The labor union representing Air Canada’s flight attendants has opted to forego mediation following a recent rejection of a proposed wage deal by its members, as stated by a spokesperson on Tuesday. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) spokesperson indicated that the union lacked confidence in the mediation process delivering satisfactory results regarding wage increases for its members. Consequently, the union is now pursuing an accelerated procedure to swiftly address the wage concerns and bring the matter to a close.
Air Canada has acknowledged and accepted the union’s request, ensuring that flight operations will continue without disruption. The airline referred to a statement on its website in response to the union’s decision, mentioning that CUPE had proposed bypassing mediation and proceeding directly to arbitration with respect to the wage component.
Last month, Air Canada passengers experienced significant flight cancellations due to the anticipation of a strike by the airline’s 10,000 flight attendants, which ultimately lasted three days. Following the intervention of Labor Minister Patty Hajdu invoking Section 107 of the Canada Labor Code and the Canada Industrial Relations Board’s involvement, workers were directed to return to their duties.
Despite this, union members persisted with the strike, leading to renewed negotiations between the parties. While a tentative agreement was reached between Air Canada and CUPE on August 19, it was subsequently voted down by the flight attendants earlier this month, prompting a return to mediation on the wage matter.
The union continues to assert that its represented cabin crew members are not receiving fair compensation and are not adequately remunerated for their non-flight duty hours. In a related development, CUPE’s WestJet branch announced its plans on Tuesday to engage in negotiations for a new collective agreement for its flight attendants, advocating for improved wages and an end to what they describe as unpaid work. The current collective agreement is set to expire on December 31.
