COVID-19 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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IAMAW – Air Canada – Proposed Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy Arrangement Would Place IAMAW Members Back On Payroll
Proposed Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy Arrangement Would Place IAMAW Members Back On Payroll
April 8, 2020
For immediate release
Toronto, ON- The airline industry has been heavily impacted by the pandemic with countries closing borders and placing restrictions on movement. This has translated into reduction of flights and massive furloughs of air transportation workers throughout the world, and the impact has been just as severe in Canada. As the largest union in the air transportation industry in Canada, we have seen an unprecedented number of our members in this industry being put out of work across Canada.
In an effort to assist our members at this incredibly difficult time, the IAMAW has engaged in conversations with major Canadian air carriers to explore possibilities through the proposed Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) program. Where possible, we have also advocated for employers to modify operations for production of medical equipment and/or personal protective equipment (PPE).
We are glad to announce that as a result of ongoing discussions, the IAMAW and Air Canada have reached an arrangement that would undoubtedly benefit our members. Air Canada has confirmed it intends to partake in CEWS, subject to the program being adopted into law substantially as announced, and bring back employees on lay-off or off-duty status (ODS) to its payroll at 75% of their regular wage rate, although there is no work for them to perform. The arrangement would allow members who are financially better served by applying for the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) to make that choice, while maintaining their ODS status. In effect, members would be able to choose between remaining in employment and receiving wages under the federal CEWS program or to remain on off-duty status without pay, and apply for the CERB.
“This piece was an important part of the arrangement for the union, as we recognize that some members fare better under the wage subsidy program, and others through CERB. For the IAMAW, this was the crux of the arrangement, and we are confident we are serving the interests of all our members who are Air Canada employees.” said the President Directing General Chairperson of the air transportation District Lodge 140, Fred Hospes.
As part of this arrangement, members would see the continuation of their healthcare benefits, the cessation of employee wage claw backs during this period, and the cessation of employee uniform deductionLastly, members would be able to make pension contributions during this period as a percentage of their new wage.
“I believe this arrangement would be the best possible option under the circumstances, and I’m glad we were able to come to an arrangement quickly with Air Canada,” said Stan Pickthall, General Vice President of Canada.
Fred Hospes went on to say, “we hope that as we reach the end of such an arrangement, the industry will begin to show signs of recovery and operations will gradually resume normal levels, until then we needed to know our members are taken care of.”
If adopted, this arrangement would be applicable to all IAMAW members at Air Canada who have been placed on Off-Duty Status, laid off or furloughed since March 15, 2020 and will cease on June 6, 2020 or earlier once an employee is recalled back to work.
The IAM is the union representing the largest number of airport workers across Canada.
For more information contact:
Fred Hospes
President Directing General Chairperson District 140
Tel: 778-829-8140
IAMAW Canada – Letter from IP Martinez and GVP Pickthall to Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
Letter from IP Martinez and GVP Pickthall to Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
By Email: justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca
Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P. Prime Minister of Canada
Office of the Prime Minister 80 Wellington Street, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2
Dear Mr. Prime Minister,
We are writing you in our capacities as the International President and General Vice President of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), on behalf of 50,000 members across Canada, and 600,000 across North America. Our members work in a variety of industries from aircraft parts manufacturing, aircraft overhaul and repair, air transportation, aerospace, automotive parts manufacturing, the hospitality sector, custom paint additives, industrial pump manufacturing, and the public sector. We are quickly growing and have become the fastest-growing union in the healthcare and hospitality sectors.
Many of our members are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, those working at airports and in healthcare settings. Not only are these workers on the frontlines, some of them work in industries that are of a strategic and national importance and are now putting their health and safety on the line for the sake of the greater good.
Canada’s workers are facing a major crisis on many fronts, perhaps none as urgent as lack of access to personal protective equipment. Workers we rely on to maintain a semblance of normalcy during these uncertain and unpredictable times, are working without protection. Reports of workers infected with the virus seem to grow each day, and despite the risks they face, these brave men and women relentlessly go to work every day.
While frontline workers are expected to continue working, some employers are failing in their duty to protect the health and safety of their workforce. Many are skirting their obligations by following general guidelines issued by public health agencies, which are neither specific to the unique nature of workplaces nor the risks. Due to such oversight and disregard of IAMAW’s recommendations, some of our members have tested positive to COVID-19 through exposure at work. Our members in healthcare, particularly those in community settings are especially vulnerable to contracting the virus. As you may know, the recent outbreak of COVID-19 in several long term care homes has drawn attention to the issue of pandemic preparedness. Since retirement homes and long term care homes are not prioritized in rationing of personal protective equipment, workers in these establishments are especially vulnerable. This is unacceptable.
Employers must be held to a higher standard and be accountable; after all, employer policies can also help curb the spread of the virus. We are asking the federal government and public health agencies to demand that employers go above and beyond general pandemic guidelines and apply the precautionary principle to workplace policies to protect workers.
We understand that the supply of personal protective equipment and medical supplies are under severe strain. This is exacerbated by Canada’s reliance on foreign suppliers, many of whom can’t meet the global demand. It is also worrisome that the Trump administration is preventing suppliers in the United States from shipping supplies to Canada. The inability to produce these much-needed supplies domestically has left Cananda particularly vulnerable at a critical time.
We applaud the federal government’s recent efforts to negotiate deals with domestic firms to begin producing critical medical and personal protective equipment. However, to date, only three firms are confirmed to begin production, and our concern is that this will be insufficient given an expected surge of cases.
There are a number of employers we deal with who may be able to convert operations into production of personal protective equipment, and we ask the federal government to mandate businesses who are able to do so, to take immediate action. This is not a time for negotiating; it’s a time to take swift action to protect our communities and our economy.
members are appreciative of efforts the federal government has undertaken in a quickly changing environment, and are counting on you to ensure those on the frontlines are working safely.
Respectfully,
International President
Robert Martinez Jr.
General Vice President- Canada
Stan Pickthall
Cc” The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs chrystia.freeland@parl.gc.ca
