Air Canada to go on Strike.

[am1]

I wasn't aware that people can be forced to strike - I thought it was a representative action by the collective bargaining unit. IDK, I can turn it around, you don't have to take a job where you might be asked/required to strike by the group you're a part of. I don't know Canada's rules though, but just like I don't think people should be "allowed" to sell themselves into slavery, I don't think people should be allowed to take jobs where you're regularly working 30+ minutes of unpaid time to get to the "paid part". It's kind of a tragedy that it needs to be a strike vs a simple government enforcement of labor law insisting you are paid while you're required to be on the job or required to be "engaged to wait" - i.e. you can't be getting your hair done, you can't be reading a book, you can't be getting drunk - no you're on site and waiting for a task from your employer.

Unions must have agreed to unpaid time before and after takeoff. I find that different but I am both sides have their reasons for it. A higher hourly wage when working probably being the first. The less government intervention the better.

 

[jeanf]

Gov't has 'ordered' binding arbitration and 'ordered' the flight attendants back to work. Their 10 year contract finally expired, and now not allowed to negotiate.

Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu orders Air Canada and striking flight attendants back to work - National | Globalnews.ca

Ottawa orders binding arbitration to end Air Canada flight attendant strike, with Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu directing operations to resume after walkout disrupted global travel.

globalnews.ca

 

[pedro47]

It is ridiculous that Flight Attendants only get paid from the time the Doors close until they doors open after landing. They do not get paid for all the time at the airport getting the plane ready to go or the off boarding time. Not even the time spent if there's an Emergency on the Tarmac. This standard of the airline industry has to change.

I agree Flight Attendants and all the airlines needs to be pay more.

 

[pedro47]

Companies could just treat their employees like Costco does. Employees there will never agree to form a union or strike. Neither is needed due to excellent management.

Your statement about Costco is not totally correct. There are Costco Warehouse stores that have unions. One is the Costco warehouse located in Norfolk,Va.

The Newport News Costco Warehouse did not vote to form a union.

Costco, does have excellent benefits for their employees. I mean excellent benefits for their employees. IMHO.

 

[Chrispee]

Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu orders Air Canada and striking flight attendants back to work - National | Globalnews.ca

Ottawa orders binding arbitration to end Air Canada flight attendant strike, with Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu directing operations to resume after walkout disrupted global travel.

globalnews.ca

Government intervention it is.

 

[TolmiePeak]

Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu orders Air Canada and striking flight attendants back to work - National | Globalnews.ca

Ottawa orders binding arbitration to end Air Canada flight attendant strike, with Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu directing operations to resume after walkout disrupted global travel.

globalnews.ca

Government intervention it is.

Will be interesting to see how the flight attendants respond.

 

[CanuckTravlr]

Please be aware that at the moment this strike only applies to Air Canada mainline and Air Canada Rouge flights. Air Canada's regional feeder line, Air Canada Express, is operated by Jazz Aviation or PAL Airlines, and their flight attendants have a different contract that is still in force. Unfortunately, Air Canada Express are typically short-haul feeder flights only.

 

[TUGBrian]

always thought the whole "clock only starts when they get on the plane/doors close" due to the restrictions/labor laws placed on how long a crew can "work" in a given time period and not some effort to pay them less.

 

[Luanne]

Please be aware that at the moment this strike only applies to Air Canada mainline and Air Canada Rouge flights. Air Canada's regional feeder line, Air Canada Express, is operated by Jazz Aviation or PAL Airlines, and their flight attendants have a different contract that is still in force. Unfortunately, Air Canada Express are typically short-haul feeder flights only.

The flights I currently have are all designated as Air Canada with a United Airlines flight number. One is from Denver to Montreal and the other is Quebec City to Toronto. My bff also has a flight from Toronto to Orlando that is Air Canada.

 

[CanuckTravlr]

Gov't has 'ordered' binding arbitration and 'ordered' the flight attendants back to work. Their 10 year contract finally expired, and now not allowed to negotiate.

Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu orders Air Canada and striking flight attendants back to work - National | Globalnews.ca

Ottawa orders binding arbitration to end Air Canada flight attendant strike, with Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu directing operations to resume after walkout disrupted global travel.

globalnews.ca

Not allowed to negotiate? They've been negotiating for almost a year. The union declined to go to compulsory arbitration. Air Canada has played hardball a bit, and even though I agree with many of the union's ultimate objectives, Rome wasn't built in a day. You shouldn't get to hold an entire country hostage because you can't find a way to find a compromise, which is what negotiating is all about. This isn't the USA where there are multiple airlines serving the entire country. The public has the right to their charter freedoms, too. In a country as large as Canada there are no other options than flying to get across the country without spending days rather than hours.

 

[CanuckTravlr]

Post updated.

 

[CanuckTravlr]

The flights I currently have are all designated as Air Canada with a United Airlines flight number. One is from Denver to Montreal and the other is Quebec City to Toronto. My bff also has a flight from Toronto to Orlando that is Air Canada.

Your reservation will normally specifically say whether it is Air Canada (mainline), Air Canada Rouge, or Air Canada Express. You can also tell by the flight numbers. Air Canada Express have 4-digit flight numbers, usually in the high 8000's. Most are 2 hours or less, due to the type of aircraft. Denver to Montreal is too far for an Air Canada Express aircraft and Quebec City to Toronto is a fairly high-volume regular Air Canada flight, not a hub feeder route.

United Airlines is a Star Alliance partner, so your flight number is a codeshare, in this case operated by Air Canada.

 

[Luanne]

Your reservation will normally specifically say whether it is Air Canada (mainline), Air Canada Rouge, or Air Canada Express. You can also tell by the flight numbers. Air Canada Express have 4-digit flight numbers, usually in the high 8000's. Most are 2 hours or less, due to the type of aircraft. Denver to Toronto is too far for an Air Canada Express aircraft and Toronto to Quebec City is a high-volume regular Air Canada flight, not a hub feeder route.

The reservation was made through United and all it says on the United website is operated by Air Canada. However when I go to the Air Canada website it still just says operated by Air Canada with a UA flight number, not an Air Canada one. The flight numbers are in the 8000s. So, if I am reading your posts correctly my flights could be impacted or cancelled, if the strike isn't resolved by then (early September).

 

[CanuckTravlr]

The reservation was made through United and all it says on the United website is operated by Air Canada. However when I go to the Air Canada website it still just says operated by Air Canada with a UA flight number, not an Air Canada one. The flight numbers are in the 8000s. So, if I am reading your posts correctly my flights could be impacted or cancelled, if the strike isn't resolved by then (early September).

Are you referring to the Denver/Montreal flight, or the Quebec City/Toronto flight? I suspect it won't be an issue, since your flights aren't until September and the flight attendants have been ordered back to work.

Because it's a codeshare flight number it's probably in the lower 8000s? If you want, you can go on the Air Canada website and look up the actual Air Canada flight number for the same flight and click on the flight details and it will tell you the aircraft type and the operator (Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, or Air Canada Express).

 

[Luanne]

Are your referring to the Denver/Montreal flight, or the Quebec City/Toronto flight? I suspect it won't be an issue, since your flights aren't until September and the flight attendant's have been ordered back to work.

Because it's a codeshare flight number it's probably in the lower 8000s? If you want, you can go on the Air Canada website and look up the actual Air Canada flight number for the same flight and click on the flight details and it will tell you the aircraft type and the operator (Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, or Air Canada Express).

When I go to the Air Canada website and enter my Air Canada locator number I am getting what I said in my last post. Just says operated by Air Canada with a UA flight number. This applies to both flights.

When I look up the flights by trying to book them I get this:

DEN to YUL: AC 1072 | Operated by Air Canada

Quebec City to Toronto:

Flight number AC1381. Operated by Air Canada
AC 1381 | Operated by Air Canada

If it just says Air Canada is that Air Canada mainline?

 

[CanuckTravlr]

When I go to the Air Canada website and enter my Air Canada locator number I am getting what I said in my last post. Just says operated by Air Canada with a UA flight number. This applies to both flights.

When I look up the flights by trying to book them I get this:

DEN to YUL: AC 1072 | Operated by Air Canada

Quebec City to Toronto:

Flight number AC1381. Operated by Air Canada
AC 1381 | Operated by Air Canada

If it just says Air Canada is that Air Canada mainline?

