Toronto, Aug 19 (AP) Air Canada and the union representing 10,000 flight attendants have resumed negotiations late Monday, marking the first discussions since the strike commenced over the weekend. The strike is disrupting the plans of approximately 130,000 travelers daily during the height of the summer travel season.
This meeting, facilitated by a mediator and held in Toronto, was the first interaction between the two parties since early Saturday or late Friday. The union disclosed through an update to its members that Air Canada made the first move by reaching out for dialogue.
The union had earlier declared that flight attendants would not return to work, despite the strike entering its third day and being declared illegal. Pushing back against two return-to-work orders, Air Canada announced rolling cancellations were expected to persist through Tuesday afternoon.
The nation’s largest airline had initially anticipated a resumption of operations by Monday evening, which the union president refuted. “We will not be returning to the skies,” affirmed Mark Hancock, the national president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which also represents some non-public sectors.
Defying the second return-to-work directive, the Canada Industrial Relations Board declared the strike illegal on Monday, ordering flight attendants back to work. However, the union decided to defy this directive, having previously disregarded a weekend order to submit to binding arbitration and end the strike by Sunday afternoon.
The board, an independent administrative tribunal interpreting and applying Canada's labor laws, mandated that the union provide its members written notice by noon Monday to resume their duties. “If it means folks like me going to jail, then so be it. If it means our union being fined, then so be it," Hancock stated. "We’re seeking a solution here. Our members desire a solution, but it needs to be found at the bargaining table.”
It remains uncertain what actions the board or the government might take if the union persists in its refusal. Labor leaders oppose the Canadian government’s recurring use of legislation that curtails workers’ right to strike, forcing them into arbitration—a step taken in recent years with port, railway, and other workers.
“We are in a situation where literally hundreds of thousands of Canadians and visitors to our country are being disrupted by this action,” stated Prime Minister Mark Carney. “I urge both parties to resolve this as quickly as possible.” Carney emphasized the importance of flight attendants receiving fair compensation at all times.
Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu announced a federal probe into the union's claims that flight attendants are not compensated for work performed while airplanes are grounded, with potential legislation to address this issue under consideration. Air Canada, operating around 700 flights daily, estimated on Monday that 500,000 customers would be affected by flight cancellations.
Aviation analytics firm Cirium reported that as of Monday afternoon, Air Canada had canceled at least 1,219 domestic flights and 1,339 international flights since last Thursday when the carrier started gradually suspending operations ahead of the impending strike and lockout. Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau expressed his hopes for a swift resolution.
“We’re obviously hoping we can proceed tomorrow, but we'll make that decision later today,” Rousseau said on BNN Bloomberg shortly after the union declared it would continue striking. The strike is leaving tourists disrupted and passengers stranded worldwide.
Montreal resident Robert Brzymowski, stranded in Prague with his wife and two children since Saturday when Air Canada canceled their return flight, shared his plight. “I wasn’t planning on losing my job over a vacation,” remarked Brzymowski, who lost his new job contract due to the delay.
Frustrated with the lack of communication from the airline, Brzymowski visited the Prague airport on Monday morning and secured a new flight on August 25, more than a week after their original trip home. His children will miss the first day of school, and his wife's absence will go unpaid as she exhausted her paid leave for this trip.
“I, for one, will never fly Air Canada again,” Brzymowski declared. “I’ll take a boat if I have to.”
The negotiations, ongoing for eight months, hit a roadblock when flight attendants walked off the job early Saturday, rejecting Air Canada’s request to enter government-directed arbitration, which involves a third-party mediator deciding new contract terms. The airline’s latest offer suggested a 38 percent total compensation increase over four years, allegedly making their flight attendants the highest paid in Canada.
However, the union criticized the proposed 8 percent raise in the first year, arguing it fell short against inflation. Passengers affected by flight interruptions can apply for full refunds on Air Canada’s website or mobile app, according to the airline. (AP) GRS GRS
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