As you may have seen by now, Arielle’s weekly message to the Company’s employees has come out and there is some information in it we feel should be shared.
In synopsis, the industry is very impacted by COVID-19 and the ever-expanding travel restrictions. There has been a decline in air travel as businesses and individuals reconsider non-essential travel. This will likely not come as any surprise to you, as our members have been working on the front lines and are acutely aware of the situation. We want to let you know that we have received numerous emails and calls from our members about this situation. We have sent out numerous bulletins in our efforts to keep you informed and will continue to do so. We remind you that if you need support during this time that EAP is available for you.
Your Union is well aware of the issues you are facing and the uncertainty you may be feeling. Some positive takeaways from today’s communication are that at the current time Air Canada has no plans for large-scale layoffs. Arielle also confirmed that the 2019 profit sharing payment will still be paid-out as planned.
In-Flight Service also put out a bulletin today thanking you “for continuing to report for your flights as usual unless we specifically advise you otherwise.” This does not address the issue of staying home when sick, nor does it recognize proactive reassignment or the Right to Refuse Dangerous Work. As such we would like to remind our members to book-off sick if you are feeling unwell. If you are uncomfortable with flying to a certain destination you should reach out to Crew Scheduling or Base Management and discuss your options. Please also copy in your Local if you experience any issues.
In closing, we would like to say that the Union is very proud that our members continue to carry out their duties with courage, dedication, determination and the utmost professionalism. We promise you that we will demonstrate those same qualities in all of our dealings with the Company and the government, and ensure that your concerns have a voice.
In addition, there will be an additional opportunity to request a Special Leave of Absence (SPLOA) for the April 2020 block month. If you didn’t previously bid for one and are interested, please reach out to Crew Scheduling. If you have any issues, please do not hesitate to reach out.
We ask you to always remember that your EAP Committee is here for you. They can be reached at (905)676-2088 and (604)270-5703. Should you wish to contact Homewood Health directly, please call 1(800)663-1142 (English) or 1(866)398-9505 (French).
In Solidarity,
