Category Archive

On December 21, 2020, the IAMAW attended arbitration to have outstanding national issues heard, including the one-category grievances filed on behalf of members who were denied recall into Cabin Servicing & Cleaning Attendant classifications.

During the hearing, the parties entered into the mediation process with the assistance of Arbitrator Schmidt. It became apparent that Air Canada was unwilling to resolve the dispute via mediation. Read Bulletin here…

As a follow-up to Bulletin No. 1 dated January 8, 2021, the Union has made an application for interim relief as per the Collective Agreement and the Canada Labour Code.
The matter will be heard in front of Arbitrator Corinn Bell on Thursday, February 11, 2021, and the Union will be seeking a cease and desist order against Air Canada’s misuse of Article 20.14, “Off-Duty Status.”  Read Bulletin here…

Further to Bulletin No. 49 issued on September 16, 2020, District Lodge 140 has secured a date to hear the Category 38 Grievances. The matters will proceed to arbitration on February 17, 2021, in front of
Arbitrator Corinn Bell. Read Bulletin here…

This award concern a matter that is national in scope covering all affected stations represented in the Air Canada and IAMAW TMOS collective agreement (“Collective Agreement”). Grievances have been filed across the country alleging flagrant breaches of article 10 and Memorandum of Agreement No. 12 (“MOA 12”), which provisions address work schedules. They are reproduced in an appendix to this award. Read Arb here…

The IAM was advised this morning that Air Canada intends to use an extraordinary measure by placing approximately 284 IAM members on “off duty status” by invoking a “force majeure” provision contained within the collective agreement. The IAM categorically opposes the use of the “force majeure by placing our members on “off duty status” as it does not apply in the current situation. Air Canada is well outside the statute of limitations to use “force majeure”. The company announced 1,700 staff reductions across its operations throughout the country.

Force Majeure is an unforeseeable circumstance that prevents someone from fulfilling a contract or an obligation. Read Press Release here…

It has come to my attention that the iam140efap.ca website contained incorrect information about the claim process. In the past, a member with a family plan was able to access $1500 over and above the $500 allotted by the company.

After consideration of this, the National EFAP Committee decided that this was not a fair
practice. The policy allowed for members with family plans to access more monies than
those members with single/no dependent plans. Read Bulletin here…

“I am far beyond disappointed to hear that the Canadian government has been providing wage subsidies (CEWS) to foreign-owned airlines who continue to fly into Canada!”

That was the reaction of Canadian General Vice President Stan Pickthall, when news dropped that a dozen foreign-owned airlines have been granted CEWS relief despite having already received billions of dollars in relief from their own governments. The CEWS database shows
precisely which corporations are receiving the benefit financed by Canadian taxpayers: https://apps.cra-arc.gc.ca/ebci/hacc/cews/srch/pub/bscSrch

Today, Air Canada advised District Lodge 140 of their intention to place additional employees on off-duty status as per Article 20.14 of the Collective Agreement. For now, the majority of the affected Members come from the Atlantic Region and all come from Airports/Cargo. Labour Relations further advised that additional ODS will also be applied in Tech-Ops at a later date but did not provide detail.Read Bulletin here…

Your General Chairpersons continued the fight at national arbitration hearings
yesterday. As many of the national grievances are more complex than usual, the
national process tends to be protracted.

Although taking longer than expected, we are concluding matters and are very happy
to report that Arbitrator Christine Schmidt has upheld the extensive shift bid grievances
submitted across every region Read Bulletin here…

As a follow up to Bulletin No.54 issued on October 21, 2020, a further case management call was held on December 18, 2020 between Arbitrator Vince Ready, the IAMAW’s legal counsel, Air Canada’s legal counsel, and the two principle chairs for your TMOS Bargaining Committee.

Due to unforeseen circumstances of a personal nature, Air Canada’s counsel have put forward a request to Arbitrator Ready to extend the December 14 & 23, 2020 submission deadlines that were previously established during the case management call on October 15, 2020. Read Bulletin here…