The episode that we have just lived revealed 1-Things that we did not know among the on-board agents, 2-What the support of a population is a powerful engine, 3 that the unions have in the belly, 4-One strategy of a carrier which has proven to be “to review”, 5-a government which demonstrates a new annoying habit.
Open Jaw Quebec has been traveling the tribunes of analysis for a few days, on the strike of Air Canada on -board agents, and notes that what has just happened is a historic event. And some analysts even claim that this “Air Canada case” will be “case of study” in the faculties of rights and labor relations …
Résumé.
First, several stands report numerous testimonies of citizens who were surprised to learn that in 2025 workers were not remunerated for certain hours they worked. And the surprise was even greater when the population found that several decision -makers and decision -making bodies of our professional sphere were not aware either.
This episode also revealed that Air Canada on -board agents were less paid than ons of Air Transat and other carriers.
Then there is this:
« Marc Carney’s government has realized that using article 107, which is becoming a habit of this government to put an end to work conflicts, well it requires a little more reflection. And in the case of the strike of air Canada on -board agents, we had pressed the bad button Said this morning Chantal Hébert, political analyst, on Radio-Canada.
For what?
« Because the sympathy of the public was not at all on the side of Air Canada, but rather on the side of the strikers. »
A survey commissioned by the Canadian Public Service Union, which represents the Air Canada on -board agents, had indeed revealed the results which proved that a majority proportion of the population was behind on -board agents, even if this population suffered from flight cancellations.
This sympathy for on -board agents, on the part of the population, was a real fact long before the start of the conflict that we have just experienced, but it has amplified when the population learned that these on -board agents were not remunerated for their work accomplished before the doors of an aircraft close.
This sympathy would have been a powerful engine for the union of on -board agents. Knowing the population mainly favorable to its cause, even if it suffered from the situation (cancellations of thefts, chaos in airports), this sympathy would have brought a breath strong enough to bring the union to say that it is ready to go to prison if this is what awaited it (let us specify here that the allusion to the prison came from the fact that by taking off in the order to return to work, the union was able to court, if the Air Canada case would lead to court).
Let us stay in the garden of the union of air Canada on -board agents, to emphasize that he had the support of other unions and counted on a cushion of around 148 million dollars to assume fresh, fines and others to go to the end.
A statement of reflection
Another event in this conflict revealed a lesson to remember:
« Air Canada’s president’s statement yesterday, Michael Rousseau, did not like it either. Saying “I thought that article 107 would settle everything”, Clearly, he said “I was counting on the federal government to settle everything” “says Chantal Hébert.
Recall that article 107 stipulates that the Minister of Labor, when it is appropriate or required to promote good understanding in the world of work, may order the measures he deems necessary.
That said, on the government side, for having taken the initiative to use this article 107 revealed a habit, not only disturbing, but annoying. Because here: in less than two years, the government of Trudeau/Carney has used this article several times, “to silence the unions”, which makes it possible to fear this: ” If the government continues to act like this, the wall that awaits it, it is a major social crisis, not with the agents of Air Canada, but with the entire union movement “Indicates analyst Chantal Hébert.
