‘The head of Air Canada’s flight attendant’s union will be in jail by the weekend’ to 70% probability.
Earlier I shared that Air Canada’s flight attendants union was defying a government order not to strike. I outlined the legal ramnifications of this – for the union, union leaders, and flight attendants themselves.
Bottom-line is it seemed like the union could face significant liability to Air Canada, as well as government fines. Union leaders themselves were likely to face personal liability. But flight attendants – while under the letter of the law in potential jeopardy – seemed unlikely to face repercussions for striking in the vast majority of cases.
A reader that has worked as an advisor to the current Canadian government, who prefers to remain anonymous, shares:
CUPE is nuts. The leadership is definitely willing to go to jail.
Given how large Canada is – 6 (well 5.5) time zones compared with the only 4 time zones in the continental US – and how dominant Air Canada is in air travel, the company borders on an essential service. There was a lot of sympathy for the FAs over unpaid work when the strike began but that is evaporating as air travel grinds to a halt. Defying a lawful back to work order makes that sympathy go away even quicker.
Mark Carney is a smart guy and would have drawn out the game tree before making this decision. He knew that he might have to jail the head of CUPE, Mark Hancock, before deciding to invoke section 107 and the news conference that Hancock just held didn’t make the union look good. So I bet (p = 0.7) that Hancock is in jail by the weekend.
There is no chance of widespread jail time for individual FAs. Women in their 20s making around minimum wage are very sympathetic but that doesn’t apply to the union leadership.
He goes on to add that he had to get a ticket to fly to Ottawa this week. He had 100,000 Delta SkyMiles sitting in an account for eight years. Fortunately they do not expire! He redemed them to fly WestJet even as capacity has become scarce in Canada due to the strike.
Pretty hyperbolic, Gary. Maybe VFTW really is more like National Enquirer!
@Tim Dunn — See, AC/Star Alliance’s woes are Delta/Westjet/SkyTeam’s wins. Huzzah for Tim! @MaxPower, what say ye?!
“‘The head of Air Canada’s flight attendant’s union will be in jail by the weekend’ to 70% probability”
Okay. And? So Carney can run the numbers but the union leadership can’t? Tell me you know nothing about labor history without telling me.
@Total — Not to mention, if he’s a decent leader, he would probably be willing to ‘go to jail’ AND pay ‘fines’ in order to support his union and its members. Like, that’s not the ‘threat’ they think that is…
He wants jail…..then give him what he wants.
@CHRIS — He wants to win for his members; if that means going to jail for them, then he’ll prefer to do that. Once again, it’s not the deterrent you think it is. This is how rights are won. Not by giving-in to oligarchs, greedy corporations, or corrupt politicians.
The advisor fails to determine that Canadian public can sour very quickly on Carney. He has a thin minority government. This Canadian already wants to vote carney out.
The ”advisor” is just that. Paid to make anonymous emails to spur public opinion with this blog. If he was really smart and ethical. He wouldn’t be anonymous.
@1990 VFTW has been a bit click baity in the last couple of weeks.
Did Gary hire a new writer?
Don’t forget to freeze all the union members bank accounts For willfully defying the government. Recent history show what happens to groups defying government orders
@Isaac — I’ve said before, this ain’t the Associated Press… Gary can do whatever he wants here.
@IsaacM — Eh, it’s not thaaat different… *wink*
@Jojo — Remember that next time you get a speeding or parking ticket… and we’ll call you ‘an illegal’ too… oh wait, none of that makes any sense.
While Americans will be more familiar with the 8th Amendment of our Constitution; in Canada, the protection against cruel and unusual punishment is enshrined in Section 12 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
@1990: Only posting because you’re 6 of 11 comments on this subject and I felt 50% was enough.
I dunno about Canadians, but I’d have as much sympathy for the strikers defying a lawful order as I had for air traffic controllers refusing to go back to work in the US 40+ years ago. They were all fired and barred from working any government job ever again (subsequently lifted years later)
I’m wondering how many FA’s can be fired , arrested, and permanently barred from their positions b4 the union agrees to comply with the law , without permanently damaging air travel.
The government needs to play whatever version of hardball is necessary here, after giving notice what is going to happen…if the employees don’t return to work.
1990,
glad SkyMiles bailed this guy out in Canada.
I am totally rooting for AC’s employees – and not because of any economic reasons but because Canada has been way too heavy-handed in not allowing people to speak.
I don’t think AC knew what was hitting them.
The Canadian people support AC’s FAs.
and, yes, 1990, DL is benefitting. I am sure other carriers are too but having hubs in SEA and DTW are exactly what is needed for DL to bail out AC. And I would suspect that DL is getting cash for its added bookings while UA is picking up tickets that AC is signing over to UA.
@loungeabuser — All are welcome; besides, more engagement is probably good for the site anyway. Like, there’s no stated limit (one comment, or else!)
Anyway, I’ll add you to the ‘screw the workers’ camp. Got it. Next!
Speaking of lounges, are you one of those ‘stuff extra food in your bag’ types? When I see ‘lounge abuser,’ I hope that’s what you meant (and not like ‘assault,’ or something.)
The Canadian people don’t support the norm violating, refusal to follow the law attitude of CUPE. Plus AC service is normally below average and borders on surly so there isn’t much pent up goodwill. F around and Find out