Oh my, grab your popcorn…
In this post:
Air Canada flight attendants defy Canadian government
For several months, Air Canada flight attendants have been in negotiations for a new contract. The situation really escalated over the past week.
Earlier in the week, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents Air Canada’s roughly 10,000 flight attendants, issued a 72-hour strike warning. Air Canada management responded by issuing a flight attendant lockout notice, meaning that all Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights would be canceled as of Saturday, August 16, 2025.
Indeed, all flights ended up being canceled yesterday. However, the Canadian government quickly stepped in. Patty Hajdu, Canada’s Minister of Jobs and Families, exercised her authorities under section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, to compel the two parties to enter binding arbitration with the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB).
This is what Air Canada management was calling for all along, while the union was opposed to this, since it means that members wouldn’t be able to vote on a new contract. With the government’s plan for binding arbitration, it meant that Air Canada could resume operations as of 2PM EDT today, Sunday, August 17, 2025…
…or so the government and Air Canada management thought? Air Canada has now suspended its plan to resume operations, after it claims the union “illegally directed its flight attendant members to defy” the order to return to work. Now Air Canada claims it will resume operations as of the evening of Monday, August 18, 2025, though let’s see how that plays out.
Earlier today, a union representative stated that “our membership are not going back to work,” claiming the “whole process has been unfair,” and that the union plans to challenge what it calls an unconstitutional order. “Air Canada has really refused to bargain with us and they refused to bargain with us because they knew this government would come in on their white horse and try and save the day.”
I’m curious to see how this all plays out…
I’m no expert on Canadian labor laws, but this sure seems like an exceptionally messy situation. You have a company and a union at war, then you have the government try to step in, and then you have the union claim that the government is acting unconstitutionally. A few thoughts:
- I’m curious what punishment flight attendants could face for defying these orders, either with the company or with the government
- If the union plans to challenge the government’s claim, then this doesn’t seem like something that’s going to be resolved very quickly, so I wouldn’t count on Air Canada resuming operations very soon
- This is one of the messiest airline labor contract disputes that we’ve seen in… a very long time? I can’t help but wonder if things will go back to normal when this is all done, or if the bad blood will last for a long time
I’ve gotta say, I’m a bit puzzled by Canada’s labor laws here. On the one hand, Canada has much more labor-friendly policies in terms of actually letting airline employees go on strike, unlike in the United States, where it’s very close to impossible.
But then at the same time, if airline employees go on strike, the government can just use its authorities under section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, which gives the government broad discretionary powers to intervene in labor disputes to maintain or secure industrial peace. That seems to take a lot of rights away from employees, no? It’s basically like “you have the right to go on strike, unless we don’t feel like allowing you to.”
Bottom line
On Saturday, Air Canada flight attendants went on strike, as part of a bitter contract dispute. Within a day, the Canadian government stepped in to try and stop the strike, and force management and the union into binding arbitration. With this, flight attendants were supposed to return to work as of this afternoon, though the union is defying that order, claims it’s unconstitutional, and flight attendants will remain on strike…
How do you see this dispute playing out?
you gotta keep this story on the front page, Ben.
This is big news for the labor movement.
It looks increasingly like it is going to get nasty.
Air Canada didn't figure it would be thrust in the middle of a national worker movement but Canadians support the FAs.
yes - i agree....it appears the CUPE membership is ready for jail.....
I am thankful i dont need to fly AC (i actually fly Porter). But given the government has created a dependant child that is Air Canada...both the government and AC deserve this.....AC has the worst customer service...worst OTP....some of the worst on board food.....they have stranded me(lost baggage etc) more times over the past 20 years than all other carriers i have flown...
yes - i agree....it appears the CUPE membership is ready for jail.....
I am thankful i dont need to fly AC (i actually fly Porter). But given the government has created a dependant child that is Air Canada...both the government and AC deserve this.....AC has the worst customer service...worst OTP....some of the worst on board food.....they have stranded me(lost baggage etc) more times over the past 20 years than all other carriers i have flown combined by a long shot....they have personally cost me a lot of money in hotels, extra clothes, etc....let them fail and start again.
