2021 MEC Elections

[mkan]

2021 MEC Elections Open Discussion

[BPritchard]

Good Morning,

Nominations for the new MEC have been finalized.

The following are candidates for:

President:
Barret Armann
Dave McHugh
Mathew Rogers

Vice President:
Derek Butcher
Dave McHugh
Chris Nilsen
Mathew Rogers

Financial Secretary:
Darren Acri
Mark Taylor

Recording Secretary:
Michelle Chiasson
Dave McHugh
Chris Nilsen
Mathew Rogers

Please use this forum for questions/answers pertaining to the election.
You all will be receiving an email with further details of times and dates relevant to this election.

Regards,

Blair Pritchard
Elections Committee Member

[cwaters]

B56DB545-0467-453B-BD15-2AD79058DCC2.gif

[gmason]

.

[gmason]

.

[DMchugh]

Greg,

Absolutely!


I expect a lot of road blocks and political eye rolls.I don’t have much faith in government or politicians but gotta press on!

[Barmann]

Hey Gregg,

Implementation for Rapid Testing has been a priority for the MEC since the pandemic began. In the summer we arranged 500,000 rapid tests deliverable with in 72 hours from a firm in Japan for Sunwing. We then went to Sunwing and pitched the use of these tests to entice travelers to fly with us, assist the Company should they have no agreements in place. We thought they could be used for passengers prior to departure, in hotels, on arrival. Regrettably because Health Canada had not approved rapid testing as a way to reduce the quarantine Sunwing decided not to proceed. In August we decided to become more political with the government and push them to act by reducing the travel ban with rapid testing (explained in membership updates and on betterborders.ca). The MEC held a call with the chief of staff and policy advisors for the Minister of Health and Minister of Transport, it was clear on this call that the government had no intention of reducing the quarantine as they believed public opinion would be firmly against it. When we introduced scientific data to them they did not want to hear it, instead relying on their own beliefs. We decided to take a public opinion poll with EKOS to determine what percentage of Canadians would accept rapid testing in lieu of a quarantine, asking specific questions would get pointed responses. The poll came back favourable and was shared with the Federal Government as well as Sunwing. In order to help sway public opinion we undertook a marketing campaign to show Canadians that we could safely travel with rapid testing and a reduced quarantine. We asked again at the highest levels of government with this new information would they reduce the quarantine and the answer we got back was a firm no. The government themselves have admitted travel is not a significant source of infection, stating “less than 2% of cases are from travelers”. At this point we decided to lobby the Federal Conservatives and held meetings with Erin O’toole and Michelle Rempel Garner. They agreed to support our cause with a joint press conference and have been pushing the issue ever since. Michelle Remple Garner was aware of the massive amount of work we had put into this campaign and offered up that your local deserved lobbyist of the year award for its efforts.

Needless to say this was a massive undertaking. This is a brief description of what truly took place in hundreds of phone calls and emails with various levels of government, Unifor National, Jerry Dias, ALPA and ACPA leadership and many updates to members pushing for action.
In regards to your question, “...in cooperation with other Canadian pilot and cabin crew unions publicly demand that the government provide the evidence and data supporting the need for this measure?”
The data does not support the governments move, they have publicly stated this in press conferences, news articles and press releases which they are under fire for. We have publicly and aggressively rebutted the quarantine for more than 9 months via significant media presence, press releases, news conferences and most recently The National news on both Global and CBC. We have for months reached out to other Local Unions which are supportive however the National level Unions have been difficult and not always “on the same page”. We explained this in our most recent AGM with the membership. Your Local 7378 have been the most vocal by far of all unions and even airlines. We will continue to fight the quarantine publicly.

Barret, Derek, Michelle.

[dbutcher]

To your point Greg this press release will be going out tomorrow morning. We will be doing our best to keep pressure on the government and the media focused on this. Barret will be up at 3 AM pacific fielding calls from reporters, coordinating with Unifor National's press office and the Federal Conservatives. These press releases usually generate between 5-10 interviews as well as a few columns in local papers. All of this attention will hopefully sway the government to our side.

Thanks,

Derek

Border Baloney – Covid Positive Canadians Face Less Restrictions

Toronto, Ontario – January 6th, 2021 –

Canadians are being urged to question the logic behind the Government of Canada’s new Covid-19 measures for international travellers. Beginning tomorrow, all international travellers must provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test within 72 hours of entering Canada. The policy means a symptomatic Canadian who has tested positive for Covid-19 now has fewer restrictions placed upon them than an asymptomatic international traveller with a confirmed negative test.

Symptomatic Covid positive Canadians must self-isolate for a period of at least 10 days. There is no requirement to provide a quarantine plan although some provinces do telephone follow-ups. Asymptomatic Canadians aren’t eligible for testing in most provinces. For those who meet the requirements for testing they can end their self-isolation either immediately after receiving a negative test result or shortly after symptoms stop. This is in stark contrast to all international travellers who now must undergo testing, have a government approved 14 day quarantine plan, provide regular symptom monitoring updates and be subjected to telephone and in person follow-ups by government officials even if they have no symptoms and have received a Covid negative test result.

“This Liberal government is hastily slapping together a border policy built on bureaucratic baloney,” said Barret Armann, president of Unifor Local 7378. “How does it make any sense at all for a symptomatic Canadian who has tested positive for Covid-19 to be treated as less of a threat and face fewer restrictions than an international traveller who hasn’t even had a sniffle and receives a negative test result? Community spread accounts for the majority of Canada’s Covid cases but you wouldn’t know it comparing government policies side by side.”

