Air Canada has confirmed that it remains open negotiations with its flight attendants, even though the airline is preparing to stop work that could disrupt operations throughout the country.
The Montreal carrier reached a blockage with a department representing more than 10,500 flight attendants over salary and working conditions, despite eight months of negotiations. On Saturday, the airline and the Union could start a notice that disturbances of work could begin.
Air Canada emphasizes the impact on the traveler
“The sudden stop of work in airlines creates chaos for travelers,” said Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, Human Resources and Air Canada’s public affairs, during Toronto press briefing on Thursday. “We remain ready to continue discussions.”
The conference was briefly interrupted by flight attendants protesting against labels who read “unpaid work will not fly”, claiming that their compensation represents “wages of poverty”.
Cancellation of flight and disruption of passengers
Air Canada expects approximately 500 main flights and Air Canada Rouge to be canceled by Friday evening. From 1:00 on Saturday, all flights will be suspended under the direct operation of the airline, which will affect more than 130,000 passengers. The freight operations will also see a delay. However, regional flights operated by third -party suppliers within Air Canada Express will continue as usual.
The airline stated that the affected passengers would be offered full compensation and, if possible, an alternative travel arrangement through competing airlines.
Air Canada, who was looking for a resolution, asked the Canadian government to order a binding arbitration procedure that could force stewardess back to work and deliver the final settlement. Meanwhile, the Union, associated with the Canadian Association of Public Employees (CUPE), appealed to Prime Minister Mark Carney to respect the rights of workers to the freedom to negotiate their collective agreement.
Minister of Labor requires a compromise
The Canadian Labor Minister, Patty Hajda, urged both sides to achieve a compromise. “Bids closed at the barbed table are the best,” she said in a statement on social media. “I encouraged both sides to postpone the differences and return to the negotiations for the traveler.”
Air Canada proposed an increase in total compensation, including benefits and bonuses, by 25 % in the first year and 38 % in four years, along with a reward for certain obligations filled on Earth. Currently, the flight attendants are only rewarded when the aircraft is in motion, which is a common practice in the aerospace industry.
Meloul-Wechsler noted that the negotiations began by requiring the CUPE increase of salaries exceeding 100 %. However, the Union claims that the offer of 38 % of the airlines is reflected in only 17.2 % increase for four years and does not reach inflation and industry standards, so the stewardesses leave the stewardesses unpaid for considerable hours of work.
(With Bloomberg inputs)
(Tagstotranslate) Air Canada (T) Flight Attendants (T) Labor Disruption (T) Flight Cancellations (T) Collective Agreement (T) Air Canada Strike (T) Air Canada Flight Airline Labor Dispute (T) Canadian Aviation News (T) Air Canada Negotiations (T) Passenger DisrupTions (T) Air Canada Compensation Dispute (T) Montreal Airline News (T) Airline Protests (T) Labor Block Block (T) Canadian Government (T) Air Canada Rouge Flights (T) Air Canada Rouge Flights (T) Air Canada Express (T) Canadian Travel Report (T) Fortrexel (T)
