Dear members of both Mainline and Rouge,

Further to our previous communication we wish to advise you of the following:

Potable Water:
It has come to the Union’s attention that certain flights have recently been dispatched without any running water. Faced with a public health situation in which thorough handwashing with soap and water have been repeatedly cited as the most important and effective way to protect oneself and others from contracting the 2019-nCoV (Coronavirus), it is categorically unacceptable for any aircraft to be dispatched without a fully functional water system.

It is the Union’s position that any aircraft without a fully functional water system ought to be immediately removed and not positioned for operation until such time as the issue can be corrected – regardless of aircraft type.

The Union strongly discourages its members from accepting a non-functional water system in exchange for any form of supplemental compensation.

Should you be faced with a non-functional water system on any aircraft:

• IMMEDIATELY contact the Union. We consider this an urgent situation and it is appropriate to contact us via 247@accomponent.ca and/or the emergency line:

 

Resources:
For a reminder of the onboard tools available to you, as well as reputable sources of information see our Update #1 by clicking HERE.

To review public health resources that do not require a trip to the clinic or ER, see our Update #2 by clicking HERE.

For a reminder about proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) see our Update #3 by clicking HERE.

Notification of passengers with suspected illness:
As stated in our Update #3, in the event that someone falls ill after transiting through our network, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) will inform the company. The company will in turn ensure that the employees who would have come in direct contact are informed. This includes cabin crew.

To date it is confirmed that neither of the 2 Toronto coronavirus cases arrived on Air Canada flights, nor the confirmed case in B.C.

Should you fall ill or become injured while away on layover:
The Union has inquired and AC Occupational Health in consultation with Medaire will continue to follow the regular mid-cycle book-off process. However, at destinations affected by the 2019-nCoV (which may change as the situation develops) Medaire will make every effort to avoid sending employees to hospitals or clinics – and instead arrange for care to come to them.

Should you fall ill on layover with a fever or respiratory symptoms, the company has informed us there is a possibility you may be quarantined by local officials until such a time as it is confirmed you do not have the coronavirus. The company may have little control over this and will do its utmost to ensure any affected employee is supported. As this situation develops, this may apply at various destinations that are being affected. As always, we encourage you to reach out to the Union for assistance in such a situation by emailing 247@accomponent.ca  or calling the emergency line listed above.

Accommodation and extra supplies:
The Union has inquired about which destinations the company is offering accommodation for concerned employees and boarding extra supplies. We have been informed that this is evaluated on a daily basis, depending on the current situation at our various destinations.

Regular supplies will continue to be boarded on all flights. Members who wish to have extra supplies will find surgical masks and large pump-bottles of alcohol-based hand sanitizer in the crew centres that they may use to refill their own smaller containers, including those provided by the company. Please be considerate of others when taking supplies.

Currently the Union is awaiting clarification regarding accommodation and supplies for flights to/from Hong Kong as well as certain other destinations raised by our members.

Your Rights:
Many members have inquired about their rights. As is always the case, employees have a right to a safe workplace. This includes the FOUR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS of health and safety. You can read the Union’s full bulletin on this by clicking HERE.

• The right to know
  • You have a right to know about anything that may affect your health or safety. If you have a concern – speak up and ask your questions! Remember to always keep the union in the know by copying contact@accomponent.ca.
• The right to participate
  • You can participate in ensuring a safe workplace and assisting your committees by reporting any suspected hazards or concerns about health and safety. To file a health and safety complaint: ACAeronet > Safety > Submit a report/SIMS at Mainline or use AQD Rouge.
• The right to refuse dangerous work
  • Every employee always has an individual right to refuse work if they feel it puts their life or their health in imminent or serious danger. For more information, see the end of Chapter 2 in your manual and download the Union’s bulletin by sending a blank email to rtr@accomponent.ca.
  • Remember that the gateway for work refusals is to contact crew scheduling, who will put you in touch with a safety manager.
  • Know that in the law step 1 of the work refusal process is between yourself and the company – and does not involve your Union H&S reps. They become involved at step 2 if the employer is unable to resolve your concerns – and their non-presence at step 1 should not be interpreted as a lack of representation. HOWEVER, if you are being denied your right to refuse – or if your rights are in any other way being violated – it is appropriate to contact the Union.
• The right to no reprisal
  • Both the company’s non-punitive safety reporting policy as well as the Canada Labour Code Section 147 guarantee no discipline for employees exercising their duties and/or rights when it comes to safety.
  • You cannot be disciplined for exercising your right to refuse dangerous work, when it is done in good faith. You also cannot lose pay (you may be reassigned to alternate duties).

