Air Canada has already begun canceling flights after hitting an impasse in contract negotiations with the flight attendants’ union as a possible strike looms.
Earlier this week, the union issued a notice of intention to strike, and Air Canada said a “phased wind down of most of its operations” is the best way to minimize the pain for its customers.
Air Canada Offers Warning to Travelers
The airline warned that many of its passengers could be stuck as a result of the looming strike.
“Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge carry approximately 130,000 customers a day who could be affected by a disruption, this includes the 25,000 Canadians that the airline flies home from abroad each day, who could be stranded,” the airline said in a statement.
Air Canada Breaks Silence on Looming Strike
Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive of Air Canada, already issued an apology to travelers before the cancellations even started as he took a shot at the flight attendants’ union.
“We regret the impact a disruption will have on our customers, our stakeholders and the communities we serve. However, the disappointing conduct of CUPE’s negotiators and the union’s stated intention to launch a strike puts us in a position where our only responsible course of action is to provide certainty by implementing an orderly suspension of Air Canada’s and Air Canada Rouge’s operations through a lockout,” he said in a statement. “As we have seen elsewhere in our industry with other labour disruptions, unplanned or uncontrolled shutdowns, such as we are now at risk of through a strike, can create chaos for travelers that is far, far worse.”
How Much Did Air Canada Offer?
In his statement, Rousseau revealed Air Canada’s offer included a 38 percent increase in total compensation over four years “that would have made our flight attendants the best compensated in Canada.” The offer also came with provisions for ground pay and other work-life balance, career and pension improvements.
Rousseau claims Air Canada ask for no concessions from the union, which rebuffed the airline’s offer eventually leading to the impasse.
Related: Southwest Airlines Announces Change on All Flights Starting August 13
