BA possible Xmas strike action...
Dec 12th 2011, 8:14 pm
#1
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Joined: Dec 2005
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BA possible Xmas strike action...
Just hitting news sites Monday...
CALGARY — British Airways flights from Vancouver and Calgary to London Heathrow Airport may be in jeopardy over the Christmas holidays because of possible strike action by members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, said the union in a news release on Monday.
British Airways Ticket Agents, members of IAMAW District Lodge 140, voted 88 per cent in favour of strike action and they could legally walk off the job December 17, it said.
“These people are routinely required to stay after their scheduled shift without being paid overtime,” said IAMAW District Lodge 140 General Chairperson Todd Haverstock in a statement.
“Monetary issues are the big stumbling block . . . We are not telling people to cancel their flights but our strike mandate is clear and the ball is now in the employer’s court. We will strike if pushed.”
He said British Airways has one flight a day out of Calgary to London Heathrow Airport as well as one flight a day from Vancouver to London.
Haverstock said the union has 15 people in Calgary and 20 in Vancouver.
He said the two sides will meet with a conciliator Tuesday and Wednesday. The IAMAW is the largest union in the Canadian air transport sector.
“The numbers are very low but the impact could be pretty significant because if we do go out we’re not too sure what their contingency plans are,” said Haverstock. “With British Airways, they have very little management in Canada. So we would think their contingency plan would be that they would have to bring up managers from the U.S. to operate the flights if they want to continue the flight operation if we’re to go on strike.”
British Airways could not be reached for comment.
[email protected]
© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald
Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/busines...#ixzz1gMD2TgB2
CALGARY — British Airways flights from Vancouver and Calgary to London Heathrow Airport may be in jeopardy over the Christmas holidays because of possible strike action by members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, said the union in a news release on Monday.
British Airways Ticket Agents, members of IAMAW District Lodge 140, voted 88 per cent in favour of strike action and they could legally walk off the job December 17, it said.
“These people are routinely required to stay after their scheduled shift without being paid overtime,” said IAMAW District Lodge 140 General Chairperson Todd Haverstock in a statement.
“Monetary issues are the big stumbling block . . . We are not telling people to cancel their flights but our strike mandate is clear and the ball is now in the employer’s court. We will strike if pushed.”
He said British Airways has one flight a day out of Calgary to London Heathrow Airport as well as one flight a day from Vancouver to London.
Haverstock said the union has 15 people in Calgary and 20 in Vancouver.
He said the two sides will meet with a conciliator Tuesday and Wednesday. The IAMAW is the largest union in the Canadian air transport sector.
“The numbers are very low but the impact could be pretty significant because if we do go out we’re not too sure what their contingency plans are,” said Haverstock. “With British Airways, they have very little management in Canada. So we would think their contingency plan would be that they would have to bring up managers from the U.S. to operate the flights if they want to continue the flight operation if we’re to go on strike.”
British Airways could not be reached for comment.
[email protected]
© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald
Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/busines...#ixzz1gMD2TgB2
Dec 13th 2011, 12:04 pm
#2
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Joined: Jul 2009
Location: British Columbia/East Sussex
Posts: 153
Re: BA possible Xmas strike action...
The headline is a little misleading. Although check in & gate staff at YVR & YYC wear BA uniforms, very few of them are actually employed by BA, but by a third party handling agent.
As stated, should they 'walk,' I suspect management will take up the slack & any disruption would be minimal especially in this age of automated check in.
If its ground handling on the ramp that strikes, that could present more of an issue. Reading the article, I suspect it isn't.
As stated, should they 'walk,' I suspect management will take up the slack & any disruption would be minimal especially in this age of automated check in.
If its ground handling on the ramp that strikes, that could present more of an issue. Reading the article, I suspect it isn't.
Dec 13th 2011, 12:29 pm
#3
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Joined: Nov 2011
Location: Somewhere between Vancouver & St Johns
Posts: 19,847
Re: BA possible Xmas strike action...
I guess the journalist or Todd Haverstock are not aware of the following and should read the Foreign Workers Manual and take note of 8.2 on page 82
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resourc...w/fw01-eng.pdf
I guess if BA did send up replacement workers then should CBSA refuse them entry?????
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resourc...w/fw01-eng.pdf
I guess if BA did send up replacement workers then should CBSA refuse them entry?????
