Attention Air Canada flyers! Flights to get affected as work stoppage by flight attendants may impact 130,000 passengers
The Montreal-based carrier has reached a deadlock with the union representing more than 10,500 flight attendants over pay and working conditions, despite eight months of bargaining. Both the airline and the union have filed notices indicating a labour disruption could begin on Saturday.
'Abrupt work stoppages at airlines create chaos for travellers,' said Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, Air Canada's head of human resources and public affairs, during a press briefing in Toronto on Thursday. 'We remain ready to continue discussions.'
The conference was briefly interrupted by flight attendants protesting with placards reading 'Unpaid work won't fly,' claiming their compensation constitutes 'poverty wages.'
Air Canada expects approximately 500 mainline and Air Canada Rouge flights to be cancelled by Friday evening. From 1 AM on Saturday, all flights under the airline's direct operation will be paused, affecting more than 130,000 passengers. Cargo operations will also see delays. However, regional flights operated by third-party contractors under Air Canada Express will continue as normal.
The airline has stated that affected passengers will be offered full refunds and, where possible, alternative travel arrangements via competitor airlines.
Seeking a resolution, Air Canada has requested the Canadian government to mandate binding arbitration, which could compel flight attendants back to work and deliver a final settlement. Meanwhile, the union, affiliated with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), appealed to Prime Minister Mark Carney to respect workers' rights to freely negotiate their collective agreement.
Canada's Labour Minister, Patty Hajdu, urged both sides to reach a compromise. 'Deals made at the bargaining table are the best ones,' she said in a social media statement. 'I encouraged both parties to put aside differences and return to negotiations for the sake of travellers.'
Air Canada has proposed increasing total compensation, including benefits and bonuses, by 25 per cent in the first year and 38 per cent over four years, along with pay for certain duties performed on the ground. Currently, flight attendants are only remunerated while the aircraft is in motion, a practice common in the airline industry.
Meloul-Wechsler noted that negotiations began with CUPE demanding pay increases exceeding 100 per cent. The union, however, contends that the airline's 38 per cent offer translates to just a 17.2 per cent rise over four years and falls short of inflation and industry standards, leaving flight attendants unpaid for significant hours of work.
(With inputs from Bloomberg)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
Annual FASTag pass for private vehicles to be introduced today
Advt Coverage and usage Existing FASTags and state highways By , ETInfra The government will roll out an annual highway toll pass priced at ₹3,000 for private cars, jeeps, and vans from Friday. Pre-booking has opened for FASTag-based annual passes that allow up to 200 toll booth crossings on national highways and expressways within a year.A dedicated link for activation of the annual pass is available on the Rajmarg Yatra app . It will also be accessible on the websites of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).The pass will apply only to non-commercial private vehicles such as cars, jeeps, and vans. It will be valid at National Highway (NH) and National Expressway (NE) fee plazas. Users will not need to repeatedly recharge their FASTag accounts for toll payments until the 200-trip limit is reached. The pass can be recharged again after this closed tolling highways, such as the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway where toll collection occurs at exit points, a single trip includes both entry and exit. On open tolling routes, such as the Delhi–Chandigarh route, each toll plaza crossing will count as a separate to MoRTH, those who already have a FASTag will not need to purchase a new one. At fee plazas on state highways or expressways managed by state governments or local bodies, the FASTag will operate as a regular one, and applicable user fees will be uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to deduct toll charges from a prepaid account linked to the vehicle. Over 10.1 crore FASTags were issued until 1 December 2024, according to the ministry's year-end review.
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
One injured as bridge under construction collapses in Kerala
KOZHIKODE: A portion of the under-construction Thorayikadavu bridge, which connects the Koyilandy and Balussery constituencies, collapsed on Thursday afternoon, injuring a worker. The incident occurred over the middle of the river when a newly installed beam tilted and gave way, causing the concrete structure to collapse along with it. The incident has sparked widespread concern and prompted immediate action from authorities. Local residents and political workers have alleged that substandard construction practices may have led to the collapse — an allegation that is now under official investigation. The injured worker was identified as being part of the construction crew and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. The Thorayikadavu bridge is designed to connect the Pookkad and Atholi riverbanks. The project, funded by KIIFB (Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board) with a budget of approximately `23.82 crore, is being constructed by the Malappuram-based PMR Group. The bridge is planned to be 265 metres long and 12 metres wide. The construction work is overseen by the PWD Kerala Road Fund Unit. According to local resident Ajay Bose, several construction workers narrowly escaped serious injuries when the beam collapsed during concreting work. 'It's a miracle more people weren't hurt,' he said, highlighting the dangerous nature of the incident. Following the collapse, a higher official with PWD demanded an urgent report from the project director. He stated that further action would be taken once the report is received. Congress workers expressed outrage over the collapse, calling it a textbook example of negligence and corruption. They demanded a thorough probe and strict action against the construction company. 'This is not just a structural failure; it's a failure of responsibility,' said a local Congress leader, who preferred to remain anonymous. 'The public deserves to know why a project of this magnitude, funded by public money, was allowed to be compromised.' Residents said the bridge was seen as a vital infrastructure project that would improve connectivity and boost the local economy. They are demanding accountability from the construction firm, PMR Group, and have called for an urgent and transparent inquiry.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
WPI inflation hovering in negative zone
New Delhi: Wholesale price inflation (WPI) stayed in negative territory for the second consecutive month at (-) 0.58 per cent in July, as prices of food articles and fuel saw deflation, even though prices of manufactured items increased, government data showed on Thursday. WPI-based inflation was (-) 0.13 per cent in June. It was 2.10 per cent in July last year. 'Negative rate of inflation in July 2025 is primarily due to decrease in prices of food articles, mineral oils, crude petroleum & natural gas, manufacture of basic metals, etc,' the industry ministry said in a statement. As per WPI data, food articles saw a deflation of 6.29 per cent in July, as against a deflation of 3.75 per cent in June, with vegetables witnessing a sharp drop. Deflation in vegetables was 28.96 per cent in July, compared to 22.65 per cent in June. In the case of manufactured products, inflation was higher at 2.05 per cent in July, as against 1.97 per cent in the month before. Fuel and power saw a negative inflation or deflation of 2.43 per cent in July, as against 2.65 per cent in June. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which takes into account retail inflation, had kept benchmark policy rates unchanged at 5.5 per cent earlier this month. The retail inflation in July dropped to an 8-year low of 1.55 per cent.
