Dear Brothers and Sisters:<\/p>\n
The CIRB (Canadian Industrial Relations Board) has now issued its decision on the bargaining units to be put in place following the Servisair \/ Handlex merger and Servisair’s creation of Servisair Deicing Services Inc.<\/p>\n
The Board has decided to create two separate bargaining units in each location a \u201cBELOW THE WING\u201d and an \u201cABOVE THE WING\u201d unit.<\/p>\n
The IAMAW argued forcefully that your seniority rights and bargaining power should be protected by keeping the current all employee units in both locations, but the Board decided instead to accept the split unit structure that was supported by Servisair and by the other unions. The IAMAW also filed a single employer application on behalf of its deicing members in Toronto to protect them against being split off into a separate unit where seniority could not be used to access off-season work. The Board ruled in our favour on this issue, with the result that deicers and deicing positions will be part of the main Servisair below-the-wing unit.<\/p>\n
The \u201cabove the wing\u201d units will include Passenger Service Agents F\/T, P\/T and Lead Hands, Customer Service Agents, Lounge Agents and ACAP agents.<\/p>\n
The \u201cBelow the Wing\u201d units will include: Ramp Agents \/ Ground Handlers including F\/T&P\/T and Lead Hands, Aircraft Servicemen, Aircraft Cleaners, Charge Hands and Lead Hands, F\/T&P\/T De-icing and Ground Support Specialists, Quality Control, Zone De-icing Coordinators, Groomers, Mechanics, including Equipment Mechanics, Apprentice Mechanics, Mechanic\u2019s Helpers and Lead Hands, Communications Centre Coordinators, Weight and Balance Specialists and Communication Coordinators.<\/p>\n
Votes will now be held to allow the employees in each new bargaining unit to choose which one of the unions with members working in the classifications included will be the bargaining agent for the new merged units. In Toronto the members of the above-the-wing unit will vote between the IAM and the CAW and the members of the below-the-wing unit will vote between the IAM, the CAW and the Teamsters. In Montreal the members of the above-the-wing unit will vote between the IAM and the CAW and the members of the below-the-wing unit will vote between the IAM and the Teamsters.<\/p>\n
Employees eligible to cast a ballot are those employees in the bargaining unit employed by the employer as of October 31, 2012 and who remain employed on the day of the vote.<\/p>\n
We will keep you informed of any and all new developments as they arise. <\/p>\n
In solidarity,
\n\ufffc\ufffc\ufffc\ufffc\ufffc\ufffc\ufffcLou Pagrach General Chairperson Central Region
\nLP\/MP:gls\/ej<\/p>\n
Michel Pelot
\nRegional Assistant Directing General Chairperson Eastern Region<\/p>\n