Air Canada CSSA Members: COVID-19 - How the Future is Unfolding
June 2, 2020 at 4:00 PM
The airline industry worldwide has been greatly impacted by this pandemic, and it will take some time before the borders will be fully open and the public will have the confidence to start traveling again. In the coming days and leading up to June 7, 2020, Air Canada CSSA members are leaving the workplaces as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of our colleagues have decided to move into retirement, resign, and others have opted to take a leave of absence.
The deepest impact will be to the 2500 plus members who will begin to serve their layoff on June 7, 2020. While we hope that the current workforce reductions are short-lived, at present it does not appear that way. The union will continue to work with the company so that we can bring our members back to work as soon as possible. Below is a recap of matters relating to what has happened so far.
LAYOFFS
Layoff notices were issued on April 16, 2020. If you are an airport worker then your ESS profile will have been adjusted. The company will be contacting you on how to return your; RAIC, Parking card, keys, and instructions for clearing your personal belongings from your locker.
Your medical benefits are covered until the end of June 2020. The company will be sending an information package outlining the options you have, if you do not receive this before June 7, please contact your Resource Planning manager.
Recall Rights
Timeline and the measures for recall are defined in Article 10, it is your responsibility to update the company with any change in your contact information. The company will make every effort to contact you with the information on file. Please ensure to check your work email, as you may want to adjust your recall selections. To change the recall selection, use the original sheet that you received from the layoff questionnaire. If your location uses the website or message board please continue to follow it.
CANADA EMERGENCY WAGE SUBSIDY (CEWS) FOR AIRPORTS
The company announced they have a staff surplus at the airports, and the bargaining committee was faced with a decision on how to mitigate the surplus. The following two options were presented; additional layoffs or move some of the airport surpluses to the CEWS program.
On Sunday, May 31, 2020, we agreed to extend CEWS at some airport locations and Customer Journey Management (CJM). The number of layoffs is fluctuating as flights begin to be reintroduced. CEWS will be assigned in the inverse order of seniority. Return to the workplace will be in seniority order. This is a temporary measure. CEWS will not be offered to the Call Centres or Customer Relations employees.
VOLUNTARY LEAVE OF ABSENCES (VLOAs)
VLOAs were offered at airports and Customer Relations. If you are currently on CEWS and have been granted a leave of absence it will commence on June 7th, 2020. Please check your work email frequently as flights and passenger capacity increases you can be recalled to the workplace with 72 hours’ notice.
Retirements and Resignations
Some members have chosen to retire from Air Canada and other colleagues have elected to resign from the company. We would like to wish all of these members the very best in their future endeavors.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS - COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT
Throughout this time, our priority is to ensure that our members’ rights under the current collective agreement are maintained and enforced.Members who witness a scope violation of the collective agreement please report the details to your District Chairperson so that a grievance can be filed.Members are reminded to take their scheduled breaks and to be mindful of health and safety protocols around them at all times.
Please take care of yourself and your family. Unifor stands with you and we are going to get through this, together.
In solidarity,
Your Air Canada Bargaining Committee
Frances Galambosy, Central Region, Chairperson
Tammy Moore, Atlantic Region
Benoit Lapointe, Eastern Region
Joanne Goulet, Western Region
Steve Murphy, Pacific Region
Euila Leonard, President Unifor Local 2002
Leslie Dias, Unifor Director – Airlines Sector