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Canada News.Net
18 hours ago
- Business
- Canada News.Net
No deal reached: Air Canada faces complete shutdown amid strike
TORONTO, Canada: Air Canada suspended all flights early on August 16 after more than 10,000 flight attendants walked off the job, triggering a complete shutdown during one of the busiest travel weekends of the summer. The strike began shortly after a midnight deadline passed, and no contract agreement existed between the airline and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents the attendants. Union spokesman Hugh Pouliot confirmed the strike's start at around 1 a.m. EDT on August 16, while the airline simultaneously announced it would lock attendants out of airports. The shutdown is expected to affect about 130,000 travelers daily, including some 25,000 Canadians abroad, as the airline typically operates nearly 700 flights a day. The walkout comes after months of bitter negotiations. A day earlier, CUPE rejected Air Canada's push for government-directed arbitration. This process would have stripped the union of its right to strike and handed contract decisions to a third-party mediator. "We're here to bargain a deal, not to go on strike," Pouliot said, adding that the union had not received a counteroffer from Air Canada since Tuesday. Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu had met with both sides on August 15 and urged them to end the standoff. "It is unacceptable that so little progress has been made. Canadians are counting on both parties to put forward their best efforts," she said in a statement. The impact was immediate for passengers. Alex Laroche, 21, from Montreal, said he and his girlfriend had been saving since Christmas for an $8,000 European trip. Now, their night flight to Nice, France, hangs in limbo. At the core of the dispute are wages and the issue of unpaid work that attendants perform when planes are not in the air. The airline says its latest proposal offered a 38 percent boost in total compensation—including wages, pensions, and benefits—over four years, which it claimed would make Air Canada attendants the best paid in the country. However, the union argues that the eight percent increase in the first year falls far short of covering inflation and cost-of-living increases. Air Canada warned that resuming operations could take up to a week even after a deal is struck. In the meantime, affected passengers can apply for refunds through the airline's website or app. The carrier also pledged to arrange alternative travel through Canadian and foreign airlines where possible, though it cautioned that many flights are already at capacity during the summer peak. With negotiations stalled and both sides far apart, the strike leaves Canada's largest airline facing one of the most disruptive labor disputes in its history—and travelers around the world bracing for days of chaos.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
130,000 stranded daily: How Air Canada's pay dispute is wrecking summer travel
Air Canada has suspended all operations after over 10,000 flight attendants began strike action just after 1 am EDT on Saturday. The airline said it would halt flights across its mainline services and its budget arm, Air Canada Rouge, and advised passengers not to go to airports unless rebooked. Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) spokesman Hugh Pouliot confirmed the walkout, saying it followed failed efforts to secure a deal. 'We're here to bargain a deal, not to go on strike,' Pouliot said, adding that Air Canada had not responded to the union's two most recent proposals since Tuesday. By Friday night, 623 flights had already been cancelled, affecting more than 100,000 people, according to figures cited by AFP. The airline operates around 700 flights daily, and the shutdown is now impacting roughly 130,000 passengers each day, including an estimated 25,000 Canadians abroad. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like What If Your Neck Is Causing Your Ear Ringing? Tinnitus Experts Undo Union rejects arbitration The strike escalated after CUPE refused Air Canada's request to enter government-directed arbitration, a move that would have removed its right to strike and handed the decision to a mediator. Air Canada argued its offer of a 38% increase in total compensation over four years, including benefits and pensions, 'would have made our flight attendants the best compensated in Canada.' A senior flight attendant, under this plan, would earn about C$87,000 by 2027. Live Events The union, however, rejected the deal, calling it 'below inflation and below market value.' CUPE is also demanding pay for ground duties such as boarding, which remain unpaid. The practice is common in the airline industry, but union leaders argue it is unfair. Government and business leaders step in Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu met both sides late Friday and urged them to break the stalemate. 'It is unacceptable that such little progress has been made. Canadians are counting on both parties to put forward their best efforts,' she said in a statement. The Business Council of Canada has pressed the government to impose binding arbitration. Its chief executive, Goldy Hyder, warned: '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.' The standoff mirrors government intervention in 2023, when Canada's two largest railroads were forced into arbitration during a strike, a decision now being legally challenged by the railway union. Travellers stranded in peak summer season The strike has left thousands scrambling for alternatives. Canada's geography adds to the strain: in a country of vast distances, flying is often the only option. Montreal resident Alex Laroche, 21, said he and his girlfriend had saved since Christmas for an $8,000 European holiday. With non-refundable bookings and a Saturday night flight to Nice at stake, their plans now hang in the balance. 