I keep seeing stories with screaming headlines saying “Feds Won’t Intervene to Stop Air Canada Strike.” I disagree. If you look closely, that’s not what they’re saying. Here are some of Prime Minister Trudeau’s comments yesterday. “I’m not going to put my thumb on the scale on either side. It is up to Air Canada and the pilots’ union to do the work to figure out how to make sure that they are not hurting millions of Canadians,” he told reporters in Quebec, according to a report from Reuters. “Every time there’s a strike, people say ‘Oh, you’ll get the Read more
strike
Porter Airlines has launched three new routes between Ottawa International Airport and Boston, New York-Newark and Thunder Bay today, providing convenient travel links for the region. The new routes are part of Porter’s broader expansion plan in Ottawa and its commitment to the region, including new maintenance hangars that are currently under construction at YOW. These will serve as a primary maintenance facility for the airline’s new E195-E2 fleet. Porter is the only airline providing year-round daily direct flights to Boston and Thunder Bay from Ottawa. “This builds on our already extensive network in Eastern Canada and substantially increases the Read more
As if Canada’s skies and airports weren’t chaotic enough this summer, there’s now the threat of a West Jet workers’ strike. WestJet workers in Calgary and Vancouver have voted overwhelmingly to support the bargaining committee and take strike action if a deal cannot be reached, as early as July 27, 2022, says Unifor. “The union is fighting for better wages,” said Scott Doherty, Executive Assistant to Unifor’s National President. “The pay scale has not been increased for more than five years, making WestJet’s wages among the lowest in the Canadian aviation industry and no match for soaring inflation. We are Read more
Finally, some good news for Canadian travellers. VIA Rail Canada has reached tentative agreements with Unifor’s Council 4000 and Local 100, the union representing some 2,400 VIA Rail employees. The deal averts a Unifor strike, which would’ve stalled trains and unleashed more chaos for travellers in Canada. These tentative agreements are subject to a ratification vote by VIA Rail’s Unifor members. Once ratified, the collective agreements will be retroactive to January 1, 2022, and in effect through December 31, 2024. Details of the agreements will only be released following ratification by members. “VIA Rail is pleased to have negotiated these Read more
