Flight Attendant Strike as early as Sept 21
Sep 15, 2011, 9:15 am
#62
Join Date: Sep 2011
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Sep 15, 2011, 9:32 am
#63
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: YEG
Posts: 3,717
But then again, I guess it is like alot of our Canadian airport codes.... some make sence, some seem as random as the socks i'm wearing!
Sep 15, 2011, 9:38 am
#64
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC QR WS*P
Posts: 372
Canadian airport codes, don't get me started...
Last edited by kelapstick; Sep 15, 2011 at 9:39 am Reason: I have poor grammar
Sep 15, 2011, 10:10 am
#65
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: YYC
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Posts: 3,008
I doubt it.... Ground agents are easy to train, alot less responsibility, and can work with reduced numbers. I mean, you don't need 2 gate agents if you actualy start boarding a few minutes earlyer, and dont do stand bys and upgrades etc. If you warn people to travel light and that baggage lines will be super long, and reduce the front staff, fine. If you tell people to buy tickets online, etc etc. The number of FA's per aircraft type is regulated, and they cannot cut corners here. And these people need to be trained on the saftey features of these aircraft and what to do in the event of a multitude of different emergencies.... If the FA's strike, it deff won't be as smooth as the last strike.... However, contracting alot of flights thru the staralliance (LH, LX to europe) (SQ to asia), CO/US/UA to the states, and getting all of Chorus (JAZZ's) planes up in the air and replacing E75s/E90s with CRJs/CRAs, doing the best they can on the bigger runs (yyz-yvr) etc, and perhalps cansel flights that leave every hour or so and combine 2 of them on a widebodie with minimum staff, they have options!
Of course, there may be a last minute settlement cause all those options will cost AC alot of cash!
Of course, there may be a last minute settlement cause all those options will cost AC alot of cash!
The 5-7 days training gets the basics of customer service plus all the safety training and safety exams completed.
Robert Crandell got into a fight with AFA in mid 90s, he had AA back to full schedule in about 10 days after the strike began. At 10 days Clinton ended the strike, forced the AFA back to work and imposed a settlement. The back to work order was completed as AA suddenly didn't need to settle with AFA.
The AA strike plus a few others in the mid 90s lead to the CHAOS strike theory in the late 90s. CHAOS (Create Havoc Around Our System) involves the FA Union striking a particular section of the flight system, or a specific city or flight. The idea is to cripple the network, but not shut down the whole system. This was sucessfully utilized at Alaska and few others (UA pilots did something similar in 1999/2000).
In 1985 AC Flight attendants struck from June to early September. They were fully replaced by management and nonunion staff and had a good summer off their regular duties. The airline ran smoothly after the first week of disruption. In the end there are no customer service difference between strike or regular operations.
Sep 15, 2011, 11:47 am
#66
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: YEG
Posts: 3,717
Training a FA takes 5-7 days depending on how many a/c types Management would like each FA to fly. It can be done in 5 days if the FA groups are split amongst the major types (Embraer, Narrowbody Airbus, Widebody).
The 5-7 days training gets the basics of customer service plus all the safety training and safety exams completed.
Robert Crandell got into a fight with AFA in mid 90s, he had AA back to full schedule in about 10 days after the strike began. At 10 days Clinton ended the strike, forced the AFA back to work and imposed a settlement. The back to work order was completed as AA suddenly didn't need to settle with AFA.
The AA strike plus a few others in the mid 90s lead to the CHAOS strike theory in the late 90s. CHAOS (Create Havoc Around Our System) involves the FA Union striking a particular section of the flight system, or a specific city or flight. The idea is to cripple the network, but not shut down the whole system. This was sucessfully utilized at Alaska and few others (UA pilots did something similar in 1999/2000).
In 1985 AC Flight attendants struck from June to early September. They were fully replaced by management and nonunion staff and had a good summer off their regular duties. The airline ran smoothly after the first week of disruption. In the end there are no customer service difference between strike or regular operations.
The 5-7 days training gets the basics of customer service plus all the safety training and safety exams completed.
Robert Crandell got into a fight with AFA in mid 90s, he had AA back to full schedule in about 10 days after the strike began. At 10 days Clinton ended the strike, forced the AFA back to work and imposed a settlement. The back to work order was completed as AA suddenly didn't need to settle with AFA.
