Conservatives willing to end Air Canada strike

It is day one of the strike at Air Canada as the company’s approximately 4,000 call-centre staff and check-in agents man the picket lines at nine Canadian airports: Vancouver; Calgary; Edmonton; Winnipeg; Toronto (Pearson); Montreal; Ottawa, Halifax; and St. John’s. However this disruption to air travel and obviously to Canada’s economy has not gone unnoticed by the powers that be in our nation’s capital.

The Government of Canada web site posted a statement from the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Canada’s Labour Minister in which she expressed the disappointment of the government over the two sides of the dispute being unable to work out their differences. She went on to voice concerns how a work stoppage would negatively impact the country’s “fragile economic recovery” and on Canadians in this busy travel season.

Newspapers have quoted Finance Minister Jim Flaherty as saying that the government will be giving notice of a bill to end the strike in the House of Commons. However, debating the legislation will not occur before Friday and Lisa Raitt added that 48 hours notice must be given before it can be introduced.

The CAW responded to the announcement of possible government intervention in the strike with an announcement on their web site as of June 14, 2011, 5:30pm EDT. CAW National President Ken Lewenza said, “This action by the government is a clear interference with the right to free collective bargaining. The speed at which this legislation has been tabled points to a very real collusion by the Conservative federal government and Air Canada, to strip workers of their rights. Our members have entrusted us to reach a negotiated settlement on their behalf. After 10 weeks of negotiations, there is no reason that the two sides should not be able to come to a tentative agreement, other than the fact that the company is unwilling to do so. This is a deplorable model for labour relations for this country; it sets a dangerous precedent when the government can get involved in the collective bargaining of workers employed by a privately-owned, for profit-company.”

Remember that the main stumbling block to these negotiations revolves around the company wanting to move new employees from a defined benefit pension plan to a defined contribution pension plan.

A reminder if you’re flying

The recommendation by Canada’s largest carrier is to get checked in early and the earlier the better and people should do this online. Be prepared to wait and if at all possible, avoid travelling with checked baggage. While the company says it has a contingency plan, there is the question of how it will cope when 4,000 call centre and customer service agents at nine airports in Canada walk off the job. According to a letter on Air Canada’s web site, the company indicates that they have non-unionized staff trained and available to ensure a continued operation.

Don’t forget to check Air Canada’s FAQ for further information. As well, the Air Canada web site will have strike related announcements. To repeat: start early and be prepared to wait. Do as much as possible online beforehand. Get booked in online 24 hours in advance. Print your boarding pass at an automated kiosk at the airport. Do it yourself if you can; avoid having to line up at a counter. And, as the airline said, if you can avoid flying with checked baggage, do it. That is one less line-up to go through.

For those not yet booked on Air Canada, the newspapers are reporting that WestJet and Porter have seats available so this could be a good time to try out the competition. From experience, I can say that anybody living in Toronto close to the downtown core, Porter Airlines flying out of the Toronto Island Airport is a dream.

Uploaded by aircanada on Jun 12, 2011

A video message to our customers from Air Canada’s Chief Operating Officer, Duncan Dee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1t12d2U4pkI

References

Government of Canada – June 14/2011

Statement by the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Canada’s Labour Minister

http://news.gc.ca/web/article-eng.do?mthd=tp&crtr.page=1&nid=605709&crtr.tp1D=1

Our government is disappointed that Air Canada and the National Automobile, Aerospace, Transportation and General Workers Union of Canada (CAW-Canada) have been unable to reach an agreement and that the union has felt it necessary to begin a strike.

Canadians have given us a strong mandate to complete our economic recovery. The Government of Canada remains concerned about the effects a work stoppage will have on our fragile economic recovery and on Canadians during this busy travel season. The Government urges both parties to reach a negotiated agreement as soon as possible, as the best solution is always the one the parties reach themselves.

Over the last few months, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service has worked with Air Canada and the CAW Canada, Local 2002, representing customer sales and service agents, in an effort to find a solution. Based on the decision to strike, it is clear that the parties have been unable to close the gap between their respective positions and reach a settlement. Our mediators remain in contact with both parties and are available to assist them.

As the Minister of Labour, I am closely monitoring the situation and urge the parties to take the necessary steps to resolve this dispute promptly.

Canadian Auto Workers – June 14/2011, 5:30pm EDT

CAW Angered by Possible Back to Work Legislation for Air Canada Workers

http://www.caw.ca/en/10380.htm

The CAW is responding with frustration and anger to the news that Federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt plans to table back to work legislation for Air Canada workers, less than 24 hours since the strike began.

“This action by the government is a clear interference with the right to free collective bargaining,” said CAW National President Ken Lewenza. “The speed at which this legislation has been tabled points to a very real collusion by the Conservative federal government and Air Canada, to strip workers of their rights.

“Our members have entrusted us to reach a negotiated settlement on their behalf. After 10 weeks of negotiations, there is no reason that the two sides should not be able to come to a tentative agreement, other than the fact that the company is unwilling to do so.

“This is a deplorable model for labour relations for this country; it sets a dangerous precedent when the government can get involved in the collective bargaining of workers employed by a privately-owned, for profit-company.”

Lewenza said that he believes it is possible to reach an agreement with Air Canada in the next 48 hours before the legislation is introduced.

Picket lines will continue in all locations across the country.

The CAW has been on strike since 12:01 a.m. this morning.

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