Early Saturday, over 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants went on strike. The strike began because the airline and the union representing the attendants could not reach an agreement. As a result, Air Canada has stopped all its flights.
Passengers traveling with Air Canada around the world are now stuck and facing difficulties.
Hugh Pouliot, spokesperson for the Canadian Union of Public Employees, confirmed that the strike started after talks failed. Following this, Air Canada announced it would suspend all operations.
Air Canada in Contract Dispute with Flight Attendants Union
Air Canada, the largest airline in Canada, is in a contract dispute with the union representing its 10,000+ flight attendants.
The disagreement worsened Friday when the union refused the airline’s request for government-directed arbitration.
This arbitration would have ended the union’s right to strike and let a third party decide the new contract terms.
About 130,000 People Affected Daily
Every day, about 130,000 passengers will be affected by Air Canada’s shutdown. Around 25,000 Canadians may also be stranded abroad each day.
Air Canada usually operates nearly 700 flights daily. It is unclear when flights will resume, but Air Canada’s Chief Operating Officer Mark Nasser said it could take up to a week after an agreement to fully restart operations.
Passengers to Receive Full Refunds
Air Canada has said that passengers impacted by the strike can get a full refund through the airline’s website or mobile app.
The airline will try to offer alternative travel options on other Canadian and international airlines when possible.
However, Air Canada warned that rebooking may be delayed because other airlines are already full due to the busy summer travel season.
Contract Talks Have Been Ongoing for 8 Months Without Agreement
Air Canada and the Canadian Union of Public Employees have been negotiating for nearly eight months but have not reached a final deal.
The main disagreements are over pay and unpaid work that flight attendants do when planes are grounded.
The airline offered a total pay raise of 38% over four years, including benefits and pensions. The union rejected this, saying the 8% raise in the first year is too low to match inflation.
