Component Leadership Archives - Page 31 of 66

Mainline Vacation Pay Reconciliation

Lisa Raymond on April 7, 2021

In 2017, the Union filed a grievance on behalf of our Air Canada Rouge members when it became clear that our members were receiving vacation pay amounts that were below the minimums set out in the Canada Labour Code. This grievance was successfully mediated in June 2018, with the creation of an annual reconciliation process for vacation pay to ensure the applicable minimum percentages were met and paid accordingly to our members.

Vacation pay is calculated as a percentage of your gross wages earned during the vacation year. Where the vacation entitlement in the Code is two weeks, vacation pay must be at minimum 4% of earnings in the vacation year. Where the entitlement in the Code is 3 weeks, vacation pay must be at minimum 6% of earnings in the vacation year. Where the entitlement in the Code is 4 weeks, vacation pay must be at minimum 8% of earnings in the vacation year.

After the settlement of the Air Canada Rouge grievance, the Union filed grievance CHQ-18-56 to cover potential vacation pay violations at Air Canada Mainline. The grievance was again successfully mediated with an agreement for a similar annual reconciliation process. Mainline Payrolls and Crew Planning have spent a great deal of time creating a tool to process this annual reconciliation.

We are happy to announce that the reconciliation tool is finally complete, and payroll has begun to process any underpayments. The underpayments mainly affect junior employees, as they receive less vacation days so are more likely to not meet the Code minimums.

The reconciliation of the 2018-19 Vacation Year was processed for the March 17, 2021 pay cycle. For those active, any amount owed to you was included on your paycheque. For those inactive, the amount owed to you was placed into staging and will be paid to you once reconciliation of all outstanding vacation years are complete. The total value of the 2018-19 reconciliation was approximately $376,000.

Payroll has now moved onto the 2019-20 Vacation Year which will be completed for the April 16, 2021 pay cycle. They will then move onto the 2020-21 Vacation Year once the vacation year ends at the end of the month. This will then become an annual process completed at the end of each vacation year.

In solidarity,

Air Transat Acquisition Termination

Lisa Raymond on April 2, 2021

We were advised earlier this morning that Air Canada and Air Transat have mutually agreed to terminate the agreement on the proposed acquisition of Transat by Air Canada. Full details can be found in a company communication in your Air Canada email or by clicking HERE to see the official press release.

In our opinion this is a good news story for our members at Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge, as it will allow Air Canada to focus on recovering our business and bring our members back to work as market demand increases.

In solidarity,

Component Officers’ Update

Lisa Raymond on April 1, 2021

It has been some time since there has been an update from your Component Officers. We have been actively working behind the scenes on many fronts. We felt it was time to reach out and let you know that we are fully engaged in doing all we can for the membership and to ensure no stone of opportunity is unturned. We are bringing attention to government agencies, government officials, company representatives and beyond. We are committed to having your voices heard.

Vaccines
Many of you have reached out about the time frame and are asking when, and if, our members will be recognised as the essential workers they have been from the beginning of the pandemic and be treated as such. The common question is when it will be your turn to be vaccinated. We have also heard from those that do not wish to be vaccinated or have concerns about the efficacy or the safety of the vaccines. For those that have concerns please note that there is no requirement to be vaccinated at this time.

We have reached out to the Federal Health Minster Patty Hajdu, as recently as March 31, 2021 for an update on where the Federal Government stands on vaccinations for cabin crew at Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge. We have not made a distinction in the vaccination of active or laid off cabin crew. Our goal is to have all cabin crew members who wish to be vaccinated receive the vaccine in an expedited fashion. We believe that it should be offered to all that are active or will be recalled. This way all crew members are ready to come back fully prepared and vaccinated.

Please click HERE to read the last update on vaccines.

Recalls
We have heard many rumors about upcoming recalls and have had several members reach out asking where they fall on the recall list. We have committed, since June 2020, that we will advise you as soon as any recalls are confirmed to the Union. To date, we have no confirmation of recalls to share.

Updated Seniority Lists
Please note that as per Article 16.08.05, the Union and the Company met to go over all seniority contests. This is done each year for those who wish to contest their seniority placement due to an error or omission. Anyone who wished to have this reviewed had the Union and the Company look carefully at the circumstances of each. If it was deemed that a correction was required, those affected would have been advised. There is now an updated list as per Article 16.08.06 posted on acaeronet.

Layover Safety and COVID-19
Your safety and health are our top priorities and will always continue to be so. We would like to remind each of you that masks are required at all times while in hotels, on crew buses and out on layovers. Each of us needs to be mindful that the health and safety measures here in Canada, as well as those onboard the aircraft, are in place to protect us against the possibility of transmitting COVID-19. Your Union encourages you to always wear a mask, have gloves on hand and do your COVID-19 self screening each morning. This is for your safety, the safety of the public and the safety of the crew who work with you. We know that COVID fatigue is a reality and thank all members for their continued professionalism, fortitude, and perseverance as we move through this pandemic.

Joint Planning Committee
Your Union has been in discussions with the company on a weekly basis to review further options that could help to lessen the impact of the layoffs. We do not have any information at this time to share however you should know that the meetings are still ongoing. There have been many fruitful discussions and we will continue to find any and all avenues reasonably available.

Hong Kong – COVID Testing on Arrival
As many of you are aware, the company advised the Union and the membership of the new regulations that must be adhered to upon entry into Hong Kong. “Crew members must remain at the testing site until a result is confirmed. This may take between 1 and 4 hours. Crew members will be provided with a desk and chair, water and dry snacks and free Wi-Fi for the duration of the wait.”

Previously your Union filed Policy grievance CHQ-20-12, Post Duty Ground Credit. Please click HERE to view the grievance form.

The Union is requesting that all members who operate flights to Hong Kong (HKG) and are required to submit to mandatory COVID-19 testing, fill out a ground duty claim, as per Article 5.08.

The ground duty period should commence 15 minutes post arrival up to the time the last person has cleared the COVID-19 testing facility.

If the claim is denied, please submit it to your Local Union and it will be attached to this grievance. Make sure to retain a copy for you and your crew’s records.

On a final note, we know that all members of our Union are impacted in profound ways for a variety of reasons. It is not lost on us that courage, patience and persistence are required and so many have risen to the challenge. Let us not forget that we have weathered other storms and will rebound from this setback. Please keep in mind that some of our colleagues are struggling and that kindness and support go a very long way. Be kind to yourself and to each other and we promise that we will continue to seek out new means to find the way back to a better place for the membership.

In solidarity,

737 MAX – SD Wage Rate Grievance

Lisa Raymond on March 31, 2021

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,

Job Offer – Vaccine Clinic – Quebec

Lisa Raymond on March 25, 2021

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,

Mainline Vacation Pay Reconciliation

Air Transat Acquisition Termination

Component Officers’ Update

737 MAX – SD Wage Rate Grievance

Job Offer – Vaccine Clinic – Quebec

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