The Company released its mitigation package earlier today for CUPE, along with other unionized groups. The selection process will be open until Monday, May 25, 2020 at 08:00 EDT. For the June 2020 block month, the expected active crew requirements are approximately the same as May 2020 for our Mainline Cabin Personnel. There is no planned flying for Air Canada Rouge, that the Union has been advised of.  Once we have a further update on the number of members deemed surplus, and additions to any Rouge flying, we will ensure it is published to you first.

The link to the Mitigation Options from the employer are available in your Air Canada email or can be accessed through the following pathway: HR Connex -> Go to eHR Kiosk -> Mitigation Program 2020.

The Options available to CUPE Members are as follows and will be awarded in the following order:

1. Retirement Incentive Program (for those eligible for retiree travel privileges) or Resignation with C3 Travel and Benefits Programs
2. Special Leaves of Absence, with leaves prioritized as follows: 24 months, 18 months, 12 months, and 6 months.
3. 4-month Reduced Block Program

All Mainline 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 can not hold an SPLOA or RBP program if you are not able to hold flying for June 2020.  This is also something no one can gauge as it is dependent on who senior to you selects a mitigation program, thus pushing their flying down to the next senior member to do the same.

Please click HERE for the details of the Retirement Incentives and Resignation Programs.

Please click HERE for the details of the Special Leaves of Absence and Reduced Block Program.

Questions about these programs can be directed to Crew Planning. The Company has also set up a CUPE specific Yammer group called “CUPE Mitigation Q&A”.

With regards to the 4-month Reduced Block Programs, please note these are not language restrictive.  We would also like to point out that we have asked the employer about the EI top up on the Reduced Blocks and have not heard back at this time.  When we have further information on this, we will advise you.

Rouge Members are eligible for the Resignation with C3 Travel and Benefits program only.  The reason our Rouge members cannot bid for SPLOA or RBP’s is because none of our Rouge members are holding flying to mitigate. Please check your Air Canada emails for instructions on how to apply.

Once the mitigation program is complete, those members deemed surplus will receive layoff notices by May 29^th at 23:00 EST.  Your Union successfully pushed for no base bumping, so the planned flying will be built around the remaining members’ home bases instead of members being forced into unnecessary base transfers.  This was something we felt would offer further ease into the process and allow our members that are staying online comfort in knowing the flying will come to you, not you having to go to the flying.

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.

Your Union is continuing to advocate for the extension of the CEWS program and is working with CUPE National to lobby the federal government to provide further assistance to Air Canada with the conditions that all employees remain on the CEWS program.

Your Union also wants you to know that we went to the employer with many suggestions on top of what has been offered by the employer, i.e.: pension bridging, VSP’s, different pass structures, optional benefits, paid for by you or the employer etc.  The package you see is what the Employer came back with and has presented to you.  This process was done over a few weeks with the involvement of all Local Presidents and the Component Executive.

We have heard from hundreds of you over the weekend and hope you will continue to reach out for any clarification, concerns or questions.  We are here to support you and ensure we get you the most we can in these trying times.

In solidarity,

We know that you are waiting to hear about the Company’s mitigation program. The Union has been in contact with the Company over the weekend as we ultimately were not satisfied with the program as presented. The time frame and CEWS announcement by the Prime Minister also played a part in our decision.

A short time ago we were advised that the Company will be moving forward with their mitigation program. The mitigation offerings will be opened tomorrow and continue until May 25, 2020. We will provide further details and specific timing tomorrow when your Union has all the details and information.

The Union is of the view that Air Canada should continue to participate in the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy. Participation in the CEWS is extremely important to our members and the right thing to do.  The Federal Government has been clear they are willing to look at the current CEWS program with employers.  We will continue to pursue this avenue, and should we have new information will let you know.

In solidarity,

With bidding for June scheduled to begin next week, we know many of you are anxiously awaiting news on what the future holds for each of us. The reality is that COVID-19 has severely impacted the demand for air travel over the past few months and into the foreseeable future. As such there is no denying that we are dealing with the largest surplus of Cabin Personnel in our history.

We can advise you that as per LOU60 the following options will be offered in the following order:

• Resignation Program with C3 Travel Privileges as per Company Policy
• Special Leave of Absence Program with Leaves being offered for 24 months, 18 months, 12 months, and 6 months.
• Reduced Block Program

The Company will release a comprehensive document once mitigations and bidding tools are finalized and this is set for Monday, May 18, 2020.

In our current discussions VSP’s, Pension Bridging and financial separation incentives were sought along the lines of what Management and our Pilot colleagues received. The Company took this away to evaluate it and came back advising this was not something that would be attainable due to the financial crisis and liability the company currently has.

We will continue to examine this from all angles to find any other avenues that we can pursue to assist in the transition for our members that will be affected.

In terms of bidding for June flying schedules, this may not start as scheduled on Monday evening so please wait for further information. The Company is working to adjust the schedule based on the planned mitigation.

Please note, the Union has been in discussions with the employer over the continuation of the CEWS program. We again are reviewing this and will continue to have discussions on this front.

We know this news is not what any of us were expecting.  Please know we are working through this, and your Local Presidents along with your Component Officers are completely involved and moving the agenda forward.

We will ensure there is a further update, when there is more to say on the subject matter involved.  The importance of these discussions is huge and the impact for our membership may end up being long term, therefore, we want to ensure all avenues are reviewed for us to move forward.

In solidarity,

Today your Local Offices and Component Officers have received multiple concerns raised with regards to the May 15th payment for those on the CEWS program.

The Company has reviewed this, and we have heard back that there was a mistake for a significant number of members. From what the Union has seen, this has primarily affected those that had scheduled vacation during the April 2020 block month.  The company is hopeful the correction will be made in time for Friday’s pay date.

We completely appreciate the stress this has caused many of you, once we were made aware, we reached out and alerted the employer who immediately looked into the error.

If you have any concerns once you have received your pay on Friday, please advise Crew Planning.

In solidarity,