Component Leadership Archives - Page 51 of 66

International Workers’ Day – May 1, 2020

Lisa Raymond on May 1, 2020

International Workers Day, also known as May Day, is observed on May 1st to celebrate the working class and labourers around the world. Today we recognize the worldwide struggles and achievements of the labour movement.

As your Component Officers, we will ensure that workers’ rights remain at the forefront of our discussions with the Company, and we will continue to highlight the inadequacies of safe working conditions in our industry.

Although this year we will not be able to take to the streets, as we have in the past, to commemorate the historic struggles, and to voice our demands for decent work and a life of dignity and respect, we nonetheless still recognize International Workers’ Day, in solidarity with millions of workers around the world.

In solidarity,

Surplus Update 12

Lisa Raymond on April 29, 2020

There have been multiple things happening this week, and we wanted to update you on a few of them below.

Mainline Cash Advances
As we have been fielding many questions on the cash advances for all members, we wanted to advise you of the following that the Company will be putting into place for May 1, 2020 cash advance.

If you have opted to take the CEWS program, you will not receive a cash advance if you fall into the following categories:

– Service Director’s forecasted to earn less than $2,100.00
– Flight Attendant’s forecasted to earn less than $1,400.00

All other employees will maintain the regular cash advance amounts. To further clarify, if you are earning more than the above amounts OR you are actively flying (block or reserve) you will maintain your standard cash advance on the 1^st of the month.

Rouge Cash Advances
For our Rouge members, the Company has advised that your cash advance will be $700 while you are in receipt of CEWS benefits.

Claimed CERB and now on CEWS
We have heard from many members asking what to do with your CERB “over payment” now that you are on the CEWS program. Below you will find the link that will take you to where you can go to get this question answered, based on your circumstances:

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/benefits/apply-for-cerb-with-cra.html#return

Mitigations beyond June 5, 2020
The Component Executive will be meeting with Air Canada on May 1, 2020 to discuss the future plans with regards to mitigations and staffing levels for Mainline and Rouge. Once we have more information we will keep everyone posted.

Meeting Jon Turner, VP In-Flight Service and President Rouge Operations
We are looking forward to meeting with Jon, virtually, this week, to give introductions and a welcome into the Mainline IFS branch. As many of you know, Renee Smith-Valade has departed after many years and the Union is looking forward to starting a new chapter with Senior Management at In-Flight.

Referendum Vote
Please remember that the referendum vote on the Temporary Union Dues reduction for two months will be opening this Friday, we strongly encourage everyone to vote in favour.

Your Component Officers have been very busy working on a multitude of issues; however, we are still available to assist when you reach out. Please continue to contact us as needed, this is how we know what the pulse is online.

In solidarity,

CHQ-16-16 (Employees on LTD) – Arbitrator’s Award

Lisa Raymond on April 28, 2020

Today, the Union secured an important victory for its members on long-term disability (LTD).

Today, Chief Arbitrator Kaplan issued an important decision that forbids Air Canada from terminating the employment of Cabin Personnel on LTD, as Air Canada had planned.

The Union is very pleased with this decision.

This legal saga began in 2016 when Air Canada announced that for the first time, it would begin terminating the employment of Cabin Personnel on LTD. The Union secured a cease and desist award that prevented the terminations from happening.

The IAM and Unifor lodged similar grievances as we did, although when those two unions arbitrated their disputes, they were not successful, meaning that Air Canada was permitted to terminate the employment of IAM and Unifor members on LTD.

Fortunately, the litigation between the Air Canada Component of CUPE and Air Canada did not follow the same course, and we are very grateful that some of our most vulnerable members have been protected.

A copy of Chief Arbitrator Kaplan’s award can be found HERE.

In short, Chief Arbitrator Kaplan found that the Collective Agreement prohibited employees on LTD from being fired and denied health benefit coverage. He also found that pension accrual and benefit coverage must continue because of the existence of an estoppel, although Air Canada can end pension accrual and benefit coverage for employees on LTD at the end of the next appropriate round of bargaining.

We are grateful to the members who contributed by providing witness statements and attended previous hearing dates. We also recognize the important assistance provided by representatives of the Air Canada Component of CUPE’s Wage Indemnity Plan.

In solidarity,

DAY OF MOURNING APRIL 28, 2020

Lisa Raymond on April 28, 2020

April 28th is the National Day of Mourning. It is a solemn day when we honour those lives that have been lost to work-related deaths and those lives that have been forever altered by workplace injuries. The Day of Mourning was first established in 1985 by the Canadian Labour Congress. Eight years later, in 1991, the Canadian Parliament passed the Workers Mourning Day Act making April 28 an official Day of Mourning. Today the Day of Mourning is observed in more than 100 countries around the world.

Every year, on this date, thousands of people gather at ceremonies across Canada to recognize the National Day of Mourning for workers who were killed or injured on the job. These ceremonies will look very different today as we all do our part to limit the spread of COVID-19 by continuing to practice physical distancing. This year, we will come together online from inside our homes in communities across the country. Find a virtual event near you by clicking on the link below:

https://canadianlabour.ca/events/day-of-mourning-ceremonies-2020/

You can also show your support on social media by using #dayofmourning.

The greatest way we can honour those lives that have been lost is by renewing our commitment to the promotion of healthy and safe workplaces and the prevention of future incidents.

Stay safe,

Your Component Leadership and Occupational Health and Safety Committee

Pay Increase April 1, 2020

Lisa Raymond on April 24, 2020

As per page vi of the Memorandum of Agreement (click HERE to view) which was signed following the last round of Collective Bargaining, all crew members are entitled to a 2% wage increase effective April 1, 2020.

Due to the fact that the March 2020 block month included April 1st and 2nd, we have been advised that the employer was not able to do an adjustment of such magnitude and therefore those affected will need to submit a pay claim for any pairings/reserve duty or vacation that operated on or through April 1st and April 2nd.

Air Canada/Air Canada Rouge have assured us that going forward they will ensure that the April block month is always scheduled to commence on the 1st of the month so that they will avoid a future occurrence of this issue.

Please submit a pay claim for the following:

pairings that would have operated on or through April 1st and April 2nd, and any premiums or other credits associated with these pairings i.e. DOT, regular draft, RSV RDO premium, ground duty,
vacation credits held on or through April 1st and 2nd
paid family LOA’s for pairings that originated on or when through April 1st and 2nd
dropped/pay protected pairings that originated on or operated through April 1st and 2nd
sick leave credits for pairings that originated on or operated through April 1st and April 2nd
reserve duty and airport standby credits on April 1st and April 2nd

In solidarity,

International Workers’ Day – May 1, 2020

Surplus Update 12

CHQ-16-16 (Employees on LTD) – Arbitrator’s Award

DAY OF MOURNING APRIL 28, 2020

Pay Increase April 1, 2020

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