IAM News Releases - Air Transport workers ignored in Airline Restructuring Transition Report

Air Transport workers ignored in Airline Restructuring Transition Report

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TORONTO – Workers and their unions are ignored in the first interim report from the Independent Transition Observer of Airline Restructuring, and the head of Canada’s largest air transport union wants to know why.

Dave Ritchie, Canadian Vice President of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) representing some 18,500 air transport workers says he is “astounded that there is no significant reference to the devastating impact of restructuring on workers and their families,” in the report.

The report prepared by Debra Ward, a ‘Transition Observer’, and released Thursday by Transport Minister David Collenette, “insults the integrity of the men and women who have laboured under extreme stress to keep Canada’s airlines flying,” says Ritchie.

“It is not sufficient to say ‘the impact on airline employees, will be detailed in upcoming reports’ as recorded in this report. Our members and their families face incredible insecurity. Their lives are disrupted ... they know job loss is coming. They deserve better,” Ritchie said.

Air Canada already has said more than 2,500 jobs are to be lost.

Ritchie said: “Minister Collenette should tell his ‘Transition Observer’ to get off the gravy train and visit with workers and their unions to get their view of what restructuring really means.

“ Ms Ward managed to find time for all the other stakeholders – the airlines, travel agents, airport councils, big and small business, and provincial and municipal governments. Minister Collenette would do well to explain to Ms Ward the key role played by this union and its members in eventually putting in place the kinds of worker protection agreements which allowed the process to go forward. It’s a most unsatisfactory report on an agonizing and disruptive process. We expect much more discriminating attention and treatment.”

-30-

CONTACT: Dave Ritchie (416) 386-1789
(416) 727-0121

Louis Erlichman ( 416) 386-1789
(416) 405-9718

SOURCE: Neville Hamilton (613) 731-6316
(613) 795-1074

Press Releases 2001

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Air Transport workers ignored in Airline Restructuring Transition Report
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TORONTO – Workers and their unions are ignored in the first interim report from the Independent Transition Observer of Airline Restructuring, and the head of Canada’s largest air transport union wants to know why. Dave Ritchie, Canadian Vice President of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) representing some 18,500 air transport workers says he is “astounded that there is no significant reference to the devastating impact of restructuring on workers and their families,” in the report. The report prepared by Debra Ward, a ‘Transition Observer’, and released Thursday by Transport Minister David Collenette, “insults the integrity of the men and women who have laboured under extreme stress to keep Canada’s airlines flying,” says Ritchie. “It is not sufficient to say ‘the impact on airline employees, will be detailed in upcoming reports’ as recorded in this report. Our members and their families face incredible insecurity. Their lives are disrupted ... they know job loss is coming. They deserve better,” Ritchie said. Air Canada already has said more than 2,500 jobs are to be lost. Ritchie said: “Minister Collenette should tell his ‘Transition Observer’ to get off the gravy train and visit with workers and their unions to get their view of what restructuring really means. “ Ms Ward managed to find time for all the other stakeholders – the airlines, travel agents, airport councils, big and small business, and provincial and municipal governments. Minister Collenette would do well to explain to Ms Ward the key role played by this union and its members in eventually putting in place the kinds of worker protection agreements which allowed the process to go forward. It’s a most unsatisfactory report on an agonizing and disruptive process. We expect much more discriminating attention and treatment.” -30- CONTACT: Dave Ritchie (416) 386-1789 (416) 727-0121 Louis Erlichman ( 416) 386-1789 (416) 405-9718 SOURCE: Neville Hamilton (613) 731-6316 (613) 795-1074 Press Releases 2001