April 15, 2011 at 6:48 PM
At the bottom of this bulletin, please see a special message from CAW President, Ken Lewenza
At the bargaining table, management often forgets about their glossy posters that talk about "valuing employees”, "integrity” and "driving for excellence.” From the employer’s perspective, collective bargaining is about money and power.
On April 12, 2011, a day after it was that announced that Air Canada’s CEO Calin Rovinescu was offered a five million dollar retention bonus, Local 2002 leadership met in Toronto. After sharing members’ frustration, after years of unfair attacks on pensions, wages and benefits, all to keep Air Canada afloat, it was time to get to work; to strategize, prioritize and to prepare for a strike vote.
"Enough is enough,” said President Jamie Ross. "The company wants efficiencies; your union wants economic gains.”
The union has advised the company, in no uncertain terms, that this time, members expect to see progress and that concessions are unacceptable.
The Company has tabled broad ranging pension changes that would drastically reduce the pension benefits that we have sacrificed so much to keep. Those include:
- increasing the unreduced early retirement age to 60 from the current 55years of age
- increasing the early retirement penalty from 3.5%/year to 6 or 7%/year
- increasing the early retirement eligibility from 25 years and 80 points to 30 years and 90 points
- final average earnings calculation to 60 months from the current 36 month
- reducing the pension formula
- reducing the joint survivor benefit
- Defined contribution for new hires
Such changes will reduce pension benefits by 40 and 50% depending on age and years of service and are completely unacceptable.
What can you do during this crucial time to let the company know that you support your union?Actions speak louder than words. By now you should all be wearing your FAIR DEAL bracelet and telling the company to DEAL FAIR! Your participation tells the company that we are united and speak with one voice.
Let us stand proud as workers and send Air Canada a clear message; we deserve recognition, dignity and respect.
WE DESERVE A FAIR DEAL!
In Solidarity,
Your Air Canada Bargaining Committee,
Paul Janssen, Bargaining Chairperson, Western Region
Dave Hoskins, Pacific Region
Sylvia Rothlin,Central Region
Vicky Xekominos, Central Region
Marcel Rondeau, Eastern Region
Christa Chaplin, Atlantic Region
Jamie Ross, Local 2002 President
Message from Ken Lewenza
Greetings,
We are all certainly aware of the historical challenges that our members at Air Canada have faced. There are many reasons for this but one thing is certain is our leadership and membership across the country have had enough of being the scapegoat of the challenges faced by this airline. The recent pilots’ agreement was full with concessions, including an agreement on the start up of a low cost airline within the main airline. To add insult to injury they agreed to eliminate the defined benefit plan for new hires and move into a defined contribution (DC) plan.
Our members are infuriated about this but in addition, recent announcements on CEO's and other top management people's compensation at Air Canada is absolutely disgusting. We have been bargaining with Air Canada for over 40 days with very little resolved. Therefore, we are heading out for Strike Votes May 16th with a deadline of June 13 at 12:01 a.m.
I would ask that you meet with your staff and brief them on this matter, as a dispute is real and could materialize. Our members at Air Canada have not been on strike since 1985 and will need the full knowledge and support of our total union. I would also ask you to notify your locals in your region of this situation and to express their absolute disgust with a company that rewards their top management and then tries to ram concessions down the workers throat.
I recently spoke at an Air Canada, CAW Local 2002 leadership meeting in Toronto. Over 100 leadership, from across the country were briefed on the status of bargaining, along with an overview of the pilot’s tentative agreement. Suffice to say, they are furious and are going to challenge Air Canada once and for all. Our focus is to get a settlement without a dispute but as we are all aware, it is important that we prepare our members and support the Local 2002 members as we move along to the deadline. Jamie Ross, Acting President of Local 2002 and the bargaining committee are solid and determined. They will need our full support. The company’s concessions include classifications, the pension issue, scheduling, etc, etc. This is indefensible.
As we know many of our staff travels the country and as you are going through the airports please pass on your solidarity to the agents and let them know they have the total support of our union. Any questions please feel free to contact my assistant Bob Chernecki. An injury to one is an injury to all.
In solidarity,
Ken Lewenza
National President
CAW - Canada