Pilot union launches unfair labour practice complaint against Air Canada, Jazz
The union representing pilots at Jazz Aviation claims that their employer and Air Canada have breached the Canada Labour Code, even because it ratified modifications to their collective settlement.
On Monday, the Air Line Pilots Association filed a grievance with the Canada Industrial Relations Board arguing that each airways violated the exclusivity deal between the 2 and successfully narrowed the pipeline of pilots from one provider to the opposite.
Jazz, a subsidiary of Chorus Aviation Inc., gives regional service for the nation’s largest airline below the Air Canada Express model.
In May, Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau introduced a “bridging arrangement” with St. John’s, N.L.-based firm PAL Airlines to spice up the variety of regional flights in Eastern Canada.
Tim Perry, president of the Air Line Pilots Association’s Canadian phase, mentioned that the deal was out of bounds, as a result of contract between Jazz and Air Canada.
“The arrangement was that it was exclusivity. So when flying was assigned or when deals were struck with PAL, we’re basically saying that that was done in contravention of previous agreements,” he mentioned in a phone interview from Winnipeg.
Rather than enhance compensation and advantages to pilots — and thus appeal to and retain extra to be able to develop flight capability at Jazz — administration took one other he route, he mentioned. On high of partnering with PAL, that path additionally noticed Air Canada’s “micromanaging what Jazz and Chorus are able to work out in bargaining” and setting an efficient cap on Jazz’s spending, Perry claimed.
Air Canada and Jazz additionally encroached on pilots’ labour rights by “refusing to comply with contractual pilot ‘flow’ agreements,” which see a sure variety of pilots trickle from Jazz to Air Canada annually, in response to a union assertion.
Air Canada mentioned it’s reviewing the union’s submitting, noting the airline has a long-standing relationship with Jazz.
“This relationship has been instrumental in our ability to serve communities throughout Canada. As this matter is in front of the board, we will not comment further on the complaint’s merit,” spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick mentioned in an electronic mail.
“With respect to PAL, it is in the context of Jazz’s pilot availability challenges and our desire to continue serving certain communities that some interim lift was acquired through PAL.”
Chorus mentioned it does but have the complete particulars of the grievance, and does “not comment on matters before the labour board or any court or tribunal.”
“Jazz has a strong history of finding solutions and collaborating effectively with its unions. We look forward to working with ALPA to better understand and resolve their concerns,” spokeswoman Lauren Dunn mentioned in an electronic mail.
The Jazz pilots launched the unfair labour follow grievance the identical day — Monday — that they ratified an amended collective settlement with their Chorus.
Jazz president Randolph deGooyer mentioned the tweaked deal acknowledges the upward shift in pilot wages and expands the airline’s recruitment and coaching choices.
“Through this modified agreement, we have shown a shared commitment to addressing industry challenges collaboratively,” deGooyer mentioned in a launch.
“These changes will further position Jazz as the leading regional operator in Canada,” added Chorus president Colin Copp.
– This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Aug. 29, 2023.
