First Air Reaches Tentative Agreement

First Air Reaches Tentative Agreement

April 28, 2009 at 12:00 AM

The First Air Bargaining committee is pleased to announce that they have reached a tentative agreement with the employer. Considering the uncertain shape of the global economy, sizeable gains were made in many categories including wages, living allowance and family care language.

(Ratification schedule is located at the bottom of this document)

  

Highlights of the agreement are as follows:

  1. Wages For attendants, agents, and coordinators
            In 2009 – 3%
            In 2010 – 3%
            In 2011 – 3%
  2. Clarified duties for all classification.
  3. Northern Living Allowance increased.
  4. Employees asked to provide on job training will receive coordinator pay.
  5. Clarified specialized work functions and process for bidding in and out. Set date of April 1st each year.
  6. Shift schedule will be posted at least 14 days prior to implementation
  7. Rest between shifts increased to 10 hours
  8. Clarified Overtime and Recall
  9. Part-time employees will now receive overtime after 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week.
  10. Part-time employees will now be able to bank all extra hours.
  11. Meal allowances updated to reflect new amounts in the HR manual
  12. Employees who are asked to be trainers and are away from home base will now receive the $20.00 premium.
  13. Clarified filling of vacancies to take seniority in to account.
  14. Modified Family Care language to remove subject to management approval which regards to caring for sick family members.
  15. Increased union hours from 650 to 800
  16. Company will give 30days notice to changes to uniform.
  17. 4 members will sit on uniform committee
  18. Domestic Violence language
  19. Technological change language
  20. Removed mandatory doctors note after 3 days and increase reimbursement amount to $20.00.
  21. Carry over of sick hours
  22. Changed language for GRRSP’s to reflect new company policy. Employee contributions not required.
  23. Ottawa ticket counter cover by letter of understanding number 5. Agents will now progress to level 2 of the customer service scale after completion of 24 months.
  24. Winnipeg and Edmonton will be added to letter of understanding #7 with regards to base closures.

  

RATIFICATION SCHEDULE

  • Ottawa
    Wednesday April 29, 2009
    Kanata Res Office
    1000 hrs / 1100 hrs
     

  • Ottawa
    Wednesday April 29, 2009
    Hilton Garden Inn – Bonavista Room
    1900 hrs
     

  • Yellowknife
    First Air Boardroom
    1000 hrs / 1800 hrs
     

  • Iqaluit
    First Air Cargo Boardroom
    1700 hrs

All Members are strongly encouraged to attend in order to hear details of the tentative agreement. Please note that voting will only take place during the scheduled meeting times.

  

TELEPHONE CONFERENCE CALL: SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2009

2 conference calls have been scheduled for the following times.

  • 1000 hrs EST (Eastern Arctic)
  • 1600 hrs EST (Western Arctic)

note: Please see your union bulletin boards for telephone numbers and access codes or contact your District Chairperson.

  

In solidarity,

Your Bargaining Committee
Sarah Mulvihill, Bargaining Representative
Rosemarie Peters, Bargaining Representative
Heather Spence-Dalley, Bargaining Representative
Roberto Zanetti, Bargaining Representative
Ron DiPasquale, Executive Assistant West
Carlo Levore, CAW National Staff Representative

  

  

For more information:
Ron DiPasquale - Executive Assistant, West