CAE Update

CAE Update

When bargaining started in May of 2023, Nav Canada did not inform CANSA of any plans to contract out a portion of the generic initial training of Air Traffic Controller and Flight Service Specialist training to an external source, CAE.

The first we heard of it was months later when ATS Learning provided a briefing on the subject. Still, nothing was brought forward in bargaining despite Nav Canada signing collective agreements with CATCA and ATSAC (Unifor Locals 5454 and 2245) that included the ability to use CAE for initial training.

It was then that CANSA introduced boundaries during bargaining for contracting out to ensure you, our members, were protected. Those boundaries remain in dispute currently until a full collective agreement is bargained and ratified.

Nav Canada has decided to go ahead with moving some of the CANSA work to CAE while we are still in bargaining, despite our objections. They also requested CANSA members to assist in the transfer of work to CAE. To date, we have put a stop to our members transferring their own work to a contracted third party, but unfortunately, other training and data information was transferred by management and other internal sources.

Nav Canada cannot change the conditions of employment while in bargaining. The Canada Labour Code states:

50 (b) the employer shall not alter the rates of pay or any other term or condition of employment or any right or privilege of the employees in the bargaining unit, or any right or privilege of the bargaining agent, until the requirements of paragraphs 89(1)(a) to (d) have been met, unless the bargaining agent consents to the alteration of such a term or condition, or such a right or privilege.

Unifor maintains that this is the privileged work of CANSA and can’t unilaterally be contracted out. We see this as an attempt to skirt anti-scab laws while in bargaining by contracting our work out while still actively bargaining the issue. As previously stated, Nav Canada is seeking government relief from anti-scab laws. You can read their submission here.

To protect your rights, we are in the process of filing a grievance for this blatant disregard of the Canada Labour Code and our collective agreement.

As always, we remain willing to meet with Nav Canada and bargain a fair collective agreement.

In Solidarity,

James Walker

President CANSA/Unifor 1016