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

Component Update – August 2023

Deadheading Procedures

The Union has received many reports of members being asked to sit in the flight deck or in cabin crew seats in the cabin.  We felt it was important to reiterate the Company policy on this.

The following can be found in ePub:

Oversold Flights

Deadheading Crew members must not volunteer to deplane in cases of denied boarding.  Customer Sales & Service Agents have been instructed not to approach deadheading crew members and to refuse those who volunteer.

Flight Attendant Seats

Deadheading crew members will not, under any circumstances, including AOG priority (Aircraft On Ground), occupy a Flight Attendant seat.

Flight Deck Seat

Selection and approval of Flight Deck observer seat occupants resides with the Captain.  The Captain may offer the observer seat to a deadheading crew member in over-sale situations. However, the deadheading crew member is not obliged to use the Flight Deck seat and can refuse the offer in which case a customer seat will be issued.

Canada Workers Benefit Payments

As you may be aware, the Federal Government has issued the first automatic advance payments of the newly enhanced Canada Workers Benefit.  The Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) is a refundable tax credit to help individuals and families who are working and earning a low income.

The CWB has two parts: a basic amount and a disability supplement.

You can claim the CWB when you file your income tax return.

Starting in July 2023 and based on the 2022 taxation year, the CWB will provide advance payments equal to 50% of the CWB across 3 payments under the Advanced Canada workers benefit (ACWB). This initiative puts more money in the workers’ pockets to help cope with the rising cost of living.

Anyone who received the CWB in 2022 will receive the advanced payments, there is no need to apply.

Below is a quote from this government announcement:

“The Canada Workers Benefit tops-up the income of up to 4.2 million hardworking Canadians—because no one working full-time should be struggling to put food on the table or to pay their rent. With the first quarterly Canada Workers Benefit payments going out tomorrow, we’re delivering important support to some of our lowest-paid and often most essential workers at a time when they need it most.”
– The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance

The Full press release can be found here:  Low-income workers to receive first enhanced Canada Workers Benefit payments  – Canada.ca

For our Mainline Air Canada members on the first eight steps of the wage scale, up to and including 49 – 54 months, you would be eligible for the low-income earner supplement based on a Reserve MMG of 75 hours.

Pay Step of 49 – 54 months: $46.14 x 75 hours x 12 months = $41,526 gross, prior to deductions

For our Air Canada Rouge members, all of you would be eligible for the low-income earner supplement based on a Reserve MMG of 80 hours or block holder MMG of 75 hours.

For the top pay scale, 5 years: $40.58 x 75 hours x 12 months = $36,522 gross, prior to deductions

For the top pay scale, 5 years: $40.58 x 80 hours x 12 months = $38,957 gross, prior to deductions

Please note that the income threshold is based on Net Income.

Net income level where the recipient is not eligible to receive the Canada workers benefit
2022 tax year– Canada workers benefit


Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/canada-workers-benefit.html

A famous quote from Mahatma Gandhi comes to mind: ‘the true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members’.  Our EAP Committee recently put out an excellent bulletin relating to the cost of living and the tools available to members who are struggling to make ends meet.  It can be found here: https://accomponent.ca/cost-of-living-adjustment/.

If you are struggling and need support, please reach out for help. These are difficult times.  We are a collective and want to be here to support all our colleagues. Please reach out to us at contact@accomponent.ca if you have any other questions about this.

In solidarity,

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