Flight attendant union asks jobs minister not to intervene in Air Canada negotiations
The Canadian Union of Public Employees released a statement on Friday afternoon urging Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu "not to intervene" in negotiations by invoking Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, "thereby permitting collective bargaining to continue and allowing the parties to negotiate a resolution."
Air Canada had previously asked CUPE to consider binding interest arbitration, which would bring an arbitrator into the negotiations to make decisions on key agenda items that the two sides haven't been able to agree on.
After CUPE declined that request earlier this week, Air Canada then asked Hajdu to make a referral under Section 107 that the negotiation be sent to arbitration. Hajdu gave CUPE until noon on Friday to respond.
"We thank the union for their response. We strongly urge the parties to work with federal mediators and get a deal done. Time's precious and Canadians are counting on you," Hajdu's press secretary said in a statement to CBC News.
Air Canada warned Friday it is cancelling around 500 flights previously scheduled to take off today in anticipation of the work stoppage, with a full stoppage looming Saturday.
It said it would notify customers of cancellations through email and text message, adding it recommends against going to the airport unless they have a confirmed booking and their flight still shows as operating.
CUPE released new polling by Abacus Data on Friday, suggesting that 59 per cent of Canadians believe the federal government should respect flight attendants' right to take job action, even if it causes travel disruptions.
The weighted survey of 1,500 respondents, conducted Thursday and Friday, says 88 per cent of Canadians believe flight attendants should be paid for all work-related duties including boarding, delays and safety checks — a key sticking point in negotiations that has led to the impasse.
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