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

COVID-19 Update: Denial of Services and Quarantine Enforcement Calls

The Union met again with the PHAC on September 23, 2020. We wish to provide an update about our ongoing work to resolve denial of services for our members and emails/calls from quarantine enforcement agents.

Denial of services:
The PHAC raised this issue on September 18, 2020, at the Health Professionals Forum, a group of the professional associations and colleges in the healthcare sector that meet throughout the year with senior government officials. They were asked to come back with suggestions about how to best resolve this issue. The PHAC will be following up with them this week. A call is being scheduled between the PHAC and provincial health agencies to explore a similar conversation.

Meanwhile the Union heard from its members that it would be helpful to have a letter from the company confirming the exemption and the measures in place to protect employees from COVID-19.  We requested that the company issue such a letter and are pleased that one is now available. This will be posted on Aeronet shortly.

Concerns about email Scams:
The Union has advised the PHAC that many members have been unsure if the emails they receive are legitimate or not. The agency is reviewing this internally.

The PHAC advises that any legitimate emails from their agency will be sent from an address ending in @CANADA.CA . You should ensure that the word “Canada” is spelled correctly as scammers will often add or subtract a letter in order to make the email appear legitimate.

The federal government also maintains a website with information about all known COVID-19 fraud and scams:
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/campaigns/covid19.html#h-1

How to stop quarantine enforcement emails/calls:
The PHAC and CBSA have reviewed their data and the bulk of the problem lies with the use of the paper form.  These forms are processed along with thousands from passengers. If the section related to your exemption isn’t circled or the processing agent misses it, your name will be forwarded to the PHAC’s quarantine enforcement branch.

To reduce emails/calls, it is highly preferable to use the CBSA’s ArriveCan app, which has recently been fixed.

  1. Download the ArriveCan app for free on Google Play and Apple App Store .
  2. Create a profile on the app. This will be saved for future use.
  3. Complete the quarantine questionnaire using the app upon return from your flight.
  4. Show your submission receipt to the CBSA officer. They will provide you with a 3-digit code.
  5. Once you enter the 3 digit-code into the appropriate box, your exemption from the mandatory quarantine provision is confirmed by a blue E with a checkmark.

 

If you choose to complete the paper form, the PHAC advises it is more likely your name will end up on the quarantine enforcement email/call lists. To reduce those chances, they advise the following:

  1. Fill out the following highlighted fields (see below)
  2. Under Type of Travel document, write Passport
  3. Under Type of exempt travel, clearly circle Trade or transport services.
  4. Remind the customs officer as you pass through that you need to be processed as EXEMPT for trade or transport services.

If you start getting emails/calls from quarantine agents:

  • Don’t ignore them. This may cause the agent to escalate your file.
  • When you speak to the agent use the language that you are exempt from the quarantine due to work in transport services.
  • Let them know that you are in possession of a letter issued by Transport Canada to the CEO of Air Canada confirming this exemption (ePub>Covid-19 bulletins).
  • The PHAC has worked with their enforcement department to ensure that calls won’t escalate, however take note that the agent cannot remove your name from the list. This must be done by contacting the agency that flagged you (CBSA).
  • CBSA can be reached as follows:
    • contact@cbsa.gc.ca or 1-800-461-9999
    • Ensure to state your name, employer (AC/Rouge), occupation (cabin crew), flight date and number, and the fact that you are receiving quarantine enforcement calls despite being exempted due to work in transport services.

If a law enforcement officer presents themselves at your residence:

The Union, PHAC and CBSA are all aware that a small number of our members have received enforcement visits from the Police. It appears that some officers are unaware of our exempted status. The Union, PHAC and CBSA are collaborating to resolve this.

In the meantime, please ensure to have your TC and company exemption letter handy as well as your employee ID.

It is extremely important to notify the union of any such occurrence so we can continue our efforts to resolve this on behalf of the membership.

In Solidarity,

BILL C-4 An Act relating to certain measures in response to COVID-19

This morning in Ottawa at approximately 03:00 Bill C-4 passed in the House of Commons.  It is being sent to the Senate to be debated and voted on.  If this bill is passed by the Senate and receives Royal Assent, it would then become law. If you would like to know more about the specifics of this bill you can find the links below.   There you will find information about the three new benefits available under Employment Insurance (EI): Canada Recovery Benefit, the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefits, and the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit.

https://parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/43-2/bill/C-4/third-reading

https://www.parl.ca/LegisInfo/BillDetails.aspx?Language=E&billId=10867435

For those members that would like to apply for leaves to receive EI benefits under this program, we have been advised by Air Canada Mainline that you can apply for them through eLeaves, and for those of you recalled to Air Canada Rouge, you can apply by sending your request to askrouge@aircanada.ca, Attention: Chelsea. Your request will be received by Air Canada or Air Canada Rouge, however it will have a pending status until the Bill comes into force after approval by the Senate and proclamation. The government is motivated to implement this legislation so people do not go without income after the last CERB payments are made.

We would like to reiterate the terms and criteria of these benefits for your information.

Canada Recovery Benefit
A Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) of $500 per week for up to 26 weeks, may be payable to workers who are self-employed or are not eligible for EI and who still require income support. This Benefit would support Canadians who have not returned to work due to COVID-19 or whose income has dropped by at least 50%. These workers must be available and looking for work and must accept work where it is reasonable to do so.

Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit
A Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) of $500 per week for up to two weeks, may be payable for workers who are sick or must self-isolate for reasons related to COVID-19. This Benefit is meant to support the government’s commitment to ensure all Canadian workers have access to paid sick leave.

Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit
A Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) of $500 per week for up to 26 weeks per household, for eligible Canadians unable to work because they must care for a child under the age of 12 or family member because schools, day-cares or care facilities are closed due to COVID-19 or because the child or family member is sick and/or required to quarantine.

