Air Canada has asked federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu to refer the dispute to binding arbitration, but she urges both sides to come to an agreement independently.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
The labour dispute between Air Canada AC-T and its flight attendants reached a new height Thursday morning as union employees, some in uniform, interrupted an Air Canada news conference to protest the stalled talks.
Demonstrators held signs that read “Poverty Wages = UnCanadian” and “UnFair Canada.” It led to the abrupt end of the news conference.
Air Canada and the Air Canada Component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees have both blamed the other side for stalling negotiations and providing misinformation about the offers on the table.
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Natasha Stea, who represents Montreal flight attendants as President of CUPE Local 4091, said “we just want to get a fair and equitable contract for our flight attendants who are below minimum wage and we just want to get compensated for all the work that we do.”
In contrast, Air Canada officials insist that the deal on the table would make the more than 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants the best paid in the country.
Air Canada flight attendants interrupt company executives during a press conference on Thursday.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
“We have made offers and responded to every offer CUPE has made, including the last one,” said Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, Air Canada’s executive vice president of Chief Human Resources Officer and Public Affairs.
Air Canada has asked federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu to refer the dispute to binding arbitration, Ms. Hajdu said in a Thursday morning statement, and passed that request to the union.
She urged both sides to come to an agreement independently because travellers are counting on the airline and believes deals are best made at the bargaining table.
Are you affected by a possible Air Canada flight attendant strike?
The union representing around 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants could go on strike as early as Aug. 16 after negotiations between the two sides reached an impasse, and the company has already begun to cancel flights. Our reporters want to hear from passengers that have had their plans affected by the possible strike. Have you had to switch your flights or change your travel schedule? Share your story in the box below.