Air Canada threatens to lock out its flight attendants, beginning as soon as this weekend. The airline is currently preparing to implement a contingency plan that would slowly scale back service. The airline’s decision follows months of negotiations with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents the flight attendants. Travel impacts may begin as soon as Thursday. Operations may be forced to remain closed for the duration of negotiations.
The lockout comes after Air Canada sent a proposal to the union on August 11, offering a 38% compensation increase over four years. CUPE has continued to demand full 100% wages for all hours worked and cost of living increases. The union says that Air Canada’s responses during the past eight months of negotiations have been frustrating. Interestingly, they play down their proposals by insisting that they are all about fairness and following industry standards.
Wesley Lesosky, president of the Air Canada Component of CUPE, stated, “For the past nine months, we have put forward solid, data-driven proposals on wages and unpaid work, all rooted in fairness and industry standards. Air Canada’s response to our proposals makes one thing clear: they are not interested in resolving these critical issues.”
In light of the ongoing tensions, Patty Hajdu, the Canadian minister of jobs and families, has engaged with both the flight attendants’ union and Air Canada. She remarked, “I am closely monitoring the situation and encourage both parties to stay at the table until a deal is found.”
Late Friday, Air Canada announced it will suspend all operations as of Saturday. Without a new agreement with CUPE, the suspension will remain in place indefinitely. The airline further warned that the potential for extraordinary travel disruption would increase as negotiations dragged on with no resolution.
Compensation disagreements are at the center of most of these negotiations. In addition, a hugely important topic that has blossomed is the need for flight attendants to be paid hourly wages for much of their time spent working on flights (a step mentioned during U.S. airlines’ discussion).
If Air Canada succeeds in going through with its plans, the burden on travelers will be significant. The airline’s lockout of flight attendants is poised to create widespread travel disruptions, leaving many passengers uncertain about their upcoming journeys.
