November 10, 2011 at 10:00 AM
The CAW opened bargaining on November 7th with the In-Flight Crew Scheduling unit representing almost 80 members in Montreal. The opening of bargaining took place just days after the shocking announcement by Air Canada that they intended to move the In-Flight Crew Scheduling and Flights Operations Crew Scheduling to Toronto in 2014. Bob Orr, Assistant to CAW President Ken Lewenza, made it clear to the employer that this decision needs to be revisited. The employer stated that they had a "well thought out plan" and the meetings deteriorated from there. As the Union pressed the employer to disclose the study that was done to determine what effect this move would have on workers and what workers could expect if they were to re-locate, the employer admitted that no such study was undertaken.
The Bargaining Committee made it clear to the employer that‘you cannot have a well thought out plan that has never engaged the workers that perform the scheduling functions.’The employer – in all its arrogance – gave a board room dissertation that did not take into account the impact on our members, their workers. They spent a considerable amount of time dictating to the Union what a good move this is. The fact that the members in this bargaining unit have a combined more than 1000 years of scheduling experience seemed to have no value. It was yet another example of Air Canada’s disconnect in terms of Labour relations, by not allowing us (CAW) any input whatsoever into a decision as far reaching as this.
The Union has made it clear that our members have a long history of addressing challenges and working towards making the operation efficient in the areas of crew scheduling. We have risen to every occasion to ensure that crews are where they need to be. We were willing to work closely with the employer in the past however; it is unacceptable to be dictated to in this fashion. We intend to use every means at our disposal to convince the Company that moving this work to Toronto is neither in the best interests of Air Canada or our members.
The CAW has filed for the appointment of a Federal Conciliator to assist the bargaining process.
In Solidarity,
CAW Bargaining Committee
Karine Drolet
Franco Santone
Frank Spinelli
Darryl Draeger – Local 2002 Executive Assistant
Leslie Dias – National Representative