CANSA Survey Results

CANSA Survey Results

I would like to thank everyone who participated for taking time to complete the survey. We were able to present the general results to Nav Canada during our National Union Management Consultation (UMC) and had meaningful discussions.

Participation for the survey was 44.6% of the members. While this number is a good starting point for our first survey, we would like to see higher participation in future surveys as this will help us to better represent your interests.

Here are the results from the first CANSA survey:

Question 1: Have you felt a shift in workplace morale since the conclusion of bargaining in December 2024?

The majority feel that moral is as low, or worse, than it was during bargaining. The reasoning provided are:

• A noticeable shift in the company approach where members feel the company doesn’t care about employees anymore.

• Confidence in company eroded.

• Unnecessary Return to Work in some groups.

Question 2: Did you feel supported by your manager during bargaining?

Almost half the members surveyed had no feeling of support or non-support from their manager. About a quarter felt supported locally by their manager even though they didn’t speak out. There was a portion that felt the lack of support from their manager.

Question 3: Is your manager an effective leader?

Approximately one third felt their manager was an effective leader, approximately one third felt their manager was not an effective leader and approximately one third abstained from answering. There was concern that the turnover of local management doesn’t give them enough time to become effective before they move on.

Question 4: Does your manager understand the work that you do?

Approximately half of the participants feel their manager doesn’t understand what they do. Some feel this is lack of effort by the manager to come and learn. Some feel this is due to the turnover in management doesn’t give them the opportunity to learn it.

Question 5: Do you trust your manager enough to bring forward issues?

Approximately half of the participants would bring issues forward to their manager.

Question 6: Are you confident your manager will solve any issue that you bring forward?

Approximately one third felt their manager would deal with minor issues. The general sentiment was that lower management lacks the authority to deal with issues. Approximately one third felt confident that their manager could solve all issues that brought forward. The remainder were unsure that issues would be solved at all by their manager.

Question 7: Would more 1 on 1 meetings with your manager be beneficial for you?

Depending on location, members already have regular 1 on 1 meetings. The biggest sentiment was that the conversation must be meaningful and issues raised need to be acted upon, otherwise it is just wasted time.

Question 8: Does your manager recognize your efforts when you do work above and beyond?

Approximately half of the participants feel their manager recognizes them when they go above and beyond.  Some felt management was unaware of the extra effort being done. There was a general feeling that simple acknowledgement in the form of a thank yougoes a long way for employee morale.

Question 9: It was recognized in the Nav Canada survey results that management needs improvement. Have you seen improvement in management since the results were released in August 2025?

A little more than half of the participants feel there has been no improvement. There is a general feeling that if it happens, it is in small steps.

Question 10: Nav Canada is paying a consulting firm to find out why people don’t want to become an Ops manager instead of just asking you. Would you ever consider being a manager yourself?

While many members are interested in management and career advancement, there is a general feeling that management are not treated well. With no union protection, many would not apply for management positions. Losing Plan A pension and low pay are the major deterrents.

Question 11: Do you have faith Nav Canada will do anything to create productive change with the results they received from the 2025 insight survey?

There is a general hope that there will be change. Most feel that any change will be minor.

Question 12: Do you read the Nav Canada Now?

Approximately two thirds of the participants do read the Nav Canada Now.

In the additional comments section, the big topics were OCOP and Return to Work. We passed on both concerns to Nav Canada during our UMC.

In closing, I again wanted to thank the CANSA membership for participating in the Survey. The information received opens a dialogue not only with the membership but also with Nav Canada in a collaborative effort to improve our working relationship.

In Solidarity,

James Walker

President CANSA/Unifor 1016