Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Air Canada pilots say stress could lead to empty cockpits

Frustrated Air Canada pilots say they may be forced to stay home from stress or look for jobs elsewhere now that back-to-work legislation prevents them from striking amid a labour dispute.

CTV News has been shown several letters pilots have sent to their union, threatening to slow down Air Canada operations in response to Ottawa blocking any strike action.

"I am more than happy to take my skills elsewhere so I can be properly compensated," one pilot wrote.

Others have indicated they will stay home because of stress caused by the bitter contract negotiations. Transport Canada has strict guidelines for determining whether a pilot is fit to fly an aircraft. Pilots who are stressed or fatigued can have legitimate reasons to call in sick.

There are concerns many pilots may do just that this weekend, as Ontarians return in droves from their March Break vacations.

"A human being can only take so much and if they are saying:'You know what, my head is not in the game.' There can be no question of any disciplinary consequences," Paul Strachan, the head of Air Canada's Pilot Association, told CTV News.


He said he's been getting many "angry" letters from pilots.

"Some are angrier than others," he said.

Air Canada's machinists are also threatening to make life difficult for the company.

Marcel St. Jean, president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, said the union won't be telling its members to break the law, but is considering some kind of job action.

Air Canada has already sent out letters threatening disciplinary action if employees start breaking or abusing the rules.

But there is not much the airline can do about pilots -- or other employees -- calling in sick, CTV's Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife reported Wednesday night.

If there is enough evidence of pilots missing work en masse in a clear effort to hurt Air Canada's operations, the company can refer the matter to the Canadian Industrial Relations Board, Fife said.

The board can impose hefty fines if it concludes there was any wrongdoing.

"What we don't support is when the air regulations that govern fitness to fly are used as part of organized labour action," Air Canada's senior vice-president of operations, Dave Legge, told CTV News.

Despite the grim letters sent to the pilots' association, Legge said the company has seen "no indication of pilots resigning."

Some pilots have already said they will no longer make efforts to conserve fuel during flights or help keep other costs down.

Bill C-33 passed by a vote of 155-124 around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday after a lengthy debate in Parliament, less than 48 hours after Labour Minister Lisa Raitt proposed the legislation.

The bill covers a labour dispute with two unions, one covering about 8,600 mechanics, baggage handlers and ground crew and the other covering about 3,000 pilots. The disputes have been sent to binding arbitration.

"Of course it affects our ability to negotiate, it puts no onus on the other party to do so," Strachan told CTV News Channel earlier Wednesday.

"We always intoned that we would not strike and we didn't, it was our employer that threatened to lock us out."

The bill will "poison labour relations across Canada," International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers executive Dave Ritchie said.

The bill now heads to the Senate where a Conservative majority ensures a quick passage. It is expected to receive royal assent by the end of the week.

Flights could have been stopped this week after Air Canada threatened to lock out the pilots and machinists threatened to strike.

Original Article
Source: CTV
Author: --

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