CONTACT US:
We are committed to representing you but can’t do it alone. As we will be speaking to the company on a daily basis, your comments, questions and concerns will be that much more important over the coming days.

We cannot stress enough the importance of communicating your concerns, questions and frustrations directly to the union by emailing contact@accomponent.ca, but also filing a health and safety complaint with the company (ACAeronet > safety > submit a report/SIMS at mainline or in AQD at Rouge). This is very important as it enters the concern into the company’s h&s database and stats used by both management and your health and safety committees.

In Solidarity,

Wesley Lesosky
President, Air Canada Component of CUPE

As you may be aware by now the Company has suspended flights to mainland China (PEK and PVG) until February 29th. All crew that are currently in China are being returned on tomorrow’s flight.  This is due to the Canadian Government updating its travel advisory for China, advising of non-essential travel to China (click HERE to view).

For those of you with scheduled flights to China, your schedules should be updated shortly and you will be placed on reassignment. Please click HERE to view our reassignment bulletin.

We understand the stress this may cause, and appreciate that there may be more questions, and encourage you to reach out to your Local.

We will keep you posted on any further developments.

In Solidarity,

Wesley Lesosky
President, Air Canada Component of CUPE

In our continued efforts to inform you about the Wuhan Novel Coronavirus please note the following updates:

AC Employee Town Hall

The company will be holding a call-in event with Sam Elfassy, VP, Safety, Dr. Jim Chung, Chief Medical Officer, as well as it’s third-party consultant in infectious diseases.

Time 16:00 EST 28JAN2020  
Call details also available in the AC Life app.
Toll-free (Canada/US):             1-800-898-3989
International dial-in numbers:  https://www.confsolutions.ca/ILT?oss=7P1R8008983989
Participant passcode:              5971717#

Union Efforts

• Your Component Health & Safety Committee and Executive team continue to take your concerns, comments and questions to the company for follow-up. Please keep writing to us at contact@accomponent.ca and also filing a health and safety complaint with the company when appropriate (ACAeronet > safety > submit a report/SIMS at mainline or in AQD at Rouge). This is very important as it enters the concern into the company’s health & safety database and stats used by both management and your health and safety committees.

• The Air Canada Component is also organizing an all-AC-union safety call to discuss this issue with the other departments that you may interact with on a daily basis at work. We’re all in this together and communication and sharing of information and experiences is key to best representing you.

Company Measures

• A reminder that extra masks, gloves and anti-septic wipes are boarded on all flights to Mainland China. Provisions are double-catered out of Canada so please keep this in mind out of consideration for the return crew. Regular allotment of Masks, gloves and wipes are boarded on all other flights. This is being assessed by the company on a daily basis and may change if necessary.
• Extra masks and small bottles of alcohol-based hand sanitizer are provisioned in the crew centres.
• Regardless of destination, you can use your company provided PPE (gloves, masks), or your own mask without fear of discipline in all classes of service. (see CUPE fact sheet on respiratory protection)
• The Union has been informed that should a passenger be found to have the Wuhan Coronavirus, the Public Health Agency of Canada will notify the company, and any affected employees will be promptly advised.
• If you have concerns about flying to mainland China, inform crew scheduling or speak to a manager. The scheduler may transfer you to a manager. The company has been accommodating employees. This currently extends only to flights to/from mainland China.
• If you have concerns about flying to another destination, we encourage you to speak to a safety manager (or ask crew scheduling to put you in touch with one) and explain your worries. Should accommodation not be offered, know that every employee always retains their individual right to refuse dangerous work as outlined at the end of Chapter 2 in your FAM/PUB. The Union also has a bulletin you can download by emailing rtr@accomponent.ca .

PPE

While it is the employer’s responsibility to educate, train and provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to its employees, in light of the Wuhan Novel Coronavirus, the Union would like to remind you of certain basic principles that we all sometimes forget.

Avoiding these mistakes can spell the difference between your PPE actually protecting you or simply becoming a false sense of security.

Gloves:

• The wearing of gloves does not relieve the need for proper hand hygiene.
• You should wash your hands prior to wearing, and definitely after removal with water and soap. You may use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if this is not possible.
• Used gloves should be treated as contaminated: DO NOT touch other surfaces or equipment with them.
• Once used ensure proper removal and wash your hands with water and soap or alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

     * https://www.who.int

Face mask:

see CUPE fact sheet on respiratory protection

• Secure ties or elastic bands at the middle of the head and neck
• Flexible band should fit over the bridge of the nose
• Face mask should fit snug to the face and below the chin.