Those are Air Canada mainline flight numbers. When you are doing a dummy booking, just under the flight number and departure time, you will see two underlined links titled seats, and flight details. For future reference, if you click on those, the first will show you the seat map and which seats are already selected, and the second will give you more details, such as the type of aircraft and the actual operator (i.e. Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, Air Canada Express), not just the general "Operated by Air Canada".

 

[Luanne]

Those are Air Canada mainline flight numbers. When you are doing a dummy booking, just under the flight number and departure time, you will see two underlined links titled seats, and flight details. For future reference, if you click on those, the first will show you the seat map and which seats are already selected, and the second will give you more details, such as the type of aircraft and the actual operator (i.e. Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, Air Canada Express), not just the general "Operated by Air Canada".

I really appreciate all of your help.

I did click on details, which gave me the AC flight number and it does show the aircraft, but I wasn't sure if that was important. When clicking on both the seats and details tab it still says only operated by Air Canada. That's what I copied in my last post. That was directly from the details section of the flight chosen.

And I do realize, or at least greatly hope, that this will all be a non issue for me.

 

[CanuckTravlr]

I really appreciate all of your help.

I did click on details, which gave me the AC flight number and it does show the aircraft, but I wasn't sure if that was important. When clicking on both the seats and details tab it still says only operated by Air Canada. That's what I copied in my last post. That was directly from the details section of the flight chosen.

And I do realize, or at least greatly hope, that this will all be a non issue for me.

You're welcome. I was just double-checking that you had clicked on the flight details. If it was Rouge or Express it would have said so, not just Air Canada. The aircraft is important, since Air Canada Express only operates smaller short-range aircraft, such as the Canadair/Mitsubishi CRJ900, Embraer E175 and the De Havilland Dash 8-400. Any other aircraft are mainline or Rouge.

 

[Luanne]

You're welcome. I was just double-checking that you had clicked on the flight details. If it was Rouge or Express it would have said so, not just Air Canada. The aircraft is important, since Air Canada Express only operates smaller short-range aircraft, such as the Canadair/Mitsubishi CRJ900, Embraer E175 and the De Havilland Dash 8-400. Any other aircraft are mainline or Rouge.

Quebec City to Toronto:
Flight number AC1381. Operated by Air Canada
AC 1381 | Operated by Air Canada
Boeing 737 MAX 8

DEN to YUL:
AC 1072 | Operated by Air Canada
Airbus A220-300

So again, if I'm understanding correctly these are most likely Air Canada mainline and would, or could be, impacted if the strike were to drag on?

 

[CanuckTravlr]

Quebec City to Toronto:
Flight number AC1381. Operated by Air Canada
AC 1381 | Operated by Air Canada
Boeing 737 MAX 8

DEN to YUL:
AC 1072 | Operated by Air Canada
Airbus A220-300

So again, if I'm understanding correctly these are most likely Air Canada mainline and would, or could be, impacted if the strike were to drag on?

Yes, your understanding is correct. Both the flight numbers and routes, and the aircraft used are Air Canada mainline flights.

 

[CanuckTravlr]

Well, the Air Canada flight attendants' union has decided to ignore the federal government order! So, Air Canada has suspended any plans to recommence flights.

This could get ugly and it could certainly become very expensive for the union with daily fines, if they continue not to cooperate. In that case, nobody wins. I happen to think that Air Canada not only needs to, but based on profits can also afford to, pay them a fair wage and at least 50% for time waiting. Air Canada executives gave themselves massive income increases in the last few years. Yet Air Canada is playing hardball with their employees. Fair is fair. I am nevertheless concerned the union may sadly lose some of the support they have had with the majority of the public, if too many people cannot fly.

The union has consistently rejected compulsory arbitration. That gives me some concern since it makes me think their position may not have as much merit as they feel it does,. Why do they not think it will stand up to an arbitrator's review? No airline in North America pays 100% for time before pull-back. Only a couple even pay 50%. While potentially a laudable long-term goal, I feel it is a stretch too far right now, especially with the current economic uncertainty.