'At this point, it's just a waiting game,' Laroche told reporters. He admitted he was initially frustrated with the strike but changed his view after learning more about the wage dispute. 'Their wage is barely livable,' he said. Air Canada says affected passengers can apply for full refunds via its website or app. It has promised to arrange alternative flights with other carriers when possible, though it cautioned that 'due to the summer travel peak' many seats are already sold out. Laroche said he considered booking with another airline, but prices had soared. 'Most of them are nearly full and cost more than double the $3,000 we paid for our original tickets.' India routes disrupted The disruption has reached India-bound services, with direct flights from Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal to New Delhi cancelled. Connecting services from Calgary via London were also affected. Travel agents say some relief may come through Air Canada's membership in the Star Alliance, which includes Air India. 'They are being moved to other routes, they will be protected by arrangements with other airlines. But some impact will be there,' said Vibhor Chhabra, director of Toronto-based Grand Travel. Even before the strike officially began, Air Canada had started cancelling long-haul services. In a post on Thursday, it said the union had rejected a temporary agreement to allow stranded passengers to return from overseas. 'As a result, 25,000 additional passengers are going to be stranded abroad,' the airline posted. Air Canada normally runs daily flights to New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Chennai and Kochi from Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary. What lies ahead Air Canada's chief operating officer Mark Nasr has warned that even once a deal is reached, it could take up to a week to restore full operations. With a fleet of 259 aircraft and flights to 180 cities across 64 countries, the impact of the shutdown is vast. Industry experts believe neither side can afford a long stoppage. Rafael Gomez, director of the University of Toronto's Centre for Industrial Relations, told AFP that while unpaid pre-flight work is a common issue worldwide, CUPE has effectively presented it as one of fairness. He added, 'That's a very good issue to highlight.' He also suggested the strike would not last long. 'This is peak season. The airline does not want to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue… They're almost playing chicken with the flight attendants.' For now, passengers remain caught in the middle, their plans upended and their patience tested, as one of the busiest travel seasons in years grinds to a halt.
6 days ago
- Business
Could federal legislation have eased a key sticking point in the Air Canada dispute?
Flight attendants poised to strike this week have previously asked the federal government to address one of their biggest grievances — unpaid work. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) gave Air Canada a 72-hour strike notice early Wednesday. In response, the carrier issued a lockout notice starting at 1:30 a.m. ET on Saturday and says it will begin cancelling flights on Thursday. CUPE represents more than 10,000 flight attendants who work for the major airline and its budget carrier Air Canada Rouge. The two sides have been negotiating a new collective agreement since March, and the union says the most contentious issues at the bargaining table are wages — which it says haven't kept up with inflation — and unpaid work. Flight attendants typically don't start getting paid until the plane is in motion and their compensation ends when the plane stops at the gate after landing — meaning they aren't paid for pre- and post-flight duties. Air Canada has proposed paying flight attendants 50 per cent of their hourly wage for work done on the ground, but the union is asking for 100 per cent. While it is a sticking point in the current labour dispute, flight attendants from a number of carriers have been calling on the federal government to make changes to the Canada Labour Code to address unpaid work. WATCH | Flight attendants rally at airports across Canada: It's not a huge ask, really. All people are asking for is to be paid for their time on the job, CUPE spokesperson Hugh Pouliot told CBC News. It's a very problematic situation, not just for Air Canada flight attendants, but flight attendants across the board. Pouliot said flight attendants reached a breaking point due to ground delays experienced as Canadians slowly began flying again following the height of the COVID-19 pandemic (new window) . Both the Conservatives and NDP introduced bills last parliamentary session that would have changed the Labour Code to ensure flight attendants are paid for pre- and post-flight duties. But both bills died when the House was prorogued earlier this year. Pouliot said it's encouraging to see opposition parties supporting the changes, but said it's tragic and confounding that the Liberals haven't backed the move. I think you would be looking at a fundamentally different situation at Air Canada right now if the Liberals — a year and a half ago — had decided to play ball with the other parties, he said. Wesley Lesosky, a flight attendant and president of CUPE's Air Canada component, told CBC News that he thinks the government ultimately needs to step in. We feel it should be addressed through the government and it shouldn't be used as bargaining capital at the table, Lesosky told host Sarah Galashan. When asked by CBC News, a spokesperson from Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu's office didn't comment on whether the Liberals would support changes to the Labour Code to address flight attendants' concerns. But they encouraged Air Canada and CUPE to reach an agreement. Enlarge image (new window) A spokesperson for Minister of Jobs and Families Patty Hajdu did not directly respond to a question of whether the government would back changes to the Canada Labour Code. Photo: La Presse canadienne / PATRICK DOYLE During the bargaining process, parties establish agreements on wages, working conditions and other employment terms. Mediators will remain available until a deal is reached. The minister is closely monitoring this situation and encouraged both parties to stay at the table until a deal is found, the spokesperson said in an email. