October 15, 2012 at 6:45 PM
Today Arbitrator Tom Hodges issued his award in the Interest Arbitration
between the CAW Local 2002 Jazz Technical Services and Jazz Aviation LP. The
award sets out the final provisions that will form part of the new collective
agreement between the parties.
The CAW and Jazz Aviation reached a tentative agreement in July 2012.
Following a narrow rejection of the tentative agreement (TA) during the
ratification process the parties returned to the bargaining table on September
14, 2012. During the September 14 bargaining session the Union was successful in
enhancing the tentative agreement. A bulletin detailing the enhancements to the
original tentative agreement was distributed to the membership shortly
thereafter.
Unfortunately, even though there were several enhancements to the agreement,
on September 14 the parties were unable to reach a settlement that would be
recommended to you – the membership – for ratification. A Mediation/Arbitration
process was agreed to at that time in an attempt to reach a bargained settlement
that we could present for ratification.
The Mediation/Arbitration hearing was held by the parties on September 24 in
Montreal. Unfortunately both parties were entrenched in their positions and the
process went from Mediation to the arbitration phase. The award issued by
arbitrator Hodges details the issues in dispute and the manner in which they
were resolved.
The award was reviewed by the bargaining committee earlier today as part of a
conference call convened by Ron Smith, CAW Director of Transportation. Just a
short time later another conference call was held with several of the base
leadership across the system. Concurrently with that call the arbitration award
was forwarded to the membership.
The purpose of the conference call was to review the arbitration award and
provide details on the positions taken by each side at the hearing. In addition
there was an opportunity for your Representatives to ask questions regarding the
award and the process.
The Arbitrator has awarded some improvement on two of the three issues in
dispute; however the contract duration has been extended for three months.
Your bargaining committee looks forward to an opportunity to meet with you
and provide you with an opportunity for more in depth discussion on the entire
process.
Click here download the arbitration award.