| This bulletin is a general update on various matters that the Union is addressing and monitoring on an ongoing basis.
As many of you are aware the newly negotiated language for the Ground and Cabin Security Premium has been implemented. We have been having discussions with the employer about this to ensure that this language is respected and issues that have come to light are addressed.
Some issues we have been made aware of and addressed with the Company are:
1 – Reserve members being called to board a flight, yet the credit is not being paid out unless you claim it. Please note the company is working on correcting this, and we encourage ALL members that have boarded a flight, and not operated it, while on reserve, to ensure that the premium is showing on Rainmaker. If it is missing, please submit a claim and contact the Union if its not paid.
2 – Block Holders operating a flight that is subsequently cancelled. Please ensure the premium shows, and if it is not showing, and you commenced boarding or completed boarding the flight, ensure that you submit a claim, and contact the Union if its nor paid.
You can find the negotiated language below:
5.07.02 Ground and Cabin Security Premium – Cabin Personnel will be paid a premium, for each flight leg boarded including return to gate situations where passengers are required to deplane, as compensation for ground and cabin security related duties within a Duty Period, including, without limitation, all safety related duties.
The premium shall be calculated as one-half (1/2) their applicable hourly rate of pay, for the number of
minutes set out in the table below.
Aircraft Type Operated Premium
All Narrowbodies
Narrow Body: 60 minutes at 50% of the hourly wage rate commencing effective date of these Minutes, 60% effective April 1, 2026, 65% effective April 1, 2027 and 70% effective April 1, 2028.
All Widebodies
Wide Body: 70 minutes at 50% of the hourly wage rate commencing effective date of these Minutes, 60% effective April 1, 2026, 65% effective April 1, 2027 and 70% effective April 1, 2028.
L55.07.07 For Pursers, this premium shall be calculated using the hourly rate applicable to the aircraft operated on that flight leg.
This premium will be for pay purposes only and is not applicable to ferry flights, or when deadheading.
Ground and Cabin Security Premium – Cabin Personnel will be paid a premium, for each flight leg boarded including return to gate situations where passengers are required to deplane, as compensation for ground and cabin security related duties within a Duty Period, including, without limitation, all safety related duties. The premium shall be calculated as one-half (1/2) their applicable hourly rate of pay, for the number of minutes set out in the table below.
Aircraft Type Operated Premium
All Narrowbodies
Narrow Body: 60 minutes at 50% of the hourly wage rate commencing effective date of these Minutes, 60% effective April 1, 2026, 65% effective April 1, 2027 and 70% effective April 1, 2028.
All Widebodies
Wide Body: 70 minutes at 50% of the hourly wage rate commencing effective date of these Minutes, 60% effective April 1, 2026, 65% effective April 1, 2027 and 70% effective April 1, 2028.
This premium will be for pay purposes only and is not applicable to ferry flights, or when deadheading.
The intention is for all these premiums to be built into the system and to be automatically applied.
The Union and the company had their Quarterly Union Management meeting November 25, 2025, and this was confirmed by Air Canada.
UMHQ – November 2025
The Union brought a list of topics for discussion to the meeting, these meetings are held quarterly, and are used to address issues prior to becoming grievances, share information and present issues or new changes. As noted above the Ground and Cabin Security premium process was discussed and it is the intent to automate this process. We believe that members have an entitlement to this money and should not have to make claims for their wages.
Further, the Union brought forward our concerns on pay claims not being paid out in a timely way. These were brought to our attention by the affected members. The Company advised that they are set to be processed for the December 17,2025 pay. There is a backlog, and they are working to complete all this work and close it off.
Overall, the pay claims initiated through Rainmaker, and through eClaims appear to be in a better position than they have been previously. We will remain cautiously optimistic that this will result in a better claims process and get members the money they are owed in a more efficient manner.
If you have claims that are “pending” or have not been addressed, please reach out to pay@accomponent.ca with a copy of your outstanding claim and the Union will look into this.
The Union requested more training to be able to respond to general questions about Rainmaker. The Company has committed to work with the Union to assist and has asked us to bring examples of challenges and issues surrounding Rainmaker. If you have an ongoing issue, please bring it forward so we can investigate it for you.
