In an update to members obtained by The Canadian Press, the union negotiating committee cited the Charter of Rights and Freedoms’ protection of collective action.
It also said the industrial relations board had not expressly barred strikes and lockouts while the tribunal undertook arbitration following Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan’s directive.
“Because the referral by the minister was silent on the issue, AMFA members’ constitutional right to strike must prevail,” the union committee claimed.
I’m flying out later this week. First big trip since the start of COVID, and the focus of the trip is the wedding of a dear friend.
Timing and price led us to Air Canada over Westjet this time, but it’s a crapshoot; a day later and we might have booked Westjet, in which case we’d be royally fucked right now.
I still support the mechanics on this one. Companies will ALWAYS bargain in bad faith, if they have the opportunity; and getting government arbitration has become the latest version of bad faith bargaining.
This strike may be truly illegal. It will definitely inconvenience a lot of people. It may, over time, lead to the downfall of Westjet (I have cheap headphones here from Canada 3000, Canadian, and a few others - it can happen!).
I don’t fucking care.
The mechanics didn’t cause this shitshow, they only chose when to act against the shitshow created by the billionaires. This is the fault of Alexis van Hoensbroech and his board of directors. If you miss a flight or a trip of a lifetime because of the strike, remember that: Ten executives at Westjet who EACH make more annually than a mechanic will see in his lifetime have decided not to let those mechanics keep up with inflation.
Totally support the workers here. Westjet is a shitty company. Won’t be flying them in the future.
I wish Via Rail had much better service so everyone can choose to stick it to Air Canada and WestJet
Sadly, Via Rail won’t get me to Brighton in time for my friend’s wedding.
I took Via from Vancouver to Toronto. Was totally awesome but $$$.
The willingness to try and legislate away strikes is really problematic…
And they’re not an essential service. Let them take a massive PR and financial hit for screwing up peoples travel plans by not negotiating in good faith.
Word is that when a competitor tries to pop up westjet lowers fares and adds routes to kill them off then raises back up again when they have no viable competition.
There is zero incentive for businesses to negotiate in goods faith if they know that the government will just step in to force workers to accept a worse deal than they could get by striking. It’s time for the workers to take back the power of collective action. If a company can’t pay its workers a fair wage or should not be allowed to operate by paying its workers an unfair wage.
There is zero incentive for businesses to negotiate in goods faith…
There. That is ALL that needs be said.
The feds should not be supporting private business by harming the worker.
Biden busted rail workers strike once owners said shut it down recently… Why wouldnt Canada clowns do the same?
