Air Canada FAs Issue 72-hour Strike Notice, Airline Responds

‍MONTREAL — The union representing more than 10,000 mainline flight attendants at Canadian flag carrier Air Canada (AC) and its subsidiary Air Canada Rouge has issued a 72-hour strike notice, paving the way for a strike to begin on Saturday, August 16 at 00:58 EDT.

The notice was issued early Wednesday morning following a reported impasse between the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and AC’s management. Air Canada, in a statement late on Tuesday, said that the two sides were far apart in negotiations.

Last week, flight attendants showed up in record numbers (94.6% of eligible flight attendants) to vote 99.7% in favor of strike action. The CUPE and AC have been negotiating a new collective agreement since March, focusing on wages, inflation, unpaid hours before and after flights, as well as work rules. 

In the CUPE’s notice, the union stated, “Regrettably, the Company ceased to engage in meaningful dialogue on these critical issues, leaving us no choice but to move forward in a manner that may impact the travel plans and long-anticipated vacations of the public. We do not take this lightly.”

Subsequently, at 1:30 EDT, AC issued a 72-hour lockout notice to the CUPE and its flight attendant representees. “With no reasonable prospect of reaching an agreement at this time, we cannot responsibly leave our respective customers, employees, and operations in daily uncertainty, under the indefinite risk of a CUPE work stoppage,” the airline said in the notice.

Air Canada Responds

Following the union's notification of its intention to strike, AC has given the CUPE the required 72-hour lockout notice.

To minimize disturbance and provide passengers with assurance, the airline will start a gradual suspension of most operations, which will be finished in the following three days.  In order to settle the conflict, AC has also requested government-directed arbitration.

The scope of flight disruptions is not yet clear; however, many flights will likely be cancelled preemptively to ensure crews and aircraft make it back to bases before the strike begins. Jazz and PAL Airlines flights operated under the Air Canada Express banner will not be affected by this strike.