In Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary, attendants in full uniform stood in silent lines, a show of unity organized by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents more than 10,000 Air Canada cabin crew. The move comes after members voted 99.7 percent in favor of a strike mandate last week.
If no deal is reached, flight attendants could walk off the job as early as 12:01 am ET on Saturday, August 16, following the union’s legally required 72-hour notice.
“You’ll see flight attendants in their uniforms, standing in silence in support of their union while they negotiate with our employer,” said Shanyn Elliott, co-chair of CUPE’s Mobilization and Engagement Committee.Why the strike?
The dispute centers on wages and unpaid duties. CUPE says attendants are not paid for required safety checks, boarding and deplaning, or providing first aid on the ground, even though they are responsible for passenger safety during those times.
Bloomberg reported that Air Canada had offered a 32.5 percent wage increase, saying it would make its flight attendants the best paid in Canada and address ground pay. The airline has not confirmed the figure publicly, and CUPE says no such formal offer has been made.
“Air Canada remains at the table and is focused on achieving a deal with CUPE that recognizes the contributions of its flight attendants and supports the competitiveness and long-term growth of the company,” said vice president of communications Christophe Hennebelle in a statement.
Travel experts warn passengers it’s too late to buy strike-related trip cancellation insurance, since it’s now considered a “known cause.” Martin Firestone, president of Travel Secure Inc., advises booking refundable tickets with another airline as a backup.
Negotiations are continuing this week. If they fail, Canada’s largest airline could face major disruptions in the peak of summer travel season.