“A slap in the face” for Air Canada on -board agents

A few hours after the entry into force of the lockout targeting the Air Canada on-board agents, the Minister of Employment Patty Hajdu orders the return to work.

“It is a slap in the middle of the government, it feels like Air Canada knew what was coming from it and that that’s why they did not show up at the table,” said Julie Potvin, vice-president of the Air Canada Air Canada.

Since 00:58, Air Canada planes have been nailed to the ground, while more than 10,000 agents and agents have been picking in order to claim better working conditions.

At Montreal Airport, several hundred on -board agents had gathered in order to be heard.

“It is not by cheerfulness that we are here, we want our working hours to be paid and we want recognition. Even our passengers told us that they were behind us this week, ”said a young on -board agent who did not want to disclose his identity for fear of losing his job.

Calm before the storm

Inside the airport, it was a quieter Saturday morning than what you could have imagined in the middle of August.

“We spent the night here, we have been there since yesterday at the end of the afternoon because we managed to book tickets with another company, but we wanted to be sure of having our place on the plane,” said Daniela Marchasini, an Italian who had just spent 10 days in Montreal.

Then, the announcement of the Federal Minister who asked the Canadian Industrial Relations (CCRI) to impose an enforcement on both parties.

Despite the announcement, employees on strike were still on the spot in the afternoon and continued to receive several horn strokes in support.

Chaotic

At the Air Canada Terminal, it was the most total wait and confusion.

“According to the Air Canada site, our flight around 5.50 p.m. to Paris is maintained,” said Aurélie Charlery to the Journal.

The mother was waiting for her flight number to be called, when she was held near the recording positions with her spouse and her son.

“We knew that there was a strike, but as our flight was always displayed we moved, we did not know what would happen otherwise, we would have been reimbursed,” wondered his spouse Nicolas Charlery.

Earlier during the day, a couple trying to book tickets to go home with another company would not know if they would get there.

“We had a return flight to Belgium planned today, but everything is complete or double the price,” deplores Cindy Miguel, met around 11:00 am at Montreal Airport.

Several air Canada flights were displayed as canceled at the end of the day when others were delayed.