The following are partial highlights of the tentative agreement concluded on July 24, 2011 by the Contract Committee, consisting of Greg Myles, Doug Best, Rob Allan, Yves Langlois, Peter Duffey, Bryan Healy, Scott Shields, Roger Soucy, Robert Evans, Richard Landreville, Geneviève St-Pierre, Sophie Noel, David Doerksen, James Krause, David Hartwick, Mark Bernard, Abe Rosner, and Ron Smith. For official purposes, please consult the full memorandum of settlement. Your Contract Committee unanimously recommends that you vote “YES” to this tentative agreement.
Duration: Two-year agreement from April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2013.
Pay increases: Increases apply to both salaries and ATC premium: Cumulative increase of 6% by April 2012, as follows: April 1, 2011 – 3%; April 1, 2012 – 3%. Retroactive to April 1, 2011.
Premiums: Evenings increased to $10, midnights increased to $17, OJT premium $12, effective on ratification, OJT premium will no longer be considered a pensionable benefit in line with other shift premiums nor will it be subject to the 9.5% pension deduction.
Short Notice Shift Change: In addition to the current provision NAV Canada will now pay for all hours changed for shift changes directly within their control.
Acting Pay: Acting pay will now be paid after 3 consecutive shifts.
Bereavement Leave: Increased from 4 days to 5 days.
Staffing: Seniority bid knowledge test removed. TMU position to be filled on national competitions. Operational UOS position in ACCs on a trial basis.
Relocation option for seniority bidders.
Tower Automation Specialist: The Company will establish a new national position Tower Automation Specialist to address Tower specific automation issues.
Layoffs: New language that requires NAV Canada to offer job swaps in the event of job loss due to technological change.
Ratification Tour information will be distributed as soon as possible. The first meeting will be in Winnipeg July 26, 2011.
Technological Change: The union will now be able to appoint members to any project teams to provide union oversight.
No loss of work as a result of implementation of video camera technology for the duration of the CA.
Operating Irregularities: New provisions that provide increased confidentiality of OSI reports and competency issues.
Hours of work: The weekend worker program is expanded to allow shift patterns that include one weekend day. Clarification on short changes and day for day exchanges. Joint committee to recommend shift patterns that would provide additional days off and improve efficiencies.
Compressed work week for Non-operational members now available year around with mutual agreement.
Miscellaneous new improvements: (1) A number of initiatives will be undertaken to improve working conditions, for instance an advisory group to assist individual workplaces in the development of customized shift schedules that address local needs within the rules of the CA. (2) Joint effort to reduce stand alone time in towers. (3) The company will meet and brief the union on issues to address chronically short staffed units. (4) The CA will now be produced in electronic format, either party may produce hard copies at their discretion. (5) Program to address the unique housing issues in Fort McMurray.
No Changes to: Care and Nurturing or Severance.
All 16 members of your contract committee unanimously supports ratification of the tentative agreement and asks you to vote in favour.