Air Canada flight attendants’ strike entered its fourth day on Tuesday, causing widespread disruption for hundreds of thousands of summer travellers, despite the union confirming that talks with the airline have resumed.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) has defied a federal labour board order to send its members back to work, creating a tense three-way standoff involving the company, the workers, and the government.
This dispute is now being closely watched by other labour organisations.
CUPE stated on Facebook late Monday that its representatives had met with Air Canada and mediator William Kaplan in Toronto, but stressed that the industrial action remains ongoing.
The two parties had not engaged in discussions since before the strike began. A source indicated that any further mediation is contingent on the flight attendants returning to their duties.
Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu has urged both sides to accept government mediation.
She has also increased pressure on Air Canada by pledging to investigate allegations of unpaid work within the airline sector – a key grievance for flight attendants who argue they are not compensated for tasks performed on the ground, such as boarding passengers.
This demand for pay for ground duties has been a central part of their contract negotiations for months.
Air Canada’s CEO defended the airline’s offer of a 38 per cent boost to flight attendants’ total compensation on Monday but acknowledged a big gap with the union’s demands and stopped short of offering plans to break the deadlock.
The union has said Air Canada’s offer only accounts for 17.2 per cent higher wages over four years.
CUPE’s leader said earlier he would risk jail time rather than allow cabin crews to be forced back to work by the labour board, which declared the strike unlawful.
The union says the strike will continue until the carrier negotiates on wages and unpaid work, even after the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) declared the strike unlawful.
Retiree Klaus Hickman missed a flight to Toronto earlier in the week. While he rebooked on another airline, he was concerned about…
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