May 13, 2011 at 5:04 PM
At Local 2002’s triennial convention, held on May 10-12, 2011 in Port Elgin, we took the opportunity to meet with Air Canada leadership and update them on the status of negotiations.
We discussed the company’s proposals, which are an outright attack on key areas of our collective agreement. This includes assaults on our pension and Jazz work (which accounts for fifty per cent of the work that the membership of Air Canada currently performs). We also provided clarity to the many questions surrounding the upcoming strike votes (conducted across the country from May 13—19) and unrolled a detailed strike preparedness plan in the event of a dispute.
The company’s pension demands includes: reduced benefits, reduced survivor benefits, final average earnings over five years and early retirement changes to 60 years of age and 90 points. This impact would result in a 48 per cent pension cut for a member at age 55 with 30 years of service.
The exact plan that we were promised in CCAA will not be compromised. Clearly the economic environment has been difficult; however this can not be an excuse for Air Canada to attempt to gut our pension plan. The pension funding concerns have been caused by company decisions over the past six years that have allowed six billion dollars worth of disbursed value to be distributed to shareholders during a time period that they had federal government approval for pension funding relief. Even last year, the company generated enough excess operating cash flow to enable them to have made a normal pension payment.
From coast to coast, the support of the membership for their bargaining committee has been tremendous. We encourage your full participation at the upcoming strike vote meetings. Check the website for dates and locations for your district meetings. If you need to vote in a location other than your district, please let your Regional Vice President know in order to have your name included on the voting list. Results of the strike vote will be announced after all meetings have been completed, on the morning of May 20.
While our goal is to reach a collective agreement with the company, we intend to bring a fair and equitable agreement to our members. It is time for progress and we will do what it takes to make that happen.
This is your voice, your vote, your future. Let the company know that you support your bargaining committee with a strong strike vote. Tell them enough is enough!
In solidarity,
Paul Janssen, Western Region
Dave Hoskins, Pacific Region
Vicky Xekominos, Central Region
Sylvia Rothlin, Central Region
Marcel Rondeau, Eastern Region
Christa Chaplin, Atlantic Region
Jamie Ross, President
Leslie Dias, CAW National Representative