Air Canada workers still in negotiations
Posted Jun 12, 2011 12:34:47 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO (NEWS1130) – There is still no word of any progress in negotiations aimed at averting a possible strike by 3,800 Air Canada employees.
The customer service and sales staffers are threatening to walk out on Tuesday, but the airline’s Angela Mah tells News1130 that the impact on passengers should be minimal.
“We do have a contingency plan in place but it’s a little premature to get into the details of that contingency plan. But we do have a plan to continue our operations.”
Meantime, Federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt says she’s concerned about the potential impact of a work stoppage on Canadians and on the economic recovery.
Employees issued 72-hour strike notice on Friday. Contract talks are continuing throughout the weekend in Toronto.
Who’s affected by a strike?
Should workers walk off the job on Tuesday, one travel expert says passengers won’t really notice a difference when they’re flying.
Scott Clute says because travellers already print their own boarding passes, book and confirm their flights on-line, there are fewer employees needed as it is.
The only delays you might notice will be at the check-in counter, but Clute adds even that’s a stretch. “YVR is pretty easy to operate, in my opinion, for Air Canada flights. They don’t have nearly the influx of flights that they have in Toronto.”
He says if workers were going to ask for changes, they should have done it years ago before they “shot themselves in the foot by training people to do their job.”
Clute goes on to explain the only passengers that will really be affected are those with disabilities because they need more assistance.
