Category Archive

On November 9th, an organizing campaign began at YOW after West Jet released which companies it awarded its above and below the wing services to at 34 airports across Canada. It included Strategic Aviation. Within a week, despite this pandemic, meaningful communications began, virtual information sessions were held, door to door card signing was conducted and an application was filed with the Labour Board.
Neither the Company nor their customer West Jet knew what hit them, or how the Unions Trojan Horse entered the barn so quickly. Read Bulletin here…

After discussing with the EFAP National Committee, we have decided to extend the Third-Party Counselling from Homewood Health Services. Access to these services will be extended to the end of 2021 and are available to all Air Canada employees and their dependents. This includes members on lay-off and off-duty status of the IAMAW.

Further, we have made arrangements for Homewood’s Services to include legal and financial counselling. The services for legal and financial will be capped at five sessions per family. This will allow for five hours of legal or financial advice from a lawyer in the field you are requesting or a financial counsellor. Read Bulletin here…

The Committee of General Chairpersons held a hearing in front of Arbitrator Corrin Bell on February 11, 2021, to make application for Interim Relief (Cease & Desist) for the company’s recent misuse of placing members on “Off Duty Status” per Article 20.14 of the TMOS Collective Agreement. Read Bulletin here…

On December 21, 2020, the IAMAW attended arbitration to have outstanding national issues heard, including the one-category grievances filed on behalf of members who were denied recall into Cabin Servicing & Cleaning Attendant classifications.

During the hearing, the parties entered into the mediation process with the assistance of Arbitrator Schmidt. It became apparent that Air Canada was unwilling to resolve the dispute via mediation. Read Bulletin here…

As a follow-up to Bulletin No. 1 dated January 8, 2021, the Union has made an application for interim relief as per the Collective Agreement and the Canada Labour Code.
The matter will be heard in front of Arbitrator Corinn Bell on Thursday, February 11, 2021, and the Union will be seeking a cease and desist order against Air Canada’s misuse of Article 20.14, “Off-Duty Status.”  Read Bulletin here…

Further to Bulletin No. 49 issued on September 16, 2020, District Lodge 140 has secured a date to hear the Category 38 Grievances. The matters will proceed to arbitration on February 17, 2021, in front of
Arbitrator Corinn Bell. Read Bulletin here…

This award concern a matter that is national in scope covering all affected stations represented in the Air Canada and IAMAW TMOS collective agreement (“Collective Agreement”). Grievances have been filed across the country alleging flagrant breaches of article 10 and Memorandum of Agreement No. 12 (“MOA 12”), which provisions address work schedules. They are reproduced in an appendix to this award. Read Arb here…

The IAM was advised this morning that Air Canada intends to use an extraordinary measure by placing approximately 284 IAM members on “off duty status” by invoking a “force majeure” provision contained within the collective agreement. The IAM categorically opposes the use of the “force majeure by placing our members on “off duty status” as it does not apply in the current situation. Air Canada is well outside the statute of limitations to use “force majeure”. The company announced 1,700 staff reductions across its operations throughout the country.

Force Majeure is an unforeseeable circumstance that prevents someone from fulfilling a contract or an obligation. Read Press Release here…

It has come to my attention that the iam140efap.ca website contained incorrect information about the claim process. In the past, a member with a family plan was able to access $1500 over and above the $500 allotted by the company.

After consideration of this, the National EFAP Committee decided that this was not a fair
practice. The policy allowed for members with family plans to access more monies than
those members with single/no dependent plans. Read Bulletin here…

“I am far beyond disappointed to hear that the Canadian government has been providing wage subsidies (CEWS) to foreign-owned airlines who continue to fly into Canada!”

