placed on Layoff Status. Meaning, you cannot hold an SPLOA or RBP program if you are not able to hold flying for February 2021. Those members on COVID Leaves may bid for a mitigation SPLOA.

Once the mitigation program is complete, those members deemed surplus will receive layoff notices by January 20, 2021 at 23:00 EST. It is our understanding that the planned flying will be built around the remaining members’ home bases. This includes all four Mainline bases and both Rouge bases.

Recalls from layoff status are done in order of master seniority regardless of originating airline as per Article 17.16 of the Collective Agreement. Recall rights for both Mainline and Rouge are for five (5) years from the date of layoff.

Once again, our members continue to bear the brunt of the continued setbacks that the airline industry is facing. These upcoming layoffs are a direct result of the federal government’s lack of action to support the industry. The very least our employer could do is take part in the programs being offered to support our members.

In solidarity,

Canada’s flight attendants welcome new Transport Minister – and say it’s time to get to work

Lisa Raymond on January 14, 2021

VANCOUVER, British Columbia–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Canada’s flight attendants are welcoming newly-appointed Transport Minister Omar Alghabra to his new post, and are urging him to take immediate action to support their industry, which has been ravaged by COVID-19.

In a letter sent to Alghabra on Thursday, the President of the Airline Division of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Wesley Lesosky, asks the new transport minister to work with labour to avoid more job losses in the sector.

Lesosky also noted the federal government’s troubling pattern of ignoring concerns from workers in the industry so far during the pandemic which has exacerbated job losses and made flying less safe.

“Our repeated attempts to engage your department and the federal government in general on critical issues for the airline industry have been almost universally ignored,” wrote Lesosky. “To be successful in reviving this critical industry, we need more collaboration and consultation with the federal government, not less.”

CUPE’s Airline Division represents 15,000 flight attendants at nine different airlines in Canada.

You can read a full copy of the letter HERE.

Staff Surplus – February 2021

Lisa Raymond on January 13, 2021

The Company advised us this morning of a staffing surplus due to a significantly reduced flying schedule related to a reduction in customer demand. The approximate surplus is 730 active mainline members and 100 active Rouge members. The staff reductions will take effect with the start of the February 2021 block month.

The Union is now working with the Company to launch a mitigation program at both Mainline and Rouge, similar to what was offered in the Spring. We have proposed that all members be placed on CEWS as the anticipated layoff is to be less than six (6) months. We have also requested that a reduced block program be launched at Rouge. More details on mitigation will be released once agreed upon.

The resulting layoffs will take place in reverse seniority order at each Company. As the anticipated duration of the layoff is less than six (6) months, there will be no bumping between Companies as Article 17.11.01 will apply.

Employees already awarded a SLOA/RBP for the month of February will be contacted individually and advised that this program is now cancelled. They will be redirected towards the mitigation program instead once launched.

We understand this news is disheartening and not what anyone wanted to hear; however, our industry is facing yet another unpreceded drop in customer demand and we will continue to do our best to support our members through this difficult time.

In solidarity,

IMPORTANT – Changes to WIP Waiting Period

Lisa Raymond on January 12, 2021

As you may be aware, the Wage Indemnity Plan (WIP) Board made required amendments to the Wage Indemnity Plan (WIP) effective January 2, 2021. The WIP Board was required to make amendments to comply with a reduction in the EI waiting period implemented by the Government of Canada.

The WIP Board advised of the upcoming amendments on November 28, 2020 which you can review here: https://mailchi.mp/6f2a0615e1dc/wip-effective-january-2-2021-wage-indemnity-policy-changes-compter-du-2-janvier-2021-modifications-apportes-au-programme-dassurance-salaire?e=2e397171ed

Please see the Union bulletin issued in mid-December: https://mailchi.mp/b121a7c3a8bd/effective-january-2-2021-wip-changesmodifications-apportes-au-pas-compter-du-2-janvier-2021?e=5318069517

Your Component Executive and the WIP Board met with the Company on Friday, January 8, 2021. The company indicated that it did not agree with the proposal and that it would provide a different proposal.

For over 40 years, the Company provided up to 14 days of paid sick-time. Without notice to the Union or the WIP Board, the Company unilaterally revised the waiting period from 14 days to 7 days and now requires medical clearance from the Company’s OHS in order to return to work from a sickness-related absence that exceeds 7 days. The Company issued an update on ePub.

The Union did not consent to the Company’s unilateral change of a long-established practice providing for a 14-day waiting period. To be clear, the Union did not accept the change prior to its implementation. As a result of the Company’s improper actions, some of our members are left in a situation in which they were completely unaware of this change in practice and needed to book off.

The Union strongly disagrees with this unilateral change in practice. The union is considering all appropriate legal steps, including filing a grievance immediately. Click HERE to view the grievance form. We will strive to have the grievance heard as expeditiously as possible.

In the interim, what does this mean for you if your book-off is longer than 7 days?

As noted above, the Union does not agree with this long established change in practice however in the interim we recommend the following:

You will need to apply for WIP, as your sick days will only cover the first 7 days according to the new Air Canada policy, which is in dispute. This does require consultation with a doctor.
To return to work, you will also need to be cleared by Occupational Health. We realize how onerous this is given the fact that we are in the middle of a pandemic however this is what is required under the Company’s new policy.

We are especially concerned about the timing of this change to practice as our members are already managing work and family responsibilities with such courage and fortitude during these challenging times. In the Union’s view, it is egregious that not only is the Company unreasonably requiring medical notes when the health care system is already at its breaking point, but more so that so many of our members are being denied medical care.

We sincerely believe that this is creating more stress and uncertainty for so many who are already facing financial challenges. We know that it is our members who do so much and take on so much each time they go to work, and we promise to use all resources available to us to fight this.

In order to defeat this policy change, it is of vital importance to hear stories from each and every one who has been affected. This is compelling information, and we ask that you send this information to us. We know that it is an additional requirement on top of all that you are dealing with at present, but it is the most effective way that we can show an arbitrator why this change is completely unreasonable. Please add as many details as possible, including any difficulties obtaining a doctor’s appointment or any hardship you suffer as a result of the change in policy.

If you have any questions at all, please let us know. We ask that you send your statements to us directly at the Component offices. Please send them to contact@accomponent.ca. We will fight this fight together and we thank you in advance for helping us put our best case forward.

In solidarity,

Notice Of Upcoming Local Elections – 2021

Mitigation Update

Canada’s flight attendants welcome new Transport Minister – and say it’s time to get to work

Staff Surplus – February 2021

IMPORTANT – Changes to WIP Waiting Period

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