Hundreds Rally For Flight Attendents
An estimated 300 people turned out during the noon hour on July 28 to support the Winnipeg based flight attendants that Air Canada plans to lay off. The Winnipeg rally, one of a number held in various cities across Canada, took place in front of the Air Canada building in down town Winnipeg.
A number of labour and political leaders spoke out in support of the flight attendants. MFL President Darlene Dziewit pointed out that while Air Canada claimed closing the Winnipeg Flight Attendant Base was necessary for economic reasons, the Chairman of Air Canada certainly wasn't tightening his belt.
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"Last year Robert Milton earned a $1.2 million salary, a bonus of $3.9 million and $11.2 million in stock option gains from Air Canada. He posted $23.1 million in option gains since ACE was created in October 2004, after Air Canada exited bankruptcy protection. Not too shabby.
"Well I have a message for Robert Milton: Air Canada's problems weren't caused by its unionized employees. They are not the ones who made the decisions here. They are not the ones to blame. Maybe Air Canada's Executive Class needs to look into a mirror to see where Air Canada's problems lie. If layoffs are needed gentlemen, I suggest you begin, with those who have failed, starting at the top - with yourselves."
Manitoba Premier Doer said in his remarks that eliminating Winnipeg based flight attendants makes no sense, especially when a new, much larger Winnipeg Airport is currently under construction.
Winnipeg is also the only major Canadian airport which has the facilities to operate on a 24-hour a day basis. Winnipeg workers should continue to be able to work and raise their families here, said Premier Doer.
Paul Moist, CUPE National President, said that layoffs were not yet a given. CUPE, he said would continue the fight to protect their members.
Member of Parliament Bill Blaikie called the flight attendants his friends. After all his years of travel to and from Ottawa, he said, he had gotten to know and respect the attendants, who are ambassadors for Manitoba. Blaikie also said that if Air Canada was still a public corporation, it could be held accountable for its actions in the House of Commons.