The union representing 10,400 Air Canada flight attendants, CUPE, has filed for conciliation after contract talks with the airline broke down, raising the possibility of a strike in mid-August if no new deal is reached. The existing contract expired in March after 10 years.
CUPE president Wesley Lesosky criticized Air Canada for refusing to acknowledge changes since 2015 and accused the company of delaying negotiations. The union demands pay for pre-boarding work, currently unpaid, which averages about 35 hours weekly, plus scheduling changes, safety and fatigue measures, and better retirement security.
A federal conciliator will be appointed within 15 days to facilitate talks, which may last up to 60 days. If no agreement is reached, a 21-day cooling-off period follows, after which CUPE can issue a 72-hour strike notice. This timeline puts a possible strike starting around August 17.
Air Canada stated it remains committed to negotiating in good faith and encourages customers to continue booking with confidence. However, travel experts warn a strike could disrupt thousands of passengers even if it lasts only a few days.
Regarding refunds, passengers affected by cancellations due to a strike are entitled to full refunds without cancellation fees but are not compensated for inconvenience. Passengers seeking changes before cancellations may face restrictions under airline policies.
Source: Swifteradio.com
