Last December, without any fanfare, our government quietly signed a new agreement with the European Union (EU) giving the Europeans unprecedented access to our skies and industry. This agreement will re-write the rules in air travel and could seriously impact every air transport worker in Canada and the companies we work for.
In 2009, CAW Local 2002 launched the Fly It Right campaign calling on the government to re-establish smart regulations and public ownership in the airline industry. The EU agreement is a major threat to these initiatives.
Over the past weeks we have met with representatives from the European Transport Workers Federation (ETF), CUPE, the IAMAW, IBEW (working at Nav Canada) and CAW representatives from the airline industry, air traffic services (Local 5454 / CATCA) and the CAW National Office.
This week we wrote a joint letter to the Trade Representatives from Canada and the EU demanding we be part of the committee overseeing its implementation. This will allow us the opportunity to ensure that our jobs and working conditions will not be sacrificed by this agreement.
Please take the time to read the attached bulletin outlining the Canada / EU Agreement.
» Click here to read Canada/EU bulletin «
We will keep you advised of any developments in this critical initiative.