Recall Notices – September 22, 2021

The Union is happy to announce that the Company has just advised us that there will be 45 recall notices going out shortly for Cabin Crew positions at Air Canada Mainline. In addition, there will be 162 recall notices going our for Cabin Crew positions at Air Canada Rouge’s Toronto (YTO) base.

Based on the composition of those next on the seniority list to be recalled, Mainline members will be recalled to their point of layoff. However, Rouge members will only be recalled to the Toronto (YTO) Rouge Base as there are no vacancies at the Montreal (YMQ) base. If you are offered a recall and were originally based in YMQ, you may decline your recall and await a future vacancy.

The recalls to Mainline and Rouge will take effect on October 6, 2021 except for those being recalled from YMQ who will have a report for duty date of October 13, 2021.  You must accept your recall within 7 days, and if applicable decline your recall within 14 days. The most junior member being offered a recall has a 2021 seniority of 36975.

In addition, the Company has advised us that there are plans for Cabin Personnel hiring to be announced shortly.  Please rest assured that all members on layoff will be offered and afforded a position PRIOR to any new hires coming online. 

All members being recalled will be notified via registered letter.  Please note that due to COVID-19, there may be some delays in these letters reaching you. To compensate for this the Company will also be advising all those recalled via Company email and a courtesy phone call.  Please check your recall notice for more details. To ensure delivery of your recall response we suggest using your Air Canada email account.

As a reminder the Collective Agreement says the following about recalls:

17.16.02  An employee on laid-off status shall be notified by the applicable company, of the first available assignment either at Air Canada Mainline or at Air Canada Rouge to which his/her seniority entitles him. Failure to advise the applicable company within seven (7) calendar days of the registered postmark date of his/her desire to be considered for the assignment shall disqualify him for the assignment.

Recall notice shall be sent by registered mail to the last address filed with the company.

The Company will reach out to you via registered letter to the last address you have listed with the employer.  You have 7 calendar days to reply to the employer if you intend on accepting your recall, from the date the letter was post marked.  We have been advised that the letters will go out today, September 22, 2021.

Do I have to accept a position back to my home base?  Can I decline the recall coming back to where I was laid off from?

As per Article 17.16.04 the following is applicable:

17.16.04  If the employee is notified of a permanent assignment at the point of layoff, s/he must accept, and report for duty within fourteen (14) calendar days from the date notice was sent. An acceptance of permanent assignment at other than the point of layoff shall be optional for the individual concerned; however, should s/he accept, s/he shall report for duty within twenty-one (21) calendar days from the date of registered postmark. This time limit may be extended by Air Canada or Air Canada Rouge, as applicable, under extenuating circumstances.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to us for clarity on the process or any concerns that you may have.

In solidarity,

CHQ-19-13 Leading Edge Workbook

The Union grieved the employer’s failure to pay members for the time they spent to complete the Leading Edge Workbook prior to their ART training.  The Union took the position that both the Collective Agreement and the Canada Labour Code required renumeration.  The Company took the position that it had been a long-standing practice for Cabin Personnel to complete the workbook without pay and further, that the Union was estopped from requiring payment.

The grievance was scheduled for arbitration on September 17, 2021.

The parties reached an agreement with the assistance of Chief Arbitrator Kaplan.  Going forward, Air Canada will pay employees for completion of the Leading Edge Workbook in the same manner as online training is paid (6.04.01.01). This agreement commences with the October Block Month.

Employees should be paid for their work.  We are very grateful to members who brought forward this important issue and are pleased it has been addressed.

The Union also raised a concern relating to the Prepare For Take-Off Workbook for SPIN training participants.  The Company has confirmed that it is not mandatory for the Cabin Personnel attending SPIN training to review the Prepare For Take-Off Workbook or answer any questions prior to training. This will be communicated in the SPIN Information Guide going forward.

