Air Canada work stoppage looms – what you need to know
Here is where the main stakeholders stand as Canada braces for widespread flight disruptions.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) represents more than 10,000 flight attendants at Air Canada and its low-cost affiliate, Air Canada Rouge. Earlier this month, 99.7% of CUPE members voted to strike if no deal was reached.
CUPE is seeking pay for all hours worked, including boarding and ground time, which it says amounts to about 35 unpaid hours a month. Air Canada offered to compensate some of that time at half the regular hourly rate.
The airline says its latest offer would increase total compensation by 38% over four years, with a 25% raise in the first year.
CUPE says the offer only translates to a 17.2% wage increase which doesn't go far enough for attendants with five or fewer years' experience that make up half of its members. The union has not disclosed its full wage demands.
The carrier has asked for binding arbitration, calling the union's wage demands "unsustainable."
It urged the government to intervene under section 107 of Canada's Labor Code, which allows the federal labor board to act to maintain industrial peace. CUPE has rejected arbitration.
Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu has urged both sides to resume talks and has agreed to respond to the union's request regarding arbitration by 12 p.m. ET (1600 GMT) Friday.
CUPE has set a strike deadline of 12:58 a.m. ET (0458 GMT) Saturday. Air Canada has issued a lockout notice beginning 32 minutes later.
Air Canada and Rouge carry about 130,000 passengers daily. The carrier has already begun canceling flights and expects to halt operations by Aug. 16, stranding tens of thousands of travelers.
Air Canada Express flights, run by Jazz and PAL Airlines, will operate but serve only about 20% of passengers.
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