EVAS Air Pilots vote 91% in favour of Strike Action

April 28, 2019 at 9:13 AM
Following the strike vote meetings held on April 26, 2019, pilots at Exploits Valley Air Services (EVAS) have voted 91 per cent in favour of strike action if necessary. Ninety per cent of the EVAS members turned out to cast their ballot.    

 “With this strike vote, our members have shown their determination in protecting their rights against the Company that is showing them little respect. Our pilots are ready to fight hard for their collective rights, said Euila Leonard, President of Local 2002.  I sincerely hope that the EVAS management team got the message and are willing to recognize the investment that the pilots make to this Company”.

This strong strike mandate enables the Committee to continue to work hard to obtain a fair collective agreement that meets the needs of the membership.

Collective Bargaining Timelines:

• The Collective agreement expired on February 4, 2019
• Bargaining Committee began preparing for collective bargaining in July 2018.
• The Bargaining Committee developed and distributed surveys and held proposal meetings and received great participation and feedback from the membership.
• Bargaining with the Company began on January 8 to 9, 2019.  
• On February 5 to 6, the parties met again, however negotiations came to abrupt end with the Company refusing to move on the important issues that matter most to our pilots; wages, staffing, and scheduling.
• The Union filed for Conciliation on February 8, 2019, as bargaining had reached an impasse.
• April 9 to 12, 2019, the Union and Company met with the Conciliator. The appointed government Conciliator was successful in getting both parties to exchange more detailed responses to each others proposals.  
• Conciliation period has been extended by both parties to May 16, 2019, at the end of this period, both parties will into a 21 day “cooling off period”
• The Union will be in a legal strike position at midnight on June 7, 2019. 

Your Bargaining Committee would like to extend its sincere appreciation, support, and thanks to the members from EVAS who came out to vote.  Your collective confidence and determination for fairness and respect is a motivating factor and your Bargaining Committee remains confident that we will reach a fair and equitable agreement.

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