Omicron variant:
We understand that many of our members may have concerns about the Omicron variant. At this time, as widely reported, we can expect greater clarity in the weeks to come. While we are not experts, it is the Union’s understanding that protections we have all adopted and grown unaccustomed to can be expected to still provide protection and a play a role in curbing the spread.

The Union’s overall position and concerns related to COVID-19 remain the same so far but gain added importance given the reported possibility of Omicron demonstrating higher transmissibility, immune evasion, and unknown severity of illness.

We continue to be discouraged by and to challenge rollbacks of protections against COVID-19 and workplace measures that put our members at increased risk. You may have seen CUPE in the news recently on this topic and can be assured that work is being done to represent the Union’s members at all levels and with all players.

Rapid testing update:
Following the Union’s recent rapid testing bulletin, some members have reached out asking how to sign up for this program, expressing difficulty setting up the reporting app once they have applied to the program, or using the app itself.

1. Click on the COVID-19 testing tile in the rotating slides at the top of the ACaeronet main screen.
2. You’ll need to click on the “home screening tile” first to apply to the program, download the app and order your test kits.
3. Then select the tile that says, “how to use the employee screening application”.
   1. Then click on the link “download the power apps application….”
   2. Review the instructions on the page starting at STEP 9 for home screening

NOTE:   If you previously used the application for rapid tests at the airport, you will need to go into the “employee profile” in the app and change your work location to one of the one that corresponds to your “home screening + your bases province”.

If you experience difficulty, please reach out and we’ll be pleased to assist or to put you in touch with the appropriate person.

Contact tracing update:
Following Coronavirus Update 41A, some members have reached out asking why there are minimal flights being reported on the Canada.ca website and ePub flight notification portal. The Union became aware over the past two weeks that the provinces have progressively stopped collecting and reporting contact tracing information to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). This has a domino effect whereby the PHAC cannot post flights, nor advise the company of cases – effectively ending publication of contact events. The Union is actively reviewing its options to challenge and raise awareness to what it considers a foolish and ill-timed rollback of vital information to workers and the Canadian Public.

The company’s refusal to continue to conduct internal contact tracing for cases of employees who are in the workplace and test positive is unrelated and the Union continues to insist that this decision violates the company’s duty of care toward its workers.

In Solidarity,