February 5, 2021 at 12:00 PM
As a follow-up to our December 1st communication regarding the transition of the CAAT DBPlus Pension Plan, Unifor, Local 2002 and Unifor's legal department continue to dispute the employer’s contribution and implementation of this Plan for members. Please know that Unifor takes these issues extremely serious and we are working meticulously on your behalf to remedy all ongoing concerns.
As previously stated, Unifor contentiously disagrees with the employer’s terms of how the new Pension Plan will be administered; specifically (1) definition of "earnings" and (2) transferring of account balances from the DC Plan. We are continuing to deal with these issues as assertively as possible and have taken steps to ensure procedural matters are followed so that no member is negatively impacted.
DEFINITION OF EARNINGS
On January 7, 2021, the employer confirmed the level of contributions made to the first installment of the CAAT DBplus Pension Plan was made based on members’ pensionable earnings. On January 21 (based on direction of Unifor’s legal counsel), the union filed a grievance as we oppose these terms. The grievance states:
"On behalf of all bargaining unit members (“members”), the Union grieves that the Company is improperly calculating, deducting and remitting pension contribution for members to the CAAT DBPlus Pension Plan (the “Plan”). The Union alleges that this is in violation of the Collective Agreement, including but not limited to Article 28.09 and Appendix K of the Collective Agreement. Specifically, the Union grieves that the Company is improperly calculating contributions to the Plan according to members’ base earnings, as defined in paragraph 4 of the Interim Agreement on the Transition to the CAAT DBPlus Pension Plan between the Company and the Union. The Union alleges that the contributions ought instead to be calculated based on members’ total T4 earnings."
The above grievance has been filed as a Step 2 grievance. The hearing is scheduled for February 9, 2021. If the matter is not resolved, Unifor has every intention of advancing this grievance to arbitration. The employer has already advised us that should the matter proceed to arbitration, it will be not dealt with via the “Expedited Arbitration Process” under Appendix I of the Unifor/GTAA Collective Bargaining Agreement; it will be argued via the Formal Arbitration Process. If the grievance is heard at arbitration, legal counsel will argue the matter on behalf of the entire membership.
TRANSFER OF ACCOUNT BALANCES
The matter concerning transferring of account balances is more complex as it relates to the timing of when the union files the grievance. Since the employer has not yet made a final decision whether to permit members to transfer their pension funds from the DC Plan over to the CAAT DBPlus Pension Plan, it cannot be said that there is a disagreement between the employer and the union at this point in time. After a number of discussions with Unifor's legal counsel, we have been advised not to file a grievance at this particular time. It is imperative that we follow and adhere to procedures carefully as not to disadvantage our legal position.
As stated in our previous communication, Unifor has been discussing the issue of transferring the account balances held under the DC Plan to the CAAT DBplus Plan dating back to October 2020. However, the employer has advised us (in writing) that the GTAA Board of Directors are scheduled to meet in March 2021, and that the issue of transferring account balances forms part of their agenda. Following this meeting, the GTAA will provide the Union with their position concerning transferring members’ account balances to the CAAT DBPlus Pension Plan.
Although we contend the employer should have made a decision prior to January 2021, Unifor will wait until March 2021 to hear definitively the GTAA Board of Directors’ decision on transferring earnings to the CAAT DBPlus Pension Plan. If the decision is not to allow the transfer, Unifor will contest the decision and will file a "Union Grievance" for all members within the bargaining unit sighting a remedy of full redress and all employees remain whole.
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Both of these grievances are critical as they substantially impact earnings and the overall future of our members. These issues are foremost to your bargaining committee, the Local and the National legal department of Unifor who will continue to work to resolve these financial disputes.
In solidarity,
Your GTAA Bargaining Committee
Rick Pucilowski, District Chairperson
Mario Di Nardo, Bargaining Representative - Airside
Antonios Kourteridis, Bargaining Representative - Facilities
Pauline Leloudas, Bargaining Representative - Professional and Support
Elena Reabchina, Interim Bargaining Representative - Operations
Rob Santo, Bargaining Representative - Skilled Trades
Ashley Watkins, Assistant to the Local President
Paul Shiels, Unifor National Representative
/21-02-05 GTAA membership update en.txt