Fellow Pilots,

I received a letter via email from Director of Flying Operations Captain Eddy Doyle last night at 10:30 p.m., alleging that some of our pilots are planning an illegal work disruption on or about April 13, 2012. The letter further alleges that pilots will be booking off sick when in fact they are fit to fly.

The first I learned of this information was through this letter. I called Captain Doyle this morning to ask him to substantiate these allegations. He said there are verbal reports by a small group of pilots, claiming to have been called by an anonymous source. He assured me that these calls did not originate with management.

We have no way of verifying these allegations.  We do know, however, that if the allegations are accurate, they have not been initiated or sanctioned by ACPA.  ACPA has not and will not condone using the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARS), which spell out the rights and obligations governing pilots who are not fit to fly, for industrial action.

It is our duty to advise all pilots that ACPA's right to strike and Air Canada's right to lock out its employees are suspended until a new collective agreement takes effect under the arbitration procedures of the Protecting Air Service Act (Bill C-33).  The Act also requires the Association and its officers to take all reasonable steps to ensure that employees comply with the provisions of the Act and refrain from any conduct that may encourage employees not to comply with the Act.  The Act further provides for fines for the Association, its officers and individual Air Canada employees if they contravene any provision of the Act.

ACPA is taking steps to challenge the new legislation.  We have filed a motion in the courts to have it struck down as it contravenes the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. However, until the law is struck down, we must all comply with it.

We are not surprised by your strong responses to the corporation's recent correspondence. We are, like you, incredibly frustrated by management's refusal to negotiate with us and by the collusion with the federal government forcing us into a process that we are actively contesting.


Though I am unable to respond personally to all your communications, please know that I read and appreciate them very much. I salute those of you who are communicating your displeasure to management regarding the bullying and the intimidation.

As I wrote in my last newsletter, it did not have to be this way. I will say it again: this airline can only succeed if management treats its pilots with respect and compensates them fairly for their contribution.

Please continue to take care of each other and of our passengers.  Make sure you comply with all the provisions of the collective agreement, the Flight Operations Manual and the CARS.

SAFETY WITH INTEGRITY

Captain Jean-Marc Bélanger (MEC Chair)