The showdown between Air Canada and its 10,000 on -board agents will not last, according to John Gradek, aviation expert at McGill University.
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“I think it will last a maximum of 5 days,” predicts this ex-air frame of air Canada, pointing to a company’s strategy which is focusing on government intervention rather than real negotiations.
“There was no negotiation before, that’s the problem. Was Air Canada really serious in negotiations? ” Questions Mr. Gradek, also a member of the Transport Court of Canada.
John Gradek, former manager at Air Canada and lecturer at McGill University.
Photo University McGill
The company “anticipates the intervention of the Federal” and “begs politicians to impose a solution”, according to his analysis.
The expert confirms that Air Canada on-board agents “are really underestimated”. “The salary catching up at Air Canada would be 34% to 38% compared to Transat,” he said.
This difference is explained by a 10-year agreement (2015-2025) with annual increases of 2% while the cost of living was not bad. The catch -up would cost $ 200 million a year at Air Canada, calculates John Gradek.
The claim of the “100% remuneration” for all hours worked echoes the American developments. “At Delta and United Airlines, the remuneration begins about an hour before the flight,” notes Mr. Gradek, although this practice is “not returned” in Canada.
The immediate financial impact of the conflict will be brutal: “Canada will have to offer fairly immediate reimbursements. There will be an impact on the cash flow“Explains the expert.
On the government intervention side, Mr. Gradek anticipates “a slowness of the federally to get into this file”, unlike the precedents of Canada or the rail sector.
