Firing offense?

[Boges]

http://www.newstalk1010.com/News/localnews/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10361084

Efforts to avoid a labour disruption at Air Canada may be in jeopardy after about a dozen pilots called in sick, citing stress and fatigue.

CTV is reporting that 19 Air Canada flights out of Montreal have been cancelled after the dozen pilots called in sick today. The last minute morning cancellation created a shortage of pilots, leading to the cancellations and the delay of other flights.

It comes just days after the federal government passed back to work legislation to avoid a labour disruption.

Air Canada had warned pilots at the beginning of this week that work slowdowns, work refusal, or sickouts would amount to an illegal strike.

The federal Ministry of Labour says the government is aware of the situation.

Air Canada meanwhile is offering little comment on why the flights were cancelled or delayed. Websites for both the airline and the airport list a number of delays and cancellations for flights between Montreal and other cities including Toronto, Halifax,Saint John, N.B. and some American destinations.

Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick would not confirm that pilots calling in sick is the reason for the disruptions, saying the airline faces a number of operational challenges that include weather.

In what line of work is fatigue and street a viable reason to call in sick for work? This is clearly a work action because of the Federal government won't allow them to strike.

I wonder if there'll consequence for the actions of these pilots?

19 cancelled flights is exactly the type of thing the Feds are trying to prevent.

[Jack Weber]

http://www.newstalk1010.com/News/localnews/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10361084

In what line of work is fatigue and street a viable reason to call in sick for work? This is clearly a work action because of the Federal government won't allow them to strike.

I wonder if there'll consequence for the actions of these pilots?

19 cancelled flights is exactly the type of thing the Feds are trying to prevent.

Uh...When flying planes could...Ya'know....Kill people???

Public safety!!!

The Dominatrix....er Minister of Manage...Er...Labour,should applaud this!

[Wild Bill]

Uh...When flying planes could...Ya'know....Kill people???

Public safety!!!

The Dominatrix....er Minister of Manage...Er...Labour,should applaud this!

C'mon, Jack! They're pulling a scam and everyone knows it!

[Jack Weber]

C'mon, Jack! They're pulling a scam and everyone knows it!

So was the Minister,interjecting herself into the collective bargaining process (how many times in the last 9 months?) with her "public safety" drivel...

[WLDB]

In my opinion the government gave up the right to interfere in labour disputes with Air Canada when they sold it to private interests. If government interference is making people sick...well I'm not surprised.

[jacee]

http://www.newstalk1010.com/News/localnews/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10361084

In what line of work is fatigue and street a viable reason to call in sick for work? This is clearly a work action because of the Federal government won't allow them to strike.

I wonder if there'll consequence for the actions of these pilots?

19 cancelled flights is exactly the type of thing the Feds are trying to prevent.

Gee ... maybe they'd better learn some new strategies for dealing with people then.

The heavy-handed tactics are bound to backfire on them.

The HarperCons are so pathetically clueless about human relations. All they comprehend is power and force. There's a limit to that in a free democracy though. People tend to despise such attacks on freedom.

Kudos to the pilots for standing up for their right to collective bargaining. I hope the rest follow suit. Strength in numbers: Can't fire them all!

[capricorn]

What Air Canada needs is a good dose of competition. That would bring the union members back to reality real quick.

[Smallc]

What Air Canada needs is a good dose of competition. That would bring the union members back to reality real quick.

And they're about to get it. With Westjet expanding into regional operations, they'll start to pose a real threat. I hate Westjet though. They have crappy flight times, and because they use 737s, their cabins are cramped.

[WWWTT]

C'mon, Jack! They're pulling a scam and everyone knows it!

Oh ya ok workers rights are a scam?

Why don't you come right and say it,you don't like it when workers have rights!

WWWTT

[WWWTT]

What Air Canada needs is a good dose of competition. That would bring the union members back to reality real quick.

Nothing that a good old labour organization of the competion can't solve!

After all all workers have the right to organize and defend their rights!

WWWTT

[capricorn]

They have crappy flight times, and because they use 737s, their cabins are cramped.

I'd temper my preferences if it meant that the flight won't be cancelled and will take off on time.

[Smallc]

I'd temper my preferences if it meant that the flight won't be cancelled and will take off on time.

I've only actually had that problem a couple of times, and once, they replaced the original aircraft with a larger, faster one, so we arrived pretty much on schedule.

