March 20, 2015 at 6:30 PM
PDF - Notes from Negotes 
Negotiations have followed a slow and sometimes
turbulent course since opening on January 26, 2015. Just weeks into the process,
Air Canada replaced their chief negotiator and then at the end of February they
filed for conciliation.
This week, the addition of two government
conciliators: Barney Dobbins and Kim Beemer along with several senior
representatives from Air Canada including Kevin Howlett (who has 30 years of
experience in labour relations in the airlines) and others from the finance
department will set negotiations on a steadier path as the committee moves our
agenda forward.
The bargaining committee will continue to work
diligently with Air Canada and the conciliators in order to achieve a contract
that makes progress for our members.
Changes to the shift trading process remains an
issue of great consternation to our members and there are still many unresolved
issues yet to be determined. There are rumours circulating in workplaces
regarding a change to the proposed April 1 implementation. To date, the company
has not confirmed any alternative dates or plans of action to your committee.
Wheelchair related work at Pearson Airport is an
ongoing topic. If this issue isn’t resolved at the bargaining table, Unifor has
secured an arbitration date of April 30, 2015 where the dispute will be heard by
an arbitrator who will examine both sides of the dispute and render a binding
decision.
If you have a bargaining question pertaining to
workplace issues or ongoing negotiations, please contact your district
chairperson or regional vice president who will table them during our weekly
conference calls.
As the bargaining process unfolds, the bargaining
committee will continue to keep our members updated. However, in order to
protect the integrity of the negotiations, the committee cannot discuss specific
details with the membership while in collective bargaining.
Rest assured, as your elected bargaining committee,
that when we sit across the table from the company in negotiations we represent
your best interests at all times.
In solidarity,
Your Air Canada Bargaining Committee
Veronica Kelly, Pacific region
Joanne Goulet, Western region
Frances Galambosy, Chairperson - Central region
Benoit Lapointe, Eastern
region
Tammy Moore, Atlantic region
Cheryl Robinson, Local 2002 President
Leslie Dias, National Representative
Connect with Unifor 2002 on social media
/15-03-20 Air Canada notes from negotes HTML en.txt