There has been a lot of discussion surrounding the Company Policy on Handwritten or emailed notes for the Family Responsibility Leave (CLC 206.6(6)). The Company confirmed that a doctor’s note is preferred, but a handwritten or emailed note is sufficient as per the legislation.
The Union raised the issue of the increase in performance meetings being held across our bases, specifically our Toronto Local has been inundated with meetings. A lot of the meetings are being scheduled for members who have had an “Unavailable for Duty” or “No Show” applied to their schedule. We remind all members, that if you find yourself in the position of receiving a 517 (“No Show”) that you reach out to your manager or supervisor immediately to provide your evidence of what happened. If you are called in for a meeting, contact your Local Union immediately and they will provide support.
The Union has been aware of the new announcement regarding the livery of Air Canada Rouge and the changes to the aircraft interiors. We have contractual language governing the specifications of Rouge business class seating and will be carefully monitoring all these changes to ensure that Air Canada Rouge is not expanding their scope or violating any Collective Agreement provisions. We asked many questions and were directed to the bulletin Andrew Yiu put out on November 19, 2025. We had hoped to ask Andrew these questions at the UMHQ meeting however Andrew was not in attendance. The company did take away questions from the Union and when we receive more clarity we will provide it.
The Union also asked about forward-looking plans for our Calgary base. There was the announcement of a new base manager, but no other information was provided.
The Company brought forward some information on Service Updates, that have now gone out to the membership. There are some organizational changes which can be found in HR Connex.
Given the number of incidents of fume events and smells in the cabin there was a discussion on the recent Health and Safety Initiative on smells in the cabin. Your Health and Safety Committee is following this very closely.
Wage Interest Arbitration in January 2026
We will provide more information on the attendance details for our Interest Arbitration on wages. This will be done prior to bidding opening for the January 2026 block month.
We will send more detailed information but wish to remind you that January 19 and January 28, 2026, are the dates set for the Arbitration. We advocated strongly for member attendance and are pleased that you will be able to attend. We were on this very long journey together and it is fitting that you are there to witness this process.
November 2025 Mediation relating to strike activity and entitlements of members
On November 19, 2025, we have our monthly mediation with our chief arbitrator. At this mediation your Union, along with our legal counsel presented our policy grievance on CHQ-25-104 – Abuse of Management Rights (Pay/Other Entitlements – Before, during and after the Strike/Lockout) (CLICK HERE).
This grievance is about the Company not paying members that operated prior to during and after the strike. During the mediation process there was a lot of back and forth on this, but the Union and Company did not come to an agreement for a settlement. This will be referred to arbitration. We are looking to move this forward in an expedited manner and will keep you posted.
Reserve – B8.21 – Airport Standby After Flight
Your Union has heard from a few members that have been requested to remain at the airport, at home base, for 2 hours instead of the contractual 1 hour. There have been discussions where schedulers have advised member the Company is in discussion with the Union on this, or that this is “new” language.
We want to confirm; this is not correct. There was no change made to this language, nor a request for a change to this language.
The article is very clear:
B8.21 AIRPORT STANDBY AFTER FLIGHT: A Reserve Blockholder may, on arrival at Home Base after a flight, be required to remain on standby at the airport for a maximum of one (1) hour ONLY if his/her duty period on arrival is eight (8) hours or less. S/he may be assigned to a flight departing within or after the one (1) hour period and if no assignment is made, s/he must be released for a legal rest. The duty period, for pay and limitation purposes, will end at release time.
If you have been requested to remain at the airport, while on reserve, at homebase, for longer that 1 hour, or this request was made for you to remain on duty at your home base, after an 8-hour duty day, please contact your local union immediately.
As you are likely aware there have been disputes around some implementation timelines relating to negotiations and we will follow them all through to a conclusion. It is important that what was intended and what our members are entitled to is provided. We will take all these matters through the full extent of the process.
We have heard from many of you who have questions about the implementation of negotiated items and are here to answer any questions you may have and to remedy the concerns raised. Thank you for staying in touch. |
