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

Settlement reached for CHQ-20-13, Wage Rate and Benefits for Members Recalled to Rouge

The Union is pleased to report that we were able to reach a mediated settlement with the employer regarding CHQ-20-13, with the assistance of our Chief Arbitrator William Kaplan on May 7, 2021.  The grievance was related to the wage rate paid to Service Directors while temporarily recalled to Rouge. The agreement will only be in place for layoffs resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and while there are Mainline Flight Attendants and Service Directors that have been recalled to and are operating at Rouge. To view the full agreement, CLICK HERE.

Highlights of the agreement are as follows:
– For the duration of this agreement, Article 17.04.06 will be applied as follows: “If recall is to a different Air Canada Mainline base, a transferred Cabin Crew Member may decline the transfer.” This is a very important point because normally,  if you decline transfer to a different mainline base (not your base at point of layoff) and choose to remain at Rouge, you would no longer be entitled to receive the Mainline wage and benefits and would be placed on the Rouge wage grid and receive Rouge benefits. This adjustment will provide certainty to those members that accept a recall to Rouge, as you will not be faced with a decision between moving to a new mainline base or taking a significant wage cut should the recall be to a different Mainline base.

– Mainline Service Directors operating as a Lead Flight Attendant on a Rouge flight will be paid the Mainline Service Director hourly rate of pay for the applicable type of aircraft, for that flight;

– Mainline Service Directors operating as a Flight Attendant on a Rouge flight will be paid the Mainline Flight Attendant hourly rate of pay (based on years of service), for that flight;

– Mainline Flight Attendants operating as a Lead Flight Attendant on a Rouge flight will be paid the Mainline Flight Attendant hourly rate of pay (based on years of service), plus the 15% Rouge Lead Flight Attendant premium, for that flight; and

– Mainline Flight Attendants operating as a Flight Attendant on a Rouge flight will be paid the Mainline Flight Attendant hourly rate of pay (based on years of service), for that flight.

– Mainline cabin personnel who were recalled to Rouge from October 2020 to date who have not been paid in accordance with what was agreed to above,  shall be paid a lump sum payment in accordance with the above for all hours worked during that time.

– The Commuter Policy (Letter of Understanding 47) shall apply to the Mainline Flight Attendants and Service Directors that have been recalled to and are operating at Rouge. This will provide some protection for our members in our Western bases should they choose to accept a recall to Rouge.

– Mainline Flight Attendants and Service Directors that have been recalled to and are operating at Rouge may make a one-time election to forgo the $100 Work Allowance referred to in L55.09.04 and instead:
a.) have Air Canada pay for a monthly parking pass at the Mainline Flight Attendant’s or Service Director’s Mainline base;
b.) remain eligible for the footwear allowance referred to in Article 7.03.04;
c.) remain eligible for the cleaning allowance referred to in Article 7.03.03; and
d.) remain eligible for the passport reimbursement referred to in Article 7.06,

The Union is very happy that it has been able to attain certainty for Mainline members who accept recall to Rouge regarding their Mainline wage and benefit entitlements while this agreement remains in force.

In solidarity,