I guess we will see how this plays out. Unfortunately, the public is the group that truly suffers, as well as those on strike. The government has a tough line to walk here. It's not like there are real alternatives. The only other truly national carrier is WestJet and they are much smaller than Air Canada, so couldn't possibly pick up the slack.

 

[Luanne]

Well, the Air Canada flight attendants' union has decided to ignore the federal government order! So, Air Canada has suspended any plans to recommence flights.

This could get ugly and it could certainly become very expensive for the union with daily fines, if they continue not to cooperate. In that case, nobody wins. I happen to think that Air Canada not only needs to, but based on profits can also afford to, pay them a fair wage and at least 50% for time waiting. Air Canada executives gave themselves massive income increases in the last few years. Yet Air Canada is playing hardball with their employees. Fair is fair. I am nevertheless concerned the union may sadly lose some of the support they have had with the majority of the public, if too many people cannot fly.

The union has consistently rejected compulsory arbitration. That gives me some concern since it makes me think their position may not have as much merit as they feel it does,. Why do they not think it will stand up to an arbitrator's review? No airline in North America pays 100% for time before pull-back. Only a couple even pay 50%. While potentially a laudable long-term goal, I feel it is a stretch too far right now, especially with the current economic uncertainty.

I guess we will see how this plays out. Unfortunately, the public is the group that truly suffers, as well as those on strike. The government has a tough line to walk here. It's not like there are real alternatives. The only other truly national carrier is WestJet and they are much smaller than Air Canada, so couldn't possibly pick up the slack.

Sorry to hear this. As I have mentioned my flights were booked through United. So I think/hope United will work with us to get us to and from our destinations. There are routes where all of the planes are United, no Air Canada. It might not be as convenient as what we have now, but it would still be doable. But again since our flights aren't until early September we will wait and see. Right now Air Canada is only offering changes with no fee for flights in August.

 

[Chrispee]

@Luanne i would imagine your Quebec City to Toronto flight would be the most problematic as Westjet is likely to be slammed with domestic travel. Reading over the latest Air Canada cancellation press release I’m surprised that they’re not offering more flexibility.

CUPE Strike Action

www.aircanada.com

 

[Luanne]

@Luanne i would imagine your Quebec City to Toronto flight would be the most problematic as Westjet is likely to be slammed with domestic travel. Reading over the latest Air Canada cancellation press release I’m surprised that they’re not offering more flexibility.

CUPE Strike Action

www.aircanada.com

Since everything was booked through United I think (or at least hope) they will offer some alternatives if the strike continue through the time we are supposed to fly. There are options of getting from Quebec City home (Santa Fe) that would all be on United planes. Same with our flights from Albuquerque to Montreal. Instead of going through Denver then from Denver to Montreal on Air Canada we could go Denver to Chicago to Montreal. Would take longer though.

 

[dioxide45]

Well, the Air Canada flight attendants' union has decided to ignore the federal government order! So, Air Canada has suspended any plans to recommence flights.

This could get ugly and it could certainly become very expensive for the union with daily fines, if they continue not to cooperate. In that case, nobody wins. I happen to think that Air Canada not only needs to, but based on profits can also afford to, pay them a fair wage and at least 50% for time waiting. Air Canada executives gave themselves massive income increases in the last few years. Yet Air Canada is playing hardball with their employees. Fair is fair. I am nevertheless concerned the union may sadly lose some of the support they have had with the majority of the public, if too many people cannot fly.

The union has consistently rejected compulsory arbitration. That gives me some concern since it makes me think their position may not have as much merit as they feel it does,. Why do they not think it will stand up to an arbitrator's review? No airline in North America pays 100% for time before pull-back. Only a couple even pay 50%. While potentially a laudable long-term goal, I feel it is a stretch too far right now, especially with the current economic uncertainty.

I guess we will see how this plays out. Unfortunately, the public is the group that truly suffers, as well as those on strike. The government has a tough line to walk here. It's not like there are real alternatives. The only other truly national carrier is WestJet and they are much smaller than Air Canada, so couldn't possibly pick up the slack.

So much depends one's definition of "fair". Doesn't it?