I have closely reviewed the Air Canada contract and find nothing that prevents a tip jar near the boarding door. Surely, many passengers who consider the FA compensation to be inadequate, could contribute something to the cause. Especially if they are leaving Canada for destinations where their small change and low-denomination loonies would be useless. Leaving a tip, of course, would have no effect on the level of assistance during meal and drink service, or...
I have closely reviewed the Air Canada contract and find nothing that prevents a tip jar near the boarding door. Surely, many passengers who consider the FA compensation to be inadequate, could contribute something to the cause. Especially if they are leaving Canada for destinations where their small change and low-denomination loonies would be useless. Leaving a tip, of course, would have no effect on the level of assistance during meal and drink service, or lifeboat evacuation.
Do you regularly tip for poor service? When's the last time you flew on AC?
Do you usually tip at Winners and IGA too?
Do you tip school teachers who are underpaid? Do you tip nurses who are underpaid? The only reason to subsidize a corporation who refuses to pay a fair wage is cause you use boots as lollipops
CUPE is cancer to Canada.
Canada seriously needs to get rid of unions, otherwise the whole society will collapse from unions playing mafia games.
As expected CILB ordered them back to work at noon ET.
It appears they are refusing this order too.
CUPEs only hope is to get their other locals to strike in solidarity. Like Canada post who are not happy either that section 107 was involved.
I get confused by the support the FA unions receive. They gatekeep jobs that are in demand for a large portion of the labor force who are qualified for them and they are the reason why there’s a negative correlation between pay and service levels in-cabin.
Many of the people that are supporting the FAs are not necessarily supporting their pay but the interference in the ability to strike.
If the FAs aren't that highly skilled, then AC can replace them but that is a costly exercise that very few companies are willing to take.
Air Canada has removed its investor guidance for the 3rd quarter and full year so it might be sinking in that this might not be over very quickly.
Correct. I’m not a huge union person. But the terms and conditions in regards to rights to collective bargaining have been violated by the dictorial powers of the Canadian government. The did this with the pilots. They did this with Canada post.
The government of Canada is more American than America these days.
As expected CILB declared the strike unlawful. Ordered them back by noon ET. My understanding is that the FAs have refused...
Correct. I’m not a huge union person. But the terms and conditions in regards to rights to collective bargaining have been violated by the dictorial powers of the Canadian government. The did this with the pilots. They did this with Canada post.
The government of Canada is more American than America these days.
As expected CILB declared the strike unlawful. Ordered them back by noon ET. My understanding is that the FAs have refused this order as well. If CUPE was smart. Canada post should walk off the job today too as they are challenging section 107 too.
Not sure about Canadian laws, but I presume by not observing government orders, they become liable including for foregone profits. That would probably bankrupt their union ...
Honestly, this is a messy situation! Even if flight attendants "go back to work," they can stop doing all non-safety related task before doors are closed. They can basically do the minimum work that are required of them. On domestic flights, they can basically serve one round of meal and drinks in business class, and one round of beverages in economy class. And then stop doing service. They don't even need to do the buy-on-board...
Honestly, this is a messy situation! Even if flight attendants "go back to work," they can stop doing all non-safety related task before doors are closed. They can basically do the minimum work that are required of them. On domestic flights, they can basically serve one round of meal and drinks in business class, and one round of beverages in economy class. And then stop doing service. They don't even need to do the buy-on-board service. They basically only need to do what their contracts ask them to do.
On international flights, they can just serve all meal and drinks, and stop doing other services. In premium cabin, they can stop doing pre-takeoff beverages.
About firing every F/As, it is just crazy. We all think that F/As are like glamourous waiters and waitresses, but let's remember that they have to perform all kind of safety related tasks. Then you have the background checks, which will take weeks to complete, and then they have to learn the location of doors of various planes, and how to operate all those doors. Then you have to memorize where all the safety equipments are. Do you think it is easy to evacuate a Boeing 737-8, or Airbus A220? Then we have the Boeing 777s and 787s. Flight attendants actually have safety duties to perform.
Do you think serving a meal is just turning on the oven and handing out trays? No it is a choreographed process to hand out 200 hot meals in economy cabin, not to mention in premium cabins. You have to serve them in courses.
