This week, your component is celebrating 30 years of history!
30 years of unity, solidarity and common struggle! The goal has always been to improve our working conditions and protect our rights!
Here are some concrete examples of the collective power of the group and of your union over the past 30 years
Before unionization, there were no rules on issues such as how many hours we could fly in a given month or even a limit of our day on duty!
Since November 1992, your various union executives have negotiated six collective agreements. In each agreement we have made significant gains such as
– Blocks of flying hours between 65h and 85h per month, with a maximum of 95 hours/month.
– Our monthly hours are guaranteed!
– The duty day limit has been reduced… Yes! Reduced to 14 scheduled hours, with an absolute maximum of 16h. Some will remember the 18h absolute maximum in the 1990’s!
– Significant wage gains over the years. We started at about $17.00 per flight hour, and now the starting salary is $29.53, up to a maximum of $57.43 after 12 years of service.
– Premiums for overtime on duty (did not exist before).
– Creation of 16 weeks of preventive leave to support our pregnant flight attendants.
– Implementation of the MSPP (pension fund created by CUPE)
– Reduction of the RSV period from 24 hours to AM or PM
– Improved protection for hotel zones +20h
More recently, your union, with your support, flatly refused the major cuts to our working conditions that the employer wanted to impose on us just a year ago. Remember that the employer’s plan was to cut our wages by 10%, reduce our crew complement, every clause that had monetary value was targeted!
We were able to fight off these demands because of the strength of your union.
We can’t say it enough, more than ever we must stay united and continue our quest for better working conditions. Reduce fatigue rotations, improve our rest areas and without further delay have a strong job protection clause.
The round of bargaining that we are about to begin will not be easy! The financial health of the company has certainly been affected over the past two years. However, let’s not be distracted by the past and look at the efficiency improvements the company is planning!
Let’s keep in mind that we have weathered this storm and that the new Transat will be more profitable. It is therefore normal that the cabin crew be respected and that our salaries be reviewed in this period of unprecedented inflation. The deferral of our collective agreement by one year, negotiated last year, has helped the company and guaranteed us protection from our current collective agreement. Our Management should always be aware of this. Transat has received assistance in the form of loans from the federal government and this assistance must not be used to the detriment of the company’s employees.
Our sector’s fight in 2023?
The fight of the airline sector is, without a doubt, to be paid for every hour spent at work!
How do we do this?
By uniting with all airline unions affiliated with CUPE in Canada.
On November 30th, will take place a two day summit held by CUPE’s airline division in Vancouver.
At this meeting I will have the privilege of representing you and working in collaboration with the Presidents of the AC/Rouge, WS/Swoop/Encore, Flair, PAL, Pascan, Sunwing, Calm Air and Canadian North cabin crew unions.
The goal of this summit is to stand together in our fight for ground pay! It is about time that our pay is based on our duty time, not just on flight time.
Utopic? Not at all!
More than ever your union is pertinent!
Thank you for supporting us and taking your place by getting involved in our various mobilization actions to come.
In conclusion, let’s be united!
Whether we are based in YUL, YVR or YYZ, our fight is common! Let’s stand together. Each base has its own issues. Your union fights daily for a fair distribution of wealth. Division is our worst enemy. We cannot be distracted by the economic decisions of our employer. All members are at work and we must stand together in the coming months and support each other.
None of these gains would have been possible without our union and the strength of its members.
Let’s be proud of our accomplishments!
Let’s wish each other a happy 30th anniversary!
Dominic Levasseur for your Component Executive, Lisa, Martin, Marie-Hélène, Jill and Sheena