Air Canada Flight Attendants Begin Strike Over Negotiation Breakdown

• The Air Canada flight attendants' strike began due to a breakdown in negotiations.
• The airline canceled over 620 flights in connection with the strike.
• The union rejected a proposal regarding government involvement in the negotiations.

Toronto (AP) — More than 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants announced a strike after failing to reach an agreement, confirmed a representative of the Canadian Union of Public Employees H'yu Pulit. The strike began after an agreement could not be reached.

Air Canada reported that all flights will be canceled during the strike's duration. Canada’s largest airline has already canceled over 620 flights, leaving travelers worldwide stranded during the peak summer travel season.

The conflict between the airline and the union representing the flight attendants escalated on Friday when the union rejected the airline's proposal for government involvement in the negotiations, which stripped them of their right to strike and allowed a third party to determine the terms of a new contract.

Passengers whose flights are canceled will receive notifications via email or SMS. Air Canada has already canceled 128 domestic flights and 194 international flights scheduled for Friday and Saturday.

The union asserts that negotiations have reached a deadlock due to significant pay disparities over the past four years, while the airline argues that the latest proposal included a 38% increase in overall compensation, which the union believes is insufficient due to inflation.

The airline sought to mitigate the impact on passengers by offering alternative travel options through other Canadian and international airlines, but it warned that it cannot guarantee customs clearance through connecting flights.

Tags: Aviation