I honestly don't see this strike ending by the end of August. The latest move by the Canadian government hurts them politically and now they create a bigger mess. They need to find a new arbitrator that has no previous ties with Air Canada and basically tell AC that they need to give F/As more benefits. Sometimes I don't understand why the Canadian government continues to babysit Air Canada and seems to go out of its way to save Air Canada's behind on all kind of disputes. If the Canadian government supports WestJet and Porter more, there will be less reliance on AC. I know Canada has a challenging environment. Despite it is a huge country, their population is concentrated in a few cities. However you still need to find a way to support more international carriers to fly to Canada, as well as a second Canadian carrier with stronger international network.
For now, I will not book Air Canada on any flights in the near future. Even if the strike ends, there will be so much bad blood! Service will be minimal!
Minimal service is what they normally do.
I'll gladly take all your Aeroplan miles for all your trouble.
So in other words, a normal Air Canada inflight experience.
(Canadian living in America)
Canada has never allowed strikes that is inconvenient to the governement's goals. The collective bargaining rights are a myth in Canada. Not to mention a lot of other rights trampled on during the Covid years....again...they could do this with the "not with standing clause" in Canada. They have a loop hole to suspend civil rights or any right at a whim. For example, Quebec forbid head scarves.....and used that clause. Among...
(Canadian living in America)
Canada has never allowed strikes that is inconvenient to the governement's goals. The collective bargaining rights are a myth in Canada. Not to mention a lot of other rights trampled on during the Covid years....again...they could do this with the "not with standing clause" in Canada. They have a loop hole to suspend civil rights or any right at a whim. For example, Quebec forbid head scarves.....and used that clause. Among a lot of other stuff...Section 107 was obscure until recently in the Liberal government and is to "establish labour peace". But we actually now have the opposite. Hajdu seems to have just unleashed another Covid level of civil unrest (she was Health minister during the Trucker Convoy protesting endless covid restrictions). She should be in jail for the mass civil right violations/forfeiture she has ordered over the years against Canadians.
AC should just dissolve. Start again. AC has just become so terrible and corrupt that fresh thinking and innovation needs to happen.
Go FAs....im not even a huge union fan....but i believe that you have the rights to strike especially when you signed up for employment expecting that right. If you were an "essential service" then you should have been told that when you start employment. I say let this go to the bargaining table like it should have been. CIFB is really powerless at this point to order the FAs to work....if they defied the Labour minister.
She was heavy handed.....and certainly may have caused more larger issues with labour in canada amongst other greivances in Canada. The labour minister now says its out of her hands...she is trying to wash her dirty hands of this.....i dont think thats gonna work.
Pain in the butt...sure....not doubt.....get the popcorn! I do feel for the passengers...but hey Porter, Westjet, FLair are gonna make $$$$$.
I am from Vancouver,Canada and i supports Air Canada Flight Attendants in their Fight to get paid for all their work not just part of it ! These workers deserve support from all travelling Canadians. They are not Slaves ! The Canadian Gov`t got contempt for these workers. To Hell with the Canadian Gov`t. The Flight Attendants should stay on strike until they get what they wants !
Its not as much the govt having contempt for the workers, its more about the govt (blue and red, past and present) being in bed with scum AC execs
What is Air Canada going to do, fire everyone? And even if they do, who is lined up at the door for jobs that pay less than minimum wage? This is stupid. Air Canada needs to pay salaries that match the cost of living. I don't expect they will, though, because this is about corporate power, not money.
You really believe that bit about sub "minimum wage" huh? Why do the people who work there now......work there? Are they mentally challenged and don't understand what the job pays?
@CHRIS Have you never heard of inflation?
So why do people apply for the job if it pays so low? Why do they stay there if it's that terrible. Nobody owes you anything. Do you work at McDonald's? If not, why not?
There's 100s of applicants per job. A job that requires zero skills, zero education.
They could literally cut the salary in half and still replace all of them by tomorrow.
