Possible Air Canada Strike

Posted on June 9, 2011

UNIONS COULD SERVE AIR CANADA STRIKE NOTICE THIS WEEK

Unionized Air Canada workers plan to stage a rally at Pearson International Airport today ahead of possible strike notice.

 The Canadian Auto Workers union (CAW), which represents 3,800 Air Canada customer service agents and airport workers, is fighting a plan to change pension plans for new hires.

 Air Canada employees are also represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW).

 ”The fact that Air Canada’s top executives continue to receive extremely generous defined benefit pension credits (on top of the other components of their multi-million-dollar compensation) disproves the claim that defined benefit pensions are no longer feasible or desirable,” the unions said in a joint statement last month. “If wealthy corporate executives can enjoy the security and certainty of a defined benefit pension, then so too can the workers who deliver the service that makes Air Canada successful.”

 Negotiations between the unions and Air Canada continue in Toronto.

 The unions are hoping thousands of their members show up for the 1 p.m. rally in Terminal 1 today. The union could serve its 72 hours notice Friday of strike action. If bargaining fails, workers could walk off the job June 13.

 Air Canada says it has a contingency plan in place to ensure regular service is maintained.

 Travel Resources continues to monitor the situation and will provide our clients with information as it becomes available.

 We do recommend the travelers utilize the on-line check options prior to arrival at the airport and where possible only have carry-on luggage. 

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