Labour tensions at Air Canada have reached a boiling point as more than 10,000 flight attendants, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), have given the carrier 72 hours to reach a new pay deal or face a nationwide strike starting 1 a.m. ET on Saturday.
The strike threat comes just hours after the airline sought federal government intervention, warning travellers of potential flight disruptions. Earlier this month, an overwhelming 99.7% of CUPE members voted to walk off the job.
Talks hit a deadlock Tuesday when the union rejected Air Canada’s call for binding arbitration. The airline’s offer included a 38% increase in total compensation over four years, with a 25% raise in the first year, but CUPE blasted it as “below inflation, below market value, and below minimum wage,” arguing it still leaves attendants unpaid for large portions of their working time.
Like most carriers, Air Canada pays cabin crew only for time spent in the air, but attendants across North America are pushing to be compensated for all hours worked, including boarding and airport standby.
In a sign of how high the stakes have become, Air Canada issued its own lockout notice Wednesday, to take effect just 32 minutes after the strike is set to begin.
