April 17, 2009 at 12:00 AM
BARGAINING UPDATE
The Jazz Technical Services Collective Agreement negotiation process commenced April 15, 2009, where the Bargaining Committee and Company representatives met in Toronto and exchanged proposal packages.
The Bargaining Committee made it very clear to the Employer that the CAW was going to make progress on behalf of the Jazz Tech Membership which it represents. The Committee also emphasized that the Jazz Tech Membership has been an integral part of the success of Jazz since its inception. The membership is a highly-skilled workforce and want recognition for the enormous profits generated for the company through their efforts.
The Bargaining Committee stated that there were two guiding principles on its side of the table:
- We need to ensure that all workers must move forward in economic terms.
- We need to re-establish equal pay for equal work.
The parties had dialogue on the state of the airline sector and the Employer (in traditional fashion) raised issues pertaining to efficiencies. The Committee was very clear that it needs to bargain an agreement that is satisfactory before it would be recommended it to the Membership for ratification.
It was also made clear that the Union is not looking to involve a third party in the negotiation process. As stated previously, the Union will continue to negotiate but is not looking at a protracted round of bargaining. The Committee is determined in having an agreement in place prior to the expiration of the current Collective Agreement.
If an impasse is reached, the Union will proceed on taking the necessary steps to set a strike deadline.
Dates have been set for further negotiations in early and late May. Dates have also been set for early and mid June with contingency dates set for early July if required. The Membership will be updated as the process continues.
Jazz Tech Bargaining Committee,
John Murawesky, Jazz Tech Bargaining Committee Chair
Peter Brown, YYC
Ian Waite, YXU
Ghobud Khorasani, YYZ
Daniel Marion, YUL
Dave Gylland, YHZ
Roberto Lampasona, Tech II
For more information:
John Murawesky, Jazz Tech Bargaining Committee Chair