SPEAKING OUT
tD0poecemb0er9 126 2aftf 9m:i252t PM · "The appeal process has already started.It is true what I say, although I should NOT mention it.Very proud to belong to the 4 plus club.There are more than 4 donations that I was able to send since 2017.We see the need to contribute in $$$ to mitigate the expenses of the lawyers.
Many do not resign themselves to believing that it is an urgent need,
The appeal process has already started, the time is now to contribute the membership,
or the extra generous donations from existing ACSOS members.
We remember, that it is now or never.
Lucille ParkinsonAdminNefarious like the Pionairs who do not inform the members of the deterioration of our travel benefits which were well earned
CK Taylor
Divide and conquer is alive and well.Always been that way at YYZ Ramp.
No4vecmber 24g0 oha4t 1m32o3:65t23 PM1 · So retirees how do you like AC, the ACPionairs and ACUnifor now? Still trust them? Let's see what we get out of this latest deal and I will bet it won't be much!Looks like we are on our own now, ACSOS told all of us not to trust the ACPionairs and many ignored them. Now what, who will take this new challenge on? We can't ask ACSOS to fight this when so many of you didn't want to help fight for our travel benefit when they asked for our help! Why would ACSOS trust we would back them when our past says differently? Guess it's a done deal and many won't like it I'm sure!
Janet Adie shared a link.
No49vtem0bSe4rho 22 tat 2:l5tmfi6so PMted · Spoke to a widow of an Air Canada retiree on weekend and brought up Pionairs. She told me she gets bulletins from them. I told her you are probably paying annual fee check your statements and you may want to opt out if you are getting nothing out of belonging to this organization. Wonder how many other widows are in same boat. If you know a widow maybe you want to check with them. I am.Join ACSOS
Charlotte LewisRichard Branson was interviewed a few years ago. When asked why his airline Virgin was so famous & doing well without it being branded i.e did not have his name, his response was, that he did not need to brand it because he took care of his employees from “ THE GROUND UP”.
Michael CuberovicAdminI live 70km away from YYZ. I want to know my odds of getting on a flight before leaving home. With the creation of B1 and C1 priorities that can show up at the gate without listing at least 24 hours in advance, it's now an even bigger roll of the dice. Standby travel is much more precarious than prior to 2017. Our Appeal covers this change to our fringe benefit among other issues. Compensatory and punitive damages are being sought in our Class Action lawsuit. Hopefully we will have a decision before Christmas or very early in the New Year. In the meantime, legal bills are piling up. Please pay your share with a 1 time $50 donation at www.aircanada-sos.com
Robert Bruce Mac DonaldPionairs have/had nothing to do with this agreement. The company only attached the Pionairs name in order to give some credence that Pionairs were involved. The Pionairs are a company organization not an independent association of retirees!
Isobel Gunn Appreciate your efforts Joe and well done!. We definitely need representation on this and I hear you and agree our individual complaints are falling on deaf ears. Here is a copy of the message I sent myself on this issue March 2016 and subsequent response from Mark Southern.Sent: Sunday, March 27, 2016 8:28 PM
To: Mark Southern Mark.Southern@aircanada.ca
Subject: Employee travel priorities
Mr. Southern,
There is a petition circulating advising that certain members of reservations have been allotted C1/J10 passes. I am hoping this is misinformation and would appreciate your comments with respect to this.
I am a >30 year employee, now retired, and have noticed in the past 2 years it is becoming increasingly more difficult to travel on a regular travel pass. I worked long and hard for this benefit and am distressed that boarding priorities have been changed, or awarded, with little thought to folks like me, who are now retired, but devoted their working lives to Air Canada.
It is a sad day when this travel benefit is awarded for anything other than seniority. I am sure most employees feel they work hard and are deserving of recognition. It is my opinion that no department or person should be recognized with upgraded passes for good work, or for simply the area/department/position they work. There are many other rewards that can be given to recognize employees other than upgraded pass priorities. This type of reward is disrespectful to the many hard working AC employees and retirees who, for whatever reason, fail to be recognized.
Thank you for reading this email. I look forward to hearing your response.
Isobel,
Dear Ms. Gunn,
A few short weeks ago Air Canada sat down with UNIFOR, (the Union that represents our Customer Service agents at the airport and in call centers) with an eye to look at common ground on how we could work more closely together to support our growth strategy. These discussions were extremely successful and as a result, our senior executive team has rewarded this group of employees with a gift of C1 passes. The new relationship now reflects a similar arrangement that exists with our other Union groups who have also received a gift of passes.
It is exciting days at Air Canada with unprecedented growth, new aircraft and regular announcements of new destinations. Our active employees and their Union representation have all agreed to long term relationships which sets us up nicely for the future and allows us to focus on working together to keep growing Air Canada while remaining profitable. At the same time our Customers keep on flying Air Canada!! We continue to experience very high load factors which does make it difficult to travel on standby.
As a long time employee I truly appreciate the contribution of those who dedicated their careers to Air Canada. However, I do respectfully disagree that it is inappropriate providing a gift passes to active employees. In light of unprecedented collective agreements which will help make Air Canada successful for many years to come and I believe it is the right thing to do!!
