Not again! Potential strike at Air Canada

[Zife]

True, the Purity lockout had no effect on the economy at all, aside from the employees that had no income for several months.

However, I would place a bet that if WestJet were to strike, nothing would be done. Why? Because it doesn't affect the politicians and policy makers who all fly AC.

In fact, there was a public transport strike here in 2010 that cost hundreds of people their jobs, and caused many more to have to drop out of university because they couldn't make it to classes. The strike lasted almost an entire semester, but nothing was done. I know it's not on the scale of Air Canada, but if the government really stepped in when it was in the publics best interest, they would have legislated back to work measures within weeks, if not days, of the strike starting.

I'm not going to get into a political debate on here, I just don't think people look at the big picture some of the time. And who knows, maybe I'm the naive one here. If you want to write your MP, go right ahead, I'm not trying to stop anyone from doing what they think is right.

 

[CaligirlPEI]

ACK!!! looks like they are most likely going to walk as of Weds the 21st. OMG! i really really hope this doesnt effect my flights on Sunday the 25th. I have no choices here on PEI on who to fly out on really. *sigh* just want to get there.

fingers crossed they make this a strike that doesnt really effect the passengers too much.

 

[teekathepony]

ACK!!! looks like they are most likely going to walk as of Weds the 21st. OMG! i really really hope this doesnt effect my flights on Sunday the 25th. I have no choices here on PEI on who to fly out on really. *sigh* just want to get there.

fingers crossed they make this a strike that doesnt really effect the passengers too much.

Yep, I hear you, we're flying on the 24th. We also have no choices here on Cape Breton. We spoke to our travel insurance this morning and they won't cover a thing due to a strike. We booked through Air Miles and they can't even start to consider alternate flights for us until the 22nd -- two days before!! That means that IF we do have to change, instead of flying in a little early, we'll most likely be late which means we're going to lose out on part of our vacation.

 

[CaligirlPEI]

im so not going to let this bother me. IM TRYING REALLY REALLY HARD!!! AC says that this shouldnt effect passengers/flights....i truly hope not.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2011/09/16/air-canada-flight-attendants-raitt.html

so according to that they will be walking as early as Wednesday.

*chanting*..."calm blue ocean....calm relaxing breeze by the pool....wind whipping through my hair on Everest"

OMG! going to be calling on monday with my travel agent and even the AC to find out.

you know how bad it sucks to have no option. maybe the drive to halifax would have been better in hinde site. blah.

 

[karenscottparsons]

We were suppose to fly to tampa on the 22, but ac allowed us to switch our flight to monday the 19 last night. This has been a very stressful week but hopefully will all work out for everyone. We are flying out of nl which also limits flights in and out of here.

 

[bdoyledimou]

flying out would be the last of my concerns.. its coming back in!
AC has been horrible!
My Step mom flew home from ALberta to St. Johns in Aug. There was fog in St. Johns and they diverted to Deer Lake. Sat at Deer Lake for 8 hours, and then flown to Toronto and dropped off!

It was just lucky for here that we lived here and could take her in for some time until AC could get planes into NL again. (2 days with us)

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

flying out would be the last of my concerns.. its coming back in!
AC has been horrible!
My Step mom flew home from ALberta to St. Johns in Aug. There was fog in St. Johns and they diverted to Deer Lake. Sat at Deer Lake for 8 hours, and then flown to Toronto and dropped off!

It was just lucky for here that we lived here and could take her in for some time until AC could get planes into NL again. (2 days with us)

Lol I don't care about coming home, who wants to come home anyways...lol. I just want to get down there on time. Running the Halloween 5K with DD and hubby and the Wine & Dine Half, don't want to miss that

I already called AC and they do have 3 US partner airlines that will take passengers and they did say some AC planes will be running. I was told to call closer to date and if I need to leave earlier I will. Good luck everyone!

 

[teekathepony]

I keep reading that most likely they will be legislated to work before the strike even happens and nothing at all will be disrupted (except for my stress level!)
I don't care about coming home! I said that from the start... if they want to strike I wish they'd do it after I get to Orlando! I don't mind being stranded there!

 

[dennise]

Teekathepony - I'm with you, we are cominging back on a Thursday, but don't have to be back to work until the following Monday, I don't mind the delay, but I really don't want the extra expense.

 

[GreatGranny]

So sorry to all those booked with AC....as one pp said though, just get me down there and if coming back is delayed then I personally wouldn't care..LOL...although I do understand that it would be a problem for some due to finances, work etc.

We would have booked AC as well, but were encouraged to try JetBlue from Buffalo...glad we did.....leaving on 24th

 

[minnie56]

I am flying to Italy at the end of October so I hope that it is all settled by then.

Oh I am sure it will be...and the International flights will be the least affected I am sure!

 

[Corey114]

We're flying out this Thursday....22nd. Keeping a close eye on what's been going on and hopeful that it gets resolved!

 

[papertraveller]

We're looking at Thanksgiving, and hoping all is settled by then.

Don't forget the Opposition will have much to say about any back-to-work legislation -- just getting through the House will take some time. Why can Ottawa do this? Because the airline is federally regulated.

But AC will also be offering some deals for customers in the wake of any dispute or disruption too.

 

[glenpreece]

Didn't someone say that the gov't uses AC all the time therefore wouldn't they not allow a strike to last very long??? I am flying out on Halloween and since they are now charging for nags I won't be flying them anymore.

 

[minnie56]

Didn't someone say that the gov't uses AC all the time therefore wouldn't they not allow a strike to last very long??? I am flying out on Halloween and since they are now charging for nags I won't be flying them anymore.

They are charging for 'nags' OMG! Guess I can't be flying AC anymore!

Sorry-couldn't resist...

 

[Susan2771]

They are charging for 'nags' OMG! Guess I can't be flying AC anymore!

Sorry-couldn't resist...

Exactly. Why would anyone want to pay for nags, when there are plenty of options out there for free nags?

 

[SmilingGrump]

They've reached an agreement and there will be no strike!

While I'm sure this will be met with great relief by those waiting to go down, please keep your enthusiasm in check as there were others hoping to get stuck down there

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

They've reached an agreement and there will be no strike!

While I'm sure this will be met with great relief by those waiting to go down, please keep your enthusiasm in check as there were others hoping to get stuck down there

Great news, thanks for posting.

 

[papertraveller]

Yay!
It's funny, actually, that our next trip is on AC. We have been flying through Buffalo for so long now that I actually stop and realize, hey, we might be affected by this!
Now just to worry about DD's Halloween costume for MNSSHP!

 

[LuzzBightyear]

They've reached an agreement and there will be no strike!

Well certainly a positive step, especially for those travelling this week. However the deal still has to be ratified by union membership. They already rejected a tentative agreement back in August, and one has to assume that this time, union negotiators would have a better feeling of will or won't pass...but there still is a possibility that this isn't over.