Unifor Local 7378 is renewing calls it has made since September for the Government of Canada to replace the current mish-mash of border policies with a testing on arrival program across the country that mirrors the successful pilot program underway in Alberta that permits asymptomatic travellers to end their quarantines after receiving negative Covid 19 test results.

“Testing on arrival to Canada by Canadians is the best way to ensure accuracy and capture every case of Covid-19 entering our country. A Canadian who has experienced symptoms can go back to work at a factory amongst hundreds of others after receiving a negative test result but every single traveller must sit at home for 14 days? Where is the science or logic behind that? Given the number of politicians who travelled over the holidays, it’s safe to say there isn’t any. It’s time for a one country – one policy approach to Canada’s borders that is built upon testing on arrival and shortened quarantines.” concluded Armann.

-30-

Media Contacts:
Barret Armann
President – Unifor Local 7378
E: president@sunwingpilots.com
C: 778-928-7456

[gmason]

.

[dacri]

Hey Gregg,

Implementation for Rapid Testing has been a priority for the MEC since the pandemic began. In the summer we arranged 500,000 rapid tests deliverable with in 72 hours from a firm in Japan for Sunwing. We then went to Sunwing and pitched the use of these tests to entice travelers to fly with us, assist the Company should they have no agreements in place. We thought they could be used for passengers prior to departure, in hotels, on arrival. Regrettably because Health Canada had not approved rapid testing as a way to reduce the quarantine Sunwing decided not to proceed. In August we decided to become more political with the government and push them to act by reducing the travel ban with rapid testing (explained in membership updates and on betterborders.ca). The MEC held a call with the chief of staff and policy advisors for the Minister of Health and Minister of Transport, it was clear on this call that the government had no intention of reducing the quarantine as they believed public opinion would be firmly against it. When we introduced scientific data to them they did not want to hear it, instead relying on their own beliefs. We decided to take a public opinion poll with EKOS to determine what percentage of Canadians would accept rapid testing in lieu of a quarantine, asking specific questions would get pointed responses. The poll came back favourable and was shared with the Federal Government as well as Sunwing. In order to help sway public opinion we undertook a marketing campaign to show Canadians that we could safely travel with rapid testing and a reduced quarantine. We asked again at the highest levels of government with this new information would they reduce the quarantine and the answer we got back was a firm no. The government themselves have admitted travel is not a significant source of infection, stating “less than 2% of cases are from travelers”. At this point we decided to lobby the Federal Conservatives and held meetings with Erin O’toole and Michelle Rempel Garner. They agreed to support our cause with a joint press conference and have been pushing the issue ever since. Michelle Remple Garner was aware of the massive amount of work we had put into this campaign and offered up that your local deserved lobbyist of the year award for its efforts.

Needless to say this was a massive undertaking. This is a brief description of what truly took place in hundreds of phone calls and emails with various levels of government, Unifor National, Jerry Dias, ALPA and ACPA leadership and many updates to members pushing for action.
In regards to your question, “...in cooperation with other Canadian pilot and cabin crew unions publicly demand that the government provide the evidence and data supporting the need for this measure?”
The data does not support the governments move, they have publicly stated this in press conferences, news articles and press releases which they are under fire for. We have publicly and aggressively rebutted the quarantine for more than 9 months via significant media presence, press releases, news conferences and most recently The National news on both Global and CBC. We have for months reached out to other Local Unions which are supportive however the National level Unions have been difficult and not always “on the same page”. We explained this in our most recent AGM with the membership. Your Local 7378 have been the most vocal by far of all unions and even airlines. We will continue to fight the quarantine publicly.

Barret, Derek, Michelle.

President Barret,

Your self proclaimed political quest to put yourself (the mec) at the forefront of the media is costing our membership? What has been gained by funding of your aspirations of political grandeur?

-increasingly restrictive travel requirements
-travel expenses
-hotel expenses
-meal expenses (Keg dinners)
-limousine/taxi expenses
-mileage expenses
-phone expenses
-PMTG day expenses
-other undisclosed professional services
And the list goes on....

We are living on food stamps and and the MEC is spending money with no fiscal restraint.

Where is the responsible accountability during these uncertain times?

Darren

[dnicol]

We are living on food stamps and and the MEC is spending money with no fiscal restraint.

Nonsense. The present Treasurer would never let that happen.

We have close to a mil in the bank. Apparently you have an issue with the MEC lobbying the Government along with others in the airline industry. What would you like to spend our money on? Didn't see a campaign memo from you.

Mac

[cwaters]

Sorry Darren I have to disagree with you on this one. I think if ever there were a time to use union funds it’s now. This is a fight for our careers at present and sitting back and saving doesn’t do anyone any good.
I’m sure all expenditures are being accounted for and if not, we’ll hold them responsible.

We save for a rainy day,
It’s been raining for 9 months....

I’m happy to see you volunteer though, good luck.

[dacri]

I’m running on fiscal restraint, transparency and accountability..something our current MEC is lacking.

Mac how much is Barret costing our membership for his (lack of) political gains??? 🤫

All the best,

Darren

[jbinks]

Darren, you were the only candidate who couldn't be bothered to submit a campaign platform for all of us to review. Heck, Chris Nielsen has even launched his own website and YouTube videos. If you aren't going to put the work in to earn your position on the MEC, why should we believe you'll put the work in once your on the MEC? Two years of cheap pot-shots on the forum doesn't automatically make you a credible alternative. What exactly do you have to offer the membership aside from anger?

[sshields]

I’m running on fiscal restraint, transparency and accountability.

Could you please provide your campaign platform as all the others have done so that we may compare your position with that of the other candidates?

You’re asking us to vote you in for a two-year term. Please at least do the membership the service of providing the specifics of your plan and how you aim to achieve your goals.