Vol. 76/No. 14      April 9, 2012

Air Canada walkout ends,
suspended workers reinstated

The three were part of a group of 15 workers who had “slow clapped” federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt and sarcastically told her “great job” after a flight she was on landed at the airport March 22.

Thirty seven unionists were fired for participating in the walkout. They, along with the three suspended workers, were reinstated in a back-to-work agreement rapidly put in place the following day.

The previous weekend, numerous pilots had called in sick as part of an ongoing contract fight.

On March 15 the Canadian government, at Raitt’s urging, imposed binding arbitration on unions representing Air Canada’s 8,600 baggage handlers, mechanics and other ground crew, and 3,000 pilots. Their contracts expired a year ago. Raitt also paved the way for banning all strikes at the airline by asking the Industrial Relations Board to determine if airline service is “essential for Canadians’ national health and safety,” reported the National Post.

—Katy LeRougetel

Machinists in Canada protest
firing of aircraft workers

The next day the aircraft maintenance company filed for bankruptcy. Some 350 workers in Winnipeg, Manitoba; and 250 in Vancouver, British Columbia, were then fired.

In 2007 Air Canada sold its Technical Services division that did aircraft overhaul and refurbishment to Aveos over objections from the International Association of Machinists, which said the sale violated the Air Canada Public Participation Act—passed in 1988 when Air Canada was privatized.

On March 20 the Montreal police riot squad, using tear gas, removed hundreds of unionists from the road in front of Air Canada’s offices.

“Aveos is a mask for Air Canada. That’s why we’re protesting here,” Dan Daigle, a technician in the engine shop for 22 years, told the Militant at a March 23 picket.

The union is demanding government intervention to force Air Canada to hire the fired workers.

—Beverly Bernardo

Washington aerospace workers
picket for first union contract

The main issues are safety, pay and health insurance, Bryan Corliss, an IAM District 751 staff member, told the Militant. Corliss said that health insurance for Hytek workers sets a $7,200 deductible before medical expenses are covered.

“We work around toxic and carcinogenic materials and the company’s safety program doesn’t really protect us,” said Mark Lopez, who has been employed by Hytek for 15 years. Hytek’s main customers include Bell Helicopters, Boeing and Lockheed. The company provides parts for the Pentagon’s Joint Strike Fighter.

—Edwin Fruit

Locked-out UK packaging
workers start 24-hour pickets

In response, workers have extended their picket line to 24 hours a day to prevent Mayr-Melnhof from removing packaging and equipment.

The company’s hearing that approved the firings was “a kangaroo court,” Graham Manley, one of the four sacked workers, told the Militant. He was accused of entering the factory with the intent to threaten a manager. Forty workers had gone into the plant Feb. 18 to demand a meeting with managers, Manley said. The workers left after an hour when the company agreed to talks.

Unite union lead shop steward Phil Potter said that he was denied access to the hearings by security “heavies” hired by the company.

Prior to the lockout the workers had held a series of one-day strikes protesting the handpicked way the company planned to lay off the workers and the amount of redundancy (severance) payments.

“This is about destroying the union,” said packaging worker Billy Wright on the picket line. “If we win, every union will see our example.”

—Pete Clifford