August 31, 2023 at 1:20 PM
Since July, Unifor National has been touring across the country, attending engagement meetings, and listening to members at Jazz Line Maintenance. We began our meetings on July 11 in Vancouver and travelled to Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal to hear concerns and ideas from aircraft maintenance workers about the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) raid. We also held meetings via Zoom for our Outbases. JTS meetings in Halifax are coming soon.
Through cross-country membership engagement meetings, we've heard your concerns, challenges and frustrations.
Acknowledging your invaluable contributions and concerns is important to us.
Wages: We know that the compensation structure has not adequately kept pace with both inflation and prevailing industry standards. Addressing this issue stands as our primary commitment to you, our membership.
Elimination of Second Tier: Along with our pursuit of higher wages, it is our steadfast resolve to eliminate the two-tier wage scale. After the upcoming negotiations, any reference to "Post Date Of Ratification" (Post-DOR) delineating the second tier must be eradicated in order to build back our solidarity.
Proven Gains: Throughout our meetings with you, we have consistently communicated the significant strides made by Unifor on behalf of the Jazz CSA/ACS group. Last year, we succeeded in securing gains of up to 43%, while successfully eliminating the second-tier wage concept. These accomplishments were achieved through the united support of the membership, who entrusted Unifor to advocate for improved terms of employment, wages, and benefits, all realized through the dedicated efforts of the membership and Jazz CSA/ACS Bargaining Committee.
Collective Bargaining: Unifor remains unequivocally committed to compelling Jazz to recognize your value and compensate you accordingly. As Canada's largest private-sector union, we stand in unwavering solidarity with you. While enticing promises may surface from AMFA, a union without prior Canadian contract negotiation experience, our commitment remains to secure a robust contract for Jazz members with tangible advantages that accurately mirror the value you bring to the Company. Our shared solidarity will empower us to hold Jazz accountable and effect meaningful change.
Recent Developments: Bulletins have been released highlighting the ratified modifications to the collective agreement by Jazz pilots. While specifics of these modifications are pending, it appears that both retention and recruitment have been addressed. It is unfortunate that Jazz management did not proactively communicate these negotiations with your Unifor leadership when we were advocating for inflation relief for our maintenance workers. It is evident that wage, retention, and recruitment concerns are impacting all facets of Jazz operations, not just the pilots. We remain resolute in our expectation that our members receive the same level of respect and consideration as our counterparts within the Jazz pilot group. Our dedicated membership within Unifor Local 2002 warrants respect and compensation, mirroring that of our fellow pilot colleagues.
ALPA's Intervention: ALPA has lodged an unfair labour practice complaint against both Jazz Aviation and Air Canada, alleging breaches of specific provisions within the capacity purchase agreement and pilot flow through.
Transparent Communication: In the spirit of transparency, our leadership is demanding a special meeting with Jazz pertaining to the pilot contract's extension and amendment. We remain committed to sharing accurate information and facts with our members as these details unfold. In unity and resolve, we will continue to work to attain the recognition and respect that you truly deserve.
In the interim, we encourage you to engage with your union workplace representatives for queries. Direct communication channels with your vice-president and bargaining chairs are also open for your convenience:
Don Ross, Local 2002 Jazz Maintenance Vice-President at:
(778) 227-0093 Cell -
[email protected].
Tim Way, Local 2002 – Jazz Technical Services Bargaining Chairperson at:
(902) 499-5119 Cell -
[email protected].
John Murawesky, Local 2002, Jazz Line Maintenance Bargaining Chairperson at:
(778) 896-7737 Cell -
[email protected].
In solidarity,
Tammy Moore, Unifor Local 2002 President
Josée Genois, Assistant to the President, Local 2002
Don Ross, Local 2002, Jazz Maintenance Vice-President
Tim Way, Local 2002, Jazz Technical Services Bargaining Chairperson
John Murawesky, Local 2002, Jazz Line Maintenance Bargaining Chairperson