June 6, 2013 at 9:00 AM
Greetings Sisters and Brothers:
As you are aware your bargaining committee met with Canadian North on
February 14, 15, March 19, 20 and June 3, 4, 2013. Throughout the bargaining
process, your committee has remained professional, tabling reasonable monetary
and Article improvements to your collective agreement.
June 3 and 4 Bargaining
In preparation for this week’s bargaining, your committee requested on April
23, May 23, and 31, payroll vacation payment information concerning the
outstanding vacation grievance.
At the commencement of our June 3rd meeting, your committee again requested
this data and emphasized the importance of resolving this longstanding grievance
to our members. Further, we explained that bargaining could not continue until
we had the opportunity to review the data to determine whether there was merit
in continuing this dispute. Finally, Canadian North agreed and at 1800 hours we
were provided with the information we requested, and for further clarification,
we were invited to participate in a conference call with the Vice President of
Finance.
During the June 4th conference call, it was confirmed to your committee, that
Canadian North could not explain or give a clear reason why, in the test case
used, that there were omissions to the payout of vacation. After the conference
call, your committee and Canadian North prepared and presented several
collective agreement settlement proposals. After your committee presented its
second comprehensive counter proposal, it became clear to your committee, that
Canadian North was not interested in reaching a reasonable settlement with our
members. Moreover, Canadian North’s proposals contained vacation concessions,
which your committee believed our members could not live with.
Therefore at 1450 hours we met for a last time with Canadian North. During
this last exchange, your committee expressed the reasonableness of our proposals
and reviewed our good will to reach an agreement by reducing or removing demands
contained in our comprehensive counter proposals. Further, your committee
articulated its disappointment in Canadian North’s lack of movement in its
proposals and its lack of commitment to reach a fair and reasonable agreement
with our members.
It is clear that Canadian North is attempting to put pressure on your
committee, to simply rollover and agree to a substandard contract that does not
meet your needs. Therefore, the union will be requesting assistance from the
Federal Government in the form of conciliation to support a successful
conclusion to bargaining.
We know that our members are aware of what it takes to makes this Company
work and it is the hard work of our members that has made this Company
successful. Our members deserve to be treated fairly in this round of bargaining
and with your support we are confident that we can achieve that goal.
We will report back on the progress of this process.
In the event anyone has any questions about this or negotiations please don’t
hesitate to call the undersigned.
On behalf of your Negotiation Committee
Aida
Kirameddine
Darryl Draeger
In solidarity,
Bruce Snow
CAW National Representative
BS:cs-cope343