Air Canada conflict: multiple repercussions

With the information of Inès Lombardo, Marine Ernoult and Julien Cayouette.

Air Canada staff have been on strike for 1 hour (eastern time) on Saturday. Therefore, Before even starting, the conflict had repercussions on people traveling. However, The French service issues of the national air carrier are not part of the equation for the moment.

The Canadian Public Service Syndicate (SCFP) reiterated eight requests in a press release yesterday, on the eve of the strike. Similarly, The conflict mainly relates to wage issues. Therefore,

“The federal minimum wage is $ 17.75 per hour, or $ 2840 per month. Consequently, Air Canada junior on -board on -board agent only earn $ 1952 per month. Nevertheless, These are wages of misery, ”said the union in the press release. Moreover,

What Air Canada refutes. Moreover, who says that a 38 % salary increase air canada conflict: multiple repercussions is on the table “for months”, according to Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, vice-president and human resources and public affairs chief at Air Canada, at a press conference on Thursday morning. Therefore,

This offer. However, mentioned by the airline in a press release the next day, is an “increase in global remuneration over four years […] This includes pensions and work on the ground ”, another stumbling block between the two parties. In addition,

“Air Canada on -board agent are not remunerated for hours spent performing essential tasks related to security. Furthermore, boarding, landing, emergency, etc. Therefore, On -board agent deserve to be paid for all hours worked, “insists the SFCP, in its press release. Moreover,

According to Air Canada. However, the hourly wage increases by 12 to 16 % in the first year, while the SCFP denounces that the company “offers on -board agents that an increase of 8 air canada conflict: multiple repercussions % the first year of their new contract and only 17.2 % over the four years of the contract”, against 38 % highlighted by the company.

Air canada conflict: multiple repercussions

No linguistic stake during negotiations – Air canada conflict: multiple repercussions

Air Canada is one of the targets that is. most frequently subject to complaints to the official Canadian Languages Commissioner. Despite this, the union stresses that this question is not part of the discussions.

“For the moment the issues are linked to unpaid work. to the wages of misery,” replied a representative of the SCFP, in an email in Francopresse. When publishing, Air Canada had not answered our questions.

Even if the air carrier was no longer at the top of the number of complaints concerning the non-compliance with the linguistic rights of Francophones in the past two years. there are many of them. The police station received 847 in 2023-2024 and 1163 for the year 2024-2025.

The SCFP claims to have “always [soutenu] Bilingualism requests from air canada conflict: multiple repercussions travelers. Hiring procedures at Air Canada should reflect this important issue. ”

Travelers stuck abroad

Air Canada had started to cancel flights on Thursday. creating complications for anyone traveling, but also for festivals and other carriers.

Alexandrine Khalid-Leroux, on vacation in Greece since August 8, says he is “a little nervous” since the announcement. The Franco-Ontarian is supposed to take off from Athens on board Air Canada on August 17 to return to Ottawa.

“It adds stress to my vacation,” says the young woman. After the 17th, I was not planned in terms of hotels. It makes unforeseen expenses, but you have to stay flexible. »»

In an email that she received on Thursday August 14. Air Canada offered her three possibilities: modify her flight at no cost, cancel it with a refund in the form of travel credit or keep her current reservation and try, in the worst air canada conflict: multiple repercussions case, to find a place on another flight. In a publication of August 15, the carrier, however, said that the latter possibility was “unlikely”.

The nurse had not yet made a decision on Thursday. She does not have much time, because she must be back at work on August 19.

Repercussions on cultural events

In Sudbury. Ontario in Ontario, the Bilingual Music and Up Here Art Festival Up Here had to change its programming at the last minute, because the flight of the Canadian group Miesha and the Spanks was canceled, which forced the withdrawal of these artists.

The artistic co -director of the festival. Christian Pelletier, also confirms that another artist is stuck in Montreal due to the impact of cancellations, even if he was traveling on the wings of another airline.

“We are still in standby For two other possible cancellations, ”he said on Friday.

Lucky. air canada conflict: multiple repercussions the television show of the National Day of Acadia which took place in Charlottetown on August 15 did not suffer any problems.

Artists from Louisiana, like Zachary Richard, or Newfoundland, like Port-aux-Poutines, were able to participate in the concert as planned.

« Ils [étaient] Already arrived a few days ago. for spectators, many people come to the Auto de l’Ile or other maritime provinces, “explains Émile Gallant, the director general of the Carrefour de l’Isle-Saint-Jean, who organizes the event with the National Society of Acadia.

Middle transportation means in demand

The Marine Atlantique company. which operates the ferry service between Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, expects to receive “more calls for reservations in the coming days”, according to its communication manager, Darrell Mercer.

“This is a real problem, because the service is already very very busy, almost at full capacity,” worries the latter. We don’t have many air canada conflict: multiple repercussions spaces available in the next two weeks. »»

The four ships, which liability between the three Atlantic provinces, can accommodate 1000 people each.

“It is the passengers with vehicle who pose the biggest problem. We don’t have enough room, explains Darrell Mercer. People can come to our terminals without reservation. get in line, but they will not have a guarantee of having a place. »»