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.]

Friday, April 13, 2012

Air Canada flights cancelled and delayed after pilots call in sick

The disruptions from “a sickout” by frustrated pilots at Pearson appear to be having less impact than a bad snowstorm.

So far, 40 flights have been cancelled, but Air Canada officials do not know if the situation will escalate.

It appears most of the bookoffs are from pilots who fly the smaller narrow body aircraft, on shorter haul destinations.

Spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick said the delays will be felt across the country, even though bookoffs were concentrated in Toronto and Montreal—because aircraft are scheduled to go on to other destinations.

More: Travellers react to ‘sickout’ by Air Canada pilots

“Most pilots are working and reporting for duty,” Fitzpatrick said in an interview at the airport. “The vast majority of flights are leaving.”

But kids headed to a karate tournament in Alberta were left scrambling when their 6:30 a.m. flight to Calgary was cancelled.

“We have all had to make different arrangements,” said Lee-Ann Bouchard of Brampton whose 8-year-old daughter, Olivia, is participating in her first out of province tournament.

“Some people are going on WestJet out of Hamilton and Kitchener. We are going to Vancouver and then back to Calgary,” she said.

“We are pretty perturbed. They’ll miss practice,” she said, adding they are scheduled to fly back on Tuesday on Air Canada, hopefully without more labour unrest.

One of Olivia’s friends, Gabby Gallos, 13, can’t get on a flight until 8:30 p.m. Friday and will have to spend the day at the airport.

Dozens of Air Canada flights have been delayed or cancelled after an unusual number of pilots called in sick Friday.

As of 10:30 a.m., 33 Air Canada flights scheduled to depart from Pearson airport today were listed as cancelled or delayed. Another 61 flights scheduled to arrive in Toronto today were also listed as cancelled or delayed.

Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick said the cancellations resulted from pilots calling in sick. He said passengers should confirm their flights before heading to the airport.

The airline has instituted a policy where customers scheduled to fly Friday can rebook without penalty.

Unlike the wildcat strike by baggage handlers and machinists, which grounded the airline for much of March 23, there appear to be far fewer disruptions today.

Flight arrival and departure information is also available on the Toronto Pearson International Airport website.

Capt. Eddy Doyle, Air Canada’s director of flying operations, had raised concerns that pilots will be booking off sick on Friday when in fact they were fit to fly, according to an internal newsletter from Jean-Marc Belanger of the Air Canada Pilots Association, which represents 3,000 pilots.

Belanger said in the newsletter, sent Thursday, that there was no way to verify these allegations.

However, if they are accurate, “they have not been initiated or sanctioned by ACPA,” he said.

He went on to emphasize that the federal government’s back-to-work legislation prevents any strike or lockout as the contract dispute is to be settled through arbitration. The union has launched a constitutional challenge against the legislation.

Ottawa’s repeated intervention in contract talks at Air Canada, which has blocked scheduled strikes and a lockout of pilots, has angered employees.

Baggage handlers and other machinists staged a wildcat strike at Pearson international airport on March 23 that created chaos for passengers across the country, resulting in many cancellations.

Pilots are also furious with Air Canada management who have accused two top union officials — Belanger, who is chair of the master executive council, and president Paul Strachan — of making reckless comments about safety after Aveos Fleet Performance, which did maintenance work for Air Canada, ceased operations last month. Both men say they have been threatened with possible dismissal from Air Canada.

In a newsletter sent Tuesday, Belanger writes to pilots that “your response to these threats will influence my ability to continue serving you with any kind of credibility.” He goes on to say: “If you allow this to stand unchallenged, you are signalling that you accept bullying, disrespect and contempt.”

He emphasized that the union would prefer a return to the negotiating table instead of arbitration, though the company has refused.

Belanger urges members to convey that message, and he does not call for any other specific action. He urged pilots to “tell any manager with the good sense to listen that this airline can only succeed with a productive pilot group.”

Also over the March 17-18 weekend, the airline noted a higher than usual number of pilot bookoffs, which combined with foggy weather in Toronto, created delays for travellers.

Original Article
Source: Star
Author: Vanessa Lu

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