Tag: strikes View All Tags

Boeing Pushes Back Dreamliner Deliveries Yet Again

November 5, 2008 at 8:00 AM | 0 Comments

We're about to stop handicapping the odds that Boeing will ever get these 787s built: A spokeswoman told aviation blog FleetBuzz that thanks to a crippling machinists strike, the Dreamliner won't be making its first flight before the end of 2008 as previously planned. That means it's almost certain that deliveries to carriers like ANA and Japan Airlines won't happen until 2010.

Here's what Boeing had to say:

First flight of the 787 Dreamliner will not be accomplished in the fourth quarter of 2008. The timeframe for first flight has not been established and will be based on the strike recovery assessment. The program is working to determine a new program schedule that will be announced when it is finalized.

Adding to the trouble are newly discovered quality control issues with fasteners, the variety of dodads that hold the plane together. Needless to say, you can't make test flights when you're worried that the plane isn't bolted together right!

Related Stories:
· Boeing 787 First Flight Delayed [FleetBuzz]
· Boeing 787 Schedule Pushed Back Again [USA Today]
· Could the Dreamliner Be Flying by 2009? [Jaunted]

Could the Dreamliner Be Flying by 2009?

October 28, 2008 at 2:45 PM | 0 Comments

A tentative deal has been made between Boeing and its machinists union, which could end the nearly two-month-long strike that's halted production at its Everett, Washington factory. It's likely that the union will vote to approve the deal, which promises a 15 percent raise over four years and protects union jobs.

Once a deal is done, workers can get back to rolling out airplanes, in particular the 777, which new airline V Australia is anxiously awaiting after pushing back its launch date because of the strike. Meanwhile, ANA, the launch customer for the much-anticipated 787, was planning for deliveries this winter, but after countless delays already, that seems about as likely as Ted Stevens turning down a Bridge to Nowhere.

Boeing currently says the fuel efficient Dreamliner will debut by the end of 2009, but at least one supplier says 2010 is more likely. And that's just the first plane: More than 900 have been ordered, and the company will only be able to make a few 787s a month until at least 2012.

Related Stories:
· Tentative Deal Reached in Boeing Strike [Seattle P-I]
· Goodrich Says Boeing's 787 May Be Delayed [Bloomberg]
· Boeing Says More Delays Probable [Reuters]
· Boeing coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Wikipedia]

Lufthansa Strike Not Noticed Yet

July 28, 2008 at 9:00 AM | 0 Comments

When is an airline strike not an airline strike? When nearly 100 percent of your flights take off on time despite it.

Germany's national carrier Lufthansa apparently has some 52,000 union members who've agreed to strike over a pay rise. Since 10 pm last night strike action has been in place at Frankfurt and Hamburg airports, but according to reports, so far nearly all flights have left on time.

But the strike doesn't actually have an endpoint yet so some are predicting that things will get worse. Fears that Olympic athletes might have their flights to Beijing disrupted have, of course, really tugged at the heartstrings of German sports fans. Double-check your flights if you're booked on Lufthansa in the next few days or you might be bumped for a German volleyballer.

Related Stories:
· Lufthansa Votes for 1st Strike in 13 Years [Reuters]
· Lufthansa Says Flights Not Hit By Strike [Reuters]
· Lufthansa coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: nasebaer]

Strike Travel: Malta Stopped Dead by Protests

July 15, 2008 at 9:31 AM | 0 Comments

It may be a small island, but even the country of Malta requires trains and buses to cart its residents around. But not this week: Drivers of vehicles large and small are striking in protest of a government effort to offer more licenses for hearses.

The Federation for Public Transport authorized the strike after the government announced it would try to break what it described as a hearse monopoly--the business of the dead is practiced by just 11 licensees island-wide. The strike has led to the rise of "black taxis" (profit-motivated uncertified cabdrivers), but after an emergency bus service driven by armed forces was hijacked by transit workers, tourists are finding themselves on surprise walking vacations.

Also to be stretching their legs: the hundreds of students arriving for a Catholic schools' association athletic games on Saturday. But will strike lines part for the Pope?

Related Stories:
· Strikes coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Times of Malta]

Strike One for Train Travel in Europe

May 20, 2008 at 9:00 AM | 1 Comment

Just when we were thinking we would skip all those cheap flights and take trains across Europe instead, the rail workers have started going on strike.

