October 19, 2020 at 2:30 PM
On September 18, 2020, Porter Airlines sent an email communication to all full-time Unifor members to advise of changes they were implementing to the benefit plans effective October 1, 2020. Changes to these plans are detailed in the following Porter Airlines document.
While at the bargaining table in 2019, the Unifor bargaining committees had to contend with this contentious issue as the employer tabled an increase to the employees benefit premiums. Initially, Porter proposed that members pay 50/50 vs. the [then] current 80/20 model. This issue became so controversial for the bargaining committees, Unifor held membership meetings and took a strike vote for two of the three bargaining units. 94% of one bargaining unit said yes to support a strike vote, while 98% of the other bargaining unit also said yes. The parties continued to discuss the rising costs of benefits as each side brought in experts to review the data. Prior to reaching a tentative agreement, the union and employer agreed to a 65/35 cost-sharing model. Unifor was clear on what was bargained. You – the membership – were advised at the ratification meetings that the benefit premium would increase to 35% with no decrease to coverage.
Now that the Unifor/Porter Airlines collective bargaining agreements have been successfully ratified, the employer contends they plan to increase the premiums but eliminate the majority of benefits we agreed to at the bargaining table. The Union vehemently disagrees with this position.
As result of the benefit changes the employer initiated on October 1, 2020, the union has:
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September 25, 2020: Unifor filed three policy grievances on behalf of all three bargaining units impacted
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September 25, 2020: Grievances were initiated at step 2 of the grievance procedure
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October 5, 2020: The following convened via video conference to discuss the level 2 grievance: Ashley Watkins - Assistant to the Local President (Unifor), Lucy Alessio - Grievance Coordinator (Unifor), Eghtedar Manouchehri - Vice President of Airport Operations (Porter) and Alexandra Arduini - Human Resources (Porter)
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October 7, 2020: Porter Airlines responded and denied the grievances by stating in part, "The current COVID19 pandemic has had a detrimental and unprecedented impact on the airline sector in general and on porter specifically. We are making the difficult but necessary decisions required to ensure Porter’s long-term viability as a business and employer for our team members, including those represented by Unifor. All employee groups are affected by this benefit plan change."
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October 9, 2020: Union sent the employer an email to advise of the intention to advance the grievances to arbitration
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October 19, 2020: Union forwarded the employer a list of three (3) arbitrator names to hear the grievances.
Unifor contends that Porter Airlines does not have the ability to arbitrarily change the benefit plan without bargaining such changes, regardless of the worldwide pandemic.
We will keep you informed as the matter progresses.
In Solidarity,
Ashley Watkins
Assistant to the Local President
/20-10-19 Porter policy grievances en.txt