Last month, Unifor published an update regarding contract negotiations for workers employed by Air Canada.
Through their Local 2002, unifor represents about 120 workers employed in Air Canada’s flight operations crew scheduling division.
These workers monitor daily and future flight crew requirements, maintain constant communication with flight crews, and liaise with other operational offices concerning all scheduling activity. They also arrange hotel accommodations and coordinate ground transportation as required.
Their last collective agreement expired last May; although collective bargaining did not begin until just the month before.
According to Local 2002, workers voted in favour of ratifying a new collective agreement. Over 77% of the workers in this bargaining unit participated in the ratification vote, and, of those, 96% were in favour of the new collective agreement.
This is the first time in over a decade since these workers have ratified a collective agreement, as their most recent agreement was ratified back in 2015.
The new 4-year collective agreement brings with it annual wage increases, including a 12% increase in the first year, retroactive to May 2025.
| Year 1 | 12.00% |
| Year 2 | 3.00% |
| Year 3 | 3.00% |
| Year 4 | 3.00% |
| 21.00% |
This is better than what they got in their last collective agreement, which froze their wages in the first two years then gave them 2% per year in each of the following years.
As well, crew schedulers, training schedulers, and scheduling coordinators can expect a lump sum payment of $144 for every month that they were employed in this department between June 2020 and April 2026, up to a maximum of 70 months.
New to the collective agreement is a pilot scheduling competency premium. Workers who must use the Canadian Aviation Regulations as part of their duties will receive an hourly premium of 2%.
The midnight shift premium has increased from $1 an hour to $2 an hour for workers who work between 22:45 and 07:15.
Meal allowance has increased from $10 to $20 for anyone who workers at least 4 hours of overtime.
Scheduling coordinator has been added to the list of classifications. Workers in this position create or modify deadhead bookings, process deadhead releases and move-up requests from pilots, support voluntary downgrade requirements, and assist with hotel
accommodations and ground transportation.
Under the previous agreement, overtime was allocated to workers first by function within the classification, then by classification. Now, Overtime will also be offered to the senior worker with the least accumulated overtime hours.
As well, workers who were bypassed for overtime under the previous agreement were scheduled to work an equivalent amount of overtime. Now, workers will be paid in lieu of missed overtime, up to a maximum of 4 hours.
Bereavement leave has increased from 7 days to 10 days, but only the first 3 days will be paid, which is unchanged from the previous agreement.
Victims of family violence leave has been added to the collective agreement. It is up to 10 days, but only the first 5 days will be paid.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation has been added to the list of statutory holidays, bringing the total number to 10.
Vacation entitlement has changed slightly, based on length of service with Air Canada:
| Vacation entitlement | Length of service Old | Length of service New |
|---|---|---|
| 10 work days | 1–4 years | 1–4 years |
| 15 work days | 5–14 years | 5–9 years |
| 20 work days | 15–24 years | 10–24 years |
| 25 work days | 25+ years | 25+ years |
The following have been added to the list of grounds for which workers cannot be discrminated on:
- Sexual orientation
- Gender identity or expression
- Genetic characterization
- Political affiliation
The maximum aggregate for drug coverage has increased from $75,000 to $1,000,000.
Mental health care has increased from $750 per year to $1,500 per year for individuals and $1,500 per year to $2,500 per year for families.
Hearing aid coverage has expanded to include repairs, and maximum coverage has increased from $1,500 every 5 years to $2,000 every 5 years.
The new collective agreement includes paramedical services, including speech therapists, chiropractors, osteopaths, naturopaths,
acupuncturists, and podiatrists/chiropodists. Maximum coverage will be $1,000 per year for individuals and $2,000 per year for families.
Coverage for physiotherapists, athletic therapists, and physical rehabilitation therapists has been added, and its maximum is $3,500 per person per year.
Annual coverage for dental insurance has increased from a maximum of $2,000 to $3,000.
Vision care has increased by $100, from $350 to $450. It still remains at 24-month coverage.
Massage therapy coverage has increased from $50 per visit to $100 per visit, and the annual maximum has increased from $400 to $1,000 for individuals and from $800 to $2,000 for families.
The maximum annual compensation for pension has increased to $88,000, effective as of January 2026. This is the first increase since 1999 to the pension cap.
The new collective agreement will expire in May 2029.
Local 2002 also represents Air Canada call centre agents, who started bargaining this past January for a new collective agreement.
