NAV Canada threatens workers with use of scabs
As the Canadian Air Navigation Specialists Association (CANSA) at Unifor Local 1016 continued to negotiate with NAV Canada on the Maintenance of Activities in the event of a legal strike and/or lock-out to protect the Canadian travelling public, the company has advised the local it plans to use scab labour.
“We have been fighting tooth-and-nail for the federal government to pass anti-scab legislation now,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
“Let Unifor’s actions at CN Autoport be a warning to other companies that our union won’t tolerate scab labour. We will defend our members’ right to strike and to free and fair collective bargaining. My message to NAVCan: Unifor is ready. All of us.”
Bill C-58, otherwise known as the federal anti-scab legislation, will help protect the right to fair collective bargaining and to strike, when necessary, a right that workers have fought for and won repeatedly. It passed second reading in the House of Commons with all-party support on Feb. 27, 2024.
On the same day NAV Canada told Unifor it plans to use replacement workers, the company publicly announced it signed a new deal with CAE Inc. to contract out the work of operational training simulation specialist members of Unifor Local 1016. CAE would now provide the generic training for flight service specialists (Unifor Local 2245) and air traffic controllers (Unifor Local 5454) instead of our Unifor training specialists.
Both sides came to an impasse in conciliation on April 12, 2024.
James Walker, President of CANSA and Unifor Local 1016, said NAV Canada made it clear to the bargaining committee that the company would not agree to the established Unifor pattern because the company feared the other four unions in bargaining would use it in arbitration against them. To add further insult, NAV Canada is seeking significant concessions from CANSA.
“This has been a very frustrating round of negotiations,” said Walker.
“We have seen delay after delay to settle with the other unions first in hopes of diluting the pattern. Now, they are resorting to bullying tactics in order to spread fear amongst our members, who voted 95% in favour of strike action. This will not be tolerated.”
In February, CANSA and NAV Canada jointly advised the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) of their efforts to negotiate a Maintenance of Activities agreement. If the parties were unable to reach a settlement, the CIRB would be required to intervene.
Unifor has advised the CIRB that given the bully tactics employed by NAV Canada the union does not see how the parties can come to terms. Unifor has asked the labour board to exercise their power under Section 87.4(6) of the Canada Labour Code.
The local represents members in Air Traffic Control Training, Operational Support, Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), Flight Data Analytics and Aeronautical Information Management at NAV Canada locations from coast-to-coast.
The CANSA bargaining team will update members with any new developments.
Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector, representing 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad and strives to create progressive change for a better future.
For more information, please contact Unifor National Communications Representative Jenny Yuen at: @email or (416) 938-6157.
Strike looms as conciliation ends with CANSA members still at impasse with NAV Canada
April 15, 2024
The Canadian Air Navigation Specialists Association (CANSA) at Unifor Local 1016 met with Nav Canada with the assistance of the FMCS Conciliator for a third time on April 10 and 11 without any progress towards reaching a fair deal. The parties are now at an impasse as conciliation ended on April 12.
“We are disappointed and frustrated that after our bargaining committee filed for conciliation in early February, the company has not taken our demands for fair wages, staffing practices, scheduling of work and job security seriously,” said James Walker, President of CANSA/Unifor Local 1016.
“Our members gave us a 95% strike mandate to demonstrate their resolve to NAV Canada. We're here for our members every step of the way, respectfully following the process. We'll fight for the best deal for them.”
In February, CANSA filed its Notice of Dispute with the Minister of Labour, asking for the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to step in to help resolve the outstanding issues. A federal mediator been assisting the parties in conciliation and will now take on the role of a mediator in this dispute.
As of now, CANSA is in the 21-day cooling off period, where CANSA remains open to further meetings to settle this dispute respectfully and Maintenance of Activities agreement discussions are ongoing. CANSA will be in a legal strike position starting on May 4, 2024, at 12:01 a.m.
The local represents members in Air Traffic Control Training, Operational Support, Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), Flight Data Analytics and Aeronautical Information Management at NAV Canada locations from coast-to-coast.
The CANSA bargaining team will update members with any new developments.
CANSA members vote 95% in favour to strike with the end of conciliation with NAV Canada looming
April 11, 2024
The Canadian Air Navigation Specialists Association (CANSA) at Unifor Local 1016 have voted 95% in favour of authorizing a strike, should negotiations with NAV Canada fail to reach an agreement over key issues of wages and concessions.
