The union representing more than 10,000 Air Canada on -board agents announced that its members started a strike, failing to have been able to conclude a last -minute agreement with the airline.
The strike officially started on Saturday, shortly before 1 a.m. in the early morning.
The airline has announced that all Air Canada and Red Air Canada flights will be canceled due to the work stoppage.
About 130,000 customers will be affected every day of strike, the company said.
“Air Canada deeply regrets the repercussions of the strike on its customers,” the company said in a statement early Saturday morning.
Air Canada Express flights, operated by third jazz and PAL airlines are not affected.
The Canadian Air Canada Component of the Canadian Public Service (SCFP) said that strike stakes will be deployed at Canada airports, notably in Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver.
Striker board agents also provide strike stakes at Halifax, Ottawa and Winnipeg airports.
“The negotiations between Air Canada and the SCFP are deadlocked,” the union said in a press release early Saturday morning.
“We are deeply saddened for our passenger and passengers. We do not want to go on strike and we do not want to be lockout, but it is clear that Air Canada had no intention of negotiating. ”
An intervention by the federally?
Air Canada had previously asked the Minister of Employment, Patty Hajdu, to intervene by ordering the parties to use enforceable arbitration, a power conferred on the Minister by article 107 of the Canadian Labor Code.
On Friday, Ms. Hajdu urged Air Canada and the union to return to the negotiating table, suggesting that she was not ready to intervene in the conflict. The minister said that the union had indicated that several of his claims had been satisfied, which suggests that there is a way to an agreement.
Minister Hajdu had asked the union to respond to the request of the company. The SCFP said on Friday that it opposed arbitration, now its desire to get out of the deadlock by negotiation.
Although the government has not announced its intention to intervene, the union seemed to suggest throughout the week that the situation could be about to change.
The SCFP has accused Air Canada of refusing to negotiate in good faith “due to the probability that the federal government uses article 107 of the Canadian Labor Code to interfere in negotiations and obtain the taxation of a collective agreement by an external arbitrator”.
The union said that its main friction points concerned salaries, which were exceeded by inflation during its previous 10 -year employment contract, as well as unpaid work when planes are not in flight.
“Air Canada still refuses to remunerate on -board agents for all hours worked,” said the press release from the SCFP.
“The union has been firm: all security -related tasks should be remunerated at full hourly rate. Air Canada does not agree. Regarding wages, the latest air Canada offer will let the on -board agents live below the poverty line for many years. ”
Canadians in favor of respect for the right to strike
On Friday, the union published a survey led by Abacus Data indicating that 59 % of Canadians believe that the federal government should respect the right to strike by on -board agents, even if this leads to travel disruptions.
The weighted survey conducted Thursday and Friday with 1,500 respondents revealed that 88 % of Canadians estimate that on -board agents should be remunerated for all tasks related to their work, including boarding, delays and security checks.
In addition, 80 % of respondents declared themselves favorable to an increase in the remuneration of on -board agents to meet the increase in the cost of living.
Air Canada said that its last proposal provided for a 38 % increase in total remuneration over four years, including a new provision relating to the ground travel allowances “at the cutting edge of industry in Canada”.
The proposal would provide “significant improvements” to health and retirement healthcare regimes, an increase in paid holidays and measures to respond to union concerns concerning rest and personal life-life, said the airline.
“Air Canada on -board agents will be the best paid in Canada,” said the company, adding that its cabin staff are already earning up to $ 17 per hour than its counterparts from the main national competitor of Air Canada.
Air Canada has canceled more than 600 flights in the last two days in anticipation of a possible work stoppage, affecting 100,000 passengers.
The company has indicated that it would inform customers whose trip is imminent of other canceled flights and the options available to them.
Air Canada clarified that passengers whose flight is canceled will be offered a full refund or the possibility of modifying their travel plans at no cost.
The company added that it strongly recommends that affected customers do not go to the airport unless you have a confirmed ticket to a airline other than Air Canada or Red Air Canada.
For customers who must travel soon and whose flights are not yet canceled, Air Canada has indicated that it implements a policy allowing them to modify their reservation or obtain a credit for a future trip.