The AA strike plus a few others in the mid 90s lead to the CHAOS strike theory in the late 90s. CHAOS (Create Havoc Around Our System) involves the FA Union striking a particular section of the flight system, or a specific city or flight. The idea is to cripple the network, but not shut down the whole system. This was sucessfully utilized at Alaska and few others (UA pilots did something similar in 1999/2000).
In 1985 AC Flight attendants struck from June to early September. They were fully replaced by management and nonunion staff and had a good summer off their regular duties. The airline ran smoothly after the first week of disruption. In the end there are no customer service difference between strike or regular operations.
Sep 15, 2011, 12:50 pm
#68
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: YYC
Posts: 4,035
The BA strikes over the past 2 years have provided a pile of documentation for airlines on how to handle a strike. BA ran a full LH schedule during the last strike and very close to a full SH one, and their network size is massive compared with AC.
What seemed to be the key driver of success was that management/ground crew loved the idea of being an FA for a while. They got to see cities around the world for free, but go back to their day jobs before it become monotonous. So they worked their tails off for the few weeks they flew. Additionally, pax were more willing to forgive the temporary crews when they made a mistake as it was well know that they were doing it for the first time.
The major difference I'm seeing so far (and its a biggie) is that BA came out well in advance and loudly said "WE WILL STILL FLY TO ALL DESTINATIONS, NO MATTER WHAT", which kept many of their passengers loyal and calm. AC on the other hand has merely said "We'll comment closer to the strike", and that's not good enough to convince people its safe to book with you, especially if they 'must' get to their destination.
What seemed to be the key driver of success was that management/ground crew loved the idea of being an FA for a while. They got to see cities around the world for free, but go back to their day jobs before it become monotonous. So they worked their tails off for the few weeks they flew. Additionally, pax were more willing to forgive the temporary crews when they made a mistake as it was well know that they were doing it for the first time.
The major difference I'm seeing so far (and its a biggie) is that BA came out well in advance and loudly said "WE WILL STILL FLY TO ALL DESTINATIONS, NO MATTER WHAT", which kept many of their passengers loyal and calm. AC on the other hand has merely said "We'll comment closer to the strike", and that's not good enough to convince people its safe to book with you, especially if they 'must' get to their destination.
Sep 15, 2011, 12:58 pm
#69
Join Date: Sep 2011
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A different kind of nervous flyer. I am holding full flex biz on Air France for the 22nd as back up for Yyz Cdg on AC. No Star Alliance Routing and try and find a J class ticket to Europe Wed, Thur, Fri of next week.
Sep 15, 2011, 1:00 pm
#70
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Body in Downtown YYZ, heart and mind elsewhere
Programs: UA 50K, refugee from AC E50K, Marriott Lifetime Plat
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The major difference I'm seeing so far (and its a biggie) is that BA came out well in advance and loudly said "WE WILL STILL FLY TO ALL DESTINATIONS, NO MATTER WHAT", which kept many of their passengers loyal and calm. AC on the other hand has merely said "We'll comment closer to the strike", and that's not good enough to convince people its safe to book with you, especially if they 'must' get to their destination.
So we bought 30 round trip tickets on Westjet and Porter. Problem solved.
Sep 15, 2011, 2:25 pm
#71
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Canada
Posts: 881
The BA strikes over the past 2 years have provided a pile of documentation for airlines on how to handle a strike. BA ran a full LH schedule during the last strike and very close to a full SH one, and their network size is massive compared with AC.
What seemed to be the key driver of success was that management/ground crew loved the idea of being an FA for a while..
What seemed to be the key driver of success was that management/ground crew loved the idea of being an FA for a while..
100% of the FAs at AC are represented by one union, and I believe that 100% will strike if a strike is called. Given the damage that even a brief strike would cause to AC, and given the near certainty of back-to-work legislation being enacted, there's good reason for both sides to make a deal.
Sep 15, 2011, 3:41 pm
#72
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Canada
Programs: *G
Posts: 2,304
I keep reading posts doubting that replacement FAs could be trained in time, be they AC staff or others. I think it is a matter of public record that replacement workers are being/have been trained, resulting in CUPE lodging a complaint with the Labour Board. So that is clearly part of the plan.
Having said that, I agree with Spounce that a strike is unlikely or will be very short, particularly since Parliament resumes on Monday - very convenient.
Having said that, I agree with Spounce that a strike is unlikely or will be very short, particularly since Parliament resumes on Monday - very convenient.
Sep 15, 2011, 4:49 pm
#75
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: PHL, NYC, DC
Posts: 9,708