• Remove the mask by grasping the bottom ties or elastic bands, then the top ones.
• Lift away from the face without touching the front and discard.

                                                                                                                *www.cdc.gov

In Solidarity,

Wesley Lesosky
President, Air Canada Component of CUPE

Some of you have reached out wondering if you should seek the advice of a medical professional. As is common at this time of the year, hospital emergency rooms and walk-in clinics are often at capacity with patients suffering from influenza, the common cold, and other seasonal illnesses.

Your Component Health and Safety Committee would like to raise awareness of the provincial health lines that remain at your disposal 24/7, and which may be a useful tool to gain the information you seek.

As is always the case, these provincial resources are not for emergencies and do not replace an in-person consultation with a medical professional. They do however put you in direct contact with a registered nurse, and are designed to help you decide if a physical visit is both necessary and beneficial.

We wish to remind you that if you are flying to China, should you have concerns about operating a flight, please speak to crew scheduling, or your base manager explaining to them your issue. The company has been accommodating concerned employees.

China is the only destination where the Company is offering accommodation.

We also issue a further reminder that if you have a personal N95 mask, these are designed for personal use, they are not to be shared with passengers.

HealthLink BC
Tel: 8-1-1
https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/contact-us

HealthLink BC is as close as your phone or the web any time of the day or night, every day of the year.
Call 8-1-1 toll-free in B.C., or call 7-1-1 for the deaf and the hard of hearing toll-free in B.C.
You can speak with a health service navigator, who can also connect you with a:

• registered nurse any time, every day of the year;
• registered dietitian from 9am to 5pm Pacific Time, Monday to Friday;
• qualified exercise professional from 9am to 5pm Pacific Time, Monday to Friday;
• pharmacist from 5pm to 9am Pacific Time every day of the year.

Translation services are available in more than 130 languages.
Please note that we are unable to provide general health information or advice about symptoms by email. For general health information or symptom advice, please call us at 8-1-1 any time of the day or night.

Alberta HealthLink
Tel: 8-1-1
https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/healthinfo/link/index.html

Do you have a health concern for yourself or a child? Call Health Link by dialing 811 for quick and easy advice from a registered nurse 24/7.
The top three reasons people called Health Link last year:

1. respiratory problems
2. contagious diseases
3. injuries/trauma

Telehealth Ontario
Tel: 1-866-797-0000
https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-medical-advice-telehealth-ontario

Telehealth Ontario is a free, confidential service you can call to get health advice or information. A Registered Nurse will take your call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Telehealth Ontario is only offered over the phone. Email advice is not available.

How it works
When you call, a Registered Nurse will ask you to answer questions so they can assess your health problem and give you advice.
Telehealth Ontario nurses will not diagnose your illness or give you medicine. They will direct you to the most appropriate level of care or may put you in contact with a health professional who can advise you on your next steps.
The nurse will help you decide whether to:

• handle a problem yourself
• visit your doctor or nurse practitioner
• go to a clinic
• contact a community service
• go to a hospital emergency room

Who can call
Anyone can call Telehealth Ontario to ask a health-related question. This service is:

• confidential – you may be asked to provide your health card number, but it is not required
• provided in both English and French, with translation support for some other languages
• free for all users

What you can ask
You can contact Telehealth Ontario when you have health-related questions or concerns about:

• illness or injury that may need medical care
• illnesses that don’t go away or keep coming back
• support available to help you quit smoking
• food and healthy eating (you will be connected to a registered dietitian)
• teen health and issues
• depression, suicide or other mental health concerns
• breastfeeding
• refugee health supports
• medical assistance in dying supports

INFO-SANTE Quebec
Tel: 8-1-1
https://www.quebec.ca/sante/trouver-une-ressource/info-sante-811/

Info-Santé 811 is a free and confidential telephone consultation service.
811 is the only telephone number for this service. Dialling 811 promptly puts you in contact with a nurse in case of a non-urgent health issue. However, in the event of a serious problem or emergency, it is important to dial 9-1-1 or go to the emergency room.

The service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Anyone living in Québec can call Info-Santé 811 for themselves or a family member.
Info-Santé 811 nurses evaluate your health situation and give advice based on your condition.They can answer your questions about your health and direct you to the most appropriate resource in your region. Calling Info-Santé 811 often helps avoid going to a medical clinic or emergency room.

In Solidarity,

Wesley Lesosky
President, Air Canada Component of CUPE

Many of our Mainline and Rouge members have reached out over the last few days with concerns about the Wuhan Novel Coronavirus. As you know, this is a rapidly evolving situation, and it has taken some time to prepare this bulletin as the information has continually been updated with communication and calls with Air Canada Labour.