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and Conservative labour critic Kyle Seeback wrote a letter to Hajdu last week calling for the Liberals to make the Labour Code changes. No other federally regulated worker would accept being on the job without being paid and neither should flight attendants. It's time to end this outdated and unfair practice, their letter reads. Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner reiterated her party's stance. As somebody who is a frequent flyer, I think they should be paid for [pre- and post-flight duties], Rempel Garner told reporters on Parliament Hill. I hope that the union and management can come to an agreement on this, but certainly the principles that were contained in that bill last year are things we stand behind as a party. The NDP announced Wednesday that it intends to reintroduce its own bill this fall. Every hour worked should be an hour paid, interim NDP Leader Don Davies said in a statement. The Liberals have done nothing to stop major airlines from exploiting their workers — most of whom are women. Instead, they handed those same airlines billions in taxpayer dollars. Workers deserve better. Delta Air Lines is one of the only major North American airlines that offers ground pay to its flight attendants, paying them at half their hourly rate for 40 to 50 minutes of boarding time depending on the destination and aircraft. Pouliot noted that Porter Airlines started paying flight attendants for some boarding duties this year while some smaller carriers — such as Pascan Aviation — pay full salary for ground duties. But he cautioned that the issue of unpaid work could spill over into future labour negotiations with other Canadian airlines. If the government is interested in labour peace in the airline sector, then this is absolutely a priority, Pouliot said. To whatever extent it's resolved with Air Canada, it is going to be an issue for WestJet. It will be an issue for Flare. It will be an issue for Air Transat. It will be an issue for all of the air carriers in the country, because at every single one of these airlines flight attendants are beyond exhausted with working so many hours for free. It's going to stop one way or another. Darren Major (new window) · CBC News · Senior writer Darren Major is a senior writer for CBC's parliamentary bureau in Ottawa. He previously worked as a digital reporter for CBC Ottawa and a producer for CBC's Power & Politics. He holds a master's degree in journalism and a bachelor's degree in public affairs and policy management, both from Carleton University. He also holds master's degree in arts from Queen's University. He can be reached at
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NY developers to build affordable housing at former Facemate building in Chicopee
CHICOPEE — The former Facemate property is getting a facelift. On Monday, a handful of contractors were at work on the property at 75 West Main St., cutting down trees and eyeing blueprints. The property, which sits on 4 acres, will be redeveloped into 105 mixed-income affordable housing units, to be called the Singing Bridge Residences. 'This property is a part of our River Mills redevelopment project that we've been working on since 2010,' said Lee Pouliot, director of Chicopee's planning department. 'This is another milestone, and we're really excited it's moving forward.' The site was jointly purchased by Brisa Builders Developers LLC and Sydney Capital Group LLC. Both companies are based in Brooklyn, New York, and work on affordable housing projects. In a phone interview with The Republican on Monday, Hammad Graham, the manager of Sydney Capital Group LLC, said this is his first affordable housing project in Western Massachusetts. 'I knew the area better than other New York developers and have a vision for the site,' said Graham, who is originally from Springfield. Graham is also the manager of BD Singing Bridge LLC, the subsidiary he used to purchase the property for $438,890, according to the deeds. The developers are borrowing $37.3 million from MassHousing, which provides financing to affordable housing projects across the commonwealth, for the rehabilitation of the former industrial complex. The housing project will offer 16 studios, 21 one-bedroom apartments, 57 two-bedroom apartments and 11 three-bedroom apartments, according to a statement from MassHousing. The building, which is one of the 'largest ground-up mixed-income properties' in Western Massachusetts, Graham said, is being constructed to meet green standards, meaning it is environmentally friendly. 