Car rental staff at Hertz vote for strike

Over the past year there have been many companies that have suffered due to staff taking industrial action mainly due to pay and conditions. So far this we have seen the likes of postal strikes, airline strikes, rail strikes and many more, but the latest strike action is to take place in the rental car sector after staff at Hertz in Vancouver voted unanimously for industrial action against their employer.

If talks continue to go the way they have been people arriving in Vancouver may well see themselves without a car through Hertz. There is only 70 days left until the Winter Olympics is held in the city and possible strike action by Hertz staff could not come at a worse time. A spokesman for the union representing the staff, Andy Ross of Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union Local 378, said that they will give the company 72-hours notice before industrial action and this could happen as early as the middle of January.

This is the third announcement of possible strike action that could affect holiday travellers and Olympic travellers early next year. Workers at Pacific Coach Lines (PCL) voted 91 per cent in-favour last Friday of strike action which could happen within the next 90-days. PCL will operate a shuttle bus service during the Winter Olympics that will ferry people to and from Vancouver International Airport from Victoria.

Baggage handlers have also voted by 94 per cent to strike last Saturday as their talk also hit a brick wall with employers Swissport. This will affect luggage for WestJet and Continental Airlines passengers.