Labor Board Returns To September 20 Tentative Agreement

A final and binding ruling has been issued by Elizabeth MacPherson, Chair of the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB), regarding unresolved matters between Air Canada and CUPE, the union representing the airline's 6,800 flight attendants. Following a hearing at which both parties were represented, this ruling orders the implementation of the second tentative agreement reached September 20, 2011 as the new binding collective agreement between the airline and its flight attendants.

"Air Canada is pleased with this final and binding decision to implement the terms of the second tentative agreement that was reached with CUPE's democratically-elected leadership in September," Duncan Dee, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, said in a news release on the Air Canada website.  "The implementation of a new collective agreement with our flight attendants ends a period of uncertainty for our customers and will allow Air Canada and its employees to move forward together."

Union leaders were less accepting of the package. Paul Moist, national president of CUPE, called the decision "profoundly disappointing," and laid the blame for its failure to fairly address the needs of flight attendants squarely at the feet of the Canada's conservative government.

“Flight attendants deserve better than this decision. They deserve better treatment from Air Canada, and they certainly deserve better from their federal government,” said Moist in a news release. “This government has been extremely irresponsible, and it’s their constant interference in collective bargaining that tipped the scales in favour of the company and against hardworking flight attendants.”
 
The arbitration award imposes the same provisions as the tentative agreement which was rejected by flight attendants on Oct. 9, 2011. Under threat of back-to-work legislation and after two unwarranted referrals to the Canada Industrial Relations Board by Federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt, CUPE agreed to binding arbitration with Air Canada.
 
“Awarding flight attendants an agreement they rejected a month ago does not in any way address serious workplace issues and flight attendants are rightfully disappointed and angry,” said Moist. “If Air Canada is truly interested in running a professional and efficient company they must invest in their work force. This agreement will leave flight attendants exhausted, frustrated and underpaid.”
 
Moist said this decision, the contract negotiations and the heavy-handed, ideologically driven actions of the federal government serves as a warning for every  unionized worker in Canada – private and public –  to prepare for continued attacks on working people.
 
“Throughout this entire process one thing was crystal clear: this Conservative government was ready and willing to interfere on behalf of the company and against ordinary working Canadians,” said Moist. “We need to prepare for the fact that this government is on the side of the employers and is prepared to act on their behalf. We need to be vigilant in defending the rights of working people.”

FMI: www.cirb-ccri.gc.ca/index_eng.asp