Air Canada: On -board agents vote almost all in favor of a strike mandate | New VAT

Air Canada on -board agents voted for a strike mandate on Tuesday evening.

In all, 99.7% of unionized members responded yes to this means of pressure.

“The company prefers to drag their feet rather than negotiating on the issues that matter to our members. Similarly, reports Wesley Lesosky, president of the Air Canada component of the SCFP, in a statement released on Tuesday. Moreover, The vote has enabled our members to decide. Meanwhile, the message is clear: it is time for the employer to really invest in negotiations. Therefore, ”

That said, this does not mean that Air Canada on -board agents will strike. A strike vote is a preliminary step necessary for any legal union action.

However, the union is entitled to file a strike notice from August 16 at 0 h 1 (eastern time).

Unpredictable impacts

“When there is a air canada: -board agents vote new strike, it is often moments that are very circumscribed. For example, they will announce a strike out of 24, 48 or 72 hours, on specific dates, “explains Jacob Charbonneau, late flight president.

“Where it comes more complicated. it is when the notice is very short, there are people who are already on a trip or others who have already bought tickets for these dates. For these people, it’s a little more stressful, ”he says.

When there is a strike. the carrier will offer to modify customer travel dates and transfer their tickets at no cost. For those who are already outside. who will want to return home, the carrier will try to bring them back with the help of commercial agreements with other carriers.

“But it is sure that it will cause a lot of headache if it happens,” said Charbonneau.

“We can also wish that it is not air canada: -board agents vote new 100% of the people who are on strike at the same time. and that the service is maintained at least in part. We will have to wait to see what decisions will be made, ”he concludes.

Salaries

This ballot was underway since July 28. the date on which the parties concluded the conciliation process without succeeding in ratifying an agreement.

The previous agreement, signed for 10 years, is expired. Among the grievances of workers: the stagnation of wages. combined with the soaring inflation, which has considerably decreased the purchasing power of on -board agents since the signing of the last collective agreement.

In this case. the Canadian Public Service Syndicate (SCFP) represents more than 10,000 Air Canada ons on negotiations since the start of the year.

– with the QMI agency