Today, getting from Britain to Belgium and beyond by train will be impossible as Belgian rail workers strike for 24 hours--putting Eurostar services through the Channel Tunnel out of action. From Wednesday night, French rail workers are having their turn, and although this probably won't affect Eurostar routes, any other trains around France on Thursday and Friday are likely to be delayed or canceled.

The Belgian workers are striking because they want more pay; in France, airline workers are likely to join in, too, and they're worried about pension reforms. We're just worried about your travel plans.

Related Stories:
· European Strike Hits Travelers [BBC]
· Strikes Coverage [Jaunted]
· Train Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: lazytom]

Adventures of Link: More Strikes in '08

December 26, 2007 at 5:17 PM | 0 Comments


Think this is bad?

We're now less than two weeks away from a massive strike that could affect more than a million passengers at seven UK airports. Workers are upset about pension rules, and plan to walk out for 24 hours on January 7 and again on January 14. If that doesn't work, they'll strike for 48 hours beginning January 17.

Now, we're not sure that the strike will happen--the last one we heard about didn't--but if you're flying one of those days, you'd better call up your airline to ask about what might happen. That goes double if you're flying Virgin Atlantic: Cabin crews for the airline are planning two strikes of their own in January.

Related Stories:
· Strike May Close Airports [IHT]
· Strike Talks Set to Begin [BBC]
· Non-Union Workers Getting Security Training [Telegraph]
· Airport Strike Is "Imminent" [Passenger Terminal Today]
· Strikes coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: PDAgrl]

SFO Food Workers Threatening Strike

December 19, 2007 at 10:00 AM | 0 Comments


About to get more popular...

Hundreds of food service workers at San Francisco International have authorized a two-day strike if their demands for more pay and better benefits aren't met. That would mean no dry turkey sandwiches and no wilted caesar salads for the hundreds of thousands of travelers who would land at SFO during the potential work stoppage.

All 48 of the restaurants, bars and other food service outlets at the airport would shut down if a strike is called. Negotiations continue today and tomorrow, so workers likely won't walk out before the weekend, if at all.

We don't normally buy food at the airport, but a long delay--always a possibility at SFO--could quickly put a dent in our stash of trail mix. What could possibly make waiting out bad weather at the airport worse than no food? No bars!

Related Stories:
· Food Worker Strike Could Hit Traveler Bellies at SFO [Inside Bay Area]
· Food Workers Planning a Strike [Gridskipper]
· Airport Hell coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: matsuda.yukihiro]

Strike Up the Shows

November 29, 2007 at 10:30 AM | 1 Comment

The 19-day Broadway walkout is over, and once again you're free to spend beaucoup bucks on big-ticket theater. We're happy to see the strike end, though it did inject a bit of drama into the holidays in New York.

(Okay, technically, the dispute isn't over, as stagehands still have to ratify their new contract with producers. But at this point, it's almost a certainty that union members will approve the deal.)

Almost all the shows on the White Way will play tonight--so hit the TKTS booth ASAP for the best selection of discount admission. While not every production will be ready to re-open this evening, two theaters are taking advantage of eager audience members: "August: Osage County," a show from Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre which was in previews when the strike began, goes up tonight with a new official opening date of December 4. And the evergreen musical "Chicago" has $26.50 tickets for the entire house (and the debuts of Aida Tuturro and Vincent Pastore) at its box office.

And remember, just because the banner shows are back doesn't mean that New York's off-Broadway and alternative theater has vanished. If theater's your thing, give the little guys a chance, too.

With help from egw.

Related Stories:
· TKTS [Official Site]
· Broadway Strike News Just Might Save Christmas [Jaunted]
· Broadway Shows coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: midweekpost]

Broadway Strike News Just Might Save Christmas

November 26, 2007 at 11:00 AM | 0 Comments

This Thanksgiving, most Broadway shows stayed dark due to the ongoing stagehands' strike, though the long weekend is typically one of the biggest of the year for New York theater receipts. Maybe the dreams of Thanksgiving Past--represented by a small child clutching a $20 color program and a hot pretzel--visited both sides, because two important developments may mean the return of Broadway before the cash-cow holiday season.