That was the reaction of Canadian General Vice President Stan Pickthall, when news dropped that a dozen foreign-owned airlines have been granted CEWS relief despite having already received billions of dollars in relief from their own governments. The CEWS database shows
precisely which corporations are receiving the benefit financed by Canadian taxpayers: https://apps.cra-arc.gc.ca/ebci/hacc/cews/srch/pub/bscSrch

Today, Air Canada advised District Lodge 140 of their intention to place additional employees on off-duty status as per Article 20.14 of the Collective Agreement. For now, the majority of the affected Members come from the Atlantic Region and all come from Airports/Cargo. Labour Relations further advised that additional ODS will also be applied in Tech-Ops at a later date but did not provide detail.Read Bulletin here…

Your General Chairpersons continued the fight at national arbitration hearings
yesterday. As many of the national grievances are more complex than usual, the
national process tends to be protracted.

Although taking longer than expected, we are concluding matters and are very happy
to report that Arbitrator Christine Schmidt has upheld the extensive shift bid grievances
submitted across every region Read Bulletin here…

As a follow up to Bulletin No.54 issued on October 21, 2020, a further case management call was held on December 18, 2020 between Arbitrator Vince Ready, the IAMAW’s legal counsel, Air Canada’s legal counsel, and the two principle chairs for your TMOS Bargaining Committee.

Due to unforeseen circumstances of a personal nature, Air Canada’s counsel have put forward a request to Arbitrator Ready to extend the December 14 & 23, 2020 submission deadlines that were previously established during the case management call on October 15, 2020. Read Bulletin here…

By now most of you will have read the employer’s communication dated December 13th regarding “Holiday Peak Overtime Callout.” Your Union is opposed to this strategy for a myriad of reasons.
Overtime callout procedures are set forth in the Collective Agreement and local overtime agreements. It is not optional to Air Canada resource to unilaterally adjust those agreed to procedures on an ad hoc basis. Read Bulletin here…

Your General Chairpersons representing Members at Air Canada are addressing the National Grievances. Last month, DL140 was successful in securing additional arbitration dates for 2020 and 2021. Two (2) dates have been added this month, December 10th and December 21st. Read Bulletin here…

Over the course of this year, a great many IAM members have suffered a furlough or layoff as a result of the pandemic. We are aware that a great many remain in this situation.

The IAM Constitution, in Article G, provides for members who are unemployed for the major portion of
any month (the major portion of any month shall depend on the major portion of the regular working days
in any month) and who suffer a total or proportionate loss of earnings, due to separation from
employment, layoff, or furlough, or sickness or disability, to maintain their good standing by paying a
minimum charge of $2.00 per month, $1.00 of which is remitted to Grand Lodge. Read Bulletin here…

As a follow-up to bulletin No. 056 issued on November 13th, Transportation District 140 is pleased to report that the applications to the Minister of Labour for the appointment of an arbitrator had a positive impact.

Air Canada immediately engaged the IAMAW in discussion and we were able to secure two (2) additional arbitration dates for 2020, December 10th and December 21st. These much needed arbitration dates will be used to hear outstanding national grievances. The parties have agreed to Arbitrator Christine Schmidt. Read Bulletin here…

ALL MEMBERS FORMERLY EMPLOYED AT AVEOS SHOULD READ THE NOTICE ATTACHED TO THIS BULLETIN.

Some members formerly employed at Aveos are owed money by the former Directors of Aveos for wages that remained unpaid at the end of the Aveos bankruptcy.

In order to receive a payment from a settlement of Court proceedings, these members MUST confirm their current mailing address, in accordance with the instructions on the attached Notice. Read Bulletin here…

The District 140 was advised last week about a computer programming error that
generated overpayments. These overpayments are specifically in the Cabin Standard
and Service department (Cabins) and are between May 17 and October 17, 2020. Read Bulletin here…

The General Chairpersons representing Members from the TMOS, Finance and Clerical
Bargaining Units have been working exhaustively to process and resolve all outstanding
grievances, including those flowing from Off Duty Status (ODS) and Lay-off.

Air Canada has been working equally hard to delay agreed to processes and ultimately delay
justice. The Company is defiantly refusing to advance urgent grievances to arbitration. The
level of frustration this is causing the Membership is not acceptable. Read Bulletin here…