February 8, 2019 at 5:05 PM
Your Bargaining Committee met with the Company from February 5-6, 2019, to continue negotiations. We were also scheduled to meet on February 7, however, we cancelled this meeting as the Company was unable to release two of the three Bargaining Committee members.
Our position
As we previously communicated, we presented the Company with the bargaining proposals on January 8 & 9, 2019. The Company has informed the Union that they find our proposals frankly “overwhelming” and have not seriously considered our proposals in totality.
On February 8, 2019, the Union filed for conciliation, as bargaining has reached an impasse and no further progress is being made in reaching a collective agreement.
In a bid to negotiate a collective agreement for EVAS pilots, Unifor has been making a sincere effort, we are disappointed with the Company’s proposals and the absence of a commitment to better working conditions.
The main issue remains the flying schedule as it relates to flight hours and duty times. Your Bargaining Committee tabled alternate options to help with this issue but the Company has no appetite in finding a solution.
We have made it clear to the Company that we cannot have our members working excessive hours every month. Rest assured your Bargaining Committee has a clear mandate on what changes are needed for this contract in order to improve upon the work-life balance for the membership.
Membership Meeting – February 6, 2019
As you are aware, the Union held a membership meeting in Gander, NL on February 6, 2019, over 60 per cent of the members participated in the group discussion. We would like to thank the members for their questions, participation, and support throughout the bargaining process.
What is Conciliation? How does it Work?
- Unifor files a Notice of Dispute to the Federal Minister of Labour
- Minister will appoint a Federal Conciliation Officer within 15 days
- The Conciliator will meet with Union and Employer over a 60-day period to facilitate negotiations
- The parties may agree to extend the conciliation period if negotiations are progressing
- At the end of this period, the parties enter a 21 day "cooling off period”
- Conciliator files report to the Federal Minister of Labour
- While in conciliation, the Company may not lock out employees and the Union may not go on strike
- Strike action is only ever taken as a last resort and after conditions (such as a strike vote and 72 hours advance notice) are met. Should we get to this point, all measures and implications of a strike vote will be communicated in detail to the membership
Hopefully, this conciliation process will put pressure on the Company to take a short pause and return to the table with a more reasonable approach to negotiations so that we can reach a fair agreement for our members.
Please ensure that you keep us updated with your contact information and confirm that you have subscribed to Unifor 2002’s e-news at www.unifor2002.org
In solidarity,
Your Bargaining Committee
Captain Stephen Dodsworth - Gander
Captain Lyndon Rowe - Gander
Captain Brian Burris- Halifax
Ashley Watkins – Assistant to Local 2002 President
Chad Johnston – Unifor National Representative
For more information, please contact
Ashley Watkins, Assistant to the Local President