Air Canada, Union Resume Talks as Strike Disrupts Travel

Air Canada flight attendants resumed talks with the airline amid a strike over pay and unpaid ground duties, which has canceled hundreds of flights and stranded around 130,000 passengers. The union refuses to return to work until demands are met, while the airline defends its 38% pay increase offer. Government officials are pressing for a quick resolution.

Air Canada and the union representing 10,000 flight attendants resumed negotiations late Monday in Toronto, marking their first formal meeting since the crews initiated a strike over the weekend. The labor dispute centers on disagreements regarding pay and compensation for ground duties that flight attendants are currently not paid for performing. This includes essential tasks such as boarding passengers, which, under the current contract, do not count toward their paid working hours. The union has made it clear that until Air Canada addresses these issues and provides appropriate compensation, its members will not return to work. Presently, flight attendants receive payment only for hours spent in flight, leaving a significant portion of their work uncompensated.

The strike has now entered its fourth day, creating extensive disruption for both travelers and the airline. Daily cancellations have reached approximately 700 flights, leaving roughly 130,000 passengers stranded every day, a particularly severe impact during the height of the summer travel season. Airlines and airports are grappling with large numbers of affected travelers, many of whom face difficulties rescheduling flights or securing accommodations due to the sudden shortage of operational flights.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents the striking flight attendants, confirmed that discussions on Monday began under the guidance of mediator William Kaplan. Despite these talks, the union remains firm on its demands, emphasizing that a return to work will only occur if fair compensation for both wages and ground duties is negotiated. The union’s position underscores longstanding tensions over compensation structures, with flight attendants asserting that their workload has expanded significantly without a corresponding adjustment in pay.

Air Canada’s unionized flight attendants initially walked off the job on Saturday following the collapse of contract negotiations. The Canada Industrial Relations Board has since deemed the strike unlawful, adding a legal dimension to the ongoing dispute. Despite this, the union has publicly refused to comply with the order to return to work, insisting that a fair agreement must first be reached at the bargaining table.

Air Canada’s Chief Executive Officer, Michael Rousseau, has defended the airline’s offer, which includes a proposed 38% pay