November 13, 2013 at 4:00 PM
Jazz Unifor 2002 representatives from 34 bases across Canada met in Toronto for a leadership meeting on Nov 7 – 8, 2013. The meeting provided training opportunities for participants on the recently negotiated collective agreement, current political action campaigns and educational workshops.
The session opened with Local 2002 President Jamie Ross welcoming over 50 Jazz customer and aircraft services district and vice chairpersons. The bargaining committee: chairperson Shirley Anderson-Mio, Josée Genois and Matthew Sackville (absent: Huw Callard, Lee Kempster, Robert Pomanti and Ken White) were introduced along with Unifor National Representative Joel Fournier, Local 2002 Executive Assistant Ashley Watkins and Vice Presidents Christine Bower and Sandra Cormier.
The focus of first day was to go over all of the changes, final interpretations and supplementary awards pertaining to the collective agreement. The meeting was extremely informative with the bargaining committee providing clarification to many complex issues. Representatives will be visiting bases who were not represented at the meetings. In addition, members are encouraged to contact their bargaining committee or local representatives if they have any questions.
Jazz members have suffered layoffs and base closures and the future is unsettling. But together, through solidarity we have collective strength.
"Workers in Canada are suffering a slow bleed: an arm here, a leg there," said Unifor Assistant to the President Jenny Ahn as she addressed the group on the final day.
Ahn detailed the current legislative attacks on unions with Bill C4, Bill C377, Bill C525 and the previous attacks on free collective bargaining in federal workplaces (Air Canada, Canada Post and CP). Conversely, she listed union gains such as: decent wages, safer workplaces and vacations - benefits that most of us take for granted.
Together Fairness Works, a national movement initiated by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and supported by Unifor, is encouraging all workers to stand together in the fight for fairness. To learn more about these issues, please visit unifor.org or canadianlabour.ca.
Participants left the meeting armed with the facts; they have a better comprehension of contract details and are prepared to start positive conversations about why it is important to do 'dues.'
"It is incredibly challenging but ultimately so empowering when we get the leadership of Jazz all together," observed Unifor 2002 Vice President Christine Bower. "In spite of the obstacles we currently face in our industry, we must continue to stand together and fight for decent jobs."
Guests took 2014 pocket calendars back to their bases for distribution. Christine would like to remind all members to write down the particulars of their district (including their chairperson and health and safety contacts) on the inside front page of the calendar.