EVAS drags its heels causing unnecessary delays in bargaining

Your bargaining committee continues to work towards a fair and respectful collective agreement. Below is an update on the negotiations since our meetings in Gander and Halifax the week of October 19th.

 

We have met with the company on six separate occasions and things are progressing much slower than what we would call "normal.” Much of it is due to the unnecessary challenges that EVAS’ HR consultant continues to raise. He is very much on a self-serving path. His approach is disorganized, and his style of negotiations is very outdated and antiquated. For those of us with years of experience negotiating in the airline industry, it is very frustrating and completely unnecessary. Another key reason for these unnecessary delays is the HR consultant’s schedule. He alleges to be so busy that he has not been able to set dates for several months. Kudos to him on a thriving business but that does little to assist the negotiations of the EVAS agreement. We had hoped for a more proactive approach from EVAS by demanding that these negotiations be treated as a priority.

From the beginning, we have been transparent with both EVAS and the membership. At every meeting, we have stated that we would give the company a reasonable amount of time to negotiate a collective agreement. However, the company has made little effort to meet with Unifor. Even though the company has known for months we would like to see some progress, they have given us limited options: they cannot meet in November, they can only meet for two days in December and then not again until late January.

 

This is simply not acceptable. We will be filing for conciliation and involving the government. The benefit is that the HR consultant’s schedule will quickly become irrelevant as the government will not tolerate these continued delays.

 

 

 

We have heard from a number of you that your schedules continue to deteriorate and that many have chosen to stop flying for EVAS, leaving the company out of frustration. We have made scheduling a key priority at the negotiating table. The progress has also been much too slow on this topic, given its importance. But, unfortunately, this latest rush of pilot departures may help cast a light on the issue.

 

If any of you were given assurances of a set schedule when you were hired, we would like to know the details. Please contact me or a bargaining committee member. If you have scheduling commitments in writing, please let us know. We have already received some in print, stating 7/7 schedules would be provided.

 

Thank you for your continued support and patience.

 

In solidarity,

 

Chad Johnston, National Representative