Jazz announces Layoffs as bargaining begins

Jazz announces Layoffs as bargaining begins

September 30, 2012 at 8:00 PM

Jazz management has announced that they will be issuing layoff notices to 52 fulltime employees from both above and below the wing. This announcement is particularity disconcerting to your CAW bargaining committee as we prepare to meet with Jazz to commence collective bargaining. The current collective agreement expires on January 13, 2013.

The company has chosen to not meet or consult with your union as to how to best mitigate and/or implement these layoffs, but has instead elected to disregard your elected bargaining committee and the collective bargaining process.

In a press release issued on July 12, 2012, Jazz President & CEO Joseph Randell stated, "the ongoing rejuvenation of the Jazz fleet will deliver value to all our stakeholders": a statement made after acquiring six new Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft and removing 9 Canadian Regional Jets from the fleet.

At our last UMHQ in June 2012, Jazz stated they would be seeking a 7% cost reduction from our bargaining unit in addition to the 43 positions that were eliminated 6 months prior. The bargaining committee fully expected and was prepared to deal with this at the bargaining table.

The reductions in the number of flights into some of the smaller bases due to the Q400 being able to carry more passengers has left huge gaps of time between flights, leaving what they call dead time and no need to staff.

The management at Jazz is stating that it is Air Canada who is forcing the bases to close during these dead times and that Air Canada is demanding that Jazz reduce staffing levels to keep in line with consumer behavior with respect to online tools.

The CAW and its membership fully understand that these are challenging and difficult times for the aircraft services bargaining unit with the introduction of the new Q400 and the evolving online technology, but the refusal of Jazz not to even consult or discuss this change with the CAW is unacceptable.

The CAW fully expects to share in the efficiencies that will be created when Jazz implements these changes and will be putting that proposition forward at the bargaining table on your behalf.

This announcement has definitely set a negative tone prior to the opening of our negotiations with Jazz. The loss of 95 Full time jobs in less than 12 months is an extreme misfortune for our group and will not be taken lightly in negotiations.

Please contact you r bargaining committee for further information.

  

Your Jazz CSA/ACS bargaining committee
Shirley Anderson-Mio, Chairperson
Huw Callard
Josée Genois
Lee Kempster
Robert Pomanti
Matthew Sackville
Ken White