MONTREAL—Air Canada workers are staging a noisy rally to denounce the federal government.Gathered outside Montreal’s Trudeau airport, a few dozen workers are chanting, in reference to the federal labour minister, “Lisa Raitt, you’re not right.”
They are blowing whistles and plastic horns to protest the government’s decision to prevent them from going on strike.
To ensure things continue working smoothly at the airport, there is increased security; the employees are being confined to a small area just outside the departures area, and they’re surrounded by orange traffic cones.
The workers are upset that the Harper Tories have intervened several times in labour disputes, therefore weakening the position of employees as they negotiate new contracts. The Harper government says it’s just protecting the economy.
Marcel St-Jean, a union spokesman, says workers are frustrated, but they have no plan to disrupt operations and upset air travelers.
He says the protesters want to tell the government that it is anti-democratic.
St-Jean says the workers have a right to negotiate a fair collective agreement but he won’t say what other actions are planned. The Montreal rally is expected to last until noon. A similar demonstration is planned this afternoon at Pearson International Airport in Toronto.
Original Article
Source: Star
Author: The Canadian Press
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