August 12, 2013 at 7:15 AM
The CAW Jazz CSA/ACS Bargaining Committee met with the Company on August 7
and 8 to discuss the implementation of the Hodges award issued July 27, 2013.
During these two days, there were many issues that needed resolution and the CAW
was determined to find solutions that would have the least negative impact on
members.
Key issues included:
-
Determine specific dates of the base closures
-
Determine the dates for exiting the company on
a general VSP
-
Map out all of the options that the membership is entitled to under the
collective agreement
-
Establish languages for the voluntary separation program (VSP) for those
wishing to exercise the option
Contracting out of Scope work above and below the wing
These VSP’S are an enhanced version of the Base
Closure language that exists in the collective agreement.
[ Click here to view
Letter of Understanding Re: Contracting Out ] PDF
The
following will apply:
-
Layoff notice will be given to employees no less
than four (4) months prior to closure
-
Three (3) of the small stations
will close on May 1, 2014. They are as follows:
› YQL – Lethbridge
› YXH –
Medicine Hat
› YZR – Sarnia
-
The remaining small stations will close
on September 1, 2014. They are as follows:
› YYD – Smithers
› YZP – Sandspit
› YPR – Prince Rupert
› YYY – Mont Joli
› ZBF – Bathurst)
-
Grooming (Cabin Services) scope work functions will cease as of June 1,
2014.
-
Ramp services scope functions at the following bases will cease
as of July 1, 2014:
› YVO – Val-d'Or
› YUY – Rouyn-Noranda
› YBG – Bagotville
› YCD – Nanaimo
Additionally, there will be a minimum
of 50 VSP’s offered as follows:
[ Click here to view
Letter of Understanding Re: Voluntary Severance Packages ("VSP") ] PDF
To members
at large who have 15 years of service and top of scale; who are not impacted by
contracting out.
The additional offered VSP's not included in the base
closure set will consist of the following:
-
Severance equal to the
payment of two (2) weeks per year of service to a maximum of fifty-two (52)
weeks.
-
Employees’ service will be pro-rated for the purpose of
determining continuous Company service, including any time worked part-time.
Company service will be based on the same formula as the base closure VSP.
-
Employees who have met a retirement travel milestone will be eligible for
travel privileges in accordance with the Retirement Policy. Employees who don’t
have the retirement milestone will receive one (1) travel pass per year of
service for themselves, their spouse and their eligible dependants as described
under the Jazz Travel Policy with a maximum of six (6) travel passes. These
passes will be on a priority of C3/Y10 for category one (1) employees and a
C5/Y10 priority for category two (2) and three (3) employees.
-
The
actual exit date of the employees who elect VSPs will be determined by the needs
of service. Once these dates are determined, employees will select in order of
seniority. The VSP program will follow the schedule set out below:
| |
Program Year |
| Activity |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
| VSP distributed by |
Sept 1,
2013 |
April 1,
2014 |
April 1,
2015 |
April 1,
2016 |
| Apply |
Sept 30,
2013 |
May 1,
2014 |
May 1,
2015 |
May 1,
2016 |
| Awarded by |
Nov 1,
2013 |
June 15,
2014 |
June 15,
2015 |
June 15,
2016 |
| Exit by |
April 30,
2014 |
April 30,
2015 |
April 30,
2016 |
April 30,
2017 |
Non-monetary amendments to the agreement will be updated within 6 months of
finalizing the collective agreement. The statutory holiday award is in effect
August 2, 2013 and shoe allowance increases are in effect as January 14th 2013.
We
have yet to come to terms on how cross utilization below the wing will be
compensated or implemented. As well we are returning to Arbitrator Mr. Hodges on
a few items which include the retroactive implementation of the 5th week
vacation for those on or above the fifteen (15) year mark.
These are
difficult times for our membership that are losing their jobs and the CAW
bargaining committee is doing everything they can to mitigate the job loss. We
encourage everyone to carefully explore every option.
The CAW will
continue to communicate any information as it becomes available. There are two
additional meetings scheduled on September 26 and 27 which are meant to finalize
other amendments to the collective agreement.
In solidarity,
Your Jazz CSA/ACS bargaining committee,
Shirley
Anderson-Mio, Chairperson
Huw Callard
Josée Genois
Lee Kempster
Robert Pomanti
Matthew Sackville
Ken White
Ashley Watkins, Executive
Assistant
Jamie Ross, Local 2002 President
Joel Fournier, National
Representative