Thursday May 5, 2005
For Immediate Release
Toronto - The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers has filed a complaint with the federal Privacy Commission relating to Air Canada outsourcing work currently performed in the airline’s Employees Relations Department.
The nature of the complaint lodged by IAMAW District 140 stems from its recent discovery that employees of Hewitt working in Mumbai India will handle the data processing of employee information. “It’s a sad day when your private employee information, personal banking data, your rate of pay and benefits has been contracted out,” said IAMAW General Vice President Dave Ritchie. “With identity theft so rampant these days, the thought of this information falling into the wrong hands terrifies me!”
While Air Canada met its contractual obligations to the Machinists with regard to providing the notice required for outsourcing, the information it provided was misleading. Air Canada said the work was to be transferred to Hewitt who would perform the functions in a centre to be established in Montreal or Toronto. Although a centre is being established in Toronto to receive calls from Air Canada employees, the information will then be forwarded to India for processing. The Union and its members have not been notified that the work will be sent offshore. The transfer is schedule to take effect June 6, 2005.
“We are very concerned about this transition,” said IAMAW Assistant Deputy Jim Coller. “We have no idea how the privacy of our members or of other Air Canada employees will be protected once this work is processed offshore.” All Air Canada employees fall under the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) legislation.
