Air Canada and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) – the union representing cabin crew at Air Canada – have negotiated complex collective agreement provisions that are intended to ensure Air Canada can effectively service its customers in both official languages while respecting the right for unionized cabin crew employees to bid on their work schedules based on their seniority. These include agreements regarding the maximum number of bilingual cabin crew that may be assigned by Air Canada, depending on factors such as aircraft type and the points of origin, termination or transit.
CUPE filed policy and individual grievances challenging Air Canada’s application of these rules, which proceeded to arbitration. The Arbitrator rejected CUPE’s grievances, finding that Air Canada had correctly interpreted its collective agreement obligations.
Jackie VanDerMeulen represented Air Canada on behalf of Fasken.
Jurisdiction
- Canada
