In the early hours of Wednesday morning, Air Canada’s flight attendants took strike action. This unprecedented action left hundreds of flights stranded across Canada. The labour dispute started in the early morning hours just before 1 a.m. ET, with talks leaving thousands of travellers stuck in their wake, forcing federal intervention.
To address the increasing crisis, the Canadian federal government intervened. They called for binding arbitration between Air Canada and its 10,000 flight attendants. To restore service, Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu ordered the Canada Industrial Relations Board to issue a back-to-work order. Even with these efforts, it can sometimes take five to ten days for regular flight service to resume.
The strike’s effects have been felt widely, with hundreds of thousands of passengers experiencing massive travel disruptions. Monique Cardoso, who was en route from Lisbon to Vancouver, expressed her frustration: “We were supposed to spend the day here, and have one last, fun day in Montreal, and then go home.”
Caputi found it just as hard to fly home to Thunder Bay, Ontario. I needed to do my job but it took about five different people until I got the answer I needed,” she said, weaving through the airport hubbub.
For Tanya Baron, it was supposed to be a simple family trip home to Saskatoon. Despite this response by Air Canada, she reported a very disappointing experience with their staff. They send us in one direction, they send us in another. But then they ask us to call some zero-emotion number where no human ever picks up. I get hung up on. They tell us to check the website. There’s literally no flights and no way to get home right now,” Baron said.
Bonnie Bradley recently returned from a 10-day vacation to Newfoundland. She had the same problems on her way back to Winnipeg. We are traveling with camping gear, so we’re planning to camp the whole way back,” she told us. One aspect she spoke to was how the strike had created unforeseen hurdles. She continued, “I don’t think anyone should have to work for free,” affirming her commitment to just labor practices.
Dmytro Okopmyi as he attempted to return to Halifax after a few days spent in Toronto. He said he was angry that Air Canada provided zero alternatives to rebook his flight. I don’t think anyone should have to work for free,” he said of the current labor turmoil.
Noel Nemeth, wanting to head back home to Edmonton as well, described challenges getting information about his travel on short notice. “And they haven’t answered me on what I can do to get home,” he said.
During an ongoing strike, fluid circumstances are the order of the day for impacted travelers. Thousands more are still left scrambling for alternative arrangements, and the confusion about how to rebook has only added to their misery.