“This result demonstrates a strong mandate from members to pursue our demands for fair wages, staffing practices, scheduling of hours of work, and job security,” said James Walker, president of CANSA/Unifor Local 1016.
“We are committed to open and honest bargaining at the table with NAV Canada, but we’re also prepared to support the membership if the employer will not budge.”
The online strike vote took place on April 3 to April 10. CANSA will be in a legal strike position starting on May 4, 2024, at 12:01 a.m.
The unit represents members in Air Traffic Control Training, Operational Support, Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), Flight Data Analytics and Aeronautical Information Management at NAV Canada.
In February, CANSA filed its Notice of Dispute with the Minister of Labour, asking for the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to step in to help resolve the outstanding issues.
On April 10, 2024, the CANSA bargaining committee met with Nav Canada with the assistance of the FMCS Conciliator for a third time. Meetings are ongoing on April 11, 2024, with conciliation ending on April 12, 2024.
The Bargaining Committee is steadfast in their resolve to bring back the best possible deal for their membership.
The CANSA bargaining team will update its members with any new developments.
Strike vote scheduled with CANSA members after impasse with NAV Canada
March 25, 2024
The approximately 281 members of the Canadian Air Navigation Specialists Association (CANSA) at Unifor Local 1016 are preparing for a strike vote next week after NAV Canada failed to reach an agreement with the union over wages and concessions.
“Nav Canada continues to claim they value CANSA members and their contributions, but fails to follow through on that with an acceptable offer,” said James Walker, CANSA President. “Strike action is not something we take lightly, but our hard-working and dedicated members deserve respect.”
Since negotiations with Nav Canada stalled, the committee has made the decision to seek a strike mandate from its members to let the company know that CANSA members are prepared to take strike action if necessary. Strike vote meetings will take place across the country from March 25 to 28.
The online strike vote will take place on April 3 to April 10.
Once CANSA has a strike mandate from the membership, it will be in legal strike position starting on May 4, 2024, at 12:01 a.m.
The unit represents members in Air traffic Control Simulation, Operational support, NOTAM, Flight Data Analysts and Aeronautical Information management at NAV Canada.
In February, CANSA filed its Notice of Dispute with the Minister of Labour, asking for the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to step in to help resolve the outstanding issues.
On March 20 to 22, 2024, the CANSA bargaining committee met with Nav Canada with the assistance of the FMCS Conciliator for a second time.
This round of bargaining has stalled as Nav Canada continues to devalue the work of these Unifor members, particularly around significant concessions on the table relating to the company’s five-year training plans.
CANSA has conciliation meetings with the employer scheduled on April 10 and 11, as conciliation ends on April 12, 2024.
The CANSA bargaining team will update its members with any new developments.
https://www.unifor.org/news/all-news/strike-vote-scheduled-cansa-members-after-impasse-nav-canada
Canadian Air Navigation Specialists Association files for conciliation after talks break down with NAV Canada
February 5, 2024
TORONTO—The Canadian Air Navigation Specialists Association (CANSA) at Unifor Local 1016 filed a Notice of Dispute last week to enter conciliation after hitting an impasse with NAV Canada in bargaining that began in May of last year.
“This filing is a continuation of the bargaining process with outside assistance,” said James Walker, president of CANSA and Unifor Local 1016. “We are committed to negotiating the best possible deal for our members during these challenging times.”
CANSA and Nav Canada completed their seventh round of bargaining during Jan. 29 to 31, 2024, but negotiations slowed as both parties continue to deal with issues with compensation and concessions.
The bargaining committee firmly believes the gap between the compensation and concessions is too great at this stage of bargaining.,
CANSA filed its Notice of Dispute with the Minister of Labour, asking for the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to step in help resolve the outstanding issues.
The minister has 15 days to appoint a conciliator. Once the appointment has been made, the conciliator will provide dates to commence the conciliation process and the union will advise the membership.
It provides a 60-day period of conciliation followed by a 21-day “cooling-off” period. Only at the end of this process would the parties be in a legal strike/lockout position.
The CANSA bargaining team will update its members with any new developments.
The union would like to thank the membership for their continuing show of support.
CANSA represents approximately 281 members, who are the general technicians at NAV Canada.
Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector, representing 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad and strives to create progressive change for a better future.
For more information, please contact Unifor National Communications Representative Jenny Yuen at @email or (416) 938-6157.
