Air Canada Strike Disrupts Travel During Peak Summer Season
Air Canada has suspended its operations as more than 10,000 flight attendants went on strike early Saturday after a deadline to reach a deal passed. This sudden action has left travelers around the world stranded and scrambling during the peak summer travel season. The disruption affects several flights at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, where three arrivals and three departures have been canceled as of 3 p.m. Sunday.
The strike was confirmed by Hugh Pouliot, a spokesman for the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), who stated that the union had not reached an agreement with the airline. Air Canada halted all operations following the decision by the union to walk off the job. The conflict between the airline and the union has escalated over the past few days, with the union rejecting Air Canada’s request to enter into government-directed arbitration. This move would have eliminated the union’s right to strike and allowed a third-party mediator to determine the terms of a new contract.
Air Canada initially planned to resume operations on Sunday evening but later announced that it will restart flights on Monday evening. The airline claimed that the union “illegally directed its flight attendant members to defy a direction from the Canadian Industrial Relations Board.” In response, Mark Hancock, the national president of CUPE, stated that the union would not return to work. He was seen tearing up a back-to-work order outside Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, emphasizing the union’s stance against the directive.
The Canada Industrial Relations Board ordered airline staff back to work by 2 p.m. Sunday after the government intervened. However, the airline now says it will resume flights on Monday evening. The union has challenged the board’s order, calling it unconstitutional and arguing that the process has been unfair.
Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu emphasized that the government is monitoring the situation closely and that the Canada Industrial Relations Board is an independent tribunal. She stated that the government is not anti-union but highlighted the need to avoid risks to the economy, especially given the unprecedented tariffs imposed by the U.S. on Canada.
The strike has impacted approximately 130,000 travelers per day, with Air Canada operating around 700 flights daily. Tourist Mel Durston from southern England expressed frustration over her inability to continue her journey to the Rockies. Meanwhile, James Hart and Zahara Virani, visiting Toronto from Calgary, Alberta, had to pay $2,600 Canadian to rebook their trip with another airline.
Flight attendants walked off the job around 1 a.m. EDT on Saturday, and Air Canada began locking them out of airports. The dispute has drawn attention to similar labor conflicts in other sectors, such as the recent forced arbitration of major railroads by the government.
Passengers affected by the strike can request full refunds through Air Canada’s website or mobile app. The airline also offers alternative travel options through other Canadian and foreign airlines when possible. However, it warned that immediate rebooking may not be guaranteed due to the high demand during the summer travel peak.
Air Canada and CUPE have been engaged in contract negotiations for about eight months without reaching a tentative deal. Both sides remain far apart on issues related to pay and the unpaid work flight attendants perform when planes are not in the air. Air Canada’s latest offer included a 38% increase in total compensation over four years, which the airline claimed would make flight attendants the best compensated in Canada. However, the union argued that the proposed 8% raise in the first year was insufficient given current inflation rates.
