février 27, 2009 à 00:00
With a looming March 2nd deadline at Aeroplan, we wanted to update you on the current situation. Since the failure of the tentative agreement, we reported to you that we met with the entire CAW leadership of Air Canada in Toronto.
At this meeting, CAW Legal Department Director Lewis Gottheil made a presentation abut the legal framework for upcoming negotiations at Air Canada and Aeroplan.
Based on further internal discussions with your elected CAW workplace leadership at Aeroplan and with their agreement, your bargaining committee made the decision to contact Aeroplan. Air Canada has informed us of a number of business developments pertaining to its Aeroplan Division which demonstrate a growing commercial independence of Aeroplan. This evolving commercial reality has certain labour relations consequences. We have been working hard to attempt to identify and clarify all of these consequences because as you know our collective agreement with Air Canada expires at the end of May 2009. In our meetings with Aeroplan, we wanted to once again try to get better pass privileges and a transition period to return to Air Canada for Aeroplan workers. Your Committee met with Air Canada and Aeroplan to delay the date by which employees need to decide which company they want to stay with, and to try and get some other improvements.
The Company’s final answer came yesterday. They were adamant that they would not delay the date for you to choose which employer to work for. They would not agree to a transition period or further passes beyond what was offered back on December, 2008.
Based on this lack of cooperation, we are left with no choice but to go to the Labour Board. We will be contacting the Board immediately urging them to delay the process whereby employees choose their employer going forward, and to clarify all of the possible consequences of this business development.
We will do everything possible to delay the separation of Aeroplan from Air Canada. In the meantime, our Legal Director Lewis Gottheil advises that it would be preferable for you to go ahead and fill out the form issued by the company as a safeguard in case any Labour Board decision is not favourable to us. Given our inability to change the date from March 2nd, if you have not filled out your form yet, you should do so without delay, but under clear protest regarding this election process.
We appreciate that this gives you very little time to make your choice. We have argued repeatedly to Aeroplan and Air Canada that you need more time. Again, as of yesterday, their answer is “no”. If you are away from the workplace and not able to meet this deadline, please contact your workp0lace union representative and they will take the matter up with the company on your behalf.
This is a very difficult and stressful time for everyone. We recognize the terrible situation this complete inflexibility from the Company creates. Feel free to ask any questions of your workplace representatives. We will do our very best to keep everyone informed as we go forward.
Thank you for all your determination during this difficult time.
In Solidarity,
Your Bargaining Committee,
Leslie Dias, Local 2002 President
Paul Janssen, Bargaining Committee Chair, Western Region
Marcel Rondeau, Eastern Region
Sandi McManus, Pacific Region
Sylvia Rothlin-Vink, Central Region
Christa Chaplin, Atlantic Region
Peggy Nash, CAW National Office
For more information:
Please contact your regional Bargaining Committee Member