On Saturday, Air Canada flight attendants struck after contract negotiations for wage increases failed to yield results.
This walkout affected operations significantly, leading to cancellations of flights across the country as approximately 10,000 attendants, represented by the Canadian Civil Service Coalition (CUPE), refused to work, impacting some of the largest airlines in Canada.
Reportedly, the attendants started work around 1 a.m. on Saturday.
Passengers Informed About Cancellations
Air Canada had already canceled about 500 flights the day prior, on Friday. Travelers are being kept informed via email or text regarding their flight statuses, with the airline promising ongoing updates.
In total, at least 128 domestic flights and 194 international flights were canceled, according to reports. The day before, there had been cancellations of 18 domestic flights and four international ones.
Travelers Given Options with Other Airlines
Air Canada is attempting to rebook affected passengers with alternative airlines when possible. However, many options are currently scarce due to the high volume of summer travel. Passengers whose flights have been cancelled are also eligible for complete refunds, as highlighted on Air Canada’s website.
In a statement, Air Canada’s president and CEO Michael Rousseau expressed regret over the disruption, noting the impact on customers and communities. He pointed out that with other disruptions in the industry, a sudden shutdown could lead to confusion for travelers.
Proposal for Third-Party Arbitration
Air Canada is pushing for third-party consultations to address the union’s contract demands. The company criticized CUPE for not accepting a proposed 38% wage increase over four years.
Air Canada has suggested involving a third party for binding arbitration to settle unresolved issues, as mentioned in a statement on their website.
Union representatives have since responded by formally notifying of the strike on Saturday.
The airline also requested government-led arbitration, hoping to mitigate the disruption’s effects on travelers, businesses, and the economy.
CUPE has countered that the proposed wage increases do not reflect inflation accurately, emphasizing that any intervention should be rejected.
Air Canada Express flights operated by Jazz and Pal airlines are expected to continue functioning normally, serving around 20% of daily customers. Both Air Canada and Air Canada Express cater to approximately 130,000 passengers each day, affecting about 25,000 Canadians returning from international trips.
