Public Bulletins Archives - Page 128 of 188

Canada’s flight attendants welcome new Transport Minister – and say it’s time to get to work

Lisa Raymond on January 14, 2021

VANCOUVER, British Columbia–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Canada’s flight attendants are welcoming newly-appointed Transport Minister Omar Alghabra to his new post, and are urging him to take immediate action to support their industry, which has been ravaged by COVID-19.

In a letter sent to Alghabra on Thursday, the President of the Airline Division of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Wesley Lesosky, asks the new transport minister to work with labour to avoid more job losses in the sector.

Lesosky also noted the federal government’s troubling pattern of ignoring concerns from workers in the industry so far during the pandemic which has exacerbated job losses and made flying less safe.

“Our repeated attempts to engage your department and the federal government in general on critical issues for the airline industry have been almost universally ignored,” wrote Lesosky. “To be successful in reviving this critical industry, we need more collaboration and consultation with the federal government, not less.”

CUPE’s Airline Division represents 15,000 flight attendants at nine different airlines in Canada.

You can read a full copy of the letter HERE.

Staff Surplus – February 2021

Lisa Raymond on January 13, 2021

The Company advised us this morning of a staffing surplus due to a significantly reduced flying schedule related to a reduction in customer demand. The approximate surplus is 730 active mainline members and 100 active Rouge members. The staff reductions will take effect with the start of the February 2021 block month.

The Union is now working with the Company to launch a mitigation program at both Mainline and Rouge, similar to what was offered in the Spring. We have proposed that all members be placed on CEWS as the anticipated layoff is to be less than six (6) months. We have also requested that a reduced block program be launched at Rouge. More details on mitigation will be released once agreed upon.

The resulting layoffs will take place in reverse seniority order at each Company. As the anticipated duration of the layoff is less than six (6) months, there will be no bumping between Companies as Article 17.11.01 will apply.

Employees already awarded a SLOA/RBP for the month of February will be contacted individually and advised that this program is now cancelled. They will be redirected towards the mitigation program instead once launched.

We understand this news is disheartening and not what anyone wanted to hear; however, our industry is facing yet another unpreceded drop in customer demand and we will continue to do our best to support our members through this difficult time.

In solidarity,

Canada’s Flight Attendants & COVID-19 Vaccines

Lisa Raymond on January 13, 2021

In November I advised you that I had reached out to Minister of Health, Patty Hajdu regarding the news of multiple effective COVID-19 vaccines on the horizon. You can view that bulletin HERE. Since then I have continued to lobby the government, on behalf of the over 15,000 flight attendants represented by CUPE.

In December I wrote to each of the Premiers across Canada asking that their Provincial Government consider flight attendants as “those contributing to the maintenance of other essential services for the functioning of society” and “those whose living or working conditions put them at elevated risk of infection” under the government’s Preliminary guidance on key populations for early COVID-19 immunization.

Click HERE to view my letter to each of the Premiers.

Last week when I had not heard back I sent a follow up letter to each of the Premiers.

Click HERE to view my follow up letter to each of the Premiers.

Flight attendants clearly meet the government’s stated criteria for early immunization and it is important that they consider this information as they determine their priorities for early immunization.

In Solidarity,

Wesley Lesosky
President, Air Canada Component of CUPE

IMPORTANT – Changes to WIP Waiting Period

Lisa Raymond on January 12, 2021

As you may be aware, the Wage Indemnity Plan (WIP) Board made required amendments to the Wage Indemnity Plan (WIP) effective January 2, 2021. The WIP Board was required to make amendments to comply with a reduction in the EI waiting period implemented by the Government of Canada.

The WIP Board advised of the upcoming amendments on November 28, 2020 which you can review here: https://mailchi.mp/6f2a0615e1dc/wip-effective-january-2-2021-wage-indemnity-policy-changes-compter-du-2-janvier-2021-modifications-apportes-au-programme-dassurance-salaire?e=2e397171ed

Please see the Union bulletin issued in mid-December: https://mailchi.mp/b121a7c3a8bd/effective-january-2-2021-wip-changesmodifications-apportes-au-pas-compter-du-2-janvier-2021?e=5318069517

Your Component Executive and the WIP Board met with the Company on Friday, January 8, 2021. The company indicated that it did not agree with the proposal and that it would provide a different proposal.