We are all very excited about the future at Air Canada and are looking forward to the growth ahead!!
All the best,
Mark
I like the new website Joe. I hope this will encourage more active and retired union / non union employees to contribute the nominal fee of $50 to assist with the legal fees to fight and win our DOJ boarding entitlement. Those who have still to contribute need to ask themselves "what is my boarding priority worth to me?"
WHAT MEMBERS ARE SAYING
André-Roger DELLEVI MISSION STATEMENT
The Air Canada Pionairs’ mission is to preserve our aviation heritage, maintain close friendships, foster a spirit of mutual aid, support the welfare of the membership and promote Air Canada.
The Company has repeatedly stressed that this is NOT a negotiable item and in fact was a "gift" awarded for sacrifices.
FRT - Free & Reduced Travel is listed in the Corporate Publication Manuals as an employment benefit of Canada's National Flag Carrier and lodged and logged under the AC-PPA.
Further AC has always advertised and promoted the "benefit" of employee travel as a "perk/privilege" to attract new hires to a career in our airline industry.
In the environment of the competitive 1990s, B2/JSAs were gifted to Travel Agencies for generating good sales for AC. It cause an uproar and did not last that long and after a revue was soon discontinued.
The C1/J10's were introduced during CCAA Concession Bargaining in the 2000's gifted for the pains, initially to active employees, but after an uproar, it was extended to retired employees also. For both the C2/Y10 zonal pass charge was waived, but the C1/J10 was 3x times the normal rate.
Polls & Petitions followed then in 2012/3, the then Snr VP of HR (in charge of travel and employee relations made the decision to respond and level the paying field with C2/Y10-unlimited and C2/J09-limited for all (active and retired) respecting DOJ Service/Seniority as the arbiter for Travel Priority as to who got confirmed/seated/boarded.
Not too long afterward 2013, we learned about the B1/JSAs for all non-unionized staff (mgt/adm), who were gifted them for the pain and sacrifices suffered.
Then in 2014, the ACPA active pilots were gifted the B1/JSAs for long-term 10 year contracts. They were promised (guaranteed) that no other unionized group would get better/higher travel priorities than them.
This was followed by C1/JSAs for active employees of FAs-CUPE and SAs-IAMAW etc.
My group of CSSAs-UNIFOR were not included in the "gifting" ostensibly because we opted for a five (5) year contract (not 10), but since it was not supposed to be part of a quid pro quo at the bargaining table, our members pressed hard with petitions and letter-writing to the Company and Union to restore equality and fairness. They acted and began "talks" to address the issue.
The result in 2016 was that only "active" employees were gifted the C1/JSAs.
The retired employees have been rightly complaining since and many upset at being constantly being "bumped" by more junior staff while on standby. They formed a lobby-group on Social Media and began reaching out to "all whom it may concern" to right a wrong. No traction, so they reached out to Joe Dennie whom they knew had the wherewithal to spearhead and coordinate the fight. He has broached all the stakeholders (AC Unions, AC Pionairs and the Company heads, based the historic case he filed on behalf of a member he presented in 1993 and was awarded a victory in 1994 which is archived in the JA-LAC federal courts of competent jurisprudence.
We'll see how this plays out, but anyone who knows Joe, the way I do, knows he will win again and justice will prevail.
https://www.change.org/.../jacques-levesque-we.../u/8846256
Holly Andreosso Bravo! Thank you & I do hope they will "see the light"...! So important everyone is in the same boat. Strength in numbers!!
JohnandSandra Reardon That we have someone with integrity and dedication to this cause gives me hope!!! Thank you for your passion and time on all our behalf!!
Shannon Mouck People with experience and knowledge of the system and the passion to right a wrong done by a company and unions that We have built with passion, will all be needed to somehow find a solution to this unacceptable situation. I am truly glad of anyone willing to put themselves out there to fight that fight. On my own behalf I wish you the very best.
Aline Arseneault Magnifique......
Karen Henderson Thanks! Well said!
Hann Thank you for your time and heart.
Donna Gould Thank you for your time and expertise
Maria Liut High five Joe. Thank you for all your time and effort to help all of us. Respect
Wayne Gates
If AC Retirees can't convince Social Sites to HELP, We lose a Valuable Tool !
Questions/Answers
How can I join?
You can join by visiting our website at www.aircanada-sos.com
On the site you can hit the sign-up button or the send button
How much does it cost?
It will cost each member $50.00, which is a membership donation fee.
Where do I send the money?
You can send the money to sarmiento1945@gmail.com, by electronic email transfer
Royal Mail.
AIr-Canada-SOS
960 Royal Dornoch Drive
Qualicum Beach BC
V(K 1E!
Howl long do you believe this will take to reach a decision?
That is difficult to determine. I have great trust on our Judicial system.
That said, it is slow. However Air Canada may come to their senses at some point and agree to talk.
That door has a crack in it and I am confident it will happen.
The other option may be once legal action has commenced, they may want to enter into discussions.