First, and most flashily, one closed show was allowed to re-open on Friday. "How The Grinch Stole Christmas: The Musical" was the first show affected by the strike as it's been packing in extra shows just for the holiday season. The show appealed to the state Supreme Court, claiming it had its own agreement with the union (like some other still-open shows like "Mary Poppins" and "Xanadu") and was allowed to raise the curtain in time for the weekend.

Depending on where you stand on the strike, Dr. Seuss' greedy green creature may be emblematic of either side of this dispute. Both the producers and Local 1 went back into the negotiating room yesterday, hoping to stem the tide of losses which are estimated at $2 million per week. Nothing was resolved as talks went into the wee hours last night--but negotiations will resume tonight at 6:30.

We're hoping that the strike ends soon--not that we're buying those $100 tickets--because Broadway really does need it. But will the producers and Local 1 fall in line behind their Grinchy comerades?

Related Stories:
· Organized Labor Travel: Strike Shutters Broadway [Jaunted]
· Adventures of Link: Forget Broadway [Jaunted]

[Photo: jwilly]

Adventures of Link: Forget Broadway

November 13, 2007 at 4:45 PM | 0 Comments

The Broadway stagehand's strike is still on, and no one knows when the stare down might end. Judging by the interviews with tourists in the local New York media, you'd think there's not a damn thing to do in the city except see a big-ticket show.

But to us Broadway shows aren't usually worth it anyway. All you'll find in the Theater District are triple digit prices, swarms of clueless tourists clogging the streets and tired shows. (Honestly, Mamma Mia?!) Elsewhere in the city, the art of theater is moving forward with smaller, better productions with equivalent talent says noted producer Ken Davenport:

Spring Awakening, Avenue Q, Rent. All of those shows began their life off Broadway... Work stoppages aren't good for anyone, but for the moment the little brother is getting some attention.

So get out there and try something new. That's why you're traveling in the first place, isn't it?

Related Stories:
· Off-Broadway Shows Buoyed by Strike [NPR]
· Off-Broadway Biz Booms During Stalemate [AP, via Google]
· Broadway Strike Survival Guide [NYT's ArtsBeat]
· Ask Your Concierge for Theater Alternatives [HotelChatter]
· New York Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: masck]

Sports Travel: At Least The NBA Isn't Striking

November 13, 2007 at 8:45 AM | 0 Comments

It hasn't been a great week and a half for entertainment in America, between Broadway going dark and the Writers' Guild strike which threatens to put an early end to the 2007-2008 TV season. No matter which side you're on, sometimes you have to get away from the madness--like "Grey's Anatomy" star Ellen Pompeo, who was recently spotted on the WGA picket lines in L.A. along with fellow TV-doctors T.R. Knight and Katharine Heigl. Since there was no picket on Sunday, Pompeo caught a Knicks game with her fiance and was seated next to singer John Mayer (yes, with the Harry Potter glasses!) and his new girlfriend, "Friday Night Lights" star Minka Kelly.

Let's face it, if television is going to be reduced to season after season of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians", we're going to become huge NBA fans too. Spot your favorite stars on the picket lines today at New York's Battery Park or at one of several locations in Hollywood.

Related Stories:
· John and Minka Take In A Game [Faded Youth Blog]
· Jessica Simpson and John Mayer Show Us How To Do NYE in NYC [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Faded Youth Blog]

Organized Labor Travel: Strike Shutters Broadway

November 12, 2007 at 11:00 AM | 1 Comment

Visitors to New York will only a few Broadway shows thanks to a stagehands' strike, and tickets to the few productions still running are super-pricey. The dispute over work rules has shuttered 27 shows, and tourists from all over are juggling their plans, many of which centered around a trip to the Great White Way.

While locals and tourists alike expected the strike to be a short one, it now seems it could drag on interminably. The stagehands are settling in with buckets of hot coffee, and actors and other Broadway types are showing support. David Hyde Pierce, who's playing in Curtains now that Fraiser is finally off the air, is out on the streets with the stagehands even though the strike is keeping him and his fellow actors in the dark.

We don't have to tell you that we have plenty of good ideas on what to do in the city. If you don't like new restaurants, check out some art galleries or go ice skating in Bryant Park, where admission is free and skate rental is just $10. If none of that suits, just walk the streets: Temperatures should hit 60 this week, even if labor relations on Broadway are frigid.

Related Stories:
· Ice Skating in Manhattan [Jaunted]
· New New York Restaurants coverage [Jaunted]
· Art Galleries in New York coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: ianqui]