Strike action by Air Canada's flight attendants comes to a halt following a provisional accord
Air Canada's unionized flight attendants have ended a four-day strike after reaching a tentative four-year contract agreement with the airline. The deal, brokered through mediation, includes a 12 percent pay raise this year for many flight attendants at Air Canada and all flight attendants at Air Canada Rouge.
The strike, which began on August 17, disrupted thousands of flights and affected up to 130,000 passengers daily. The flight attendants, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), had been pushing for pay for tasks such as boarding passengers, which are not currently remunerated.
Despite the progress, some flight attendants expressed dissatisfaction, arguing that the deal did not adequately address issues of unpaid work. It remains unclear whether the issue of pay for ground work was addressed in the deal.
The four-year contract is a significant win for the flight attendants, who had been seeking improvements in pay, conditions, and benefits in a tight labor market. The union had deemed Air Canada's earlier offer of a 38 percent increase insufficient.
The airline will gradually resume operations, with a full restoration potentially taking a week or more. Customers with canceled flights can choose between a refund, travel credit, or rebooking on another airline.
The strike led Air Canada to withdraw its third-quarter website and full-year earnings guidance. Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu urged both sides to consider government mediation and promised to investigate unpaid work in the airline sector. Air Canada's CEO defended the airline's offer of a 38 percent boost to flight attendants' total compensation but did not offer plans to break the deadlock.
The strike created a three-way standoff between the company, the union, and the government, with the union defying a Canada Industrial Relations Board order to return to work. Flight attendants wanted to make gains on unpaid work beyond what US carriers like American Airlines have secured.
Unions in various sectors, including aerospace, construction, airline, and rail, have pushed for higher pay, improved conditions, and better benefits in a tight labor market. The agreement between Air Canada and its unionized flight attendants marks a significant step in this ongoing struggle for fair compensation and working conditions.
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