‘Officially on strike': Air Canada flight attendants' strike halts all operations; all you need to know
Air Canada flight attendants launched a strike on Saturday, prompting the airline to suspend all operations and disrupting summer travel for approximately 130,000 passengers a day.
"We are now officially on strike," stated the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants. "Air Canada is strongly advising affected customers not to go to the airport," it said, adding that it "deeply regrets the effect the strike is having on customers."
The airlines, which operate direct flights to 180 cities globally, notified that it has 'suspended all operations' due to the strike.
CUPE was legally entitled to strike from 12.01 am (local time) Saturday after issuing a 72-hour notice on Wednesday, with the walkout officially starting at 12.58 am (local time), both sides confirmed.
Air Canada already scaled back operations in anticipation of the labour action. The airline reported by 8.00 pm (local time) on Friday that it cancelled 623 flights affecting over 100,000 passengers, with its entire 700-flight schedule for Saturday now scrapped, reported AFP.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Costco Shoppers Say This Fat-Burning Patch Triggers Weight Loss "Unlike Any Other"
Health Advice Today
Undo
The flight attendants are demanding higher wages and compensation for duties performed before takeoff and after landing. The union says it aims to address unpaid ground duties, particularly tasks carried out during the boarding process.
It is 'common practice, even around the world,' to pay flight attendants only for the time they are in the air, Rafael Gomez, who heads the University of Toronto's Center for Industrial Relations, was quoted as saying by AFP.
"'I'm waiting to board the plane and there's a flight attendant helping me, but they're technically not being paid for that work,'" he said, noting that an average passenger might not be aware of standard industry practices.
Air Canada outlined its latest proposal through a statement on Thursday, noting that under the terms, a senior flight attendant would earn an average of CAN$87,000 ($65,000) by 2027.
CUPE, however, dismissed the airline's offers as 'below inflation (and) below market value.'
The union has also turned down requests from both the federal government and Air Canada to resolve disputes through independent arbitration.
"The airline does not want to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue... They're almost playing chicken with the flight attendants,' Gomez said, as reported by AFP.
'Air Canada's response to our proposals makes one thing clear: they are not interested in resolving these critical issues,' the union said, highlighting that eight months of negotiations and an offer for arbitration have not led to an agreement.
"At a time when Canada is dealing with unprecedented pressures on our critical economic supply chains, the disruption of national air passenger travel and cargo transport services would cause immediate and extensive harm to all Canadians," stated the Business Council of Canada, warning that a work stoppage could worsen the situation.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
WhatsApp calling gets major update; call scheduling, reactions now available
WhatsApp has introduced new features allowing users to schedule group calls and invite them to join in advance, the company said in a blog post. The move is aimed at making the platform more interactive and planned, catering to both personal and professional use, protected by end-to-end encryption. How does it work? Press the + button in your Calls tab Click on the Schedule call option Invite people or groups you want to schedule the call with Attendees will receive a reminder notification before the call begins Additionally, users can manage all the upcoming calls in the same tab alongside a list of attendees and call links. The individual who generates the call link will also receive notifications when someone joins. Personalisation weighs in In addition to scheduling calls, users can also react in multiple ways to express themselves on group calls, such as the 'raise hand' option. The development comes after the Meta-backed messaging platform unveiled 'Message Summaries' in late June, integrating MetaAI capabilities to generate private summaries for chats so that users get an idea of what is happening before reading the details in the unread messages. As per the report by AFP, the Mark Zuckerberg-owned company is also planning to roll out three new monetisation features exclusively within its Updates tab, i.e., paid channel subscriptions, promoted channels in its Discovery directory, and ads within Status. Also Read: Enterprises dial up cost savings with WhatsApp calling
Economic Times
4 hours ago
- Economic Times
Air Canada suspends profit forecast as striking union defies back-to-work order
Synopsis Air Canada suspended its profit forecasts as flight attendants defied a government order to return to work, demanding better wages and compensation for ground work. The union's strike, deemed unlawful, has caused travel disruptions and confusion among passengers. The government faces limited options, including court intervention or new legislation, to resolve the labor dispute. AP Striking Air Canada employees Air Canada suspended its third-quarter and annual profit forecasts on Monday as its planes remained grounded after striking flight attendants refused a government-backed order to return to work and called on the airline to get back to the bargaining table. The carrier, which normally carries 130,000 people daily and is part of the global Star Alliance of airlines, had planned to start ramping up operations on Sunday evening, after a labor relations board ordered the union to return to work and start binding arbitration. The Canadian Union of Public Employees said no, setting the stage for a standoff with the Canadian government. The union, which represents 10,000 Air Canada cabin crew, had pushed for a negotiated solution, saying binding arbitration would take pressure off the airline. The attendants are striking for better wages and to be paid for work on the ground such as boarding passengers. They are now only paid when planes are moving, sparking some vocal support from Canadians on social media. In a written order, Canada's Industrial Relations Board on Monday declared the strike unlawful following union's refusal to return to work. The union said it would continue its strike and invited Air Canada back to the table to "negotiate a fair deal". The airline said it would delay plans to restart operations from Sunday until Monday evening and described the union as illegally defying the labor board. The government's options to end the strike now include asking