Air Transport workers ignored in Airline Restructuring Transition Report

23 February 2001 - Workers and unions ignored in first interim report from the Independent Transition Observer of Airline Restructuring. The head of Canada's largest air transport union wants to know why.

Dave Ritchie, Canadian Vice President of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) represents around 18,500 air transport workers. He says he is "astounded that there is no significant reference to the devastating impact of restructuring on workers and their families," in the report.

Ritchie feels that the report - prepared by Debra Ward, a 'Transition Observer', - released by Transport Minister David Collenette, "insults the integrity of the men and women who have laboured under extreme stress to keep Canada's airlines flying."

"It is not sufficient to say 'the impact on airline employees, will be detailed in upcoming reports' as recorded in this report. Our members and their families face incredible insecurity. Their lives are disrupted ... they know job loss is coming. They deserve better," Ritchie said.

Air Canada has already indicated that more than 2,500 jobs will go.

Ritchie said: "Minister Collenette should tell his 'Transition Observer' to get off the gravy train and visit with workers and their unions to get their view of what restructuring really means.

"Ms Ward managed to find time for all the other stakeholders - the airlines, travel agents, airport councils, big and small business, and provincial and municipal governments. Minister Collenette would do well to explain to Ms Ward the key role played by this union and its members in eventually putting in place the kinds of worker protection agreements which allowed the process to go forward. It's a most unsatisfactory report on an agonizing and disruptive process. We expect much more discriminating attention and treatment."

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