As the clock ticks down to a potential strike by Air Canada flight attendants on Saturday, the effects of the labour showdown are already being felt by travellers and businesses.
Air Canada’s flight attendants’ union announced Wednesday that more than 10,500 workers will strike starting Saturday if a deal is not reached with the airline.
In a response, the company said Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights will gradually be cancelled over the next 72 hours with more disruptions anticipated by the weekend if there’s no deal.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Air Canada unit filed a 72-hour strike notice early Wednesday.
“We have shown up prepared, bargained in good faith, and made progress on some items,” the union said on Wednesday. “Air Canada refused to address our core issues.”
The first flights are expected to be gradually cancelled starting Thursday, with flights to be completely grounded by Saturday, the company said.
The ripple effects of the dispute are already being felt by travellers.
Toronto resident Arman Ladha and his mom have been counting down the days to their holiday in Barcelona. Hotel rooms, train tickets, concert tickets — even museum trips — have been lined up to the tune of $15,000.
One problem: Their flight out of Pearson is scheduled Sunday, a day after flight attendants could strike.
“I’m still packing because I’m still hopeful,” says Ladha, who planned a side trip to Ibiza with friends after a week with his mom.
“The chances of flying are honestly, God knows what … I have no idea,” said a frustrated Ladha. “Even if I can salvage the second part of my trip, my mom is not going to come on the trip now, which really sucks.”
Passengers on the move Wednesday said they were worried about potential disruptions to the return portion of their trips.
“I’m glad we’re getting out today … We’re due back in two weeks so we’ll have to see what happens,” said Candace Tidy, who was travelling from Toronto to Halifax for vacation. “I’m hoping that if it’s still on strike they’ll offer us some alternate ways to get home.”
According to Air Canada, customers whose flights are cancelled will be notified and they will be eligible for a full refund.
The company also says it has made arrangements with other Canadian and foreign carriers to provide customers alternative travel options to the extent possible.
With potential flight disruptions during the busiest season for tourism, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business said their members are struggling, and they are calling on Ottawa to intervene.
“Removing Canada’s major domestic and international carrier from service,” the CFIB statement says, “would be another blow (to small businesses) at this critical time.
Jasmin Guenette, V-P of national affairs at CFIB said small businesses have become “collateral damage,” in the dispute.
On Tuesday, Wesley Lesosky, president of Air Canada’s component of CUPE, said the company’s latest offer is “below inflation, below market value, below minimum wage, and still leaves flight attendants unpaid for all hours of work.”
Air Canada considers 75 hours a month as full-time work and currently pays a starting rate of $26 an hour, which amounts to $1,950 a month.
By their fourth year on the job, the rate would increase to $42.99 an hour. On average, flight attendants fly about 80 hours a month, the union told the Star.
Lesosky said that Air Canada has offered an eight per cent raise in the first year, but this is overshadowed by a nine per cent cut in real wages due to inflation.
Even after the increase, junior Air Canada flight attendants’ wages would reach $2,108.60 a month for 75 hours of flying time — still below federal minimum wage.
The airline’s offer of a 17.2 per cent wage increase over four years is not competitive within the industry, he added. Additionally, Lesosky said Air Canada would begin to compensate only some of the attendants’ safety-related duties, and then at just 50 per cent of their hourly rate.
Air Canada said in its announcement, it has offered 38 per cent in total compensation over four years, including pensions, benefits and ground pay.
If you have a booked Air Canada Flight
• Contact Air Canada directly at 1-888-247-2262 for information on refunds or flight rescheduling.
• If have travel insurance, check that your policy covers trip cancellation, interruption, delay or missed connections and “that a strike is listed as a covered reason,” said Leah Williamson, consultant with the Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada. In an email, Williamson said travel insurance may help you get reimbursed for prepaid travel costs that Air Canada or other providers won’t refund.
• Check the “known event” date: Many travel insurance providers may indicate when the threat of the strike became a known event. Policies purchased prior to this date may include coverage, but those purchased after may not, said Williamson.
• Contact your travel insurance provider directly with any questions.
Know your rights
Canadian air passenger rights advocate, Gabor Lukacs, said it is best to wait until the airline officially cancels your flight.
“Don’t book anything until (the airline) cancels the flight,” said Lukacs — “unless you have a legal hearing, medical treatment, a dying relative or something super time sensitive,” he said. “Once the flight is cancelled, that’s what triggers your rights.”
If the airline cancels your original flight, the law may also offer you some protection, said Lukacs.
With files from Estella Ren and Star wire services