I do want to note that in the interim cabinet PM Carney announced after he became PM in March that was in place until after the election two months later did not even have a labour minister. That was very shameful, but showed that Carney's priorities as PM do not include workers rights.
If flight attendants are so important to the economy and the country that the government can’t let a strike continue more than 12 hours, then why are those same flight attendants paid so poorly? Shouldn’t workers that vital command top dollar in the market?
They're way, way overpaid for a job that requires no education.
So you’re saying they’re vital but not valuable?
They're not vital. Just put up a vending machine and be done with it.
Air Canada has the worst excesses of the-now-defunct Alitalia (but without the good bits!). Let it crumble into dust.
Good. The government forcing them back after 12 hours was a sham.
I'm sure most of the rainbow brigade flight attendants had zero qualms with the government busting up the truckers, financially strangling them and their families and in some cases imprisoning them.
Now they get to experience the boot.
70% of AC FAs are women. So by "rainbow brigade," do you mean they are lesbians? How did you get so good at spotting them?
@Chris
+1 (and Amen to the truth!)
Fire all flight attendants.
And permanently disband the union.
Why?
This union has almost a million members.
It will be better to disband AC.
The spoiled children of this 3rd world airline should be fired immediately.
Worse than a bunch of pre-teens taking a hissy fit.
They should freeze all of their bank accounts, along with the union’s itself. Right?
Do we have a proponent of Fascism amongst us?
Didn't we do something similar to the Russians and Iranians?
Freezing assets is also considered fascism?
Freedom in Canada is an illusion. If you actually exercise your right to protest, the government will intervene and shut it down quickly
Elections actually matter. Who knew?!
Off-topic, but I wonder if there are any CX cabin crew that were based in YVR and YYZ and subsequently let go because of the base closures from "19-"20 restructuring, who are now with Air Canada?
Around 4,000 were let go, yes.
So all 4,000 of them are now with Air Canada?
Yes, I have a personal file on each of them. In fact, I spend all my time keeping tabs on them to answer your inane questions.
Cheers mate, you're a real help!
FIRE ALL OF THEM!!!! Nobody would notice anyways seeing how the airline isn’t even flying currently. DELTA IS TAKING OVER THE WORLD!!!!
fraud
Stop being a narcissist Tim.
It's not fraudulent if it's clearly not you.
Do you have a personality outside of Tim Dunn? Or is that actually all you think about?
It's a bit rich from CUPE, given that they were happy to stand-by and do nothing as their own union members were fired by the government during the great panic. You reap what you sow. I have zero sympathy for either party.
If the government gets a court order to force the flight attendants back to work, can the courts also order Air Canada to pay them for groundwork? Surely, Canadian judges will define "work" as something you get paid to do. So the solution is obvious. Either pay them for groundwork, or let gate agents and pilots load passengers and then let the FAs know when it is time to close the doors and start work. And on arrival, they are the first to leave.
They are already paid for ground. Their hourly rate is for block hours, and explicitly just means working x flight has y total pay, all in.
And the amount of ground time required for a one-hour flight, is only 10% of the time required for a 10-hour flight? If not, then "explicitly" needs to be changed.
The government can ( and has ) order them for arbitration and that process would decide about unpaid work.
Oh, Canuckistan!
The Democratic People's Republic of North Wokeistan.
One union local official quoted by CBC: "To legislate us back to work 12 hours after we started? I'm sorry, snowstorms have shut down Air Canada for longer than we were allowed to strike."
Uh, like most of what is coming out of the union, this is disingenuous at best. I recall no snowstorm that has shut down every airport in Canada and everywhere that AC flies at the exact same time and for more than 12 hours.
Fact...ive been stuck by AC for days and weeks over the years due to thier ineptness....i say let AC liquidate and start again.
As someone who is generally pro-union, I support the flight attendants. Sometimes some different union demands are unrealistic and I roll my eyes but I’ll vote for a union any day. With that said, the union brought up a really great point. For the government to order them back to work 12 hours after striking is ridiculous. The union stated snowstorms have brought AC to a standstill longer than 12 hours. This kind of just...
