Wildcat strike at Pearson International forces cancellations
Posted Mar 23, 2012 5:54 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Dozens of Air Canada flights have been cancelled or delayed at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, Friday, following a “wildcat strike” by the the airline’s ground workers.
According to the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) website, over 100 Air Canada flights were delayed or cancelled.
Two flight leaving YYC flights have been cancelled this afternoon as a result, Air Canada travellers are being advised to check the status of their flight before heading out to the airport.
The airline customer service can be reached at 1-888-247-2262.
The ground workers, which include baggage handlers and gate agents, walked off the job late Thursday night.
Meanwhile Air Canada ground crews at Montreal-Trudeau Airport have also walked off the job, Friday.
On Twitter, the airline confirmed flights were delayed and cancelled at both airports due to the illegal job action.
The airline said change fees were waived.
680News in Toronto received several phone calls, Thursday evening, reporting that workers gathered as a group and just left the airport together around 10 p.m.
GTAA confirmed the illegal job action late Thursday. The striking workers then held a demonstration outside Terminal 1.
Many people had to leave flights already on the tarmac until management was able take over some baggage handling duties and allow the delayed flights to continue to their destination.
In Ottawa, passengers on a flight bound for Ottawa Thursday night were told to get off and return to the terminal.
People stood in front of the gates trying to figure out where to go and what they’re going to do next. A lot of people asked where their luggage was at that point.
The CBC reported the walkout began after Labour Minister Lisa Raitt walked through the airport and was applauded sarcastically by some Air Canada workers. Three workers were then suspended.
Air Canada has been plagued with labour troubles over the last year.
The airline and its pilots and mechanics have been in a bitter contract feud that prompted the federal government to recently step in with legislation banning strikes or lockouts at the airline.
Raitt had insisted the government had to act to protect the national economy.
Ottawa also had to intervene in contract disputes involving the airline’s flight attendants and its customer service agents.
To get the latest on flights in and out of Calgary, click here.
