PERFORMANCE MEETINGS
We’d like to provide you with some statistics on what is truly happening at each base, what the Union is doing with members, and where the current issues are with respect to performance meetings.
Since coming into office this term, one area that required our focus and attention was the discipline and discharge area. This is something not often discussed, but in need of addressing.
As many of you may be aware, the Union is copied on copious amounts of discipline, suspensions, and termination letters. We track and trend these, we look for blips, errors, and omissions. Along with labour, we ensure that we raise any concerns, whether disagreements prior to the grievance process, issues with the context of the letters, timeliness, or general content.
To give some context and numbers by base, please see below:
BARGAINING
We will be continuing bargaining the week of November 13, 2019. The Company and the Union have met for 4 weeks now and are roughly halfway through the 90-day process as per the MOA in the Collective Agreement. This can be extended if mutually agreed, however at this stage we are still heavily in the bargaining process.
AIRLINE DIVISION CONFERENCE AND THE ADCP
The Airline Division Conference was held October 6, 2019 in Montreal, one day prior to the CUPE National Convention.
For comparison of who is represented within the Airline Division, please see below:
During the Airline Conference we dealt with issues arising from Health and Safety, Political Action, Resolutions, and Bylaw Amendments.
For the finance portion, we had a full presentation and a question and answer period that was well received by all. There have been many changes and struggles for the Airline Division, and this term we are incredibly happy with the avenue in which we are going so far. There is always room for improvement, and updating and improving the bylaws, streamlining finances, and ensuring maximum participation from within the group reflects positive progress with broad support.
We had the pleasure of an hour with both our National President Mark Hancock, along with National Secretary Treasurer, Charles Fleury.
We have appointed Jordan Braystone, our current Component Health and Safety Chairperson, to the Airline Division Health and Safety panel. We also nominated trustees to review the finances within the Airline Division.
With changing times at the Division came changing the name of the division, from Council of Component Presidents (COCP) to Airline Division Council of Presidents (ADCP).
The next meeting of the ADCP is set for Vancouver (YVR) December 5, 2019. It is important to note that the Air Canada Component pays $0.10 per member (mainline and rouge), per month, towards ADCP so I feel it’s important that we start updating the members on the benefits and issues we are facing as a unified group of Airlines. We truly are stronger together, and when we are able to discuss our issues, it amazes me the differences in working issues, respect, and general communication each airline faces.
CUPE NATIONAL CONVENTION
From October 7 to October 10, 2019, I had the opportunity to attend the CUPE National Convention along side your Component Vice-President, Theresa Mitchell, Component Secretary-Treasurer Alex Habib and your Local Presidents, Guillaume Leduc (Local 4091 YUL), Denis Montpetit (Local 4092 YYZ), Carolyn Bugnon (Local 4094 YVR), Kim Wentzell (Local 4095 YYC), and Robyn Sharpe (Local 4098 Rouge). It was a unique experience this year, as one of our very own members Francisco Oritz from Local 4092 (nominated member) decided to throw his name in the hat to run for CUPE National President. It’s been many years since Air Canada/Air Canada Rouge members have been this active at Convention. Convention runs every two years, and all members are able to participate. Convention deals with everything from grassroots movements, to health and safety, motions placed on the floor from fellow members, improvements to CUPE National in general, and political action around elections both internal and external, such as the Federal Election we just went through.
THE AFTER PARTY
The After Party’s are fast approaching, and the response has been amazing. Members from all bases as well as those on layover are signing up and looking forward to a good evening with colleagues and friends! If you have not signed up, and you don’t have the link handy, just “click HERE” and it will direct you to the site to register for the event.
SICK NOTE REQUEST
We have had a few members reach out because they are concerned about being asked for a doctor’s note while booked off. Remember, if the employer requests a sick note to substantiate your illness and time away from work, they need to advise you of the reason for the request. If this is not given at the time of the request, please advise your Local Union office and we will follow up.
FEEDBACK SURVEY
With communication this term being proactive and informative, we really want to do a check in with the members to know that we are moving in the right direction. Beyond that, if more focus is needed on any particular issue, we want you to let us know where. We will be starting a quarterly survey to engage with each of you on items that matter to you. Please keep a look out for this in the coming weeks.
As always, if you wish to reach me, just reply to this email, or email me directly at: w.lesosky@accomponent.ca
Wishing everyone a great fall!
In Solidarity,
Wesley Lesosky
President, Air Canada Component of CUPE