Flight attendants for Air Canada are continuing their strike despite a federal order mandating their return to work. This strike, which involves over 10,000 flight attendants, has led to significant disruptions, stranding countless passengers since flights were grounded on Saturday.
The Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) issued a directive on Monday for the flight attendants to return to work, extending an expired collective agreement until a new one is negotiated. However, union representatives have indicated a willingness to face penalties, including fines or imprisonment, rather than comply with this order.
Following the strike notice, Air Canada has canceled approximately 500,000 flights and announced that full operations could take several days to resume. Customers were informed of potential continued disruptions, with some flights projected to be canceled in the next week. Air Canada noted that passengers in Canada would not qualify for compensation for changes due to the strike.
The union’s decision to strike came after contract negotiations with Air Canada reached a standstill. The company had proposed a total compensation increase of 38% over four years, including a 25% raise in the first year, which the union argued was insufficient given rising living costs and unpaid hours worked. Approximately 99.7% of union members voted in favor of the strike earlier this month.
In response to the situation, the Canadian government invoked Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, compelling both parties to enter binding arbitration to resolve their differences and minimize disruptions to travel. The union criticized this government action as an infringement on their rights and expressed concerns that it would delay finding a long-term solution.
Passengers affected by canceled flights will be notified by Air Canada and offered refunds or alternative travel options.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq680gm5q86o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss