TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE IAMAW
WORKING FOR AIR CANADA AND AVEOS
HEAVY MAINTENANCE ISSUES (GANTT CHART)
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
The Union met with both Air Canada and Aveos to discuss the 2012 heavy maintenance events and the staffing levels required to accomplish these tasks.
Air Canada and Aveos both identified the fact that there are huge gaps in the maintenance program in Vancouver that spans from June to September 2012 for the first line and from June to October 2012 for the second line.
When asked by your union leaders what their intentions were concerning this white space, Aveos representatives replied that they would look at all possibilities before announcing any kind of layoff. We stated that we would consider this as a layoff of more than 50 people and, as such, Aveos would be under an obligation to contact the Labour Minister on this issue and supply us with 16 weeks’ notice.
Aveos provided us with their staffing numbers for all the bases. The most glaring issue is a surplus of approximately 22 Category 19 mechanics in Winnipeg. The company has not specifically informed the union on how it intends to deal with this issue but, once again, we can see layoffs about to occur.
Concerning the Engine Maintenance Centre, the union asked both companies why they intend to outsource the medium to heavy work on the CF34-10 engines. It appears that Aveos only signed a service-level agreement with Air Canada to do the company’s engine work until September 2013. Concerning its engine work, Air Canada sent out a request for proposal (RFP) to other vendors but it will not award this work until the end of the year. At the same time, Aveos will not invest in any tooling or equipment to do the medium and heavy work on the CF34-10 engines. This is a case of the company wanting us to chase our tails which, in turn, forces us to submit this issue, the RFP, to arbitration.
It appears that Air Canada has a corporate interest in subcontracting out our bargaining unit work, eliminating our members’ jobs and ensuring the failure of Aveos. To deliver this message, the senior executives of both companies did not bother to attend in person so, once again, they sent a management team that does not have the ability to fix the issue. Hence, your Union will demand through the chief arbitrator’s appointed consultant, Bruce Light, that the corporate leaders of Air Canada and Aveos meet with the Union leaders.
In addition, Aveos representatives informed your union that they have hired an external consultant named Brian Burns to help them in becoming more efficient in the heavy maintenance process in Montreal, Winnipeg and Vancouver. Once again, the union wishes to remind its members that we do not participate in any management-oriented plans and does not encourage you to do so. The end result would simply be the loss of your jobs.
If you have any questions on this or any other issue, please contact your shop committee.
In solidarity,
Tony Didoshak
General Chairperson
