Pearson Labour Delays

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An increase in air traffic in the skies over Hamilton. Dozens of flights are cancelled at Pearson Airport because of a labour dispute. A company that handles plane refueling is losing it’s contract with several airlines and the workers are taking action. That action is causing big headaches for travelers.

Brittany Gogo was at Pearson Airport today and reports on the labour dispute, and how passengers are reacting to the change in their schedules.

As of 5 o’clock 185 flights have been cancelled. The Greater Toronto airport authority has been coordinating with air carriers to reduce flights into Pearson to deal with what they call “exceptionally long waits” for passengers on planes.
All air carriers have been encouraged to consider options for fuelling at other airports or at their next destination. Passengers flying out of Pearson today had to pack their patience

“I am not very happy. I am being sent all over the airport to try to get a ticket and I am not getting any sense of anything.”

Many showed up at the airport to find out their flights had been delayed or cancelled, because of a labour dispute between the airlines and their fuelling company.

The job action hit Air Canada the hardest. They use Pearson as its main international hub. Air Canada has waived its fees for travelers who want to make changes to flights affected by the disruption. And they’ve brought in extra staff to help out.

Most of the workers who fuel the planes didn’t show up for both morning and afternoon shifts. Others refused to work overtime.

On October 1st, a refuelling contract changes hands. That means about 300 people will be losing their jobs, and will have to apply for the same type of job at the new employer for lower wages.