OTTAWA, CANADA | Air Canada and its flight attendants have reached a tentative deal to end the strike. Both the airline and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) confirmed the agreement early Tuesday morning.
Agreement Reached After Mediated Talks
CUPE, representing over 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants, confirmed that after nine hours of mediated talks, the deal was struck. The agreement will be presented to CUPE’s membership for ratification.
Gradual Return to Service
Air Canada confirmed the deal and announced that flights would gradually resume starting Tuesday evening. Michael Rousseau, CEO of Air Canada, urged patience from customers, noting that full restoration might take up to a week. He apologized for the disruption and emphasized the complexity of restarting Air Canada’s operations.
Background of the Strike and Government Intervention
The strike began early on Saturday. Hours later, the Canadian government invoked a Canada Labour Code provision to mandate binding arbitration through the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB). However, CUPE rejected this step, accusing Air Canada of anticipating the intervention and not negotiating in good faith. CIRB deemed CUPE’s refusal to comply with the back-to-work order as “unlawful.”
Impact of the Strike
The strike disrupted the travel plans of 130,000 passengers daily. This was the first job action by Air Canada flight attendants since the 1980s. Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed disappointment at the impasse, but emphasized that flight attendants must receive fair compensation.
Timeline of Negotiations
After contract negotiations failed in March, CUPE served a 72-hour strike notice last Wednesday. William Kaplan, the mediator who previously assisted in Canada Post labor talks, facilitated the negotiations leading to this tentative deal.
Conclusion
The tentative deal between Air Canada and its flight attendants puts an end to the strike and paves the way for the gradual resumption of flights. With CUPE members set to ratify the deal, Air Canada is working to restore its operations.