• Extra gloves, sanitizer wipes, and surgical masks are being boarded on flights and you are permitted to use your PPE as needed in all classes of service.
o Some employees may prefer to use their own N95 mask, which may provide some benefits in terms of fit, which can affect protection. (see CUPE fact sheet on respiratory protection)
• Hand sanitizer bottles are being provisioned in the crew centres for you to take.
• Remember that eye-shields are available in the UPK kits. This can protect your eyes in the event you must engage in prolonged close contact with an ill passenger.
• Frequent hand-washing with warm water remains the most effective way to prevent illness.
• Remember that PPE is only as good as your hygiene habits:
o Gloves must be removed and disposed of properly. Touching your face with gloves is as bad as with bare hands. You should wash your hands after removal.
o Masks should not be re-used once removed.
• Please review your suspected communicable disease section from your FAM/PUB chapter 6.
• Please remain aware and review your globe bulletins.

What has the Union been doing?
Over the past week your Component Health & Safety team and executive have:
• As a result of your comments, we have advocated for more onboard tools as well as information about what actions are being taken by each department to protect employees. We believe that is important, since it is one of our members’ three fundamental rights to know. This was provided in company Update#2, and extra supplies have been boarded on flights to China for the past three days.
• Also, as a result of your comments, we have advocated for greater information about what the company is doing to protect its employees, its plans and about the virus itself. The company began this discussion in Update#3 posted on 23JAN20 which also included external links.
• Met on 24JAN20 with corporate safety to discuss the company’s actions so far, inquire about their third-party advisory service and to outline a need for greater dialogue and updates from the company, in order to best represent you. As of 24JAN20 the Policy Committee will be holding daily calls, including weekends, where your representatives will be provided the latest updates and have an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback to the employer.
• The Union Health & Safety committee has been in contact with ACPA, as in many cases the one-crew concept and CRM may be required in order to address onboard concerns. It is best that both our groups are on the same page.
• The Union has also been in touch with our American counterparts to exchange resources.

Things the Union continues to pursue:
• Options for service which could further reduce potential exposure to our members.
• Re-enforcement and reminders of procedures for communicable diseases, ideally in briefings.
• Re-enforcement and reminders of proper use of protective equipment, ideally in briefings.

What can you do?
If you or your colleagues have concerns about operating, the best place to start is to remain informed about the virus:
• CUPE National Health and Safety has developed a general fact sheet aimed at its general 600K+ membership. You can access it by clicking HERE.
• The New York Times has some excellent objective reporting. www.nyt.com
• The World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/westernpacific/emergencies/novel-coronavirus .
• The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html .
• The Public Health Agency of Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html
• Global Affairs Canada: https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories/pneumonia-china?_ga=2.260947853.1094428749.1578423601-32662530.1555003301

Know the tools that you already have at your disposal. Many members have expressed frustration at not having things which are actually present onboard or exist in our procedures:
• UPK Kit: includes a Face shield to protect your eyes during prolonged close contact with an ill passenger.
• Glycerine soap – useful when lavs are occupied and doesn’t dry out your skin.
• Gloves for pickup (extra on China flights)
• Surgical masks (also important for use on ill passengers – extra on China flights)
• Ability to wear you own mask, or a company mask (see CUPE fact sheet on respiratory protection)
• Access to StatMD for guidance
• Procedures for dealing with Suspected Communicable Disease FAM/PUB Chapter 6.

What if you don’t feel comfortable operating?
If you don’t feel comfortable operating the company has been very good at addressing concerns of employees on a case-by-case basis. You should call crew scheduling and explain that you have concerns about operating your flight due to Wuhan Coronavirus. You may be referred to speak with your safety manager in order to arrange alternate duties – This is normal.

Should they not be resolved, every employee always has their individual right to refuse dangerous work, as referenced as the end of chapter 2 in the FAM and in the Union’s bulletin which can be access by emailing rtr@accomponent.ca.

Write to the Union and Report to the company!
We are committed to representing you but can’t do it alone. As we will be speaking to the company on a daily basis, your comments, questions and concerns will be that much more important over the coming days.

We cannot stress the importance of communicating your concerns, questions and frustrations directly to the union by emailing contact@accomponent.ca, but also by filing a health and safety complaint with the company (ACAeronet > safety > submit a report/SIMS at mainline or in AQD at Rouge). This is very important as it enters the concern into the company’s health & safety database and stats used by both management and your health and safety committees.

In Solidarity,

Wesley Lesosky
President, Air Canada Component of CUPE