As someone who is generally pro-union, I support the flight attendants. Sometimes some different union demands are unrealistic and I roll my eyes but I’ll vote for a union any day. With that said, the union brought up a really great point. For the government to order them back to work 12 hours after striking is ridiculous. The union stated snowstorms have brought AC to a standstill longer than 12 hours. This kind of just proves their point that management and the government were in bed together from the beginning. Reading online that there are rumblings of a nationwide general strike amongst all unions to show support and I don’t blame them. Regardless of your opinion of unions, the fact that government and mega companies have such cozy relationships is not good. We may be a lost cause in America but everywhere else needs to stop the corporate take over of governments so governments can actually govern with a people first mindset over corporate first mindset.
Nailed it.
Agreed. Line workers are the lifeblood of the economy. Nothing functions without them. It's beyond the pale for the government to just up and break the strike like this, essentially forcing workers into what management was already demanding. A nationwide general strike would go far to demonstrate who really matters: the people who actually work the jobs, not the fat cats in the boardrooms.
Using snowstorm longer than 12 hours as a comparison is just ridiculous.
Just like when government doesn't force airlines to compensate when it's weather related. The government wouldn't force them to call off their strike if it's weather related either.
Airline industry can't have it both ways. Either pay up when it's weather related or don't use weather as an excuse.
Fantastic response. I am canadian but live in America for 20 years now...so its been an interesting year. ;-)
There has always been terrible collusion between industry and the government in Canada. When someone has a problem with thier company...whine to the government. Its very much a British mentality in that regard.....
Canada has less rights in practice than America. They even put a "not withstanding clause" in the Charter Rights and Freedoms....essentially invoke...
Fantastic response. I am canadian but live in America for 20 years now...so its been an interesting year. ;-)
There has always been terrible collusion between industry and the government in Canada. When someone has a problem with thier company...whine to the government. Its very much a British mentality in that regard.....
Canada has less rights in practice than America. They even put a "not withstanding clause" in the Charter Rights and Freedoms....essentially invoke it whenever they want and convenient. We can destroy your civil rights....but we will at least tell you and be blatant about it....its completely legal.
I say the government bought off more than thier can chew here....now overall unions will now go on strike because of the dictatorial powers? Perhaps us polite Canadians had enough of being nice.
Covid lockdowns, vaccine mandates, override everyones collective bargaining rights....crush dissent and protests......this is the Canadian govt the past 5 years.....
What about the US Constitution's 10th Amendment which has been successfully utilized to nullify US federal laws pertaining to gun rights, immigration, cannabis, and more? Sounds just like Canada's Notwithstanding Clause in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
again, Canada should have thought about putting so much of the market in the hands of Air Canada - and not had to resort to shutting down worker rights to keep the country moving.
flights from US cities along the northern border including BUF, SYR plus major hubs like SEA and DTW are running full. Canadians are driving across the border to get in/out of Canada.
remember that a big part of AC's business plan...
again, Canada should have thought about putting so much of the market in the hands of Air Canada - and not had to resort to shutting down worker rights to keep the country moving.
flights from US cities along the northern border including BUF, SYR plus major hubs like SEA and DTW are running full. Canadians are driving across the border to get in/out of Canada.
remember that a big part of AC's business plan is to siphon off US passengers going to Europe and Asia so the US carriers are getting those passengers back.
AC turned into "to big to fail"
I would like to see the airline liquidate...there service is terrible...OTP is terrible....food horrible....
start again.
Do you have any data to support your last paragraph. Logically this would imply that there is a reason like lower fares or better service that would encourage Americans to cross the border and use Air Canada to fly to Europe and Asia. I am unable to find evidence to support this statement.
Here's the thing: there are 100 applicants per stewardess job.
It's an unskilled job, and the current crop of stewardesses are, on average, terrible at it.
Fire all of them and start over.
Thank you, Elon.
Yeah, I'm sure all of those applicants are super suitable for the position and you'll have them trained by tomorrow to start flying.
"Suitable"? You mean able to play candy crush and point to the exit door while actively ignoring paying customers?
Or is it 'annoying real people while flying nonrev' that takes up most of the training?
I'd be perfectly happy with a vending machine in the cabin and no stewardesses.
unSkilled my ass !
