My ideas in ONE phrase on the Air Canada flight attendant strike and authorities involvement: “WOW!”
As you might have observed, I’ve not posted shortly, or very sporadically up to now 12 months. I truly had no thought once I was going to publish once more. However once I learn that the federal government of Canada determined to step in, it impressed me to write down one thing up. That is going to a be lengthy winded publish, so I’m going to interrupt this up into completely different sections so that you could soar to the related one as a substitute:
- Abstract of the scenario
- Opinion / ideas on the scenario
- Concepts in case you are caught in limbo (i.e. if it’s essential to rebook your flight)
- In case you are stranded on the airport or resort… (learn this)
- Instructed options
In case you can’t sleep tonight as a result of your sophisticated scenario, that is my manner of staying up with you. You could have one thing to learn and be at liberty to share your ideas and expertise with us within the remark part under!
Abstract of the scenario
In case you haven’t heard, as of midnight as we speak, August 16, Air Canada flight attendants have the authorized proper to go on strike, which they did. Many flights have been cancelled. The truth that not each single flight was cancelled prompted a whole lot of confusion and passengers have been left to scramble. Quick ahead to the center of the day, the Authorities of Canada determined to invoke Part 107 of the Canada Labour Code to ship flight attendants again to work. Nevertheless, simply because they’re compelled again to work, doesn’t imply enterprise as traditional instantaneously. There can be some transition time, so passengers proceed to scramble.
Although I gave a short abstract of the scenario, the fact is that each minute and even hour that goes by, the scenario is continually altering. So by the point you learn my ideas under, we’re already behind the information. However right here goes!
Opinion / ideas on the scenario
To begin with, I’m not certain I’m able to choose a facet. There are such a lot of components at play. My ideas on the scenario will bounce forwards and backwards between the 2 sides. The very first thing I need to point out, which I’ll steadily refer again to on this publish, is that as a result of Air Canada is a publically traded firm (i.e. on the inventory alternate), it’s usually a drawback for workers. When an organization has to reply to shareholders and should publish their financially for the world to see, workers typically get the brief finish of the stick. Due to this fact, I believe that Porter Airways stands to realize probably the most from this fiasco and hopefully this can be a lesson that they by no means go public (i.e. be traded on a inventory alternate). Extra on this later.
The rationale why I consider that workers are at a drawback is as a result of being on the inventory alternate is mainly a battle of curiosity with regards to equity to workers. Firms have to squeeze each penny out of bills to maximise income. That being stated, there are a lot of completely different theories on tips on how to make revenue.
For instance, I really consider that glad workers can result in a extra worthwhile enterprise mannequin, as a result of workers who truly care about their job will do a greater job. On this case, if flight attendants are paid extra pretty, they might in all probability provide a greater degree of customer support, which often ends in increased buyer satisfaction, which ought to enhance the underside line. However why can’t the executives of Air Canada see this?
The CEO of Air Canada is getting a whole lot of flake for taking incomes million. How about sharing a few of that with the workers as a substitute? Right here is my sadly tackle the C degree government compensation. The issue is their compensation is definitely publish for the world to see. Which suggests, shareholders are taking a look at it very rigorously. The inventory market can also be very emotionally pushed, which implies if the executives are incomes a excessive compensation, it provides the shareholders extra confidence. Think about if their executives needed to reduce their compensation as a result of monetary troubles? The inventory would tank. Therein lies the battle of curiosity with its workers…
Again to my ideas on Porter Airways, I actually hope that they by no means commerce publicly. They’ve a possibility proper now to take over an enormous market share. They’ve a possibility to deal with their workers proper. And so they don’t should pay huge salaries and bonuses to their executives to make the corporate “look good”. They actually simply should do their job and provide an important product, with glad workers, and they are going to be handed purchasers on a silver platter at this level. To a lesser extent, this could profit different Canadian airways too, if they will seize among the market share.
On a facet be aware, WestJet has had its share of issues in current months and years, however this actually is a golden alternative to get their issues collectively quick, to allow them to additionally take a share of the pie. For them as properly, hopefully we don’t see them go on the inventory alternate, that might truly be a catastrophe for them once they begin squeezing their workers much more.
Concepts in case you are caught in limbo
These of you who doesn’t need nor want to listen to my ideas. Listed here are some fast concepts on what you are able to do in case you are in a tough scenario along with your present Air Canada flight.
- Be proactive. I can’t emphasis this extra. Create choices for your self/yourselves. Don’t wait for somebody to inform you what choices you’ve gotten. Begin researching, making calls, journey insurance coverage choices, Air Canada App, and so on.
- For instance, in case you are anticipating Air Canada to rebook you, analysis choices your self as properly so you’ve gotten one thing to current to them to hurry issues up. Don’t wait on an Air Canada agent to do the analysis for you.
- Get on the cellphone, along with your journey agent, with Air Canada, with whoever you’re feeling it’s essential to collect info and create choices.
