days until our Collective Agreement expires, we are preparing, we are united and we will make change.

EAP Update – October 2023

Greetings, Bonjour!

We are delighted to present our inaugural newsletter, uniting both our Mainline and Rouge Flight Attendants. This edition serves as an ideal platform to introduce ourselves and shed light on the array of services at your disposal through our EAP – Peer Assistance Program.

What is the EAP – Peer Assistance Program?

Simply put, the EAP –  Peer Assistance Program is a free and confidential referral service available to employees, their families, and retirees.  This program is a collaborative effort, sponsored jointly by the union and the company. The committee is supported by annually trained flight attendants who volunteer their time to assist their fellow cabin crew members with referrals to professional services.

I’ve come across EAP and EFAP on the company portal, but I’m curious to understand how they differ from the CUPE – Peer Assistance Program?

They are both workplace support programs, but they serve different purposes and have distinct characteristics:

CUPE – Peer Assistance Program:

The Peer Assistance Program aims to provide a confidential, safe space for flight attendants to seek support. Trained Peer Coordinators, who are flight attendants themselves, offer emotional support, guidance, and connections to resources. The program focuses on promoting well-being among flight attendants by offering referrals to clinical professionals and community resources.

UBY – EFAP (Employee and Family Assistance Program):

Is a workplace benefit designed to provide confidential assistance to employees dealing with personal or work-related issues that may affect their well-being, job performance, or overall productivity.  This is available through the UBY portal.

“In summary, EFAP services are comprehensive, professional support programs provided by the employer, while Peer Assistance Programs involve employees supporting each other through shared experiences.”

To reach us, please email us at eap@accomponent.ca.

YUL EAP Cell: 514-462-2041
YYZ EAP Cell: 647-802-0895
YYC EAP Cell: 403-472-6868
YVR EAP Cell: 778-991-4112

24/7 Emergency EAP Cell: 403-472-6868

Virtual Grief Support meeting

October 26, 2023 at 13:00 EDT

Are you grieving the death of a loved one? Do you have questions about grief?  You are not alone.

On October 26, Sean McGuire will offer support and information about the grief journey.  Grief can be unpredictable, confusing, sad and lonely.  This support group is a confidential and safe place to learn more about grief and living with loss. We will limit the meeting to a small group in order to provide an opportunity to share and explore your journey with grief. The meeting will be available to Mainline and Rouge members.

This session will take place virtually via Zoom on Thursday, October 26 at 13:00 EDT.

To register please email Sean at seanthomas@rogers.com.

Sean is a Service Director based in YYZ who holds a master’s degree in Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy.  Sean is also a member of the Ontario Association Mental Health Professionals. He has been facilitating grief support meetings at Air Canada for 15 years.

Virtual Recovery Support Meetings
Cabin Crew – Peer Recovery Program: 

October 11, 2023 at 12:00 EDT
October 25, 2023 at 12:00 EDT

This meeting is designed to provide a safe and empathetic space for flight attendants to gather and openly discuss their experiences, challenges, and achievements in their journey towards recovery from substance use.  Whether you are currently in recovery or simply curious, this gathering offers a supportive network of colleagues who comprehend the distinctive demands of our profession.

To register simply email: eap@accomponent.ca.

Virtual Support Meeting, with Dr. Johanna O’Flaherty: 

October 10, 2023 at 12:00 EDT

Join Dr. O’Flaherty, a distinguished trauma psychologist, in a secure and nurturing virtual space where flight attendants unite to heal, connect, and thrive.  Dr. O’Flaherty, an expert in trauma psychology, guides these support sessions with compassion and profound knowledge, fostering an environment where participants can discover comfort and empowerment as they embark on their supported journey.

Please register at:  eap@accomponent.ca.

