April 24, 2025

Dear Air Canada Aircraft Maintenance Engineers and Skilled Trade Professionals:

On February 19, 2025, AMFA submitted its final reply brief to the Canada Industrial Relations Board in connection with its application for certification at Air Canada.  The Union expects a decision from the Board within the next several weeks.

In the course of the briefing process, AMFA assembled thousands of pages of documentary, photographic, and audio evidence confirming the current state of chaos within the Technical, Maintenance, and Operational Support bargaining unit (TMOS).  Those materials were duly summarized and submitted to the Board along with membership evidence showing overwhelming support for AMFA among Air Canada AME and Skilled Trade Professionals.  

The incumbent bargaining agent could not but acknowledge the current dysfunction of the TMOS unit and distrust felt by its own members, which has persisted over consecutive generations of employees.  Disingenuously, the union sought to blame all of its current problems on a small number of AMFA activists.  That argument, of course, falls flat in light of the thousands of cards, petition signatures, duty of fair representation complaints, and direct membership submissions to the Board that accompanied AMFA’s application.

Over the last several months, in preparation for potential bargaining at Air Canada and at other carriers, AMFA has conducted a comprehensive review of the major collective agreements within the Canadian airline industry.  The AMFA legal department held several meetings with lead Air Canada organizers to identify issues related to the drafting and enforcement of the current collective agreement.  In the event that AMFA becomes the certified bargaining agent at Air Canada, all issues of contract negotiation and enforcement will be led by the AMFA Airline Representatives (ALRs), directly elected by the Air Canada bargaining unit.  The AMFA-Air Canada ALR position(s) is a two-year term and remains accountable to the membership throughout their time in office.

Prior to a union representation certification, the Board must first fragment the existing TMOS unit.  Following fragmentation, the Board may order an election to determine which bargaining agent will represent the new units created by the Board.

AMFA will provide further updates on the status of its application as details become available.  The Union is further aware of examples of retaliation against both individuals and groups of employees arising out of AMFA’s certification application. AMFA encourages all affected employees to raise issues of potential retaliation to either AMFA or the Board. 

Sincerely,

Bret Oestreich
National President