Air Canada wildcat strike at Pearson

kimmy · January 20, 2005

This is apparently a developing story, with details not yet clear, but the guy on CTV News-net says that the trouble stems from an investigation into employee shenanigans with time-cards (ie, you punch me in when you get in, I'll punch you out when I leave, and we'll both get paid for more hours than we worked.) A hidden camera may have been used to investigate the situation, which hurt peoples feelings.

The end result: hundreds or thousands of passengers unable to get out of Toronto. Hundreds or thousands more have arrived in Toronto and can't get their suitcases. This will of course affect flights all across Canada, as well. Planes are stuck. People are angry.

-kimmy

August1991 · January 20, 2005

If I understand properly, Air Canada is burning up a big chunk of cash lent to them by German banks.

How many months Air Canada got? How about we set up a Death Watch book?

theloniusfleabag · January 20, 2005

Dear August1991,

If I understand properly, Air Canada is burning up a big chunk of cash lent to them by German banks.
How many months Air Canada got? How about we set up a Death Watch book?

I have been on a real 'Death Watch' before, and I couldn't count on the Feds to step in, over and over, to stave off the inevitable.

Air Canada is a mis-managed, dying, farce of a company. Milton and the unions (in that order) have doomed it to failure. If it goes away, something viable will take it's place. Why has the gov't tried to keep it afloat for so long? Is it so they don't have to re-negotiate new gov't contracts with a new company?

August1991 · January 20, 2005

Is it so they don't have to re-negotiate new gov't contracts with a new company?

I have flown on Air Canada jets where I have looked around the cabin and tried to guess the percentage of passengers flying at government expense or government union expense. (Too often, I came up with a guess of over 50%. The game is a variation of "Find the civil servant".)

BTW, these people all fly at full fare economy. (One way Montreal-Toronto is $475.)

kimmy · January 20, 2005

Why has the gov't tried to keep it afloat for so long?

Am I correct in assuming that it's because those in power fear that leaving the air travel industry to private business could mean drastic change and leave some Canadians without access to air travel?

-kimmy

ndpnic · January 23, 2005

I think the government should steo in and sieze control of the whole air line industry.

If anything, that temper tantrum by the baggage handlers proved that Air travel should be government run, along with the insurance companies etc.....

kimmy · January 24, 2005

I think the government should steo in and sieze control of the whole air line industry.
If anything, that temper tantrum by the baggage handlers proved that Air travel should be government run, along with the insurance companies etc.....

I don't think WestJet has ever had a labour dispute...

Some might suggest that the root of Air Canada's problems stem from labour relations policies that they established back when they were a crown corporation.

-kimmy

theloniusfleabag · January 24, 2005

Dear ndpnic,

I think the government should steo in and sieze control of the whole air line industry.
If anything, that temper tantrum by the baggage handlers proved that Air travel should be government run, along with the insurance companies etc.....

Nonsense. The reason will follow kimmy's quote...

Dear kimmy,

I don't think WestJet has ever had a labour dispute...
Some might suggest that the root of Air Canada's problems stem from labour relations policies that they established back when they were a crown corporation.

WestJet is not unionized, and the company treats it's employees fairly. Air Canada has two major problems. Milton is the #1problem, running the company into the ground with decision-making and no fiscal responsibility, because he knows the gov't will bail him out again. Secondly, the unions are killing the airline by making it non-competative.

WestJet, and other airlines, will fill the void once Air Canada dies. I don't personally care if it is KLM or Nunavut Air, if there is a demand and a profit to be made, room should be made for companies that operate in a fiscally responsible manner. There is also Greyhound and a host of other 'alternative competitors' that would be able to move passengers (though not at the same speed, yet) and if the 'market' was left alone by the gov't, as it is in my industry, the best businesses will make it happen.