On Saturday, Air Canada’s flight attendants, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) went on strike. This shameful action affected more than 10,000 workers and stranded tens of thousands of passengers. The strike comes after eight months of unsuccessful negotiations between the cabin crew and the airline. They call for improved working conditions and equitable wages.
Due to the work stoppage, Air Canada says some 500,000 passengers have had their flights cancelled. The strike has led to significant travel disruptions across Canada and beyond, as the airline struggles to resume normal operations.
The Canadian government intervened on the side of corporations over the weekend, by serving a back-to-work order. CUPE has directed its members to ignore this command. On Monday, an independent federal arbitration panel found that the job action taken by Air Canada’s cabin crews was illegal. Notwithstanding this recent ruling, CUPE still appears committed to proceeding with the strike.
Air Canada had initially planned to have flights back in the air by Monday evening, but by Monday afternoon, operations were still grounded. On Wednesday, the airline said it was disappointed that it could not come to an agreement with the cabin crew union. Further, it recognized the strike’s debilitating impact on its passengers.
CUPE criticized Air Canada’s latest offer as inadequate, stating it was “below inflation, below market value, below minimum wage” and would leave flight attendants unpaid for several hours of work. Earlier this month, an overwhelming 99.7% of Air Canada’s flight attendants voted in favor of a strike, indicating strong support for union action.
CUPE’s national secretary-treasurer Candace Rennick said the union understands the inconvenience of this job action to the traveling public.
“Our fight is not with you. We do not want to be here,” – Candace Rennick
Rennick’s lively remarks highlighted the imperative need to address the plight of flight attendants. He noted that the majority of these essential workers are women who have waited long enough to receive the pay they deserve.
“But these workers who are mostly women have waited too long to have their issues addressed,” – Candace Rennick
Though they risk incurring fines or other sanctions for ignoring the federal government’s order, CUPE leaders promised they would face the music.
Mark Hancock, CUPE’s national president, voiced determination regarding the strike’s continuation.
“If Air Canada thinks planes will be flying this afternoon, they’re sorely mistaken,” – Mark Hancock
Hancock had previously declared his readiness to serve jail time for the cause.
“If it means folks like me going to jail, then so be it,” – Mark Hancock
The federal Canadian government has foisted binding arbitration on the parties to decide the dispute. CUPE has denounced this shift as a capitulation to corporate interests. Prime Minister Mark Carney told the House of Commons that he was disappointed at the breakdown of negotiations between Air Canada and its cabin crew.
“We are in a situation where literally hundreds of thousands of Canadians and visitors to our country are being disrupted by this action,” – Mark Carney