[madmax]

In what line of work is fatigue and street a viable reason to call in sick for work?

Yawn

[capricorn]

I've only actually had that problem a couple of times, and once, they replaced the original aircraft with a larger, faster one, so we arrived pretty much on schedule.

Good to know.

[Smallc]

Good to know.

The other time, something broke, and we sat in the E190 for 2 hours. The same thing Happened on Delta in Las Vegas.

[Bryan]

What Air Canada needs is a good dose of competition. That would bring the union members back to reality real quick.

I haven't flown Air Canada in many years. I've even changed my travel plans in order to make sure that I had other flight options.

[capricorn]

I haven't flown Air Canada in many years.

I haven't flown Air Canada since my working days as a public servant when we were obligated to fly with the national airline.

I've even changed my travel plans in order to make sure that I had other flight options.

As a private citizen, I have never booked with Air Canada.

[Smallc]

Honestly, you guys don't know what you're missing. This isn't the old Air Canada anymore. There's a reason that business travellers prefer it to other NA airlines. I've really never had a bad experience...and their planes generally have more shoulder room.

[capricorn]

Honestly, you guys don't know what you're missing. This isn't the old Air Canada anymore.

Actually Smallc, I've been curious over the last couple of years about Air Canada in comparison to years past. But just this latest episode with labour disruptions has once again turned me off.

[Smallc]

Actually Smallc, I've been curious over the last couple of years about Air Canada in comparison to years past. But just this latest episode with labour disruptions has once again turned me off.

Yes, that's the one part the scares me about them. That and their financial problems that sometimes surface in the news. I just like them because they have nicer aircraft to fly in and more flight times to choose from. Also, I've never had any of the problems that I hear about from the past in relation to bad manners from the staff.

[Wild Bill]

Nothing that a good old labour organization of the competion can't solve!

After all all workers have the right to organize and defend their rights!

WWWTT

Actually, upon reflection I find myself agreeing with you! Workers do have the right to organize! I don't really respect obvious lies as a negotiating tactic, as regards to phony sick calls but so be it.

Air Canada does not have a monopoly with service. I do feel differently about areas where the public sector does have a monopoly. If Ford goes on strike I can go look at a Chevy model but if the provincial government workers go on strike there is no other venue for me to be tested for a driver's licence. I will go on record as saying that I in no way support that sort of situation.

However, as I said that is NOT the case with Air Canada so let them have their strike! The issue of phony sick calls can be handled between management and the union.

Meanwhile, let people choose other airlines and vote with their feet. That's freedom!

[WWWTT]

Meanwhile, let people choose other airlines and vote with their feet. That's freedom!

Actually unionized workers in most cases are very happy and productville bringing the quality standard to much higher levels!

When costumers have a choice they usually pick the high quality of service for each dollar spent.This is called getting the most bang for your buck!

WWWTT

[cybercoma]

http://www.newstalk1010.com/News/localnews/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10361084

In what line of work is fatigue and street a viable reason to call in sick for work? This is clearly a work action because of the Federal government won't allow them to strike.

I wonder if there'll consequence for the actions of these pilots?

19 cancelled flights is exactly the type of thing the Feds are trying to prevent.

I guess the pilots had to take a stress day because of the government's interference in the legal arbitration process between a private employer and its employees' bargaining unit. This allows unbalances the bargaining situation in the favour of the employer, so the pilots must be worried about the outcome of their contract negotiations. Last thing you want is a stressed and tired pilot behind the joystick of an airliner. I don't want the pilot with other things on his mind flying my plane. Perhaps the Harper Government should stop interfering in private business negotiations and worry about their own problems, like electoral fraud.

[Battletoads]

C'mon, Jack! They're pulling a scam and everyone knows it!

I find it funny how con shills such as yourself turn a blind eye to Conservative electoral fraud, yet you work yourself into a froth about 19 employees at a private company possibly fraudulently calling in sick.

[jacee]

Actually, upon reflection I find myself agreeing with you! Workers do have the right to organize! I don't really respect obvious lies as a negotiating tactic, as regards to phony sick calls but so be it.

If they'd been allowed to negotiate, they wouldn't be calling in sick!

Glad you see the light on this Bill. Harper's way out of line interfering with collective bargaining rights ... again.