June 3, 2016 at 7:00 PM
REVISED JUNE 7, 2016 / Your Unifor bargaining committee has completed a week of negotiations with First Air. While we did make progress on non-monetary items, we have unfortunately reached an impasse on the monetary items. First Air has advised that they will be filing for conciliation. We will reconvene negotiations after a federal conciliator has been appointed.
The conciliation process involves a conciliator being appointed by the Federal Mediation Conciliation Services of Canada. Once a conciliator is appointed, the conciliation period lasts for 60 days. If an agreement is not reached, this period can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties. Otherwise, conciliation is followed by 21 days of mediation after which the union (Unifor) is in a legal strike position and the company (First Air) is in a legal lockout position.
"Our primary focus is to reach an agreement that recognizes the hard work and commitment that our members demonstrate each and every day," said Cheryl Robinson, President of Unifor Local 2002. "These members understand the importance of an airline that connects passengers and cargo to more of the Arctic and Northern Canada than any other airline. They deserve a fair and equitable deal."
Unifor Local 2002 represents more than 350 First Air members who are employed as customer service agents, cargo and station attendants in the Western and Eastern Arctic and in Ottawa..
In solidarity,
Your First Air Bargaining committee
Cristina Rodrigues
Bobby Zanetti
Craig Yamkowy
Theresa Amicarelli, Assistant to the Local President
Leslie Dias, Unifor National Representative
For more information, please contact:
Theresa Amicarelli, Assistant to the Local President
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