'We will approach net-zero annual energy use as a fully electric building,' said Graham. The building also will include a community kitchen and lounge, an outdoor patio space overlooking the river, laundry facilities and a small commercial space, the statement said. Housing construction is set to be completed by summer 2027. The property, which is next to the Chicopee River, is the third project that the city has undertaken to revitalize the Chicopee Falls area, said Pouliot. The first two were the River Mills Senior Center and an assisted living facility down the road. Access to public transportation is a key factor of the project, Pouliot explained. The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority has bus stops near the building, and it's also near Chicopee center, only 2 miles away. 'We're actively expanding the riverwalk,' he said. The apartment building also will have parking for vehicles and bicycles. The remaining parts of the property include separate proposals for an indoor sports facility, a brewery and an office space, the MassHousing statement said. The project is also a low-income housing tax credit development, having received $31.6 million in state and federal funding. It also received funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Citizens Bank and nearly $1 million in grant funding from the city. Prior to the sale, the city owned Facemate for 15 years. It was a part of a collection of parcels taken on by the city after there was no longer a need for factories and manufacturing sites. After Holyoke condemns office building, owner fights back in court Marking 48 Mass. workplace deaths in past year-plus, advocates fear the cost of deregulation WMass Governor's Councilor solicits public feedback on 2 judicial nominees Report: More affordable housing needed in Mass. Read the original article on MassLive. Read the original article on MassLive. Read the original article on MassLive. Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Vandal strikes Cybertruck, Tesla owner hits back
An accused vandal is "under investigation" after appearing to drag a key across a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Omni Mountain Resort & Spa in Brenton Woods, New Hampshire. Kerri Pouliot, the owner of the damaged Tesla, posted the clip to X saying "our Tesla cyber truck was vandalized this weekend in NH. While staying at our hotel, our vehicle was keyed within an hour of arriving." In an interview, Pouliot told Fox News Digital that she and her husband "were told at the time of the incident that they would be getting a warrant" for the male suspect's arrest. Kash Patel Sharpens Warning Message For Tesla 'Domestic Terrorism' Perpetrators Ahead Of 'Day Of Action' Footage obtained by Fox News Digital shows the male suspect walking along the right side of the vehicle, pulling what appeared to be a key from his pocket and dragging it along the side of the Cybertruck. Pouliot recorded a video when police arrived at the scene, and an officer can be heard asking, "Do you want to talk about what happened here?" Read On The Fox News App The accused vandal snapped back, "No, I don't know what happened." Police then told the man that they "had him on video." "I don't know what happened," the man repeated. Carroll Police Chief Tadd Bailey told the New Hampshire Union Leader that "the incident is under investigation by us and the Coos County Attorney's Office." Spokespersons for the Carroll Police Department and the Coos County Attorney's Office did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Fox Business - Tesla Stock Price Undeterred by the targeted thrashing of the Tesla, Pouliot told Fox News Digital that she and her husband have "no intentions of ever selling our truck." The dramatic uptick in the destruction of the electric-powered vehicles has not gone unnoticed by the Trump Administration, leading FBI Director Kash Patel to launch a task force to combat the rise in target criminal attacks on Elon Musk's car company. On Monday, FBI Spokesperson Ben Williamson told Fox News Digital, "This Task Force is just the latest move in coordinating our efforts to ensure those who violently attack Tesla will be pursued and brought to justice." Fbi Launches Task Force To Crack Down On Violent Tesla Attacks, Mitigate Threats Last week, President Donald Trump weighed in on the widespread vandalism of the vehicles, saying "I look forward to watching the sick terrorist thugs get 20 year jail sentences for what they are doing to Elon Musk and Tesla. Perhaps they could serve them in the prisons of El Salvador, which have become so recently famous for such lovely conditions!" Attacks on the vehicles and aggressive rhetoric toward billionaire Tesla founder and DOGE head Elon Musk have not been unprompted. Democrat Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, said on a call last week that Musk should be "taken down," to which Attorney General Pam Bondi cautioned her to "tread very carefully." The Texas congresswoman quickly clarified her statement, saying, "Everything that I am promoting is nonviolent." Far-left Democrat Slammed For 'Unhinged' Threat Against Prominent Gop Senator: 'Inciting Violence' Bondi further addressed the rhetoric by telling Fox News host Sean Hannity, "After she said that about Elon, [Crockett] said, 'Well, I didn't mean violence,' but however, your words have consequences. And what happened after she said that about Elon Musk? She's a Texan in her own home state after she said that this morning, three explosive devices were found in Austin, Texas. So she needs to unequivocally denounce the violence." Despite warnings from the attorney general, Crockett has doubled down on her stance, calling for a "Global Day of Action" to hit back at the Musk-founded company on March 29. "All I want to see happen on my birthday is for Elon to be taken down," Crockett said. Omni Mountain Resort & Spa could not be reached for comment. Fox News Digital's Max Bacall contributed to this article source: Vandal strikes Cybertruck, Tesla owner hits back
