As the Union is working through the many logistics of the pending “Off Duty Status” of 5,100 of our members at both Mainline and Rouge, we are also hearing you loud and clear that you are as confused as the Union is with regards to the fact that the OBSMs and Mentors are still being placed on our aircraft. They are continuing to mingle amongst us, at a time when social distancing should be a high priority.

Let the Union be clear, we do not represent the OBSMs, nor do we endorse the program.  At a time like this, we see little value to them being onboard to offer “support”.  What support can they possibly offer that our highly skilled cabin crew can not?  Why would we want, at this time, to have them interacting with our customers?  We should be focussing on the wellbeing of each other, limiting contact and practising safety first and always.

Now is not the time to be augmenting crews, adding unneeded “assistance” on board or at layover points.  This is the time to remove the programs and move forward with what we do best, SAFETY.

We were just made aware today that there are no longer Mentors onboard as of tomorrow at Rouge.

We would hope, with all we are facing, that Mainline will follow suit and remove them from our environment, remove them as the face to our passengers, and make safety and social distancing a priority in the face of this pandemic.

On March 16, 2020 Calin Rovinescu identified all of the efforts that the company is making to offset the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. He confirmed that there would be a Cost Reduction Program which would include among many other things, but not be limited to: “Workplace reductions and other programs, including freezing hiring in all branches immediately”.

The Union’s position is that common sense will prevail and a re-evaluation of the current OBSM program will be among them. As a practical reality there is no value to have OBSMs travelling throughout the system and offering support to our members currently facing massive job reductions, specially when they have no functional role onboard. We will continue to impress upon the Company in no uncertain terms why it makes sense to reconsider the OBSM Program under the circumstances.

In the interim we encourage you to reach out to management and to express your thoughts.  To do so you can post your thoughts on Yammer as well as using other means to reach out.  What we need during this critical time is meaningful support, equipment and resources to protect us and to ensure that our Health and Safety are the primary concern.

You have been working on the front lines and are acutely aware of what is sorely needed to sustain us through this difficult time.   In our view, the OBSMs’ oversight/support is not among them.

In closing we would like to leave you with two comments that speak loudly.  This is in regards to the type of support being offered by the company’s OBSMs:

“How can we be trained to thwart a hijacking, save a life and live on a life raft till rescued but be too helpless to find food and shelter on a layover?”

“How are we to feel supported by someone who until very recently had a job description of demotion and firing? Or are we to suddenly develop Stockholm Syndrome?”

In solidarity,

The Company today has advised the Union of the following surplus Cabin Personnel for the April 2020 block month, by base:

• Mainline YUL: 530
• Mainline YYZ: 1,765
• Mainline YYC: 267
• Mainline YVR: 973
• Rouge YTO/YMQ: 1,549

The Company further reiterated that those of you who have applied for Special Leaves of Absence (SPLOA) for April 2020 will be converted to Off-Duty Status, enabling you to apply to Employment Insurance Benefits.

Please CLICK HERE to view Air Canada Q&A regarding LOU 6 Off-Duty Status.

Please CLICK HERE to view a message from Air Canada Rouge regarding LOU 6, there is unfortunately no Q&A.

Please note that any Mainline members wishing to take the voluntary options have until March 23, 2020, at 0800 EDT. Please ensure you follow the guidelines and use your Air Canada email address including your base and employee number.

We understand this is a very challenging time for each and every one of you.  Each of us will be affected in different ways, but we will all be affected.

Over the weekend we will be working and monitoring the situation, if anything needs to be reported to you, we will ensure it is done in a timely manner.
In Solidarity,

Your Component Executive along with the Local offices have been inundated with the amount of questions that have come in. We understand that these are difficult times and we are working hard to get answers to all of your questions.

We have been in discussions with the Company today and they will be coming out with a full Question & Answer package to explain “off-duty status” and what will occur for the April 2020 block month. The information provided will be for members at both Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge. Once that package is received, we will also be forwarding it out from the Air Canada Component to ensure that all members have it in a timely fashion.

Please remember going forward that any options will be communicated through your Air Canada email, so we encourage you to ensure that it is active. You can find directions on how to access your Air Canada email on ACAeronet.

For our Rouge members we completely understand that this time is unsettling however the union has no further update with regards to the plans of Air Canada Rouge beyond April 2020.

For our Mainline members the primary concern seems to be with regards to the “off-duty status” for April 2020. We want to confirm that if you applied for the special leave of absence (SLPOA) or if you are thinking of applying for the “off-duty status” on a voluntary basis, that this will only be applicable for April 2020.  Further mitigations and reductions will take place for May 2020 onwards and Article 17 and LOU 60.05 of the Collective Agreement will be in full effect.
In Solidarity,