Sonali Tiwary
Air Canada has started cancelling flights after its flight attendants issued a 72-hour strike notice early Wednesday morning. The airline will begin a phased shutdown with the first cancellations happening Thursday, more on Friday, and a complete stop of all Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights by the weekend.
The strike could start as early as Saturday at 12:58 a.m. ET. In response, Air Canada issued a lockout notice at 1:30 a.m. ET Wednesday.
This potential work stoppage comes after eight months of negotiations between Air Canada and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents about 10,000 flight attendants. The airline declared an impasse in talks on Tuesday.
“We regret the impact a disruption will have on our customers, our stakeholders and the communities we serve,” Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau said in a statement.
The strike could affect roughly 130,000 passengers daily who fly on Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge. The airline also warned that about 25,000 Canadians returning from abroad could be stranded if operations halt.
Air Canada Express flights operated by Jazz and PAL Airlines will continue to operate normally, providing some relief for travelers.
At the heart of the dispute are wages and unpaid work hours. Currently, Air Canada flight attendants aren’t paid for the work they do before boarding and after deplaning, including safety checks and passenger assistance.
“Air Canada is not an anomaly in this, but coming out of a 10-year deal, this is something that we’re trying to correct,” said Wesley Lesosky, president of the Air Canada component of CUPE. He noted there’s been a “big push globally” for this type of compensation.
The airline has offered to pay flight attendants 50% of their wage for ground work, but the union is demanding 100%.
Air Canada says its latest offer includes a 38% increase in total compensation over four years, with 25% coming in the first year. The package also addresses benefits, rest periods, and work-life balance.
“There’s a huge gap still between the union’s request and what we can offer,” said Christophe Hennebelle, Air Canada‘s vice-president of corporate communications.
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CUPE claims the offer is below inflation and doesn’t properly address unpaid work issues. The union voted 99.7% in favor of strike action and held a national “Day of Action” at major airports on August 11.
Air Canada proposed binding arbitration to resolve the dispute, but CUPE rejected this option, preferring to negotiate directly.
For affected travelers, Air Canada is offering free flight changes for tickets purchased by August 13 for travel between August 15-18. Passengers can move their travel dates to between August 21 and September 12 at no cost.
“If your flight is cancelled, we will do our very best to rebook you on the first available flight, exploring options with over 120 international and domestic carriers,” Air Canada stated on its website. “As we are in peak summer travel season, we know that space will still be very limited. If your travel is disrupted, you can always choose a refund.”
Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu said she is monitoring the situation. “Federal mediators will remain available until a deal is reached,” she wrote on social media. “The best agreements are the ones the parties reach themselves.”
Travelers should watch for notifications via email or text message about any changes to their flights and check Air Canada’s website for the latest updates.
