The complaint states that management of both Air Canada and Jazz Aviation LP violated several sections of the Canada Labour Code by refusing to comply with contractual pilot “flow” agreements from Jazz to Air Canada. ALPA also alleges both parties have violated certain provisions of the capacity purchase agreement (CPA) between Jazz Aviation LP and Air Canada respecting Jazz’s exclusivity in the regional sector.
“Jazz and Air Canada have increased system capacity at the expense of collective agreement violations,” said Capt. Claude Buraglia, chair of the Jazz chapter of ALPA. “We understand that Canada’s airlines are struggling to attract enough pilots to fulfill demand and are under an immense amount of pressure to do so. Labour, in particular the pilots, are an important part of the solution; the parties should be seeking collectively bargained solutions together.”
ALPA and Jazz Aviation recently completed a settlement on amendments to the Jazz/ALPA collective agreement. Although that agreement was successfully ratified by membership, it lacked overwhelming support, and there are still underlying foundational issues which remained unaddressed in bargaining. Accordingly, ALPA is asking the CIRB for an order that Jazz Aviation, along with Air Canada, cease and desist violating the Canada Labour Code, and an order that the parties take all necessary steps to honour the commitments made in the CPA and in past collective bargaining.
“A strong and viable Air Canada is not only important to the corporation, but also critical to the Canadian traveling public,” stated Capt. Buraglia. “Jazz pilots remain committed to helping Air Canada build a stronger and more viable network. However, this also needs to be done in a way that respects and upholds the collective agreements in place.”
Tags: Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), Jazz Aviation, Air Canada, Capt. Claude Buraglia
