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Markham?s Trevor Jones was among thousands of travellers who missed flights and had their day ruined at Pearson International and other Canadian airports due to a 12-hour wildcat strike by more than 100 Air Canada ground workers.
A disappointed Jones, 50, was travelling on Friday to Cleveland to be best man at a friend?s wedding.
?I have the wedding ring with me but it doesn?t look like I?m getting on a plane,? Jones said. ?The wedding is today and I am in this huge line trying to get a flight.?
The striking members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers ?occupied? a section of Terminal 1 at the Toronto airpot on Friday, waving large union banners inside the building.
A few union activists booed as their leaders read an arbitrator?s decision calling for them to return to work on Friday or each face a fine of $1,000 a day, or even criminal charges.
The workers began the wildcat walkout at 10 p.m. Thursday in support of three colleagues who they claimed had their security passes removed by officials and sent home after allegedly heckling Labour Minister Lisa Raitt, who had arrived on a flight at the terminal.
Earlier this month, Raitt intervened in Air Canada?s contract disputes with pilots and machinists and the federal government passed legislation to prevent a lockout or strike.
The walkout, that ended shortly around 10 a.m. on Friday, led to some members screaming at union official Chuck Atkinson, who told them the suspended workers can return to work but face a 72-hour suspension.
The disruption led to the cancellation of more than 200 Air Canada flights in Toronto and Montreal, Quebec City and Vancouver, where workers also walked of the job in a show of solidarity. Most of the airline?s flights in North America were affected.
MP Tony Clement, Treaury Board president, wasn?t pleased by the delays and said he would be flying WestJet.
?I think anybody who uses illegal job action to make their point is actually hurting their own cause,? he told QMI Agency. ?I?m sorry but you don?t have the right to illegally walk off the job and wildcat.?
When striking workers followed him through Pearson on Friday, shouting things such as, ?We live in a democracy, Tony,? he bluntly retorted: ?See you guys on WestJet.?
Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick said the airline managed to obtain an injunction against the striking workers and expects the ?unions will obey the law.?
Air Canada has promised to waive fees for anyone who has to change their flight and is encouraging passengers to check AirCanada.com or call 1-888-247-2262 to check the status of their flights.
- with files from Sheena Goodyear
What do you think about Air Canada?
Source: http://www.calgarysun.com/2012/03/22/air-canada-crews-walk-off-the-job
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