Fido Posted March 30, 2004 Share Posted March 30, 2004 Attention News/Labour Editors: CUPE Wants Blueprint for Rebuilding, not Profiteering TORONTO, March 29 /CNW/ - "CUPE will be studying Air Canada's new business plan carefully to ensure it is a blueprint for rebuilding the airline and not a plan for profiteering at the expense of employees," said Air Canada Component president Pamela Sachs today. The union was responding to Justice Farley's extension to April 15th of the deadline for the airline to emerge from bankruptcy protection. CUPE had asked for the business plan produced by Air Canada and shared with Trinity, but not with employee groups, and today the court agreed. "Air Canada needs a commitment to quality, service and safety and it needs to rebuild a great team that can win back its reputation for service excellence and compete with the rest of the world - an airline that serves Canadians and their needs," Sachs said. "Air Canada needs investors who are committed to meeting these objectives, not profiteers. It's up to Mr. Li and company to show their true colours." "Air Canada's future cannot be secured with a never-ending list of concessions from employees. That climate of uncertainty and intimidation has failed the airline. We need an end to the negative environment that detracts from employees' commitment to go the extra mile," said Sachs. "We've proven we're committed to the airline by giving up billions to keep it flying. Now it's time for Mr. Li and Trinity to show their commitment." "We look forward to seeing the business plan we called for last week. Are the unseemly management bonuses still on the table? Will creditors and suppliers now be asked to contribute fairly? Is a new relationship with employees, one that leaves intimidation and confrontation behind, part of Air Canada's plan to turn this airline around?" asked Sachs. "No one has more at stake than Air Canada's employees. That is why we want to be part of the solution." On March 26th CUPE wrote to Victor Li setting out a five-point plan with essential first steps needed for Air Canada to once again become a pre-eminent airline. The letter is available at www.accomponent.ca For further information: Alejandra Bravo, (416) 798-3399 x270, cell (416) 305-8095 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest M. McRae Posted March 30, 2004 Share Posted March 30, 2004 Typical Public Service Union point of view. Investors deserve a reasonable return on their investment. It should be at least twice what they could get by simply putting their money in GICs, otherwise why would they want to risk their capital??????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest directlaw Posted March 30, 2004 Share Posted March 30, 2004 Actually getting the business plan is a great thing. Justice Farley has made a great decision. Air Canada has created a lot of suspicion by keeping it from us.....that suspicion has worsened an already hostile environment. The unions just don't trust Milton. All the cards will be on the table.....finally. The unions will have proof in front of them. Is the business plan, without further concessions, viable or not? Good move Farley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dagger Posted March 30, 2004 Share Posted March 30, 2004 Actually twice current GIC rates is pretty pathetic. You can buy an overpriced income trust that will pay 10 percent and offer less risk. The minimum benchmark has to be an average 10 percent margin over a five year horizon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dagger Posted March 30, 2004 Share Posted March 30, 2004 Yes, let the unions see the plan, by all means. But don't expect it to change anything. When Pam Sachs goes around saying the employees have given "billions" when her union hasn't even all it promised leads one to be very cautious indeed. As for "profiteering", I would like to know how you define it. At what point does it become profiteering. Would she say that Westjet investors (including employees) are "profiteering"? If so, I can think of a lot of AC employees that would like to get in on that "profiteering" by imitating the WJ cost structure and profit-sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest M. McRae Posted March 30, 2004 Share Posted March 30, 2004 I agree, just lowball to illustrate my point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest croupier Posted March 30, 2004 Share Posted March 30, 2004 The agreement with CUPE on the preferential bidding system for FA’s was open ended. Neither side had an obligation to accept a PFB “. Preferential Bidding System: The new PBS system will provide Cabin Personnel with monthly schedules in accordance with their seniority preference. Their seniority preference will be honoured in a pure seniority order but the parties agree that the Company’s operational language and classification requirements must be met. The goal of the new PBS system is to leave less than one block of open time while meeting the seniority based selection of all employees and meeting the Company’s operational language and classification requirements. (a) On an expedited basis, the Company and the Union will select an equal number of representatives to form a committee of individuals to evaluate and agree on the new PBS system. Should the Committee fail to agree within six (6) months from the date of ratification of this agreement, the selection of the PBS system will be referred to mediation to be completed within 60 days. Should the parties fail to agree during the mediation, line bidding will remain in effect. “ As ex CAIL I can hardly wait for the implementation of a PFB system a la SOLO. Ever since switching to the inefficient and expensive (for the company) AC line bidding system life has been upside down. Enormous amount of savings can be had with a PFB. The cost to AC for the line bidding system is enormous. I understand that AC has not come up with an acceptable system Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JC Posted March 30, 2004 Share Posted March 30, 2004 Dagger, I hope that some of the AC business plan is laid out before the AC employees. When I flew as a corporate Pilot for one particular company, our Aviation Manager (also line Pilot) held regular meetings and showed us the budget, effects/expense of every day choices we made as employees (go-around due to not checking runway conditions etc.) We were never kept in the dark and their open door policy made for a "no secrets here" department. We saw first hand the cost of our mistakes (don't get me wrong, we were also applauded for good and safe service). On the otherhand (yes I've read the posts below about what irks you) we saw first hand the affects of our actions. Air Canada is a much larger organization and these same tactics may not be/are not possible. So how do we change that. The one opinion I have is: Judge F is trying to move things along, get the job done and Pam S and other union leaders are still living in a dream world/past. She IS NOT THE CEO of the company. How would she handle things in RM's position. Not bloody well I suspect. She (insert other union heads here) is in no position to dictate at the expense of thousands of people losing their jobs. Flight attandants can be replaced very quickly (I don't mean any disrespect), Pilots, (especially experienced) a little longer to replace. (Same goes for AME's - that's for you Mitch). It's time to move forward. Rant over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch Cronin Posted March 30, 2004 Share Posted March 30, 2004 Maybe Pam Sachs and George W. Bush should get together and start their very own "Morons with clout" club? Good golly! When will this soppy woman wake up? Yo Pam.... Are you anticipating a new career of some kind when AC tanks? The difference between you and Crocodile Dundee ("Some nit-wit's put two dunny's in 'ere!") is that he had no reason to know the difference! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Zeuse Posted March 30, 2004 Share Posted March 30, 2004 You guys are way to hard on Pam. She is trying her best to keep these bandit's feet to the fire. Good for her! Seems like a lot of people here are running scared at a time when Milton & Li are doing there very best to create an atmosphere of naked FEAR where employees will accept anything. Just like Wall Street. Create a panic, start the sheep moving, buy low, make a fortune. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fido Posted March 30, 2004 Author Share Posted March 30, 2004 "I understand that AC has not come up with an acceptable system " Is Air Canada the only company in the world looking at PBS???? The last remark I heard from the union was that 'There is a not a PBS system in the world that is suitable (acceptable)'. Questions: 1. What is wrong with the system that was used by CAIL Flight attendants? 2. What is wrong with the system used by Air Canada pilots? 3. What makes CUPE so special that 'no system in the world is suitable'? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest croupier Posted April 1, 2004 Share Posted April 1, 2004 The PBS sytem SOLO used by CAIL was superb. I have worked with 9 different bidding sytems during my career. None as good as SOLO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fido Posted April 1, 2004 Author Share Posted April 1, 2004 I guess that answers question number 1. But, just why does CUPE say that SOLO would not do the job??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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