courts to enforce the order to return to work and seeking an expedited hearing. The minority government could also try to pass legislation that would need the support of political rivals and approval in both houses of parliament, which are on break until September 15. "The government will be very reticent to be too heavy-handed because in Canada the Supreme Court has ruled that governments have to be very careful when they take away the right to strike, even for public sector workers that may be deemed essential," said Dionne Pohler, professor of dispute resolution at Cornell University's Industrial and Labor Relations School. Another option is to encourage bargaining, Pohler said. The government did not respond to requests for comment. On Saturday, Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberal government moved to end the strike by asking the Canada Industrial Relations Board to order binding arbitration. The CIRB issued the order, which Air Canada had sought, and unionized flight attendants opposed. The previous government, under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, intervened last year to head off rail and dock strikes that threatened to cripple the economy, but it is highly unusual for a union to defy a CIRB order. The CUPE said its rejection was unprecedented when such an order was made according to rules, known as Section 107, that the government invoked in this case. Travelers at Toronto Pearson International Airport over the weekend said they were confused and frustrated about when they would be able to fly. Italian Francesca Tondini, 50, sitting at the Toronto airport, said she supported the union even though she had no idea when she would be able to return home. "They are right," she said with a smile, pointing at the striking attendants. The dispute between cabin crews and Air Canada hinges on the way airlines compensate flight attendants. Most, including Air Canada, have paid them only when planes are in motion. In their latest contract negotiations, flight attendants in both Canada and the U.S. have sought compensation for hours worked, including for tasks such as boarding passengers. New labor agreements at American Airlines and Alaska Airlines legally require carriers to start the clock for paying flight attendants when passengers are boarding. American's flight attendants are now also compensated for some hours between flights. United Airlines' cabin crews, who voted down a tentative contract deal last month, also want a similar provision.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Air Canada strike by flight attendants can be solved. Analysts spell ways to end airline crisis
Air Canada strike crisis is worsening day by day and in a latest move the airline on Monday withdrew its third quarter and full-year earnings guidance due to a disruption in operations after its flight attendants went on strike. The carrier, which normally carries 130,000 people daily and is part of the global Star Alliance of airlines, had planned to start ramping up operations on Sunday evening, after a labor relations board ordered the union to return to work and start binding arbitration. The union said no, setting up an almost unprecedented standoff with the Canadian government, which had requested the back-to-work order. The Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents 10,000 Air Canada cabin crew, had pushed for a negotiated solution, saying binding arbitration would take pressure off the airline. Now experts have claimed that a solution can be reached. Air Canada Strike by Flight Attendants Air Canada flight attendants are striking for better wages and to be paid for work on the ground, such as boarding passengers. They currently are only paid when planes are moving, sparking some vocal support from Canadians on social media. CUPE invited Air Canada back to the table to "negotiate a fair deal," calling the order to end its strike unconstitutional. The airline said it would delay plans to restart operations from Sunday until Monday evening and described the union as illegally defying the labor board. Air Canada Strike Solution Canada government's options to end the strike now include asking courts to enforce the order to return to work and seeking an expedited hearing. The minority government could also try to pass legislation that would need the support of political rivals and approval in both houses of parliament, which are on break until September 15. Live Events "The government will be very reticent to be too heavy-handed because in Canada the Supreme Court has ruled that governments have to be very careful when they take away the right to strike, even for public sector workers that may be deemed essential," said Dionne Pohler, professor of dispute resolution at Cornell University's Industrial and Labor Relations School. Another option is to encourage bargaining, Pohler said. Canada Government On Saturday, Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberal government moved to end the strike by asking the Canada Industrial Relations Board to order binding arbitration. The CIRB issued the order, which Air Canada had sought, and unionized flight attendants opposed. The previous government, under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, intervened last year to head off rail and dock strikes that threatened to cripple the economy, but it is highly unusual for a union to defy a CIRB order. The CUPE said its rejection was unprecedented when such an order was made according to rules, known as Section 107, that the government invoked in this case. The dispute between cabin crews and Air Canada hinges on the way airlines compensate flight attendants. Most, including Air Canada, have traditionally paid them only when planes are in motion. In their latest contract negotiations, flight attendants in both Canada and the United States have sought compensation for hours worked, including for tasks such as boarding passengers. New labor agreements at American Airlines and Alaska Airlines legally require carriers to start the clock for paying flight attendants when passengers are boarding. American's flight attendants are now also compensated for some hours between flights. United Airlines' cabin crews, who voted down a tentative contract deal last month, also want a similar provision. FAQs Q1. What Air Canada can learn from airlines in USA? A1. New labor agreements at American Airlines and Alaska Airlines legally require carriers to start the clock for paying flight attendants when passengers are boarding. American's flight attendants are now also compensated for some hours between flights. United Airlines' cabin crews, who voted down a tentative contract deal last month, also want a similar provision. Q2. Who is Prime Minister of Canada? A2. Prime Minister of Canada is Mark Carney.