Not poverty Florida thinking a week-long course is 'skilled' labor.
That would mean at least a six week shutdown to get even a portion of the planes back in the air while you train new cabin crew.
Any warm body can serve drinks. But you need to train people to operate the doors, IFE, life rafts, emergency exits, fire fighting equipment, defibrillators, oxygen, first aid gear…
The severance and legal costs to "fire them all", plus the recruitment and training costs to "start over" as Michael points out, would be substantially more then just meeting their demands. Seems you may be advocating for Bankruptcy.
ntdavis1 -
First of all, that sounds made up, but cute story. But they also need to be punished and an example has to be set.
We need to see these lazy, uneducated Karens become unemployed and realize they have no skills. Then they'll find their humility.
While I support what the flight attendants not wanting to do unpaid work, this strike is devasting to me personally. I have not seen my family in two years. I am less than two weeks away from seeing them and now I won't be able to because of the strike. I have spent the last 4 days crying my eyes out. Just go back to bloody work!!!!
They're not doing unpaid work. They just did the sleight of hand that they get paid block hours and then used that argumenet to say they weren't getting paid all their hours.
In reality, they're worth very little. Stewardesses are unskilled labor. Many fat, too.
You spent the last 4 days crying your eyes out instead of rebooking your flight? Moron.
You [might] have bigger issues that need addressing.
In two weeks, the strike is over, and you wasted FOUR days of your life.
But, this is not true, is it?
Pretty sure I spent less than 4 days crying my eyes out when my dog died, calm down Colleen.
Wait a second! I thought the govt controls us. They know better than parents. They make all the rules!
You mean Canada isn’t China, Russia, Iran. Canada you need to start the executions for not listening to your almighty word
Play stupid games win stupid prizes. Known for mediocre at best service, AC Flight attendants are showing their hubris in a declining economy with declining bookings and declining profits where the general population doesn’t have much sympathy. Most workers would love the offer on the table. But not the obtuse union in Canada.
For those who suggest that other ailrines can "take up some of the slack".... no. How will porter replace AC's service at dozens of airports where they have no presence? AC is a de facto flag carrier and they have many routes with no competitors, often to small centres. The weekly AC flight is sometimes the only alternative to the bus. This is why the government wants to end this thing quickly. But infuriating the...
For those who suggest that other ailrines can "take up some of the slack".... no. How will porter replace AC's service at dozens of airports where they have no presence? AC is a de facto flag carrier and they have many routes with no competitors, often to small centres. The weekly AC flight is sometimes the only alternative to the bus. This is why the government wants to end this thing quickly. But infuriating the flight attendants on Day 1, before talks even begin, is just stupid.
There's no point looking at this through a legalistic "allowed/forbidden" lens. There is no ICE to arrest FAs and punish them. Minister Hajdu overplayed her hand and now she has a worse problem than before. She will have to grant 100% amnesty to all defiant FAs who refused the order to return to work; that will be table stakes to begin discussions, and she knows it. Negotiations will now be more heated than they already...
There's no point looking at this through a legalistic "allowed/forbidden" lens. There is no ICE to arrest FAs and punish them. Minister Hajdu overplayed her hand and now she has a worse problem than before. She will have to grant 100% amnesty to all defiant FAs who refused the order to return to work; that will be table stakes to begin discussions, and she knows it. Negotiations will now be more heated than they already were. The mediator has a more difficult job now, because the Minister was trigger happy, trying to make sure her colleagues could get around the country and hoover up all the R space LOL. This thing should have been allowed to let off steam a few days. Open the door now, Minister, and let the adults in.
There will likely be fines, probably very large fines, for the union. Not sure how much money they have, but it is likely going to dissipate in a hurry. Judges generally dislike open defiance of the law
Hajdu also ordered the mass lockdowns and crazy Covid restrictions and vaccine requirements. So the shoe fits.....
She should be in jail for violating a lot of Canadians' civil rights over the past 5 years.
I would prefer that the flight attendants be allowed to strike. If the Canadian government is ordering a halt to the strike, it undermines the bargaining power of the union.
I don’t think the union — or Air Canada — should necessarily get what they want, but the natural consequences need to play out without interruption.
