Snackpack
January 14, 2003, 04:22 PM
I'm starting to miss some of the discussions (but NOT the insults) we used to have on the old forum. I also have a question for our future colleagues from former CAIL. You've been through many mergers in the past. Since we'll be intermingling soon, any suggestions? If you were in a room with Ken Hopper and he asked you what needs to be done and where do we go from here with respect to the transition process, what would you answer?
--------------------------------------------------------
Administrator’s Report
January 8, 2003 Volume 1 Issue 1
Brothers and Sisters:
Let me begin by hoping that all of you as well as your families and loved ones had a restful and enjoyable holiday season.
From time to time, in order to keep you up to date on major developments, I intend to distribute reports on my activities at the Component level. As I have now come to expect, events in a number of areas moved rapidly. In this issue I will attempt to bring you up to speed on a number of items.
Ratification
I would first like to thank the members who expressed their views by voting on the recently ratified collective agreement. The rate of participation in this vote was extremely high, and such active participation in our decision making process can only result in unified decisions.
In addition, the successful completion of the collective agreement is a giant step towards creating a stronger and more united union which will be better able to deal with Air Canada as it evolves into a major world class airline. In attending several of the recent ratification meetings I noted this was a desire expressed by members from both of the former components.
By now most of you will know that the collective agreement was ratified with the support of 68% of voting members. Though one can never expect unanimity in the ratification of an agreement, this is a strong mandate in favour of the agreement and a strong indication of your desire to move forward.
What happens now?
Now that the vote has been completed, the process of turning all of the individual agreements which were part of the memorandum into a new collective agreement, which can be produced and distributed to all members, can begin. This is the normal process for completing the work of the Negotiating Committee. This process is not a renegotiation of any items; all items have been negotiated to completion but will require numbering and insertion into the body of the existing collective agreement. I will direct this process with the assistance of the members of the Negotiating Committee and others. I have asked the Negotiating Committee to meet Toronto on the 15th and 16th of this month to continue working with me on this process.
I will keep all members informed of developments on this front in future bulletins.
Grievance Arbitration
Our scheduled grievance arbitration hearings continue at their regular pace. In December, five hearings were heard. Mona Elhilali, Component in-house counsel negotiated a settlement as a result of which medical notes will no longer be required on a mandatory basis following short-term absences. We also were successful in a grievance relating to scheduled block credits. We argued that Pursers and Flight Attendants are entitled to credit or pay for scheduled block credits missed due to illness or vacation.
In January, we have another five hearings scheduled, including a grievance related to meal allowances on Asian routes and a grievance concerning draft pay.
Transition Process
It is my intention to talk in the near future with a number of former CAIL flight attendants (many of whom were CAIL reps) who are involved in this process in an attempt to ascertain what needs to be done and where we need to go from here.
Election of New Component Officers
In order to return the administration of the Component to elected Component Officers, an election of new Component Officers must take place. In the coming days, I will be consulting with all candidates on the process and timing of the new election. Once this consultation has been completed I hope to be able to report to you on how and when this election will take place.
Thank you for your continued solidarity,
Ken Hopper
Administrator
--------------------------------------------------------
And in the interest of fostering discussion, OACs, what do you think needs to be done and where do you think we need to go from here?
--------------------------------------------------------
Administrator’s Report
January 8, 2003 Volume 1 Issue 1
Brothers and Sisters:
Let me begin by hoping that all of you as well as your families and loved ones had a restful and enjoyable holiday season.
From time to time, in order to keep you up to date on major developments, I intend to distribute reports on my activities at the Component level. As I have now come to expect, events in a number of areas moved rapidly. In this issue I will attempt to bring you up to speed on a number of items.
Ratification
I would first like to thank the members who expressed their views by voting on the recently ratified collective agreement. The rate of participation in this vote was extremely high, and such active participation in our decision making process can only result in unified decisions.
In addition, the successful completion of the collective agreement is a giant step towards creating a stronger and more united union which will be better able to deal with Air Canada as it evolves into a major world class airline. In attending several of the recent ratification meetings I noted this was a desire expressed by members from both of the former components.
By now most of you will know that the collective agreement was ratified with the support of 68% of voting members. Though one can never expect unanimity in the ratification of an agreement, this is a strong mandate in favour of the agreement and a strong indication of your desire to move forward.
What happens now?
Now that the vote has been completed, the process of turning all of the individual agreements which were part of the memorandum into a new collective agreement, which can be produced and distributed to all members, can begin. This is the normal process for completing the work of the Negotiating Committee. This process is not a renegotiation of any items; all items have been negotiated to completion but will require numbering and insertion into the body of the existing collective agreement. I will direct this process with the assistance of the members of the Negotiating Committee and others. I have asked the Negotiating Committee to meet Toronto on the 15th and 16th of this month to continue working with me on this process.
I will keep all members informed of developments on this front in future bulletins.
Grievance Arbitration
Our scheduled grievance arbitration hearings continue at their regular pace. In December, five hearings were heard. Mona Elhilali, Component in-house counsel negotiated a settlement as a result of which medical notes will no longer be required on a mandatory basis following short-term absences. We also were successful in a grievance relating to scheduled block credits. We argued that Pursers and Flight Attendants are entitled to credit or pay for scheduled block credits missed due to illness or vacation.
In January, we have another five hearings scheduled, including a grievance related to meal allowances on Asian routes and a grievance concerning draft pay.
Transition Process
It is my intention to talk in the near future with a number of former CAIL flight attendants (many of whom were CAIL reps) who are involved in this process in an attempt to ascertain what needs to be done and where we need to go from here.
Election of New Component Officers
In order to return the administration of the Component to elected Component Officers, an election of new Component Officers must take place. In the coming days, I will be consulting with all candidates on the process and timing of the new election. Once this consultation has been completed I hope to be able to report to you on how and when this election will take place.
Thank you for your continued solidarity,
Ken Hopper
Administrator
--------------------------------------------------------
And in the interest of fostering discussion, OACs, what do you think needs to be done and where do you think we need to go from here?