Early Saturday morning, Air Canada flight attendants went on strike. This highly questionable action caused enormous disruptions for thousands of domestic and international travelers and had devastating impacts on the broader Canadian economy. The work stoppage began around 1 a.m. ET, resulting in the cancellation of 662 flights by 11:00 a.m. ET, including 342 domestic and 320 international flights. The strike has been said to affect over 130,000 customers each day, stranding many and cutting off transport of crucial pharmaceuticals.
Air Canada’s flight attendants voted resoundingly in favor of a strike. In response to management’s attacks on their ability to negotiate, 99.7% of them voted in favor of a system-wide work stoppage. This move reflects their frustration with ongoing negotiations with the airline regarding compensation and working conditions, which they deemed inadequate given the company’s profitability.
The circle got tighter and pressure mounted until Canadian Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu intervened. So in short order she called for special legislation and directed the CIRB to require Air Canada and its workers to go back to work. The broader goal of the intervention is to make sure the airline comes to an agreement with its flight attendants—who count for more than 10,000.
“They need some help in arbitrating the final items.” – Patty Hajdu
Importantly, Hajdu reiterated throughout the press conference that the federal government is not anti-union and is instead focused on ensuring that negotiations can continue in good faith. She knew that Air Canada and the union workers were at an impasse. Even with these powerful connections established, they still required technical assistance to round out their conversations.
Air Canada has asserted that its current offer would position its flight attendants as the best compensated in the country. According to union representatives, the union-busting government intervention violated thousands of workers’ rights to have collective bargaining.
Wesley Lesosky, a representative for the flight attendants, expressed concern over the government’s actions, stating, “Now, when we’re at the bargaining table with an obstinate employer, the Liberals are violating our Charter rights to take job action and give Air Canada exactly what they want.”
The strike’s economic impacts go well beyond traveler convenience. As long as critical goods continue undelivered, the situation threatens economic stability. Air Canada is now recommending travellers avoid going to the airport. Only people with ticketed reservations for regularly scheduled revenue flights are allowed to visit.
“We still ask customers not to go to the airport unless they have a confirmed booking and their flight is shown as operating.” – Air Canada
WestJet Airlines is working to respond to the strike’s effects, diverting travelers affected by the strike. They are resourcing aircraft of larger gauge on trunk routes and judiciously building up capacity with additional rotations. The airline’s proactive measures are designed to mitigate some of the pressure created by the new, protracted war at Air Canada.
Air Canada’s management has said that normal operations may be able to return in five to ten days. That’s only true if the suspension doesn’t come to an end.
Processes such as mediation and arbitration are expedited Hajdu, adding that the CIRB has the authority to expedite certain processes. These issues typically take 24 to 48 hours to fix. To this day, those negotiations have taken place under federal supervision. Air Canada and its flight attendants stand at a fork in the road that may profoundly impact the course of labor relations in the airline sector.
