**Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu has mandated both sides to arbitration in a bid to restore service and protect the traveling public from ongoing disruptions.**
**Government Steps In to Resolve Air Canada Strike, Mandates Arbitration**
**Government Steps In to Resolve Air Canada Strike, Mandates Arbitration**
**The Canadian government has intervened in the Air Canada flight attendants' strike, compelling negotiations amid mass flight cancellations.**
The Canadian government has taken decisive action to address the ongoing strike involving Air Canada flight attendants by mandating both parties to enter arbitration. This intervention occurred shortly after the strike commenced on Saturday, resulting in the cancellation of hundreds of flights. Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu stated that the prolonged inability to reach an agreement posed a threat to operational stability and supply chains.
The strike, which affects around 500 daily flights, began at 00:58 EDT. As a result, Air Canada has suspended operations not only for itself but also for its budget subsidiary, Air Canada Rouge. The airline has strongly advised customers against heading to the airport, cautioning that the strike may disrupt the travel plans of approximately 130,000 passengers.
In response to the strike actions, Hajdu invoked Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (Cupe), which represents over 10,000 flight attendants, criticized the Liberal government for allegedly infringing on their rights, arguing this intervention sets a worrying precedent for labor relations in the country.
Air Canada reported that it had already cancelled 623 flights by Friday evening in anticipation of the strike, having begun to scale back its operations beforehand. The airline offered a total compensation increase of 38% over four years, including a 25% raise in the first year, which the union rejected as inadequate. Cupe claims that the airline's proposal fails to meet inflation rates and minimum wage standards while also leaving flight attendants unpaid for extensive hours of work before takeoff.
The tensions culminated in a strike vote where 99.7% of union members supported the action. Cupe asserted that it had engaged in good faith negotiations for over eight months prior to this intervention, claiming that Air Canada sought government involvement rather than a genuine resolution to their differences.
The strike, which affects around 500 daily flights, began at 00:58 EDT. As a result, Air Canada has suspended operations not only for itself but also for its budget subsidiary, Air Canada Rouge. The airline has strongly advised customers against heading to the airport, cautioning that the strike may disrupt the travel plans of approximately 130,000 passengers.
In response to the strike actions, Hajdu invoked Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (Cupe), which represents over 10,000 flight attendants, criticized the Liberal government for allegedly infringing on their rights, arguing this intervention sets a worrying precedent for labor relations in the country.
Air Canada reported that it had already cancelled 623 flights by Friday evening in anticipation of the strike, having begun to scale back its operations beforehand. The airline offered a total compensation increase of 38% over four years, including a 25% raise in the first year, which the union rejected as inadequate. Cupe claims that the airline's proposal fails to meet inflation rates and minimum wage standards while also leaving flight attendants unpaid for extensive hours of work before takeoff.
The tensions culminated in a strike vote where 99.7% of union members supported the action. Cupe asserted that it had engaged in good faith negotiations for over eight months prior to this intervention, claiming that Air Canada sought government involvement rather than a genuine resolution to their differences.
