March 26, 2018
IAMAW Local Lodge 2323 Air Canada Members
Union Hats
It has been brought to the Union’s attention that Air Canada has published and is circulating its “Work
Wear Standards Book” issued on March 21, 2018, outlining their uniform compliance expectations. This
company manual demands that our Members wear “only Air Canada issued caps” and not to wear their
Union provided hats.
The Union Membership has for over 30 years enjoyed the right to wear their Union provided hat. The
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers fought this very case in arbitration and
were victorious in winning an award which allows the Membership the right to wear their Union hat with
pride and as a show of solidarity. Arbitrator Andre Sylvestre ruled that this infringed on the rights
outlined in the Collective Agreement and more specifically Union Recognition, referenced in Article 1.02:
“No employee covered by this agreement will be interfered with, restrained, coerced, or discriminated
against by the Company, its officers or agents, because of membership in or lawful activity on behalf
of the Union.”
The award goes on to say that the Union hats show nothing of an offensive nature. The message is of a
neutral tone and carried no anti-management message. Nothing was contrary to the professional image the
company wanted to promote and therefore should be considered lawful activity on the Union’s behalf.
Your Union is prepared to go the distance with this matter and preserve your rights and as such have
contacted our legal team for counsel and to file with the courts. It is your Union’s position that you
have been and should be permitted to wear your Union hats with pride.
Let us all stand together on this issue and show our strength in solidarity.
We will provide updates as they become available.
In solidarity,
Dave Flowers
President
John J. Smiley
Secretary Treasurer