As noted in our September 24, 2020 bulletin, any period of leave taken by an employee prior to September 30, 2020, does not count towards the total amount of leave you could now be entitled to under the new proposed legislation.

Please stay tuned for more information on this including the Company Policy on these leaves. As soon as we know more, you will know more.

In solidarity,

COVID-19 Safety – Fall 2020 Refresher

As Canadians we have benefited from a summer that saw relatively low infection rates across the country, which in turn allowed for a relaxation of COVID-19 measures. Because of this, we may have slipped a bit when it comes to protecting ourselves, loved ones and colleagues.

But it is clear, a second wave of COVID-19 is beginning in some parts of the world and, for some of us, even here at home. The time to buckle down and take every possible precaution is now.

Based on feedback that the Union has received over the past month, we wish to remind members of a few key health and basic safety items crucial to preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace:

Exposure:

  • As a rule of thumb, your likelihood of contracting SARS-CoV-2 from someone who is infected is conditional on two things: The degree to which they are infectious X the amount of time you are exposed to them.
  • Since there is no way of knowing or controlling how infectious an infected person is, and since many infected persons show no symptoms, the only way we have of protecting ourselves is eliminating exposure or reducing it if that isn’t possible.
  • This can be accomplished through administrative actions designed to facilitate physical distancing and limiting prolonged contact. If those fail or are rendered impossible or less reliable, it can also be accomplished to a certain extent through the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
  • The fact that some PPE is made optional by the employer, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be used. The Union has heard countless stories from members who, in hindsight, say “next time I’m wearing all the PPE”. Don’t let this be you.

Masks:

  • The entire aircraft is a “mask zone”. This means that a mask must be worn by all crew everywhere on the aircraft including washrooms, crew bunks and galleys. The only exception is for pilots when they are alone in the flight deck, as per the TC interim order.
  • For added clarity: If cabin crew are entering the flight deck, or if pilots are exiting the flight deck, everyone needs to be wearing a mask.
  • It is appreciated that masks aren’t terribly comfortable, however it is a necessary and required action to wear one while taking crew rest for the health and safety of you and your crew members.
  • A mask must cover both your nose and mouth. You must also pinch the nosepiece of the mask (any type) to ensure the best seal possible and help prevent fogging of protective eyewear.

Gowns:

  • Gowns are single use only. DO NOT take them to the hotel or your home to wash/re-use. This defeats the entire purpose of this PPE and only puts you at risk.
  • Gowns are removed back-to-front after use (reverse for the lab coat style), taking care to turn it inside out as you remove your arms from the sleeves, balling it up to avoid touching the outside. Dispose of in the trash.

Eyewear:

  • Protective eyewear is important! It protects you from droplets that might be generated by a customer or colleague when speaking to you.
  • It is the Union’s position that protective eyewear should be worn at all times when possible.

Physical distancing:

  • Physical distancing is key to protecting yourself and others from contracting the virus. The further you are from one another, the less likely fine droplets in the air are to enter your airway. While physical distancing may be a challenge onboard, it is often possible elsewhere at work such as in airports, crew buses, hotel lobbies and restaurants.

Group gatherings:

  • Gatherings amongst crew on layovers involve people from many households and many regions who have recently worked flights to many places. If you connect the dots, a “small gathering” of 5 people in one hotel room could indirectly expose you to as many as 80-100 other people!

If you must meet as a group, it is infinitely safer to do so outdoors in areas where there is ample airflow and in keeping with physical distancing and mask usage guidelines.

The worst place to spend time with people is in a poorly ventilated and/or small enclosed area such as a hotel room, especially without the use of masks.

Reliable information sources:

PPE guideline document, PPE donning and doffing video, and mask compliance guide:

  • ACAeronet > ePub > Personal Protective Equipment Tile

www.cupe.ca/covid19

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html

In solidarity,

Your Air Canada Component of CUPE Health and Safety Committee

COVID-19 Leave Options 

Many members have been reaching out in the past few weeks regarding leave options as the original COVID-19 leave was scheduled to be repealed effective October 1, 2020.  We are happy to report on a new development as today the Federal Government tabled Bill C-2 which includes proposed amendments to the Canada Labour Code.

Bill C-2 includes proposed amendments to the Canada Labour Code to ensure that federally regulated employees have access to job-protected leaves so that they can avail themselves to the new benefits introduced by the government as outlined below:

Subject to this legislation receiving Royal Assent, the new Benefits would provide income support to Canadians by introducing measures that encourage people to safely return to work. Specifically, the legislation includes:

  • A Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) of $500 per week for up to 26 weeks, to workers who are self-employed or are not eligible for EI and who still require income support. This Benefit would support Canadians who have not returned to work due to COVID-19 or whose income has dropped by at least 50%. These workers must be available and looking for work, and must accept work where it is reasonable to do so;
  • A Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) of $500 per week for up to two weeks, for workers who are sick or must self-isolate for reasons related to COVID-19. This Benefit supports our commitment to ensure all Canadian workers have access to paid sick leave; and,
  • A Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) of $500 per week for up to 26 weeks per household, for eligible Canadians unable to work because they must care for a child under the age of 12 or family member because schools, day-cares or care facilities are closed due to COVID-19 or because the child or family member is sick and/or required to quarantine

In addition, any period of leave taken by an employee prior to September 30, 2020, does not count towards the total amount of leave you could now be entitled to under the new proposed legislation.

We are in discussion with Air Canada on implementing these new leaves pending passage by Parliament and will update the membership as more information becomes available, including any policies put in place by the employer.  Please note these leaves would be applicable at Air Canada Mainline and Air Canada Rouge.

In solidarity,