Wishing our dedicated flight attendants, a soaring start to a wonderful October! May your flights be smooth, your passengers be cheerful, and your journeys be filled with excitement and joy throughout this beautiful autumn month…
In solidarity,

Vanessa Beaudoin-Grégoire
Chair, Component EAP Committee

Contract Seminars – Save The Date

In our continuing efforts to support and educate the membership we will be moving forward with road shows on the Collective Agreement. We will be hosting contract seminars at each base. Toronto and Montreal will have Rouge and mainline contract seminars. The dates of these seminars can be found below:
Monday, November 6
– YVR 10:00-1300 VANCOUVER Mainline
 
Tuesday, November 7
– YYC 10:00-1300 CALGARY Mainline
 
Thursday, November 9
– YUL Mainline 10:00-1300 MONTREAL Mainline
– YMQ Rouge 13:00-1600 MONTREAL Rouge
 
Friday, November 10
– YYZ Mainline 10:00-1300 TORONTO Mainline
– YTO Rouge 13:00-1600 TORONTO Rouge
 
The seminars will be presented by your Local Presidents and Vice Presidents in conjunction with the Component Grievance Committee and Component Executive. We collectively place great value on the education of the membership. When you have a solid understanding of the Collective Agreement language, and the block rules, it provides you with confidence to challenge the employer when they are telling you what your rights and responsibilities are. If you have any questions about this, please reach out to us at contact@accomponent.ca.
 
We will also be sending a follow up bulletin to have you RSVP.
In solidarity,

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – September 30th

Before we begin, I would like to acknowledge that as I write this bulletin, I am sitting on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. We express gratitude for the opportunity to live and work on this land and pay our respects to its Indigenous custodians, past and present.

Today is a great day to embark on a journey of self-education and enlightenment. By exploring the history, we can gain a deeper understanding of the events, cultures, and people that have shaped our world. It’s essential to recognize that knowledge is a powerful tool, and by familiarizing ourselves with the past, we can better navigate the present and influence the future. Let’s seize this day as an opportunity to expand our horizons and appreciate the rich tapestry of stories that history offers.

Your Component Diversity Committee is dedicated to emphasizing the significance of this day throughout the years. Truth and reconciliation are ongoing efforts that should be pursued daily. This principle will hold a prominent position within the committee, allowing us to wholeheartedly embrace and celebrate our roots.

The reasons why we wear an orange t-shirt have become a symbolic gesture of remembrance and solidarity, rooted in the tragic history of residential schools in Canada. The origin of this movement traces back to Phyllis Webstad, a Northern Secwepemc woman from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation. As a young girl, Phyllis was excited to wear her new orange shirt on her first day at a residential school. However, upon her arrival, the shirt was taken away from her, symbolizing the loss of her identity, culture, and the personal violations she and so many others endured at these institutions. The “Orange Shirt Day” movement, observed annually on September 30th, emerged from Phyllis’s story. Wearing an orange t-shirt serves as a powerful visual reminder of the harm these schools inflicted on Indigenous children and the lasting impact they have on Indigenous communities. It’s a call for awareness, education, and reconciliation, urging us to remember the past and work towards a future where every child’s life and culture are valued and recognized.

Here are some guidelines and resources to further understand land acknowledgments:
https://www.whose.land/

To support local event:
https://orangeshirtday.org/events/

Support our cause with a donation:
https://www.iworks.org/kocihta

Empower through learning:
https://www.ualberta.ca/admissions-programs/online-courses/indigenous-canada/index.html

Discover a world within these pages:

– Five Little Indians / Cinq petits Indiens (Michelle Good)
– Kuei, My Friend: A Conversation on Race and Reconciliation / Kuei, je te salue : conversation sur le racisme (Deni Ellis Béchard, Natasha Kanapé Fontaine)
– A Short History of Indians in Canada / Une brève histoire des Indiens au Canada (Thomas King)

In solidarity,

Olivier Faucher-Boisjoli
Co-Chair, Diversity & Inclusion Committee

Co-Operators Insurance Company

Your Component Officers are always looking for creative ways to lighten the financial burden of our members. We have been consulting with the Co-Operators Insurance Company to see if they are able to offer group rates that may be cheaper than your current home and auto insurance costs.  We are pleased to say that we have come to an agreement with them, and they are offering quotes to the membership. Please see the details below. Our group code is Air Canada Component of CUPE. We hope that this is successful and look forward to hearing from you.