Air Canada gets ready for Monday strike

TORONTO - Air Canada is making contingency plans to deal with a strike that could hit as early as Monday by 3,800 customer sales and service agents nationwide.

More than 300 noisy members of the Canadian Auto Workers marched through Terminal 1 at Pearson airport shortly after lunch on Thursday in a rally over contract talks with the airline.

The union members with placards in hand and yelling slogans took many passengers by surprise as they wound through the terminal.

There were no flight or vehicle delays as a result of the rally.

Talks are taking place behind closed doors. The union issued a 72-hour notice of possible job action Monday at 11:59 p.m.

Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzgerald said even though the union has set a strike deadline for Monday, “it will be business as normal at the airport ... we have contingency plans in place.”

Travellers can still book flights and should monitor the news for updates, he said.

CAW spokesman Shannon Devine said similar rallies were also held in Vancouver and Montreal.

“The major sticking point is the issue of employee pension,” Devine said. “Our workers stood by the airline when they went through a very difficult time.”

Other issues include increased wages and improved work conditions, she said.

John Cartridge, of Toronto and York Region Labour Council, said his organization is standing behind the workers.

“We are here to support Air Canada’s workers today and tomorrow,” Cartridge said to cheers.

Sid Ryan, of the Ontario Federation of Labour, said Air Canada is “attacking the pension plan and that has created a big dispute.”

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