Unpaid Work Update and Survey

The Airline Division will be looking at ways to ensure our members voices are heard loud and clear on unpaid work within our sector.

Please find below a survey that we are hoping all members will fill out, please feel free to share the survey with your co-workers.

In English: https://survey-sondage.cupe.ca/index.php/779424?lang=en

En Français : https://survey-sondage.cupe.ca/index.php/779424?lang=fr

This survey will drive the bus on what you see as unpaid work, along with airline specific unpaid work issues.

We wish you a safe and festive holiday season and happy holidays to everyone.

In Touch – A message from your Health and Safety Committee

Fume Events
Members have been reaching out to get more information about fume events. The union has put together an information package for anyone who would like to know more. Please send a blank email to air@accomponent.ca. If you have additional questions, you are as always welcome to email contact@accomponent.ca.

Ebola
Your Health and Safety Committee has been following the Ebola outbreak in Uganda since the first 5 patients were reported in mid-September 2022. We have consulted with CUPE National and have been considering your safety at each evolution of the outbreak. As of the date of this bulletin, the outbreak is declining and still has not been detected in North America. An important point of information regarding Ebola is a patient is ill with symptoms before they are contagious through their body fluids. It remains the position of your Health and Safety Committee that PPE is available for use and should be utilized to prevent any number of viruses and bacteria, not only COVID. If anything changes in this situation we will communicate as soon as possible.

For more information or status updates on Ebola:
– WHO: https://www.who.int/emergencies/situations/ebola-uganda-2022
– CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/uganda/2022-sep.html
– CUPE National: https://cupe.ca/ebola-virus-disease

Staying in touch
We have received several requests to update, confirm, and follow up on reports filed by you. When reaching out, remember to include the report number (ex. ICRP1234-22) in your email and send it to the address that corresponds to your base:

YUL – sante.health@local4091.ca
YYZ – sante.health@local4092.ca
YYC – healthandsafety@local4095.ca
YVR – healthandsafety@local4094.ca
Rouge – health.safety@cupe4098.ca

PPE
Personal protective equipment is available in the crew centres and on board. With the change in masking rules, we ask our members to consider the concerns and needs of other members of the crew. Avail yourself of the PPE available in the crew centres. While there is PPE on board, the first point of PPE collection should be at check-in at the comm centre.

Two Steps Following an Incident for Members
What happens if there’s been an incident and you feel shaken up?

1. FAM 2.1.4.2 RELEASE FROM DUTY What to know about a release following an incident:

  • This is in our FAM and was developed in conjunction with the Policy health and safety committee.
  • The goal is to provide time for sleep, take care of required paperwork, get any required medical care and to assess if you feel fit to continue duties.
  • Only an IFS manager can give you a post-incident release.
  • When calling crew scheduling, ask to speak to the IFS manager on call and let them know if you feel you need this release.
  • This release is pay protected and there is no set length. It will depend on how early the incident occurs since the idea is for you to get a night’s rest.
  • This release is done immediately following the incident and lasts for one sleep cycle.

2. Book off injury on duty.

  • If you wake up and feel the need for additional time following an incident and you’ve already been given the release from duty.
  • Call crew sked and book off injury on duty. You’ll call Medaire if away from your base.  Fill in the flight attendant injury report found at sims.aircanada.ca, see your doctor and get appropriate workers compensation and WIP forms filled out.
  • Additional information and steps can be found by sending a blank email to the following email:  injury@accomponent.ca.

Component Officers Update

This is an update to keep you informed of some of the things we have been working on.

2022 Bargaining Re-Opener Continuation
The Union and the Company are moving forward to the next phase in the re-opener process which is mediation.  Once dates have been selected, we will advise the membership.  As part of our ongoing promise to you, we will keep you advised of where we are in the process and what has transpired.

Cost of Living Allowance – LOU 35
The Company and the Union were in mediation last week with our Chief Arbitrator William Kaplan.  CHQ-22-48 (COLA, LOU 35) was discussed. There was some attempt to mediate however there was no change to the current position of either party, and no resolution was reached.  The Union and the Company will move this forward to arbitration. When dates have been established, we will advise you.

Wheelchairs and Duties Outside of the Aircraft
We wanted to give a friendly reminder that pushing wheelchairs, assisting at gates and assisting with baggage on the bridge is not our role as cabin crew.  When issues arise inside the aircraft, that falls to us to assist.  Please be mindful that our colleagues on the ground are sometimes short staffed or in training and may require more time.  If you are required to remain onboard to look after passengers awaiting assistance from an agent, please claim the time.  You are not required, nor is it encouraged for you to push wheelchairs up the bridge, assist with carry offs or direct passengers at the gate, we are not trained for these roles, and need to always maintain proper crew compliment on the plane, that’s our role, and we never want to jeopardize safety.

Hotel and Ground Transportation Issues
We wanted to send a reminder that reporting hotel and ground transportation issues is critical to effecting change in the future. When hotel and ground transportation contracts are up for renewal your Hotel Committee and Air Canada management rely on the information found in crew care reports to justify a change in the market. Please continue to report even if it’s a repetitive issue and encourage others on your crew who experience issues to also report.

Updated Maternity Handbook

The Component Women’s Committee is pleased to announce that we have updated our Maternity Handbook. We hope that this provides updated information about the who, what, when, where, and how for prospective parents.

Click HERE for the English version of the Maternity Handbook

Click HERE for the French version of the Maternity Handbook

You can also find the Maternity Handbook on the Component website at www.accomponent.ca under the Resources tab.

We understand that this can be a challenging and exciting time and hope this updated handbook makes your journey easier. If you have any questions and need guidance through this process, we are here for you. You can reach out to us at womens@accomponent.ca.

New Crew Hotels: Fort Lauderdale (FLL) Airport & Downtown

Airport

Starting December 1, 2021, layovers in Fort Lauderdale (FLL) airport will be accommodated at our new crew hotel:

Hotel Dello Fort Lauderdale
28 S. Federal Highway
Dania Beach, FL 33004
Tel.: (954) 773-7174

At this hotel, you can take advantage of the following benefits:
– 10 per cent off food and non-alcoholic beverages
– Free internet in guestroom and business centre
– Free local and toll-free calls
– Free access to fitness centre

Please refer to globe for detailed ground transportation and pick-up instructions.

– – – –

Downtown

Starting December 1, 2021, layovers in Fort Lauderdale (FLL) downtown will be accommodated at our new crew hotel:

B Ocean Hotel
1140 Seabreeze Blvd
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Tel.: (954) 564-1000

At this hotel, you can take advantage of the following benefits:
– 10 per cent off food and non-alcoholic beverages (including room services)
– Free internet in guestroom and business centre
– Free local and toll-free calls
– Free access to fitness centre

Please refer to globe for detailed ground transportation and pick-up instructions.

In Solidarity,

Melinda Allen & Alex Habib
Co-Chairs
Component Hotel Committee