Negotiations between the airline and the Air Canada component of the Canadian Public Service Syndicate (SCFP) resumed on Monday evening with a federal mediator. After negotiating overnight, the two parties concluded an agreement shortly after 4 am on Tuesday morning.
“Your right to vote on your salaries has been preserved,” the union wrote in a message addressed to its members on social networks.
The union did not provide details on the content of the agreement in principle, but he proclaimed himself to have “ended unpaid work”. The remuneration of the work carried out outside the flight hours was one of the main demands of on -board agents.
The union will submit the agreement to its members during virtual meetings. He added that he must indicate to his members that they are “required to cooperate fully on the resumption of operations” from Air Canada.
The conclusion of this agreement in principle – and the announcement of the end of the strike – will be welcomed with relief by the many travelers who have seen their plans are upset since the start of the work stoppage on Saturday.
Air Canada said Air Canada and Red Air Canada flights will resume “evening” on Tuesday, but warned that the impacts of the work conflict could be felt to be “seven to ten days”.
Indeed, since the devices and crews are not positioned where they should, some flights will be canceled in the coming days, either “until the schedule is stabilized”.
“The resumption of service of a large carrier like Air Canada is a complex task. The complete recovery of our activities could take a week or more, “said the president and chief executive officer of Air Canada, Michael Rousseau, in a press release.
“We therefore ask our customers to be patient and understanding in the coming days. I want to assure them that everyone in Air Canada is doing everything possible to allow them to take place on a flight soon. ”
Air Canada has reiterated that only customers with confirmed reservations and whose flights are displayed as expected must go to the airport.
About 500,000 customers affected
The agreement in principle was concluded after many twists and turns.
Only a few hours after the strike is launched and the imposition of a lockout on Saturday, the federal government intervened in the conflict by invoking article 107 of the Labor Code to force the two parties to submit to enforceable arbitration.
This decision was challenged by union officials, which prompted the Canadian Industrial Relations Council to declare on Monday that the strike was illegal.
Despite everything, the union continued its strike, until the conclusion of the agreement in principle.
“When our rights were removed from us, we stood up, strong, we fought – and we have concluded an agreement in principle that our members can endorse,” the SCFP wrote in a press release.
Air Canada estimated on Monday that some 500,000 customers had seen their flights be canceled due to the labor conflict.
Company in this dispatch: (TSX: AC)
