The union representing the approximately 10,000 Air Canada on -board agents finally refused enforceable arbitration on Friday, a few hours before the start of a strike.
The Canadian Public Service Syndicate (SCFP) has confirmed the information in an email to the Canadian press, adding that it wishes to negotiate at the table and that its members “can vote on their future working conditions and not have them imposed them”.
The Air Canada component of the SCFP had asked until Friday 12 noon to meet the request for the enforceable arbitration of the air carrier, made to the Federal Minister of Employment, Patty Hajdu.
And Minister Hajdu should also reject the Air Canada intervention request, said the union.
“Such a decision would reaffirm the principles of free collective negotiation and would force Air Canada to return to the negotiating table – where it should be – and to participate in good faith in the talks, where the parties could reach an agreement,” the union said in a press release.
“Instead of continuing the negotiations in good faith, as the law obliges it, Air Canada has chosen to withdraw from talks and seems to count on government intervention,” he added.
As of Friday noon, 294 flights were canceled, which represents 55,726 affected customers, announced Air Canada in a publication on X.
The airline has indicated that it would inform its customers of cancellations by email and by text message. She also recommends that they do not go to the airport unless you have a confirmed reservation and that their flight is still in service.
Customers whose flights are canceled will be offered a full refund. Air Canada also stressed that it allowed its customers to modify their travel plans at no cost if they wish.
Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, executive vice-president and Air Canada Human Resources chief, said Thursday that the airline recognized that the best solution would be to get out of the deadlock by negotiation.
Survey in favor of the strike
The SCFP also published a new Abacus Data survey on Friday suggesting that 59 % of Canadians believe that the federal government should respect the right of on -board agents to use pressure means, even if this leads to disturbances in travel.
In the weighted survey, led Thursday and Friday with 1,500 respondents, we can read 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, which represents a major point of friction in negotiations that led to an impasse.
“Despite the Air Canada’s half-truth campaign against its cabin staff, the Canadian population is clearly stored on the side of fairness and on-board agents,” said Wesley Lesosky, president of the Air Canada component of the SCFP, in a press release.
“Minister Hajdu must support equity and the rights of workers, and reject the Air Canada request, which aims to flout our right, guaranteed by the Charter, to negotiate to end unpaid work,” he said.
According to the probe, 76 % of respondents are favorable to an increase in the remuneration of Air Canada on -board agents “in order to reflect their important role in terms of security”. Four in five respondents declared themselves favorable to an increase in their remuneration to meet the increase in the cost of living.
“This is the peak of the season,” said Rafael Gomez, an associate professor specializing in labor relations at the University of Toronto. “The airline does not want to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in income. […] She almost plays who will give in with the navigating staff. »»
Last offer
Air Canada announced Thursday that its last proposal includes a 38 % increase in total remuneration over four years, including a new provision relating to ground remuneration, “at the forefront of industry in Canada”.
The proposal would provide “significant improvements” to health and retirement plans, an increase in paid leave and measures to respond to unions concerning unions concerning rest and personal life-life, said the airline.
The union rejected it, judging it “below inflation [et] market price ”.
According to Air Canada, its on -board agents would then be the best paid in Canada. The company added that its cabin staff are already gaining up to $ 17 more per hour than its counterparts from the main national competitor of Air Canada.
With the France-Presse agency