In solidarity,

20th Anniversary of September 11, 2001

On the 20th anniversary of a momentous time in the airline industry we believe that it is crucial to reflect on this day and the profound impact it has had on so many. There were families who lost loves ones and this horrific act caused us to be faced with a very harsh reality.  The impact of this day lives on in us all.  We must remember that complacency is not our friend and that our vigilance will always be required. The job of flight attendant is one in which we wear many hats.  It is an honourable profession and one which bears the weight of many inflight challenges. We are all a little wiser with each passing day and honour those that have come before.

We are certain that those of you who were old enough to remember, can remember exactly where you were and what you were doing on that day.  It is our belief that on this anniversary we can take time to remember and to hug those close to us a little tighter and to vow to never forget those who sacrificed so much and lost so much on that day.

In solidarity,

 

Settlement of CHQ-21-18

The Union would like to advise that we have reached a settlement for the recently filed grievance regarding the Company’s violation of our block rules at the end of the August 2021 block month. To see a copy of grievance CHQ-21-18 click HERE.

The general terms of the settlement are as follows:

  • The Company will apply a 50% premium to flights that had managers assigned to them during the full August 2021 block month;
  • The company will retroactively provide a 100% premium for Voluntary Extension for the entire August 2021 block month. Those that did VE flying at the start of the August 2021 block month will now also receive this 100% premium;
  • The Company will also pay $100.00 per Cabin Personnel who operated a B5 domestic or overseas widebody flight leg that was short crewed during the August 2021 block month.

A full copy of the MOS can be accessed HERE. Unfortunately these changes were not finalized prior to the payroll extract, so will not be included on your August block pay and instead will be included on your October 17, 2021 paycheque.
The Union will continue to monitor drafting and short crewing occurrences and has already seen considerable improvements since the start of the September block month. We are also happy to see a steady stream of recalls continuing over the past few weeks and are very hopeful that the staffing shortages of last month are not repeated.

We continue to appreciate the reports coming in so that we may continue to address the realities you are facing with short crewing, drafting, and health and safety concerns.

In solidarity,

Recall Notices – September 1, 2021

The Union is happy to announce that the Company has just advised us that there will be an additional 330 recall notices going out shortly for Cabin Crew positions at Air Canada Mainline. In addition, there will be 169 recall notices going our for Cabin Crew position at Air Canada Rouge.

All members will be recalled to their point of layoff in this batch. This means that Rouge members are being recalled to their Rouge base, and Mainline members are being recalled to their Mainline base.

The recalls to Mainline and Rouge will take effect on September 15, 2021 and you must accept your recall within 7 days. The most junior member being offered a recall has a 2021 seniority of 34240.

All members being recalled will be notified via registered letter.  Please note that due to COVID-19, there may be some delays in these letters reaching you. To compensate for this the Company will also be advising all those recalled via Company email and a courtesy phone call.  Please check your recall notice for more details. To ensure delivery of your recall response we suggest using your Air Canada email account.

As a reminder the Collective Agreement says the following about recalls:

17.16.02  An employee on laid-off status shall be notified by the applicable company, of the first available assignment either at Air Canada Mainline or at Air Canada Rouge to which his/her seniority entitles him. Failure to advise the applicable company within seven (7) calendar days of the registered postmark date of his/her desire to be considered for the assignment shall disqualify him for the assignment.

Recall notice shall be sent by registered mail to the last address filed with the company.

The Company will reach out to you via registered letter to the last address you have listed with the employer.  You have 7 calendar days to reply to the employer if you intend on accepting your recall, from the date the letter was post marked.  We have been advised that the letters will go out today, September 1, 2021.

Do I have to accept a position back to my home base?  Can I decline the recall coming back to where I was laid off from?

As per Article 17.16.04 the following is applicable:

17.16.04  If the employee is notified of a permanent assignment at the point of layoff, s/he must accept, and report for duty within fourteen (14) calendar days from the date notice was sent. An acceptance of permanent assignment at other than the point of layoff shall be optional for the individual concerned; however, should s/he accept, s/he shall report for duty within twenty-one (21) calendar days from the date of registered postmark. This time limit may be extended by Air Canada or Air Canada Rouge, as applicable, under extenuating circumstances.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to us for clarity on the process or any concerns that you may have.

In solidarity,