Commonwealth_ Air Canada flights are likely to resume normal later on Saturday evening following an eventful strike by more than 10,000 cabin crew workers. The Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) ordered the employees in the airline to return to work and extended the terms of an expired collective agreement until a new one is negotiated. While flights will resume departing, the airline has warned passengers to expect continued disruptions in the coming days as operations pick up at progressively normal volumes.
The walkout, which started early Saturday morning, grounded Air Canada mainline and Rouge flights. Prior to the walkout, the airline cancelled hundreds of flights and threatened to shut down entirely if the strike remains unresolved. Air Canada Express flights, which carry around 20 percent of the airline’s daily traffic, were not grounded. However, a total shutdown would have affected around 130,000 daily customers, including 25,000 individuals travelling within the country.
Why Flights Were Cancelled
The cancellations were the direct outcome of the work stoppage. Cabin staff, too, were unionized by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and presented a 72-hour strike notice earlier this week following the breakdown in contract talks. The airline hit back by presenting its lockout notice and started to wind down operations prematurely. In total, the strike would ground more than 500 flights on Friday alone, impacting the travel plans of some 100,000 people.
Areas of disagreement in the conflict were compensation, working conditions, and unpaid hours. The union expressed dissatisfaction over the inadequate compensation for airport and boarding waiting times for flight attendants. Since Air Canada suggested an increase in compensation that it termed as meaningful, the union grieved that the suggestion was not aligned with the inflation rate and, in practice, would be a reduction in pay. One week ago, the staff voted 99.7 per cent to strike, a clear indication of the level of frustration among staff.
Government Acts
The federal government intervened when the talks stalled. Labour Minister Patty Hajdu used Canada Labour Code powers to compel both sides to accept binding arbitration. It has a neutral arbitrator to determine the terms of a new agreement, and then the parties bind themselves legally.
The government action came after fears about the economic and social impact of a prolonged shutdown grew. Groups such as the Toronto Board of Trade had been demanding action, predicting disastrous impacts on business and tourism. Premiers of provinces such as Newfoundland and Labrador deplored the strike as “catastrophic” for vacationing during the summer on Wednesday. With cancellations piling up and thousands of stranded passengers, the government decided that compulsory arbitration was the only action to restore order.
Passenger Impact
Whereas Saturday nights will see flights resume, Air Canada cautioned that it will be a few days before things normalize. There will be cancellations for seven to ten days, as crews and aeroplanes are redistributed. Inconvenienced travelers will be contacted personally and provided with alternative timetables. Refunds can be offered to those unwilling to fly.
Air Canada has also made alternative travel arrangements with other foreign and Canadian carriers. The consumers in Canada are not, however, protected by national laws for air passenger rights, as the strike was deemed beyond the control of the airline.
Looking Ahead
The resolution is merely the end of the interim disruption. The real cause of controversy over wages and conditions of work has not been eliminated, and hostility between the airline and its employees is not likely soon to dissipate. Although binding arbitration will form a new contract, the process is unlikely to satisfy either party and may continue to further divisions within the firm.
Air Canada, which operates in 64 countries and has a fleet of 259 aircraft, has also struggled with long-term labour problems in recent years, as employees called for improved wages and conditions. The most recent strike also is a testament to the thin line between remaining profitable in a cutthroat international business and yielding to employees’ demands amid rising inflation and record-breaking travel demand.
Meanwhile, the focus remains on rebuilding regular operations and serving the passengers affected by one of the most disruptive workforce conflicts in airline history. Next week, Air Canada’s resilience and ability to restore customer confidence, angered by the cancellations and delays, will be tested.
