Air Canada has ground to a halt as over 10,000 flight attendants, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), launched a strike early Saturday, leaving approximately 130,000 daily passengers stranded worldwide during the peak summer travel season. The airline announced a complete suspension of operations after failing to reach a deal with the union by the midnight deadline, exacerbating travel disruptions across Canada and beyond.
The strike began around 1 AM EDT, with flight attendants walking off the job and Air Canada initiating a lockout, barring them from airport facilities. The breakdown in negotiations followed months of contentious talks, with both sides unable to agree on critical issues, particularly wages and compensation for unpaid work during ground time. CUPE rejected Air Canada’s request for government-directed arbitration, which would have prevented the strike by allowing a third-party mediator to impose contract terms.
Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu intervened late Friday, urging both parties to resolve the dispute. “Canadians deserve better progress. Both sides must prioritize a fair agreement,” Hajdu posted on social media. Despite a last-minute meeting involving Hajdu, CUPE, and Air Canada, no breakthrough was achieved. CUPE spokesperson Hugh Pouliot emphasized the union’s willingness to negotiate, stating, “We’ve been ready to bargain, but Air Canada hasn’t countered our last two offers since Tuesday.”
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The impact on travelers is profound, with an estimated 25,000 Canadians stranded abroad daily. Montreal resident Alex Laroche, 21, and his girlfriend face uncertainty over their $8,000 European vacation, with nonrefundable lodging booked for their now-canceled flight to Nice, France. “It’s a waiting game,” Laroche said, noting that alternative flights on other airlines are either fully booked or prohibitively expensive, costing over double their original $3,000 tickets. Air Canada has promised full refunds and is exploring rebooking options through partner airlines, but warned that availability is limited due to high summer demand.
The airline’s latest offer included a 38% increase in total compensation over four years, which it claimed would make its flight attendants the best-paid in Canada. However, CUPE dismissed the proposed 8% first-year raise as insufficient, citing inflation and the financial strain of unpaid ground duties. “The wages are barely livable,” Laroche remarked, expressing sympathy for the flight attendants after learning about their working conditions.
The standoff has sparked frustration among passengers, with many, like Laroche, initially upset but growing empathetic toward the workers’ demands. Air Canada’s Chief Operating Officer, Mark Nasr, warned that resuming full operations could take up to a week even if a tentative deal is reached soon, prolonging the chaos for travelers.
As the strike continues, the economic and personal toll mounts. Small businesses reliant on summer tourism and families planning long-awaited trips are among the hardest hit. The union remains firm, demanding fair pay and better working conditions, while Air Canada insists its offer is competitive. With no immediate resolution in sight, Canadians and international travelers brace for further disruptions, hoping for a swift end to the impasse.
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