The flight attendants should be able to strike in pursuit of higher pay and better benefits — and of...
I would prefer that the flight attendants be allowed to strike. If the Canadian government is ordering a halt to the strike, it undermines the bargaining power of the union.
I don’t think the union — or Air Canada — should necessarily get what they want, but the natural consequences need to play out without interruption.
The flight attendants should be able to strike in pursuit of higher pay and better benefits — and of course go without pay. Actions have consequences.
Air Canada shouldn’t have to pay the flight attendants — and they should also suffer the financial consequences of grounded flights as long as a new contract remains unratified. Actions have consequences.
The law seems clear — the flight attendants in Canada have the right to strike. The proper procedure and notice was given. The government has no basis for ordering a return to work, no matter how inconvenient it may be.
Canadians will be undoubtably inconvenienced.
But there is spare airline capacity in Canada (WestJet, Porter, Flair), as well as Air Canada regional feeder flights. (Per Wikipedia: the feeder flights “connect smaller cities with Air Canada's domestic hub airports and focus cities, although they offer some point-to-point and international service to the United States.”)
So the impact is unpleasant but manageable.
As a point of reference WestJet load factor for August 2023 was 89.6%
WestJet is smaller than Air Canada.
Porter and Flair are tiny in comparison
There is not much spare capacity.
Air Canada controls about 48 percent of available seat miles in Canada, per the NYT. How much of that capacity (if any) is full mainline service compared with feeder flights from their regional carriers? The feeder flight attendants are not on strike — just the mainline folks.
Yeah it's going to be disruptive. I still think it's going to be manageable, but I could be wrong about that.
When a supposedly worker-friendly, "liberal" government forces striking workers into binding arbitration with a monopolistic private company that the government itself helped to create, you know why workers look to immigrant hating snake oil salespeople to save them.
Also fire all the pilots too and let the passengers fly the plane if they are so desperate to go on a trip
Tim Dunn should take over. He would fix everything.
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Correct. Also applies to any individual rights and freedoms in Canada. Canadians have rights and freedoms unless and until the governments doesn't feel like allowing you to. Like during Covid or more recent climate lockdowns.
Let's relitigate COVID restrictions. I hate masks.
Amazing. Good on them.
Bring AC management to their knees
CUPE has resources to drag this out, glad they didn't roll over to corporate greed calling their mommy for help.
No pay or benefits for them until they return to work. Fire all of them if they refuse to return to work within the next 24 hours.
Yes!!!!! Fire them all.
That would finally be the end of AC.
Noone gets pay or benefits during a strike, but CUPE has deep pockets for a long strike pay payout to their members.
Arrest them all then. Throw them in the Alligator Alcatraz in Florida. Trump is coming.
Those pockets might get challenged when a court starts fining them for striking illegally
But then Air Canada has no flight attendants! And then they are gonna go out of business. You idiot, that's not how it's gonna be solved. Air Canada is trying to cause the least disruption possible. Firing 10,000 people isn't gonna do that!
Jacob is just trolling you at this point.
Short term pain. They can hire answer train new people in 2-3 weeks. They should do it. Free the current Air Canada flight attendants from the bondage of their current slavery jobs. Fire them.
Are you stupid or simply ignorant? Workers on strike don't get paid - they only get strike pay from their union.
You cannot fire employees (or otherwise retaliate) for exercising their right to strike in the US or Canada. The very notion of such a thing is why unions got so strong.
Unions aren't very strong in North America, but go on, missy.
Don’t call me missy, please. And I was not referring to today so much in strength, but rather *when* they formed and became strong - because of employers firing for frivolous nonsense, paying with no regard for what was fair, etc. Today… grab bag which unions are more helpful and which are more harmful for their members.
Tell that to the PATCO air traffic controllers.
As 767 223 said - in 1981 Reagan fired 11,000 striking air traffic controllers. How ironic that he now has an airport named after him.
I belonged to PATCO. They fired me in 1981. Our job action was illegal. I’d do it again today. I would have done it again then. The most outraged people in this string have their silver spoons irreparably lodged in their throats.