Air Canada in line with rule on maintenance centres: court

The Ontario Superior Court has ruled that Air Canada (AC.B-T) is complying with the Air Canada Public Participation Act’s requirement that the airline have aircraft maintenance centres in Winnipeg, Montreal and Mississauga.

The court issued the decision Wednesday, after the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) argued in March that Air Canada had breached the act.

The union complained that Aveos Fleet Performance Inc., formerly named Air Canada Technical Services, has been a separate company from the airline for the past four years. A group of lenders took control of Aveos last year from two U.S. private-equity firms, which originally acquired the maintenance, repair and overhaul company in 2007.

“I find that Air Canada does maintain operational and overhaul centres in those cities by maintaining overhaul operations under its contracts with Aveos and by itself maintaining certain overhaul functions through its line maintenance operations,” said the judgment written by Mr. Justice Frank Newbould of Ontario Superior Court.

The IAMAW is concerned about job security as the work force at Aveos undergoes a transition to being represented by an Aveos bargaining unit that will be separate from Air Canada.

The union has negotiated flight benefits for Air Canada workers who will be making the switch to the new Aveos bargaining unit, effective July 14. Staff transferring to Aveos are eligible for Air Canada travel benefits.

About 3,000 unionized Air Canada employees are currently seconded to Aveos, which focuses on heavy maintenance. The IAMAW represents another 8,300 members at Air Canada, including mechanics, technical staff, baggage handlers, cargo agents, cleaners and electricians.

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