- Journey insurance coverage has been a difficult one as most firms don’t cowl strike. However there could be one other clause in there that may cowl not less than a part of your scenario. It won’t cowl all the pieces, however take no matter you will get. Mainly, don’t spend an excessive amount of time on what just isn’t coated, and give attention to studying the advantageous print to see what IS coated, so hopefully you will get one thing from there.
- The Air Canada App has choices. Lots of people are saying that if you happen to cancel your flight and get a full refund from Air Canada, you should have no recourse from them anymore. In some circumstances, it would make sense to only do it and have the peace of thoughts. For instance, you probably have a visit that isn’t truly obligatory, and you will get a full refund and no out of pocket, in some unspecified time in the future, you would possibly as properly simply take it and internet zero. This solely applies to individuals who would not have to make various preparations.
- When you have no alternative however to fly, then you definately higher begin working at creating choices, and pushing each recourse you presumably have.
- Keep in mind, Air Canada is a publically traded firm, so they’re doing all the pieces of their energy to keep away from further compensation. They are going to consider that their greatest provide is a full refund and nothing extra. So you’ll have to flight for each penny greater than that. And even when your flight was as we speak, the battle for compensation can go on for weeks and even months after this has blown over. Air Canada will drag their ft until you hand over.
- I’m undecided how a lot the workers on the cellphone and on the gate can truly provide in that second. They might verbally give you one thing, not put in writing, after which you must go chase after it in a while. Their hope is that you’ll let it go as they attempt to drag out further compensation indefinitely.
Personally, if I can get out of this internet zero, as in, I hand over my journey fully, get my full refund whereby I’ve no out of pocket, I can be fairly glad about it. Peace of thoughts is value lots to me, so I’d truly go away one thing on the desk. But when I completely should fly, then I’d attempt to battle for compensation. However I additionally know that it’s not going to be a straightforward battle and would must be very proactive. So be able to be affected person if that’s the route you’re taking.
My subsequent journey with Air Canada is a few months away. I hope that this doesn’t drag out this far. If it does, possibly you will note one other publish from me!
In case you are stranded, on the airport or resort…
This part was going to be just a little extra enjoyable. However let’s get the intense half coated first.
That is for these of you caught at your resort or higher but, have a household or buddy you can stick with. In case you are hesitating to move to the airport and have choices, then I recommend you keep put if doable and let issues blow over. I perceive that staying put would require the monetary and time flexibility, so this solely applies if you happen to afford to do it. Staying away from the airport is a courtesy you can give to different passengers who should fly extra urgently. It provides them extra choices to work with.
Take a look at this on the brilliant facet. Deal with this like an prolonged trip. On this case, attempt to take the peace of thoughts choices if you will get a full refund (see above part: Concepts in case you are caught in limbo). In case you can wait it out, you would possibly even have the ability to discover a cheaper flight (with a unique airline) in a while. This could require a whole lot of flexibility.
When you have no alternative however have to fly out of urgency, the reality is, you’re higher off on the airport making an attempt to create choices for your self. The brokers on the airport have extra discretionary powers than the brokers over the cellphone. To not point out having the ability to discuss to different airways in particular person if it’s essential to fly with a unique airline. It’s simply simpler to create choices if you end up on the airport along with your baggage. There’s clearly a danger to this feature as you could be stranded on the airport, so this is applicable for individuals who should journey urgently. In any other case, higher to remain again and wait it out a bit.
Again to my enjoyable ideas on this part. These are instances when having lounge entry is greatest. Hopefully lounges are extra lenient on letting you in earlier so that you could loosen up a bit. Use the lounge brokers that can assist you create choices as properly (as talked about within the part: Concepts in case you are caught in limbo). Kick your ft up, learn posts from boards and bloggers, write a remark under, eat some meals and get some work carried out!
Instructed options
In case you ask me, my easy answer can be for Air Canada delist from the inventory alternate and go non-public. That may take away a lot of the battle of curiosity that exists. Since that is in all probability not a sensible choice, listed here are my practical ideas.
On the one hand, I do consider that Air Canada flight attendants are underpaid for his or her work. Then again, Air Canada has shareholders to reply to, so there may be solely a lot give and take that’s going to occur.
So right here is my instructed compromise. I believe that flight attendants ought to be paid hourly, based mostly on once they embark and disembark the aircraft. The time on the airport sadly goes to be the compromise time. My thought is that their essential work begins once they board the aircraft, i.e. displaying as much as their office. For certain there may be time outdoors the aircraft the place they should do some minor issues, however that’s sadly their contribution to the shareholders for being a publically traded firm. By way of their hourly wage, that is going to be a more durable promote (to shareholders) on how a lot to extend the speed. My hope is that them being compensated once they board the aircraft, it’s going to enhance their compensation total, and if the flight is delayed, they might be paid for that delay. Nevertheless, as a compromise, there may be solely a restricted quantity of share enhance on the hourly fee that may be negotiated.
Both manner, hopefully they finally come to an settlement. The fact is, as a result of they’re publically traded, their is barely a lot negotiating energy they’ve. So I actually do want they might get delisted from the inventory alternate in order that they will run a greater airline privately.