For over 40 years, the Company provided up to 14 days of paid sick-time. Without notice to the Union or the WIP Board, the Company unilaterally revised the waiting period from 14 days to 7 days and now requires medical clearance from the Company’s OHS in order to return to work from a sickness-related absence that exceeds 7 days. The Company issued an update on ePub.

The Union did not consent to the Company’s unilateral change of a long-established practice providing for a 14-day waiting period. To be clear, the Union did not accept the change prior to its implementation. As a result of the Company’s improper actions, some of our members are left in a situation in which they were completely unaware of this change in practice and needed to book off.

The Union strongly disagrees with this unilateral change in practice. The union is considering all appropriate legal steps, including filing a grievance immediately. Click HERE to view the grievance form. We will strive to have the grievance heard as expeditiously as possible.

In the interim, what does this mean for you if your book-off is longer than 7 days?

As noted above, the Union does not agree with this long established change in practice however in the interim we recommend the following:

You will need to apply for WIP, as your sick days will only cover the first 7 days according to the new Air Canada policy, which is in dispute. This does require consultation with a doctor.
To return to work, you will also need to be cleared by Occupational Health. We realize how onerous this is given the fact that we are in the middle of a pandemic however this is what is required under the Company’s new policy.

We are especially concerned about the timing of this change to practice as our members are already managing work and family responsibilities with such courage and fortitude during these challenging times. In the Union’s view, it is egregious that not only is the Company unreasonably requiring medical notes when the health care system is already at its breaking point, but more so that so many of our members are being denied medical care.

We sincerely believe that this is creating more stress and uncertainty for so many who are already facing financial challenges. We know that it is our members who do so much and take on so much each time they go to work, and we promise to use all resources available to us to fight this.

In order to defeat this policy change, it is of vital importance to hear stories from each and every one who has been affected. This is compelling information, and we ask that you send this information to us. We know that it is an additional requirement on top of all that you are dealing with at present, but it is the most effective way that we can show an arbitrator why this change is completely unreasonable. Please add as many details as possible, including any difficulties obtaining a doctor’s appointment or any hardship you suffer as a result of the change in policy.

If you have any questions at all, please let us know. We ask that you send your statements to us directly at the Component offices. Please send them to contact@accomponent.ca. We will fight this fight together and we thank you in advance for helping us put our best case forward.

In solidarity,

Ground Duty Credits

Lisa Raymond on January 11, 2021

(This bulletin is relevant to MAINLINE MEMBERS ONLY)

For those of you who are operating flights during these times we are certain that you have seen the increase in protocols around the world relating to COVID-19. There have been reported increases in the time required for passenger deplaning/processing and COVID testing, among other things. We thought it would be wise to remind crew members that if you are required to remain on duty past the anticipated termination of the duty period that you are entitled to claim post ground duty credits as per Article 5.08.

Policy grievance CHQ-20-12, Post Duty Ground Credit, has been filed in relation to this for COVID testing upon arrival in Hong Kong Please click HERE to view the grievance form.

The Union is advising you that in any instance in which you are required to remain on duty past the termination of your duty period that you have a right to file a ground duty claim for this unpaid time. This form must be completed and signed by the Service Director. (Click HERE to access the claim form).

NOTE: All claims for ground duty after a flight, once signed by the Service Director, must also be approved by local base management.

For our Mainline members, Article 5.08 is clear:

5.08 GROUND DUTY – PRE/POST PERIOD – Where an employee is required to report for duty prior to or remain on duty following the termination of a Duty Period under Article B5.03, s/he shall be paid at one-half (½) of the hourly rate of pay for his/her classification applicable to the duty period involved.

The ground duty period should commence 15 minutes post arrival and if there is required testing it would be calculated up to the time the last person has cleared the COVID-19 testing facility. We do not believe that this time should be given for free by our members and we encourage the filing of these claims.

If the claim is denied, please submit all information to your Local Union officers so that they can investigate. Please always make sure to retain a copy for you and your crew’s records.

In solidarity,

Canada’s flight attendants welcome new Transport Minister – and say it’s time to get to work

Staff Surplus – February 2021

Canada’s Flight Attendants & COVID-19 Vaccines

IMPORTANT – Changes to WIP Waiting Period

Ground Duty Credits

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Air Canada Component of CUPE

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